Princess in the Queen City

Proof we're going to hell in a hand basket

2007-10-06T17:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/fashion/07kids.html?hp

Another Democratic response...

2007-09-06T17:35:00.000-07:00

First of all, I know almost no one will read this as it's been longer than a half a year since I posted. But, still, I've had it up to here (imagine my hand perpendicular to my neck)and had to vent somewhere.

Here's why I'll never understand conservatives: recently in the state in which I reside there was a massive tornado and there's about to be a shit fit out east because people aren't insured appropriately to qualify for FEMA help. That's all well and good, I mean if a whirlwind ripped through my house I'd have my hand out as well, waiting for some much needed funds. Here's the problem: no one wants their taxes to go up; everyone praises tax cuts. How are we meant to fund anything if people don't want to put money into something and then have their hands out waiting for help? No, it can't be someone else's money, it has to be all of our money. That's how government is supposed to work.

That example not good enough for you? Why is it then that as I've been listening to the city and the county attempt to adopt an annual budget that the public safety keeps getting the shaft? No one wants to hear their taxes are rising because we want another police vehicle or we need another officer to man the schools. But sure enough when the bomb threats come in, people wonder why there's not more staff.

I'm not saying I have all the answers and I certainly don't have the money to offer to the victims of the tornado or the sheriff's department, but I pay my taxes and don't bitch too often.

God, I miss the good ole days of FDR. Sigh.

My family is better than yours...

2007-01-23T21:27:00.000-08:00

...and so are my friends!

First, I will tell you that my mom dresses cooler than me. She still gives me hand-me-downs, and they are way cooler than anything I own. Plus, she likes some pretty cool music and movies.

Second, I will tell you that my dad was happy about the mix CD I made because it included a band that he had really liked but didn't know who it was. Even better, he thought the band sounded like Iron & Wine. Does your dad know who Iron & Wine is?

Third, I will tell you that my brother has a very smart and nice girlfriend, which really doesn't make him better than your family but it is good news. He does again have good taste in movies and music and surely knows more actors than you do. And he got me severely drunk this weekend and that makes him damn cool in my book.

Fourth, my baby brother already likes music more than your average listener, which makes him cooler than most average listener.

Finally, my step-dad knows who Jeremy Piven is, which is pretty nice for a doctor.

These were in no particular order.

Now, on to my friends. Well, there's no real debating it that they're better than your friends but I will tell you what tops the list this week: one of my best friends in the world is first cousins with a friend of mine from college. Now, I didn't go to a college with 2,200 people, I went to one with 22,000 (well more), so me knowing this kid is not easy. And while there aren't many people in the Queen City, not too many foreigners end up here and certainly not ones who know people I know. Damn, my friends are awesome!

That's all the news for today. I missed the State of the Union so I'll have to read about it and catch up on it later to offer this year's democratic response. Yay politics!

The most OFFENSIVE forward I have ever received...

2007-01-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

Text below:

This text is from a county emergency manager out in the western part of
Jefferson County after a snowstorm.

WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here, in the Northern Plains, we just recovered from a Historic
event--- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" ---
with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH
that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds
of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of
communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FYI:

George Bush did not come.

FEMA did nothing.
No one howled for the government.

No one blamed the government.

No one even uttered an expletive on TV.

Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.

Our Mayor did not blame Bush or anyone else.

Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else, either.

CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5
snowstorm.

Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.

No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.

No one looted.

Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.

Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.

No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No
Geraldo Rivera.

No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found.

Nope, we just melted the snow for water.

Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.

The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a
penny.

Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments
delivered it to the snowbound families.

Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman
lanterns.

We put on extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die".

We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of
a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades
votes for 'sittin at home' checks.

Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this
early, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 40
degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate."
It does seem that way, at least to me.

I hope this gets passed on.
Maybe SOME people will get the message. The world does Not owe you a
living.

<span style="font-size:100%;">I cannot stand it when people try to pretend that other weather phenomena we've experienced since Hurrican Katrina even compares to that level of devestation. Yes, Denver had a bad snow storm. Yes, it more than likely screwed over a lot of residents and travelers. Did it cost thousands of lives? No. Was there something that could have been done beforehand, like say build better levees? No. Besides all that, having lived through a damaging blizzard in the last year, I'll be fairly confident that even though FEMA wasn't called in immediately (probably because it wasn't as damaging as the Hurricane), they're going to be giving money to the state and the city. It happened here. Finally, what makes this worse is there are devestating things like this all over the world - there was a tsunami last year at Christmas in Asia, a Hurricane somewhere else in Asia this year, a earthquake that people are probably still recovering from more than a year later in Pakistan; and still, poor pitiful us and our snow.

Tell me how a blizzard in Denver is on the same playing field with these events and I'll listen to how well you cared for yourselves and didn't require the same amount of assistance as these real disasters. But chances are good you can't come up with anything to match these natural disasters, so spare me your ridiculous forwards.

I don't think I'm single...

2006-12-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

I just took a Mental_Floss quiz asking if I was single. I got 2 out of 5. Does this mean I'm not single or just it's more pathetic that I am? I'm confused.

incredibly pathetic

2006-11-27T00:43:00.000-08:00

About the only reason I have to live anymore is The West Wing.

I can't tell you what an incredibly good show it is and how much it means to my faith in humanity (but it does help that the Dems just took control of both houses). But what I will say is that I've been watching the show at its peak (the second season, from what I've been told and read) and what I will say is the last two 'sodes have inspired me in every aspect of my life.

1) Episode 1 - "The Stackhouse Filibuster" - "Tonight, I've seen a man with no legs stay standing, dad, and a guy with no voice keep shouting; and if politics brings out the worst in people, maybe people bring out the best."

2) Episode 2 - "17 People" - Josh Lymon - "If you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for a beer." Donnatella Moss - "If you were in an accident, I wouldn't stop for red lights."

It appeals to the romantic and democracy-lover in all of us. Now if I only had more of a life to care about something other than a drama that premiered eight years ago.

Sleep well and happy December.

Big Mouth strikes again...

2006-11-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

Oh, Republicans, when will you ever learn? If you'd stop doing ridiculously dumb things, I'd stop thinking you were so ridiculously dumb. And stop dragging Boston University's good reputation through the mud. To read more, click here.

I guess the College Republicans at BU are trying to make some point about affirmative action. Something about awarding scholarships to specifically caucations. But I am not convinced that the BU campus is the right one to make such a point. If memory serves, it's one of the whitest schools on the planet. And while there were a lot more ladies, certainly there wasn't a lot of color. So whatever point they're trying to make, seems lost.

Further, since when does BU have Republicans? Again, if memory serves, everyone votes blue in Boston (except, probably, the former Chancellor).

The world has turned...

2006-11-21T23:19:00.000-08:00

Do you think that Weezer's blue album is the Gen-Y's Rumours? It has been out for more than a decade and it still never gets old to me - do you think it has another score in it?

Just a thought in this mushy brain that is over-stressed, over-tired and possibly deranged.

That's all folks.

Where's the funny?

2006-11-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

You know you're at a lull when your romantic life resembles a plot from The O.C. and your professional life resembles Bridget Jones' Diary.

I have either forgotten to laugh at myself or am lacking for people to laugh at me.

Sigh. At least I have the children.

Whose house runs House?

2006-11-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

This will be quick because I'm either busy watching a liberally slanted television show or reading a liberally slanted magazine/blog or both.

Whose house runs House?!

The mother-f-ing Dems that is who! We have both houses. Both. We have the House of Representatives. We have the Senate. Even in my lowly state, which isn't about to make Blue State of the Year had losses (with a half-billion dollar surplus, no less). I concede we're still in the minority here, but somebody pinch me, D.C. is seeing BLUE!

Seriously, literally, on every level imaginable, I cannot honestly remember a Dem controlled Congress. The first House leader I remember is Gingrinch - try getting that out of your nightmares. That reminds me, somebody pinch me, if I can't remember a Democrat controlled house, I'm probably dreaming.

Or else watching The West Wing. Oh, that reminds me, back to season two....

Anything is possible!

2006-11-08T01:18:00.000-08:00

I have not felt this happy and giddy since the Red Sox beat the Yankees in Game 7 of the division series in 2004! What a day. Godspeed, you two fine Democrats who have yet to win a Senate seat.

I got the VERY best comment today about the trials the Dems have ahead of them. It was this: 'Once you catch the fish, or shoot the bear, then the real work begins.' To me, it says, we've got it, what are we going to do with it (and don't screw this up!)? Godspeed to all you Dems. Shine on you crazy diamonds!

Good night...

Wiser? Maybe.

2006-11-02T23:54:00.000-08:00

Meaner? Yes.

So, I turned the sprightly age of 25 this week, and it's got me a little freaked out. However, if you're older than me and you're name is Pete, you think I'm a fucking idiot for worrying so much. But hey, them's the breaks for a whiner like me.

I hope I'm not a bad person, but I realize as I get older I deal a lot less with people's bullshit. I still don't particularly like confrontation, but telling someone what I really think has saved me a lot of energy in the past few months. Ahh, I'm a bastard.

As I've expanded on it personally to some of those closest to me, I won't go into this second installment of my mid-mid life crisis, but rest assured it is here. Maybe it's an every milestone thing or an every five year thing, but sometimes you need to re-evaluate where you are at and where you want to go. For me, I'm thinking beach-front property in a blue state. Ahhh....

I have two other unrelated matters to discuss.

1) Fantasy Congress is going to be amazing!!! I picked my team today and on the plus side I got Barack; on the plus-side-but-going-to-lose-miserably, I got Dennis Kucinich. Hooray for being a nerdlinger.

2) I have a new boyfriend. His name is Christian Bale. You might have seen him recently in The Prestige. In X-inia world, he thinks I'm fantastic too. In the real world, the $25 bucks or so I've spent to see his movies probably doesn't amount to much. Sigh.

Back to this little lady's fantasy world....

I live for this...

2006-10-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

One-third of the way in, I've got fall fever, baby!

Even though I spent way more than I should have at the grocery store, I'm in fall heaven. I did not get a cornocopia, nor did I get cider, so I may not be the BIGGEST autumn enthusiast, but I'm pretty close.

I bought cranberries and green apples for fruits. I bought all kinds of squash - two went for a delicious chowder and the other will be eaten with dinner at my leisure - for vegetables. I think the cranberries are still a bit tart, but hey, so am I. I've moved on to warmer lunches of chili dogs (turkey dogs and veggie chili, but still) and chicken & dumpling soup. I made pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting. I bought candles that smell like cranberries with orange and mulled cider.

It's a fall fest all the way. Now all I have to do is convince Allison to do some pumpkin carving with me and I'm all set.

It's eight days till my birthday, and I'll be honest, I'm a little freaked about being 25. But that's why I have all of the above, and red wine, yummy red wine (which, by the way, goes great with cranberries).

Oh did I forget to mention, it's the World Series? I live for this (and those awesome commercials)! Go Tigers!

Disappointing endings

2006-10-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

If I ever get around to writing a book about relationships ending, the best metaphor might be of an anti-climactic one is the end of tonight's Mets v. Cardinals game.

Seriously, how anyone can live with a game that ends with the bases loaded and two outs and someone (ahem, Carlos Beltran) gets the third and final out on a CALLED STRIKE?! Who loses the pennant race on a called strike? It's horrifically anti-climactic and yet still depressing, again, like a relationship that just slowly fades away... it's no less melodramatic and tragic but still it fades away. Sigh.

Okay, now that I've been my own kind of dramatic, I'm going to make myself a consolation prize brownie and go on with life, secure in the knowledge that the Tigers will beat the Cardinals in the World Series. Ahhh. Enjoy the calm.

Two happy thoughts...

2006-10-17T23:06:00.000-07:00

On this weird/miserable/okay day, I have two simply joyous little thoughts:

Could there be anything better in this world than (1) white Russians and (2) The West Wing on a freezing cold evening after working a late shift?

Well, maybe, but I'm still in heaven tonight.

13 Going on 25

2006-10-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

Last night was hands-down the best night I've had since Labor Day.

I lived like a 13-year-old girl and it's never been more fun. My Internet friends, who really at this point should just be called friends, invited me over to their house to watch horror flicks. In celebration of Friday the 13th and the fact that Halloween is just over two weeks away, we thought it was appropriate. Well, okay, Allison did, but it was an emotion seconded by me and thirded by her husband. Is thirded a word? Can I add it to the dictionary if not?

More than watching horror movies, we dined like kings on peanut butter cups, popcorn and wine. Who could ask for better horror movie grub?

I probably stayed up later than I have in months but we made it through three movies. In honor of our reason to get together, we watched Friday the 13th Part II first, and I was delighted that my friends were happy to laugh at the movie with me. I'll grant you our comments were no deeper than analyzing how particularly clueless the characters were, but it was great fun nonetheless. We then bantered briefly about the meaning of organic and whether I could write a story on it. Then, we watched perhaps the best named movie ever to be made, Frankenfish. I'll grant you the movie was hilariously bad but it was all that the three of us could have asked for, and I even think a bit character from Batman Begins is in it. I imagine you can guess the plot based on the title, but it's so much more than a flick about a giant man-eating fish, it also touches on such deep subjects as the after-effects of the Vietnam War (thanks to Ricardo), the crazy voodoo lady and her gut feelings and the sport of hunting big fish. We then ended up chatting on the awesomeness of Emergency & I and The Arcade Fire. Then, we watched The Howling, which kind of confused me but that might have been because I was too busy talking about cryptozoology instead of watching the werewolf flick. Still, there were some great scenes, some maulings and of course, tons of nudity. Great times!

So, yeah, all in all, it was a good weekend and now it's time to catch up on reading my goofy political stuff. Yay Barack!

Just a little bit...

2006-10-10T22:11:00.000-07:00

I keep getting all these ideas for blogs but when I finally sit down to write, I can't think of anything except all the other things I should be doing. However, since I'm drawing a blank, I'll keep this short and simple.

Basically, I caught up with two Netflix movies in the last few days and wanted to share my opinion with the world:

1) Jersey Girl - you know a romantic comedy isn't good in my book when I start crying because of the Bruce Springsteen song at the end and not because of the movie. As most romantic comedies go, it was all right, and although predictable still fun. Of course, the end scenes happened and sort of groan that that's the end and then this little live song comes on and The Boss starts singing Sha-la-la, and I lost it. I just broke down like the little girl I am. At least my heart is buried in this body somewhere.

2) Born Rich - like both these movies, I should have seen this a long time ago, and in fact have been thinking about it ever since I heard about it at least three years ago. It's awesome. Really if you haven't felt bad for really, really rich people for a long time, this is a movie to make you pity them. I am being mildly facetious but it was an interesting perspective and it does make you sympathize with them to an extent. I mean, Ivanka Trump found out her parents were getting divorced from The New York Post. At least I had the luxury of learning about it in private and sharing it with my friends when I was ready. One of the Johnson (of Johnson and Johnson) learned how rich he was from one of his 5th grade classmates who brought in a Forbes Fortune 500 issue. That would totally mess a kid up. Plus, on some level it is a little interesting to see how much these people don't understand about what is a reality for most people. Finally, the last thing I'll say is this: an overpriced, private school education sure does work; all those kids (most of them my age or younger) had tremendous vocabulary and had an understand of their place and that most people weren't like them, and most of them had even at least tried to hold down a job or find something they liked to do. A couple of them were even a little cute...too bad they don't date outside of their class. Sigh.

Anyway, it's crossword puzzle time! Yessssssss!

Post Script - I used spell check for the first time on this - did you know that Blogger doesn't recognize the word 'blog' as a word? Weird.

Oh no! I'm GWB

2006-10-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

It's a rough day when you realize that listening to your gut instinct and intuition make you think you're the Commander in Chief, rather than a sensible person. I'd ask somebody to talk me out of it, but I'm too stubborn.

Welcome to the world of Xinia surrendering to destiny. Take that, free will!

Ferris Bueller, you're my hero

2006-10-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

In an effor to make this timely, I feel like i should say something along the lines of: with the recent success of Heroes, the theme of today's blog is about my hero of the week. But that probably just means I've been watching too much daytime television or something.

But seriously, my hero this week is Cindy. She totally picked up my slack.

Because it's short, I'll start with her advice on relationships. She said, "You should never feel bad about loving somebody." Truer words were never spoken and I'm sure it was all the more difficult for Cindy to muster them as she doesn't really have faith in relationships. Still, kudos to her for offering some sage advice.

The second (and larger) reason she's my hero is for her taking me to Bismarck for a procedure. Eh, let's not mince words, I might still be delusional from the anasthesia so I may as well tell the world (like Katie Couric did but on a much smaller scale) that I had a colonoscopy. I recommend the anasthesia, but not the process to getting there.

Real quick: I'm fine, sort of; the results so far are negative.

Anyway, Cindy is my hero because she drove me there and back. But if that wasn't enough the nurses didn't warn me, and therefore not her, that she was going to be in for most of the ride. I got there at 7 a.m., and I was told to undress. Thankfully, Cindy left the room for that, but she did come in once I got my hospital garb on and watched the Today show with me (Matt Lauer used to be cool), and stayed while they started the IV and I almost passed out from saline (yeah, I have a low tolerance). Then, they carted me down to the room for the procedure and Cindy was taken to a waiting room. Once they started me on the anasthesia, I remember nothing. I remember the doctor coming in and I remember the nurse with the cool glasses and the other nurse who wrapped me in warm blankets. Before I knew it, I was back in the other room; the doctor had already told Cindy all my results; and they said I could get dressed. This time I was so dazed that Cindy did stay in there while I dressed to help me stay steady. After I got dressed, she sat with my while I ate one piece of toast and drank some water. I fell asleep while she drove me home and she helped me inside and fed my cats so I wouldn't fall asleep again and leave them locked up. All in all, she was great.

She even made me call later just to let her know that I was doing okay.

It's certainly not an experience I would recommend for anyone, but I was so glad to have someone there with me. Hooray for heroes.

The Ice of Boston is muddy

2006-09-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Native Bostonians Unable To Defend Land From Invading College Students

BOSTON—With vast amounts of outside money funding the invasion, Boston-area locals say they are unable to compete with the student onslaught.

It's been awhile since I've read The Onion, but this caught my eye. It made me laugh one of those nostalgic laughs that then almost made me cry. Almost.

Anyway, if I did it right you should be able to link to the full article. All you crazy Bostonians out there, enjoy.

On the dark side

2006-09-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well, my first official post under my new web address is a grouchy one.

I'm finally starting to get my cold; it's f-ing freezing already (not literally, but it was in the high 30s tody); my tummy aches; and in general, I'm becoming a malcontent. The bright side is I think I did a few things right at my job and it's going smoothly - of course, this might be because it's the only thing that isn't going badly. (I'm feeling a tad melodramatic.)

I'm really searching for something more interesting going on in my life, but I'm roughly coming up with the fact that I have an extra long weekend coming up, with nothing to do. So far, my imaginary plans are to have lunch with my Internet friends on Friday (but I have to ask first) and be cured on Monday of whatever is causing my upset stomach (this is only a hope). That's not too many things in four days, so I might also read a little; I will likely sleep a lot; and I'll probably spend time with the co-workers at the bar.

