Cherry Ocean

at 2:11 PM | 5 comments Links to this post  

A.K.A. "What does 'conflict of interest' mean?" (or, "Improv is not my strong suit.")


Palin's credentials will blow you away.


But really, you can't trade one vagina for another.


Thy neighbor, thy foreign policy experience.


And using less energy isn't an option because why?

at 10:10 AM | 1 comments Links to this post  

Here is a quick clip of Merlyn, a super cute Australian Shepherd rescued by my coworker, climbing a tree. My coworker took this video for me a couple of months ago, but it only just today occurred to me to throw it up on YouTube and make it shareable.

at 10:30 PM | 0 comments Links to this post  

Megan sent me this clip today of Katelyn's first time walking. Isn't she so cute? And what a little speed racer!

I should also note that this is the first video I ever uploaded to YouTube. She's a lucky gal!

at 1:04 PM | 2 comments Links to this post  

I was perusing around Pound, the blog for Wendy McClure, and there I found a link to a neat little bookshop turned wine bar plus. From there, I clicked on the Cooking and Wine link--and to my utter delight, a book dedicated to the most scrumptious-looking cupcakes I have ever seen was thrown in my face and I am now day dreaming about the moment I will get to taste them. Don't believe me? Have a little looksie for yourself. And not only does this book provided the tricks for recreating these fun little treats, there is a store where one can actually go to and purchase several baker's dozens worth. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a taste of either Lucy or the HC Original w/confetti sprinkles. Yum!

at 11:58 PM | 0 comments Links to this post  

at 12:39 PM | 0 comments Links to this post  

at 7:59 PM | 3 comments Links to this post  

From The Morning Sun:

Joe Serrato Jr.'s classic Monte Carlo went out with a flash and a roar Friday night when it exploded into flames just after he'd gassed it up for the first time in 11 years.

"I just got it running," said Serrato, 21, as he watched Mt. Pleasant firefighters spray down the 1987 Chevrolet in the middle of Pickard Street in Mt. Pleasant. "I just got insurance on it today."

The car appeared to be a total loss, consumed by spectacular flames that roared out from under the hood.

The cause was likely a gasoline leak, missed during the restoration process. Serrato said he purchased the old vehicle, got the seized-up engine to operate, put on new wheels and tires, and headed for the Pickard Street Citgo station near his Gratiot Street home to fill it up.

There, he and a friend waited in long lines, prompted by panicky rumors of impending gas-price increases, but they filled it up.

They barely got it out of convenience store's driveway when flames roared out from under the hood.

They escaped, but intense fire and smoke wrecked any hope of restoration.

"I put a lot of money into that," Serrato said.

No one was hurt. Traffic was diverted through the parking lots of the Commerce Center and the Coyne Oil complex while firefighters mopped up.

at 7:40 AM | 4 comments Links to this post  

Wes and I just got home from seeing The Dark Knight (again) at the best second-run theater in the universe--The Parkway Speakeasy Theater--for just $5 (I got in free since I was the birthday girl). Wes left to use the restroom, and while I was people watching from our cozy little couch, I was thinking about what it would be like for an earthquake to happen while we were in the theater. Would things come crashing down? Would we feel the shaking? Would people run around in a panic? Would I pee myself?

Turns out, around the time I was thinking about a potential earthquake, there was one. How do I know this? Because it happened at 9pm, and Wes came back at about 9:05. None of the above happened, however. In fact, we didn't even know about the earthquake until we got home and checked the stats. Though the earthquake was a 4.0 and only 14 miles away, we felt nothing. When then big 5.3 hit last Devil's Night at about 45 miles away, it shook our building. But of course, I wasn't home. Why can't I just feel one, just once? I live in this crazy earthquake ridden place, and nada. Oy!

at 12:18 AM | 4 comments Links to this post  

Today is my fabulous 27th birthday. Woot woot!

at 6:46 AM | 0 comments Links to this post  

I've got five bottles of red wine and a recipe for sangria. I just might have to make some today.

