It doesn't rain here very often. I mean, it's foggy and drizzly a lot, but no real downpours. My dental hygienist who grew up here told me she thought she was being bombed when she went to Florida and experienced her first real thunderstorm. At any rate, it's raining today. ICK. Cold, wet, actual drops and puddles and it's all VERY un-Christmaslike. *grumbles*
I've been very busy this week with various appointments, errands, shifts at the yoga studio, getting ready for our Christmas party. Yesterday I actually woke up without my alarm, and managed to wash, dry, & fold three loads of laundry, make a Christmas playlist, change my sheets, and dust the living room before getting myself to yoga (to practice, not to work), and THEN make dips, candy, drinks, and put on a party frock for our shindig. I certainly considered myself some sort of domestic goddess, or demi-deity at that point.
Buuuuut, our party was kind of a dud. It was fun, but we only had 10-12 people (I think last year we had 40-50!), so although it was quiet and nice, I ended up feeling like I did a lot of work for little payback. WAY too many leftovers. Not to mention that I just went through all of my photos and I don't have a single good one. I am not so sure about these bangs. And I think I need to lose some weight. Or maybe the bangs make my face look fatter than it is. Also, I have been somewhat sneezy this week, and I am never sick. Blurg, I think the weather is effecting my mood. (Affecting?)
In other news, my first week of the new budget went well, and I leave for Texas on Friday! Oh, and there's a new recipe up over at Food, Glorious Food.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Best Reason to Carry a Camera With You at All Times in San Francisco:
A) You take a bus you've never taken before and on your way through Japantown you pass this place:
B) You're walking down the street in your own, normal neighborhood and spot this guy just hanging out in a tree:
Which is more awesome? You decide.
B) You're walking down the street in your own, normal neighborhood and spot this guy just hanging out in a tree:
Which is more awesome? You decide.
Monday, December 08, 2008
my first Christmas present of 2008
How about this little guy?????
I got him in the mail today, courtesy of one Miss Julia. I love love love him! Jule and I have always been mighty good gift buyers (2 years ago we each got the other a dvd that we already owned- brilliant); this is the perfect example of thoughtful gift-buying. Jule knows I love owls, and knows I love Christmas ornaments, and I can't imagine a better hand-picked gift from my favourite cousin. I have named him Uncle Billy-- kinda has the same eyes.
Busy week- I've been working at the yoga studio, getting ready for our holiday party, and generally living (and loving) life how I do each December when I'm free from The Man for a bit. Today I made some satsuma-ginger tea bread (I am still not a baker by nature but I'm getting a bit better, I think) and dinner for my roommates. (Recipes to follow shortly.) Tomorrow is movie day with my boy Seth-- Slumdog Millionaire, I believe, and Burmese food for dinner. I also have to get some stuff together for a holiday party on Thursday that requires a food bank donation, and I think I have a dentist appointment and a haircut before the week is all said and done.
Oh, and tonight we shared Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (the 1964 version, natch) with our roommate from El Salvador. I think it's fair to say his life has been changed. I'm so glad they still show it every year, and it hasn't been re-made by Pixar or Disney. Who could one-up the Cowboy That Rides an Ostrich or the Charlie-in-a-Box? Or the Abominable Snow Monster with no teeth (thanks, Hermie)? Now THAT's what I call Christmas!
I got him in the mail today, courtesy of one Miss Julia. I love love love him! Jule and I have always been mighty good gift buyers (2 years ago we each got the other a dvd that we already owned- brilliant); this is the perfect example of thoughtful gift-buying. Jule knows I love owls, and knows I love Christmas ornaments, and I can't imagine a better hand-picked gift from my favourite cousin. I have named him Uncle Billy-- kinda has the same eyes.
Busy week- I've been working at the yoga studio, getting ready for our holiday party, and generally living (and loving) life how I do each December when I'm free from The Man for a bit. Today I made some satsuma-ginger tea bread (I am still not a baker by nature but I'm getting a bit better, I think) and dinner for my roommates. (Recipes to follow shortly.) Tomorrow is movie day with my boy Seth-- Slumdog Millionaire, I believe, and Burmese food for dinner. I also have to get some stuff together for a holiday party on Thursday that requires a food bank donation, and I think I have a dentist appointment and a haircut before the week is all said and done.
Oh, and tonight we shared Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (the 1964 version, natch) with our roommate from El Salvador. I think it's fair to say his life has been changed. I'm so glad they still show it every year, and it hasn't been re-made by Pixar or Disney. Who could one-up the Cowboy That Rides an Ostrich or the Charlie-in-a-Box? Or the Abominable Snow Monster with no teeth (thanks, Hermie)? Now THAT's what I call Christmas!
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
tightening the financial belt
OK. Deep breaths. In addition to watching what little money I have in a retirement plan dwindle to complete bullshit amounts, we have just been informed by our CEO (who probably makes a 6-figure salary) that we will not be getting raises in 2009. Also, our 2oo8 bonuses are being held off until March. Can you just hold off on Christmas, too? Thanks.
Now even though I've never made a lot of money (or even what most of you guys would probably call a little money), I've never really budgeted. I just get what I want, if & when I can get it. I know, I'm 32 and should know better but honestly, I'm just not wired to think that way. But I am going to start self-inforcing some rules.
Starting January 1.
So, I have 2 checking accounts. One is for my "base" salary, and the other is for whatever, if anything, is in my check over that amount (expenses, per diem, etc). From that 2nd account I pay my corporate American Express, in full, as soon as I get paid, whether it is due or not. Sometimes if I have been on the road a lot I have some extra money, and when that happens I pay bills from that account instead of my base account. That makes for a nice month. Twice this year I paid my rent out of that account and it was SWEET. So, I'm keeping this arrangement; I think it works for me.
Rule #1- In effect January 1, I am living on a fixed $X/week. Out of my checking account, I will have only the following withdrawals: rent, electricity, cable/internet, cell phone, and my allowance- $X/week, in cash, to do what I do. Everything else will go to that pesky little thing called "debt and saving up for grad school." This allowance includes (but is not limited to) groceries, laundry, bus fare, movies, eating out, buying books, buying clothes etc. (Obviously, special circumstances will have to be made every once in a while; for example, if I go to the dentist or get my hair cut, or renew a yearly magazine subscription, or something else I do a handful of times a year or less, I will pay out of my checking account, etc. This rule is not the fancy china; it is for everyday use.)
addendum: due to my almost constant travel schedule, partial weeks at home will get $X/7 per day.
And that's it. I will get out my $X every Friday, and if I run out on Tuesday, I'm eating at home for the rest of the week, and that's that. On the flip side, if I have anything left of my weekly funds by the following Friday, it will go into a coffee can in my bedroom, with the idea that at some point I will have enough for an extra night out, or want something that costs more than my weekly allowance will allow. For real, I'm using a coffee can.
Rule #2- In effect January 1, on the road, I am keeping track of my per diem. No more than $Y/day, which my company gives me, period, which means, in theory, that every week I'm on the road will accumulate an extra $X in my checking account. If I go somewhere super awesome, like New York City, I will allow myself my company's $Y/day + my normal $X/week.
Rule #3- no more cabs in my home city. I am taking the train or the bus, period. Just because I don't feel like waiting is not an excuse. I can't afford it. The jig, she is up.
Rule #4- find a boy to start buying me dinner and stuff, preferably one that is into girls. (OK, this one is not a real rule. But going on dates every once in a while could have potentially positive financial side effects. Why are married people the ones that get the tax cuts when clearly those of us who only have one salary and no one to help out when things are tough are more in need of one?)
What do you guys think of my plan? Are there any gaping holes? Did I leave anything out? My head hurts.
Now even though I've never made a lot of money (or even what most of you guys would probably call a little money), I've never really budgeted. I just get what I want, if & when I can get it. I know, I'm 32 and should know better but honestly, I'm just not wired to think that way. But I am going to start self-inforcing some rules.
Starting January 1.
So, I have 2 checking accounts. One is for my "base" salary, and the other is for whatever, if anything, is in my check over that amount (expenses, per diem, etc). From that 2nd account I pay my corporate American Express, in full, as soon as I get paid, whether it is due or not. Sometimes if I have been on the road a lot I have some extra money, and when that happens I pay bills from that account instead of my base account. That makes for a nice month. Twice this year I paid my rent out of that account and it was SWEET. So, I'm keeping this arrangement; I think it works for me.
Rule #1- In effect January 1, I am living on a fixed $X/week. Out of my checking account, I will have only the following withdrawals: rent, electricity, cable/internet, cell phone, and my allowance- $X/week, in cash, to do what I do. Everything else will go to that pesky little thing called "debt and saving up for grad school." This allowance includes (but is not limited to) groceries, laundry, bus fare, movies, eating out, buying books, buying clothes etc. (Obviously, special circumstances will have to be made every once in a while; for example, if I go to the dentist or get my hair cut, or renew a yearly magazine subscription, or something else I do a handful of times a year or less, I will pay out of my checking account, etc. This rule is not the fancy china; it is for everyday use.)
addendum: due to my almost constant travel schedule, partial weeks at home will get $X/7 per day.
And that's it. I will get out my $X every Friday, and if I run out on Tuesday, I'm eating at home for the rest of the week, and that's that. On the flip side, if I have anything left of my weekly funds by the following Friday, it will go into a coffee can in my bedroom, with the idea that at some point I will have enough for an extra night out, or want something that costs more than my weekly allowance will allow. For real, I'm using a coffee can.
Rule #2- In effect January 1, on the road, I am keeping track of my per diem. No more than $Y/day, which my company gives me, period, which means, in theory, that every week I'm on the road will accumulate an extra $X in my checking account. If I go somewhere super awesome, like New York City, I will allow myself my company's $Y/day + my normal $X/week.
Rule #3- no more cabs in my home city. I am taking the train or the bus, period. Just because I don't feel like waiting is not an excuse. I can't afford it. The jig, she is up.
Rule #4- find a boy to start buying me dinner and stuff, preferably one that is into girls. (OK, this one is not a real rule. But going on dates every once in a while could have potentially positive financial side effects. Why are married people the ones that get the tax cuts when clearly those of us who only have one salary and no one to help out when things are tough are more in need of one?)
What do you guys think of my plan? Are there any gaping holes? Did I leave anything out? My head hurts.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
December in LA
Being in LA in December always reminds me of LA Confidential, to the tune of Yes, I'm Still Mad that Titanic Beat it out for Best Picture Back in 1997, You Academy Voters are Ridiculous.
My flight last night was delayed almost three hours. My 1-hr flight. Soooo irritating. Then I sat next the most fidget-y girl in the entire world-- she pushed every button she could reach, talked to her husband/boyfriend/douchebag "Baby" in an outside voice the entire time, and ps> he was in the seat behind her, not beside her- and they were both in middle seats so she didn't even turn around, just talked, and she was carrying Indian food. And also? I want to throttle whoever invented touch-screens. Or at least whoever sold them to Virgin America. Why, oh WHY would you put touch-screens in the back of someone's seat? Have the people that made this decision ever taken a flight with someone poking the back of their seat the entire way? Or, ever taken a flight, period? Stupid, stupid, stupid. In addition to music, TV, and being able to text message people in other seats (I wish I were kidding), they have games like Mah Johngg. Now, I love Mah Jongg, maybe more than the next girl, but seriously? A game that is ALL TAPPING? ON THE BACK OF MY SEAT? There are not enough caps to explain how long that hour flight was. There were, however, enough cocktails at the hotel to make me get over it. And that number was 3. Don't judge. They were basil gimlets and they were my dinner, because obviously, the kitchen was closed when I got here at 12:40am.
ANYway. So, I love JJ Abrams' shows. All of them. I don't think Fringe is getting a very good following, but I love it. It's part Alias and part X-Files, well- more like X-Files with Sydney Bristow 2.0 heading up the team. And because it's JJ Abrams, there's a shadowy possibly-government-based conspiracy called "The Pattern" and always a cool unexplained phenomenum-of-the-week, like butterflies with razor-sharp wings that can cut you to pieces but they're really all in your head. Anyway, for some reason I really love it when JJ Abrams can find little ways to give his own shows shout-outs in his other shows, like that time on Alias when Sydney had a party at her apartment and "You All Everybody" was playing in the background. It's so snarky and genius of him. So this week on Fringe they were looking through a suicide victim's apartment, and found an airline ticket from New York to Omaha... and the airline? Oceanic, of course!
Bwa-hahahahaha. Genius. Ohhhhh, I can't wait for January!!!!!!
Oh, reaching out to the masses here-- don't ask me how, seriously- don't, but somehow I managed to accidentally delete my iTunes library, and even though it wasn't a big deal to re-import all my files, I lost all my playlists. Grrrr~ They are still on my iPod though. Does anyone know how to get the playlists from my iPod back into my iTunes without 3rd party software? And if I have to, does anyone know of a good freeware I can try? Thanks~ I don't want to have to sit down with my iPod and recreate them all by hand. That seems like a daunting project.
