Just as we were becoming able to peacefully coexist, a cockroach decided to appear in my microwave just after I'd microwaved some bread.
Bastards.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Lines
I tried to see Midnight Pajama Jam at Galapagos last night.
Most of this is my own fault. Well, not my fault as much as it is my boss' fault. The 2:30 meeting got pushed back to 4:00 and then 4:30, which resulted in a late day heart-to-heart rather than an hour and a half long discussion of data. This caused us to get to Williamsburg later than expected. We grabbed dinner, which went faster than I'd anticipated, and got to Galapagos at around 7:45 for the 8:00 show.
We waited in line until after 8:00.
During this time, I said "Eugene Mirman is at the bar!" Eugene Mirman, national celebrity (well, maybe more of a locally adored comic) and fellow participant in UMass' Orgy of Talents Circa 1995 or 1996, had been an object of my stalking before I even got to NYC. Not because I have a crush on him or because I think he's awesome (well, he is awesome, but I didn't know that before I even got to NYC), but because I think it is awesome that someone from that god awful talent show went on to make a name for himself. And not that the talent show was god awful, but it wasn't necessarily a breeding ground for, well, real talent. Anyway, I just really want to say one night, at the bar, "Hey Eugene Mirman, remember the Orgy of Talents Circa 1995 or 1996? You were really funny." I just really want to see if he remembers it at all, and what he'll say about it, because if he does remember it and he does say something about it, I bet what he says will be really really funny.
And it will make a rad blog entry. Or, better yet, a song called "Eugene Mirman Remembers Me!"
I digress...
I was disappointed in myself for not saying something to Eugene Mirman.
I was more disappointed in fucking people because after we'd been in line for about twenty minutes, D said "What the fuck? Look at those assholes." A bunch of people just cut in the line. Maybe ten or so. "Who do they think they are?" "You should start a fight," I said. "You're going to see me mad. Do you know that this sort of thing makes me mad?" "I know, honey." "I can't believe them." "Should we say something?" "No, I'm just going to observe this." A few minutes later "Do you see how I'm observing this and how it's making me mad?" "Yes, honey, maybe you should say something. But don't start a fight." "I'm so mad."
I wasn't mad. I expect this sort of behavior from people, especially from people in New York City, and particularly from entitlement-feeling line-cutters in Williamsburg.
I was mad when it sold out and there were approximately ten people who could not get into the show. Including us.
We should have said something.
But what do you say? Is it worth the confrontation? I never know.
We went home and watched the first half of Harry Potter 2 instead and went to bed at 11:00 and didn't wake up until 8:00.
Most of this is my own fault. Well, not my fault as much as it is my boss' fault. The 2:30 meeting got pushed back to 4:00 and then 4:30, which resulted in a late day heart-to-heart rather than an hour and a half long discussion of data. This caused us to get to Williamsburg later than expected. We grabbed dinner, which went faster than I'd anticipated, and got to Galapagos at around 7:45 for the 8:00 show.
We waited in line until after 8:00.
During this time, I said "Eugene Mirman is at the bar!" Eugene Mirman, national celebrity (well, maybe more of a locally adored comic) and fellow participant in UMass' Orgy of Talents Circa 1995 or 1996, had been an object of my stalking before I even got to NYC. Not because I have a crush on him or because I think he's awesome (well, he is awesome, but I didn't know that before I even got to NYC), but because I think it is awesome that someone from that god awful talent show went on to make a name for himself. And not that the talent show was god awful, but it wasn't necessarily a breeding ground for, well, real talent. Anyway, I just really want to say one night, at the bar, "Hey Eugene Mirman, remember the Orgy of Talents Circa 1995 or 1996? You were really funny." I just really want to see if he remembers it at all, and what he'll say about it, because if he does remember it and he does say something about it, I bet what he says will be really really funny.
And it will make a rad blog entry. Or, better yet, a song called "Eugene Mirman Remembers Me!"
I digress...
I was disappointed in myself for not saying something to Eugene Mirman.