Anyway, feeling not a little pathetic, I'm going to go watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for the 10th time, just right after I check my email and play online a bit.

It's good to be back.

Going Underground

2006-09-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning the slow process toward becoming anonymous.

I don't mean that in any sort of meta/nihilistic sense. I mean it literally. As anyone might have noticed who has even bothered to check my blog, I've been very, very absent. That has happened for a multitude of reasons, most of which relate to the fact that I've been discovered too often and really meant my posts to be for friends and family. So, I'm removing my name from everywhere on my blog and I am changing my blog name. For those who look here again, it will be gone (assuming I do it right and within the next few days).

Those of you who I want to continue reading my blog, I will email you with the new address (it's an awesome one - I'm so proud of myself for being so clever). For those of you whom I miss in the email, if you contact one of our mutual friends, I'm sure they'll tell you. Or you can email me if you have that as well.

Anyway, rather than go out with a whimper of whines, I'm going out with a bang of positives:

1. Zoolander - That Hansel is so hot right now!
2. Knitting
3. My children, who are eating in the other room
4. that boxed wine is now acceptable (sort of)
5. SportsNight - which I will be watching once I finish this post.
6. Chatting on the phone (or via the Internet) with friends, it's been awhile.
7. Turkey Pot Pies - comfort food for 50 cents.
8. Sleep is pretty awesome.
9. political articles, good journalists
10. The Smiths, Tom Petty, Coldplay, Wilco, et al. that I've been listening to on my iPod.

So, yeah, within the next few days, expect this blog to be gone and a new one in its place. Hoorah for going underground!

Sanctity, my ass

2006-08-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

Although this post could go toward my anti-marriage rants because nothing should be sacred that isn't a right for EVERYONE, it isn't. So, those of who have been waiting for me to write another liberally-slanted article supporting gays or abortion, you will have to wait just a little longer until Bush attacks homosexual marriage (AGAIN).

Oh, and don't even get me started on the religious right claiming that my somewhat well-rounded and highly educated ass is dysfunctional because I'm a product of divorce.

No, instead this post is about a fancy little Forbes article by Michael Noer I found via Slate.com, which can be found here. By the way, the article has been removed from the Forbes Web site from what I can gather from the articles I've read, so that's why my link is to another blogger instead of the site.

At first I was truly, truly offended by the Forbes article, which is titled "Don't Marry Career Women." But after reading the Slate article about it by Jack Shafer, I feel calmer, but only slightly.

Mostly, the Forbes article has the weakest lead and nut graf I've ever encountered, considering what the article should really be about. The beginning, as the article title suggests, says basically that women are more likely to be divorced if they're career women. It's written as if because I have a college degree and a full-time job and half a brain and ambition that I'm a plague upon men, that men would, in fact, be wise to avoid me, and actually a majority of my co-workers.

And although the rest of the article is QUITE suggestive that these career women are to blame, many of the statistics actually don't apply to a specific gender. In fact, one such factoid explains that a married person who works outside the home is more likely to have an extra-marital affair (where they come up with these genius observations, I'll never know -- if you rarely leave the house, who are you meeting other than Rosey Palme or your wife/husband?). Another one says that houses are less likely to be cleaned - well, thanks, asshole - it's really too bad I don't fucking dust every day because I have better things to do. What the hell kind of observation is that? And anyway, if not dusting is going to lead to a divorce, should I ever get married, I'm quite certain there's more to it than merely not dusting often enough.

I disagree with Shafer on the point that women are just using "backlash journalism." Basically (and I might not be making his exact point on this one), he's saying that women who don't like this Forbes article are offended by it without even thinking and don't have a logical argument to back it up - it's just bra-burning for the sake of an offensive-sounding title. In his defense, I started this blog because I was going bitch and moan about sexism without thinking anything other than the Forbes writer is a dickwad and if he were happily married and/or getting laid he might not have such a grudge against a pretty little journalist who happens to like and (if I do say so myself) be pretty damn good at my job. But, where I disagree is that in thinking about it, it is still suggestive of sexism if not outright sexist. And, there's plenty left out of the article that isn't explained or justified. Shafer points out one (Okay, he points out more than one, but this is his strongest and best argument that never came to me):

Before my female readers break their nails pounding out angry e-mails to me, they should consider the piece's fundamental weakness. Forbes' definition of a career woman is extraordinarily broad, including any woman who has a college education, works 35 hours a week, and makes more than $30,000. So, if you define non-career women as all the "undereducated" who work part-time and make less than $30K, it becomes painfully obvious why female careerists are more likely to divorce than non-careerists: They can better afford to get out of an unhappy marriage than their sisters.

That may be bad news for all the schmoes getting dumped, but it's great news for the gals. So, go ahead, young ladies. Get your degree. Even go to grad school. Gun for that corner office if you want to and get the guy. If you divorce, make sure to stick him with the shared subscription to Forbes.

The first two arguments that come to my mind are 1. Where's the statistic that says how much more likely a career woman is than a non career-woman to get divorced? The divorce rate in America is more than 50 percent, which is quite a number. Are career women 70 percent more likely to end up in divorce, making it 20 percent higher than average? Or is it only a few percentage points more - and perhaps the writer was taking liberties with a few stats that might support his case? 2. Are there any statistics that might show whether it was the male or the female that was looking for the divorce? And, I guess from that, the larger point is, what was the reason for these alleged many more divorces involving women with careers? Were the women bitchy at not wanting to clean house? Where the men intimidated by a woman who was ambitious?

In all honesty, I don't think divorce is nearly that cut-and-dry, but shame on an author for taking a few statistics and building a weak and (in Shafer's word) broad case against women with careers.

I welcome any comments, especially as I'm sure I forgot some additional snarky remarks. And if you're looking to take a dig at an alleged career woman (I don't meet one of the qualifications - salary - but I think that'll change someday), who is single and in many regards quite the pain in the ass, touche.

Viva La Bunn!

2006-08-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to anyone (and especially Shayna and her children: Bartelby and Nico) for praying for Bunn. If I haven't told you already, Bunn survived his ordeal. It was a four-day stint in a vet clinic, but here are the highlights:

1) Bunn ripped out his catheter, night one.
2.) Bunn got put in a neck brace to stop him from biting at his catheter, morning two.
3.) While knocked out, Bunn, in a neck brace, broke free and ripped out his catheter, afternoon three.
4.) Instead of bringing me Bunn in the morning, the vet brought in his litter box to show that he peed, morning four.

He came home 24 hours later. Yay! I'm going to write a column about it so I don't want to give away too much, but he had a urinary problem and it resulted in it hurting him to pee and therefore not going. He then got an infection and couldn't go, so he had to get de-peed and flushed with fluids. He's now on a special diet and my sickly kitty. He's like the asthmatic kid of the soccer team that you just love because his heart is in it, even if he isn't the best at it.

In other news, I have two knitting projects and I saw my internet friends this weekend. Those are both stories for a different time, as is Planes on the Prairie. But for now, I'm going to shower and finish reading about Iran and Iraq (so I can vent again).

Later gators.

Pray for Bunn

2006-08-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

Without being too melodramatic (yet), my orange cat is very ill. In fact, the vet used the term "life-threatening." At the moment, I barely understand what's happening (it's all happening very fast), but what I do know is that Bunn essentially has kidney stones. And before you think I'm a bad parent, you should know that it's hard to tell if your cat isn't peeing when you have two of them. And I feel bad enough already, thank you very much. But anyway, they don't know if after they empty his bladder with a catheter, if he'll get any better, because they're not sure if his kidneys and bladder will still function.

Anyway, I felt so bad about the whole thing and nearly sick to my stomach that I decided I'd light a candle for Bunn. I don't know the reasons that real Catholics do this but I know that it does give me some comfort to do and I like to feel it takes a load off of my shoulders and gives it to God, or whomever. Anyway, it would have meant a lot to me to do, but the church I stopped at didn't have the option and I'm saying (possibly) goodbye to a friend tonight so I'm not stopping in every church on the way out. But, I will light him a personal candle from home tonight and I'm asking each of you, whatever religion you may be, to pray for Bunn.

I am not ready yet to be a parent to just one little children and I think Bunn feels the same. Dixie, after all, does need some company. I'm trying to be hopeful, and maybe if we all are, it'll help. I'm sorry to be so sentimental about my cats and almost nothing else in the world, but it is very important to me. Thank you.

Desperation

2006-08-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

Real Quick: I've gotten bored and started looking at Netflix. I wonder if anyone who knows and loves me wants to be my Netflix friend. I have only two and when you get bored, two is not enough. That is all.

Almost Famous

2006-07-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

First of all, I have to address an old post. It seems my little blog about pre-conception and what a joke it is has inspired a multitude of comments. I can't say I'm all that surprised, since next to the death penalty a woman's uterus is something that everyone has an opinion about. Anyway, I'm all for hosting this blog as a forum for debate but to those of you who disagree with my pro-choice lifestyle: no one ever got very far with changing my opinion by calling me a slut. You have every right to disagree with me, but I am certainly not going to be posting comments that offer no legitimate argument other than to call me names. To sum up, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. To those of you who agreed with me, either in email or through a post, thanks for justifying my ranting. Next time I have a subject on which to rant (ahem, I'm looking at the clusterfuck that is Iraq), I'll be sure to post to all. Yay!

Secondly, please allow me to address my title. Last week was a pretty stressful week when it came to work. There were a multitude of stories that popped up out of nowhere and I had gotten used to a routine. But then, on Thursday, one of the busiest of all these days, my car stalls. I'm freaked out; I'm convinced my 2-year-old car will be with me no more. So, I do what any person who knows nothing about cars does, I take it to the shop and hope I don't get ripped off. Anyway, while my car is in the shop getting its oil changed and searching for other things for which to charge me, I need to get to interviews, so what do I do? I bum rides off of my co-workers like they have nothing else to do but cart me around town. All of this reminds me of another hero/mortal enemy: Cameron Crowe. I read recently in Rolling Stone that he was so ambitious that he started his journalism career before he got his license. Being slightly more savvy than I, he bummed rides off of interview subjects to keep the conversation going. Nonetheless, I think it's a bond that puts me closer to rock journalism stardom.

Third, a quick note to all my friends: Shayna, Casey, Quada, Jen, Stephanie and of course, Dad, I owe all of you some major phone time. I haven't really felt like talking. There's nothing bad but as you can tell my from my absence in posting, there's very little that is exciting. Sure, I could tell you about my cooking venture this week or my knitting project or perhaps the documentary I just watched, but I doubt that those are half as interesting as a shot of vodka and Animals Close-Up with a Wide-Angle Lens. Then again, maybe I shouldn't be so self-absorbed. Maybe you all (okay, who am I kidding, you all do) lead more interesting lives and would like to share your experiences with me.

Lastly, I'm trying to get on a reading kick, but in the immortal words of Belle & Sebastian, "I spent the summer wasting / the sky was blue beyond compare." I barely make it through magazines let alone actual books. That being said, I have FINALLY finished Fargo Rock City, which in all fairness since May I've had to read all of 15 pages that are pretty light reading. I have also just read The Polysyllabic Spree essays by Nick Hornby. One thing is we do read (or intend to read) a lot of the same books. The other is that his books have gotten continually more mediocre since About a Boy so he better have one good thing going. The book mostly made me realize that there's no point in reading books. This is because out of the vast number of books we read, fairly few stick with us and even if they do, we only remember vaguely what they're about. At least that's how it is for me. I do have the noble ambitions of reading Marvel 1602 and Three Nights in August this month. If I get even more ambitious, I may pick up Founding Brothers. Despite this realization, I think I'm going to head off to half.com, buy some books I can't afford, drink some Stoli Blueberry Vodka and watch Animals Close-Up with a Wide-Angle Lens.

Catch ya later, Bill and Ted!

I am not the post office

2006-07-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been awhile, as everyone has informed me. I'd like to pretend that I was actually busy or full of exciting news. Mostly, I've been movie watching and fishing. Oh, and Mom and Tim came to visit.

I think actually if I can place when my life fell off the organized perch I pretended to live on was in the middle of June, when I had a few bad weeks at work and some bad news (in the form of bills). Since then it's been just a vain attempt to keep my little world afloat. I know, I know the world's smallest violin is playing for me.

So, let's jump past those two weeks to the 4th of July. That was nice. I held a barbeque here. The co-workers came. Pete cooked on the grill. I made jell-o shots. Cindy brought homegrown beef. Stefanie brought the flag cake. Aarhus, the accessories. And most importantly, Travis brought the beer. The fireworks were nice, but nothing compares to STL.

The next week involved mostly cleaning to prepare for Mom and Tim. I watched some all right Netflix movies but nothing exciting.

As for something nice to do for Mom and Tim after spoiling me for a weekend, the best I can come up with is a column thanking them. It's been almost four days since they left and I haven't had much time to think about it, nor do I have any idea what to say. So, they came in Thursday night and we snacked and drank wine and debated how I would raise any children I might one day have. (Don't ask how we got on that topic.) On Friday, I took them to the bbq place and then later Ralphy's. While I was at work, they bought me stuff from Wal-Mart, cleaned my house and slept in. I also gave them a tour of the press. I think they enjoyed it, but it mostly showed how ignorant I am of what actually happens after I put my story in the local queue. Then, we went to the Dakota Lodge and they met most of co-workers. I don't know what they thought, but my friends liked them. And mom learned about cattle. (Someday, she wants to be a rancher.) Saturday, we ended up being pretty lazy. Again, there was more cleaning and watching of VH-1. I also got free groceries, and a dinner in Amidon. I liked it, but I don't know it was worth the hour-long ride. We went to bed early because Sunday morning we woke up at 5:30 for a horse ride in Medora. My ass hurt, and that's all I got. Okay, it was pretty awesome but my ass hurt, and then we went shopping and I got ice cream. I basically lived like a spoiled five-year-old princess. Anyway, if I ever get around to the column, I might actually be able to sum up better how nice it was to see them and how much I think they liked seeing that I'm doing mostly all right out here.

Anyway, my subject "I am not the post office" refers to the fact that instead of being passive agressive, for just about the first tim in my life I was outright aggressive or at least somewhat confrontational. A guy came in suggesting that I didn't mail his photos back to him, and he was actually accusing me of blatantly ignoring his request. So, when he asked why he hadn't gotten the photos I allegedly mailed, I said, "I don't know, sir. I am not the post office." This week has only gotten better from there when another woman has now accused me of remembering wrong, which is absolutely not true. I need to get a tougher skin. I have basically been a bitch all week because my week has not gone according to my plans and people keep griping. Goodness, I'm even more of a brat than I thought.

With that, I'll have my cake and eat it too, by watching The Daily Show and eating ice cream and drinking gin and updating my Netflix queue and calling Pookie. So, take that all of you. It's good to be back.

I

2006-06-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

This will be a short post, because I'm such a politics guru that I'm completely fascinated by this article in Rolling Stone by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Yep, I really am that lame.

Anyway, my thoughts on slate.com are two-fold, specifically, I love two of its writers.

First, the obvious (and shorter): John Dickerson. He writes about politics and while I get the sense that he is liberal, he does a good job of hiding it, and presents a sort of outsiders view to the goings on of Washington, D.C. Today (6/20/06), he posted about the Democratic primary in Connecticut, where Lieberman is dangerously close to having to bail out because he is too centerists. My thoughts on Lieberman are not especially warm, despite him being a supposed Democrat. Still, the article was articulate and interesting, and I don't even get to vote on the candidates. Awesome.

Second, the goofy religious guy: David Plotz. About a month ago, he started this project called Blogging the Bible. I am a religion minor so I am curious about religion, if I'm obviously not too religious myself. What I like about Plotz is he doesn't critisize the book unfairly, wherever something seems to be contradictory, he asks for insight from scholars. Wherever he finds a legitimately good moral or message, he is quick to give it credit. Plotz also looks for the practices that Jews and Christians still do in modern society. It is terribly interesting. Plotz literally started at Genesis and has made it to the middle of Exodus so far if you want to catch up; he does a few chapters at a time and posts every other day or so. I am thinking that if he keeps this thing up until Proverbs, I may pick up the Bible again and try to read it again.

Anyway, again, today was a great post. He said that there is a part of the Bible that seems to say abortion isn't the equivalent of killing a person (which just so happens to be right above the "eye for an eye" part of the Bible). He also compared Aaron, Moses' brother, to Fredo in The Godfather. It's deep and shallow at the same time. It's totally me. I highly recommend Slate to all. And to all a goodnight.

99 Problems (But a Bitch Ain't One)

2006-06-16T20:32:00.000-07:00

I find that when I have the least amount of things to complain about, I always find more to whine about. Isn't that weird? Might I be the most annoying person on the planet?

It's Friday and I'm already stressed about my upcoming week and the work I have to do, but I'm such a forward thinker that I'm not worried beyond Tuesday. Of course, that's when all the big stuff will start happening (it's really only a guess, but it'd also be my luck). And the flip side is that I have some direction now on where I want to go on a nerdy column.

My day on Saturday is shaping up to be nearly as busy as a work day, considering the vast amount of things I'm hoping to accomplish. Since one of them is planning a budget because I'm extremely poor for the next three months, I'm a little on edge. I also have to do some mild construction on my futon, which is just a recipe for disaster. As if my finger doesn't already look like it's going to shrivel up and fall off (see other post about 2nd degree burns), tomorrow is my chance to chop it off with a saw.

I have about six friends/family that I haven't talked to in months that I should really put a call into, but chances are good I'll only make one of them (Shayna - you're probably owed the most since you requested it via this very blog).

Well, I have another ambition of walking to the bar tonight, which means I should probably head out now if I want to make it by 10ish. But I should mention that I finally (finally!) saw O Brother, Where Art Thou? Again, it's one of those I should have seen ages ago, but no surprise, I was impressed. Can someone please explain to me the significance of so many characters being blind or partially blind? I noticed it a lot and am sure there's a reason but it's one that is above me (Schreiner, I'm thinking you'll have an answer that sounds good even if it's not entirely accurate--oh god, this reminds me, I should totally read your blog; I'm an ass).

Wow, I'm still rambling and I really only started this post so I could use my clever title. I'm lame.

Knowledge is Power

2006-06-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

As this week begins to end, I must reflect on the numerous things I've learned this week:

1. Credit card companies are dumb, but I'm dumber. For three weeks I've been getting calls from a restricted number that never leaves a message. After three weeks, this started to bother me and I became convinced that there was a crazy person out to get me. It turns out I'm an idiot who forgot to pay a bill on time. While they should have left a message, I probably should have answered the phone at some point and learned that I had nothing to fear but fear itself.

2. There is a word that is discreet, and there is a word that is discrete. There is a difference between these two. Discreet is the one I use most often, it's like when you're able to hide things well, or according to dictionary.com, it's "self-restraint." Discrete, on the other hand, means separate or disconnected. I actually like the meaning of this word and intend to use it. I just hope I don't mix up the spelling.

