I have no shame. As soon as I got home from work I changed into pajamas. And then ate some leftover sweet and sour mock chicken, cold, right out of the to-go box, while sitting on the stepladder in my kitchen. The little man? He wanted cereal for dinner, instead of his Evergreen leftovers, and I said sure. It’s too damned hot and I’m feeling more than a little pitiful. But the commute home was especially brutal tonight. Traffic was hellacious due to construction, and then the gas light came on so I pulled off the freeway in search of a gas station, which only led to getting stuck in a different corridor of construction. And the whole way the little man was all pissy because I was listening to music other than his beloved Black Mission Goggles on repeat.

Bleah.

Maybe I’ll be less cranky if I sleep with my bedroom door closed tonight. The last two nights Olive has been insane. Sunday night she was yowling at 4am and sliding around on the rug and hardwood floors in my room. Last night, around 2am, I woke up because she was BITING MY ASS. Her favorite catnip-filled mouse toy was on top of me. I guess she missed.

Bonus: I came across an article in the New York Times about the infamous Renegade Craft Fair: “So while the sparrow and the owl — last year’s favored animal and the symbol of the fair — are out, the octopus, a burgeoning contender for creature of the moment, has been joined by other sea dwellers, like the squid.” I guess I was ahead of the curve on the cephalopod-love, but I don’t want it to get out of hand.
Plus: More things I like but don’t need, little monsters from Treasures from the Cabinet of Curiosities.
And: How did I miss sauntering day? I don’t think I sauntered at all that day. I did walk an awful lot the next day, but that was on my son’s field trip and it was really more like a forced march.

Happy Birthday to me! And to my Dad (I was born on his 29th birthday). Started the day out by delivering a cupcake to the police station, where he works. After that it was on to a parent/teacher conference. I met with the little man’s special ed teacher, who brought up something of a downer. She was talking about how kids like mine - who have PDD or Asperger’s and enjoy dressing up in costumes - well, they’ll continue to dress up as they get older, long past the point where it’s considered cute, because they aren’t clued in to the “hidden” curriculum behind a lot of social interactions. When I mentioned this to J his response was brilliant. “We can just send him to lots of sci-fi conventions.”

I did go in to work today, but hey, free Pizza Luce lunch. Can’t complain. Later on the lad and I went over to J’s. The three of us took a walk down to Evergreen, where we met up with his family. The original plan had been to dine at Namaste but they’re closed on Mondays. That wouldn’t have been nearly as kid-friendly anyhow. Too zen or something.

Yesterday’s potluck thingie was pretty awesome. J’s cupcakes were a huge hit, as were the little man’s water balloons, squirt guns, bubbles, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sprinkler. Unfortunately too many of my lovely lady friends were stuck working. But we still had a decent turnout. And people sort of came and left in waves, ensuring the place wasn’t too packed at any given time. Now I just need to finish cleaning up the messes we made. Doh.

Bonus: I’d heard the name before, but hadn’t realized how amusing Maria Bamford really is. Especially her impressions of her mom. And her impressions of other people doing impressions of her.
Plus: Neil Gaiman’s daughter Maddy has been guest-blogging on his site, during their stay on the set of Hellboy 2. I feel like way too much of a fangirl reading these posts, but it gives an interesting behind-the-scenes sort of look into the life of one of my favorite authors.
And: Note to self…catch up on Mimi Smartypants, when you aren’t so tired. Can’t stop yawning.

Frustration levels are so high I feel like screaming. This week has really been up and down. But I will try to focus on the up with people aspects.

• The lovely Zophia is thirty years old today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
• J is planning to make 60 cupcakes for my birthday. SIXTY. That is a lot of cupcakes.
• The ever amazing Emily sent me some seriously awesome birthday presents. A t-shirt from one of my fave Chicago stores, Rotofugi, and a super cool cephalopod necklace (photos to come).
• Wednesday night I saw an advanced screening of Eagle vs. Shark. Finding love was never so…awkward.
• It’s now been eight years since I closed on my house. That’s just crazy.
• Finished reading Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. Now I’m ready to start in on The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds.
• I chaperoned the little man’s class field trip to the Arboretum. It was exhausting but fun. One of my favorite moments? A kid didn’t like the taste of the drinking fountain water and loudly declared that it was zombie sweat.
• I was reunited with my powerbook (again).

The little man says the strangest things. Last night, as he was getting ready for bed, he walked into the room in his boxer shorts and announced “a machine touched me and took my pants.” Umm, yeah. I blame his current obsession with Modern Times.

Bonus: I already loved the song, but the video for Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) makes me even happier. Watch it and you’ll be bouncing around too.
Plus: Service Works - a totally neat idea from an artist/waitron.
And: The summer asian film series continues at the U. There is only one film, Pom Poko, that could conceivably be kid-friendly, but for this “it’s worth noting to Western viewers that prominent testicles are an integral part of the Tanuki folklore, and they are shown and referred to throughout the movie, and also used frequently in their shapeshifting.” Spectacularly testicular!

So I splurged on something. My old metal bed frame had been with me for fourteen plus years, but after enduring two failed marriages and other relationship-like mishaps, it was time for retirement. It had become so rickety and awkward. Even from the beginning the footboard stuck out inconveniently. I was forever bumping into it and bruising my thighs or catching my clothing on it. More recently one of the slats of the platform part was broken and more were about to follow suit. Just one more good morning piledriver from the kid and it would’ve been done for. My queen size mattress is currently resting on my bedroom floor, like some college student’s. It is oddly cozy. But the replacement bed frame is on its way. The headboard arrived today. Then it’ll just be a matter of assembling it…

In other news, it seems I’ve only half-trained my son. He remembers to put the toilet seat back down, yes, but he always leaves the bathroom light on. Could be worse. He could be out peeing on trees in broad daylight. Oh wait, he was! This afternoon I allowed him to play outside with some of the neighborhood kids. In the span of just thirty minutes he a) scraped his knee rather badly b) one of the swings on our swingset was torn asunder and c) and this I only found out about later, but apparently the other boys talked him into peeing on one of the boulevard trees out front. He says he didn’t want to do it. I had to have that talk with him again about saying no and that made me sad. The boy is so very vulnerable.

Bonus: Somehow I’ve only just discovered BusTales.com - which is definitely my kind of thing (collaborative web projects have always made me squee).
Plus: VerizonMath = extreme nerd humor. Back story here and here.
And: Keyboards made of waffles! Totally my type of appliance.

The weekend started off well enough. Last night the little man and I had a sleepover at J’s place, which involved Everfood for dinner (leftovers from two of our fave restaurants, Everest and Evergreen). Yet another viewing of Howl’s Moving Castle. And to top it all off? Some vegan cupcakes, that could possibly take over the world. Mmmm, buttercream frosting.

Today too started off well. We had a morning walk over to Caffetto for coffee, chess and Battleship. Then we hung out at a playground that happens to be directly across the street from the condo I am currently obsessed with. Which I walked through today. No, I didn’t break in. There was an open house (and damn, that condo would be perfect for the little man and I). But then we left the bliss of Minneapolis and headed home to St. Paul. Since our return a dark storm cloud has been hanging over our heads, literally and figuratively. Frustrations abound. The server hosting one of my email accounts has been up and down all day. My powerbook is broken and lifeless. And I would’ve taken it into the Apple Store, but the little man spent the afternoon napping fitfully, mostly denying he was sick but then giving in and telling me he didn’t feel so well. But not until after our urgent care clinic closed. We’ll have to play it by ear tomorrow.

Bonus: “Top 10 science fiction novelists of the ’00s — so far” - I’ve read a number of these authors. Well technically I read their books, and enjoyed them a great deal. Going to have to hit up recent works by the authors I liked the most. Richard Morgan in particular.
Plus: A fetish for everything…I give you BikiniRama, featuring German women in bikinis beating up on electronics.
And: Joe shares my apprehension.

Some old friends, a couple, are helping me get my house prepped and ready to sell. She’s a realtor. He’s a lot of things, including something I am most certainly not - handy. He’s got a key to my place and has been doing this and that. Plastering, priming, painting, etc. Yesterday he called from my house, to go over our To Do list. But he also made an offhand remark about my bedroom. Something about what he’d come across while moving the books off the bookshelf. Some incriminating photos. They were, umm, polaroids. I had a little panic attack. He went on to say that, judging from what was written on them, they appeared to be from 1987 and 1989. And I knew immediately what they were.

Phew.

Bonus: Feeling pretty ambivalent about the apple.com/trailers redesign. But the teaser is up for I Am Legend. I sound like a broken record but, once again, I am apprehensive about a film adaptation of one of my favorite books. Time will tell.
Plus: There are so many brilliant web comics out there. My current fave? “A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.” Especially this one and this one.
And: I’ve had my phone since the beginning of the year. I bought some cheap ass car charger to go along with it. Damned thing died today. I hardly knew ya.

It’s crazy hot out, like August-style, and when I’m inside my too-warm house all I want to do is sleep…but when I sleep I only do so fitfully. Outside of the artificially cool environs of my office I am useless. But just this morning I was thinking that life is good. That, for the first time in a real long while, I am generally content. But then. As usual. A quick succession of sucker punches knocked me back down to earth.

• With nearly no notice, the little man’s childcare program is raising its rates. From $59/day to $80/day. Ouch. That one is below the belt.
• Came home to find another letter from the I.R.S. - this time State, not federal. But we need to pony up for that by July.
• Flickr, a service I usually find solace in, was effing with me with me all afternoon. I do not enjoy being effed with, especially not by my beloved flickr.
• Friday’s migraine made a re-appearance.

But not all is dire. Some things are in the in-between:

• For days now the little man has been wearing a superhero cape. Bright orange. And made of polar fleece. Yes, in this heat. Nothing I can do or say will dissuade him. He claims his superhero powers make him impervious to heat. Handy, no? All I can do is get him to drink more water. And to take long, cool baths, without said cape on.
• Tomorrow night I have to choose between two really awesome looking and somehow free movies. One, the kitschy Thai cult film, Tears of the Black Tiger. And two, Eagle vs. Shark. Which do you suppose will win? Vote now!
• Also tomorrow, I won a free lunch for ten at one of my favorite restaurants in town. The downside? We will be subjected to the schpeel of some financial planner guy. But he claims he will bail before the food even arrives.

And finally, something that is straight up awesome:

• Yesterday 825 TUBS finally hauled the dumpster out of my driveway, after it had been blocking said driveway for over a week. And my neighbors didn’t throw any of their junk into it this time! Yes, I realize that it’s kinda sad that this is the best I could do for my big happy happy news. I’ll try harder next time.

Today I’ve been completely devoid of energy, but the rest of the weekend was on the stellar side. Highlights included:

• Walking around Whittier and Uptown on a beautiful Friday night;
• Kinh Do;
• Paprika,
• Girl-talking on the phone with Maria (who will be visiting in a few short weeks);
• Oceans Thirteen (I know someone, not me, who remarked “I’m going to pretend I’m in a fourteensome with the cast.” - made me laugh);
• MC/VL and Low at the NE Block Party;
• Reading The Yiddish Policemen’s Union;
• Being hot;
• Procrastinating.

Just now I suggested to the little man, for the second time this evening, that I should maybe remove the big fat splinter from his palm. He doesn’t want to flat out refuse this idea, but wisely seeks to avoid pain. Instead he opted out by saying “awww, but it (the splinter) is my best friend!” Strange strange child.

Bonus: Death by Bananas and Death by Tupperware are my two faves in the Drop Dead Gorgeous series. Stunning stuff.
Plus: These cotton monsters are so so cute. And there are giant cephalopods in the photo album. I think I’m in love.
And: Welcome back from the wilderness, Emily!

On a recent visit to grandma’s house the little man saw The Chronicles of Narnia, a movie I haven’t yet seen (nor did I ever read the books). But now I don’t have to. Over the last several days he has been imparting much crucial plot information…because he still doesn’t grasp the concept of spoilers. Thanks, kid.

Bonus: A friend alerted me to the Summer Asian Film Series at the U of M. It kicks off Wednesday with the kitschy Tears of the Black Tiger, from Thailand. Can’t wait.
Plus: Faux quote of the day: “Pants are for the sensible, darling. BE UNHINGED.”
And: Today I received a special delivery from James. Thanks! I will start listening tomorrow. For now, I desperately need to go nigh nigh.

It may seem kind of backwards, but I get all of my news about teevee from other mediums. Like the internets, word of mouth, and the radio. Tonight I was listening to MPR in the kitchen, as I do, when I heard about yet another great British show being Americanized. Tonight saw the debut of the American version of Creature Comforts, which is already receiving rave reviews. I considered trying to tune in, except I most definitely don’t get reception for CBS. I’d rather watch it online anyhow.

So. The exterior painting is done (just wrote out a big fat check for the balance - ouch). But the front porch floor and door are still drying. The interior guy comes back on Wednesday. I feel for him. He’s going to have to figure out how to move all kinds of crap from one room to another to keep painting. At least I have more paint colors sussed out. I think. Slowly but surely we’re getting there.

Bonus: The Cat Cam made me smile. And reminded me of a short story I once read, years and years ago…and now feel a burning need to track down.
Plus: Oh man, do I want me some of these Get Cosy cushions for next winter. But a) they’re spendy and b) the little man and I would be fighting over them - I think he’s too big for the kid’s version. But what a good idea, especially for a freezebaby like myself.
And: I have a little rant a-brewing about some random men being creepy, but I don’t think I can articulate it just yet.