we interrupt this crisis to bring you ...

I spent $35 on gas today - about $5 more than what it cost to fill my tank two weeks ago - and while on one hand it's frustrating and expensive, on the other hand it's just $35 and I don't have to encounter the National Guard to get it.

Jesus, watching the news and reading the newspaper and online reports is really just upsetting. Upsetting to realize that while these kind of situations can bring out the best in people, they can also bring out the worst. The worst in all sorts of ways, in all sorts of places.

There's a big debate online right now about two Associated Press captions. From Boing Boing:

Flickr user dustin3000 uploads two similar news photos that show flood victims in New Orleans wading in chest-deep water. In each, a person appears to be dragging a bag or box or two of food or beverages.

The images were shot by different photographers, and captioned by different photo wire services. The Associated Press caption accompanying the image with a black person says he's just finished "looting" a grocery store. The AFP/Getty Images caption describes lighter skinned people "finding" bread and soda from a grocery store. No stores are open to sell these goods.

Perhaps there's more factual substantiation behind each copywriter's choice of words than we know. But to some, the difference in tone suggests racial bias, implicit or otherwise.

Salon magazine tried to dissect the issue:

The AP database includes two other images from the same scene by photographer Dave Martin that refer to looters in the captions, though neither actually shows an explicit act of looting. Jack Stokes, AP's director of media relations, confirmed today that Martin says he witnessed the people in his images looting a grocery store. "He saw the person go into the shop and take the goods," Stokes said, "and that's why he wrote 'looting' in the caption."

Santiago Lyon, AP's director of photography, told Salon that all captions are vetted by editors and are the result of a dialogue between editor and photographer. Lyon said AP's policy is that each photographer can describe only what he or she actually sees. He added, "When we see people go into businesses and come out with goods, we call it 'looting.'" On the other hand, he said, "When we just see them carrying things down the road, we call it 'carrying items.'"

Regarding the AFP/Getty "finding" photo by Graythen, Getty spokeswoman Bridget Russel said, "This is obviously a big tragedy down there, so we're being careful with how we credit these photos." Russel said that Graythen had discussed the image in question with his editor and that if Graythen didn't witness the two people in the image in the act of looting, then he couldn't say they were looting.

But if he didn't witness an act of looting, how did Graythen determine where the items came from, or if they were "found"? "I wish I could tell you," Russel said. "I haven't been able to talk to Chris."

"The only thing I can tell you is they don't assume one way or another," she added.

Not a very satisfactory, clear answer, but then again, it's not a very clear question and right now one of the things I find unsettling is the way television media has glommed onto the most sensatationalistic aspects of this story - but why should that, why does that surprise me? This only works to frighten us, to make us, well, anxious. Not that it's not news - of course it is. And some reporters, such as CNN's Anderson Cooper, are doing an admirable job in covering it. Other TV personalities - I can't call them reporters or anchors or whatever - such as Cooper's colleague Nancy Grace are not.

Specifically she's doing an awful job, stirring up fear and hate by zeroing in on the juiciest of details and airing the most inflammatory of images in a constant loop of nausea-inducing footage.

And because Nancy Grace is obsessed - obsessed - with the missing-teen-in-Aruba case of Natalee Holloway, she actually split her coverage tonight between the two stories.

Because Hurricane Katrina may have devastated an entire region of the country and caused one of the biggest episodes of civil unrest in modern history, but there's still one girl from Alabama that needs to be exploited - oops, I mean, accounted for - right now.
.
.
.
Like I was saying, $35 for gas. But no National Guard and and my family and friends and pets are safe and my home is dry and I can sleep at night, even if it is a fitful, anxious sleep.

when do you know that the problem is you?

I don't know what it is but I just feel this general sense of malaise right now....Post-quarterlife-crisis blues? (I'm more than halfway to my next birthday - even though, technically, I am no longer celebrating such things. Or at least that's what I swore last December.) End of summer doldrums? (There's so much I didn't get done this summer - I blame it all on the damn house). Not-going-back-to-school wistfulness? (It felt strange going to Target the other day with no need to buy new notebooks, pens and folders. I bought some anyway, of course). Who knows, it's just there...Kind of heavy, making me queasy.

