Bye!!

I'm taking off to the Southern hemisphere, hope everyone is well! I will most definitely post some pictures when I get back.


(And the um, space dogs one too)

Space puppies?!

My friend and I are total, ridiculous nerds. We don't deny it. Reveling in nerdery is an activity I partake in daily. Another activity that I make great attempts at is attending as many museums as humanly possible. Her and I are in the process of creating a list of all the Los Angeles area museums that require our presence. One in particular that I found interesting (to say the least) is the Museum of Jurassic Technology.

Mmmm...

She sent me an email mentioning "space dogs", and that we should be a part of the phenomena.

After much slacking, we finally explored this building of intrigue. There will be a post arriving in the next few days documenting Space dogs, Trailer disasters, and some other oddities.

When trekking in Nepal...

Don't forget to bury your turds after you're finished!

Sleeping with Elvis...

booked and well shooked.

I know, I know, I just wanted something to rhyme.

Anyways...

everything we required for the Great South American adventure is booked. Hurray!

There are some minor details to get arranged, but all the main day trips and the like are taken care of. We had to book hostels for visa purposes, which can be quite a headache. But rest assured, they are taken care of.

I apologize for sucking it at posting entries, but with interning and working seven days a week I haven't had much time. Well, I guess I don't know if people even read this, but if you're one of the five that spend a few moments reading, I salute you.

Faithful readers, I will write more to satiate your souls. Or, fill a couple minutes for you before work beckons.

die Freiheit!

He demands his freedom, fresh water, chew sticks, and sunflower seeds.

Preferably in that order.

Thanks.

My arm tastes like burning

I am vaccinated against yellow fever. Friday morning was reserved for appointment; the night prior anxiety was seeping into my chest. I had heard many horror stories about the pain and the burn that the vaccination brings.

Honestly, the amount of anxiety I had was clearly not worth it. (I am not scared of needles, it is purely situational) I dictated what arm to put it in, then he inserted the needle, and a quick 2 seconds later, it was out. He had me sit there for 10 minutes to make sure there wasn't any bad reactions. All was fine.

Over the last decade I have heard horror stories about Yellow Fever shots, mostly that they had the most pain or burning when the vaccine was injected. I was more nervous for that reason alone. Imagine my shock and glee when I was sweating profusely while he was administering the shot and it lasted 2 seconds. Albeit I don't have anything to compare it to; I haven't had a shot in years. The last vaccination I had was in 1999, and that was with a gun.

The best part about it was it ended up being covered by my insurance...yea!

Evo Morales doesn't like Gingos*

Yours truly finally booked her tickets to Peru and Bolivia!!

I will be spending two weeks-ish in the Southern hemisphere; most of that will be in Peru. I am super excited to go to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. I will be sure to check the toilets to see if the water goes down the other way. (Oddly, there has been requests)

Admittedly, the high altitude is a little intimidating, but I hear that chewing coca leaves and staying hydrated eases that well. I also have to get a visa, which means that your pal Laurenation is going to be getting a Yellow fever vaccination. She isn't too thrilled about it, but if that means she can go to Bolivia I guess that's ok. (talking about vaccinations apparently results in third person monologue) The unfortunate thing is currently there is a world wide shortage of Yellow fever shots so she isn't exactly inexpensive. One positive is that I will be immunized for ten years; so if that trip to Africa or Brasil is in the horizon that's one less shot.

*This gringo is actually just bitter about spending her pennies on a shot that could be used in Bolivia.

My lil' Sea Monkey

A few weeks past I met up with a friend at a bar near her home. It was the grand re-opening; after having to move from the other location they finally opened their doors. Albeit, another strip mall locale it was more a lounge than the dirty dive bar in my memory. Why a strip mall, I don't know. Southern California boggles me in ways that I am still trying to understand.
Before I stray on tangents, the bartender is the real reason why people come here. Er, at least why I love to go. His name is Stu, and he lives on a boat in a harbor 'cause he loves to "live near the fishies. " He also pours a stiff drink to those who imbibe, and he is a tad bit of a flirt. (That night in particular he was wearing a Popeye shirt- how very appropriate.)
When we arrived, we had some great verbal exchanges, some which include me looking fragile (I attribute that to my scarf, winter coat and wool hat that was adorning my body) and slightly boyish. Always the polite conversationalist, I listen to his ramblings of when he used to chase blond women but back then his hair was jet black. I am side tracked by his beautiful handle-bar moustache, which is beyond perfection. If it were possible, there would be one on my upper lip, complete with fringes that grace my lips.
Eventually, the night came to a close, with us heading out the door. A raspy demand echoed from the bar. I sauntered over to Stu, who methodically leans in to inform me:

"When you go home tonight, you think thoughts of dirty old men, because one fell in love with you tonight. "

Who's comin' with me?!

