chookooloonks

grant

2008-07-04T21:30:00Z

(Alex's betrothed, with whom she's planning the beach wedding.) Good Lord. These are just getting better and better. I do have to say that yesterday's comments, with Michelle and her fear of renegade half-calories running around her body, and mbbored with her just-a-little-too-fresh wild chicken take the cake. I laughed inappropriately loudly many times in my office yesterday. Many, many times. So why stop now, I say -- onward! 31. When it comes to toilet paper rolls, the proper way to hang them is clearly and unequivocally over, not under. I have been know to quietly switch toilet rolls to hang properly in friends' bathrooms. 30. I am absolutely the most unathletic human being you know. Seriously. I do try to work out regularly, but I hate every minute of it. 29. I am very risk averse, and actually only became a scuba diver because I figured that since I'm from the Caribbean, I really ought to (never mind that I know very few people from the Caribbean who are scuba divers). The truth is that while I love the sport, before I drop beneath the surface, I'm really rather nervous. But once I see all the beautiful coral, and everything goes silent except for my breathing, it becomes magical. 28. I don't have a sweet tooth, and dislike most desserts -- an entire serving is usually far too sweet for my liking. My notable exception: very, very dark chocolate. A bite of one of these will send me into a dark-chocolate haze for hours. It might take me months to get through the box (and a half-hour to eat a single truffle), but I will savour every bite. Okay, your turn. Remember, a framed Chookooloonks print will go to the author of one of the comments between the 1st and the 15th of July, to be announced on the 16th. And to my American readers: Happy Independence Day! To all: have a great weekend. I'll post again on Monday -- I'll need the extra days to come up with more random facts! Song: I just realized that I've been so focused on adding random facts to these posts, I've forgotten to add songs. So today's: Georgia On My Mind, by Ray Charles.

dewy dandelion

2008-07-03T18:55:37Z

You guys are so on a roll -- this is great, learning about all of your quirks and little random facts. I've had a couple of readers tell me that they keep coming back to read all of your comments. This is definitely the most fun I've had here for a while! Okay, so, continuing on (I'm going to start adding four random facts every day, or else I'm never going to fit them all in before my birthday!): 35. One day many years ago, when my father was dating my mother, they were on their way to a picnic, and his car overheated. So he pulled over, and opened the radiator cap -- and the hot water spurted up and burned him on the chest. As it happens, the only birthmark I have on my body is on the identical location of my chest as my dad's burn scar is on his -- and it's the same shape and colour as well. [insert Twilight Zone theme music here] 34. Just like several of you, I can't go to sleep with any of our closet doors in our bedroom open -- you know, lest the Homocidal Axe Murderer (hereinafter 'H.A.M.') leap out and kill us in our sleep. However and also (as if that wasn't bad enough), before I go to the bathroom, I have to check behind the shower curtain to make sure the H.A.M.'s not hiding there as well, waiting to slaughter me just as I sit on the toilet. And then? After I've done my business, the shower curtain must be returned to its closed position -- because shower curtains, as a general rule, should remain closed. 33. Just as some people have a weakness for shoes, I have a weakness for bags. I have an obscene number of bags. And not just handbags, either: purses, wallets, totes, backpacks, camera bags (natch), even portfolios, if they're large enough. If it's something you can store something in, I'm interested. 32. Even though I feel very West Indian, and love all things Trinidadian, there are many tropical fruits that I cannot stand. I hate coconut. I hate avocados (guacamole is just wrong). If forced, I will eat a banana, but dammit, I'm not going to like it -- but don't even try to get me to eat a plantain. However, I do love mangoes, pomeraks, and pommecytheres, so that should count for something. Your turn again. Remember, comment with abandon: on the 16th, I'll pick a commenter from the posts between July 1st and 15th to receive a framed Chookooloonks print!

blur

2008-07-02T00:00:00Z

Oh, man, you guys are awesome -- I'm loving learning all about you. I'm especially loving that you're not judging me for my abject weirdness. And oh, but there's so much more weird yet to come! More random facts about me: 38. I have an engineering degree from Texas A&M University, one of the most conservative universities in the South (and home to President George H.W. Bush's Presidential Library). When most people learn this fact about me in real life, I have to give them a moment to pick their jaws up off the floor and stop laughing, since I am decidedly and unquestionably liberal in my beliefs. But the truth is, despite it all, I enjoyed my college years. 37. I hate the numbers 6 and 22. I hate the number 6 because I saw the movie The Omen at too young an age, and everyone knows that Damien ... well, I can't even talk about it. I have no rational reason for hating the number 22. It's just that those two 2's next to each other sort of creep me out. 36. I can't wear anything that is scented like sandalwood, despite the fact that I love the scent. I've tried several times to wear the essential oil, but after about 30 minutes on my skin, it smells like rancid sweat. Instead, I wear Origins Ginger Essence every day. It makes me a much more pleasant person to stand near. Okay, your turn. Remember, on the 16th, I'll pick a commenter at random to receive a framed Chookooloonks print.

