Sitting at my desk at work today, I was approached by a coworker inquiring about the music I was playing (a CD; I wasn't strumming a guitar at my desk or anything).
This is not uncommon. Generally when I am approached, the next words I hear are "What is that atrocious noise? Please cease playing that vile crap immediately as our ears are bleeding."
But today's exchange was different. Unexpected. The words were "You're a Tori Amos fan, too?" This lead to an actual conversation with a coworker regarding Tori Amos and music. I was very excited about this.
Do you realize what this means? If you just said "You're a geek," then you are correct.
Speaking of music, the music from Halloween (the movie) is the spookiest music there is. That John Carpenter created theme always makes me think of watching the movies and October is my favorite horror movie watching time.
When I was much younger, I was lying in bed and I heard the strains of the Halloween music. It was dark in my bedroom and late and I tried for three or four whole minutes to ignore the sounds, but I couldn't, so I wandered out of bed into the living room. A family friend named Scott was living with us then and he was lying on the couch watching Halloween 2. I told him I wanted to watch the movie, too, even though maybe I was a bit (okay, a lot) too young to be watching it and he told me no and tried to send me back to bed. But I didn't want to go to bed. I wanted to finally see Halloween 2. Eventually, he relented and I sat on the floor and watched the movie. It scared the crap out of me.
So, now whenever I see Halloween 2, it makes me think of Scott. He died this week. He was 48. It is a sad time for my family.
Song of the Day: "Northern Lad" by Tori Amos.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
You've Got To Be Starting Something
Under some serious pressure from Jeff at Dung! I am doing my list of 5 must-watch shows. In keeping with my infamous gift of procrastination, I have been mulling over the list and still haven't been able to narrow it down. So I will go with whatever is in my head tonight and then will revise it later as necessary.
I actually started this blog about four days ago but I plan to finish it tonight (Sunday).
In no particular order, here are my five favorite shows to catch every week:
1. Pushing Daisies. It is so pretty to look at and I love the narration. A very sweet show that appeals to my sweet side. Quirky. I am a sucker for quirky. And I love Olive. And the aunts.
2. The Office. This is one show that Jeff and I watch together every week. Love it. Funny stuff. And yes, I love Creed. Blah, blah British version is better and all that. I still love it.
3. House. Hugh Laurie is awesome. Interesting medical mysteries and a twisted, conflicted main character. Definitely on my must-watch list every week.
4. Psych. Hilarious. Love it. It has some of the best lines on tv, lots of silly little inside jokes. My favorite show to quote. And since it is not currently on the air until January, it shouldn't even count as a choice, leaving room for:
4.5. Robot Chicken. I laugh myself silly at the idiocy of this show. I love it, though I feel immature for loving it.
5. Skins. I was actually torn between two shows, but this show got bumped up onto the main list due to last week's episode, which actually made me say OMFG outloud. I even had to describe it in detail to Jeff who doesn't really watch and who doesn't even know the names of the characters. So when I said that Tony finally told Michele that he loves her and that she is the only one for him after all of the horrible stuff he did and then he got hit by a bus, Jeff actually said, "What?" He translated it as such: "About a Boy guy (since the guy who plays Tony is the same kid from the movie About a Boy only grown up now and quite nicely) told Cute Girl With Accent (they all have accents, Jeff!!!) that he loves her. . . " And there is a beautiful scene at the end with Sid and Cassie finally meeting up again (translated by Jeff as geeky guy with glasses and hat and girl who almost died). Well, I guess Jeff watches it more than I thought.
Reaper also shouldn't count as a selection because it isn't currently on. Not until mid-season. So, it doesn't count, but I would definitely throw it on the list, too. Sock is very funny and Andi and Sam are both cute, but the show belongs to Ray Wise. He is so funny and seems to enjoy his role so much that he is half the reason that it will make my list when it reappears on air.
