Friday - Things That Amuse Me

Thursday – Things that Make the Heart Beat Faster

wii rhythm kung fu

that is not my mii in the front there if anyone thought that I had suddenly gained the capacity to upload a video onto YouTube...

also, when I do it there are far fewer "perfect" scores

Wednesday - Things That are Orange

(from the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort)

Tuesday - Things That Displease Me

Beets. I know that they're healthy and all, but they taste funny and have a most displeasing texture.

I blame the Twilight/True Blood/Whatever ABC's summer replacement True Blood rip off/&c trend for making people crave blood colored food.

Monday - Things That Please Me

• Mrs. K, whose birthday it is today
• that it's the longest day of the year
• and in honor of that, The Donkey Show at the ART

Friday - Things That Amuse Me

credit for the postmanataee picture (and for calling it a postmanatee) to JSP

Thursday – Things that Make the Heart Beat Faster

Jackhammers at 7 am.

I can't see where they are from my window, but I'm guessing NSTAR...

Wednesday - Things That are Orange

Tuesday - Things That Displease Me

• bug bites
• sunburn
• having to do anything today except sitting on a pier with a beer

sigh

Tuesday - Things That Displease Me

Flying.

I hate flying. I hate forgetting to buy a 3 oz container of contact lens solution. I hate taking my shoes off and walking on germy floors. I hate that US Air charges $23 for your first checked bag. I hate the seats. I hate the peanuts - or lack of peanuts because of allergies. I hate security lines. I hate it!

P.J. O'Rourke once said (and I'm paraphrasing here) - I remember when flying used to be fun. Now it's like traveling in steerage.

Sigh.

Not sure how much I'll update while I'm away. Have a lovely week.

Monday - Things That Please Me

So, finally deciding that I had gotten fat beyond all recognition, I bought a Wii Fit on Friday. Wii Fit also thinks I am fat beyond recognition. Also that I have very poor balance and not so great coordination. These things are all true.

The thing that pleases me is that I could (and did) make a little animated cat, so Milo now has a Mii.

And here we are (here wii are? is that too twii?)

Friday - Things That Do Not Amuse Me

Mornings after nights with the girls watching the Annie Darcy Band.

Oh, gin. you always seem like such a good idea at the time...

Thursday – Things that Make the Heart Beat Faster

The mouse that was in my office suite yesterday.

Eep!

And this wasn't a small mouse. This was a gigantic, hantavirus carrying monster mouse.

Now, I'm from the country. I grew up with field mice coming in-doors. I was famous in my family for making my dad set have-a-heart traps, and setting the mice free outside (which in turn lead to my fathers chipmunk relocation program a few summers ago).

But this half-rat mouse--who apparently had his home in the chimney that was being repaired--was no Stuart Little. I was not amused.

Wednesday - Things That are Orange

More technical difficulties - but the picture I had was a construction sign about wearing appropriate shoes and hard hats.

I'll leave it to your collective imaginations.

update:

Tuesday - Things That Displease Me

• leaving Vermont
• going back to work after five days off
• sunburned lips

boo.

Monday - Things That Please Me

Here's the link to Jimmy Tingle's speech.

Happy Memorial Day!

Friday - Things That Amuse Me

Jimmy Tingle's Graduate address at Harvard's Commencement yesterday. After standing for two hours in three inch heels to process in, battling the seating volunteers snapping at us (while simultaneously standing directly in the way) and sitting in uncomfortable seats for a while listening to speeches with the distinction of being dull in English AND Latin, his marvelous address was the best part of the morning exercises. If I can find a video or transcript, I will post it later.

Thursday – Things that Make the Heart Beat Faster

Wednesday - Things That are Orange

Tuesday - Things That Displease Me

in honor of the 90+ weather they're expecting today, Boston heat.

• sleeping in it
• walking to work in it
• having heavy, long hair in it

I wonder what dry heat is like...

Monday - Things That Please Me

Spring



and here's Blossom Dearie singing about it...

(I think this is just under the wire, as it's supposed to be 90 tomorrow)

Friday - Things That Make the Heart Beat Faster

Deciding that you'll sing Nina Simone for karaoke because with your cold you only have about a 6 note range, only to remember that there is a 63 second instrumental after the first verse. Drat.

