This week my creative juices have run dry. I haven’t even been taking photos. I feel like I could lie down and not get up again for a good six months or so. Everything is…off. Just to complete this post I’ll need to combine disparate snippets into a snippet soup of sorts.

1. Looks like the Art Shanty Project is back to being a no-go. I’d planned to take the little man on Saturday, but the forecasted high temperature for the day is a bone-chilling soul-sucking -4 degrees. Fahrenheit.
2. Yes, I am a nerd, but I love hanging out in the kitchen in the evenings, cooking while listening to Marketplace. I’m not into the stock market or anything but I enjoy the sorts of stories they put together. Monday they were comparing Mini Cooper’s RFID-activated billboards campaign to that scene in Minority Report, where John Anderton is being assaulted by advertising…triggered by retinal scanners. Oh, and they played Only in Dreams by Weezer.
3. Cirque de Soleil’s Delirium will be coming through next week. Anyone have a spare ticket for me? I didn’t think so.
4. When I was up in Duluth I somehow managed to lose first one then the other of my earrings. The nice twisty 6 gauge ones. I’ve ordered replacements online. In the meantime I’ve had to pop in my old 8 gauge pincers. And I’m having an allergic reaction to the stupid o rings that hold them in place. Ugh. I hope the new earrings arrive soon. But I ordered them from the UK. *smacks forehead*

Bonus: Last weekend the Idiotarod 2007 took place in NYC. So very surreal.
Plus: Readymechs, free flatpack toys to print and build. So very cool.
And: Look at these photos. So very cute. And Zophia is like a foot taller than I am. Seriously.

We’ve been having a quiet weekend at home. It’s too cold out to get my wussy self down to the Winter Carnival, but it sort of came to us…Friday night we could hear the teenage battle of the bands from Harriet Island. So instead of risking frostbite I’ve stayed inside to do lots of cooking and cleaning, and only ventured out for some essential errand running, to keep our little household limping along. And I feel better knowing I’ve got the basics covered - the little man and I have food to eat, clean clothes to wear, and good books to read. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Bonus: The trailer for Hot Fuzz made my day. Simon Pegg is so swoon-inducing. Sigh.
Plus: Last night I punked out and missed STNNNG, but there are so many other shows coming up. Among them…Retribution Gospel Choir on the 1st, Whitejazz on the 4th and Dillinger Four on the 8th.
And: Currently enjoying Gil’s All-Fright Diner - and not just because there are tentacles on the cover. I may have to read A. Lee Martinez’s next book as well.

My current plan is to stop fixating on the stressors in my life, of which there are many, and try to focus instead on the things that make me smile. Easier said than done. Still, I was delighted to read about the Walker’s next Free First Saturday. Partially because my dear friend Chuck will be doing his schpeel, yes…but also? The Walker will be providing free buses for a field trip to the Art Shanty Project - the one I thought we’d be missing out on this year. Yay! Sadly I missed the bus on something else - The Metropolitan Opera Goes to the Movies (or rather, went to the movies). The First Emperor was shown on January 13th, dammit. But $18 is a bit steep anyhow.

Bonus: Speaking of steep, my beloved This American Life will be doing a live show next month at The Orpheum Theater. But the tickets are $50 each! Madness.
Plus: Sure, it’s shilling for the man, but Chuck and Josh and Leigha all made me smile.
And: Two of my blogging buddies have just posted about deep sea creatures. Amanda reminisces about The Blue Planet, which I haven’t seen yet but totally should. And Em wigs out over scary things in the water. I don’t blame her. The frilled shark is creepy yet fascinating!

I am in dire need of escapism, now more than ever, but have had less time than usual to unwind. And even if I had more time it should probably be used more productively. That said, I finally finished off Season Two of Arrested Development, courtesy of a friend, and have Season Three in the queue. And I still want to see Pan’s Labyrinth. And Children of Men. And last weekend offered up a fresh episode of Heroes (which I haven’t seen yet). And BSG, which I watched at 6am, just to squeeze it in. Speaking of the SciFi network…I am leary of their recent premiere. I’m a longtime fan of Jim Butcher’s books. Especially his Dresden Files series, about a professional wizard in modern-day Chicago. The books are a guilty pleasure. But there’s nothing pleasureable about the teevee adaptation. The casting is all wrong. Watching the teaser I had to wonder if anyone involved had even opened one of the books. I hate when that happens.

Bonus: Last Sunday I missed Minnesota Public Radio’s 40th anniversary open house (the NPR nerd in me would have loved that). But my road trip to Duluth was a blur of awesomeness. Speaking of Duluth and awesomeness, looks like they’re going to get their own roller derby league. Hell yeah!
Plus: The Coachella lineup was announced the other day. It is mighty tempting. I may even be in the neighborhood that weekend…if I end up going to Disneyland with the little man and his kin. Something to think about.
And: Then again, I am flat broke. Today I had to drop $565 on new tires and an alignment, because the Mazda’s last owner was a jackass. The tires on the car were the wrong size. And it was intentional - an effort to make the car look sportier. My soft-spoken mechanic suggested that the previous owner may have gotten carried away. Sigh.

