June 28 - Summer Breeze
Friday night, I tried to organize a group to go see F9/11 on opening night. I had a group of 9 people who were counting on me to order the tickets. I couldn't get advance tickets because the movie was sold out at the time we planned to see it, I felt so bad. I tried to find an alternate theater, but couldn't find any that had any showings between 5pm and 10pm. Which was bad for us being able to see the movie, but great for the message it sends to the White House. Anyways, I've been spending lots of money on my car this month. Got a new tire at Costco yesterday. There were over 30 people in line on Saturday morning, so I went back on Sunday. Today, we dropped off my car to get the brake pads and shoes replaced. This week I've got to get my wheels aligned. It's good to have a good mechanic. And it's good to be taking care of my car, after neglecting it so much of the time. Tony trimmed several of the Japanese bushes in the front yard yesterday.
Purple bouganvillea and lemon tree
Magenta bouganvillea
Laundry and Tibetan Peace Flags
Sego palm
I'll sign off with some pictures of my backyard taken last weekend, the first weekend of summer. Even though this is the first year I haven't done a garden, I still love my beautiful yard. I love when the sun comes out and I can hang my laundry to dry in the breeze. Monday - Click here to comment:
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June 23 - A few recent pix
Grandma with Kyle and Kieth
June 19 - In memory of Vincent Chin
Saori with Kyle & Kaylee
Jenni with Sergio & Baby Olivia
Baby Kaylee at 5 weeks
I wanted to take a photo to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of Vincent Chin's murder 6/19/82. If you're wondering, Vincent was a Chinese American who was beaten to death by two auto workers in a horrific hate crime on the night of his bachelor party, a few days before he was to be married. The killers served no jail time. RIP Vincent. The Asian American community organized to fight this injustice and won a civil lawsuit (which was never paid). No justice, no peace. Read the Asian Week article about Vincent Chin.
On a happier note, we went to my brother Darin's house for Father's Day... here are some recent photos of the grandkiddies. Then last night, we went to visit our friends Sergio and Steph, and got to meet their baby Olivia. We hadn't seen them since their wedding two years ago. Sergio is an awesome artist who worked with us on the Aloha Mural and will be working with Tony on the Little Tokyo Mural this summer. Wednesday - Click here to comment:
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June 19 - Fahrenheit 9/11
I'm looking forward to seeing Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11, especially after seeing him on Letterman last night. This is from Moveon.org. "Given how devastating the movie is to President Bush's carefully crafted facade, it's hardly surprising that right-wing groups who call Moore a "domestic enemy" are using censorship and intimidation tactics to try to get it pulled from theaters. That's why we've got to do everything we can to make the opening a huge success. Today, we're asking MoveOn members to pledge to see the film on the opening night -- Friday, June 25th. (If you can't make it on Friday, pledging to go on Saturday or Sunday is fine, too)... Fahrenheit 9/11 isn't just the most powerful and complete indictment of the Bush administration that I've ever seen - it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. "
See the Fahrenheit 9/11 trailer and pledge to see the movie next weekend. Let me know if you're interested in going opening night. I'm trying to organize some friends to go see it. Saturday - Click here to comment:
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June 18 - End of an Era
I just heard the officlal news. Phil Jackson is moving on. Shaq wants out. Kobe's opting out. It's the end of the world, as we know it. So, I guess there'll be lots of changes for the purple and gold. Man, I really wanted to go to the parade this year. Whenever I walk downtown, I see the purple line for the parade route on Figueroa. Friday - Click here to comment:
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June 14 - How to Boil an Egg
I have bad allergies today. Sucks. Either that or I'm catching a cold. Stayed home today, and it gave me a chance to finish up my column called, "Sharing Stories of Manzanar, J-Town and All Relations."
Tony read the last entry and wanted me to give a plug to Danny, the great mechanic who fixed my car last week. It is J&S Auto Service, located at 2030 S. San Pedro Street, a few blocks South of the 10 Freeway. If you go there, tell them you know Jenni & Tony, and congratulate his son on his elementary school graduation.
Also, Tony wanted me to tell the world (wide web) that while he was out of town this weekend at his cousin Tina's graduation from UC Santa Cruz, that I googled "How To Boil an Egg." Hey! Give me a break. I have many talents and skills, but cooking just isn't one of them. I didn't know, so why shouldn't I check it out? In any case, here are 143 tips on how to boil an egg. And by the way, adding salt to the water did make it much easier to peel, and I got perfectly hard boiled eggs. Monday - Click here to comment:
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June 12 - Remembering Reagan
I actually voted for Reagan in my first election back in 1984. Back in the day, with Republican parents, growing up in a conservative area, trying to be a business major, what did I know? I was a money saver back then, and the interest rate on my CD was something like 10 or 12%. My dad said it was because of Reagan. Obviously, if you know anything about me today, you know that I no longer vote Republican, sometimes vote green, and occasionally reluctantly vote Democrat. That said, I have had enough of all this Reagan idol worship this week. I'm sorry that he had Alzheimer's, and my condolences to the family. But he lived a long life and I truly don't think that he deserves the big deal he is getting. The mainstream media with its constant revisioning of history has made me nauseous this week. I have had to listen to KPFK to hear any kind of real critique of Reagan's legacy. Here are a few of the dozens of great articles I found on Common Dreams:
Car Trouble I had some car trouble this week with my 12 year old Honda. For the FIRST time, it just completely stalled about a block from my office. I was on a hill and started rolling backwards in traffic - it was scary! I had to call the guys from the office to come push me to a parking meter. Later that day, I got towed to my mechanic, which is just around the corner from Tony's work, and right in front of the Dash bus stop that goes from Tony's school to my office, so it was very convenient. It turns out it was the coil and igniter. Danny, my JA mechanic actually called around a bunch of places cause the part was $200 at the dealer, and he found the same name brand for $100 somewhere else. I was also about 3 months overdue for an oil change, so he did that too. A few hours before I went to pick it up, I remembered I was due for a smog check and asked him if he could do it for me. He said he is not a "test only" site, but he could take it to get smogged for me and have it ready by 5:00, in time for the Laker game. What service. He's a great guy, who comes highly recommended from several friends. If you're looking for a mechanic near downtown LA that is honest and goes above and beyond, email me and I'll give you the scoop. Saturday - Click here to comment:
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June 6 - The Weekend
Yesterday, I had breakfast with my longtime friend Gary, and Mikazuko, who was in town for the weekend. It was the first time I actually met one of my blogger friends, and it was really nice. We went to Venice Beach, ate omelettes, people watched, walked around, and hung out. It was my first time to step foot in the ocean in Venice in years. Geez I can't remember the last time! Maybe 10 years? More? Pretty pathetic considering I have lived only a few short miles from the beach for the last 7 years. Afterwards, I went bra shopping at Fox Hills Mall, first time in a mall in maybe two years. I remember a time when I used to go to Fox Hills at least every 2-3 weeks, as I worked a few blocks away for 10 years. I only recognized 3 or 4 stores that are still there from the late 80s-early 90s. Last night, Tony rented City of God, a movie about the harsh life of living in the shanty town slums in Brazil. It was about a period in the 60s and 70s with the dealer-on-dealer drug wars, including young children as dealers and killers. It was very graphic, violent and disturbing. Even more sad is that it is based on a true story, and based on a documentary on the DVD, things have not changed much over the years.
