Memorial Day laid the foundations for a great weekend including, in no particular order, enjoyment of the Holden-Corbett-Scott nuptuals, off-roading on the way to M-37, a visit from my biker aunt and uncle, getting to see a million bazillion old friends, doing Bikram for the first time in a few months, and taking my papa's bike for a spin around Silver Lake. Photos of the wedding coming soon. For now it's back in A-ville -- proctoring examinations, doing Japanese homework, and producing quantities of sweat reminiscent of those produced in past summersGroossssssss.

<-- [This is where I go on my morning run.]

The only thing I like better than my parents bringing me stuff is my parents per se.¹ But this time around (yesterday) they came with strings attached, i.e. camera ubs cords, kitchenwares, hard apple cider and/or information about my impending trip to Ecuador². Thanks, guys.

So yesterday Jake and I, for the first time in many moons, formally (with a sensei) studied the sweet sweet Japanese language, and it was invigorating, somewhat validating, and wholly enjoyable. I feel like a new woman, mayhap because of the nihongo, or perhaps due to the conclusion of the week-long master cleanser. Even more likely: a 50/50 combination of the two.

And now, a good picture (courtesy of roommate) of what we incorrectly, yet consistently, refer to as the "CRUX"³ of our complex; the V-shaped courtyard into which are packed myriad stairwells, bicycles, etc. It's noiiiicceeeee, and has a sugoi-urban feel to it.

¹perhaps used incorrectly, this phrase has been the focus of heavy discussion in my life lately, and I'm trying to work out the kinks. Just be ok with it.
²during which will be relived many fantastic experiences to the tune of this one.
³a CRUX that Jake's papa likened M.C. Escher's "Relativity.". By Jove, he's got it.

I had a LOT to write about today, but the only topic that really sticks in my mind is the discovery of a 336Convenience Store in my building! Hooray! Up until now I'd thought the first floor housed only a stationery shop and a tobacco shop, but NO -- there's also a co-n-bi-ni, and it boasts the largest seletion of 336Calorie-and-336Caffeine-Free Beverages I've seen since junior year. Seriously: Tab, Fresca, Diet Barq's and Diet 7-Up on ONE SHELF, at the low low price of 2 for $1. I was taken by the splendor.

I miss Japan.

Oh, and Vnak and Katie are having babies! Now!

Seriously, what is with elastic-waisted jackets? I mean, i know I probably had one at one point, and I know my dad probably has one and may have worn it once or twice since the turn of the century, but STILL. Elastic waists. Man. The past week's freakishly unpleasant weather has brought such jackets out of their seasonal slumbers for another late spring go-'round, and they are all over the streets of this cittay. I guess theoretically there is nothing wrong with a solid elastic band to keep out the drafts, but when traveling in packs, and tightly hugging burgeoning paunches, they can scare the britches off of even the most stalwart of lasses.

And now, for some shout outs: first to Phil, Miguel and Cindy for stopping by on Saturday, next to Lizett for finishing her first year of law school in a blaze of glory, and last to SColson, because I heard the song Back That Ass Up on the radio this afternoon and through of her.

It's true, I'm twenty-four years old. And I am still not very good at karaoke. And in Chinatown it's not quite as fun as it is in Japan (though it's still pretty fun). AND I've just been sitting sitting sitting and waiting waiting waiting for a phone call from Sam Ramey. To no avail. Nah, that's not true. I've actually been wondering where and how to place my brand-new-straight-from-Chinatown fenghuang wall hanging (according to the writ of feng shui mayhap!?). It's an item of supreme beauty, and it needs to be displayed in a fashion that honors such stature.

Friends, Lovers, Sisters, Mothers, Wives:

Well, yesterday marked the completion of my stint at the chiro's office. I won't say I was happy to leave because, truth be told, I really enjoyed working there. The atmosphere was one of holistic warmth (or, dare I say?, love), the dress code was casual, the Thai lunches were deliciouly free and/or freely delicious, and the tasks were finite yet important. Better yet, the good doctor blessed me with a final¹ alignment that totally turned my sinuses² into beautifully cleared passageways of glory. AND we traded digits lest the office find itself in need of my services in the near future. Holism, I barely knew ye, but I feel in my loins that we shall indeed meet again.

