To pass the time during my hour-long commute to Napa, I started developing OK Cupid tests. No one could be more surprised than I am, considering I've only taken three myself. (I totally aced the "Commonly Confused Words" test, by the way. That was satisfying.)

Anyway, I've got the "communication style" test and the "driving style" test in the hopper. Many more where that came from.

Also to pass the time, I've been listening to the radio without changing the station the second they start talking. So I caught an interesting tidbit about a study showing people who blog about their relationships are xx% more likely to stay together than those who don't. Now, I'm about as cynical as you can get about drawing hard and fast conclusions from so-called "studies." But I do enjoy exploring a theoretical question now and again -- as long as you don't take it too seriously -- and I can see this particular theory having some merit.

Anyway, this study also made me think of (e:Jason). (Oh yes, all you (e:peeps) are frequently in my thoughts. You have no idea!) Of course, I would have rewritten the study to see whether blogging helps people resolve whatever the natural path of their relationship might be. It makes sense you have to be honest with yourself before you can be honest with someone else.

I actually have quite a bit more to say on this subject (surprise, surprise!) but I'm having a hard time concentrating right now because I finally broke down and bought a CD for the first time in ages and it ROCKS! (Listen to my new usersound.)

I ended up at Amoeba tonight because I thought it was the free Dinosaur Jr. in-house. (It's not 'til next Tuesday.) So I salvaged the trip by finally buying Razorlight. Even if you've never agreed with my musical suggestions before, this is a must-have! Ok, if you insist I'll upload it to Gather (tracking number: 0047419001178863042) so you can give it a proper listen. See for yourself.

just to clear up any remaining confusion.

More fake tales of San Francisco. Conan tries to visit a Medical Marijuana center:

For reasons I'd rather not go into right now, I found myself taking the OK Cupid personality test again. I wasn't expecting or looking for a different score, but was still surprised when I got exactly the same result as (e:twisted,36664). Maybe there is something to these tests after all? Anyway...

Even though it's been more than a year since I first took that test and filled out my profile, I picked two of the same adjectives to describe myself (philosophical and observant). I was completely stumped to think of a third one though, so I finally picked "indecisive." (That should get me lots of dates!) I wish I could say that was just an inside joke, but lately it seems all too true. It's not that I don't like making decisions, it's just that I hate closing out my other options. And that's pretty much what a decision is, after all.

Which may be why I'm still squarely situated in The Window Shopper camp. Although I really haven't had much time to do any window shopping since I moved to SF, which is a crying shame. I was just thinking how a little recreational shopping could be just the thing to celebrate finally moving into my own place and getting all my crap out of storage and getting my life back instead of spending every weekend at Home Depot. (I still have a few more Home Depot weekends to go, but the end is in sight.) As much as I love my contractors, I'm really ready for them to go away. It's like having four boyfriends wake you up at 7am every morning for the same thing -- just not the thing you want right at that moment.

Anyway, in a bout of sleeplessness left over from the nine hour Italy time difference, I was trying on a few imaginary candidates for size. (Let's face it, there are always options. Maybe options you shouldn't exercise, but there are worse ways to lull yourself back to sleep.) In any case, my mind is running through the drill when all of a sudden I flash back to one of the OK Cupid questions. Something like, "do you imagine breaking up with someone before you've even gone out with them?" Of course I answered no. Well, in the cold dark of night, turns out one of the scripts my mind plays out is the break-up scene. I know that sounds terrible, but I guess I want to have an exit strategy before I get involved in anything. Sometimes there's a good reason for that, like if you're thinking of dating a coworker or a neighbor -- someone you're going to have to see every day even if things don't go well. Better make sure it's worth getting into, and probably smart to lay the groundwork to get out gracefully. But I think I do it regardless. Which might be a tad cynical.

I honestly didn't know that about myself. So much for my powers of observation, haha.

p.s. -- The Kaiser Chiefs were fucking brilliant last night (new user sound). The Good The Bad & The Queen are on tap for tomorrow and Arctic Monkeys on Tuesday. Maybe that's enough distraction for now.

First of all, Italy <hearts> naked people:











Now that I got that out of the way...

It's pretty freakin' gorgeous too. Just about anywhere you look is a picture postcard. Where else can you step out of the Metro station and have your jaw drop at this awe-inspiring site?


The origin of stadium seating

The coast is beautiful too:





Reminds me of another hilly location with a Mediterranean climate on the coast. You'll just have to guess where I mean. Some people might complain about the hills, but I think they're worth it.

Ciao.