I love the internets. Hotwire in particular. Our first leg of the trip went smoothly. Check-in and security at the airport were swift and the flight was all right. Getting from the Seattle airport to the shuttle to retrieve the rental car? Super slick. And I laughed when I was given the keys. I’m driving a black Mazda sportwagon, just like at home! Only thing, it’s newer and nicer. Driving automatic is a little weird but whatever. The hotel is just down the road from the rental car place. We got settled in right away but the little man didn’t fall asleep until 11:30pm, MN time, but woke up at 4:10am (Seattle time). Dang. We’ll see how he is later. The wireless here is maddeningly slow, and we just realized that the boy lost his headphones, likely left behind on the plane, but we’re on to Portland shortly. SPRING BREAK!

Seems I’ve got a knack for putting my luggage away after a trip without first removing everything from it. The other day I grabbed one suitcase and found in it a movie wallet - containing many DVDs - that had been missing since our trip up to Duluth. Last Fall. Yesterday I pulled out the bigger suitcase, the one with wheels on the bottom, and discovered a few decks of cards, other games, socks and a tote bag that had been stowed away since our trip to Iceland two years ago. I noticed the little tote bag was lumpy. Unzipping a pocket I found a pair of mittens, stashed in there since my first trip to Iceland. Over seven years ago. Yep. I am a packrat. And I’ve probably overpacked for this trip. Not that I’m feeling very prepared. We’ve been so busy that I never got around to overplanning our vacation like I usually do. Maybe that’s for the best.

I have some vague notions about the Alberta neighborhood, where we’re staying, and I know there are some lurvly parks about. And we’ll be seeing my friend Cathy Camper and the Afrojet family. I’ll be winging it the rest of the time.

Sadly I missed Cupcake Saturday today (two weeks in a row!) and a “stuff swap” at my friends’ house, but I’ll be back in time for their joint birthday party. Off to the airport soon. And yes, the laptop is coming with us.

Bonus: Street Art At Its Best #3: Plastic Bag Animals.
Plus: I made it out to the ‘Ride, Rueben, Ride!‘ benefit show that my friends put on. But I missed the “secret” headliner, P.O.S., because I had to get back for the sitter and had a parent/teacher conference first thing the next morning. Oh wells.
And: I’m so wary of the potential suck factor in the upcoming X-Files 2 that I haven’t watched the trailer yet. But I could. And probably will. Maybe later.

It’s for the best that I’m skipping The Boredoms at First Avenue tonight, even if it is “in the round” and sounds awesome and all. It can’t be all tattoos and shows and fun every night of the week (but I am hitting up a show on Thursday). Tonight’s been more on the mundane side. After work I dropped by the bank to set up a Health Savings Account. And said goodbye to my tax refund. Wheeeee! On the way home I had the following conversation with the little man.

Me: You might change your mind.
Him: I won’t change anything. Especially not my mind.

We were discussing soup. And his dislike of it. But it goes so well with grilled cheese sammiches!

Before we leave town I need to hire a plumber (to attend to a leaky faucet in the bathroom), pick up some sundries for the trip, hand over the spare keys to our housesitter, clean the house a bit, find time to work out at least once, finish packing, attend a parent/teacher conference, and have my annual review at work. Phew. I think I’ll pass out right now. Sort of a preemptive strike. Or something.

Bonus: Rock the Garden returns to the Walker Art Center just in time for my birthday. With a line-up of The New Pornographers, Andrew Bird, Bon Iver and Cloud Cult (all on June 21st). Neat.
Plus: A preview for an independent feature film, Stay Then Go, a film about autism and its place in the life of a mother and her son. Looking forward to the full length.
And: Someone called my land line this evening. Asking for Mrs. Wrisky. Wow. I haven’t been called that since 1997. The caller promptly received a 1-2 combo of “wrong number” followed by CLICK.

Enough already, with Americans co-opting movies and television shows from other countries. Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg are rightfully upset…about the American remake of Spaced that’s in the works. About which they were never even consulted. I really really hope the show doesn’t happen. But I fear it will.

