Today’s news: some ugly, soulless jerk(s) stole all of The Decemberists gear in Portland. Naturally I wish the band a speedy recovery…of their equipment. But I’m sure the best we can hope for is a relatively painless replacement of said gear.

Yesterday’s news: it’s been confirmed. Joss Whedon will be writing and directing Wonder Woman. While I love Joss, I’m not so excited about Wonder Woman. Kinda like Peter Jackson and King Kong. But I’m sure I’ll be seeing their takes on both subjects.

In other movie news, there’s a new Sin City trailer up. Though I haven’t read the comic yet, I’m excited by the idea that it’s such a faithful adaptation of Frank Miller’s work. And April 1st is right around the corner.

It would seem about once a year I’ll be poking around the local library, grab a Terry Pratchett book at random, and only realize once I’ve gotten home that it is from the Discworld Series (he’s been so damned prolific). Even though the author claims anyone can jump in anywhere in the series (it’s a series, not a serial, or so he says) my OCD will only allow me to start with book one. So maybe one of these days I will.

The auction has just ended, to name the cruise ship in Neil Gaiman’s upcoming book, Anansi Boys. The $3,533.00 (USD) will go directly to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. I’m curious to see if this name is divulged before the book is published, or if we have to wait and read it. Fun idea either way.
Plus: I realize it’s all relative, but this week went by in the blink of an eye.

Times of transition are hard for everyone. But especially for the little man. Lately the poor boy’s been under a lot of pressure. At school they’ve been buckling down on “disruptive behaviors” in an attempt to prepare the kids for kindergarten. At home we’ve been more vigilant about getting the boy’s teeth brushed. And grandma says she’s been taking less guff from him on their visits. He’s just getting it from all sides. And I’m about to throw another curveball at him. On Monday I’m going back to work, full-time, for the first time in over a year and a half. I hadn’t planned to just yet. I wasn’t going to start looking for work until kindergarten kicked off. But I heard through the grapevine about a promising position. It sounded like such a good fit with my skillset and experience, and at such a cool little company, that, well, it was too good to pass up. I applied, I interviewed…and I got it. Maybe our luck is finally changing. And now it’s time for the husband to get a bit of a break. He’s quit one of his jobs so that he can be home with the little man, when the lad isn’t at school. I’m a touch jealous really. Their springtime will be chock full of quality guy time. While mine will be spent getting back into the swing of things. But it’s all good.
p.s. Because of the new gig I suspect my posting habits will be…changing. I won’t be posting less, necessarily, but at odd times. You know, early morning, later evening, and weekends. What’s most likely to suffer, if that’s the word for it, is my flickr-ing. C’est la vie.
Bonus: Also next week, two shows I’d like to see that seemingly have nothing in common…except that I secretly liked both bands in the same era. At the time I would have lost punk rock points for admitting it, but now I just don’t care. So without further ado…Monday night is the 7 Seconds show. While Tuesday night things get a little, uh, different, with Duran Duran. Going to both shows would be dreamy. Yeah, a pipe dream. Sigh.
Plus: Ours isn’t the only family to be struggling with these sorts of big picture ch-ch-changes. Best wishes to this Swiss/Aussie foursome.

Been seeing the billboards around town for Blind Justice, the latest cop show with an unconventional crime solver. There are the inevitable comparisons to the BBC’s Second Sight, starring Clive Owen. I remember quite liking what I saw of that show…and I suppose I’m predisposed to thinking that this American take on the idea is crap. So there you go. Knee jerk judgement (but the critics seem to agree with me). Oh, how I pine for the days when Joss Whedon’s shows graced our public airwaves. Most of my distractions are to be found online these days, anyhow. And who needs teevee when we’ve got vloggers to watch?

In other news, the music portion of SXSW began today. And the Upper Midwest Blog Managers Assocation is being finely represented by Lorika, Lane and Chollie. Speaking of whom…just yesterday Chuck and crew met the man behind Homestar and crew. Sigh.
Bonus: The day has come for a new fiendish Making Fiends episode.
Plus: Speaking of Whedon…‘Firefly’ Actors Enjoy a New ‘Serenity’
And: Apparently Mr. Sam Brown did some drawings on the fly, at SXSW. For me it’s a tie between ‘Merge‘ and ‘Take Me‘. Magnificient.

The husband just headed out to a doc appointment, but he’s going on a secret mission after that. To bring home The Incredibles DVD.

