Below are the 14 most recent journal entries recorded in zina_butterfly's LiveJournal:

Friday, August 25th, 2006
11:45 am	There's one thing I don't get about this Slate piece about that misogynistic Forbes piece (I'm posting a link to Gawker because Forbes cheated and took it down). His argument is ostensibly that Forbes is "right about career women being divorce-prone." Shafer is unconvinced that "that the article...really insults women, career or otherwise" -- but if you read his piece, it seems to be because the article is just too crappy to be insulting. The definition of "career women" is too broad, studies that have nothing to do with "career women" are applied, etc. So why the provocative headline? Is he trying to be funny or something? (Comment on this)
11:30 am	My last day at work is going to be Wednesday. Just a few more days. I'm going to buy lots of wine, because then it will have been worth it. I have particular bottles in mind for some people. However -- I'll need another job next summer. One that pays. Any suggestions in that department would be appreciated. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, August 11th, 2006
11:53 am	I wish I was in town to see this Russian film festival. It's fantasy and sci-fi and includes two of my favorite Tarkovsky films as well as that awful Night watch (Nochnoi Dozor) thing. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 10th, 2006
4:04 pm	It's a pretty unexciting life, but I don't mind being home this summer. Last summer was a lot more interesting, but I was basically depressed every minute that I was alone and not at some gallery or museum (people who hung out with me: the rest of the time was great). I was about to post in detail about how great my family life was and how much I loved being home and how successful I was at acting as a filter for my family members' interactions with one another, but then I figured that's just bad karma. Also, one of the translators I hired translated "sufferer of bloating" as "gas passer." She also had "cornstalk" as a slang term for "very tall person." All new and, surely, welcome additions to the language. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 9th, 2006
10:38 am	The chicken breasts turned out wonderfully. That was good, because my dad has been having some issues with his awful boss and the delicious food took all our minds off that. I need to figure out what I can serve this dish with besides pasta. The sauce uses whipping cream and white wine. In my dance class, which recently ended, there was just one cute guy. He was cute in a jock kind of way, and he wasn't always too quick on the uptake. It was adorable that he was taking the class with his controlling Jewish mother. Because of the structure of the class, he had to dance with her a few times during each lesson. While they were dancing, the woman would not shut up. One two three. Nag nag nag. And he just took it, like a patient, jocky lump. Whenever a step required the partners to turn away from one another, she would pause for a count or two. As soon as she was facing him again, she's just start where she left off. It went on like that the entire time that they were dancing together. I wish I could've filmed it. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 8th, 2006
1:35 pm	My company is hiring a PR person. The pay is supposed to be good and the hours are 9-5. I figure as long as I have the option of offering it to people I know I might as well do it. If anyone knows anyone who lives in the DC area and needs a job, tell me now. Kat: The email my dad just sent me starts out "I pogovoril c..." I have not seen such an egregious crime against both languages before. My grandfather randomly gave my dad a huge can of tomato juice and we decided that the best way to use it up would be to make Bloody Marys. Apparently, a Russian Bloody Mary is a shot. You pour the vodka, then pour the tomato juice slowly along a knife so that it all settles at the bottom. It's like a built-in chaser. I'm making chicken breasts with basil and sun-dried tomatoes today. Hope that works out. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 3rd, 2006
1:14 pm	The last name of the photographer for New York Magazine's Best Cheap Eats list is Hunger. Speaking of which, I need to stop being lazy and lose some weight. 10 pounds or so would be good. I'm always either at work, where there are always sweets, or around people, who are always eating. That's all great, but it's conspiring with my laziness to keep me fat. Nora is leaving on Sunday. Sunday. Wow. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006
1:54 pm	Nora and I went to Ghana Cafe for drinks last night. Unsurprisingly, there was a Ghanaian keyboard player there who wouldn't leave me alone. Apparently, he had been looking for a woman like me all his life. The really wonderful thing is that this guy went to the university where Nora will be studying this fall. He's also really well-connected in Accra. It really couldn't hurt to email him for some tips, and if he could get her tours and stuff, like he promised, that'd be great. It would even make my putting up with him worth it. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
5:03 pm	I'm almost caught up on that Pashto dictionary project at work. Which is great, because lately it's been nearly impossible to stay away from Gawker. It really is only a month until school starts, isn't it. The B&W orientation issue already needs illustrations. Also, I've finally seen the Master and Margarita miniseries. It really isn't bad, whatever the purists might say. The acting is amazing. The cat looks like a Muppet, though, and the soundtrack approaches kitsch at times. Also, Pilate and Woland are way, way too old. For the most part, though, I'm satisfied. And anyone who hasn't read the book absolutely must read it. Be careful about the translation. There are like five out now and I don't yet know which of them is any good. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
