Karaoke Superstar

So yesterday I made it into Manhattan and dropped my bags off at my friend Sue's place of work. Then I went next door to the Starbucks where I found a table upstairs that served as my place of work just fine (for the most part--it was a bit noisy at times.) We met up when she was done with work and headed to a Karaoke bar/restaurant. We got ourselves our own private karaoke room and some Japanese fare, sake, etc.

After about an hour and a half of rocking out to such hits as "Everything I Own" by Bread, "Su-Susudio" by Phil Collins, and "The Origin of Love" from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, we decided to share our mad talents with the rest of the folks at the establishment by doing a number at the bar. Sue can sing very well, so she sounded lovely. I don't so much have the best voice, but...I do have some fantastic parody lyrics to "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison that my friend Shannen and I wrote when we were 15 years old. I had just sung the song in our private karaoke room but thought it needed to be shared with the masses, so decided to sing it again. It goes a little something like this...


We both lie silently still in our hospital beds
Although we both feel most together
There are parts of us outside

Was it something I did or something I hit
Did our bodies not come out right?
Though I tried not to kill us, though I tried

I guess that's why they say every road has its trucker
Just like every knife has its blay-ay-ay-ade
Just like every cowgirl has some fringe on her boots
Every road has its trucker
Yeah it does...

I listen to my heart beat on the respirator
Well the nurse says life's a game of easy come and easy go
But I wonder, does she know?
Did she ever pass high school?
And I know that we'd be whole right now if that truck hadn't lost control

Every road has its trucker
Just like every knife has its blay-ay-ay-ade
Just like every cowgirl has some fringe on her boots
Every road has its trucker

Although I've had some surgery
I can still feel so much pain
I'll need some plastic body parts so I can still
I can still remain

I know I could've saved our lives that night if I'd swerved off the road
Cuz I wasn't smart, our arms made their separate ways
Well I hear they found some BODY new
Buried in the ground next to Peggy Sue
The doctors tear me up inside
I can feel them cut me with their knives

I guess that's why they say every road has its trucker
Just like every knife has its blay-ay-ay-ade
Just like every cowgirl has some fringe on her boots
Every road has its trucker

I am not convinced anyone noticed the swap out of the lyrics. But it was fun to perform it "in public" just the same. While at the bar, we made the acquaintance of another karaoke superstar who is an actor* and, apparently, on a popular soap opera*.


*Name of actor and soap opera shall be withheld.

Scarlett's Travels in New York

October 7-12: NYC

October 12-16: Ithaca

October 16-18: Albany

October 19-20: Beacon

October 20: NYC

October 21: Flying Home

Bloggin'

It's been just over two years since I embarked on my journey to China and Mongolia. I am in the middle of trying to write text to accompany my photo essay on Mongolia for the second issue of en fuego (which, like the first issue, is over a year late!) So I thought I would read my travel blog to get some ideas about writing. I got a bit sentimental for that time, but also quite pleased that I had written and kept that blog!

It's a Friday night and I'm sitting next to Jason while he's watching a hockey game (it's the quarter finals). We just got back from visiting our friends and their newborn little girl in the hospital room. She's so cute!

Back to Mongolia and the photo essay. Maybe I'll try to write another post before a year and half passes by again.

The Wipe-Out Queen of 2006

On Sunday, I tried surfing for the very first time in Pacifica, CA. I had signed up for a two-day beginning surf clinic with my pal, Nathaniel. I didn't ever manage to stand on the board long enough to "catch a wave", so I don't think you can call what I did "surfing." But it was fun, and since the first day was cancelled due to rain, I still have another lesson ahead of me, already paid for.

After three ours, I was beat. Exhausted from the activity and being thrashed around by the ocean.

The next day, my arms were so damn sore from carrying the board around, I could barely dress myself.

I hope next time I actually manage to stand on the board whilst in the water!

All fun and games until...

someone gets clocked in the head by a bridal bouquet!

Yep, that someone was me. I was dragged out by the bride (so I couldn't say no) to go be among the three other non-enthusiastic single women who were supposed to vye for the bouquet. One woman hid behind me and pushed me as the bouquet was thrown; I ducked down and put my hands over my head; and I don't know what the other two were doing. All I know is that I got hit in the back of the head, and when the flowers fell to the floor, the others decided since they hit me first, I had to keep them.

Perfect.

This is my San Francisco blog. Welcome to my San Francisco blog. I kiss you!!!!

In March 2006, I left San Francisco to travel for six months. I returned at the end of August. Since then, I have been reacclimating nicely. Sure, nothing as exciting as sleeping in a ger, climbing the Great Wall, sneaking a photo a Jesus Action Figure with Terracotta Warriors, or watching Mongolian wrestling...but...fun and fulfilling just the same.

About two weeks after I was back, I started working for Wheeler Street Design, small Web design firm based in Santa Rosa. The company is run by three fellows I've known for a few years (two of whom I'd worked with before). I am basically a Project Coordinator, but since I have some HTML and Web experience, I am able to lend those skills to projects as well. There was no difficult transition period involving me spending hours on the Internets searching for a job.

So far, the job has been going very well. I spent the first two weeks working on a big Web site that consumed much of my time: 126.5 hours to be exact. But...my work load has decreased dramatically. The other great thing is that I get to work from home. But, since the company office is in Santa Rosa, not far from where my mom lives, I can go visit the office every two weeks or so and stay the night at my mom's and visit her and my stepdad as well!

In addition to the job, I am also getting a move on with our next issue of en fuego. Lots of exciting content planned for this issue, but you'll just have to wait until next April to read it!