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My "productive" reading for the weekend -- two copies of People laying around the house and my very own, beloved Jane 'zine. I'm passing on my knowledge now to you:
-- David Duchovny has a MA in English Lit.
-- Apparently there really are segregated proms still in Georgia. About 3 hours away from Savannah, in Johnson County, each year the high school voluntarily throws a prom for the white students, and then a different one for the African-American students. Wild (and very sad) that this goes on, and is sanctioned by a school system!
-- Take yer pick, according to your political leanings: Bush regime or "Axis of Weasels" decks of cards. Funny, many of the quotes meant to demean the alleged "axis of weasels" sound quite reasonable to me. Hmmm.
-- David Beckham is married to Posh Spice. (but he's still quite hot, despite that)
-- Jim Carrey is Canadian
-- Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are having baby #2. (oh, and did anyone else notice the sports casters calling him "Andrea Agassi" during Game 1?)
-- Brooke Shields named her baby grrrl Rowan.
-- Really cool site for dvd-geeks like me: DVDReview.com. This is the link to their "hidden features" part of the site. They've got stacks and stacks of dvd Easter Eggs for your perusal. One of the coolest ones I found: In the Memento: Limited Edition dvd, you can actually watch the film in chronological order, if you answer a "psychological" test correctly. There's even eggs for my Godfather dvds that involve the Sopranos.
-- American Airlines saved 40 grand by removing one olive from their first-class salads.
-- A recent study found that muscles adjacent to the ones paralyzed by Botox have to work harder than usual, which can actually create new lines (oh, sweet irony!)
-- Coal Miner's Daughter is now out on DVD
-- My kinda greeting cards: Garage Cards: Cards for Romance when things are great to cards for a Broken Heart when Ending a Relationship, a Break-Up or Divorce; when things sometimes get Mean or Sarcastic. Clever cards to celebrate a Birthday or other important occasion. GarageCards captures the expression of hope, humor and wisdom required to communicate everyone's little bits of truth.
They're in haiku form, which makes 'em even cooler. Some of my favorites:
SEX
Awkward
Hot
Boring
Good-bye
TOMORROW
Sometimes you know in your heart
Change is in the air
I won't ignore it this time
Can you please be gone by tomorrow
TIME
Time is precious
Time is a gift
My time with you
Always made me wonder
Take that, Hallmark.
-- One other reason why I love Jane so much: Angelina was the big WINNER of their poll -- and the punky Avril their big LOSER. Muhahaha.
By the way, I saw Finding Nemo this afternoon. The theatre was full of kiddies, and I loved the movie. There's something special when you can hear kids laughing along with a movie, and find that you're actually laughing harder than they are.
Lately I've been finding myself really enjoying going to the movies. I don't know if it's an escapist thing or what.
t.t.f.n.
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The Pocket President
Just slip The Pocket President into your shirt pocket, jeans or purse, and you'll instantly take your place among America's rich and powerful, knowing that the President is totally in your pocket!
-- Want a series of enormous tax cuts for the very wealthy?
-- Need a pesky environmental regulation undone, repealed, or just quietly ignored by the EPA?
-- Hope to advance the agenda of a wide range of right-wing crazies?
-- Looking for some some help putting big business insiders into key positions in government where they can do the bidding of corrupt, evil, and greedy corporations?
With the Pocket President, all of this -- and much more -- is instantly within your grasp. Because as we've seen since January 20, 2001, when you have the President in your pocket, there's almost nothing you can't do! (via Idle Type)
heh.
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My first summer vacation has begun -- and not a moment too soon!
I'm housesitting for the next week at my grrrlfriend Michelle's house! (look, I DID use your name in my blog, so nyah!) I've got an entire house to myself for the next week -- with all the amenities. A big screen TV, Playstation 2, dvd player, kick-ass stereo, kitchen, brand-new grill, high-speed internet -- and all without any of the bills! She even let me drive her new car to the airport to drop her off. Sigh, I needed this break. I'm already temporarily moved in. :) Oh, and I get to play and cuddle with 2 kitties and one cute puppy dog, too. I'm looking forward to this break. It's like an all-expenses paid vacation -- with very little of my own expense involved. Even I can afford that.
Camp starts officially on Monday. I'm looking forward to that. It'll be good to be back on a regular schedule again -- plus I'm looking forward to being out in the sun and getting paid almost 10 bucks an hour for it.
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 My American hero, Jon Stewart.
A new tradition while I'm home -- catching the real news, The Daily Show. He totally cracks me up, and cuts the crap when it comes to politics -- especially concerning the present administration. I'm always more attracted to the guys that make me laugh (of course with the exception of Jim Carrey and Jerry Lewis). Jon Stewart is a total cutie pie. I dig.
