View from A Room

View from A Room
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Alacatraz Dining Room

Alacatraz Dining Room
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Mossy Stairs

Mossy Stairs
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Rocky Shore

Rocky Shore
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Mac Daddy Annie

Mac Annie
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

It's interesting that the first Mac user of the Shelley family is a 13 year old dog who sleeps all day and drags her bum on the carpet.

Happy T-Giving

Happy Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

This picture was taken during our family photo shoot. It's a classic Shelley shot of what goes on in between the photographs.

Fam-Damily

Fam-Damily
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

LYDIA went FAR away in MAY.

lyd,far,may
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

First Wives Club

Wives
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

My good friend Farbod has been visiting from Chile. We had a mini-photo shoot before he left today.

OluwaPotter

OluwaPotter
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

One point for Griffindor for having the coolest new addition to Hogwarts. Last night, my friend Oluwaseun and I went to the 11:59 showing of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire!

Written While Listening to "Words for Waking" by Devon Gundry

Davis Baha'i Club presents...

Girls from Music Night
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Last night was the Music Night sponsored by the Baha'i Club at UC Davis. Pictured above is: Negin, Sameen, May, Satra, Roya, Nura, Maryam

Death Cab concert

Death Cab concert
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Berkeley Sunset

Berkeley Sunset
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Last Night I went to the Death Cab/ Stars concert at the Warfield in San Fran with Neda, Kels and Britt. On the way there I stopped in Berkeley to eat at Juan's Place (shout-out to Blake). These pictures of the sunset were taken in front of Juan's.

Factory Windows

Factory Windows
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Happy Birthday Baha'u'llah!!

happy b-day
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

A night on the town

tower bridge
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Tonight my roommates (minus roy) and I went to Sac to see a movie. After the movie we cruised old Sacramento and we took pictures of pirate ships and the Tower Bridge. While we walked back towards our car we were offered free samples at a candy store. Never passing up free candy we walked into the candy store to find barrels and barrels of free candy. The stores policy is that you are allowed to eat as many Taffy samples as you want while you are in the store. After the ten minutes of cruising the aisles and stuffing my face I went into a sugar coma and suddenly oompa loompas came out of the backroom rolled me out of the store.

candy

candy
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

My 8th Topping at Pluto's

turtle
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Mystiquo

Mystiquo
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Welcome the newest member of the LBGT (Luxury Bike Gang Team). Her Bike Game name is Mystiquo (aka Lisa).

LBGT

Cuervo
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

It’s a known fact that Davis is a bike town. During the second week of the school year, I witnessed an accident per day, two of them requiring neck braces and an ambulance. As I take my daily bike ride from my house to the education building which is about a mile away, I find myself ringing my bell and grudgingly snarling under my breath at the novice freshman riders. My frustration of out of control bikers has reached its max and I have found myself no longer cruising on my red beach cruiser. The relaxing joy of bicycle riding has turned into unnecessary speeding rage-aholics.
Today marks the day when I am bringing the cruising back into cruiser, the joy back into the joy ride. As co-founder of the Luxury Biking Gang Team (LGBT) we are dedicated to slow, luxurious, pleasure inducing rides guaranteed to satisfy people of all backgrounds and biking orientations. We accept the cruisers, the speedsters, the low-riders, tandem bikers, banana seat or no banana seat….the LGBT is the place for you!

MoBo

Cojo
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Yote missed the Rabbit

Yote missed the Rabbit
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Mel Paint top

Mel Paint top
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Melanie Painting

Mell Paint
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Halloween Baha'i Club Meeting

baha'i club
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

At tonights Baha'i Club meeting, it was mandatory for everyone to come in costume.

omid in fat suit

omid in fat suit
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Omid Sarvian aka Senior won the Costume Contest. He was a Obese tourist...classic omid...classic. I've got a really good video of him and Negin trying to fit in my door. If you are interested in checking it out, please e-mail me.

Frida, Mad scientist, barbs

Frida, Mad scientist, barbs
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Confession of a Cheater

keyv on chair
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Every adulterer remembers the day they cheated on their loved one. Today October 29th marks the day I cheated on my beloved Mishka’s and went to another coffee cafe, Common Grounds found in South Davis. Many adulterers are consumed with guilt, shame, and dirtiness. As I sit in the plush swivel chairs that are part of the homey ambience provided by Common Grounds, I am filled with guilt and shame, but definitely not the dirtiness. Any regular of Mishka’s knows that you sacrifice comfort, spaciousness, customer service, and clean bathrooms for free internet, people watching, and a damn good Americano. Although the Americano doesn’t quite match the Mishk’s, the bathroom was tidy (it actually had seat covers) and the chairs provide a comfortable place to sit for hours upon hours.

Common Grounds seems to live up to it’s name of a common standard commercialized coffee shop like it’s fellow Davis competitors Starbucks and Pete’s. It does lack the unique character of Mishka’s. Mishka’s regimented social rules are masked by what appears to be a free-spirited fair trade coffee shop. It’s hard to match a cafe that has strict social rules of ordering before sitting and then limiting where a given individual can sit. And where rules may just be guidelines at other coffee shops, at Mishka’s the owner, a 30th something Eastern European with a tight white shirt and an equally tight pair of blue jeans, is constantly lurking throughout the closely placed tables making sure each customer is sitting in the proper area, has purchased something and doesn’t bring outside food in.

Perhaps I am an abused coffee child who finds comfort in strict social cafe rules. And in some masochistic way, I like the uncomfortable wooden chairs, the stiff non-ergonomic benches, urine filled bathroom floors, and the loud roasting of coffee beans. I am the battered wife that can never leave her abusive husband.

The above picture is of Keyvan sitting in a miniature rocking chair added to homey family like ambience of Common Grounds.

Bosch-Ba

Bosch 2
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

This past weekend I went to Bosch Baha'i School in Santa Cruz for the College Club Weekend. Here are a few pics that I took this weekend.

Bosch

Bosch
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

riddle for the week

Here's a riddle that one of my sixth grade boys shared with me today:
Our President has a short one.
Our Governor has a long one.
Madonna doesn't have one.
And the Pope has one but doesn't use it.
What is it?

Another Busy Weekend

Youth Gathering Photo
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Last weekend Amy came up and visited. This picture was taken at the Youth Gathering in Davis. Shout out to my peeps...Negs, Me (may), Amy, Mel, Jeff, and Brisn. I think Armie aka Arman's in the background. Thanks to amy for the pic.

Welcome to the School of Ed

Ice
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

For all three of you who are regular readers of my blog, I apologize for not updating recently. I've been really busy the last six weeks with my graduate program. This is a picture of my partner in crime Danice aka "Ice." She's holding up her final project for our literacy project.

Post-Arcade

Post-Arcade
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

1 am on a sunday night, hanging out at a donut store with a tootless bum...must be San Fran

Captain Black Spot and his wench aka mom and dad

wench and pirate
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Most children in college go home a few times a year and sit around their parent's house for a pretty uneventful weekend. My family is far from typical. As one can tell by this picture, going home for me is always an action-filled exciting weekend. This weekend marks the Second Annual Shelley Family Pirate Party. If you like what you see...stay tuned for more pirate pictures from monday's beach party!

Say Goodbye to Wednesday Night's Guilty Pleasure

For the past four summers, I have been working at an alternative education school. Most of the students are great kids who have fallen behind in credits, but we are also a probation school, so we get some “bad kids.” This summer it was the Shelley family Wednesday night activity to sit down and watch “Brat Camp” and discuss amongst the ladies of the Shelley family the various disciplining methods of these troubled kids. Since I’ve left my lovely home in Orange County and returned to academia in Davis, I did not get to finish watching the rest of the “Brat Camp” series. I stumbled across this very entertaining article from Slate magazine about the writer’s obsession with Brat Camp. If you have some time to kill, I suggest reading it. Feel free to post what your favorite line is in the comment section.

Written While Listening to “Farmer Chords” by Benjamin Gibbard

Only in Davis

farmers market
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

$6.50 Caesar Salad
$1.50 Large Lemonade
$0.75 Parking Meter

Watching a Kid "discover" the Fountain at Farmer's Market....Priceless

I Rock Peas On My Head

For those of you Who Didn’t Believe Me, Here's a link to an article proving that Andy Milonakis is not thirteen years old.

Written While Listening to "My Radio" by Stars

Almost more Stressful than Finals Week....Almost

I’ve returned to the fourth happiest place on Earth….Davis, California. I am currently taking my first class as a graduate student. EDU 120: Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education…it’s pretty much as boring as the title sounds. A milestone of my new academic career was my first official test as a graduate student. The test wasn’t for EDU 120. It was a pre-requisite test that I must pass before beginning my student teaching in three weeks. It’s a very critical test because the State of California has very high standards and if you do not pass this test you are not permitted to be in the classroom. With my teaching credential and Masters riding on this single test, one can imagine my anxiety. I don’t get the results until I return back to the Health center on Wednesday, but I’m feeling pretty darn confident that I don’t have tuberculosis and therefore, passed my TB test. But, I can’t get too confident….it is a test.

Written While Listening to “Let’s be Still” by Yo La Tengo

Only 64 more days until the World Beard and Moustache Championships!!

randall moustache
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

I stumbled across this website for the World Beard and Moustache Championships. Randall's baseball season ends in late August, which gives him adequate time to grow a sweet beard...best of luck to you brotha!

AAARRRR!!! Matey! It's me a Captain Black Spot

Black Spot
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

The Shelley’s 2nd Favorite National Holiday is unquestionably “Talk Like A Pirate Day.” Every September 19th (starting last year) we get on me wooden legs and me eye patches and yell out pirate profanity at all who will listen. Luckily, talking like a pirate isn’t limited to only one day a year. Since Randall’s baseball team is the Long Beach Arrrrrmada, we have taken advantage of this opportunity and bought out the whole pirate section at the party store and with hooks in hand and eye patches on head, we have become the Arrrrmada’s most energetic, perhaps only cheering section.

