Happy: Got on the Metro and a dad was reading stories to his 2 little girls (with voices), trying on their hats and mittens, and generally being silly. So much better than listening to annoying teenagers’ cell phone calls and other crap usually overheard on Metro.
Sad: Un-invited to lunch.
Happy: The perfect cookie boxes are in stock, so I ordered some! Love that bulk pricing.
Sad: JD and I decided to cancel our dinner plans.
Happy: Christmas tree arrived at the office! Atrium smells like ChristmasTown!
OK, happy wins.
Lyric of the day: “Unpaid bills, Afghanistan hills” (huh. guess some things don’t change, eh?)
Flashback of the day: Easters
As I write this, what’s playing? Alice in Chains’ “Check My Brain,” off Black Gives Way to Blue.
This morning the National Zoo announced the sad news that Tai Shan, DC’s beloved baby Giant Panda, will be returned to China early next year. Most in DC have loved the little guy since before he was even born. We helped to name him (remember? Tai Shan, meaning “Peaceful Mountain,” was chosen — “Butterstick” wasn’t a choice), and have thoroughly enjoyed cooing and awww-ing at his antics for the past four years. He certainly learned early on how to please a crowd! It’s always great to watch him react to crowds reacting to him. The Zoo has, let’s face it, made quite a bit of dough out of this love affair, but they’ve also done a lot to make them more accessible and give them a better habitat to live in.
Now that winter’s coming on, the pandas’ activity level will be increasing (please let it snow! they’re supercharged-adorable in the snow!) — and “early next year” is only a few short weeks away — so it’s a great time to squeeze in one last visit.
Tai Shan and Mei Xiang, 2006 (courtesy Bernardo Piereck)
Whew! Today was a day of meetings, meetings, meetings. I noticed that about half of the folks at the first meeting brought their smartphones and answered calls, wrote emails, etc. I did not bring mine; it stayed in my purse at my desk, where it belongs. Instead I just brought a notepad and a pen. Does that make me an old fuddy-duddy?
Needless to say, my brain is a bit fried and it might be time for a nice break before the Snowflake Season really kicks in. Tonight’s choices include: a) drinking; b) staying at work late to go to a law-related movie screening; and c) going home to watch my recording of last night’s broadcast of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Mom, I didn’t forget!). Personally, I’m going with a combination of A and C above. But, for those of you who might be more inclined to go for option B, here’s a clip:
Funny, right? And the dialogue is pretty good, too. (Seriously, is that outfit a classic Fug or what?!)
Lyric of the day: “we’re gonna play some pool, skip some school, act real cool, stay out all night, it’s gonna feel alright”
Flashback of the day: Doing The Rosalita in the ΦΣΚ basement (obvs). Also, since we’re talking about fraternity-party dances here: Stomping in the living room at ΑΔΦ with Crazy Mark.
As I write this, what’s playing? Jet’s “She’s A Genius,” off Shaka Rock.
What, you thought they had begun hibernating for the winter? Oh no, my friends. Deck the halls with trouser folly!
I walked behind this gentleman for the final few blocks of yesterday morning’s commute:
If there are deep puddles to walk through, this man is prepared!
Yes. His trousers really are that short. His jacket sleeves really are that long. And you can’t see very well in my crappy stealth photo, but the shoulders on that jacket didn’t fit either; it was just straight-up too big.
It’s not like this was a teenaged boy who’d just had a growth spurt and couldn’t help the short trousers or anything. He was, in fact, a fully-grown adult. One can only hope he was on his way to a job he already has, and not an interview, wearing clothes that ill-fitting.
Someone please tell me that whatever “tailor” he used, left him enough hem in those trousers to take them down a good couple of inches? Please?
Well, Washington is all abuzz over the President’s big speech last night. But, since I knew Washington would be abuzz today, I was a poor citizen and didn’t watch. Instead, I made the Imperial March into a ringtone for my phone! Dork-o-riffic, I know. And my mom wonders why she has no grandchildren?
Imperial March (wookieepedia)
So, instead of feeling political today, I’m feeling musical. Here are a few cover tunes that I enjoy:
Live’s “I Walk the Line” and “Supernatural”
ModLog’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (how could I leave that one out?)
