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Just an fyi…my gracious host is having some unfortunate technical difficulties. Yesterday the server was down for several hours (a rare occurence). And today I’ve had trouble posting. Received some error message about disk space when I tried saving my file. Had to delete an entire directory of photos before I could write to my index.html (I update using pico). Hopefully I will be able to post more photos and whatnot shortly.
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My friend’s daughter turns four today. The little man and I will be attending her birthday party this evening. So last night I swung by Creative Kidstuff on the way home from work, hoping to find a cool gift. But I wasn’t sure what to get her. When I first met her she was just a baby. Who then grew into a sassy little tomboy toddler. Always demanding to wear moonboots with her batman t-shirt. But some time ago she went through another transformation. And has become something of a little diva. I dropped by a while back and was stunned by this transformation. I saw it in full effect when she was playing with a little boy. Who was pestering her, really, more than playing with her. He’d started touching her hair. So she leapt up out of her chair, and began emoting to the room “oh no, he’s messing up my beautiful hair!”. Whoa. So what to get her? Thankfully her home is a Barbie-free zone. Not that I’d ever be tempted to purchase one (even after, or perhaps especially after, reading “Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll“. But after wandering around the store I didn’t see anything that was quite right. For her age, or personality. Then I noticed the Groovy Girls stuff. I’d heard of these dolls before. They seem to be rather popular. And they’re plush, instead of creepy plastic. I was ready to snap up a doll and an outfit (the skateboarding gear set) when some of the staff came over to see if I needed any help. So I explained the situation.
Them: Well, yes, I think a Groovy Girls doll would be a good choice. Unfortunately we are out of them.
Me: (a little confused) Then what are these?
Them: Oh, those are the new Groovy Boys dolls.
Me: Huh. I thought they were just sort of butch girls.
Them: (speechless)
Me: Well, I like the boy outfits better. They look more like something I would wear.
Them: Hmmm.
After that they called their other store locations, insisting they try to find a little girl doll for me to buy. Eventually I convinced them that it was all good. That cross-dressing is really not a big deal (ok, maybe I didn’t quite convince them on that count). And that I would be buying a Kyle or Kalvin doll, thank you very much. Hopefully I will be able to convince the diva as well.

There are too many good shows coming up. Back in the day this wasn’t considered to be much of a problem. It was seen as something of a boon, and looked upon with glee. But these days I am queen of the homebodies. Ok, maybe just viscountess. Whose evenings are now ruled by the Monkey Overlord (who is currently dancing in the doorway, demanding that I put my slippers on and go downstairs with him). But we have a good time. So it’s all good. Really. But I would like to get out to see a few of these bands. Ok, let’s not push my luck. Maybe a couple. All right, all right. How about one show? Please, monkey, please? But there are so many to choose from. And they don’t even conflict with Buffy. Ladytron and Sondre Lerche are coming to town on March 1st. Unfortunately not on the same bill. The Sea and Cake plays March 5th. Bettie Serveert on April 5th. But I think I’m most excited about Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, on February 24th. I started listening to Chisel a little after the fact…but enjoy them immensely (especially “Set You Free“). And Ted Leo with the Pharmacists is even better. So I’d like to see them before they break up too. I just read a glowing review of the new album, “Hearts of Oak” (by a self-described drooling fanboy). Need to pick that up. And last but not least, Godspeed! You Black Emperor is playing March 19th. A show that I, perhaps somewhat optimisically, have already purchased tickets to. So I guess we’ll see how this all plays out, so to speak.

We wish Francois the best. Really we do. But since he sold his restaurant last Fall, we’ve been left with an unfillable void. The other restaurants around town just haven’t got what it takes. If the food is all right, it’s likely overpriced. Or the restaurant is a little too far away (not that Vo’s was in the neighborhood or anything). Or there have been rumors of an unclean kitchen. If it’s reasonably priced, the service is somewhat lacking. Well, let’s face it. No restaurant’s service could compare with the old Vo’s. With the personal, detail-oriented attention given by Francois and his family members. But still, we must try. Sometimes spring roll cravings cannot go unheeded. So recently I’d heard rumblings from a few folks…about a little hole-in-the wall restaurant. Nothing fantastic. Just inexpensive, authentic Vietnamese fare…with decent service. And a Francois-approved kitchen. Last night we had takeout from Pho Tau Bay. Which some folks have taken to calling Photon Bay. It’ll do for now. The tofu with peapods was tasty enough. But still. I am looking forward to seeing Francois this Spring. Even if it will just be a brief visit. And while we wait, we have a little time. To devise a plan. To get him to spill the secret of the special sauce. Mouhahahaha. Umm, yeah.

The first Animatrix installment, “The Second Rennaissance - Part 1″, launched yesterday. According to imdb:
‘The Animatrix is a collection of several animated short films, detailing the backstory of the “Matrix” universe, and the original war between man and machines which led to the creation of the Matrix.’
It looks interesting. J watched it yesterday but I haven’t had a chance to yet. Soon. Very soon. Right then. Back to work.

