Happy Mother’s Day to me! This morning I had to coax the little man…to turn over the top secret project he’d made for me at school. Turns out he was embarrassed by it (though it was adorable) and implored me not to read what he’d written, to just look at the pictures. That was sad. But he’s much prouder of his new mohawk. Which was totally his idea, and executed by our friend Emily last night.
But the best Mother’s Day gift ever came from people I did not give birth to. Yesterday Mary and Chris came to the house, bearing cupcakes and other goodies, and then worked their butts off helping me fill my dumpster. Ridiculous, these people. So nice. When I first moved into this house the previous owners left behind so much STUFF. It’s taken me nine years to get rid of it all (well, there are still some paint cans to be hauled out). The decrepit dining room set finally met its demise yesterday. Chris and Mary took hammers to it, reducing it to a giant pile of Buffy-worthy stakes and splinters. And then Chris found Jesus! In my basement. Hidden behind some drywall remnants. There was The Last Supper, rendered in ceramic. Weeeeeird.
All of this work was done in the rain, so it was only fitting that Mary and I decided to form a “band” called Angry Butterfly…comprised of just the two of us wearing pink butterfly rain boots while stomping around on stage.
I’m just going to have to keep those visuals in the back of my mind this next week. It’s going to be full steam ahead with The Flight of the Conchords show, an advanced screening of the new Narnia movie, getting a plumber to come to the house to fix the bathtub faucet, taking the lad to see his psychologist and getting my car in to the shop at some point. All while forging ahead with the Great Spring Purge of 2008. Or maybe I’ll just go back to bed and sleep for a week.
Bonus: Couldn’t help myself. I did splurge just a tidge, and ordered myself a Flip Ultra Video Camera. It’s so cute! Can’t wait to play with it this week. And finally make use of the new Flickr video upload option.
Plus: Too bad I ordered that online instead of buying it somewhere. Today we’re going to a Saint Paul Saints game, and I would love to shoot video of the little man enjoying himself. He got so excited at the last game we attended. The boy loves baseball (which is baffling to me, really).
And: Hillary is mom jeans.
Nineteen years ago today. He has now been dead longer than he was alive. But I will never forget my brother.
I am sad, as I am any time I think about him (which is often) but my life goes on. And how! So much to do but I’m trying not to let myself get overwhelmed by it. Today I’m taking out another small loan from my credit union, so I can move forward with replacing the boiler. And the great Spring purge of 2008 has already begun. But this time around I’m not giving everything away. Today I’m selling both of the items I just listed on craigslist. And I need to get my lazy butt in gear and post a few items to ebay. More than anything I just need to get excess stuff OUT. But I’m working on it. Oh what an exciting weekend I have ahead of me.
At least I woke up to find my Bush money had been deposited in my checking account. And I promptly blew it, getting caught up on my energy and phone bills. Wheeeeee!
Bonus: I am too busy to be going to the movies, but I’m curious about Speed Racer. And much more interested in Son of Rambow. Also? The Band’s Visit will be at The Riverview Theater this weekend. I might just have to make time for that one.
Plus: Rachel has posted an interview with my good pal Sheela about one of my favorite topics - cupcakes! Though Sheela’s cookies are kickass too.
And: It’s the return of the Red Stag Supperclub’s Block Party. The difference? Last year they weren’t even open yet when the party happened.
The one good thing about getting sick last weekend? It’s allowed me to cut back on my caffeine intake. The monkey on my back was getting out of control. But now I’m down to one cup of coffee in the morning, and that’s it. It’s already helped with the whole sleeping thing. I like sleeping. It’s nice.
Other monkeys on my back, so to speak…well, like many Americans, I accumulate too much crap. I am a packrat. Totally a first world problem, I know, but I’m trying to take it on. Again. I’ve rented another dumpster to get rid of useless clutter. The rest I’m trying to organize, and sort out into “stuff to donate” and “stuff I can sell”. First up on the latter list is the cutesy Paul Frank Julius monkey bike I bought a couple of years ago, and barely ever rode. If you know anyone in the Twin Cities area who might be a Paul Frank fan, or a fan of cruisers (or both) I’d appreciate it if you sent them the link. Thanks!
And yes, this is all preparation for putting my house on the market. For real this time.
Bonus: I’m totally claustrophobic, so I find this body-laptop interface extremely alarming.
Plus: Our intern pointed something out to me, not sure how I missed it before. The original - Noah takes a photo of himself every day for 6 years. And the brilliant Simpsons parody of it, featuring Homer.
