Questionable

Two (well, three) cool videos for your weekend

This one came via Boing Boing or maybe Kottke. I just love the video and I love it more with each viewing. I actually went to the artist's MySpace page and this is the only song I really like.

This one via the Deets. First watch the video and then watch the second video that tells how the video is made. The ad firm is based in Minneapolis.

What's the first tape/album/CD you purchased?

When I was a kid, tapes and albums were both popular. But, I didn't have a good way to play albums so I bought (or got them as gifts) tapes. Before I actually started buying tapes (because I was a kid without much personal scratch), I would tape my friends' albums (or tapes) on blank cassette tapes (which were cheaper than the actual original and two albums fit per tape). The album (or tape) played in their stereos and if I inserted a tape in the tape deck (or second tape deck) and pushed record, I could get the whole thing (our 1970s and 1980s version of illegal downloads). My very first recording was REO Speedwagon, High Infidelity.

I actually don't remember ever buying a tape (or album), but I'm sure I did. I think I mostly got through junior high, high school, and college by taping other people's albums/tapes. I know I got music as presents throughout my childhood and college years. My Barry Manilow albums were all gifts, as was the BeeGees doing Sgt. Pepper (I'm still a BM fan, but was really pissed when I got the Bee Gees rather than the real Beatles album - I was a music snob in grade school). Don't laugh. I could be telling you about listening to 8-tracks at my grandma's house.

Weekend Reviews

First, wasn't the weekend glorious? What a perfect weather weekend.

We saw Ocean's 13, which was as expected. I love movies choked full of hot men. I don't even care what they're about. A few days earlier, I saw Knocked Up. On one hand, I want to oooh and ahhhh over this cute, funny movie. On the other hand, it bugged the crap out of me. It was just too traditional. And, there was NO chemistry between the principals. What reporter, working for E, would attempt to stay with a complete loser just to make a family? I get her keeping the baby. I don't get her shacking up with a Q-tip.

We had one of the weirdest meals of our life on Friday night. We tried a new Mexican place in downtown St. Paul. Owned by the same people who own Tacos Morelos, El Patio should be very good. And, in fact, the food is rather good, particularly the pork carnitas. But, the service is so bad, we almost walked out. The server was completely inattentive and didn't get the order anywhere close to correct. There were also kids running around yelling at the top of their lungs and a female employee, who appeared to be their mom, sitting at a table barking at them. They have a full bar, but no drink menu and the server appeared confused when I asked for one. They have a bunch of tap beer, perhaps I'd like to know what it is. Anyway, I am guessing this place can't keep up with the Xcel Energy Center crowd and will close quickly unless they figure out their service issues.

On Saturday night we went to both Rib Fest and the NE block party. Such very, very, very different crowds. The music was good in both places, but I was one of the younger people at Rib Fest and one of the oldest people at the block party. I wore my sunglasses at night to disguise my geezerness, but my non-denim short pants gave me away. 

A little ditty I like to call, Ode to a Sister-in-law (sung to the tune of Superfreak)

With my apologies to Rick James

She's a very selfish girl
The kind who'll break your heart in two
She will surprise you with her recklessness
Once she dumps you for her freedom, dude

She likes to act in her plays
She says it needs to be her focus now
When she moves out with her cat
Don't let the door
Hit her in the ass

Oh no
That girl is pretty stupid now
The girl's a spoiled brat
The kind of girl you should avoid
In bars and on the street
That girl is immature now
The girl's a spoiled brat
I really love to hate her
Just move and take your cat
She's a child, she's a child
That girl's a child
To me, yeah
Hey, hey, heyyyyyyyy

Weekend Reviews

Pan's Labyrinth - Loved it. And, since I was prepared for the violence and brutality, it seemed far less gruesome than it probably was.

Granite City Food and Brewery - This restaurant is new to Rosedale Mall. We generally don't eat at chains, but it was convenient for us on Friday night. It has an extensive menu and they brew their own beer. The food is fine, nothing special. The beer is okay. They have four standard beers on tap. I prefer a Pale Ale but they offer an IPA, which I didn't love.

Guacamole (sorry, no link) - Me Gusta on S. Robert St. in St. Paul recently became Guacamole. We at there before a play on Saturday night. It was okay. Fairly typical quick Mexican food.

Cyrano by the Cromulent Shakespeare Company - A very good production by a small, poor theater company. I've seen some of their stuff in the past and wasn't impressed, but this show is excellent. They had a very small budget, but still pulled off a big production with period costumes and a few props. And, my sis-in-law, who plays Roxane is the best I've ever seen her. She was so relaxed and authentic on the stage. My one complaint - it is way too long (3 hours and 15 minutes). People left at the second break. It needs editing, badly.