Apparently I have to pick my favorite show because the Nazi I live with is insisting upon it, which is totally bogus. If I only could choose one to watch every week, it would definitely be one of these five. Yep. Definitely one of them. How about making me pick my favorite child next? I think it might be The Office, though. Hilarious. But all the other shows are good, too.
There isn't room for them on the list but How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory would likely tie for a spot if something else fell off. They both make me laugh and I really like the casts of each.
So, there it is. My tv list (for now).
I have also recently started a new writing project. I love new writing projects, especially a new novel. I love the idea. Yes, technically that brings the grand total of novels I am workng on in one way or another to four (4) and none of them ever seems to get finished, but I am great at starting them.
Now, let's see if I can see one through to the end.
Song of the day: "97 Bonnie and Clyde" The Tori Amos version of Eminem's song is very eerie.
It is mid October so movie reviews for the rest of the month will be horror movies. Go Halloween!
I actually started this blog about four days ago but I plan to finish it tonight (Sunday).
In no particular order, here are my five favorite shows to catch every week:
1. Pushing Daisies. It is so pretty to look at and I love the narration. A very sweet show that appeals to my sweet side. Quirky. I am a sucker for quirky. And I love Olive. And the aunts.
2. The Office. This is one show that Jeff and I watch together every week. Love it. Funny stuff. And yes, I love Creed. Blah, blah British version is better and all that. I still love it.
3. House. Hugh Laurie is awesome. Interesting medical mysteries and a twisted, conflicted main character. Definitely on my must-watch list every week.
4. Psych. Hilarious. Love it. It has some of the best lines on tv, lots of silly little inside jokes. My favorite show to quote. And since it is not currently on the air until January, it shouldn't even count as a choice, leaving room for:
4.5. Robot Chicken. I laugh myself silly at the idiocy of this show. I love it, though I feel immature for loving it.
5. Skins. I was actually torn between two shows, but this show got bumped up onto the main list due to last week's episode, which actually made me say OMFG outloud. I even had to describe it in detail to Jeff who doesn't really watch and who doesn't even know the names of the characters. So when I said that Tony finally told Michele that he loves her and that she is the only one for him after all of the horrible stuff he did and then he got hit by a bus, Jeff actually said, "What?" He translated it as such: "About a Boy guy (since the guy who plays Tony is the same kid from the movie About a Boy only grown up now and quite nicely) told Cute Girl With Accent (they all have accents, Jeff!!!) that he loves her. . . " And there is a beautiful scene at the end with Sid and Cassie finally meeting up again (translated by Jeff as geeky guy with glasses and hat and girl who almost died). Well, I guess Jeff watches it more than I thought.
Reaper also shouldn't count as a selection because it isn't currently on. Not until mid-season. So, it doesn't count, but I would definitely throw it on the list, too. Sock is very funny and Andi and Sam are both cute, but the show belongs to Ray Wise. He is so funny and seems to enjoy his role so much that he is half the reason that it will make my list when it reappears on air.
Apparently I have to pick my favorite show because the Nazi I live with is insisting upon it, which is totally bogus. If I only could choose one to watch every week, it would definitely be one of these five. Yep. Definitely one of them. How about making me pick my favorite child next? I think it might be The Office, though. Hilarious. But all the other shows are good, too.
There isn't room for them on the list but How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory would likely tie for a spot if something else fell off. They both make me laugh and I really like the casts of each.
So, there it is. My tv list (for now).
I have also recently started a new writing project. I love new writing projects, especially a new novel. I love the idea. Yes, technically that brings the grand total of novels I am workng on in one way or another to four (4) and none of them ever seems to get finished, but I am great at starting them.
Now, let's see if I can see one through to the end.
Song of the day: "97 Bonnie and Clyde" The Tori Amos version of Eminem's song is very eerie.
It is mid October so movie reviews for the rest of the month will be horror movies. Go Halloween!
Monday, October 6, 2008
I Have Found Me A Home
One of the benefits of being so behind in my blogging is that there is a never-ending amount of material from which to draw.