Here's some Nina to start off your Friday.

Thursday - Things That Amuse Me

My camera battery ran down, so you'll have to take my word on these:

• my hair in the morning - which ranges between country music star and gorgon
• my cat sleeping in my bottom dresser drawer
  

Wednesday - Things That are Orange

Construction season in our fair city...

Tuesday - Things That Displease Me

• This miserable cough that has officially returned after a three week hiatus
• Barfy Cat's 4 am hair ball
• The idea of leaving my nice warm bed when I am underslept and feeling terrible.
  

I may reconsider that last one.

Monday - Things That Please Me

JSP has a book of pin-ups from the 50s and 60s. Within said book are actual pages from these magazines. On one of these pages was this:


Yes, dear readers - while flipping through pictures of ladies whose skirts had miraculously blown up, or were caught in the bath, or had a crab pulling off their beach towel, you could have found an add to purchase Boccaccio's Decameron.

Maybe it's been a while since I opened a Playboy, but I don't think Heff is selling fourteenth century literature in there. Though maybe I'm making assumptions...

Friday - Things That Amuse Me

That a friend from my graduate program has asked me to help her with her thesis formatting.

It reminds me of all the people who asked me for relationship advice after my divorce - is this a learn from my mistakes situation?

Thursday – Things that Make the Heart Beat Faster

The Eleven O'clock Number (note, if you need the definition it's under “song placement” on this site)

e.g.

• Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat
• This Nearly was Mine
• Rose's Turn

Here's the always amazing Dave White on movies that need to be musicals

And here's NPH's eleven o'clock number from last year's Tony's

Wednesday - Things That are Orange

I'm back....

Sorry about that. I had a thing. It's better now.

friday--things that amuse me

the indictment of barry bonds

wednesday--things that are orange

two for the price of one

since i missed yesterday due to a 6:30 am arrival time, i give you both

monday--things that please me

and

tuesday--things that displease me

in one posting.

the answer to both is las vegas.

friday--things that amuse me

(since i'll be deep in the heart of vegas tomorrow)

the essay big red son in david foster wallace's consider the lobster.

and yes, this is the electronics show weekend, and no, i don't think i'm up for any awards...

thursday--things that make the heart beat faster

that i'm not packed yet!

wednesday--things that are orange

happy halloween!

tuesday--things that displease me

how cold it is here in the morning. good thing i'm going to vegas at the end of the week!

monday--things that please me

• mike lowell
• that the series is over and i can finally get some sleep
• that a few colorado residents will be coming to see me this spring!

friday--things that amuse me

jonathan papelbon, lord of the dance (youtube link)

thursday--things that make the heart beat faster

food allergies--at least according to the today show

wednesday--things that are orange

tuesday--things that displease me

• the smell of old dish sponges
• centipedes
• doing laundry

monday--things that please me

that the red sox can still win, even if i can only watch the game through a nyquil daze. seriously, i dozed off for a second and they scored 6 runs.

now, my 6 readers are divided. there is a decided colorado contingency here. will there be wagers? taunting?

it will have to wait until i take more advil cold and placebo and perhaps some coffee...

friday--taking suggestions

having given up my swank office for half an office and a cubicle, i now need decorating advice.

how do you, my 6 readers, suggest that i decorate said cubicle?

thursday--things that make the heart beat faster

being a red sox fan this week. dear lord.

josh beckett--red sox nation turns its lonely eyes to you . . .

wednesday--things that are orange

good to know. . .

tuesday--things that displease me

• waking up with a sore throat.

i do not have time for this.

monday--things that please me

• potato leek soup

i made a big vat of it yesterday, and it is providing some solace from the ever dropping temperatures.

friday--things that make me beam with pride

that today, Drew Gilpin Faust will be installed as the 28th president of harvard.

thursday--things that make the heart beat faster

guns in movies.

nix can testify to this. we watched the lookout the other night, and despite my undying love for joseph gordon-levitt, i had to keep leaving the room when the guns came out. i'm not sure what part of 'heist movie' i was unclear about.

still a great movie.

wednesday--things that are orange

tuesday--things that displease me

having to leave so early for yoga. ugh.

monday--things that please me

season one of veronica mars

(yes, i did have a whole lot of work to do on my thesis this weekend, why do you ask?)