I was more disappointed in fucking people because after we'd been in line for about twenty minutes, D said "What the fuck? Look at those assholes." A bunch of people just cut in the line. Maybe ten or so. "Who do they think they are?" "You should start a fight," I said. "You're going to see me mad. Do you know that this sort of thing makes me mad?" "I know, honey." "I can't believe them." "Should we say something?" "No, I'm just going to observe this." A few minutes later "Do you see how I'm observing this and how it's making me mad?" "Yes, honey, maybe you should say something. But don't start a fight." "I'm so mad."
I wasn't mad. I expect this sort of behavior from people, especially from people in New York City, and particularly from entitlement-feeling line-cutters in Williamsburg.
I was mad when it sold out and there were approximately ten people who could not get into the show. Including us.
We should have said something.
But what do you say? Is it worth the confrontation? I never know.
We went home and watched the first half of Harry Potter 2 instead and went to bed at 11:00 and didn't wake up until 8:00.
Post-It
Newest Guy said "Do you have lysis buffer?"
I said "No, but I'll give you the recipe."
I have the recipe on a post-it on my bench, because I make lysis buffer all the time and because I can't remember anything anymore. I took the post-it off and handed it to him. He said "I can't read your writing."
"OK," I said. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll write it again."
He put the post-it back on my bench, but didn't put it where it was originally. Instead, he put it above the stir plate. I thought nothing of it beyond "That's weird that he wouldn't put it back where I keep it, but whatever." I didn't rip it down and put it where it belonged because I thought that would be overly anal and might also hurt his feelings. I made a mental note to move it back when he wasn't around.
I was making a solution today, on the stir plate. I was about to add the last ingredient to it while it was stirring, when I noticed the post-it was still above the stir plate. "I have to remember to move that... because it's totally going to fall in a solution some day!"
And then it fell into the solution.
As if I willed it to.
Seriously. It's been there for an entire day and just as I think "That could fall!" it falls. And bleeds ink into my solution. Awesome.
But its Thursday. Only one... more... day....
And then Philly! Woo hoo!
I said "No, but I'll give you the recipe."
I have the recipe on a post-it on my bench, because I make lysis buffer all the time and because I can't remember anything anymore. I took the post-it off and handed it to him. He said "I can't read your writing."
"OK," I said. "Just give me a few minutes and I'll write it again."
He put the post-it back on my bench, but didn't put it where it was originally. Instead, he put it above the stir plate. I thought nothing of it beyond "That's weird that he wouldn't put it back where I keep it, but whatever." I didn't rip it down and put it where it belonged because I thought that would be overly anal and might also hurt his feelings. I made a mental note to move it back when he wasn't around.
I was making a solution today, on the stir plate. I was about to add the last ingredient to it while it was stirring, when I noticed the post-it was still above the stir plate. "I have to remember to move that... because it's totally going to fall in a solution some day!"
And then it fell into the solution.
As if I willed it to.
Seriously. It's been there for an entire day and just as I think "That could fall!" it falls. And bleeds ink into my solution. Awesome.
But its Thursday. Only one... more... day....
And then Philly! Woo hoo!
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Playing House
I discovered last night that my general outlook on life is exactly correlated with how well I do in photography class.
I don't know if this distills down to some 3rd-grade-teacher's-pet mentality I still hold onto (the desire to please, or the desire for attention), or simply to ego, or, more likely, to hope.
Regardless, as soon as the words "sophisticated" and "fantastic" were used, my mood improved drastically.
Seeing him happy and enthusiastic made me happy and enthusiastic. Knowing that I was the cause of happiness and enthusiasm made me feel relief. Hearing him say "I need you to shoot more because I can't wait to see how you handle it..." made me see a way out.
I nearly skipped home after class, happy again and eager to tell D about everything.
D was at my apartment when I arrived, and he'd cooked dinner! I gave him a million kisses and appreciative words and said "I could get used to this." A long day isn't so bad when there's someone fabulous waiting for you on the other end.
