Turning 40 is on my mind.

So, to make me feel better about it, here are some fellow Dragons who have or will be turning 40 this year...

Nicholas Cage, French Stewart, Courtney Cox, Debi Mazar, Jasmine Guy, Lenny Kravitz, Keanu Reeves, Patrick Warburton, Janeane Garofalo, Mary Louise Parker, Calista Flockhart, Penelope Ann Miller, Russell Crowe, Sandra Bullock, Vivica Fox, John Leguizamo, Marissa Tomei, Mira Sorvino, Teri Hatcher, Maggie Cheung, Don Cheadle, Rosie Perez, Elle Macpherson, David Spade, Bret Easton Ellis, Annabelle Sciorra, Robin Givens, Courtney Love, Hank Azaria, Rob Lowe, Blair Underwood, Matt Dillon, Bridget Fonda, Holly Robinson-Peete, Melissa Gilbert....


At least Im in good company.

NYTimes

Pro Basketball : Detroit Bandwagon Gaining Members, at Least in Some Neighborhoods

Birmingham said he noticed the same phenomenon around 130th Street that I had seen on my block: a sudden rush of Pistons fans.

"There's a lot of Laker hater-ism going around and a lot of people getting on the Detroit bandwagon slowly but surely," Birmingham said.

I'll jump off at the end.

While we are on the subject of difficulty with words..

I might have been a hi-falutin english major, but to this day there are some words that my mind simply cannot process properly, causing me to consistently mispronounce them.

F'rinstance, the word "Niagara" has given me fits since childhood. Unless I focus and break it down, my tongue always wants to say "Nyah-guy-ah".

The other is "epitome". "Epi-TOME" is what I almost always say, and until a chica corrected me in public (gah), I would say that unconsciously, instead of "Eh-pit-o-me". Oy.

I also stumble over "prioritize", specially when Im tired.

There are others, but Im having trouble pronouncing them.
---------
Another thing I have trouble with is making to-do lists.

Primarily because I simply dislike writing things down.

But I need to, to clear my head right now and pr-ori-tize my plans and intentions.

Soon.
--------
West Coast slang terms Im learning

Uhmm. Hmm.

Cant remember, must write these things down...

I didnt take a hiatus.

And I wasnt offline because of the laptop taking that half-gainer to a concrete floor.

The laptop didnt actually die, and I can still see what Im doing, even with the cracks in the screen.

I just used it as an excuse not be online as much, thas all.

More people time.
------
I am feeling kinda bleh.

I explained it to someone as feeling "in transition".

Apparently, I am also feeling inarticulate, for its more dan dat. :-)

So, I'll let my horrorscope say it for me:

Though you won't suffer from any physical affliction, your psychic turmoil may make you feel imprisoned and inaccessible. And yet I promise you that you can find a way to liberate your mind and convey luminous truths to the people who matter.

In fact, it even states all that Ive been asking myself:

Are you're willing to push hard to get better, improve your attitude, grow your devotion to the truth, fuel your commitment to beauty, refine your emotions, hone your dreams, face your shadow, cure your ignorance, and soften your heart -- even as you pledge to always accept yourself for exactly who you are with all your so-called imperfections, never demeaning the present moment by comparing it to an idealized past or future.

Well? Are you?

When I get the answer to all that, dude.. ;-)

Cuz, you know, its taking awhile, cuz you know...

Im in transition.

Just a fan

For the first time ever, I find myself rooting for The Detroit Pistons, accursed nemesis of My Chicago Bulls.

(watching Game 1 of the Finals)

"Why do people who come to California not just pick one of our teams?? We should just send you all back from where ya came.."

(This fucker was serious, so I answered:)

"Because we dont like, and have never liked your teams. In fact, I so dont like the Lakers, Im actually rooting for a team Ive hated for decades."
"You dont like the Lakers?"
"Nope. Phil Jackson's my boy - but the rest of 'em.. eh."


I dont actually *hate* the Lakers. Just not fond of them.

Its like when the Bulls won 6 titles. EVERYBODY became a Bulls fan.

Puhlease. I dont even like any of the NEW YORK teams. And I lived there almost as long as I did in Chicago.

I hate when folk jump on the championship bandwagon.

I was there when they were losing. Those are TRUE fans.

So, to be more accurate - I heart the sentiments of a guy who leaned over and whispered sotto voce:

"It aint the Laker's that I dont like, its the Laker *FANS* I dont like."

I heard *that*.

Go Detroit.

Money on my mind


As this week's horrorscope suggests:

The sun poises to move into your money house.
Could be moment of truth time as that "first year of the rest of your life" mind-set kicks in.

Yes, the knowledge that you and your higher self are finally on the same page should help with a decision regarding personal finance.

So yeah - cash flow. Its time to do.

This point was brought home to me Saturday, as I picked up the just-packed laptop bag, the partially zipped bag unzipped itself, and the unstrapped-in laptop (my fault) tumbled out and slammed onto the floor.

*sigh*

Damage report: None, except the screen is cracked.
Estimated cost of replacement.. $100.

Everything I do from now on requires cash flow.

So, while I work on this, a few random pix picked by google surfers around the world...



Boogie boarding @ a St Augustine, Florida beach.



Giant Clams @ Ranch 99, El Cerrito CA




NY Puerto Rican Day Parade.



My birthday cake, treated by Kate at Cafe America, 16th & Broadway.



Tim the Photographer's cat, Brooklyn NY



Cal-Berkeley motorcycling Parking on Bancroft Way, Berkeley CA.



Chambers Street, NY Subway



Ft Lauderdale, Florida



99Ranch, El Cerrito CA



Passing Bus in Berkeley



NY Puerto Rican Day Parade



Toosed out Donated clothes, and a BPD car.
Telegraph Avenue
Berekeley CA.



Very friendly chica, Miami Beach, Florida



Canal Street, Chinatown, NY



Canal Street, Chinatown, NY