at 10:27 AM | 0 comments Links to this post  

I was named after Susan Lucci's character, Erica Kane, on All My Children, and because my initials are EBB, my Mom has called me Ebby since I was very young. (This also happens to be a nickname for Ebenezer, a.k.a. Scrooge.) So while looking up cast members of Swingtown, I see that Molly Parker was in a movie called Ebbie. Curious, I clicked on the link, and low and behold it was a TV movie about the big bad Scrooge, but with a "fun" little gender twist--Ebenezer is now Elizabeth. (Get it? He is now a she! Women can be cranks too! Or in this case, a "ruthless business-woman and shopping store owner" who I presume is portrayed as a monster bitch who needs to learn her true calling is to be a domestic goddess and doting mother--but I'm just guessing here.) The weirdest part comes when I see who is playing the main character. I looked at the movie poster photo and thought, "Wait, is that Susan Lucci? No, it can't be." But sure enough, it was.

at 9:01 PM | 2 comments Links to this post  

I told B at work that the car needed new front tires, and he said that everyone in the office goes to South San Francisco Tire Service, which is just two blocks down the road. I pass it every day on the way to work, but I didn't realize they offered service to the public. So I called over there and told them who I was and where I worked. I got an estimate, checked with Wes to see if we could fit them into our budget, and zipped on over there.

The car rides unbelievably smooth. I noticed this change instantly. When I backed out, the car just glided over the pavement. The old tires' tread was completely worn down and in bad shape, and they didn't glide so much as slide, which is scary. Even though they were pricey (yet more affordable than other places), I am so very happy with them (and the service, to boot!).

at 3:10 PM | 0 comments Links to this post  

Tuesday night, Wes went with me to Lane Bryant to find some cute things to wear (we are both in desperate need of new clothes). As we were wandering around the clearance section, I hear Wes say, "Excuse me, but does your shirt say Central Michigan?"

Turns out, there was a chick there who had just graduated from CMU and was in Emeryville on business. How crazy is that?

at 4:46 PM | 2 comments Links to this post  

I'm going to Napa on Sunday for a work event. I'm a little nervous, but mostly excited. The three of us in the (tiny) publishing department will be hanging out with our author as he signs books on Napa history. We'll be rotating so that we can taste the various white appellations being offered, which I am told will knock my socks off. I'd say, "Let's hope so!" but I won't be wearing socks.

I already bought a cute top, and have shoes and trouser jeans picked out. I am going to snatch those up tonight if I can. Then I need to get a cheap trim and dye my hair. Oh, and there's the self-mani and pedi. Yikes! This is tough work.

at 10:25 AM | 0 comments Links to this post  

My name was just inserted on the copyrights page of the book I proofread and copy edited.

at 4:21 PM | 2 comments Links to this post  

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I just woke up from the most terrifying nightmare.

I dreamt that Wes and I were driving to Oakland from South San Francisco (the former is where we live, the latter is where I work). We were on the 280 overpass that goes through SOMA because I wanted to bypass the heavy traffic on 101. All of a sudden, as we approach the Mariposa Street exit, I glance over to my right and notice this massive plane flying by from the bay, and I think to myself that it's way too low. Then it starts doing a nose dive as it passes over SOMA up head, followed by somersaults. It then crashed into the city between the 280 and 101 overpasses. I then look to straight ahead and there is a helicopter spinning out of control, and it crashes into the city by AT&T Park. Suddenly, there are planes and helicopters just dropping out of the sky. We get out of the car to make a run for it, but first I need to put on my running shoes (because there is no way I'll make it very far in flip-flops). Yet for some reason my laces are all messed up, and changing my shoes is taking too long. When I finish, I look up to find Wes is gone. I feel totally panicked. I'm shouting for him and running towards Bay Bridge, and in both the dream and non-dream worlds I can feel sheer panic ripping through me and my heart is racing incredibly fast and I feel sick in the pit of my gut. There are all these people around trying to escape, and I'm getting pushed around in the crowd. I shout and I shout, but I can't find him anywhere. I start to call him on my phone, but the call isn't getting through to him, and then I wonder if the service is screwy because so many people are trying to call at the same time. I think back to 9/11 and how scary it was just to be in Brooklyn that morning. Then I wake up.

