kitchen sink news

weather: It sounds like some kind of crazy chime-ringing, oh-auntie-em house-moving, tree-shaking windstorm outside my window right now, but I think it's fake. I mean, it sounds like all those things, but since it's dark I can't really tell. Maybe there is localized huffing and puffing trying to blow my house down and it's as still and smooth as glass down the street! (maybe I should have taken drugs for this headache sooner, before I got to Weather Conspiracy on the brain chemistry dial.)

library: My favorite patrons this week have been, without question, 8-10 yr. old girls checking out their Nancy Drews and likewise. There have been a lot of them for some reason. They either have their library card READY TO GO on top of their neatly stacked pile of books, or they have their library card in their WALLET, which is obviously a point of "I practically have credit cards!" pre-tweener pride. (although a few of these girls have gotten ready to check out and the card is not where they were expecting it! This is so traumatizing to their library going book toting crime solving organized selves -- I always try to find something to do on the computer so that they can regain composure and remember that it is in their backpack pocket and not in their wallet after all.) Anyway, I like it when kids come up to the counter to check out their own stuff. Some weeks it's kids with manga or comic books, but this week it's been a lot of the titian-haired girl detective.

I have a lot of favorite patron types, now that I think of it. I'm also very fond of: 1) kids who are obviously dragging their non-reader parent or guardian there so they can get their weekly library fix. (and the guardian who brings them)
2) anyone who checks out an actual book with pages! (although I must note to non-reader parents or guardians and others that the library is not just for books. But books are awesome.)
3) I also love it when someone who hasn't used the library in years, or maybe ever, comes in and gets a card and CHECKS STUFF OUT. I mean, that's what we're there for!

Working the way I do at various branches all over town, I can tell you that anecdotally at least, people from every socioeconomic stripe use the library. Everyone makes the same excuses when stuff is late, too! The wording may change (I've heard "I was in jail" and "I was in europe" and "I was on tour" as reasons why something was desperately late), but the basic human reasoning remains the same: I don't think I should have to pay. People are funny!

I have lost track of where I was going here. oh, right. Hugh Jackman.

The Oscars: I liked it! I like Hugh Jackman a lot already -- he's so charming and talented and seemingly comfortable with himself. He's in a lot of bad movies, but I can't even hold that against him. (Yes, I have seen Van Helsing!) So, if you take Hugh Jackman, to whom I am already fondly disposed, and you set him up with an opening number that he pretend designed in his pretend garage out of fake pretend garage props? I'm pretty much helpless. The resulting opening number made me laugh a lot, but it wouldn't have worked if he wasn't giving it his all. I also liked the reconfigured stage and how the acting awards were distributed. By having previous winners say something specific about the nominees (my favorite: Shirley MacLaine to Anne Hathaway), it seemed more like actors celebrating their work and less of a "who has the best 'happy to be nominated' face" reality show. I know it was a little rough in spots, but I think doing it this way added continuity and a sense of community, which makes total sense for such a collaborative medium.

Lest you think that I am predisposed to love everything that crosses my line of vision, I have to say... (and I'm surprised to find the thought in my brain)... I think I'm getting Beyonce fatigue! I love her, but it seems like she's everywhere. Everywhere is too many places! She's gorgeous, but what the hell was up with her red carpet dress? It looked like a spandex bordello curtain. And she really needs to lay off At Last. I mean come on! I know she sang it in Cadillac Records and it was therefore fair game and maybe even relevant, but she JUST sang it at the inauguration, and Etta James is still drawing breath! Let Etta James have her song, Beyonce! You've got enough, you don't need that too.

Anyway, I certainly understand people who miss Billy Crystal, but I don't think the days of that kind of Oscar telecast are coming back. It's time to move forward. While this year's broadcast was far from perfect, I think it was a long step in the right direction. After it was over, I thought "I want to watch more movies!" which certainly hasn't been the case the past few years.

Here's the youtube of that opening number. I agree with Heather Havrilesky -- it was "a scrappy, bizarre masterpiece!"

thursday's child has far to go

Today's a busy day and I have umpty million things still to do, but it's the good kind of busy. One of the things I've already crossed off my list is uploading some pictures, so I thought that I would post some here since spring is coming and these are even more or less timely as I took them yesterday, except for the one I took 5 days ago. (that was all one even longer sentence before I went nuts with the space bar, the backspace key, a handful of punctuation and random capital letters. YOU'RE WELCOME.)



park crocus! These come up every year in a muddy under-tree part of the park, and it makes me so happy to see them! I mean, look at them -- not only are they beautiful, but it proves (yet again!) that I am not out of my mind for liking orange and purple together. Mother Nature agrees. If you don't, you can take it up with her.



I hadn't been to the park in a few days, but yesterday I counted THREE new maples! Woo! They keep a good arboreal eye on the trees -- they're very well cared for. If one comes down due to disease or, I don't know, lightning or something, the tree is always replaced. Sugar maples make me happy because they offer great shade in the summer and beautiful leaves in the fall.


This makes me think of that Fiery Furnaces song. Anyway -- I'm sorry that the dog was separated from her people, but she HAS BEEN FOUND! The sign was gone yesterday, so I'm assuming that they have all been happily reunited.

sesquicensasquatch

in honor of Oregon's Sesquicentennial (which was on the 14th), I shall now provide a list of 150 facts previously unknown about... ME. Me and SASQUATCH! Me and sasquatch in OREGON. What? Wait. okay, not really.

I will tell you that Umpqua Dairy has released a special "Oregon 150" ice cream that is very tasty, flavored with honey, hazelnuts and huckleberries. I don't know if it's available elsewhere (I think it's a regional brand), but if you see it, try some!

West Coast Crafty has a lovely celebratory Sesquicentennial post here.

Oregon State University Archives have joined the Flickr Commons. They have some nifty New Deal (Civilian Conservation Corps) photos. The CCC was a jobs program that focused on a) providing work to those who didn't have any b) carrying out this "broad natural resource conservation program on national, state and municipal lands." (more details on the photos here.)


I love this photo! It pictures members of the CCC watching a movie while out on the job. It reminds me of Sullivan's Travels, although I know the circumstances are somewhat different. What movie do you suppose they're watching?


Eating donuts! Donuts so good that shirts refuse to stay on. Or maybe they were working too hard for shirts! "I don't need your stinking buttons, I'm working here! Well, I'm eating donuts right now, but I'll be working soon." Maybe the new guy doesn't get to wear a shirt until he's been hazed. Or something. Oh, the mystery!

this one is described as "felling snags along a fire line in the Siskiyou National Forest." There are some fantastic photos in the commons -- more international institutions are joining all the time to expand the commons and heighten exposure to these wonderful collections. Check them out!

magic beans

The other day I was driving around in my automobile and drove right by three or four guys clowning around and posing with a cardboard sign with MAGIC BEANS! written in magic marker. It was awesome and made me laugh for blocks and blocks. I have no idea what they were doing! I mean, they were taking pictures and fooling around in one of those long park strips that are found in some neighborhoods, but what were they doing??

It was probably band photos, but maybe it was some kind of Recession Amusement -- the kind of thing lots of people would do if it occurred to them. They were having fun! I think modern American culture has trained us to think nothing is worthwhile or fun unless you spend money on it, which is SO WRONG on so many levels. Maybe simple Magic Bean pleasures will become acceptable to practice in public again, now that the economy has cratered. (although it would have been nice to get there without global financial catastrophe.) Or maybe these guys were ex wall street types SELLING magic bean futures and derivatives at highly inflated prices! There will be congressional Magic Bean hearings! or maybe they sold their last cow for a sign that said "magic beans!" because they were totally high. Ooh, or they were members of a political vegan banjo band making a Jolly Green Giant statement about the folly of modern post-cardboard living. Will this mystery ever be solved? I hope not!

I meant to mention the magic bean mystery sooner, but I've been busy this week formulating my non-spreadsheet solution to personal getting things done and non-craziness. I think Elvis called this TCB, although non-crazy wasn't on his stated agenda and my TCB involves no rhinestone jumpsuits, plate-sized belt buckles, or an entourage of bodyguards with nicknames. I'm okay with this (and other) breaks from the Elvis model, however. So far, my solution features a glamorous kitchen timer (pictured), a calendar, foil star stickers and a whiteboard. I think it's working! I still have some catching up to do, but if I can get things to a certain level (I'm close) I think I'll be able to get a lot more done, which will lead to less agitated crazy, but not tamper with baseline 'that's just how I am' crazy. Woo! Then I'll have time to make my own Magic Beans! sign and not feel like I should be doing laundry. (random justification: iTunes just played me Eloise (Hang On In There) by William Bell.)