Friday, November 28, 2008
yay, it's time for Christmas music!
Thanksgiving is over, my kitchen is a mess, and I'm making a Christmas list. And checking it twice, obviously. Last year I did all donation gifts, and it was really nice. I'll probably do of some donations again, but since I'm actually seeing people this year, I hate to show up completely empty-handed. But, it's been a meager year for everyone, so gifts will be small (both in size and cost). (PS> Nobody has to get me anything this year, really. I don't need anything.) I've already picked up little somethings for my darling cousins, my niece, and my mom. The others I'm unsure about just yet. Suggestions are welcome.
My friend Seth is coming over tonight to eat Thanksgiving leftovers, watch Christmas movies, and help me put up my tree. I unfortunately have to go to LA on Monday so I am going to get to enjoy my tree for exactly 15 days this year. Bummer. And on that note, I should get up and wash yesterday Thanksgiving dishes (and by "dishes," I mean "silverware and pots & pans," because we went paper plates and cups this year, environment be damned) so I can get to Christmastizing this place. It's OK- I've got Dean Martin to keep me warm.
My friend Seth is coming over tonight to eat Thanksgiving leftovers, watch Christmas movies, and help me put up my tree. I unfortunately have to go to LA on Monday so I am going to get to enjoy my tree for exactly 15 days this year. Bummer. And on that note, I should get up and wash yesterday Thanksgiving dishes (and by "dishes," I mean "silverware and pots & pans," because we went paper plates and cups this year, environment be damned) so I can get to Christmastizing this place. It's OK- I've got Dean Martin to keep me warm.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
your call is very important to us. it will be answered in the order in which it was received.
I've been on hold for 26 minutes. So far. I've moved from caller #67 to caller #19 in that time period. Apparently my estimated time is now 18 minutes.
For the last 26 minutes, I have been listening to the same song. Seriously? I mean, it's a good song ("This Old Heart of Mine," by the Isley Brothers-- the real thing; not the muzak version) but seriously? Is this part of their grand scheme to make you hang up?
Blurg. Thanksgiving prep underway. Last night I got the remainder of my groceries except the spiced cider, which I have to pick up tomorrow (as well as another bottle of whiskey... not sure what happened to the one I bought last week, except that it's hot toddy weather!) I prepped some of my veggies and made my pumpkin ice cream. I need my roommate to try it and tell me if it's any good (I don't like pumpkin). If it is, I will post the recipe soon.
Double feature Tuesday and today the theme is vampires. Twilight and then some Danish vampire movie that my friend Seth wants to see. That's if we can get from the multiplex to the arthouse in a timeframe that allows us to see them both. If not, the theme will be movies from best-sellers, and the 2nd movie will be The Secret Life of Bees. Shouldn't it be "the secret LIVES of bees"?
Gotta go. I'm caller #8.
For the last 26 minutes, I have been listening to the same song. Seriously? I mean, it's a good song ("This Old Heart of Mine," by the Isley Brothers-- the real thing; not the muzak version) but seriously? Is this part of their grand scheme to make you hang up?
Blurg. Thanksgiving prep underway. Last night I got the remainder of my groceries except the spiced cider, which I have to pick up tomorrow (as well as another bottle of whiskey... not sure what happened to the one I bought last week, except that it's hot toddy weather!) I prepped some of my veggies and made my pumpkin ice cream. I need my roommate to try it and tell me if it's any good (I don't like pumpkin). If it is, I will post the recipe soon.
Double feature Tuesday and today the theme is vampires. Twilight and then some Danish vampire movie that my friend Seth wants to see. That's if we can get from the multiplex to the arthouse in a timeframe that allows us to see them both. If not, the theme will be movies from best-sellers, and the 2nd movie will be The Secret Life of Bees. Shouldn't it be "the secret LIVES of bees"?
Gotta go. I'm caller #8.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
holiday funk
So, it's cold now, and gray. So very, very gray. I don't really love this time of year like I used to. For one thing, I don't really belong anywhere, so there's always the dance of who's going to take me in for the holidays, which makes me feel... misplaced. I know there are any number of people who would be happy to have me, but I don't like feeling like a burden. Secondly, I'm a single gal, and I love love love to buy gifts, but I can't ever afford to do Christmas the way I want to. I have 2 sets of parents, 5 siblings, and 8 nieces and nephews, plus all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends I feel SO overwhelmed. I know they don't care, but *I* care. I like to give presents to my loved ones.
At any rate, I've had a rather glorious week of detoxing from my work year, but my roommate is coming home today, so I had to pick up the living room and try to fluff out the Jamie-shaped indention in the couch. Time to get in productivity-mode for Thanksgiving. You can find my menu here, if you're interested.
Yesterday was double-feature day at the movie-house with my friend Seth, and between films we wandered through Borders. There was a whole rack of holiday movies (yes, including Holiday in Handcuffs-- I was thisclose to buying it for you, Rori, but see above paragraph about how poor I am). I settled on a $9.99 dvd called "Holiday Treats," that includes holiday epidsodes of I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Andy Griffith Show, The Brady Bunch, Taxi, Family Ties, Frasier, and Wings. Rock. ON.
Anyway, I miss the blogging days of yore, when Krysten and Tom were around all the time, and the TANC was in solid effect... can I get an amen? Where is everyone? Signed, Lonely in a Grey City.
At any rate, I've had a rather glorious week of detoxing from my work year, but my roommate is coming home today, so I had to pick up the living room and try to fluff out the Jamie-shaped indention in the couch. Time to get in productivity-mode for Thanksgiving. You can find my menu here, if you're interested.
Yesterday was double-feature day at the movie-house with my friend Seth, and between films we wandered through Borders. There was a whole rack of holiday movies (yes, including Holiday in Handcuffs-- I was thisclose to buying it for you, Rori, but see above paragraph about how poor I am). I settled on a $9.99 dvd called "Holiday Treats," that includes holiday epidsodes of I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Andy Griffith Show, The Brady Bunch, Taxi, Family Ties, Frasier, and Wings. Rock. ON.
Anyway, I miss the blogging days of yore, when Krysten and Tom were around all the time, and the TANC was in solid effect... can I get an amen? Where is everyone? Signed, Lonely in a Grey City.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
protestacular
So, I went to my first protest this morning. It was hot, crowded, and all I could hear and/or see was the signs of those in my general vicinity. I think this movement is important, so I'm glad I went, but I was a little underwhelmed in the process.
No matter what your feelings on same-sex marriage is, hear me on this. No popular vote should be able to restrict the rights of any minority group, especially when the popular vote is overriding a Supreme Court decision. We are not a democracy. We are a democratic republic. We don't vote on every decision; we elect those who vote on our behalf. If we start asking to vote on every decision our Supreme Court makes, we are undermining the authority of our leaders-- the leaders we have voted on and elected to make these decisions for us.
Unfortunately I got b*tch-slapped by one of the worst migraines I've had in years right in the midst of the rally. I'm not sure what brought it on, but the heat and crowd certainly didn't help. I took an excruciating bus ride home, promptly vomited when I go through the door, then took a cool shower, an imitrex, and laid on the couch in the dark with an icepack for an hour. The next hour I took a muscle relaxer, and moaned for another hour, at which point I took a second imitrex AND an ambien, hoping to at least sleep through part of this nuerological trauma. I dozed for another hour and finally got up and made myself something to eat. My head is only throbbing without 20% of the intensity it was a couple of hours ago. I can't believe I'm not asleep from the ambien, but I just sort of feel dull and in slow-motion. I think I'm parking on the couch with my DVR for the rest of the evening.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Friday, November 14, 2008
I know, I know
...I haven't updated in FOREVER. I have been insanely busy with work. But it's all worth it now because koo-koo-cachoo, I have the next 3 weeks off. That's right. Suck it, 9-to-5-ers, I have three weeks off and still get paid every Friday!!! I only have one 3-day show in December, and a maximum of 4-5 office days, so really, I'm practically done for the year. I might add 40-50 more hours to my time sheet (which right now is hovering around 1700, so, still less than 40 hrs/week for 50 wks/year) but I'm pretty much D-O-N-E until after the new year.
Yay!
Today, no alarm. Coffee and facebook and sudoku, lazy lying around, lunch with Seth. Grocery shopping, but only because I'm out of coffee. Evening poster-making party for my very first protest tomorrow. Enjoying the quiet. Thinking about making a to-do list for my time off, which so far includes: get a California driver's license, go to the new Academy of Science, clean out my closet, take the GRE... you know what? Nope, I can't think about being productive yet. I have to vegetate for a few days, at least. I deserve it.
Yay!
Today, no alarm. Coffee and facebook and sudoku, lazy lying around, lunch with Seth. Grocery shopping, but only because I'm out of coffee. Evening poster-making party for my very first protest tomorrow. Enjoying the quiet. Thinking about making a to-do list for my time off, which so far includes: get a California driver's license, go to the new Academy of Science, clean out my closet, take the GRE... you know what? Nope, I can't think about being productive yet. I have to vegetate for a few days, at least. I deserve it.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Prop 8
I'm sure even non-Californians have heard about Proposition 8, right? They are trying to repeal the brand-new legalized marriage of same-sex couples in California. It was a very hot item on this year's ballot, every bit as important as President to a lot of Californians.
I was reading up on the numbers this morning and I found this little gem of a photo:
I know; stereotypes exist for a reason. We have our baby-boomer-aged soccer mom holding up a "protect marriage" sign and our tattooed, sparsely-clothed presumed-gay-dude-in-ridiculous-hat holding up his "equality for all" sign, and then what? A bald guy on the left with a Mervyn's Going Out of Business sale sandwich board??? I envision masses of formerly dedicated voters streaming across the street to buy last season's gymware and vanilla-scented candles. What a random photo.
Oh, and Al Franken won a Minnesota Senate Seat? Al Franken, formerly of Saturday Night Live? Al Franken, who wrote Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them? Wow, can anyone be in politics these days?
So, congratulations, America, on getting out and voting, and choosing President Obama. I'm so excited for this epic time in our history. And Senator McCain? Lovely and gracious concession speech. I tip my hat to you, sir. Thank you for your service to our country.
And now I should get up and get to work, where I will be around 3,000 men and women in various levels of fatigues and dress uniform. It's Joint Forces show attended exclusively of military personnel. I wonder how the general mood is going to be there today? I will try to keep my absolute elation on the DL until move-out.
I was reading up on the numbers this morning and I found this little gem of a photo:
I know; stereotypes exist for a reason. We have our baby-boomer-aged soccer mom holding up a "protect marriage" sign and our tattooed, sparsely-clothed presumed-gay-dude-in-ridiculous-hat holding up his "equality for all" sign, and then what? A bald guy on the left with a Mervyn's Going Out of Business sale sandwich board??? I envision masses of formerly dedicated voters streaming across the street to buy last season's gymware and vanilla-scented candles. What a random photo.
Oh, and Al Franken won a Minnesota Senate Seat? Al Franken, formerly of Saturday Night Live? Al Franken, who wrote Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them? Wow, can anyone be in politics these days?
So, congratulations, America, on getting out and voting, and choosing President Obama. I'm so excited for this epic time in our history. And Senator McCain? Lovely and gracious concession speech. I tip my hat to you, sir. Thank you for your service to our country.
And now I should get up and get to work, where I will be around 3,000 men and women in various levels of fatigues and dress uniform. It's Joint Forces show attended exclusively of military personnel. I wonder how the general mood is going to be there today? I will try to keep my absolute elation on the DL until move-out.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
in search of falafel
So, I was just searching le blog for the last time I was here, because I found a really good Middle Eastern place that delivered to the convention center, enabling me to eat the same thing every day for a week (combo falafel-tabouleh-feta wrap with those awesome Middle Eastern spicy pickles, and a cup of lentil soup). Sadly, I didn't seem to document the wonder of that combo sandwich, but I did find this post. Hahahahahaha! Hahaha! I am still laughing. Hahahaha! Which is great, because wow, I am having a sh*tty morning.
Bruce IS pretty awesome and in agreement with Uncle Al's comment, I am lucky to have him. Mark your calendars, only 2 more shopping months to Official Danael Broussard Day.