He said "Do you want your surprise?" after I'd settled down a bit. I'd forgotten entirely. From a plastic bag he produced a copy of The Pajama Game on DVD! "I know it's not Harry but..." "It's so much better!" I said and gave him a million more kisses.
We ate dinner and smiled and talked about a plane trip vs. road trip and then watched the first Harry Potter. (Sidenote: I've seen the previews for the new HP and it looks awesome - the special effects look amazing! and I am wondering why the special effects in the first one were so very terrible!)
And then we read.
And then we fell asleep.
The point of all of this? I can't believe I love playing house.
Nobody ever could have predicted this!
Tee hee.
I don't know if this distills down to some 3rd-grade-teacher's-pet mentality I still hold onto (the desire to please, or the desire for attention), or simply to ego, or, more likely, to hope.
Regardless, as soon as the words "sophisticated" and "fantastic" were used, my mood improved drastically.
Seeing him happy and enthusiastic made me happy and enthusiastic. Knowing that I was the cause of happiness and enthusiasm made me feel relief. Hearing him say "I need you to shoot more because I can't wait to see how you handle it..." made me see a way out.
I nearly skipped home after class, happy again and eager to tell D about everything.
D was at my apartment when I arrived, and he'd cooked dinner! I gave him a million kisses and appreciative words and said "I could get used to this." A long day isn't so bad when there's someone fabulous waiting for you on the other end.
He said "Do you want your surprise?" after I'd settled down a bit. I'd forgotten entirely. From a plastic bag he produced a copy of The Pajama Game on DVD! "I know it's not Harry but..." "It's so much better!" I said and gave him a million more kisses.
We ate dinner and smiled and talked about a plane trip vs. road trip and then watched the first Harry Potter. (Sidenote: I've seen the previews for the new HP and it looks awesome - the special effects look amazing! and I am wondering why the special effects in the first one were so very terrible!)
And then we read.
And then we fell asleep.
The point of all of this? I can't believe I love playing house.
Nobody ever could have predicted this!
Tee hee.
I Like to Move It
Move it
I like to move it move it
I like to move it move it
Ya like to MOVE IT
Yeah.
That song was just on at lunch.
It is somehow even more absurd out of context.
I like to move it move it
I like to move it move it
Ya like to MOVE IT
Yeah.
That song was just on at lunch.
It is somehow even more absurd out of context.
Mittens
I love fingerless gloves. Love them.
I'm not a fan of regular gloves.
I prefer mittens.
It seems, though, that the fingerless glove has taken over the mitten market and there are no more cool mittens available for purchase!
This is problematic considering that I lost one of my mittens in the move, and now I have none. And it will get cold. Soon. And I will have a pair of fingerless gloves, which will basically be useless.
The problem is that I want the exact same mittens that I now have one of. I bought these fuzzy pink mittens with NL at Urban Outfitters two years ago and they are the best mittens I've ever had. I want equally cute (warmer, if possible) mittens. Is that asking too much?
This only proves that when you love something, you should buy at least two of them. Because what if you lose it? What if you spill red wine on your favorite shirt? What if what if what if it shrinks!?!?!?
Sniff. I miss my mitten.
I'm not a fan of regular gloves.
I prefer mittens.
It seems, though, that the fingerless glove has taken over the mitten market and there are no more cool mittens available for purchase!
This is problematic considering that I lost one of my mittens in the move, and now I have none. And it will get cold. Soon. And I will have a pair of fingerless gloves, which will basically be useless.
The problem is that I want the exact same mittens that I now have one of. I bought these fuzzy pink mittens with NL at Urban Outfitters two years ago and they are the best mittens I've ever had. I want equally cute (warmer, if possible) mittens. Is that asking too much?
This only proves that when you love something, you should buy at least two of them. Because what if you lose it? What if you spill red wine on your favorite shirt? What if what if what if it shrinks!?!?!?
Sniff. I miss my mitten.
More Parade...
As promised, here are some photos from the Halloween Parade! They are dark and blurry.
