Random Wednesday Tidbits

Yum
If you haven't seen the June 24/July 2 issue of Entertainment Weekly, run-don't walk-to your nearest newstand. My favorite hottie Christian Bale graces the cover and also kicks off the annual "Must List." He is going to be one hot Batman. But, no matter how hot he is, he will always be Jamie Graham to me.

Return to the Dentist
I had to go back to the dentist yesterday for 2 fillings. The left side of my face was numb for the entire second half of the day. Suffice it to say, I got nothing done at work. I may be paranoid, but sometimes I think dentists just make shit up. And not only that, but did you know that 2 fillings cost $490?! And chances are my insurance will only cover about half of it. Bastards!

Deep Thoughts...
I wonder if I'd post more frequently if I had a computer at home. I wonder if the IT guys here at work are reading this right now. I haven't lamented the quick passage of time in awhile, so I figure I'm due: I can't believe June is almost over! I can't believe I have been looking for a new job for a year, and I haven't found one yet!

Party at Safeway, Yo
So when did the Safeway parking lot become the popular teenage hangout on Friday nights? This certainly isn't a new phenomonen, because I know kids were hanging out there when I was in high school. I'm curious to know when and how this all got started: "I'm bored." "Yeah me too." "I know what let's do! Let's go hang out in the parking lot of Safeway!" "Totally awesome idea!"

Quick Vent
I know it's terrible to say, but sometimes I really hate people. Especially when they are standing in the middle of the grocery aisle, totally oblivious to the fact that someone might need to get by. Or when they print out 20 color copies of something without first making sure it's error-free, and then I have to be the one to tell them, oh, sorry, you need to fix this and print it again.

Pleasant Valley Saturday

It was my roommate's birthday on Saturday, so we had a girl's day out. We had lunch at Sonoma Saveurs, a quaint French bistro. I wasn't feeling adventurous enough to try the foie gras (translation: goose liver) or the duck burger, so I ordered the veggie sandwhich, which consisted of local brie, sliced pear, black pepper honey, and arugula. Delicious! It was very calming to sit outside and sip a glass of white wine, while chatting about this and that. After lunch, we popped into a few boutiques while slowly making our way back to the car, then we took in a matinee of The Terminal. Unfortunately, it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. But a pleasant enough diversion. After the movie, we quickly regrouped at home, and then popped downtown and walked around for a bit. We had dinner at the local brewpub, but skipped the trip to Baskin-Robbins. I was stuffed!

Friday Night Blues

I was in a weird mood Friday night. I was home alone, and even though I ususally pine for more "alone time," something about being home alone on a Friday night brings back unsavory memories of high school geekiness. The funkiness washes over me and I feel like I haven't a friend in the world. Sad, I know. I am sure it didn't help matters that I watched The Good Mother, in which a mother loses custody of her daughter, and then the end of Scream, which is not nearly as scary as I remember it being but disturbing nonethless for the gross-out factor. So, feeling antsy, I up and decided to go to Borders. Well, the weird mood was not relieved, and in fact it was added to because for some reason I decided to start reading The Lovely Bones, which is very original and well-written but gave me the creeps. And then I wandered over to the children's section because I love going there and pretending all those books are mine, and I discovered a great new book, I Am Too Absolutely Small for School. But of course, those books aren't mine and so I felt happy and sad at the same time. And then I practically bawled on the drive home when "Your Body Is a Wonderland" came on the radio. Oh, I'm a mess.

The Old Ballgame

Oh I had such a headache this morning... 2 screwdrivers followed by 2 beers plus NO water! Oh, I should know better than that! This wasn't my first trip to the ballpark ever, but was my first this season. Unfortunately, since I was drunk before we even got to our seats, I didn't really pay too much attention to the game. The important thing is we won. Oh, and there was a fight. ;-)

Potent Potables

100 Songs
Ah, the American Film Institution - my kind of people. They spend all their time creating lists! The latest one: 100 Movies, 100 Songs. They revealed the "winners" on TV last night. There were plenty of givens (as I suspected, song #1 is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"). But there were some unexpecteds as well - at least for me. I don't think "Come What May" from Moulin Rougue really had more impact on movie goers than, say, "Do Re Mi," but that's just me. Plus, there were several songs listed that I hadn't realized originated in movies. It was quite an educational Tuesday night.

