Filed Under: Lists

April 22, 2008

Window Shopping

Ugh. I paid all my bills this weekend and now I'm staring at the crumbs at the bottom of my bank account. Maybe if I push them all together, I can make a cookie.

What better thing to do when you're strapped for cash, than look at stuff you can't afford to buy!

  • Totally rad graphic artist Frank Chimero opened a store for his awesome illustrations of the states.
  • I never wear jewelry (or a watch) but I love this pendant.
  • These and these make my head spin with design possibilities for banner ideas.
  • I want to fill this with iced cold lemonade. Or iced tea. Or margaritas. Yeah... that last one.
 

April 07, 2008

Keywords

Amy's post about search hits, reminded me I haven't looked at mine lately.

Of course, I get a lot of hits for cheap [fill in the blank]. Mostly guitars but lots of other stuff too. I was surprised by this one.

cheap brazilian halter tops

I'm no expert on fashion but is there such a thing?

And I still get people asking if these people are gay. You can add Chris Leavins to that list too.

Interest in Pete Yorn is down.

Here are some other recent search terms.

"best peanut butter sandwich"

I'm not sure what would make it the best, but I imagine it would include potato chips in it.

bobs yer uncle tits

You may want to take that up with him. And I'm sure they are lovely.

fried green tomatoes costume

Halloween must be very interesting at your house.

sanitizer stings penis

I'm not certain about this one, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say, "yes."

anne heche mind control

Now, are they wanting to control Anne Heche or have Anne Heche control them?

blue photos of lesbians

At least they aren't looking for photos of blue lesbians.

tr knight lawn gnome

I can use my mad Photoshop skills to accommodate this request. Enjoy!

TR Knight Gnome
 

March 15, 2008

To Do List

To Do List

I meant to get going much earlier this morning, however that last item has taken top priority. Oy!

 

January 10, 2008

Mondo Beyondo 2008

The other day when I looked up my old Mondo Beyondo list, do you know what I forgot to do? READ what my list was back then.

D'oh!

So last night, I read it to Thomas and I was pretty amazed to discover that I had accomplished in some way, most of the things I wrote. Okay, so I didn't ever host sock puppet kareoke night and let's face it, I'm NEVER going to become one of those crazy active people who are always doing things like hiking, yoga and stuff. But that, of course, is not the point of Mondo Beyondo. You are supposed to think BIG. Think impossible and my favorite, think dangerously. What scares you? Frightens you? Creeps into your comfort zone? What truly challenges you?

All that said, I did accomplish some of my list. I did do some freelance work here and there and in my own way, I've created a family of friends I rely on.

But here's the best one. Number four. I am THIS close to being debt free! THIS CLOSE. Last year, I watched several balances fall to zero. After all this time, it's such an amazing feeling to finally see the debt free light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, last Friday I decided to just up and pay off my final student loan. Now they owe me twelve cents! (Pay up Sallie Mae!)

After reading my old list, I was even more excited to make a new Mondo Beyondo. So here goes:

  • I will go to California and see the other ocean. (Can you believe I've lived in Arizona for ten years and STILL haven't been to California?)
  • I will make my apartment a home.
  • I will ride my bike, explore my neighborhood and meet who's in my neighborhood.
  • I will talk to strangers.
  • I will create things that are not made of pixels.
  • I will really listen when others speak.
  • I will reach out to people I admire.
 

January 01, 2008

Highlights of the First Day of The Year

  • Breakfast at Ikea for TWO DOLLARS! Drink included.
  • Finding what I needed at Ikea and most of it was on sale.
  • Lunch with Korina & Cara.
  • Seeing The Greg's Mexican doppelgänger at the laundromat.
  • Cold pizza and raspberry Milanos for dinner.
  • Making the executive decision that my cat is now Canadian, eh.
 

December 18, 2007

This And That

  • Last week, I received an instant message from a friend of mine. "I am outta the hospital. Just got home." To which I had an Angry Black Bitch moment: Blink. "I didn't know you were in the hospital," I replied. "I didn't wanna worry anyone until it was over." Okay, well... mission not-so-accomplished because now not only am I worried, but I'm also pissed.
  • Usually this time of year, I want to crawl under the covers and hide until the new year begins, but oddly enough, I am somewhat enjoying this holiday season. Must be the St. John's Wort.
  • I finished my holiday shopping today, with the exception of one gift that I'm likely not going to buy and ship until after Christmas because I'm a rebel like that.
  • Tomorrow, I'm going to see Blade Runner with John & Jason. Can you believe I've never seen it?
  • Thomas is in the throes of comprehensive exams for his PhD, a sadistic rite of passage Academia® likes to inflict on her students because she is one bad ass mutha who doesn't care if you think she's a bitch. On Thursday, I'm going to stop by to ensure his brain hasn't melted after twenty-four hours of testing.
 

October 03, 2007

Things That Rock

keith b'day mixIn August, Keith of fred flare, asked for people to burn a CD of their favorite songs and mail them to him for his birthday. In return, he'd make one and mail it back. So I sent him one. I got mine yesterday and it's awesome. It has great tracks by Inner City, Prince and so much more. And some really hot mashups. He also threw in a copy of The Kung Fu Girls CD. It's very cool. Fun stuff.

Today, I received a book from a certain Goonies-obsessed Simon Pegg fan. It's called Bad Cat and it's like LOLcats in book form. I loves me some LOL[person, place or thing] after all. Thanks Mikey!

Speaking of books, I'm currently reading The Amateur Gourmet: How to Shop, Chop, and Table Hop Like a Pro (Almost) by Adam Roberts. I've been a fan of Adam's for a while now, but I gotta tell ya. This book impresses the hell of me. I knew he was an excellent writer, but this book is a pure joy to read; warm, funny and completely charming. I highly recommend it.

Must. Have. This.

And finally, Doug Savage of Savage Chickens recently won the Laura Veirs video contest. It rocks.

 

May 31, 2007

Funny Boys of The Internets®

Chris LeavinsWho doesn't love to laugh? Here are five guys who make me smile and LOL on a daily basis.

Recently on his show Cute with Chris, Chris Leavins said among his viewers are thirty-two gay bears. I'd like to think I am responsible for that number.

On February 3, I sent an email to Homer saying, "Watch this." Homer replied, "I'm going to have his baby."

On Tuesday, February 6, Homer posted about the Cute with Chris show and if there is anything we all know about Homer it is this: he is the Oprah of gay bears. He speaks. They listen.

So Chris Leavins, you are welcome for this unique segment of your growing fan-base.

Call me.

Adam RobertsIn February of 2004, Adam Roberts, The Amateur Gourmet, became wildly popular after only blogging for a month and he did it by simply baking cupcakes. Not just any cupcakes, but Janet Jackson breast cupcakes. Soon Adam was getting tons of traffic and being profiled in the media (CNN and The New Yorker to name two.) but he wasn't resting on the laurels of his boob baking. He was blogging about his experiences at restaurants and adventures in cooking, and doing so with a hilarious sense of humor. (One of my personal faves is his Condoleezza Rice Pudding with Berries of Mass Destruction.) AND he did all this in the beginning while attending law school, which prompted this email exchange.