Inspirational Clip for the Week

Here's a video that shows my love for documentaries and short shorts. Enjoy!

Wow Wee Rickey Henderson!

rickey
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

If you were a baseball fan in the 80’s and 90’s the name Rickey Henderson may sound very familiar. Henderson played most of his years with the Oakland A’s and is best known for stealing bases. To this day, he still holds the most career stolen bases with 1406 and places second for most stolen bases in a single season with 130. Rickey Henderson currently plays in the same Independent baseball league as my older brother Randall. This past weekend I went down to San Diego to watch Rickey Henderson and Randall Shelley duke it out for second in the league’s stolen bases. It’s still very early in the season, but it will be an exciting summer following the Long Beach Armada. The picture provided is the leagues leader board.

Lesson One on How to be a Hippie

On my way to my Ruhi Study Circle class, I parked my car near the host’s house I noticed a lone object in the street caught my eye. A four drawer deep mahogany dresser lay on the corner with a single spotlight shining down upon it through the overcast, hazy sky. The hippie gods were casting a light onto this piece of “trash” calling the inner-hippie inside of me to pull my car around and take this dresser. I waited to investigate further into this mysterious dresser on the street, but upon leaving the Ruhi class I noticed it was still there. I mustered up some courage, pulled my car around and threw that dresser in my trunk. Tonight marks my first solo trip of dumpster diving.

My Aunt Juliet owns a book called The Hippie Handbook. I remember glancing over it a few years back and took notes on the proper etiquette of dumpster diving. I have included these rules:

1.Identify your target neighborhood. Concentrate on areas where young people rent. Stay away from wealthy neighborhoods. It is a surprising fact that rich people do not throw good stuff away. They give their trash to charity and deduct it on their tax returns.

2. Determine when trash is in your target neighborhood (by observation or calling the city).

3.The night before trash day (“Trash Eve”) drive your VW bus slowly through your target neighborhood.

4. When you spot a dumpster or trash pile that is teeming with bounty, approach is cautiously. (Do not get in the dumpster. Dumpsters can be very dangerous and also dirty.)Bring a footstool so that you can get a good vantage point for sifting. Stay away from clothing, sealed trash bags, and diapers.

5. When you see something you like, carefully free it from the dumpster and load it in the back of your bus.

6.Continue cruising and repeat.

Written While Listening to “Speed of Sound” by Coldplay

The Real OC?

Laguna Beach shoreline
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Today I finally got the chance to drive down to the beach since my return home for the summer. This picture is of the Laguna Beach shoreline and cliffs. Every first Thursday of the month, the galleries on Pacific Coast Highway open up their doors to showcase their new pieces they have in their gallery. Tonight we strolled along the strip. Although Laguna Beach is known for its art, I thought that overall the art pieces lacked emotion and creativity and classify most of these pieces under what I like to call “safe-orange-county-art.” But maybe I’m being an art snob…I do have a concentration in Art.

Written While Listening to “Like Eating Glass” by Bloc Party

Being World's Second Best Blog Isn't Too Bad

If you are the type of person that limits themselves to a given amount of internet procrastination time, then read no further. Today was my first day back from work and during my lunch break I came across an article in the New York Times about blogs. They mentioned a blog called “postsecret” where people write their deepest secrets on the back of a postcard and mail it to a given address. The blogger then posts these postcards on the site. If you are looking to procrastinate or you are just bored, I highly suggest checking out this site (of course after you read the complete archives of this amazing, thought-provoking blog)

Written While Listening to “Subterranean Homesick” by Radiohead

More Mun, More Fun

SBC park
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

This weekend my cousins, May Allen and Tom, came up to Northern California to watch their hometown San Diego Padres play the Giants at SBC Park. Once again, great weekend!

Written While Listening to "My Mathematical Mind" by Spoon

Life Lesson from A Rod (and i'm not talking about my Dad)

A few years back when my brother was at Spring Training with the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez gave a talk about how to be a champion. He said that the great champion athletes limit their daily thoughts to only 500 thoughts per day. They exercise blocking out the insignificant thoughts and focus on what they want to be. For example, A-Rod would repeat the mantra ‘I’m going to get a .350 batting average, I’m going to get a .350 batting average” throughout his daily.
I still think that’s near impossible (but, hey I’m not a champion athlete). But, for this week I have developed a modified self-focused plan. I’m going to limit myself to one large activity per day and focus all of my energy and thoughts into making that event the best it could possibly be. On Monday I focused all of my energy and going to see Star Wars and it perhaps was the best Star Wars-movie-watching-experience I could possibly have (the only way it could have been better is if some one in the audience was dressed as Chewbaca or C-3PO). Yesterday, I focused my thoughts on attending my Yoga class and I had the best darn yoga session ever! I’ve decided that tomorrow’s activity will be taking over the world!! (or going to the rec pool, depends on the weather).