Bruce IS pretty awesome and in agreement with Uncle Al's comment, I am lucky to have him. Mark your calendars, only 2 more shopping months to Official Danael Broussard Day.
edited to add: I forgot to tell you guys, last night I was at the Bourbon Bar in my hotel (what? I'm in Kentucky!) and the lounge singer happens to do keyboards and vocals for Gary Lewis and the Playboys. FOR REAL! He played I Left my Heart in San Francisco for me, and then obviously, This Diamond Ring. THEN, I met some actors from New York that were in town for a workshop (I know, backasswards, right?) and I went all Tobias Funke and said "and then I met some actors from a local theater troupe!" and then there was just too much excitement and I had to go to bed.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
middle of the night update
I know it's not ACTUALLY the middle of the night. It's 6:40am. (And for some of you, it's an hour or two or three later than that.) But I've been awake since 4am, and it's still dark, and it feels like the middle of the night. "Why have you been up since 4am, Jamie?" you might ask. "Why have you been awake since 4am when you went to sleep at 11, and the night before only had 4 hours of sleep? Why?" And the answer is I HAVE NO IDEA AND I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
GRRRR. I'm tired! I haven't been in my own bed in 12 nights, and all I wanted to do was crawl into my nice clean sheets, sleep late, and enjoy a nice 8 hours of rest. (Yes, sleeping "late" for me is like 7 or 8. So that's why at 6:40, I'm just giving up and getting up.) (Do you think I make too many parenthetical asides?)
Thanks, Superman and Scotticus, for the math help. I think I got it now. I've moved on into the geometry/trig section, which was always sort of my specialty, so I'm feeling a lot more secure in my mathmatical abilities now.
I'm so happy to be home! Brian and I wanted to go to Zuni last night but they are closed on Mondays, which was unfortunate. We ended up at a really awesome wine bar in Hayes Valley with some vinho verde, the best %^$*#@! triple-cream brie I've ever had in my life (yes, it warranted cursing; that's how good it was), and a long conversation debating Blanche Devareaux and Blanche Dubois, and which one is from Golden Girls and which one is from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It ended with my calling in back-up, and discovering that neither Devareaux nor Dubois is from Cat, but rather from Streetcar. So, thanks Gherkin, for being my phone-a-friend, but I lost the bet and had to pay for the wine, so next time could you just side with me? He'd never remember to look it up later.
GRRRR. I'm tired! I haven't been in my own bed in 12 nights, and all I wanted to do was crawl into my nice clean sheets, sleep late, and enjoy a nice 8 hours of rest. (Yes, sleeping "late" for me is like 7 or 8. So that's why at 6:40, I'm just giving up and getting up.) (Do you think I make too many parenthetical asides?)
Thanks, Superman and Scotticus, for the math help. I think I got it now. I've moved on into the geometry/trig section, which was always sort of my specialty, so I'm feeling a lot more secure in my mathmatical abilities now.
I'm so happy to be home! Brian and I wanted to go to Zuni last night but they are closed on Mondays, which was unfortunate. We ended up at a really awesome wine bar in Hayes Valley with some vinho verde, the best %^$*#@! triple-cream brie I've ever had in my life (yes, it warranted cursing; that's how good it was), and a long conversation debating Blanche Devareaux and Blanche Dubois, and which one is from Golden Girls and which one is from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It ended with my calling in back-up, and discovering that neither Devareaux nor Dubois is from Cat, but rather from Streetcar. So, thanks Gherkin, for being my phone-a-friend, but I lost the bet and had to pay for the wine, so next time could you just side with me? He'd never remember to look it up later.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
reaching out to the interwebs for math help
OK kids, this post is in no way interesting. I'm asking for some Algebra help. If you can't help me in Algebra, you can just stop reading now-- I promise this post will put you to sleep.
OK, so I'm studying for the GRE. Two of my first few practice tests were Basic and Advanced Algebra. I haven't taken Algebra since 1990. In college I tested right out of it and moved on to Calculus (which was clearly a genius plan since at the ripe old age of 32 I can barely remember how to multiply 2 parenthetical sets without looking it up. But hey, that's why I'm studying).
So, in my first 40 questions, I came across 4 that I just stared at with big blank eyes and wondered if really, this was a real question, honestly, I have absolutely no idea how to come up with this sort of information. They all seem to be the same question, but since I don't know what I'm looking for, the internet has been of little help in the research category. SO, I thought I'd reach out to my readers. Surely one of you can point out what's I've no doubt right in front of my face and make me feel foolish for not knowing it.
2. If Sally can paint a house in 4 hours, and John can paint the same house in 6 hour, how long will it take for both of them to paint the house together?
A. 2 hours and 24 minutes
B. 3 hours and 12 minutes
C. 3 hours and 44 minutes
D. 4 hours and 10 minutes
E. 4 hours and 33 minutes
3. Jim can fill a pool carrying buckets of water in 30 minutes. Sue can do the same job in 45 minutes. Tony can do the same job in 1 ½ hours. How quickly can all three fill the pool together?
A. 12 minutes
B. 15 minutes
C. 21 minutes
D. 23 minutes
E. 28 minutes
9. If Steven can mix 20 drinks in 5 minutes, Sue can mix 20 drinks in 10 minutes, and Jack can mix 20 drinks in 15 minutes, how much time will it take all 3 of them working together to mix the 20 drinks?
A. 2 minutes and 44 seconds
B. 2 minutes and 58 seconds
C. 3 minutes and 10 seconds
D. 3 minutes and 26 seconds
E. 4 minutes and 15 seconds
10. If Sam can do a job in 4 days that Lisa can do in 6 days and Tom can do in 2 days, how long would the job take if Sam, Lisa, and Tom worked together to complete it?
A. 0.8 days
B. 1.09 days
C. 1.23 days
D. 1.65 days
E. 1.97 days
Clearly it is important to the people that let me into grad school that I know how to solve these sorts of issues, but honestly? Those 4 questions above might as well be written in Farsi, that's how absolutely empty I am on ideas how to solve them.
Help?
OK, so I'm studying for the GRE. Two of my first few practice tests were Basic and Advanced Algebra. I haven't taken Algebra since 1990. In college I tested right out of it and moved on to Calculus (which was clearly a genius plan since at the ripe old age of 32 I can barely remember how to multiply 2 parenthetical sets without looking it up. But hey, that's why I'm studying).
So, in my first 40 questions, I came across 4 that I just stared at with big blank eyes and wondered if really, this was a real question, honestly, I have absolutely no idea how to come up with this sort of information. They all seem to be the same question, but since I don't know what I'm looking for, the internet has been of little help in the research category. SO, I thought I'd reach out to my readers. Surely one of you can point out what's I've no doubt right in front of my face and make me feel foolish for not knowing it.
2. If Sally can paint a house in 4 hours, and John can paint the same house in 6 hour, how long will it take for both of them to paint the house together?
A. 2 hours and 24 minutes
B. 3 hours and 12 minutes
C. 3 hours and 44 minutes
D. 4 hours and 10 minutes
E. 4 hours and 33 minutes
3. Jim can fill a pool carrying buckets of water in 30 minutes. Sue can do the same job in 45 minutes. Tony can do the same job in 1 ½ hours. How quickly can all three fill the pool together?
A. 12 minutes
B. 15 minutes
C. 21 minutes
D. 23 minutes
E. 28 minutes
9. If Steven can mix 20 drinks in 5 minutes, Sue can mix 20 drinks in 10 minutes, and Jack can mix 20 drinks in 15 minutes, how much time will it take all 3 of them working together to mix the 20 drinks?
A. 2 minutes and 44 seconds
B. 2 minutes and 58 seconds
C. 3 minutes and 10 seconds
D. 3 minutes and 26 seconds
E. 4 minutes and 15 seconds
10. If Sam can do a job in 4 days that Lisa can do in 6 days and Tom can do in 2 days, how long would the job take if Sam, Lisa, and Tom worked together to complete it?
A. 0.8 days
B. 1.09 days
C. 1.23 days
D. 1.65 days
E. 1.97 days
Clearly it is important to the people that let me into grad school that I know how to solve these sorts of issues, but honestly? Those 4 questions above might as well be written in Farsi, that's how absolutely empty I am on ideas how to solve them.
Help?
Friday, October 24, 2008
mini-vacation
I know, I know. I haven't updated in FOREVER. I've been in LA for over a week, and been pretty seriously busy. I'm staying the weekend with my lovely friend Charlamagne, and having my own little mini-vaction. I spent the morning at the hotel doing laundry and packing and such, an since she's in law school, I spent the afternoon truly relaxing at her place-- way more so than I would have at my own house, because there I would have felt guilty for not being more productive with chores, etc. I did a couple of sudoku puzzles, read the breakfast issue of Saveur (nomnomnom), played on the internet, caught up on Pushing Daisies (utterly charming), and when C. got home from school, we ate olives, made these potatoes, dear LORD, they were amazing, drank wine, and caught up on girl talk. It was the most delightful day I could have imagined.
This morning I went out for coffee and walked around her neighborhood for a while. It's really nice here. I'm going to do some more lying around, read, take my sweet time enjoying a light lunch and probably catch an afternoon movie... and I think we're going out for Indian tonight. Isn't vacation delightful??
This morning I went out for coffee and walked around her neighborhood for a while. It's really nice here. I'm going to do some more lying around, read, take my sweet time enjoying a light lunch and probably catch an afternoon movie... and I think we're going out for Indian tonight. Isn't vacation delightful??
Monday, October 06, 2008
mememememememe~
It's been a long time since a meme has floated around these parts. I got this one from a livejournal friend Kir, and I am supposed to "tag" people-- so, tag, you're it: I choose (for old times' sake) G, Gennykins, Bee, and then Bruce and Dish. Oh, and Bisch. And Gherkin and Chanelle. Do it, all of you. Make me proud.
1. What do you usually wear to bed, PJs or boxer shorts? boxers
2. What do you do before bedtime? read-- either a magazine or a book I have read before. I can't engross my mind in something new when it's sleepy. Currently my bedtime story is Anne of Green Gables, which I was shocked to find that Charlemagne has never read. Ooooh, Charlemagne, I am tagging you too!!!! You need to blog.
3. What's your favourite colour of ink to write with? blue, and I audit in red (at work... I don't audit anything just for fun)
4. What is the city of your dreams and why? I think I'm living in it. But I certainly wouldn't mind giving Paris a try, because of the coffee and the wine and the cheese and all the art.
5. Who is your guy crush? What am I, 12? OK, fine, David Tennant. Oh look, I am 12! Maybe I'll cut out a photo of him from my Bop! magazine and put it in my locker.
6. When was the last time you checked out a book from the public library, and what was it? I used the Jersey City Public Library for a while when I was unemployed. I don't remember the last book I checked out but I remember stumbling upon Oryx & Crake and it being one of the best books I ever read. I was sad to give it back. I also once checked out Six Days of the Condor (after watching Three Days of the Condor with Uncle and Auntie-- I love that the film version shaved off three days, *snort*) and leaving it at a hotel somewhere in Florida. I had to pay the library $6.40 for it.
7. Ever cheated on someone? No. I never really understood the concept. Like, you're dating a person, and you decide you want to be with someone else, why don't you just break up and be with that person?
8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do? Pine.
9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days? My. November. Schedule. Blows.
10. What is your best quality? Ummmm, I am not sure if I am the best person to answer such a question. I think I am generally a pretty thoughtful person (but I'm only in my head, so maybe I'm wrong).
11. What do you wish you could eat right now? Eggs. Hm, I think I will go make some eggs.
12. What are your guilty pleasure shows? Bad Lifetime movies. In fact, my roommate and I have The Fab 5: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal and Coco Chanel, starring Shirley Maclaine, on our DVR. If we are ever home together again we will watch them.
13. What is one of your biggest pet peeves? Random strangers who tell you to smile. What is UP with that?
14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is? Kir, that Great Frosted Flake, didn't really tag me, but I stole this from her LJ anyway.
15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head? Daisy... Daisy, what is your answer to? I'm half crazy, all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage... I can't afford a carriage, but you'd look sweet, upon the seat of a bicycle built for two... after seeing a couple on a tandem in the Park yesterday. Sang it all the way home.
16. What’s your favourite item of clothing? My green Chuck Taylors. Dude, I can't believe I've had them for over 2 years!
17. How do you see yourself? Sleepy.
18. What's the first thing you notice in people? Posture, or how they carry themselves. Random?
19. Would you bungee jump from the Empire State Building for $10,000,000? $10 million? Yes, yes I would. I might pee myself on the way down, but I could buy some new pants (and dignity) with my $10 million.
20. What were your parents going to name you if you'd been born the opposite gender? Jamie, probably. :)
1. What do you usually wear to bed, PJs or boxer shorts? boxers
2. What do you do before bedtime? read-- either a magazine or a book I have read before. I can't engross my mind in something new when it's sleepy. Currently my bedtime story is Anne of Green Gables, which I was shocked to find that Charlemagne has never read. Ooooh, Charlemagne, I am tagging you too!!!! You need to blog.
3. What's your favourite colour of ink to write with? blue, and I audit in red (at work... I don't audit anything just for fun)
4. What is the city of your dreams and why? I think I'm living in it. But I certainly wouldn't mind giving Paris a try, because of the coffee and the wine and the cheese and all the art.
5. Who is your guy crush? What am I, 12? OK, fine, David Tennant. Oh look, I am 12! Maybe I'll cut out a photo of him from my Bop! magazine and put it in my locker.