Dode’s “Real Love”
Alien Ant Farm’s “Smooth Criminal”
Duran Duran’s “Watching the Detectives”
Rick Astley’s “When I Fall in Love” (I don’t care what anyone says about him; that track is velvety-smooth)
Too Much Joy’s “Seasons in the Sun,” where they take basically the worst song ever — and make it AWESOME
Tina Turner’s “Let’s Stay Together”
How about ones I don’t enjoy? Well, I would hope we can all agree that no covers of “Locomotion” should have ever been recorded.
Have you got a favorite cover tune? I’ve got comments on this blog, so you can tell the world!
Lyric of the day: “Poets, priests and politicians have words to thank for their positions”
Flashback of the day: double-bladed ice skates
As I write this, what’s playing? Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus,” off Violator. Everybody STOMP!
Photo of the day:
Rock Hill, SC. July 2007
UPDATE: Right now, in a Weasel leitmotif-y moment, my online radio player is playing Roxy Music’s cover of “Jealous Guy,” which is one I discovered during my first year at college. And it should definitely be on the list of faves!
Well, everyone, I’m a sad girl today still mourning the breakup of my favorite band evah, Live. Turns out that evidently, Ed K. got quite into being a bad-ass rock star, and pulled a Behind-the-Music-esque move on his bandmates. According to them, anyways. Who knows, who cares? All I know is, I can’t rock out at the shows any more! *Sniff*
Luckily, AJN and I went to what turned out to be our last show this year in Boston. It is only right and fitting that we were together, jumping around like mad things. (I’m especially pleased that show gave me pretty much the best, most-rocking-est rendition of “I Alone” I’d heard since the days of shows at Old 930.) Over the years AJN went to many a Live show together. When we were young and foolish, we even traveled to out-of-town shows during that Throwing Copper tour where Weezer was the supporting act. The traveling highlight has to be the night when SR “accidentally” set off the alarm on one of the tour buses. As for AJN and myself, one of our favorite rock show binges of the 90s was a Live binge: Old 930, Franklin Square (skiving off work at lunch time), and Old 930 again inside of 24 hours.
Anyway. It took me years to deal with the demise of TMJ, and now this?! (Side note: Once, I came into the kitchen wearing my “…Finally” t-shirt. BB said, “You like Too Much Joy? Wow. That changes how I see you as a person.” Luckily, he meant that in a good way.) Oh well, thank goodness for the back catalog…it’ll always be there when I need to bang my head. Indeed, it was “Game Seven every single night.” Auf Wiederhören, Live. I’ll miss you.
Live, HoB Boston, March '09
Lyric of the day: “the perception that divides you from him is a lie” (just for you, MJA)
Flashback of the day: Pushing up the glasses of MD, JDM (not that one, the other one), TH, DJG. A strange, and strangely intimate, habit.
As I write this, what’s playing? Chevelle’s “Letter from a Thief,” off Sci-Fi Crimes.
Photo of the day:
This Awesomely Bad Paint Job Apparently Required to Deliver Capitol Christmas Tree
Did everyone have a great Thanksgiving? I know I did. I decided at virtually the last moment to take last Wednesday off from work, and drive all day to mom’s house instead of all night. It was a good decision. I left early, and though there were a few slowdowns, for the most part the drive was uneventful. It only took three extra hours. Whee!
Raymond outdid himself by making his best turkey yet. Evidently the cellar steps up there on Dogwood Knoll really have some sort of brining magic, or something. Delicious! I can’t wait to have my sandwich today. Raymond’s son and grandson also came over, and it was lovely to see them as ever. I can’t believe how big and tall and, well, old that boy is getting. Sheesh. These kids, and their growing-up. Won’t it ever stop!? I did mention to my stepbrother that it seemed as though our house belonged in Opposite-World…the husband was in the kitchen, slaving away over a hot stove, while the wife was in the living room watching the game. I had to chuckle.
Of course, a highlight of the weekend was spending Friday afternoon with MS, at her place in town. It was so so so great to be hanging out in the kitchen, and on the old sofa, just catching up and chatting the day away. As she said to her mom at one point, “It’s just like we’re 14 again, except we can drive ourselves now.” Hold on, dear heart, it will all be alright. After nine years at The Firm, I can definitely relate and I feel your pain. Any time you need me, just call. And thanks for having me over!
