When I heard about Be Kind Rewind a couple months ago I freaked the fuck out. Jack Black and Mos Def at the same time? Are you kidding me? Then I watched the trailer, and became completely convinced that this is going to be my favorite movie of all time. I also became convinced that Michel Gondry had somehow walked into my brain, sauntered past the rooms marked Trivia&Detritus, Cartography, Bright Colors&Shiny Things, and The Kitchen, right into the room we call Best Things Ever Depository. He took hurried notes, ran out and made a movie.
But clearly, that wasn't enough, so he also made this, in response to the trailer for his own movie:
I showed this to Ryann yesterday, and we both got so excited we had a hard time making words. Seriously. Every time I watch it, my heart grows three sizes.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
What I'm Into Right Now, Pt. 2
In the last post I told you about the things that are keeping me from being depressed. Now I wanna talk about the things that take it to the next step up, which for me is Totally Fucking Stoked.
1. Black Mountain
(I used this picture because Black Mountain is a Beard Band, and I wanted to communicate that clearly. Of course, if a picture is worth however many words, this whole aside is unnecessary. I think I might be gilding the lily. Or whatever.)
A couple anecdotes about this band:
a) I've been a door girl for almost four years now (jesus!) and this is the only band whose set was so awesome that I had to buy their CD at the end of my shift. This is huge for me because I
hate pretty much everything, especially if it's forced on me, ear-wise. This was about two years ago, when they still had me selling tickets at the entrance to the showroom. Now I'm in what the owners call the Box Office, and I call a hole in the wall. I'm separate from the showroom, which is good because I don't have to suffer through whichever awful band is playing. It's bad in the winter though, because I am basically Outdoors, and it is balls-ass cold at night.
b) Last week I was working in the box office for the Cave Singers show when a man appeared in front of me. He was very tall, very lanky, and very bearded. Also, he had on one of those weird hats that I associate with that dude from The Black Crowes who married Kate Hudson. (Do you know what I'm talking about? I just googled the hell out of that dude and couldn't find any images of him wearing hats. Maybe I'm thinking Shooter Jennings. Anyway.) You know what? He looked like this:
So. Homie stands there for a second, looking at the set times posted behind me. "Oh, maaaaan," he drawls. "I'm at the wrong show!"
"What are you looking for?" I ask, not because I don't know, but because I try not to profile customers to their faces.
"Black Mountain."
"That's on Thursday."
"What day is it?" (YES!!!)
"It's Saturday, buddy."
"Oh! Well, at least I didn't miss them."
I tell this story to illustrate that Black Mountain will make you wanna smoke so much weed that you no longer know what fucking day it is. I have been listening to their new album, In The Future, three times a day. Today is Thursday. It's gonna be a fun night. I hope I see that dude in the hat at the show.
2. George Saunders
Mindy Kaling, one of the writers from The Office, also writes a blog called Things I've Bought That I Love. I love it, but more importantly, I've realized that her tastes are shockingly similar to mine. So I decided, after noticing that she mentions George Saunders kind of a lot, that it may be worth my time to check him out, right? Right!! He's great! So funny, so smart, so good. And just look at his little face!
Seriously.
3. Uli's Sausages
Madison Market, where I do most of my grocery shopping, carries a few types of these delicious sausages, but in order to get at their awesome and varied complete selection you have to go to their tiny little counter at the Market. Like most Seattleites, I never go to Pike Place Market. Tourists clog up the joint and walk way too slow. The Flying Fish guys make me feel stabby. Occasionally I'll dodge into DeLaurenti for some of their phenomenal fresh mozzarella, because that can be done without venturing into the real bulk of the market, but mostly, I've been avoiding the market entirely for the last 6 years or so. And I have been missing out. Me and Landon went down there a couple weeks ago and got the Mexican Chorizo, Sicilian Bratwurst and the Heavy Garlic chicken sausages. We then proceeded to eat nothing but sausage-centric meals for two full days and we LOVED IT. They also have some lamb sausages that I am dying to try. I will definitely be making a trip to the Market this weekend. Oh yeah, and this may or may not be Uli himself.
4. This Picture:
Have fun, you guys!
1. Black Mountain
(I used this picture because Black Mountain is a Beard Band, and I wanted to communicate that clearly. Of course, if a picture is worth however many words, this whole aside is unnecessary. I think I might be gilding the lily. Or whatever.)
A couple anecdotes about this band:
a) I've been a door girl for almost four years now (jesus!) and this is the only band whose set was so awesome that I had to buy their CD at the end of my shift. This is huge for me because I
hate pretty much everything, especially if it's forced on me, ear-wise. This was about two years ago, when they still had me selling tickets at the entrance to the showroom. Now I'm in what the owners call the Box Office, and I call a hole in the wall. I'm separate from the showroom, which is good because I don't have to suffer through whichever awful band is playing. It's bad in the winter though, because I am basically Outdoors, and it is balls-ass cold at night.
b) Last week I was working in the box office for the Cave Singers show when a man appeared in front of me. He was very tall, very lanky, and very bearded. Also, he had on one of those weird hats that I associate with that dude from The Black Crowes who married Kate Hudson. (Do you know what I'm talking about? I just googled the hell out of that dude and couldn't find any images of him wearing hats. Maybe I'm thinking Shooter Jennings. Anyway.) You know what? He looked like this:
So. Homie stands there for a second, looking at the set times posted behind me. "Oh, maaaaan," he drawls. "I'm at the wrong show!"