3. My second word of the week is really a Latin phrase which is "ipso facto." This means the fact in itself. It probably could be over-used easily but it is a good Latin phrase to be able to throw around.

4. My iPod kicks so much ass, and when I put it on shuffle, it really likes to play either "One" or "Pride (In the Name of Love)" by U2.

5. Meeting people on myspace.com isn't always bad. I talked with this girl via myspace. Tonight we actually met, and it turns out she's actually as cool as I hoped she'd be. I mean one good date doesn't mean it's fate but it was pretty nice to meet someone new in Dickinson and really relate to them. I also learned that I can have fun bowling and that pitchers are only $5 at the Paragon bowling alley. If I bring my own pitcher on Wednesdays they're only $2.50. Ah, sometimes the world is a beautiful place.

6. I can see why Great Grandad used to drink on election night. It is kind of stressful. But all in all, I survived and I am looking forward to covering the state races when it comes time in November.

7. Lastly, I learned that second degree burns hurt like a son-of-a-bitch and they don't look too pretty either.

Anyway, even though I have a semi-shorter day today, it's been a long week, so I am off to do a crossword puzzle, drink water and fantasize about what I'll do this weekend (instead of planning a personal budget, cleaning my house, getting groceries I can't afford and paying bills).

That's So Raven!

2006-06-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

I finally did it. I caved, and I shouldn't have, and I couldn't be happier!

With my tax returns, I seriously bought an iPod. Welcome to the 21st century, Christinia.

The perks of waiting this long are this: I've learned from others that I didn't need the biggest one; my iPod was seriously engraved; it's skinnier than previous incantations; and it's black.

I love this little bugger and it's been in operation for all of 36 hours.

I'm not going to lie; I had some help in getting it set up with my computer but since I knew it was coming, I spent a weekend downloading the most important CDs from my collection. During the course of the next few weeks as I re-alphabetize (and update my database), I will probably add more.

I am so f-ing excited. My life is now complete.

In an unrelated matter (this phrase will probably be on my tombstone, considering how much I use it in my commission articles), I watched three movies during the past three days. They are as follows (with short reviews):

1. Uh, The Enron Documentary, whatever it's called, something about the smartest guys in the room -- While I can't say I was kept in rapt attention, I definitely found the whole story interesting, especially given how little I knew about this huge scandal. It'd be neat to go back in time and re-read some of the later articles I read on it now that I have context. I recommend it to anybody who cares enough about figuring out what the hell happened to sit still for 1 hour and 45 minutes. If nothing else, there is one "dramatization" scene where you see strippers.

2. The Secret Lives of Dentists -- It's been on my list for awhile, since Nate recommended it, but I finally got around to it. I must admit that there was some heavy-handed use of symbolism with the rings being in every shot. Of course, for a movie about marriage and adultery, I guess there should be some mentioning of rings. There is a limit, though. Anyway, I don't want to ruin it in case there are other people interesting in seeing it but I'm not sure I agree with the ending but I don't think it should have ended any differently. For those of you confused, Campbell Scott thinks his wife is having an affair; he then creates an alter-ego to deal with it; he then acts a little bizarre (of course, having a breakdown will do that to you); and then he, his wife, and their children all get the flu.

3. Annie Hall -- Okay, spare me the lecture. I know it's pathetic that I've never seen this movie. That's really all I can say. I know everyone has seen it; I knew from what I'd heard about that I'd probably like it; why did it take until I was almost 25 to finally sit down and watch it? I don't know. Favorite scene (at least on the first watch): when they make a lobster dinner together. Adorable.

Anyway, thunder's rumbling. This means I should shut down my computer in case the lights go out. That and it's almost bed time. Night night.

Pookie, Shayna and the Slow Kids

2006-06-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, I told my first absolutely hilarious story in a very long time. I can't repeat it now, because the circumstances were such that I brought in numerous conversations from the night and expanded into this ridiculous story. The things I can tell you are that it related to my cats, me in relationships and the line "Oh, Bunny, we do not lick our butts during dinner."

First, I was very proud of myself. I told a story that had two of my co-workers rolling, and I wasn't even trying that hard to be funny. I was just being my goofy-ass self. After the pride wore off, I was bummed. Not because of Cindy or Stefanie. They were awesome and I was glad they were there, but I was sad that all of my college friends weren't. Making each other laugh is really what I miss most about my friends.

While I still spend time with friends (both old and new), I find myself less inclined to be in symposiums. I miss symposiums.

Anyway, this post is short and melancholy. My next post (hopefully this evening) will be absolutely fantastic.

Oh, there was one more thing I wanted to mention. Something not melancholy but rather a mid-year resolution. I have been trying new things lately. And by trying new things, I mean eating fish. I used to not like fish. Then, I started to gather recipes of non-fishy-tasting fish. And now, I like fish. There is no doubt in my mind that I am missing out on other wonderful things that I'm either convinced I won't like or haven't tried before. Hence, my mid-year resolution is to try new things.

Number one on the list is probably golfing. Mostly because Cindy and Stefanie do it and are convinced I would like it. Whacking up divets does not sound that entertaining but one never knows until one tries. I am open for other suggestions.

Things that will probably not cross over to my "now I like it" list are mushrooms and Pink Floyd.

Anyway, I must continue to prepare for my fun time surprise later.

Pre-Conception, My Ass

2006-05-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

All right. I don't know what your thoughts are on abortion or birth control. If you are against either, you may not want to read the rest of what I have to say.

I just read an article in the Washington Post called "Forever Pregnant." Here's the link: click here.

Anyway, I'm am sick and tired of politicians trying to put their hands on my body. One: it's none of your business who I'm sleeping with and in what matter. Two: Sex is natural. Three: If you really want to advocate something, make sure you're acknowledging the first two factors.

Seriously, to tell me I shouldn't drink or smoke or do anything that would potentiallly harm a baby I'm not planning on having is none of your business. I am not particularly for abortion...I mean, I'm pro-choice but I can't say whether or not I'd have one. But I do think it's my decision. And look, if I'm about to have a baby that I didn't plan for, you are damn right that it is up to me if I want to have one. If I don't, and I choose to drink and smoke and lead an unhealthy lifestyle, well, then that's my choice as an American. For the record, 1) I use protection. 2) It's still my legal right to have an abortion. 3) As a free, 21-year-old, American, it's my fucking right to drink and smoke, and whether or not I'm of birthing age isn't your concern.

Don't tell me how to live my life because, if, and when, I accidentally get pregnant, I'll deal with it. And frankly, if I'm not ready to have one, whether I'm a sober, non-smoking individual won't matter. If I want to have one, I'll have one. If I don't want to have one, as stated before, I'm still allowed to do so. And that, I will defend.

And again, for the record, I'm mostly for pro-choice people, because if you force me to have a child now when I'm not ready I'll probably unintentionally neglect it and I'll probably have to use your hard earned tax dollars (i.e. welfare) to pay for the son of a bitch anyway. Don't force me to have a kid I don't want. That's why abortion should be legal (and it's also why there's protection for people to use it). I am so, so sick of people telling me that abortion should be illegal. If I'm going to neglect the kid and I don't have the income to go through childbirth (when I'm going to give it up for adoption), then don't tell me I can't have an abortion.

And don't give me that bullshit line about how if I don't want to have kids, then I shouldn't have sex, because sex/hormones/attraction are natural and biological. Even if you don't think that science is right, there is some god-damn basis in fact. And it's only normal that teenagers and pubescent people want to get laid. It's in fact natural, so don't tell me to abstain either.

I'm careful but mistakes happen, and even if they don't I don't have to spend my whole life planning for one. Furthermore, if I do, it's called insurance and it should god-damn well cover my birth control so that I can prevent any and all of the above from happening.

Bottoms up and take a drag for me!

A Teaser

2006-05-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

So, I'm finally getting around to giving up the goods. Now that my second week has begun without any exciting news to report, I can finally get to all that stuff that was exciting.

As you might (or might not) have known, my very own Pookie visited me in Dickinson, ND during the last weekend of April. In that time, she wanted to see what the state had to offer. I am happy to report that I kept her busy for 3.5 days. Yeah!

Pookie came in on Thursday night. She started her trek in LA; stopped in Utah (and saw the best thing that the state has to offer: Nate); stopped in the City of Rocks and spent a little bit of time in Idaho (and got the best thing that the state has to offer: free taters for out-of-staters).

Thursday night, we just went to the Maverick and played naked photo hunt. Lest anyone think we're perverted, there's just something funnier about finding differences between photos when said photos feature scantily clad (and yet still poorly dressed) people.

On Friday, I had to work so Pookie ran around the city of Dickinson for 4 hours. Plus, she stopped in at work. It was actually pretty cool that she did because there was a guy working in the back on the presses and he took the time to show us how the ink gets on the page and told us how fast it could go, etc. It was all stuff that as an employee I should have known and yet didn't. And, the guy in the back should perhaps consider getting a job as a curator; he told a good story and made it interesting.

Then, Friday night, she got the great pleasure of pitchers of Long Island Iced Teas. Oh yeah, and she got to meet my co-workers. Fortunately, I think she liked them, and they liked her. We drunk dialed Greggers which was absolutely fantastic because he was about as drunk as he'd ever been. The best part was the next day when I had no less than five voicemails from him regarding everything from missing us to how much the Yankees in fact suck.

So, then, that was Friday night. We came back in time to watch Family Guy on TBS's Too Funny To Sleep (most of the time, and in fact this night, I fall asleep while watching it, which is ironic, right?).

Saturday, because I was a safe driver, I felt fine. Although I think Pookie may have enjoyed too many pitchers (I think everyone needs to have a good time but I did feel bad that she didn't get a chance to run that morning). But to cure any hangover the best remedy is a greasy breakfast, so we made eggs, toast and bacon. Yay!

If you can't tell by the pictures following my Pookie story, the rest of Saturday afternoon was spent on the Enchanted Highway. I have to admit I thought it would be pretty cheesy, but it was actually kind of nice. It was also just great to have a relaxing drive with Aimee J. She's my hero. I obviously had a lot more pictures from the day, but my stupid Blogger (I mean, Blogger is awesome...please don't take away my account) won't let me add more than five.

So, we very much enjoyed ourselves. Then, while we stopped to take some photos at the end of our trip, we were greeted by Mr. Gary Greff himself, the gentleman who designed all the pieces of work on the Enchanted Highway. He opened up his tchotchke shop for us and we got ourselves some souvenirs. He did not have ice cream, but he did tell us where we could get some. Plus, he let us take a picture with him too. All in all, it was a magnificent afternoon.

After we left the Enchanted Highway, we headed east to Bismarck. Along the way we saw many, many very small towns. One was called Flasher. Needless to say, Pookie and I took pictures and spent most of our time discussing how every woman in flasher must walk around topless all day (yes, at 24 and 25 we are that mature). We came up through Mandan, and saw very unappealing parts of the city. And then we made it to Bismarck.

We went to two shops and then the bookstore and finally to our intended destination: Space Aliens. Again, it was much better than expected. Again, we played naked photo hunt.

This time the events were as cheesy as expected but it was still pretty fun. We got suckered in to watching the NFL draft. I'm still pretty upset at how late Matt Leinart got drafted. There were too many scary tykes running around to allow me to play Skee-Ball. There needs to be a grown-up place (read: bar) that has Skee-Ball and Pinball Machines and that game where you bonk gofers on the head. Anyway, we took the highway back after that, and spent a relatively short time in the capital despite a long drive in getting there.

Saturday night we were already a little pooped and knew that we had a big day ahead of us on Sunday, so we did a nice quiet night at The Rock, where the bartender was hot and pretty nice. I got bunches of pretty girly shots and drank Leinenkugel. All in all another great day.

Sunday was quite magical too but in an entirely different way and that, my friends, is a story for another time. Unfortunately, there will probably be only five pictures to accompany that too.

Forbidden Love and Wine

2006-05-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

I know I said I'd be back soon to share with everyone my life in photos of the past couple of weeks. Instead, I'm wasting time cooking and working and painting and sleeping. But today I did something really productive. I downloaded the Forbidden Love EP. Man, nothing takes me back to sophomore year of college quite like listening to the acoustic version of "405." Thanks to Nate for reminding me of what I was missing in my life.

My So-Called Life

2006-05-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

Look, I know. I know I totally need to offer a new post.

But , I don't have time now.

My last two weeks have consisted of a visit from Pookie and a visit to see Nate graduate. I have had time to do little else than keep up with work and cleaning in the between time.

So, over the course of the next couple of days look for photo heavy posts about Pookie and Nate and our adventures.

And, my last comment is that anyone who is anonymous could potentially still post but now it has to be approved by me. This happened because I do not like getting offers to buy porn or watch a video of two hot chicks getting it on. Plus, I like to get on power trips every now and then and I like to be a controlling psycho path. Okay, just kidding on the last part.

Anyway, I'm in the middle of doing something to help Nate find a job, listening to music, typing this blog, getting ready to eat dinner and brushing my teeth, so I'm off until later.

I'm Self-Absorbed and I'm Lazy

2006-04-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

(Psst. If you haven't downloaded Dios Malos' "Feels Good Being Somebody," from where the lyrics in my title originate, you are missing one of the better songs I've heard recently.)

Anyway, the reason I'm posting is to let you all know that I've let you down. This was a stressful week (see previous post), so I never did apply for my MTV/Rolling Stone internship. Looks like I'll have to weasel myself in the old-fashioned way...lots and lots of bribery.

The bright side is, now I'll be in North Dakota a little longer, which means more catfishing and possibly hiking. Watch the outdoorsperson in me shine!

Okay, seriously, I am a little mad that I didn't apply but this week did not allow for it and I'm too much of a procrastinator to really be all that surprised. The other side of the story is I did watch Team America: World Police, and I did work until 9:40 on Monday, and I did spend time researching for work on Wednesday night, and I had to (had!) watch 24 and The O.C. this week.

My Aching Feet

2006-04-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

...and no, I wasn't barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.

Before I can tell you my aching feet story, I have to tell you my catfishing story.

On Easter Sunday, being the pagan I am, I did not have any plans to do much of anything. Although I did have a very nice offer from my boss to have dinner with him and his family. Not being much for hanging out with other people's family, I decided against that. But I overheard my co-worker/friend Pete was looking for a fishing buddy. Being that few of his friends are heathens, he was going to go alone. Instead, I invited myself.

I want to say I knew what I was in for. Pete and Brian had made it pretty clear that catfishing mostly was about sitting around drinking beer and watching the river go by. And occassionally checking your fishing line. I figured I could handle that.

After sitting around for about an hour and a half and having some very delightful conversation on how much someone would have to pay us to never again play our favorite albums, Pete had a snag. It was the kind of snag that led him to believe he had caught on to something, whether it was floating debris or a tiny fish or the big one, we didn't know. Anyway, not yet having a fishing license, all I could do was use the net to gather our catch. We had actually gotten a pretty big one, and being journalists our first instinct was to hope for a scale to determine exactly how big and thus report it back. Instead, all we can say is it's a pretty good size. Anyway, Pete can verify that I was pretty pale and horrified by capturing the slimy little guy. Still, as I am a meat eater, I figured I should know what goes into eating living things.

Then, we sat around for another hour and a half and ate sandwiches and discussed the early Christian Church (can you guess which one of us picked that topic?). And, once it started to get overcast and late in the day, we gave up with one fish in the bucket.

We smartly decided to walk back to Pete's car in our bare feet. Through a forest of thorns, and cockleburs. It was hell. If there was ever a good hazing task, it should be walking through that sort of debris. Oh god. (I was too tired to try to remove any splinters last night, which means I could barely walk this morning when I got out of bed. I then spent 20 minutes digging out at least five thorns. I know for sure that there is one I didn't get. I am thinking there could be more considering how much my feet still hurt. Wah.)

On the way back, Pete sort of confessed that he'd never actually scaled his own fish, so we did what every over-educated intellectual does, we googled it. Heaven help us, we learned how to get the meat off the fish from a Web site. I could not be there as Pete made sure the bugger was dead (and I won't get into what he had to do), and I don't think Pete liked it very much either. We didn't exactly have the right utencils so the scaling took longer than it should have. And we did this all over my kitchen floor. In the end, though, we did get two decent pieces of meat. Thankfully, we didn't eat it yesterday. I don't think either of us would have been hungry for fish after that debacle. (Thankfully, I was too grimy to take pictures of this part.)

I'm sure, except for the squeamish part, I would have made my grandad proud. He'd have been even prouder to know that I'm going to do it again. (But mostly for the beer and nice weather.)

Idiot

2006-04-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

Why is Turnbow always on my bench when the Brewers manage to win? What on earth am I thinking?

In other baseball news, it'd be nice if Manny Ramirez could start earning points...as my first round draft pick he sure is sucking it big time.

Anyway, I'm going to continue watching baseball and wondering what's wrong with my life.

In case you're wondering...

2006-04-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

1. (of 3) The tally is now up to three to one that I should go ahead and apply for this MTV show, and Nate sort of half gave his approval, which is almost four. Now the only question is where do I get a video camera on such short notice? (Seriously, how do I do this?)

2. Sometimes talking with people does help ease stress. Ranting to Nate about baseball relaxed me, and ranting to Pete about health insurance calmed me down. And of course ranting to Cindy about everything under the sun helped me to feel better about life. Now, all I need is a good book (have I mentioned that my new hero/mortal enemy is Chuck Klosterman?) and cartoons (have I mentioned that South Park knocks my socks off?).

3. Despite everything, I'm sticking by Barry Bonds. You can knock me if you like and I'd happily agree with you that the Giants Suck (next topic!) but Barry Baby is still my hero.

Good Night and Good Luck.

One remarkably satisfying comment and counting...

2006-04-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

I've already had one comment that if there is that much rigamarole and it's all a beauty contest anyway, is that the whole damn thing is beneath me. I like that one. Anybody got anything better?

ADD and Indecision

2006-04-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

So, in an effort to continue putting off preparing for my interview in the morning (and trying not to look at my fantasy league again, for the fifteen thousandth time), I have been ironing, watching 24, reading Rolling Stone online, and mostly debating whether or not I should enter their stupid contest.

MTV and Rolling Stone are partnering to have a show where you can compete to be a writer at Rolling Stone for a year. I'm sure the competition is tight and I'm sure in an MTV sort of way it will be much more dramatic on film than in real life, but it's about the only contest I've seriously considered applying for.

Here's the myriad of dilemmas:

1. It's on MTV and I'm not saying this so everyone can compliment me, but I am way too goofy-looking for national television, especially MTV where every girl looks like someone from the O.C. or Laguna Beach. Even on the Real World they had attractive girls.
2. The application is 11 pages long and asks me to say who my biggest influences are, and include clips shorter than 500 words (Do I even have any of those? I'm a wordy bastard!).
3. I have to send in a head shot and a full-length picture, which goes back to the fact that they are looking for way pretty people.
4. I have to do a 5-10 minute video tape of myself talking about myself. I am not good on film and I'll probably say "um" a lot and "I guess" and then I'll probably talk for 10 years. And where the hell am I going to get a video camera in the next week?

