This EconoLodge isn’t exactly scenic, but I knew a change of scenery would do me good. Driving all the way to Chicago last night would’ve been too much for the little man - and for me. Madison was an excellent stopping point. And our trip had an auspicious start. Last night we left St. Paul in a light rain, and drove East, under a giant double rainbow. It was with us for the first 45 minutes of our journey. Then, when it became dark, the almost full moon rode shotgun.

Bonus: We don’t have cable at home, so I was mightily tempted by Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Especially Death Notes. But I resisted, only because I wanted the lad to get a good night’s sleep.
Plus: I already listed some of the things I’ll be missing in the Twin Cities this weekend, but add to that list - The Blow. Somehow I’ve never seen Khaela Maricich perform, but I’d sure like to. Doh. Still Chicago will be worth it.
And: “Jiffy-Pop Presents: Wonder Woman” - Ha! I love both Bjork, and the ladies of fug, so this made me smile.

Editor’s note: I attempted to post this last night, but WordPress choked and I opted to go to bed. Five good things to combat the Monday malaise:

• This Classic Mojo shirt. After I purchased it I was rewarded with this great graphic. It’s the little things.
• I’d considered heading to First Ave, for The Clientele/Peter Bjorn and John show tonight. But the thought of a quiet night in, watching the Heroes season premiere, was too appealing. I was just barely able to get NBC tuned in. Now would be a good time for some basic cable.
• A friend made me another mix, this time the theme seems to be ridiculous and random. It’s got everything from Lil Mama to Menomena, Hall & Oates to Justin Timberlake, Justice, Out Hud, The Blow, Spoon, Vitalic and then some. It’s fabulous.
• Bedtime with the little man. He now declares “no kissing!” before our bedtime hug. Last night I couldn’t help myself and planted a big sloppy one on his cheek. He shouted “you’re fired!” - thankfully he had a big smile on his face while he said it.
• Also last night, the little man’s Dad stopped over to reconnect our gas stove. I can cook again, for reals! And an added bonus? He brought along some vegan carrot cake cupcakes he’d made. I’ve gotta say, I’ve got some damned nice exes.

Bonus: Two tasty tidbits from the NY Times. 1) Don’t Even Think of Touching That Cupcake and 2) Please Don’t Marry Our Daughters.

We’ve been hella busy ’round these parts. Some good times. Others…not so much. Dinner at Midori’s with friends was fun - despite getting caught in a big storm on the way. Then there was the little man’s annual physical - something we both would’ve rather skipped. And I’ve had a lot on my mind, pondering some heavy parenting-type issues. But for now? Let’s have some fun!

• Last night’s Freaks and Geeks viewing party, part one, was a complete success. I love you Judd Apatow!
• Considered going to see The Bothersome Man Friday night but saw David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises instead. Ebert gave it four stars and I can see why. Though I didn’t actually see all of the movie. There were a few scenes where I felt compelled to whip off my glasses. If you see it, you’ll understand why. Lemme just say, I’ve always been creeped out by straight razors.
• If I wore these bouncy stilts, I could be just like an anime character! Or crack my head open on something.
• My friend Craig made my day. He unearthed a favorite childhood book and promptly took photos of it. Batman and Robin - From Alfred to Zowie!
• This is so last week, but I never got around to posting it - the intersection of postsecret and lolcats, it’s lolsecretz!
• All Girl Brass Band Covers Dragonball-Z Theme - Tokyo Brass Style
• Neil Gaiman has quite the life. First he was in China, experiencing utter happiness, induced by getting to hold a panda on his lap. Now he’s hanging out in Japan, with Hayao Miyazaki, among others. So jealous.
• If you like gorillas, Phil Collins, and chocolate, watch this. It made me laugh.
• More human than human. Blade Runner: The Final Cut.
• Looking forward to our Chicago trip next weekend.

My “plan” was a success. For this year’s birthday party, we distributed the little man’s invites at the last minute, and to far fewer folks, and guess what? We had about 1/5 as many attendees as last year! And that is a-ok. Last year was way way over the top. But this time around some of our favorite regulars couldn’t make it, which was a downer. Though I think the lad had a decent birthday overall. And how could he not, when his Dad showed up in costume as Captain Hook? Oh yeah, we wound up going with the Peter Pan theme after all. Saving Super Mario Bros for next year. Maybe I should swing by Nintendo World before then, like Emily did.