Years later, Adam is still at it and now making a career of writing about food for sites like Serious Eats and Salon. Later this year, his first book is being released.

But what he's missing is a gay bear fan-base. I'll have to speak to Homer about this.

The Guys of Best Night Ever

For a few months, I've been watching VH1's Best Night Ever podcast. In around three minutes they manage to skewer the previous nights tops shows with genius jabs. My three favorite podcasters are fresh-faced and fantastic Brian Faas, sly and clever Michael Cyril Creighton, Alex Blagg who brings cynicism and sarcasm to a level of art.

They are The Shit®. (Three recent clips are after the jump.)

As long as bearded duo Alex and MCC are around, I'm not too worried about their gay bear fan-base.

Call me.

Continue reading "Funny Boys of The Internets®" »

 

May 18, 2007

Birthday Girls and Some Other Stuff

  • Today is Tuna Girl's birthday. If you haven't read her blog, you should. She's the bee's knees. Swing on by and wish her a happy birthday.
  • My hair looks like total crap. I need a haircut bad.
  • I hate television ranting. So sorry.
  • Michael Penn writes deliciously melancholy music. I am obsessed with his song Walter Reed.
 

May 03, 2007

This and That

  • Lettuce wraps are probably a bit too messy to be eaten at my desk.
  • "What the french, toast?" is my new favorite thing to say.
 

April 02, 2007

Recap

Weekend Recap
 

March 29, 2007

Random Thoughts

  • BernadetteWith lyrics like "I was at home feeling sleazy, so I went down to the speakeasy," you just know Klymaxx wrote "The Men All Pause" with an open rhyming dictionary in hand. It was the 80s ladies, not Prohibition.
  • Diet soda tastes better with freshly-squeezed lime.
  • I'm wondering how in the hell did I get sucked into watching America's Next Top Model again. Damn you Tyra Banks! Damn you.
  • Is it really almost April already? It seems like it was just Christmas.
  • I think my day would go much better, if I could take a little nap every day.
 

March 06, 2007

90s

Inspired by Keith at BFF, I sifted through my iTunes last night to make my own 90s mix.


  • Groove Is In The Heart - Deee-Lite

  • Constant Craving - k.d. lang

  • Man On The Moon - R.E.M.

  • I'm Diggin' You (Like An Old Soul Record) - Me'Shell Ndegeocello

  • Knockin On Mine - Paul Westerberg

  • All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow

  • So Much Mine - The Story

  • I Alone - Live

  • God - Tori Amos

  • Rollin' With My Homies - Coolio

  • Where Will I Be - Emmylou Harris

  • Right Hand Man - Joan Osborne

  • Taffy - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

  • Sick Of Myself - Matthew Sweet

  • Time Bomb - Rancid

  • Possesion - Sarah McLachlan

  • Desperately Wanting - Better Than Ezra

  • Locked Out - Crowded House

  • Criminal - Fiona Apple

  • Down Together - Refreshments

  • Everlong - Foo Fighters

  • When My Ship Comes In - Jill Sobule

  • Fall Down - Toad the Wet Sprocket

  • Sale or Return - bis

Whew! And that barely scratches the surface!

What are some of your favorite songs of the 90s? Please share or you'll get the business end of Adam's cat Corky.

 

January 01, 2007

Stubs

Looking through the drawers and cluttered top of my desk, I've discovered that I have a habit of not only keeping fortunes from fortune cookies, but also movie ticket stubs. Here are a few.

  • Napoleon Dynamite - I have three stubs for this one. Yes. I saw it three times in the theater. I find that this movie is much more fun on the big screen than on DVD.
  • The Incredibles - I saw this with Thomas.
  • What the Bleep Do We Know!? - This is another movie I saw three times in the theater. In fact, it ran for over a year in one theater in Tempe. I think the third time, I feel asleep during it. Quantum physics...very soothing.

    You may think seeing a movie three times in the theater is excessive, but trust me...it ain't. I don't want to name names, but a certain someone I know saw the first of those hobbit movies TWENTY-ONE times in the theater. At 178 minutes that comes to approximately two and a half days of watching the same movie. TWO. AND. A. HALF. DAYS.

    Thomas, please get help.
  • The Bourne Supremacy - My favorite part is when Matt Damon throws Julia Styles against the wall. All Julia Styles movies would better if she got knocked around a little in them.
  • Dirty Shame - You can read about that here.
 

September 08, 2006

Meme: Url Alphabet

I saw this at Biz Stone. Go to your browswer's URL field and which address auto-completes for each of the letters of the alphabet.

A. aaronedwards.net
B. bloglines.com
C. cheapblueguitar.com
D. del.icio.us
E. en.wikipedia.org
F. flickr.com
G. google.com
H. himonkey.net
I. ia8bit.net (I was listening to this while doing this.)
J. jackplotnick.com (I was so surfing MySpace last night for actors.)
K. knottyboy.blogspot.com
L. last.fm
M. mail.google.com
N. naughtyamericanhistory.com (Thank Marc for this.)
O. Zilch!
P. phoenixfest.blogspot.com (I really need to update my bookmark.)
Q. quotes.zaadz.com
R. readymademag.com
S. secretsimon.blogspot.com
T. thisboyelroy.typepad.com
U. unitedlife.com
V. Zilch
W. womenfolk.net
X. Zilch
Y. youtube.com
Z. zaadz.com

 

August 03, 2006

If You've Got the Bullets, I've Got the Time

  • From LA Weekly: No one explained why better than the Simon Wiesenthal Center's dean and founder, Rabbi Marvin Hier, when he told me in an interview this week from Israel, where he was handing out funds for aid and shelter to Israelis, including Israeli Arabs: "Look, the issue with Mel Gibson is very simple. Mel Gibson is driving under intoxication. There are no Jews in sight. He can blame his car, he can blame his liquor, and he can blame the sheriff. But he can't blame any Jews, because there are none around. That's precisely who he blames. Yet that's the problem. That shows he has a problem with Jews. And there's an old Yiddish saying, which loses a lot in translation, 'What someone drunk has on his tongue comes from his conscience when he is not drunk.' "
  • Lately, I am completely obsessed with the song "Only" by Nine Inch Nails. I've downloaded three versions and listen to them over and over and over.
  • Someone says I'm also completely obsessed with MySpace. Hmpf. Whatever. (Okay, so like as of this writing, I like totally have like 40 friends, like OMG! My goal is to like get more friends than like Dane Cook.)
  • At work today, I got an email that said, "YOU ARE AWESOME! Thank you!!!!!!!!" Normally overuse of exclamation points give me hives but I think in this case it's completely justified.
  • And finally a shameless plug for my birthday which is in one week. Feel free to shower me with love and adoration next Thursday. (Get your mind out of the gutter CW.) Overuse of exclamation points is acceptable for that as well.
  • Bonus points to anyone who knows where the title of this post comes from...without Googling it.
 