I have had countless numbers of nightmares in my life (I often have them instead of more normal dreams), but this one was without a doubt the most frightening. After I woke up, I snuggled Wes for a bit. Now I have to get ready for work, but I still feel fluttery and upset in the stomach, and I just want to stay home where it's "safe."

at 7:24 AM | 0 comments Links to this post  

Wes has always hated musicals. He has outright refused to ever see anything with me that involved singing and dancing, save for when it's sprung upon him (like in Napoleon Dynamite). Don't get me wrong--I'm not a huge fan of musicals either, though I've been known to like a few (Singing in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Robin Hood: Men in Tights). So I was surprised to find that he absolutely loved Joss Whedon's new web show, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. For a couple of weeks he watched it repeatedly, and kept going on and on about how great it was. He even kept it playing in the background while doing the dishes and straightening up around the house. He tried and tried to get me to watch it, but I was the one who was like, "Oh, yuck. Don't make me watch that."

So I finally gave in and watched it.

And now I'm obsessed with it too. I've got Dr. Horrible's songs stuck in my head, and Captain Hammer paying me nightly visits in my dreams. I think I may have mentally morphed into "What's Her Name," which explains why she doesn't have any sort of off-screen presence in my mind.

I can't wait to go home and watch it again with Wes. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend doing so pronto. The whole show is comprised of three fifteen-minute episodes played back-to-back, so it won't take long to watch (though you'll soon wish it would).

at 9:35 AM | 4 comments Links to this post  

All I want are gift certificates to Powell's Books and In Other Words. That's it. This way, I can binge buy all of Scarlett Thomas' books, and possibly have a little left over to buy some school books, too.

And if you don't know who Scarlett Thomas is, shame on you. I suggest you begin with PopCo, because once you read it, you'll be hooked too.

at 1:31 PM | 2 comments Links to this post  

Wes just informed me that his Dad almost ran over Michael Moore the other day. Apparently, his Dad was driving in front of the State Theater, where the film festival is held, and Moore walked out in front of him. Oops! Moore also didn't make eye contact after the incident. Hhmm....

at 9:52 PM | 2 comments Links to this post  

So this bionic sasquatch guy. What's the story behind him? Just too much free time and not enough creativity? Perhaps not. I think he's too busy being chased by the Six Million Dollar Man to be afforded such luxuries. I mean, take this video for instance.



Not only does the Six Million Dollar man run in slow motion, but he chases in slow motion as well. How can you have spare time and be creatively inspired after having to endure the slowest chase ever? Sure, nudity might be a band-aid fix, but the action moves so slow in this clip that you may as well just look at a nudey magazine, because, let's face it, the action moves a lot faster in still photographs.

at 10:31 PM | 1 comments Links to this post  

at 11:46 AM | 1 comments Links to this post  

at 11:31 AM | 0 comments Links to this post  

Oh, get your minds outta the gutter, perves! It's a drink. My favorite comedy show is "The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman," and I finally just checked out the show's page on IFC.com. Sort of surprisingly and very delightfully, there are drink mixes for every show, and this one is for "Dykes Like Us."

at 6:41 PM | 1 comments Links to this post  

Just now, for shits and giggles, I went onto Craigslist and typed both of our names into the jobs search to see what would come up. Now, as you know, I have insomnia. I have difficultly falling and staying asleep. So when I typed in my name, what should come up but free treatment for insomnia!

No lie:
Jun 30 - FREE treatment for insomnia at U.C. Berkeley! - (berkeley) <<et cetera

This is very strange.

at 7:31 PM | 5 comments Links to this post