Some other junk:

• I’m cranky because I didn’t get to go out last weekend and it’s left me feeling like a surly, grounded teenager. Hoping to rectify that this coming weekend by going to a party Friday night, and hosting my own Freaks and Geeks party on Saturday.
• This is a little mean-spirited, but it makes me oh so happy.
• I’m so desperate for a little break from my reality that I may have agreed to see Dragon Wars tomorrow night. I’d prefer to see Once or Shoot ‘Em Up, but D-War with a group of people? Could be some so-bad-it’s-good kinda fun. And I need summathat. Desperately.
• Speaking of fun, the new cat is racing around as the little man shines a flashlight on the walls. It’s the simple pleasures for those two.

Bonus: Long time vegan that I am, there are still recipes that pop up for food combos I would’ve never dreamed of. Like this watermelon steak. Weird.
Plus: It’s Rollergirls season again! We missed the bout Saturday night (I totally spaced it, because of so much else going on that I couldn’t get to) and we’ll be out of town for the next one, but hopefully we’ll hit up the bout after that.
And: The little man and I have been kicking back, watching episodes of the SuperFriends on YouTube. Almost an antidote for my foul mood.

Eight years ago on this day I was having my abdomen sliced open so that I could meet my son. Happy Birthday little man! I’m glad you made it out into this crazy world. I can’t begin to imagine what my life would be like without you in it.

Speaking of crazy, for years a piece of trivia was eluding me. Every time my brain tried to grab a hold of it I was denied and it irked me to no end. But finally, right before bed the other night, the lightning bolt struck. I’d been trying to recall what Hard Times Cafe had been called in its previous incarnation. It was the Urban Peasant. Which we all dubbed the Urban Unpleasant. The food was good but the service was less than enthusiastic. Not much has changed.

Bonus: Mohammed Rafi, Bollywood Star. That man had the moves. I could watch this all day long.
Plus: Yesterday I was introduced to thingpart. It was life-changing.
And: On the rare occasion that I get out of town, there will invariably be something awesome going on here while I am elsewhere. I’m taking the lad to Chicago the weekend of the 28th, and will be missing the “Get a Clue - Girls Rock the U!” scavenger hunt concert and a flickr photowalk in one of my fave neighborhoods, the Summit Avenue/Cathedral Hill area of St. Paul. Oh wells.

Sometimes my son is just as unpredictably moody as his mama. Yesterday he was intensely crabby, prone to random outbursts and hysterics. Today? He woke up all sunshine and light (maybe because he knew he’d be sharing vegan donut holes with his class). Hopefully he’ll remain happy, even though the birthday presents I ordered online for him haven’t arrived yet. I’ve been in quite the mood myself, pondering thorny relationship issues…trying to puzzle out just what it is I want these days. Alexis has written a HowTo for “friends with benefits” - that’s easier said than done. As usual, xkcd amuses. Someone pointed out this article that left me slightly puzzled: “Everyone wants to know how to read the sexual body language” and another thoroughly amused: “Russian sex day to boost births” - though I’m not at all tempted to pop out another kid in exchange for an SUV. Or maybe at all.

Bonus: I am so happy for Diablo Cody, and stoked to see the movie (co-starring Michael Cera, squeeee!) that she wrote. It’s already garnering rave reviews.
Plus: Next time I go back to Iceland I need to visit the water library.
And: Another busy weekend ahead of us, with the little man’s birthday, plus a bunch of shows I’d like to get to. Like Pandamonium at the Triple Rock and Whitejazz at the Turf, both Friday. And Vampire Hands have a coupla release shows on Saturday. And I’m sure Dark Dark Dark is playing again somewhere. We’ve been listening to their EP in the car and the little man is loving the accordion just as much as I do. I think he’d love ‘em even more if he could see the Main Squeeze Orchestra in NYC. And not just because the orchestra is comprised entirely of attractive young women, but also because “all those accordions playing together can be transcendent.”