Also, watching the news about Louisiana just makes me anxious and worried - and I don't even know anyone who lives there. Reading stories about looters taking advantage of the situation just makes me ill.

Anyway, tonight is finally the State Fair date. Maybe that'll help me shake this feeling off. Nothing like fried food, bright midway lights and baby animals to cheer me up.

Hopefully.

wow

Today was about as Monday as they come...blah. But last night's Alejandro show at the Palms? Divine....At one point, like I hoped he would, Alejandro led the band off the stage and into the audience and, standing so that I could see the lines on his face and the gleam in his eye, serenaded us with, among other gems, "I Wish I Was Your Mother." And even though I'd lived that moment once before at the old Palms, it was anything but a cliche and I wanted to cry and I'm pretty sure I saw a woman wipe her cheek and the man behind me whispered wow when it was over and yes, it was just, wow.

useful! (file under 'domestic bliss')

Not Martha posted this link on How to Fold a Fitted Sheet about two months back, but I was really busy (it was right before we moved, if I remember specifically) so I bookmarked the page and only just now got around to checking it out. It's actually very informative and useful - and the cute cat in the photos doesn't hurt either. Who knows, maybe someday I won't have just balled-up fitted sheet bunches stuffed in my closet. And yes, this is what I'm doing on a Friday night. Cory's hanging pictures on the wall and I'm blogging about fitted sheets.

Step 9, originally uploaded by Catiecake

golden girl...

I started my day in a grumpy-ass mood. First, Sophie wouldn't let me sleep. I went as far as to close her out of the bedroom - something I rarely do - but even then she just cried out in the living room. All because she didn't like her food. Feh...I know the low-protein diet food is not so than tasty, but I can only dress it up with so much of the junk food before we're defeating the purpose. Either way, she really seems to complain the loudest at 6 a.m. Go figure.

Then, my morning was filled with a series of mishaps including some spilled coffee, but now the day has started to balance out in my favor. I think the closer the clock gets to 5, the happier I'm becoming.

It's going to be a busy weekend as usual. On the docket:

• Several must-finish-now projects
• Saturday night show
• Sunday brunch
• One million errands
• Housewarming party
• Sunday night show
  

At some point during the weekend, I'd like to find some time to read, garden and clean. Really, a successful weekend would be four days long, not a measly two. Or at least three. I'd settle for three.

Cory & I were going to try and make a State Fair run as we've yet to hit up together this year, but we've now decided to wait until mid-week because it will be a) less crowded (theoretically) and B) we can go by ourselves and make it something of a date night - because nothing says "date" like a trip to the photobooth, some baby pigs and greasy fair snacks.

Whatever else I do this weekend, however, I'm going to kick it off with a post-work run. I really need to burn off the stress of the week and there's nothing quite as good as a late afternoon Friday run, accompanied by a raucous iPod mix, to do the trick. Follow it with a beer, and you're golden.

Sacramento in the signs

A damn cool Flickr page on Sacramento-area signs (Via Jerbert).

technology makes my brain hurt

Maya linked to this article, from the U.K., that discusses why manufacturers should make their tech products more "girlie" so as to better attract female consumers.

Who wrote this article, Barbie?

I mean, sweet baby jesus, I'd love a hot pink iPod but this is a joke, right? Right!?!

Just a few of the gems from this piece:

Would you rip files at a high or low bit-rate? Do you prefer AAC, WMA or MP3? If you are completely baffled by these questions, you are probably a woman.

and

"I've just started borrowing my husband's iPod, but he had to give me a lesson in how to switch it on and find a track, and I've got two pages of instructions that I take with me whenever I use it," says Lucy Dobbs, editorial director of a publishing company. "I would never attempt to download a song, because I know I'd make a mess of it"

and

However, the fact is that most women prefer to spend their lunchhour browsing in Chloé - not Comet. They refuse their boyfriend's offer of a two-player PlayStation bout of Mortal Kombat, even if it's the only way to get some quality time with him. And, although three-quarters carry a mobile phone and 10 per cent of women surveyed recently admitted using their phone to send sexy pictures to their partners, there is little female interest in the new, all-emailing, all-videoing mobiles.

