it's the most wonderful time of the year!

It's a week before the Iowa Caucauses and it's a statistical dead heat. Dang. How Edwards has managed to stay in this thing I just don't know. The other night we were talking about how hilarious it would be if the woman and the black man get defeated by the rich white guy.

Sick, I know, but funny.

The foreplay has been long and boring, but I suspect the dirty deed will be done and over with quickly. We'll have our candidates mid-February. My very early and not terribly informed prediction: Clinton and McCain. I know, I know, but I don't think Giuliani's going to be able to last long enough to make it to his much-needed California, Romney's a Mormon for God's sake, Thompson was more exciting before he announced he was running and Huckabee's a nutjob. McCain is the Republican Party's best hope for beating Clinton. And actually I'm starting to wonder if the Democrats are even going to have a real shot at this. We've spent primary season patting ourselves on the back for having so many dreamy candidates I'm sure we'll blow it some how. Remember 2004? When a monkey should have been able to run against GWB and win? And honestly even if Clinton doesn't get the nod does anyone really think Edwards (whom I love!) can win? The boy wonder of the 21st century? A man who couldn't even pull his own state when he was the VP nominee?

What I find particularly hilarious is how all of this lacks tension for me. Why should I care if the Democrats take back the White House? Whomever ends up there is going to be better than what we've endured. Plus I have my whole crazy theory that focusing on Congress might be more efficient and productive anyway. Allow the Republicans to be the face of this stupid war. Though the surge obviously worked (I know. I don't know how to feel about that either!) I don't believe the political situation is going to improve anytime soon and ultimately that's what it's going to take.

Mr. Vanderelzen?
This is but a taste of what we have to talk about next week!

i am my own worst enemy

And that's all I have to say about that.

I woke up this morning at 8:35am and had to be at work on the desk at 9am. I made it. Barely. And that was only because Peter woke me up and said "It's 8:35. Don't you have to work at 9?" He made me coffee as I threw myself together. Needless to say, I am having a day.

I've been wearing my name tag all of 3 days and the number of people who find it necessary to refer to me by my name is astounding. I don't know you. You don't know me. The name tag is here to provide me with a sense of accountability, to allow you to remember me in case my service is substandard or--and I know this ain't gonna happen--in case you happen to want to tell my supervisor how fabulous I am. I know you're probably just being friendly and I just have to get over it. I hate this stupid name tag.

I also hate drunk assholes who call me Jeanine Garofalo based only on the fact that I happen to be wearing glasses and have darkish hair.

Today I'm not terribly fond of other people's insecurities, other people's successes, mindless chit chat, people who come to work even though they're obviously really sick, talking about the weather, pushy women from Park Township who can't understand how I haven't read Karen Kingsbury yet because she's sooooo good, jerks who teach their 4 year old daughters it's acceptable behavior to be mean to a clerk in an attempt to get out of paying an overdue fine that is completely legitimate, coworkers who think they get to pick and choose what they are responsible for based on how much they feel like doing a task at any given time, teenage girls, teenage boys, screaming toddlers, snotty fifth graders, men who scan their own library cards, women who answer their cellphones while I'm attempting to complete a transaction, and the smell of something on the verge of burning wafting up from the cafe right now.

Aren't you glad you don't have to be around me today?

satire isn't an excuse to hate

Read that last night while watching VH1's top 100 songs of the 90s (a terrible horrible no good very bad decade for music, I might add) when they were covering Eminem. I think it's hilarious.