And: Robo-Squirrel? Fur-jobs. Just one step away from Cylons.
My body rebels and I’m left with no options. Other than to stop. And wait. Waiting it out is hard, especially when it means missing so much. My plans for the weekend had to be scrapped. No Free Comic Book Day. No Cinco de Mayo. No cupcakes. And, worst of all, bailing on a photography gig I’d been looking forward to. But I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have wanted me puking at their party.
Instead I’ve been laying around, listening to Fuck Buttons and Santogold. And distracting myself by re-watching Stardust, reading the latest Jim Butcher book, watching the most recent episode of BSG (courtesy of J) and guzzling ginger ale (courtesy of Sheela). And torn between wanting to venture out today - and knowing I shouldn’t push my luck.
Bonus: The MMAA’s Patio Nights line-up has been announced for the season. So many good shows! Hopefully I can make it to a few.
Plus: Found out about this too late…This American Life, live, in movie theaters. At least some friends were able to go.
And: Missed a screening of Beautiful Losers at the Walker the other night. Hoping to watch it on the small screen sometime soon.
Earlier, when I was on the phone with J, he let out a hearty giggle. A very specific sort that sounds much like an “I-told-you-so” laugh. He said it wasn’t and clarified, claiming it was more of a “you-brought-this-on-yourself” laugh. It was regarding my Saturday morning cartoon dilemma. In the last year I’ve allowed the little man to start watching them. But now he doesn’t want to leave the house until they are over, at noon. Not even for the Cinco de Mayo Parade. Sure, it might be sprinkling and crappy out Saturday morning anyhow, but that’s not the point. I feel like I’m being held hostage by the Kids WB. The lad is awfully distraught over the network’s rebranding. It seems the CW will be putting an end to Kids WB. I’ll be sad to see The Batman go, but maybe I’ll get my Saturday mornings back.
Bonus: I highly recommend making some time for the “365 fucked up stories” blog.
Plus: I have so many fond memories of the Oak Street Cinema, and I know others in town do too. Many of us are saddened by its demise. And have some questions before the wrecking ball has at it.
And: I want someone to make this recipe for me. In that spirit, I made a late night impulse purchase…I bought an Octodog, so that I can use it on tofu dogs, and maybe make vegan-friendly bento boxes (inspiration here). Also? This butchering tofu video made me want to do some cooking. Thankfully there are a couple of BBQ and potluck events coming up this weekend.
Within the span of ten minutes I went from being extremely worried to profoundly relieved. Yesterday afternoon I received good news about not one, but two troubling issues. My brain had been in worst case scenario mode - which it automatically switches over to whenever anything serious comes up - so I’m still trying to process this new, positive data.
- My Dad is OK. Recently he’d had some bloodwork done that was red-flagged. A biopsy had been scheduled but further lab work indicates that everything is just fine and there is no need for it. Phew.
- A couple of months ago I learned that the little man’s school had lost their lease. They need to move in June and the new school year begins in July (it is a year-round program). Yesterday we finally found out where the new school site will be and, thankfully, it’s one I’m super stoked about. So much so I’m taking it as a sign that I should finally put my house up for sale.
This will be tough, not just because the housing market stinks, but also because there’s so much prep-work to be done before I can even put this house on the market. But if it managed to sell I could buy another house. One in the same neighborhood as my son’s school. A neighborhood that is charming, within easy biking distance of most of my friends, and not too far from where I work. Life could be so much easier. Especially after the new 35W Bridge opens.
I was nearly paralyzed by Saturday’s cold weather. Waking up and seeing snow on the new green grass threatened to knock me back into hibernation. The arctic gusts helped that along. Still, I somehow managed to make it out to the State Fair Grounds - with friends - for the Craftstravaganza. But we all froze our tails off in the drafty old Fine Arts Building. I came away with the cutest plush octopus from Critterbee and a horrible need for hot beverages. By afternoon too much coffee and tea had me over-caffeinated and queasy, and the lack of heat in my house made me want to cry (a new boiler is going to run me about $5000). The little man and I wound up crashing at J’s for the night.
Yesterday wasn’t significantly warmer. The lad and I spent several hours at the YWCA. I worked out, we played in the pool, I had some hot-tub time. And I made sure our hair was completely dry before we went back out into the cold. We immediately ducked into The Riverview Theater, to catch a showing of The Spiderwick Chronicles…for the second time. We’ve read the books since the movie first came out, and I caught myself groaning at all of the deviations from the original story line. Afterwards it was straight home - skipping MicroCon - because the thought of a second day at the freezing cold State Fair Grounds did not appeal.
