Weekendasaurus

Another great one! From the besteverness of D Plan, which was just so fantastic I don't even know where to start, except that Travis Morrison and Nathan Fillion are twins. And I agree with Catherine's analysis -- best concert I've ever seen at the Black Cat, and possibly ever.

Beth's shower and bachelorette party were an absolute blast. And I don't know why this was as fun as it was, but it was. And, appologies for the 800 pictures of people passed out on the ride home. I thought that was just great for some reason.

Today was be-a-utiful, with brunch at galaxy hut, a stroll around the flea market in courthouse, a nice nap, and a bbq at the Stegmaier residence with the wonderful Chicagoans and SW-Virginians I don't get to see too often, and delicious food and sangria. Annie's Buckman salsa recipe was completely delicious -- radishes, avacado, black beans, cilantro, lime, oil... mmmmmm! Carrying on the theme started with pin the tail on the donkey the night before, we recaptured a little youthful fun and had a v sit and reach competition. I won. I didn't get that stretch nickname for no reason at all. Oh, and 8 dogs. There were eight. dogs. there.

And now, before I collapse, sleep. Sweet, sweet sleep. I cannot wait.

Damn girl

I'm not usually on the poo-pooing Kirsten Dunst boat, I don't find her as horid as it seems that most celeb gossip bloggers do. Not that I'm a celeb gossip blogger. But, moving on to the point. Damn, this is just frightening.

Looks like I'll get to see Spoon afterall

Thanks TUL!

Dear My Boss

This kind of letter -- not going to make me freak out LESS.

With all of the construction happening these days we are disrupting some natural habitats. Please be aware if you see a spider. Some spiders can be very dangerous, so if you do see one, please don't panic or try and save it. Please step away from the area and let me know. We have talked to building management and I will have more information this afternoon.
Thanks.

A little ambush

Join me in skewing the results the rat bastards at the American Family Association are expecting from this survey. Let them know that you'd be more likely to do business with a company that supports the "homosexual agenda."

http://www.afa.net/petitions/businesses/businesses.asp

Nice

Jon Stewart totally kicked McCain's ass on TDS last night. UPDATE: The WaPo's Punchline Politics blog sums it up. With video!

And just because, here is a recipe I make at least once a week. It's delicious and easy and I feel like sharing.

INGREDIENTS
-Tilapia or another light fish
-Fresh shallot, diced
-Fresh garlic, diced
-Grape tomatos, halved
-Sea salt
-Olive oil
-Fresh chilli pepper
-Red pepper flakes

Saute shallots, garlic, tomatoes, salt and peppers in olive oil for a few minutes -- until right before it starts to brown. Add the fish. Brown on each side. Serve over brown rice or mashed potatos. Also delightful with a side of green beans, or fresh guacamole on the side.

Email Exchanges that have me LOLing to my Coworkers' Confusion

me: You were in my dream last night.
j: Howdy, that means we are meant for love without attrition or atrophy.
me: Ha, what? Who talks like that?


b: how's your foot doing?
me: It's good! I had my follow up yesterday and she declared me healed. (ha -- heeled)
b: good i'm glad b/c i totally want to like dance and jump and stuff with you this weekend.

Say hello to your friends

I've been talking about this on an email thread with a few people, but I think it's time to move it over to the blog. Yesterday, PopCandy pointed me towards the BSC Headquarters blog, where a girl is re-reading all of the Baby Sitters' Club books and blogging her experiences in mini book report and bulleted list of WTFiness format.

I for one was completely pressed for this series, as just about every girlfriend of mine at the time was too. I remember reading about their awesome clothes and cool adventures and thinking how they were the best babysitters ever. This blog really puts that shit into perspective. A couple favorite quotes so far:

About Claud: "She can put together the oddest collection of clothes--a slouch hat [what?], a sequined vest, an oversized button-down shirt, stirrup pants, and lace-up boots--and she looks stunning." Stunningly like Blossom, that is.

Fucking fuck fuck!!!!!!! Worst ending ever! "'Yeah. Dad,' I said, 'you have no idea how hard it is to be a parent.'" Richard, I'll fucking smack her for you! ANM, for that, you (or your ghostwriter) need to be dragged out behind the Burger King and beaten with a cricket bat. There was no reason for that. Even people with no sense of humor know that's just not funny.

The descriptions of the outfits are truly hilarious. I'm hoping the blogger will add a tally to her sidebar noting how many times Stacy mentions cowboy boots. The premise of some of the stories are totally absurd too -- though at the time, I thought them completely awesome.

The email thread has mainly housed comments like, "I can't stop reading this. So awesome. It did, however, have the unfortunate side effect of putting the BSC tv show theme song into my head....."say hello to your friends (babysitter's club) / say hello to the peeeeeople who care / nothing's better than friends (babysitters club) / cuz you know that your friends are always theeeere.....for you." and "Stirrup pants w a sequined vest. Sounds like I am dressing up like someone from the BSC for Halloween ;) "

But my favorite admission has to be from a friend who will go unnamed to protect her identity:

i was OBSESSED with these books. i went to NY with my parents when i was eight and forced them to help me call every single Ann Martin in the NY phone book in hopes i could meet her. WTF? why did they not nip that idea in the bud?

I remember Diana and I trying to start our own BSC, but... there were only two of us. And we were like 8. So that didn't work out too well.

And also, this cover looks so ominous. In case any of you don't remember, The Truth About Stacy was that she was.... diabetic!!!!!!

I do not support this. Not one bit.

But the video's pretty hilarious.

This Is How We Do It

The weekend: so beautiful, so fun. Friday night I cought some of the Six Points Music Festival when I went to review The Vita Ruins. What I saw was really great -- but I had to turn in pretty early because Saturday was a big day. I woke up bright and early to get ready for Diana's bridal festivities, which were the whole weekend's main events. The shower (thrown by a family friend) was absolutely lovely -- it was a tasteful tea at two. We managed to talk the hostess into letting us play some games and stuff so it wasn't all tea and crumpets. After that the young folks broke off for Diana's bachelorette party. I rented a party van and we got the best driver ever. Wherever I go from now on, I plan on Tyrone taking me there. And to bring bottles upon bottles of champaign along for the ride everytime. The 13 of us made our way around some fancier spots that I don't usually haunt (PS7s, Chi Cha Lounge, Cafe Citron), and had a blast. Decked out in hot pink and black leis, with Diana donning a veil and feather boa, we were hard to miss -- but not too obnoxious I don't think. No representations of any kind of genitalia. What few, blurry pictures I took are up on Flickr. Hopefully the ones the other girls were snapping will come out better.

Sunday D, Stacy and I did the offical post-party recap at my place, then brunch at Galaxy Hut. Man, I really just love Galaxy Hut. And brunch. And beer, which I for some reason felt like drinking. Then I got together with mom and we went for my bride's maid's dress fitting in old town, and spent the day walking around and eating outside in that gorgeous weather.

Oh -- I almost forgot the most hilarious part of the whole weekend. Stinker fell in love. Diana brought her kitten -- Bella -- over while we were out for all the celebrations. The two approached each other and immediately started kissing (touching noses). Stinker then whisked her away to his secret love nest -- we still don't know where they ran off to -- and the two spent the entire weekend cuddling. Stinker didn't even come out for dinner or breakfast the next day -- and that is just unheard of. He was totally heartbroken last night -- he came out to eat a few bites then went back to sulk and miss his g.f. Finally this morning he seems to be back in the swing of things. It's a good thing they're both fixed, otherwise we'd be celebrating more than the union of Diana and Clint pretty soon.

Where were you guys?

Last night's show at the Black Cat was a really, really good one. Sadly, only me and about 25 other people know that. I'm sure the bevy of other stuff going on last night had plenty to do with it, but I've never -- not ever -- seen the cat so empty. It was a fantastic four band bill -- Headlights, Page France, David Vandervelde and Richard Swift. I only cought the last half of PF, but they were delightful. David Vandervelde and his Moonstation House Band fucking rocked. Think T.Rex meets Spoon. It must be bizarre to come out and play your heart out to a crowd that small, but the trio did just that. They were the absolute highlight of the evening. I will be seeing them the next time they come to town, and I hope many more of you do too. Richard Swift and his band were excellent as well, though DV defintely upstaged them. I really dug the whole ragtime jam they had going on, though Alyssa was right -- a real piano instead of an electric one would have made a huge difference. Anyhow, my point is this: go see these bands next time they come around. They desrved way more observers than they got.

Sad but true

Anybody that ever doubted my "alec baldwin hit on me and it was totally creepy" story is probably believin me now.

Only I could get workman's comp in an ad agency

Me and my stupid, stupid feet. They've been getting me into trouble for years. The latest trevail we've had together involved stepping on some sort of staple in my office (which is currently undergoing tons of construction). Now there's a metal splinter of some kind in my foot (which she couldn't quite get out). After my doctor dug around in my foot with lots of pointy things (fun!), I just got a tetanus shot, and have to take antibiotics three times a day for the next seven days. If these meds interfere with my drinking for Diana's bachelorette party this weekend, construction staples everywhere are going to PAY.

Need a laugh?

Watching Mitchell, Chris and Trae mime double dutch should help.

Well

It was fun while it lasted.

Extra TVOTR Ticket

Hey peoples -- I've got an extra ticket for tomorrow night's TV on the Radio show at 9:30. If you want it, send me an email or somethin.

Also, who else is going to the show? Wanna hang out and be friends and stuff?

UPDATE: My extra's taken, and also, official fun time pre-show meetup: 8:00, DC9. *High five*

DCist Servathon

If you haven't already read about it on DCist or the other personal blogs of those participating, DCist is pulling together a team to participate in Servathon 2007. It's a great citywide initiative; our team will be repainting a local junior high school on Saturday, May 5. If you'd like to participate or donate some money to our team (any little bit is greatly appreciated), click here. If you want to donate to my own personal page, click here. Anything you can do to support would be greatly appreciated!

The Yentas Are After Me

I've reached a sad state of singledom. Not one but two of my mother's friends have recently made efforts to set me up with guys (a conductor one met on a train and the chiropractor son of a dentist). Mom swears she had nothing to do with either. Exactly how pathetic is it that people at large are worried about my lack of a boyfriend? I feel my life slipping a little too quickly into bad romantic comedy territory.

All this happened, more or less.

I've been remiss in blogging about the death of Kurt Vonnegut. There's been a lot of wonderful stuff already said, which is to be expected. The man's work influenced and changed the lives and minds of most every literate, liberal thinker I know. So I guess I'll just say thanks for all the stuff you gave me to think about. And this.

Call me crazy, but

This makes me want a sequined, strapless jumpsuit of my very own.

Personal Belongings Satchell

I can't ever get over how genuinely amusing John Mayer is every time I read his blog. It does not compute.

I probably should have incorporated this into my last post, but

Who wants to be my plus one Friday night to go see the Junior Boys and Aqueduct at the Black Cat? Should be a fun night of indie pop.

Listen Up

• How do you get a Sub Pop A&R rep to come out to your SECOND GIG? Deftly ape the arcade fire! This band played after The Bang last night at Iota, and while they sounded fantastic and had tons of energy and put on a great show which I truly did enjoy, they're a complete and total AF knock off. Well, sometimes venturing over into territory previously owned by Stars and the New Pornographers. But mainly Arcade Fire. But apparently, that's what the record companies are looking for. So hey, way to go.
  
• And you know who else sounded fantastic? The Bang! I've been seeing these people play in different iterations for years, and have always loved them as musicians. But god damn they make one fine rock band when they come together. Don't take those MySpace tracks at face value -- you've got to see them live. I suggest assuaging your "I don't have DPlan tickets" woes on April 28th by taking them in at Galaxy Hut.
  
• And hey, while we're discussing music, new Walkmen track!
  

If I Could Be Anywhere Right Now

It'd be in Wherever, South Carolina so as to be near this.

This weekend I....

• Made these delicious and adorable cupcakes.
• Celebrated the births of many friends. Apparently my friends have very patriotic parents.
  
• Ate egg-shaped candy.
• Watched my friends perfect the art of the Air Double Dutch. I have pictures of just about every other thing that happened that night, but not that.
  
• Had a complete "I carried a watermellon" moment when I fumbled on my words and wished this guy a "Happy Church!" instead of a happy Easter.
  
• Celebrated the anniversary of MacRock and so many other things.
• Ate Easter brunch with the Helbing clan. It was hilarious as always. Those people should sell tickets to their dinner table, it's that entertaining.
  
• Cooked. A lot.
  
• Finished watching Freaks & Geeks. *Sniff
  

Temporary Insanity

It's universally accepted that moving blows. Moving offices isn't nearly as bad as moving homes, but still, it's not a blast. I moved into a temporary office about 2 months ago. We're remodeling our office and my new digs have yet to be built, yet my old digs will be the first to be bull dozed. So I had to get out.

Today I return from vacation to find out I need to move into another temporary closet office. And tomorrow, another one. Then, sometime in the future, whenever it's actually built, I'll move into my real new office. I'm not much of a complainer, but this feels a bit excessive.

Get the to DCist

And check out my interview with the producer of NPR's Live Concert Series.

Alright, what gives?

This working thing is for the birds! The day is going by so slowly, and there's no pool! I haven't won any money at all today, and have yet to have a drink. What's wrong with this place?

I'm back

With a nice sum of money, an appreciation for humidity, something that vaguely resembles a tan and a new found love for Las Vegas. If I get the gumption I'll regail you with all the wonders of my trip, but here are two tidbits that should sum it up: Sheila E is still lookin too good*, and Neil Patrick Harris is so very tiny and hearts eye contact. DoogieWatch 2007 may have been the best part of the trip. Or maybe that's just cause I was drunk. This picture shows him arriving home after his weekend staying in my hotel, hanging out at my pool, and generally Barneying it up all over my area.

*Will anyone but Drew get this reference?