the rocket

Today you get your annual entry from the Snooker World Championship in Sheffield, England. Two-time world champion, and probably the purest player of all time, Ronnie O’Sullivan rolled a maximum 147 break while closing out his second round match against Mark Williams. Watch if you please. For those who don’t remember: red ball is 1, black ball is 7, and the remaining balls are 6 (pink), 5 (blue), 4 (brown), 3 (green), 2 (yellow). The non-red balls are replaced on their spot until all the reds are off the table, i.e. red, color, red, color. The maximum requires all 15 reds being on the table when the player steps up and he’ll have to pot 15 reds with 15 blacks in between, followed by the remaining five colors in order. That’s 36 shots in-a-row in a single trip**. I love snooker, I love that venue.



P.S. It’ll now be O’Sullivan vs. eight-time champion Stephen Hendry in one of this year’s semis – fantastic.

T.

** You can clear the entire table with 36 consecutive shots that doesn’t include only reds and blacks prior the finishing the colors, and not score 147 points.

i’m made of rubber, you’re made of glue

I’ll do my utmost to maintain some sense of proportion, and levity, throughout this tale.

The Saturday venture that landed the Mercedes-Benz in our driveway led directly to a butterfly effect felt across northern Virginia. As quickly as it was bought it was apparently sold to those we’ll call the Prince and Princess of Rivendell who inhabit the hills and valleys across the hall; something or other about dreams, nightmares, peasants, and whatnot. There was a good deal of back-and-forth between The Shire and Rivendell concerning the final destination of what I’m now calling The Ring, the beautiful golden chariot. Dreams were to be fulfilled, the ostentatiousness of the massive and powerful thing conquered, and desires to make everything right for the time of man. After the give-and-take (literally) betwixt the two small empires was finally resolved, by X deciding against forces to keep The Ring, there was peace in our time. The folk of Rivendell were happy enough to consider waiting and pondering what was so closely held for those mere seconds, and deciding to look about to see what else might be conquered. What was available for those means this morning was to be an exact copy of The Ring, one year older, that has now found a place in the parking lot of golden cars. As if one t’wernt enough, there are now two – one for each Kingdom. Priceless.

It reminds one of a silly story about a couple of chairs. Think about that, and stones, and castings.

can i see some id?

At some point it was either Andrew Sullivan or another commentator that remarked, concerning gay marriage, that “I don’t have to justify my civil rights.” There’s a ton you can read into that little phrase and all of it should be good. No one should have to stand up and defend their right to vote, marry, speak their mind, write what they think, create their art, sing their song, or dance their dance. Unless there is proof positive that an action is harmful or detrimental to society then there can’t be a law that forbids that action.

The Court decided today, if that’s a reflection of what happened (it seemed more a 3-3-3 split…Scalia, Thomas, and Roberts together...surprise!), that you must have photo ID to vote in Indiana. I ran through my little mind’s input when this was argued but now you can read commentary on the result – as if you will. Slate has some blogging from their folks, Michelle Malkin pipes in (I’ve got to be fair), and scotusblog adds a few shillings to the fray. What I found most interesting was the scotusblog bits about this really being a Republican-driven action in order to…make up your own mind.

This is a case that fully limits facial challenges to the court. The facial bit (I live with a lawyer-to-be) means that you cannot challenge a law that adversely affects you until you can prove that you’ve been adversely affected by some inane law (I can’t help it). Think about challenges to the separate but equal idea for schools – under the current Court they’d tell you that in order to challenge that law as unconstitutional you’d have to prove that discrimination is wrong after the fact – let us discriminate and they you prove it…dare you! Passing a law that discriminates is fine because it isn’t hurting anyone unless they tell us it’s hurting them. That’s a very nice modus operandi.

“Okay, Here’s what I’m going to do for you – I’m going to punch you in the face. Don’t worry, it’s okay until the point-in-time where you tell me it really hurts like a son-of-a-bitch. What? You think it’ll hurt and you don’t want me to do it? Sorry, doesn’t work – you don’t know it’ll hurt until it does hurt so standstill and so let’s give it a go….”

One last nugget: it’s not just a photo ID, it’s a photo ID with an expiration date. My retired military ID card (as I’ve already pointed out) has no expiration date so I can’t use it to vote in Indiana.

Ah, sign of our times.

T

senate hearing

The X Bureau of Intelligence, the XBI, was stood up today during a visit to our new digs (we move on Saturday). Since H. was in town for an interview at his new school we thought it’d be nice for him to see the place before he leaves again this evening. The XBI made overt contact with the landlord via telecommunications, to which our visit was agreed, and we were still awaiting a return call as we headed back to Arlington around 2pm. The white paper memo made it obvious that stopping en route would be the best option. Unfortunately, our target hadn’t made contact so we coordinated a slightly covert operation with the previous occupant and gathered intel that allowed us to visit via use of a secret key – secured in locales unknown to some, maybe to all. Our quick quick in-and-out assault enabled all to see and inspect the empty house before we headed back out into the pouring rain to make our escape. Just blocks from the house we get telephonic contact from our agent saying the meet is on, if needed, and only coordinates and time are required. The Director tries to play off the planned visit with a “no neeed….blah blah blah” excuse and testifies that we can visit “some other time.” After stumbling through this exchange and terminating the call, the Director deems it necessary to reestablish contact in order to set-up an actual drop later in the week so we have a key for weekend ops. This conversation gets shady as we’re unable to play off the meeting from anywhere but the scene of the ‘crime’. We turn around Galactica and set sail for destiny. There are two issues we’re concerned with in dark ops: first, the wood floors are probably still wet from the three agents traipsing around the house; second, we need our junior agent (call him “H”) to suddenly become fully qualified in real-world ops. Here’s the plan – at the meet up we’ll have Agent H spring into the house before any one, rudely if need be, and sprint around screaming how lovely this house is – and he’s never seen it before – and thereby marking the floor with untold numbers of wet tennis shoe marks. We also attempt to build some cover for the junior agent so he won’t say anything along the lines of “we were just here”, “why are we here again?”, or “I already told you that during our visit five minutes ago.” This cover building doesn’t go so well and the Director begins to wonder if there isn’t another way. As we stand on target, awaiting the drop, she decides to open up again, head inside, and then simply relay to the target that we ‘suddenly’ remembered something about a spare key that was given in a previous operation/collection – the previous tenant be damned. You see, what we don’t know is if this secret key is authentic and known to the landlord or if it’s a bogus, deep ops key create by the last occupant. We open up and realize the floors are dry, there’s no evidence, and the operation is change again to “lock the door and stand fast”. Ah ha, I say; what if they know of the extra key and she wants to show it to us but it’s missing and now someone might break-in and the locks will need to be changed? What about that? The Director gives me the key and tells me to put it back in the secret stash; if I’m caught I’m to die with the operation via my cyanide pill or stuffing my mouth with Good n’ Plentys. I recce the area, move in under air cover, replace the key, and return to bivouac in plenty of time to feign any scent of suspicion. That Director, she’s a genius.

The Secretary of State will be testifying at some point.

pony up

Here’s a bit of a review on the day’s affairs.

I cleaned most of the house, as I’m wont to do.

I planned menus for the week.

I cooked.

X bought a Mercedes-Benz.

Do not question the machine.

I came home from the market with my nine cups of arugula for tomorrow morning’s breakfast (don’t ask). I also needed some parmesan aged 24 months (she loves that), some Greek yoghurt, a bit of bread, and a few lemons. The lovely had departed for chiropractor at about 10am and returned about 2:30pm with a well-straightened back and a golden car – as if that’s normal. Actually, my story of heading to Reno for a queen mattress and coming home with my Prius probably ranks in the same category. I never in my life imagined I’d drive a Merc…never. It’s a six-year old car with low mileage, plenty of safety, and piles of extra junk. She honestly stumbled on a gem; that doesn’t mean I won’t give her endless doses of big law firm, Northern Virginia suburbs, and private school harassment. My only stance is this: I will not drive into a Whole Foods parking lot in an E-class Mercedes. No fucking way. Not ever.

