Do you see what I see?
Plane’s eye view
Maybe it’s just me, but I always love plane rides and it was fascinating when one of my flights had a camera installed underneath the plane. Here’s what it looks like to take off from LAX and land in Narita as I did on my way to Singapore over a year ago.
takeoff from LAX from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
landing in NRT from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Lakers domination
No, I am not writing about the Lakers’ victory today. But in these weeks leading up to these games, Los Angeles has been speckled with Lakers flags. You can’t drive anywhere without seeing them! You know what I’m talking about. Those little flags that flutter in the wind as cars drive, barely hanging on for dear life as the wind whips them into ragged pieces of cloth. They’re super annoying for reasons I can’t seem to pinpoint, but admit it, you think so too. As an avid Lakers fan, I’m sure you wouldn’t admit though, would you?
Then I heard there were riots going on after Tuesday’s game? What insanity. Today everyone left for work early, leaving me all alone because they had to rush home to catch this momentous match-up. Oh, and of course they spent the day figuring out how to bet to win the most money! I am amazed at the level of obsession fans have. It’s really quite interesting to observe, so long as it doesn’t get dangerous. I made sure to stay home tonight lest there were trouble on the streets, from elated Lakers fans or bitter Celtics fans. At least summer has come and most students have moved out of the area for this week to be at home before summer school or internships start. We got some loud honking and rowdy behavior, but nothing too bad.
Seriously though, what is it about the Lakers that makes Angelenos go wild? Maybe it’s just because I don’t connect with the city the way that I do my school. I can imagine being that excited if UCLA basketball or football won a championship. But the Lakers? Though purple is my favorite color and they do have Jordan Farmar, it’s just not enough to get me to join in the wild celebrations. I wouldn’t mind so much if those annoying flags weren’t a part of the picture… By the way, click on the picture to see the source and read the article that comes with it – you’ll find another gem of a picture there.
Foamy creatures
Banning scary
I’m not a fan of scary movies or shows, but murder mysteries are fine with me. I can’t remember the last horror film I watched (if I ever did) and I certainly don’t ever plan on seeing one. I don’t see the appeal in spooking yourself and I’m great at scaring myself as it is. So, instead I stick to shows like NCIS or Lie to Me, where though there is danger and death, there isn’t anything too sinister.
And now happily, I have chosen to pick up Medium to add to my repertoire of shows. Initially I was afraid it would be too dark, but after previewing an episode, it seems there aren’t any terribly traumatizing scenes. With six seasons, there are plenty of shows to keep me occupied when I just want to sit back at night and not have to think too hard. Oh the wonder of television entertainment… 🙂
I ban all things scary from my life and I think the world would do better to do so too. Why add that stress and worry to your life? You can get thrills from plenty of other things. But hey, to each his own.
Dolphin Lagoon
On Sentosa Island, there is a Dolphin Lagoon where I went to watch the pink dolphins perform. Afterwards, I took a picture with Squirt, who only liked girls! 😉
squirt the dolphin from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Eating ritual
Lately I’ve noticed that I always smell my food before I eat it, getting a good whiff of the scent to prime my taste buds for enjoyment. It may seem strange and sometimes I catch myself and wonder what people who see me doing that would think. There are times when people find it normal, like when you get a steaming bowl of soup set before you. I think it should be something we do for all our food though! There are some fantastic smells to experience and sniffing something appetizing only makes us enjoy it more. I definitely think engaging another sense, especially one as powerful as smell, can enhance the experience.
Think about how your mouth waters when you get a whiff of your neighbor’s cooking. The anticipation itself can make the experience so much better. So next time you’re getting ready to take a bite into a delicious bit of food, stop and take good long inhalation of the aroma first. I bet it will make you enjoy your food that much more.
Killers concert
I volunteered for a few hours and in exchange, got free entry into the concert!
killers concert from Mary Qin on Vimeo.