February 04, 2006

It's Spreading Like That Virus in 28 Days Later!

The other day I was talking to Homer and I says to the guy, "Have you seen that four things meme going around on The Internet™?"

"Oh gawd. I hate memes," he replied.

Yeah me too, but this thing I've noticed about this one has many high-profile/high-traffic bloggers were doing it. The Dooces. The Mighty Girls. The Powazeks. The Internet Royalty if you will.

These are people who'd rather cut off their own arm than participate in a meme. It's just so common. They probably don't even forward chain emails about Friendship Week or removing your phone number from Google or that one called "Things to do to coworker on vacation" that has pictures of cubicles in aluminum foil, stuffed with packing peanuts, etc.

They certainly don't need the incentive to come up with content. We will still read them no matter what they post. Dooce could post about being constipated for a week during her kid's breast-feeding stage and that her bra smells like yogurt and The Internet™ would have a collective belly laugh.

So I wondered when it would trickle down to the peons of blogging such as myself.

Today, my friends, is that day thanks to this kind gentleman. Hang on to your hats kids. Prepare to be FASCINATED with my mediocrity.

Four jobs I've had

1. Building proctor. This was one of my jobs during college. My job was to sit in a chair in the music building for five hours and watch people walk in and out. That's it. I suppose if something were to go wrong like a fire or terrorist attack, it was my job to do something about. But I'm not sure what, because that never happened. So I'd sit and do homework, practice or pull out a portable TV and watch it. For a minimum wage job, it was pretty sweet.
2. Recital attendance taker. When you are a music student at my college, you were required to attend so many recitals a semester. Pretty much all of them really. It was my job to get to the recital early and take attendance. I would give the student a card and they'd have to return it after the recital was over. Another sweet minimum wage job AND for college credit.
3. Pizza delivery boy. Wrap your fantasies around that one boys.
4. McDonalds lackey. I did this for one summer between college semesters. I never felt so greasy in my entire life.

Four places I've lived

1. Weatherford, Oklahoma
2. Tempe, Arizona
3. Mesa, Arizona
4. Scottsdale, Arizona

Geez. Looking at that list kinda makes me feel sedentary and that it may be time to move again.

Four TV shows you like to watch

HEY! I just noticed there are MORE questions on the one that Dooce did. Is that what this is about? The Internet Royalty gets ALL the questions while we bottom-feeders get the snack-size version? Much like Oprah®, I feel duped. I wanted to list four movies I could watch over and over. I'm gonna break the rules and do that one.

Four movies I can watch over and over

1. Amelie
2. Party Girl
3. Strictly Ballroom
4. 9 to 5

Alright. Back to the other one.

Four TV shows you like to watch

1. Gilmore Girls
2. Lost
3. 24
4. Freaks and Geeks (RIP)

Four sites I visit daily

1. flickr friends
2. Google Reader
3. Merriam-Webster Online
4. My bank's website. I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind.

Four places I'd rather be

Well after seeing the appalling list of the places I've lived, I would say anywhere but here, so here goes.

1. At the Austin City Limits Music Fesitval
2. Browsing CDs at Bleecker Street Records
3. Two Boots Pizza
3. The Bay Area

Four people to tag

1. Homer. Just do it Homey!
2. Mark. I'm sure you've been tagged a zillion times already Shug.
3. Secret Simon
4. Tuna Girl. Whom I'm also sure has been tagged about a zillion times.

Well that was relatively painless. Thanks Greg.

 

January 05, 2006

Netflixing

After I read Michael's post about seeing which movies certain cities are renting, I had to explore.

My zip code.
1. The Deal
2. Wake Up, Ron Burgundy
3. 7 Seconds
Gah...my neighbors sure rent some shitty movies.

Adam's hood.
1. Piglet's Big Movie
2. Blue Man Group: The Complex Rock Tour Live (as opposed to the simple one)
3. A Day Without a Mexican
WTF!? Dyanna's zip code is the same. Phoenix is so weird.

Homer's hood in Tucson shapes up like this.
1. Stand by Me
2. Singin' in the Rain
3. Cry-Baby

And down in good ol' Texas, Mark's part of Dallas looks like this.
1. Lonesome Dove (2-Disc Series)
2. Charade
3. The Alamo

 

October 27, 2004

Repeat Viewings

Many moons ago, this guy wrote a post about his favorite movies and I've been meaning to the same ever since. When he said "I watched Lonesome Dove for like the thousandth time the other day," I could totally relate. I have certain movies that I watch over and over and never get tired seeing.

I have to say up front, there is a difference between movies I think are great and movies I consider my favorite. Schindler's List is a great film. I just don't want to see every day. These are movies that feel like old friends you don't see every day but when you do, you instantly feel comfortable and can pick up where you left off.

Party Girl - I have seen this movie what feels like a thousand times. No other movie has seeped into vernacular as this movie has, so much so that I refer to my favorite (former) co-worker as Buttercup. There is a reason the moniker "Party Girl" followed Parker Posey for so many years in the press, she's so fucking good in it. Now, if only they'd release a wide screen version of it, my life would be complete.

Nine to Five - This runs a close second to the impact it's had on my day-to-day life. To any one who's ever heard me say, "Atta girl," this is where it is from. It is horribly dated but still seems as fresh and funny each time I see it.

Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain or as we like to call it here in the states, Amélie - I remember exactly what I felt when I first saw this movie in the theater. I felt like a child seeing snow for the first time. Or coming downstairs on Christmas morning and realizing Santa was real. This movie is pure magic and has hands down the best kiss in any movie ever.

A Christmas Story - I have to watch this movie every holiday. It's programmed in my DNA. The whole bit about the leg lamp is priceless and sadly, very close to home. More on that another day.

Mulholland Dr. - When I first saw this movie, I hated it...with a passion. But it haunted me and I went to see it again. And then again. Now I own it. I can't explain why I'm so transfixed on it. Maybe it's the hyper styling. Maybe it's Naomi Watt's brilliant performance. (She was ROBBED by the Academy I tell you!) Maybe it's Laura Harring breasts, which I gotta tell you, even though I like dudes, MAN OH MAN! Is she beautiful. Of course, Justin Theroux haunted my dreams for a while too. My favorite scene is one that made me laugh out loud the first time I saw it because I thought it was just sooooo over the top but now completely fascinates me, is Rebekah Del Rio's aching performance at Club Silencio.

Sweet Dreams and What's Love Got to Do with It - When you are in college, you tend to obsess about things. Two of my obsessions where Patsy Cline songs and I, Tina. Many nights were spent listening to Patsy's sad wail. (You can hear the heartbreak in her voice.) I read I, Tina so many times, my poor dog-eared copy didn't survive long. My favorite line from Sweet Dreams: "Look Charlie! A dishwasher! Queen of Sheba."