Yay for Christmas! Yay for 4 days off in a row! I'll try and give the quick rundown of the past few days:

• The Traverac came over Friday night and hung out at his old place. It was bizarre, but fun. We managed to play some Idiot, listen to some Ghostface Killah, and he and I stayed up until 4am. Just like the good old days!
• Saturday I crafted, watched Project Runway, crafted, watched LOTR, crafted, made gingerbread cake, crafted, made soup, crafted and went to bed
• Sunday I finished up the crafting, baked some more gingerbread cakes, read a novel, went to church and was briefly theologically confused when the evening started off with the Fall, drove to Family Fare in a snowstorm, watched some Project Runway, talked to Peter about church and anxiety and families and went to bed.
• Monday I woke up late, put off "wrapping" presents by watching Project Runway, knit, ate, wrapped presents and went to the Berghoef Family Christmas Extravaganza where I ate pork tenderloin and got lots of cool presents and got everyone a little tipsy off my Mom's insanely strong rumcake.
• Christmas Day we slept in until 11am. We lazed about. Made the really good coffee from Vermont and opened the East Coast presents which were again really cool and perfect. Peter made cinnamon rolls and I made scrambled eggs. With butter. In the skillet. Sat around and procrastinated cleaning up the apartment. Cleaned up the apartment. Went back to bed, curled up, and read another book. Got up for cocktail hour and Chinese food. Went over to Eric's and listened to some Johnny Cash, some Outkast and watched the aforementioned 90s thing until Eric remembered he had The Family Guy on demand. Went home and read.

So I'm back at work. The good news: I remembered to wear my nametag. The bad news: I'm lacking patience. I'm sure it has something to do with Molly's interview today and me having expected to have heard from her by now. I'm terrified she's going to leave and I'm terrified she's going to stay. I'll just have to wait and see. I also returned to find the Warning: Year in (P)Review is coming and here's the link to what you said last year. Yeesh. For some reason, despite the choices I have made the past year and how happy I am, reading about my longing to move back east made me a little sad. As did my declaration I was going to finally bake bread, finish my sweater, run in the RiverBank Run and stop being so defensive when people ask why I'm not married nor have children. Failed, failed, failed, and failed.

On a completely unrelated ending note:

I listened to Panda Bear this weekend.

I dig it.

less than four hours and counting...

Best cocktail napkins EVER made even more poignant given my 5 year begging-fest as a kid for a horse and my well-known love of the martini. Thanks, Mom and Dad!


It's Friday. I am officially over halfway through this day which started with me knocking over 4 cash register drawers I had just reconciled. I have been determined not to allow that bad beginning to ruin the rest of my day. Thus far I have been successful!

Highlight of the workday would be seeing how hard it is to make my new nametag fall off. Nametag: 0, Erin: 2. I stopped wearing my nametag about 3 years ago as there are numerous unsavory types I come in contact with (that would be you, general public) and for awhile I was living next door. When I moved I decided I still didn't want to wear it as I walked or biked every day. The novelty will wear off soon, I'm sure, and I'll go back to my nametagless self but for the time being I like having to put my hand down my shirt in order to put it on.

Tonight I might start baking the ginger cake. I can't wait because it's going to make my apartment smell so good! And I think instead of trying to come up with other quick breads to make for neighbors I'm just going to make another batch of cake and pour it into small loaf pans. I've had a brief respite from the crafting (except for knitting!) and tomorrow I really need to kick it back into high gear. It isn't nearly as labor intensive as Round 1, but I have a bunch of little things I have to get done and I don't want to forget anything.

Last night I went to Christina's for a bit. It was like being at my house: glue sticks everywhere, a whole bunch of projects in various states of doneness. We were both a wee bit distracted ("There.is.no.way.I'm.going.to.finish.this.knitting.project." "Do you think I should draw needles for numbers? Will they look like needles? Do I need numbers?"), but it's always nice to spend time with her. She looks AMAZING. Serene and calm as usual and just healthy and happy. She also has the most bizarre new cat (Boo is still around but not doing too well. She's currently on valium and spends most of her life glassy-eyed and dazed) named Alexander. He was a stray that showed up at the club and she took him on. He's kind of smallish and super lovey and cute. But he's a little...puppy-like. When he knows he's getting in trouble he shoots you these puppydog eyes. Grace? Completely disregards my existence when I yell at her. And Xander...well...fetches. He's got this little ball and he'll drop it at the feet of whomever he wants to play with. You throw it, he chases it, brings it back, drops it at your feet and lays down. It's weird. Fun, but weird.