I know it’s a lame stance…but it’s a stance nonetheless. I'm going hip-hop and all...

t.

them and that and our center

The problem we have when we sit down and measure our ideals and vote is, unfortunately, the most glaring weakness we have as humans. We think about what we want, we think about who we’d rather have a beer with, and we think about nothing but next month or next year. That process almost makes sense – our community and environment seem exigent. Yet, it’s our greatest failure as members of a larger community. We aren’t voting for us. I’ve got no vote that I can cast at my age that will have any significant value on what happens to me in the next twenty years. An established position will remain established with minor invasions of inconvenience. My children, neighbors, friends, and myriad places in the World are what I’m deciding every election. If you’re able, and it’s a most difficult task, think about how you’d vote if you could remove yourself, body and soul, from the traumas of the day. Imagine a struggle for work, think about how we’ll deal with the issues beyond our border, wonder what it’s like to live in shadows as an immigrant – that’s what you’re deciding. Those are the choices you’re making. Make the effort to decide whether or not what you have is more or less than others, whether the optics you see life through are actually representative of our country and the people that struggle everyday. The funny thing is this: we don’t write the narrative, we only write the prologue. What we’ll read in twenty year’s time will be the rest of book, and if it turns out to be a crap read than we can only blame ourselves. To paraphrase someone, when times are horrible and life sucks, we tend to turn that those things that are most important to us – sometimes what’s most important to us isn’t anything close to what will remedy the ills.

On a lighter (sort of) note: Charlie Wilson’s War is a fantastic movie. I’m catching up on the grand films of last year and have given both Charlie and Michael Clayton a go. Michael Clayton was quite good. primarily for Clooney – and vaguely for Swinton – and I held it in higher esteem until I saw Charlie. There are three things about Charlie Wilson’s War that stood out. First, we get Hanks and Roberts holding down solid roles (Hanks more so than an undeveloped Roberts’ character). Two, we get to see the difference between really good actors and really great actors – Philip Seymour Hoffman is absolutely amazing. He has had so many minor roles that have exploded on screen (Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love) that the Oscar in Capote was no surprise. He’s probably better in this than Capote and I can’t even remember if he was nominated for it. After seeing Bardem in No Country I question his ‘supporting actor’ nod. Hoffman should have won if everyone was in the right category. And finally, I love Amy Adams. The roles keep piling up and the ability is mega. Her role in Junebug was stunning and this is simply more of the same. Great acting, great film…lots of laughs – strange as that may seem.

love to all.

t

training

Consider it professional development. Mistakes will kill you...focus, focus. I did 58, 92 (winner!), and then tumbled to 62. Methinks that law school near-graduate will crank out some serious numbers.

channeling

Rob Riggle from The Daily Show in the role of me - even the language is appropriate.



I have little more to say on this fine early Summer day.

t.

she shoots, she scores

The problem with overtime games in the NHL playoffs is all happens so fast, and when you add Game 7 to the mix it feels like a car accident, in a way. There you are watching the game, or driving your car, and suddenly….BAM! You have so little warning that it’s all about to end. Of course, games and accidents with crunching metal aren’t of the same life-affecting stature; merely the surprise at what just happened. Actually, watch this video and maybe you’ll get the idea: hanging out in the park with friends, enjoying some festival or another, drinking a Snapple, I hear there’s going to be some guy doing a bunch of flips somewhere, and then…..



The Flyers won last night at the six-minute mark of OT – you could hear a pin drop amongst the 17,000 fans at the Verizon Center. It was a fantastic game and a great series that was only overshadowed by the Flyers victory and the Caps fans who thought it was okay to throw bottles and assorted crap on the ice (and at the Philly players) when the game was over. I shouldn’t indict all the fans that sit down in the lowers at Verizon but that’s were it all came from; there’s nothing wrong with acting as if you’ve been to the playoffs before and can deal more maturely with a disappointing result to a great series: you don’t need to be an ass. I hate those fans. WonderTwin 2 and I had a couple of Philly lawyers sitting right in front of us during the game and you could feel just how restrained they were trying to be throughout. The first Flyer goal made them jump involuntarily from their skins, and seats, in elation. I think they enjoyed the end more than me. Now I’ve got my first-place Cubs to follow until the hockey returns – I’ll see them Sunday afternoon at the new Nationals ballpark down at the Navy Yard.

I got a new 24” (diagonal) widescreen monitor added to the work computer yesterday. The first thing I had to do was bump the brightness down about 35% and adjust contrast to avoid having my face burnt of or ruining my retinas. I don’t actually think anyone needs a screen this big but who am I to complain.