But I would like to work at Rolling Stone and win over Matt Taibbi. And what 24-year-old punk kid doesn't want to live in NYC for a short period of time, before she has to settle down, get married and move to the suburbs to have bratty kids who'll grow up and do the same?

Anyway, what's an awkward girl like me to do? Comments are welcome, as long as they are in by April 19, so I have time to actually submit my stuff, should anyone think it's a worthwhile venture. And maybe I'm too old to do this. I don't even care what's on MTV anymore.

Now, I feel old.

Well, to procrastinate more and show that I have an attention deficit problem some more, let's talk about, hmm, my baseball league: I'm too nervous to gloat and most of the time the anxiety isn't worth it, but less than two weeks into the season, I am in second place and (I think) holding strong. It's hard work. I find myself cheering for teams I actually want to lose because I need the points (damn you, Chris Reitsma, for making me cheer for the Braves tonight...but thank you for blowing it yesterday while you were on my bench and letting me get the win with Worrell). If nothing else, I think I'm making Nate and my brother proud. And annoying all of my co-workers. Do you think it's too late for me to become a color commentator for baseball? I do have a face for radio and a bizarre love of useless trivia.

And finally, I know I've ranted once before on it and I know I'm wayyyyyy behind the times on this one, but I LOVE Chuck Klosterman. Why did it take moving to North Dakota (and him being from here, and being a former Forum employee) for me to recognize that this guy is freakin' hilarious and so good at pop culture rants? I love it. I'm even reading about hair metal bands that I have no interest in and I love it. Watch out, Matt Taibbi, John Dickerson, Tim Dickinson, there's a new journalist in town that this girl loves. Oh my, I know way too many political writers; thank you, Mr. Klosterman for bringing me back in to the realm of pop culture writing.

Anyway, since I'm the only one who's entertained by my thoughts, I'm going to hop in the shower, then read more of my snazzy book, and then maybe I'll finish up with these questions (just kidding, dad, I (mostly) did my homework!).

Oh! And for those of you who love words, especially dirty ones, here's a fun article from Slate magazine for you: click here.

For the Record

2006-04-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Even if I am mostly a basket case, I still think I'm the coolest girl on the planet. Seriously. Consider this:

Right now, I'm listening to the Magnetic Fields, watching (via ESPN.com's GameCast) the Mets v. Marlins game and reading a book about heavy metal adoration. Oh, and yes, I am drinking a Killian's in case you doubted me. And for dinner, I had fake ribs and homemade mashed potatoes.

Perhaps I just have too much time in North Dakota. And maybe I'm just putting off finishing my taxes (since I've only messed up three times so far).

Anyway, back to the Mets and Fargo Rock City.

writing this one off

2006-04-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

This has officially been the worst day I've had this year. It seems that absolutely nothing is meant to go right today, so in the spirit of that, I'm off to drink wine, watch a good movie, go on hating everyone, and eating a white-trash-comfort-food dinner.

Obnoxious and Ranty

2006-03-29T22:47:00.000-08:00

And a day later than promised. Yesterday I got distracted by old college basketball games, The O.C. and half-finishing my laundry and half-finishing my taxes. But boy are those turtle brownies I wasted time on delicious.

So, Rolling Stone tells me that much like when I was a teenager, the kids are listening to classic rock. A decade later I get what they're saying but I still think I have something off kilter. Of course, like when I was a teenager, they're rambling on about Pink Floyd and Led Zepplin, perhaps even The Doors. Instead, again like a decade ago, I'm listening to the "wrong" classic rock. Lately, I've been jamming on The Replacements, Bruce Springsteen, The Smiths, (still) The Stone Roses and The Beatles. Plus, I still think my music is better.

Anyway, I've started to do my taxes which only stresses me out.

I feel, in some ways, like Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man, but you know, still alive.

I'm annoyed that I've reverted to a teenager who is anti-social and reads comic books and participates in fantasy baseball, and at the same time, I'm enjoying my semi-angsty world immensely.

Anymore, I live for fancy schmancy recipes, the red glint of Netflix movies in the mail and 24. I'd be sad if all of those weren't so god-damned amazing.

Is it springtime yet?

And finally, The Giants Suck! Next topic. (Yay Baseball.)

On the next post: Will this girl find some fun in Fargo? Will she manage to get work done before the weekend? And will she ever finish watching Murderball? Stay tuned: same blog site, same obnoxious rants.

Seeking Skinny and Androgynous

2006-03-27T23:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to those of you who were kind enough to check my blog and alert me to the fact that it was broken. Thank you to the gods of Blogger that the problem fixed itself without any significant injuries to anyone.

Holy crap. It's been awhile since I wrote. Do you ever have those times where you're so self-absorbed and whiny that you wouldn't want to go back and read what you wrote later, for fear that you really are that obnoxious? Well, that was me. I didn't have anything good to say so I kept my mouth shut. But after a night of hearing from my mom (her shoulder is doing slightly better but she can only move her arm about 3 inches), taking it easy, cleaning and downloading the feyest song I've heard since the rise of Belle & Sebastian, I am feeling slightly sinister. Hence the blogging.

Shayna, Casey and other fey fans, I'm sorry to say that I absolutely adore "Be Gentle with Me" by The Boy Least Likely To. Even if these Brits end their band name in a preposition, you have to love two androgynous boys who admit that they're scared of spiders and want me to be gentle with them. Yay! Plus, if you're not tapping in your shoes by the end, something might be wrong with you.

Anyway, I'm throwing myself a welcome back to Blogger party in the form of watching an episode of South Park, having a glass of wine and going to bed. The rest of you can join me in spirit.

And, I'll be back soon (likely within the next 24 hours) as I have the day off tomorrow for a "procedure" that will leave me slightly dazed and confused tomorrow. But well enough to hopefully do my own taxes and make pan-roasted chicken breasts in a sage-vermouth sauce and read two issues of Rolling Stone. My what high ambitions I have for my sick day. Fun fun. I'll be back soon on what I've learned from magazines and the Internet.

mass hysteria

2006-03-24T14:44:00.000-08:00

Holy Computer Glitch, Batman! Why is my blog not working? Someone please help.

Up Yours, God

2006-03-03T19:35:00.000-08:00

In the immortal words of Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, "Hate Him back; it works for me."

Once upon a time in a very remote land, this girl fell in love with Netflix. She loved it so much that she had 85 movies in her queue. Then, one day she rented Hitch. And the story went downhill. She never received Hitch. Netflix received Hitch back from her without her ever having seen the movie. So, she moved it to the top of her queue, hoping that she would see it soon. One night, she decided to stay up slightly past her bedtime to watch the movie. She made it an hour in when the disc refused to play for her. So, she tried it in her computer. It refused to play again. She gave up, and decided to try again the next night. So, the next night she wiped down the disc and tried again. Again, it didn't work. She skipped the chapter that was causing her problems, but to no avail. Finally, she resigned. Sighing in defeat, she reported the problem to Netflix. She sealed the disc and plans on returning it tomorrow. After today, she is never ever going to try to watch Hitch again. It simply isn't worth the trouble for a romantic comedy. And thus, the story ends happily ever after, without me having a heart to give to anyone.

Sweet...Valley (Like) High

2006-03-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Short Attention Span Theater. I started this post an hour ago, and then I decided to dick around on the Internet, and then, I started looking at myspace.com, and then I got a drink and then I wrote a text message, and then I thought about writing in my blog...and that's when I remembered that an hour ago, I was going to start a blog message.

So, the reason I had initially decided to post is because, it's hilarious how myspace works. I got on to try to find a lot of my college friends. Many of whom I'm in touch with outside of myspace. But then, it turned out that a lot of the people I'm looking for are not on myspace, or I'm too dumb to find them.

Instead, now, I'm reconnecting with high school friends. It's turning into absolute hilarity. Sort of. Most of my friends are married and it only makes my perpetually single status look slightly ridiculous. Then, if they're not married, they're lesbians. And don't get me wrong, some of them are not a surprise, but some of them kind of are. It's funny what seven years can do to people. It's also funny how poor my memory. I don't even remember half the people who claim to be in my graduating class, and then some I used to be friends with I only vaguely remember anything about them. It's a little troublesome that at 24 my memory is this bad. Or it proves that high school really is a waste of four years of your life, which is more likely.

What's really troublesome is how easy it is to waste two hours stalking people you don't really care to learn more about but you do anyway. I do know that it is scary how easily I'm connected to so many people, but I wish they didn't know that.

Anyway, I think I'm about to have a psychotic episode, so I'm going to take a bath and dance with myself (not at the same time, of course). Until later...

Isn't It Ironic? (I think)

2006-03-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

I always forget if I'm using the word ironic right. Isn't it sad that an Alanis Morisette song from a decade ago can still fuck me up? And, I actually care about grammar. Sort of.

Anyway, not that any of you bastards would, but don't worry about what I'm about to say. I've felt pretty sick all week, and really, the week before it. I've managed to take pretty good care of myself (most days) but I can't quite get better. My symptoms are everything from a stomach ache to muscle cramps to sneezing to snuffy nose to nausea to head aches to dizziness to insomnia. My body's viruses or bacterium (is that right?) just can't seem to decide where they want to strike. I haven't quite been sick enough to stay home so I've been sucking it up and going to work. Since I had a doctor's appointment on Monday, I've even been staying late every night.

But, here's the irony, instead of performing at half-capacity, I've been hitting the ground running. I have already done so many stories for the week. I've been interviewing people like crazy. I've got more stories to do. I've still been managing to keep up on world events, etc. by reading the wire and even having some time to check out other papers. And in between, I've even managed to carry on conversations with most of my co-workers, just bullshitting. Why is it that I can feel so crappy but do so much work? Is that maybe why I'm staying sick, because I'm pushing myself?

Here's the caveat (my new favorite word), though, I can't really say that the stories I've done are award winners. There's nothing particularly wonderful about the stories. Although in one I did get to lead with something about airsick bags, so that's fun.

Oh, and this whole keeping busy thing isn't just a work thing. I've been reading comics, magazines, political Web sites and I started a novel. Then, I've watched a couple of movies, managed to catch 24 this week and watch a bunch of episodes of Carnivale on DVD. I also sleep, eat and shower daily, so there's nothing I'm forgetting to do.

Oh, and I'm not on any drugs. And since I've been sick, I haven't even had the wine or beer I'd usually have after work.

How's that for strange?

Speaking of strange (goddamnit!), I had a totally fucked up dream last night, which I will now relay to you, the readers of my blog:

It doesn't sound that strange now, but at 4:30 a.m. I definitely had to turn on the light for a little bit before I could go back to sleep soundly. Anyway, in my dream, I wasn't me. I was a little slow kid (not the comedy troupe, but like autistic or mentally retarded), I'd guess I was about an eight-year-old boy. And, this older lady was at my house, and she was something like a detective, but she wasn't really. She was maybe a lawyer or something. And she was asking me questions, while we were looking for my mom. She told me that my mom was helping her on a case, but I didn't really believe that the lady was there to help. Anyway, we kept finding little clues around but we couldn't find my mom. I could tell the lady was starting to worry but I didn't know why and then as we found more and more things, like drawers left open and computer files that were open and notes about things my mom was involved in, I realized that my mom had done something wrong and killed herself and every step after that I was afraid I was going to stumble upon a body but we couldn't find one. And then I woke up and was so freaked out about finding a lady who had killed herself and couldn't get back to sleep. Weird, eh?

Anyway, I'm going to go read some more garbage before going to bed.

Same Shit, Different Day

2006-02-26T22:54:00.000-08:00

I figure after the weekend I had, not that it was exciting or anything, I should probably check in with my blog readers.

Most of my weekend was spent at a high school girls hockey sports tournament if you can believe it. I think I checked out a game on Thursday, but maybe not, who can remember things that happened four days ago?

Then, Saturday I was pretty much a waste of life, until I hung around the hockey tournament with Cindy and Aarhus (the sports writer thinking of moving here) and Brian. I had the pleasure of watching the entire (3 periods and 2.5 overtimes) state tournament without a goal, only to take the tv reporter's daughter to the bathroom during the only (and sudden death) score of the game. On the bright side of things, I totally saw the score coming, so I expected the buzzer of a goal while I was politely waiting for the daughter. Still, for as much as I'll probably complain about it, it's not like it was anything more than a high school hockey tourney and I wasn't doing anything more than bullshitting, so I could afford to get away while people who were actually working probably couldn't. Then, Cindy and Aarhus needed dinner after a hard day at work and I like beer, so we went to Applebee's and then the bar in the hotel Aarhus was staying at. I lost pathetically in a game of pool and then I had the pleasure of chatting with my favorite ad department girl and her fiance. She also has cats so I think we bonded. Plus, I learned from her that a pitcher of Long Island Iced Tea is only $8 at that bar. Woo.

Tonight, Sunday, I read some of my Rolling Stone magazine, oh and don't tell anyone but Entertainment Weekly too. I'm currently reading something about a mission to Mars in RS. It's not that interesting but I don't like space that much. Go figure. Then, I cleaned, kind of. Then, I cooked myself a nice dinner. And then Nate called while I was watching Junebug. I like movies but I love Nate, so I took the call. When I finally got back to the movie, I bawled and bawled. Amy Adams is absolutely precious. I'm a straight female and I just loved her. Despite my emotional problems, I would recommend it to anyone. It's not really a downer, well, not that much anyway, but it was just very sincere. Much better than Thumbsucker, the other 2005 Sundance movie I've recently watched. That movie was pretty lame and felt like it lasted forever even though that's impossible. I still haven't watched Murderball or Vanilla Sky but I will try to get to them this week.

Probably not tomorrow, though, when the best show on TV is on. Yay 24. Plus, I'll be at work late. Not that you need to know this but I have a ladies doctor appointment tomorrow, so I'm going to work a little late. Ugh.

Anyway, on that note, I'm off to read a little of The Sandman (so I can read V is for Vendetta before the movie comes out...oh, and I also ordered books on half.com - one of which was Y: The Last Man) before bed.

Seven years of college down the drain...

2006-02-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting at my computer, checking in on my friends' blogs and listening to a mix I recently made. And then it hits me, I'm reading Casey's blog, and understanding every bit of the comic nerdiness he's spouting off about, and listening to Andrew Bird's new album, and I realize that I am who my college friends have made me. It gets worse when I relive the experiences of the wine and cheese party at Shayna's. Not that the college friends haven't seen this, but for the rest of you:

Anyway, it made me all nostalgic tonight, in part, but then I was really thankful for the people, who outside of my family, really shaped what I am today.

Or put in a less sentimental way, they're the people that somewhere down the line I was bound to find, because we have so much in common. Casey and I have always threatened to read comics, and now, apart from one another, we've finally made good on those promises. Casey's starting with different basics than me, but I guess ultimately I'm still a product of my father, because I'm starting with Frank Miller's Batman comics. Though, Alan Moore is soon to cross my path.

Don't tell Casey this but I'm a little worried about my comic obsession. I think I might be opening up myself to a new addiction, one where I will spend more money than I have and stay up later than I should to enjoy it.

Okay, now that I'm talking about it, I'm just going to finish up reading my daily political readings (thanks, Dad, for getting me back into that habit) so that I can get to The Dark Knight Returns (so I can get to The Sandman, so I can get to Y: The Last Man, so I can go buy V is for Vendetta before it comes out in theaters). Oh, and some day, I plan to get to all of those historical books Casey has been telling me about for decades.

Oh, and speaking of Casey, I love his friend Pete. I have no idea who this kid is, and all I know is that he lives in Chicago. But anybody who has a slightly bad day and finishes the sentence with "I need a beer..." has got to be a good friend of mine. How does Casey find these people and I don't? Why is Casey so much more interesting than me? Damn him...anyway, off to comics.

Oh, by the way (goddamnit), my mom broke two bones in her shoulder skiing. God, now my mom and my dad are more kick-ass than I am. All the more reason to delve into the world of comic books...

When did I become a 15-year-old boy?

Cab & Brie on a Sunday

2006-02-19T22:11:00.000-08:00

I'm not snobby, but I sound like it on my blog...

This has been a Sunday to remember, but not really in a good way. It's a Sunday that feels like a Monday. When you wake up early and anxious for no reason, you know the Sunday isn't going to be a good one.

The good news is that both Brie and my favorite crackers were on sale at the grocery store, so now I have both. And anyway, it's fun to be tied for the snobbiest person in North Dakota.

Oh, the details on my Sunday are not exciting. Nothing happened, it's just one of those days where you get ideas in your head of accomplishing things and instead squandering the day.

Aside from Grocery Shopping, I managed to accomplish the noble task of watching Thumbsucker. I have to say it wasn't quite a waste of time, but I probably could have better spent my time by reading The Dark Knight Returns. Still, I saw a preview for Junebug, which made me put the movie at number one, so I can watch it by the end of the week. I need to finally suck it up and watch Murderball, because I know I'll like it; I just know it won't be as fun to watch as Hitch, which I never got. Oops, all this movie talk reminds me that I need to start getting a pool together for the Oscars. Where are all my good friends who do this for me?

Even though I could carry on a lot longer (out of boredom), and probably should (since I have to imagine something interesting happened this week and since I did have a pretty action-packed Saturday), I'm going to end here....after I tell you about my three new favorite songs:

1. I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab - Best song they've had since, well, before most people started listening to Death Cab, and certainly since they were made famous on The O.C.
2. Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis - Okay, Okay, this features Ben Gibbard of Death Cab too, and I should probably hate it, but I have to say that the song reminded me how much I like the original and how maybe I have found some bands worth sticking with...if they grew up with the classics that I did, they're going to be all right.
3. Feels Good Being Somebody Else - Dios Malos - Is there a better first line than: "I'm self-absorbed and I'm lazy"? It's a catchy one, and I don't mind saying I quite like it.

Anyway, back to wine and cancelled television shows.

I'll try to write more often, but you can blame my dad, who made me start reading about politics again, for my recent absence.

Good, I love that guy...

2006-02-11T22:10:00.000-08:00

(Thanks to Nate for the title.)

I just watched Crash.

Without getting too much into it, I thought it was good, sad (judge it based on the tracks of the tears running off my face) and thought-provoking. But that's not why I'm here. If you are a person who reads my blog, you'll either have already seen the movie or not be surprised at all that I like an Oscar-nominated drama.