Trying to force myself out into it this morning for our usual Monday work/school routine (31°? Really?) and wondering whether I can tough it out tonight for BlöödHag or if I’ll be all about bed bed bed.
Bonus: My old pal Chuck Olsen was interviewed by NPR for their Sunday Soapbox feature.
Plus: A friend just introduced me to Brian Posehn and his stand up routine. Pretty funny stuff.
And: Trying to get my Radical Sabbatical Book Club off the ground. Obviously I am a big fan of escapist fiction, but I am in need of suggestions for engaging/engrossing non-fiction titles. Bring it! Please?
Just now the little man was stomping around shouting “Resprect[sic] the Pouch!” What pouch? How do I resprect it? Bizarre. After bathtime the other night I worked some Aveda Elixir into the boy’s matted hair, in an effort to comb out all the knots. He gave me attitude. Telling me he wanted his hair UP. Not down. Who does he think he is, an eight year-old Robert Smith? If he keeps this up I will say goodbye to his moptop and bring back the buzzcut.
Five good things:
- The season of Pizza road trips officially began on Tuesday night. We had a lovely evening but it will be even better when Spring really-and-for-truly starts (more snow tomorrow?!) but before mosquito season kicks in.
- BlöödHag returns! I saw them years ago, at the Maplewood Public Library of all places. Monday night I will be seeing them at a much “hipper” venue, a venue so hip it shall not be named! Silliness really. Hopefully I’ll get some more books thrown at me.
- My friend’s record label, Modern Radio, will be having a 9th Anniversary extravaganza week(plus)long celebration thingie. I need to pull together some photos for the art opening next month at First Amendment.
- The next show at Fox Tax looks freaking awesome! I dreamed I dream opens on May 17th.
- The line-up for All Tomorrow’s Parties in New York? Not to be missed (thankfully I don’t think I will be missing it).
Bonus: The geekiest pants ever. I’m not sure if you could play TypeRacer in those pants. It might get a little too…intense.
Plus: Have you seen the Eee PC? Teeny-tiny!
And: It seems that, whenever I’m lounging at my ex’s place (like I am now), he’s often playing some Nina Simone. So it was fitting that I read this beautiful ode to her, from The Fabulist, while her music played.
Been feeling sort of low energy and useless lately. I haven’t had the focus to finish up some projects, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking about them. Which only gets me more wound up and feeling overwhelmed. Trying to turn that around, to look at what I have accomplished and to chop up the To Do list into manageable, bite-sized pieces.
Hopefully Spring Fever won’t distract too much. The season is really kicking in. I can tell because my head feels like it’s gonna asplode (stoopid allergies), but it’s the price I will gladly pay for decent weather. We kicked things off nicely on Sunday, with a picnic in 70+ degree weather. And last night’s thunderstorm was refreshing.
Other signs of Spring?
Bonus: I was honored when Nicool/Nicole suggested I submit one of my high school photos for the book she’s putting together, Awkweirds. I was most definitely awkweird back in the day (and maybe I still am). Now I just need to find the hi-res scan.
Plus: Ridiculously excited about seeing Flight of the Conchords next month, at the Orpheum Theatre. Haven’t been there in quite a while, but I would go just about anywhere to see my FoTC boys.
And: St. Paul’s annual rogue art and craft sale, the Craftstravaganza, is happening this Saturday at the state fair grounds.
Random: My old friend Michelle, at last weekend’s New York Comic Con. So jealous.
It’s been a rough week for me and mine, causing me to retreat into escapist-mode. Now it is the weekend, at last, but there are an overwhelming number of activities happening - some simultaneously. I’ve opted to partake in almost none due to time/money/energy constraints. While I am sad to be missing out on so many top notch shows (Man Man, Saul Williams, Kraftwerk, Knife World, The Plastic Constellations) I will be socializing/sharing several meals with many people and that pleases me greatly.
Five other good things:
Bonus: Also this weekend? The opening of the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Fest. And the Not Enough Love bachelor/ette auction at the 331 Club. And the perverted film night at the Belfry.
Plus: The little man told me I should change my name to Sharyn B. Morrow. The B is for bitchin’ - sure, he stole that from an episode of Home Movies, but it was still pretty damned awesome.
And: There’s a Princess Bride game now. Huh.
