Today was a good day.
Not just because the Dems have taken back both houses of Congress (though that in itself is a good enough reason!).
Not just because Charles Taylor and Heath Shuler ads will no longer be insipidly and ceaselessly playing on every available media outlet in W-NC.
And not just because my car insurance rate went down b/c I live outside the DC area.
And not just because I got to wear my silly little boy striped sweater today, which makes me feel like I should be singing songs from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat".
And not just because today I wasn't bogged down by this recent cold.
Or because I actually took the effort to really shave my legs.
Or because RUMMY RESIGNED!!! CAN I GET AN A-FLIPPIN'-MEN? MIRACLE!!
And not cuz we finally might get to stop hearing about K-Fed.
Or because "Shoop" was the first song played while we worked (thanks for that, McGlade).
Or because its Moldy Family Dinner night.
Or because "Lost" is on tonight and it'll redeem itself for that stupid episode from last week.
Or that I got fun Wknd plans.
Ok, maybe it was some combo of all of those.
But it sure was a good day.
The Rummy resignation really did cap it all off though.
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Retrospective
Today is the 4th birthday of my blog.
Yup, four years ago, in a small corner of a house called the Mopalopshop, on a street called Lancaster, in a drearyly grey town called Syracuse, in too proximal a space with the incomparable Jen Cash, this blog was started with absolutely no aspirations, which is good, because if I had expected anything I'd be sorely disappointed. Back when Jen and I were presidents; back when I drove a scary Ford Tempo and Jen drove a truck, back when anyone in the world knew where Kat V. was, and Romano still let me sleep on her futon or cook my frozen pizzas there because my house was "just too far,". Really a retrospective should be reserved for the 5th birthday, or the 10th or something monumental and divisible by 5, but my attention span says do it now, ergo, I do.
My opinion of the breakdown:
Best photo post: A Day at the Beach
Best post from a far-away town: I just realized I never seem to post while I'm away. Nothing from Cali, UK, FL, WI, OH, nothing. Just from some weird town called Canastota. Stupid. Must resolve.
Funniest story retold: A Real Mousekateer. (But I really don't tell funny stories. And I have a lot of them. Also must resolve.)
Funniest post in general: Democratic Individualism (I don't know why ya'll think this is the funniest one...I mean it's funny, but really?)
Best guest post: Morning Poo
# Times I have referenced Edna St. Vincent Millay or her poetry: 8
# Times I reference writing a singles ad: 3
# Times I've ever actually written a singles ad: 0
(Even though Liz and Carey once tried to sign me up for eharmony...jerks)
Favorite Post (tie): Crying of Frogs and Ser
Post even I have never reread: Tradition of Sedition
Most Political Post: By Grace My Sight Grows Stronger
Best list: Desk Job
Post I still think I'm learning: 50 Degrees of Losing It
Most honest post: Never Come Back (the hard part about this post was that doctor's appt I mention is the one where they told me they thought I had cancer, and that hope just blew up)
And now my attention span has waned, my roommate is snoring on the couch and "Survivor" by Destiny's Child just came on the iTunes shuffle, making me want to strut. Thanks for reading for part of these past four years, thank you for listening to me try to sort out the knotted yarn of thoughts, my ups and downs, my pensive and protrusive. If ya'll have a favorite (not like I expect you to) I'd be curious to know.
This post is dedicated to Jen Cash, who may be the only person who has been reading from the beginning. Miss ya, Casher.
Yup, four years ago, in a small corner of a house called the Mopalopshop, on a street called Lancaster, in a drearyly grey town called Syracuse, in too proximal a space with the incomparable Jen Cash, this blog was started with absolutely no aspirations, which is good, because if I had expected anything I'd be sorely disappointed. Back when Jen and I were presidents; back when I drove a scary Ford Tempo and Jen drove a truck, back when anyone in the world knew where Kat V. was, and Romano still let me sleep on her futon or cook my frozen pizzas there because my house was "just too far,". Really a retrospective should be reserved for the 5th birthday, or the 10th or something monumental and divisible by 5, but my attention span says do it now, ergo, I do.
My opinion of the breakdown:
Best photo post: A Day at the Beach
Best post from a far-away town: I just realized I never seem to post while I'm away. Nothing from Cali, UK, FL, WI, OH, nothing. Just from some weird town called Canastota. Stupid. Must resolve.