Today is friday the 13th, so here is an OMINOUS CROW. I took this last week, which is when I had a macro photo epiphany! (not in this photo, obviously.) I've had this camera for a while, but I'm still figuring out various settings -- this was the walk where I got my macro mojo back and can once again take innumerable but in focus pictures of things like raindrops. Mwahahaha! This seems truly evil and appropriate to mention in a paragraph devoted to Friday the 13th.



Found at the library this week:

fortune untethered from cookie, found in the bookdrop: Modify your thinking to handle new situations. At first, of course, I took this as a proclamation of DOOM, but then I got a grip and think it's good, if obvious advice -- especially for often oblivious to the obvious me.

card found in the lobby: (see photo above, blurry despite previous boasts of macro mojo.) This was on a counter where all the neighborhood announcements go, which somewhat lessens the delightful randomness of finding it on the ground or stuck on a telephone pole. It's for an art show -- I almost didn't take it, but decided I liked how the red, blue and gold looked together. I'm glad I did, because by the time I got back from lunch, the rest of the stack was gone! Lesson learned: ACT NOW.

found on the floor, near the door to the lobby: a vocabulary card!
on one side it says
lieben
1. die Liebe,--
2. lieb
3. sich verlieben (w. in, acc.)
4. beliebt

on the other side it says
to love; to like
1. the love
2. dear, beloved; agreeable, nice
3. fall in love (with)
4. popular

It occurred to me this morning that this might have been fished out of one of the language learning sets. I will check next time I go. But it made me smile to find it!



I love taking pictures of books on shelves. This bright pink "the Answer is Always Yes" caught my eye at work. It's funny how certain titles jump out at me on different days. I know there's probably a rational explanation, like it's a new book and my mind registered that it was different. (It's in an area I walk by all the time.) Or maybe because it is bright, screaming pink. Who can fully understand the mysteries of the human brain?? I grabbed my camera on my break and took the picture and there you have it. I still feel majorly squirrelly and furtive taking pictures in the library, even though I know it's a-ok as long as I'm not disturbing anyone. Maybe it's more fun because I think I shouldn't do it? (THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS YES.)

a watcher scoffs at gravity

My Coraline movie experience: unhad, unknown, still a mystery, since it was SOLD OUT! Last night, and all 3 shows I'd be willing to go to today/tonight. So the new plan is to try some time during the week. I'm glad it's doing well, but dang! I wanted to see that movie already.

Dyeing Orange, an Oompa Loompa Story: No gloves = orange hands. Need I say more?

Ye Olde Tyme Televisionne: This afternoon was the quasi-monthly meeting of people with whom I watch Buffy. (we clearly need some kind clever name.) We're working our way through the entire series in order -- there are six of us, and all but one saw all or most of the series when it aired. One of us had never watched it, so we have a strict no-spoiler policy. (it's so funny -- there's always furious elbow jabbing, shushing, and laser-eyed looks if someone accidentally says something that might be interpreted as a spoiler, which is often more spoilery than whatever the innocently uttered comment was.) It's so fun to watch this way, and I'm not kidding!

Despite having seen all the episodes at least once, they still surprise me. Today was the day we watched Restless, which was the episode with the freaky First Slayer dream sequences that followed the official season 4 finale. This is one of my favorite episodes of the whole series!! It's trippy and funny and scary. It follows story logic AND dream logic (which are not traditionally compatible), yet is still true to each of the 4 main characters. It's so skillfully done! Each of their fears and strengths are on display. It was so visually beautiful, too. Sigh. Anyway, Giles (who was underutilized in season 4) has several stellar moments, including on the swingset with Spike ("Put your back into it -- a watcher scoffs at gravity!"), and his Exposition Song later on. Of course I also love Willow's Death of a Salesman anxiety dream, Xander's Apocalypse Now anxiety dream, Giles' She Doesn't Need Me anxiety dream, and Buffy's I Will Find You and Kick Your Ass, I Am My Own Person! dream. Oh, Buffy.

I love Buffy. I have loved other Joss Whedon shows, but I'm dreading Dollhouse. I will give it a fair chance; I hope I'm wrong with my misgivings -- but... I guess going from the strong but vulnerable Buffy Summers to the "I'll be whatever you want me to be because I'm programmed that way" Echo Nolastname doesn't seem like forward motion, you know? I know he plans to subvert the trope, but there is so much room for this to go spectacularly wrong. I love Eliza Dushku, I love Joss. I wish I felt better about this.

LOST: I'm still loving it! I think the smartest thing they ever did was give it an end date -- they were able to go WAY OUT THERE, but I don't think they're going to leave us hanging. Things are coming together. I'm also impressed with the way that the story is so different than it was in the first season, but the first season's stuff still (mostly) makes sense. We (and the Losties) had only partial understanding, which is not unlike life in general -- as understanding increases, things get more complicated. I enjoy the episodes with less Jack and Kate more than episodes with more Jack and Kate. Now that I think of it, Sawyer too. His Sarcasm In Need of a Shower routine is wearing a little thin with me. (I could change my mind.) Anyway, I love the time-travel aspect, I love that the show doesn't seem to be afraid of the crazy ideas. Those crazy ideas may not always work, but that they're willing to TRY means a lot to me. (doesn't that sound silly? But it's true! So many things are so careful, it's refreshing to watch something (especially on a major network!) that's a little reckless and willing to embrace big ideas. )

BONES: I enjoy this, but it seems more and more that they're just looking for excuses to put Bones and Booth in costumes/disguises. I generally enjoy it when they do (undercover at the carnival!), but I feel vaguely guilty about it. To me, this show has never really been about the procedural aspect of whatever body-droppin' criminal they're chasing; it's been about the team. However, they seem to be playing pretty fast and loose even with that (they have Bones in particular doing things that seem reaaally unlikely for someone of her established temperament, but people change, right? ha ha!). To be honest, I'm usually doing something else while this is on (reading the internet, crocheting, etc.) so perhaps I'm mistaken. I still love Sweets, even though he is their on staff Deus Ex Machina.

LIFE ON MARS: This is my favorite show this season!! (Pushing Daisies was my favorite, but it is sadly no more.) This is the show that I close my computer and just watch. I know that many fans of the original BBC show have not been won over by this remake, and I can understand that -- especially since I hear that the first several episodes were directly, almost word for word, from the original. (I haven't seen it yet, but will gladly watch it when dvds become available.) Once again, I like the time-travel stuff (and that it's as yet unexplained); I love that it's set in 1973 New York, which seems as wild as the frontier contrasted with set-in-the-present procedurals. It's got a rough and tumble energy that's lacking from a lot of other cop shows. I like all of the actors, I dunno... it just appeals to me on a lot of levels.

FRINGE: I mainly watch this not for Pacey (aka: Peter Bishop, although I Iike him) nor for Agent Dunham (she's got a great cop poker-face), nor for Daniels from the Wire (he should be in every show!), but for John Noble as Pacey's freaky, fragile, genius scientist dad, Walter Bishop.

BIG LOVE: This show is a weird one for me. I have to think about it a little bit before I can say much more. It is very irritating yet compelling -- I started watching and can't stop, but I can't really recommend it, either.

THE MENTALIST: I've only watched this a few times, but I love Simon Baker in it for a very simple reason: he smiles. He's not playing an idiot, he's a smart man with a complicated past, YET HE SMILES. This is so rare on TV! I think more men should smile on television, even when they're not in a sitcom, even when they have Secret Pain and a Troubled Past. I'm tired of all these grim-faced stoics.

On that note, I am tired in the completely prosaic sense and have to go to bed.

blue skies (not pictured)

Hello again. I'm having a Get Things Done February so far, and it's been great! I've been chipping away at some long-term stuff I've been dragging my feet on, and it's been very satisfying to at least make some progress. HOORAY! It's true what they say: the journey of a blah blah blah begins with starting.

Today is a lovely day with bright blue skies sugared with high wispy clouds. (I was in the park earlier and a little girl (I think it was a girl) said to her mother "is that the sun?!?" like she was seeing Big Bird perched in a tree or something equally unlikely, which I thought was funny although come on, kid! It's been sunny before. Recently, even!) It may snow tomorrow though. Or so THEY (international weather cabal) say. (who knows? I think they make things up with an elaborate dopplerized weather cootie-catcher.)

My plans for the remainder of today include dying stuff (hot pink and orange! wish me luck), and maybe probably going to see Coraline tonight. Yay! I want to see it in 3D, although I don't need another pair of 3D movie glasses collecting dust. (they are useless for 3D television events and 3D comic books! WTF??) They don't even give you a "bring your own glasses" discount! Maybe they'll have a glasses recycling bin, which seems like the very least they could do. ANYWAY, for a fun portlander-eye view of the Coraline premiere, might I direct you to the always instructive and entertaining West Coast Crafty. For a Gaiman-adjascent (also instructive and entertaining) account, please visit Kitty's Neverwear. Both have some great pictures of the sets brought to the after-party, and both seemed to have fun, which makes everything better in my eyes.