When we last left me, I was working for therapists and telemarketers. Those jobs last three days and two days, respectively. I quit when I was offered a full time job at a law firm. Despite my rather vocal reluctance to work in the legal field again, I couldn't turn down the chance to quit being a telemarketer. I was offered the job last Wednesday and started last Thursday.
My new place of employment is in a beautiful old house converted into an office. The entire top floor (upstairs) is attorneys' offices and the bottom floor (downstairs) is the staff area. It is a big open area (living room?) with many desks and files. I love the office. I have my own work space, a big desk sitting out in the open, but not touching anyone else's desk. And files. There are files everywhere. But organized neatly.
There is a tiny kitchen, functional but not fancy. Beautiful hardwood floors in the main reception area. And a tiny little staff bathroom with a blue toilet and a blue sink. I must say, that makes me feel like home. (Except at home I have a pink sink.)
I love the building. It is downtown, but not part of a fussy new downtown infrastructure. It has history and beauty. Oh and people. There are people there, too.
They seem nice.
Song of the Day: "I Have Found Me A Home" by Jimmy Buffett, not that it is a favorite song because it is just an okay one, but because I stole the title for my blog.
DVD Review of the Day: I'm watching the first season of Dexter and am really, really digging it. Yes it is morbid, but so clever. Plus, I like morbid.
When we last left me, I was working for therapists and telemarketers. Those jobs last three days and two days, respectively. I quit when I was offered a full time job at a law firm. Despite my rather vocal reluctance to work in the legal field again, I couldn't turn down the chance to quit being a telemarketer. I was offered the job last Wednesday and started last Thursday.
My new place of employment is in a beautiful old house converted into an office. The entire top floor (upstairs) is attorneys' offices and the bottom floor (downstairs) is the staff area. It is a big open area (living room?) with many desks and files. I love the office. I have my own work space, a big desk sitting out in the open, but not touching anyone else's desk. And files. There are files everywhere. But organized neatly.
There is a tiny kitchen, functional but not fancy. Beautiful hardwood floors in the main reception area. And a tiny little staff bathroom with a blue toilet and a blue sink. I must say, that makes me feel like home. (Except at home I have a pink sink.)
I love the building. It is downtown, but not part of a fussy new downtown infrastructure. It has history and beauty. Oh and people. There are people there, too.
They seem nice.
Song of the Day: "I Have Found Me A Home" by Jimmy Buffett, not that it is a favorite song because it is just an okay one, but because I stole the title for my blog.
DVD Review of the Day: I'm watching the first season of Dexter and am really, really digging it. Yes it is morbid, but so clever. Plus, I like morbid.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
What's My Age Again?
(This post is a week overdue, so if it contains old info, that's why.)
I started a new job -- two actually. One is a day job, working as a receptionist for an office of therapists. (Please feel free to insert your own "need for therapy" joke here.) I like it very much. Two whole days in and I haven't cried on the job once. (That's not my only qualification for enjoyment of the job, but it is a definite bonus!)
My other job is a night job that I am in training for currently. I am/will be in telemarketing. What fresh hell is this? Most of the people I am training with are significantly younger than I am. A handful are exactly half my age. I am trying to approach this job training as an anthropological experiment instead of the sad mid-life setback that it is. I am an observer, watching lives unfold. I'm even witnessing a possible budding romance between a cute emo kid and a very cute (and slightly out of his league) preppy girl. They sit. They flirt. I observe (as a writer, not as a voyeur).
I'm 34, surrounded by 17-year-olds (or is that old's -- what do you think, Brian?) and I have no idea how to talk to them. I'm even less sure than I usually am about the adults who surround me. I prefer my teenagers in fictionalized form. On television, I have become enamored of those kids from "Gossip Girl". It is definitely a guilty pleasure. I can't help it; I really like that darn show. I got sucked in and now I watch every week. I've also become quite involved in the lives of the fictitious British teens on the show "Skins" on BBC America. Now that show I really love. I'm not sure why; maybe some bizarre vicarious thrill. I would never want to be a teenager again. I wasn't good at it the first time. I think I make a better adult. But lately I have been surrounded by teens in fiction and I am enjoying it. I even read "Twilight" last week. For those of you living in caves (and thus without the required internet connection to access this-here blog) it is the story of a teenage girl, Bella, who falls in love with a vampire. I was filled with a little bit of self-loathing as I read it because I really enjoyed it.