"What are you looking for?" I ask, not because I don't know, but because I try not to profile customers to their faces.
"Black Mountain."
"That's on Thursday."
"What day is it?" (YES!!!)
"It's Saturday, buddy."
"Oh! Well, at least I didn't miss them."
I tell this story to illustrate that Black Mountain will make you wanna smoke so much weed that you no longer know what fucking day it is. I have been listening to their new album, In The Future, three times a day. Today is Thursday. It's gonna be a fun night. I hope I see that dude in the hat at the show.
2. George Saunders
Mindy Kaling, one of the writers from The Office, also writes a blog called Things I've Bought That I Love. I love it, but more importantly, I've realized that her tastes are shockingly similar to mine. So I decided, after noticing that she mentions George Saunders kind of a lot, that it may be worth my time to check him out, right? Right!! He's great! So funny, so smart, so good. And just look at his little face!
Seriously.
3. Uli's Sausages
Madison Market, where I do most of my grocery shopping, carries a few types of these delicious sausages, but in order to get at their awesome and varied complete selection you have to go to their tiny little counter at the Market. Like most Seattleites, I never go to Pike Place Market. Tourists clog up the joint and walk way too slow. The Flying Fish guys make me feel stabby. Occasionally I'll dodge into DeLaurenti for some of their phenomenal fresh mozzarella, because that can be done without venturing into the real bulk of the market, but mostly, I've been avoiding the market entirely for the last 6 years or so. And I have been missing out. Me and Landon went down there a couple weeks ago and got the Mexican Chorizo, Sicilian Bratwurst and the Heavy Garlic chicken sausages. We then proceeded to eat nothing but sausage-centric meals for two full days and we LOVED IT. They also have some lamb sausages that I am dying to try. I will definitely be making a trip to the Market this weekend. Oh yeah, and this may or may not be Uli himself.
4. This Picture:
Have fun, you guys!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
What I'm Into Right Now, Pt. 1
Seattle winters are the worst because they're so uneventful. Granted, last year we did have that crazy windstorm, ,which was scary and awesome, but normally it's like it has been this winter. Flatly dreary, with a snow shower or two, and the occasional sunny day. And normally, this weather leads me to ask not whether I will fall victim to Seasonal Affective Disorder, but at what point it will peak and how disruptive it will be. But this year I dodged the bullet! I feel great, dudes!! I'm sliding down rainbows with my ass in the air! So, in honor of my awesome state of non-depression, here is a list of some of the things that get me out of bed in the morning. They may or may not be responsible for my lack of the SADs.
1. Online Scrabble
I use an application on Facebook called Scrabulous to get my wordplay fix. I have like 12 games going on with various buddies in all parts of the country. Kerri and I have played somewhere around 7 games together. It's great because you get to do something with friends without having to brave the rain or even put on pants.
2. Coffee/ Bodum cups
Every night before I fall asleep I think to myself, "When I wake up, there will be coffee!!" and then I doze off with an expectant joy in my heart. Part of why I enjoy my coffee so much is that I have these awesome cups, made by Bodum . Not only are they gorgeous, but they are the perfect shape and feel great in your hands. The double layers of glass are seperated by air so they are never too hot to hold.
God, coffee is so great. Supposedly some recent studies said that coffee causes miscarriages, but I don't buy it for a second. And frankly, I'm not so sure I want someone who doesn't like coffee crashing in my uterus for nine months anyway. (Kidding. Just Kidding.)
3. Music from hot-ass countries
I have a theory that if you listen to music that sounds like sunshine you can trick your brain into thinking that maybe the weather isn't so suck-ass shitty after all. Or something. So I made a playlist of music from Jamaica, Cuba and Brazil (with a pinch of France for texture) for when I need to do shit around the house. Here it is!
Homebody Playlist
Give it a listen, and let me know if it does anything for you.
4. Making the Bed
I have only recently become a Person Who Makes The Bed, and I gotta say, I'm loving it. Another theory of mine is that while my early twenties were about figuring out how to keep myself alive, my mid-to-late twenties are about figuring out how I want to live my life. Making the bed is a small act, but it makes a huge difference in how I view my home and as an extension of that, how I view myself.