Heathers - Okay, so yeah, I know...Winona Ryder is the only one in the whole movie how looks like they could be in high school, but so what. This script was so amazing for it's time and today, it could never be made. The world has changed way too much, but back in 1989, they hit it on the nose.

Striclty Ballroom - Baz Luhrmann's first movie and the best use of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time".

Fight Club - When the movie starts, it grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go. It's wickedly funny and so damn brilliant. Helena Bonham Carter has the best entrance when she walks into the testicular cancer support group, smoking, and says, "This is cancer...right?" Why they keep sticking that girl in corsets for movies is beyond me.

I could go on forever but I'll stop there for now. I haven't even gotten to my favorite kind of movie, really, really bad ones. I have two words for you: Disco Godfather.

 

October 12, 2004

Anytime

I received an email this morning about a co-worker who passed away on Friday. Before I left work on Thursday for my mini Columbus Day extended weekend, I was told she was in the ICU and things looked grim. I didn't really know her personally, only professionally. Over the last several years, she and I have collaborated on many projects many of which were ongoing. Last week, I looked at my calendar to see it was time to make an update to one of our projects, I was saddened to realize she didn't remind me like she usually did and probably never would again.

A week ago, the mother of a friend of mine passed away. She lives far away and I longed to be there to help. Physically, actively help. I remembered seeing her mother at her wedding. There were so many people there, I never got a chance to say hello and introduce myself (the Old Brian? was too shy to say hello and introduce himself), but I watched her dance with her husband and dote on her daughter and I felt her love for all her children and grandchildren.

And of course, Christopher Reeve died on Sunday. I hope it doesn't seem inappropriate to say that when I was an adolescent, I had the biggest boy crush on him. Not just because he was Superman, but that didn't hurt. Seeing how he fought to recover and raised money and awareness after his accident, only solidified in my mind he was one of the good guys.

I don't really think about my own mortality a lot. I guess I'm of the "I could go at anytime" variety, not that I want to go anytime soon. Whenever I do go, I hope people will know I loved them and have fond memories of me.

Weeks ago, Patrick wrote a post about the list of things he wanted to do after he got sick. I've been working on my list since then. I ain't been easy. I'm not that ambitious. I guess the only way to get it done is just to do it. So here goes.


  • Learn to skateboard

  • Perform at an open mike night

  • Learn to take and develop black and white photos

  • Learn to knit a scarf (shut up!)

  • Take a cross country road trip and meet all the friends I've never met

  • Visit Savannah, Georgia

  • Finish a writing project (blogging doesn't count)

  • Attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival

  • Go to amusement parks again

  • Go on a hay ride and make a bonfire

  • Have dinner in Greece, complete with dancing and throwing plates

  • Make a stained glass window

  • Watch a sunset from some place natural and beautiful

  • Hike

 

August 21, 2004

Random Schtuff 2

I apparently don't have the brain capacity to write a real post, so you get another list.

I am totally crushing on Napoleon Dynamite. Adam and I like it so much, we went to see it again the next night. It's not a movie for everyone, only us cool kids, so if you've heard it's dumb, you aren't a cool kid. How sad for you.

I will probably be quoting lines from the movie from now on, so brush up if you want to follow along.

"I see you're drinking 1% milk. Is that because you think you're fat? Because you're not. You could probably be drinking whole milk."

Yesterday I stayed home from work because I felt like crap. My stomach was all wonky (most likely from the beau coup Hot Tamales and other sugary substances consumed at the movies) and I had a splitting headache. It was so bad, I woke up super early and couldn't go back to sleep. So I chatted with Mark who gave me a much needed dose of baby talk. Mark is indeed one of the good guys.

After sleeping all day, I decided to go to Target so I can actually shave eventually, because I'm out of razors and stuff. So, I threw on a t-shirt and jeans, stepped into my sandals and drove to the store looking like hammered shit. Once there, this guy heavily cruised me. Emphasis on heavily. Everywhere I went, there he was. I tried to smile at him, but he always looked away when I tried to make eye contact. (*sigh* The games people play.) At the checkout, he checked out first, walked to the bathroom door, stopped, turned to look at me and went in. Let's get one thing straight first. I am sooooo not going into some skanky retail bathroom for sex. Ew. You've read about how am I in public restrooms in general, so you can imagine how unappealing the idea is for me. If it's for you, hey that's great, but I like clean places. That being said, it was extremely flattering that even looking like hammered shit, someone found me desirable, even for a quickie. I rock!

I'm listening to the new Wilco album, which I bought last night. They just keep getting better and better.

 

August 18, 2004

Random Schtuff

  • I am totally digging the new Blogger Navbar so much that I added it to my blog even though I'm not required to. I've used Google to search for specific entries in my blog, but this makes it so much easier. Could Google and Blogger rock any more than they do? (I'm sure they can.) I heart them.
  • Haikus are fun.
  • Andrea launched Superhero Photos. This woman is simply lovely and amazing, If you are not familiar with her, her artwork or photos, do yourself a favor and check her out. Although she encourages us all to be our own superhero, she is one of mine.
  • I am so excited to see Napoleon Dynamite with Adam tonight. I've been wanting to see this for a while and for whatever reason, haven't gotten around to it, which is really sad because it's at the movie theater up the street from me.
  • Last week I ran into a friend I haven't seen for over two years. I first saw him online in the middle of last week and then Friday, I was leaving a restaurant after lunch and bumped into him. He was a casualty of my Friendship Divorce? with D. It was good to see him. He makes me smile.
  • I have not been watching any TV except for the morning news shows while I eat my breakfast. That's it. Otherwise, it's never on. No Amazing Race or Big Brother. No Olympics. No Amish in the City. No Trading Spouses. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Zero. You wanna know the great part. I haven't missed it one bit.
  • The Roommate and I have been watching every episode of Alias while we are eating dinner. We started with the last season and are working our way backwards. Weird - huh? After this season's cliffhanger (yawn), I was thinking I was getting over this show, but just finishing season two (with Evil Francie) has reminded me how much fun this show is.
  • I should get off my ass and schedule another interview, but I'm just too frickin' lazy right now.
 

August 09, 2004

Weekend To Do List Progress Report

Friday night pre-birthday dinner with friends at favorite Mexican food restaurant. Check.

Freak The Cat out with Mylar balloons received at said pre-birthday dinner. Check.

Sleeping in on Saturday morning. Check. (How sad is it that 7:30 AM is sleeping in for me now?)

Come up with names for friend's fake boobs. Check. (I dubbed them Angelina and Billy Bob. She said, "They aren't together anymore." I said, "One day, yours won't be either.")

Doing absolutely nothing all day on Saturday. Check.

Forcing myself to take a shower at the last possible moment. Check.

Doing street outreach while sweating like a hog in the 110° plus heat. Check.

Watch The Roommate gush over her new beau. Check.

Budget and pay remaining bills. Not checked.

Sleeping in on Sunday morning. Check.

Not leaving the house at all on Sunday. Check.