Before the parade:
There was a giant pumpkin before the parade:
This made me insane because I adore both skeletons AND puppets:
Snake puppets:
Popes making out:
Giant bird puppet:
Random people:
Irish dancers (way more awesome than you'd think!):
The Gates!
More Gates!
Zombie Band:
Edward Scissorhands:
Before the parade:
There was a giant pumpkin before the parade:
This made me insane because I adore both skeletons AND puppets:
Snake puppets:
Popes making out:
Giant bird puppet:
Random people:
Irish dancers (way more awesome than you'd think!):
The Gates!
More Gates!
Zombie Band:
Edward Scissorhands:
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
I Don’t Love A Parade
So I went to the Halloween parade last night. I arrived at about 6:30. The people were only about two deep at that point, so I actually had a chance of seeing the costumes!
The parade started late, which afforded me plenty of time to eavesdrop on the awkward attempts of a born-and-raised 50-something New Yorker trying to speak French to some tourists.
The parade was ok. They definitely front-load it so that all of the awesome stuff is at the beginning. There were giant creepy puppets and zombie bands and it all felt very Halloween-esque. The problem is that the parade stops every so often – there’d be a lull of about five minutes where there would be nothing. And because anyone is allowed to walk in the parade, there is disorder and, well, a lot of lame costumes.
I watched for about an hour and a half and then gave up. I decided that I’d seen enough and that there was not a chance that my photos would come out good no matter how long I waited and no matter how many different flash settings I tried.
I did manage to see D and R, whose picture I took but, of course, none of them really came out because I was too far away. D was very cute and ran over to me and kissed me through the crowd.
After the parade I headed up 7th to meet up with D and R and S, who left the parade early in order to either go back to D’s and hang out or grab some food. I voted “Food!” because “I think we should be out on Halloween and not sitting inside – we need to see costumes!” By the time I met them I was starving to death and irritable. It was about 9:00 (and if you factor in Daylight Savings, it was 10:00!) and nobody could make a decision. We decided to head down Hudson to hopefully avoid crowds, but apparently there are only meat-restaurants on Hudson. We walked down Spring – everywhere was crowded or expensive or meat, so ultimately opted to just grab a slice of pizza and eat it at D’s. By this point it was 10:00 and I had a raging headache and didn’t want to talk to anyone ever again, so I didn’t have much fun.
Which is fine, because I’d anticipated having no fun because how can you have fun if you’re not wearing a costume on Halloween? And, for all intents and purposes, I spent Halloween alone because I watched the parade by myself. It’s not the same when you have to tell people about the awesome costumes you saw. It’s better to be like “Dude, that guy in the spoon costume was the best ever!”
Yeah. Slightly annoyed with myself for not coming up with a good costume. I’m annoyed that I didn’t come up with a costume at all. At around 5:00 last night everyone was punchy because it was a holiday and felt like Friday. R put green lab tape around his forehead and said “Look, I’m Olivia Newton John!” I then put red lab tape on my palms and said “Look, I’m stigmata!” and everyone thought it was funny and thought I should walk in the parade, but it just felt too easy. And plus, I’d rather do it really gory. Although I guess the tape was fairly cute.
Next year. Next year I will have an awesome and clever costume and will have so very much fun on Halloween. No more holiday disappointments! No. Never.
Tomorrow I will put up some of my really blurry photos from the parade, but until then, here you go:
Most Nostalgically Awesome Costume: Four guys dressed up as contestants on Super Sloppy Double Dare
Most Popular Costume: Rainbow Brite / George Bush
Most Fun Costume: PacMan and the Ghosts Running Around
Most Provocative Costume: Two Popes Making Out
Hottest Costume: Mostly Naked Man With Beautiful Body Roller-Blading
Most Accurate Costume: Edward Scissorhands
Favorite Costume: The Gates!
Best Celebrity Sighting: Interior Design Guy from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” at a bar we didn’t go to because it was too crowded
The parade started late, which afforded me plenty of time to eavesdrop on the awkward attempts of a born-and-raised 50-something New Yorker trying to speak French to some tourists.