The whole idea that a double-digit victory for Clinton last night in Pennsylvania would signal her to continue, but anything less would be a signal to give up came true: 9.2% victory. It’s like kissing your sister.

T

what? us? can't be

There’s an op-ed by Martin Neil Baily in the Sunday Times that’s an attempt to separate the economic issues in America from the war in Iraq. The opening paragraphs put forth his theory that global demand for all commodities is driving increased in prices and cost-of-living – particularly oil and metals. The global demand for resources combined with our mortgage and construction felonies are the primary contributors to the economic mess. He debunks the war, the actions of the Fed, government borrowing, budget deficits, or foreign investment temptation (?). I could sit together with Bialy at a table that disassociates the economic mess from the war – but not fully. I think there are quite a few out there who would think that the distraction of the war, the blinkered focus on the ‘global war’, has either allowed the American economy to slip out the backdoor or it represents the only activity our government (which includes both the executive and the legislative) is capable of participating in – no multi-tasking in Washington. Bialy’s point-of-view seems shallow if the only real suspect in our economic problems is global demand and the mortgage crisis. In fact, if I take him at value then our inability to deal with shrinking supply (or at least recognize that it was coming) and the housing market is a little embarrassing. How about if we just imagine there was no war – now what’s the excuse? Hey, China and India have a whole lot of people? We shouldn’t necessarily leave the housing market unregulated? One man’s opinon.

Speaking of the Administration…remember the “bring it on” quote from the President? I think Sec. Rice might want to consider issuing challenges to those who control and affect events in Iraq. According the an AP article in the Washington Post, Sec. Rice decided it was best to call out Al-Sadr during her visit to Iraq. In fact, her saying “I guess it’s all-out war for anybody but him. I guess that’s the message: His followers can go to their deaths and he’s in Iran.” I won’t even attempt to break that message down into it’s ironic components.

a fond farewell

Last Thursday was the final day of State Senator Ernie Chambers' 38-year career in the Nebraska Unicameral. I remember way back in my youth when Chambers was only ten years into his career in Lincoln and already so far along in his political upheaval-driven career. Pay Nebraska football players? Standing his ground and extolling his views on the floor of the legislature, often times as a lonely voice standing up for his vision of equality, was something to see. There've been many times over the years that I've wholly disagreed with his opinions but that hasn't been the case any more than with any other politico. In fact, over time I've come to realize that it's exceeding rare - possibly extinct - to find a politician as dead honest as Chambers. His story, if and when it's fully realized and published (if it's not already), will reflect one of the most interesting lifetimes most will ever read. He's served his community in Omaha, he's rankled and cajoled, he's seemed a bit crazy at times, but he's certainly been a breath of fresh air for nearly as long as I've been alive.

To a grand career.

drama pope

The Eleven did NYC on Friday and Saturday – my first time, hers a more experienced palate. We were granted a gratis studio on the Upper East Side, reserved a couple of bus seats out of Arlington, brought our fancy duds and opera tickets, and headed up I-95. X scored some posh seats for La Boheme at the Met (seventh row, dead center) – primarily to complete the fancy dress/Met Opera scene as well as seeing Angela Gheorghiu in the role of Mimi. Unfortunately, Ms. Gheorghiu was ill for closing night which led to suspicion that she may have departed early for a Spring Break. The production was grand and the singing sounded top-notch to my wholly amateur ears but I can sum up Puccini’s piece quickly: Mimi and Rudolfo fall in love when she shows in his apartment in need of candle lighting, they become jealous and distant, break-up while she’s ill, and declare their love once again as she dies at the final curtain. I know you’re thinking I’ve simplified a grandiose 3 ½ hour opera but I’m not. All in all, it was quite enthralling.

The only problems we encountered during our visit were one subway misstep upon arrival and the Pope. Go figure, right? How often does a pontiff actually interfere with day-to-day life? Well, it’s been relentless this week as his posse has jammed, twisted, and mangled traffic in both D.C. and NYC. We left the apartment at about 6:40 anticipating a cab ride around or through Central Park but the doorman gave us the ‘no way’ taxi signal (5^th Ave was closed and 3^rd Ave and Lexington at a standstill in/around/near the Pope’s residence) so we walked to the subway and took three trains around the park and arriving at Lincoln Center ten minutes before curtain. X was in her new Spanish heels and ran the challenge of walking, train transfers, and city sidewalk grates like a champ; I think her admiration for all things Spanish has grown.