I'm here, because I love Ryan Phillippe. How many good performances does this guy have to give before someone recognizes that he's a good actor? Seriously, I don't know whatever happened in the gossip columns so I don't know if he's still with Reese Witherspoon, but good lord, he deserves more praise than her. Two things you should know: 1) I actually kind of like Reese Witherspoon. 2) While I think he deserves a lot of credit, while they were together, I did think it was cool of Phillippe to be a man about staying home and letting his wife be the breadwinner. Yay the 21st century! All right, back to ragging on Reese: she's seriously played the pretty blonde/ doe-eyed girl and June Carter. That's it. It's not exactly like she's branched out until this last role as Mrs. Cash. Ryan Phillippe on the other hand has played a punk kid with AIDS, a well-intentioned Popular Kid, a Criminal and a cop. Plus, seriously, he's gorgeous. Why does everybody recognize everybody else in the movie but him? I mean, didn't Matt Dillon get an Oscar nomination as well? Everybody loves Don Cheadle (okay, rightfully so). And well, Sandra Bullock and Brendan Fraser have given their most serious performances in years. And well, it's always newsworthy when a rapper can actually act (sorry, but Will Smith, we were surprised at your skills, and well, 50 cent, you are exactly what the world expected from rappers trying to act). Good job Ludacris. Anyway, with all that competition, it is less surprising that Ryan Phillippe went overlooked, but seriously that man has some acting chops and it's time he got some recognition from the rest of the world. Phillippe, man, Nate and I salute you. Someday when we make movies together, we'll help make you the star you deserve to be.

Validation (Sorry, Dad) and yet another Rant

2006-02-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

I'm about three weeks behind everyone else in the world, but I'm finally reading and watching things talking about the State of the Union. I'm sorry, Dad, your comments were reaffirming but you're more optimistic than most.

To validate my post on the State of the Union, I offer you:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/08/politics/08dems.html?ex=1140238800&en=89621d7ca81fa820&ei=5070&emc=eta1 (an article from the New York Times--you know, the really liberal media--on how Democrats need a platform on which to stand)

And This:

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/most_recent/index.jhtml?start=17 (no, it's not just for stoners--The Daily Show--on the State of the Union. Most memorably, Jon Stewart edits the Democratic Response to show how many times Kaine said "There's a Better Way" and then said something to the effect of, "If you have this better way, please send it to Democratic Headquarters; PO Box 18; and remember, the elections are only 9 months away.")

So, I'm not completely off-base. I will say, though, that maybe like me the dems are just procrastinators and they'll pull it together in time. After all, they've got the right idea.

Anyway, enough politics, let's talk crudely.

Ever since Bob Saget said in Half Baked, "I used to suck dick for coke. Now that's an addiction. You ever suck some dick for marijuana?" I have loved the man. I'm not knocking the man that Bob Saget used to be. I love Danny Tanner. Though, I do have to say that America's Funniest Home Videos was pretty cheesy.

Anyway, some douchebag writes in to Rolling Stone, about how Bob Saget is falling for comedic peer pressure to be so crude. After all, it's not like the man could change his mind, or grow up. To whatever idiot wrote the article, I say, "Fuck You." Bob Saget can do what Bob Saget wants, and frankly, he's funnier now and he's even a little cooler. And what's more, heaven forbid one comedian should go from clean to dirty. How many comedians have we lost to the fact that they had kids and stopped being crude? So, you keep your Damon Wayans, Rosie O'Donnell, Whoopi Goldberg, and the like. We'll take Bob Saget and the two or three other comedians who swing the other way as they get older. You, sir or ma'am, can keep being an idiot.

That's all for this edition of rants about things that no one cares about, except me.

My Democratic Response...

2006-02-04T18:47:00.000-08:00

Two things before this post begins: 1) I wanted to do this as a column for my paper, but I was talked out of it. I was talked out of it because I am the political reporter for our paper, and even if it's not The New York Times, it's probably best that my biases don't come out that easily. So, if the writing seems like more column-y that's because it was my original intention. 2) This is the most intellectual post I've done, so please feel free to open that good bottle of cab and drink it while nibbling on some brie and cracked pepper crackers.

Without further ado, my response to the democratic response (from Tuesday's State of the Union Address):

A few weeks ago, in an effort to rile me up, Pete defended the conservative movement in the government and had the audacity to ask me what the democrats stood for.

I was shocked and appalled. Then, as if it were a staring contest, I blinked.

Despite my left-leaning tendencies, I could not prattle off any tenets that my party has.

Pete then started listing at least three principles that the GOP has stood for in the past decade under their majority. I'm sure he could have spouted off more but he quit when he heard the sound of my heart breaking.

In my head, which was also throbbing, I was still trying to recall from civics lessons in high school or from 2004's presidential election, just what democrats stood for. I remembered from high school that they were the party of big government, to provide help to every American. Then, I remembered that the republicans had gotten the country to forget this fact by allegedly appealing to middle America's moral values. I remembered from high school that they were the party that helped the little guy, the little guy meaning America's many blue collar workers and being supportive of workers unions. Again, by appealing to the Christian values, the republicans had taken that away from us too.

Was there anything else the democrats stood for? Did I miss something? We had to have some platform didn't we? Apparently not. I googled both the republicans and democrats and went to their official sites for closer inspection. While when you look at their histories, both are pretty vague, the republicans do actually list a couple of their tenets. "Individuals, not government, can make the best decisions; all people are entitled to equal rights; and decisions are best made close to home." Sure, it's not definitive, but pretty clearly you understand they're not a party that's pro-big government. When Dubya ran in 2004, the republicans came out with a 92-page platform. It talked about republican heroes of years past: Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt and Honest Abe (the founder). It also outlined five areas W. was going to focus on. Maybe it's because we lost, but the democrats website didn't contain a platform. And our "about us" page online says, "Over 200 years ago, our party's founders decided that wealth and social status were not an entitlement to rule." What a great statement! Seriously. But that was 200 years ago. What are we doing now? Well, it seems in the last 200 years, we've had some good leaders who've stood for some good things. Again, according to the site: FDR (social programs like social security and WPA); Truman (NATO, early civil rights); JFK (progressive space program, gorgeous); Johnson (war on poverty, civil rights, Medicare); Carter (ending conflict in the middle east); Clinton (working for the poor and lower middle class). But we never come out and say what we stand for. How has the party progressed? How have we taken these great leaders and modified our vision? As a party it seems we haven't gotten that far yet. In the last paragraph of our vision: "While we have accomplished a great deal -- as a nation and a party, we must continue to move forward in the 21st century." No hows, just that it must be done.

So, I'm already feeling a little down. And not to give away the ending, but no, I'm not declaring myself a republican. But I am eagerly awaiting the State of the Union, because of the impact it could have on the midterm elections this year. I had hope the democratic response would offer some insight as to what the democrats were going to stand for in '06.

"Had" is the operative word in the previous sentence, because I quickly lost faith in my party, despite an inspirational speech. Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine gave the response. It was a perfect set up: no one up for election in the house or senate, and a fresh new face for the party and one who had made some real reforms for the commonwealth of Virginia. I was excited. Then, as I'm listening, I'm only looking for a theme or a tenet. And all I'm hearing is, "There's a better way." I don't disagree with Kaine. I think this Bush administration isn't helping America. In fact, I think he's hurting it. So, yes, there is a better way. Preach on, Kaine. Oh wait, you don't offer the better way. Oh wait, you spout off what is wrong, and that it can be done to be better. But how? Obviously it's working in Virginia, but how can the whole nation work like it's going in your state? Nothing but "There's a better way." It not only pissed me off, but it broke my heart again.

Our party knows that the current administration isn't good. People, like me, who follow along with the party, know that Bush isn't right for America. But we're having a real hard time selling it. Part of that is the loss of our spine. More often then not, when they call us on something, we cower. When they claim that we're pro-big government, we shouldn't apologize. We should say, "Fuck yeah, we are." Big government doesn't mean clusterfucks like the disaster relief of Hurricane Katrina unless you put cronies in those positions. Big government does mean helping other Americans. It does mean that we may have to raise taxes on the people who have the money to give. It does mean that we'll help others in need, because that is what America stands for. And none of this trickle-down bullshit. If Bush really wanted to make trickle-down economics work, the oil and gas companies who are making the most money they've ever made, would be forced to lower the gas prices so the rest of us aren't getting anally raped when we fill up our tanks.

If anything, I don't think my party necessarily needs to change its tenets, but it definitely needs to stand up for them. Yeah, so Ted Kennedy is for health care reform, and Rep. Sanders is against most of the Patriot Act, and, while I disagree, Lieberman is for parental advisory labels, at least stand up and regain your back-bone and say we're for something. We do have some tenets. No apologies from democratic liberals who are both religious and pro-choice. No apologies for raising taxes if it means the poor and the sick and those affected by horrible natural disasters are helped by it. Hooray for higher taxes because it means when I retire I'm going to be taken care of, and hooray for higher taxes because if I have kids that I don't abort (because I should have the right to abort them) they'll be taken care of by their children. I think democrats would be surprised to learn that if they didn't apologize for what they stood for they might have some real supporters.

Bush knows that there is a lot of partisanship. He knows that there are a lot of people who strongly disagree with him. He doesn't sweep it under the rug, though. He calls us on it.

At his speech on Tuesday, the smartest thing he said (that had some truth to it: because, hell yeah, our dependence on foreign oil is bad and we should look at hybrid cars etc., but I highly doubt W. will fund any of those programs well enough) was that "Hindsight alone is not wisdom, and second-guessing is not a strategy."

He called democrats out on our spinelessness and our bullshit. He's right. We don't like the war in Iraq or his health care reform or the way he does Medicare or his environmental policy. In fact, we're against most things he does, hence the partisan clapping at his speech. But, fuck, if we offered anything other than apologies maybe more people would respect us. If we had a plan, more people might follow. If we keep saying that there's a better way, and not offering a way, then we're in danger of dying. This doesn't make me agree with the current administration and their Christian conservatism, but it does make me wonder what the future of my party is.

On Tuesday, for the first time, despite two crushing presidential losses, I was worried about the future of my democratic party.

And I'm not saying I have all the answers. I have a few tenets I'd like to run on (should I ever run for office, though there are a few things I've done that could have me dragged through the mud) but I'd support my party if they were at least willling to stand up for those principles or evolve theirs from 200 years ago.

It's a sad day when one loses faith in his vision of America. It's a sadder day when one loses his faith in his party. It's the saddest day when one loses faith in his party to uphold that American ideal.

Good luck democrats in 2006, in coming up with a vision and gaining the support of the Americans. I hope the best for you, but I'm losing that faith, despite a corrupt republican party.

So, to you snooty bloggers who have made it through this, good night and good luck.

I Politely Disagree...

2006-01-31T22:51:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the irony is overwhelming. I've absolutely been dying to see The Aristocrats since it premiered at Sundance last year. The fact that unless you are able to see the dirty/unrated comedy during Sundance, chances are good the conservative (ahem, Mormon) politics of Utah are going to be able to keep movies of the like out of its state. Anyway, that's a whole other tangent. Instead, I'm going to rant about my adoration of the movie, which I finally saw, thanks to Netflix.

Here's the scoop: the reviews I read a year ago are so spot on I'm shocked; Sarah Silverman is amazing; Bob Saget is ridiculous; when Gilbert Godfried performs it at the Friar's Club Roast shortly after 9/11 it is probably the funniest telling of the joke in the movie.

My friend Matt Kaszanek, whom I trust with all things movie related more than anyone other than Nate, didn't like it. And this is why I'll argue with him. I was expecting the movie to be an absolute riot. It's not. It's more a disecting of a joke. And not just any joke, but a comedian's joke. More than that, it's an analysis of how comedians tell the joke, like can it be more or less crude if a woman tells it, or how does race come into it; and maybe most important of all, is shit funnier than sex/incest? Maybe the fact that I've been obsessively curious about it for damn near 12 months plays into the fact that I really liked it. But as a girl who loves documentaries more than she'd care to admit, it was exactly what I was looking for.

If I had to seek out a complaint (and okay, as the critic that I am, it wasn't hard), I didn't like how sometimes the cameramen (aka Paul Provenza or Penn) would laugh at the joke as the person was telling it. And really it's not that so much as if you're going to be laughing at a joke, you should be on-screen. So, do it like a legit interview where you say, "Dude, Bob Saget, tell the f-ing dirtiest joke on the planet, to me, Penn, and I'll sit here and egg you on, but if I'm laughing it's okay, because I'm on-screen and not some obscure voice that is both making Bob Saget laugh and not tell his goddamned joke and taking away from the scene where Bob Saget tells his goddamned joke about raping his son in an empty eye socket with a flattened penis..."

Anyway, there's not a lot in this world that I love more than analysis, so that helped me like it. The only other thing I'll mention is that I was disappointed that no one told me that Cartman tells the joke while the kids are waiting for the bus (specially made for this movie, not a part of South Park). If it's at all possible to download that part, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Um, so yeah, next on the list of Netflix movies is Chinatown and I will be eagerly awaiting another 2005 Sundance documentary Murderball. And to give Matt Kaszanek some credit, I did add Junebug as well. If you ever want to recommend something, please feel free, but be forewarned that I have about 16 books on my to-read list and about 82 movies on my Netflix queue. It may be some time before I get to anything. Did I mention that I'm knitting a pillow to be felted? And I subscribe to four magazines? And I have a full-time job? And I have some friends that I don't call on the phone when I should? And despite living in North Dakota, I have made some friends who I occasionally like to spend time with? God, what am I doing wasting time telling all you people what I think about things? I'm going to read comics (Kingdom Come) and go to bed.

In the words of Eric Cartman, "Screw you guys, I'm going home."

Goddamn Alzheimers

2006-01-30T20:43:00.000-08:00

The title is a reference to my daddy, Mark the great who claims that as he gets older it gets harder and harder to remember even the simplest things. So, after discovering a little too late that there wasn't enough hot water for me to take a bath after doing the dishes, I bring you my recent mind-failings.

Well, there are only two, and they both relate to a singer my dad likes. (By the way (goddamnit!), [another Mark-ism] speaking of my dad (segues are for amateurs) [Mark-ism] I just got two cds in the mail from him - the new Strokes album and the first Kanye West album - there is no doubt that my dad is cooler than most dads but when did he become cooler than me? Thanks, dad!)

Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, I was walking out of work today and suddenly a song popped in my head. And I knew that I loved the song; I knew bits and pieces of the lyrics; I immediately identified it as someone my dad listened to; my first thought was The Replacements, but no, I have a lot of their stuff now (thanks, Pete) and I hadn't heard this song recently. Well, thanks to a google search of the lyrics, "seven years disappear...do you want me now" I discovered that it was Freedy Johnson's "Bad Reputation." How on earth did I not remember that? I only absolutely love the song. WTF? Needless to say, I downloaded and have listened to it eight times since 6:15pm.

Side Rant: Why is it when I type those lyrics in the first two links are to the Death Cab for Cutie cover of Johnson's song? When did Ben Gibbard take over the universe and how did I miss it? I mean, I like the guy, but why does everyone all of a sudden feel like he developed modern rock music? As I'm currently listening to Built to Spill, I can hear Death Cab ripping them off. Jesus, I hate to say it, but I've just about had all I can stomach (after of course, I listen to Plans, which Nate tells me is their best in years).

Um, back to my memory loss (is it any wonder I forget things with all these parenthesis and side rants?), so I'm on my 6th listen of "Bad Reputation" and I suddenly think "wait, haven't I seen him in concert before?" And that's when I realize that not only do I know and love his most popular song but I also paid to see it live with my dear friend, Shayna Vecchione. Even worse than this realization is that other than the fact that I saw him, with Shayna, and the fact that both our dads love him, I don't remember a damn thing about the concert. Oh, it was at Paradise Rock Club.

In another completely unrelated rant, I am pissed off that I may never see a concert again. I mean, it was bad enough when I moved to Utah and a band that I liked only came every 4 or so months, but hey, it was something to look forward to. Besides, I saw top bands like Badly Drawn Boy, The Decemberists (with Tom Heinl, who covered "Roll Out the Barrels"), Wilco, Calexico, Travis Morrison, Modest Mouse (where I almost got in my first ever fist fight, but was saved by Nate and his tall, intimidating-but-completely-harmless friend, Dave), Death Cab for Cutie (kind of ironic given my previous statements; in all fairness, even at that show I was telling Nate how crap they were), Elliott Smith (at his last ever live show before allegedly offing himself), and every weekend at Brewskis they had some blues band playing. (Oh, and there was that one time where we paid to see The Secret Machines double bill with Muse, but when we learned that the Machines were sick, we walked out and saw Team America instead. God, I love Nate. He's the best brother a sister could have.) Now, I would have to go to Minneapolis to see any of those bands. For those of you who don't know your Great Plains geography, that's like a 8-hour drive to see a band. And I'm warning you all now, I am soooooo not above driving that far to see any number of bands. That's how deprived I am of good music. Good lord, I just discovered Wolf Parade and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, just about 6 months after the rest of the world. Thank God for XM Radio too, because otherwise, I would have missed both of those. And Jesus, if it weren't for my dad, I probably still wouldn't know that The Strokes released a new album.

Anyway, if I ramble anymore, I might officially go insane. It's time to test the water again. If that fails it's comic book hysteria and an article in RS about the fall of the lead singer of Creed (oh hilarity will ensue with that one).

Waste of Paint

2006-01-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

I don't really have anything interesting to say. Well, I mean, I probably don't usually have much of anything interesting to say, but I usually try to have one or two points in a post. This one, not so much. I was just bored, so I figured I could ramble for about 20 minutes and kill some time before the night ends.

My work friends are either out of town or they are ill, so I am spending the day with me. So far today, I have slept in, read, done a crossword, read more, watched cartoons, half-assedly cleaned, knitted, checked my email, and played a lot of solitaire. Woo, how can anyone stand that much excitement?

This week, I met my second congressman. That leaves only the one that is up for reelection that I have yet to meet. I even have gotten them to call me back; of course, I back down when they don't really answer my questions. Gosh, journalism is hard. That being said, I'm finally getting the knack for this journalism stuff. I think it might be for me. I like to ask questions and I like to be forced to write, and I like to come up with stories that I want to pursue. That's always fun. Plus, I get to do a story on the bird flu and it hitting here. Woo!

This week, I also won $100 thanks to a superbowl pool, where no one picked both Seattle and the Steelers to make it. No one, that is, except for me. Plus, I have a chance to break even on the second pool I'm in. In the third one, I should probably just write off the $5 right now. Do you think maybe sports has taken over a little too much of my life?

This week, I got two bloody noses, one of them caused me to miss an interview. That was fun.

This week, I watched Inside Deep Throat and Friday Night Lights. I thought the former was quite interesting. It's neat to see how much of an impact a porn movie can have. I think the film's star was a bit of a loon, but I guess I'm not all that surprised. Although it should have been interesting, I got a little bored when they talked about the mob. I found the stuff about how the director thought the movie was going to be about a women's sexual revolution and instead came up against a women's movement saying how porn doesn't respect women. It's kind of interesting, for me, because I guess I can see both sides. As for the latter movie, I think if Cindy hadn't been there telling me about how much deeper the book delved, I would have liked it less. Nate didn't think the story was all that special, but I guess, not realizing the importance of high school football in some towns and how scouts will send people to watch even from the first day of practice, I thought it was kind of an intersting story. But now I just want to read the book, and as I'm looking at my recently erected book shelf, I'm seeing 16 books that I'd like to read, on top of my 4 magazine subscriptions and the book I'm currently reading.

