We're exterminators. Someone saw a cockroach up on twelve.

Home again home again! Got home Tuesday...the nice thing about flying back to Texas is gaining that hour back. Even though they canceled our first flight and moved it UP by half an hour (which would normally be ok if it weren't the ungodly AM hours), we still made it.

The day before, we got to tour my school, have some amazing sea food, hit the aquarium and walk back up to Little Italy.



This is the open area of a park entrance across from my school...the park is probably okay, but the fountain (off to the left, not quite in the shot) seems to attract crazies--the Bible spouting kind and the mumbling homeless kind. Good times.



Here is the school itself...guess I'll be seeing a bit more of it soon. The tour was helpful, but I'll probably still forget where crap is. At least it's not as windy and twisty as Cornell! I would have never found daylight again in that place.



Anyhoo. Then it was off to lunch, which was directly across from the aquarium. This place seems to be a fairly prominent chain in the region, but it's not cheap. My mom and I both had this crab meat roll that's about $15 and sooooooooo worth it. It was bursting at the sides with crab, the way delis normally pile on the meat and cheese. Damn it was good. I'll be back for that for a treat sometime!



It's really pleasant just to walk along the wharfs and even though it was a little chillier that day, it didn't bother me at all.





Here is the New England Aquarium...the Whale Watching booth is easily found as well (and will be re-visited in July or August when I convince my mom to come visit before school)! They have sunset trips for about a month that time of year, reservations strongly recommended...

Just as you walk toward the entrance to the aquarium, this guy greets you. (And some of his friends.)





I have more pics from inside the aquarium, but it's time to get ready for work. Grumble. Stupid work.

You're cute, in a slutty way.

Yesterday started off pretty rainy, but Dunkin Donuts is VERY well represented here in Boston, so that made up for rain. We then took the train down to Quincy, just barely south of Boston, to see my apartment. I am so excited that I only need one train to go between work and school. Now if only it ran all night!

The apartment is great. There is a huge grocery store nearby, a short walk, or I can take the train two stops North and hit a giant Shaw's. I took pics of the wonderful various beers--as for Boston, there is an absolute LACK of beer and wine sold in stores, it's proving to be something of a bitch.



This clearly falls into the So-Wrong-It's-Right category.



There was also a little pub nearby called 99 (don't ask) which struck me as the sort of place I will probably frequent on occasion against my better judgment. Very unspecial. (We also found the waitress with the smallest personality on Earth.)

The people at the apartment were really friendly and it seems like a great place to live. I didn't get to see my exact unit or the view from the 8th floor, but we saw a similar floor plan. The balconies are really great and I am looking forward to seeing the Boston skyline at night. There's a huge field of (mud at the moment) what appears to be abandoned farmland...it will look good covered in snow at any rate.

We took the train back into town to hit Faneuil Hall, a pretty touristy thing to do, but you know, a newby has to do the touristy things, too! (It used to be a marketplace but now it's sort of an open-air mall/market/foodie thing.)

So the original Bull & Finch is still around, but memory was telling me the bar looks nothing like the set of Cheers, it was merely the inspiration for the show (and exterior shots, apparently). I read up on it and this is true, but apparently everyone wanted a bar built that did look like the show. At Faneuil Hall, there is one that is modeled after the show. Heavy emphasis on modeled.





The look on Norm's face says more than words ever could.

It's quite small, and two things really bothered me. First of all, there's no attention to detail. You couldn't even slide a beer down the length of the bar like you (well, the bartender) should be able to do. (See that middle column?)



Also, it was full of windows with a ton of sunshine pouring in. It should be in a basement! Also, there were creepy cardboard cut-outs of all the cast members--a very creepy Kelsey Grammar waits at the bottom of the stairs to the restrooms. And Shelley Long got stuck outside the Ladies. Ouch.

It's nice that it exists, I just wish a little more effort had been made and a little less exploitation (I noted Cheers' Bloody Mary mix stuck up on the shelves, like just slapping the label on there makes it good).

On the other hand, we had some really cool Wachusetts Blueberry Beer! The bartender drops a few blueberries in for presentation and ta da! It's very cool because they sink and then lift again, it's the lava lamp of beers. Highly recommend.



We wandered around and found my law school for today and then finished up with noodles at Wagamama.





This place I will certainly hit again--it's all about the #72, Yasai Katsu Curry. Damn fine stuff.



Today I have a tour of my law school and we're planning to hit the aquarium. I think whale watching will have to wait for summer, since the times aren't working with us today. Also, it's a little on the CHILLY side! On the plus side, in later summer on weekends there are sunset trips! Sold!

Ling went to law school? Ling is a LAWYER?

Hello Boston!