friday--things that amuse me

larry craig. there is something almost dickensian about this whole thing. he would have needed a better name, though.

thursday--things that make the heart beat faster

more under the category of things that raise my heart rate:

messes

• the mess that is my apartment
• the mess that is my job
• the mess that is my life

sadly, you can't hire a maid to clean out your life...

wednesday--things that are orange

tuesday--things that displease me

• i can't find my shoes
• i haven't packed my old office, though i've started at my new office
• this computer is so slow!

monday--things that please me

on-line bridal registries--how did we get along without them? shopping for wedding gifts has gone from a day long chore to a 10 minute process. i love it!

friday--things that amuse me

the emperor's new groove

okay, hear me out. it has eartha kitt (the world's coolest person) as the villain. it has tom jones as a character called "theme song guy." and it has the world's best evil plan. (youtube link)

you can start judging me now.

thursday--things that make the heart beat faster

• realizing that i really do start a new job on monday
• realizing that after an hour of clearing my desk of extraneous paper, that somewhere in my over-flowing recycle bin was the only record of several hotel confirmations
• realizing that i turned off my alarm in the middle of the night

panic time

wednesday--things that are orange

tuesday--things that displease me

finding out too late that a shot glass has fallen into the garbage disposal

ouch

monday--things that please me

• the office--nix and i have been watching a marathon of the american version of this show and it is adorable.
• kevin smith was on wait wait don't tell me this week. it's all of my podcast addictions in one.
• fried clams--we had a nice dinner on the beach last night. i'm trying not to think that it was probably the last one of the summer.

friday--things that amuse me

thursday-things that make the heart beat faster

• deadlines.

i keep thinking of that line by douglas adams...

"i love deadlines. i like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

wednesday-things that are orange

the super-cute picture i imagined i could take of my cat in an eye-patch. turns out there are things that m. won't do for art.

here she is trying to eat the eye patch.

happy talk like a pirate day. (and happy birthday to the great f.p.!)

tuesday--things that displease me

• lima beans
• international faxing
• jackhammers

monday--things that please me

nothing at the moment, but i'll get back to you

friday-things that puzzle me

why the 6 am motorcycle guy has started up again, now that it's cold and dark at that hour. i would have thought summer would have been the ideal 6 am motorcycle weather.

thursday-things that make the heart beat faster

the car that is always parked right underneath my window with the hyper-sensitive car alarm--both in the sense of startling me at 3 o'clock in the morning and raising my heart rate with unadulterated hatred

wednesday-things that are orange

tuesday-things that displease me

early morning doctor's appointments (ugh)

monday-things that please me

• being back from texas
• coming home to a clean apartment (nix you're the best!)
• bananas

(oh--friday was post 400)

friday-things that amuse me

i only have my phone camera here, so you have to look closely. this was on the sidewalk right next to the fire hydrant.

thursday (a day late) things that make the heart beat faster

crossing the street in texas. dear lord. one guy actually sped up and swerved toward me.

wednesday-things that are orange

tuesday-things that displease me

lonestar edition

american airlines displeases me. it took me thirteen hours to get from the east coast to austin yesterday, and after a two hour 'trapped on the tarmac' experience, they still charged for peanuts.

monday-things that please me

special labor day nostalgia edition:

• corn on the cob
• grilled oysters
• volley ball
• canoeing
• dk--who i miss every year around this time...

friday-things that amuse me

stephen fry

i finished moab is my washpot, as i mentioned, and am now most of the way through the liar

he's a little bit stoppard and a little bit laurence sterne and highly recommended

thursday-things that make the heart beat faster

swimming

which is why i'm up so bloody early in the morning...

wednesday-things that are orange

(i don't know why that whole picture is so blue but i'm too lazy to retake it)

tuesday-things that displease me

back pain caused insomnia

on the upside, i finished moab is my washpot (highly recommended) and i saw the lunar eclipse.

monday-things that please me

9:49 am addendum:
this

(i take full credit for this as an early birthday present for nix)

friday-things that puzzle me

how nbc seems to be taking an amazing book, the time traveller's wife, and turning it into a really horrible looking tv series--journeyman.

i wonder if audrey niffenegger gets royalties for them taking her idea and turning it into trash...

thursday-things that make the heart beat faster

nix

who has yet to divorce me after 4 years of marriage.