Today I met my counselors I'll be working with for the summer. They seem so young and quiet, I dunno how it will work out this summer. I miss my old crew already. I could finish the rest of this post with boring news on camp-prep stuff, but I'll spare you.
But I will say that my aerobics instructor tonight was the mom of one of my new counselors. Small town, this.
Starting on Friday, I'll be housesitting at my friend Michelle's house. We'll have a big screen TV, high-speed internet (yay), plus animals to snuggle with and a house free of uncomfortable silences. I can't wait. I'm gonna miss her (and her fam) when they leave for Memphis next month!
I'm so stressed about money right now. I looked at my credit card bill for next month and it was nearly TWICE what I usually pay. That was when I noticed that my APR was crazy high. Luckily, I called them, groveled appropriately, and got my rate knocked back to 12%, which is still high -- but hella better than what I was paying. Sigh. I'm so going to budget and pay them bad boys down some this summer. Being broke and indebted sucks. (part of me wished I could be lame like that grrrl who got people from the Internet to pay off her credit, but I'm not nearly that desperate. At least not yet anyways.)
Could be worse, though: Here's the US National Debt Clock. Sigh.
Well, I got about 4 hours of sleep last night. Perhaps I'll try for more, now.
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Did the Mighty Ducks even show up for the game tonight? Methinks only the goalie got the memo. For those of you hockey-impaired, the final score for game one was NJ Devils 3 - Ducks 0. Sigh.
Tired tonight. Spent most of the day doing camp stuff and then gym. One tired grrrl.
Be ye entertained with these links:
Are the state quarters cursed?
Chocophile:Men, Coffee, and Chocolate are all better rich.
All Candy Expo: Chocolate Jelly Bellys, light-up lollys, and Jolt bubble gum. Whatta country.
I had some groovy M&M's. Yes there are such a thing.
and I hate being back on dial-up again. (as if I wasn't impatient enough already. grrr!)
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I'm getting there. I don't suck, but I've got a ways to go.
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From FARK's photoshop contest of the hacking of Michael Moore's website:
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I hate cockroaches. I haven't missed them at all, living up North. Now that I'm home again in the semi-tropical environment, I'm a complete wuss. I scream and act like a grrrl whenever I come across them (ironic, no?). Nasty buggers, I hates them. I especially hate how they scuttle and make a crunchy sound when you squish them. Ick. I do love the fact that Saskatchewan is so cold that bugs don't survive for long (except the grasshoppers and silkworms in the summertime).
I can't get this song outta my head.
All day today was a Law and Order marathon. I've loafed most of the day, enjoying it. I recorded a bunch of 'em to watch later, but accidently pressed the SAP (Secondary Audio Program) button in setting the timer. So now when I watch the tape, I have this annoying narrator voice that fills in for me what's going on in the scene. I think blind people must use this to help them keep up with what's going on. All I know is that it's very annoying to watch a program when everything is narrated for you -- "Jack glares at the defendant and he cowers under his stare" etc. Gah! But I did get to the gym this afternoon and was somewhat productive.
I saw two very special friends tonight. My former youth minister (back in the days when I went to church) and his wife. They are such amazing people. They've been in Atlanta for the past 3 or so years, and I didn't realize the extent that I've missed them until tonight. I grew up with them as such a major part of my life -- from looking up to them for advice and to act as mediator between me and my parents to the endless practical joke wars involving melted marshmellows and my hair. Seeing them tonight was good, but also made me a little sad. I've been friends with Jenny forever, and until tonight, I hadn't talked to her in almost 2 years. I miss having close grrrl friends.
I just think that I have a hard time getting close to people. Sure, I've got people I can hang out with and such -- but when it comes to deep friendships, where I can be completely honest and open -- I'm at a loss. Maybe it's because I don't trust people very much, so ultimately it's my fault. It still is hard though. I could probably count on one hand the number of people I feel especially close to.
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 Finally I got the Bend It Like Beckham soundtrack. I'm not disappointed.
Here's what's inside the jacket cover, I thought it was cool:
A Note From Director Gurinder Chadha
Bend It Like Beckham is a very autobiographical film and the music is also very close to me. Every track comes from my own personal music collection and makes up the many different sides of me and, therefore, my lead character "Jess" and her world.
I am extremely proud of all the British tracks including Indian mixes by Bally Sagoo sung by the fab American mid-west singer Gunjan, great dance tracks, songs by fantastic females like Blondie's Deborah Harry, Mel C, and Sharleen Spiteri from the band Texas.
It's a great thing being a director sometimes because you can put the soundtrack to your life onto film and CD to share with everyone.
I've always wondered what I would put on a soundtrack for my life. I've already got a couple of the songs picked out. But with my luck, my life story wouldn't be a feature film -- but rather a made-for-tv special (or worse yet, a Lifetime movie!).
