weapons of massdistraction

Kept things pretty low-key over the weekend. A couple of decent meals out, at Bagu Sushi & Thai (tasty) and at Foxy Falafel (delicious). Saturday was spent deep cleaning all day at home - totally overdue and so satisfying. And breaking for pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie making in the evening. My usually lazier Sunday was too jam-packed. Brunch with friends. A kid’s bowling birthday party. Errand running. And then two Halloween shows (photos to come). Oof. But now it’s Monday. And now we are inching ever closer. Just over a week until this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad election is over and done with.

Five semi-related and/or unrelated items of note for today:

• Oh how I love Joss Whedon. Whedon on Romney, and the very rich vs. the very fast. “Paid for by the Committee to Learn Parkour really fast, like maybe take a class or something.”
• This stuff scares the bejeezus out of me: In the not-too-distant future genetic blueprints could provide compromising information that could lead to the creation of personalized bioweapons, capable of taking down a person and leaving no trace. Eep.
• An antidote? How a cat boosts your creativity. Umm. Yeah.
• Not the Amanda Palmer debacle but a different sort of kickstarter nightmare.
• Dan Snaith of Caribou knows how to make music that moves me. Like literally. Been bouncing away at my desk listening to his latest project of afro-beat remixes, wherein he calls himself Daphni.

Halloween is my most favorite of all the holidays. But this year my son declared that, at the ripe old age of 13, he is now too old for trick or treating. I am sad. Maybe that’s why I overcompensated by ordering his Giftmas presents even earlier than usual. At least he’s still dressing up for Halloween, but not at school. Just joining me for a friend’s party later on. And trick or treating during the Frankenstorm could prove challenging anyhow (my thoughts are with all East Coasters and everyone affected by the impending storm).

Two funerals in less than two weeks. Unbearably saddened by the murder of my friend and former brother-in-law. Heartbroken for his wife and their children and anyone who knew this incredibly energetic and charismatic and genuine individual. Cut down at forty two years of age, due to someone else’s untreated mental illness.

Since it all unfolded I’ve spent a lot of time thinking. Though my brain locks up in “DOES NOT COMPUTE” mode when I realize Eric is dead. Of course when thinking about it gets to be too much I resort to escapism. I’ve plowed through so many books lately. Our cabin getaway up North this past weekend came at just the right time. No internet. Hardly any phone reception. Really cut off, away from it all on an island for a few days. It was just the thing. Friday night I sat on the deck, overlooking Lake Superior, while lasagna baked in the oven. I listened to the waves crash against the shore while reading a Sarah Vowell book and drinking a glass of Bull’s Blood. After dinner we played a Back to the Future card game with my son. After he went to bed we watched a Sonny Chiba movie, by the fireplace. Saturday morning had an odd start. A knock on our cabin door when we were still in our pajamas. Jehovah’s Witnesses! Getting away to an island isn’t far enough to keep them at bay? Later we went into town where sellers had stands up, peddling various wares. I ate a “wapple” cone. We would have played mini golf but it was closed. We decided to drive around the entire island (14 miles long, 3 miles wide) and go hiking. The boy opted to hang out at the cabin while we did so but I’m glad he enjoyed the cabin, even with its lack of wi-fi.

Five good things:

• I love shoes but hiking boots are not the most attractive of footwear. Still, I found a pair that don’t offend me. And they were so comfortable, when put to the test.
• A different sort of journey. Time-lapse of the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s trek across L.A.
• What a cool third grader: Stella Ehrhart Dresses Up As Different Historical Figures, Characters Every Day For School
• Research I can get behind: Smart People Sleep Late and also Looking at Cute Animals Will Make You More Productive at Work
• Enjoyed this interview with Valerie Vargas in Tattoo Age, and not just because of her Scottish accent. I like her style and would love to have her work on me.

So, Sunday we began the drive back home. My son got a kick out of riding in the car onto the ferry (both ways - as did I) but I wasn’t ready to leave the island. Still, it wound up being a gorgeous day for a drive. I’d hoped to have lunch at the Angry Minnow in Hayward, WI. Alas it was inexplicably closed. And their web site and Facebook pages don’t list hours of operation. I wanted to try the perch & chips dammit! Instead we drove on, hungry. As we approached the next big town we saw “Spooner Blows!” spraypainted on a bridge deck. After the meal we consumed at a family style restaurant, I was inclined to agree. Temperatures rose the closer we got to the Twin Cities. Once we got into St Paul I was shedding SmartWool layers left and right and even threw open the windows at home. The cats were happy to see us. And today we tripped and stumbled back into our regular routine. Hopefully we can see to the rest of the week with a little more style and grace.

Usually I love October. The fall weather, backyard fires, all things pumpkin-y. But things have been pretty heavy on the sad so far. Actual life and death tragedies that aren’t in my immediate family but close enough they are weighing heavily on my mind. I find myself spending a lot of time worrying about those who are directly affected (I’m respecting their privacy hence the vague-ness about it).

Moving right along. Five items of note:

• I’ve been a long-time fan of Neil Gaiman but my fandom has been on the decline, since his marriage to the irritating Amanda Palmer. Moderate annoyance has turned to ire with her kickstarter idiocy. But not all kickstarters are bad! And the one I kicked in for last week was fully backed.
• Dang, does this ever sound like a sweet gig: A lodging chain whose customers are often on the road is sending a travel photographer and blogger out for a promotion devoted to the search for art across America.
• From the mind of Morrissey: on celebrity worship, his new book, and Boston. I’m skipping his tour this time out but am jealous of my friends who are heading down to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa to see him. That place looks fab.
• Another sad aspect of modern life. What to do with contact information in your cell phone after someone you know has passed away? There weren’t yet cell phones when my brother died but I know I would have maintained his entry, if there were.
• I fully admit…I bought these books from author Chris F Holm purely because of the gorgeous retro-inspired covers. But reading the blurbs it does sound like the story lines will be the sort of supernatural stuff I am into.

