Best IM Quote of the Week:
natro: i just got back from dropping off my units at the s.f. airport.
natro: we left at 6:00...
natro: a.m.
natro: did you know there were two 6 o'clocks?

This is so rad. This guy turned his Kenner Millenium Falcon into a PC. I want one!

Hipster Bingo -- find the ironic trucker cap, hoodie, white-boy afro, etc.

ASCII Ice Age... and there's more: Stargate, Superman, Matrix, Crocodile Hunter.

Went to see Tomb Raider last night. I can say in all heterosexual honesty that Angelina is hott. It was a fun adventure flick -- not much thinking involved. I like how they make her a bit video-gamey (gamey?) with her movements. The effortless climbing and jumping, etc. Very exciting. The Irish bloke was pretty charming too.

Then I stayed up far too late playing Rise of Nations online with Hans. I just loaded it yesterday, so I hadn't had a chance to mess around with it at all. Luckily it is quite like Age of Myth in most control aspects. It's cool and everything, but I just think that with it being a race to the final ages, you don't get to experience much of the early ones. Whoever can manage to get to the gunpowder age the quickest has a clear advantage.

A mere 55-ish hours until Erin comes to visit. Woohoo. I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time at Wal-Mart. :)

Song for the Day:
A Call to Arms - James Horner: Glory Soundtrack

I've been meaning to watch this movie again. It's one of my favourites.

Public Service Announcement
For everyone who has been hitting my site looking for The Reindeer Section tabs (tablatures, guitar chords) for "You Are My Joy", they can be found here. Great song, but I'm not a guitar player.

I can't remember the name of this girl that works at Starbucks, but she's seen me a lot lately. She also knows my plight with the impending doom of the toffee bars. This morning I just ordered my coffee, and she said "no toffee bar?" I hadn't seen any in the pastry case, so I asked if she had any. She went back to look and came back with a little bag. I paid and left. When I got to work, I noticed that she had put two toffee bars in my little bag. She rocks!


You're the United Nations!
Most people think you're ineffective, but you are trying to completely save the world from itself, so there's always going to be a long way to go.  You're always the one trying to get friends to talk to each other, enemies to talk to each other, anyone who can to just talk instead of beating each other about the head and torso.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, and you get very schizophrenic as a result.  But your heart is in the right place, and sometimes also in New York.
Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

That's My Michael
"I am speechless about the idea of putting music fans in jail for downloading music. It is wrong to illegally download, but the answer cannot be jail," Jackson said in response to legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. "Here in America we create new opportunities out of adversity, not punitive laws and we should look to new technologies, like Apple's new Music Store for solutions. This way innovation continues to be the hallmark of America. It is the fans that drive the success of the music business; I wish this would not be forgotten."

I took this personality test to discover that I am a traditionalist.

Okay.

Song for the Day:
Lost - Cinema Recorded Music Library (Real Audio)

I've been humming that little melody line for three days now. Maybe this will make it stop.

Normally I don't pay much attention to spam... just delete, delete, delete, delete.

However, today one stood out. It was for one of those phoney diploma places. You know what I'm talking about:
▪ There are no required tests, classes, books, or interviews!
▪ Get a Bachelors, Masters, MBA, and Doctorate (PhD) diploma!
▪ Receive the benefits and admiration that comes with a diploma!
▪ No one is turned down!

What killed me was the subject:
"prove you when to college [sic]"

*sigh*

LOTR Wallpapers for anybody else who could use a 1024x768 shot of Viggo.

Fun with Peripheral Vision
This picture is not animated.

Random Ebay Item:
Scary Clown with Bubbling Brain Lavalamp

Hero Machine: Make your own hero.
~I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night
he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
and gotta be fresh from the fight~

HORSE: the band... just when you thought you've heard it all... they call their genre "nintendocore". It's pretty hilarious.

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.
This is disturbing. I was pretty sure that legwarmers are one of the top four fashion trends that should not be allowed to recur.

Hard Corps
My cousin and his two friends were staying with me since Thursday night. We went to Demos' when they got to town... mmm! And I showed them the Parthenon, though the lights were off due to wedding photographs being taken.

Last night we went to the DCI event in Murfreesboro. It was incredible. No ordinary marching band, that's for sure. Plus it was just fun being there with those guys because they are all drumline dudes, so their enthusiasm was contagious.

And yes, if you were going past a gas station last night and saw people playing frisbee in the parking lot... they were with me.

Singed a Bit, Were We?
This is a funny little game. Toboggan Run. You have to push a toboggan with enough force to get it down a ramp and through a flaming hoop without missing or setting the people on fire. Pretty cute... and the commentary is hilarious!

The Rules of Men I should show Karl the rule number one about not cutting hair, because he keeps telling me that we need to get hair appointments together and get our hair chopped off.

It's the Audio Memory game by Notwist. It's like the childhood game without the little cards to turn over.

Song for the Day:
One with the Freaks - Notwist

~Miss the signal
Miss the signpost
Lose the access to it all
And all of a sudden
You are one with the freaks~

He has done it again. Dan has donated his time and talent to create another beautiful site: Magnolia Glen. It is simply beautiful... or is that beautifully simple? He has an incredible gift for piecing together the perfect sounds with the perfect imagery that creates the perfect mood. (See roadside above.) He doesn't even need to do it for a living, though I'm sure his phone would be ringing off the hook if he would. The little Flash presents he gives are like a homemade birthday card from Van Gogh -- a small piece of a master's work created just for one.

TGIF
If you need something to help distract you today, might I suggest this site. He has online NES, SEGA, & Arcade game simulators. Nice!

Friday Five
1. If your life were a movie, what would the title be?
Redheads Have More Fun

2. What songs would be on the soundtrack?
"Life is a Highway" - Tom Cochrane
"Rhythm is a Dancer" - Snap!
"Cherubs" - Arab Strap (watch)

3. Would it be a live-action film or animated? Why?
Well, I was envisioning live-action... but now that you mention it... animated might be nice too.

4. Casting: who would play you, members of your family, friends, etc?
I know a lot of theatre folk, so we could just play ourselves. Ooo... make it more of a documentary... or mockumentary. That would be better.

5. Describe the movie preview/trailer.
Pan across a crowd of blondes... with me in the middle. Then flash a series of shots depicting some of the crazy situations I've gotten myself into.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!
Three cheers for Leslie as she enters the world of blogging. :)

Out of the Mouths of Babes
Last night I had to stop at the bossman's house to pick up something after work. As I was backing out of the driveway with my windows down, his four-year-old daughter came running down the front steps and yelled to me, "Miss Danielle, where are you going now?"
"I'm going to a concert tonight," I replied.
With hands at her mouth to better amplify, she yelled, "You look pretty enough to go to a concert!"
Aww!

Flem
Connie went with me to see Fleming & John. She had just gotten back from Europe the night before, so I felt it was my duty to help her readjust to the central time zone. What I didn't realize was that F&J were originally signed to the label that her ex-husband owned at that time. Midway through the show, she asked me what I thought was so appealing about them. I could only say that it has to be because Fleming is so enchanting, and John compliments her so well. We got to speak to Fleming briefly after the show. I was awed. She is absolutely gorgeous. She said their way-the-heck-too-long awaited third album should be finished in August, though they are without a label at the moment. Woohoo! New Flem!

UglyCouch.com... I've seen some ugly couches in my day, but wow... some of these take "ugly" to a whole new level.

The Star Wars Alphabet Project... every nerfherder knows about the X-wing fighter... but how many people know about the P-wing, the M-wing, or the mysterious G-wing fighters?

And if I love anything as much as Star Wars, it would have to be Mullets. (or not) The Mullet Bandit. Some people and their spare time... crazy.

Radio Quote
Yesterday on the NPR I heard this quote... "More women attempt suicide, but more men succeed... because women tend to use pills, while men tend to use guns." Yeah, I can see that. (And on that note, Gunslinger: a cartoon.)

Guess this person can cross off a couple more aces.



I just had a stand off with a giant blue and black butterfly. I'm sure it would have been hilarious to watch as a bystander. I just hate how they're so schizo... they dart too much. You'd be proud of how relatively calm I remained. I didn't have to drop to the ground and cover my head or anything. There may have been a little flailing of arms and some tense screams, but other than that, I think I did good.

I may be quiet for a while... today will be busy because I'm doing an airport run later, then my cousin is arriving tomorrow, so tonight may involve house-straightening and grocery shopping instead of seeing Fleming & John like I had hoped.

Songs for the Day
Don't Let it Fade Away - Fleming & John
The song that made me cry for the longest time.

~Don't let it fade away
Be strong enough to tell me goodbye
Don't let it fade away
Just because you don't want to see me cry
If it's over now, I'll be okay
Just don't let it fade away~

and...

Sadder Day - Fleming & John
A sad song that makes you feel so good anyway.