Go Other Guy!!
I am going to miss tonight's episode of Jeopardy! because I will be at the baseball game, but I wonder if this Ken Jennings guy will win again. I am hoping not. Not only do I like to root for the underdog, but sometimes I think people who are on hot streaks need a little splash of cold water now and again. Just like the whole Smarty Jones thing - there was a moment right before the race when it became clear that everyone was already counting their money as though he'd already won, and I decided that I would root for every other horse but Smarty. Is that weird of me?

Save Me
I went to see Saved! last Thursday. It was pretty funny. I'm not as annoyed by Mandy Moore as I thought I would be. And I always love to see Jena Malone. She's on the cover of the current issue of Bust magazine.

I Coulda Been a Contender

Job Search Update: Job Possibility #1 fell through. This is the note I received today:
Thank you so much for coming in to interview with us. We really enjoyed meeting you and you were definitely a strong contender for the position, but ultimately we decided to go with a different candidate. Best of luck in your job hunt.
What does that mean anyway - "strong contender"? I interviewed with Job Possibility #2 on Monday, so hopefully I am contending strongly there. Of course, I never expected I would have to rely on these single baskets for all my eggs. Am I guilty of hubris if I admit I actually thought I would have multiple offers thrown at my feet?

A Day At the Beach

Sunday was the annual trip to the beach for Father's Day - an hour to get there, an hour to get back, and 2 hours huddled on the blanket trying to keep warm. We were troopers this time, though - we actually lasted just over 2 1/2 hours, which is pretty good for us.

The exciting news is that my niece lost her first tooth! We all clapped and cheered for her. But can you believe the tooth fairy gave her $4.00?! Where was that bitch when I needed some cash??

Bloomsday

First things first: I have not read Ulysses, and I don't know if I ever will. Neverthless, I was excited to see Google's logo today and discover that today is the centenary of the single day chronicled in the book: June 16, 1904. "On that day in 1904, Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom each took their epic journeys through Dublin in James Joyce's Ulysses." As everyone knows, I love all things Irish. Plus, I did read (and loved) A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man, so I am familiar with the character Stephen Dedalus. Every year Dublin celebrates Bloomsday and rejoices its most famous author. Of course, Bloomsday is also celebrated
locally.

Mischief Managed

I saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Friday. I thought it was good, but I might have been biased because I like the director, Alfonso Cuaron, and I might be biased to like him because I like the movie A Little Princess so much. I thought Emma Thompson was great as the kooky Professor Trelawny, and of course, David Thewlis and Gary Oldman were excellent as Professor Lupin and Sirius Black. But I was quite aghast when I realized how much of the book they left out of the movie. Pretty important stuff, I think, including the fact that Harry's dad is an animagus and he was Prongs and was one of the four that created the Marauder's Map.
Plus, the fact that Sirius sends Harry a signed permission slip for Hogsmeade along with the new broomstick - this is an important detail regarding Harry finally having family!!

Ok, that was my slightly insane rant about a trivial topic that people are way too obsessed about.