The neighborhood cat!!!

I'm sure you have heard my rantings about the neighbor's cat that is inclined to leave me presents.


Well, he also enjoys when I let him come in and pretend he's my cat for short periods of time, and generally I am ok with that. He's a good part time cat; I have been calling him Maurice, even though I caught his owner calling him Smuckers.

Smuckers?!


Anyways, she tends to leave him outside for extended hours, and it's normally when she is out and about. I generally find him tomcatting around with the other feral cats, even though I always held a higher opinion of Maurice.

Even though he did maroon his decapitated birds on my door way...


I still think he's pretty okay.

Genius!

Caught this in a parking lot in Simi Valley.

Weather I don't miss...

My mom sent this the other day while I was out savoring the 70 degree afternoon.

The best Selina Kyle to grace the screen?

Adrienne Barbeau voicing Selina Kyle in Batman: The Animated Series .

The buns are watching...

I volunteer a few days a week at the SPCALA where these rabbits reside until someone adopts them.

Saber Tooth cats covered in tar look like Wooly Mammoths

Ever since I have laid eyes on the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, I knew what I needed to do: volunteer in the lab separating, labeling and possibly cleaning fossils. I first came upon them in 2002, when I first visited Los Angeles to hang out with my sister that lived in her environs. I didn't go in to the Page Museum until 2004; but my eyes widened to a frightening bulge once I noticed what was beyond the garish displays of Ice age alumni: an all-volunteer group cleaning and sorting the fossils that have been collected since 1914. Musing at what would be quite tedious, I kept my speculations tucked in to the tune of maybe being one of the white coated wonders.

Fast forward to 2007:

I took a peek at the volunteer requirements, and I am not sure my desire will be fulfilled. Eight hours a week?! Even though I did read that if you volunteer over 96 hours, you can help excavate Pit 91! It only happens in the summer time for two months, and watching them dig I can't help but feel anxious. I admit to my feverish love of tedious activities; digging around for Pleistocene has beens sounds like an excellent way to spend my afternoons.

Not so Farsi away....

I couldn't resist, even though it's in French...

I bought tickets for a screening of Persepolis that includes a Q&A with Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud. I have been a long time fan of the graphic novels, so here's hoping it will be a great interpretation. I caught an interview with Marjane Satrapi that mentioned she had complete creative control. (yea!) Although my one qualm so far is the subtitles. In the previews they are white, blending in a bit too well. It'll make for an interesting experience, that's for certain.

My rabbit doesn't have to wear my mascara anymore

After years of animal rights activists' angry letters, L’Oréal has developed a lab grown skin substitute called Episkin. Discover has an awesome article that I found most delightful and definitely needed to share:


By Anne Casselman

In cosmetic labs, rabbits donning mascara and lipstick are on the way out, while patches of lab-grown skin are in. L’Oréal has developed an uncanny human skin substitute called Episkin that is animal friendly and can determine whether an ingredient will turn toxic in the sun or corrode, penetrate, or irritate human skin.

To make Episkin, a layer of fish collagen is seeded with human skin cells discarded from plastic surgeries. “One hundred cells are able to multiply, and you can get 20 million cells within a week,” says Patricia Pineau, research communications director at L’Oréal. After seven days, voilà! You have a patch of skin that can tan and age under UV light. Last year, Episkin was used to test some 3,000 products.

Episkin is in part a response to the European Union Cosmetics Directive, which calls for a ban on all animal testing by 2013. The skin substitute is also being used to make customized grafts for burn victims and for children who can’t handle exposure to UV light without risking cancer.