~You like to eat your grits with butter salt and sugar
you drink your coffee instant and black
I always loved the fact but thought that it was so peculiar
how you carried everything you owned in the back seat
of your 1983 canary yellow Z
you had a unique collection of fast food bags
and all the post-it notes with quotes stuck to your dashboard
reminding you life's not so bad~

Oh that's it. I have to go to the show. I'll hate myself forever if I don't. I owe it to everyone I was on the road with, since that was our soundcheck music every single day.

This is so worth the download. You've never seen ping pong like this. Do-it-yourself bullet time.

Send your name to a comet. Why? I dont' know either, but apparently you can put your name on a list that will be encoded on some computer chip in a module that is being sent to burrow into a comet. You can even print out a little certificate. Yeah, you just know the pranksters have a hayday with things like this. Considering there are already five Darth Vaders, five Luke Skywalkers, one Anakin, six Britney Spears, and four Homer J. Simpsons .

Double Take


Matthew JC - Lame rocker guy voted off FOX's Paradise Hotel show or whatever.


John Travolta

Talk amongst yourselves.

Song for the Day
I'm Just a Little Black Rain Cloud - Winnie the Pooh
~I'm just a little black rain cloud
Hovering under the honey tree
Only a little black rain cloud
Pay no attention to me
Everyone knows that a rain cloud
Doesn't eat honey, no not a nip
I'm just floating around
Over the ground
Wondering where I will drip.~

Disclaimer
I know I'm completely lame for caring about this so much...

Starbucks Emergency
After noticing a disturbing lack of Toffee Almond bars in the pastry cases at the various Starbucks around here lately, I finally spoke up about it last night only to find that my greatest fears are coming to fruition. How could they discontinue such a culinary delight? They are a party for your tastebuds. Tragic.

So I'm enacting Danielle's Save the Toffee Campaign. You can feel free to leave your thoughts on a virtual starbucks comment card right here. Together we can bring back the Toffee. Even if you don't care, you could go there and simply type : "We want our toffee bars back." or "ho, ho, hey, hey... the toffee almond bars need to stay."



Fit for a Queen
I drive by two big fields of Queen Anne's Lace on my way to work every day. There is also an abundance in the lot by the backyard. I've often heard about Queen Anne's Lace Jelly, but until I've heard exactly what sort of flavour it has, I'd be very hesitant to go through the trouble. (On the other hand, maybe it is not QAL, but rather hemlock... in which case, I'd be poisoning myself anyway.)

On that note, when's the last time you thought about Sherlock Hemlock?

Oh Mother!
I am exhausted!

I don't know how moms do it!

I think I have finally gotten to a point where the idea of having children of my own someday doesn't scare me to death. And I think my only assurance right now is that most people don't get more than one at a time, so you learn to adapt as more come along.

Tonight, in the grip of some momentary insanity, I asked my three favourite youngsters to go with me to see this children's concert in Nashville. Ages 3, 6, & 9... they were so dear. But man! I am absolutely worn out now. Between keeping them all corralled and constantly asking the three-year-old if he "needed to pee-pee" and trying to be the chill babysitter, not the freaking-out-madwoman... I am ready for bed now.

On la Casa
So I'm trying to read The Gunslinger for this book club of sorts that we have going. This afternoon I went to a nice little quiet Mexican restaurant in Cool Springs hoping to have a little time alone to read and nibble on chips. It was 2:00, and the place was nearly empty. The waitors doted on me... making sure everything was always topped off. One came by and asked how everything was and then asked my name.

"Danielle."

"Danielle. Ahhhh... Daniella," he said with a wink. "You are very pretty."

Later as I was packing up my books and things, the same gentleman came by and picked up my ticket and walked off. I went up to the counter to pay, and he said that he had taken care of it. I argued. He insisted and asked that I come again soon. I just might.

On the (Coffee)House
Deciding I would be more likely to keep reading if I didn't go home, I went to Starbucks to see if they had any comfy chairs open. Indeed. They happened to be in the middle of a huge drive-thru rush, but I said that I was in no hurry at all. The manager said mine was free because I had to wait so long. I argued. He insisted. And I sat and read for two and a half hours.

Why are some people left-handed? Did I ever mention my inexplicable attraction to lefties? Maybe it all comes down to the hand thing... I dont' know. But there's just something about them. Hmm.. Famous Southpaws.

Anyway... I need to run.

Song for the Day:
Love Fool - The Cardigans
Heard this on the way home for the first time in a long time.

What's Going on Here
I just used the phrase "no sweat" in response to someone. Weird.

Unusual IM Quote for Yesterday
"mmmm....we were both commenting on the things that made you so desirable......with a focus on the mysterious aura you have... you were almost like a fairy or something........ a siren, a dryad, a nymph."
Who knew?

Death Becomes Her
I'm not an extremely morbid person, so I wouldn't say that I have a fixation with death. I don't know how to describe it. Anyway, I found this blog completely fascinating: Autopsy Report. This medical examiner shares his findings.

In his words:

As a biology major, I am very much interested in what makes the body work. I don't really see the "blood and guts" as being gory or grotesque. I view the organs in much the same way a mechanic would view the parts of a car. They are necessary to make the body run, but there can be problems if one of the parts does not work correctly. A surgeon is like a human mechanic who fixes these broken parts. A pathologist is kind of like the guy who sees why the body stopped working all together. Then there are the organ donor networks who utilize the scrap parts so that another body can be fixed. It seems kind of insensitive to reduce the human body down to nothing but a collection of parts working together, but it is an effective way to practice medicine.

Cog
If you haven't seen the brilliant 'Cog' Honda ad, you must view it now. And if you already have, then you might appreciate this spoof.

My Grandma's
I have this necklace that looks vintage, but I really just got it at What's In Store. It has inspired me to want to open a shop (and I may have mentioned this before) with cool jewelry and clothing and such called My Grandma. That way when people ask where something came from, you could honestly say, "from My Grandma."

But last night, I was actually wearing a necklace that was my grandmother's. A girl at a shop commented about how she liked it, and I was so thrilled to be able to say, "it belonged to my grandma."

Song for the Day:
Attraction - Paris Combo
Anyone who knows French may feel free to translate.

Your Heart is Red
What Color is Your Heart?

I think it might be about time to change the music here... with Dan's help, of course. I'm finding the perfect collection for a little summer love. No requests... these are mine. :)

Last night I caught a little bit of a nice program called The Six Wives of Henry VIII. It was really quite fascinating... but I have always had a thing for british history. Catch part two next Wednesday night. (Yes, I missed Indigenous.)

I was reminded of the power of the written word yesterday too. I was so pleased to find an actual letter in my mailbox. Naten had even IM'd me last week to say that he was sending some stickers, but I had completely forgotten. It was so nice to have a letter to read, even though we had emailed about most of the contents before it had arrived. Who cares. I'm determined to bring back the art of letter writing.

One of the Top 17 Funniest Things Ever
Star Wars: The Musical. Do yourself a huge favor and download these tracks for a good laugh. It is amazingly well done... it embodies every element of quality musical theatre. And you know Jesus Christ Superstar and Jekyll & Hyde started out as concept albums... who knows, maybe Star Wars could be headed to broadway. Maybe.

And on that note, Are you a jedi knight or a unicorn? Erm, no.

Post Script
And yesterday I came up with a couple of nice rebuttals that I was going to write on this giant white magnet that would have stuck nicely to the back of my car... "I'm sorry for parking in front of your decorative pile of branches." and "I need to learn how to park... but where?". However, with a wave of better judgement, I decided that being cheeky about the whole thing would probably just target me for legitimate parking violations that would eventually lead to my car being towed. So for now I sit back letting them think they have the upper hand. This parking war has been going on for over a year... and I won't go down so easily.

My Fingers Fell Off
Well, it was more like they broke off... and it wasn't my fingers so much as my fingernails. I knew this day was coming. We have lots of filing cabinets in my office... one of which is in my office. The not-so-fun thing about them is that they don't let you open more than one drawer at a time. So yesterday, I got finished with something at my desk, pushed off the wall and rolled over to the cabinet. (Did I mention that I love my rolly-chair and the hardwood floors?) I was attempting the pull out the drawer in front of me, not realizing that the top drawer, which was at head-height since I was seated, was not quite pushed in all the way. I pulled the drawer with gusto and completely, and I mean completely, tore off three and a half nails.

So now I feel like an amputee. Fingernails, like, say tweezers, make it easier for me to grab things, scratch things, pick up things, get at things. I'm not used to using the bulky pads of my fingertips to function.
< /rant>

Arg!
In other news, please do consider marking your calendars, because September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Parking Police
I just have to laugh about this. I went to my car this morning to find a note scribbled on a piece of loose-leaf college-ruled paper tucked under my windshield wiper. It read: "You need to learn how to park." And then went on to explain that I was not parked on "community property". Part of me feels a little bad, because I knew I wasn't parking where I ought, but I figured it was only going to be for nine hours... sue me.