To make your own Coraline flower go here. Push all the buttons and pull all the levers! It's fun. I'm bummed because of all the flowers I made, this first one (my least favorite) was the only one I could save correctly. Let it be known that there were some really excellent purple and red ones (called Devil's Frill and Devil's Frolic, respectively) that I was unable to save for whatever reason. THE DEVIL, maybe? hmmm. I love old fashioned flower names -- they're all over the Banes and the Beards and the Frills and the Frolics.

Here are some grey-sky pictures from last sunday -- I was walking to my car (after 5) and it was still light-ish out! I love how everything is almost the same color.


sky marbled with clouds and dusk and maybe marshmallows.


curly branches. I can't remember what these look like with leaves on them.


just a touch of pink to the west to indicate that THE SUN is going elsewhere for a while. (I swear, the touch of pink is there! Although maybe you need 3D glasses to see it.)

pre-crimson

February so far: the sun is shining, the birds are singing and spring is in the air. (although it may leave the air. You know how it is.) ANYWAY, I was reading around the internet and saw yet another iteration of the itunes song meme and decided that it was time to play along since I haven't done one in months.

I know it's silly and originally designed by 11 year olds for 11 year olds, but it's fun for everyone. I always seem to find things I haven't heard in ages or didn't even realize I had. I tried to keep my comments to a minimum, but was not always successful.

here are the instructions, followed by my results.

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!

4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.

1. what do your friends think of you?
Girl Anachronism -- Dresden Dolls. (I would like striped stockings, but I think that's about where the similarities end. Just contemplating that level of chest-beating garment-rending LIFE DRAMA exhausts me, but I do admire the cabaret stylings!)

2. If someone says, "is this okay?" you say...
Tick Eats the Olives -- Devendra Banhart. (what I say to EVERYTHING, because it sounds like some kind of spy code. other person: "I understand the weather can be unpredictable this time of year." me: "tick eats the olives" handclaps ta-dah! the door to the speakeasy slides open, and we dance the charleston until sunup.) (but not to this song.)

3. How would you describe yourself?
Suffer For Fashion -- of Montreal. ("it's not supposed to happen like that")

4. what do you like in a guy/girl?
Shining Star -- Earth, Wind & Fire (Wheeeee! the lyrics are kinda woo woo space groovy, but the song makes me feel good. "words of wisdom: yes I can")

5 . how do you feel today?
When Your Mind's Made Up -- those Once people.

6. What is your life's purpose?
Kablerium vs. Obliviosity -- Helio Sequence. (obviously.)

7. what is your motto?
All Hands on the Bad One -- Sleater-Kinney. (I feel like I should embroider this on something.)

8. what do you think about very often?
Black Night -- Johnnie Morisette. (a-ha ha ha. "when will my troubles end?")

9. what is 2+2?
Be There -- Kelly Slusher.

10. what do you think of your best friend?
Polly Come Home -- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

11. what do you think of the person you like?
Song For Myla Goldberg -- the Decemberists. (seraphim and seaweed swim)

12. what is your life story?
Hotel Song -- Regina Spektor. (hilarious! My evil twin must be getting up to some adventures she's neglecting to mention. this better not be on my credit card.)

13. what do you want to be when you grow up?
California Desert Party -- Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. (There's guacamole!)

14. what do you think of when you see the person you like?
Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole -- Martha Wainwright. (itunes is kind of a misanthrope today, but this made me laugh so hard!) (I don't really think this about anyone I know.)

15. what will you dance to at your wedding?
Ooh La La -- The Faces. (oh, this is funny too. wish I knew then what I know now? too late! There are werewolves everywhere. who picked the date for this party?)

16. what will they play at your funeral?
I Don't Blame You -- Cat Power. (I also laughed at this, because I totally blame you! FROM THE GRAVE! Prepare for haunting.)

17. what is your hobby/interest?
Paul's Song -- M.Ward. (there's Portland rain in it! I wouldn't really call it a hobby, but it is an interest.)

18. what is your biggest fear?
Gotta Serve Somebody -- Bob Dylan. (I think I might be turning into a contrarian. If you say I gotta, I don't wanna. Not even for you, Bob Dylan.)

19. what is your biggest secret?
This Loneliness -- El Perro del Mar. (itunes is weeping prettily on a red velvet fainting couch. "no, it's nothing! I'm fine, just allergies." boo hoo hoo/ embroidered All Hands on the Bad One hankie/ delicate nose blowing/ heavy sigh.)