The parade was ok. They definitely front-load it so that all of the awesome stuff is at the beginning. There were giant creepy puppets and zombie bands and it all felt very Halloween-esque. The problem is that the parade stops every so often – there’d be a lull of about five minutes where there would be nothing. And because anyone is allowed to walk in the parade, there is disorder and, well, a lot of lame costumes.
I watched for about an hour and a half and then gave up. I decided that I’d seen enough and that there was not a chance that my photos would come out good no matter how long I waited and no matter how many different flash settings I tried.
I did manage to see D and R, whose picture I took but, of course, none of them really came out because I was too far away. D was very cute and ran over to me and kissed me through the crowd.
After the parade I headed up 7th to meet up with D and R and S, who left the parade early in order to either go back to D’s and hang out or grab some food. I voted “Food!” because “I think we should be out on Halloween and not sitting inside – we need to see costumes!” By the time I met them I was starving to death and irritable. It was about 9:00 (and if you factor in Daylight Savings, it was 10:00!) and nobody could make a decision. We decided to head down Hudson to hopefully avoid crowds, but apparently there are only meat-restaurants on Hudson. We walked down Spring – everywhere was crowded or expensive or meat, so ultimately opted to just grab a slice of pizza and eat it at D’s. By this point it was 10:00 and I had a raging headache and didn’t want to talk to anyone ever again, so I didn’t have much fun.
Which is fine, because I’d anticipated having no fun because how can you have fun if you’re not wearing a costume on Halloween? And, for all intents and purposes, I spent Halloween alone because I watched the parade by myself. It’s not the same when you have to tell people about the awesome costumes you saw. It’s better to be like “Dude, that guy in the spoon costume was the best ever!”
Yeah. Slightly annoyed with myself for not coming up with a good costume. I’m annoyed that I didn’t come up with a costume at all. At around 5:00 last night everyone was punchy because it was a holiday and felt like Friday. R put green lab tape around his forehead and said “Look, I’m Olivia Newton John!” I then put red lab tape on my palms and said “Look, I’m stigmata!” and everyone thought it was funny and thought I should walk in the parade, but it just felt too easy. And plus, I’d rather do it really gory. Although I guess the tape was fairly cute.
Next year. Next year I will have an awesome and clever costume and will have so very much fun on Halloween. No more holiday disappointments! No. Never.
Tomorrow I will put up some of my really blurry photos from the parade, but until then, here you go:
Most Nostalgically Awesome Costume: Four guys dressed up as contestants on Super Sloppy Double Dare
Most Popular Costume: Rainbow Brite / George Bush
Most Fun Costume: PacMan and the Ghosts Running Around
Most Provocative Costume: Two Popes Making Out
Hottest Costume: Mostly Naked Man With Beautiful Body Roller-Blading
Most Accurate Costume: Edward Scissorhands
Favorite Costume: The Gates!
Best Celebrity Sighting: Interior Design Guy from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” at a bar we didn’t go to because it was too crowded
Monday, October 31, 2005
Gross
New pet peeve: people wearing gruesome Halloween costumes while I am trying to eat lunch.
I still can't believe I'm not doing Halloween this year.
Bah humbug!
I still can't believe I'm not doing Halloween this year.
Bah humbug!
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Freaking Halloween
Oy. I just got back from Princeton, where I enjoyed a lovely day of foliage and oooh-ing over the castle-like campus and shouting "Don't do it! It's meaningless! It's not worth the debt!" to potential students on tours and saying things like "Maybe I should just move out to the country" and then rethinking it when I realized that it takes only ten minutes to walk around the entire center of town. It was fabulously therapeutic to see Brother and to figure out just how close he now lives to me. It was also amazing to have three whole hours to myself in transit and to, gasp, read a book! In honor of recent discussions on the blog, I decided to start reading "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer which I've nearly finished in one day and which is dedicated to, ahem, Nicole.