Despite a flight that was somewhat delayed, we finally made it to Logan around 6:30pm. We checked into the Midtown Hotel (pics in a bit) and headed off to the North End for Little Italy.



My Fodor book recommended a place called Antico Forno, and like most good places in Little Italy on a Saturday night, it was crowded and noisy, but in a good way. We ate at the bar since we got the corner spot and it was really delicious.

Mom had the rigatoni salsiccia e riccota...



and I had gnocchi di patate...



It was so much food, I wish we could have taken the leftovers! And of course, we had a homemade cannoli to wrap things up!



It was a little late once we finished, so most things were closed and we took the train back to the hotel. We when first left the hotel, the friendliest station attendant wandered over to us to explain how to buy a Charlie Card instead of the single ride tickets, since it would be cheaper and easier, and he also explained how the train lines were different from New York's. (I'm really glad, actually, since it might have taken me a bit.) So we made it home with ease and wandered around the area.

Our hotel, unknown to me when I booked it, is owned by the Christian Science Church (or First Church of Christ Scientist, whatever it's called) and they have some enormous churches around here. The various buildings look really cool at night...





Also, there was a really sweet reflecting pool that looks like it would be really fun to wade in. (Naturally, it's fully decked out in signs asking you to refrain from doing precisely that.)





Yeah, this huge cool building? It's for SUNDAY SCHOOL. See the little artwork in the windows?



We came back to our little hotel...





...and this morning has been rainy and cloudy with a bit of a bitchy wind. Hopefully that will go away, but we're about to head down to Quincy to see the apartment, so as long as the rain is gone by this afternoon!

Oh! The poor turkey fell down!

I weep for the day when I have public transportation again.

I am currently in downtown Fort Worth waiting for Friday rush hour to mellow out a little since my little Jetta Hans decided to contribute to my weight-loss program by no longer offering me air conditioning.

Sweat it out, sucker, and it's only May.

Fuck you, Hans.

There are few things more expensive to fix, and HE KNOOOOOOWS I only have about two more months left. I will take it in, just in case, though seeing as I just had my fluids filled (that almost sounds like a pervy Frantics skit), I'm betting it's pricey and involved.

So I stopped off for a little snack and one beer. I even thought I'd splurge a little since it's Friday--I said I didn't want the Fire Sale beer, I wanted something in a wicked glass. (Seriously, they have markings next to the beers that come in their own special glasses...I blame this, too, on being raised to adore the "sparkly" in daily life). So she brought me her favorite beer because I only wanted one and it comes in a snifter. I would tell you what kind of beer it is, but I am not good at discerning things audibly. Will this matter in law school?

I am such a girl, ordering a beer for the glass. But I wanted to nurse it long enough for traffic to go away.

I had SO MUCH FUN at Odis last night. It was very relaxed, just hanging out on the patio of Central Market with pizza and wine, watching a couple local bands. I don't know what it is about Odis--they are so much better live than when just listening to their CD...don't get me wrong, the CD's great, it just doesn't capture the raw, energetic danceness you hear from them live. Listening to the CD, I tend to start thinking about other bands with a similar sound, but live they sound only like themselves and are very captivating--a rare thing for sure.

And the chocolate chocolate chip gelato was a bonus, but I had a great time regardless.

And since I'm hoping to hit Austin 2-3 times before moving, I'm going to try to coordinate those plans with at least one Odis performance at some of my old Austin haunts...no place better than Austin to boogie with beer to music that could be on a Robert Rodriguez soundtrack!

Anyhoo, tomorrow: BOSTON!! Soooooo excited to have a flight that does NOT take off before 8am in the #$^%& AM. I don't think I've ever started a trip so late in the day, it's wild. 10am has been my latest departure flight in recent years, and that was my oft-traveled flight home to Tokyo...

Here's hoping traffic's nearly tolerable now!

I'm the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy.

So Katy Perry was fabulous Monday night. Saying there were too many damn people is putting it mildly. But it was still fun even when all the seats around me (including mine) ended up being double-sold (due to a rescheduling of the show, no doubt). Luckily, I got there first and it never mattered.

The video I posted a couple days ago was really more for showing off costumes and production, but I couldn't help but notice it seemed more than a little off-key. This is the song she's most known for (I'm sure they play it endlessly on the radio, or did, but luckily I never listen to the radio). Again, not crazy about the video, really, but at least she's in tune this time.

The next night I went to Scat Jazz Lounge to see Ricki Derek and His Big Band, which was a rockin' good time. It was a fifteen-piece band, mostly horns with a piano and stand-up bass. Ricki Derek himself does a nice mix of tongue-in-cheek and over-the-top, complete with a full suit and lots of personality. They all clearly love playing together and joking around and it makes for a great evening.

I just loathe the drunk people who try to make themselves part of the banter. Buckets of fail, you must die. Not to mention half the people who go to jazz shows around this town have "poser" tattooed all over their faces. Sigh.