My goals for the rest of the weekend are to finish my Al Franken book and get 1/4 of the way through my current knitting project and to vaccuum. I don't think my goals are all that lofty but after last weekend's hullabaloo, I probably shouldn't complain about relaxing. Anyway, I'll quit wasting everyone else's time and go back to just wasting mine. Here's to dancing with myself for the rest of the night...

Celebrities on Ice

2006-01-24T20:22:00.000-08:00

I'm a lucky, spoiled bastard who got to go to the Sundance Film Festival this year. Even if there's talk that the independent festival has become too commercial and is having its weakest year to date, it was nice to get away for a few days and pretend to be cultured. Before I get into the "feelings" and "thoughts" I had on being home and seeing family and friends, let's get through the important stuff: the film reviews.

I saw four movies over the course of two days. For the record, going in, only one of those movies was one I had requested when we bought our tickets in advance. In the end, I'd recommend all of them, but not necessarily to everyone.

1. Somebodies - I saw this movie at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, after going to bed after midnight on Friday and waking up at 6 a.m. to get to the movie in time. Thank Christ, then, that it was funny as hell. To give you an idea of how funny it is, I'll relay two scenes, both of which happen in the first 15 minutes. Scene one: The screen is black and some guy is debating whether or not he should go to church, and finally he decides that God wins by saying, "eh, fuck it, I'll get up." Any time you can talk about God and still swear, you're off to a good start in my book. Scene two: the college-aged main character is doing a voice-over about himself. As you see him taking a syringe and sucking vodka out of a huge bottle and then injecting said vodka into an orange and then taking that orange and sticking it in a freezer full of oranges and then removing two of them, he said, "I've got what you call issues...and the chicks think that is sexy." It only gets better from there. Essentially the movie is about a black college student from Athens, GA (yes, there is a brilliantly used "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. in the movie) who isn't exactly a bad guy but he realizes he could be a lot better person, and so he tries along with the help of a new lady friend named Diva, who's favorite movie is Space Jam. It's heartfelt without being too sappy and it's funny without being all that crude. Not bad.

2. Thin - Okay, initially I was totally against this movie, in the sense that I didn't think I'd understand or appreciate the depth and severity of the issue. I'm one of about six girls in the world who has never seriously considered my weight to be an issue. I sometimes joke about putting on weight or my lovehandles but I've never really thought about binging or purging. In fact, the only time I do either is when I drink a lot. Anyway, Thin is a documentary about girls and women with eating disorders. Apparently, somewhere in FLA, there's a clinic specifically for this issue. Not really understanding all the hoopla about denying oneself of food or eating too much and then purging oneself of it, I didn't think I'd like the movie. But here's to the credit of the director, Lauren Greenfield: she goes to the clinic and instead of getting bogged down in the doctors' technical terms or trying learn about the 30 or so women there, she focuses on four women. The four women, even better, are all at different stages of being in there, and they're all there with different problems and different reasons for having eating disorders. There's Polly who's doing the best of the four, but who's a little sassy for her own good. There's Alysa who wants to get better for her two children. There's Brittney who's 15 and who's mother also has an eating problem. There's Sherry who's a depressive who likes to be able to deny herself food so that she can be in control of something. It's sad to watch them cry over going from 87 pounds to 90 pounds. Seriously. I guess until I saw this movie I never understood that so many women do this or how they do it, but now I do. Cindy, my co-worker, did bring up one good point, which is they didn't have anybody who had an eating disorder due to a sport where they need to keep off the pounds. Sherry, who was at the screening we saw, brought up a better point (sorry, Cindy), she said she was initially skeptical of being involved in the project because documentaries and afternoon specials she'd seen on eating disorders always gave her hints on how to further her disorder, as well as showed her girls that she could be envious of how skinny they were, this movie doesn't glamorize it at all and you certainly see how bad it can get, while at the same time, because the women are recovering, there aren't many tricks of the trade that one can learn.

Those both were on Saturday. On Saturday, we heard a truly obnoxious New Jersey-ite talking about a movie we were going to see Sunday. He said it was funny. Because he was pretentious, we were a little less confident that it would be good. When we learned that it was a Danish movie with subtitles we were even less assured. By the way, going in, we knew we were going to watch a movie about a neo-Nazi who lives in a country church. Imagine our surprise that it was amazing.

3. Adam's Apples - This movie is the darkest comedy I've probably ever seen, and I love black comedies. Basically, this neo-Nazi, Adam, gets out of prison and is dropped off at a country church, which I guess serves as some sort of halfway house for prisoners. Right off the bat, you get the impression that something isn't quite right with the pastor of the church. He'll say stuff like, "I could say that what you just said to me is very rude, but this is not the time or the place." And he's not being passive agressive, he just wants to talk about something else at the time. Perhaps the most blatantly funny part is when the pastor goes into Adam's room and sees a picture of Hitler and says, "Is that your father? He's a handsome man." And Adam tells him it's Hitler, and the pastor says, "No, Hitler was the one with the beard." Anyway, as part of his recovery or whatever, the pastor said that he has to accomplish only one goal and it could be whatever he wanted, so just to be a dick, he says he'll bake a cake, to which the priest said, how about you bake an apple pie using the apples from our apple tree? Thinking that he has the easiest task in the world, he sets about learning the others who stay in the church. Through them, he learns of all the horrible things the pastor has suffered through. Instead of feeling bad about it, Adam makes it his mission to prove that the devil isn't testing the pastor with all of the shit that has been thrust upon him, but rather that God himself hates the pastor. At the same time, the apples are eaten by crows, and once they solve that problem, worms eat most of the apples, and finally lightening strikes down the tree. It's a good story about faith if you can suffer through gunfire, neo-Nazis, robberies, drinking while pregnant, former tennis players who take to drinking and a life of crime when a ball is mistakenly called out, and a Pakistani who often says, "For the sake of fuck." It's absolutely hilarious and you can bet I'll rent it from Netflix to share with anyone who cares.

4. A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints - The more I think about this movie, the more heartbreaking it is, the more I like it and the more I'll stick to my guns about not really liking the editing or perhaps the directing (I'm not really good about distinguishing the two). Anyway, the movie is based on a book that is based on this guy's real life. The movie opens up with Robert Downey Jr. as the author of said book at like a book reading. He opens by saying something to the effect of by the end of this story two kids will have died and that's not giving away anything. Basically, he was saying the place he grew up in the mid-80s (in Astoria, NY, apparently a heavily Italian bad neighborhood near NYC) that two teenagers dying is neither surprising nor anything to be all that upset about. It then flashes to him as a teenager (my favorite piece of near-jailbait Shia LaBeouf) who says, "My name is Dito Montiel and I'm going to leave everyone in this film." Kind of like Garden State, the Dito kid runs away from the east coast to go to the west coast where things have to be better; he finally comes home and has to deal with all the people who never left when one of his parents is one his death bed. The story is told in flashbacks, but sometimes the way it's cut super duper drove me nuts. Nate explained the reason behind my least favorite one and it totally made sense but it doesn't stop it from being annoying. I just wish he could have gotten his point across in another way, but barring that I'll accept Nate's reasoning for it. Anyway, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about the story except for how real it is, that these kids do seem like real people, and essentially there are a lot of people who whether they wanted to or not helped Dito get out of it, even if they couldn't. That's why Nate said the title is what it it is, even if the people who helped him aren't really saints, they are people who saved his life by helping him get away from a bad situation. It's horribly sad, and maybe a little melodramatic but perhaps rightfully so. This was the one I wanted to see.

Anyway, how's that for a post? Long-winded, yes. Thought-provoking, probably not. Anyway, if you want to discuss the movies more, I'm happy to talk more about them. More on the rest of Utah later.

Long Time Coming (You are a Runner)

2006-01-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

I figured titling a post on my top 5 albums of the year had to be pretentious as all hell, and is there anything more pretentious in indie rock than parenthesis? This isn't something they teach you in school, this kind of pretension is what you learn from your peers.

Anyway, without further ado, the 2005 Top 5:

5. Tie- Beck Guero and The New Pornographers Twin Cinema.

Here's the thing about these albums. They are amazing, but they're by bands who've put out amazing albums before. Both the New Pornographers and Beck on their respective albums showed that they're capable of the same quality of work they've done before. For The NP, the Electric Version is the best pop record I've heard in years. Everyone knows from that from Odelay on that Beck was not destined to be a one-hit-wonder with "Loser." These albums make the list because they are fantastic but not because they're anything other than what you would expect from talented and right-up-my-alley artists.

4. Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning.

I know, I know. I think Bright Eyes is a guilty pleasure to be consumed in private like hardcore porn, but this new album finally made me understand what all the fuss was about. It's melodramatic but appropriate to the times. If my complete conversion doesn't convince you, please note that Conor Oberst recruits country-legend Emmylou Harris to sing on the album. You're probably sick of hearing the Dylan comparisons but like Zimmy himself, Oberst is political, deep, melodramatic and if I must say, somewhat catchy on this album. If you don't appreciate "Land Locked Blues" with the lyric, "and the sidewalk holds diamonds / like a jewelry store case / they argue / walk this way / no, walk this way," then I have to wonder what's wrong with you. Making Bright Eyes #4 was a tough call for me; I hate to admit that Conor holds this much power over a generation of gen-xers and gen-yers, but if this album doesn't convince you, then we might need to hold an intervention.

3. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

Like a Derby horse that sneaks up upon the favored filly, I wasn't sure what would be 5th on my top 5, until I heard this album. There's no way that Clap Your Hands beats the best album of the year, but it is a completely solid record. It's not something I ever expected to be as good as it is, but I don't question my decision to put it on my top 5 one bit. I read reviews of the band; I saw in Rolling Stone that I should check Clap Your Hands out, but not until I heard "Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood" did I understand that it wasn't just trumping a new Strokes or another New Wave band-of-the-moment. And now I say to you, picks 2 and 1, watch your ass, because Clap Your Hands is sneaking up. Holy F-ing Shit, how did I miss this band 6 months ago? Even after 1.5 listens you can realize that this is what is missing from your life. And, for all you doubters, listen to the aforementioned song, as well as "Over and Over (Lost and Found)," where singer Alec Ounsworth croons, "You look like David Bowie / But you got nothing new to show me." If you still think this band is nothing but a rip-off of David Byrne or that Brooklyn-based bands have gone the way of the Beastie Boys, then sir, I pity you. You are missing out on the most indie-rock-poptastic-album that literally catches indie-rock-poptastic-lovers off-guard.

2. Sufjan Stevens Illinois.

Fuck you if you didn't think a folk-pop album about the wonderful state that is Illinois wouldn't make my Top 5. If you seriously thought that, then stop reading this post, and please never read a god-damned thing I write ever again, because in all pretentious seriousness, did you really think that I wouldn't get this album. Sufjan, who has previously written about another magnificent midwestern blue state, Michigan, does a wonderful job of mixing real Illinois trivia with personal experiences. If you're not from the midwest, this album may not impact you in the same way it would a person who's never had his/her state recognized as anything other than a blip on the rural land between NY and CA. Just so you know, "The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders..." is named after the tallest man on record who is from IL, and "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" is due to the fact that while the Superman franchise lives on, and Smallville continues to win over Clark Kent fans everywhere, there is actually a Metropolis, IL where you can find Superman memoribilia. Even if this album weren't poptastically folkish, Sufjan did his homework and like any good school teacher, that sort of recognition should be rewarded. Sufjan, you get a gold star and you should see me after class.

1. The Decemberists Picaresque.

Like the band's not-so-sophomore-slump-album's-single "I Was Meant for the Stage" lyrics, my answer to you as to what made this album number one would be, "Was there ever any doubt?" My god, let's think about this for a second, a genius third album with the smartest and best-writen lyrics 2005 has seen, could there be any other album that wins the number one slot? If you've read my previous posts, you know my thoughts on Colin Meloy; if you have not, it's needless to say the man could outwit me in Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, and probably even Monopoly. The man behind the Decemberists knows more than I do, but it's hard to feel bad when he knows more than you do and more than most people. The man is a god amongst men. On this album he sings about the agony of defeat on the football field (as, I imagine, only someone who has no experience actually playing on the field could understand), as well as being eaten by a whale while on a quest for revenge. I'm not going to pretend this album is for everyone, but I won't back down when I say this is the most creative and entertaining and smartest and best-third-album I've heard this year.

As I've prattled on enough I'll stop here. Know that the title with the phrase "You Are a Runner" alludes to what I consider to be one of the best singles of this year. Know that there are a lot of albums I heard this year and even perhaps purchased but never gave a good listening to, in order to consider them in the running. Kaiser Chiefs and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club I am looking at your albums in front of me now. Know that there are bands that I've heard but never understood as much as others did. Bloc Party and Kings of Leon, it is now your turn in the limelight. I heard a couple of good songs on each but not enough to warrant a top five spot.

But because of the aforementioned top 10 songs/singles, it's not to say these bands didn't earn a spot there. I consider singles to be anything catchy and not necessarily songs actually released as singles. So, look out for some of the aforementioned bands (Top 5 or not) to reach the best songs of the year.

I welcome any discussion, as I've likely missed a few albums this year (sorry, Casey, I never got around to hearing the new Andrew Bird), but I still stand my these choices. Oh, and if there's a Razzies of my 2005 album choices, it'd go to the new Coldplay. How mediocre can a band with such promise get?!

Anyway, that's the rant for tonight. Toodles. XoXo

The Never-Ending Roller Coaster Ride

2006-01-16T22:56:00.000-08:00

The ups-and-downs thing continued to this Sunday. I actually picked Pittsburgh to beat Indy in the NFL playoffs in my work pool but was actually kind of hoping for the Colts to win (sorry, though, $100 beats any standards I have about hating the Steelers). Then, I went to see Brokeback Mountain (see review below) with Cindy, only to be driving home and calling my brother to tell him about it and have him yell at me for calling in the middle of 24. Being 100 miles away from home and 20 minutes after the show ended I missed the first two hours. So, there went any fun I had watching a horribly depressing indie movie in North Dakota. Plus, it never feels good to realize that for as much as you think you have your life in some sort of control or order that just as simply as the blink of an eye you can forget very important things which makes you realize that you actually have no control whatsoever. Or, maybe I'm a little melodramatic these days.

Anyway, the movie. I loved it. I'm sure there are a lot of Christian conservatives and homophobes who would hate it without seeing it or spend too much time judging the characters actions to actually appreciate what they were seeing, but to me, it was a tragic love story, nothing more, nothing less, well more in the fact that it was heartbreaking to realize that if people were a little more accepting of two men (or women) in a relationship that maybe many of the couple's troubles could have been averted. The reviews saying how amazing Heath Ledger is rang absolutely true. I know Jakey G. (as he's called in my fantasy world where we have lots of passionate sex) was fantastic as he is in everything but Heath really did shine, and played a character unlike anything I've seen him do before. I didn't watch the Golden Globes (which I think were on tonight) but I do hope he or the movie got something. As for Ang Lee's directing, I'm not going to even pretend I get the vast scope of what it takes to be a filmmaker, but I will say this, Lee (that's the journalist in me using last names after the first reference) does an amazing job of capturing real emotion without being sentimental or sappy. I don't know if it's accurate at all to say, but I'd call it very minimalistic. Hell, Heath Ledger as the silent Ennis speaks volumes about his emotions without hardly saying a word. I was proud of myself for not crying all that much, but tonight when I took a shower, I was thinking about the movie and literally brought myself to tears again thinking about the end. If that's not strong storytelling I don't know what is.

Aside from football and a homosexual cowboy movie, I also went on a downloading spree. Plus, on my 100+ mile drive, I have finally come up with my 2005 top five list for albums. I aim to have a few honorable mentions and very briefly I think I must do a top ten songs section, because there were a couple hits that I'll have in my head till the day I die that don't make the best of list. I'll save that for another post, as I haven't quite come up with the 10 singles, and well, I want to make my review writing as sharp as possible.

And with that, I'm off to read my liberally biased literature. Xo.

The Tangibility of Sine and Co-Sine

2006-01-12T22:35:00.000-08:00

As Buddy Holly and Belle and Sebastian once sang, it sometimes seems like life and love are like rollercoasters (wait, didn't the god-awful red hot chili peppers do a god-awful cover that had something to do with roller coasters, like much of their career, though, let's pretend that never happened and instead stick with decent bands), and I couldn't agree more. (God, do I really sound like Doogie Howser on my blog?)

Anyway, parenthesis aside, I've been a bit up and down lately. Not just me personally but in every aspect of my life: for one week, I'll totally balance my checkbook, then two weeks later realize I've lost the receipts to half the things I've purchased; for 2 hours at a time, I'll get through an interview that goes perfectly or go through 10 calls that all go great, only to have the next four be like pulling teeth with researching some vast governmental program that no one will ever understand; and love, well, love, it's a motherfucker as "Old School" tells us, so like fucking anything it's up and down.

This has been my mood of late, for anything that goes right, something else goes wrong. Tomorrow, well, in less than 20 minutes, it'll be Friday the Thirteenth. Notoriously, these are bad days for people. In my last 3 to 5 years they've actually been good days for me. If the rollercoaster rule works tomorrow, who knows what I'm in store for, but if the luck of an unlucky day works in my favor, it could be all right.

As Cindy would say, not that you need to know this, but my day tomorrow consists of hopefully talking with a U.S. Senator, a meat salesman, perhaps a couple of people involved in some heavily acronymned projects, before going to meet the local chief of police who (after the news staff I work with) is my favorite person in this state, before going to meet the heavily acronymned crew at their regular luncheon (the college student in me loves free food and the lazy journalist in me loves a good photo op), before writing about said heavily acronymned group, and probably going home later than I wanted. Did I mention that I also have to go through and do corrections on my rough draft of a feature story? This will probably be my life for the next eight weeks, so if you think I'm whining now, you should probably quit reading until St. Patty's Day. Oh, if you don't think I'm a big enough whiner, I have another farm story due mid-next week and another story on the whole medicare thing (prescription drug plan) that I would have liked to work on since Tuesday but instead have been working on other stuff that is less pressing but no less deadline-oriented. Bugger.

To end on a high note, as much as I complain, I love what I do more than anything, and I wouldn't trade anyone's job for mine (except Matt Taibbi's, but I love him and that's a whole other story). Oh, and through XM Radio, which I am still addicted to, I have discovered so many bands about which I'd like to find out more. Plus, I promised Casey that I would come up with a year's best list, and so far, while the pickings are slim, I know of a lot of bands that I wish I knew more about and about 6 albums that I heard that I liked and about 8 million bands who were once good but in 2005 decided to release their most mediocre album to date (ahem, Oasis, The White Stripes, Coldplay). And, why did Amazon put on their 100 best consumer albums records that were released in 2001 or 2004 or any year that wasn't 2005. W the F? And, seriously, I know I mock Bright Eyes, but how did "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" finish after the new Oasis and The White Stripes?! Let's keep stroking the egos of people who've long since reached their peak and instead ignore anything interesting that came out in 2005, rock music critics seemed to say this year. Again, as Cindy would say, Bastards. (My list: Coming Soon, much like Brokeback Mountain to North Dakota.)