I am back now, wrestling with various Halloween costumes that are in various states of disarray. Tangled wigs, dresses that once fit, costumes that were once sexy that now show my age. I used to love Halloween. I think I still love Halloween. I just hate Halloween in New York where everyone is oh-so-clever and oh-so-attractive. What's the fucking point?
I think the point is to rent some kids and take them trick-or-treating. But not here. Because who would want to go to strangers' apartments in this city?
I love Halloween. I love Halloween parties. I love seeing people out during the day in costumes. I love witches on the subway. I loved these things in Boston. In New York they only annoy me, because I feel like it is just one more way for all of these stupid people to draw attention to themselves.
The parade is tomorrow and I am excited. Anyone can march in it. I toyed with the idea, but then decided that unless my costume is a complete disguise, I'd rather die than be looked at. D will be marching. He is very excited. It is cute that he is so proud of his costume.
I can't believe that I have become the sort of person who thinks "Is this pink wig alone enough for a costume?"
I can't believe I have become the sort of person who doesn't make time for Halloween costume production.
I am looking forward to the parade, though. Do I wish I were going to a party at someone's house? Yes. Do I realize this is a near impossibility in this city? Yes. Do I know that if I had more friends there'd be a chance? Yes. Do I know that even if I were invited to parties that I wouldn't consider going even for a second because I would know that my costume would suck compared to everyone else's in this city? Fuck yeah.
I can't believe this city has made me insecure about Halloween. No wonder I've been in a bad mood.
Speaking of renting kids, Brother and I went to see the "Wallace and Gromit" movie this afternoon and there were kids in the movie theater! I haven't seen kids in a movie theater in ages!
I also saw "The Squid and the Whale" this weekend, which was amazing. I'll probably write more tomorrow when I am at work being contrary and not attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony in NJ because I am like the angsty kid at recess. I'd rather be left alone than play with the other kids. I will be busy writing depressing poetry while the other kids tour the new manufacturing plant.
I think I am going to read now.
Until tomororrow...
I am back now, wrestling with various Halloween costumes that are in various states of disarray. Tangled wigs, dresses that once fit, costumes that were once sexy that now show my age. I used to love Halloween. I think I still love Halloween. I just hate Halloween in New York where everyone is oh-so-clever and oh-so-attractive. What's the fucking point?
I think the point is to rent some kids and take them trick-or-treating. But not here. Because who would want to go to strangers' apartments in this city?
I love Halloween. I love Halloween parties. I love seeing people out during the day in costumes. I love witches on the subway. I loved these things in Boston. In New York they only annoy me, because I feel like it is just one more way for all of these stupid people to draw attention to themselves.
The parade is tomorrow and I am excited. Anyone can march in it. I toyed with the idea, but then decided that unless my costume is a complete disguise, I'd rather die than be looked at. D will be marching. He is very excited. It is cute that he is so proud of his costume.
I can't believe that I have become the sort of person who thinks "Is this pink wig alone enough for a costume?"
I can't believe I have become the sort of person who doesn't make time for Halloween costume production.
I am looking forward to the parade, though. Do I wish I were going to a party at someone's house? Yes. Do I realize this is a near impossibility in this city? Yes. Do I know that if I had more friends there'd be a chance? Yes. Do I know that even if I were invited to parties that I wouldn't consider going even for a second because I would know that my costume would suck compared to everyone else's in this city? Fuck yeah.
I can't believe this city has made me insecure about Halloween. No wonder I've been in a bad mood.
Speaking of renting kids, Brother and I went to see the "Wallace and Gromit" movie this afternoon and there were kids in the movie theater! I haven't seen kids in a movie theater in ages!
I also saw "The Squid and the Whale" this weekend, which was amazing. I'll probably write more tomorrow when I am at work being contrary and not attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony in NJ because I am like the angsty kid at recess. I'd rather be left alone than play with the other kids. I will be busy writing depressing poetry while the other kids tour the new manufacturing plant.
I think I am going to read now.
Until tomororrow...
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