I know I hardly speak for the rest of y'all women folk, but this article takes such a laughingly generalized approach. Just because I don't want to play Mortal Combat doesn't mean I'm a luddite. In our house, I'm the one who sets up the computer networks, handles the DSL issues, troubleshoots any computer problems, etc. And sure, there are some "stereotypical" gender roles to which Cory and I adhere: I cook, he mows the lawn, etc. But I think such things are more the exception and not the rule. (Although Cory does upload a mean album to his iPod - obviously he figured out his tech priorities quickly.)

Maya suggests that it's a part of a recent U.K. trend of the Brits pitting the sexes against one another, but I, unfortunately, have witnessed similar examples Stateside - albeit they were much less obvious and NOT part of an article in a mass circulation newspaper. The first thing that jumps to mind is that godawful, offensive ad I always see in the morning on Headline News -- the one with the vacant-eyed housewife talking about how her three-year-old child is better at computers and this is why she must buy hokey "learn how to use your computer" CD-roms.

Silly nitwits.

i want ...

The 2006 Nikki McClure calendar is now out ... and in other news, there are only 120 shopping days left until my birthday.

editor's note

Just a clarification: In case you couldn't tell, those fair photos are from the State Fair, not the Yolo County Fair...Because most of the Woodland Gang had overdosed on the YCF by Saturday night, I am still, alas, a Woodland fair experience virgin.

Oh, and there are only four State Fair photos up because of the time spent there, I passed most of it by staring at people's muffin tops and/or creating my own by stuffing my face. The damage: Falafal, french fries, beer and gelato...mmmm.

sorry, clean, prudish post ...

Heidi wanted pix of the porn star video game from the Stag - but I couldn't bring myself to upload them to my Flckr account...They're too skeevy and I'm sure they'll give the rest of my pictures cooties. So, instead, good clean State Fair fun.

Sorry I'm such a prude.

get wired

Wired has Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard's favorite MP3 blogs.

Also, an interview with one of my pretend boyfriends, Jon Stewart, talking about the future of TV.

woodland, calling

Woodland gang night at the Stag and Corkwood!

About the night, I will say this much:

• I am, quite possibly, the world's worst bowler.


• Kristyn, on the other hand, is not.


• In Woodland, it sometimes helps to drink more (this is not a reflection on the company).


• And on that note, thanks to Bobby for driving ...

nashville skyline

Well, it's 2 a.m. in Nashville and I hope Cory's drinking a beer at Tootsies for me ...

Me? I'm sitting here drinking my own beer and listening to KCRW podcasts as I wind down from a frenetic evening of readying for tomorrow. My aunt - my dad's sister - is coming in from Texas on her way to Santa Rosa and I'm fixing her brunch. We keep in touch via phone and e-mail but it's been forever since we've actually seen one another. I wasn't able to visit with her on my last few trips back home so this will be a real treat. Aside from my dad, she is the only living relative whom I resemble. I look nothing like my mother, so seeing my aunt's face (she's 18 years older) is the closest I can get to catching a glimpse of my future self.

That and she's just a fun person - a wry sense of humor and a rich Texas twang - so even though the visit will be too, too short, it'll be no doubt be rewarding.

Then, tomorrow night we're trekking out to the Woodland Fair with Bobby (is it officially the Yolo County Fair? I'm dumb on such matters) to meet up with the Woodland Gang. It's kind of strange, before Cory my only Woodland association was browsing its thrift stores, but now I've sort of married into the town and am, officially, part of the WG. It's not a bad thing to be ... Maybe post-fair, we can hit up the Stag or, there's been talk of bowling...Sunday, perhaps the State Fair...just too much goodness for one weekend ...

edited to add this Gawker Stalker update: 12:29 a.m. Cory just called - no Tootsies, instead they went to a wrap party at some nearby hotel. There, he came face to face (as in, within two feet) of Emmylou Harris and Meryl Streep (the latter whom was decked out in jeans, a white T-shirt and Gucci shoes). Cory also literally rubbed (i.e. bumped) elbows with Neil Young. Pretty damn cool.

edited to add this Dream Machine update: 12:36 a.m. For some reason that above Nashville/Neil bit made me remember a dream from last night in which I was flying out from Nashville but my plane got re-routed from Sac to the Folsom airport (does Folsom even have an airport? A small one?) I was kind of freaking out because I didn't have any money to rent a car for the drive home...

it doesn't go without saying.

Pitchfork says the Thumbsucker soundtrack will have some new Elliot Smith songs, which I suppose is enough of a reason for me to go see the film although the previews make it look as if, perhaps, it's trying a bit too hard.

Good news on the Sophie front - the very expensive dermatologist vet does not think she has cancer but rather a benign growth that can be treated with a topical steroid or, worse comes to worse, surgery. So, I'm definitely (albeit tentatively) relieved and overjoyed - so much so that I can generously not bitch-slap the person who commented that maybe our bleeding-cash cat "needs to be run over now." I know it was intended as a wry joke but I think it kind of goes without saying that some jokes are never close to being funny. Then again, I guess it doesn't go without saying .... If anything - after I got over being taken aback and more than a little hurt - I just felt a bit disappointed that someone could be that harsh - jokingly or otherwise. But, whatever...

On to nicer things. I have roses! Well, a few roses. What I really mean to say here is that after weeks of fitful pruning and fertilizing and a fear that I may done too much of one and not enough of the other, I am finally starting to see healthy looking flowers. I still have some yellowing leaves and I'm not sure if this is due to aphids or too much sun because really, at this point, I know nothing about roses except that they seem to like pruning and fertilization - but who doesn't, really?

Oh yeah, and Cory's going to Nashville tomorrow - courtesy of one of his labels - to see a Neil Young DVD taping at the Ryman Auditorium (a.k.a, the Grand Ol' Opry) and to meet Mr. Young backstage. And, no, I couldn't go because there were no plus-ones and yes, you're damn right he owes me big time.

Nah...I'm very happy he gets to go and meet one of his musical heroes ... And he's certainly been patient through the years whenever I've geeked out over meeting Mary Margaret O'Hara or Jim White. But still... a free trip to Nashville?! OK, he owes me medium-time....Seems fair enough.

six degrees of film separation

Still mulling over Broken Flowers. Definitely a slow film and as my seat at the theater was very VERY uncomfortable and I was also very distracted by all the noisy wrapper crinklers and loud ice chewers, I had a bit of a time trying to stay focused. And also - Bill Murray? In a way this was essentially the same role he played in Lost in Translation and the Life Aquatic. Except, if anything, this character was even more opaque.

But I still liked the film and its grainy drabness and comical touches and was very satisfied with the ending. Didn't like it as much as Lost in Translation - but then again that was a film I had to see twice to fully like (the first time I saw it I was sick with the flu and very, very cranky. Lost in Translation is not a film to see when you're cranky). Not sure how I feel about it in relation to The Life Aquatic, which is a film I liked but not as much as The Royal Tenenbaums.

Because it's all about six degrees of film separation, right? .... Absolutely loved the Lolita character though.

Also, what is up with the Tower Theatre STILL being out of lids for the small coffee cups? This is the third time in a month that I've gone there and been shut down. I didn't really think anything of it until 2 weeks ago when I talked to Mark's dad Art who told me he'd been having the same trouble for more than a month. He brings his own travel mug now. I didn't do that last night and ended up getting a large coffee which, ultimately, was OK because I didn't finish it, took it home and reheated it this morning.

Oh, don't ewww me - I drink my coffee black and black, reheated coffee is just fine. If anything, it's only stronger after 12 hours and, thus, quite a help when I'm trying to wake up.

world-wide writegrrrl

Sitemeter's added this nifty feature that shows you the location of your most recent visitors (up to the last 500).

As you can see, I'm mostly bringing in the Yanks tonight - but there was one Australian visitor. I tried to check out the locales of my last 500 visitors but the process literally crashed my Firefox browser.

Oh, and the red dot? That's me...in case you were wondering or something...

OK, off to see Broken Flowers.

something better than nothing

Oh, that's right, I was going to tell you about the Jack White White Stripes show...hmm. Well I'm not really now much in the recounting mood, so I'll stick to the short of it.

Trip down to Berkeley with Michelle was good despite a bad start with traffic. We got to the Greek Theatre at 8pm exactly and got to catch some of the Greenhornes' set as we grabbed some food and found a place to stand. From what I heard, the Greenhornes were less rocking than I'd expected - much less rocking than on their new EP. In fact they sounded pretty darn mellow for a White Stripes-endorsed band. Then again, they were produced by Brendan Benson, who of course, has opened for the White Stripes and so there you go I guess.

As for the band of the hour - meh, I found them kind of boring. It's the second time I've seen Jack & Meg in action and I walked away feeling just as ambivalent as I did the first go around.

At that initial show (at the Fillmore), the duo came off as way too blues-jammy for my tastes. This time out there was much less noodling but the sound was, unfortunately, enormously diluted in the Greek Theatre environment. Michelle & I agreed that their music was better suited to an indoor venue where the notes could be contained and would thus bounce off the walls and create thick layers of sound. Instead, most of the set sounded very flat and thin. It didn't help that, frankly, Meg & Jack both seem to have the personalities of turnips. I mean, yes, Meg's got those killer boobs. (They looked big - and shut up about acting like you're not interested. because I know you are.) And her ass, I guess, is also quite hot according to the guy who was standing next to me: "Meg White's ass is a fire hazard." (To which his friend replied: "Yeah, if she lost 30 pounds she'd be ..." The rest of his comment was lost in the wind, but I think we get the idea).

Of the entire 2-hour set, the encore was best. Jack suddenly exhibited some personality - bitching out a radio station-logoed ball that got in his way - and he and Meg both seemed to kick it up a bit, giving the music some much needed energy that finally transcended the chilly Bay Area night. I did think that their renditions of "Jolene" and "I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)" were quite lovely. And they rocked "Blue Orchid" pretty goddamned hard, which is definitely a good way to open a set.

Overall the night was fun, the company good and who doesn't want to go out and have a drunk-ass sorority girl try to elbow you out of the way and then screech Bitch, I'll fuck you up.

Good times!

Tahoe was a quick but relaxing get-away...and it rained on our way back which is a major bonus. That and the relatively cool weather here....thanks to those who came out on Sat. night for the reading. I think it went alright although I felt like a rank amateur next to Michelle Tea and Frank Andrick, both in regards to content and performance ...but so it goes.

I've got an escalating case of the post-weekend blahs right now. Or is that the post-weekend mwahs? Because all I want to say to anything is, eh ... mwah....and if I have to explain that to you, well never mind....In any case I think it is the result of having so much going on and then, sudden quiet...Quiet is lovely. But sudden quiet can be startling and discomfiting.

Clearly, I need to address this face-on with the new Jennifer Aniston issue of Vanity Fair and a couple of beers. Because there's nothing like pop culture and booze to smother the blues...

edited to add: p.s., thanks to Dave, Cory & I are now obsessed with muffin tops. I mean, we were already obsessed with them, now we just have a name for our collective sickness.

drunk blogging is the new drunk dialing

Tonight=Best Haints Show Ever? I think Danny Secretion and I would agree: Yes.
Best Haints Show Ever + "If You Need Me" dedication (all Casey Kasem-style)=Best Anniversary Present Ever? Once Again, Danny Secretion & I say: YES. (Thanks Danny for dragging me up to the front ....)

Post-midnight, I looked around the room, happy to see all those familiar faces and thought why would I ever want to leave this place? and i missed everyone who was not there to see us usher in year # 7 (Mark,Andrea, John, Stacy, Gretchen, Brett, Kim, Jill(WHERE AREYOU???), Juli, Josh,Damon, Stephan, Jerry, Scott,Thursday,Laura,Marcus,RO&Tom, Heidi,Dave,Kristyn&Mark,Sami,and so on and so on and so on and so on...). And I felt happy and sad all at once which is maybe the best feeling in the world....

and fuck, ihave to get up at 7am.