We meandered up and down Lexington Ave. on Saturday morning and had breakfast before meeting with X’s friend and significant other. We had great weather and company before finally heading out of the city at about 4:30pm – right into Pope-festival departing audiences cramming into the Lincoln tunnel.

The Onion has once again created a story that belongs in my hall of fame. If you followed the razor blade and healthy chip stories than this one will fit nicely in the next file folder.

t.

like who you live with

Ever since we watched Helvetica a few months ago there's been fonts hanging all about the place: "Oh, that's Helvetica", "That Obama guy has a nice font!" Who knew a documentary would latch onto the brain - my Rwanda and rendition documentaries never get the same shrift. There've been entries (elsewhere...) and critiques on who uses what and for what good/evil purpose. My contribution to the institute of my readers and strange birds will be this quiz for the overly interested. I'm about to take it but it's clearly for much more erudite (strange? insane?) of the typesetters and designers of the World than it is for the font lovers hanging about - they even have Hall of Fame. I love that it's dubbed the 'Rather' Difficult game.

As a challenge I'll alert you that I got the first one correct. Bang!

t

post-script: I got 18 of 34 which is pretty pathetic by hall of fame standards. Not many Americans near the top of that list.

i know! i know!

This morning the Eleven was gabbing and X cross exams me by asking how many of Ten Commandments I can name. My first thought is that I’ve done something wrong and need to think about the commandments and/or get some religion. I stumble through what gets classified as “four, maybe four-and-a-half.” I know, I don’t know what ‘half a commandment’ might be but it had something to do with wondering if coveting and adultery were the same commandment or not. Between us we eventually got to eight, maybe eight-and-a-half. What this led to was a gathering of categories that would be indicative of what Americans know and don’t know – in particular, what we think is very important versus what’s actually more like trivia and how it is we might sort them in our dusty brain cabinets. We argue, debate, and rage on certain topics yet we aren’t particularly well versed in knowing some of the details, such as what they actually include. So, we give you a herd of things to ponder while staring up at the corner of the ceiling and wondering why you haven’t vacuumed out the cobwebs.

Name the Ten Commandments
Ten hit songs by Madonna
Ten U.S. Presidents
The Bill of Rights
The original Rolling Stones and all the Beatles
Ten African nations
Sing at least one verse of “American Pie” by Don McLean
Supreme Court justices

You get the point, I think. We did laugh heartily at the fact that neither of us can name, or sing, even one of Mariah Carey’s 19 #1 songs – she now trails only the Beatles.

This won’t qualify as sport, per se, but I was trying to explain the other night how seeing a playoff game between the Capitals and Flyers is very different than games between the Caps and the Thrashers (or Lightning, or Hurricanes, or Panthers). The Flyers aren’t some Johnny-come-lately band of southern hockey franchises; they’re an original. What symbolizes this place in sport hierarchy are the uniform design and colors: a strong “P” symbol on the chest and the block orange and white jerseys with black pants. No mauves, purples, taupes, or horrible greens. As I was explaining this I got the perfect response from the her-listener, “So they’re like stormtroopers.” Exactly. The Flyers are like stormtroopers.

15 and 8

What you have is a sports moment like few others: Ovechkin with two poke-checks and an unassisted goal to win his first-ever playoff game. The Caps were down two entering the third before a rally tied it up and Ovechkin won it late. It was amazing. No more sports (barring a Woods comeback) until the next round of the playoffs.

Occasionally a Metro rider ends up on the wrong side of the tracks – it’s much less troublesome if the stop you’re hanging at is a central platform. Ballston is a train-centered, commuter-diverse station. As I’m waiting for the line to Carrollton I see a young guy hauling ass toward the only up elevator on my side…and the only train is already on the other side with doors open. Let me give you a tip – if you are mistakenly on my side and the doors are open on the other side, which you need to be at…or on, you’ve got no chance. This little sommabitch is hauling up my platform, up my escalator, across the top of the station, and down the other side. T’aint happening. But…don’t think for a gosh darn minute that I’m not hoping he makes it. I see him halfway down the escalator on the other side as the doors close. Damn. Doors open on that train because of some hack has apparently violated my rules and my team ends up slippling into the last car, or not, as he’s actually stopped by some commuter cop at the door. Are you kidding me? The cop seems a bit baffled as he stops "crazy-hauling-ass guy". He eventually lets my team onboard and a cheer goes up in my little mind. That should be an Olympic event.