happy anniversary, darling.

wednesday-things that are orange

tuesday-things that displease me

• hurricanes
• media coverage of hurricanes
• global warming

zen explained to me, once upon a time, that global warming will not make the weather warmer, but will make every weather pattern more severe. the blizzards will be snowier and windier; the rain will be more intense causing more flooding;

and the hurricanes, oh the hurricanes...

monday-things that please me

more information here

friday-things that puzzle me

why the clock on this computer keeps loosing an hour.

i don't know if it can't get over the revolving daylight saving time date, if it thinks we should move back to indiana, or if nix is gaslighting me.

in any case, it's a nuisance.

thursday-something a little different

another random rules thingie today because i'm lazy

the first five songs on my iPod this morning:

Comes A Train Of Little Ladies from The Mikado

Riffs and Variations On a Single Note for Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, Louis Armstrong, Baby Dodds, and the King of Swing, to Name a Few by Sufjan Stevens

Troubled Times by Fountains of Wayne

Alison Krauss' Down to the River to Pray

and

You've Really Got a Hold on Me by The Miracles

(i skipped the luckiest by ben folds because it is apparently not available in the itunes store and i'm too lazy to get you a link this morning)

wednesday-things that are orange

because i continue to live in a construction zone . . .

tuesday-things that displease me

last night i attended a concert by the lovely loon (this was very pleasing)--a wonderful program of flute and piano.

half way through the second movement of the first piece, a horrible woman came in with her two children. now let me be clear, the children were only being children. i do not hold them at fault for being 3 and 6 and unable to sit through a classical program without talking/fussing/keeping still. i blame this woman--who interrupted the program by coming in late--for giving them noisy things to do to occupy their time, for talking incessantly with them, for letting one of them run around unsupervised, for not leaving at the end of the piece when it was clear that her party was ruining the experience for everyone around them, for not leaving at intermission, for teaching her children this level of disrespect for performers is acceptable, and for leaving in the middle of the second to last movement of the evening with so much noise that the whole thing probably should have stopped so that everyone could applaud her leaving.

i understand that children have short attention spans, but if your child cannot sit still for 3 minutes, why bring him to hear an hour of classical music?

monday-things that please me

that someone is going to be spending time with his family

friday-things that DO NOT amuse me

my tailbone

i do not know what the hell i did, because the choice provided on the internet for the causes of acute sacrum pain are falling or that giving birth. i think i would have remembered either of these things.

i gone so far as to purchase flat shoes! that is how seriously i am taking this.

of course the flat shoes gave me blisters, so i am sort of back to square one on the shoe front.

perhaps today i'll try to consult a physician...

thursday-something a little different

the loon and i were talking about songs that we cannot hear without thinking of someone very specific (it started out with songs we cannot hear at all because they remind us of someone very specific, but most of the following make me smile)

so i present: five songs that i cannot hear without immediately remembering specific people:

• loreena mckennitt's dark night of the soul
• lisa loeb's stay
• the dresden dolls' the jeep song
• can't get enough of your love, by barry white
• on the way up, by peter mulvey

feel free to add your own (oh, and three of these make me think of specific readers of this thing, so hi!)

wednesday-things that are orange

• al roker's heat index map
• female, caucasian celebrities between the ages of 18-28 (come on girls, do not succumb to mystic tan--be pale and proud)
• oranges

tuesday-things that displease me

• having my pupils dilated

(i would have taken a picture, but i spent most of yesterday afternoon unable to focus my eyes.)

optometrist's verdict--yes my eyes have gotten much worse. new contacts are on their way.

monday-things that please me

green things

• guacamole
• pesto
• the wicked witch of the west

friday-things that amuse me

• about half of the simpsons movie (shouldn't that be the simpsons' movie?)
  
• simpsonizeme.com--sure it's a marketing ploy--but it's fun

this is what nix would look like as a simpson. or me. i get us confused sometimes.

thursday-things that break the heart

this.

my heart goes out to all our friends in minnesota.

p.s.--i understand that they made a good call in not cancelling the twins game because a few 100,000 more cars on the road was a bad idea at the moment. however, i do think they could have done without the organ. . .

wednesday-things that are orange

thanks to ms. b who took me on the cruise out to this island last week!