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Michael Moore's website was hacked!
In case it's gone by the time you see it, here's what it said:
Mr. Moore, your documentary "Bowling for Columbine" is fictitious, not factual. David Hardy's Truth About Bowling is simply damning. You deliberately deceive your viewers, who are only expecting a slightly biased factual report. Mr. Moore, my personal hope is that you publicly apologize, not for your ideas, but for dubbing your lies the truth.
Please see revoketheoscar.com
Love always,
NHA Crew.
Greets to: Colin L. Powell, DoubleOh, xyral, qu3da, Rav3n, GOD, Zombie *good luck in the marines*, kluster, Ruder, OSS, YuY, Bill O'Reilly, Tyger, Avangel, sub_pop_culture, AcIdR3IgN, Renegade
Not to mention an American flag on top of it all, of course.
I don't condone this at all. While I don't agree with some of what Moore has to say, I think it's important that he has the right to say it. Hacking sites like that is just ignorance. I'll be interested to see what Moore has to say about it. (or maybe he did it himself...hmmmmm.)
Other news: For Kurt, check this out. Turns out your John Doe is canned. Bwah-ha-ha-ha! I so told you. Other shows on the chopping block: My Big Fat Greek Life, The Agency, Touched by an Angel, Fastlane, Just Shoot Me, Providence, Buffy, and Sabrina.
One place I'll never see: A panorama view from the top of Mt. Everest. Very cool, you hold your mouse down and can turn 360 degrees.
Philosophy and The Matrix. Decartes and other heady-thinker goodness. I've got a whole book to sort through with this stuff. But this article encapsulates some of it in a less daunting form.
Disturbing Auctions.com. Includes such gems as a black-velvet Jesus blessing an 18-wheeler, a doll from beer cans, and a dried alligator in a bridal outfit.
And from the good-news department: The Florida manatee may be taken off the Endangered Species list, this year! (did you know I once adopted one named Luna? Jimmy Buffet started the Save the Manatee club in FL)
Google hits of the week:
flip flops all year
halle berry torture tickles
Guestbook of engineers in latvia estonia
awesome prom decoration ideas
hmmm, indeed.
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Whatta movie. While I love the ending of it, I still wonder what I woulda done if I was in her shoes....
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I almost started this post with "So" again. What's with me and that word lately?
I met with my new boss yesterday. He's nice enough, but I know I'll miss my old boss, Keith. We were a good team. I've got 4 grrrl counselors working under me -- no boy ones. I'm not too happy about that. I like having guy counselors (besides the obvious reasons) -- mainly to go into the changing room and supervise. Having no guy counselors on staff means I either haveta draft a lifeguard during changing into swimsuit time or play the big meany and threaten from outside the door. I'm good at being a meany.
I'm just glad to be working again. I've got SO MUCH to do before June 2nd. The room is in such a mess, I've got so much planning to do, counselors to organize... Can't wait. While my personal life may be a mess, I'm hyper-organized when it comes to my job. It's hard, working out in the sun, by a huge pool/water slide in a private country club, 5 days a week, getting paid a buncha money. But someone's got to do it, and that someone's meeeeee!
Just got back from going out with friends Kevin and Karyn (funny how some couples' names gel like that?), We saw the new Jim Carrey movie, Bruce Almighty. (I see alotta movies, I'm starting to notice) It's very funny -- and I'm not really a Jim Carrey fan. There were a couple moments that are unbelievably funny. And Morgan Freeman makes a great God.
For the rest of the night, it's sipping wine and Casablanca viewing time. Not a bad ending to a Saturday, I think.
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Things I despise: (because I'm in a cranky mood)
- gray skies
- diet Coke
- guilt
- The Bridges of Madison County and their ilk
- dog drool
- capitalist hypocrites and/or most organized religions
- insomnia
- Rusty Wallace (dirty cheater)
- snobs
- being condescended to
- getting carded
- NBC's coverage of NASCAR
- anything by Faith Hill, Celine Dion, or a "boy band"
- flat Coke
- misunderstandings in reading someone's tone or attitude
- those teeny-bopper movies where a nerdy/ugly grrrl is transformed by some cute guy because of a dare and then he falls in love with her and she is automatically more popular but he breaks her heart but she still ends up being with him because he's "changed" after all. ugh.
- waking up from a good dream
- my laptop or car breaking (too expensive to repair)
- fanaticism
- eczema on my hands
- cockroaches
- roots
- eggplant and beets
- pop ups or unders
- hangovers
- people taking advantage of the 9/11 tragedy for personal gain
- -40 windchills
- awkwardness
- Blogger (it's been funky lately)
- dial-up
- grammar check
- insecurity about myself
- misuse of apostrophes (Here's a quick guide for those of you that NEED it)
- ground beef
- passive aggressiveness
- Eminem
- drunk drivers
- medleys
- near goal misses by the Senators! d'oh!
