Does this mean I’m a maverick?
Posted on October 4, 2008 in the Really Deep Thoughts category
Apparently, if I were born to (ew!) Sarah Palin my name would be:
Clamp Noodle Palin
You betcha can get a similarly idiotic name here! (Suddenly I can’t stop winking)
It ain’t easy being green
Posted on August 28, 2008 in the Really Deep Thoughts category
If your religious sentiments are “wounded” by trivialities such as this, you should demand a refund - your sentiments are utterly and hopelessly defective.
Make mine a(n actual) pint!
Posted on June 19, 2008 in the Really Deep Thoughts category
Fellow beer lovers, beware the profit pour! Or better yet, start brewing your own!
Diane, I’m holding in my hand a small box of chocolate bunnies …
Posted on March 21, 2008 in the Really Deep Thoughts category
In case anyone cares I really am still here, although I remain largely uninspired. Perhaps now that spring has arrived I’ll have a little more energy. I recently returned from a trip to Seattle during which I was able to check out some Twin Peaks locations like the “Great Northern Hotel” (actually called The Salish Spa at Snoqualmie Falls) and the “R&R Diner” (now called Twede’s in the town of North Bend). As should be expected from anyone who knows me, I had a slice of cherry pie and a damn good cup of coffee. All in all, it was a place both wonderful and strange.
In other news, be sure to check out Jenna the Pickle Girl’s new blog! She’s liable to post more often than I will!
Eek! A giant!!
Posted on December 19, 2007 in the CD Reviews et al, y 'all category
Or is that other dude a Hobbit? You decide …
Either way, Homeland Security should just use this photo to deter border attacks.
And you thought HGH/steroid abuse was bad in baseball …
Dark Side of the Sun
Posted on November 16, 2007 in the Really Deep Thoughts, Music category
I know, I know … It’s been quite some time since I last blogged some blogging on my blog (as the King of the Hill would say), but rumors of my demise are much exaggerated. The fact of the matter is, I seem to have misplaced my mojo. I just haven’t had the creative bug lately. My desire to record things on this blog has, at least temporarily, diminished. That can be partially, if indirectly, blamed on the fact that several of the places that I link to from this very page are no longer available to me during the day because of THE MAN and his pesky firewall. In the past I used my blog as a portal to the internet. Now it feels like a much lonelier, isolated place where several of my favorite rooms are locked. Plus, blogging during work hours always makes me feel extremely guilty (in fact, I’m absolutely wracked with the stuff as we speak). Not to mention, I spend very little time at home these days, and one of the last things I want to do during the brief moments that I am home (and awake) is to be hunched over my computer keyboard tapping away. Apparently I’m in desperate need of a muse.
Yeah yeah yeah. Excuses, excuses. Poor, poor Antichrist. O, que pobrecita!
Whining aside, I’m enjoying our brief encounter with autumn here in B-more (although it took me a while at first to get used to the cooler temperatures.) Unfortunately, now that we’ve changed the clocks, I spend most of my time as a vampire. That is to say, the only time I see the sun on weekdays is during my commute to work early in the morning. Last week I traveled to San Diego for a few days on business. The weather there was not the balmy, Santa Ana wind-infused 60-70 degress I was expecting; instead, it was rather cool, cloudy, and damp. This, plus the fact that my conditioner and gel were so rudely confiscated at the BWI security gate (which makes this all the more befuddling), made for some, shall we say, interesting hair days in Cali. I actually had to fly back to the east coast to see the sun. And I must say it was quite an unexpectedly lovely view, flying in over the greater Baltimore area. It seemed to me that in the 4 days I was gone the leaves had changed colors and were a sight for sore — and in my case, jetlagged — eyes against a backdrop of sunlight poking through some rather ominous looking clouds.
My drive home from the airport was just as nice, as there was some pretty foliage to be seen along I-295. My only regret is that I have so far been unable to actually get out into nature and enjoy the autumn colors close up. I love hiking, but am really not that keen on doing so alone, and I haven’t been able to round up the troops lately. This week or next may be the last of the autumn colors we see, and my weekend calendar is already jam-packed with in-door activities (albeit, extremely fun ones!).
In other news, a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to see both Tori Amos and Morrissey up close and in concert, when they both played locally (Constitution Hall and Ram’s Head Live, respectively). Tori was awesome, and I was thrilled to see her live again, since this was the only stop on her current (and last?) tour for which I managed to get tickets (15th row!). This is undoubtedly sacrilege amongst most of the Tori faithful, but I actually prefer seeing her perform live with her band (guitar, bass, & drums). While some might argue that her solo shows offer a priceless intimacy and audience connection, I simply prefer the energy and exuberance of the full band performance. There were still intimate moments — like when the band leaves the stage and it’s just Tori and her piano (”T. and Bo”) for a few songs — but mostly the show kicked major ass. She seemed to be really enjoying herself and sounded fantastic. The show left me wanting more, which is always a good thing. I saw Morrissey 5 days later (on Halloween night) and, thanks to Tori, he had a tough act to follow. No surprise, I was underwhelmed by Morrissey’s performance. Frankly, I thought he looked bored (imagine that! from Morrissey!) and sounded uninspired. His new band was ok, but not great, and their execution of the songs left a lot to be desired (could this have been due to the fact that they performed in only loin cloths??). It was great fun to hang out with friends, and we had a spectacular view right on the upstairs railing, but I expected more musically.
“Keep on cryin’ crocodile tears”
Posted on September 21, 2007 in the Really Deep Thoughts category
I hate crocs.
and phonies.
It was 20 years ago today …
Posted on September 20, 2007 in the CD Reviews et al, y 'all category
… I can hardly believe it but yes, 20 years ago today, September 20th 1987, I saw my very first concert: U2 on the 3rd leg of their Joshua Tree Tour at RFK Stadium in D.C. (I had waited in line for tickets a few months earlier on the upper deck of the Hecht’s at Golden Ring Mall.) The tickets were $25 each.
My parents drove my friend Tara and me to the show and then being good, concerned parents, waited in the parking lot for us. They heard the entire concert and apparently also got quite an eyeful in the parking lot as the surrounding tailgaters partied and pounded beers and then proceeded to relieve themselves in between parked cars. (After the show my father complained about the public urinators, and my mother complained about Bono’s potty-mouth — at least there was a theme).
Meanwhile inside the stadium our seats were all the way in the back of the lower bowl. And when I say “all the way in the back” I mean there was nothing behind us but a cement wall. (My ticket purchasing skills have since improved). At least our seats were under cover and we wouldn’t get wet in the rain. Little Steven (Van Zandt) and his “Disciples of Soul” opened the show. Of couse, having never been to a concert before, I didn’t even know what an opening act was at that point in time. As the lights went down my friend and I jumped up and began squealing like the schoolgirls that we were. That is, until Little Steven opened his mouth. Realizing our rookie blunder, we sheepishly sat back down.
I really only remember bits and pieces of the show. I remember I was so excited that I had a stomach ache and couldn’t eat. I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience though, that most of it is just one big happy blur. Apparently towards the end of the show, Bono slipped on the wet stage and dislocated his shoulder. (One too many Guinnesses back stage perhaps, or just a dork? The jury’s still out.) I was completely oblivious to this fact until after the show even though he came out for the encore in a sling. This is my brain on U2.
Disappeared where it’s hard to disappear
Posted on September 11, 2007 in the Really Deep Thoughts category
And speaking of forgetting … some of you know where I work. With that knowledge, consider this: there has been no mention whatsoever of the anniversary of 9/11, no memorial service, no moment of silence, not even an email. It’s puzzling. And shameful.
On a lighter note, Kathy Griffin wins my Quote of the Day award with this gem after receiving an Emmy:
“A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this,” Griffin said at this weekend’s show, at which the academy gives out the awards there aren’t time to hand out in Sunday’s main Emmy telecast. “But he had nothing to do with this. Suck it, Jesus, this award is my God now!”
In other news, I’ve started watching “Inland Empire” (David Lynch’s most recent film). I’m diggin’ it but have only had time to sit down and watch it in 30-45 minute increments (which is no way to watch any movie, much less one with a plot as labyrinthine as this one has) and am only just over half way through. Laura Dern is particularly awesome. I wonder if Yerfdog has seen it yet? Not that I could check his blog right now if I wanted to or anything. $%#@^!
Ack!!!
Posted on July 28, 2007 in the Really Deep Thoughts category
In a disturbing turn of events, as of last week I no longer appear to have access to certain blogs that I link to from this very page. Of course, I only encounter this problem at work, since these nefarious miscreants and scoundrels apparently are now enemies of the state. So, add Blogger to the ever-growing list of websites (including YouTube, MySpace, and, inexplicably, this one) which “may bring dishonor upon or otherwise discredit [my place of employment].”
keep trying »