Ordering pizza with friends while they force me to what that Extreme Home Makeover show. Check.

Take about 6 naps all weekend. Check.

Think of something new to blog about. In progress.

 

July 22, 2004

Gurrrlll...The Tribe Has Spoken

"If you blog it, they will come."


  • Mr. Indie Rockstar Palochi started a Tribe for Gay Bloggers and the people who love them and boy oh boy did it catch on! Email after email of Tribe invitations flood my inbox. Discussion threads start and go on and on until they have reached their maximum "depth". It's become quite a little community.
  • So, if you want to join the party, please do. The more the merrier. Or is it the more the Mary-er?

  • Speaking of Mr. Indie Rockstar Palochi, he is also quite the writer. Do yourself a favor and check out his fiction blog "The Dawn of the American Expatriate". Of course, it is helpful if you start with the first post and work your way up. It's riveting and like all good writers, it gives you just a taste of what's coming next to leave you wanting more. Hats off to you Mr. Indie Rockstar Palochi. (I'm thinking that could be your new moniker ala Famous Author Rob Byrnes.)

  • What else is going on in the blog universe?
  • Today is young Samuel's birthday. Wish him well.

  • Mark posted his pictures from the big GB:NY thingy. He is ridiculously photogenic and for that, he must be hated. Too bad he's such a sweetheart that he makes you forget to hate him.

  • Patrick recalls a harrowing, yet extremely funny tale of a first date from hell.

  • I have been faithfully reading about Jeff and Mike's adventures during The Great Sitting. There are even t-shirts available. How cool that proceeds go to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation? That is just the kind of guys they are.

  • David made Liz and honest woman. Congratulations you crazy kids.

  • Gregg has started blogging again. You have been missed Gregg.

  • Ryan got a job despite hanging out at the pool all day. Enjoy your weekend in Phoenix Ryan. The weather will be nice, hot and icky just for you.

  • And finally, just go check out Hot Toddy and say hi, just so he doesn't feel left out.

 

June 04, 2004

What I Have Learned This Week

1. If you are going to wear low-rise jeans, don't, I repeat do not wear granny panties underneath.

2. If you realize your big ol' flesh-colored granny panties are exposed, don't try to remedy it by pulling your low-rise jeans up. They are LOW-RISE...get it? (Gurrlll...tuck those big drawers in.)

3. Trying not to giggle behind a woman wearing granny panties and low-rise jeans makes me want to giggle more.

4. It's pronounced Man-e-SHEV-itz.

5. Apparently someone thinks I sound like a stuck up valley girl on her voicemail.

6. People tend to back away from you when you tell them you have been exposed to TB.

7. I am not contagious goddammit!

8. Someone else has heard of The Judybats. Not only heard of, but seen them in concert.

9. I can improvise a recipe for banana bread on the fly and it tastes awesome.

10. After having six days off from work, I've become a little too invested in the lives of the women in the Starting Over house.

11. Having six days off from work doesn't make going back to work any easier.

 

May 15, 2004

76 - 100 of 100

1. I sleep with my feet sticking out from under the covers.

2. The room has to be pretty cool for me to fall asleep.

3. I too am a hot
sleeper
. Sometimes, I think my body reaches such high thermal nuclear temperatures,
surely I must glow in my sleep.

4. I hate when The Cat wants to sleep in my room at night. I'm glad he usually
sleeps with The Roommate.

5. On the other hand, I'm addicted to watching him sleep. He's just so darn
cute.

6. I love shopping in thrift shops.

7. I prefer quite evenings at home to a night at the bars.

8. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 20. The only reason I got it was
for identification so merchants would accept my checks.

9. I believe everyone has the power to change their life, sometimes you just
need some help.

10. I have never eaten sushi. I hope to change that one day.

11. When I was in high school and college, I had an extremely sarcastic tone of
voice. So much, that in college, any time I was telling someone something
serious or honest, I would have to raise my hand while doing so, just so they'd
know I was being sincere.

12. I love office supplies but hate offices.

13. I think one day I will finally take the plunge and become a vegetarian.

14. I am interested in tattoos and what they say about a person, but don't think
I could ever commit to getting one.

15. I wonder what that says about me.

16. If I could trade jobs with anyone, it would be Steve
Hartman
. I have no desire to be on TV or be a journalist, but I love asking
people questions and finding something interesting about them.

17. The first song I taught myself to play on guitar was Shawn Colvin's Round of
Blues.

18. I spend too much money on magazines and magazine subscriptions, however I
don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

19. When I was in high school, many strangers mistook me for much older than I
was. In fact, the first time I bought beer as a minor, I was in such disbelief
that I was actually going to get away with it that I wanted to say, "Do you
have any idea how old I am?"

20. Luckily now many people mistake me for younger, but not much. I wonder how
much longer I can pull that off.

21. As a boy, I had the biggest crush on Shaun Cassidy. I wanted to be
the third Hardy Boy. In fact, I remember my parents gave me a t-shirt with a
glittery iron on of his face. I wore it all the time and was really sad when I
out grew it. I wish I still had it.

22. I only have two things from my childhood. A teddy bear who probably wishes
he was euthanized (Poor thing!) and a little toy Shazam car.

23. I am very fortunate to have an abundance of friends. So many, that most
don't know each other. I dream of one day bringing them all together so I can
have all the people I love under on roof, even for just one evening.

24. I believe the best is yet to come.

25. I like to make lists.

 

May 03, 2004

51 - 75 of 100

1. I truly believe belly shirts don't look good on people with bellies.

2. You will never see me in a belly shirt.

3. I used to be quite outdoorsy. Now I'm pretty indoorsy. I don't think that's
good.

4. I watch less television than I used to. I do think that is a good thing.

5. I've been known to say dorky rhyming things like "awesome blossom" and
"later gator".

6. I don't wear a watch. I also don't wear necklaces, bracelets, rings and have
no piercing. Basically I am unornamented.

7. One of my favorite books is The Accidental Tourist.

8. At one time in my life, I joked my four basic food groups were nicotine, caffeine,
sugar and chocolate. Now I don't smoke or drink soda and I've cut way back on
sugar. I think my current four basic food groups are water, prescription
medication, vitamins and supplements.

9. I don't remember exactly when I quit smoking. I figured out the less I
concentrated on the act of quitting the easier it became to quit.

10. I suck at learning languages.

11. I love to people watch.

12. I love gray, overcast, cool days which are rare in the Valley of the Sun.

13. I am a bit pee shy.

14. My favorite blaxploitation movie is Disco Godfather.

15. I love that the word blaxploitation is in the dictionary.

16. I'm not much of a joiner.

17. I'm extremely cynical, but in a good way.

18. I've only had surgery once in my life to have my appendix removed. After the
surgeon removed it, they discovered I never had appendicitis, only the symptoms
that accompany it.

19. For two years I worked a night job from 10 pm until the sun came up. It was
one of the most miserable experiences of my life.