I had a less than stellar childhood, to be sure, but my upbringing did instill certain notions in me. Some concerning milestones imperative to growing up in Minnesota. So in the last few weeks I’ve been making up for lost time with the little man (even though these things haven’t come cheap). Recently he has experienced a number of firsts:

• First Saint Paul Saints game;
• First visit to the Minnesota State Fair;
• First trip to Valleyfair, where he took on all of the big roller coasters without batting an eye.

We haven’t yet made it to the Renaissance Festival, though there are a few weekends left. And I’d like to take him to Crystal Cave, which is not quite in Minnesota but next door in Wisconsin. And then why not a little further on…to Chicago! Can’t believe I haven’t taken the lad there yet. Speaking of the windy city, we dropped off our house guest at the Amtrak Depot bright and early this morning, so that he could head back home. It’s been a long day and I’m ready to call it a night.

Bonus: This is some serious time lapse photography — 35 years of the Tokyo skyline condensed into 10 seconds of video.
Plus: I think Robert Downey Jr. was perfectly cast as Iron Man.
And: I’ve been continuing my Scott Westerfeld kick with his Midnighters trilogy. Yeah, I’m all YA fiction - and loving it! Because I’m forever 15. Or something.

After growing up in the 70s and 80s I utterly despised facial hair of any kind. I associated ZZ Top style beards with the uncle (r.i.p.) who totally freaked my scene. And moustaches with a random assortment of pervy-looking dudes, from creepy teachers to Tom Selleck. But my attitude has softened over the past few years. Yes, in part thanks to hipsters and their ironic moustaches. But such amazing things are coming out of the The World Beard & Moustache Championships. Seriously. Apparently it’s held every two years, with the next competition set to take place in the U.S. in 2009, in Anchorage, Alaska. That would definitely be worth the trip. Just think of the photo ops!

In other news, I will be having an unexpected - though not unwanted - house guest this weekend. It’ll be good to hang with Anton. It’s been ages. But I am currently kicking the weekend off right, by lounging on J’s couch. So comfy.

Bonus: I’ve got to agree with the Fug Girls on this one. Clive looks amazing. Sigh.
Plus: Currently enjoying pictures for sad children.
And: Also enjoyed this lovely series of photos, Middle Names (via magpie & cake).

I’ve been too negative this week so howsabout five good things?

• Aloo Bodi from Namaste. Delicious.
• The Dark Dark Dark EP.
• Heroes season 2 premieres on September 24th!
• A new bra. Hey, it’s the little things.
• A tentatively planned Freaks and Geeks viewing party at my place.

Bonus: It is time for the Making Fiends art contest. I’ll have to get the little man on that, stat.
Plus: It’s nearly Iceland Airwaves time again. I wouldn’t mind going, but can’t. As usual.
And: The Concrete and Grass Festival kicks off tonight in Lowertown, not far from my house.

It’s a short work/school week, yes, but damn. Today has been all-around rough.

• The badness began with the return of Shark Week (nothing like a wildly irregular cycle - modern medicine be damned! - to keep me on my toes).
• My home wifi has suddenly become flaky as hell, but only for my beloved powerbook. The desktop PC also uses a wireless card, and it can always find the signal, even when the damned powerbook (love/hate) can’t.
• I have a newer 17″ monitor for the aforementioned desktop PC, but it has recently developed a darkened shadowy area.
• At work we were experiencing server and perms problems, which left end users confused and frustrated, and there wasn’t a whole lot I could do to help.
• And then…it could only get better…the school contacted me, to let me know the little man had been peeing more frequently than is normal.

This last bit is something I was already aware of but was hoping would go away. But no. Instead I phoned the triage nurse which led to a hasty departure from work and a trip to the pediatrician’s. Where we spent over an hour while I attempted to get my kid to pee in a cup and then waited for the lab results. Wheeee. The good news? Not diabetes, nor a bladder infection. But a possible culprit could be anxiety. The doc suggested this was a behavioral problem. Just what I need. To top it off, we still managed to attend a family birthday dinner at Sambol this evening. Where the lad wore out a path from our table to the bathroom and back. He must’ve gone 9 or 10 times during the meal. J and I had been planning to take him to Valley Fair this weekend, but not if this keeps up. Maybe we’ll just never leave the house again. After the day I’ve had, that sounds all right.

Bonus: I got nothing. Help me out?