The part of me that doesn't feel bad would have had some choice words for this Community Communist... something along the lines of "If you would put some more *&$@#$ parking in the community, I wouldn't be forced to get creative when the other idiots don't park between the lines that would have allowed me to fit in there."

I really want to get some magnetic letters to write "I need to learn how to park" on the back of my car. I hate that place. If I didn't like my room and my landlords so much, I would have moved out of that community from hell a long time ago.

Song for the Day:
Wake Up in New York - Craig Armstrong (featuring Evan Dando)
~I'll meet you in New York
By the drugstore on First Avenue
And then we will lie down
With the buildings all around
I want to say this to you~

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
And that means tomorrow night Indigenous is playing downtown. I think they are so beautiful, and their music is incredible. Not bad for a little blues band from South Dakota.

(And incidentally, I am just waiting for the DVD to come out to purchase that movie.)



Come Out, Come Out... Wherever You Are

Your fairy is called Oak Goblinwand

She is a bringer of riches and wealth
She lives in forests of oak and lime trees
She is only seen when the seer holds a four-leafed clover

Find your magic fairy's name.

(Little did they know that I actually have a four-leafed clover.)


I'm Just a Girl
More on the female producer topic that has become of great interest to me in the last week or so... apparently I missed it, but All Things Considered did a show on just that topic: Women Music Producers: Why Female Producers are a Rare Breed. I don't know... I think it could be really interesting. I think I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I "grow up", so maybe we could incorporate this into 4TH PLANET.

Song for the Day:
Govinda - Kula Shaker

NO!

Starbucks Convo
Sara(h): (perplexed as she is making my coffee) Do you work today?
Me: Yeah... I'm so beyond late; I just gave up trying to get there on time today.

I'm Sure This Meant Something at One Time
Have you ever come across something and tried to figure out why in the world you still have it? Some slip of paper or piece of stone or something that stood for something whose significance now escapes you?

I was just going through some books I had in a box. Inside the cover of one of them, there was a small paper bag folded carefully in thirds. Inside there was a receipt for guitar picks and several business cards from Denton, Texas. I don't even remember having been in Denton, Texas... but I did remember the slogan on one of the business cards:

The only difference between tattooed people and non-tattooed people is...
...Tattooed people don't care if you're not tattooed.
Welcome to your new addiction.

Goodwill Hunting
I decided last night that I am going to kill two of my oft-plotted-never-executed plans with one stone.

Plan #1. Get out of the Metro area to find some Goodwills that have not been picked over by the rockstars in town.
Plan #2. Take a drive down the Natchez Trace.

Combo Plan of Joy. Drive down the Natchez and find some Goodwills.

(Okay, according to the Goodwill Locator, there are only Goodwills in Columbia and Lawrenceburg, unless I want to go all the way to Jackson, MS. It's better than nothing, I suppose.)

Song for the Day
Do Not - John Reuben
~Do not tell me what I can and cannot do when I rock.~

The way something was phrased reminded me of that child singing that one silly line, and I had to get it out of my system.

Surprising Obsession of the Day
I just wasn't expecting to come across a site by someone who appears to be the world's biggest Rockapella fan. (yeah, that Rockapella. "She'll ransack pakistan and run a scam in scandanavia... tell me, where in the world is Carmen Sandiego")

Quality Quote from Yesterday
"I'd give anything for a preview right now."
~ Jessica, upon her discovery that they actually play commercials before movies these days. (For the record, I think that is just sick and wrong as well... and therefore I am boycotting Sprite Remix, Joe Boxers from KMart, and Garnier Fruictisse or whatever.)

I am thrilled to say, however, that I saw Pirates of the Caribbean yesterday. It was an exciting swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. Depp was amazing... and Bloom... well, he's not hard to look at. (By the way, I'm Diamond-Eyed Danielle, The Brigantine Barbarian... according to the game on the movie's website.)

Oh, and about the girl producers, the criteria I forgot to add was that the woman could not also be known as a musician... as I would never be. That knocks out quite a few that we had come up with... but we'll keep Pauley's Sylvia in the mix and Thux mentioned Trina Shoemaker.

I would also like to take just a second to mention that I truly hate BellSouth. (I found some kindred spirits.)

What rating is your journal?

Little.Red.Boat: I come across this site every now and then, and it tends to make me smile. I don't think I have linked to it before though. I just thought this post about how to know if you are in love was especially cute.

Nate told me about this one... watch this strongbad email, and after it is over, wait a while for a brilliant ending. Much laughter ensued.

Yesterday I learned about the importance of guaranteed release clauses. I heard and liked an album that one of our clients just recorded that might not be released. It's quite unfortunate. It's crazy to watch these big labels try to strong-arm these kids who are just chasing their dreams.