Which originally wasn’t slated to come out until the 22nd, but there you go. Actually coming out one week from today are two other releases, though, that I’m quite chuffed about. One, The Decemberists’ Picaresque. Yeah, we’ve had an illicit copy for months, but I’m looking forward to supporting the band by purchasing a legit copy. Secondly, M.I.A.’s Arular. What is the aural equivalent of catching a glimpse? I’ve heard snippets here and there, a review on NPR, her track Pull Up The People played on the K, but I’m looking forward to basking in her first full length release (oh, and there’s an interview with her on Pitchfork today).
Bonus: My most recent five minute crush…artist/illustrator Christopher Hutsul. I love his robots, of course, but the rest is tops too.
Plus: I was such a fool. Dave is taking Vicodin…but lucid enough to taunt me via email. Oh well.
And: My supply of recent photos is running a little low as I’d foolishly misplaced my camera battery recharger. It’s been recovered, the batteries are charged, and I’m ready to rock. Or take some photos, at any rate.

When the husband woke up today he started to shave his head. Midway through he remarked “this is one way to get rid of bedhead”. Too true.

While catching up over at Electrolicious my eye was drawn to the headline: Blogging = Good For You! A sentiment I was likely inclined to agree with in advance, of course, but Ariel was discussing specifics…Tim Bray’s top Ten Reasons Why Blogging is Good For Your Career. The list doesn’t necessarily apply to me, except for this point:

7. Networking is good for your career. Blogging is a good way to meet people.

I couldn’t agree more, and certainly agree with the overall message (especially his parting words). Speaking of networking…because of my beloved flickr, an old high school friend found and contacted me today. And that was neat.
Bonus: The latest Hitchiker’s Guide trailers [2, 3] get me ridiculously giddy. Especially since Alan Rickman can now be heard as the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android. Squeeeeeeee!
Plus: Lane makes his layout a little easier on the eyes…before leaving for SXSW. Rock star.
And: Dave, dear, I hope your surgery went well today and you find the percocet especially effective. Before long your old schnozz will be just like new. Or new and improved. Or something.
And another thing: While Dave is doped up maybe he won’t be able to further tease me about my online habits. It’s true that, once upon a time, I may have had a short-lived ebay addiction. I’ve been very good the last two years or so, dammit. Selling more stuff than buying, and only picking up essentials…like winter boots for the little man. But tonight I made my first non-essential purchase in ages. New shoes. And they’re seriously cute. So there.

A weekend recap…
Friday: Even though it’s coming out on DVD this Tuesday, I took the little man to see The Incredibles at the theater. Again. For a total of four times now.
Saturday: I could tell the boy needed to do some running around, but it was bitterly cold and blustery out. So off we went to the Eagle’s Nest (no, not Hitler’s hideout). Upon arrival I instantly remembered why the place is best avoided on the weekends. It was wall to wall kids. With a staggering number of brown-haired boys wearing red t-shirts with blue jeans, just like the little man. This helped him blend into the crowd…and greatly hindered my efforts to keep track of him. Then there were the ear-piercing shrieks emitted at regular intervals, in surround sound. One shrieker in particular…man, I found myself flinching involuntarily any time he came near me. Made me wonder how his parents must feel. After recuperating at home for a while I rewarded myself by taking the fam out to dinner. At Evergreen, of course.
Sunday: March Madness. I hear that term every year, and can never remember what the heck it applies to. Apparently it’s basketball. Let’s just see how long I retain that knowledge. But because of it I got a bit of a break. The little man’s grandpa is an avid basketball fan. Grandma, not so much. So she decided to take the lad on an impromptu outing today. Which allowed me out to run a few errands and take in Bride & Prejudice, a movie where “Bollywood meets Hollywood”. Now, I’m a long-time fan of Bollywood films, so it was more than a little disconcerting for the usual big dance numbers to begin…only to have the songs come out in English. And the bulk of the dialogue, again, in English. But I’d have to agree that “it’s hard not to warm to this brash, slaphappy, Technicolored lummox of a movie.”
Bonus: Speaking of movies about marriage…just came across Mail Order Wife. This interesting looking mockumentary stars Cheng Pei Pei’s beautiful daughter, Eugenia Yuan.
Plus: For weird…Van rips into Minneapolis salon. I may not have frequented said salon, but it was (past tense) a lovely building. And I particularly liked the paper store next door.

