I've decided that Wednesday was Mark Ruffalo day. The following events happened that day, randomly and independently:
1. Alissa reminded me that in her high school alumni record it says she is married to Mark Ruffalo. Her submission, clearly.
2. I came home and took Time Out out of the mailbox: Mark Ruffalo is on the cover!
3. Maggie and I were planning on seeing a movie. Due to best showtimes, we were gonna see How To Lose Friends & Alienate People, but due to her getting home later from work than planned, Blindness was all we could see at the chosen theatre with remaining showtimes. Two hours of Mark Ruffalo!
Thinking about item 1 and item 3 now together prompted me to ask Alissa if she had seen Blindness:
me: have you seen blindness?
sorry, i must be crazy, you probably went to the premiere with the hubby
Alissa: obvi my hubby and i went to the premiere
G-chat makes it look like I said that first, but we said that at the same time, and that is why Alissa and I are friends.
On a more serious note, Blindness was good. It reminded me of 28 Days Later at times, but was a much better film and story. Also, it had some Lord of the Flies themes going on. I know, so many things are compared to Lord of the Flies, but that's because it's the best example of how different types of people handle power and order when it's free for the taking.
Also, this film made me realize that if Lindsay Lohan ages naturally and remains blond, she will grow to look a lot like Julianne Moore.
The theatre where we saw Blindness didn't have mirrors in the bathroom! It was an interesting social experiment to notice that right before seeing a movie in which almost no one can see anything. I don't really know what the question of the experiment would be, but I bet there were those who didn't notice the lack of mirror and those who did, like me.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
tHiS is 2 fuNnY.. LoL.. O M GeE!
Bob just told me about Skidmore Unofficial and I'm doing that silent laughing thing considering I'm in a quiet room full of strangers, but it's really hard to not laugh audibly right now. This new Skidmore blog/message board site is full of quality quotes. I have to repost a few here.
On Girl Talk and my former radio station:
"I guess I didn't get Girl Talk. He's nothing but a DJ who plays a bunch of songs all at once and the only difference between him and the Skidmore radio DJ's is Girl Talk does it on purpose".
On STDs and stupidity:
Girl: "You can get herpies [herpes, morons] from kissing someone? How's that possible? It's an STD"
Boy: "Yeah, he got it from kissing a girl"
Girl: "Oh okay, that's fine, I haven't kissed any girls"
On laundry and true love. Also, on drugs:
"i just opened my dryer in front of you, causing all of my laundry to spill to the floor, you snorted (so hottt) and and then suggested i use fabric softener. i really felt something between us, but its possible that i'm just really really high. i was wondering if you want to meet at taco bell in like 20 minutes. my treat?"
On "my roommate...":
"loves Creed"
"masturbates for a long time"
"and insists I watch"
"and MADE me watch"
"plays tricks on me with her universal remote"
"plucks at my towel with her tweezers and pulls out the threads, freak.."
"has an open case of vaseline next to her bed.."
"is stingy with his medicinals and need to chill the fuck out about it cause honestly, this is a community and it's not like I wasn't perfectly generous...whatever"
"beatboxes"
On themes for parties:
"pretzel party. everyone brings their favorite pretzel."
"sock party... my mom used to throw them when i was little. everyone can wear their favorite pair of socks! its a blast"
"birthday party"
"american socialist party"
"an alcohol party"
"not in the dorms, yo" (In response to above... Narc)
"get old school and do a toga party. it's only appropraite. (it being saraTOGA and all.)" (Mindblowing)
"third eye blind party"
"CEOs and their respectable, close to retirement, reserved secretaries."
On Girl Talk and my former radio station:
"I guess I didn't get Girl Talk. He's nothing but a DJ who plays a bunch of songs all at once and the only difference between him and the Skidmore radio DJ's is Girl Talk does it on purpose".
On STDs and stupidity:
Girl: "You can get herpies [herpes, morons] from kissing someone? How's that possible? It's an STD"
Boy: "Yeah, he got it from kissing a girl"
Girl: "Oh okay, that's fine, I haven't kissed any girls"
On laundry and true love. Also, on drugs:
"i just opened my dryer in front of you, causing all of my laundry to spill to the floor, you snorted (so hottt) and and then suggested i use fabric softener. i really felt something between us, but its possible that i'm just really really high. i was wondering if you want to meet at taco bell in like 20 minutes. my treat?"
On "my roommate...":
"loves Creed"
"masturbates for a long time"
"and insists I watch"
"and MADE me watch"
"plays tricks on me with her universal remote"
"plucks at my towel with her tweezers and pulls out the threads, freak.."
"has an open case of vaseline next to her bed.."
"is stingy with his medicinals and need to chill the fuck out about it cause honestly, this is a community and it's not like I wasn't perfectly generous...whatever"
"beatboxes"
On themes for parties:
"pretzel party. everyone brings their favorite pretzel."
"sock party... my mom used to throw them when i was little. everyone can wear their favorite pair of socks! its a blast"
"birthday party"
"american socialist party"
"an alcohol party"
"not in the dorms, yo" (In response to above... Narc)
"get old school and do a toga party. it's only appropraite. (it being saraTOGA and all.)" (Mindblowing)
"third eye blind party"
"CEOs and their respectable, close to retirement, reserved secretaries."
Halloween in October
I have been thinking about Halloween costumes for awhile now. Actually, I think about Halloween costumes all year round, so it was great that we had that Halloween in May Party.
The two costumes I am considering for this Halloween are Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Sacagawea Emerged from the Gold Coin. Some may call this cheating, but I have been both before. I was Buffy, however, in 9th grade, so it can definitely be recycled this year. Sacagawea was my senior year of college costume, so while it's a little soon to re-do, I will be with an entirely new group of people. Plus, that costume ruled, and I would love to do it again.
If I were Buffy, I think I could pull together a costume from my wardrobe. I think I still have quite a few crucifixes around somewhere (People don't get so creative for First Communion and Confirmation gifts). If I didn't find one, I'm sure I could buy one somewhere. Having to purchase a crucifix reminds me of one of my favorite Arrested Development quotes:
Maeby: Where can I get one of those necklaces with a "t" on it?
Michael: That's a cross.
Maeby: Across from where?
Ha ha ha.
All I would really need for Buffy is a stake.
For Sacagawea, well I need a lot of gold fabric and ribbon and rope. And a baby doll to spray gold considering the baby from that costume ended up in pieces, a little at Gaffney's, a little at DA's, the rest in a garbage can on Broadway (Thanks, Dan!).
I'm not ruling out other options, but for lack of a new better idea, these are the two possibilities right now. Open to suggestions...
The two costumes I am considering for this Halloween are Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Sacagawea Emerged from the Gold Coin. Some may call this cheating, but I have been both before. I was Buffy, however, in 9th grade, so it can definitely be recycled this year. Sacagawea was my senior year of college costume, so while it's a little soon to re-do, I will be with an entirely new group of people. Plus, that costume ruled, and I would love to do it again.
If I were Buffy, I think I could pull together a costume from my wardrobe. I think I still have quite a few crucifixes around somewhere (People don't get so creative for First Communion and Confirmation gifts). If I didn't find one, I'm sure I could buy one somewhere. Having to purchase a crucifix reminds me of one of my favorite Arrested Development quotes:
Maeby: Where can I get one of those necklaces with a "t" on it?
Michael: That's a cross.
Maeby: Across from where?
Ha ha ha.
All I would really need for Buffy is a stake.
For Sacagawea, well I need a lot of gold fabric and ribbon and rope. And a baby doll to spray gold considering the baby from that costume ended up in pieces, a little at Gaffney's, a little at DA's, the rest in a garbage can on Broadway (Thanks, Dan!).
I'm not ruling out other options, but for lack of a new better idea, these are the two possibilities right now. Open to suggestions...
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Synchronicities deserve their own posts
I just told Ally that I feel bad when I want to write about synchronous things that happen to me as that is the theme of her blog, but sometimes she writes about non-synchronous things and I don't call her a biter, so with the promise of a link, I have permission to write about this.
Last night Maggie (sick of her yet? I'm not) and I went to this bar in her neighborhood we had passed with the twins on Sunday, but figured we should return when we weren't babysitting. The place is called the Charleston and was a good Monday night drinking spot. There were about 5 people at the bar, all over 40 and none of them area yupsters. As we finished our beer, 4 of the 5 people went up to the stage. We decided to stay for another drink so as not to leave these kind folks without an audience. They covered a bunch of 80s songs, some done well, some not so well. They were a chick-led band and got me and Maggie talking about singing. Turns about Maggie, like I, had quite the singing (and acting) career in middle school and high school. We were both turned off by the Skidmore theatre and a capella scenes to stick with those things in college, but we both agreed we miss singing. I had more recent singing outlets with our weekly Alley karaoking in Saratoga, but I am missing it now quite a bit.
On my walk home, I went through songs I used to sing that could perhaps be added to my future "repetoire" (karaoke, or otherwise) and recalled a tape I used to listen to all the time and really got me into singing. (I'm talking age 7 or 8, probably, so I don't really want to imagine how I actually sounded.) All I remembered was that it was a Billboard compilation from the 60s and I could only remember a few songs. I made a mental note to look it up online, but I am sure I would have forgotten to do so. When I got to the library today, lying on the table, in my regular spot, was the book of complete Billboard #1's from 1955 to 2000. I was able to flip through and find the year of my beloved tape: 1963.
Synchronicity? I think so.
Here are the songs. I find a lot of them annoying now, but there are a few gems:
1. Sugar Shack, Jimmy Gilmore & the Fireballs
2. He's So Fine, The Chiffons
3. Dominique, The Singing Nun
4. Hey Paula, Paul & Paula
5. My Boyfriend's Back, The Angels
6. Blue Velvet, Bobby Vinton
7. Sukiyaki, Kyu Sakamoto
8. I Will Follow Him, Little Peggy March
9. Fingertips - Pt. 2, Little Stevie Wonder
10. Walk Like A Man, The 4 Seasons
11. Go Away Little Girl, Steve Lawrence
12. I'm Leaving It All Up To You, Dale & Grace
13. Surf City, Jan & Dean
14. It's My Party, Leslie Gore
15. Walk Right In, The Rooftop Singers
16. Easier Said Than Done, The Essex
17. If You Wanna Be Happy, Jimmy Soul
18. So Much In Love, The Tymes
19. Deep Purple, Nino Tempo & April Stevens
20. Our Day Will Come, Ruby & The Romantics
I listened to this tape all the time. It was probably on rotation with the Mermaids soundtrack (Cher, Winona, and Christina Ricci film, not the Little Mermaid), the Big Chill soundtrack, and Green Day's Dookie. Kids loves oldies and soundtracks and East Bay punks!
Last night Maggie (sick of her yet? I'm not) and I went to this bar in her neighborhood we had passed with the twins on Sunday, but figured we should return when we weren't babysitting. The place is called the Charleston and was a good Monday night drinking spot. There were about 5 people at the bar, all over 40 and none of them area yupsters. As we finished our beer, 4 of the 5 people went up to the stage. We decided to stay for another drink so as not to leave these kind folks without an audience. They covered a bunch of 80s songs, some done well, some not so well. They were a chick-led band and got me and Maggie talking about singing. Turns about Maggie, like I, had quite the singing (and acting) career in middle school and high school. We were both turned off by the Skidmore theatre and a capella scenes to stick with those things in college, but we both agreed we miss singing. I had more recent singing outlets with our weekly Alley karaoking in Saratoga, but I am missing it now quite a bit.
On my walk home, I went through songs I used to sing that could perhaps be added to my future "repetoire" (karaoke, or otherwise) and recalled a tape I used to listen to all the time and really got me into singing. (I'm talking age 7 or 8, probably, so I don't really want to imagine how I actually sounded.) All I remembered was that it was a Billboard compilation from the 60s and I could only remember a few songs. I made a mental note to look it up online, but I am sure I would have forgotten to do so. When I got to the library today, lying on the table, in my regular spot, was the book of complete Billboard #1's from 1955 to 2000. I was able to flip through and find the year of my beloved tape: 1963.
Synchronicity? I think so.
Here are the songs. I find a lot of them annoying now, but there are a few gems:
1. Sugar Shack, Jimmy Gilmore & the Fireballs
2. He's So Fine, The Chiffons
3. Dominique, The Singing Nun
4. Hey Paula, Paul & Paula
5. My Boyfriend's Back, The Angels
6. Blue Velvet, Bobby Vinton
7. Sukiyaki, Kyu Sakamoto
8. I Will Follow Him, Little Peggy March
9. Fingertips - Pt. 2, Little Stevie Wonder
10. Walk Like A Man, The 4 Seasons
11. Go Away Little Girl, Steve Lawrence
12. I'm Leaving It All Up To You, Dale & Grace
13. Surf City, Jan & Dean
14. It's My Party, Leslie Gore
15. Walk Right In, The Rooftop Singers
16. Easier Said Than Done, The Essex
17. If You Wanna Be Happy, Jimmy Soul
18. So Much In Love, The Tymes
19. Deep Purple, Nino Tempo & April Stevens
20. Our Day Will Come, Ruby & The Romantics
I listened to this tape all the time. It was probably on rotation with the Mermaids soundtrack (Cher, Winona, and Christina Ricci film, not the Little Mermaid), the Big Chill soundtrack, and Green Day's Dookie. Kids loves oldies and soundtracks and East Bay punks!
"You look dumb"
The past few days have been characterized by no furniture, twins, and a whole lot of time with people named Maggie.
I was in a really great mood all day Friday, as you can probably tell by all the "!"s and superlatives in my last post, being new employed and excited to spend time with two of my fave 518ers to see a 518 band, The Mathematicians, play 5.18 blocks away from my house until I got home before the friends came over and was immediately greeted with "I have bad news" from my roommate Lauren.
Blah blah back-story: Lauren used to live with Shannon. Shannon had to move pretty suddenly to New Orleans and left a lot of her stuff in our apartment, including the bed and dresser I have been using. I knew she was moving back here in February, so I planned on slowly getting a bed and dresser of my own by then. Her twin sister, however, recently moved here and called Lauren on Friday to say she would be by Sunday to pick up all of Shannon's stuff. There was some big misunderstanding somewhere where someone thought the stuff was in storage and not being used by me. The twin is a nice girl and I hear great things about Shannon, so I can't be mad at them directly, but I was pretty pissed just about the situation in general.
I decided I wouldn't let it ruin my celebratory night/weekend and would deal with it later. How I love procrastination!
So on Saturday, Maggie and I went to Fulton Market District to visit several galleries. I wasn't thrilled about any of the art until we got to the Packer Schopf Gallery and saw the laptops etched (is that even the right way to describe that?) by Michael Dinges. I never really wanted a tattoo, or to draw all over my computer, til I saw these.
On Sunday I babysat with Maggie for her cousin's kids. It was fun hanging with three-year olds! Twins, too! I have missed kids and would like to start babysitting again. The parents of the twins let me borrow their nice air mattress, so I at least have something on which to sleep til my new bed comes on Thursday.
Yesterday, I hung out with another Maggie, a friend from high school. She was a year above me, but we had math together and had a lot of mutual friends. We ate Thai food, looked at furniture, and talked about people I haven't thought about in 5 years. She remembered more people from my class than I did. "What ever happened to that girl Stevie Jo?" "Uh, who?" Seriously, who? Did she even graduate with us?
A lady just walked out of Alliance Bakery with her backpack under her trench coat. I get that it's raining, but sometimes I want to tell people how dumb they look.
My friend Katherine just sent me a voting guide for inmates. In case anyone is in need of this, here ya go.
I was in a really great mood all day Friday, as you can probably tell by all the "!"s and superlatives in my last post, being new employed and excited to spend time with two of my fave 518ers to see a 518 band, The Mathematicians, play 5.18 blocks away from my house until I got home before the friends came over and was immediately greeted with "I have bad news" from my roommate Lauren.
Blah blah back-story: Lauren used to live with Shannon. Shannon had to move pretty suddenly to New Orleans and left a lot of her stuff in our apartment, including the bed and dresser I have been using. I knew she was moving back here in February, so I planned on slowly getting a bed and dresser of my own by then. Her twin sister, however, recently moved here and called Lauren on Friday to say she would be by Sunday to pick up all of Shannon's stuff. There was some big misunderstanding somewhere where someone thought the stuff was in storage and not being used by me. The twin is a nice girl and I hear great things about Shannon, so I can't be mad at them directly, but I was pretty pissed just about the situation in general.
I decided I wouldn't let it ruin my celebratory night/weekend and would deal with it later. How I love procrastination!
So on Saturday, Maggie and I went to Fulton Market District to visit several galleries. I wasn't thrilled about any of the art until we got to the Packer Schopf Gallery and saw the laptops etched (is that even the right way to describe that?) by Michael Dinges. I never really wanted a tattoo, or to draw all over my computer, til I saw these.
On Sunday I babysat with Maggie for her cousin's kids. It was fun hanging with three-year olds! Twins, too! I have missed kids and would like to start babysitting again. The parents of the twins let me borrow their nice air mattress, so I at least have something on which to sleep til my new bed comes on Thursday.
Yesterday, I hung out with another Maggie, a friend from high school. She was a year above me, but we had math together and had a lot of mutual friends. We ate Thai food, looked at furniture, and talked about people I haven't thought about in 5 years. She remembered more people from my class than I did. "What ever happened to that girl Stevie Jo?" "Uh, who?" Seriously, who? Did she even graduate with us?
A lady just walked out of Alliance Bakery with her backpack under her trench coat. I get that it's raining, but sometimes I want to tell people how dumb they look.
My friend Katherine just sent me a voting guide for inmates. In case anyone is in need of this, here ya go.
Friday, October 3, 2008
11 behind Google
I got a job today! With a company called Thoughtworks that's been rated the 12th best company to work for in Chicago. I obviously can't confirm that yet, but the people I met today were awesome and the office is super cool. I am pretty damn excited. I start the 13th, Papa G's birthday. The parents will actually be here next weekend. I gotta start making plans. I'm thinking the itinerary Alissa and I had will need to be changed a bit. Scratch of zoo and some of the drinking, add a museum or two and more new restaurants. A good weekend to all! I'm gonna stroll and enjoy this lovely fall weather.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
I blame it on Don Draper's hats
On the subject of nostalgia, I seem to also be nostalgic for a time in which I never even lived. This probably has another name for it than nostalgia. I was feeling that a bit when watching 400 Blows the other day. It wasn't just Paris I wanted, it was that Paris.
But, I have really been jonesin' for decades past with my new TV obsession: Mad Men. This TV obsession is different from Gossip Girl; this is actually a show everyone should be watching.
Heavy daytime drinking, smoking, and chauvinism characterize the work place, yet the people still seem classy as hell...Maybe because a small part of me wishes all that was kosher today? They're not all admirable (I hate the little turd Pete) and even the class acts stumble like in the episode I watched last night in which Sterling vomited in the reception area of the office, but that's because he had 2 dozen oysters and 3 martinis for lunch and had to walk up 20 flights of stairs due to a broken elevator. Maybe I've just been won over by the great clothes and dapper gents, but I still am jealous of their lifestyle, even if it's filled with glass ceilings, infidelity, and all that stuff.
But, I have really been jonesin' for decades past with my new TV obsession: Mad Men. This TV obsession is different from Gossip Girl; this is actually a show everyone should be watching.
Heavy daytime drinking, smoking, and chauvinism characterize the work place, yet the people still seem classy as hell...Maybe because a small part of me wishes all that was kosher today? They're not all admirable (I hate the little turd Pete) and even the class acts stumble like in the episode I watched last night in which Sterling vomited in the reception area of the office, but that's because he had 2 dozen oysters and 3 martinis for lunch and had to walk up 20 flights of stairs due to a broken elevator. Maybe I've just been won over by the great clothes and dapper gents, but I still am jealous of their lifestyle, even if it's filled with glass ceilings, infidelity, and all that stuff.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Nostalgia-Driven Post
Since arriving in Chicago, I have been too busy getting to know new things to be nostalgic for old things. Or maybe there just wasn't any catalyst to make me miss anything and dwell on what I left. Over the last few days, however, I have been missing some places and I blame this on talking to Jocelyn, fall weather, and Francois Truffaut.
On Sunday, Jocelyn told me to "come home." I actually do think of Saratoga as home these days with Dad and Stepmom so close by and so many friends still there. Then she told me she is buying a house there, something I could see myself maybe doing someday, and I'm a little jealous.
Plus, now it's fall. Fall is my favorite season in Upstate NY. I have fall traditions there, and I don't have fall traditions here yet, though I am still enjoying this change in weather. Last fall was a weird one, but a great one and I keep thinking about fun excursions I had this time of year last year:
My first time hanging out with Dede. We went apple picking.
Going to the World's Largest Yard Sale in Warrensburg with Sam and Jamie
All the cooking and going out with Chloe
Seeing Ted Leo with Kara and having to drive back from Troy with the top down, not by choice
First wing nights with Bob and crew
blah blah Saratoga Nostalgia blah blah
I got over Saratoga yesterday and started missing France when I went to see one of my favorite movies 400 Blows at the Gene Siskel Film Center (what a cool place!). I've seen it many a time, but never on the big screen, so I'm glad I went. It's really one of the best films ever, I believe. I like the whole Antoine Doinel series and have them all lined up on NetFlix to watch again. The 400 blows score was in my head through the night and all I want to do is live in Paris again. Not right now, but it's gotta happen. I don't want to teach English, which brought so many of my friends back there this year and last, but I'll think of something. If I move to Paris, hopefully I will marry some adult version of this:
Sorry for the sap, but it's autumnal! Get it?? Cuz of maple syrup and stuff? (I guess sap's produced all year long, isn't it? Well, maple syrup = Vermont = leaves changing, yeah yeah, you get it. I'm done.)
On Sunday, Jocelyn told me to "come home." I actually do think of Saratoga as home these days with Dad and Stepmom so close by and so many friends still there. Then she told me she is buying a house there, something I could see myself maybe doing someday, and I'm a little jealous.
Plus, now it's fall. Fall is my favorite season in Upstate NY. I have fall traditions there, and I don't have fall traditions here yet, though I am still enjoying this change in weather. Last fall was a weird one, but a great one and I keep thinking about fun excursions I had this time of year last year:
My first time hanging out with Dede. We went apple picking.
Going to the World's Largest Yard Sale in Warrensburg with Sam and Jamie
All the cooking and going out with Chloe
Seeing Ted Leo with Kara and having to drive back from Troy with the top down, not by choice
First wing nights with Bob and crew
blah blah Saratoga Nostalgia blah blah
I got over Saratoga yesterday and started missing France when I went to see one of my favorite movies 400 Blows at the Gene Siskel Film Center (what a cool place!). I've seen it many a time, but never on the big screen, so I'm glad I went. It's really one of the best films ever, I believe. I like the whole Antoine Doinel series and have them all lined up on NetFlix to watch again. The 400 blows score was in my head through the night and all I want to do is live in Paris again. Not right now, but it's gotta happen. I don't want to teach English, which brought so many of my friends back there this year and last, but I'll think of something. If I move to Paris, hopefully I will marry some adult version of this:
Sorry for the sap, but it's autumnal! Get it?? Cuz of maple syrup and stuff? (I guess sap's produced all year long, isn't it? Well, maple syrup = Vermont = leaves changing, yeah yeah, you get it. I'm done.)
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