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Insomnia brings out the oddest poetry.
Here's some of my favorite poems growing up by Shel Silverstein:
Reflection
Each time I see the Upside-Down Man
Standing in the water,
I look at him and start to laugh,
Although I shouldn't oughtter.
For maybe in another world
Another time
Another town,
Maybe HE is right side up
And I am upside down.
AntEater
"A genuine anteater,"
The pet man told my dad.
Turned out, it was an aunt eater,
And now my uncle's mad!
SNOWBALL
I made myself a snowball
As perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first- it wet the bed
Nobody
Nobody loves me,
Nobody cares,
Nobody picks me peaches and pears.
Nobody offers me candy and Cokes,
Nobody listens and laughs at my jokes.
Nobody helps when I get in a fight,
Nobody does all my homework at night.
Nobody misses me,
Nobody cries,
Nobody thinks I'm a wonderful guy.
So if you ask me who's my best friend, in a whiz,
I'll stand up and tell you Nobody is.
But yesterday night I got quite a scare,
I woke up and Nobody just wasn't there.
I called out and reached out for Nobody's hand,
In the darkness where Nobody usually stands.
Then I poked through the house, in each cranny and nook,
But I found somebody each place that I looked.
I searched till I'm tired, and now with the dawn,
There's no doubt about it-
Nobody's gone.
My Rules
If you want to marry me, here's what you'll have to do:
You must learn how to make a perfect chicken dumpling stew.
And you must sew my holey socks.
And soothe my troubled mind.
And develop the knack for scratching my back.
And keep my shoes spotlessly shined.
And while I rest you must rake up the leaves.
And when it is hailing and snowing
You must shovel the walks & and be still when I talk.
And-Hey-Where are you going?
And not to mention the VERY FIRST poem I ever memorized:
Tree House
A tree house, a free house
A secret you and me house
Way up in the leafy branches
A cozy you and me house
A street house, a clean house
A better-wipe-your-feet house
That's not my kind of house at all
Let's go live in a tree house!
(with special thanks to Ms. Quackenbush for making me memorize it in the 4th grade!)
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Oh, guess who's going to the Pepsi 400 on the Fourth of July weekend?
It's me. It's me. (and Mike)
This is what our view will be from the seats. Only 7 rows up from the track! Right near the Start/Finish line!!! (boogety, boogety!)
Yes, I AM a hick. I can't WAIT!
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Go see it. I took myself this afternoon -- it's so cute. Good date movie. It's kitsch, funny, and full of twists. Not to mention very proto-feminist in all the right ways. (I could so see myself as a "down with love" kinda grrrl...)
So it was good, despite Jeri Ryan's awful attempted British accent, Ewan's combover, and the wincing, pouty, and bodily deformed Renee Zellweger (she's too skinny and looks like an S when she stands straight).
I sorta liked going to the movies by myself. I didn't have any distractions and could totally focus on the film. I think I could get used to going to movies and reviewing them, though I doubt I could be very articulate besides either gushing or ranting about the film.
I loved all the old, cheesy fashions and overblown 60's sets. I loved the cut screens whenever the two of them talked on the phone (very Doris Day/Rock Hudson). The dialogue is great, I found myself giggling aloud (which is a little bit weird, especially when you're the only one of 5 in the theater doing so). Ah well.
I've rented Spirited Away and Casablanca for the weekend. I really need to start work already.
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I am such a sap.
Every time I see this Diet Coke commercial, I get so sappy and sigh a lot. Maybe it's because it includes Casablanca, maybe it's because it takes place bathed in reflected movie light, maybe because it's just terribly romantic.
Sigh. I just like it.
Though it makes me want to watch sappy movies, not drink nasty Diet Coke.
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A night for the underdogs.
Yay Ruben and Ottawa!!
(and double yay that they were staggered enough that I could watch BOTH!)
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So I just got back from the gym. (and I'm just now noticing how many sentences I'm beginning with "So...") I looked at an older card they had in-file for me, and I weighed almost 20 pounds MORE than I do now. Unbelieveable. I can't believe it. Makes me feel better now, but man, how did that happen? Anyway, I'm officially sore from head to foot. Methinks I should lay off a day or so and recoop. I'm just glad I'm back into a mode of working out consistently. It's gonna get more difficult once my job starts, since I'll be pretty tired after herding and entertaining groups of kids around all day.
Speaking of work, I'm supposed to go take my obligatory drug test tomorrow and then talk to my new boss. The more I interact with him, the more I miss my old boss. He was so great, but left the club a couple months ago to do other stuff. So I'm a little anxious about how we'll interact this summer, as well as my counselors and lots of other elements outta my control. While I may not be very organized in my personal life, but in my job I'm Little-Miss-Organized.