5.Fancy Olive Oil
My buddy Sam works at this rad olive oil store in Pacific Place called O&Co. I went down to visit him one day and he had me taste a bunch different oils, each one more delicious than the last. He also dropped a hefty dose of science on me. I had no idea, previous to this visit, that extra virgin olive oil was not for cooking things in (shame on you, Rachael Ray!!), but is for finishing foods with. I left empty-handed that day, but about a week later I had to come back for the O&Co basil-infused olive oil because I simply could not stop thinking about how delicious it was. I'm so glad I did, too, because now I put it on everything. I think next time I'll get a lemon-infused oil to sprinkle over my couscous. Oh my god, it's gonna be so delicious.
1. Online Scrabble
I use an application on Facebook called Scrabulous to get my wordplay fix. I have like 12 games going on with various buddies in all parts of the country. Kerri and I have played somewhere around 7 games together. It's great because you get to do something with friends without having to brave the rain or even put on pants.
2. Coffee/ Bodum cups
Every night before I fall asleep I think to myself, "When I wake up, there will be coffee!!" and then I doze off with an expectant joy in my heart. Part of why I enjoy my coffee so much is that I have these awesome cups, made by Bodum . Not only are they gorgeous, but they are the perfect shape and feel great in your hands. The double layers of glass are seperated by air so they are never too hot to hold.
God, coffee is so great. Supposedly some recent studies said that coffee causes miscarriages, but I don't buy it for a second. And frankly, I'm not so sure I want someone who doesn't like coffee crashing in my uterus for nine months anyway. (Kidding. Just Kidding.)
3. Music from hot-ass countries
I have a theory that if you listen to music that sounds like sunshine you can trick your brain into thinking that maybe the weather isn't so suck-ass shitty after all. Or something. So I made a playlist of music from Jamaica, Cuba and Brazil (with a pinch of France for texture) for when I need to do shit around the house. Here it is!
Homebody PlaylistGive it a listen, and let me know if it does anything for you.
4. Making the Bed
I have only recently become a Person Who Makes The Bed, and I gotta say, I'm loving it. Another theory of mine is that while my early twenties were about figuring out how to keep myself alive, my mid-to-late twenties are about figuring out how I want to live my life. Making the bed is a small act, but it makes a huge difference in how I view my home and as an extension of that, how I view myself.
5.Fancy Olive Oil
My buddy Sam works at this rad olive oil store in Pacific Place called O&Co. I went down to visit him one day and he had me taste a bunch different oils, each one more delicious than the last. He also dropped a hefty dose of science on me. I had no idea, previous to this visit, that extra virgin olive oil was not for cooking things in (shame on you, Rachael Ray!!), but is for finishing foods with. I left empty-handed that day, but about a week later I had to come back for the O&Co basil-infused olive oil because I simply could not stop thinking about how delicious it was. I'm so glad I did, too, because now I put it on everything. I think next time I'll get a lemon-infused oil to sprinkle over my couscous. Oh my god, it's gonna be so delicious.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Our family has grown!
It's been a few months since I've posted regularly here, and in that time, I've acquired a few new imaginary pets!! I'd like you to meet them.
This is Miss J. Alexander:
Tracy Morgan:
And the newest addition to the fam, Karl Lagerfeld!
This is Miss J. Alexander:
Tracy Morgan:
And the newest addition to the fam, Karl Lagerfeld!
Tweezerman Tweezers
I have been battling my eyebrows for 13 years. Don't get me wrong, we've had some good times (remember that time i was sweating and you kept it out of my eyes? thanks, guys.), but for the most part we've been at odds. Basically, I want them to be sleek, lovely, face-defining arches with hairs that all point in one direction. They, left to their own devices, would more closely resemble an army of deserters, all fleeing in different directions toward the safety of the forest, i.e. my hairline.
My mom, a former beautician, started waxing my eyebrows when I was twelve. Before you start crying child abuse, you should know that puberty hit me pretty early and that by the time I entered middle school I was already beginning to look like Andy Rooney. Weekly waxing sessions went on until I graduated, moved out, and was left to my own devices. Enter the tweezers.
At the height of my plucking madness, I was spending 90 minutes a week with tweezers in hand. Seriously. I did the math. In retrospect, I'm pretty sure that at least half of that was spent trying unsuccessfully to grip uncooperative hairs with my sad, dull Revlon tweezers. I was so naive. Then I saw this picture:
We're gonna skip the whole Ohmygod Gwen Stefani thing because, duh. Just look at their fucking Eyebrows. After staring at the above photo for about 8 minutes, I decided to take action. I knew there had to be a better way. Granted, Miss Gwen has a lot of resources I don't, but dadgummit, I do have a lot of time. And access to Sephora, which turned out to be all I actually needed, because for $20 they will sell you (big trumpet flourish!) Tweezerman Tweezers!!!
Seriously, you guys, they're amazing. I have the pointed ones as my problem is more strays than volume, and they ruthlessly hunt down all deserters and court marshall the shit out of them (you like how I brought it back around, there?). Also!!! They come in pink and like, zebra print. And!! They're guaranteed for life and the Tweezerman people will sharpen them for you or replace them if the tips break off. So Rad!!
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