Here is a link to cosmetic companies that still do animal testing:

http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDoTest.pdf

And a whole web page devoted to the ones who do not:

http://www.aavs.org/compassionateshop02.html

Catwoman gets her "powers" from cats

*sigh*

I am trying my best not to allow my emotions to overcome me. But it is a matter that concerns me and every vagina and comic owning person in the free world:

Why is Catwoman portrayed as a lowly shut-in? Until she is either ravaged by cats, or um, well saved by cats? Is that what I want to say?

Let's take a peek at the offenders...Mystical cats that breathe power into the now dead Patience Phillips, after she was chased to her death down some plumbing(?). Apparently these cats have been pursuing her to see if she was worthy of their tuna scented powers. I still think they should have given the gift to a guinea pig. I'm sure it would've been smarter and not given its identity up after the first heist. (Note to future Catwomen: Do not write on objects at the scene of the crime, they can trace that)

Selina Kyle, a wronged secretary who transforms into Catwoman after being thrown from a building. Here our Selina only gains powers after some alley cats eat the fleshy parts of her fingers and whatever else our hungry felines can scour. After this, she is no longer the shy, demure secretary; she's assertive, sexy, and well versed in self defense.

What?!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I really thought the transformation was due to years of sexual abuse/prostitution. She then trained to become the person she is today. The origins always vary, but the story stays the same: Selina Kyle busted her ass and overcame her past life of abuse. And really loves cats.

Which finally brings me to my point. Or question, really. Why does Catwoman have to have something utterly ridiculous to happen to become her character? Can't she just train like the rest of them? Is it that far fetched that a female can be that strong without the aid of mystical cats? I understand that there is never enough time for origin stories, but Spiderman 3 did. And that was for 3 villains. She had her own movie for cryin' out loud. I think I had more fun getting my uterus scraped then watching that movie in its entirety.

So, why does our fearless feline get relegated to some transcendental experience while the boys get solid origin stories? I know not everyone hearts Selina Kyle as much as I do, but she deserves it, and so does every geek watching.

Perhaps someday they will make a Catwoman worthy enough that I can fully support. I just hope Ed Brubaker is behind it.

Liberace gerbils look like joshua trees

last month, my eldest gerbil, Gloria, passed away. She was a fan of chocolate, although knowing it could kill her, still indulged on my Mr. Goodbar she found. Although the Mr. Goodbar wasn't what led to her untimely demise, she did have some tumors.

Anyways, we decided to head on back to land of Elvis to purchase yet another, gerbil. Besides, the Colonel was waiting...


The Mojave hasn't always been the best hostess, but she sure is a sight to see...




The Joshua trees are my personal favorite



More Mountains...




Yup...




We finally reach one of my favorite spots on the way to Vegas; Baker, California. It's the gateway to Death Valley, and pretty much the only spot that has gas and food for quite some time. Baker has the largest thermometer out of alot of people, it's always fun to check how ungodly hot it is out.




And another fav of mine, the Mad Greek! I don't think I took any pictures of the actual building, but I figured this was good enough.




Closer...



Well, fortunately for us, we were not headed to Salt Lake City.



My ears were KILLING me.



Alright! We finally made it inside the state of Nevada! The casinos that welcome you across are pretty nifty.



Once we got into Vegas, we went straight to the place that the Colonel is from: Pet Kingdom USA. This place has kinkajoos, sugar gliders, MONKEYS, lizards and lots of other crazy things that might give you monkeypox.



Unfortunately, all the gerbils looked like Bartelby, so we went over to Petsmart, to find a gerb. (Note: I would've been fine with another grey gerb.) We found a black one, sort of resembled the Lord Gilmore. But she was under a lot of stress, from being alone, and the way that she was handled, we decided to take her under our wing.

Before we left, I knew we had to tend to one more matter:



The Hooka smoke shop? No, the Liberace museum!!



In all her glory...



We didn't get to go in, she was closed...




So welcoming...



After all that excitement, we decided to head back to L.A.



Vegas treated us well, but the new gerb was pumped to get into her new digs and leave her old life of abuse behind.



When we finally got home, that dang cat that I have been suspicious of left me a present:



I guess I should be thankful that someone was thinking of me.