6. When was the last time you checked out a book from the public library, and what was it? I used the Jersey City Public Library for a while when I was unemployed. I don't remember the last book I checked out but I remember stumbling upon Oryx & Crake and it being one of the best books I ever read. I was sad to give it back. I also once checked out Six Days of the Condor (after watching Three Days of the Condor with Uncle and Auntie-- I love that the film version shaved off three days, *snort*) and leaving it at a hotel somewhere in Florida. I had to pay the library $6.40 for it.
7. Ever cheated on someone? No. I never really understood the concept. Like, you're dating a person, and you decide you want to be with someone else, why don't you just break up and be with that person?
8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do? Pine.
9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days? My. November. Schedule. Blows.
10. What is your best quality? Ummmm, I am not sure if I am the best person to answer such a question. I think I am generally a pretty thoughtful person (but I'm only in my head, so maybe I'm wrong).
11. What do you wish you could eat right now? Eggs. Hm, I think I will go make some eggs.
12. What are your guilty pleasure shows? Bad Lifetime movies. In fact, my roommate and I have The Fab 5: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal and Coco Chanel, starring Shirley Maclaine, on our DVR. If we are ever home together again we will watch them.
13. What is one of your biggest pet peeves? Random strangers who tell you to smile. What is UP with that?
14. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is? Kir, that Great Frosted Flake, didn't really tag me, but I stole this from her LJ anyway.
15. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head? Daisy... Daisy, what is your answer to? I'm half crazy, all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage... I can't afford a carriage, but you'd look sweet, upon the seat of a bicycle built for two... after seeing a couple on a tandem in the Park yesterday. Sang it all the way home.
16. What’s your favourite item of clothing? My green Chuck Taylors. Dude, I can't believe I've had them for over 2 years!
17. How do you see yourself? Sleepy.
18. What's the first thing you notice in people? Posture, or how they carry themselves. Random?
19. Would you bungee jump from the Empire State Building for $10,000,000? $10 million? Yes, yes I would. I might pee myself on the way down, but I could buy some new pants (and dignity) with my $10 million.
20. What were your parents going to name you if you'd been born the opposite gender? Jamie, probably. :)
Friday, October 03, 2008
best thrift store purchase ever
I found these at the thrift store last week. I have never bought thrifted shoes, because well, ew, but these are brand-new, or at least appear to be. The soles are completely unscratched, even down to the tiny texture on the tips of the heels.
They are DAVINCI, which I have never heard of- black patent leather round-toe pumps with a sweet red suede bow and a sassy red suede heel, which is just the right height.
I intend to wear them with my sassy red Jezebel dress to Evan's wedding next Saturday. Whoop!
They are DAVINCI, which I have never heard of- black patent leather round-toe pumps with a sweet red suede bow and a sassy red suede heel, which is just the right height.
I intend to wear them with my sassy red Jezebel dress to Evan's wedding next Saturday. Whoop!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Compliant!!
OK, time to finally blog about my weekend. My awful Monday travel day morphed into way too many errands, cooking a big pot of soup, and snuggling up on the couch for some DVR... and promptly falling asleep. I think I was asleep before 9pm, but that made for a better Tuesday, which was pretty busy.
So, the weekend was great-- Friday night Nikki and I drove over to LA and had dinner at Swingers with Rori. Saturday night was really fun as well... I had some friends from LA drive over to Long Beach and we all had dinner at The House of Madame JoJo, which is sort of... brothel-themed. It was a cute, intimate restaurant and the food was lovely, but I woke up with a nasty hangover at 5am on Sunday morning (thanks, Riesling!). I bought a 7-Up and read a magazine for a while, and then fell back asleep to a dream that involved biological warfare in the form of gas bombs, riding around San Francisco in a SmartCar with Ricky Gervais, and then trying to escape SF in a Super Shuttle (because clearly, the fastest way to get out of town in a crisis is the blue van). And the whole time I was telling myself that I really needed to text Nikki and let her know that I would be late for work, but rationalized that surely she had the television on and must surely know that San Francisco was under terrorist attack.
ANYway, ahem. So after the fastest move-out in history, I drove back to LA to drop Nikki off with her boyfriend and then go see a movie. I had very specific directions from my hotel to her hotel, her hotel to the Arclight, and the Arclight home. And since A) I never drive, and B) I certainly never drive in LA, I was a big white-knuckled during this entire affair. I got myself to the Arclight, but I missed all the 8 o'clock-ish shows by about 20 minutes, and nothing else was starting for at least 2 hours. Bummer! I was hungry, and since I had been at Swingers two nights before, I thought I could get myself there at least. After a couple of U-turns, I turned onto Beverly and spied a little one-screen theater whose marquee was advertising The Flight of the Navigator!! Screeching wheels, I did another U-turn and flew into the theater, sure I would have missed this one too. This is a movie I used to have on Beta, people. The Beta player that weighed probably... 80 lbs, and had a remote control on a cord. But luck was on my side-- I bought a ticket for the show that started in an hour, and headed down to Swingers for a fried egg sandwich and a couple of sudoku puzzles. (As a side note, the bored delivery driver was sitting at the counter as well and told me how much he liked sudoku, so I offered to rip out a couple of pages of my book for him. He lit up like I had offered him my first born. Weird.)
So I get back to the theater about 20 minutes before the Q&A with Randal Kleiser (the director, who ps> also directed Big Top PeeWee-- and Paul Ruebens voiced Max in Navigator, under the pseudonym Pall Mall, if you need a full circle connection there-- and Grease), and Jonathan Sanger, the producer (who also produced little gems like Vanilla Sky and The Producers as well as playing the NASA doctor in Navigator). I went into the theater and plopped down with my Sudoku book, only to discover that I was sitting right in front of Kleiser and Sanger, who were catching up on old times with a couple of friends while they were waiting. I hope no one noticed that I was only holding that puzzle while eavsdropping on light Hollywood chit-chat, including a couple of references to Sarah Jessica Parker (who plays Carolyn in Navigator). Maybe a commonplace thing in Beverly Hills but I was entranced.
The Q&A was really interesting and the movie was glorious, of course. It was a long drive back to Long Beach for sure, but worth it, for one of those rare gems of an evening that only ever occur under happenstance.
In other news, I'm thinking of starting a photo-a-day blog- one picture a day, all from my phone, for an entire year. Would anyone be interested in that? Here's a test entry- let me know what you think.
So, the weekend was great-- Friday night Nikki and I drove over to LA and had dinner at Swingers with Rori. Saturday night was really fun as well... I had some friends from LA drive over to Long Beach and we all had dinner at The House of Madame JoJo, which is sort of... brothel-themed. It was a cute, intimate restaurant and the food was lovely, but I woke up with a nasty hangover at 5am on Sunday morning (thanks, Riesling!). I bought a 7-Up and read a magazine for a while, and then fell back asleep to a dream that involved biological warfare in the form of gas bombs, riding around San Francisco in a SmartCar with Ricky Gervais, and then trying to escape SF in a Super Shuttle (because clearly, the fastest way to get out of town in a crisis is the blue van). And the whole time I was telling myself that I really needed to text Nikki and let her know that I would be late for work, but rationalized that surely she had the television on and must surely know that San Francisco was under terrorist attack.
ANYway, ahem. So after the fastest move-out in history, I drove back to LA to drop Nikki off with her boyfriend and then go see a movie. I had very specific directions from my hotel to her hotel, her hotel to the Arclight, and the Arclight home. And since A) I never drive, and B) I certainly never drive in LA, I was a big white-knuckled during this entire affair. I got myself to the Arclight, but I missed all the 8 o'clock-ish shows by about 20 minutes, and nothing else was starting for at least 2 hours. Bummer! I was hungry, and since I had been at Swingers two nights before, I thought I could get myself there at least. After a couple of U-turns, I turned onto Beverly and spied a little one-screen theater whose marquee was advertising The Flight of the Navigator!! Screeching wheels, I did another U-turn and flew into the theater, sure I would have missed this one too. This is a movie I used to have on Beta, people. The Beta player that weighed probably... 80 lbs, and had a remote control on a cord. But luck was on my side-- I bought a ticket for the show that started in an hour, and headed down to Swingers for a fried egg sandwich and a couple of sudoku puzzles. (As a side note, the bored delivery driver was sitting at the counter as well and told me how much he liked sudoku, so I offered to rip out a couple of pages of my book for him. He lit up like I had offered him my first born. Weird.)
So I get back to the theater about 20 minutes before the Q&A with Randal Kleiser (the director, who ps> also directed Big Top PeeWee-- and Paul Ruebens voiced Max in Navigator, under the pseudonym Pall Mall, if you need a full circle connection there-- and Grease), and Jonathan Sanger, the producer (who also produced little gems like Vanilla Sky and The Producers as well as playing the NASA doctor in Navigator). I went into the theater and plopped down with my Sudoku book, only to discover that I was sitting right in front of Kleiser and Sanger, who were catching up on old times with a couple of friends while they were waiting. I hope no one noticed that I was only holding that puzzle while eavsdropping on light Hollywood chit-chat, including a couple of references to Sarah Jessica Parker (who plays Carolyn in Navigator). Maybe a commonplace thing in Beverly Hills but I was entranced.
The Q&A was really interesting and the movie was glorious, of course. It was a long drive back to Long Beach for sure, but worth it, for one of those rare gems of an evening that only ever occur under happenstance.
In other news, I'm thinking of starting a photo-a-day blog- one picture a day, all from my phone, for an entire year. Would anyone be interested in that? Here's a test entry- let me know what you think.
Monday, September 29, 2008
*cue Charlie Brown music*
I had a really fun night in LA last night, and I wanted to tell you all about about it, but at the moment my blood pressure is a little too high from a horrific travel day which included (but was not limited to) getting lost... twice... inept car rental return employees, being late to the airport because of 2 previous, standing in the security line from hell, people not observing the laws of common social air travel decency (ie: letting the row in front of you exit before barging through, not getting to baggage claim and standing right in front of the person who was there before you), and the 3rd Oakland cab driver in a row who doesn't know how to get to San Francisco.
Now I need to go to the market and do some laundry, as I have to be at work again at 8am tomorrow. Maybe I will calm down enough to relate my good times later on.
Now I need to go to the market and do some laundry, as I have to be at work again at 8am tomorrow. Maybe I will calm down enough to relate my good times later on.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
misdirected cyber post
Erin reminded me in her comment on my NY post that the entire reason I found Nathan last Saturday was a misdirected cyber post. It's a pretty funny story, actually. You know how you can text things to Google and it sends you back address/phone number? If not, you basically send an SMS text to G-O-O-G-L-E (466453) saying "Name of Establishment You're Looking For, City, State" and instantly you get a return text listing the info. It's pretty cool. Well, I got off the subway at 72nd and Central Park West, knowing I wanted to eat lunch at Alice's Tea Cup-- which is somewhere in the low 70s at Columbus. BUT... we were absolutely ravenous, and I didn't want to wander the west side looking for it, so I sent "Alice's Tea Cup, New York NY" out to 466453... except I didn't. I accidently sent it to Twitter (40404, and the only other number-only entry in my recently-used text addresses). So, my 9 Twitter followers all got a text from me saying "Alice's Tea Cup, New York, NY" and I'm sure they were all "the hell?" Anyway, Erin writes me right back saying "Oh, Nathan's in NYC too" so I make a quick phone call and there he is. Random, and awesome. I love running into people I know in random cities. It also makes this the 3rd time (and 3rd city) I've seen Nate since I moved, which is a lot more than most of my other friends! Lucky Nate! 
We sat in the park for a bit, near Bethesda Fountain, then went to the Museum of Natural History, where we laughed at all the people that were taking photos of their respective girlfriends posing all "sexy." At the Museum of NATURAL HISTORY. Arms up and head thrown back in front of a meteor? Draping yourself around a dinosaur skeleton and giving kissy faces, really? So we decided to take a picture of us NOT being sexy.... but as it turns out, we just can't turn the sexy off. There's no way to keep it from shining through.
Also, Deb was showing us her fancy-pants digital camera/video camera thing, and this was the result. Dance puppet, dance!!!
Good times. Thanks, Nate. Always a pleasure.
Friday, September 26, 2008
more strange work conversations
Girl just walks up to the service desk to order some electrical. As it is custom in our computer system to document the person placing the order, I asked her for her first name. (On a side note-- at least 85% of the people who I ask "What's your first name?" either A) give me their first and last names, B) proceed to then spell their last name, C) hold up their name tag IN MY FACE, or D) say "well, it should be under This Other Name, or maybe This Name. Honestly, can't you just answer the question? Just say "Jim"? Bygones.) She answered, "Allison."