Remember Rob Lowe's character from "St. Elmo's fire"? No? I do. I don't want to be that person. I want to be the grown up, surrounded by other grown ups.
Song of the day: "What's My Age Again?" from Blink 182 because I stole their song title for my blog title.
Movie Review. . . . "Clerks 2" A funny movie about growing up. I love the end shot of that movie. Some funny and immature stuff in the film, but ultimately about growing up. Perfect movie for someone in his or her 30s (or was that 30's, Brian?)
I started a new job -- two actually. One is a day job, working as a receptionist for an office of therapists. (Please feel free to insert your own "need for therapy" joke here.) I like it very much. Two whole days in and I haven't cried on the job once. (That's not my only qualification for enjoyment of the job, but it is a definite bonus!)
My other job is a night job that I am in training for currently. I am/will be in telemarketing. What fresh hell is this? Most of the people I am training with are significantly younger than I am. A handful are exactly half my age. I am trying to approach this job training as an anthropological experiment instead of the sad mid-life setback that it is. I am an observer, watching lives unfold. I'm even witnessing a possible budding romance between a cute emo kid and a very cute (and slightly out of his league) preppy girl. They sit. They flirt. I observe (as a writer, not as a voyeur).
I'm 34, surrounded by 17-year-olds (or is that old's -- what do you think, Brian?) and I have no idea how to talk to them. I'm even less sure than I usually am about the adults who surround me. I prefer my teenagers in fictionalized form. On television, I have become enamored of those kids from "Gossip Girl". It is definitely a guilty pleasure. I can't help it; I really like that darn show. I got sucked in and now I watch every week. I've also become quite involved in the lives of the fictitious British teens on the show "Skins" on BBC America. Now that show I really love. I'm not sure why; maybe some bizarre vicarious thrill. I would never want to be a teenager again. I wasn't good at it the first time. I think I make a better adult. But lately I have been surrounded by teens in fiction and I am enjoying it. I even read "Twilight" last week. For those of you living in caves (and thus without the required internet connection to access this-here blog) it is the story of a teenage girl, Bella, who falls in love with a vampire. I was filled with a little bit of self-loathing as I read it because I really enjoyed it.
Remember Rob Lowe's character from "St. Elmo's fire"? No? I do. I don't want to be that person. I want to be the grown up, surrounded by other grown ups.
Song of the day: "What's My Age Again?" from Blink 182 because I stole their song title for my blog title.
Movie Review. . . . "Clerks 2" A funny movie about growing up. I love the end shot of that movie. Some funny and immature stuff in the film, but ultimately about growing up. Perfect movie for someone in his or her 30s (or was that 30's, Brian?)
Monday, September 8, 2008
Why I Can Never Go to the Bathroom Again
Two Saturdays ago, Jeff was working and I was alone with the children. I snuck away for a very necessary brief moment of privacy and was gone approximately 35 seconds when Jude pushed the door open and said "Mom, can you make me a new sandwich?"
"Sure, honey," I replied, nearly weeping with joy that Jude actually finished his whole sandwich. "In a minute." Jude turned to leave. "Oh, Mom, I left it on the floor and Sully ate it."
Now Sully has had crackers so I didn't worry about it until I realized that Jude's sandwich also had peanut butter on it. Peanut butter! I ran into the living room and began following Sullivan around as he crawled around the living room, watching his face, looking into his eyes for any reaction. He just smiled at me. Well, I guess he isn't allergic to peanuts. One less thing for me to worry about.
Sometimes when I steal away for a moment, I return to the living room to find Jude being sweet, sharing a grape popsicle with his brother, Sully's tongue and face stained purple. I watched from the doorway, amazed. They're really quite beautiful together playing, sharing. Jude actually shares with Sully. I love that.
What I love much less is walking out of the bathroom to find Sully purple. Not purple from a popsicle, but purple from lack of oxygen. It is horrible. Sullivan holds his breath when he gets upset (or angry or really tired). It is awful to witness. He will hold his breath until he passes out. Last Saturday, Sully did it four times in one day. Four times he stopped breathing long enough to pass out, falling limp, eyes rolling into his head and then he started breathing again. The doctor says that it isn't uncommon for babies to do this and apparently there is a genetic component; my brother, Ryan, did it and my Uncle Dennis did it. Of course, Ryan was 14 when he did it (no, seriously, Mom assured me that he outgrew it before he started school. High school). Still, no mom should have to see a purple child, feel a lifeless body cradled in her arms.
Movie Review of a Movie You've Already Seen or Never Plan to See: Clerks. After all, there's nothing more exhilarating than pointing out the shortcomings of others.
Song of the Day: "Whole Wide World" by Wreckless Eric.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Welcome to Casa Chaos
Well, the news is that there is no news.
This blog is just an excuse to show the mass destruction that two wee beings can cause.
Song of the day: Well, I am tempted to go with "Engine Driver" again because I am still going through a Decembrists thing, but I'll go with "Karma Police" by Radiohead because that is stuck in my head right now.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Skinny of It All
A quick update on Drama King and Biter Baby. After a serious parental discussion, we decided to go back to Jude and Sullivan. Jude -- doing well, big dramatic gestures and all. Jeff is in the process of introducing Jude to the Star Wars films. Jude is 4. He asks 10 questions every 4 seconds (yep, he's that quick). Jeff is a masochist. But daddy and son both seem to love Star Wars and Jude even has a favorite character: Okey-wan-adobe.
Sullivan has another new tooth (five in all now) and an adorable habit of standing up in the bathtub mid-bath. When I gently set him down, saying "No, Sully. No standing in the bathtub," he looks at me as if seriously considering my proposal before pulling himself back up to the standing position. It has become a wrestling match just to give him a bath.
On the job front, I am hopeful because I have spent too much time being not hopeful and that isn't helpful either. I have prospects. I even applied for a job at a local college and felt a bit lost as I wandered the campus. The students there had something that I haven't felt in my own professional life in quite some time: a sense of purpose. The thrill of something new. In college, "they" tell you crap like "What would you do if you didn't have to work? Well, that's what you should do for work." My first choice of non-work activity would be sitting on the couch watching movies and that isn't realistic. But there is a second choice, something that I could totally (maybe) do for a living, something that I am actually really good at and I am trying to figure out how to expand upon that, turn that into something that pays well (enough). I've even gotten serious enough to make inquiries about starting a website for said project and a friend was kind enough to provide me with some information on getting a website. I've done research until my eyes are crossed and I must ask: is there anyone who knows how to start/maintain a website? I have gotten good advice on how to do it myself, but let's be honest here: it is likely I would screw it up myself. I'm quite serious. I want to purchase (very cheaply) a domain name, etc. Tell me what you know. Tell me how you would do it, step by step, treating me like I had no clue what I was doing (because I really, really don't). I can't even make my blog any prettier than it already is. There are people with talents for things like that; my talents (I think) lie elsewhere. So I am begging. Pleading. Tell me what you know.
I know what else I know: apparently I am hanging on to baby weight from my sweet boys out of some bizarre sentimentality. Well, that ends now. My husband has this habit of taking my picture, despite my threats to do him bodily harm. Now, it speaks volumes that I would rather injure Jeff than let him take photographic evidence that I am here, so it is time to do something about that and I have. Jeff has his gym schedule and I have started my own exercise program here. I will monitor my progress here in the same haphazard way that I monitor everything else on this blog. I have this love of ice cream (and ice cream merchandisers), but I miss my pre-baby body and want to see it again in this lifetime.