20. Despite myself, I am becoming a Morning Person.

21. I love movies about girls who learn a lesson and superheroes.

22. I also love movies made in Australia.

23. I don't toss around words like "blessed" lightly. I feel truly
blessed to have certain people in my life and consider their friendships true
gifts.

24. I'd be happy if I could only wear jeans the rest of my life. (with a
shirt obviously, gutter mind!)

25. I believe everyone has a story to tell.

Woo-hoo! Only twenty-five more to go!

 

April 20, 2004

Vacation Highlights

I was in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina for the weekend visiting my friend Diana. Some vacation highlights, thoughts, observations and queries:

I felt a little queasy before my flight so I bought some Dramamine to keep
from heaving. Did you know Dramamine makes you sleepy? I didn't. I slept for
almost the entire flight. Which was probably a good thing. I was sandwiched
between a man who insisted on violating my personal space the entire flight
and a girl obviously suffering from a cold. Ugh.

Can someone tell me why there is always a Brooks Brothers at the airport?
I've never seen anyone shopping in one and I can't imagine anyone having the
overwhelming desire to purchase a sports coat while waiting for their flight.

I immediately had to retrain myself when ordering beverages. I kept asking
for regular tea thinking I'd get unsweetened tea. I
forgot that regular tea in the south is sweetened tea. Bleah.

I played with Diana's camera phone while there. I realize if I had one, I'd
run the battery down constantly with stupid candid shots.

I saw lots of trees.
They are a cloak of deception. They make everything seem very rural cause you
can't ever really see the metropolitan area for the trees.

Apparently festivals are quite the big thing in "The Triangle". We went to the Skakori Grassroots Festival and something called the Apple Chill,
which was a street arts and crafts fair. I didn't expect to be spending so
much time outdoors and didn't pack my organic sun block. (Regular sun block
burns my face. What can I say...I'm a delicate flower.) So I got quite the
facial sunburn at the festivals. I need to invest in a good sun blocking
hat. The challenge is 1) finding one that fits my large head and 2) finding
one that doesn't look stupid.

The Skakori Grassroots Festival was full of modern day hippies wearing lots of tie dye and hemp bracelets. One hippie chick was sporting a skirt fashioned out of men's ties. She gets the MacGyver Challenge award from me.
At one of the "Healing Arts" booths, I got a massage. My masseuse
was a large hippie man with a long white and gray ponytail and beard. I have a
weird thing about people touching me so I am amazed I let Herbal Santa massage
me at all, let alone in the middle of the woods in full view of everyone.

Oddly, I didn't see a single damn apple at the Apple Chill. I'm unsure
why it was called that. I probably should have asked someone. There were a lot of people there so it was nice to
just walk around and people watch. I was disappointed that I didn't see hardly
any gay dudes there but the dykes were representing well. I also got to see
some ghetto fabulous divas and their men. I kept wondering if any of the guys
were living
on the down low
.

I ate at some pretty great restaurants including Mama
Dip's
and Pepper's
Pizza
. Pepper's had the BEST gazpacho and pizza.

There is no Starbucks at the RDU airport! Those rat bastards. Now, I know
what you are thinking. "But Brian...you don't drink coffee." True,
but I do craved regular...er...unsweetened iced tea often and I really needed
something to drink before my flight. I was sunburned and exhausted and was yearning
for some Tazo black tea. I had to suck it up and drink water. The second I set
foot off the plane in Phoenix, I headed to the nearest kiosk like a junkie
needing a fix.

 

March 29, 2004

31 - 50 of 100

A few more tidbits to add
to the pile
.

1. I talk to my cat like he's a person and can understand me.

2. He talks back, but I rarely know what he's trying to tell me.

3. I tend to obsess about things that are out of my control.

4. I hate, hate, hate going to the gym.

5. I daydream all the time. Probably more than I should.

6. I have very vivid, bizarre dreams. I usually remember them in great detail. I
occasionally write about them as evident here,
here
and here.

7. Sometimes my dreams have celebrity cameos.

8. In college, I read I,
Tina
way too many times.

9. Although I have never been formally diagnosed, I think I have slight OCD.
(Emphasis on slight.)

10. I started wearing glasses when I was 6. I started wearing contacts when I
was 16. Today I usually wear my glasses and rarely wear my contacts.

11. I don't eat red meat.

12. Okay, that's a lie. I do have a hamburger maybe once a year and I pay the
price dearly for it. However since the last incident, I don't think it will be
anytime soon when I have another.

13. My all time favorite email I've received was only one sentence: "I SAY
TO FUCK YOURSELF BECAUSE CHRISTINA IS PREETIER THAN YOU'LL EVER BE." It was
in response to a feedback I left about this.

14. I have been known to burn bridges.

15. I don't have cable, satellite or anything, but that's okay. I feel like I
watch way too much TV with only eight channel to choose from.

16. I don't give a shit that I ended a sentence in a preposition.

17. I have a very wild imagination.

18. Two things have been said about me. I have both dripping sarcasm and wit as
dry as a bone.

19. I don't understand materialism and the value of having things. I find more
value in people.

20. Music feeds my soul.

 

February 04, 2004

Currently

Voting

I went to vote in the primary yesterday. I was very discouraged that
1) there wasn't a line to stand in when I got there (I was in fact the only
voter there) and 2) when the poll person pointed on the list for me to sign my
name, there were no other signatures. This was at 4:45 PM. Very
disappointing. What is it going to take to inspire people to vote?

Mourning

The loss of Nita's Hideaway.
Nita's was the best place to see local and national acts. Its
closure
is a really sad sign for all music in this area.

Listening

What is it about the latest Pernice
Brothers
album, Yours,
Mine & Ours
, I like so much? It it their sweet soothing voices and
lush harmonies? Is it their catchy hooks? Is it that they remind me
a bit of The Judybats? Perhaps it's all of
these things. I am still kicking myself for not getting to see them last
time they were in Phoenix.

I have been listening to Rosie Thomas's
song Wedding Day in constant repeat. It is a perfect little song. The
rest of the album
is pretty good too, but this song really stays with
me.

Monday I received a wonderful surprise. Robbie,
someone I've never met but whom I suspect is as kind as he is creative,
generously offered to make and send me a CD
compilation
of songs by Lisa Germano, one
of his favorite singers. I knew this was being delivered, but what I didn't
know
is how much effort he would end up putting into it. This CD is
amazing. He hand picked 22 of his favorite song, even formatted
some songs so they blended into each other seamlessly. He designed a
booklet complete with lyrics (he actually typed all the lyrics!) and
artwork. It's a wonderful introduction to an artist who's talent I am
growing to admire. Thank you Robbie!

Leaving

I leave tomorrow morning to fly to Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina to visit my
friend Diana. She's only been gone about 6 weeks, but I already miss her
dearly. I'm looking forward to spending to time with her. I'm not
looking forward to freezing my ass off. I am spoiled by the desert and
will probably freak out at the temperature being in the low forties. I'm
going to take this opportunity to shop for a good coat. I don't own a
coat. Since moving to Phoenix, I've never needed one. I think I
should get one just for things like this.