Funniest story retold: A Real Mousekateer. (But I really don't tell funny stories. And I have a lot of them. Also must resolve.)
Funniest post in general: Democratic Individualism (I don't know why ya'll think this is the funniest one...I mean it's funny, but really?)
Best guest post: Morning Poo
# Times I have referenced Edna St. Vincent Millay or her poetry: 8
# Times I reference writing a singles ad: 3
# Times I've ever actually written a singles ad: 0
(Even though Liz and Carey once tried to sign me up for eharmony...jerks)
Favorite Post (tie): Crying of Frogs and Ser
Post even I have never reread: Tradition of Sedition
Most Political Post: By Grace My Sight Grows Stronger
Best list: Desk Job
Post I still think I'm learning: 50 Degrees of Losing It
Most honest post: Never Come Back (the hard part about this post was that doctor's appt I mention is the one where they told me they thought I had cancer, and that hope just blew up)
And now my attention span has waned, my roommate is snoring on the couch and "Survivor" by Destiny's Child just came on the iTunes shuffle, making me want to strut. Thanks for reading for part of these past four years, thank you for listening to me try to sort out the knotted yarn of thoughts, my ups and downs, my pensive and protrusive. If ya'll have a favorite (not like I expect you to) I'd be curious to know.
This post is dedicated to Jen Cash, who may be the only person who has been reading from the beginning. Miss ya, Casher.
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Heights of Greatness & Nights Asunder
The other night I was listening to old episodes of "This American Life" online. I came across one from '98 by Sarah Vowell (a favorite) in which she and sister Amy travel a portion of the Trail of Tears (episode link here) . Vowell is something like 1/7 Cherokee and was born in Oklahoma, where the trail finally ended. I had read the story before in her collection of essays, Take the Cannoli, but listening to the piece brought new emotion. In an event where 1/4 of those traveling died, some 4,000 people, I was appalled about how little I really knew. Like, for example, what a bastard Andrew Jackson was. I mean I always had a hunch he was a bastard, but this really gave me something to get behind. Take him off the $20, I say! It was strange listening to it in a place that was once Cherokee land; this whole region of WNC, ETN, NGA and SC was where the tribe lived.
We get so angered and appalled and shocked at events of genocide globally (as well we should) yet we disregard those instances of it in our own past. Calculated, governmentally supported instances. We are a young country with more dark than we acknowledge. By not acknowledging we stand to repeat it. Learning more about such an event makes hating aspects of this country so easy; it does not diminish my love for this place, it just forces me to be real about it.
Saturday night I stopped into Malaprops to do some book shopping on my way home from delectable desserts at Old Europe and I finally picked up Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (yes, I know, "I only read like one book a year and even I read that one" but I told you I'd get to it). So far it does much to encompass the contradiction that exists in me about the good and progress of America yet the devilish qualities that lurk as well.
All this to say, election day is only 48 hours away. My faith is not rattled by elections, as it is not based on elections, however the opinions I always seem to have are just waiting to burst forth.
Murphy sent me a text message on Friday, excitedly telling me that she'd organized a rally in DC and that Barack Obama was the keynote speaker and that she'd gotten to spend time with him. I was so excited that I too squealed for more details. I've never been excited about a politician like I am about Obama. He just brings hope that no one else carries.
*title taken from the lyrics of "White City" by Erin McKeown, song based on Larson's book.
We get so angered and appalled and shocked at events of genocide globally (as well we should) yet we disregard those instances of it in our own past. Calculated, governmentally supported instances. We are a young country with more dark than we acknowledge. By not acknowledging we stand to repeat it. Learning more about such an event makes hating aspects of this country so easy; it does not diminish my love for this place, it just forces me to be real about it.
Saturday night I stopped into Malaprops to do some book shopping on my way home from delectable desserts at Old Europe and I finally picked up Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (yes, I know, "I only read like one book a year and even I read that one" but I told you I'd get to it). So far it does much to encompass the contradiction that exists in me about the good and progress of America yet the devilish qualities that lurk as well.
All this to say, election day is only 48 hours away. My faith is not rattled by elections, as it is not based on elections, however the opinions I always seem to have are just waiting to burst forth.