20. what do you think of your friends?
Weddle On -- Tammare. (Friends, I don't really know this song, so feel free to apply Shining Star here!)

21. what will you post this as?
Pre-Crimson -- Apples in Stereo.

rose hip january

This is what they look like in the wintertime! (although some of them turn red.) So, this is what this one looked like in the wintertime, several years ago. (sneaky last minute new year's pledge: I want to do more garden things this year!)

It's the end of January and therefore the end of the post-a-day EXPERIENCE. It was so different for me this year than last. I remembered it as more footloose and fancy free, but felt mostly frustrated by various constraints this time around. Is it because it's objectively TRUE (doubtful, thinking back to my journal entries from January 07), or because selective memory can be a dangerous thing?

(I read something interesting today in one of those Oprah/The Secret/ Shake 29.95 Out of Your Pocket affiliated books as I was processing a hold. I opened it to the page that said "your thoughts are not always right" (or "true" I can't remember now.) Anyway, this woman's point was that in order to get to the Whatever Fabulous Self Help on the cover, you had to realize that just because you think some nutty thing, it doesn't make it true. And I thought, "crazy shakedown self help lady, you are RIGHT. At least about this.")

ANYWAY: big respect to people who post every day all the time! It's not easy.

I have more to say (always), but I have to be to work super early tomorrow, so I'm going to sleep instead. I was so tired today I forgot to send in my timesheet. Sleep = dollars!

See you in February!

fake bait and switch

I worked at my favorite branch today, which was nice but strange. Nice because I like it there; strange because it was a day with a lot of subs (like me), and not a lot of the regular staff. Many of the subs were ones I don't know well, either because we've not worked together that often, or because they are new hires. And by hires, I mean HIRED hires, not like me in my weird employed but not an employee limbo-state.

I always think I have a handle on my feelings about this, but am always surprised by how it disorients me every single time I'm confronted with it. Why them and not me? some little atavistic lump of brain always gets het up. Once I get over that primitive jolt (UNCHOSEN), I remember that I'm good at my job, I like my job, people like working with me, and that there are a million subjective factors built into the hiring process, even though they try to make it as fair as possible. My interview panel might have graded on a stricter scale than other panels, or I may have just screwed it up. I scored very high on the test, so it's likely the interview was what kept me from placing higher on the "to be hired" list. (the list I was on has since expired, so I have to wait for another general recruitment before I have a shot at a regular Employed With Benefits job. I'm free to keep doing what I'm doing, though.) The more I think about it, the more likely a botched interview seems. I was recovering from a giant face infection and I know I didn't answer one line of questioning as well as I could have.

None of that really matters, anyway. I don't know the situation for these new hires (maybe they were on the list for AGES), and I don't even know for sure what happened to me. It's so easy to get pulled down into these pockets of 'you think you know' quicksand. I don't know jack.

WHICH BRINGS ME TO HALL & OATES. (did I think when I woke up this morning that I would be typing these words by the end of the day? No, I did not.) As I was saying... there are five computer workstations in the back room of this branch. The woman working at the station next to mine asked the room if we minded if she put on some music. No, we don't mind. (3 people didn't answer, and I didn't mind.) I had no idea what she'd put in. Some people have really specific tastes, which is sometimes fun and fine (psychedelic tropicalia!) and is sometimes an exercise in keeping a neutral expression (lite jazz). This woman (whom I did not know, but she seemed nice enough) put down a Best of Hall & Oates CD on the edge of the desk and changed the CD from whatever movie soundtrack was in there. (whatever movie = when harry met sally. I have a long involved story about this soundtrack, but I will save it for another day.) OKAY. I thought. This will be interesting. I haven't listened to Hall & Oates in a long time. If I'm singing I Can't Go For That all day to myself... well, I will survive! But then it didn't sound like H & O. I thought "hmmm, this seems to have more marimba than I remember, I am totally kind of digging this!" The Music Picker was bopping around in her chair while she checked in bookdrop, singing along. La la la. More songs go by, and I am amazed at how little I seemed to recollect of Hall & Oates greatest hits. ... then I hear a song that I recognize from an alternate arrangement heard via one of my favorite music blogs. Hey. HEY! This isn't Hall & Oates at all! It's VAMPIRE WEEKEND. (ha ha ha!)

(I should note here that this was coming out of really crappy speakers at a semi-low volume.)