One Fine Day

2006-01-03T22:18:00.000-08:00

Did you ever have such a good day that when you finally get home from work at 9 p.m. you aren't tired and pissed off, but instead energized enough to paint, read, take a bath, post a blog while drinking wine and sitting around the house naked? Well, if not, you are missing out.

Okay, why was it a good day? I started off my day by organizing my thoughts, planning my week, bullshitting at work, and preparing for a 1:30 p.m. interview, which required I leave the office at noon (yeah, that's how far away Bismarck is from where I live). I started to get worried at quarter to 12 when my interview hadn't called to confirm. If I was driving 100 miles, I was not going to be ignored. So, I called and left a voicemail with my cell phone number, just in case. Then, I started driving and my mom called. She told me that one of her students was applying to Harvard Medical School and was visiting Boston - in one sentence she made me feel horrible for being nowhere near clever enough to even apply to Harvard and feel sad for not being in Boston. So, I called Pete, but by the time I called I had already gotten passed the bounds of civilization and after three calls that kept getting lost, I gave up. That's when I realized: Bismarck is in another time zone. I had made the appointment for 1:30, which I thought was in Mountain Time, but he probably thought was Central Time. So, I called again, and said, unless I had a magic carpet, I'd be about an hour late to the appointment, if it was in fact at 1:30 Central Time. I am literally to Mandan and haven't heard from him, so I have no idea if the interview I've driven 85 miles for will even be there.

Fortunately, I arrive at the military camp that is the North Dakota National Guard and go to the wrong door of the right building. Then, as I'm heading to the right door, I realize I probably should bring my tape recorder; talking to the new Director of Homeland Security is no small trifle for the press. Then, I make it in, and immediately everybody is like, "ha ha, you Mountain Time hick, you're here an hour late." But thankfully, the guy was available to meet with me. Whew.

So I start the interview and he starts prattling on right away, and I'm like, it'll be a lot easier if I record this and he's okay with that. Then, oh of course, my batteries die.

As if this guy doesn't think I'm like Bridget Jones already, he now knows I'm incompetent. I have spare batteries but I do manage to lose the back to my tape recorder.

(By the way, at this point, my day isn't even half over.)

So, then, the interview goes magnificently. At the end of the interview (thank you, Cindy, for teaching me this little trick), I ask him if there's anything I've missed out that he'd like to highlight, and he not only says that he really can't think of anything, but that I'm more thorough than most interviewers he's dealt with. Then, the best part: he took me on a tour of an emergency operations center (EOC as they call it in the biz). I finally understood some of what FEMA and the like do on a daily basis. It sort of clicked and while I can't say I'm completely convinced of the whole deal, it seemed like less of a waste of energy and tax dollars.

I'm riding on such a high that even when Cindy and Pete call to try to convince me it's 5 p.m. and I'm late to my next meeting, I will not back down and I know it is only 4 p.m., which means I actually have time to eat and find out what the hell will be happening at my 5 p.m. meeting.

I get back and learn from my boss that I actually have some grasp of what are the big issues for the meeting. I attend said meeting. I come back and probably waste a little bit of time. Then, I get rattling on and end up writing a 27-inch story on one point. So, I start writing a second full story on the other point. My boss says (thankfully) I can save that one for tomorrow. I have him look over the story I wrote over the last hour and a half (which really with my slacking should have only been an hour), and he said it's exactly what it should be, and it was just fine.

I am freaking awesome.

(This will be the longest post ever created...welcome to me being manic.)

So, we're doing this progress edition at work, which really is a bunch of feature stories compiled into one issue. Because it's such an undertaking we have deadlines each week from the 13th of January to the middle of March.

Fun!

Last thing, my Christmas.

Not that my Xmas compares to Shayna's. My god, I was jealous I couldn't spend my holiday with her and Eric in Appalachia (sp?). Anyway, I threw myself a Hawaiian holiday party. I wore a floral dress (and turned the heat up in my house). I wore a lei. I drank Mai Tais. In reality, it was warm enough that I was able to make it out and play a nice game of catch with Pete. While I did put on jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, I did not take off my dress.

Then, I came home and made ham, fried rice, a whole artichoke, and more Mai Tais. Thankfully, I did have Peter to join me so I was not so so lonesome.

The dreaded day after Xmas, I had the day off, so I went to Bismarck to blow some money. Two weeks later, I don't remember what I bought, but I remember having a lovely day.

And that wraps up the longest post ever. Hopefully, at some points, I was funny.

Ringing in the New Year...

2006-01-02T19:55:00.000-08:00

I used to get all bent out of shape about having a great New Year's Eve.....Wait, wait, let me start over.

Ahem, sorry it's been awhile since I posted. I'm sure many of you do in fact have better things to do than to look at a blog that has not been updated. If I can give a lame excuse, I'm going to blame the winter blahs that I've been having since this has been the first Xmas I've spent without family. But as part of the New Year's Resolutions that I don't believe in, I'm going to write more blogs. Anyway, back to the story...

I used to get all bent out of shape about having a great New Year's Eve, and then end up horribly disappointed when things don't go well. Then, I read this article by my hero Lester Bangs, where he essentially said too much is put on a night that will never be what we expected it to be, and much like I could do (but won't waste the space), he listed the experiences he had had on New Year's Eves gone past, and all of them were mediocre nights at best. So, this year, I didn't even have noble intentions of having a great New Year. I was meant to go out with a few co-workers but I ended up not getting in touch with one of them, so my night was spent watching cartoons and drinking Mai Tais, and it was probably the best New Year's holiday I've had in awhile.

Yesterday I had the laziest first day of the New Year ever. I think I slept about 14 hours throughout the day. I didn't cook dinner. I basically read and watched movies and lounged about. Lazy. But tomorrow, I swear, I swear, as the main part of my resolution, I'm going to get to working hard at the office and being more ambitious all around. Vague at best, but it's all you are going to get out of me in terms of resolutions.

Tomorrow should prove to be a pretty busy day if it works out all right. An interview in Bismarck (100 miles away) and a city commission meeting and a bit of writing in between. Fun!

Anyway, this post is boring even to me (and I love to write about myself) so I am off to listen to Magnetic Fields and drinking a bastardized version of a Hurricane and probably reading some of the new books I got for Xmas (Oh yeah, mental note, I should at least write about my Xmas...a post for next time).

The Crippler, out!

A Return to Normalcy (As If)

2005-12-22T21:57:00.000-08:00

I've been out of sorts as of late. I'm not sure if it's the holiday season, the cold weather, or just the fact that I'm a basket case, but I've been in a slump the last couple of weeks. This refers mostly to the fact that I haven't really been pushing myself at work and at home either. I've just been too passive. So, well, I'm not going to get ahead of myself. Tomorrow is Friday and it's the day before a three-day weekend so I'm probably not going to push myself any harder than I have to, but it's my Christmas goal to start up fully and kick ass as of Dec. 26. You should all make me do this so I feel like less of a waste of life.

In a completely unrelated matter, I did find a farm story...I wrote about the price of beef and the fact that many cattle breeders are in the process of restocking their herds. I learned that there is a cattle cycle; it lasts 10 years, with six years up and four years of decline. Yeah, that's what southwestern North Dakota has to offer.

I just read this article (I'm all over the map tonight, eh?) about myspace.com. Oh, I recently joined myspace, so if anyone reads this and is my friend and wants to add themself to my list, now would be the time to do such a thing, you know, before myspace falls out of fashion with the cool kids. Um, anyway, it says how tweens are using it even though they're not allowed to and pedophiles get them or something. Anyway, that's not the point (for me); it's funny that even as a 24-year-old, I guess I never really thought about how much you reveal about yourself on a blog or on myspace. I mean, even if you don't list your personal information (like I do), you say things like where you work or where you hang out and when you do these things. If anyone really had a hard-on to find you, it'd be pretty easy if you were listed on these sites. That almost made me paranoid enough to take myself away from these things, but frankly, I'm not conceited enough to think anyone cares so much about what I do that they'd stalk me. I mean, I mostly do this for myself anyway....oh god, no one's reading...sigh...

Moving to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches

2005-12-16T22:21:00.000-08:00

My title is a reference to three things I'm going to address in this post. To outline:

1. fruit
2. XM Radio
3. farming

For some reason I've beeen on a fruit kick lately. I think it's working well for me. I'm trying new things even. In the past couple of weeks, I've eaten mangoes, papayas, bananas, grapes, kiwis, pineapples and oranges. I am impressive.

A co-worker of mine lent me access to his XM Radio account. While he did this a month ago, I've honestly just started listening to it. It's great. Since I live in North Dakota, I don't get to hear new things, so I have been listening to channel 43, XMU, and hearing bands I've only read about prior to this. Specifically, I heard Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah. They were actually pretty good. I also heard a couple songs from the most recent Dandy Warhols album, which also weren't bad. I intend to listen more so that I can come across other bands that I've heard good things on. The best part, though, really, is that I get to hear classic 90s songs that I haven't heard for at least five years. I heard "Blackhole Sun" yesterday. I can't remember when I've heard that before yesterday. I heard that song "Little Black Back Back." I have no idea who even does it; I just remember that it reminds me of being 16 and driving along Sullivan (if you're from Bellevegas you'd know the street). Oh, and I heard "Laid" which only makes me think of Shayna, for some strange reason.

Once a month we have to write agriculture-related stories which basically shows that me and all of my co-workers are not rural people who spend a lot of time farming, but we have to write like we know all about it. I literally spent 6 hours scouring various online sources for some ideas and came up with nothing. My lack of knowledge on farming is pathetic, at least considering where I live. But I humbly beg for someone to lend an idea of what they want to know about farming. While I only assume that most of the people who read this live on either the West Coast or the East Coast, it never hurts to cover ones bases.

Other than that, I'm plugging away and work and settling in to the life of a Dickinson-onian. And hoping that soon I'll get to visit somewhere more exciting.

Xmas Party, Xinia Part D

2005-12-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

So, this weekend was the office Christmas Party. No, there wasn't an opportunity to get wasted and photo copy my ass. Besides, that would be so cliche. Instead, there was bowling, where I learned that while I am not the worst bowler in the office, I'm pretty damn close and A Lot more awkward. I found out that apparently I bowl better with my left hand, and I bowl better when I keep my wrist twisted. It doesn't hurt, but I probably look ridiculous. What would The Dude think?

After bowling, there was a dinner, but there was 1.5 hours between dinner and the bowling, so I ran errands (yay grocery shopping!) before the dinner, ended up being late to dinner, and sitting with people I've hardly spoken two words to since joining the team almost three months ago. Not that I won't complain, but it wasn't so bad. I learned about deep-fried turkey balls, which I had none of since I have about 10 pounds of turkey residing in my freezer. I had a drink while they gave out Xmas gifts. I am sooooo happy because I got a $10 gift card to a grocery store! (No, I'm not kidding. Free groceries are god-damned amazing.)

Derrick, our resident storyteller, received a gift card to the club we happened to be dining at, so he purchased a round of drinks, which was awesome. So, after the dinner, the editorial staff sat around and bullshitted (bullshat?) over a drink, and that was probably the best part of the dinner.

Since that moment, my life has been consumed with Medicare Part D. If you are not over 65, and if you already have insurance, you probably have no idea what Part D is. Well, consider yourself lucky. All I know is I've written the introduction to the government's first venture into prescription drug coverage, and then written a 6-page follow up on how everyone feels about it. It's killing me. It better win a Pulitzer since I spent so much time pouring over information that affects no one I know. Ugh. Seriously, though, once it's out of my hair, it's definitely an article I'm going to be proud of.

While I'm gloating about my writing, I may as well let you know that twice in the last two weeks, someone has come up to me and said how killer one of my articles was. And, for the first time, when I called to confirm quotes, people said they were fine as they were and didn't try to edit my work, like I don't pay attention to what they say. Hooray for me!

Oh God, I'm rambling, but my weekend was tons of fun aside from just the Xmas party. Cindy and I tried to hit up a new bar on Friday, but it was wicked crowded (mostly because it was so small) so we hit up our favorite dive, the Queen City Club. Derrrick and Pete joined us after they got out of work. Derrick was his normal self but he didn't sing, which was too bad. Another ad person was at the bar this time, so Pete and I went to chat with her, but not knowing her name, we didn't say much.

On Saturday, we went to a scary dive bar. The girl behind the bar seemed to have trouble even serving a pitcher. Not only did it take her 10 years (there weren't that many people in the bar), but it also working the tap apparently confused her. Cindy and I guzzled our pitcher, and got the hell out of dodge. We went to our second favorite bar, the Elks Club. Pete and Derrick joined us. Derrick told a couple of hilarious stories, one of which I'm not allowed to repeat, so you'll just have to hope that someday you meet the kid to hear them. And Pete and I discussed the depth of our shallowness. And Cindy felt a cold coming on, which the rest of the office has. So far, Derrick and I are winning for most disease free employee on the editorial staff. I think I can keep my immune system healthier, as long as I stay away from wine...well, I think I can keep my immune system mostly healthy, anyway.

Ahem, A recant

2005-11-28T21:29:00.000-08:00

Earlier this afternoon I may have made some comments that suggested I was anti-marriage. I am not.

Personally, I am not sure marriage is for me. My reasons are too many and perhaps too politically motivated to be put into words on a blog. However, I would never, ever, suggest that marriage is wrong for anyone other than me.

And I'm not just saying this because my college friend asked me to be a bridesmaid at her wedding this evening.

Okay, I am saying this because of my conversation with Shayna, but it was all true. Honest.

I am actually giddy at the idea of being a bridesmaid, and to someone special, no less. Not to name names because I'm sure I'll forget someone, but Shayna is just about one of three girl friends I had in college, so it is pretty exciting. While the wedding is a little while off and you may be thinking, 'Man, I could be your date and go to an awesome wedding in New York,' there, sir, you would be wrong. Although nothing is official, I may already have a date...Schreiner, I'm looking pretty hard at you (again).

Congratulations, Shayna! I sincerely am happy for you and can't wait to be there.

She's Giving In

2005-11-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

I know it's "normal" or "fine" or whatever to be married at this age, but with so few of my friends in even mildly committed relationships, I think nothing of being single. That is, until an old high school friend finds Nate online and emails me. I haven't talked to most of these people since really ninth or tenth grade (I seem to remember falling off the planet for junior and senior year), but the girl Sara emails me and tells me she's been married for over two years, and two of my other old friends who she still keeps in touch with, are also married. It was amazing how subtly she did it. She said something along the lines of Maggie Gyllenhall (now Sarsgaard), which seeing their maiden names in print and realizing that they were no longer these people was priceless. It also freaked me out. Either way, I'm still a basket case. It was nice, though, to have an early high school reunion.

So, anyway, Sara came across Nate via the ultimate guarantee that you will never drop off the face of the planet website, myspace.com. Knowing that I can reconnect with old classmates online via this website, I'm finally giving in. There's maybe 5 people I'd care to see how they're doing since graduation, but you know, it's worth a shot. And anyway, everyone else is doing it. I'm totally falling for peer pressure at 24, and even worse, it's from old high school classmates. Maybe I should have paid better attention at those assemblies.

In other news, I am perhaps going to be cutting some fat, figuratively. I changed my phone number to a local one. I am not stupid enough to give it out online, so if you get a text from a weird number, it might be me. And, I'll also send out emails to friends who may not have a text option. Yeah, but because there are so many people that I have their number but am never going to talk with again, I'm deleting them. I may be left with about 10 people on my contacts list, but hey, that's what cutting fat is all about.

One last thing before I go get my car winterized for these harsh winters up north, days off are hard work. It's not easy keeping busy for 9 hours during the day. I accomplished three errands in about an hour, and I even walked to all of those places. Then, drove to do the fourth, which took 10 minutes, and then managed to do another while on the phone in the comfort of my own home. It's only 3 p.m. and once I get my oil changed, I'm afraid my only errands are a hot bath and reading Rolling Stone.

Death By Dessert

2005-11-26T12:23:00.000-08:00

Warning: I took DayQuil so this post may be a little loopy.

My Thanksgiving 2005, Dickinson, ND:

I slept in, which was awesome, since I stayed up a little late on Wednesday. I showered and went to go get my turkey. I ordered a Thanksgiving meal for 8-10 people for just me. Already I have had two full Thanksgiving dinners, and a grilled cheese with turkey sandwich, and I've not even made a dent in it. Tomorrow, I'm going to make turkey noodle soup, with homemade noodles. How's that for a little Sally-homemaker?

Um, so yeah, I got the turkey dinner, and I even figured out how to work my oven (long story - someday when I have no other post to make, I'll tell the world how much I love my oven), and then I realized that I didn't have anything to cook my turkey in. Oops. Thankfully, KMart was open. Hooray!

Then, basically I spent the afternoon talking on the phone. Thank you to everyone who called to wish me a Happy Turkey Day. Oh, and I watched Point Break. Then, more time on the phone. Then, I watched two movies that my friend Pete lent me. They were Best In Show and Starship Troopers. Best in Show was freaking hilarious. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would and I'm kind of surprised I never watched it before. And Starship Troopers, well, it was interesting. My favorite part was that Doogie Howser was in it. And any time you can have a Busey in a movie, I'm all for it. And, then I went to bed so I could work on Friday. Bummer.

Oh, as per my post's title, I have a very funny story about how I injured myself on Thanksgiving. For my birthday I made Special K bars. And on Thanksgiving I decided to (finally) throw them away, and found that they were stuck to the pan. So I was chiseling away at them. And I chiseled a little more and then a little too hard and punched my Special K bars. I thought nothing of it. Then, I got distracted doing something else and noticed my right ring finger was actually bleeding from my fight with the bars. On Friday, I noticed a bruise. That's right, I got my ass kicked by a dessert.

Anyway, that was my Thanksgiving. And for the next couple of weeks, everyday will be a lot like this Thanksgiving: turkey dinners, movies, and phone calls.

OH! And wine. I had wine. I had special wine from Door County. And, it was so disappointing. I remembered the Cranbernet to be a lot better than this bottle was. It was perhaps the saddest part of Thanksgiving. Special wine is not supposed to be worse than cheap wine.

Real Quick

2005-11-26T10:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, I need to post about my oh-so-exciting Thanksgiving day, but I really want to shower first, so you dudes will just have to wait a half-hour.

But before I forget I wanted to post this: My cats woke me up at 9:30 on a Saturday morning, so they could eat. That's about normal for them, but I couldn't fall back asleep so I started to read Portnoy's Complaint (I know, I know it should take two hours to read, not two weeks), and then I got distracted by Saturday morning television. There's this show on the Disney Channel, and apparently on ABC this morning, called Kim Possible. It's not particularly good, but it was better than watching The Birdcage. And anyway, at one point in the show, Kim says, "Weiner, yes. Little, no." She was talking about dogs, but still, don't you think someone should have caught that and perhaps changed the breed of dog? Is it just me?

I'm not going to eat tomorrow, because I'm going to be a supermodel

2005-11-21T23:57:00.000-08:00

Other than seeing Harry Potter, my weekend was not very eventful.