Moron #1: "Do you take requests?"

RD: "There's 15 people up here, how can we take requests?"

But it was a really great show and I'm glad we went.

Tonight the cafe at Central Market has two bands playing, one of whom I saw at the Main Street Arts Fest. It's an indie rock group of four guys called Odis and they're a lot of fun live. Not to mention the chore of drinking and snacking at Central Market, I suppose I can manage. Plus it's early, a 6-9 type deal, so that's great for me since I've been running around all week.

Tomorrow night is reserved for Project Runway Season 4, Disc 4 which Netfux FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY decided I could have. Seriously, the seasons changed while I've been waiting for this fucking disk. My instinct is to sit on it childishly for months now that I have it.

And then it's off to Boston for four days! Wheee!! Something tells me I was wrong to pack my warm clothes already. Whoops.

I'm gonna be the syrup, she can be my waffle.

Another gem from Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake on Saturday Night Live: Mother Lover. NSFW is a major understatement.



(The beginning is a Dick in a Box joke, if you never saw that one...)

On some dancers the toes are all smooshed together, and I would just say, 'Sorry, Misha, uh-uh, not without socks.'

I got a lot packed this weekend, plus the house went on the market, woo hoo! I dropped the kitties off with my parents so I wouldn't have to worry about them getting out or people being freaked out by CATS!--and it was just in time. I got home at 2 in the afternoon to a call saying the house was being shown between 2 and 4. I left just as they were getting there, and I think it was just a large group of realtors. Hope they sell it!

I took D to see Star Trek Saturday night--it still rocks. My friend J runs projection at this theater and he is not much for fun action flicks (I do agree that the plot was far fluffier than most Trek films, and the series deserves better, but that can be the next film...this was just a very energetic reboot!) so he and I were arguing via text as the end credits rolled.

J: Finally see why it sucks?

EA: Bite me, loved it.

J: Who puts so much time and energy into such mediocrity? Why?

EA: Beats me, what's ur mom's defense?

J: Comparing my mom to Star Trek, that's fucking low.

EA: Think I was comparing u to Star Trek actually. Besides, Kirk's hotter than ur mom.

I like to keep my arguments mature.

Anyhoo, I also wanted to get a lot done this weekend since this is a big week for fun stuff. I wanted to see Katy Perry back in March, but then it got rescheduled for May and before I could talk myself into buying a ticket, it sold out.



The show is tonight and I checked ebay this morning. Just for me, someone was actually selling one ticket. Hee hee. And considering the fees ticketmaster slaps on, I bought it for less than if I had bought it before the show sold out. Sweet! I am really looking forward to it, since I have a feeling it's a big production visually. Not to mention her outfits/costumes...

Plus it's at House of Blues, my very favorite big show venue. Parking and getting out is a breeze, the seating is ideal, I love the whole place.



I know she occasionally gets slammed for her music being supposedly homophobic and/or for lezploitation (kinda hard to do both, but whatev), but this strikes me as something one might think from the song titles alone--rather than listening to the lyrics. I was initially put off by the title Ur So Gay, but the lyrics make the song, and it's not being used as an insult. I can see why someone would make that assumption, however.

In any case, I think her music's fun. And bouncy. Plus who doesn't love a big production number?



Which reminds me, reason #87 I love Central Market: I walked in today and they were playing fairly obscure Dar Williams. One of the few things I will miss in Texas, no doubt, is my Central Market!

Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.

Hooray!! Two very enthusiastic thumbs up, I can't wait to see it again!



I had only teeny tiny minor beefs, but it was so much fun and that's all that matters. That, and a really kick-ass sound system.

Just thought I'd mention in passing... I've always wanted a sparkly of my very own.

So it goes without saying how sad I was to see the passing of Dom DeLuise this past Monday night, even though it took me more than enough time to mention it...They have not disclosed a cause of death, but I understand he had been battling cancer for more than a year.



My friend C at work (who is several years younger than myself) and I were mentioning how, despite his famous and well-known roles in Mel Brooks' films, we both had a special soft spot for all the voice work he did--like An American Tail and most importantly, The Secret of NIMH. She was even saying that's where the magic of "sparkly" comes from--I thought I was the only one who thought so. Hee hee.



I realize I'm not familiar with some of his older work, but I can barely remember a time when I didn't know his name--he had a distinctive voice that I always instantly recognized, even when I was just a kid.



So it's another depressing loss, at a not terribly old age.

Ooh! oh-oh-oooh! A sparkly!

So you can tell I'm stressing because I have not been going ON AND ON about the new Star Trek movie coming out this week. But it is! And I am SO EXCITED. The only reason I can deduce that I'm excited is that most of the cool dorks in the geek world who have already seen it seem to love it.

Because with trailers like this:



I should be appalled. But instead, I totally cannot wait. Tomorrow night. 7pm, it's on. Oh yes.

And we're hitting the chain in town with the best sound and pic--I'm expecting to be blown away and will accept nothing less.

Jesus, I can't believe I'm exited about something J.J. Abrams is associated with. Not to mention someone let him put his hands on Star Trek--maybe multiple wrongs can somehow make a right? We shall see...

He's so far in the closet he's in Narnia.

Oh. My. God. I just...um...bought an apartment online. It's on the eighth floor of a twelve-story building (I'm pretty sure they have an elevator, ha ha) and is one of the units with a view of the Boston skyline.

I really, really hope this turns out to be one of those bold, impulsive decisions you're really glad you made and not the kind where all you do is think, "The HELL was I smoking?" Buying an apartment sight unseen? But much research and comparative shopping later, this is the place for me.

The train station directly across the street was a pretty major selling point as well.

But mostly, I was imagining that when I'm eating beans and dust bunnies, I'd have a really great view.

I don't believe in a God but I'm almost positive I just shit out the devil.

This Texts From Last Night site is hysterical, it is really making my night.

I'm actually researching where to live in Boston, so this is a fabulous distraction.

Here I am, the victim of my own choices. And I'm just starting.

Boston it is!

And I mean it this time! I think.

If I get angsty, I'll just scroll down and look at that River Phoenix shot...

I didn't feel like having my picture taken with those sub-humans.

So the bonus to being out sick for a day is getting to catch up on movie-watching. I've been watching TV shows lately, due to packing and whatnot. So yesterday I got home, curled up and watched Running On Empty, which I'd never seen and really knew nothing about, except that it was River Phoenix's sole Oscar nomination (for Best Supporting Actor, which he lost to Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda. Phoenix was great in the film, but nothing tops Otto.)

Ok, first of all, there should have been some sort of warning that Running On Empty features River Phoenix with longish hair, wearing glasses, and playing the piano. I mean, a girl needs warning. I'm not even sure I can remember what the movie was about.



Ok, I guess I do. His parents were wanted by the FBI for blowing up a napalm lab during Vietnam, mostly due to a janitor (who wasn't supposed to be there) being blinded and paralyzed by the explosion. So every two years or so, the whole family packs up, moves, and changes their names. But now he's almost 18, falls in love with Martha Plimpton (whom I've always really enjoyed), and one of his teachers gets him to audition for Juilliard (who, of course, totally want him). It veers off into drama! here and there, but it makes it work.

I actually really enjoyed the whole thing and wouldn't mind seeing it again in the future.

Then I popped in a Bogart film I'd never seen, All Through the Night. Now, I realize it's silly to say it's dated, since it's from 1941, but sometimes films are more dated than others, regardless of when they came out. You know, in that painful kind of way. Really, the whole thing was fine, very enjoyable. I'm not so sure I'd need to see it again, but it was entertaining. Beating up Nazis (especially with Peter Lorre co-starring) is always a good time.



I also know I very badly want to answer the phone, "Yeah, what is it, Obnoxious?" But only if I could be Humphrey Bogart when I did it.

That is one smooth-talking showerhead.

Are you kidding me?

I have urges in my areas.

Alex was asking which Frantics clip "...and one more for Jenny and the wimp," was from...



But the funny thing that put it in my head was actually one of Wil Wheaton's posts. It was a total aside, but I don't think I've ever seen someone make a Frantics reference who wasn't Canadian (and even then, my count is up to ONE and it was another teacher in Japan who caught me muttering something about the glazed doughnuts...)

But someone in the comments section sent me this:



Whatever did we do before youtube?

I can't find some of my favorites ("Gas Station Washroom," "He's Wearing Nazi Paraphernalia," etc.), but I recall my dad was always fond of this one...

...and one for Jenny and the wimp.

Sometimes, coffee after 8pm is not a good idea. Actually, that's probably usually a good rule of thumb, huh?

And then when you do finally go to sleep, it's a lot of fun to wake up slightly after 5:30am anyway! Whee. On the plus side, I needed to catch up on some Netfux. Season 2 of Arrested Development is quite humorous at 6am.

Speaking of Netfux, two things. I could be really pissed that disc 4 of season 4 Project Runway has been at the top of my queue for at least a month (I mean, seriously, disc 4, really? Not to mention the fact I'm not even ashamed to be openly bitching about my inability to finish Project Runway...), but aww, look who finally decided to start shipping on Saturday. Something like, what, seven years later, but I'll take it.

On a completely random note, I never did mention that Australia kinda sucked. And it was enough of a wreck that I feel the need to address it 2-3 weeks later. Rock on.



When I wrote about it, I was halfway through and it was unfolding fairly decently. I really tried to give it the benefit of the doubt--you know, all that melodrama. But it just didn't work. Like, at all.

The reason I like [most] Baz Lurhmann films is the same reason I like Streets of Fire so much--they are so uniform in their over-the-topness. From the music to the characters to the dialogue...they sell themselves in all of it. Sadly, Australia just brings the melodrama to otherwise ordinary characters and a [more] realistic story (work with me here)--it just doesn't mix together nicely.

I have no problem with the length or the fact the story turns into at least three different stories...I actually usually really go for that, but it's nice when it's done somewhat seamlessly. Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino is an example of how this is done well. Australia does not do this so well. I tried to be patient, but I think I actually turned it off as the last five minutes unfurled. (It was the principle of the thing.)

Ok, back to looking for $40,000! Whee!

Well, well. I've never seen trash take itself out.

Today I need to take pictures of my house, which is sort of tricky. I want the room to be as bare as possible so people can imagine their own crap in it, but I also haven't packed everything yet (are you kidding?) and even if I had, then the rooms would just be full of boxes. I'll make it work. I just need Tim Gunn to step in intermittently, furrow his brow and go, "I'm concerned," or "It worries me."

I also have to put down a deposit for the second of the two universities I may attend, because I just can't make up my mind. I talked to two people at this university to pick their brains about classes for the dual degree for which I was accepted. I think it actually confused me more (who knew it could be done?). I also need to see about flying out to said university to look at cardboard boxes for rent. Housing, joy.

Oh, and then there's financial aid. I got the standard government maximum, which covers half of the needed funds. I got this from each university. While I'm still working both of them and telling each I've accepted, how does that affect fin aid? I need to accept it and get the rest from GRAD Plus or what-the-hell-ever private loan feels like giving me another 20K, but shouldn't I only do this for one university? And how quickly do I need to do it, considering I'm still vacillating between the two? I'd like to do it NOW because who wants to be short 20K when tuition comes due? Yeah, not so much.

And my second university will let me register this Friday--OMG. REGISTER? Like, for CLASSES?? Not only is that giving me hardcore UNT 8am-registration-via-phone flashbacks (shudder), but it majorly freaks me out. Probably because it will be MAY 1st and that suddenly makes August seem like tomorrow.

And if August is tomorrow, does that mean I should have sold my house yesterday?

And no, this does not mean I have started watching Gossip Girl.

Well. Ok, maybe it does.

Today's soup is Cream of I'll Kick Your Ass.

First of all, I had a great weekend. I wanted to blog about it beforehand, but it was a surprise for someone who reads my blog. He's busy getting his PhD at Columbia, but with my luck, that would be the week he checked my blog!

Drew, my old Tokyo roommate and one of my two best friends, had his 30th birthday this past week and his partner Luis was throwing him a party Saturday night. He sent out an E-vite a couple months ago and he and I decided I would fly in and be part of the surprise. For one thing, I am the last person to get to meet Luis, so it was nice to spend the day with him catching up. He is instantly lovable--oh, and did I mention he does cancer research and sings opera? Oh, me too. He has a great sense of humor and is very easy to be around; he is just perfect.

I have pictures and New York City always lends itself well to posts, but that will probably be the next post. First! Something completely different. I've been cleaning out the house as I pack and I found a media card from my first digital camera I bought in 1999. These pictures are from December 2002--I had been back from Japan for a month and my niece Fiona was still brand-new, not even a year old (she was born in February).

The pictures after the family pics are drastically different and are somewhat NSFW.

My apologies for the red eye, I'm on my laptop, which only has crappy programs for fixing that.







There were more, but these were the best 3.

Now, a couple months later I went back to Japan and stayed with my good friend Louisa. We both enjoy wine immensely. She is also a huge Chow Yun Fat fan, and someone gave her a Chow Yun Fat doll at some point. She also has a wicked sense of humor and various trinkets about the apartment.

So by "various trinkets," I mean a toy penis, a small stuffed sheep and duck. This was utterly hysterical at the time. Now, it's a VERY ODD THING to discover on your media card. (But it does still crack me up.)



It's a little blown out, but the duck is enjoying the show.



Nothing like a multi-species gang bang. (And Chow is flexing for his reflection, if you can't tell.)



Ah, wine.

[Editor's Note: So apparently, that is a chicken from Chicken Run, not a duck. Moo moo.]

You're just jealous because in the past two minutes I've matured and you haven't.

A friend of mine was telling me about this in Japan, so I did a search and lo and behold...

For the record, I don't think this was around when I lived there...

He dumped me at a restaurant. It was harsh. So was the lighting.

So this weekend is the Fort Worth Main Street Arts Fest, which I've never really bothered going to before. For one thing, I hate people.



For another thing, I normally just hit Denton's Jazz Fest, but sadly I'll be out of town when it rolls around this year. Also, since I practically live in Fort Worth, I thought I'd check it out. We stopped by Thursday evening, and I was really surprised!

Now, I love the Denton Jazz Fest, but some of the "art" tends to be...ok, tacky, kitschy, embarrassing. You know, not all of it by any means, and what is good is exorbitantly priced. The latter was still true here, but there were far more booths with cool stuff. Mostly with a somewhat obvious, demented theme, but enjoyable nonetheless. So it makes for some good wandering around. And naturally I forgot my camera. So I'll get some pics today.

The food wasn't quite as good as Jazz Fest--first of all, most of the merchants are downtown eateries, which is hardly anything new. Also, there is not a fried booth, and how is that bloody possible? However, there is a booth that sells these awesome mini-cake donuts, and I got to sample something my dad has always advocated: donuts and beer. Damn, it is indeed a wicked combination. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up.

We also hung out by the 9th Street Stage, and I saw two artists that really impressed me. The first was Ricki Derek and the Vegas Six. It was this jazzy, lounge-singer act--lots of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc.--with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor and borderline over-the-topness. It worked so well; the whole act was so charismatic and quite talented! I think the singer normally has his own big band, which I'm sure is good as well, and they often play at Scat Lazz Lounge downtown. I've only been once or twice, but I've been wanting a reason to go back. Ta da!



The second band, Odis, was really enjoyable, and I even bought their CD. Their first few songs reminded me of a Robert Rodriguez soundtrack, which was cool, and then the more songs they played, the more apparent it was they had their own sound. I admit I prefer hearing them live than the CD I bought--now that I listen to it on my ipod, I hear a few other bands coming through, of whom I'm not usually a big fan. But it was a really great live show, and they'll be playing at my Central Market's Outside Patio in a couple weeks (May 14), so again, twist my arm, I just may go.

I will definitely bring the camera today. Also, it pissed down rain all yesterday, but I'm pleased to see rain out of the forecast for the remainder of the weekend!

Apparently she had him at Jell-O.

I have NO IDEA why this is in my head, but enjoy.



I think it was the showerhead this morning, it just reminded me of Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Hey, did you know that a studio apartment can be SMALLER than 500 sq ft? I have, no shit, seen a few listed for $1100 or so (both in the D.C. and Boston areas) that start at 250 sq ft. OMFG. Is that even legal?!!

Fort Worth's Main Street Arts Fest is this weekend. I'm normally all for these things, but all the foodies are downtown merchants...nothing I can't get any other day, you know?

I am a fan of sunshine, beer and jazz, though, not to mention people-watching and camera opportunities...I might be more inclined if there was actual grass downtown, as opposed to a bunch of streets and concrete...

Don't sew when you're this angry.

I've been seeing a chiropractor again for about a week, since my neck was getting bad again. The annoying thing is that it sometimes gets really bad at night--evening mostly. Even last night, I had rented Twister (it's on my dad's top ten comfort films and I hadn't really seen the whole thing in probably ten years--so much of it reminded me point-by-point of Speed and hey, der, same director, Jan de Bont...); anyway, a film like that is usually perfect to take my mind off things. Not so much this time. (It was still enjoyable, but you know, pain sucks.)



(Btw, that sucker has some winning dialogue!)

I went to the store for wine (hey, when in doubt...oh wait, different movie), and a snack. I was irritated enough that I wasn't really considering my diet. So I'm wandering around in the sort of clothes where you pray you don't run into anyone (at the time, I honestly couldn't give a rat's ass) and none of the snackies sounded good. Wanted an ice cream treat, but not a whole goddamn box, ya know? Considering what I left with, I'm really glad for self-check-out. I mean, it's not like I got a cucumber, Vaseline and condoms, but I just don't need anyone judging my wine, bacon, chips, French Onion dip. (Honestly, the bacon is just for a recipe.)

My friend C had nearly the same problem that same morning, standing in line to purchase (before 10am, natch) red wine and a big can of tomatoes. The woman behind her eyed her and (in a humorous tone, one assumes) said, "Nice way to start the morning." C replied (all too seriously, knowing her), "Breakfast of champions."

But I came home, finished off Twister and then lay on the floor to watch Watership Down, since it had been way too long. Still perfect.



This is the Quiz Link; I have a feeling we're all Hazel. (Ok, I took it again and now I'm Pipkin...so I'm a born leader and a born follower, what does that say about me?)

Also, for some good Saturday morning randomness, I really enjoyed:

Woody Harrelson's defense of beating up a paparazzo saying he mistook him for a zombie

PETA (seriously) asking the Pet Shop Boys to change their name

and for a pleasant finish, this NYTimes article, A Paradise of Birds in Belize. Belize seems to have been the trendy vacation spot last year (at least for people here), but I really wouldn't mind seeing some of those guys! #7 is particularly sexy and #9 looks really soft...

Would you please tell the audience... err... the jury what happened?

Ok, I've felt like such a reject for enough months you'll forgive me if I say: Did I mention THIS yet? (It's #5 we're looking at.) I won't tell the admissions office they made a mistake with my application if you won't!

And they have so many cool specializations within their international department--from studying organizations like the EU (or doing studies THERE) to human rights to...hmm, you know, I probably should have studied those "foreign languages" more, huh? In all honesty, I have been revisiting my two years of (college) Italian via Live Mocha, which is a pretty cool site. (But something tells me I should have studied Arabic, oh well...less reason to go to the scary places, right, mom?)

And I will absolutely go back to feeling like a poser slug who can't afford to even breathe in their school, but I get at least one moment to feel pretty fucking happy. For some weird reason, all last night while falling asleep, I could not get Renee Zellweger out of my head...



A song celebrating fame through murder is possibly not the right sentiment, but there it is.

Frith may have made it, but Fiver found it.

Yesterday evening was a nice surprise. I was listening to Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War and noticing the pink haze hanging around the metroplex like some post-apocalyptic Hardware-esque setting.

And D sent me a text message, "You got a big envelope from [redacted]." I didn't want to get my hopes up, as this particular university had told me that if they accepted me, they'd call and I'd have to decide right then and pay a $900 deposit within 24 hrs. Maybe they do that if it gets really late in the game, or perhaps it's a severe weeding out process, who knows.

I certainly still wouldn't mind moving to Boston, should that be the case, and I guess I have to wait to see what the financial aid offers look like? But without a doubt, it'd be pretty hard to turn this place down, considering its ranking and reputation! They have something like a 21% acceptance rate and their International Law program is #5 in the country (ahead of Yale, Berkeley and Stanford, hee hee). Also, it's twenty minutes from here, which is neat. (You know, for when they want to invite me to dinner.)

And if I save up my pennies in a jar, I could actually maybe finally see these guys play! (Assuming they're still together...) Mostly that's my excuse to post this song, I think it's a fabulous Friday song.

Tea, Earl Grey, hot.

This is why I miss living in Austin.

To say the least.

Massachusetts is a blue state. God has no place here.

Hooray! I am excited to have something to divert my attention for the next three weeks...if you've read this blog for any length, you'll recall that this is the time of year USA Film Festival comes around, and I occasionally get called on to help out. Last year, I was all too happy to devote any waking minutes I could spare to making a tribute video for Mystery Science Theater 3000. I was working a lot of hours at work as it was, but I was really into making that damn thing.

This year, there are two tribute videos I've been asked to help out on; mostly one actor, but should he fall through, then we go to Plan B. I'm not allowed to say who is who, but between you and me, I would have much more of a feel for the Plan B actor--not that I don't really respect Plan A actor...in either case, I'm totally tickled to be helping out. I'm delighted to be heading to law school, make no mistake, but I will always totally fucking love editing--from sorting and pulling clips (which is what I'll be doing this weekend) to figuring out how to best assemble the puzzle (the part I often get to do when my friend gets too busy with other festival stupidities) and then watching the finished product.

If there is anything more fun than editing, I hope to find it in the next three years!

Where do they keep his water dish?

It is OBNOXIOUSLY GORGEOUS OUTSIDE. Work should be canceled on days like THESE.

But oh well. So instead, here is Paul Simon in Tokyo, two of my very favorite things.

You are a manila envelope glued to a beige wall.

This line popped into my head when I was thinking about Boston Legal. Just kidding, there's nothing beige about James Spader. I could watch him in (almost?) anything.



Just started a new show last night at Alex's recommendation, Burn Notice. I was shocked to see it, too, was a product of the USA Network. I hope it doesn't go the route of The Starter Wife, which is to say, cancellation. To be fair, Burn Notice is much stronger.



It amused me that even though the show could hardly be more different from Miami Vice, it's nearly impossible to set the show in Miami without worrying about comparisons. Hopefully Alex doesn't mind me repeating her writing, because it's perfect: Miami Vice is a gritty downer in a pretty pastel dress; Burn Notice is optimism in a tailored suit with a g-string underneath.

So I eagerly await disc 2. It can be a little pat and you usually know how it's going to end, but that doesn't mean the ride isn't enjoyable.

I also started Australia. It really takes a moment to adjust to the world of Baz Lurhmann. I love Baz, but the drama is so MELODRAMATIC and the comedy almost slapstick, it can take a moment to submerge into the mood and not start to hate it.