She was a nice enough girl, around my age, so while she was filling out her forms I was chatting with her, and my first comment was "Oh, my mom wanted to name me Allison, but, my dad won that particular battle." She replied with, "oh, that's so funny. If I had been born 1 day earlier, I would have been named Jamie." "That's MY name!" I crowed, and then checked my uniform to make sure I wasn't wearing my name tag (I wasn't. Don't yell at me, work folk who read. I detest people I don't know calling me by my first name. It's creepy.) So, that's a little weird, right? I mean, I know Allison and Jamie aren't really odd names or anything, but it's still a bit of a coincidence.
She told me the day before her birthday was her paternal grandfather's birthday, and so they had considered naming her after him should she arrive on that particular day. "James?" I asked? Yes. That was also MY paternal grandfather's name, and one of the reasons my dad liked the name. (The other reason was that he had a thing for the Bionic Woman, but that is really neither her nor there.) Then she goes on to tell me since her mom got the first name, her dad picked her middle name, which is Lee. "That's MY middle name!"
OK, I need to calm down. Being this close to the Queen Mary is affecting my sensibilities.
She was a nice enough girl, around my age, so while she was filling out her forms I was chatting with her, and my first comment was "Oh, my mom wanted to name me Allison, but, my dad won that particular battle." She replied with, "oh, that's so funny. If I had been born 1 day earlier, I would have been named Jamie." "That's MY name!" I crowed, and then checked my uniform to make sure I wasn't wearing my name tag (I wasn't. Don't yell at me, work folk who read. I detest people I don't know calling me by my first name. It's creepy.) So, that's a little weird, right? I mean, I know Allison and Jamie aren't really odd names or anything, but it's still a bit of a coincidence.
She told me the day before her birthday was her paternal grandfather's birthday, and so they had considered naming her after him should she arrive on that particular day. "James?" I asked? Yes. That was also MY paternal grandfather's name, and one of the reasons my dad liked the name. (The other reason was that he had a thing for the Bionic Woman, but that is really neither her nor there.) Then she goes on to tell me since her mom got the first name, her dad picked her middle name, which is Lee. "That's MY middle name!"
OK, I need to calm down. Being this close to the Queen Mary is affecting my sensibilities.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
update!
I know, I know. Everyone is yelling at me to update. (Ibym... "everyone"... "Alecia and Erin.") So here you go-- what I've been up to for the last almost 3 weeks (and obviously, what I ate along the way).
So, last you heard I was off to Texas. It was sooooo much fun. I landed Friday afternoon, rented a Jeep (well, technically, I rented an "economy," but they gave me a Jeep), and drove up to the new home of Madge and Dave... wow. I clearly am in the wrong business. We met Scotticus, K-J, Ree-an, and Taylor for dinner at Uncle Julios, then met up back at Palais Coblais with Angel for a little Rock Band. The girls did a mean B-52s Roam, btw. I may have missed my calling as a rock star (no, no-- I didn't miss it. There was no calling).
Saturday Madge and I took a walk, got lost, went to Dream Cafe (for my favorite eggs benedict in the world) and the mall, then I drove to over to Forney to meet Bruce. We drove back to Dallas, had drinks at The Grapevine, a slice at Pastazio's, and gelato at Pacuigo (sea salt caramel.... *dies*), then went to meet Erin, Nathan, and Bill at a birthday party of a girl we never met, where everyone was in theme costume but us. Hahahahaha~ It was awesome. There are photos somewhere but I haven't seen them yet-- not sure whose camera they were on?
Sunday Bruce and I drove from Forney to DFW to pick up Sandy at the airport, and then drove BACK to Dallas, to Ozona, she of the famous bloody mary bar, where they bring you a glass of vodka and send you to a buffet of fresh celery, avocado, horseradish, pico, olives, and every sort of spice and hot sauce and mix and juice you can imagine. YUMMMMMM~ Then Sandy and I drove over to the hotel in Grapevine, dropped off our stuff and settled in, and then drove back to Dallas for Ree-ann's birthday party. It was in the Bishop Arts District of Oak Lawn... loved it. The restaurant was called Hattie's and the food was delicious. Way too much driving, but, it was fun.
Monday Sandy and I started work. Yadda yadda elevator contractors blah blah boringcakes. We did manage to eat at Ama Lur in the Gaylord, which is sort of a Latin-Native American-Southwestern fusion place and I had such wonders as cucumber margaritas and jalapeno grit cakes. Other than that I mostly ate quesadillas from the sports bar- hold the meat and add whatever veggies you have in the kitchen- as there was absolutely not one single vegetarian thing in the entire hotel. Blurg! Oh, and our one free night we met up with Erin at Kenzoku for hibachi grill-- which is one of my all-time favorite food experiences. Then my last night, after working until 6pm, needing to do laundry and be up at 3am for a 6am flight-- I managed to squeeze in some time with Amy at Love & War in Texas.
So, after laundry, 3 hours sleep, dropping off the rental car, shuttling to the terminal, grogging my way through security and getting on the plane, I landed at 10:30am in New York City. Cab to hotel, walk to Javitz, start work right away! After work I met Tom in the West Village for Italian at Morandi, then cupcakes at Magnolia, natch, and drinks at Chumley's- one of our favorite spots, which we were just sick to discover had closed, so we went to this divey pool hall instead. I adored spending time with him-- I miss him so much!
Other places I hit while I was there: Schillers, Pastis, the Gansevoort Rooftop Loft (aka the douche-baggiest place this side of The Standard), the Night Hotel, and STK (which bumped Gansevoort right off the top of the list). Friday night I worked late and then met Schmevan for some wine in the park and a late supper at a diner- exactly what I needed after all the pomp and crappenstance. Can I tell you what I don't miss about New York? The weather. The crowds. The clothes. The general elitest attitude. I mean, we paid $90 for 5 drinks at the Gansevoort. NINETY DOLLARS. And the were 8 oz. rocks glasses made out of plastic. And ps> I don't live in Small Town, KY. I live in San Francisco-- widely touted as one of the most expensive cities in America. Ninety dollars for 5 drinks is ridiculous.
Saturday Deb and I had a whole day to play. We wanted to have lunch at Alice's Tea Cup (where I got a Cheshire Cat mug and when you pour in hot liquid, the cat disappears, leaving only his grin! brilliant~) and then we met up with Nathan in the Park, and went to the Museum of Natural History, which YES, is where they filmed that Ben Stiller movie, which I have never seen. Then we got coffee- it was so fun to hang out with him in NY-- I love running into random people in other cities! Then Deb and I scooted downtown for dinner with my friend Joyce at Counter. DELICIOUS. Must go back. My martini involved rosemary-infused vodka. *dies* Then we had a couple of drinks at the Three of Cups and almost passed out in the cab, we were so tired from our very long day.
Sunday we went down to SoHo for brunch at Jerry's, only to be saddened a second time because it had closed. It was something very sad, like another overpriced boutique. We decided instead on the NoHo Star, which I love, and then walked around SoHo and Chinatown, where I got Charlemagne a fun present and Deb bought me an owl apron.
Then, a 6-hour flight home and a fever blister later, I am back in San Francisco, where the weather is always balmy and the people are always in jeans. Monday I walked to the beach, did some work and other stuff around the house, met Blake for a cocktail and my work friends for dinner. Yesterday I did laundry, more work and other stuff around the house, made some soup, watched Fringe (I love you, JJ Abrams!) and went to Harvey's with Brian. Today I must pack, go to the bank, do more work and house stuff, and am planning on dinner and a movie with Blake. The Castro is showing Jezebel, starring Bette Davis, and her Bette Davis eyes.
All in all, a really great couple of weeks. Clearly, I should be posting more often because DAMN, that was long, and I'd be seriously surprised if anyone is still reading at this point. Tomorrow I leave for Long Beach and then straight back for a show here. I am actually off from October 3-10, and then off to Austin for 2 weddings back-to-back, and then pretty much straight to LA.
Tired yet? I am.
So, last you heard I was off to Texas. It was sooooo much fun. I landed Friday afternoon, rented a Jeep (well, technically, I rented an "economy," but they gave me a Jeep), and drove up to the new home of Madge and Dave... wow. I clearly am in the wrong business. We met Scotticus, K-J, Ree-an, and Taylor for dinner at Uncle Julios, then met up back at Palais Coblais with Angel for a little Rock Band. The girls did a mean B-52s Roam, btw. I may have missed my calling as a rock star (no, no-- I didn't miss it. There was no calling).
Saturday Madge and I took a walk, got lost, went to Dream Cafe (for my favorite eggs benedict in the world) and the mall, then I drove to over to Forney to meet Bruce. We drove back to Dallas, had drinks at The Grapevine, a slice at Pastazio's, and gelato at Pacuigo (sea salt caramel.... *dies*), then went to meet Erin, Nathan, and Bill at a birthday party of a girl we never met, where everyone was in theme costume but us. Hahahahaha~ It was awesome. There are photos somewhere but I haven't seen them yet-- not sure whose camera they were on?
Sunday Bruce and I drove from Forney to DFW to pick up Sandy at the airport, and then drove BACK to Dallas, to Ozona, she of the famous bloody mary bar, where they bring you a glass of vodka and send you to a buffet of fresh celery, avocado, horseradish, pico, olives, and every sort of spice and hot sauce and mix and juice you can imagine. YUMMMMMM~ Then Sandy and I drove over to the hotel in Grapevine, dropped off our stuff and settled in, and then drove back to Dallas for Ree-ann's birthday party. It was in the Bishop Arts District of Oak Lawn... loved it. The restaurant was called Hattie's and the food was delicious. Way too much driving, but, it was fun.
Monday Sandy and I started work. Yadda yadda elevator contractors blah blah boringcakes. We did manage to eat at Ama Lur in the Gaylord, which is sort of a Latin-Native American-Southwestern fusion place and I had such wonders as cucumber margaritas and jalapeno grit cakes. Other than that I mostly ate quesadillas from the sports bar- hold the meat and add whatever veggies you have in the kitchen- as there was absolutely not one single vegetarian thing in the entire hotel. Blurg! Oh, and our one free night we met up with Erin at Kenzoku for hibachi grill-- which is one of my all-time favorite food experiences. Then my last night, after working until 6pm, needing to do laundry and be up at 3am for a 6am flight-- I managed to squeeze in some time with Amy at Love & War in Texas.
So, after laundry, 3 hours sleep, dropping off the rental car, shuttling to the terminal, grogging my way through security and getting on the plane, I landed at 10:30am in New York City. Cab to hotel, walk to Javitz, start work right away! After work I met Tom in the West Village for Italian at Morandi, then cupcakes at Magnolia, natch, and drinks at Chumley's- one of our favorite spots, which we were just sick to discover had closed, so we went to this divey pool hall instead. I adored spending time with him-- I miss him so much!
Other places I hit while I was there: Schillers, Pastis, the Gansevoort Rooftop Loft (aka the douche-baggiest place this side of The Standard), the Night Hotel, and STK (which bumped Gansevoort right off the top of the list). Friday night I worked late and then met Schmevan for some wine in the park and a late supper at a diner- exactly what I needed after all the pomp and crappenstance. Can I tell you what I don't miss about New York? The weather. The crowds. The clothes. The general elitest attitude. I mean, we paid $90 for 5 drinks at the Gansevoort. NINETY DOLLARS. And the were 8 oz. rocks glasses made out of plastic. And ps> I don't live in Small Town, KY. I live in San Francisco-- widely touted as one of the most expensive cities in America. Ninety dollars for 5 drinks is ridiculous.
Saturday Deb and I had a whole day to play. We wanted to have lunch at Alice's Tea Cup (where I got a Cheshire Cat mug and when you pour in hot liquid, the cat disappears, leaving only his grin! brilliant~) and then we met up with Nathan in the Park, and went to the Museum of Natural History, which YES, is where they filmed that Ben Stiller movie, which I have never seen. Then we got coffee- it was so fun to hang out with him in NY-- I love running into random people in other cities! Then Deb and I scooted downtown for dinner with my friend Joyce at Counter. DELICIOUS. Must go back. My martini involved rosemary-infused vodka. *dies* Then we had a couple of drinks at the Three of Cups and almost passed out in the cab, we were so tired from our very long day.
Sunday we went down to SoHo for brunch at Jerry's, only to be saddened a second time because it had closed. It was something very sad, like another overpriced boutique. We decided instead on the NoHo Star, which I love, and then walked around SoHo and Chinatown, where I got Charlemagne a fun present and Deb bought me an owl apron.
Then, a 6-hour flight home and a fever blister later, I am back in San Francisco, where the weather is always balmy and the people are always in jeans. Monday I walked to the beach, did some work and other stuff around the house, met Blake for a cocktail and my work friends for dinner. Yesterday I did laundry, more work and other stuff around the house, made some soup, watched Fringe (I love you, JJ Abrams!) and went to Harvey's with Brian. Today I must pack, go to the bank, do more work and house stuff, and am planning on dinner and a movie with Blake. The Castro is showing Jezebel, starring Bette Davis, and her Bette Davis eyes.