1:28 pm	Worst 1. Time of day: Morning 2. Day of the Week: Monday 3. Food: Brussels sprouts in most incarnations 4. Memory: Those are private. Last 1. Person you saw: Kathy (coworker) 2. Talked to on the phone: Kat (friend) 3. Text: Michael (friend) 4. IMed: Nora (days ago while making plans -- I don't use it) 5. Messaged over myspace: n/a Today 1. What are you doing now: Taking a break from boring editing work 2. Wearing: Comfortable shoes 3. Better than yesterday? Yes! Tomorrow 1. Is: Wednesday 2. Got any plans: Working late, maybe meeting up with a friend 3. Dislikes about tomorrow: I'll still be behind on this project Favorite 1. Number: 14 2. Song: Golos Moi Dom by Umka i Bronevichok 3. Color: Black 4. Season: Summer Currently 1. Missing someone: All of you people in New York 2. Mood: Better 3. Wanting: For some things to be resolved True or False (or synonyms): I am a cuddler: Absolutely, with the right people I am a morning person: Not usually I am a perfectionist: No, actually -- I'm responsible, but I much prefer coming up with ideas to actually following through. I am an only child: Nope I am currently in my pajamas: I wish I am currently suffering from a broken heart: No I am addicted to myspace: No I am very shy around the opposite gender: I don't think precisely *that* is my problem I can be paranoid at times: Yes, when I'm late I currently regret something that I have done: Yes When I get mad, I curse frequently: Yes, but not very imaginatively I enjoy country music: Admittedly, yes I enjoy jazz music: Haha I love smoothies: Yes I enjoy talking on the phone: Oddly, when it's with people I know fairly well, I turn bright red and try to get off as soon as I can. I have a hard time paying attention at school: Not really I have a hidden talent: Well, it isn't singing. My sister will attest to that one. I have a secret that I am ashamed to reveal: Don't think so I have a tendency to fall for the "wrong" girl/guy: Always I have all my grandparents: All but one I have at least one brother and/or sister: Sadly true I have been told that I have an unusual sense of humor: A rather nasty one, around some people I have broken a bone: no I have changed a diaper: No I have changed a lot over the past year: yes, mostly for the better, I think I have done something illegal: What do you mean by 'illegal'? I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color: No -- I never dye it I have had major/minor surgery: No, but I'll need oral surgery soon I have had my hair cut within the last 2 months: Has it been 2 months? I have had the cops called on me: Yes. Dumbest thing ever. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
5:47 pm	He emailed me! The cute boy emailed me! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
10:29 am	Cute boy! I missed my metro stop on the way home from work yesterday. I was too busy talking to a cute boy. His name is Malik and he started talking to me on the platform, telling that he is into the spoken-word scene in DC and that he's from Jamaica. Because he was really cute and well-spoken, I didn't even mind the "you look like a writer... not many people can tell these things, but I can" line. (Who tells them to say these things? Do they think it makes them look sensitive or something?) I just had time to give him my email before I stumbled off the train with a big, stupid grin on my face. (Comment on this)
Monday, June 19th, 2006
2:21 pm	Went to see An Inconvenient Truth last night. Not bad. Could've done without the lengthy rehashing of the 2000 election and the tedious shots of Gore staring thoughtfully into his laptop. I hope he brings out the partisan humor and ideological conviction when/if he runs for President again. About his persuasive powers, all I'm going to say is that he has scared me into taking the metro home from work from now on. I might even try to take the bus to work tomorrow, even though that means losing an hour of sleep. Michael (Swat friend) and his girlfriend Dina had a party at their summer sublet on Saturday. I and the geekiest people I've met in a long time got a little drunk and played Taboo and charades. Good stuff. We had Dina impersonating Genghis Khan (not as far-fetched as you'd think) and a semi-obscene illustration of the phrase "Swarthmore College Campus" from Michael. Bad news: Columbia has decided to give me $5000 less in financial aid than in previous years. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 14th, 2006
9:21 am	From the department of startling revelations So I was at home the other day when the mother of these kids my mom babysits stopped by. She asked me if I'd seen The Da Vinci Code. I said that no, I didn't want to see it because I'd hated the book. Apparently, she's never heard that before. She asked me why. I gave all my reasons: the writing is terrible, the villain becomes obvious halfway through, etc. She said all that didn't matter. She thought it was amazing anyway. Why? Well, she said, it's all the interesting facts. She learned so much about history from that novel. She never knew that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene before, or that they'd had a child. As delicately as I could, I suggested that maybe it wasn't all entirely accurate. Oh, no, she assured me. She did the research. It was all true. In other news, I'm 20 today. Current Mood: amused (Comment on this)