This morning I also asked Karl if he knew of any female producers. I didn't even need a name... just wanted to know if there was one. He couldn't say for sure, but he said it is definitely a male-dominated field. I think I might ask someone if I can do an apprenticeship under him in my spare time -- what spare time? Hmm. Well, when Karl finishes the studio at his house, he said I can engineer projects over there. Now I just need to find a band who wants to record.

Friday Five
1. Do you remember your first best friend? Who was it?
I think it was probably Lisa. Our mothers were (and still are, I guess) good friends. I was devastated when they moved to Virginia when I was about 8 or 9.

2. Are you still in touch with this person?
We've been out of contact for about a year for no real good reason. I still know what is happening in her life through my mom... but I really need to make an effort. I was in her wedding. Now she is having a baby. I must write.

3. Do you have a current close friend?
Not close in proximity, but close at heart, yes. I have a couple. :)

4. How did you become friends with this person?
Well, with Manda, we met, liked each other, hated each other, and reconciled all before I'd say we became friends. And, for the record, I never hated her... I just thought she was being a whiny wench (and she admits her attitude wasn't the best at that time). And I don't think she really hated me, but she just thought I didn't like her. (she was right.) I'm not sure when the breakthrough happened... sometime after I moved to Indy. We found out that we had fun together... when I made her have fun. (Wait, she was the one standing on the table and singing in the restaurant on St. Patrick's Day.)

With Tash, it was all about a band, wasn't it? :) Then it didn't hurt that she was the Down Under promoter, and I was putting together their travel itinerary. I think the rest, as they say, is history.

5. Is there a friend from your past that you wish you were still in contact with? Why?
Hmm... there was one person who made my life exciting when there wasn't much else going on. This person helped make me a better person. I am wiser, because my eyes were opened. I am more well-rounded, because my ears were opened. I am smarter, because my mind was opened. I am more caring and patient, because my heart was opened. I believe that some people are around only for a season, for that is all that is required. Lives go on, but that is just as it should be.

Song for the Day:
Little Girl Blue - Nina Simone
~No use old girl
You might as well surrender
'Cause your hopes are getting slender and slender
Why won't somebody send a tender blue boy
To cheer up little girl blue~

Trip Highlights: Day 4 (Sunday)
▪ Church with the fam -- caught up with people afterwards.
▪ Lunch at Grandmas. My last time in that house, as she will have moved by the time I get home next. :(
▪ Over to Sis's house for haircut and low-lights.
▪ Hung the decorations I made for my mom's kitchen since she is afraid to put holes in walls.
▪ Naten over after supper for Invader Zim and Tony Hawk 4.

Dammmm(p)
For the record, this is the second day in a row that I have had all the windows (including the sunroof) fully open on my car when the heavens opened drenching the inside. Yeah, we're going to need some fabreeze.

(And sorry to hear about your near death by cheerios experience, Erin!)

Show last night was great. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

But first... does anyone know what the odds are that a 9-week old kitten, who never goes outside and may or may not have had its shots yet, has rabies? Sparky got me pretty good last night, drawing a little blood. It still hurts a little today, but that could be from the peroxide treatment I did this morning.

So last night. Good.

First opener. The Connotations. I have seen these guys more often than any other band in Nashville. Not kidding. Am I a fan? Not really -- though I must say that they have improved immensely in recent months. No, somehow they seem to open for everybody... and I mean everybody. I have to give them props for getting themselves out there like that. I even enjoyed it quite a bit this time. My only complaint was that one new song (which I liked) had the same chord progression as Heart and Soul (you know, that annoying song that every human being can play on the piano) -- and I was just aching for the keyboard player to throw that melody in there during the big breakdown at the end. But it never came. Left me feeling empty.

Second opener. The Kick. Pretty entertaining, I must say. Bonus points for being from Orlando (though Manda would never go see them anyway) and for keeping the energy level on 10 the entire time. Someone needs to take up a collection to get those boys a spittoon though. The bass player had a couple spits that came dangerously close to where we were sitting.

Mike was incredible. Seriously. We were trying to figure out how to describe it exactly without much success, but "pure" and "carefree" were words that kept coming out. The comaraderie between Mike, Andrew, and Jason was really fun to watch. Michael had a sort of Dave-Matthews-esque who-cares-if-we're-having-fun sort of attitude. That's all I can really say. Go see if you ever have the opportunity.

