Yes, that's right. The inspiration for this blog's title, Flight of the Conchords, are coming to Chi-town tomorrow!!!
I actually saw a tour bus go through the historic neighborhood that I happen to work in. I bet it's them and their manager wanted to take them on an architetural tour.I can't figure out what in the hell to wear, as I do not want to appear lame as they clap eyes with me in the very last row of the theater. Yeah.
Blogging + Blackberry = huge nerd
Bye, Bret.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Car Talk: Seal
The following is a paraphrased conversation held between the two writers of this blog driving home from a nice afternoon at the Chicago Botanic Gardens and a scenic drive through the North Shore at approximately 8:45 p.m.:
[ Song starts up on the radio]
alex: Do you know what song this is?
Laura: Yes.
alex: What song is it?
Laura: It's that one from the thing... I know it!
a: It's "Fly Like an Eagle" by The Steve Miller Band.
L: Yeah, I knew that... only I preferred the Seal version better, which is why I couldn't come up with it right away.
[Sidebar: I could not actually identify the song, but alex likes to push you in to admitting that you don't know something he knows everything about, hence the above artful dodging]
a: From the Space Jam soundtrack??
L: Yeah! My sister loved that soundtrack when she was younger, and I really liked that song.
a: And R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fl--"
L: STOP!!! I hate that song.
a: Apparently, Seal has a large package... Apparently....
L: ... Obviously.
a: I'm just saying, that's what I hear...
L: I don't think that was ever really in question. Seal is hot -- I think so, because Laura Winslow thought so in that episode where she goes to the Seal concert and remarks how "Fooooiiiine" he is. Since we have the same name, I agree.
a: Yeeeah. Remember "Kiss from a Rose"?
[Long story omitted about how my local morning zoo show would play the same line up every morning and I woke up to aforementioned song almost every morning of sixth grade. Actually, that's pretty much the story...]
L: I still really like that song, even though it makes me remember almost every article of clothing I had in sixth grade.
a: I loved when he harmonized....
L&a in perfect harmony: "I.... IIIII've been Kissed by a rose"
a: "On the grave" L: "On the flame!"
L: .... Hmmm, it's probably on the grave. I honestly don't know any for the words from that song... just the melody.
a: Me neither.
L: "Theeeere's a leaning tower on the wrong side of me" wait... or maybe it's "Lonely Tower" [Totally wrong. Totally, totally wrong]
a: I really don't know...
[Silence follows then we both shout in perfect unison]
My power, My Pleasure, MY PAIIIN!
a: BAYYY A BAAAAY
L: Shooba dooba lone addiction skibaskiba ba bam... A Did you know... that when it snows... my eyes become wide and the light that you shine can be seen?
a: I think it's "My eyes become large"[He's right, once again]
L: Ew, that sounds weird... Welp, I just figured out what you'll be spending your last four dollars in ITunes on...
a: Heidi Klum's one lucky bitch.
L: He's totally Foooine.
[Fin]
[ Song starts up on the radio]
alex: Do you know what song this is?
Laura: Yes.
alex: What song is it?
Laura: It's that one from the thing... I know it!
a: It's "Fly Like an Eagle" by The Steve Miller Band.
L: Yeah, I knew that... only I preferred the Seal version better, which is why I couldn't come up with it right away.
[Sidebar: I could not actually identify the song, but alex likes to push you in to admitting that you don't know something he knows everything about, hence the above artful dodging]
a: From the Space Jam soundtrack??
L: Yeah! My sister loved that soundtrack when she was younger, and I really liked that song.
a: And R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fl--"
L: STOP!!! I hate that song.
a: Apparently, Seal has a large package... Apparently....
L: ... Obviously.
a: I'm just saying, that's what I hear...
L: I don't think that was ever really in question. Seal is hot -- I think so, because Laura Winslow thought so in that episode where she goes to the Seal concert and remarks how "Fooooiiiine" he is. Since we have the same name, I agree.
a: Yeeeah. Remember "Kiss from a Rose"?
[Long story omitted about how my local morning zoo show would play the same line up every morning and I woke up to aforementioned song almost every morning of sixth grade. Actually, that's pretty much the story...]
L: I still really like that song, even though it makes me remember almost every article of clothing I had in sixth grade.
a: I loved when he harmonized....
L&a in perfect harmony: "I.... IIIII've been Kissed by a rose"
a: "On the grave" L: "On the flame!"