I could be more eloquent about the happenings of my not-so-dramatic life, but I won't.
Oh, but I did order my new stereo. That and new speakers will be here on Friday! (and not a moment too soon, I've been thinking to myself in my quiet car for way too long. (and yes, I'm getting an alarm system, too)
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The best laid plans...
So I didn't get to watch a movie all by myself as planned. I had to get my address changed on my license, so I spent about an hour at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). I had to get my picture retaken, which was an experience in and of itself. I think I like it, though I'm not sure it really looks like me. Anyway, there's always good people-watching to do at places like the DMV. I think it's sort of like a microcosm of society, since everyone has to go to the same place to get their license. Even though I had to wait a while, I had a good time listening and watching what was going around me.
The rest of the afternoon I had a date with myself (why does that sound so creepy?). I realize now that I rarely am alone, so having this solitary time was actually nice. I had lots of time to think to myself. That, combined with having no car radio, helped me to get lots of thinking done. I had lunch, went to Pier One (gotta restock the candle supply), then to Barnes and Noble, my home away from home. I just love that space. I walked around and browsed and sipped my Tazoberry tea and found a book that I couldn't leave the store without: Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting by William Goldman (the same guy who wrote The Princess Bride). I rationalized that it'll help me with my thesis work -- plus will be an interesting read!
From the cafe I went and washed and vacuumed out my car. I was out to the gym next (and wearing my gym clothes), so I got to suffer through some cat calls by a truck full of hicks that drove by. Secretly, I kinda liked it. (I guess it's not so secret anymore)
The gym here has way better equipment than the one back home, but the class selection stinks. Ah well, trade one element of a gym for another. I did my weights and a kickboxing class, after being away from a gym for a week. I'm glad I went back, though I know I'll feel it tomorrow.
So there you go. I'm noticing my posts are getting really personal and long -- but I'm thinking it's because I have too much free time on my hands. Hopefully once my summer job starts I'll be too exhausted to blather and may become more entertaining instead. (who knows?)
And yes, tonight is the BIG night for American Idol. I'm 25 and will admit to following this entire season. I just don't know who to vote for, I like both of the finalists. But at least I'm in the States now and can actually vote for once (the numbers don't work in Canada).
The taunting can begin, now.
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I so can't wait for my summer job to start.
And it's not only because I love it so much. Right now I'm in a sort of limbo-land, I'm stuck at Mike's parents house while he's working, hoping he'll get home before his parents do. I'm getting stressed out, and hate that I have to find ways to occupy myself in ways that involve me not being home. It doesn't even really feel like home. So yes, I have a bad attitude about the whole arrangement. Hopefully it'll get better as the summer progresses.
I even had a dream about a particular nasty confrontation between me and his mom. Hopefully it wasn't a premonition.
Problem Solved: I'm off to do a social experiment -- seeing a movie by myself. I've never done that before. I'm off to see the new Ewan McGregor film, Down with Love.
Then I'll go punch some stuff in Kickboxing at the gym.
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Current location: Savannah, GA (yay)
Miles traveled: 542
Final total: 2827 (wow, hard to believe!)
Yep, home at last. Caught a bunch of nasty weather right outside of Savannah, but we made it all in one piece. Looking back at how far we've come (literally), it's pretty damn amazing. And to think I can look forward to it again, in about 12 weeks or so!
I'm having all sorts of mixed feelings about finally being back home again. For one, my parents are long gone -- they closed on the house on Friday and are now in Virginia. That makes me really sad, in weird ways. Don't get me wrong, I'm SO glad they're out of Savannah if anything to get away from the bastards that wounded them so deeply 9 months ago. And I know I shouldn't begrudge them wanting to move to another place to see what it's like -- I mean, lookit me, moving thousands of miles away!
But I always liked having a place that I could come home to -- a foundation of sorts. I don't feel like I have that anymore. They're moving up to a place I've never seen, into a house that's half the size of the one I grew up in. I guess I'm reacting to the fact that it finally is setting in on me that I'm growing up. I don't handle change very well, I guess. I just hate that never again will me, my parents, and my brother and sister will be together in one place again. It makes me feel sad. And I guess I'm reacting to the fact that I'll be in my hometown for all summer, but none of my family will be. I'll maybe see my parents a couple times, my sister once, and I'm not even sure about my brother. It's just weird to be in familiar surroundings without any of the family. Anyways.
Plus I'm nervous about my living situation for the summer. I'm staying with Mike and his parents -- who have traditionally NOT gotten along well with me, and visa versa. It's going to be tense, and now I don't have a "safe house" to retreat to. I'm just going to have to keep busy -- spending lots of time at work, the gym, and Barnes and Noble. Mike assures me that it's not going to be that bad -- but I dunno. I have the tendency to retreat into turtle mode, once I've been hurt.