 

February 02, 2004

21 - 30 of 100

Maybe
one day this will turn out to be a list of 100
things
. Until then, I'll
just post them as I think of them.

1. I
had never been to Arizona when I moved here in 1997. I drove through
the night from Oklahoma and arrived on a Saturday morning in August.
Little did I know, August is not the best time of year to move to
Phoenix. About 15 miles before I crossed the city limits, I hit a wall
of heat I had never felt before. Did I mention the car I was driving
had no air-conditioning and the driver's side window didn't roll down?
Yeah. It wasn't the best first impression.

2. A
few months later, I bought a used car with air-conditioning. The A/C
crapped out a few years later and for two or three summers, I drove around
without A/C. I am still amazed that I have adapted to the summer
heat. Don't get me wrong, it's completely miserable, but I no longer
feel like I'm going to die or spontaneously combust at any moment.

3. After
that
car was destroyed
, I got a new car with ice cold A/C. I'm back to
being wimpy and can't imagine not having A/C.

4. Air-conditioning
is a very big deal here in the desert.

5. Every
pair of shoes I own are Skechers, except one and they are very Skechers-eque
however I can't remember the last time I wore them. (They probably
feel like the neglected step child.) I'm not sure how or when I became
a complete whore to the Skechers company, but I don't intend to stop anytime
soon.

6. I
carry a small APS camera with me everywhere I go, but rarely take pictures
with it. Oh, it comes in handy sometimes: a birthday dinner and no one
brought a camera, etc. but it usually just sits in my messenger bag
unused. In fact, I usually process incomplete rolls because I get
tired of waiting for me to finish the rolls.

7. I
usually refer to my messenger bag as my man purse. I keep my wallet,
camera, checkbook, PDA, lip balm and a
bunch of other stuff in it. It might as well
have tampons in it.

8. Apparently
I go to the gayest
gym in the valley
. There is a reason they call it Sally's.
The first time I went there, I parked next to a club kid in a sporty
Mitsubishi. His license plate said MADONNA. Case closed.

9. I
believe there is a time and place for everything. I get annoyed with
people who don't respect that boundary.

10. I
associate certain songs with certain people. This can sometimes lead
me to hate certain songs, but usually there are good memories associated
with them.

 

January 28, 2004

Sidebar?

I've
been thinking I should start a side blog to feature links to stuff I run across
and find either interesting or funny. It would sort of look like this.

01.28.04 title="Yet another reason to not watch the Super Bowl.">
CBS censors
MoveOn.org ad
. title="Really. I didn't just type LOL. I actually laughed out loud. More of a guffaw actually. Aw - just go read it. You'll see.">
This
is actually made me LOL.
title="No permanent links for the Mighty Girl...*sigh*">
Mighty
Girl on OPP (01.26.04)
title="Damn Amazon's free shipping option. I should have shelled out for overnight delivery.">
I
am all about The Detroit Cobras lately
. title="So much music to buy...so little $$$$">
I
am also all about Shane Nicholson.
title="The Roommate beat me to it.">
I
am SO buying this shirt.
title="For the little law abiding citzen in all of us.">
Law &
Order: An Adventure to Color
(via
dooce)

Okay, so maybe a side links blog would just end up being a sort of "list of
crap I want to buy" blog, which I don't really think I need.

 

January 25, 2004

1 - 20 of 100

1 - 20 of 100

I missed the 100 Things
craze of 2002. I don't think I would have even been able to come up with
100 things about myself, but I thought it might be interesting to throw a few
factoids out there.

1. I
do own a cheap blue guitar.

2. My father wanted to name me after him, which would have made me a Junior.
My mother wanted to name me Wyatt. They hated each other's choice so
they settled on naming me after actor Brian
Keith
. They never told me exactly why they did this or even
indicated that they were fond of him. (I think I would have preferred
Wyatt, but at some point I would have figured out I could write my name as
"Y@" and that would have certified me as a dork.)

3. When I was 13, I saw the The
Secret of NIMH
and wanted to change my name to Nicodemus. My
parents didn't really go for this one either.

4. I don't collect anything, however I do buy a lot of funky looking spiral
notebooks. Far more than I will ever have a need for.

5. I have a 3/4" scar on the back of my left hand approximately one
inch below my knuckles. I got it in high school from a stray wire from
a spiral notebook. This has no correlation to my collection of spiral
notebooks.

6. No
one notices the scar on my left hand but me, or at least no one has ever
asked me about it.

7. People often comment that I have soft hands. I always joke that
it's because I avoid hard work at all costs.

8. I have a Bachelor's degree in Music Theory and Composition, however never
studied with a composer during college. I didn't realize what a
limitation this was until I met students from other colleges who did study
with composers.

9. When people ask me why I stopped composing, I tell them it's because I
lost the passion to write. They never seem understand this so I try to
explain, but I don't think there is anything I can say to sufficiently make
anyone understand why or how it felt.

10. Writing music was absolutely exhilarating for me, yet it was also very
frustrating. My greatest problem was I could never get the music that
I heard in my head onto the page. When I wrote it down, the music was
different. Not necessarily bad, but not as grand or complex as it was
in the orchestra in my mind. I'm not certain if any amount of
training could have helped me overcome this problem.

11. I hate labels and price tags. Even more, I hate the residue
left behind when you remove a label or price tag from something. I use Goo
Gone
to remove it. This stuff is amazing. You barely
need any at all. I've had the same bottle for about 8 years and I
still have 1/4 left.

12. I read more magazines than I do books. I feel embarrassed to admit
that.

13. I
listened to Swamp Ophelia by the Indigo Girls on the way to my mother's
house and back on the day I came out to her.

14. I
promise I'm not a lesbian, but most of my friends are.

15. When
I make mistakes, I find it hard to forgive myself.

16. I tend to talk to myself a lot. Not so much holding a conversation
with myself, but kind of rehearsing a conversation I am going to have or
want to have.
17. I prefer to have the roll of toilet paper going over the top of the roll.
I have been known to take out the roll and put it back the way I like it in
other people's bathrooms.

18. I have an odd habit of buying things I don't need. Not frivolous
spending, but buying things that will need replacing but that I already
have. The main culprits are toothbrushes and deodorant. On the
other hand, there are certain things that I inexplicably always forget to
buy when I run out of them such as toilet paper.

19. I love iced tea as much as most people love coffee. I've been known
to dine in restaurants not because I liked their food but rather because
they serve kick ass iced tea. (Yes, there is such a thing as kick ass
iced tea.)

20. I
hate coffee.

Okay...so maybe I could have come up with 100. Twenty wasn't that hard.

 

October 01, 2003

Currently

Hating

The American version of Coupling.
The writing for the revised pilot was flat and simply unfunny. The actors
have no chemistry and have created characters that are completely charm
free. Do yourself a favor and watch the
original
on BBC America
(or PBS if in Arizona) or rent the DVD.
I could rant on and on about why it sucks but why when so
many others have done it for me
.

