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Hanabatake ~ Page of Ardith-ness

Near Miss

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Written by Ardith Sunday, 04 May 2008 21:29

I know that I'm a lucky girl.

I've got a great big family and a bunch of wacky friends who care about me. I have a steady job, a nice car, and live in comfort.

Of course, you can lose it all in a second.

I realized that as I drove to San Diego today. My sister was throwing a Fob Party for her boyfriend's 30th birthday. If you don't know what a Fob Party is, it's a bit of a self-deprecating phrase/term of endearment for a family party. It was a term we used growing up in San Diego as part of the immigrant Filipino community. The though being that we're all fobs and family, but it's good and even great to be that way.

But I digress. As I was driving south on the 15 FWY, someone's furniture fell out of their pick-up truck. Apparently, an empty dresser does not have enough weight on it's own to weather 70+ miles per hour in the back of a pick-up.

The truck was in a slower lane, but the dresser flew across the whole freeway, landing near the fast lane, just a few feet away from my car. I swung my C-RV to the left (but not into the center divide), and sped around the debris, my heart pounding. A few seconds faster, my passenger side (along with my mother) would have been hit. Luckily, I've been trained in the art of swerving from my years playing Mario Cart and other video games.

Note to self: Might need to put some time to play Lego Star Wars' flight simulators to sharpen skills.

After the near-accident, we went on our merry way and reached our destination without any further danger.

Of course, seconds can mean life or death or paying out a deductible. I enjoyed the Fob party and the yummy food, drove home and took a nice, life affirming nap.

Thankfully, no more furniture was hurt in the process of returning home. Monday is fast approaching and everything is pretty swell, you know, cuz I didn't have an accident. Score one for all those video games that gave me a pretty fast reaction time.

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Season 4 of Doctor Who

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Written by Ardith Saturday, 19 April 2008 19:16

Sci-Fi Network has started showing Season 4 of Doctor Who and it's a brilliant one.

Last season, Martha left the Doctor after the Year-That-Never-Was. In the 2007 Christmas Special, the Doctor finds himself on the Titanic. Only it's a space-cruise ship and the unsuspecting passengers are about to experience a disaster of epic proportions. It's apparently not Christmas in England without a space incident.

The Who-obsessed know that this season the Doctor's Companion is Donna Noble from the 2006 Doctor Who Christmas Special. When they first met, Donna was a bride hell-bent on not believing a word the Doctor said. Donna Noble is caustic, funny, and not at all impressed with the Doctor. She's not in love with him at all. He's an alien and she doesn't swing that way. After letting him go after the Christmas Special, she feels set adrift. She's desperate to find him again since he's opened her eyes to the universe and everything in it.

I'm planning on savoring these 13 episodes, especially since next year will consist of 4 Doctor Who specials rather than a full season. And I think it's nice that Donna is more mature than the Doctor's last few companions. She's definitely quick witted, funny, and questions situations and the Doctor's decisions.

Oh... And my favorite companion is back. But HOW? Du-du-dun. I can't help it. I'm a purveyor of 10xRose doctor who "porn." Speaking of which, I'll have to finish that soon...

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Back to School

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Written by Ardith Saturday, 19 April 2008 12:02

It's been years since I've taken a class. I wonder if I'll be be able to adjust to the whole cycle of note taking, working on homework, and tests.

To tell you the truth, it's more than a little daunting for me. Do I have enough discipline? Will I be a studious student?

Truthfully, I like to be right. For all the frivolous things that I enjoy in my life, I'm competitive (but hopefully not obnoxious). I exhibit all of those wonderful Type-A personality traits (again, hopefully not in an obnoxious manner), even as I try to control my reactions.

Anyway, since I've moved away from the city, I've concluded it's time to expand my knowledge and learn new stuff.

A year ago this time, I was in Los Angeles working at Broccoli International. I still love my former co-workers and miss them, but as they like to remind me -- I live in the boondocks. My social life (as it was) in LA was 10x more lively than my current one. Not that I'm complaining! It's actually nice to have some quite time to decompress.

So I'll be taking some classes at Mt. San Jacinto College and UCR, hopefully making friends around here. I guess it's time to get off my butt and make some friends.

In the meantime, I think I'll watch some movies. I'm looking forward to The Fall (out May 9, 2008 in Limited Release), featuring my favorite pie maker, Lee Pace. Doesn't it look luscious?

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Age?

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Written by Ardith Wednesday, 16 April 2008 21:04

I had a strange experience this past week. I don't know if it was because I cut my hair (a smidgen past shoulder length) or because of my work out clothes, but I was mistaken for a high school senior.

I went to Michael's to pick up my youngest sister's graduation portrait after it was framed and the very nice woman at the counter asked me when I was going to graduate.

When I told her I was 31, she looked at me in shock and said she thought I was at the most in early college, but thought I was more likely graduating high school.

So I spent the afternoon a bit bemused. I mean, it's nice to look younger than you are, but I'm not sure looking like I'm a teenager is really the best thing in the world, either.

I guess I could wear more adult clothes, but I'm sure that one day my sisters will call up TLC and get me on What Not To Wear. I'm sure that they'd set me straight.

I mean, after the make-over from Tyra, I just reverted back to my old ways. Beauty is pain.

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Forgetting Sarah Marshall

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Written by Ardith Friday, 11 April 2008 14:23

The truth is, I'm a little bias against frat-boy movies. Maybe it's the same feeling that men experience with chick-flicks....

But I can't wait for Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

I really, really want to watch this movie. Forgetting Sarah Marshall looks totally cute. It could be that Jason Segel so adorable in How I Me Your Mother OR that Jason Segel is writing the new Muppet Movie. He's just the cutest thing.