I'd never listened to their whole album because I'd heard a couple of songs that I liked only okay, and heard a couple that I liked pretty well, except the lyrics made me want to punch someone. (someone = preppy asshole.) Before I got to the logical "I shall listen to it all and make a fair assessment without emotional baggage of any kind because I am a rational robot and not a hysterical teenager" part of my listening agenda, I saw them on SNL and had a viscerally negative reaction, which wasn't really about the band so much as ancient high school drama. (so much for rational robot!!) (I WILL CHOKE YOU WITH THAT SCARF!!!)

Once again I think I know what's going on, but I really don't. The eye sees one thing, the ear hears another and tries to make it fit. Hall & Oates is Vampire Weekend is right now is ages ago. Private Eyes are watching your Oxford Commas. I don't know anything, and it's kind of a relief. (Hall & Oates: consider the marimba. I think you could rock it.)

color spot

no time tonight! so here are some bright pictures for a grey season.



I love sharpies! and I love that they come in every color now.



This was made from candy boxes and paper. It was the grossest candy EVER, but the boxes were fun. I think I have some x-men ones in a bag somewhere.



Wheeee! this looks this way because I couldn't hold the camera still, but I like how it turned out. it looks like stitching! Only it's fireworks instead.

search for an alternate spreadsheet solution

Today I have come to the depressing but certain realization that if I'm ever going to get anything done, I'm going to have to break it down and make a list or a spreadsheet or something so I can get moving on the unruly mess that comprises My Ambitions. I loathe spreadsheets! I have many friends with great spreadsheet affinity and mojo, who find them useful and affirming; tools to defeat the forces of chaos. You know, all Katharine Hepburn "let's get this done" brisk handshake yankee efficiency. I, on the other hand, find myself wringing my hands and flapping around in a clammy dither at the very thought. It's not that I can't be efficient (I can!), I just have a hard time doing it on my own behalf and will make a straw man argument against a spreadsheet rather than do what I need to do. In short: wah, wah, wah. I just have to suck it up and figure it out in the way that works (really works, not ideally works) for me. I will do it! I just have to flap around a bit first, I guess. bah.

On the bright side, I'm really excited at the prospect of doing something, so maybe that will fire synapses and some brilliant solution will present itself. Yeah!

photo note: this was from the state fair this summer. I couldn't not take it.

links for clicking

tonight I worked at a branch of the library that was so busy (until 8pm), there was nowhere to park in the rather large parking lot. People were CIRCLING THE LIBRARY, which is pretty cool. ("I need The Sun Also Rises, and I need it fast! My husband is driving around the parking lot.")

Parking was short because of the big lunar new year celebration, which makes it even cooler. I had to work three hours in a row (!!) on the desk, but it was fine and fun! (Plus, they gave me a 1/2 hour break from the desk, which was quite thoughtful.) The lobby was full of kids on their wheelie shoe-skate things along with people spilling out of the meeting room (where the party was) laughing and talking over the strains of various chinese string instruments. Not bad for a cold rainy tuesday in January!

Anyway -- I keep having this fantasy that I will sit down and write up one of the many things I've been meaning to write up for ages. Tonight is not that night! But here are some wonderful links I've also been meaning to post:

LISTEN:

both from local Cut

first, here's a charming, summery, unreleased song from The Online Romance. It's a sorta stereo-labby, dreaming of summer song, but I'm pretty sure it will be a good straight-up summer song, too. (dig those matching outfits!)

second -- localCut has started a series on classical music (Furniture Music). Its mission is this: "For the entirety of 2009, Willamette Week freelancer Robert Ham is going to focus much of his attention on classical music in an effort to learn as much as he can about it but also to gain some insight into why it has become so inaccessible to common folk like you and me." I am intrigued!


LOOK AT:

A new to me favorite photo blog is smosch.com. Sandra makes beautiful photographs in Sweden, but I first came to her work from a wonderful series she did on vacation in New York. LOVELY!

CONGRATULATIONS:

to Neil Gaiman for the Newbery Award! I read the Graveyard Book right before Christmas, and I enjoyed it so much. He does that rare and wonderful thing that the best authors (of children's books and otherwise) do -- he tells the story, but he tells it with style and wit and warmth. (but not warm in a gross re-heated for kids way.) He never condescends to the reader, which is a major pitfall for many authors who go from writing for adults to writing for children if you ask me -- he writes for people. The beginning of this book is very out-of-the-corner-of-your-eye-creeping-up-the-stairs scary (the scariest!) yet still in language and tone appropriate for young readers. It's a rare talent and I'm so glad he won this award for it.