The Grammys - I watched them on and off, mostly to see some of the different performances. Primarily, I wanted to see The Police. I've seen many, many live performances throughout my life. As a kid, I went to concerts constantly. But, the Police are the one and only big band of the 1970's/1980's that I want to see and have never seen. As a teenager, I loved them so much that I wore out my tapes of Ghost in the Machine, Zenyatta Mondatta, and Synchronicity. I've already told J that I'm ready to re-mortgage the house to see them now.

I promise I am not dead

I know that I haven't written in a long time, but I am immersed in a rewrite of my dissertation proposal. Every time I think about blogging, a little voice inside my head tells me that writing about social support is more important. So, then, I don't come here and write about recently watched movies, recently sampled restaurants, recently read books, or newsworthy items. And, it has been a really, really, really long time since I've asked a question.

So, here is a bit of a catch up post.

J and I recently tried Nochee. I had a small salad and then a "small plates" offering: Szechuan style baby back ribs. The salad was standard, but the ribs were outstanding. Very flavorful and tender. If you are really hungry split them as an appetizer and order a larger dinner item or bar menu sammy.

I saw the Departed this weekend. It has been receiving outstanding reviews. I liked it, but thought it was too long. There were very slow parts in the middle I guess three out of four stars for me. Besides the length, something about it was unsatisfactory. However, Nicholson is fantastic. And, upon reflection, the soundtrack was the best thing about the movie. I keep thinking back to how much I enjoyed the music and how well it went along with the film.

If you were to keep track of what books I read, you would think I was a guy. That's all about that. It deserves a full post.

Question: Are you from a poop or a poo family? (Yes, the twins are starting to potty train). My family said poop for both the action and the result. J's family differentiated. Poop is the action. Poo is the result. Maybe your family said something else - the kids down the block called it stinkies.

And, last but not least, this from my hometown (it was covered all over the MSM today, so you've probably seen this):

Jamie Hanson, who lost her leg in a traffic crash three years ago, tearfully described how her dog, Jesse, pulled her from a fire at her Town of Rhine home Sunday and brought her the phone so she could call for help.

"I was laying on the couch watching TV and my smallest cat was running over the back of the couch and he jumped onto a table that had a candle on it and tipped it over and lighted the artifiical plants on fire"

Unfortunately, both animals died.

I don't care who wins Rockstar...

...and the remaining contestants should try to throw the contest if possible. I'm serious. All of the five remaining singers (and Ryan, who was ejected last week) are excellent singers and performers. And all of them, with maybe the exception of Dilana, are good songwriters. The Supernova songs are horrible and they should be begging these folks to join their band. If I were the singers, I'd want to take the publicity from this show and run. It would be humiliating to sing the ridiculous Supernova songs. I'm even wondering if Dilana started calculating her own downfall after she heard the first Supernova song (which she had to sing).

On another note, I was sad to see Ryan go. I love his voice and his style. I know he wasn't the right choice for Supernova, but it would have been great to see him perform until the end. In my opinion, at this point the only guy who can rescue this band is probably Lukas because of his modern sound. But, the band is probably going to pick Toby or Magni.

I'm free. I'm free...

...at least for the weekend. My research faculty responded last night with a few final comments. I stayed up and made some revisions. He (and my faculty advisor) approved my IRB application and interview protocol this morning. I sent the application in a few minutes ago.

J and I leave tonight for our annual trip to the north shore so this couldn't come soon enough. I'm taking my laptop and will have high speed internet, but hopefully I won't need to use it for anything related to school.

When I get home I need to re-edit my entire dissertation proposal so it is not like this is a long reprieve, but man it is going to feel nice not having something imminent over my head.

After I finished my edits last night I needed to relax a bit so I found myself watching my recording of Rockstar at 1am. Everyone did really well. I think Dilana's antics will prevent her from winning, but we'll see. If she continues to rake in the votes, maybe Supernova will overlook her behavior. I really liked Ryan last night and was pissed at Jason's comments about him. I don't want him to leave tonight, but I'm guessing he'll now be in the bottom three. Maybe Storm will go instead. I can't see her fronting this band. Also, according to Dave Navarro's blog, the group still hasn't come to a consensus as to who they want to win, so I guess it is still anyone's game.

Hubba hubba: Dave Navarro on Rockstar tonight

Dave, next time leave the shirt off.

Tonight's show was interesting in that Dilana, Ryan, and Lukas continue to pull ahead of the other competitors.

Wicked

I saw Wicked on Friday night with J, my brother, and his wife. I was disappointed. The woman playing Elphaba was the stand-in (which is one step above the understudy, I think). Her voice was grating, particularly during the big numbers. Fingernails on chalkboard grating. I've heard you need a rock voice for this role. She doesn't have one. And, more importantly, the audio was screwed up. We were sitting in the lower part of the balcony and had a very hard time understanding the enunciation of the songs. I've read the book, so I had a general understanding of what was happening, but J was sort of lost. The songs are very important to understanding the storyline. And, honestly, I don't understand what all the hype is about. Lion King I get, this I don't. I just didn't think it was that great of a musical.