It’s been a strange week, all-around. The mice, or one mouse (please please, let it be just one) returned to our house…after a nearly two year absence. The cats promptly killed the poor thing. And J promptly disposed of it. Ew. Speaking of J…he has been under the weather all week. And this wacky winter weather (in Minnesota of all places, who would’ve thunk?) has been working against me. Monday morning was the slush-a-thon, with the heavy, wet snow. Tuesday morning it was all flash frozen. I went out to warm up my car to find the locks impenetrable (being garage-less and all). After futilely deploying vast amounts of de-icer, I had to resort to invoking my AAA membership privileges. They were fairly speedy with their response. But I was a bit worried about the fellow who turned up. He seemed nice enough, but his initial attempt at getting into the car involved:
a) hooking up a long tube to his van’s exhaust, and
b) holding the other end against my lock, while
c) breathing in the fumes.
This unhealthy method didn’t even work, and for that I’m sure he lost a few brain cells. He then resorted to the old stand-by. Picking the lock. Which got him in, but also set the alarm off. The little man found all of this to be enormously entertaining…especially as he was watching from inside the house. Sheltered from the biting wind, peeking through the mail slot in the front door. While shouting “Hey Mom!” and giggling. Cute little goofball. So we were delayed a bit, much to his delight, but eventually were underway. A couple of hours late. Sigh. Yesterday morning I headed out without incident, but the drive home was slow and go due to fresh snow. Followed by more freezing. Causing my locks to, again, freeze. But this time the de-icer did the trick. Thankfully. In news of the weird…yesterday morning my co-workers gathered around in the kitchen. To gaze up at the monitors broadcasting Colin Powell’s U.N. address. I tried to watch, really. And tried to be interested. But I loathe this administration so much. And the other monitors happened to be displaying something far more eye-catching. “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” was on. Being unable to resist the pull of that fine film, I excused myself and returned to my desk. Where I was greeted by my new Maneki Neko. It had abandoned during our musical chairs office move last Friday. Hopefully it will bring me better luck in the days to come.

No, I’m not drunk. Just remembering something that amused me earlier. From a list I’m on. Another list member was apologizing…for a spelling error they’d made in a previous post. And as an aside he mentioned this:
P.P.S. Google’s spelling correction is getting pretty powerful. I typed “alyssa milano” and it responded “Did you mean alyssa milano nude?”
Heh. That is all. K. Ba-bye now.

Meant to post these photos last week.
(Of my frozen-and-poorly-insulated-yet-pretty windows.)
Meant to do a lot of things last week.
Can’t recall any of them at the moment.
It was a long, long day.
A day that broke me.
And my brain.
My cat’s breath smells like cat food.
Too. Tired. To. Think.
Nigh nigh.

I like to feel somewhat prepared Sunday evenings…so that Monday mornings aren’t quite so dreadful. Last night I was feeling like I was on top of things. The lunches were packed. Clean clothes laid out. Cell phone and camera batteries were recharged. But I’d failed to take mother nature into account. I remember thinking how pretty the snow looked last night, clinging to the trees. And that maybe it might take me a little longer than usual to get to work in the morning. But damn. It started with the shovelling. Of the heavy, wet snow. I only made a narrow walkway from the front steps to the car, but even that took much longer than expected. Then the car became stuck in slush as soon as I backed out into the street. Couldn’t go forward, up the slight grade (it’s hardly a hill), to save my life. Wound up backing up, turning around, and going around the block. Then we plodded on at a snail’s pace to the preschool. That drive took at least three times longer than usual. Dodging bad drivers and snow plows all along the way. At least the little man and I had plenty of time to talk. About Buzz Lightyear. And sledding. And Buzz Lightyear. And Woody. And did I mention Buzz Lightyear? Once the monkey was safely settled in at school I attempted to continue on with the last leg of my journey. But the car became hopelessly mired in slush. I was unable to move forward or backwards. Unable to get any traction, just spinning my wheels. I was beginning to lose all hope. And to seriously consider ditching the car and hopping on a bus. When a kind passerby offered assistance and helped push my car out into the street. (Thanks guy, whoever you are.) The only problem being the jerks zooming past. None would slow down to let me in. Once I finally got going I avoided the side streets and made my way to the freeway. After what felt like hours of slow and go I eventually made it to the office. And was actually relieved to have done so. Still, the trees were awfully pretty.

It was yet another good day. More lounging was done. And sledding (on slush) in the backyard. Naturally the snow didn’t start coming down until after we’d finished…but it worked well enough. In the afternoon the little man was slated to have a visit with his Dad. So J and I made good use of the unusual quiet time. Everything seems to move at a slower pace without my monkey around. Like I’m stuck in some sort of time warp. Especially as J and I were having our, umm, leisurely lunch at the Seward Cafe. I usually don’t notice how long it takes for our orders to be ready. As I’m too busy playing with, and chasing after, the little man. And today there were other adorable children there. Including one whose voice was oddly similar to my monkey’s. Oh well. After lunch we headed back towards Uptown. Where I stopped (because I was driving the car this time) to take a photo. Yesterday I’d noticed some interesting posters that had been pasted on a bus bench…over some boring banking ad. I’d wanted to document it yesterday, but was already pushing my luck with J after the hi-lex incident.

After I’d snapped that to my satisfaction we went on to the Bryant Lake Bowl. Luckily several lanes were open. Considering how awful I am, I’m surprised I didn’t throw the ball into an adjacent lane. Instead I had some serious gutter balls in our own. J thinks it’s all in my wrist. Perhaps my game would improve if I had a French bowling instructor named Jacques. But at least I broke 100. If you add up my scores from both games. Sucky or not, I still had a good time. And we’re hoping to head back to the BLB soon for a showing of “Kung Fu Hamlet“…which we missed last summer when it played the Fringe Festival.