In other news, the ex is going to Taiwan this summer. But I doubt he’ll be vacationing in these awesome mid century Taiwanese vacation homes. Because they were abandoned. And seemingly never occupied, due to the belief that they are haunted (via Aesthetic Outburst).

It was an eventful and frustrating morning at the school bus stop. One I’d considered writing about here. Instead I’ve opted to channel it into an essay for the My Baby Rides the Short Bus book. I’d been trying to narrow down the topics I could cover and this morning, as crappy as it was, really helped to focus the scope.

Bonus: The Simpsons-ization of Battlestar Galactica (bizarrely good), wee beasties, crayon sculptures, matchbox labels from Eastern Europe, and Dinoaurs and Robots (the blog) in general.
Plus: Found another dangerous etsy shop, one with a category called Octopus Tees. I am attempting to resist. For now.
And: There’s been some buzz around the office about this show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I’ll have to check it out.

Catching up on my blog post reading I noticed Mimi Smartypants had hit the nail on the head - about spring fever vs. spring malaise. Our kids seem to be ratcheting up the crazy, while we parents are on the other end of the spectrum, knocked on our asses by extreme exhaustion. Minnesota’s never-ending winter isn’t helping matters for me. Lately I’ve been so tired I wondered if I might have contracted mono, but then realized that’s the kissing disease. There goes that theory.

Much of this weekend has been spent laying around, prolly because I overdid it on Friday. The lad was overnight with his grandparents so I crammed in a haircut, dinner and a movie and then headed over to the Turf Club for the Vampire Hands release show. Their new one is amazing, and the evening was chock full of awesome.

That helped make up for some of the suck earlier in the week. The last few Wednesdays have each been chock full of awfulness. This time around it was a mix-up with Qwest. The land line had been disconnected. I might not have noticed, I so rarely use it, but the DSL? Oh yeah. That I noticed straightaway.

Gearing up for another crazyass week before we’re off to Oregon. Spring Break ‘08! WHOOOOO!

Bonus: This Friday season four of Battlestar Galactica begins. It’s been so long you might wonder, what the Frak is going on? Also…it looks like Caprica is being made.
Plus: My co-workers embraced Sweater Day, in honor of what would’ve been Mr. Rogers’ 80th birthday.
And: I wanted to like Be Kind, Rewind more than I did. But I am far more enthusiastic about the “Sweded” movies that came out of it. Like a fan-made version of Terminator 2. Hot.

I’d like to see Bedlam’s Iron Mermaiden, “an Iron-Man talent competition set in a genetically modified future- where mermaids, created as highly prized works of art, are pitted against each other to win the ultimate prize- the opportunity to be immortalized” - the show ends on Sunday.

Tomorrow night Leslie and the Lys are back in the 7th Street Entry. Wonder if I can scare up a gem sweater, and a babysitter, before then.

Friday night some friends’ bands are playing at the Turf Club. The lineup is: Vampire Hands, MC/VL, Private Dancer, Finger Pressure, and Gospel Gossip.

Five good things:

• Introducing Amy Winfrey’s new Forumy Thingy!
• Listening to Girl Talk.
• One of my favorite Home Movies clips, The B is for Bitchin’
• I’m still getting used to my iSkin keyboard condom. It’s not as tight a fit as it could be, but it will protect this shiny new laptop from the punishment I can dish out.
• Our lovely office manager just handed me a PowerSquid. Squeeee!

Some day I’d like to take the little man to The Echo Park Time Travel Mart (the L.A. chapter of the 826 National mission). The kid is still on a big time travel kick, mostly due to his love of the Back to the Future movies. But it’s bittersweet. He often talks about wanting to go back in time, not for any purely selfish purposes, but so that he could meet my brother. And maybe bring him to the future, so he wouldn’t have to die. If only.

I should be taking care of a bunch of boring-ass grown up stuff and preparing for our upcoming trip to Portland. Instead I goofed off all weekend.

• Friday night I saw Thao and the Get Down Stay Down open for Xiu Xiu.
• Saturday we started with cupcakes, then went on our first Twin Cities flickr photowalk in a year. The little man shot a set too. And then I hosted an Ides of March party, mostly involving dangerous haircuts and glowsticks.
• Sunday was all about laying around watching three seasons of Home Movies and some Shaun the Sheep episodes.