lenshouston, and random stuff

2008-07-01T00:00:00Z

First, the shameless pimping: Today I started a new photoblog called LensHouston, in cooperation with the Houston Chronicle newspaper. Unlike Chookooloonks (or Shutter Sisters, for that matter), none of my own images are on LensHouston; instead, I find the best online images of Houston taken by local photographers, and feature them there for everyone's enjoyment. It's the kind of photoblog designed to make current Houstonians proud of their city, former Houstonians homesick and skeptics realize that there's a lot of beauty here. So, please, check it out, subscribe, forward it to your friends, comment with abandon -- in general, please make me look good to the Chronicle muckity-mucks. But, you know, only if you're so inclined. I promise to think nice thoughts about you in return. * * * * * * * Okay. Now for the fun stuff: I mentioned yesterday that July is my birth month: on July 16th, I'll turn 41. And so, stealing an idea from the beautiful Cori Kindred, I thought that for each weekday between now and the 16th, I'd share 41 random facts about me -- some of which you might know if you know me in real life (or have been reading Chookooloonks since the beginning), others which very few people know about me. In an effort to get to know you guys a bit better, I'd love if during this time between now and the 16th, you share a random fact or two (or 41!) about you as well in the comments. In return for your opening up (or just leaving a comment without sharing any juicy tidbit about you), on my birthday I'll pick a commenter at random. (Actually, I'll likely just count up all the comments between now and then, and have Marcus pick a number at random between 1 and however many comments there are). The person who left the comment corresponding to the number Marcus picks will receive a framed original Chookooloonks photograph. Happy Birthday! Sound good? Then let's get started: 41. When I was a kid, I was a voracious reader. I read so much that at times, my mother would beg me to go outside and play, because she felt 'a young girl like you mus' go an' get a little fresh air once in a while, nah man!' Normally, to appease her, I'd go outside. But I'd still take my book. 40. I am simultaneously attracted to and repulsed by feet. In general, I can't stand feet, and really hate if someone's bare feet touch mine. I didn't wear sandals until I was well into my 20's. And yet, when I see someone with lovely feet, I can't help but stare in admiration. 39. I can't paint -- and I'm not just talking about painting pictures, I'm talking about painting walls. Every time I try, Marcus usually takes the roller from me with exasperation, and fixes the unholy streaking it seems that I am solely capable of creating. Your turn? Song: Back to Life, by Soul II Soul

sunday summer storm

2008-06-30T20:36:03Z

Good weekend: backyard barbecue at my parents' house Saturday, followed by a quiet day at home with storms outside and good wine inside. Also? We put together an IKEA-purchased Big Girl Desk for Alex. She's feeling most important. And to be honest, I feel a bit emotional: looking at her practicing her letters sitting at her desk, I couldn't believe how grown up she seems. Tomorrow is the first of July, and the first day of my birth month. I thought I'd do something a bit fun for my birthday, where one of you get the birthday gift. Stay tuned. Song: 1 2 3 4 by Feist

the face of summer

2008-06-28T16:49:50Z

All sunshine, all the time. (S., shot today at the pool.) Song: Stir it up, by Bob Marley

andie

2008-06-27T21:47:19Z

Tonight we went to a going-away party for our friend Andie. She's returning to London after having lived in Houston for over 5 years. She doesn't know it yet, but she's going to miss hot, humid Houston terribly. Particularly after she fills up her gas tank in England for the first time. Song: Missing (Todd Terry Remix) by Everything But The Girl

stormy days

2008-06-26T20:57:02Z

I love working from home on stormy days. It feels very safe and cozy. Song: Blackbird, as performed by Dionne Farris. I tried to find an online clip of Dionne singing this beautiful song (originally written and performed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney), but it's damned near impossible: the two clips I found on YouTube either (a) showed her singing the song totally differently from the recorded version, which is unfortunate or (b) had the beautiful recorded version, but had scary mime-like people dancing to it. So instead, I link you to her myspace page, where the embedded music will give you a general idea of her vibe. I've been a fan of hers since the mid '90's. If you like what you hear, you can purchase the album with her version of 'Blackbird' here.

chillin'

2008-06-25T21:09:48Z

Tonight, after work, we went over to our friends James and Lisa for some wine and cheese by their pool. It was a nice break from the end-of-quarter crazies. And now, back to work. Song: Starry Eyed Surprise by Paul Oakenfold

girl time

2008-06-24T20:03:06Z

Shot this afternoon, after school. When it comes to Alex, Marcus is much better than I am at entertaining: he will play with Alex for, literally, hours. Weekends are filled with them riding bikes, shooting baskets, swimming in my parents' pool, whatever. If it involves play, Marcus is generally the parent on call -- I'm often inside on my computer, or reading a book, or generally keeping to myself. Marcus, while unfailingly attentive, is also The Fun One. But when it's time to talk, I'm on duty. Every morning when Alex gets up and every night before she goes to bed, we snuggle and talk. Every afternoon that I pick her up after school, we spend some time discussing current events. Sometimes we talk about light subjects, like what happened during her school day, or why it's tough to decide which is better, ballet or gymnastics, or whether popcorn is tastier than cheesy toast. But sometimes we talk about deeper subjects, like what happens when you die, or why parents will do anything and everything to protect their kids, or why the most important thing is to be kind to yourself and kind to other people. I guess Marcus and I just play to our strengths. So far, it seems to be working. Song: 32 Flavors by Ani DiFranco