Yesterday the husband was copying some of his Dad’s old family videos from VHS to DVD. This meant that his computer was off limits to the little man for a time (and I was using mine) which happens frequently. But it also meant that the VCR was in use. Which means that the teevee was rendered even more useless than usual (our reception is for crap so we can only tune in to our public television station if everything is just so, all hooked up through the VCR). When the full impact of this hit the little man he bemoaned, in his most pitiful voice, “I’ll have to use my imagination.”
Bonus: The fabulous Seonna Hong has provided some gorgeous artwork for these little girls’ snowboards. Their tagline: perfect for little ladies wanting in on the action (via ljc fyi).
Plus: Worlds colliding. Ted Leo covering Kelly Clarkson (if you had the same who the what the huh? reaction as I did, apparently she was the first American Idol winner).
And: Yesterday was a day of some big news. One piece I will divulge…Anton is coming up from Chicago next weekend for a visit! And I’ll finally get to meet his girlfriend (of whom I’ve heard good things). The other piece of news, well, I’m still processing. But it’s good news…for a change.
Lastly: I’ve got more Dressy Bessy photos up on flickr.

This week the little man has got me especially worried. Each morning he’s begun protesting about an hour before the school bus comes. He says “school makes me sick” then illustrates this with a weak *cough cough* noise, as though the very thought of it is bringing on an allergic reaction. I could understand this in an older child, maybe post-puberty, when the going gets rough (did for me, at any rate). But this is preschool we’re talking about. And he usually boards the school bus with a spring in his step, looking forward to a morning of playing with his peers. Which makes me wonder just what is going on. Is one of the kids being particularly crappy to him? Has one of the teachers or aides “redirected” (read: disciplined) him a little too harshly? I don’t know, and he’s not telling. But whatever it is, it’s been distressing to the both of us. I’ve left a voicemail for one of his teachers, so now it’s all wait and see. Which seems to apply to a lot of things in our lives these days. Sigh.
Bonus: For something less serious…Tetsujin niju-hachigo (Ironman # 28). There’s nothing like virtually-indestructible Gigantor robots to get me in a good mood (though I wish I could read their movie blog).
Plus: Last weekend Ryanne was lucky enough to experience the marvel that is Leslie & The Ly’s firsthand. In my excitement I tried to comment on this, but blogger kept timing out on me before my comment finally showed up…three times. Yarr.
And: A little boy named Leonard. Made me smile. Zophia had this reaction:
“that makes my ovaries hurt!!! how freaking cute!” Indeed. Also adorable, the amazing Maxwell, who is now one. Happy Birthday Count Blogula!
Lastly: Castro gives rice cookers to women on Women’s Day. The hell?

A few posts ago I listed off upcoming events, and, inadvertently, left out a crucial one. Somehow I was unaware that Andrew Bird is playing in town this Thursday night. I adore that man. Discovering him was a happy accident, when he turned out to be the “TBA” opener for Kristin Hersh about five years back. For a few years I admired him, from afar…but then was able to see him perform again last summer, as the opening act for The Magnetic Fields. But this week he is headlining. And at the newly reopened Varsity Theater no less (a space which I have mixed memories of…having gone dancing there weekly in high school, for their industrial night, but also seeing a few hardcore shows there as well). Alas with such short notice, and a short supply of little man-sitters, I may have to sit this one out…and make do with picking up Mr. Bird’s latest release, The Mysterious Production of Eggs. But if you can go, please do. For me? Thanks ever so much.
Bonus: Neil Gaiman’s upcoming book now has a cover.

It was a fine weekend, with a good balance between activity and, well, inactivity. We dined out a couple of times, ran errands, visited the library, and hung out with friends and family. Yesterday the little man and I dropped by to see the results of an annual snow culpting contest, but those folks picked the wrong weekend for it. Saturday was wintery enough, but Sunday was Springlike, with temps near 60. It was so wonderful to go on a walk through the neighborhood, without jackets. But today it’s back to reality…especially for the husband. He went back to work, to both jobs, for the first time in, oh, ten days or so. Ouch.

In other news, it’s been brought to my attention, again, that this blog has been suffering…due to my excessive flickr-ing. I’m sorry. I just can’t help myself. And flickr is just a gateway to other distractions. My latest find, Kid Ethnic. His tagline:

I’m that Lebanese Japanese Indian White kid. The ain’t got a right kid. The party all night kid.

How can I resist his charm? He’s got some fabulous photos, and even more wonderful writing. But, after a little La Coquette yesterday, I came to realize I have a thing for expat blogs. Aussies in Switzerland, Canadians in Australia, Brits in the U.S., Americans in Paris, Japan, Taiwan, etc. I can’t get enough of ‘em (yes, living vicariously through these folks does help ease my wanderlust some). So I found this article especially interesting.
Now I’m off to get my hairs cut. Chop chop!
Bonus: Que Sera Sera’s awesome pictures of her brother.