WATCH:

Speaking of Neil Gaiman, I saw Henry Selick (director/screenwriter of Coraline) at Live Wire last month (how can it only be last month???), and he was so great and obviously one of those people who loves his job. (and now I know the DARK SECRET of the Pillsbury Dough Boy!) I love the Coraline boxes that Laika studios sent out (so cool!), I love to read of people's reactions... it's just a lovely thing. I know it's promotion, but it's so above and beyond -- it's not just about advertising, it's about reaching out and being proud of your work and doing something kind. I know it sounds cheesy, but it makes me happy to know I'm in the same city as people who do this sort of crazy and wonderful thing.

Here's a Coraline trailer -- I'm even more excited to see it now than I was. It's so candy-colored creepy! And I love that every second of it is the result of someone's (many someone's) hands making it happen. (Am I the only one who yells AL SWEARINGEN at the TV every time one of the ads comes on?! Ian McShane does the narration on those or I'll eat my hat.) (direct link to trailer here.)

brain needs oxygen

five little things:

1. Happy Year of the Ox!

2. can't stop yawning.

3. finished my bag! started another.

4. found the hippo! (it was right in front of my face, more or less.)

5. I heart Roz Chast! I'm currently reading her Theories of Everything, but this cover for Cold Comfort Farm cracks me up every time I see it.

5a. still yawning! Is it because I'm tired, or because it's cold or does my brain require extra oxygen for some other mysterious reason? I'm going to sleep on it.

another sunday night hippo conundrum

I mean, they're BIG, right? A hippo isn't the sort of thing that should just disappear, and likewise neither should a red and purple hippo portrait disappear. It's my own fault, of course, like the majority of my minor calamities. A couple of weeks ago I got it into my head to move some pictures around -- you know: change it up! Freshen the environment! Blah, blah blah blah! I had nails in my mouth and a gleam in my eye! (January is particularly bad for this kind of malady.)

The hippo had been comfortably resting propped on top of another picture; minding its hippo business, being charming and ridiculous and making me laugh every time I went down the stairs. But SUDDENLY, due to some sort of decorating EMERGENCY and concomitant MADNESS I took it down and put it somewhere so safe I cannot find it again. The wall in question is right by a bookcase! It should be resting on top of some books. But no. This is what happens when I try to be smart about things. Hippos go missing.

The hippo is at large! HIPPO AT LARGE. (that cracks me up! No wonder the hippo left me. There is probably a note somewhere that says "#7, your "jokes" are not funny" and ends with "I'm going to the river for a couple weeks to hang out and menace small watercraft for a while and just, you know, figure it out.")

(I had better straighten this out pretty quick, because if this imaginary hippo writes any more of this imaginary note, I'm not going to want it to come back. Stay in the freaking river covered in flies for all I care!)

(only kidding, Hippo!)

It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't pretty sure I've been looking right at it, but missing it somehow. Like my eyes slide over it even though it is the very thing I'm searching for.

the so and so phenomenon

Today I worked at one of my upper-middle-tier favorite branches. (I should make a chart.) I was checking in holds (so many holds! it was really busy) and saw a familiar name. Hmmm, is this Familiar Name the same Familiar Name that I know but haven't seen in several years? I wondered. It's a common enough, but not that common name. (...cut interminable details to get to the point...) It was! I was only on the desk for 2 hours, but he happened to come in right as we were changing over for my second hour. (the idea is not to be stuck working the desk more than an hour in a row). He recognized me before I realized it was him. So funny! But extra funny to me, because stuff like that kept happening all day long -- except mostly with books and ideas rather than holds and people. (example: thinking of some problem or query or ISSUE, then a book or movie with the exact topic or name or ANSWER would pop up in the book drop or in a patron's hand. Disorienting! Yet kind of fun -- like an out of the sphere magic 8 ball.)

In other news, something today made me think of this quote/video from Flight of the Conchords. Bret was accused of never dancing, and his reply was: "I dance all the time. I dance at parties, I dance...when I'm angry."

I'm afraid Bret's Angry Dance makes me laugh a lot. Maybe it's his skinny arms punching the sky, maybe it's because he ends up in a warehouse with a bunch of unidentifiable equipment and a saxophone player, or maybe it's just time to watch Footloose again. In any case, it makes me laugh which I always appreciate.