Sigur Rós helped soothe my jangled nerves. Enjoying a lovely meal with friends at Solera (next door to the venue) before the show helped a great deal as well. Later, on the drive home, I was thinking about the evening. And Chuck posted my very thoughts, about music and Spirituality, before my sleepy brain could fully articulate them:

Bands like Sigur Ros, The Polyphonic Spree and The Flaming Lips are the closest many of us disillusioned youths will come to finding God. Church and religion have way too much baggage, and have done far too much harm. Sigur Ros makes it safe to feel exaltation, to experience something like transcendence. Call it what you will… the terrain of the heart, the soul, or just — good epic music?

Music has always been my religion. From the time I was a little kid, when my Dad shared his favorites with me on our reel-to-reel player, to those Sunday night all ages shows in the 7th Street Entry. From an early age I would withdraw, opting for escapism from the unpleasant aspects of daily reality, most often by reading. But music has always offered something more. Not so private. Not entirely internal. Live music shows have given me the most satisfying and memorable communal experiences I’ve ever known.

Bonus: I forgot to mention…Paddy from Dillinger Four was selling merch for Sigur Rós. It was surreal, to say the least.

It was one freaking lousy weekend, made worse by the fact that the weather was so totally perfect…and so many other people were out having a spectacular time. But not us. Lately my life feels like a Choose Your Own Adventure story gone horribly wrong. Not going to go into it, but I’m particularly frustrated with the uncooperative males of the household. And this week isn’t off to the best start. Already had to cancel my session with the personal trainer this morning, because I woke up feeling awful. And we missed the little man’s bus so I had to drive him all the way to school. Grrr.

Now I’m trying to think of ways to cheer myself up. Escapist fiction seems like a good route to take on this rainy day, but I’d rather not spend more money. It figures that Jim Butcher’s latest installment of the Dresden Files came out last week, but in hardcover (I think it’s the first one of the series to be in hardcover). The library has several copies, but they’re all checked out already, with holds to boot. Doh. Joe at Pop Astronaut recommends Paul Pope’s Batman Year 100. A trip to Big Brain would be fantastic, but I should sell some stuff on ebay before I buy any more non-essential items. Sigh. Thank gawd I’m going to the Sigur Ros show tonight.

This past week a number of folks pointed out a site that really struck a nerve for me…The Saddest Thing I Own. I couldn’t get it off my mind. I’ve always been a sentimental packrat, and have hung on to too many articles that could claim that title. So of course I submitted a post last night, while listening to Low to excess (especially Point of Disgust). I would have been crying in my beer, if I were a beer-drinker. Anyhow, that submission is over here.

Today’s been a better day. Our friends (the former neighbors) came over, to accompany us to the Cinco de Mayo parade. But it wasn’t the whole family. The workaholic Jesus stayed home as he had, apparently, gutted their only bathroom down to the studs, and is busy rebuilding it.

Tomorrow we’re slated to attend another parade, as part of the Heart of the Beast’s May Day celebration. When the little man was smaller and much less mobile we used to go and spend the entire day at Powerhorn Park. This year, I’m worried he’ll even make it through the parade. Heck, I’m worried I’ll be able to get him to the parade. Maybe he’ll just stay home with the husband. They’re like peas in a pod these days (except the husband hates peas, and they’re among the few foods the little man likes).

Bonus: I’m very much looking forward to Monday. It’s been nearly five years since the last time I saw Sigur Ros live, and I didn’t think I would make it to this show either. But my marvelous co-workers have an extra ticket, for me, and we’ve got excellent seats. Yay!
Plus: Visits to Milk and Cake always end with me wanting more…stuff. But it is nearly time to have my lobes stretched again, and these charcoal wood spirals are mighty fine.
And: Happy Birthday Lorika!

Over the last seven years I’ve been doing my own unscientific research into the nature vs. nurture debate…with the little man as my test subject. Preliminary results indicate that nurture is coming into play in our household. The lad has been adopting many of his step-father’s ways. First it was the burgeoning preference for hermitude, and for video games. Now he is moving on to attire. Or lack thereof. It is known that the husband sleeps in his boxer shorts. All year round. No jammies for that man, even when it’s freezing cold in this drafty old house. Now that it is warming up, however, it seems the little man wants to give this a whirl too. A couple of nights in a row now he has gone to bed in nothing but his underpants (though I repeatedly offered him Superman pajamas). Yesterday morning, when I belatedly got out of bed, I found him hopping around the hallway, still just wearing his underpants, but with one addition. A lightsaber, tucked into the waistband. Oh my. I guess a jedi must be ready for any one of the seven forms of lightsaber combat at any time of the day or night.

