Wednesday, October 1, 2008
For some reason these places exist only on the fringes, in the far-flung suburbs. Rarely are they conveniently located in the city. I’ve avoided it for so long, but Saturday night I got pulled over. By an undercover cop. Thankfully I drove away without a ticket, but also without any peace of mind. So this morning I bit the bullet and chose the suburb I am most familiar with. The one I grew up in. It hadn’t occurred to me that this would be the dealership with the giant polar bear sitting in front. The polar bear that is sometimes dressed according to the seasons, say in a pair of swimming trunks and sunglasses. Nor did I expect the wireless there to work. And it did not. But the teevee sure did. The volume in the lounge was cranked so high I took to hiding out in the “Adult Work Room” - a name which conjures up images other than bland, beige walls and cubicle farm cubbies and chairs. For the most part I was in there alone, writing this and re-watching Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. But the occasional cell phone-less senior popped in to use the land lines. To discuss such hot topics with friends and family like coupons for bagged milk at the Qwik Trip. I only wish I’d thought to bring my headphones. Thankfully it didn’t take long to fix up my Mazda. The electrical system was fine. It was just a coincidence that both of the tail lights went out the week after I had both of the brake lights replaced. Or was it?
Bonus: A co-worker just pointed out Survive the Outbreak - a live action Choose Your Own Adventure zombie tale. Particularly funny, because today I brought along my copy of The Zombie Survival Guide for him to check out.
Plus: No way is this going to happen for me…but if I had limitless resources, and a top-natch nanny, ATP Australia 2009 would be a great way to go down under. Somewhat more feasible is ATP New York 2009. Early bird tickets are already on sale, but there’s no word on who is curating or who is playing. I’ll wait and see.
And: The Pushing Daisies season two premiere is tonight. Squeeee! For those not so familiar with the show, read this round-up.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
For today yet another list of things that tickle my fancy, because my brain isn’t operating on any other level.
- I found a kraken tattoo that I may like even more than my own. See the bottom left image, under Works on Skin. Gorgeous.
- Season two of Pushing Daisies premieres Wednesday night. To build some buzz about the show ABC created a mobile version of Ned’s bakery, to give out free baked goods. Minneapolis/St. Paul was not a tour stop but I doubt they’d have vegan offerings anyhow. But they do have a twitter account.
- It’s time for the little man to get another pair of shoes. When looking for non-leather kids’ shoes I saw the usual Skechers, but also this Japanese brand with a “Green Tea infused anti-bacterial, removable insole.” Crazy. And I want these Asics for myself. But I’m trying to behave. Not easy to do when friends send me links to more vegan shoe sites that I didn’t know about.
- TrueBlood really is all that. Believe it. I’ve watched the first four episodes and have a hankering for more.
- Just became aware of tethered shooting - the kind done with a computer, a camera and a USB cable - but no memory card.
Bonus: Being as it’s the last day of September, the boy has settled on Halloween costume ideas for the two of us. The Wonder Twins plan has fallen by the wayside (which is probably for the best). In its place? He will be Harry Potter while I will be Hedwig. His owl. Yep.
Plus: Torn between seeing The Visitor at my favorite second run theater, and Choke at the expensive first run theater. Please vote.
And: Already have some fun activities lined up for the weekend with the lad, like going to a big bonfire. And some friends putting on an all ages show at Eclipse. And we’re going back to the Children’s Theatre again - this time for Madeline and the Gypsies. I’m excited because Circus Juventas is involved.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
It was a strangely long and grueling week, considering it started out with two vacation days. But it was a week peppered with bad news and pain. And a free screening of Eagle Eye. Not sure which category that falls in.
Five (or so) items of note:
Bonus: I didn’t watch the presidential debates last night. My choice has already been made and I don’t need that sort of aggravation. But a co-worker just launched his own campaign’s site last night. More to come there.
Plus: Watching 24 for the first time ever. Interesting that the first episode, aired in 2001, revolves around the first African American presidential candidate (I realize this is only news to me).
And: The Babes in Bikeland alleycat race is happening today. Many of my special lady friends will be participating, but I will be otherwise engaged.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Well, at least I know what’s happening with my left eye now. Posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD. Doesn’t that sound lovely? My primary symptom has been photopsia. There’s a slight risk of retinal detachment, which would require laser treatment, but the doc thinks I’ll be able to wait it out over the next several weeks. And then it may start all over again in my other eye. Speaking of waiting it out…I’ve always known the drops cause my pupils to stay dilated longer than in most people. Today I found out it has something to do with the pigment in my pupils - and the rate at which the drops are metabolized. Go figure. Until this wears off I will continue looking like a whacked out chipmunk.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
All of my cohorts are finding it tricky to adapt to civilian life, post-ATP. Personally it’s not just my sleep schedule gone topsy-turvy, but real life in general that is giving me the crazy. While I was making dinner last night my fairly new ceiling fan made a popping noise as the light went out and the fan blades slowed to a stop. If it’s not a blown fuse I’ll need to call the electrician back. But I already spent a half hour on the phone with T-Mobile tech support - after which they admitted they’ve got no idea why I can still receive text messages but not send them. Then I was on hold for the triage nurse at my clinic. For the last week or so I’ve been having these weird ocular/acephalgic migraines where I see raver-like orange lights flashing in my left eye. It could be fun if it weren’t so worrisome. And dealing with my ex-husband just makes me sad. But at least I didn’t contract the ATP virus. A few folks have come down with a nasty cold/flu bug. Speaking of bugs, there were reports of bed bugs from some of the other hotels. Ewww.
I’m trying to focus on the happy happy. Yesterday I sifted and sorted and posted the best of my New York photos. My Rude Bear pix are definite faves. And thinking about Rude Bear dancing away to EPMD makes me smile.
Tonight I was going to finally see Burn After Reading, but some co-workers have extra passes to a screening of Eagle Eye. What the hell? The company will probably be better than the movie, and hey, it’s free.
I’m seriously bummed that I forgot about the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. while in NYC, but that just gives me an excellent excuse to go back with the little man. Though Charlie the cross-eyed kitten will likely be a full grown cat by the time we get there.
Bonus: LOLCats, now in print.
Plus: The photos of David Ray Carson, especially his Lonely Places On Cruise Ships series. So good.
And: There are two awesome shows happening tonight: Monotonix at the Uptown Bar and Vaz at the Turf Club. Alas I am going to neither.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Five days without internet access. Not only did I survive, I may have even thrived. Now I’ve got the internets back and I’m a bit overwhelmed. Too many stories to tell and far too many photos to sift through. I’ll post just one tidbit for now. I met Kevin Shields and Bilinda Butcher after their My Bloody Valentine set.
And now I will attempt to sleep.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The little man turned nine today (nine years ago we both looked a tad bit different). His birthday party was yesterday. I had several outdoor activities planned. Naturally it rained. Thankfully some grownups came up with the idea of making paper airplanes. And there was fun with balloons. And Kung Fu Panda masks. And a pinata packed with candy. And cupcakes too, to sugar the kids up even more (it was cupcake overload all weekend long, and it continues). But we saved the silly-string-fight in-the-rain until after the child-sized guests left. Good times.
The weather has turned quite cool and I’ve been tempted to turn on the new boiler, just to try it out and see if I got my money’s worth ($4800) but it’s not quite that cold yet. Instead I’ve settled for closing windows, throwing on a pair of socks and pulling out the thicker comforters.
I’m looking forward to ATP but I’m also annoyed. Last week I realized their coach bus would return us to the city after the time we’d need to be at the airport so I’m researching other options. Anyone have suggestions for getting from Queens to Monticello, then back to JFK? We leave town Wednesday and I’m leaving my laptop behind. I think. Maybe.
Bonus: Twink!
Plus: LOL RNC Riot Cops: I can has intimidation? It was bound to happen.
And: I like this video. Because I have a thing for linedancing fencers. Who knew?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Driving around my city last weekend I spotted remnants of the RNC everywhere. Mostly just groups of pylons clumped together on street corners, but I also watched the media circus tent being pulled down. Other folks have much more vivid reminders than that. Like the RNC protesters who were injured by police.
Monday afternoon was spent taking the car in for an oil change and having the burned out brake lights replaced. Afterwards I looked forward to a quiet, relaxing evening. But that wasn’t to be. While eating dinner the little man gasped as his mouth filled with blood. He spat a mouthful of pizza into his palm and pulled out one of his capped teeth, which he handed to me. I knew it was a baby tooth but I didn’t think its time had come. It was a bicuspid. I worried that the tooth had broken and there were nerves exposed. The lad did say he was in pain. We wound up in the waiting room of a sketchy all-night (well, open until 10pm) dental clinic. After sticking it out until the boy’s usual bedtime it was finally our turn. And it turned out that his adult tooth had just come in early. There was so much blood because the metal of the cap had likely bonded to the soft tissue of the gums.
Speaking of blood, I’ve read each book in the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series but only today did I find out the series has been adapted for television. The premiere of True Blood was just the other day. But it’s only on HBO. I wish full episodes were on Hulu, dammit. But I might just give Fringe a go.
Bonus: I love the Brits. Watch the trailer for No Heroics. This show is going to be amazing! In a very different way than the also British but devastating Boy A. That was one seriously excruciating film. Very well done, but I never would’ve watched it all the way through at home. It’s the sort of movie you can only squirm your way through in a theater.
Plus: I’m really liking Lykke Li. And wouldn’t mind listening to more of her, than just the four songs from the EP I’ve got, but her full length, Youth Novels, isn’t available via Amazon’s mp3 downloads. Guess I’ll have to get myself into a record store.
And: Thinking about taking the lad to see They Might Be Giants on Saturday, at the Children’s Book Festival (sponsored by Target) but I’ll be in full on birthday party prep mode that day. Hmmm.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Rather than contributing to anything RNC-related (planned protests or unpermitted events) I rode the week out in RNC-avoidance mode. As much as possible anyhow. I couldn’t get away from the choppers hovering overhead in our neighborhood or the frustration when all routes over the Mississippi River - and to our house - were blocked off for no apparent reason. I’m just glad the Republicans are gone now, but the damage to our city’s reputation will linger.
Sheela and I swapped books earlier in the week and suddenly I’m a huge Cassandra Clare fan. I blew through the first two titles in her Mortal Instruments trilogy. The third doesn’t come out until March. Oh the agony! And I’m already looking forward to her offshoot series - The Infernal Devices - due out after that.
Today I took a break from all the escapism to take the lad to the Renaissance Festival for the first time. Which is, I guess, just another form of escapism. But one that involves lots of walking around and being outside and shared experiences rather than just solo time with my nose in a book. And the little man loved it all.
The other night I had some solo time that I didn’t spend with a book. After some errand-running I went to one of my regular spots for a quiet dinner. Midori surprised me with some complimentary vegan gyoza. So good! She’s planning to add them to the menu soon.
Bonus: I’ve been a huge fan of The Tick for years (the comics and cartoon) but avoided the live action version when it was on teevee. Because of Hulu, I finally broke down and started watching it. And it’s growing on me. I’m also tempted to watch some old episodes of Sliders and the original BSG.
Plus: Picked up some Purely Decadent coconut ice cream. It’s very…coconut-y. But it has an excellent, creamy texture. Definitely worth sampling.
And: How is it that I’d never heard of The Aquabats, until this week? Wacky.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Yesterday the lad and I enjoyed the tail end of the Liberty Parade, then high-tailed it out to the burbs for his first ever visit to the Drive In. I nearly fell asleep at the wheel but the car was parked. The boy clung to consciousness much longer than I expected - all the way through Wall-E and halfway through Kung Fu Panda. Now it is Labor Day and I am doing the opposite of laboring. And on the fence about the nearby Take Back Labor Day festivities. $15 at the gate, and no outside food or drink allowed? We might just sit this one out.
I did make it out to the Eight is Enough/Obama benefit the other night. And so did Spin and Pitchfork. Their photographers had the most ridiculous gear. I was a tiny bit jealous. But mostly happy that I can still stick my DSLR in my purse.
I’ve been spoiling my son some more. Let him talk me into an unplanned trip to Como to replace his damaged wax lion, and I also bought him some titanium sporks from REI. And the planning for his Kung Fu Panda themed birthday party is in high gear.
Friday night I got to see Hamlet 2 and now can’t get the “rock me sexy jesus” number out of my head.
All this activity has been interspersed with periods of extreme sloth. A friend got me hooked on yet another young adult vampire series (since Thursday I’ve read the first three books). And after watching The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, I’ve realized that my Dad now looks too much like Dick O’Neill did then (and that Tony Roberts has always reminded me of a miniature version of Ron Perlman). Such a top-notch movie. Naturally it’s being remade and I am annoyed as hell.
Bonus: While I’m getting more and more excited about my trip to New York, I am heartbroken that dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip will be playing the Triple Rock while I’m away. Worst timing ever.
Plus: The “spirit” photographs of William Hope.
And: All the RNC police harassment has had me ashamed to be a St. Paul/Ramsey County resident. Seems much of it has been due to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher. What a guy.
