This week has been brutal. I’m beginning to feel like Marvin, the paranoid android, from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Both paranoid and depressed. But not with a brain the size of a planet. That’s where we differ.

But really, yesterday could not have been a happy one. It was the two year anniversary of my c-section. When I delivered my stillborn son, Felix. That’s a lowdown no-good kind of funk that is really hard to fight. Today was a better day. And despite the bumps in the road, this year really is starting out better than the last.

Bonus: When I watched the trailer for Wanted the action sequences reminded me of something. Of the Russian Night Watch and Day Watch (and before long Twilight Watch) tetralogy. And sure enough, it’s the same director - Timur Bekmambetov. That alone will get my butt into a seat at the theater.
Plus: Speaking of, today I tagged along with co-workers…to snag passes for a free screening of Cloverfield, the much blogged about movie (with the ominous tagline “Some Thing Has Found Us”). Unfortunately the passes are admit one only. Often the passes are admit two at these screenings. But who can argue with free? If it sucks, at least I didn’t pay for it.
And: Speaking of movies that do suck…I submitted to a viewing of the incredibly baaaaaad Batman & Robin this evening, to please the little man. The Dark Knight will be a far sight better, no doubt, but too scary for the lad to see just yet.

I can’t begin to count the ways today has gone wrong. Why is it always everything all at once? But I’ve had enough, thank you. I want off now. I plan to take a long, hot shower, and when I emerge I will pretend everything is a-ok. To that end…

Five good things:

• I’m way behind on my This American Life listening. I plan to remedy that this evening. That’s something to look forward to.
• I am a fan of The Knife and was happy that the Fabulist posted these awesome covers of Heartbeats.
• MonsterHoodies: so cute it’s scary.
• Weird fishes indeed…fishpering (like whispering).
• A new friend is hosting a dinner party soon, complete with fancy vegan options. And there will be desserts by Sheela!

Bonus: Amanda has been perusing some new blogs, which, in turn, is giving me plenty of fresh material to read.
Plus: Posting photos to 365 days is fun but I’ve also enjoyed paging through the pool. It’s interesting to see what others have done, and there are a few gems to be found.
And: American Apparel baffles me. This morning I saw a banner ad touting high waisted shorts and unitards. The hell? It’s like bizarro world stripper wear. Kids these days.

The weekend was mostly awesome, as predicted. Friday night the little man and I had dinner with J. The lad stayed behind while I ran over to Ericka’s art opening for a bit. Totally fun. Saturday was the usual cupcakes and sledding. That both have become regular occurrences in my life only proves that my life is good. The goodness continued when the new babysitter came by and I headed to the Turf Club. Apparently the show was A-listed by City Pages and sold out by 10:30. Sheela and I squeaked in around 10:20. The music was marvelous, as always (it was sort of a “best of” of some of my favorite local bands) but the socializing was even better.

The party was definitely over on Sunday. I was an unmotivated, sleep-deprived mess. Before and after spilling a full carafe of piping hot coffee onto the floor, and my foot. Little got checked off on my mental To Do list (I was too lazy to even write the list out). I do feel good about taking down the tree, though I forgot to queue up the Low song while doing so, and it left behind an xmas aftermath explosion in my room. The novelty of having an xmas tree in one’s bedroom does not outweigh the pain in the ass of removing it. There are now pine needles in nearly every room of the house. Other accomplishments? I actually folded some laundry and put it away, took all my recycling to the curb for pick up, located my missing fifty dollar bill in a holiday card (so glad I didn’t recycle that) and I’ve kept current with the 365 Days project so far, but that’s just one week down.

Bonus: Late to the party again, I just discovered Zero Punctuation. This guy’s Super Mario Galaxy review is amazing! You don’t even have to know anything about the game to be entertained (though I am intimately familiar with it).
Plus: Last Fall I picked up the first issue of The Umbrella Academy, which I enjoyed, and then somehow forgot about it. Note to self: get caught up.
And: Run Fat Boy Run is coming closer to release in the states. Yes, I would watch Simon Pegg in just about anything. But perhaps not on an iPhone, if David Lynch had his way.

I have unintentionally upheld my annual tradition of hurling on or around New Year’s, even though I don’t drink. This time the projectile vomiting started AT WORK on Wednesday. Gah. And continued at the little man’s school, when I retrieved him from childcare. And went on and on at home. It’s the hugely fun “food poisoning or flu?” game. I don’t recommend it. Being sick seems to have turned into a semi-permanent condition for me. Spent yesterday napping and watching 24 Hour Party People, which, I realized, I first saw at the theater when suffering from the flu.

Oh wells. I think I’ve recuperated just enough to push my luck for the weekend. Tonight I plan to stop by my friend Ericka’s art opening. Tomorrow will be the usual cupcakes and sledding (though I might just be photographing at both and not partaking of either). And tomorrow night Sheela and I have a date to go to the Turf Club for a show that will be completely kickass.

Other 2008 related items of note:

• Back in 2005 I signed up for the 365 days project on flickr, but didn’t start participating until now. And this year it’s actually 366 days, because of leap year and all. I think I’m off to a good start so hopefully I can sustain it. Happily Emily, Ericka and Megan are onboard as well so we can give one another a kick in the pants if we falter.
• Though I don’t imbibe, I can appreciate the effort…behind my friend Rett’s Brew 52 project. The goal is to sample one Minnesota-made beer per week for the entire year.
• Fresh for the new year the vegguide.org launched their redesign.

Bonus: The documentary Billy the Kid will be released soon. The subject is a teenaged-boy diagnosed with Asperger’s, and how his community interacts with him and vice versa. As the mother of a son on the autism spectrum I feel like this is something I should see, but the thought of it leaves me cringing. Maybe I’m just not ready yet.
Plus: If I shot film, I’d be all over the Polaroid Spectra.
And: Please help me choose between two not-so-hot choices. Planning to take the little man to the Riverview on Sunday. But will it be Bee Movie or Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium?