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Archive for February, 2008

picture me

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

I am so tired, I should be in bed…yet I am the queen of the procrastinators…so a meme!!
1. What’s your first name?
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2.What school did you go to?
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3.What is your relationship status?
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4.What is your favorite color?
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5. Who is your celebrity crush?
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6. What are you listening to now?
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7. What is your favorite movie?
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8. What is your favorite disney princess?
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9. Name an alcoholic beverage?
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10. Where is your dream vacation ?
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11. What is your favorite dessert?
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12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
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13. What do you love most in life?
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14. What’s your mood?
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15. One word to describe yourself
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did hell freeze over?

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

Because the film that deserved best picture for this year, won best picture.
I hope pigs don’t poop when they fly.

it’s official….

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

…when I grow up, I’m going to be Tilda Swinton.

guess i’m realearning to crochet

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

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hypothetical

Monday, February 11th, 2008

So, let’s say a couple were looking at getting matching tattoos, small versions of superhero insignias.
What would a good location be, when the lady has or will have bot a mid back and a lower ab tat?
Discuss.

takin’ action

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

So, Tuesday I participated in the record-breaking Minnesota DFL precinct caucus. (Previous record was 80,000 in the ’60s, we tripled that this year–w00t!) I have to say, on my third time around, it still feels so magical. This year was kind of weird, though. The DFL decided to make the presidential ballot binding, rather than the usual non-binding straw poll. That made for a strange dynamic, perhaps making the choice a little more stressful. In retrospect, knowing that my ideal candidate is also behind my viable candidate, and released his supporters, I could have voted for him, and still subcaucused in the Senate district round for the viable candidate…oh well.
A brief rundown of Tuesday…
I knew G would have to pic me up at the gym, and we would head over to our caucus. I was wearing dance pants and a workout tank…and very worried I would be freezing at the caucus, thus thinking maybe I should have thought to bring layers with me. Too late for that. As we started along Summit Avenue, we hit traffic. Barely moving traffic only a few blocks from our home, and a few miles from our caucus place. We couldn’t figure out what was up…I mean traffic on Summit? So, we headed over to Grand…same deal. We continued several blocks over to come at the place from the back way. Found a reasonable parking spot, and headed over to the junior high school building serving as our caucus building. Lines. Around the block at each entrance. I have never witnessed such a thing! It was pretty awesome. The lines were continuously moving due to the highly organized group of volunteers stationed at the doors to keep people heading inside. As we snaked along we had some pretty great conversations with fellow caucusers. Learned about other progressive groups and bonded over election excitement. We got inside, and asked for directions to our room. The building was crowded, but the volunteers were on the ball…I was so very pleased and proud of them. We made our way to the correct stairwell, where we proceeded to wait in line to vote and get into our precinct caucus. A quick note: I had an ice cold diet soda that I purchased to go with my on the go sandwich dinner. I chose to leave it in the car because I thought I would be too cold. This was laughable! As we stood in the stairwell, I was forced to take my coat off. It was roasting! All that body heat made for a very cozy atmosphere. Several people commented on my wisdom in wearing a tank top. I had to ‘fess up that it was purely a happy accident. It was really cool to see people of all ages, ethnicities, new citizens, lifelong citizens, complete diversity coming and going. We finally made our way to our room…hurray! We quickly signed in and cast our ballot, and found seats on tables along one wall. There were people perched on bookcases and desks, all the chairs full. We missed some of the action due to the lines, but quickly caught up. It was pleasing to see how many people chose to stick around after casting their presidential ballots. We voted on party resolutions, heard speeches about our senatorial candidates, and G even presented a resolution…wheeee! We had to push back our voting of delegates to make sure that all those waiting in line had their fair shot. I thought of a campaign speech, just in case we had more delegate volunteers than spaces. It was pretty powerful to see people speaking on things that obviously meant so much to them, and the hope that positively beamed from them as they read resolutions. On an US Weekly note…apparently Garrison Keillor is in our precinct. He voted and proceeded to hang out and watch the proceedings. It made me a little nervous to be a mere few feet from him… I felt like I needed to be extra impressive! My only disappointment of the evening were the few bad seeds who felt the need to try and foist their negativity on the room. I have no problem with being critical, and offering productive feedback or criticism. However, just to say things that are mean-spirited or off-the-cuff rude is completely unecessary.
Eventually, we were able to vote on delegates. In a miracle, exactly 28 people volunteered for the 28 positions for the senate district convention. Four more volunteered as alternates, and politely decided among themselves their ranks for the convention. We volunteered for committees…I felt really bad, though. My hand shot up for resolutions, and the chair said there was room for only one per committee form our precinct. I dashed G’s hopes of also being on resolutions.
So, today, I woke up sunshiney early and made my way to a local library for the first committee meeting! We sorted resolutions based on various criteria, we discussed, I learned. It was pretty cool, if not a bit daunting as we have quite the pile of resolutions to research this week, and our chair has quite the pile to condense. We have three short weeks to compile all the resolutions from all the precincts and get them to the printer in time for the convention. It will be some work, but I also think it will be really interesting. Just hearing the scope of the resolutions passed in our precinct, and today seeing some of the others, makes me really excited for the convention.
Looking to the future, I would really, really, really love to be a delegate to the state convention this year. Unfortunately, I think the competition will be fierce, and I know that the qualifications of some will far outweigh my own (or rather, lack thereof). Despite that, I would be so honored to be elected to go on. In a magical dream world, I would get to go to the national convention…but I don’t know how possible that is. One dream at a time. If both G and I were to go on to state, that would rock. It would be such an amazing experience!!
I am so very pleased to be a part of this. I am really optimistic this year. We have such an amazing field of candidates. Some years it honestly is the lesser of evils. However, this year, I feel like choosing one candidate simply means putting aside a very capable, viable candidate. No matter who goes on (even though, I would ideally love it to be my candidate), I feel like we will only benefit. I am also honored to be in such an involved neighborhood, and senate district.
After several years of the political climate, I am honestly optimistic, rather than anxious.

so, it is a myth after all

Saturday, February 9th, 2008

So, we just returned from our foray to Maplewood to see my stocking stuffer from Santa.
To be fair, Mr. Manson and friends were amazing, as usual. He is so glam, and such a performer, he truly is suited for live shows. It is pretty much a theatrical experience seeing him.
That being said, seeing him in a theater space is ideal, followed closely by an arena.
What he is not suited for? A too-small club with an incompetent security staff. Seriously. I felt like we were at the Quest on steroids. And we all know what happened to the Quest. (and if you don’t know, it was shut down, the space purchased, completely redesigned, and reopened in a much more pleasing manner).
Here are some tips should you decide to open a nighclub or already are running a nightclub, and decide you want to also have the occasional rock show:
Just because you can cram that many people in the space, doesn’t mean you should.
There are crazy things called fire codes. They exist for a reason.
When you have stairs that connect floors, sometimes people actually want to use them to climb to the upper floor, or descend to the lower floor. If they are completely packed with immobile people, it negates their purpose. Trust me, the bouncers aren’t being dicks at First Avenue when they are manning the top and bottomw of every stairwell to keep traffic moving. They are being what is called “prepared.”
Your bartending staff is there to serve drinks. Whilst it is perfectly acceptable for them to have a good time on the job, maybe they should be paying enough attention so that if people are frantically waving cash at them to get their attention, and thus a drink, the bartender could actually be bothered to make them a drink. That incoming money provides them with what we call a paycheck. I don’t know about anyone else, but the work I do at a for-profit establishment sure as hell isn’t on a volunteer basis.
When hiring an architect, maybe hire one that knows how to design a nightclub/concert venue. Then, pull your head out of your ass to correctly assign activities to the space created by said architect. A ten foot wide aisle that you are expecting to be a coatcheck line and a major exit aisle…not the best idea.
Remember that the general public is dumb. Of the portion that is not dumb, a large percentage is just plain inconsiderate. This is why we hire bouncers. They remind people how to act in public, and control large crowds. Velvet ropes can often serve a similar function, as can barricades.
Now, some reminders for the general public:
If you want to spend over $50 on tickets to a show, then get so wasted you won’t remember any of the night, that is your right. However, if you are so drunk you are infringing on others enjoyment of the show, you have crossed a line.
Clothing comes in a full range of sizes. Please buy the correct size so that I don’t have to look at the layering of panties, thong and ass crack you wind up displaying because your skirt cannot contain you. I don’t care what size you are, or what size you want to be…last time I checked, it wasn’t printed on the outside of your clothing unless you are on one of those Tyra Banks shows…so just buy your actual size.
Saying you’re sorry does not make you less of an asshole. Not behaving like an asshole makes you less of an asshole.
I think that is all. In short, the Myth has been blacklisted from our concert venue list.
If anyone on the staff from First Avenue reads this..PLEASE BOOK ALL THE SMALL (IE: NON TARGET CENTER OR XCEL ARENA) SHOWS SO THE PUBLIC DOESN”T HAVE TO DEAL WITH SUBPAR ATMOSPHERE. THANKS!

easy peasy lemon squeezy

Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

So, after a mere three years, I decided it was high time to reupholster our dining room chairs. Part of the wait involved the expense of materials for said reupholstering. Thanks to Martin Luther King, Jr., JoAnn Etc. (formerly JoAnn Fabrics) had a two-day only sale extravaganza, involving half off both the foam and the fabric needed for the task. So, foam and fabric were purchased. A stop was made to Menard’s, where wood glue and strap clamps were purchased.
We were so ready.
A day was spent gluing the broken chairs. (a big apology to G’s brother, who will no longer be able to trick unassuming guests by moving the chair with the broken back around the table).
Today, I decided was d-day for the actual reupholstery. Armed with pliers and a screwdriver, I began to pull off the old upholstery and padding (discovering, in the process, that the original color of the fabric was actual a rather vibrant pink). The first plywood base doesn’t look good. At least one of the corners is disintegrated. Ever optimistic, I move to the next chair. This piece is pretty cracked along one side, and thus the piece is rather weak and flexible. Now erring on the side of pessimism, I am pretty sure we are going to be purchasing some new plywood. On one hand, big PITA. On the other, if I’m already investing this much time and effort into the project, I may as well do it right, right?
So, in short, after I thought I had already cleared the major hurdle, I haven’t even started the race.
Boo!!
So, if you come over for dinner, I can guarantee we will be sitting on the sofa.