So I'll be computer-free for 4 days starting at 5pm tonight. Tomorrow night I'm hoping we can finally have those Zeeland people over as we've put them off twice now for our Halfassed Christmas Party. Sunday I'll be crafting like a crazy person and then headingtochurch. Monday night it's the Berghoef Family Christmas Extravaganza! And Tuesday we'll probably end up inviting everyone over who either can't go home or doesn't have any other plans. Wednesday I'm back to work for a mere 3 days, off again for the weekend, working 5 hours on New Years Eve, then off again for a day. It's like a vacation with a little bit of work thrown in!

I'd wish everyone a Merry Christmas but I don't want to offend anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. Or who has already celebrated Hannukah. Or will be celebrating Kwanzaa. Nor do I feel comfortable saying "Happy Holidays" as that seems to be offending a fair number of folk around the Western Michigan area this year. So instead I'll just say hopefully you're enjoying a few days off from your daily toiling and may this end of December-early January time be a good time for all!

we like to call that "pulling a judy"

Blurry day. For some reason I set my alarm clock an hour earlier than necessary last night. Very confusing morning for me. This left me in an unusually good mood which is just not normal for me before, oh say, 9am. Plus (and Dad, don't disown me over this!) I haven't been drinking coffee in the mornings lately so it was even more bizarre I was...well...perky.

Last night we got a tip from the cops that mayhaps a fight would ensue at my place of employment. There were obnoxious, loud, hormone-y teenagers and yes some gang members but alas no bullets were flying. I kid, but seriously it would be really helpful if the majority of staff wasn't either completely terrified of kids or so chockfull of white guilt they think teenagers are being unfairly targeted by staff. You know what else would have been helpful? Maybe Holland's Finest could have just done a little walk through at some point in the evening to quell some tensions. This happens every single winter. The weather turns colder and the kids who normally hang around outside move into the one place within walking distance that's warm and free.

I got my Christmas present from Molly today: 18 vegetarian tamales! They need to be individually packaged in freezer bags when I get home. Holy Mother of God they are delicious! She uses 5 different kinds of cheese and homemade tomatillo salsa. It's actually her grandmother's recipe and she only makes them once every few years so I feel especially honored I was the recipient of such a large haul.

My sister and I got all sneaky and bought me a ticket East after Dad has surgery. And THEN we told Mom and Dad so they couldn't try and talk us out of it. I'm flying into Hartford on the 9th, she and I will drive up to Vermont on the 10th and stay through the 14th. I'll fly home on the 15th. Short trip, but hopefully helpful and certainly meaningful. It'll be like Christmas after Christmas.

I think today should be Friday.

i think i'm supposed to take that as a compliment

A co-worker said I looked "just like a college student" today. Huh. Well, I'm not wearing pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt so I'm not quite sure what she means. Though as a 33 year old woman I should probably keep that in mind next time I want to wear a short plaid skirt, tights, legwarmers and a wool sweater. I think it's the glasses that put the whole thing over the top.

The Simpsons Movie was a success. 79 people were in attendance and almost all the doughnuts were consumed. We let them eat as many as they wanted so I'm sure some parents were thrilled their children were stuffed full of sugar. The big news of the day: Molly is being heavily recruited by GRPL to be a branch manager at a really really awful branch on the West Side. I mean, so awful our friend Anjie who used to work there had to drive one of her pages a half a block home each night for safety reasons. I'm really torn. Obviously I don't want her to go. She is definitely the only one here who is relatively sane, but at the same time she really should get out there and get a librarian job. Ultimately I know she wants to come back here once the head of the childrens department retires, but she needs more experience and this would be helpful.

And, uh, yeah I'd totally apply for her job. 40 hours a week, a cushy side job a trained monkey could handle, and more time for programming. The only downside is the crazy lady I'd have to work with but I can handle crazy. Nod, smile, and pretend to listen to her while she drones on and on about how important she is. I can do that for a raise and more hours.