All in all, a really great couple of weeks. Clearly, I should be posting more often because DAMN, that was long, and I'd be seriously surprised if anyone is still reading at this point. Tomorrow I leave for Long Beach and then straight back for a show here. I am actually off from October 3-10, and then off to Austin for 2 weddings back-to-back, and then pretty much straight to LA.
Tired yet? I am.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Is anyone at all concerned with an uprising?
OK, so, I had this printer last week from our Atlanta warehouse, that this (<----)photo was taped to-- clearly said printer has been at one of my shows in the past. Well, the photo strip was starting to rip off, so I peeled it off and stuck it to my counter, over to the side, where it was visible to clients who chose to lean over my desk and invade my personal space, which- let's face it- they always do.So, picture it: Grapevine, just a few days ago. A 20-something year-old salesman swaggers up to my booth and leans all up in my business to ask me something, and he spies the Buster photo. The following exchange unfolds:
Douchebag: Hey, how do you know Mike McNichols?
Jamie: I'm sorry, who?
DB: Mike McNichols, that guy in that photo you have taped to your desk?
JH: Ummm, that's Buster? From Arrested Development? Played by Tony Hale?
DB: No way, that's my friend Mike's myspace photo!!!!!
JH: Have you met your friend Mike?
DB: Well, it kinda looks like him.
JH: Really?
Thursday, September 04, 2008
heat wave
Y'all, I know I'm going to Texas tomorrow and all... but it is HOT outside. Really, really hot. And you know in San Francisco that means... 70s. But there's no AC anywhere - not even in my apartment- and it's just... sunny, and still, and hot. I've been up since before 6 just because I was too hot to sleep.
check it:
That is a lot of sun for my little foggy city. And no wind is weird, since I live less than 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It's always windy here. *grump*
OK, I admit it, I am enjoying Facebook. I've come in contact with a lot of people from high school and college that I haven't heard from or about it years-- and even some of my friends from the camp I worked at in college. Also? I am now at "pro" level in Arrested Development trivia. Whee! And like the Bisch, my favorite application is Pieces of Flair. I may have gone a little overboard:
Anyway, I'll keep you updated from Texas and New York. I can't wait to see all my friends. Oh, and I have to work, too. *sigh*
Off to get my hairs did.
check it:
That is a lot of sun for my little foggy city. And no wind is weird, since I live less than 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It's always windy here. *grump*
OK, I admit it, I am enjoying Facebook. I've come in contact with a lot of people from high school and college that I haven't heard from or about it years-- and even some of my friends from the camp I worked at in college. Also? I am now at "pro" level in Arrested Development trivia. Whee! And like the Bisch, my favorite application is Pieces of Flair. I may have gone a little overboard:
Anyway, I'll keep you updated from Texas and New York. I can't wait to see all my friends. Oh, and I have to work, too. *sigh*
Off to get my hairs did.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Jamiepalooza, Part Deux
Why am I always off on the holiday weekends when everyone is out of town? No matter-- I got home tonight after 7 excruciating days in San Jose, went to the market, unpacked, ate some sushi, took a shower, and am not settling onto the couch with my new sudoku book. I'm psyched.
I have a lot to do while I'm home (work at the yoga studio, get a haircut, various and sundry errands and chores) but I intend on spending a great deal of it on my butt. Reading, staring into space, whatever. When I leave here on September 5th I will only have 3 days off until October 5th, so I need to stockpile my downtime. Do you think you can do that?
In other news, I was going to change my nose ring back to the stud, but I can't find it. The last time I remember seeing it was when I was in New Orleans in May. I hope I didn't leave it there.
All this election coverage is giving me West Wing cravings. I'm converting the first season files for my iPod right now.
Oh, while I was eating sushi I heard this 20-something emo chick moan to her understandably mute boyfriend, "I am just the busiest person I know!!" Really? So busy you can sit here and eat sushi? Whatever. So hey, what's the female equivalent of douchebag?
I have a lot to do while I'm home (work at the yoga studio, get a haircut, various and sundry errands and chores) but I intend on spending a great deal of it on my butt. Reading, staring into space, whatever. When I leave here on September 5th I will only have 3 days off until October 5th, so I need to stockpile my downtime. Do you think you can do that?
In other news, I was going to change my nose ring back to the stud, but I can't find it. The last time I remember seeing it was when I was in New Orleans in May. I hope I didn't leave it there.
All this election coverage is giving me West Wing cravings. I'm converting the first season files for my iPod right now.
Oh, while I was eating sushi I heard this 20-something emo chick moan to her understandably mute boyfriend, "I am just the busiest person I know!!" Really? So busy you can sit here and eat sushi? Whatever. So hey, what's the female equivalent of douchebag?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
and the manatee has become the mento.
Bruce and I made a pact to update our blogs by end of Monday. I'm getting a head start on him because I have been dealt the unfortunate hand of working on a Saturday. I haven't been blogging very much lately; I'm not sure why. I guess part of it is that I've been so very, very busy, but also, I don't feel like all that many people are reading. Plus, sometimes it's just nice to be away from the computer. *yawn*
I think I finally got my twitter back on and running, but it says only 4 people are following me-- which is strange because I know for a fact that Bruce is getting my twitters, even though he's not on the list of 4. Weird? But, for those of you who found the old twitter-switcheroo confusing-- and trust me, no one found it more confusing than me (except maybe the twitter customer service staff)-- I am "hello_jamie"- not "hellojamie." Got it? No, you don't get it! Got it?
In other news, you know how everyone collects a thing? A thing that, no matter what, you can always count on to make you think of that person. A thing you can always fall back on as a gift idea. Like Madison with seahorses or Dish with anything Spice Girls. Well, after 32 years of deliberation, I have decided on mine. Owls.
They are so frackin' cute and nerdy, and since I hear they are sort of making a popular comeback, so it's the perfect time to start collecting precious little owlies. This little card was my first official owl purchase. I will be framing it when I get back home.
I think I finally got my twitter back on and running, but it says only 4 people are following me-- which is strange because I know for a fact that Bruce is getting my twitters, even though he's not on the list of 4. Weird? But, for those of you who found the old twitter-switcheroo confusing-- and trust me, no one found it more confusing than me (except maybe the twitter customer service staff)-- I am "hello_jamie"- not "hellojamie." Got it? No, you don't get it! Got it?
In other news, you know how everyone collects a thing? A thing that, no matter what, you can always count on to make you think of that person. A thing you can always fall back on as a gift idea. Like Madison with seahorses or Dish with anything Spice Girls. Well, after 32 years of deliberation, I have decided on mine. Owls.
They are so frackin' cute and nerdy, and since I hear they are sort of making a popular comeback, so it's the perfect time to start collecting precious little owlies. This little card was my first official owl purchase. I will be framing it when I get back home.
Aren't they just darling? The card is printed by Red Cap Cards, who have absolutely gorgeous paper goods. Check 'em out.
Nothing's really been going on to report. I had a great birthday week with Gherkin, I got sticky and sweaty in New Orleans, I had 1 solitary day off, which I filled with laundry, pizza, wine, and 30 Rock- hence the title of this post- and came to San Jose for this uber-geek computer nerd event with a 24-hour gaming floor. Yeah, and ps> I am SO not staffing the desk for 24 hours.
Once I get home late next Thursday, I have exactly 6 days off, in which I will sleep, read, get my hair cut & colored, buy an ice-cream maker (and make ice cream, doy), go shoe-shopping, work at the yoga studio, oh, and did I say SLEEP? In my OWN BED? Then off to Dallas, New York, and Long Beach.
I'll try to be more frequent with the blogging. Bruce- tag, you're it.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
best. present. ever.
Who's the geekiest of them all? It's a toss-up between Hello, Jamie, for having an iPod cozy shaped like the TARDIS, or Gherkin, for MAKING IT FROM SCRATCH.
I vote Gherkin. Just sayin'.
no mascara required
Happy Birthday, me!
I'm off to enjoy my day-- the only rule here at Casa Gherkin on Jamie's birthday is swim suits and pajamas only. In any order or combination you choose. :)
I think I'll put my swim suit on first, and my pj's on top. That way I'll be ready for anything.
I'm off to enjoy my day-- the only rule here at Casa Gherkin on Jamie's birthday is swim suits and pajamas only. In any order or combination you choose. :)
I think I'll put my swim suit on first, and my pj's on top. That way I'll be ready for anything.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
august chill
Y'all, it is cold this week. COLD. Like, in the 40s and 50s cold. In August. I still can't wrap my head around it. My head that's bundled in a scarf.
My doctor's appointment was canceled Wednesday morning so I treated myself to The X-Files: I Want to Believe. It was a nice quiet movie. And eh, I miss Mulder and Scully, but dudes. This was so NOT X-Files-y. No aliens, no paranormal anything?! C'mon! It was like I was watching Kiss the Girls or something. Which, while fine in its own right, is not The X-Files. But it was lovely to see my Scully and Mulder and Walter! Skinner!
Tonight after work I went to the Castro Theatre to see Return to Oz, starring a baby Fairuza Balk. Was anyone else traumatized by that film as a child? I was told it (along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) was the first PG-13 movie, but Wikipedia contradicts my source. Either way, those Wheelers are still downright terrifying.
Edited to add: The Castro usually finds genre-appropriate trailers to play before the films they show, so tonight's were "scary" Disney movies, namely, the Escape to Witch Mountain/Return from Witch Mountain/Beyond Witch Mountain trilogy, and Watcher in the Woods. Even the trailer to that movie is horrifying!!!
Two more days of work, then off to Phoenix and New Orleans, where it will no doubt be 3x as hot as it is here. Although, at least with my laundry basket full of cords and sweaters and socks, I don't have to worry about washing clothes before I pack.
Tomorrow the Justice League hits the Castro (well, some of the League. We'll miss you Superman!). Oh yeah, it's date night, San Francisco!
My doctor's appointment was canceled Wednesday morning so I treated myself to The X-Files: I Want to Believe. It was a nice quiet movie. And eh, I miss Mulder and Scully, but dudes. This was so NOT X-Files-y. No aliens, no paranormal anything?! C'mon! It was like I was watching Kiss the Girls or something. Which, while fine in its own right, is not The X-Files. But it was lovely to see my Scully and Mulder and Walter! Skinner!
Tonight after work I went to the Castro Theatre to see Return to Oz, starring a baby Fairuza Balk. Was anyone else traumatized by that film as a child? I was told it (along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) was the first PG-13 movie, but Wikipedia contradicts my source. Either way, those Wheelers are still downright terrifying.
Edited to add: The Castro usually finds genre-appropriate trailers to play before the films they show, so tonight's were "scary" Disney movies, namely, the Escape to Witch Mountain/Return from Witch Mountain/Beyond Witch Mountain trilogy, and Watcher in the Woods. Even the trailer to that movie is horrifying!!!
Two more days of work, then off to Phoenix and New Orleans, where it will no doubt be 3x as hot as it is here. Although, at least with my laundry basket full of cords and sweaters and socks, I don't have to worry about washing clothes before I pack.
Tomorrow the Justice League hits the Castro (well, some of the League. We'll miss you Superman!). Oh yeah, it's date night, San Francisco!
Monday, August 04, 2008
*tap tap tap* is this thing on?
Oh kids. I am so very tired. Sorry I haven't been around much lately. After Ohio I went to DC, which was a super busy time, and I flew back Friday to meet Danael at the airport-- we basically dropped our bags, picked up Brad, and went to meet Brian for dinner. It was weird because none of them know each other but I actually got to take a photo with my best friend from high school, my best friend from college, and my current best friend-- a feat most people only accomplish on their wedding day:
It was pretty rad. Saturday was the First Annual West Coast Texiesta and it was a hit, if I do say so myself (and I do). There were probably 40-50 people there, almost all of them in costume, and 11 of them real Texans! We had frito pie and Rotel dip and margaritas and black-eyed peas and buttermilk peach ice cream and trailer park toffee, oh my. I'll be posting more photos of the party later. There may even be a youtube appearance.
Bruce left yesterday and I dove into 3 loads of laundry, dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing the tub, and cooking (some dish I saw some chef make on Iron Chef America. I didn't even know what to call it but it was pretty darn good). I crashed pretty early and this morning I've been reading in bed for an hour- an unparalleled luxury this summer it seems, before I head out to the warehouse to stock gangboxes and then head to Brian's for an early birthday dinner. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and need to get my doughy ass to yoga-- I haven't been in almost a month, so I can start work on Thursday and leave town on Monday.
After Phoenix, New Orleans, then 2 (2!!!) days off before San Jose, then seriously, y'all, it's September, and I leave on the 5th to hit Dallas, New York, and Long Beach, then a show here at home and then it's October. Really. I can't even re-read this post in fear that it will convince me to stay huddled under my covers for the rest of eternity. Or at least the rest of the morning.