Once I got home, Mom and I discovered that the big Backyard Brawl was on TV, so of course we drove poor Raymond out of the room and watched our Mountaineers come through with an absolutely thrilling last-minute victory. Hooray! We were quite tempted to set our couches on fire, but figured it would be a bad idea. We decided a good idea, though, might be to make a trip to the Hoyas-’Eers basketball game in Mo-town next spring. I hope we can get our act together for it, because I think we’d have a lot of fun.
The drive home on Saturday took just as long as the drive to NY. Not because of traffic; that was relatively calm and free-flowing. Instead, there was a massive accident on the Turnpike, and it was shut down for more than 2 hours. Motorists got out of their cars and wandered around; some families played catch in the roadway. I settled in to read a book behind the wheel until we got moving again. After the road was re-opened, I passed by the single worst-looking accident I’ve ever seen. A tractor trailer was simply disintegrated on the side of the road. I was sure it had totally exploded, killed the driver. However, the state police say that it was a single-truck accident wherein the driver hit something and the truck caught fire. Since it was carrying paper products there was just a whole lot of fuel to burn up. Amazingly though, the driver was taken away with serious, but not life-threatening, injury. Wowzer. A Thanksgiving miracle!
So today the Christmas season can really begin in earnest. The office decorations are coming out, and I’m stopping on the way home to get a new string of lights for the balcony railing. And to start the season off right, the folks at U.-Va. seem to have finally begun to get some damn sense, and fired Al Groh. A Christmas gift to all of us!
I spotted the headline on a commuter’s Postfront page this morning, and nearly leapt out of my seat on the Metro to do a happy dance. Of course, I didn’t — that would have meant giving up a precious Metro seat! But it’s good news, nonetheless. I have always been dissatisfied with Coach Groh. Aside from poor game-day decisions, poor recruiting (for the most part: Chris Long, I am looking at you), and generally poor results, he tried to wring some of the things that make going to U.-Va. a unique experience out of the students’ lives. We can paint our faces and cheer just as well, if we are wearing our khakis and blazers and dresses and ties, Coach. I know, I did it. Wear orange? So no one can tell if a person’s rooting for Tech or not? Or for Miami? Yeah. That was a great idea. OK, OK, I’m nostalgic. But seriously. Going to the game, dressed in a sundress, with a date, was a fun and unique experience. I still managed to paint my face and cheer like a mad thing. It’s always been extremely disappointing…an alumnus like Groh should know these things.
It’s not like A.D. Littlepage is any great prize, but at least there might be a smidgen of hope for the future now. Could my boycott finally end? (Probably not…there’s still the whole band issue…) Cross your fingers, ‘Hoos!
Lyric of the day: “It cheers our hearts and warms our blood to hear them shout and roar”
Flashback of the day: Bill and Jethro, The Linemen Next Door
As I write this, what’s playing? Rise Against’s “Savior,” off Appeal to Reason.
Photo of the day:
Happy Birthday, JK!
So, welcome back to the routine, everyone. Get ready for holiday happenings!
Yes folks, it’s almost The Day On Which We All Eat Like Gluttons And Oh Yeah, Wasn’t That Tonto Such A Nice Pilgrim? Plus, The Lions Are On TV!
No, seriously, I love Thanksgiving. My sister likes to say, “I’m going to eat till I pass out.” Usually I don’t go that far, but is a weekend filled with snacking really ever a bad idea?
So, I’ll head to mom’s house for the holiday. We’ll watch the “Macy’s Day Parade” and the football games. Later we’ll have delicious, delicious turkey, and positively ridiculous amounts of stuffing, as made by her hubby. Then delicious, delicious pumpkin pie, which is the Thanksgiving delicacy I wait all year for! My mom sends my stepbrother home with a pile of leftovers half as tall as he is, and me home with a cooler full of them. We’ll call relatives for catching-up chats. Relatives will call us, and we’ll answer the phone with a cheerful, “Happy Turkey!” We’ll watch the usual big Thanksgiving weekend news stories: the Troy Turkey Trot and the Equinox Dinner, then Friday’s stories about those crazy shoppers who camped out in the freezing cold at Colonie Center or Crossgates Mall. We’ll sigh a sigh of relief that my mom doesn’t have to work Black Friday anymore.