Am I drunk-blogging right now?I think I am...I hearby swear, in my drunk-ass state, not to delete thispost once I'm sober.

Happy ANniversary Cory...here's to the next phase...

hot mama action

One more event to tell you about. Today at Deep, there's a launch party for the new Mamazine magazine.

deep art gallery and yoga studio
2030 H Street, Sacramento
Saturday, August 13th
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Includes a mama art show and mama-made flea market

I'm definitely going to try and do a quick stop over there before heading over to the Book Collector...

p.s. mini White Stripes review to come ... but maybe not until Monday 'cause tomorrow, after all the craziness is over, we're headed to Lake Tahoe for a quick sixth wedding anniversary celebration. We're staying in this room at the Spruce Grove Cabins and I can't wait because, among other things, I can pretend that it's winter.

songs by which to flee ...

Friday a.m. and I'm trying to get through this last project before I can flee for the weekend and, nicely, my iPod is being incredibly good to me, reading my mood, giving me tunes that that are cool and calm with just a touch of pre-weekend frenzy:

• Rebecca Pearcy: Constellations
• The Libertines: The Man Who Would Be King
• Loretta Lynn: Little Red Shoes
• Travis: Love Will Come Through
• The Rolling Stones: Gotta Get Away

...gotta get away, indeed...the end is so near yet so far away....

pimpin'

I know you all probably have ultra-busy weekends, but if you’re out and about this Saturday evening, I’m taking part in a reading at the Book Collector. It starts at 8pm and will be broken into two sets – one at 8 and one at 9:30pm – which means if you happen to be in the area enjoying Art Second Saturday stuff, feel free to drop by at anytime and catch a few minutes.

The reading is part of Richard Hansen’s monthly “Poems-for-All” series. It’s free, of course, and it features the acclaimed SF writer Michelle Tea as well as NorCal’s poet extraordinaire Frank Andrick. There’s also another Rachel on the bill – but she’s got a much cooler name, Rachel Savage....

And while I’m pimping events, Cory’s playing a show with the Haints at the Blue Lamp (Alhambra at N street) later that night. I believe they go on around 11-ish. The other bands on the bill are Drag the River and the Devastates and, although I’m not entirely sure of the cost, the cover charge is probably in the neighborhood of $5-$6.



OK, here’s the reading info – if you can, I’d love for you to come out and help calm my stage fright nerves:

From Richard Hansen’s press release:


POEMS-FOR-ALL
- - - - - - - -
Second Saturday Series
- - - - - - - -
an ABSINTHE kiss: a frank andrick birthday reading
- - - - - - - -
frank andrick
- - - - - - - -
RACHEL LEIBROCK
- - - - - - - -
RACHEL SAVAGE
- - - - - - - -
MICHELLE TEA
- - - - - - - -
Saturday, August 13th
- - - - - - - -
8pm & 9:30pm
- - - - - - - -
The Book Collector
- - - - - - - -
1008 24th Street, Sacramento. Between J & K.


- - - - - - - -


and don’t forget the rock’ n’roll!!

...of course there's lots of good Second Saturday stuff happening this weekend and I just wish I had time to check out more. I will definitely be stopping by for this: My friend Brett Billingsley is showing some art on Saturday at the Kissaten Art & Espresso Cafe (2737 Riverside - near 2nd Ave) from 6-9pm.

Hmmmm....what else? Oh yeah, I'm going to see the White Stripes tomorrow night (hooray for free tix and a friend who is driving) and I promise that if I can get any pictures of Meg White's boobs, I will post them. For reals - anything to appease the hundreds who flock, fruitlessly, to this site in hopes of catching a peek of her mammary glands.

Also, it will be good to be out of town for at least one of the nights that they are spraying our half of Sac with the pesticide. I definitely have mixed feelings on this matter. On one hand, West Nile Virus? I don't want it and I am always getting bit by the mosquitoes. Seriously, we can have one sneak into the bedroom at night and who ends up with a gazillion bites? Me - not Cory that's for sure. And I've certainly seen more than the usual number of dead birds laying around - not a good sign.