Oh, and to the dear reader who thought it would be fun to send me an email that sent me off to google a quite nasty picture, thank you. I have printed off said picture, framed it and put it on the fridge. I haven't been able to eat ever since. Best. Diet. Ever.
Song of the day: (yes, it is back!) Engine Driver by The Decembrists. I choose this song simply because I can't get it out of my head. See, Jeff has this cool habit of downloading songs and making up CDs for each writing project that he does and I have this habit of stealing said CDs to listen to in my car. So, thanks for your hard work, Jeff. And no, I haven't seen your CD. Why do you ask?
Movie Review: The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford. Jeff asked me to watch this with him today. It was long (nearly three hours) and really, really good. It has a wonderful screenplay and great dialogue and it is a pretty slow-paced movie but I just loved it. Terrific performances by Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt. There is even a scene with Nick Cave singing. There is great narration as well and I suspect that those passages were lifted directly from the book. Loved it.
Sullivan has another new tooth (five in all now) and an adorable habit of standing up in the bathtub mid-bath. When I gently set him down, saying "No, Sully. No standing in the bathtub," he looks at me as if seriously considering my proposal before pulling himself back up to the standing position. It has become a wrestling match just to give him a bath.
On the job front, I am hopeful because I have spent too much time being not hopeful and that isn't helpful either. I have prospects. I even applied for a job at a local college and felt a bit lost as I wandered the campus. The students there had something that I haven't felt in my own professional life in quite some time: a sense of purpose. The thrill of something new. In college, "they" tell you crap like "What would you do if you didn't have to work? Well, that's what you should do for work." My first choice of non-work activity would be sitting on the couch watching movies and that isn't realistic. But there is a second choice, something that I could totally (maybe) do for a living, something that I am actually really good at and I am trying to figure out how to expand upon that, turn that into something that pays well (enough). I've even gotten serious enough to make inquiries about starting a website for said project and a friend was kind enough to provide me with some information on getting a website. I've done research until my eyes are crossed and I must ask: is there anyone who knows how to start/maintain a website? I have gotten good advice on how to do it myself, but let's be honest here: it is likely I would screw it up myself. I'm quite serious. I want to purchase (very cheaply) a domain name, etc. Tell me what you know. Tell me how you would do it, step by step, treating me like I had no clue what I was doing (because I really, really don't). I can't even make my blog any prettier than it already is. There are people with talents for things like that; my talents (I think) lie elsewhere. So I am begging. Pleading. Tell me what you know.
I know what else I know: apparently I am hanging on to baby weight from my sweet boys out of some bizarre sentimentality. Well, that ends now. My husband has this habit of taking my picture, despite my threats to do him bodily harm. Now, it speaks volumes that I would rather injure Jeff than let him take photographic evidence that I am here, so it is time to do something about that and I have. Jeff has his gym schedule and I have started my own exercise program here. I will monitor my progress here in the same haphazard way that I monitor everything else on this blog. I have this love of ice cream (and ice cream merchandisers), but I miss my pre-baby body and want to see it again in this lifetime.
Oh, and to the dear reader who thought it would be fun to send me an email that sent me off to google a quite nasty picture, thank you. I have printed off said picture, framed it and put it on the fridge. I haven't been able to eat ever since. Best. Diet. Ever.
Song of the day: (yes, it is back!) Engine Driver by The Decembrists. I choose this song simply because I can't get it out of my head. See, Jeff has this cool habit of downloading songs and making up CDs for each writing project that he does and I have this habit of stealing said CDs to listen to in my car. So, thanks for your hard work, Jeff. And no, I haven't seen your CD. Why do you ask?
Movie Review: The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford. Jeff asked me to watch this with him today. It was long (nearly three hours) and really, really good. It has a wonderful screenplay and great dialogue and it is a pretty slow-paced movie but I just loved it. Terrific performances by Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt. There is even a scene with Nick Cave singing. There is great narration as well and I suspect that those passages were lifted directly from the book. Loved it.
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