Written While Listening to “Old Soul Song” by Bright Eyes

Born Loser?

For my first week as a college graduate my plans are to hang out in Davis, relax, go to the Rec Pool, catch up on reading and write my thank you letters. Since the electricity is out for the day at my house, I decided to cruise the town. During my solo lunch at Pita Pit I picked up the UC Davis newspaper, the California Aggie. I quickly became excited when I realized that it was Tuesday, which means that the ex-Davis Hometown Celebrity Lamar Haystick’s column “Born Loser” would be on the second page.

Lamar writes a very entertaining weekly column about how pathetic he is and how he has no “game” with the ladies. A few years ago, my friends and I were so entertained by his column that he was often the topic of conversation over Tuesday night dinners and we would intentionally get in his checkout lane at Safeway where he worked just to get a glimpse of him. The mystery of this born loser continued for about a year until my sisters and I randomly met him at a Benefit Dinner after our Yoga class. As if he were actually a celebrity, Amy bombarded him with questions regarding his column like “Did you really live in the Safeway women’s bathroom for a month?” and “So your car actually got towed away with you sleeping in it?” He was obviously very flattered by the attention by the stunning attractiveness that my identical twin sister possesses. From then on the mystery of Lamar began to fade and instead of us semi-stalking him, he began semi-stalking my sister. Amy actually got unkowingly suckered into a hot night on the town with Lamar. She may not admit it, but I think she secretly wanted Lamar to write about how the “born loser” scored a hot date with a hot lassie, but unfortunately next Tuesday there was nothing written. Anyways, here’s a link to his article where he basically verbally gets worked by an aggie reader.

Written While Listening to "Magnolia Mountain" by Ryan Adams

All the Way May!

fireworks in SF
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Here's a picture of the firework show held in my honor for graduating from college!! It's difficult to see in this picture but they actually wrote "Congrats May!!" with fireworks in the sky. (ok so it wasn't exactly for me...but we can pretend, right?) Thanks for a great weekend everyone!!

Written While Listening to "Why You'd Want to Live Here" by Benjamin Gibbard

Wait…so when you refer to Eminem you aren’t talking about the Chocolate that melts in your mouth not in your hands?!?!?

With four days left until graduation, I’ve been taking my spare moments to reflect on the things I’ve learned within the last twenty-two years. Being a Liberal Studies Major, my course work includes two classes in almost every subject. I have taken everything from Chemistry to “how to teach Physical Education.” With such a wide breadth of knowledge I have acquired, the most shocking information is the crushing of a lifelong belief that Jackson Browne wasn’t of African American descent. On the many Shelley family road trips we would have a regular rotation of the Beatles, Bad Company, James Taylor and Jackson Browne blazing on the tape deck. My mom often told stories of her teenage crush on Mr. Browne and on one trip to Sun Valley, Idaho my brother and dad actually met him. It wasn’t until a few weeks ago when I “googled” Jackson Browne that I stumbled upon a picture of a short white man. I sat at my desk in confusion wondering why a picture of a white man came up under Jackson Browne’s name. And then it clicked that my whole life has been deceptions and lies.
I started to recall stories of friends and family members and the crushing stories of their lifelong misconceptions. For example, a dear and loved one to me just realized a few years ago that the sauce you put on top of eggs benedicts is not called “Holiday Sauce” rather “Hollandaise sauce.” My favorite story of another loved one (not to be named) believed that Gary Sinise (best known for his role as Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump) actually didn't have legs in real life.

Written While Listening to "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" by David Gray

From Plain Jane to Hottie with a Body

It’s a known fact that “reality tv” has officially taken over television programming. Within this new era of programming, there have been some great reality shows (Show Dog Moms and Dads, the Amazing Race, Wife Swap just to name a few) and some horrible and degrading ones. The last people I would ever expect to fall into the abyss of Reality television are my parents. They are suckers for the Makeover shows and I’m not talking about the Home makeovers and re-design the bedroom shows, I’m talking about the Swan type shows. The shows that take the “ugliest of the ugly ducklings” and remove them from their loved ones as they transform into the beautiful swan they could never have been without plastic surgery and a personal trainer.
When I was home for spring break a few months ago, my parents explained their new pitch for the ultimate reality series: “Surprise Extreme Makeover.” The show will find some not-so-attractive people who need a basic, simple surgery like removal of the tonsils or the removal of wisdom teeth. The twist is that while they are under anesthetic the doctors will perform all of the necessary transformation surgeries: tummy tuck, nose job, liposuction, breast augmentation, etc. It’s a perfect combination of the surprise twist that keep viewers watching shows like “Joe Millionaire” and the makeover element found in shows like “Queer Eye.”