Murphy sent me a text message on Friday, excitedly telling me that she'd organized a rally in DC and that Barack Obama was the keynote speaker and that she'd gotten to spend time with him. I was so excited that I too squealed for more details. I've never been excited about a politician like I am about Obama. He just brings hope that no one else carries.
*title taken from the lyrics of "White City" by Erin McKeown, song based on Larson's book.
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Like Chedda
So I really like to make mixes. This is the most recent, and possibly the pre-emminent mix ever to exist, outside the realm of Crabfest. Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you, the Ultimate Mix o' Cheese (you might wanna wear goggles, cuz tha chez is flyin):
(1) I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder
(2) Glory of Love--Peter Cetera
(3) I'm All Out of Love--Air Supply
(4) Islands in the Stream--Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton
(5) Time After Time--Cyndi Lauper
(6) Don't Go Breakin' My Heart--Elton John and Kiki Dee
(7) Greatest Love of All--Whitney Houston
(8) Coming to America--Neil Diamond
(9) We Belong--Pat Benetar
(10) Up Where We Belong--Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
(11) Every Rose Has Its Thorn--Poison
(12) Copacabana--Barry Manilow
(13) We've Only Just Begun--The Carpenters
(14) Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
(15) Lady--Styx
(16) You're the Inspiration--Chicago
(17) Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
(18) Knock Three Times--Tony Orlando and Dawn
(19) Lets Hear it for the Boy--Deniece Williams
(20) Open Arms--Journey
Well, that's at least the beta version. If you and your cheesy self have edits, additions or subtractions, comment or email them my way. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is on deck.
Remember kids: choose cheese.
I do.
(1) I Just Called to Say I Love You--Stevie Wonder
(2) Glory of Love--Peter Cetera
(3) I'm All Out of Love--Air Supply
(4) Islands in the Stream--Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton
(5) Time After Time--Cyndi Lauper
(6) Don't Go Breakin' My Heart--Elton John and Kiki Dee
(7) Greatest Love of All--Whitney Houston
(8) Coming to America--Neil Diamond
(9) We Belong--Pat Benetar
(10) Up Where We Belong--Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
(11) Every Rose Has Its Thorn--Poison
(12) Copacabana--Barry Manilow
(13) We've Only Just Begun--The Carpenters
(14) Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
(15) Lady--Styx
(16) You're the Inspiration--Chicago
(17) Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
(18) Knock Three Times--Tony Orlando and Dawn
(19) Lets Hear it for the Boy--Deniece Williams
(20) Open Arms--Journey
Well, that's at least the beta version. If you and your cheesy self have edits, additions or subtractions, comment or email them my way. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is on deck.
Remember kids: choose cheese.
I do.
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Halloween: like whoa!
Once a year Halloween decends on poor ol' Weavervegas like the zombies from "Shaun of the Dead" with more tricker treaters than the entire population of the town. We figured Church St. was a safe place to hide from it all, and the partay was not to be missed! All photos blatantly stolen from Shauna's Facebook album.
Elena (the cat burgular) tries to sneak away with Margarita's (crazy cat lady) poor kitten
The funterns! Julie was a stop sign, 'Sanne was a gumdrop, I was a cinnamon roll (NOT Hurricane Katrina...thanks, SMARTASS). Combined we were Stop, Drop, and Roll!
Come on, made it for the price of the spraypaint. We thought it was funny.
Shauna (the green loofa) and Jed (the Energizer Bunny) show off their creativity. It pays to work at a place that owns its own prop closets (multiple)
Hampton (the cowboy), Chris (Jack from "Lost") and Paula (a candy corn, you just can't see her sweet yellow skirt that completed the ensamble). Ladies and gentlemen: my coworkers.
Elena (the cat burgular) tries to sneak away with Margarita's (crazy cat lady) poor kitten
The funterns! Julie was a stop sign, 'Sanne was a gumdrop, I was a cinnamon roll (NOT Hurricane Katrina...thanks, SMARTASS). Combined we were Stop, Drop, and Roll!
Come on, made it for the price of the spraypaint. We thought it was funny.
Shauna (the green loofa) and Jed (the Energizer Bunny) show off their creativity. It pays to work at a place that owns its own prop closets (multiple)
Hampton (the cowboy), Chris (Jack from "Lost") and Paula (a candy corn, you just can't see her sweet yellow skirt that completed the ensamble). Ladies and gentlemen: my coworkers.
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