Thinking

Why are the only two new shows (1,
2) I want to see this season on at the
same time?

I should be reading more and watching TV less.

Reading

Filthy:
The Weird World of John Waters
by Robrt L. Pela. My favorite quote:
""I've always wanted to sell out. The problem is nobody wanted to buy
me."

The
Non-Expert: Broken Hearts
by Choire
Sicha
. Anyone who quotes Erykah Badu is okay by me.

Announcing

The
newest Maddi has arrived
.

 

September 12, 2003

Currently

Browsing

Stupid Creatures.
Worse than sock monkeys and therefore better.

Glarkware
. I can not wait to order some of these t-shirts.

The Ellen Degeneres Show
. I haven't seen the show yet, but I love the
way she draws attention to getting free tickets.

Watching

American Splendor.
This movie is about Harvey Pekar, the star of comic books with the same title
about his life as a file clerk in Cleveland. Pekar gained a lot of
national attention in the Eighties due in part to frequent appearances on Late
Night with David Letterman. The movie weaves the real life Harvey with the
actor's portrayal (a career high performance for Paul Giamatti) and animated
versions of the comic book Harvey. Sound confusing? It's not
really. It's a very original film with an unusual composition that is
completely mesmerizing, very funny and despite real life Harvey's warning that
if you are "looking for some kind of fantasy figure to save the day, you
got the wrong movie," it's still pretty heartwarming at the end.

Reading

Natural Health and Organic
Style
. I think I'm turning into a granola head. Someone offered
me a candy bar yesterday and I scrunched up my face and said no as if they had
just offered me a plate of raw octopus with a side of steamed bile. The
more I read out what additives and chemicals do to our bodies, the less I want
sugar, processed food (Organic Style is more of a chick magazine
than Natural Health, but I suppose I won't hold that against them.)

Dry
by Augusten Burroughs. I am
very impressed by this man's writing. It's very honest and brutally honest
and of course, brilliantly hilarious. When I finished the book, his story
stayed with me for several days. I read somewhere he said he wants to
crank out a book every year until people get sick of him. I don't think
that will be anytime soon.

Please
Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
. Lou Reed. Iggy
Pop. Nico. Patti Smith. They are all here in all their frank
nihilistic glory. What isn't here is a consistent narrative to add
cohesion to the text. Its absence made it hard for me to keep track of
what I was reading and I ended up just skipping around a lot.

Loving

LizzFizz. These lip balms
rock! Buy some.

 

June 16, 2003

Downsize

After a couple months of mental deliberation, I've decided to scrap that long list of New Year's resolutions I made at the beginning of the year. It's not that I don't think I can't accomplish them, it's just my priorities have changed a bit since I made those resolutions and I think my new goals are better ones.

Basically I've scaled the list back and decided to concentrate on the big ones that will make the most impact.

Exercise and Diet. This has, of course, been an objective since last year and I'm better at it some days than others. Lately though, I've had more better days than the others. I go to the gym about 4-5 days a week depending on my schedule and although I'm not obsessively restrictive, I do pay attention to what I choose to eat every day. Since last August, I have slowly seen changes. Last week, I decided to pull out a box of clothes that were my regular clothes before my fat clothes became my regular clothes. I tried them on and am happy to report they fit again.

Therapy. I started seeing a counselor in March. I haven't posted anything about it yet because I haven't really wanted to. It's personal and private and frankly, no one's business but my own. I will say that I am starting to see a benefit to it and am seeing some results.

Debt Management. This Friday I have an appointment with a credit counselor to consolidate my debts. For years I have hemmed and hawed when it comes to dealing with my debts. They have followed me since college and only grow and grow. I say I'm going to deal with them but never do. I always thought one day it would take care of a itself. A new job would pay more and I could pay them off faster. Once my car was paid for, I could use that extra money to make larger payments. Maybe one day I'd win the lottery (which is particularly funny because I never play the lottery). The cold hard truth is, my debt is never going away unless I deal with it, and bankruptcy is not dealing with it. My debt has a lot to do with my sense of control and my happiness (I figured that out without therapy thankyouverymuch.), so going to the credit counselor and paying it off will not only my happier but also be empowering.

There are some other minor things I am doing, but nothing really worth mentioning at this point. I think concentrating on the more important big changes will make more of a difference and will ultimately benefit me more in the long run.

 

May 19, 2003

Favorite Songs With Women's Names In The Title

  • Sweet Lorraine by Patty Griffin
  • Maya by Glen Phillips
  • Annie by Jonatha Brooke
  • Lizzy by Ben Kweller
  • Carmen by Paula Cole
  • One Thousand Sarahs by Eddie From Ohio
  • River by Patty Larkin
  • My Sharona by The Knack (not the whole song, just the beginning. Just enough for Janeane and Winona to dance.
 

April 23, 2003

Search Strings Used Recently To Find cheap blue guitar

  • 2003 "aqua net"
  • jordan catilano
  • oh pretty woman guitar pro
  • "cheap date", charlotte
  • cheap pregnancy test
  • frontier days churn butter
  • it's not your mother's tupperware
  • allyson hannigan
  • lesbian + fashion + models
  • "pete yorn" gay

And my favorite.

  • why am i nauseated?
 

March 20, 2003

Currently

Reading

Budget Living, a
magazine for stylish tightwads, like myself.

Falling In
Love With A Poor Man
by Brad
Graham
.

Listening

Rockwell Church - Antidote.
I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed with this effort. It's not as
strong of an album as Superego,
however there are some nice moments in it.

Ani DiFranco - Evolve.
The jury is still out on this one. I really like about half of the
songs. I'm still undecided on the other half.

Thinking

With a name like Dick Smothers, it
was inevitable
.

Wondering

How much longer is Evil
Francie
going to use Will as her butt-monkey and when are we going to
get to see a Sydney/Evil Francie smackdown?

 

January 02, 2003

Resolve

I have never made New Year's resolutions in the past. It always seemed
like a silly idea and destined for failure. However this year seems
different and I am motivated to make some changes. I think resolutions can
be successful if they set realistically and are not expected to be accomplished immediately.

Michelle makes a list of resolutions each
year based on 11 categories: career, charity, creative, cultural, emotional,
financial, home improvement, intellectual, physical, social and spiritual.
(There is actually a twelfth one, however she doesn't remember it.)
Solidarity called, so I made my list for these categories too.

It seems like a long list, but I've given these a lot of thought and really
think they are attainable over time.









































Develop a responsible
retirement plan.

Financial

Keep receipts for deductions.

Financial

Start therapy.

Emotional

Host a dinner party.

Social

Make a regular monthly
"date" with a friend I don't see often.

Social

Learn about a favorite
artist.

Cultural

Update resume.

Career

Get rid of clutter.

Home Improvement

Organize and store my stuff.

Home Improvement

Cook more.