Lynn on the Price is right

Lynn on the Price is right
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

Top three heads are Lynn, Philip, and Lino.

Depression and the Soul

Thanks to Podcasting, I was able to listen to a program on Speaking of Faith, a public radio segment linking depression to the soul. They had the author of the Noonday Demon, a book that still sits on my night stand as I labor though it. It's a part memoir, part information book on the author's struggle with debilitating depression. There were also a Buddhist and a Quaker who gave insights on what their relationship is to their illness (also called darkening of the soul). Being of the logical and pragmatic mindset, it's easy for me to look upon my illness as a clinical and medical affliction, but that does not do justice to the despair and teeth-gnashing I experience when I'm in the throes of it. They call it "exhausting" which best describes the feeling more than sadness, and also as "like living life in a minor key", which in turn shows how pervasive and encompassing it is to the daily tune in my head. The camaraderie I feel listening to other people who suffer from it is encouraging, as often, I feel very much alone as people around me go on with their lives unscathed. I didn't realize that so much poetry and written works of arts arise from people trying to make sense of this darkening of the soul (Rilke comes to mind). A particularly striking image was that depression is the flame that fires up the clay after it's been kneaded end beaten up, turning it into the figure that emerges after that. Depression has given me to ability empathize with other people's pain and suffering, but that thought is of poor consolation when I am in the process of being engulfed.

When Alan shows me how, this is where the link to Speaking of Faith will be located.

South Fullerton

Walking Mugsy around town offers views such as this if one only looks up. Montclair's skyline may not be grand but I've always had a thing for old buildings

Twins with the Demon Barber

Twins with the Demon Barber
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

I always love dressing up for Halloween. I met up with my friend Kelly for a party in Brooklyn. I was already dressed up when I parked my car, walked to the subway, and waited on a platform for 30 minutes. problem was, it was still early in the night so I was the only one in costume.

Anyway, ever since I saw Michael Cerveris in Sweeney Todd, I knew I wanted to do it for Halloween. The party was a blast but I ignored Kelly's warning s about the punch and it definitely f***ed me up! Was still paying for it the next morning.

Sunday Brunch

Sign
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

Pinky is back in town this weekend for yet another Broadway extravaganza. I met her for brunch on Clinton St on the Lower Lower East Side. The area is a bit schizophrenic: hip vintage/modern brunch places side by side with beauty parlors offering gerri (sp?) curls. After a brunch of gaedda (fried mystery meat from the PA area) and fried chicken (for brunch!) at Alias, we walked around the neighborhood where we spotted this sign at another brunch place.

How to get protein into every meal

Tofu
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

How much chicken breast can one eat in a lifetime? Fortunately, there's pork loin, flank steak, eggs, and tofu. The only way I like to eat tofu is browned in oil ala tokwa't baboy.

Kinesiotaping Day 1

Every Physical Therapy technique I learn has many hours of hands-on practice on other therapists behind it. Turnabout is fair game so, obviously, I've been practiced on by other therapists as well. I usually come home with red marks where I've been manhandled by my fellow therapists but this Kinesiotaping course I'm taking right now is a little different. This is what I looked like when I came home today.

Ode to My Rice Cooker

Rice Cooker
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

Bought in 1994 at a Sam's Club in Lakeland FL, this humble appliance has served me countless batches of rice for everyday meals as well as dinners for friends and lovers. Before I ever knew about Williams-Sonoma, Henkl knives, and SubZero appliances, my Hitachi was already my culinary partner.

Paul and Jakob

POD-061004
Originally uploaded by JenFu.

My dog Mugsy tends to hog the spotlight: the eyes, the snort, the pushed-in face, and of course, the singing. Fu took a great picture of Paul and Jakob, the other pet in the house. He usually doesn't come out when company comes, but he must sense how much I trust Paul and the rest of the guys who came for our Peak Potential meeting. He even let Paul cat-handle him this way.

Blast from the Past

Received my New York magazine with an old photo of Madonna on the cover. I could almost flashback to the moment that I started listening to her music and copying her moves. Before she was a Kabbhala practioner or that over the top Sex book poser, she looked like this: unglamorous, ambitious, posing next to her electric stove. Could she have pictured then where she would be now. And could I had pictured then, 14 years old, living in the Philippines, watching videos on TV in the sauna of a bedroom of my parents, that I'd end up in Montclair NJ. I think I would have been happy to see where I ended up, except for this one thing................

More Birthday Pics

IMG_4722
Originally uploaded by Tengaport.

Birthday photos

_JFC7629
Originally uploaded by JenFu.

_JFC7665
Originally uploaded by JenFu.

JFC7642-8x8
Originally uploaded by JenFu.

Birthday 2006

_JFC7656
Originally uploaded by JenFu.

I always go a little nuts during holidays. Something about the expectation of doing something to celebrate yet not having family around to do something with always gives me, as Holly Golightly described it, the "mean reds". This birthday turned out to be one of the best BBW's (big birthday weekends as Kipp has named it)ever. Jen Fu had his own roller rink bash for his birthday Saturday then I went out with Kipp and Frank on Saturday night for dinner then off to meet Steve in the city. Sunday surprised me with a Korean bash where Dawn had the day-off (day-op ko po, ser) so she could go. Then a bunch of us just hung out at Borders and Fu's place with an Arrested Development marathon. Thanks to Kipp, Alan, Evelyn, Dawn, Renu, Fu, Paul, and all those who made it happen.

Reading Glasses

Optha Rx
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

The doctor was trying to be kind "You know, some people start at around 40, others 42, and well, you ARE 38..." Vertigo led me to a check up with an ophthalmologist ( never wore glasses or contacts) that ended up with a prescription. Can bifocals be far behind?

Pruned Jade

Pruned Jade
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

I repotted my jade plant and pruned it to make it look more like a tree and less like a creeping/creepy plant. I hope it survives the trauma I've inflicted on it.

Mugsy Sings Bocelli

Mugsy sings Xtina

The Kids

September 10, 2006
Originally uploaded by Rappateng.

I rarely have a photo with BOTH my pets so here they are. Jakob on the windowsill and Mugsy on my lap. Alan was on hand to take the picture as he and Evelyn watched two episodes of Project Runway. It'sa nice little routine that happens on some Sundays. I'm sitting on the floor since my nice leather chair was kicked to the curb...thanks to my two little pets.

Yard Sale

Elephant at Yard Sale
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

For the past 3 years, I've been organizing a block sale for my street as a way of unloading some unwanted stuff and for some community building. really nothing to it: pass out some flyers, take an ad out in the paper, get a permit, and pray for a sunny day. Not too many items this year and I think we'll skip next year. Still fun and always great to hangout with the peeps from the hood.

Doksuni

Doksuni
Originally uploaded by Mike Dec.

Even if we got rained out of the US OPen, Sasa and I were able to make do. We drove down to the East Village for some Korean food at Dok Suni. It's always a challenge to find food that will be liked by my nephews since I don't get to spend too much time with them and thus am not privvy to their changing palates. They ended up liking it anyway (phew). We then drove down to SoHo for some back to school shopping for Jordan. The cupcake place Moagnolia was unfortunately closed. We still had a good time though.