Wow, so this was an uplifting post. Think I'll get some rest now. Hope you've enjoyed reading of my loooooooong trip this past week!
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Current location: Meridian, Mississippi
Miles traveled: 565 miles (running total so far: 2285 miles)
We ended up tailing that nasty storm system for most of the day today, but finally caught up to it right outside of Alabama. We're not too far from home now, but didn't really want to face the tornado watches/warnings going on in Alabama right now -- especially in the dark.
So we're at a brand-new hotel for the night. This place is SO MUCH better than the crappy place we stayed at last night. It was just built, it's huge, and even the towels are folded fancy. It doesn't take much to impress this grrrl, I had to fight the urge not to take a picture of the way the bathroom (and towels) look.
Tonight, we're taking it easy in our room. The all-star Winston race is on FX, plus there's Trading Spaces. We're ordering Chinese, sleeping late in the morning, then heading home. It's been a fun trip -- I figured out we've been to 9 states, total. On the way back up in August, we'll probably go a different route. Now the only place I need to explore in the US is the West coast. Hmmm, maybe next summer?
I've gotten a chance to catch up on my extra-curricular reading/nosiness fix and read up on all my favorite blogs I've missed. I think my hair stylist may be reading Jeff's blog.
Brett has a hilarious bit about the hottest "show" on right now -- America: The Best Show on Television. I love the timeline and his possible scenarios for "season three". Definitely worth the click.
And speaking of absurdist politics, the crazy guys at Chimps Ahoy! found a great pamplet from the Department of Homeland Panic. "Terrorism, we can't stop it. But you can't say that we didn't warn you...Be Afraid." With sections outlining Duct Tape and Plastic, How to Plan your End, and what you should be scared of (including various types of WPD, and "heart-eating terrorists").
On a different note, something worth studying further: Peep Research: Peeps at the Library. Who knew marshmellow candies could be so academic? (and yet tasty at the same time?!)
For those of you that love "the man," here's a treat: The Microsoft Hit Wizard: R&B Edition. Create a hit single in less than two minutes. That explains a lot of the crap I've heard lately on the airwaves. (via Idle Type)
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What. an. amazing. movie.
I think I may have actually stopped breathing during a couple of the scenes and have half squeezed Mike's hand off.
I'd rant about it now, but it's late, most of y'all probably haven't seen it, and I'm only half conscious at this point.
The theatre we saw it in was all digital -- amazing picture AND sound.
Great experience, can't wait till November! (though part of me CAN wait, I hate that I look so forward to conclusions of things -- because once they're over, they're over. Sorta like I'll feel after watching Return of the King this December)
Gah, too late to be thinking deep. Need sleep!
EDIT: Yay! The Mighty Ducks are going to the cup! (now Ottowa just needs to get in gear)
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Current location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Miles traveled: 551
After our trip this morning/afternoon, I can truly say that Missouri is the "show me" state of road construction and rain delays. Ugh, what a nightmare. But even though we ran into some rough spots, I love going across the country like this.
Observations made thus far:
-- There's actually a Toronto, South Dakota
-- Even gas pumps can be patriotic:
-- Convenience stores are called "C-Stores"
-- Missouri people like to put their tag stickers in the middle of their license plates for some bizarre reason
-- First sweet tea encounter not until Kansas City, Missouri
-- Regular unleaded and Plus gas are the exact same prices in South Dakota and Iowa (yay ethanol blends)
-- roadkill or tasty snack?:
-- There's actually a Mexican restaurant called "Gringos"
-- We have an uncanny ability to catch a region in the midst of awful storm attacks
-- You know you're in rural Arkansas when the check-in lady at the front desk is missing teeth and tells you she wants to eat her young
We're about to go out to the Razorback Theatre 6 to catch the new Matrix movie! Tommorow -- onto Atlanta, weather permitting.
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Becky on the prairie
Current location: Sioux City, Iowa
Miles driven: 639
What an amazing day we've had. As we left Bismarck this morning, we stopped at a gas station right outside our hotel. Turns out there was a Happy Joe's restaurant right around the corner from us. Happy Joe's was THE restaurant to go to when I was about 5 years old. There was one in Dickinson, ND, and we'd always go if we kids behaved. It was the panacea for all evils. I remember my mom once accidently lost her ring down the sink. As my dad was struggling to get it out of the pipe, I suggested that he just buy her a brand-new diamond ring and then take us all to Happy Joe's. See how it solves everything?
Anyway, I didn't go in there this trip. Part of me is still really curious, but then I'd hate to go in there and have it be some rat-infested hole of a restaurant. I only have a few poetic notions left, so I better guard 'em fiercely.