L. is in tomorrow morning and we’ve got at least one night of salmon….if you must know.

t.

P.S. Tiger will be within three by the end of tomorrow.

consumer warning: popcorn

While walking home from Ballston Metro today I came upon a man walking along with a full bag of popped,yet unopened, microwave popcorn – you know, the beware of steam when opening popcorn bag. I’m flummoxed by the whole scene: why would anyone be carrying an unopened bag of popped microwave popcorn? There is a 7-11 a few blocks away and maybe he doesn’t have a microwave at home so he either sneaks over with his own bag from Costco and uses their megawatts or, buys the tasty treat at the shop, pops it, and heads back to his place somewhere in South Arlington. I could almost make up a strange, late day scenario where he’s sitting down with his girlfriend to watch a DVD before remembering that popcorn would be excellent with the movie. “Hey baby. You want some popcorn while we watch The Matrix Trilogy?” “That would be great Jimmy, thanks,” she replies. “Right, I’ll go get some…” I’ve no idea what I’m on about.

We’ve done the house cleaning this evening in order to avoid a Friday cleanfest after G. leaves in the morning but before Laurel arrives on Saturday. It’s really a combination of a visitor and me going to the playoff game on Friday night...pick your poison.

I got through two documentaries this week and I call that a fine accomplishment. The more interesting of the two was An Unreasonable Man about the career of Ralph Nader before and after his political forays. I was a little unsure of the influence and success he had in his earlier career; I knew some of the basics but had no inkling of the number of everyday consumer rights he pushed through. What struck me during two different interview scenes with him was his definition, or dismissiveness, of loyalty which involved deciding whether or not someone was moving with you toward the same end goal. Essentially, he blackballed any former associate who moved onto another career and didn’t remain true, in his mind, to the Nader ideal. He was perfectly at ease haranguing those former comrades. On the other hand, any associates that moved along to new ideals and blackballed him he found to be nothing but heretical. It seems the same ideal in type but it’s clearly not in his mind.

We’ve had a cold spell that’s probably frozen out the cherry blossom tourists all this week. It’s suppose to warm up through the weekend so Laurel and I will head down very early on Monday or Tuesday to do a loop of the tidal basin before the Ohio hordes arrive after breakfast. A few museums and lunch at the Museum of the American Indian will no doubt follow.

Hey to all.

t.

capital food

The thing about me is that I’m a hopeless sports fan. I don’t care much for American sports after the years in Europe but I’m a sucker for a good story. I’m also a complete non-bandwagon person – yet I’m a bit guilty of it now. My theory on “favorite” sports teams is this: you’re generally not allowed to change. Your teams are your teams and I’d find it nearly impossible to jettison the teams that I’ve loved since my youth: Minnesota Vikings, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Chicago Cubs. It’s not even optional to move onto another team in those sports because of these very strong bonds. I’ve had affair with NBA teams (76ers in the 80s, Bulls in the 90s) because I love excellence (Dr. J and Michael Jordan) and a few Euro squads (Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea in football) but they never felt like do-or-die outcomes – I consider them one-night stands. What I’ve now become is a very dedicated Washington Capitals hockey fan. I stumbled onto them as they were just a little jump into a fantastic late season run to make the NHL playoffs; they were about the worst team in the NHL at Thansksgiving. Tonight they clinched a division title at the last gasp and move on as a most dangerous team (winning 11 or the last 12). They’re young, their new coach came from nowhere, and they have 23 year-old Alexander Ovechkin lighting up cameras and hockey fans around the world. I’ve never had a hockey team so I don’t feel as if I’m cheating. I don’t care for the Redskins, Wizards (Bullets!), or the Nationals, so the Caps seem like a way to connect to the greater D.C. area. As a bonus I’ll let you in on a little secret: hockey is the most exciting sport to be in the arena watching – no comparison to any of the other major sports. Call me band wagon if you will but I’m pretty happy to garner a sports association beyond what I had in 1970 without sacrificing any of my integrity. They host the playoff opener at home on Friday against the Broad Street Bullies.