This morning, I did some laundry, 42 minutes of yoga, dishes and breakfast before noon. Then, I went to a Manzanar 9/11 meeting. Some young folks are planning a pilgrimage to Manzanar on September 11 this year, to commemorate the first pilgrimage to Manzanar in 1969--during the Asian American movement. It is a group of some pretty progressive young people, who are making connections between the first pilgrimage and current events with detainment, disappearance and deportation of Arab Americans, Muslims, South Asians and immigrants in general. It's an exciting project--but I'm being protective of my time and commitment to new projects as I am tired. Came home, took a nap, watched a pretty disappointing Laker game, had a yummy salad with wasabi dressing and some split pea soup Tony made. Sunday nite- Click here to comment:
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June 3 - The Price is (not) right.
Been in a routine lately. Get up, watch my Japanese soap, morning nap on couch, do yoga & meditation, make smoothie for breakfast, do dishes, shower, go to work, come home, eat dinner, do dishes, and play Simmies.
I heard on the radio that Laker's finals tickets on the floor where Jack sits are $16,000 each! It's no wonder the Staples Center can practically sell out with the $15 tickets when the Lakers were on the road during the playoffs. That's when the Staples Center becomes accessible to regular people. When they're not even fricken here. That is just not right. I went to my old scrapbook and found a ticket stub from a 1982 Laker game at the Forum for $12.50. According to a clipping I saved from that game, the score was Lakers 153, Nuggets 128. Players were Kareem, Magic, Norm, Jamal, with Coach Pat Riley. Anywho, fast forward to 2004, I just paid $78 each for tickets to Simon & Garfunkel for me & Tony's 9th anniversary. Oh, plus $9.50 convenience fee per ticket plus $2 shipping & handling. Highway robbery... but I missed Simon & Garfunkel when they were at Dodger Stadium in 1982 for their farewell concert because I caught the chicken pox. Thursday - Click here to comment:
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June 2 - We are the Children We are the children of Martin and Malcolm
Black, brown, red, yellow and white.
And so we cannot be silent
As we witness the weapons assembled
To blister our souls and incinerate our planet.
We are the children of Martin and Malcolm.
Our ancestors,
Proud and Brave,
Defied the storms and powers
of masters and madmen.
We are the children of Martin and Malcolm,
And when bombs push the sun from the sky
And threaten to fill the air with blood and screams
Of the dead and dying,
We cannot be silent.
We are the children of Martin and Malcolm,
Our birthright is to be creators of history.
Our glory is to struggle.
You shall know our names as you know theirs,
Sojourner and Douglass, John Brown and Garrison.
We are the children of Martin and Malcolm,
Black, brown, red, yellow, and white.
Our Right, Our Duty
To shake the world with
A new dream!
By Grace Lee Boggs, John Gruchala, Ilaseo Lewis
June 1982 (With addition of the word "yellow" in the first and last stanzas by Jenni) Wednesday - Click here to comment:
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June 1 - Five more months
Hung two loads of laundry in the backyard, went to Whole Foods and got a great Wasabi salad dressing, and went to the furniture stores at the old Helms Bakery. Saw the Laker game at Mike & Laura's last night with a few of their friends. I failed miserably at my first knitting lesson, but my curiosity is piqued, so I may try again... or go back to my easy crocheting. Did my daily yoga. That's about it for the long weekend.
Gosh, I'm hoping that we get that guy out of here in the next 5 months. I was at a BBQ this weekend, and I was happy to hear my friend's brother say that he was disgusted with Bush. He is a Republican, a Gulf War vet, and a pretty conservative guy, so I was surprised and happy to hear that he and people he knew were going to vote for Kerry, because they are so unhappy with Bush. I didn't ask what he thought about Iraq, or the 9/11 commission, or all the lies about this and that, but it seemed to be something about the economy. Anyways, there was a glimmer of hope that more "Elephants" out there are feeling like he is. It reminds me how surprised I was when I heard that people in my family were voting for Clinton 12 years ago. Five more months... let's get to work people. Nov. 2 is my birthday, I'll be 40 years old... I don't want to be depressed because of the state of the union. Tuesday - Click here to comment:
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