Queenkv’s Brainpickings

Exploring the other side of the rainbow

May 22, 2008

The Last Days of Saturn

Viva my weekend.
I’m taking it easy for these last days of being 29-years-old.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

Last month, we ended up in Lodi after the Stockton Asparagus Festival. An air-conditioned wine tasting at the Lodi Visitor’s Center helped revive us. The festival was fun but we were wiped out from walking through 100-degree weather and the mob of hungry people.

Mark and I fell in love with 2 different bottles of Tempranillo wine. One from Uvaggio. Another one by M.Cosentio: 2004 Temp (Kirschenmann Vineyard).

One year ago, Mark and I were living in Kansas. I was working on the 10:00 News and he was telecommuting to Berkeley.

Two years ago, we celebrated Mark’s 30th birthday in Vegas.

And next week, we return to Sin City to celebrate my 30th Birthday. Rock on! My dad’s already planning a tasty menu of yummy Filipino food for our first night in town. I might as well stop eating on Sunday so that I have plenty of room in my tummy.

June 29, 2007

After Midnight

It’s a bad week. Stressed out co-workers, higher expectations…
Plus Mark’s leaving for California next weekend. I’m trying not to think about that.

We had planned on meeting up in the Bay Area — but I can’t take off from work. I’ve now been away from California for more than six months. It feels like it’s killing me but I have to suck it up.

I tell myself other people have made greater sacrifices for their careers — moving an ocean away from family and friends. Sometimes I think I’m in a different world in the Midwest.

I suppose the homesickness hits harder on a stressful week like this one.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

When I’m feeling blue, Mark gives in to my culinary cravings. One night, he made grilled cheese sandwiches.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

Slices of swiss cheese between buttered sourdough bread and garlic salt. This comfort food tasted awesome after a late night at work.

May 11, 2005

Mark’s last meal at Hooters….

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Got this e-mail from my buddy in AL:
“But, I’ve never been inside of a Hooters, and so, according to my new church friends, I’ve lived a “sheltered” life.

Therefore, today six of us drove under that familiar orange sign. We watched the NASCAR race and ate buffalo chicken fingers and highly tipped our pregnant, yet nicely endowed, waitress.”

And I figured…shit. I turn 27 in two weeks or so…might as well get over my hang-up about patronizing Hooters.

So - David, Mark and I drove down there for lunch. Today.

“Hey Mark - hope you enjoyed your bachelor party,” David joked in the car.

I’m pretty sure some of the girls stuff their bra’s.

May 14, 2004

i want a dog….

Dachshund puppies for sale, Dachshund breeders

these little guys are sooooo cute!!! mark sent this link over to me via icq today…

[fromt http://www.puppyfind.com/]
i know they want to come home with me! yes they do! Tamara Keith did a great radio piece on the Doxie Derby for B-Side radio on KALX. I remember previewing the tape, before I submitted to go on air….it was one of my favorite pieces. Tamara’s an amazing radio writer. She said something like, one of the most inspiring things to see at this state fair, the flapping ears of these cute little dogs, heading towards the finish line.

mark also sent this pix as well….


[from http://www.sfgate.com/]
one of the things that’s keeping me going in the program - a dream i can hold on to…settling down with mark and getting a house and a puppy in Cali. that would be so nice.

and doable…when I told my Ate’ Gigi about my plans with Mark, she went off on how I had to have kids, right away. The thought of getting married, scrounging around for a job and getting knocked up, made my stomach churn more so than the jerky El tracks I was riding on, during our phone conversation. Kids are cool, for later….when I can get health insurance that includes eye and dental….when I can start up some retirement plan, again….when I can put a down payment on a house with Mark…yeah…gotta take care of all those things first before the whole getting-knocked-up process.

besides a dog….I won’t be able to mess with a dog’s life. they love you unconditionally….when they hit puberty, they won’t hate you and wish you wouldn’t act so damn dorky. a dog’s simply happy to roll on its back and get a belly rub. he’ll adore you because you put food in his dish, everyday. he’ll think you’re the best of friends because you walk together, around the neighborhood and out a the park. heck, he’ll think you’re on the same baseball team - he’ll be the catcher and you the pitcher….even though, sometimes the dog has problems with the concept of letting go of the ball, once he caught it…..yeah, Bernie did that…he’d run off with soggy tennis ball, teasing us into running after him. silly dog.

i want a dog.