Yesterday my son was bitten by a classmate at school. In a tender area, on the inside of his upper arm. It is bruised. He is relatively unphased by it. Me? My ire is up. But that seems to be the case lately, in general. Though I had to smile when I got an email from the library, informing me that the CD I requested is ready for pick up. It’s This American Life’s Lies, Sissies and Fiascoes. Seems particularly apt (emphasis on the fiascoes). And it’ll give me something to listen to, and relate to, on the drive up to Duluth tomorrow.

Bonus: I consider myself a Frank Miller fan (particularly DKR) but I haven’t read 300 yet. So I’m not sure what to make of the upcoming film adaptation. The eye candy potential is certainly there, but hopefully it won’t suck. I think I might read the comic first, then drag my Dad to the movie with me.
Plus: I knew nothing of mc chris until a fellow flickrite pointed out his Boba Fett rap.
And: I could have way too much fun…decorating with these adhesive vinyl cutouts (via PopGadget). In particular, the red poppies and the big horse.

The little man is in the first grade. These days first graders have homework every night (I don’t recall having homework at that age). Nearly every assignment has been math-related. And for the most part he can easily complete these on his own…as long as I am sitting nearby, radiating encouragement. But lately the worksheets include more and more word problems. The lad may be able to read math sentences, but he can’t quite read read yet. We visit the library regularly. We possess an overabundance of children’s books. I read to him daily, and he reads back to me - but only the stories he has memorized. When I was his age I was already reading novels - but I’ve never had his artistic abilities. Still, I think it may be time to check in with his teachers again. And time to perform triage on the old To Do list. Again.

Bonus: Let’s Shoot Something. Sounds like a great idea to me. In other flickr-related news, my photostream rolled over 200,000 views last night. Wacky.
Plus: The other night J and I saw Stranger Than Fiction. I loved it, but he agreed with Professor Hilbert’s assessment of the ending.
And: It may not have googly eyes, like my brave little toaster, but I like this updated version of the appliance.
Also: I’d like to give James a hug.

As usual, it’s been all highs and lows mixed together, with me just trying to muddle through the day to day. But at least today has been a better day.

And I have something to look forward to. This coming weekend will be a whirlwind…hanging out with the lovely Iseult on Friday night and Saturday morning (she will be in town from Berkeley). Then I’m taking a little road trip:

• To see The Chambermaids at the Duluth Pizza Luce.
• To see some lovely friends, who are giving me the use of their guest room while I’m up there.
• And to experience the Pizza Luce brunch for the first time in years. They used to have it at the Warehouse District location every weekend. I cried when they discontinued it. I’ve been informed that the Duluth location has changed the brunch menu somewhat, but I may still be able to get my beloved dish with the tofu nipple (aka vegandaise).

Bonus: Sadly I won’t be able to make it out to Medicine Lake this year…for The Soap Factory’s Art Shanty Project. But if you can you should totally go. Do it for me.
Plus: Ever wanted to know what books Art Gartfunkel has read and in what chronological order he has read them in? Now you can find out.
And: Happy Birthday Irish Girl!

The little man has become obsessed with death and dying. And who can blame him? In the last year we’ve lost his brother and now both of our cats. I put Selina to sleep on Friday. It was time, yes, but it still sucks. So I’ve been dealing with the depressing with my usual - seeking out distractions. Yesterday morning I sat around in my pajamas, reading a stack of Dr. Seuss books to the little man and then watching season one of Arrested Development. Later we took J along with us to the Rock Rock Rock, for vegan pigs-in-a-blanket and a game of pool. Afterwards we went back to his new place to play Phase 10, and watch The Princess Bride for the umpteenth time. Then it was back home, to get back into my pajamas and watch more Arrested Development. Not such a bad day really. Today we’re looking at a visit to the Children’s Museum and some serious housecleaning. Keeping busy to keep my mind off things.

Bonus: A very young and very handsome Tom Waits (via Amanda), on a strange 70s show called Fernwood 2Nite! featuring Fred Willard. Weird.
Plus: I had been unaware of “milk bags” until a contact on flickr posted this photo. Naturally wikipedia has some followup info.
And: The many faces of David Byrne.

Ok, so I was trying to roll with the happy happy…but the thing is, I am one giant ball of stress right now. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. I’m hoping this too shall pass.

p.s. And I don’t even have any distractions to offer today! What a failure.

p.p.s. What have you got? Hit me. Please.

My secret boyfriend and B-movie icon, Bruce Campbell, is now the spokesman for Old Spice! Yes, I am suggesting you go watch a commercial, but it is worth it. Especially the thoughtful little touches, like Ash’s chainsaw resting in front of the fireplace. Not so sure about the frilly flash site though. I don’t care to “experience” Old Spice. I just want more of the man with the chin that could kill.

Another of my secret boyfriends, Simon Pegg, was in a movie called Big Nothing. I watched the trailer last night and it is notable for two reasons: 1) He is doing an American accent, which is rather unsettling really. And 2) the background music at one point is Creepin’ Up the Backstairs by The Fratellis. Coming across them was one of the highlights of 2006 for me. It’ll definitely be a highlight of 2007 if they get their asses stateside. Especially if they play Minneapolis. ‘Mon The Fratellis!