Monthly Archives: September 2006

I talked to a cowboy last night!

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I was leaving work last night, and just as I was about to call Melissa, I saw a guy hanging out near the chemistry buildings. He was wearing a large cowboy hat. In Berkeley, a place renowned for people and things not-normal, this was not normal.

“Excuse me,” the guy called out in a distinctly Texan accent.

I walked toward him and could now see him better in the dim light. He had one of those shirts with the fringe on, and I thought he was also wearing one of those bolo tie.

He wasn’t just some student wearing a cowboy hat. He was a cowboy!

“Is the organic exam in Pimentel?” he asked.

“Sorry, I have no idea.” I replied.

“Oh, thanks anyway.” he said, and I started walking down the hill.

Kind fella, that cowboy. I wish he would have given a little more cowboy speak, like, “I’ll let ‘cha wrangle on home there, chuck-eater,” but alas…

Dulcet

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The band Camera Obscura was described as “dulcet” by Morning Becomes Eclectic. Since it’s been a while since I increased everyone’s vocabulary, I thought I’d post it.

dulcet – adjective
1. pleasant to the ear; melodious
2. pleasant or agreeable to the eye or the feelings; soothing

Scholars of romance languages will guess the etymology:

Alteration (influenced by Latin dulcis), of Middle English doucet from Old French, diminutive of douce feminine of doux (sweet) from Latin dulcis.

Thanks dictionary.com!

Flake Music – When You Land Here, It’s Time to Return

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[Flake Music - When You Land Here, It's Time to Return]When I discovered the Shins, I completely devoured their two albums. I almost resorted to buying CD singles just to get a few more of their tracks. It wasn’t until listening to their show on Morning Becomes Eclectic that I learned about their predecessors, Flake Music. I’m not sure predecessors is the right word, since Flake Music disbanded only to return with the same lineup on the Shins’ first album. In any case, When You Land Here, It’s Time to Return features that lo-fi sound that you know and love.

ND vs. Michigan: Mr. Brightside

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Not only did Notre Dame lose to Michigan, and looked bad doing it, but that means I have to do this:

[Something I really don't want to be wearing]

However, in the interest of maintaining optimism, I present to you five things that make me happy.

5) I saved 50 cents with a coupon at lunch yesterday.
4) Today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day.
3) My bike is functioning again and serves as the best way to get to work since I’m not eligible for a bus pass anymore.
2) I have my health, which is important since I don’t know if I have health insurance.
1) Baseball.

White Sox at Athletics: Where to focus your attention at a baseball game

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Last night, we went to see the A’s host the Chisox at the Coliseum. Loaiza started for the A’s and continued his second half resurgence, allowing 2 runs only four baserunners in 7 innings. The offense had plenty of opportunities and did enough damage to give Oakland the 4-2 victory. The win lowered the A’s magic number to 11, with 16 games to play. The two points I’d like to make are two examples of incompetence due to lack of focus of what was happening on the field.

  • In the fourth inning, Chavez led off with a walk, and Payton followed with a double to right center, giving the A’s runners at second and third with no outs. Swisher came to the plate, and hit a shallow fly ball to right field. RF Dye, who has an outstanding throwing arm, settled under it and made the catch flat-footed. To his surprise, Chavez dashed for the plate and scored ahead of a delayed throw from the outfield. On the play, Payton moved up to third, scoring when Ellis hit a sacrifice fly to center. Replays of Dye showed him in absolute disbelief that Chavez, who’s been hampered by leg problems this season, would attempt to score on a shallow fly ball to a strong-armed outfielder. If he would have set up to catch the ball and get it back to the infield, he could have prevented a run (for a play at least). The result of the inning was a 2-1 A’s lead, which they would not relinquish.
  • There were a group of French-Canadians down the row from us. I suspected early on that they weren’t entirely familiar with the game. My hypothesis was confirmed when I saw one of them taking a picture of the guy selling churros in the stands. Bizarre.