Nonetheless, I just can't really cotton to the idea of pesticides being misted through the air. It's disconcerting to receive a notice (only a day in advance, thank you very much) that we should stay indoors after 8pm, turn of the A.C., etc...What about the people and animals who can't stay indoors? And really - if it's so damn safe, why are you giving such warnings anyway - it shouldn't matter right?

Right. I can't decide what gives me the creeps more: West Nile Virus or the spray being used to "fight the bite." Frankly, I think I'd just like to hold my breath for the next couple of days and then take a scalding hot shower. Good times ...

And finally, on a completely unrelated note: For those who've been kind enough to inquire, Sophie's blood tests came back fairly normal although she did show signs of dehydration. So now she is back on the twice-weekly fluids and, thanks to advice from the vet, she has won the war on cat food as we have caved in and are now mixing in the junky kitty crack with her tasteless low-protein diet food. Next week: dermatologist and, hopefully, more good news.

Hmmmm...new Death Cab for Cutie single "Soul Meets Body"? Not the same old, same old ...

Also, file under things that suck about being a homeowner: Dealing with an ant emergency of the oh-fuck-they're-everywhere-and-WHY-are-they-here-and-where-are-they-coming-from? variety. Sweet baby jesus I'm going to be dreaming of the creepy crawlies tonight.

By the way, I'm really glad to live south of the American River - but I'm still not convinced that droplets of pesticide aren't drifting down my way even as I type this. Scary.

Because I'm bummed to have missed tonight's hootenanny, here's a retro clip for you - from way back in the halycon days of Aug. 2003, the Kepi/Jeff-from-the-Helper-Monkey's "Jackie Howard" mini video. Frankly, I'm not sure if this video will play if you're on Window, but if you're on an Apple it should play like gangbusters.

Other than the various kitty dramas - of which at least one involved me breaking down in tears as I sat on the kitchen floor staring at a mess of uneaten, nasty-smelling cat food* - it was a good weekend that involved seeing old friends and new. Mark & Andrea were back in town and Michelle & Richard & Colin hosted a nice party and I had every intention of taking photos but. as with most parties, by the time I was two drinks in - the camera was long forgotten. Needless to say, it was a nice time and it was great to see everyone.

Sunday was Lake Tahoe and too much sun but a wonderful drive and crisp, clean air and a really good time spent with a really good friend - so much so that it was almost easy to forget that, as on Saturday, my head hurt and my throat was scratchy and that I am generally allergic to Sacramento summers and the effects of such allergies linger even when I leave the valley.

OK, it's getting late-ish and I really haven't slept much in two days so perhaps it's time to remedy that.

* re, kitty dramas**: we still don't know the outcome but she had an emergency visit today and we're still waiting for the results on whether she's suffering dire kidney straits again or just a really lazy cat/finicky eater. Also, the dermotologist appointment isn't until next week -something that really frustrates me but on the plus side our vet decided to do a full blood panel today - that won't tell us whether she's got cancer but it will determine whether there's anything else going on besides that or kidney trouble.

** re, kitties: right now Sophie's doing what I call her kitty yoga. She's stretched out in a half-moon on my office floor, arching her spine this way and then that way. licking her paws and generally looking so content that it's hard to believe that there's ever been anything wrong with her.


Also: R.I.P. Peter Jennings. That happened too fast, we hardly had time to say goodbye.

hot hot hot

The weather forecast in today's paper lists Wednesday's projected high as 96 degrees. Beneath that it describs said weather as "not hot."

That is just so wrong on so many different levels but the scary thing is, it actually does sound refreshing for Sacramento.

We went to Lake Tahoe yesterday and it was almost 90 degrees and I got a sunburn, despite the generous slathering of sunscreen. I am so done with summer.

sophie in the key of ...

Well, apparently it is not enough that Sophie must have organ failure, be cross-eyed and have an auto-immune disease that, over the years, has caused her to lose most of her teeth.