Written While Listening to “You and Me” by Kelsey Bulkin

First Sign that the Whole Earth Festival has come to Davis

love machine
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

It's official! The Whole Earth Festival has begun! (Check out the plates on the car '1HIPPIE')

Gives a New Meaning to "Finger Foods"

A hot dinner conversation amongst my friends within the last few months is the lady who “found” a finger in her Wendy’s chili. I have been following the Wendy’s story since I first heard about it over spring break. Allegedly the Las Vegas lady who found the finger in her Chili in San Jose planted the finger stub in the Chili in order to get some money out of it. One may wonder where one can get a finger stub. Apparently, the stub belongs to another Las Vegas woman who got her index finger bitten off by some sort of feline (no not a Liger, Liger’s are friendly) who last saw it in the Emergency Room in Las Vegas. The case of the missing finger in the chili still continues. Adding to all this chaos, a man in North Carolina bit into his ice cream this week to find what he thought was an unexpected nut. After sucking the ice cream off of the “nut” he removed the nut to find it was actually a human finger tip! I have found some interesting things in my food throughout my lifetime. Most of these items are bugs or a stray hair….but two fingers within two months?!?! Someone needs to call FDA.

Written While Listening to “Don’t Stop” by the Brazilian Girls

My Sistas- not in a genetic sense- 4 Life

This past weekend, I ventured to the land of the “sistas.” I’m not referring to my biological sisters Amy and Maryam, rather my soul sistas. A few Baha’i friends from the Bay Area put on “Sister Saturdays;” a place for woman to gather and talk about what is on their mind. Although, I am not allowed to fully explain our intimate discussions and rituals due to members of the other gender who happen to be readers of this blog, I will tell as much as I am permitted to.

As I walked into the Baha’i house, the smell of food and estrogen filled the air. We started off by lighting the altar dedicated to the greatest sista of all…Oprah. Continuing with a verbal exercise of discussing what is on each ladies mind aka talk about how one’s husband doesn’t help around the house, insecurities with one’s physical appearance, and the personal struggles that all women go through. With my home girl Erykah Badu’s CD grooving in the background we started with the health and healing component. This included making our own salt scrubs and wraps and giving each other facials with Miracle Wip. I’m not really the “only hang out with girls” type; the thought of spending more than ten minutes in a Sorority House gives me the major heeebie jeebies. Yet, this weekend I walked out of there with twelve new soul sista’s and I can now officially say that I, too, am a Sista!

Oh yeah, Happy MAY DAY to all!!!!

Written While Listening to “Mayfly” by Belle and Sebastian

One Way of Guaranteeing an A

In twenty-three days from today, I will have officially finished my bachelor's degree. Week thirteen in a fifteen week semester is the first week of crunch time. It’s been an overwhelming week to say the least. Today I had my final presentation for my “Understanding and Creating Art in the classroom,” which consisted of a thematic unit, three lesson plans, biography and an actual art activity for the artist Marcel Duchamp (best known for his “sculpture” Fountain; a urinal flipped upside down and signed “R. Mutt”). My forty-five minute presentation was going well until the end of the slide portion as I was walking to pass out a handout to the students; I knocked my head on the hanging television in the classroom. The next thing I remembered I was seeing stars above my head. Running into stationary objects is something quite familiar to me. It’s not unusual for me to be daydreaming while walking down the street and run into stationary light poles on the sidewalk or bike into parked cars. After my presentation, I wasn’t as concerned with my the big bruise that is emerging from my head, rather….how many pity points do a I get for knocking myself out during a Final Art presentation?

Written While Listening to “On Peak Hill” by Stars

S.S. Congruent's Voyage to the Island of Tutor

SS congruent
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Last time I came across the super hero Captain Compass, he had jumped ship after math class and left his trusty trapezoid ship the S.S. Congruent to drift in the open waters of campus. Today I was in the Math Tutoring Lab getting some help on my Math homework and you can imagine the shock when I saw that the S.S. Congruent had beached on the walls of the "Math Ed Corner" of the Math Tutoring Lab.

Written While Listening to "Crown of Love" by The Arcade Fire

Lean to the Left, Lean to the Right, Stand Up, Sit Down, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!!

I attended a private Catholic High School. My parent’s original intent in sending their Baha’i children to a Catholic School was for the renowned athletics and academics. I could only speak for my own high school experience, but from what I hear of the public high school assembly scene is that assemblies were limited to magazine drives, pep rallies, and a good opportunity to ditch school. The Santa Margarita Eagles typically put on a darn good pep ralley and our magazine drive assemblies were above mediocre, but we often had inspirational speakers at our assemblies. These were typically paid speakers that toured conferences and high schools to tell their stories to young eager high school listeners about pro-life or abstinence. Most of these assemblies provided a good opportunity to pass notes and attempt to find your friends in the bleachers across the gym.