It’s all great fun, and quite a change from the Thanksgivings of the early 80s. In those days, my mom and I were sometimes known to order in a pizza on Turkey Day. Was that to due to turkey-related mishaps (freezer burn! oven burn!)? Sheer exhaustion? Being daunted by knowing that the evils of Black Friday were coming? The simple knowledge that pizza is the best of all possible foods? All of the above!
Of course we all think about the snacks, the food, the getting together with family. But in the end, we all come around to thinking about those things, people, ideas, places, for which we’re most thankful. And I’m no different – I’ve got a lot of blessings to count. Here’s just a sampling of the things that make my life great:
My generous friends
Work (because while I’m not in love with it, I’m certainly glad to have it!)
My great family, both near and far
All the hard work my mom did to raise me. I don’t know how she did it.
Living in my favorite city
A great education
Music
Walking out of my office and seeing the Capitol dome every day. It makes me feel like I’m Jimmy Stewart
Puppies and kittens (come on, who doesn’t love puppies and kittens?)
So, whether you’re home or away, enjoy your Thanksgiving everyone! See you next week.
Lyric of the day: “deep enough to dive”
Flashback of the day: breaking up the pecans for Christmas cookies, all day, by hand
As I write this, what’s playing? 30 Seconds to Mars’ “Kings and Queens,” off This is War
I mean, that*I*am the bad friend, not beloved MS, whose birthday was…um…yeah…uh…Monday.
OK, OK, I’m late! It’s terrible and she deserves better from me! Well, from everyone. MS is a dear and treasured friend, whom I’ve known since the seventh grade. We were inseparable throughout those awful middle-school years and I’m grateful that we had each other back then. I think we all know how terrible it is going through it, and how crucial it is to have a really, really great best friend.
Her family took me in as one of their own, and I can only hope that her poor parents got used to having yet another kid hanging around the house. We hung out at the pool in her backyard; we hung out in her brothers’ room and listened to records on the stereo; her dad took us to the track in the August heat, and I learned all about handicapping. I was agog when I found out she was from such a huge family; I’d never known anyone with so many siblings before (or since)! We stayed up late, watching videos and crazy movies, and learned much of the dialogue in Real Genius together. We told stories, did homework, had sleepovers, became Giants and Mets fans together. When MS got sick I tried to be there for her as much as I could, to try and keep her from getting down.
Even after I moved away, we kept in touch, and somehow managed to remain close as ever. College came and went; we lost touch and re-established contact a few times. And each time, it was like not even one day had gone by, since the last time we talked.
I love and cherish you, girl, and wish you nothing but the best of happiness and joy for EVAH. You’ve touched me with your faith and love, and made me into a better person.
Lyric of the day: “Sometimes I don’t know what I will find, I only know it’s a matter of time”
Flashback of the day: Mr. Skelly: “Lou, you could’ve knocked me over with a feather!” John: “I’d hate to see the size of that bird!”
As I write this, what’s playing? ABC’s “Be Near Me,” off How to Be a…Zillionaire!
Photo of the day:
Thankfully, no incriminating middle-school photos are available. But here's the gorgeous MS, all grown up! Happy Belated Birthday!
Wow, yeah, uh, it’s been a busy week. But yesterday, I was able to knock off a touch early to attend the Hoyas’ home opener just down the street at the Phone Booth. It was a thriller! The Hoyas took an eary lead but then seemed to lose their momentum in the second half. They sort of forgot to move their feet on the offensive end of the floor! But, they got it together in the last few minutes, and with a lay-in during the final minute of regulation, they re-took the lead for good and came through with a one-point squeaker. I cheered my head off, but didn’t have to yell, “Get your hands up!” even once, which was sort of a refreshing change. Hoya Saxa!
Let’s get right down to business:
Lyric of the day: “After my picture fades, and darkness has turned to gray”
RSS - Posts