It's almost here! One of my most favorite things that happens every 4 years: primary season! I know, I know, I'm being completely disenfranchised here in Michigan and the whole party system is a mess and the candidates are all sort of lame and who really cares, but I can't help it. Iowa makes me hot. New Hampshire makes me hot. Super Tuesday makes me hot. I did hear Hillary has pulled ahead again in NH but I think it's fun Obama and Edwards and she are so close. I keep saying Clinton's got it all wrapped up, but wouldn't it be superfun if the black man and the woman get beat out by the rich white man? And the Republicans are just as entertaining. Between pro-choice, pro-gay Guiliani who doesn't think campaigning in Iowa is important (that could have been a fatal flaw) to Huckabee who doesn't believe in evolution. Can you believe it's possible the next President of the United States could be someone who doesn't believe in evolution?! Or it could be a man whose faith is based on the ravings of a lunatic who put on magic spectacles and looked into a bag of rocks?!? Now that's entertainment! It's a great way to pass a winter, I say.

Last night while watching Kentucky get the pants beat off them by Houston (I felt like I was watching a stupid NBA game as all they did was run down the court, shoot 3 feet from the 3 point line, miss, run down the court, watch Houston score, run back and repeat) I started talking about how I want to be an editor and how I have zero traditional experience and how I absolutely have no idea how to..well..do it. And though I do love the thought of owning and operating my own press and possibly starting an online journal and being the capital E kind of editor what I really like to do is edit from the beginning. I like writers to hand off something they think is finished and work with it. And I like doing it for everything: Molly's 140 word reviews for Library Journal, Peter's poetry, Fatty's novel...I just like it. And though I have no "training" (What does that even mean? I wasn't an English major? I don't have a Masters degree from some fancypants school? Big deal.) I know I'm good at it. I can see what works and what falls flat. It's intuitive. (This does not apply to my own work, unfortunately. I'm my own worst editor!) But I have no idea how to do it. It's frustrating. Peter suggested starting to write reviews for online journals which is probably a good idea to get my name out there. We'll see. Plus, you know, once he gets his book published and is all a famous poet (ha!--famous poet! that always cracks me up! name one living poet besides Billy Collins because everyone knows Billy Collins as he's a superstar!) and I am thanked profusely on the acknowledgement page for my essential work as his editor the offers will just start rolling in.

Sigh. It's a nice dream.

little boxes on the hillside, little boxes made of ticky-tacky, little boxes, little boxes, little boxes, just the same

Check out who's on the cover of the Annual Berghoef Family Calander:


That would be from the infamous Chicago trip to the Star Wars Exhibit. Melissa and I are obviously taking our jobs very seriously, but Peter's goofing off. How is the Rebel Alliance supposed to defeat the Dark Side unless you get your act together, yo?!

Boxes to Vermont, Connecticut, and Colorado were officially sent out this morning at 11:15am. The relief I feel is palpable. I'm still furiously knitting away in hopes I can finish up an item for my Mom and send it express by the weekend. Aside from the cramping in my fingers and a few blurry-eyed mistakes I made last night I think I might just make it! Next up: Baking and the Berghoefs and the Van Tils.

I am happy to report tonight is the very last DVD Release Party run by Molly and myself. We're showing The Simpsons (even I can't believe we got away with showing that, but it is only rated PG-13) and instead of popcorn we're giving away pink frosted doughnuts. Mmmmmmm....Doughnuts! The movie is only 90 minutes long so the plan right now is to eat in 15 minutes allowing us to leave by 7:45pm. I am so glad to be finished with this program! We've compiled a "how-to-run" manual for the library in the hopes some other department will pick this up but I'm not all that optimistic anyone will. It really was hugely successful, but it just isn't right to spend adult programming dollars on something that is obviously geared to kids.

Last night I made Lentil Tacos for supper. Oh. My. Lord. These were so good! I've had this recipe floating around for about a year, but just never tried it. It was easy, I usually have all of the ingredients hanging around, and it's totally adaptable to one's tastes. I used tortillas instead of hard taco shells and had a nice green salad on the side with citrus-y dressing. Yum. I think Peter was skeptical (thought quite honestly he's pretty willing to try just about anything I'm willing to cook!) but he liked it enough to go back for seconds. I have the leftovers for supper tonight and I suspect they'll be even better the day after. I think tomorrow morning I'll make chili. I sucked it up this week and bought some organic lettuce, broccoli and carrots which just about killed me but I miss fresh vegetables so much I can't take it. I think that's the route I'll go this winter. I learned my lesson, however, and I really am going to can and freeze the beejeezus out of stuff next year. If anyone has suggestions for a small deep freeze, I'm in the market!

Season 3 of Project Runway just came in for me!!!!!! Yay! I've been on hold for this baby for months. MONTHS! And it comes at a perfect time as I stare longingly at my fabric stash. I have a ton of really beautiful wool I inherited from my sister last year and I am in desperate need of some new skirts. Project Runway always makes me fabrically creative. Yippee!

Outro: word or not?

Spell check says nay.

i think i might actually be able to get more than 5 hours of sleep tonight!

There is a light at the end of the crafting tunnel! Last night items were placed into boxes and lo and behold I'm almost finished! Thiiiiiiis close! There is definitely one item that is going to have to be sent separately and overnight as there is no way I can manage to knit for 15-20 hours between now and tomorrow morning (blast me for picking the perfect color and texture of yarn, but picking a pattern that requires about 65 stitches on size 8 needles!) and my bil will have a nice "still on the needles pal" note, but dang me if I'm not just a little proud of myself!

And exhausted. Completely and totally exhausted. But I have learned very important things mostly involving brainstorming for handmade Christmas presents before the end of October and starting on the sewing/knitting projects in about January and keeping my eye out for crafty sales and thrift store items throughout the year. It's a plan. I think I can do it.

So this afternoon I have one small sewing thingamajig to finish, 3 Christmas letters to write and 3 small items to purchase (I guess it's not 100% handmade Christmas but it is at least a locally purchased/fair trade item!) and then the boxes will be packed and shipped and out of my hands.

Next up: Gingerbread for Molly, cookies and/or candy for the neighbors, and round 2 of handmade stuff for Peter's family. Which is much less involved. And already 1/2 done. And I have all weekend off to finish as they don't have to be shipped.

Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. I cannot wait to sleep.

good day sunshine good day sunshine good day sunshine

Good news: The cancer has not spread! My Dad is scheduled for laparoscopic surgery on January 8th which is less invasive than traditional surgery. The relief everyone feels is overwhelming. It's still scary, but the news could have been so much worse.

A combination Molly graduated and Erin's Dad is gonna be okay ensued at Applebee's, of all places (Molly's pick), where I was introduced to $4.00 shakerfulls of top shelf margaritas. Delicious! I managed to leave my entire bag of crafting supplies in her truck, however, leaving me no choice but to continue the celebration down at the Sandbar with Shadetree and Ericka.

I got about 5 hours of sleep Friday night and spent the whole day in crafty mode. I made myself stop at 2am and was up again at 8:30am. I'm obviously at work this afternoon which is making me insane as I should be knitting or assembling something or sewing something. After work we're going to Jack and Nancy's for supper to celebrate Nancy's birthday with lasagna made by Peter (I'm bringing knitting. I have no choice.) and then tonight will be another marathon session. Last night we watched a ton of 30 Rock which is heeelaaarious I might add. Tina Fey is a genius. Tonight we might finish that off and watch something else: Fellowship of the Ring or Secretary or The Muppets Take Manhattan or Superbad. All things I've seen that I don't need to concentrate too much on. Though sleep-deprived this is all actually really fun! I'm having a great time with this whole handmade Christmas thing and if anything I just want to start earlier which probably won't happen as I work so well under pressure.

Right.

crafting and drinking do not mix

I am contemplating returning to the world of meat.

Ewwww!!!! As soon as I wrote it I got all squeamish! Even though I did recently enjoy some turkey! Ewwwww!!!!

It's really because I've gotten so into local food and now that it's winter and I'm obviously not getting much in terms of local produce I thought I might check out some local farms for meat. This does NOT mean I'll be hitting up the Burger King drivethru for Whoppers with cheese nor does it mean I'll be buying steaks from Meijer. It's just a thought. I'm thinking about it.

Lunch break today will consist of a drive to a craft store. I need a smallish embroidery hoop and some sort of floss/thread/yarn something that will penetrate the fleece I bought last night. Plus I need some yarn. Operation Handmade Christmas continues to move forward though I have made concessions that have eased anxiety. I have all of these projects floating around in my head and I'm terrified I'm going to forget something. But it's all good. It's starting to all sort of come together. I find myself looking around thinking "Well that's done! And that's almost done! And look! That's soooo close to being done!" Tonight I need to be somewhat productive though I'll have a belly full of margartia in me. No knitting. Or handwriting anything. Or using scissors. Glue sticks will have to suffice.

Everyone send very positive vibes east. Dad is hopefully finding out how extensive this whole cancer thing is. I'm optimistic. Because if I'm not optimistic I'll drive myself completely insane.

well now i just feel left out

So it must be the year of cancer as I just found out my Mom has been hit too. It's really small and her doctor said it's no big deal and it's skin cancer which our family has LOTS of experience with so it's going to be all good. I think I should go tanning or start smoking 3 packs a day or eat a ton of red meat or something just so I can join the party.

Black humor is pretty much the only way I'm going to be able to cope with all of this.

Christmas, though not canceled, looks like it may be completely different than originally planned. Which is fine by me! I might even go crazy and cook a small turkey. Or maybe some killer pork tenderloin. And then I'll eat it and love it. Not only am I blessed with a cancer-ridden family, I am blessed with a family that is chock full of acceptance. It definitely wasn't always easy and I was definitely, well, a challenge, but we got through and realized what is most important is love and acceptance. Pushing people away or being judgemental or trying to mold people into what you wish they were as opposed to who they are is not only hurtful it's ultimately harmful and counterproductive.

I really am unbelievably blessed.

Last night we watched "The Muppet Movie." Man, I love that movie. "Moving Right Along" is the bestest roadtrip song ever. And the humor is so adult friendly not in a stupid Pixar way but in a baudy "Hey it's the late 70s!" kind of way. I think we're going to try and get our hands on The Muppets Take Manhattan and The Great Muppet Caper (definitely the weakest of the 3).

A muppet filled Christmas might be the way to go.

crossing items off lists is so satisfying

Look! It's a blurry Christmas tree all decorated and lit and stuff! We did it last night while watching Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas which was slightly different from last year's decorating extravaganza involving dirty Rimbaud poems. It's nice. And homey. And it smells good. We decided to put it in the front room as it was, uh, a little bigger than I thought when I bought it. Plus we've been spending alot of time in there with all the crafting I've been doing as of late. Last night, though I was so tired I thought I wouldn't make it down the stairs, we did the obligatory walk outside and stare up at the lit tree thing. We tried to take pictures with a cellphone but they ended up looking like our house was on fire and we didn't want to alarm anyone as it is indeed entirely possible our house could be on fire.

I'm starting to feel a little more in control of Christmas. Things are coming together and once again I find myself a little in awe at my ability to not know how to do something, completely stress out about it and be paralyzed with uncertainty and to just end up doing it and having it all work out. Action. Action. Action. I forget sometimes that I'm pretty good at figuring out how to do things.

Tomorrow is the Christmas party here at work. Instead of freaking out over having mayonnaise-laden artichoke toasties sitting out for 5 hours (let alone the stress of having to go home tonight at 9 and assemble said toasties) I'm bringing some triple cream, crusty bread, and fruit. It'll go great with the provided pizza, pigs in a blanket, and wide variety of jello salads. One less thing to worry about, I say.

Friday Molly and I might be hosting Gleis and Son for lunch if we can convince Daddy we're all adults capable of handling a baby and eating at the same time. Honestly. I even offered to HOLD the BABY. Friday after work I'm going out with Molly and another coworker to celebrate the end of their semester and Molly being finished with her MLS! Yay! Thankfully she has no plans to desert me here and, in fact, they might be creating a librarian position for her which would mean her fulltimefulltime job would be open. And I'd be all about that.

Oh and just a fun little story about our cursed DVD Release Party series. Molly and I managed to set off the fire alarm yesterday afternoon due to some burning popcorn. Everyone evacuated into the freezing cold rain and the fire department had to come. One. more. movie. The Simpsons next Tuesday without popcorn with pink frosted doughnuts and we're officially DONE with it all. We were approached by a new employee who is still really optimistic and positive (sigh. I remember those days) about helping her with a family game night. What a great idea! In fact, I think we had that idea about 3 years ago! She wants to buy a Wii and maybe Guitar Hero and some board games and would we like to help her with that? I was pretty enthusiastic until Molly reminded me that we weren't doing DVD Release Parties anymore for a reason which is we no longer want to do the job of other departments and not get paid for it. Blast! She's right!

Talk to me in February. I'll bet I'm deep into organizing gaming tournaments.

it'll take more than the big C to bring that man down

Tough Sunday. Unbeknownst to me, my Dad--who also happens to be the greatest man in the universe--was diagnosed with cancer on Friday. I got an email but not until after I left work and therefore remained blissfully ignorant of the news until yesterday when I called for my semi-regular call home. He's so positive and upbeat that it makes me determined adopt the same attitude though to be honest I've spent the past 24 hours being pretty pissed off at the world and leaking tears. The hardest part is being so far away. Hopefully it's isolated and hopefully he'll qualify for the least invasive surgery possible. Positive thoughts would be much appreciated.

So...yeah. Huh. Pre-Sunday life seems fairly unimportant now. Nancy's birthday party was nice and everyone was on their best behavior. Saturday night was supposed to be f-u-n but I wasn't feeling too up for much so it was a night on the couch with Office Space and Pee-Wee's Big Top and my hands full of knitting. I'm getting ever closer to having an actual sewing table downstairs and to guilt me into using it I've put my stash of fabric on some shelves. Post-Sunday news we actually went to GR and saw "I'm Not There" which we've been talking about for well over a year and stumbled on unexpectedly. The best part? We done saw it for a grand total of $7.00 for the both of us. The Woodland Mall Celebration Cinema is touting itself as an Art Theater. The Darjeeling Limited is playing there, the new Ang Lee movie is playing there, Lars and The Real Girl is playing there...All for $3.50/person all.the.time.

"I'm Not There"--for those of you normal people who haven't been following this film every step of the way--is a movie sort of kind of based on Bob Dylan's life. Only 6 different people sort of kind of play parts of Dylan during parts of his life. And none of their names are actually Dylan. And it takes place in overlapping completely different time periods. And some of the people playing Dylan aren't even singer/songwriters. I liked it. I think. It's definitely one of those movies you want to give yourself some time to absorb. Some of it was a little too artfilmedout for my tastes and the boomers really do get their fill of Vietnam footage and the Village in the 60s, but it was what it was and whatever Todd Haynes was going for I think he was successful. Cate Blanchett was really good though Peter did say no matter how good she was if you've seen the original Dylan footage you'll probably be underwhelmed. And David Cross didn't get nearly enough to do as Alan Ginsberg. My favorite moment? Jim James singing "Goin' to Acapulco."

We got the needle back. Now we just have to install the needle. Which, for some reason, seems to be giving us some trouble. Which is even more frustrating than having waited 6 weeks for the stupid thing to come in. And to top it all off Peter had the nerve to buy the new Bonnie Prince Billy LP. So it, along with the I'm Not There soundtrack, is just sitting there staring at us. Mocking us.

Sigh.

be warned, kevin and xtina!

Why
I love
metafilter.

it's friday night and i'm determined to have some f-u-n

I'm back. Not 100% by any means, but I'm back. I spent the majority of yesterday going from the futon to the bed and back to the futon. Thanks to Peter I had hours of the Gilmore Girls to keep me company which is perfect sick-girl viewing. Lots of witty banter without having to think. I was productive in that I finished a gift for my secret santa person here at work. I usually hate these types of things, but this year I got a really good person who despite giving me very little to go on (hobbies: walking and spending time with family; snacks: fruit) I have managed to come up with creative and relatively cool presents that she has definitely enjoyed. Though I'm in need of one more winter-y fruit for Monday (she's already gotten clementines and a pomegranate so I'm thinking pear) she's basically done.


Unlike the rest of the Christmas presents I have to create! The next week is going to be all sweatshopped out as I've got some serious work to do. Half of what I need to do has to be finished by next Monday so it can be shipped East and West. I'm confident this will happen. I also have the library Christmas party to deal with. I really wanted to make the Fig and Walnut Tapenade with Goat Cheese, but was talked out of it by someone who suggested it would be wasted on the palates of most of those I work with so Artichoke Toasties it will be. I also have to make a Gramercy Tavern Gingerbread in exchange for some vegetarian tamales (I'm totally getting off easy with that one as tamales take forever) and somewhere in there I'd really like to make some Carmel-Dark Chocolate Truffles with Fleur De Sel for little gifts though Metal just blogged about some bacon chocolates which, I'm not gonna lie, sound insanely intriguing.


Yeah. Right. Okay. Not panicking.


Tomorrow morning I need to get crafty supplies. 12-2pm we're going to a birthday party where I am determined to have fun regardless of how uncomfortable the entire situation will be. Post-party I hope we're snagging a beer with Fatty as he's heading to India in a few short weeks. Tomorrow night it would be really swell if Shadetree and Ericka and Joel and Joan could come over and hang out in the new place. Sunday I might be discussing His Dark Materials with my gayboyfriend Michael and then Monday it's back to work.

Not. Panicking.

if you vote for mister splashy pants the terrorists win

I'm sick. My head is all stuffy. Yesterday I managed to sit on the couch, watch a bunch of episodes of Planet Earth, and knit. I slept for about 10 hours last night thanks to The Stockard Channing Special (lemon, honey, hot water and 2 shots of Jack) and woke up feeling...sick. I am, however, at work as tonight is a stupid DVD Release Party (the last Pirates movie--booooring!) and though I managed to run the parties by myself last year my compandre had a nervous breakdown over the thought I would call in. So I didn't. Tomorrow is still up in the air.

Everyone should click on this link and vote for Mister Splashy Pants and really piss Greenpeace off. Because, you know, getting angry about naming a whale isn't a complete waste of time at all. I can't seem to find the NPR story which tipped us off to the whole controversy. I was downstairs at the time and only got to hear Peter giggling not the actual story, but honestly. Do your part. Vote. For Mister Splashy Pants.

Speaking of Peter, that boy done gonna get a chapbook published. For those of you unfamiliar with the term here's what wikipedia's got to say about it. And here's a link to the site that is publishing it. Don't worry, I will shamelessly promote the hell out of it once it's available for purchase.

I had the extreme pleasure of listening to a GWB press conference this morning and was told Iran is still dangerous. In 2005 we were told Iranian leadership was "determined to develop nuclear weapons despite its international obligations and international pressure." And yet yesterday we were told Iran had stopped working toward nuclear weapons in 2003 and would most likely be unable to produce enough enriched uranium for a bomb until at least 2010.

Our intelligence community continues to amaze me with their obvious lack of intelligence.

Anyone who has a killer home remedy for a cold I'm open to suggestions.