Song for the Day:
English Interpreter of English - LS Underground (featuring Mike Knott)

Trip Highlights: Day 3 (Saturday)
▪ Bakery for lunch with Mom, Sis, & the Kids
▪ Little bit o' shopping at the mall.
▪ Went through boxes of our old childhood books, etc.
▪ Pizza Ranch for dinner
▪ Went through more boxes of stuff from college/highschool.
▪ Had bonfire with old lovenotes and junk
▪ Nate came over, and we made s'mores
▪ Walked to the motocross track and watched a little while from the fence while being eatten alive by mosquitos.

Rockets' Red Glare
(Mom just emailed me the photos that I took of the fireworks with her digital camera.)

Be-billy oat-en-dote, bo-bo ba-deet-en-dot. It's one of those days.

I'm only 50% hipster. I can't help that I went to Disneyworld without the folks. That was years ago.

Jessica and I are going to see Mike Knott tonight. I'm anticipating an excellent concert experience.

Song for the Day
Don't Give Up - Chicane
~Don't worry if the sun don't shine
You've seen it before, you don't need to worry
Every day's an uphill climb, nothing has changed
Believe me when i tell ya
Don't give it up~

Trip Highlights: Day 2 (Friday)
▪ Went around surveying the damage from the night before. Lots of trees fell down.
▪ Saw one of my favorite English teachers. Said I was "doing good", thereby failing practical English application even though I aced his class.
▪ Had Pizza Ranch (the only pizza I really like) for lunch with Sis & the kids.
▪ Went through some of my old boxes of stuff.
▪ Had a mini-reunion with my two best friends from high school. (First time we've been together in 2.5 years... and the first time we've all liked each other since before we all lived together.)
▪ McDonalds with Natro.
▪ Watched fireworks from our driveway.

I just found a fun store! Raindogs. Yes, I would like anything from there. 169 days until my birthday... for anybody who is keeping track.

Friday's Five was quite apropos considering that my mom made my sister and I go through boxes of our old books over the weekend.

1. What were your favorite childhood stories?
Mom said she read the Strawberry Shortcake scratch-n-sniff book over and over and over.

2. What books from your childhood would you like to share with [your] children?
The Ginghams & the Backward Picnic, The Golden Egg

3. Have you re-read any of those childhood stories and been surprised by anything?
Yes, I read quite a few of them on Saturday. I wasn't particularly surprised, but I definitely remembered the pictures more than some of the stories.

4. How old were you when you first learned to read?
4-ish

5. Do you remember the first 'grown-up' book you read? How old were you?
I got The Little House on the Prairie when I was six, I think.

Trip Highlights: Day 1 (Thursday)
▪ Staying up until the wee hours of Thursday playing with these websites (Determine your Blood Alcohol Level, Bunny Love) with Mark instead of packing.
▪ Getting to the airport in just the nick of time.
▪ Doing a little shopping with Mom.
▪ Saw Brother for about two seconds.
▪ Mexican food for dinner... saw my cousin there.
▪ Went for a walk around the neighborhood with Mom.
▪ Hung out with sister's family -- found out about Baby #3.
▪ Gran mal storm at night that even made me nervous. Went downstairs to check the weather channel and then sat watching the storm from the picture window in my brother's room.

Home Again, Home Again
Jiggity Jig.

Wow. Five days. I don't even know where to begin.

The biggest news? On Thursday we found out that my sister is four months pregnant. She went to the doctor due to abdominal pain, had an ultrasound, and (hello!) there was a baby. She's due on my birthday. Whee! So many children to love on.

Keep Your Arms and Legs Inside the Ride at All Times
I decided I need to write a book. (For NaNoWriMo, perhaps?) It will be called On the Tarmac: Airport Stories from a Captive Audience. I have so many great airplane stories that deserve to be heard. Though nothing can really top the story of the woman on the verge of death, I did have a little excitement this trip. The decent into Minneapolis was more like a freefall. On the ride to Omaha, I sat next to Jason, that's San-Antonio-hatin', Nebraska-lovin', nicotine-addicted, one-time-Billy-Graham-crusade-attendee, construction-workin' Jason. (And that's just the tip of that iceburg.) Tonight I nearly missed my connection in Memphis because our plane was late leaving Omaha. I booked it from gate A5 to B32 in five minutes flat... kind of impressive considering the two-inch flip-flops and the luggage I was toting. Mmm... good times.

Now sleep beckons.

I'm alive here in the land of dial-up. Having a great time. A couple weird experiences. And a super big huge surprise nobody was expecting. More later. Off to Grandma's for lunch. Yum!