White Cupcakes with Multicolor Sprinkles

While randomly checking out other blogs, I came across a reference to the book The Wish List, by Barbara Kipfer, and while checking it out on Amazon, I discovered her other book, 14,000 Things to Be Happy About. Where have I been and why don't I know about these books? In case you couldn't tell, I love lists. They are, in fact, the bane of my existence because I am forever engaged in a futile struggle to cross things of my many lists. But they are so much fun to make. The whole "Things to do before I die" list idea is actually kind of scary for a superstitious person like me, as I feel it tempts Fate too much. But a "Things to be happy about" list is something I can subscribe too. Here are a few from Kipfer's book:
*A baby's first tooth
*A baseball game going into extra innings
*Brand new notebooks
*Eight hours of sleep
*White cupcakes with multicolor sprinkles
*Amish buggies

Alcohol, followed by more alcohol, followed by sleep
Something else to be happy about - a good, drunken, Saturday night that includes BBQing meat that fell on the ground, getting flipped twice (swing dance style), getting down on it and getting out-danced by a 10-year-old, the cops coming to the door, random hook-ups, the phone getting thrown in the fire, and the crazy next-door neighbor coming over to complain. I can't wait until the next party!

McGross

I went to see Super Size Me last night. I was worried it was going to make me gag, but there were only 2 parts that were gross and forced me to look away. It was a very interesting movie - not only for the specific experiment of eating nothing but McDonald's food for 30 days, but also because the director investigated other sources of American obesity, such as the cafeteria food in public schools. Of course, it made me feel gross about all the fast food and junk food I eat, and I will probably try harder for a little while to eat better, but I don't know how long it'll last. I should pretend it's Lent and abstain for fast food for 30 days....

!&$%#@
I was in a good mood last night until I went into the bathroom and saw one of those bugs on my fucking toilet seat. I felt sick to my stomach for the rest of the night, and I still do. I don't know how much longer I can last....

And to top it all off
My coworker just announced her 2 week notice, so that leaves me as the only assistant/coordinator in the department. I won't be surprised if they don't hire anyone to replace her because the company is so broke. A few people know that I am "looking into" moving down south, so they shouldn't be surprised if and when I give my notice, but nevertheless, the guilt is overwhelming.

Off Damn Plaque, Off!

I had my first dental checkup/cleaning in two years yesterday. The hygenist read me the riot act about the consequences of not flossing and how my gums are inflamed and I am not reaching my back teeth when I brush and that she's going to note it in my record that she warned me about the dangers of tooth decay so that I can't later claim no one told me and sue them. All this while scraping away at my teeth and getting huffy that my gums were bleeding. Hey lady, so sorry for making your job harder.

And can I once again ask that age-old question: Why do dental professionals insist on asking you inane questions when your mouth is full of utensils?

I have to go back there later this month for 2 fillings. Blech. I remember those few golden moments as a child when my picture was posted on the "Perfect Checkup" bulletin board. Ah, to be young and a perfect brusher.

The Very Scenic Route

Road Trip to Long Beach 6/4 - 6/6
We drove down to Long Beach over the weekend for Andrew's friend's graduation from medical school. The trip started out with a bang, in that I left my house on time, but was delayed 45 minutes because of commute traffic. I am still upset that all those people were late for work.

We were on the road a little before noon and reached LA a little after 7:00. It was a pretty pleasant trip and we passed the time playing a game that's a cross between I Spy and Car Bingo - "Find Me Three Things." You'd be surprised how quickly time flies when you are intently searching for an El Camino or a car transporting fauna.

LA is just too surreal. I know I shouldn't hold a grudge against the current residents for the fact that their forefathers decided to build a city in the desert and "borrow" the water from up north. But I do. The whole California Dream thing is just crazy. And yet to my consternation, I am always sucked in by the "dream," and I find myself in awe as I pass by the landmarks and streets that I know from movies (Sunset Blvd, Wilshire, Mulholland). And upon arriving at our hostess's home, my awe was compounded by the grand golden-era Mediterranean style house, complete with an exotic backyard that reminded me of the one from the movie Laurel Canyon. Yes, Virgina, people really do live like this.

On Saturday evening after the graduation, we went out to dinner in Huntington Beach. The memory of walking on the pier in the fading light, listening to the drummers, and watching the gamers linger on the beach volleyball court will always be accompanied by the smell of seaweed. We ate at Duke's. It's a fun seafood restaurant named after Duke Kahanamoku, the father of surfing, and we were seated in the "board room." Ok, I confess, I had the chicken. I just don't do seafood, but I did taste Andrew's opah (white, moist filet of Moon Fish). And the garlic mashed potatoes were divine. Good food, good conversation, good times.

We left town around noon on Sunday, fully expecting the drive to be as uneventful as it was on Monday. No such luck. Just past Santa Barbara we saw a "Road Closed" sign, but there was no closure, so we kept driving. Ten minutes later we came upon a police woman who had set up cones and was directing people off at the exit. We sat in a line for awhile, but were finally waved over the overpass and.... back onto the freeway? Turns out the detour was to go back south to that original exit with the "Road Closed" sign and take Highway 154 until it connected back up with 101. 154 is a somewhat windy 2-lane highway, and since 101 was closed in both directions, it was horrendously congested. After a quick stop for me to pee by the side of the road (yes, you read that right), I took over the driving. In truth, it only set us back about an hour and a half, so it could have been worse.

Kicking Myself in the Ass, Part 3
So besides the aggravating drive on Sunday, the small blight on the weekend was that I paid too much for the motel room. I did not ask in advance how much a room was, I simply said "give us a room," and then the first time I saw the price was when I signed the credit card receipt. Why did I do that? I have been known to do such things in the past. You'd think I'd learn from my mistakes. What it all boils down to is that I am too smart to be so dumb.

Sexy-Ugly

I watched Matchstick Men last night. It held my interest, but there was something phony about it that just didn't sit well with me. Maybe it was because the actress playing the 14-year-old daughter was 24 in real life. I did like Nicholas Cage's OCD behavior - I always like seeing that stuff in movies (such as Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets) because it makes me feel like less of a freak for my little obsessions and rituals.

Related tangent: If you haven't seen Kissing Jessica Stein, you should. Not just because it's a really good movie, but also to fully understand the idea of "sexy-ugly." There are guys who are not conventionally attractive, not even remotely attractive, and yet you are still attracted to them. Example: Steve Buscemi. I have always had a non-mainstream taste in guys. And I love accents, British accents in particular, so a funny lookin' guy can become quite hot as soon as he begins speaking. Big noses, crooked teeth, messy hair - bring it on. (It does irk me, however, that these unattractive guys attract hot women, but you rarely see hot men with "sexy-ugly" women, but that's a discussion for another time.) This brings me to my point: Sam Rockwell, who was in Matchstick Men, is another example. I'm sure most women wouldn't associate the word "ugly" with him at all, but you have to admit he's not mainstream attractive, and he was positively gross in The Green Mile. But there's just something about him.... "exactly! sexy-ugly!"

And speaking of The Green Mile, I have to say, I have such a soft spot for this guy!

Roulez!

Isn't life grand when you, your boyfriend, and your parents get good and liquored up and play a couple of uproarious rounds of Mille Bornes?

We spent the 3-day weekend in South Lake Tahoe. Money was lost at the casinos, I finally took a picture of Emerald Bay, we stopped for a world famous Rum Runner at the Beacon Bar and Grill, and as mentioned above, we got quite drunk playing card games. All in all, it was a fun weekend.

We watched The Cooler on Sunday and last night watched Japanese Story. I'm not sure how I feel about Japanese Story. Toni Collette is definitely one of my top 5 favorite actresses, and she was excellent in this, but there was an underlying creepiness that just left me unsettled. The Cooler was good though - lots of funny moments, and Alec Baldwin was a very good bad guy.

Off Topic: Work Rant
I need to vent for a moment. This place really drives me crazy sometimes. People are so on edge today because it's the last day to get some projects out. I need to proofread the material before it's sent out, so I am getting the stink eye if I am not at my desk when the material is dropped off. Hey! Don't get mad at me because you waited until the last minute to begin producing this stuff! I shouldn't have to fasttrack the proofreading process and be at your beck and call just because you are late!!
Whew! I needed that.... What's funny is that despite all the above, I actually like being at work because it keeps my mind off my obsessive worries.