A grab-bag of random thoughts
Our neighborhood smells like burnt popcorn right now.
I am super-excited that Google Earth has now been launched for Macs. I am not excited that Jack the Mac is too old to support the beta-version.
My feet feel claustrophobic in shoes.
I think I'm stuck-up. Either that or introverted. I'm still trying to figure out which.
I watched a documentary about a transvestite seminarian for the Phoenix Film Festival this week. I'm now obsessed with trying to spot transvestites on the street.
I'll admit it, I award myself a heap of cool points for being a Phoenix Film Festival Viewing Committee member. (Is this a revealing factor of my stuck-uppityness?)
I can't figure out how to get the creepy old man next door at work to stop bringing me cookies and offering to buy me a pizza and "watch you work" when I stay late during deadline week. Maybe a restraining order would work.
Despite the many permutations my faith has gone through in the past decade or so, one thing remains: I just can't give up on God.
I really like the cute green sock cover I got for my iPod.
I feel a connection to Lynne Truss, author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves because in her introduction, she talks about picketing in front of a Leicester Square theater, protesting the absence of an apostrophe in the movie title, Two Weeks['] Notice, which was showing when I was in London. I imagine her standing just feet away from me outside the movie's premier, she with her grammatically correct placard, me with my camera, whose film I wasted while waiting for Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock to appear.
I really miss my dog. He's been frollicking with his "cousin" at my grandparents' in Berkeley for the past week.
There are four books that I've started but have yet to finish sitting on my bookshelf. Each still has a bookmark saving my place. I'm starting to run out of bookmarks.
I really would not like to be a punter on a football team. That looks like the most vulnerable position on the team.
Bobby Darrin's "Beyond the Sea" came on the radio this afternoon. I don't really know why, but this put me in a really good mood.
1.22.2006
1.17.2006
We've been blogged
One of our magazines is the subject of today's post on MagSampler, maintained by some guy who sells a bunch of magazines or something. Just thought I'd share.
One of our magazines is the subject of today's post on MagSampler, maintained by some guy who sells a bunch of magazines or something. Just thought I'd share.
1.14.2006
Forget a post about looking back on 2005
You can read the archives and relive the year yourself.
Instead: COMING IN 2006!
+ A return to Manhappenin'!
+ More free tickets to the Phoenix Film Festival!
+ A trip to the dentist for the first time in two years!
+ A special Oscar-time post!
+ A week in the Caribbean!
+ Reuniting with more old friends!
+ Possibly spending the Fourth of July in DC!
+ A probable trip to Denver!
+ Moving...out! (It's a goal anyways...)
Stay tuned for all this and more!
You can read the archives and relive the year yourself.
Instead: COMING IN 2006!
+ A return to Manhappenin'!
+ More free tickets to the Phoenix Film Festival!
+ A trip to the dentist for the first time in two years!
+ A special Oscar-time post!
+ A week in the Caribbean!
+ Reuniting with more old friends!
+ Possibly spending the Fourth of July in DC!
+ A probable trip to Denver!
+ Moving...out! (It's a goal anyways...)
Stay tuned for all this and more!
1.06.2006
1.05.2006
Vignettes of the Weekend with Sarah
Scene: SARAH and ERICA are sitting at the bar at Amsterdam with their martinis in front of them. Madonna comes on for the second time during their 10 minutes of being there.
SARAH Madonna again? What is this? A gay bar?
The girls switch on their gaydar and scan the room.
SARAH Whispering. Um, my gaydar is totally going off on the bartender. And those two guys just left with their arms around each other.
ERICA Dude, we have to call Pat right now.
-----
About 45 minutes later at the same bar after it has filled up with more and more gays and lesbians. SARAH and ERICA are deep in conversation (you know, the usual: politics, religion, boys) as OLD GAY BARTENDER comes over and scoots SARAH's chair closer to ERICA.
OGB You know, she's not going to bite.
OGB Goes back to business behind the bar.
ERICA He totally thinks we're a lesbian couple. Hee hee.
-----
Still at Amsterdam, SARAH and ERICA are now getting their nails done for $5 by two stylists—one male, one female—who work at the bar every Monday night.
GAY MANICURIST With a lilt in his voice. You know, girl, I'm not sure if I wanna drink tonight. I mean, half of me does, but the other half doesn't.
ERICA Well, then you should only drink with your left hand, not your right.
GM Ooh, girl! I like the way you think! We're totally going to be friends.
ERICA But I'm only going to be friends with the half of you that's drinking.
GM Laughs. Alright, babycakes, what color are we doing tonight?
-----
It's after midnight in ERICA's room and the two girls are in their respective beds.
ERICA Sneezing and blowing her nose. Blech.
SARAH Coughing. Uggh.
ERICA What the dynamic duo the two of us make this weekend.
-----
The same night, while discussing the finer points of Saved! before drifting off to sleep.
ERICA You know, I've decided I want a guy who is a combination of Patrick Fugit's characters in Saved! and Almost Famous. But out of high school, of course.
SARAH Oooh, yeah. Hip, but caring.
ERICA Totally hip. Knows what he believes in, but appreciates others' beliefs, too. That scene where he asks Mary out...
SARAH Oh yeah..."You're, like, totally adorable." What a cutie. But he'd definitely need to be out of high school. We'll go for the future Fugit.
-----
Walking along Mill Avenue near the ASU campus
ERICA Ahhh!!! No! Make it stop!
SARAH What?!
ERICA Points. That sign is all in Comic Sans!
ERICA pulls out camera to yet again document the travesty that is the misuse of Comic Sans font.
SARAH You know, you should start a blog like Fiscus's Learn to Spell, America and post pictures of ugly Comic Sans.
-----
SARAH and ERICA have met SARAH's cousin JODI and JODI's friend MICKEY at Casey Moore's near campus so that SARAH can play with JODI's baby PHOENIX. SARAH coos and giggles at PHOENIX.
ERICA I think between Viviane, Bandit and Phoenix, you're going to have used up your Cute Thing quotient for January, Sarah.
-----
At a gas station after leaving Casey Moore's. The girls receive a text message from PAT: "Yall driiiiinkin?"
SARAH What? Does he think we're just a pair of lushes?
She texts him back to say they're going to see Brokeback Mountain. A minute later, they receive a text from PAT in return: "You two are really gaying it up, aren't you?"
-----
At the Jade Bar in the swanky elements (too hip to capitalize) restaurant on Camelback Mountain. CUTE BARTENDER (who is definitely not gay in the girls' minds) has just filled ERICA and SARAH's martinis to the brim. CUTE BARTENDER rings up their bill while ERICA sets out the cash to pay for the martinis and reaches for her drink, which she subsequently spills on the bills. She tries to clean it up without CB noticing, but to no avail.
ERICA Hands soggy bills smelling of eggnog martini to CB Sorry about that.
CB Don't worry about it.
SARAH Fortunately, I've heard that eggnog money is still accepted in 40 states.
-----
Later that night, SARAH and ERICA are sitting on the couches at elements, half-drained martinis in hand, looking out over the dark city while trying to figure out where Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn had sat when they dined there Thanksgiving weekend.
SARAH See, this is why I need to move to Denver.
ERICA To be in a big city?
SARAH So I can spend the morning shopping at TJ MAXX and my evening drinking $14 martinis. I love it that you don't have to be dressed up or super casual all the time here.
-----
There, wasn't that just like you were there with us?
Scene: SARAH and ERICA are sitting at the bar at Amsterdam with their martinis in front of them. Madonna comes on for the second time during their 10 minutes of being there.
SARAH Madonna again? What is this? A gay bar?
The girls switch on their gaydar and scan the room.
SARAH Whispering. Um, my gaydar is totally going off on the bartender. And those two guys just left with their arms around each other.
ERICA Dude, we have to call Pat right now.
-----
About 45 minutes later at the same bar after it has filled up with more and more gays and lesbians. SARAH and ERICA are deep in conversation (you know, the usual: politics, religion, boys) as OLD GAY BARTENDER comes over and scoots SARAH's chair closer to ERICA.
OGB You know, she's not going to bite.
OGB Goes back to business behind the bar.
ERICA He totally thinks we're a lesbian couple. Hee hee.
-----
Still at Amsterdam, SARAH and ERICA are now getting their nails done for $5 by two stylists—one male, one female—who work at the bar every Monday night.
GAY MANICURIST With a lilt in his voice. You know, girl, I'm not sure if I wanna drink tonight. I mean, half of me does, but the other half doesn't.
ERICA Well, then you should only drink with your left hand, not your right.
GM Ooh, girl! I like the way you think! We're totally going to be friends.
ERICA But I'm only going to be friends with the half of you that's drinking.
GM Laughs. Alright, babycakes, what color are we doing tonight?
-----
It's after midnight in ERICA's room and the two girls are in their respective beds.
ERICA Sneezing and blowing her nose. Blech.
SARAH Coughing. Uggh.
ERICA What the dynamic duo the two of us make this weekend.
-----
The same night, while discussing the finer points of Saved! before drifting off to sleep.
ERICA You know, I've decided I want a guy who is a combination of Patrick Fugit's characters in Saved! and Almost Famous. But out of high school, of course.
SARAH Oooh, yeah. Hip, but caring.
ERICA Totally hip. Knows what he believes in, but appreciates others' beliefs, too. That scene where he asks Mary out...
SARAH Oh yeah..."You're, like, totally adorable." What a cutie. But he'd definitely need to be out of high school. We'll go for the future Fugit.
-----
Walking along Mill Avenue near the ASU campus
ERICA Ahhh!!! No! Make it stop!
SARAH What?!
ERICA Points. That sign is all in Comic Sans!
ERICA pulls out camera to yet again document the travesty that is the misuse of Comic Sans font.
SARAH You know, you should start a blog like Fiscus's Learn to Spell, America and post pictures of ugly Comic Sans.
-----
SARAH and ERICA have met SARAH's cousin JODI and JODI's friend MICKEY at Casey Moore's near campus so that SARAH can play with JODI's baby PHOENIX. SARAH coos and giggles at PHOENIX.
ERICA I think between Viviane, Bandit and Phoenix, you're going to have used up your Cute Thing quotient for January, Sarah.
-----
At a gas station after leaving Casey Moore's. The girls receive a text message from PAT: "Yall driiiiinkin?"
SARAH What? Does he think we're just a pair of lushes?
She texts him back to say they're going to see Brokeback Mountain. A minute later, they receive a text from PAT in return: "You two are really gaying it up, aren't you?"
-----
At the Jade Bar in the swanky elements (too hip to capitalize) restaurant on Camelback Mountain. CUTE BARTENDER (who is definitely not gay in the girls' minds) has just filled ERICA and SARAH's martinis to the brim. CUTE BARTENDER rings up their bill while ERICA sets out the cash to pay for the martinis and reaches for her drink, which she subsequently spills on the bills. She tries to clean it up without CB noticing, but to no avail.
ERICA Hands soggy bills smelling of eggnog martini to CB Sorry about that.
CB Don't worry about it.
SARAH Fortunately, I've heard that eggnog money is still accepted in 40 states.
-----
Later that night, SARAH and ERICA are sitting on the couches at elements, half-drained martinis in hand, looking out over the dark city while trying to figure out where Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn had sat when they dined there Thanksgiving weekend.
SARAH See, this is why I need to move to Denver.
ERICA To be in a big city?
SARAH So I can spend the morning shopping at TJ MAXX and my evening drinking $14 martinis. I love it that you don't have to be dressed up or super casual all the time here.
-----
There, wasn't that just like you were there with us?
1.04.2006
Comfort in the familiar
I want to tell you about Sarah's visit. But I am going to sleep instead. It will come, as will a look back on 2005. In the meantime,
I want to tell you about Sarah's visit. But I am going to sleep instead. It will come, as will a look back on 2005. In the meantime,
You find your way back down.
And I’ll keep the area clear…please clear the area.
When you find your way back down…in one piece.
Then I’ll just be waiting here…right here.
— Imogen Heap
12.28.2005
Playing concierge
Sarah's coming! Sarah's coming! Only four more days until Sarah comes! I was compiling a list of options of things the two of us could do during her stay, and I decided to try to entice more friends to come visit by including the list here. Come visit! You know you want to!
+ Lounge in the heated spa, sipping Knock-You-Naked Margaritas.
+ Take Bandit on a walk to the neighborhood coffee shop where we will sit outside by the "lake" drinking chai lattes and mochas, while solving the world's problems.
+ Repeat coffee-drinking and world-solving at the Willow House in the hip Willo District "gay-borhood" (as Pat would say).
+ Go on a rigorous hike up Camelback or Squaw Peak.
+ Take advantage of hip second-hand bookstore Changing Hands' new year's day book sale, wandering the aisles of books and discovering new treasures.
+ Wander around cute Old Town Scottsdale and then...
+ Head out for a night of drinking and dancing at Devil's Martini or...
+ Have dinner at Malee's Thai restaurant and get our auras read (cue Twilight Zone theme).
+ Do the girlie thing and get our nails done at Amsterdam on Martini and Manicures Mondays.
+ Wander around the remaining big holiday light displays: ZooLights or Glendale Glitters.
+ Check out open mic night at Alice Cooper'stown.
+ Go wine-tasting at Red Kangaroo Wines
+ Get cultured at the Phoenix Art Museum (current special exhibits: photography by well-known artists like Dorthea Lange and Richard Avedon; and the history of lingerie)
[EDIT] + There's also a roller skating rink by my house where I've been wanting to relive my elementary school days of roller skate parties. Do you remember those? Oh, so much fun!
Sarah's coming! Sarah's coming! Only four more days until Sarah comes! I was compiling a list of options of things the two of us could do during her stay, and I decided to try to entice more friends to come visit by including the list here. Come visit! You know you want to!
+ Lounge in the heated spa, sipping Knock-You-Naked Margaritas.
+ Take Bandit on a walk to the neighborhood coffee shop where we will sit outside by the "lake" drinking chai lattes and mochas, while solving the world's problems.
+ Repeat coffee-drinking and world-solving at the Willow House in the hip Willo District "gay-borhood" (as Pat would say).
+ Go on a rigorous hike up Camelback or Squaw Peak.
+ Take advantage of hip second-hand bookstore Changing Hands' new year's day book sale, wandering the aisles of books and discovering new treasures.
+ Wander around cute Old Town Scottsdale and then...
+ Head out for a night of drinking and dancing at Devil's Martini or...
+ Have dinner at Malee's Thai restaurant and get our auras read (cue Twilight Zone theme).
+ Do the girlie thing and get our nails done at Amsterdam on Martini and Manicures Mondays.
+ Wander around the remaining big holiday light displays: ZooLights or Glendale Glitters.
+ Check out open mic night at Alice Cooper'stown.
+ Go wine-tasting at Red Kangaroo Wines
+ Get cultured at the Phoenix Art Museum (current special exhibits: photography by well-known artists like Dorthea Lange and Richard Avedon; and the history of lingerie)
[EDIT] + There's also a roller skating rink by my house where I've been wanting to relive my elementary school days of roller skate parties. Do you remember those? Oh, so much fun!
12.25.2005
Berry Chridmad
I woke up yesterday to find the annual Christmas cold/sinus infection had performed a sneak attack and captured me in the middle of the night. My esophagus felt like it had shrunk to the size of a Q-tip® shaft, my throat glands had swollen to the size of jawbreakers, and my head felt like a helium balloon was pushing against my sinuses and making my head float up and a little to the right of the rest of my body. At the Christmas Eve service at Dayspring (best church ever), I put the "silent" in "Silent Night" as I mouthed the words to the traditional service-closer. The throat feels much better today, thankyouverymuch.
A very Brooksy Christmas
The pic that accompanied the annual Brooks family Christmas card. Bandit could totally be a Purina dog chow model, doncha think?
Peace, yo
I hope you've had the chance to celebrate the birth of a truly wise man today.
I woke up yesterday to find the annual Christmas cold/sinus infection had performed a sneak attack and captured me in the middle of the night. My esophagus felt like it had shrunk to the size of a Q-tip® shaft, my throat glands had swollen to the size of jawbreakers, and my head felt like a helium balloon was pushing against my sinuses and making my head float up and a little to the right of the rest of my body. At the Christmas Eve service at Dayspring (best church ever), I put the "silent" in "Silent Night" as I mouthed the words to the traditional service-closer. The throat feels much better today, thankyouverymuch.
A very Brooksy Christmas
The pic that accompanied the annual Brooks family Christmas card. Bandit could totally be a Purina dog chow model, doncha think?
Peace, yo
I hope you've had the chance to celebrate the birth of a truly wise man today.
12.14.2005
Kicks I've been on lately, Holiday Christmas version
+ Tuning into 99.9 KEZ, the Holiday Station.
+ Starbucks' Chai Eggnog Latte (Chai-nog!)
+ Yelling at Bandit to get out from under the Christmas tree
+ My mom's raspberry liquour-laced chocolate truffles
+ Holiday party-going with other people's friends
+ Wearing my toasty warm slippers in the car ride to work, then changing into flip flops for the rest of the day
+ Singing Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle in my head and totally mangling the French lyrics
+ Bailey's ice cream from Häagen-Dazs® (It's only out between now and February. Time to stock up!)
+ Not going to the gym (no time, no time!)
+ Soliciting mailing addresses from (not too) long-lost friends (send me yours if you want some Christmas cheer)
+ Tuning into 99.9 KEZ, the Holiday Station.
+ Starbucks' Chai Eggnog Latte (Chai-nog!)
+ Yelling at Bandit to get out from under the Christmas tree
+ My mom's raspberry liquour-laced chocolate truffles
+ Holiday party-going with other people's friends
+ Wearing my toasty warm slippers in the car ride to work, then changing into flip flops for the rest of the day
+ Singing Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle in my head and totally mangling the French lyrics
+ Bailey's ice cream from Häagen-Dazs® (It's only out between now and February. Time to stock up!)
+ Not going to the gym (no time, no time!)
+ Soliciting mailing addresses from (not too) long-lost friends (send me yours if you want some Christmas cheer)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)