L: .... Hmmm, it's probably on the grave. I honestly don't know any for the words from that song... just the melody.
a: Me neither.
L: "Theeeere's a leaning tower on the wrong side of me" wait... or maybe it's "Lonely Tower" [Totally wrong. Totally, totally wrong]
a: I really don't know...
[Silence follows then we both shout in perfect unison]
My power, My Pleasure, MY PAIIIN!
a: BAYYY A BAAAAY
L: Shooba dooba lone addiction skibaskiba ba bam... A Did you know... that when it snows... my eyes become wide and the light that you shine can be seen?
a: I think it's "My eyes become large"[He's right, once again]
L: Ew, that sounds weird... Welp, I just figured out what you'll be spending your last four dollars in ITunes on...
a: Heidi Klum's one lucky bitch.
L: He's totally Foooine.
[Fin]
Seal: Totally Foooine
Thursday, May 1, 2008
World Issue Alert: Congo
Today's World Issue is brought to you by the Diane Rehm Show from WAMU in Washington. I started listening to Diane Rehm on the world's tiniest NPR Station in Oxford, Ohio. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Chicago Public Radio, but I miss Diane's book reviews and Friday news round up... (Don't we all?)
I miss, therefore I podcast. Diane went for the serious issues on Monday, tackling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the terror that is everyday life for women in the Congo. John Prendergast and Linda Jackson were featured as her guests and, while I had hear whisperings of the atrocities, Linda's new film The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo is telling the story of survivors who have been abused and mutilated in a war that has claimed over five million lives. We can contribute by informing ourselves about what's happening to these woman and the context of all of this violence. Listening to the podcast is a great place to start - both panelists offer a concise history of the problems in Congo and refer to additional resources and NGO's that are working for these women and children.
Organizations to Look Into:
Women for Women International
ENOUGH Project
Amnesty International
I know that this blog is all over the place, but that's how life is. I might work in the non-profit sector and lean to the left politically, but I can also be frivolous, into material things and have a weird hobby. I think that's the paradox of being an informed individual in Western society. I've spent years feeling guilty, but now I just try to do what I do when I can and I'll try to work it all out into a nice little package later.
I miss, therefore I podcast. Diane went for the serious issues on Monday, tackling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the terror that is everyday life for women in the Congo. John Prendergast and Linda Jackson were featured as her guests and, while I had hear whisperings of the atrocities, Linda's new film The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo is telling the story of survivors who have been abused and mutilated in a war that has claimed over five million lives. We can contribute by informing ourselves about what's happening to these woman and the context of all of this violence. Listening to the podcast is a great place to start - both panelists offer a concise history of the problems in Congo and refer to additional resources and NGO's that are working for these women and children.
Organizations to Look Into:
Women for Women International
ENOUGH Project
Amnesty International
I know that this blog is all over the place, but that's how life is. I might work in the non-profit sector and lean to the left politically, but I can also be frivolous, into material things and have a weird hobby. I think that's the paradox of being an informed individual in Western society. I've spent years feeling guilty, but now I just try to do what I do when I can and I'll try to work it all out into a nice little package later.
From Women to Women's Mother's Day Card Campaign
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wine + Friday Night = Slow-Going Saturday
Friday night, I worked a wine tasting event hosted by the non-profit I work for. It was a great success from what I hear; I worked the door most of the night and only saw the comings and goings of people. I did find a wine I really enjoyed. It's actually a blend... is that tacky? I'm wondering if this is like stating "I'd rather have Arby's" when presented with a tasting menu from Charlie Trotter's or something.
Well, whatever. I've posted three items on this blog, so ya'll don't know me! I do what I want!
The wine, incidentally, is called Seven Daughters. It has a red and white version, and I'm plugging the red here. Sweet and crisp with cute branding... it's my new go-to hostess gift. alex will have more scoop on the other offerings of the evening as he was an actual guest of the tasting. He was very social and cheerful (which I strongly encouraged him to be, as this is my place of work) and even managed to keep the robot talk to a minimum. You know that's a major social faux pas in professional-social settings: brining up politics, religion or robots.
Saturday morning I managed to wake up with a dull thud of a headache. This is actually a good thing for me because usually I am completely ill for 24 hours after any alcohol consumption over 8 ounces. True story. Ask anyone.
Upon my miraculous recovery, both alex and I actually had an entire weekend where we had no pressing obligations. That being said, I made about 10,000 plans for the coming weeks that left me pretty booked until the end of June, at least.
Well, whatever. I've posted three items on this blog, so ya'll don't know me! I do what I want!
The wine, incidentally, is called Seven Daughters. It has a red and white version, and I'm plugging the red here. Sweet and crisp with cute branding... it's my new go-to hostess gift. alex will have more scoop on the other offerings of the evening as he was an actual guest of the tasting. He was very social and cheerful (which I strongly encouraged him to be, as this is my place of work) and even managed to keep the robot talk to a minimum. You know that's a major social faux pas in professional-social settings: brining up politics, religion or robots.Saturday morning I managed to wake up with a dull thud of a headache. This is actually a good thing for me because usually I am completely ill for 24 hours after any alcohol consumption over 8 ounces. True story. Ask anyone.
Upon my miraculous recovery, both alex and I actually had an entire weekend where we had no pressing obligations. That being said, I made about 10,000 plans for the coming weeks that left me pretty booked until the end of June, at least.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
robophobia
you know what? i like robots. a lot. i think that robots are amazingly interesting and not the least bit intimidating. sadly, i have noticed an extreme lack of robots and robot-related information in our culture. this is wrong. robots do not have to be our enemies, they can be our friends. while i am not an advocate for artificial intelligence, i am an advocate for the normalization of human-robot relations. everyone should interact with a robot at least once, and if they are still not convinced, then i will be willing to respect their robophobia, as much as it may pain me. one final note on robots. i hope that in the future (ideally within one to two years time) everyone who wants a robot may acquire one at a minimal cost. that would be sweet.
also, yesterday, Laura and i saw rick bayless. or as Laura calls him, "that frontera grill guy".
also, yesterday, Laura and i saw rick bayless. or as Laura calls him, "that frontera grill guy".
The Knitting Bug - It's Catching
So, I work for a non-profit who partners with other local non-profits to better the lives of woman and children (which makes me much better than you, clearly). One of the projects that has come up recently is Project Linus, which is an organization which provides children who have been through traumatic experiences handmade blankets.
I have been known to say on more than one occasion that Crafty = Crappy and I'm not really a big fan of giving hand-made gifts. This has left me in craft project purgatory, because I have no motivation to finish anything. Ever.
Which of course means I got bored! So thanks to my new obsession Crazy Aunt Purl, whose knitting skills are way above my self taught insanity, I attempted the Chunky Baret pattern. What happened was more like...
Ok, so maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but even when you try to lay it flat... it's just too thick to look slouchy enough:
Nice 80's bang
I have been known to say on more than one occasion that Crafty = Crappy and I'm not really a big fan of giving hand-made gifts. This has left me in craft project purgatory, because I have no motivation to finish anything. Ever.
So, I thought - Awesome! Maybe, if this is for the children (for the CHILDREN!) I will actually be able to finish a craft project. So, I Googled "knitting" and was sucked into a vortex, wherein I discovered... knitting blogs. It may sound odd, but truly, they have been amazing. I found this pattern that seemed to be pretty dummy proof and have been working on it for a few weeks.
Are you freaking KIDDING me with all those ends?
It must be said that this looks much messier in person !
It must be said that this looks much messier in person !
Which of course means I got bored! So thanks to my new obsession Crazy Aunt Purl, whose knitting skills are way above my self taught insanity, I attempted the Chunky Baret pattern. What happened was more like...
What part of Jamaica are you from?
Right neeea tha beech... BO-IE!
Right neeea tha beech... BO-IE!
Ok, so maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but even when you try to lay it flat... it's just too thick to look slouchy enough:
Nice 80's bang
This One Goes Out to My Fans!
After two year of no blogging, I'm delving back in. In that time, I have become an avid blog reader and lost the power to compose my own pointless thoughts. I don't feel that blogs are ruining news, entertainment or our culture, but I want to state that I am aware of just how self absorbed one needs to be to write down every little thought and inkling to share with the world.
But I'll be honest...I need a hobby again. I'm getting a bit of tunnel vision and I want to really open my eyes again and truly appreciate the absurdity of everyday life. And I used to have a handful of fans back in my day!
So, in honor of them, here's some of my old "work":
IndianaJane
Doügembourg
But I'll be honest...I need a hobby again. I'm getting a bit of tunnel vision and I want to really open my eyes again and truly appreciate the absurdity of everyday life. And I used to have a handful of fans back in my day!
So, in honor of them, here's some of my old "work":
IndianaJane
Doügembourg
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