Bonus: Dang, I missed it when it was in France, and now the spaceship has landed in London. It seems pretty unlikely that Royal de Luxe would ever put on such epic street theater on this side of the pond.
Plus: Speaking of England…my favorite berks, in Northamptom, have just launched DeathGob - Clothing for the Confused. Check ‘em out.
And: Milk and Cake made me want it and now I just have to get my hands on a copy of Souther Salazar’s Destined for Dizziness! It’s happy orange goodness!

Still sick, but being sick is still boring, so enjoy a random list of less boring topics.

• Tonight is the premiere of the Prairie Home Companion movie, but not in Hollywood. It’s in my own backyard…at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul. There’s going to be all kinds of fuss, including a parade, with the stars being pulled around in horse-drawn carriages (those poor horses).
• Came across Treehugger’s “Unexpected Green” contest. Enter by the 5th for a chance to win an Earth Shoes gift certificate.
• There is so much going on this weekend. Add to the list one more action item - Free Comic Book Day - on Saturday.
• The all-new Minneapolis Central Library is opening soon, and kicking things of with a day of festivities on May 20th. Included in the lineup is a performance by Mu Daiko. I love love love taiko drumming.
• Meghan pointed out that Minneapolis is getting its own Pillow Fight Club. I adore the idea of it, but feather pillows are recommended. What’s a vegan to do?
• I’m occasionally plagued by random consumerist lust. I really want this thermos. I could rationalize it. My only coffee maker is a french press, one that lacks the ability to keep coffee warm. But really, I just think this thermos looks cool.

Yeah, I could bitch bitch bitch about how sick I am and how much it sucks, but instead I’m going to try to go all glass-half-full on your asses. Borrowing a trick from LaLa, I give you Five Good Things:

• This morning I got the little man to the bus stop on time (two days in a row now);
• Instead of going to work afterwards I came home to rest. But before going back to bed I took over one month’s worth of recyclables to the curb. We can now move more freely in the kitchen;
• I mailed out some bills and such, but also, finally, sent off the postcards inviting folks to my art exhibit’s reception. Yes, invitees are supposed to RSVP by Friday, so it’s cutting it a little close, but I have faith in the United States Postal Service.
• Our former neighbors who I love oh so dearly have agreed to come over on Saturday, and accompany us to the Cinco de Mayo parade. I am oh so excited. Seriously, I love these people. I was heartbroken when they moved away.
• Thanks to the husband, and WordPress, I can now link to older posts about our former neighbors (and how much they rule).

Umm, a bonus good thing…the little man, in general, and his artwork, in particular. It always makes me smile.

Yesterday I skipped out on the scheduled flickr photowalk because the little man’s been sick, and it was raining (some others, far more intrepid than I, made it out there). But by afternoon we were feeling a little antsy. I managed to take the lad to the last childish selection in the M-SPIFF (excellent animated shorts). And then for a bit playtime, about an hour, at the Children’s Museum. We wound up having a lovely day but today, not so much. The little man woke up with a wretched cough and I slept poorly due to a severely sore throat and am now feeling quite sick. The little man was understandably crabby (and likely feeding off my own crankiness). Still got him to the bus stop on time, though, and pushed myself to work out with my personal trainer. And then, instead of heading back home to collapse into bed I swung by my office, though it was my day off, for a staff meeting. I’m afraid I was in zombie-girl mode for its duration.

Saturday was another story. I was thrilled to be in attendance when my lovely friend Monica, who I’ve known for nearly 20 years now, married the wonderful Wuy. It was a beautiful day, despite the crappy rainy weather. The ceremony had me giggling and crying at the same time. So many of us had a powerful connection to this couple and it just feels right that they should be together. I wasn’t alone in that sentiment. Most (if not all) of the wedding party had flown in with them from the Bay Area. Friends had driven from Indiana and Madison and who knows where else. One uncle had even flown in from Amsterdam that very morning. And Deedee had also come home for the wedding - Brooklyn represent! I wound up dancing the night away with her, and the amazing Emily - those girls can really bust a move! Sometimes I’d get so distracted watching them that I’d forget to dance. Doh.

Bonus: I feel like ass, but some good news just made me feel a little better. The Swedish/Lebanese film I missed last week, Zozo, is going to be shown again Friday night, as part of the Best of the Fest recap. Hopefully I’ll have recuperated by then.
Plus: Speaking of next weekend, it’s going to be another busy one. Our neighborhood’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will be going on Friday and Saturday. I’m hoping to lure our former favorite neighbors back to the ‘hood for the big parade. And Sunday will see the Heart of the Beast May Day celebration. I rarely miss that.
And: Today is the actual May Day, of course, and this year it’s a special one…a “Day Without Immigrants” actions are taking place all over the country. Locally there’s going to be a rally at Powderhorn Park, between 3pm-8pm. I’d planned to take the little man to it, but now I think I’m too freaking sick to go. Sometimes I do need to slow down, especially when my body forces the issue.