It was pretty rad. Saturday was the First Annual West Coast Texiesta and it was a hit, if I do say so myself (and I do). There were probably 40-50 people there, almost all of them in costume, and 11 of them real Texans! We had frito pie and Rotel dip and margaritas and black-eyed peas and buttermilk peach ice cream and trailer park toffee, oh my. I'll be posting more photos of the party later. There may even be a youtube appearance.
Bruce left yesterday and I dove into 3 loads of laundry, dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing the tub, and cooking (some dish I saw some chef make on Iron Chef America. I didn't even know what to call it but it was pretty darn good). I crashed pretty early and this morning I've been reading in bed for an hour- an unparalleled luxury this summer it seems, before I head out to the warehouse to stock gangboxes and then head to Brian's for an early birthday dinner. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and need to get my doughy ass to yoga-- I haven't been in almost a month, so I can start work on Thursday and leave town on Monday.
After Phoenix, New Orleans, then 2 (2!!!) days off before San Jose, then seriously, y'all, it's September, and I leave on the 5th to hit Dallas, New York, and Long Beach, then a show here at home and then it's October. Really. I can't even re-read this post in fear that it will convince me to stay huddled under my covers for the rest of eternity. Or at least the rest of the morning.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
slow-hi-o
Greetings from the midwest. This is exactly what I wanted to do this week-- nothing.
Yesterday I spent $150 at Whole Foods, and went swimming, and made a beautiful taco salad (romaine, black beans, green onions, tomatoes, corn, black olives, jicama, cheese, lime-garlic vinaigrette, on top of chili-lime chips and drizzled with salsa) and margaritas, watered the plants, and sat on the new deck until dark. Today I am doing laundry, making granola (for Tom) and peanut butter cookies (for Mom) and watching The Food Network. Tonight's dinner is kabobs and corn on the cob - on the grill, natch - and homemade buttermilk peach ice cream. If that turns out how I intend I will most definitely be posting the recipe. Ooh, and vodka mojitos with mint from the garden. Later I might take a bike ride, or else sit in the sun room with my book. Maybe both.
Hope everyone is having a good week! My next two months are incredibly busy, so I am enjoying my sloth for now.
Yesterday I spent $150 at Whole Foods, and went swimming, and made a beautiful taco salad (romaine, black beans, green onions, tomatoes, corn, black olives, jicama, cheese, lime-garlic vinaigrette, on top of chili-lime chips and drizzled with salsa) and margaritas, watered the plants, and sat on the new deck until dark. Today I am doing laundry, making granola (for Tom) and peanut butter cookies (for Mom) and watching The Food Network. Tonight's dinner is kabobs and corn on the cob - on the grill, natch - and homemade buttermilk peach ice cream. If that turns out how I intend I will most definitely be posting the recipe. Ooh, and vodka mojitos with mint from the garden. Later I might take a bike ride, or else sit in the sun room with my book. Maybe both.
Hope everyone is having a good week! My next two months are incredibly busy, so I am enjoying my sloth for now.
Monday, July 14, 2008
my short lunch break
I ran across the street to my room to grab a sandwich for lunch (thank you, Residence Inn, for having a kitchen!) and picked up this e-mail from Tom. I have a confession to make- 90-95% of the time you send me a youtube link, or post it, or even embed it-- I don't watch them. Sorry. I just don't. It's just not my thing. Get over it.
But I watched this one, and if it doesn't make you smile, laugh, cry, or all three, then you are dead inside.
~Where's Matt?~
Back to work!
But I watched this one, and if it doesn't make you smile, laugh, cry, or all three, then you are dead inside.
~Where's Matt?~
Back to work!
~sorry~
Last week was crazy busy getting ready to leave town for three weeks, and now I'm in Vegas, where there have been some thunderstorms, making it both a little cooler (carrots!) and a little more humid (sticks!).
Nothing new to report except that I'm traveling with Brian for the first time since 2005 and we are having a blast. Yesterday we managed to squeeze in pool time, work, pizza, and Blink. It's the episode I use to introduce people to Doctor Who*, especially if they're not sci-fi fans, per se. It's a gateway drug of sorts.
*Except Krysten, with whom I used The Girl in the Fireplace, because Blink hadn't aired yet. Same writer. More Doctor.
Nothing new to report except that I'm traveling with Brian for the first time since 2005 and we are having a blast. Yesterday we managed to squeeze in pool time, work, pizza, and Blink. It's the episode I use to introduce people to Doctor Who*, especially if they're not sci-fi fans, per se. It's a gateway drug of sorts.
*Except Krysten, with whom I used The Girl in the Fireplace, because Blink hadn't aired yet. Same writer. More Doctor.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Day 4
Weekend of Jamie is still going strong. Yesterday I took a nice long 3-hr walk (about 7 miles) to the beach and back through the Park, and then ran a couple of errands, made some dynamite stuffed mushrooms, and read a magazine. Today I forced myself up early so there's no way I could talk myself out of yoga, and I am having my coffee and making a list of the things I need to do before I leave town. I am getting sort of tired of Jamiepalooza (only sort of), and feel like being out and about, but I don't get to do this all that often, so after yoga I intend to do some (very light) housework and then spending one more day of leisure (leisure= reading, doing Sudoku puzzles, cooking, and watching TV/movies). Because my next week looks like this:
Monday: conference call, yoga, and time to attack the to-do list (drugstore, bank, etc. etc.)
Tuesday: thrift-store shopping up & down Haight with my friend Seth, working a double shift/training a newbie at the studio
Wednesday: lunch with my friend Cameron, then having Wednesday Funday with Brian (I didn't want to attend Sunday Funday without him so I'm moving it to Wednesday when he gets back)
Thursday: work a double at the studio, do laundry
Friday: pack for my 3-week 3-city tour (Las Vegas, Columbus, Washington DC)
Saturday: fly, fly away
Crazy, no? It's been so long since I've had a 5-day work week with 2 days off every single week that I'm not sure how I could get anything done. Of course, there are the times I work from 6am to 10pm for 10 days straight and leave prescriptions at the pharmacy so long they put them back on the shelf, or get Fed Ex boxes returned to sender, so I guess it all comes out in the wash.
PS> it's been so foggy this week that you can hear the foghorns out in the ocean... just a low, melancholy hum out in the distance, like elephants. I like it. The world seems so quiet and small when you can barely see 2 blocks down the street; the foghorn punctuates the silence, but low and quietly, and sometimes almost imperceptibly. One of those sounds that you all of the sudden realize you've been hearing for hours. I's a little bit eerie but for some reason it reminds me where I am and how easy it would be to be somewhere else. Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance, right?
Monday: conference call, yoga, and time to attack the to-do list (drugstore, bank, etc. etc.)
Tuesday: thrift-store shopping up & down Haight with my friend Seth, working a double shift/training a newbie at the studio
Wednesday: lunch with my friend Cameron, then having Wednesday Funday with Brian (I didn't want to attend Sunday Funday without him so I'm moving it to Wednesday when he gets back)
Thursday: work a double at the studio, do laundry
Friday: pack for my 3-week 3-city tour (Las Vegas, Columbus, Washington DC)
Saturday: fly, fly away
Crazy, no? It's been so long since I've had a 5-day work week with 2 days off every single week that I'm not sure how I could get anything done. Of course, there are the times I work from 6am to 10pm for 10 days straight and leave prescriptions at the pharmacy so long they put them back on the shelf, or get Fed Ex boxes returned to sender, so I guess it all comes out in the wash.
PS> it's been so foggy this week that you can hear the foghorns out in the ocean... just a low, melancholy hum out in the distance, like elephants. I like it. The world seems so quiet and small when you can barely see 2 blocks down the street; the foghorn punctuates the silence, but low and quietly, and sometimes almost imperceptibly. One of those sounds that you all of the sudden realize you've been hearing for hours. I's a little bit eerie but for some reason it reminds me where I am and how easy it would be to be somewhere else. Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance, right?
Friday, July 04, 2008
it's EST in the important countries
Good morning from Jamiepalooza Day 2: Electric Bugaloo. Slept well, woke up on my own, had coffee and a homemade breakfast burrito (whole wheat tortilla, cheese, 1 fried egg, 1 veggie sausage patty, green onions, and salsa verde- YUM), and watched my last episode of Battlestar Galactica. I have to say, even when the show is not up to previous BSG awesomeness standards, it is still better than 90% of the ... shall I say, shit on American network TV. When, oh when will someone give Mary McDonnell an Emmy?So now I am moving on to my boyfriend Doctor Who. Although I'm being slightly distracted by the Twilight Zone marathon on Sci-Fi. Currently there's a guy in a space ship, locked in the brig with only a speaker in the wall to talk to, and he just demanded to be told what time it is... well, there's no time in space, sir. No, what time it is on Earth. Oh, on Earth? It's 12 noon. For real. Hee.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
the weekend of Jamie
remember how busy I was last time I was off? So very, very busy. So, after that, I worked a big ole 10-day show and then after, my co-worker Lena stayed with me for a few days. She was supposed to go to Big Sur with friends, but sadly, most of Northern California is still on fire, she couldn't go, and rather than make her change her flight she moved into Casa Jamie. It was lovely to have her-- we went out for Monday Funday with Brian, toured the Ferry Building and the Farmer's Market, saw the Chihuly exhibit at the DeYoung, went to Greens and Marnee Thai, and went thrift-store shopping. Great fun... BUT, I am tired.
She left this morning, while I worked a double at the yoga studio, and then I came home to 5 loads of laundry, some dusting and general picking-up around the house, and now... now I start MY time. Roommie is in London. Brian is in Idaho. The rest of my friends are at High Sierra. I have a kitchen full of groceries, two bottles of Portuguese wine, 8 episodes of Battlestar Galactica, and 8 episodes of Doctor Who. I'm calling it Jamiepalooza. The studio is closed tomorrow so I can't feel bad about skipping class, and I intend to fully observe the holiday with food, sci-fi, and pure, unmitigated Jamietime. When the television is over, I'm going to read my new books, see a movie or two, go to yoga, have Wednesday Funday when Brian gets home, and sleep a lot. Brilliant.
Jamiepalooza!!!
She left this morning, while I worked a double at the yoga studio, and then I came home to 5 loads of laundry, some dusting and general picking-up around the house, and now... now I start MY time. Roommie is in London. Brian is in Idaho. The rest of my friends are at High Sierra. I have a kitchen full of groceries, two bottles of Portuguese wine, 8 episodes of Battlestar Galactica, and 8 episodes of Doctor Who. I'm calling it Jamiepalooza. The studio is closed tomorrow so I can't feel bad about skipping class, and I intend to fully observe the holiday with food, sci-fi, and pure, unmitigated Jamietime. When the television is over, I'm going to read my new books, see a movie or two, go to yoga, have Wednesday Funday when Brian gets home, and sleep a lot. Brilliant.
Jamiepalooza!!!
Monday, June 30, 2008
done~
I know, I know- I haven't updated in 10 days. That's because all I've done in 10 days is work, ride the bus, sleep, ride the bus, work, ride the bus, sleep, ride the bus... you get the idea. I did have a couple of dinners out with the co-workers but they were mostly short and peppered with yawns and various renditions of "ohmigah, I'm sooooo TIRED."
Anyway, I got off at 6:30 last night, went straight to my favorite bar for Sunday Funday, but since my favorite bar is in the Castro and it was Pride Weekend, well, let's just say it wasn't as much Sunday Funday as it was Sunday INSANEday. Jeez Louise. I couldn't handle it. I was in bed by 10:30 and slept for 13 hours (with a small window of awake thanks to a 7am text message... Bruce).
I am about to get up, make a cup of coffee, and topple onto the couch for a bit more um... nothing. But first, I got a t-shirt in the mail the other day. No note, no receipt. It's a size too small (bless you, friend) and says "Irony: it's the opposite of wrinkly." Oh, heeee. So, 'fess up. Who sent it???
Anyway, I got off at 6:30 last night, went straight to my favorite bar for Sunday Funday, but since my favorite bar is in the Castro and it was Pride Weekend, well, let's just say it wasn't as much Sunday Funday as it was Sunday INSANEday. Jeez Louise. I couldn't handle it. I was in bed by 10:30 and slept for 13 hours (with a small window of awake thanks to a 7am text message... Bruce).
I am about to get up, make a cup of coffee, and topple onto the couch for a bit more um... nothing. But first, I got a t-shirt in the mail the other day. No note, no receipt. It's a size too small (bless you, friend) and says "Irony: it's the opposite of wrinkly." Oh, heeee. So, 'fess up. Who sent it???
Thursday, June 19, 2008
the last day
Y'all. It is HOT. (Relatively, with my apologies to the rest of the country.) But when you wear Uggs and a hoodie every day of the year, and don't have central AC (or even a fan)... 82 degrees is HOT.