Today I started a new job but I don't really want to talk about it. Last weekend I tutored the first two of my students and, mm, that was kind of like starting a new job, too.

Most importantly, though, are the pending pictures of our Japanese-Colonial-Swedish-Retro-Aztec-Lodge-themed living room. Can anyone imagine a better palate for interior decoration than the one inspired by such diverse influences!? If so, I'd like to hear of it. Ah, also important: I have made a solid decision as to the best way to recycle effectively and am doing my best to establish some sort of Rube Goldberg machine for rinsing beer cans³ and returning them to their box in the pantry. Non-recycling, a hard habit to break, is espcially prevalent here in the cittay due to flaws in, and a general malaise with regards to, the blue bag system. So it goes; we will be toting our recyclables to a nearby disposal center and, frankly, I am pleased.

Dear Mother Earth,
We Love You.
Yours Truly,
Propriet(or/ress) of the Phoenix Lounge

¹Actually, there may be more in my future. Hooray.
²Sinuvially speaking, I talked to CDoughe1 on the phone today and she totally sounds different than she did two years ago. Her sinuses are wayyyyyyy clearer. It's amazing!
³Soon to be bottles in adherence to our new, self-imposed "classy apt" mandate.

Soooo, we had a little bit of a housewarming party last night. Preceded by a double trip to Dominick's to pick up the latest copy of Life & Style mag, kicked off with a portly jug of Carlo Rossi and some mojitos, and capped off with a couple rounds of celebrity and some frat party antics, it was a total success.

On even keel for this weekend as far as awesomeness goes, my Mundelinean kin made me an offer I could not refuse: come out to the 'burbs in the afternoon, pillage a family friend's house for furniture, return victorious to the city with van chock full of booty, and furnish! Exciting. Perhaps some pictures are in order.

IMPORTANT ADDENDUM [5.8.06]: So as to buoy the Phoenix Theme for my readership (though its life-exuding presence certainly never flags in my consciousness), and to snag the attention of those 336 readers who choose not to explore comments in addition to posts, this website aptly address (or at least attempts to give some structure to) the fascinating¹ realm of Ubiquitously Applicable Monikers AKA Network Naming Schemes AKA Ubiqui-Nomenclaturizing Methods, a realm that will be tapped deeply for use in christening bits and pieces of the new apartment. Hurrah.

¹What? Not fascinating, you say? Stop lying to yourself. It's riveting.

LIVE from the Good Doctor's pad: We play XM radio throughout the office, and when the staff includes only myself and the doctor and/or the other administrative lass, we listen to the Sta-ba-ku-su channel -- it feels a little holistic-goes-corporate, but I enjoy the tunes. However, when the office is ripe with massage therapists as it so often is, I have been instructed that we must play either new age or jazz, preferably contemporary/modern. Yikes. The other day I tried on "traditional jazz" for size, and while it was much more enjoyable than either of the aforementioned stations, it was still a little tough for some to digest. Not enough fiber. The choices are limited, my friends, and the grimness of the situation is illustrated by the following: the new age station has revamped its playlist as of today, removing some of last week's more heavily rotated pieces to make way for updates, and I actually got excited over the fact. Apparently I've reached a point at which fresh new age is the spice of life?!

So, everyone who's anyone (orrrrrr has had the pleasure of sharing a living space with me in the past, ohhhh, month or so) knows that the emerald in my crown of wikipedia contributions is ye ole' White Hen article. Gosh, what a jewel. However, I'm also rather partial to the John Irving article as I've been a fervent J.I. fan for a number of years. A couple months ago I took said fledgling article under my wing by adding a a photo and some facts, proofreading and re-organizing; I think I did an ok job of it. So imagine my rage yesterday when I checked up in the Irving article only to find it seriously and poorly hacked away -- nay, bastardized -- by a series of unfortunate contributions. As might be expected, I judiciously reverted the article to something resembling its previous state and am crossing my fingers that future additions/changes are of only the highest quality. Because really, doesn't John Irving deserve at least that much?

The apartment is great but I still need a bed. Sigh.

Below we have a rare still shot of Mrs. Zeitgeist Esq. -- she's something of a local legend, really. Jake has developed a habit of spotting and photographing her around town, as one might stalk an exotic bird in the Madagascarian wilderness. The allure? Clearly the specs. Check those babies out.