But the drama and pace have been really on-target, and it's been an easy watch for its 2 hr 45 minute runtime. I was sort of questioning Nicole for a while, but I think she's mostly got it together. It's a hard role to get just right, in fairness.

Also, HOORAY FOR VERMONT!! And D.C. isn't doing too badly, either! Yeah!

After the square dance, maybe we can all take a hay ride.

I'm still pretty giddy from Friday's news...I vacillate between "OMG!!!111!" and "Holy SHIT am I doing everything I need to with financial aid?"

My potential educators sent me a letter about needing more info, which I had to call and correct them on--you wouldn't believe the hoops one has to go through to prove that their parents are not paying for their education (how old am I, again??). They're rushing my award through the process so I know what to ask for in private loans (groan), which I am not supposed to seek yet. Whew. Just have that nervous feeling like I should be doing something, you know?

Also, I'm so glad I checked the mail on Friday before my email, as they had mistakenly sent me an email reminding me to make my deposit by a certain date. They caught the error, and sent me another email saying, "Whoops, just kidding, congrats on getting in and your deposit date is actually later, so no worries." Would have been a really anticlimatic way to find out, though! There's something nice about getting the Big Envelope in the mail rather than the skinny rejection letter.

And it looks like classes (well, orientation) starts August 12th! August is very far away, but you know what? It's SO TOTALLY NOT. Time to get BOXES! And I need to call the magnificent Sam, my realtor, to see about selling/renting my house. I know most people in this market opt for renting...and I have to admit I love the idea, since I love my house so much. All the work I've put into that yard!! You can't really tell, but you shoulda seen it in the beginning...that poor yard!

It's such a family neighborhood, especially with schools, I don't know if people would rather buy, to be honest...hey, I'll take it where I can get it!

Also, please do not watch Boston Legal. It's really bad. I'm 4 discs into a 6-disc season 1, and well, it blows. I love James Spader, truly, and any laughs are strictly due to his delivery, but it's just not worth it. At this point, it's very much like watching a train wreck and I feel compelled to see the season out.

Did you drink and dial?

This week I ate at two Italian restaurants in Fort Worth, Aventino's and The Italian Inn. In retrospect, I have a feeling this'll be some of the last eating out I do, since a desperate squirreling away of pennies seems to be in order. It's going to be hard not to eat out, not to mention that a scaling down of my Netfux subscription is undoubtedly in order, but I'll worry about that later. In the meantime, the restaurants...

The first one, Aventino's, was more fine dining. I had the pumpkin gnocchi, which was really tasty. Before ordering, the waitress actually asked if I wanted to relax with my wine and book. While I was reading, she brought out some English peas--compliments of the chef--with this powdered olive oil side I still can't explain despite asking about it a second time--damn was it good. It was Monday, so it was pretty quiet all around and I finished off two books I'd been reading.

And I loved Aventino's but I admit it, The Italian Inn was way more my place. It's a Fort Worth favorite I've been meaning to try for a while. The doors boast, "Home of the Singing Waiters!" and I always just sorta took that to mean birthday stuff. No. First of all, the minute you enter you have to go downstairs into a basement, and you're surrounded by graffiti from the get-go. Years of it. It's the new Flying Tomato! (For me, anyway.)

The booths have doors on them that even close (rowr!), and there is a raised piano on the main floor, where the waitstaff periodically get up and sing Beatles, Broadway, classics, whatever. I got off the phone when I heard my waitress singing All My Lovin, since that is the best Beatles song, full stop.

And hey, the food rocked, too! Always a plus. I was reading a book, but was easily distracted by the graffiti. There are notes under the booth tabletops, which are all glasstops. 98% are anniversary "I totally love you baby" type stuff, but there was a clear winner:

Dear Larry,

Did you ever think you'd see the day when I'd be here with your ex-wife and you'd be living under a fucking rock--where you belong, scumbag. Maybe next time you'll value what you have and life will hand you what you deserve--warts and herpes. In the meantime, we'll be in Europe drinking champagne, asshole.

Love,
Greg & V.

Easily my favorite.

And honestly, it's reasonably priced enough that perhaps I can go back a couple more times before August. The girls at work want to treat me to dinner next Friday, so I think I'm opting for this place!

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm starting to watch The Boy In the Striped Pajamas. Bet it's a laugh riot.

One big world full of no.

Just when you think it is, anyway, someone actually wants you.



I got accepted to law school!!! Omg, someone actually wants me!!

What's creepy is that I had a feeling today was the day. Also, I stopped off to rent Boston Legal on the way home to entertain myself while I finish painting the kitchen. Shoulda rented it a long time ago! Wow, and now I'll know what to expect from Boston law! ;)

Today I cannot wipe the giddy smile off my face. Tomorrow, I will begin shitting nervous poo for six months thinking about moving, money and house selling. And getting Bourdain up there.