Last night at dinner with friends, I was recalling the most memorable speaker; A man who was born with no arms and played the guitar with his feet. I explained how he played Frisbee with his neck and shoulder and demonstrated how he washed his hair without arms. Of course, my friends didn’t believe me and immediately mocked my story. So today I set myself the goal of searching for this no-armed-guitar-player. It took me a while because I wasn’t sure what exactly to search for. “no arm man” and “armless guitar” didn’t quite work. It was finally “no arm guitar” that was successful. He’s playing in Sacramento next October if anyone is down to see him.

Written While Listening to “You’re My Best Friend’ by Queen

The State of the Tater

When I was a child, every winter break we would pack all six of my family members and Chuck (my Dad’s best friend and the fifth official child of the Shelley family) in the family suburban and caravan with five other cars that belonged to the Diliberto clan to Sun Valley, Idaho for a skiing extravaganza. The scenic 995.08 miles of the great Western United States we drove through was left mostly unappreciated by my siblings and I, due to boredom and constant fighting in the back seat. The only interesting thing my siblings and I thought the state of Idaho produced was “potato guns” and a ritzy ski resort.

The Idaho House of Representatives has produced a “concurrent resolution stating legislative findings and commending” the writers and producers of Napoleon Dynamite. I am officially changing my previous statement to… The only interesting things the state of Idaho has produced are “potato guns,” a ritzy ski resort, and Napoleon Dynamite.

Written While Listening to "He Woke Me Up Again" by Sufjan Stevens

Sorry But Hawaii Is Way Better Than Reno

Knowing my fascination for unusual cross-breeding of animals, a friend sent me an article today about the first Whale-Dolphin Mix bred in captivity!! It is one-fourth false killer whale and three-fourths Atlantic bottlenose Dolphin, so logically the mix is called “Wholphin.” With the “Liger Pilgrimage” to Reno to see Hobbes the Liger quickly approaching, I may have to re-evaluate my summer priorities and go on a Wholphin Pilgrimage to Kekaimalu, Hawaii. Alooooha!

Written While Listening to "Dance with Me" by The Sounds

Captain Compass

Captain Compass
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

In my "Teaching Irrational Numbers" Class today we practiced different techniques of teaching Geometry to elementary students. As my peers were frantically taking notes, I made a super hero by the name of Captain Compass. Captain Compass has a peg leg and sails on his trapezoid Ship the S.S. Congruent. (It's hard to see, but he also has a cape made out of a gum wrapper).

Even Britney is Doing it

There must be something in the Sacramento area water because everyone in my Liberal Studies program is pregnant. The pregnant epidemic seems to be spreading even faster than typhoid. In such a female dominated major, it is understandable that the probability of classmates in my major becoming pregnant is much higher than the typically evenly distributed more common majors such as Business or Communications. A typical Monday morning for me is to walk into class and a classmate will triumphantly announce… “Everyone, I’m pregnant!” or “We were walking downtown by the river and he suddenly dropped to one knee and now I’m getting Maaaaaarried!” After the sixth declaration this semester, I believe that it is safe to say the novelty is definitely wearing off.

In my art class, which has the greatest number of preggies, my professor has appeared to have excused all pregnant women from the majority of the art activities. At the beginning of our art activity this week she said, “Will each student please spray paint their sculptures outside so that the pregnant woman don’t get affected.” Umm...last time I checked chemicals affect non-pregnant people too. Or my all time favorite, “The pregnant students don’t have to do the paper machete projects because the goop might make them nauseated.” The one time our teacher talked to me was to solely ask me what the update on a fellow student’s amniocentesis test went. I have decided that there is only one way to guarantee me my “A” in this class…I must fake a pregnancy. Does anyone own a Pregnant suit?

Written While Listening to "Cause=Time" by Broken Social Scene

The Mishk

The current trend in my studying habits, and the central hub for most of my Davis peeps, is a small coffee shop in downtown Davis called Mishka’s. Mishka’s is Davis’ attempt on a Bohemian style fair trade coffee shop. The second you step into the small coffee shop, you are greeted with a quasi smile and the watchful working eyes making sure you sit in the proper “study” or “non-study” areas and more importantly don’t sit down before you buy something. Just at the south had the “white” and “black” sides in restaurants pre-civil rights era, Mishka’s has a clear line between academic and non-academic sitting areas and if you dare cross over to the other side, Mishka in the flesh will drag you to your proper side.

My favorite part about Mishka’s is the “regulars” who are dedicated followers of the coffee cult of the Mishk. It’s comforting to have such a consistent place in my life; just as Zack Morris could walk into the Max and know that A.C. would be sitting at a booth in a backwards chair; I too can count on these regulars. Although I have not actually spoken to these mysterious regulars, I have given them names and made up stories in my head of what they are studying and what they do when leave the mystifying land of Mishka’s.
At times the Mishka’s experience can be overwhelming. The gypsy kings being played on the stereo, the frequent stench of the roasting of coffee beans, and so many people crammed so closely together often leads to claustrophobia. But just as Sam Malone and Norm had Cheers, I too have a place where everyone knows my name, or at least imagine what my name would be…maybe they think my name is Bertha or Petunia.

Happy Birthday Markiks!
Written While Listening to “Everything’s Not Lost” by Coldplay

Fine....I won't call it "Chicags" anymore

Baha'i Temple
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

This past weekend, we ventured east to the mid-west to "Chi-town" for a Baha'i Young Adults Conference on Baha'i Scholarship. Here's a picture of Negs, Neds, Amy and I in front of the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette.

Another Day at the Happiest Place on Earth

Another Day at the Happiest Place on Earth
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

A Hippopotamus + A Rabbit = A Hip-Hop

Giraleffant
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

You are probably saying to yourself, "If May talks about Napoleon Dynamite one more time I"m going to immediately remove this website from my favorites website folder (which May magically placed this website in) and re-evaluate my friendship with her." Then I remembered that this is my blog and I'm going to write about whatever I darn feel like writing about.

So here I go....for the past two days I have been substituting at the Alternative-Ed High School that I work at during the summers. The group of students in the class I worked in this week is one of the best groups I've had within the four years. Today I was working with a group of students on Math and somehow we got off topic and I was explaining to them that a Liger is a real animal. The math lesson turned into a Science lesson about cross-breeding of various species. After a few minutes of discussion, the students got on-task and continued with their Math work. In the corner of my eye, I noticed one of my students drawing something instead of doing his math work. The photo on this blog is a picture from my camera phone of his drawing. (Don't worry I have his permission to post it) He thought it would be really awesome if a Giraffe and an Elephant mated, hence the "Giraleffant." What can I say, my students are creatively gifted!

Written While Listening to "First Thing Tomorrow" by Kelsey Bulkin

Slave to the Bean

Disneyland coffee
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

I'm at home this week for my spring break. Note that spring break isn't capitalized or emphasized a lot like a frat boy on the beaches of Cancun might say it (SPRING BREAK 2005!! WOO HOO). My spring break consists of watching tivo'ed shows, kickin it with the parentals, and checking my e-mail 200 times a day instead of the normal fifty. Yesterday morning I was surprised to come downstairs to find the world's greatest cup of coffee brewing (thanks Dad) and my twin sister's Disneyland pass waiting on the counter. So off to Disneyland I went. I was surprised to find out that my whole family, cousins and all, were at Disneyland that day for Naw Ruz. It seems that the whole Fam-Damily was planning this trip and unknowingly left me out of the loop until that morning.
My family loves discounts. This may come from having so many family members, that one learns to take advantage of any type of discount or loophole. It's not surprising to hear my Grandpa rattle off the list of discounts at any department store: AAA, seniors discount, Diner's Club of America, etc. Leave it to my Gramps to find Disneyland's one loophole. For $2.39 (perhaps Disneyland's cheapest item in the park) you can buy a regular sized coffee with free refills. When you want a coffee refill, you simply take your used coffee cup and the food service "Cast members" will exchange it for a new cup of fresh coffee. A few years back I noticed as we were entering the park, my Grandpa pulled out an empty Disneyland coffee cup from his Jacket pocket. He then explained to me that this was a cup he saved from his previous visit and was going to redeem the old cup for a new cup of coffee. When my Grandpa went to get his coffee and handed him the old cup, the "cast member" was confused because that was an old cup's design and Disneyland hadn't served that cup for over six months. Thankfully they still gave him a fresh cup of coffee in the newly designed cup. So yesterday, being the poor college student that I am, I was aching for a cup o Joe. While I was walking by an empty table, as if the coffee gods were shining a lone spotlight to show me the way to a coffee addicts salvation, an empty coffee cup sat there upon the table, taunting me "take me, I'm free." I looked around, made sure the coast was clear, and swooped up the empty coffee cup and redeemed it for a tasty, free cup of coffee. Is this considered stealing? Has my coffee addiction (yes, my friends I am admitting it) led me to cheat Disneyland out of $2.39 just so I can supply a constant IV drip of coffee to my veins?

Written While Listening to "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths

Doogie was the Original Blogger

doogie howser
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

In the spirit of 2005 being the year of the Sweepstakes and the Blog, my favorite Aunt Juliet has been hooking me up with the 411 on the latest sweepstakes. This weeks sweepstakes, Doogie Howser the Lost Years, especially caught my attention. The contest is to submit a "Doogie like" blog entry in order to win tickets to the 2005 Emmy awards. As many of you know, one of my very few claims to fame is that my mom's first cousin is Wanda (Lisa Dean Ryan) from the t.v. show Doogie Howser M.D. Like all sweepstakes I enter, I checked the contest rules very closely; am I excluded because Wanda is my second cousin once removed? Blog away "Doogie style" my friends!! and if you win...you know who to bring.

Written While Listening to "The Legionnaire's Lement" by The Decemberists

Aggie for Life

For the past two and half years I have lived in the wonderful city of Davis, California while attending Sacramento State. Most of my days consist of studying and spending the majority of my time on the Davis campus and surrounding areas. One can often find me at Shields library, Mishka’s (the local UCDavis Coffee shop), or mooching swipes from the “Dormies”; I am even the Secretary of the UCDavis Baha’i club. Because I have a strong presence on the Davis campus and community, people are usually surprised when I tell them that I don’t even attend UCDavis. Well Ladies and Gentleman, as of today it is official….Next year I will be a UCDavis Aggie! Today I received my acceptance letter to the UCDavis Masters/ Credential program! Davis….Here I Stay!

Written While Listening to “Everything in Its Right Place” by Radiohead

Oh What Fun It is to Ride

In fifth grade- a very crucial time in every pre-adolescent’s life- I came across one of the most embarrassing moments of my childhood. While I was riding my bike to school, just as I did every morning, I cruised by the junior high school checking out the older seventh grade hunnies. Suddenly my front tire skimmed the freakishly awkward cut Long Beach grass and lost control of my bike, inevitably running into a parked car. As the crowds began to gather around (and the nurse brought out the stretcher and wheelchair) I had decided that boys were a bad distraction. Apparently, that life lesson only lasted a good two weeks before I completely forgot about it. Although I was not badly injured, I still have a permanent scar on both my left shin and my ego.
Shout out to Tati for sending me an article on sibling horses (Rusty and Becky) in Newfoundland that went on a wild rampage and smashed their sleigh into two cars, causing permanent damage. The article suggests that Rusty and Becky went on this car “slaying” spree because they were frustrated by a car’s exhaust fumes they were forced to breathe in; I found my accident lacking a good excuse. Life Lesson for the day: Boys and exhaust fumes only lead to horrible accidents involving parked cars.

Written While Listening to “Pressure Point” by The Zutons.

"This is the Night, Free Until the Morning Night"

Back in the day when I was a counselor at Bosch Baha’i School for Youth Week one summer, I met the famous “Slim Whodi.” This year Negin was trying to explain to me who “Slim Whodi” was and I couldn’t put a face to his name, but thanks to this video he sent me….it’s all coming back (Be sure to pump up the Volume).

Written While Listening to "Falling Away With You" by Muse

I Shall Start a Child Walking Service...Parents, Please Provide your own Leashes

Full Body Harness Leash
Originally uploaded by mayshelley.

Today is my dog Annie's eleventh birthday, which reminds me of one of my personal pet peeves; kids who are forced to wear full body harnesses. No, I am not referring to rock climbing equipment rather a dog like leash that parents strap on their kid's wrist, or belt onto their chest. Living within twenty minutes of Disneyland (the happiest place on earth for all children besides those in full body harnesses), I have witnessed this cruelty to young children far too many times.
A story that best explains my views on the issue is one of my sister Amy's coworker who wants to name his kids Freedom and Justice. When Freedom and Justice ripen to the age of walking he will strap on the kids full body harness leashes. Every time Freedom and Justice would try running away, he would whip their leashes back and yell out loudly for all to hear "Freedom, Justice come back here!"
I propose that we put an end to this child cruelty and ban on all Full-Body Harness Leashes. Instead I suggest taking an old beer (or Odouls) can filled with pennies and every time the child wants to run away or misbehaves, you shake the can incessantly in their ear until they have settled down.

Written While Listening to "Repilia" by The Strokes

Dawn is My Homegirl

I’m sure everyone knows of a few friends that are obsessed with Napoleon Dynamite to the point where they relentlessly quote it beyond sanity. Most of these friends that you have in mind are most likely between the ages of 13-19. By far, the biggest Napoleon Dynamite fan I know is the person responsible for bringing me into this world, our very own “Dawnkey.” I often find my mom quoting ND in everyday lingo. For example, When I was home from break I called up my mom and asked her what was for dinner and she continues to tell me to “make myself a dang que-sa-dilla” and then chuckles for a solid two minutes, quietly repeating the quote. My mom even went as far as going to one of the two forbidden stores in the mall, Hot Topic. For those of you who don’t know what Hot Topic is….it’s basically the Claire’s Accessories for the quasi-gothic and punk junior high aged kids. They sell “accessories” such as lava lamps, tacky Evanescence and Sum 41 posters, Anime shirts, “intimate toys”, and the largest known collection of Napoleon Dynamite paraphernalia. My mom’s current collection includes: buttons, two shirts, happy hands and many more. My mom is the most legit ND fan ever.
So when I received two ND e-mail forwards within 15 minutes today, I thought it only appropriate to dedicate today’s blog to my wonderful sophisticated highly intelligent Napoleon Dynamite loving mother. Dawn here’s to you!
Napoleon Dynamite Top Ten Clip (thanks Tati)
Which Napoleon Dynamite Character are you?

Written While Listening to "Chocolate" by Snow Patrol