 Mike on the prairie.
From there we trekked across North Dakota toward Fargo. I think I have a sentimental attachment to that town now, largely due to the Coen brother's movie I think. I didn't catch any sight of a pregnant Frances McDormond character, though I'd really like to meet the real-life actress one day. I just think she's very cool, plus she's on the cover of Bust this month.
South Dakota really isn't all that bad, despite the fact that the always-creepy Senator Tom Daschle is from there. It's actually quite beautiful. Again, I got to sit and watch today as Mike drove (lucky grrrl that I am!) -- I wish that there was some way to capture the vast beauty of the prairies on film. I don't think it's possible. I've tried a couple times, but each time I looked at the result, I was disappointed. Sorta like trying to capture mountains or the ocean on film -- it's nearly impossible to do it justice.
After lunch we passed by a sign that pointed the way to De Smet -- the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder!!!  Yeah, it was a while out of our way, but ever since I got in the Dakotas I couldn't stop thinking about her and all the books I've read (a couple times!). Yes, I'm such a geek, but I totally loved going to this little town.
The neatest part about it was how anti-tourist trap it was. Yes, there were signs pointing the way to different landmarks and shops, but it was quaint -- not overwhelming and commercialized. Actually, by the time we got in town, the tours were closed for the day -- so we had to play tour guides ourselves.
In town I got to see the house Pa built and the family lived in for decades. We also saw the surveyor's house they temporarily lived in, a replica of the little schoolhouse they where went the grrrls to school, the gravesites of Pa, Ma, Mary, and Carrie, and the original homestead site of where the family lived when they first moved to South Dakota. 
That was my favorite part of tour -- visiting the plot of land where the family first established themselves. They even had a dugout sod home inside a hill, just like the one they lived in the book On the Banks of Plum Creek. Technically, the homestead was closed -- it wasn't supposed to open until Memorial Day. We got lucky, there was a lady out front working and she let us in the back. We stood there, on the bluff of the hill facing the prairie, and it was so amazingly peaceful. I've always had such a wild imagination, ever since I was a kid, and so being there was very special for me. I could see the Ingalls family there, 120 years ago, working and playing out in the prairie grass under the warm sun and gentle breezes.
There was a tree leading up the path to the memorial and it must have been 200+ years old. I took a picture of it, it was so full of character. I just know that she must have climbed its branches several times and I found that I had to fight the urge not to do it myself.
It was such a neat experience, being able to visit this tiny "little town on the prairie." While it was totally unplanned, its now unforgettable for me.
So that was pretty much our day. Now we're in Sioux City, Mike is watching some show on TLC, and I'm busy remembering my day.
And it's been a good day, only getting better with a beautiful lunar eclipse going on right outside my window!
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 9 hours and 530 miles later, we're down in Bismarck, North Dakota. Driving today was awesome! It was so gorgeous outside, the entire way. I'm totally falling in love with the prairies. When I first moved up here, I thought that I'd get bored quick with all the flat land. Not anymore. I just love being able to see for miles and miles around me. It's almost hypnotic, seeing so far down the road. Metaphorically speaking, somehow I wish seeing what's ahead in my life was as clear as seeing what's ahead of me on the prairie highway.
 Customs wasn't too painful. Yeah, we had to get out of the car, but the guard basically asked us if we had anything illegal in the car and let us on our merry way.
The stereo/boombox arrangement has worked pretty okay. The Saskatchewan highways were murder for making the CDs skip though. Throughout the day I kept ghost-reaching to turn it up or down. Sorta like the feeling you get when you reach to shift gears up at the wheel, when the car you're driving's gears are down between the seats.
 Found a song that suits my trip down home:
Down Together
The Refreshments
We could write our names here in the mud
No one's around to see them
We could hang our shoes right here in a tree
No one's around to steal them
I could give you a star
You could give me one too
That way we'd be even
And I could sing this song way out of tune
And not care a bit about it
We could both wear cowboy hats
And pretend to speak Italian
I could eat some gum
And make my breath so minty fresh
To kiss you
Your breath will smell like wine
I like that a lot
Especially when I kiss you
And I could hit my funny bone really hard
And you could call me sweetheart
And who ever said there's nothing new under the sun
Never thought much about individuals
But he's dead anyways
So lets go down together
Down together
Down together
Together
Lets go down together
Down together
Down together
Together
We could all wear ripped up clothes
And pretend that we're Dead Hot Workshop
I could drive long long way
And not even have the gas to make it back
We could chase our shadows around
Till we're both exhausted
I could forget the words just one more time
and hope that none of you notices
And who ever said there's nothing new under the sun
Never thought much about me
What's good for you is good for me
And what's bad for you is bad for me
What's good for you is good for me
And what's bad for you is bad for me
Cars break and people break down and other things break down too
So lets go down together
Down together
Down together
Together
Lets go down together
Down together
Down together
Together
By the way, who knew that North Dakota was so sexy? Yes, I just said sexy and North Dakota in the same sentence. The hills around the state's northern border are so beautiful and curvy, just like bodies. Mike drove from North Portal to Bismarck, so I got to gawk at the scenery all afternoon. Riding through the plains like that reminded me of Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie, some of my favorite books growing up. So beautiful and peaceful, I love it.