Everyone's a Critic
I always thought I'd make a good critic. I'm not overly opinionated, but when I have one, it's usually good. So imagine my delight when I realized they have quoted me over at the Star Warz: Crapisode I site. That's right... fourth one down. "...mildly entertaining..."

Though, I probably wouldn't make a good critic, because now I feel bad that I didn't love it.

Hey, Hey...
While looking for photos of Davy Jones (don't ask), I came across Harbottle's Encyclopedia. It is a veritable fount of completely random information which you may find entertaining. They have sound clips from Father Ted, Withnail and I, and Mr. T, to name a few. You can learn so much from the Excerpts section... i.e. The 6 pieces in the game of Monopoly (top hat, iron etc.) were originally taken from a charm bracelet belonging to the inventor's wife. The Rock-N-Roll section has plenty of little tidbits to throw out at parties to make you sound smart.

Frijole
The first baby picture is here. Manda said she looks like a little bean -- which inspired my new nickname "Beana". Though I'm not sure if Gramma will approve of that, so it might be back to the drawing board. For the first time today, I had a vision of a little blonde angel with messy lopsided pigtails, and I decided that this baby thing isn't so bad after all. I'm not quite sure what we're going to do if it's a boy.

Reasons to Look Forward to Going Home
▪ Taking Bradley on a date to see Sinbad or maybe Finding Nemo again.
▪ Having a yard I can crawl around on without worrying about ticks or other creepies.
▪ Fireworks on the driveway.
▪ Having a mini bonfire in the firepit in the backyard.
▪ Fun times with the girls... (Mom, Sis, Niece).
▪ Maybe a cycle ride with Dad.
▪ Coffee with Naten.
▪ Another attempt at driving stick-shift.
▪ Five days away from the allergy capital of the world!

Song for the Day:
Tom's Diner - Suzanne Vega

Okay, I heard this on the radio today... and now you must all suffer with me. The world's most difficult song to get out of your head.

Doot, doot, doo-dit, doot, di-doo-dit...

Hand Huggers... the smitten mittens. "A glove made for two." That is so precious; it almost drives one to vomit.

In case you were wondering... here are 78 Differences between Men and Women. "Men need a round of applause for emptying the dishwasher. Women think E on the petrol gauge means enough." (Though, for the record, I have never run out of gas... and I do appreciate a plasma screen television.)

Think TRON... play SWRON.

Okay all you photographer people, join me in this little photographic scavenger hunt -- 26 Things. We have the whole month of July. It's creative... it's fun... it's... it's... creative.

I could not believe the pile(s) of work that were left for me on my desk yesterday. Work-from-home day is great. Return-to-work day is less so.

Did I mention I'm leaving this town in two days? Have I adequately expressed my excitement? I didn't think so.

Oh yeah... and I thought I'd give a plug to this site: DonorsChoose.org (via Pauley). It's a place where teachers from low-income school districts send in proposals for projects they don't have the funds to accomplish. (i.e. diskettes and cases for a technology teacher to give to students, book shelves for a kindergarten classroom.) Ordinary people can go there and arrange to send money to help these teachers and students. Lots of people think about giving money away around the holidays... because it is the "giving season"... and you can still count it on that year's taxes. Let's make it Christmas in July this year, and help make these things happen before the kids come back to school in the fall.

Nice mid-morning storm today thanks to Bill.

Nobody Here... this place is completely weird and fascinating. I spent far too long exploring that one.

Cha-Ching
So I am doing an inventory of the books I have... for insurance purposes as well as for personal obsessive-compulsiveness. I determined that I may have a first edition of Dragon's Teeth... which fits the exact same description as this copy which is currently selling for $154! If I could sell mine for that, I think it would be $152 profit... if I recall what I paid correctly. (Maybe I shouldn't keep that one in the garage anymore.)

That's Entertainment
Anything But has a ton of noteworthy info today. Besides a nice tribute article to Lady Katherine, there's:
▪ Nobody Likes Avril report... I may not have said it here, but I have said so many times that that girl's attitude is going to be the death of her. She needs some P.R. help pronto.
▪ A link to the hulk's blog
▪ And a link to Monkeys on the Simpsons. "You couldn't grow on a stinky monkey."


Your Honeymoon destination is Ireland!
Longing for the old days and fresh air, you would
more than likely find a small town near the
cliffs to vacaction in, spending all your time
in awe of the silence and beauty around you.

Where is your 'dream' honeymoon?

(But do koalas really explode if they light on fire?)

Song for the Day:
Enjoy the Silence - Tori
~All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms~