champagne dreams

I've got a bit of a champagne buzz right now and way too much to do.



But our realtor left us a new house treat and who can resist the bubbly on that day when you first get the keys?
Not me.

We have a lot of work ahead of us: painting, refinishing the floors, cleaning, buying things (that's the fun part). But hopefully, a month from now it will stop feeling so surreal and will really seem like it's ours. The old owners left us several sets of carefully labeled keys and a note that said "welcome."

I started crying when I read it. It seems like it took us so long to get to this point - there was so much drama, so much heartache and headache and wondering if we would ever be able to do it without moving out to the nether regions.

But here we are and it's ours.

I really love my new kitchen and I can't wait to break it in:



By the way, I love our realtor and if you're in the area and need one, let me know. She's the best.

Ok, now I think I need a champagne nap

This weekend, to-do:

• Avoid Old Sac at all costs


• Park show: Ghoulies, Knock-offs, sunshine and beer


• Old Ironsides: Ghoulies, Supermodel Suicide, Teenage Harlets and beer


• Movie? Crash? Millions? Palindromes?


• Fashion flea market at Deep (Saturday night)


• Get keys to new house


• Relax

Love this illustration, love the site.

Nevermind. We can all breathe easy again.

E! Online has apparently either taken down the story (so maybe it's not true?!) or else the link is broken - in any case, all the celeb gossip blogs (shut up, you read them too) are reporting that Nick & Jessica as we know them are dead because Ms. Simpson supposedly filed for divorce today.

But they looked so happy last night on Nick & Jessica's Tour of Duty!

#$@!
Stupid iPod. This is the second time in two months that it's just completely crapped out for no reason - forcing me to restore the software and re-upload all the songs. Anyone have any idea why this would happen?

Anyway...tonight is the Baby Grand show at Old I. The show starts around 9:30-10pm. Please drop by and keep me company.

Next time you're in Cleveland, visit the Contraception Museum. Not quite the same tourist destination as the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame - but really, don't you think the two should be part of some sort of package deal?

I admit it, I have a soft spot for moments like this:



I know there's no crying in basketball ... but still ...

Just sitting here half-heartedly watching "Attack of the Clones". No one ever said the acting or writing in the first two "Star Wars" films was top-notch, but somehow the sum total of the actors, script and effects equaled something much greater than what exists in these newer films.

Then again, I did have a huge crush on Han Solo –and still do –so perhaps my perspective on this subject was/is clouded. Also, I have a real soft spot for the first two films because of the sense of nostalgia they bring on. My dad took me to see the original when I was 7. I remember it was a soggy, hot July day in Austin. I was wearing shorts and a tank top and ended freezing in the theater. But that didn’t stop me from loving the film – Princess Lei, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, etc., etc…what was not to love? Also, it’s one of the few good memories I have of being with my father so it means even more to me for that reason alone. Also, later that summer Mark the Neighbor Kid and I spent an awful lot of time playing our own version of Luke and Leia…Sounds dirty but come on, we were only 7. I mostly remember reciting dialogue and kicking up clouds of dirt when we got to the battle scenes. I wonder what ever happened to him.

I saw “The Empire Strikes Back” in the theater as well – and loved it of course – but my bigger, shinier memory of that film comes from its soundtrack. My mom bought me it on cassette – and it wasn’t just the score but also had all the film’s dialogue. I used to listen to it on my Walkman when I’d take my baby brother for a walk through the neighborhood during the 1980 Texas heatwave. And yes, I saw “Return of the Jedi” in the theater too – by this point my parents were separated and my mom took me and my brothers as a treat. I remember enjoying it at the time but it's always been my least favorite of that first trilogy. I blame it all on the Ewoks.

Now the new films --eh, it’s just trite to even say how yawn-inducing they are. The dialogue is stilted, the action and story feel contrived, the actors seem uncomfortable and the special effects are claustrophobic, not awe-inducing. And Jar Jar? Lucas should be strung up by his toes for ever thinking that was a good idea.

Not sure if I’ll go see the newest film in the theater – I did see the original re-releases and the first prequel in the theater but skipped "Attack of the Clones" until now. If anything, I’ll at least see "Revenge of the Sith" when it comes out on DVD- the new trilogy is less than inspiring but I suppose there is something to be said for closure.

I need life to take it down a notch. Also, I could use five minutes to myself. Is this too much to ask?
Apparently so.

CNN might be spamming your comments posts. (Via Wired News)

Well, on the plus side, at least it's not the Fox network.

It feels like the first day of summer around here and to celebrate I went for an evening run through McKinley Park and, happily, the roses did not make me sneeze until after I got home. Now Cory's on his way to an SF show and I'm drinking black coffee and listening to the Spurs-Nuggets game. I have a project to work on. A project that will hopefully quell the nagging sense of what-am-i-doing-with-my-life that seems to come on strongest at 4 a.m. when the entire house is dark and all I can hear is the sound of two cats and one man breathing - and all those irksome voices in my head.
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LA was actually Fullerton/Anaheim and it was nice as far as work things go but I have a question. Probably a stupid one, but what is that giantic-as-all-hell mountain that's near Ontario? Do you know the one that I'm talking about? It's the one that you fly right by and feel as if you could reach out and touch if doing such a thing did not involve being sucked out into the stratosphere by the sheer force of the jetstream.
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I got back from SoCal late Saturday night and was too tired to go to a party to which we'd been invited. Instead it was an exciting evening at the Jim-Boy's drive-through and watching last week's "Gilmore Girls" episode. I was almost asleep by the time Richie Rich's dad offered Rory the prize internship. Still exhausted, Sunday was a lost day devoured by random tasks and must-be-dones...then, Sunday night. The Kings game.

Sigh. Let's just say it was really fun despite the crappy fourth quarter turn-around. Any night in which you nearly lose your voice from screaming (and you are not fighting) has to be a good one, right? Although I will say this: If we are ever filthy rich enough to buy season tickets we will NOT purchase them for Sec. 203, Row L, seats 11 &13 because that guy two seats over? Oh my goodness. Dude, shut up. Do you think they can hear you all the way down on the court? I mean, seriously this guy was not just some random back-seat coach kinda guy. I think he really thought he was calling plays.
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OK, back to the coffee and the project ...