Well, Sunday, I did go for a walk with infamous co-worker Stefanie Briggs, and I watched Collateral (finally) while I did laundry.

So, instead of a real post, we'll relive the glory days gone past.

I don't even know if I ever shared these lovely photos with anybody, but back in the day at Scrapbook Retailer, I was considered quite hip enough to be a supermodel for famous designer, Sue Dreamer. For as hilarious the idea of me being a model is, I was quite honored to be selected. Ms. Dreamer is one of the coolest little ladies I have ever met, and she lives outside of Boston, which earns her major props.

Anyway, last year in February, there were a few progressive people in the scrapbook industry who thought it a good idea to get out of the box of scrapbookers being seen as boring soccer moms, so they did a fashion show, using all sorts of scrapbooking products. There must exist pictures somewhere of the truly fantastic paper dresses, or dresses made of gloves. And, while mine is more embellishments, it was a pretty hip little outfit I got to wear. In case you were wondering, I have to point out three things: 1. I walked down the runway to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" 2. I made the little thing around my wrist myself (by cutting up a fishnet sock), as well as putting some sticky string on my own shoes (not pictured). 3. Yes, that is Leeza Gibbons talking to me (I told her she looked gorgeous in that dress, and she said she most of the time felt like the little punk-rocker that I looked like.) The only other thing I'll say about the whole experience was the fact that while I should have been awkward and nervous, I was completely at ease, and I did a damn fine job of modeling. Not that I'll have the funds or the means to get to Vegas for this year's show, I'd love to go again. Hooray for supermodels!

Moral Fiber

2005-11-19T01:25:00.000-08:00

First, I not only spend too much time with myself, I also spend too much with my cats. And the past couple days I've actually gotten letters in the mail, and it seems Bunny is in love with the envelope glue. I'm not sure if he's getting high or what, but he's a super big fan of it. Should I be concerned?

Second, and more importantly, I saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tonight. F-ing kicked Ass! God, more than anything, though, I need to see a movie like this in Boston, or really any major metropolitan where I don't have to be surrounded by, ugh, kids. It's awful. They don't shut up through the whole movie; they make ridiculous comments that show how truly unlearned they really are. And, Lord knows I'm a talker, but my word, these kids just keep going. There was a high point when the kid next to me (I forget the scene, but it was near the end), who couldn't have been older than 13 goes, "W-T-F." So finally that little witicism has spread all the way to rural Dickinson and it make my day a little brighter to know that kids on the street may understand me when I scream it at them for trying to jaywalk.

Oh, but the movie. I definitely need repeated viewings. From my little knowledge on directing, I'd say they did fine. I'd further say that I forget most of what happened in book 4 and so it seemed pretty much in order with the book. And well, I almost cried at the end when Diggory dies.

I know I'm lame (but I think this song is about me, don't i, don't i...), oh, um, lame, because it's totally a movie that ain't too proud to admit it's about moral fiber and love. That's it. And while I want to say it's cheap and too black and white, I don't think it is at all. I think it's masterfully done; it's not too moral-heavy. It's an exciting movie that reminds you that moral fiber is nothing to be ashamed of, and well, love may really conquer all.

I absolutely mean all of that, but I say it with a grain of salt. I mean, I'm like totally bitter and single now, and well, I have so much moral fiber that I spent most of the movie thinking some pretty unholy things about some pretty fine looking 15-year-olds. Just kidding, but only kind of.

Finally, before I go off to watch Mr. Show (on TBS because when I ordered the disc from Netflix, it was literally almost broken in half and had taken a week to get to my house, bastards), I have obviously sort of figured out how to get a couple of pictures on my computer, and I even think that I can scan the ones of me swimming, but I can't for the love of g-d figure out how in the hell I add my picture to my profile. Even worse, I downloaded that Hello thing Blogger tells me to do, and I still have no idea how to actually get a picture of me online. Any help would be appreciated, and I'm staring you down pretty hard, Schreiner.

Good Night, kiddies.

A Soulmate (and finally the third music rant)

2005-11-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

In my own special way, I am an unwed mother. I have two children, and you've seen pictures of them. I call them Dixie and Bunny (a minor improvement, I know). Tonight, I was getting ready to clean up their litter box, when I thought while I was in the basement, I may as well put my clothes in the dryer, so I did that first.

Bunny, ever the curious cat, started playing in the empty bag. And when he knew I was coming to use it, he panicked. He started to run, but his head was already in the bag. So by running all he did was put his little head through one of the bag loops. And then that freaked him out more. So then I started chasing him to get the bag off his head. So then he freaked out more. He ended up running around the house twice. In a weird sort of way, he looked like a super hero cat with a plastic bag cape. He ended up freezing on the way down the stairs and I was able to safely get the bag off of his head. By this time, I was laughing so hard and oblivious to where I was that I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling above the stairs. We're like a clumsy pair made in heaven. And we're pretty awkward looking too.

Anyway, my last music rant: Green Day.

I know what you're thinking. And you're right. American Idiot is an awesome album that has been played into the ground. A year later the music is still writing all the same shit they wrote last year after the album came out. We get it. It's a good album. I say all of this with a grain of salt, of course, because part of me realizes the impact that Green Day's album has had on today's youth (and okay, maybe some 24-year-old chicks, as well). But what I think is so f-ing amazing about the new album and its impact, is the fact that 10 years ago, Green Day did the same thing with Dookie.

Okay, so Dookie is a little childish and immature, but I was 10 years ago too. And well, really, I still am. Over the course of the years since Dookie's release, I still occasionally like to put the album on and rock out with my cock out. It's a damn good album to listen to when you're feeling like things are shit and will probably continue to be shit but you're not about to get up off the couch and do something about it. So you scream along with Green Day. Along with all that, in my more lucid moments, I also realize that in listening to that album at age 13, I exposed to some horribly cynical music and totally affected how I think about the world today. Part of me knows that I've grown up since then, but another part of me feels like I'll always be that 13-year-old listening to songs like "Longview" where I can't be bothered to do anything. And, you know, there was also Nirvana, with such happy songs as "Dumb."

Is it any wonder I'm absolutely insane these days? And do I maybe think a little too hard about all this?

And completely off the subject: I think I may have discovered how to add pictures. Now that I can do that, and I have pictures from over a year ago I've wanted to share, please expect a few blogs about really old pictures, and some of my experiences under water. Yay for sharing pictures!

A Wedding and A Funeral

2005-11-13T22:58:00.000-08:00

I don't know how awful of language one can use on a blog, so I'll try to edit myself. On Saturday, my boss got married. It was interesting, mostly because I haven't been to a wedding since I was under 16 years of age, which means it's been almost 10 years. So, it was at a Lutheran Church. I don't think I've ever been to one before, but I found that the prayers, etc. weren't all that different. Turns out Martin Luther didn't want to step that far out of the bounds of Catholicism. But, the boss, being a writer, wrote some pretty decent vows, and it was sort of sweet. If I wasn't such a cynical bastard, I probably would have appreciated it more. Being that I don't believe in the institution of marriage, I don't really care that much to see some meaningless vows. So, there's that.

The funeral, well, I actually didn't attend one. But really, if there is anything that I hope rests in peace, it's the fact that I broke up (or whatever) with Dallas. I know that most of you are disappointed and many of you might be sad, but frankly, if you know me, I'm a commitment-phobe, so it is what I was bound to do.

I'm not the sort of person who ends relationships well so I counted on my co-workers to go out with me and help me with the fact that I'm a heartless bitch (my words, not his). They were there for me and for that I love them. For the rest, I count on Belle and Sebastian to bring me home with "Don't Leave the Light on, Baby" and "The Wrong Girl."

Hooray for horribly sappy music.

OH GOD, and I forgot to call Shayna, so if you're out there in Virginia, please forgive me. I really am just insane this week. I will call you sometime this week or I'll call you next weekend. I'm sorry.

Also, Robyn Salbo, not that you have yet discovered my blog, but thank you for your letter. I will return one much more half-assed than that. :) Love you all.

Love Rant (Part II)

2005-11-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

The Decemberists
This goes back about a week. Okay, maybe a little more than that. What happened was I have been listening to The Decemberists' Picaresque since the day it came out, just a little bit. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I put the CD back in my car. Since then, it hasn't stayed out of the little player for more than a couple days. I am obsessed with it. Then, I went out to eat with a few of my co-workers, and well, they thought I listened to "weird music."

In their defense, I was listening to "The Mariner's Revenge Song," which doesn't have quite the pop hook that say "16 Military Wives" or "July, July" has. Still, I was hurt.

My rant today isn't so much about how great The Decemberists are as a band, because my words could never do theirs justice. Some days I fantasize about singer Colin Meloy, only to realize that I probably couldn't even hold a conversation with him. They're almost too smart for their own good. Almost.

Anyway, my rant today is about how albums can grow on you. It's as random as love, to be all melodramatic and stuff. There are some albums I have had for years that I try to pick up again (i.e. The Beta Band's 3EPs) and find I still can't make it past the song that originally made me bought the album. There are some (i.e. Mojave 3, whose album I have I don't even remember what it's called) that I never got into at all and thus never think about putting in. Then, there's one's like Picaresque. I literally forced myself to listen to this album a few times. Thanks in no small part to Casey Schreiner, who knows better than most that like a good bottle of wine, music to can get better with age, and who told me not to give up on it yet. And here seven to eight months later, I think it's pure brilliance. From "The Engine Driver" to "The Sporting Life" there isn't one that hasn't got me singing along to it in my car. So, how does one know what's worth holding onto and which ones are worth putting in time and time again, knowing that it'll eventually click?

And, if another Decemberists album comes out, will I do the same thing? Will the next one be the one where I decide it never grows on me? Or will they all grow on me, if I give myself enough time?

My life is just filled with questions, which for a journalist, probably isn't a bad thing.

Before I conclude, I have to say how happy I am to see Schreiner hop on the blogger bandwagon around the same time as me, and it's only because of his influence that I may one day cave and hop on the MySpace bandwagon as well. Yay for Casey!

Nightswimming (A Brief Interlude)

2005-11-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

So, yesterday. One of the girls I work with is big into sports, so every week she writes one feature story on an athlete in the region. Apparently, the state swim meet is coming up and Dickinson has a girl going (in 2 events, no less), so she got this idea that she wanted to try to take an action shot of the girl in the pool. She said the idea of her in a bathing suit is "gross" so she was looking for volunteers. Always up for a challenge and a reason to look ridiculous, I raised my hand and said, "I'll do it."

Then, as I'm changing into my swimsuit and heading out to the pool, I thanked the good lord that this girl I was photographing was in high school so she'd have no idea how absolutely under-qualified I was. And then, literally and figuratively, I jumped in the pool. We had an underwater camera and a flash, and we were going to try to get under the girl, and next to the girl and face-to-face with her. All of this meant I took 27 pictures in about 27 minutes.

I got water in my nose; I got kicked; I damn near head-butted the girl once; and I had to tread water more than I have since I was taking swimming lessons in third grade. And it was quite fun to have an entirely new (if awkward) experience.

Alas, the pictures did not turn out (damn you, one hour photo). Thankfully, I guess, it was due to the lighting situation and not the fact that I can't take pictures. And anyway, Cindy (the co-worker) and I are taking it as a learning experience to try again. Hooray for crazy but career-driven experimentation.

Musical Philosophizing and a Love Rant (Part I)

2005-11-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

Over a month into my job, I find that I really like all of my co-workers. They're great people, as witnessed by the previous post, on Friday, almost all of us made it the same bar to hang out after work. But, after two years in Utah, I finally found someone who on a daily basis I can talk about music with. I didn't remember how long it'd been. (Oh, and not to take anything away from Nate, and other friends I can call on the phone, but it's not the same as when you have daily access.)

In Boston, I could hang out with the Slow Kids, or Shayna, or JHal, or New Robyn and rant and rant all day about our various music pretentions. And, when I started hanging out at The Model, you couldn't turn around without bumping into someone who was pretentious and willing to rant about what's the hippest music, movie, etc. Then, in Utah, I met a number of Nate's friends who were pretentious about music, but seriously, anyone who says the Mars Volta is the only great band of our generation obviously has very little sense of what's good. That's not to say Utah didn't have it's perks. I was able to introduce the Postal Service to Jen, who's since been told that the music is perfect for her (not by me). I was able to introduce the Shins, and have my own "New Slang" from Garden State moment with Dallas. That's always a good feeling.

Here, my friend Pete, is your typical High Fidelity type of music person. Out of the blue, he'll say something like "Have you ever noticed the greatness of track 2s from an album?" Meaning something along the lines of, it seems track three is the one meant to be on the radio but there's something great about the ones that aren't radio-friendly. He's since challenged me to make such an album. Now, he's a sports writer, he thinks in terms of stats, etc. But me, I'm really bad at that sort of thing. I can barely remember the names of songs I like on any given record so I'm very unlikely to remember which track number it is. That being said, I am absolutely excited to be thinking about music like I used to.

Of course, once my mind gets rolling, I can't shut it up, so I've been thinking about three bands that currently get my panties in a bundle, and so that I can subject everyone to my opinion, without further ado, I'm going to tell you about those bands and give my very own Love Rant. Because I have a busy lifestyle (or rather because I'd like to pretend I do), I am going to do it in three parts.

1. Wilco - I know, I know, I've been in love with Wilco for some time so it should come as no shock, but as of late, I've been putting all of their albums into heavy rotation again. I, of course, could never comment on which is their best. I know my favorite is Summerteeth, but there's just too much good stuff to ever say what is the best. But right now, A Ghost Is Born is really making me think about music on an emotional level: meaning that they do a really good job of conveying their message through just the music, not just the lyrics. Casey and I once were talking about Sonic Youth and that they're just noise, and yet critics eat it up. Now, I've always known that I was a bit of a music snob (okay a lot of a music snob), but with A Ghost is Born, I'm finally a believer in noise being a good use of an album's time. For instance, I'm sure it drives anyone who's heard the album insane, but the noise and reverb for like 10 minutes after "Less Than You Think" is, to me, emphasizing the point that there's not a lot to this music thing that Jeff Tweedy has going for him. And on "Handshake Drugs" and into "Wishful Thinking" Tweedy ends a song about drug use in a haze of noise showing the great oblivion of the drugs, but then bounces out of it on a song where you're hoping for your world to get a little bit better. There's a lot of other reasons why this album is to be cherished, not least of which are the digs at the music industry ("Company in my Back" and "The Late Greats"). All I can say about Wilco is their live album is out and if that means I have to forgo eating to purchase it, I will, and I'm waiting with bated breath for the next album that Rolling Stone assures me is coming soon (They also say that Barack Obama is a fan of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo; now I'm not sure if that's politics to make Mr. Obama look cool, but he's already so hip that I'd buy that he really is a fan, which in fact ups his already cool persona.)

On Being 24+

2005-11-05T00:16:00.000-08:00

So, if you haven't called me in a week, you probably don't know (and YET probably aren't surprised to know) that I had an eventful birthday weekend.

On Friday, I thought I'd be classy and attend a wine tasting. Being in North Dakota, I thought, this will be lame and old men. OH, the wine tasting was at an Elks Club. God, am I amazing! Anyway, after the tasting was over, they had half-full bottles of wine. Being a moocher, I totally stole one. Then, I drank a lot, and then I called co-workers, and then I got sick, and then the co-workers arrived. Awesome!

Then, Saturday I did very little except sleep.

On Sunday, it was my ever-so-unexciting-24th-birthday. I actually had a few people over from work, so it was fun. Plus, I played house-frau and cooked a decent meal for everyone. I didn't think I drank too much, but some parts of the night are sort of blurry.

This week at work was, ugh, I don't even know how to describe it. It wasn't bad, but I feel like I accomplished very little. So, in celebration, we went to a country bar with karaoke. That was awesome.

I got drunk enough to sing in front of people, but I sang the one of the few songs available on karaoke that I love more than anything and know most of the words to, and that is Lisa Loeb's
"Stay." Because I was the last person to sing, or because I am such a terrible singer you need to laugh at me twice, they honest-to-god did an encore of my song, so I had to see myself in all my ridiculous glory. What a great evening!

Anyway, all's I can say now, is I might be an official North Dakotan, but I need my pookie bear so much.

Pix of Dix (and Bun)

2005-10-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, here are my kitties. Dixie is the black and orangish one. Everyone (well, two of my co-workers, anyway) seems to think she's the sweet one. I have a soft spot for Bun because he's got a lot going against him and he's still a sweetheart. Like, for instance, having the name Bun. And the poor guy was all matted so they shaved him before I got him. Have you ever seen a cat that has a fuzzy head and legs and tail but a damn near naked body? They look ridiculous. Anyway, I should be watching the baseball game and emailing pookie.

The Crippler Launches a Blog

2005-10-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

So, I have a blog, started like two weeks ago, and this is post number 1. This should give one some indication of how exciting life is in the "banana belt" of North Dakota. Why is it called the Banana Belt? I don't know. I think it has something to do with our relatively milder climates than the rest of the state (picture the movie "Fargo"). That being said, we still get to minus 20 degrees and we already had 2 feet of snow fall and the city prepares for snow to fall by the end of this month. This to me does not seem warm. This makes me wonder how much worse, really, can Minot, Grand Forks and Fargo be?

In the last two weeks, the most exciting thing to happen to me is, wait for it...I got two cats. I'm like a mommy now. Albeit one who doesn't have to pay too much attention. Because I adopted the pair, they already had names. Those names are Dixie and Bun. Fortunately, Dixie is a girl name and it's for a girl cat. Unfortunately, Bun is a boy and who names something Bun? I have put some thought into why I would possibly choose those names, and what they can mean to me (I know, I have too much time on my hands). Dixie is the name of the hooker in Lethal Weapon. I like Leathal Weapon, so why not name my cat after a minor character? Bun, or rather, Mr. Bun is the name of Calvin's (of Calvin and Hobbes comics - which by the way, have recently come out in hardcover format in a complete set and if anyone wants to spend hundreds of dollars on me, I'd love to own them) friend, Susie's stuffed bunny. That one is quite a stretch, even for me, but look at what I have to work with. Anyway, Dixie and Bun are your typical bastard cats who get into a fair amount of trouble, but they also purr a lot and so that's cute.

If we really want to talk about how pathetically unexciting my life is, we could discuss my weekends. Like how last weekend's most exciting moment was dining at the Cracker Barrel a hundred miles away in Bismarck before going to see a truly obnoxious movie (Flightplan, aka, saved-only-by-the-fact-that-peter-sarsgaard-was-in-it). And this weekend, where I went to play Sega at a co-workers house (which, actually, is pretty damn cool).

This Sunday's fun includes watching the World Series (I have a lot of money riding on these games), cleaning, and watching movies from Netflix. If anyone is on Netflix, please let me know, I'd like more friends on my list, which so far, includes Nate.

Oh, and in the meantime, I go to this job where I get published regularly. So, there's that.

This is only a test

2005-10-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

This is only a test.