Lidia Bastianich tried to kill me yesterday with a crepe, spinach/greens, béchamel sauce, baked dish ‘pasta’ dish. I didn’t know what I was thinking when I kicked off the shenanigans at about 5:30pm – we ate at about 7:45. I think I needed a restaurant-quality kitchen and three assistants.

I took G. to see Mim’s Island yesterday and after 90 minutes realized the X has a lost of Jodie Foster in her – or the other way around. It’s mostly a facial layout and expression idea but it also carries through the neck and shoulders. How interesting is this entry?

I post, clear my mind, and come back later.

t.

as if i'm crazy

I’d like to add something to the list from earlier: Leonard Cohen. I’m a ticket guy – a lurker – and I’ve got a pretty solid handle on what’s what when it comes to demand, prices, and complete loons. Leonard Cohen fans, rightly so, are loons. We’re looking at flying to a place dubbed Charlottetown, Canada and spending the night in order to see Cohen in a 900-seat theatre. Don’t even think about trying to see him in Montreal or Toronto: that’s crazy money, crazy talk, and crazy Canucks. Hamilton, Ontario (a 90-mile drive from Buffalo) is a better option. I’m digging through the change in our cushions in order to even contemplate a one- or two- night trip up to see him. At 74 years old, Mr. Cohen may not have many (or any) tours left in him after this 20 or 30 show jaunt across the World. I’m just about sure that taking what’s-her-name to see Cohen would carry more weight than… well, anything. You know what? You weigh the benefits of each and then step across the line into the abyss….

t.

extra credit; "am!", "am not!" argument

I was at the Verizon Center “red out” for last night’s Caps victory over the Canes. I was wearing black.

The real story of the day was the realization after the first period that I’d either lost my wallet or had it stolen. In reality, my ‘wallet’ is a flip-top metal container that holds my IDs, ATM cards, and CCs. This was not a good feeling. I recreated the last time I’d used it (the record store at DuPont, about 5:30pm) and tried to sort out if it could have been stolen – unlikely. My man-bag has at least five things that look and feel like said ID holder so some pick-pocket would have to be freaky good to get the right mystery container. Unless, of course, it was David Blaine! I couldn’t call the record store until this morning – and I was certain they’d have it – but alas, no luck. I cancelled and then ordered a new check card (two days) and blocked one credit card before I deciding to check my cell to see if the record shop had called back. Lo and behold, I have a message from Bank of America notifying me that a woman called them last night (I should have answered my phone!) and told them she had found my case. (Hear choir singing and horns a-plenty!) They passed along her number and I’m awaiting a call back as I type. Call it a disaster averted – and I owe her a gift when I wander over to pick it up. Any ideas?

The extra credit bit – read, karma – was something I proclaimed to X last night when I got home. It was only last week that I called my cell phone company to alert them that they’d double-credited $525 to my account. The service agent on the phone made no bones about the fact that they probably never would have caught the error and that she was truly amazed at my honest behavior. Made me feel good but certainly wasn’t anything I needed; seemed like the right thing to do. The events of the last sixteen hours at least give me hope that the universe is in operational order.

This link was sent to torment me: stuff white people like. I’d like an opportunity to respond, and cry, at the near clinical dissection of my life:

#93 Music Piracy – No way. That’s only suburban kids!
#92 Book Deals – I like books.
#91 San Francisco – Completely in love with S.F.
#90 Dinner Parties – Are they looking through my window?
#89 St. Patrick’s Day – Not so much.
#87 Outdoor Performance Clothes – I’m an REI member.
#86 Shorts – Often. Sometimes with sweaters – crazy.
#85 The Wire – My favorite show.
#84 T-Shirts – Damn, they got me.
#83 Bad Memories of High School - Nope
#82 Hating Corporations - Yep
#81 Graduate School – Funny.
#80 The Idea of Soccer – I actually like football.
#79 Modern Furniture – Hate it.
#78 Multilingual Children – I have none. “Idea of…”
#77 Musical Comedy – I don’t think so.
#76 Bottles of Water – No bottles; refillables. Plastic Bags we hate.
#75 Threatening to Move to Canada – or Europe.
#74 Oscar Parties – Ha ha ha.
#73 Gentrification – What?
#72 Study Abroad – Live abroad.
#71 Being the only white person around – I like the fish market.
#70 Difficult Breakups – What? Me? Marriage?
#69 Mos Def – he was excellent in Crash.
#68 Michel Gondry – Don’t even know him.
#67 Standing Still at Concerts – Fuck me; they are watching!
#66 Divorce – See #70 above.
#65 Co-Ed Sports – Ultimate last summer?
#64 Recycling – Seriously, doesn’t everyone?
#63 Expensive Sandwiches – I’m a Panini maker. I have a maker.
#62 Knowing What’s Best for Poor People – I do.
#61 Bicycles – Now they’re just laughing at me.
#60 Toyota Prius – Laughing at me even more.
#59 Natural Medicine – That’s X’s niche.
#58 Japan – or China.
#57 Juno – Loved it.
#56 Lawyers – Love one.
#55 Apologies – I’m so so on this. Maybe #70 and #66 help.
#54 Kitchen Gadgets – Shut up.
#53 Dogs – Hate cats, love dogs.
#52 Sarah Silverman – I’m Fu*^%ing Sarah Silverman.
#51 Living by the Water – I like Portland x 2 and Seattle. What?
#50 Irony – I think I used irony a few entries ago.
#49 Vintage – Classic.
#48 Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops – Off Whole Foods. Love co-ops.
#47 Arts Degrees – Fancy education ain’t my thing. Museums?
#46 The Sunday New York Times – Crap.
#45 Asian Fusion Food – Double Crap.
#44 Public Radio – Member of two stations (D.C. and Minneapolis)
#43 Plays – Went to two last week.
#42 Sushi – Maybe. Who wants to know?
#41 Indie Music – Aren’t we funny?
#40 Apple Products – iMac and two iPods.
#39 Netflix – Forty movies in my queue.
#38 Arrested Development – Never saw it.
#37 Renovations – Can’t but would.
#36 Breakfast Places – Barcelona anyone? Pneumatic? Deux Gros Nez?
#35 The Daily Show/Colbert Report – Online every weekend.
#34 Architecture – Ah, not so much.
#33 Marijuana – Never did it.
#32 Vegan/Vegetarianism – Love one. Sorta one.
#31 Snowboarding – Too tall.
#30 Wrigley Field – Blame my parents, I vacationed in Chicago.
#29 80s Night – I AM the 80s. Doing the Safety Dance!
#28 Not having a TV – Hooked-up? Or actual TV?
#27 Marathons – No way I’d do it but I think about them.
#26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!) – Never been. Going in two weeks.
#25 David Sedaris – I do love my Sedaris.
#24 Wine – Clearly the PATRIOT Act was involved in this list.
#23 Microbreweries – I tour them. I drink them.
#22 Having Two Last Names – Love one.
#21 Writers Workshops – Can’t write; too stuffy.
#20 Being an expert on YOUR culture – Have you seen this list?
#19 Traveling – Shit.
#18 Awareness – Does my current events trivia count?
#17 Hating their Parents – I love my parents.
#16 Gifted Children – All my children are gifted.
#15 Yoga – Love one.
#14 Having Black Friends – Had some around here somewhere.
#13 Tea – We have a freakish amount of tea in our commune.
#12 Non-Profit Organizations – What ACLU? Amnesty? Theatre? Oops.
#11 Asian Girls – I’m spoken for.
#10 Wes Anderson Movies – It's a Netflix one on our bookshelf.
#9 Making you feel bad about not going outside – Don’t feel bad
#8 Barack Obama – No comment.
#7 Diversity – Why would this be bad?
#6 Organic Food – Get out of my kitchen.
#5 Farmer’s Markets – Get out of my kitchen.
#4 Assists – It’s because we aren’t scorers.
#3 Film Festivals – Never did much for me.
#2 Religions their parents don’t belong to – Not really. Just not.
#1 Coffee – I’ve never sought out coffee and coffee accessories.

I'll got get a baseball hat to wear backwards; wally.

T.