I went up to the roof today and snapped some photos. Bonus of hot is less fog. Notice I didn't say NO fog. Yes, that is the Pacific Ocean under that marine layer:
Isn't it pretty when it's hot? (click to enlarge)
So, today is my last day off. I got up on my own time and went to the market. Bonus? The bus is free today! Thanks, San Francisco! I walked to the tailor to pick up my jeans. I went up on the roof. I made this mouth-gasmic mushroom-mozzarella-thyme thing and practically stuck my head in the dish to lick up the drippings. I booked my birthday plane ticket. I am about to make peanut-butter chocolate chip cookies for the owner of my yoga studio (birthday) and my general freight foreman (retiring). Then I'm going to go to yoga, close & clean the studio, and get some sleep because I have to be at work tomorrow morning at 6:30am. Blurg. But, before I go, I leave you with a photo of the bridge, because honestly, have you seen our view???
OH. And the! list! I didn't finish it, but I'm comfortable in the amount I did get done:
I went up to the roof today and snapped some photos. Bonus of hot is less fog. Notice I didn't say NO fog. Yes, that is the Pacific Ocean under that marine layer:
Isn't it pretty when it's hot? (click to enlarge)
So, today is my last day off. I got up on my own time and went to the market. Bonus? The bus is free today! Thanks, San Francisco! I walked to the tailor to pick up my jeans. I went up on the roof. I made this mouth-gasmic mushroom-mozzarella-thyme thing and practically stuck my head in the dish to lick up the drippings. I booked my birthday plane ticket. I am about to make peanut-butter chocolate chip cookies for the owner of my yoga studio (birthday) and my general freight foreman (retiring). Then I'm going to go to yoga, close & clean the studio, and get some sleep because I have to be at work tomorrow morning at 6:30am. Blurg. But, before I go, I leave you with a photo of the bridge, because honestly, have you seen our view???
OH. And the! list! I didn't finish it, but I'm comfortable in the amount I did get done:
book my July plane ticketbook Danael's plane ticket to come see me, whooop!buy Father's Day giftsend Mother's Day gift *palms head*make cookies- get a CA driver's license
finish 2 booksfinished one: Stiff- loved it.get new jeans hemmed- buy a bicycle- no, but did go to 4 stores, so I'm narrowing down.
go to 7 yoga classesmade it to 6- **************** (a secret one that I don't want to tell anyone about until I know its outcome)
- figure out what the frack is wrong with my trackpad and fix it, already
but I'm still not doing myspace.
OK. I'm all a-twitter. Twitterpated, if you will.
You can follow me here, if you're interested.
Last day off. I have to run out and do some bloodwork before I eat or have coffee, so that kinda needs to happen right now. I'll update on the! list! when I get back.
You can follow me here, if you're interested.
Last day off. I have to run out and do some bloodwork before I eat or have coffee, so that kinda needs to happen right now. I'll update on the! list! when I get back.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
the! list! update
OK, despite its promise to be beautiful and sunshine-y all weekend, the weather had been totally uncooperative. Currently it's 47 and I can actually see the fog rolling past my window. Gross. It's June, San Francisco!!! Catch up!
So, here's what I've been up to since I wrote the! list!~
Thursday I went to the dentist (loved her, must yelp), yoga, and both grocery stores (market and Trader Joe's), and watched about half the Freaks & Geeks series with Roommie. Friday I went to yoga, got a massage, went to three drugstores (how hard is it to carry everything on my list??), booked 2 plane tickets, worked a shift at the studio, and made dinner for my Roommie (will post that later, because... YUM). Yesterday I finally unpacked my suitcase (realizing I'd been home for 5 days and all), dusted and vacuumed my bedroom, which was quite the undertaking, took my jeans to the tailor, worked the studio again, and then watched Capture of the Green River Killer, starring, sadly, Tom Cavanaugh, and strangely, James Marsters as Ted Bundy. Weird.
So... that may not sound like a lot, but in my first days off for like, a month and a half, I feel very productive. I'm up early this morning to hit yoga and then I might read, since it's Sunday and I can't buy a bicycle or get a new driver's license today. I just found out I have to work Friday, which shaves a day of the! list! Which, if you're keeping tabs, I've accomplished 3 things, and part of a 4th:
So, here's what I've been up to since I wrote the! list!~
Thursday I went to the dentist (loved her, must yelp), yoga, and both grocery stores (market and Trader Joe's), and watched about half the Freaks & Geeks series with Roommie. Friday I went to yoga, got a massage, went to three drugstores (how hard is it to carry everything on my list??), booked 2 plane tickets, worked a shift at the studio, and made dinner for my Roommie (will post that later, because... YUM). Yesterday I finally unpacked my suitcase (realizing I'd been home for 5 days and all), dusted and vacuumed my bedroom, which was quite the undertaking, took my jeans to the tailor, worked the studio again, and then watched Capture of the Green River Killer, starring, sadly, Tom Cavanaugh, and strangely, James Marsters as Ted Bundy. Weird.
So... that may not sound like a lot, but in my first days off for like, a month and a half, I feel very productive. I'm up early this morning to hit yoga and then I might read, since it's Sunday and I can't buy a bicycle or get a new driver's license today. I just found out I have to work Friday, which shaves a day of the! list! Which, if you're keeping tabs, I've accomplished 3 things, and part of a 4th:
book my July plane ticketbook Danael's plane ticket to come see me, whooop!- buy Father's Day gift
- send Mother's Day gift *palms head*
- make Pat cookies (my next show is our General Freight Foreman's last show before retirement)
- get a CA driver's license
- finish 2 books
get new jeans hemmed- buy a bicycle
- go to
74 more yoga classes - **************** (a secret one that I don't want to tell anyone about until I know its outcome)
- figure out what the frack is wrong with my trackpad and fix it, already
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
there's no place like home
OK, so, I flew in yesterday, dropped my bags, and went straight to the movie-house to see Prince Caspian (I liked, but heard it didn't do very well at the box office, which makes me fear the release of Voyage of the Dawn Treader, my favourite of the set), then met the work gang at Annabelle's for nachos. THEN after everyone had thrown back a few, they decided (ibym "they".... "we") to go OUT, and subsequently I didn't get home until 1am. And glory, I have to go to the dentist in an hour.
Great news, though, I am HOME for 10 whole days. That's 10 days of not working, not traveling, getting to eat my own food and sleep in my own bed and watch my own TV and get my own stuff done. And let me tell you, I have a very specific to-do list, so there is sadly not a lot of time for lollygagging. I'm going to post it here and hopefully my lovely friends and fans will prod me to finish it before I go back to work on the 20th. Expect daily progress reports!
OH! And I totally forgot to tell you guys- after all my celebrity sightings, I got off the airplane in Oakland yesterday and walked right onto a movie set. Like, right onto it-- the people in front of me in the cab line as I'm digging through my bag for my sunglasses were all, "Hey, are you looking for a cab? Because these aren't real; you're on a movie set."
Moron.
Great news, though, I am HOME for 10 whole days. That's 10 days of not working, not traveling, getting to eat my own food and sleep in my own bed and watch my own TV and get my own stuff done. And let me tell you, I have a very specific to-do list, so there is sadly not a lot of time for lollygagging. I'm going to post it here and hopefully my lovely friends and fans will prod me to finish it before I go back to work on the 20th. Expect daily progress reports!
- book my July plane ticket
- book Danael's plane ticket to come see me, whooop!
- buy Father's Day gift
- send Mother's Day gift *palms head*
- make Pat cookies (my next show is our General Freight Foreman's last show before retirement)
- get a CA driver's license
- finish 2 books
- get new jeans hemmed
- buy a bicycle
- go to 7 yoga classes
- **************** (a secret one that I don't want to tell anyone about until I know its outcome)
- figure out what the frack is wrong with my trackpad and fix it, already
OH! And I totally forgot to tell you guys- after all my celebrity sightings, I got off the airplane in Oakland yesterday and walked right onto a movie set. Like, right onto it-- the people in front of me in the cab line as I'm digging through my bag for my sunglasses were all, "Hey, are you looking for a cab? Because these aren't real; you're on a movie set."
Moron.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
almost home, and.... happy.
I just sat down at the "restaurant" at the Long Beach airport and got a drink called "Happy Coffee." Kahlua, Frangelico, Baileys, and coffee, with whipped cream. Happy indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS> this is the kind of stuff that people "twitter," right? Dish asked me to sign up. I'm not sure anyone other than her would be interested.
PS> this is the kind of stuff that people "twitter," right? Dish asked me to sign up. I'm not sure anyone other than her would be interested.
Friday, June 06, 2008
blow it up.
I actually really hate it when people just use their blog solely to link to another blog, but really, this was just too fist-bumping awesome to not pass along.
The Journal of Joe The Peacock. Yay.: The Etymology of Human Male Non-Verbal Communications (or, Why Men Fist-Bump)
Thanks, Tom!
In other news, as a second course to my quasi-celebrity sighting at the last show, at this show I saw Bryan Cranston, the dad from Malcolm in the Middle, who I believe has a new show on some cable channel, but is best known to me as the lead character in Drive, one of my favorite X-Files episodes, Mira Furlan, aka Danielle Rousseau, the crazy French lady from Lost, and Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight. I talked to Mira Furlan, who called me "the wizard behind the curtain." She was very nice and has a lovely accent and had looks about 15 years younger than her Lost character, which I didn't mention.
Home tomorrow, for Narnia and Nachos (TM, Ashley) and the the dentist, bleh, a massage, yay, and 10 whole days off. Suck it, Trebek!!!!
The Journal of Joe The Peacock. Yay.: The Etymology of Human Male Non-Verbal Communications (or, Why Men Fist-Bump)
Thanks, Tom!
In other news, as a second course to my quasi-celebrity sighting at the last show, at this show I saw Bryan Cranston, the dad from Malcolm in the Middle, who I believe has a new show on some cable channel, but is best known to me as the lead character in Drive, one of my favorite X-Files episodes, Mira Furlan, aka Danielle Rousseau, the crazy French lady from Lost, and Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight. I talked to Mira Furlan, who called me "the wizard behind the curtain." She was very nice and has a lovely accent and had looks about 15 years younger than her Lost character, which I didn't mention.
Home tomorrow, for Narnia and Nachos (TM, Ashley) and the the dentist, bleh, a massage, yay, and 10 whole days off. Suck it, Trebek!!!!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
I just have to wonder...
I've been putting off reviewing the Sex & the City movie because I know most everyone has a strong opinion on it one way or the other. It's damn near impossible to make a good film based on a TV show (The X-Files notwithstanding), especially one as near and dear to people's hearts as this one. Carrie Bradshaw has always been one of my favorite television characters- she's funny, quirky, smart, independent, and vulnerable, and Parker plays her with a depth and grace that make it impossible to hate her even when she makes the most horrible of mistakes. Which she does (as we all do). Sadly, I did not find this my love for her to cross over to the film.***SPOILER ALERT***
OK. *deep breath* This is not a good movie.
That being said, because I loved the series so much, and all the characters, I'm glad I saw it, enjoyed myself, and will probably buy it because I can't stand to have an incomplete collection. BUT. If I had never seen the series, I'm not sure this movie would have done anything for me.
Sticks: The first 30 minutes were really forced. They didn't show me enough evidence that Steve would cheat on Miranda. I still don't buy it. I mean, c'mon, it's Steve. It was too long- take out some of the montages and give me some more plot. Charlotte and Samantha were reduced to caricatures. Samantha's "fat" subplot? Really? Big had zero personality (not Noth's fault, the writers' fault). In fact, all the men had zero personality. And Carrie & Big together at the end? Inconceivable. He jilted her for like, the billionth time, at one of the most public weddings in New York. Really? Now I've given an ex a billionth-and-second chance just as much as the next gal (maybe more) but I just don't think they would have recovered from this. And I still stand firm in my conviction that Carrie, the quintessential single girl, should have ended up single at the end. (Whatever; I am a sucker for a romantic hero who dies in his quest.)
Carrots: This movie is about friendship. I loved that Carrie asked Samantha to be her maid of honor. I loved the stuff between Miranda and Carrie, especially on New Years Eve. Jennifer Hudson rocked my world and thought her scenes with Sarah Jessica Parker were among the very best in the film. Kristin Davis is funny. I loved the clothes- yep, even that bird on Carrie's head. I loved that everything Miranda said to Carrie after their fight was the exact same words Steve said to Miranda after theirs. But, enough about the movie. What I really came here to ask you is this:
Why do straight men hate this show and gay men love it? I find that to be almost universally so. Is it because you think it's fake? Because it's not. The sex is certainly um... embellished, but for the most part the writing is spot-on. Is it because you think it's real? Because that's the reason I hate Entourage-- it shows me, nay, glorifies the absolute worst side of men and I, for one, am not interested in watching that as entertainment. Does it make you feel disposable? Do you just not understand it?
I'm truly interested. Speak up, men- let me know what you think of Sex and why. Inquiring minds want to know.
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