Bonus: I’d like to head down to Austin in May for Chaos in Tejas 2008, mostly because Los Crudos is playing.
Plus: I’m in love with these 19th century Japanese toy designs.
And: Watch this awareness test. I am not very aware.

DST still has me in a haze. I’m not so good with the waking up in the dark. Still, it’s been a decent week, with more fun to come. We kicked things off on Monday by seeing Be Kind Rewind. That marked the first time I took the little man to see a non-children’s movie and it went well.

Tonight we’re hitting up the gym, and then Tanpopo for dinner. I’d like to get back to E Noodle Cafe soon too but I need to quit eating out so much, and begin to seriously search for a roommate. And set up my HSA. Ok, that’s veering off the party path. Back on track? I’m starting up a book club at my hizzouse. There’s already one going on at the Turf Club, which I’d gladly participate in, but I’m trying to minimize the need for a babysitter. Plus I have an idea of what books I want to read/discuss, and know a few likeminded ladies. Sounds like we’ll kick things off with Michael Chabon’s The Final Solution.

The Boredoms are at First Ave on the 25th, but that week’s gonna be hectic. I get my next tattoo. And some friends’ bands are playing a benefit show. And we leave for Portland. But speaking of The Boredoms, their 77 person drum circle would’ve been something to behold.

Bonus: I’ve never actually watched the show, but I’m curious about the game. Iron Chef America for Wii and DS:
Plus: Didn’t realize The Black Apple blew up! I’ve been a longtime Emily Martin fan (have purchased a few prints from her etsy shop), but apparently Martha Stewart is too. Weird.
And: Scroobius Pip is playing in Chicago tonight, at the Empty Bottle (and then on to SXSW). I wish he were coming to Minneapolis.

No Cupcake Saturday this week. Poor Sheela had the flu. But because of that we were able to stay home all day yesterday (even curled up with the little man to watch the hour long Lost Heroes episode of The Batman), a nice break from our usually hectic schedules. Speaking of…it was another busy week.

Highlights

• Seeing Weather is Happening and Total Fucking Blood on Wednesday night.
• A pizza party at the office with our kids.
• Hosting a small impromptu party Friday night.
• And the arrival of my new multi-touch MacBook Pro (it really was easy to migrate data over from the old powerbook).

Lowlights

• A three hour commute Wednesday morning, due to sloppy weather combined with a semi truck rollover on 94W.
• Learning about Health Savings Accounts at work. Sounds like it will be a good thing in the long run, but stressful to set up initially. And that $2500 deductible is going to hurt.

Such stress sends me in search of any kind of escapism for relief. I re-read a fave book, Robin McKinley’s Sunshine. And continued the vampire kick with two new guilty pleasures, Twilight (apparently a film adaptation is already being made) and its sequel, New Moon. Now I need to pick up Eclipse.

Trying to get motivated today, but the little man has rediscovered Invader Zim. And daylight savings is throwing me off my game, as always, but I need to get myself to the gym. If I do so at least eight times a month, my new health insurance plan will pay a portion of my membership fee. That’s a decent incentive. For me. The kid couldn’t care less.

Apparently my fidget ain’t quite right (seen below), but I never would’ve noticed. My neighbor to the South needs to not fret about it, but I will mail it back. Soon. I promise. And then she can tweak the toggles all she likes.

So. I am exhausted. Anxiety is causing me to sleep even more erratically than usual. For now, five funny things to focus your attention on.

• Yesterday my ex-husband told me he thinks my brain is full of bored ferrets. He knows me too well.
• The best frog name ever, Beelzebufo, and a brand new animal blog, OMG what is that???
• I totally adore Henry even if he is missing a couple of limbs. He’s the world’s first documented six-legged octopus.
• Have I posted this before? Too lazy to check. Got sucked into pictures for sad children again last night, and started poking around riceboy (via mystery experience).
• I want a squidlet to call my own. Hopefully fuzfrenzy will have some of these amigurumi available soon.