Now I should probably sleep. Tomorrow Mike is wanting to go further South, rather than the Eastern route I had planned earlier. Must stare at atlas and then slip into hot tub before it closes.
t.t.f.n.
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Last official post from Saskatchewan...
After running some errands around campus, I'm about to take off! As usual, I've packed way too much -- it's a good thing Mike is a former UPS employee and knows how to stack a car full.
Next stop, Minnesota? Or maybe North Dakota.
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mmmmm... bubble tea.
Just got back from trying my first glass of bubble tea.
Bubble drinks are usually cool, refreshing, and a sweet drink with tapioca pearls sitting on the bottom of a clear cup. Sometimes the drink is made with fresh fruits, milk, and crushed ice to create a healthy milk shake. You can also find drinks that are made of powdered flavoring, creamer, water, and crushed ice. And if you like it like the Asians do, the cool drink usually includes a healthy tea, infused by a flavoring.
Tapioca pearls are black, but can sometimes be found to be white or transparent. Depending on the ingredients of the pearl, the color varies. I've been told that the white and translucent pearls are made of caramel, starch and chamomile root extract. The black pearl includes sweet potato, cassava root and brown sugar, which add the black color.
The consistency of tapioca pearls are somewhere between jell-o and chewing gum. They are the size of a marble. They are also known as the "boba" drink in Western China because it is described as to having the same texture as the female breasts.
A clear cup with black balls on the bottom can easily identify bubble Tea drinks. Another obvious trait is a huge fat straw. The fat straw is needed so that the tapioca pearls can be sucked up with the drink and eaten. Bubble Tea's appearance definitely makes it unique.
Yum. The place here in town only costs 3 dollah for a small, and it's open until 3 AM. I can see myself visiting again, after I come back home.
So, about my car. Well, I got my window replaced, for about 270 bucks Canadian (ouch). I miss my stereo. I don't like driving in the quiet. I keep looking at its empty space, wanting to see what time it is or turn on another CD. Ah well.
We did buy a power inverter thingie, so we can at least listen to my boombox in the backseat on the way there. We're already looking at replacements for it. I'm still paranoid about leaving it in the street, despite the fact I have absolutely nothing left to steal in it.
I hate the feeling I get when things like this happen. It makes me extra paranoid, and I was already pretty paranoid to begin with. Sometimes I think I become obsessive complusive -- I'll be driving toward the gym or some place, and I'll forget if I locked the door or not. I'll have to force myself to remember pulling the key and locking the deadbolt before I can go on. Otherwise I'd turn back and double-check.
I know it's petty to be this particular, especially when it's only material things being lost -- but it still makes me angry, violated, and just upset that this had to happen. The timing of it really sucked.
So we're pulling outta town tomorrow morning, bright and early. Making a brief pit stop at the Payroll office, to pick up my last check for transcribing, and then down to the border. I'd like to make Minneapolis by tomorrow night, but we aren't gonna push ourselves too hard. The driving will be SO MUCH better, now that we won't haveta worry about a trailer behind us.
I'll have my camera handy, taking lots of obscure pictures along the way. Hopefully my laptop will cooperate enough that I can upload 'em and keep y'all posted on how it goes.
Wish me luck, here I go.
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...And now for your parting gifts...
How about waking up to your driver's side window being smashed in, with your beloved car stereo taken?
Add to that a 30+ hour trek home, now soundless.
No crime in Canada? Hmmm, chalk this up to experience #2. Michael Moore is a lying bastard! (oh come on, you know I had to throw that in! a grrrl has got to keep some perspective!)
Unbelievable.
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Alert: Total Lunar Eclipse Set Thursday
Sun May 11, 4:16 PM ET
LOS ANGELES - If the weather cooperates, a total lunar eclipse will be seen across North America late Thursday the first visible in the United States in three years and just before dawn Friday in western Europe and western and southern Africa.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth casts its shadow on the full moon, blocking the sunlight that otherwise reflects off the moon's surface. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye.
In North America, the moon will remain totally eclipsed for 53 minutes, and should turn substantially darker and reddish in color.
The total eclipse will start at 8:13 PDT in Los Angeles, 11:13 p.m. EDT in New York.
A second lunar eclipse, on Nov. 8, will be visible from North and South America.
Eclipses once helped prove the E | | | | | |