No, now it seems that she must possibly deal with cancer. I just can't take it anymore.

Let me rephrase this: I will take whatever I need to take and I will do whatever I need to do. But emotionally? I am losing it.

I mean look at that cat - how much more shit does she have to go through before we all get it? She's a super-trouper, the best sport in the universe and yet the hardballs keep on coming. And fast.

What we thought was a simple ear infection is now troubling the vet. Now that the drops and ear wash have cleared up the nastiness of the infection, the vet can detect a small polyp in her left ear. That, combined with some previously detected pigmented bumps, concerns her. So, it's off to a dermatologist (a 1/2 hour away...in Roseville! I told you I'd do anything for her) and the best-case scenario is that this is simply a benign little growth. Worst-case scenario: some form of cancer - anything from melanoma to a cancer that's attacked her glands. And if we're talking worst-case? Then, depending on the cancer, she'll have to undergo either surgery, chemo or radiation.

Damn. I don't know what to do. I want an answer now. This cat has been through so much and she's helped me mark so many major milestones in my life. She traveled with me cross-country in the cab of a U-haul truck for fuck's sake - she hates driving so much that sometimes it makes her physically ill- what else does she have to endure?

.
.
.

Last week someone asked Cory & I if we had any kids yet or if we were planning on any. I told him no, not anytime soon. Right now we "just have cats."

Everyone says that cats prepare you for kids, Cory started to say.

But, it's just freaking me out about the idea even more, I said, interrupting.

If you took the amount of love and concern I have for this 10-pound cat (whatever's going on inside of her, it hasn't affected her appetite) and focused it into motherhood -- well, I think I might just implode.

And yes, I've become the crazy cat lady going on and on about her pet on the Internet.

Feh.

I am so done with this day. Tonight I'm just going to go home and read.

No TV. No phone. No computer. No people.

OK, maybe just a little computer.

vitamin D

I'm in a really crap mood today so, to get through the day and the deadlines, I've been perusing the "D's" on my iPod:

DJ Shadow
Dolly Mixture
Death Cab for Cutie, etc

It's still a crap day but the D's do seem to help ease the blues.

Damn, I love Robbie Fulks. Last night's show was great. It started off a little slow but about mid-way through his first set, he revved things up and from then on it was full speed ahead. Sorry for all the driving cliches, they really have nothing to do with Mr. Fulks, but anyway...it was a fun night, he played some of my favorite tunes ("Cocktails," "Mad at a Girl") as well as several new favorites ("It's Always Raining Somewhere," "Each Night I Try").

It was also a nice evening because it's always like a mini road trip when you make the trek out to Winter and because we got to chat with friends and drink really expensive beer. I love the Palms, but seriously - $3.75 for a tiny cup of Coors Light??? Next time I'm bringing my flask .

Saturday's Pernice Brothers/Jim White show was also really really good. It's been four years since the last time I saw Jim White and I'm always amazed at what an interesting, down-to-earth and extremely funny person he is - that and he always remembers me and is so gracious. Really this is probably because I used to practically stalk him and maybe he's afraid of me. But whatever, I take my gracious southern gentlemen where I can get them. Also, he's married to someone who seems to be even maybe more amazing than he is, so I'm very happy all around. Oh yeah, and he put on a good show too. Maybe the best one of his I've ever seen. The Pernice Brothers, as always, were great. Live, they sound almost exactly like they do on record but this is not necessarily a bad thing.

On a related note, I can't wait until the Aug. 28th Alejandro Escovedo show. It's been too long since I've had the chance to see him perform live. During that show he performed Mott the Hoople's "I Wish I Was Your Mother" while walking through the audience at the old Palms (I remember it as, quite possibly, the hottest night ever) and it remains one of my all-time favorite show moments.

On a not-related note - whoa, there was just a power surge. Two of them to be exact. I just had to re-start the computer and can I say, that as much as Blogger generally sucks, I do love this "recover post" feature...so yeah...I think that's a sign that I need to get off this damn computer and go read already.

This 100 percent link-free post brought to you by Brokeback and a Trader Joe's Caribbean Fruit Floe popsicle.