Daily life is busy as ever. And I have to figure out a way to squeeze in twelve visits a month to the YWCA, in order to qualify for reimbursement from my health insurance company (and for my general well being anyhow). But I’m also taking my son to a new psychologist next week, way out in the suburbs, who we’ll likely be visiting every other week. And I’ve got several freelance photography jobs lined up for the near future. Too much. All the time. Counting down the days to our next weekend cabin getaway.

After another rough week I savored the weekend. Got as much lazy lounging in as I could. Saturday a co-worker asked a couple of us St. Paulites if we could stop by my neighborhood ice cream shop, Izzy’s, to pick up a pint of the new Thai-tastic flavor (thai chiles, basil, candied lime). What he failed to mention was the flavor was being made that day by Andrew Zimmern, and filming was happening there for his show. I arrived just after my co-worker. The pint she procured was packed by Andrew Zimmern himself and she wound up in a shot on the show!

Five good things for this Monday:

• There’s a computer game museum in Berlin and it’s home to Painstation - a game featuring actual physical negative reinforcements. Eep.
• “Whoa! Check this out, this guy, Zilvinas Kempinas, makes long tunnels out of VHS tape. No word on whether you come out back in 1981 when you reach the other end of the tunnel, but we’re excited to find out.”
• Speaking of amusing but odd short videos - “Olive Juice” Directed by COUSINS. And pretty pretty - CLOUD: An Interactive Sculpture Made from 6,000 Light Bulbs. I want to play with it.
• Crazy! How Moken swimmers have adapted to be able to see clearly underwater.
• The fine folks at Atlas Obscura are sponsoring this neat looking Field Trip Day in six cities. Minneapolis is one of them.

Chris Kluwe keeps saying so well what I am too angry to articulate. And speaking of Vote No gatherings in Minnesota…my company is co-hosting a fundraiser with The Family Equality Council at The Ritz in NE to benefit MN United For All Families. It is happening Thursday, October 4th. But we all need to remember to Vote No on the terrible Voter ID/restriction amendment as well.

Well, I’m officially the parent of a teenager now. Parker turned THIRTEEN on Saturday. To celebrate I rented out the Rusty Quarters Retro Arcade and invited a bunch of our friends to come play games (the machines were pre-loaded with quarters). It was wonderful. But my son’s ever-deepening voice is freaking me out, especially when he talks to me from another room at home. Yesterday morning he knocked on my beddoor and in his low low voice announced “I’m hungry.” The first thought that went through my groggy brain was “who the hell is this hungry man and why is he in my house?” The kid has taken to saying “get used to it” when I make any remarks about how old/big/manly he’s getting. I’m trying. But I still have a clear image of my baby boy stuck in my head. Must find and replace with mental image of my bossy teenager.

Five items of note for this Monday:

• Super frustrating and discouraging: “It might as well be Harry Potter’s invisible Knight Bus, because no one can prove it exists. Looking, Very Closely, for Voter Fraud - Conservative Groups Focus on Registration in Swing States.” If those folks would just redirect all of that effort and energy into something positive, think of the good they could do.
• In happier news, I love this idea, though it’s slightly creepy with the zentai suits and all. Theater Enlists Ninjas to Shush Obnoxious Moviegoers: We all loathe the people who talk, text and eat popcorn too loudly at the movies. Now a London theater has enlisted a force of ninjas to end the epidemic once and for all.
• I hadn’t thought of internet icon/world traveler/bad dancer of Where the hell is Matt? fame for a while but my son’s grandmother just discovered him. I’m glad I caught up with his latest updates. And his dancing seems to have improved. He’s still charming though.
• Speaking of wanderlust, the boyfriend and I started watching Long Way Round, a documentary series documenting the 19,000-mile journey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman from London to New York on motorcycles. So many logistics to work out in advance! I’ve only seen the first installment but I’m hooked. And today I came across something similar, this commercial disguised as a documentary, but it’s shot so nicely: Long Live the Kings.
• In less happy global news: “If you think that identity theft is the worst-case-scenario of Internet use, you clearly don’t live in any of the nations that make the list of top “Enemies of the Internet.” Not only do these governments monitor their citizens’ web activity, but they also make it nearly impossible for them to safely share and gather information through anonymous microblogs, Facebook pages or Twitter accounts. The next time you surf the web, think carefully about who’s watching you and who’s blocking you.”

It was a busy weekend all around, even without the boy’s birthday. Thursday night we stopped by an animated short film fest and an after hours party at Modern Times. Friday I tried to take it easy. Had some dealings with the school that day then went home to take out my frustrations on piles of laundry. Stayed in that night to watch Mean Girls for the first time - Tina Fey to the rescue! Saturday night was a low key one at the Turf Club. Not because of the bands themselves, but the turnout. Too many quality shows that night meant the quantity of show-goers was down, distributed all over town. Sunday was all about sleeping in, French toast, photo editing and a Shopwarming Party / BBQ / Record Sale. And it’s another FULL SPEED AHEAD week. Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well.