Oh, right, my blog!

So, I made sauce today. It's quite good. I mean, I think it is. As far as I can tell it is. It's sort of hard to taste.

Incidentally, it's almost the 17th of January and I have not been well a single day this year. Impressive! I currently have a sinus infection, which came at the behest of a strangely intense flu. I don't know if it was the swine flu. Maybe! And this was after I rang in the new year with crackers and ginger ale for stomach virus.

There are things that I was going to say! About what I've thought about television shows, or the cat that doesn't want to be our friend (yet), or the stuff I've made with my hot* little hands, or ... well, probably not that, or Comcast, or this and that.

Hi, internet.

*my hands are usually cold.

Full day.

Yesterday I:

- Learned of my cousin's engagement. (It was also her birthday. And the first I've heard from her in months.)
- Had a panic attack.
- Called 911.
- Got a new phone.

In list form, it totally sounds like these things might be related, but they weren't! They were all completely independent of each other, cause-wise. Oh, and everyone's fine. Well. Not the guy in that car, probably.

For your time: http://seemikedraw.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/twilight2.gif

Why I simultaneously need, and do not need, a Twitter.

First and foremost, I don't want a Twitter. I dislike most websites that fall under the heading of "social networking." Also, I don't care what I do all day. If I were doing anything interesting enough to warrant frequent documentation, I wouldn't have the time.

Sometimes, though, I think about what I would write in my hypothetical Twitter. Or something will happen, and I'll think it's just the sort of thing I would Twitter about. You know, stuff that's not really blog-appropriate. I thought about compiling some of these things, and making a blog entry about Things I Would Have Twittered, but I never actually write them down, and then I forget about them and no longer care.

Furthermore, while I may want to write these things down, I don't exactly want people to read them. I don't want people to follow me, I don't want to follow anyone, I especially don't want to follow anyone famous, and I don't want to be in any way connectable or findable. (I totally Googled some people I knew in high school yesterday.)

On some other hand, though, Twitter would provide a great venue for cryptic one-liners. And those are my favorite. I would be utterly delighted to give my inscrutable gibberish as little context as possible. I am positively itching to let you know everything while letting you know nothing!!

... It is not and has never been a mystery why I have trouble socializing.

Local girl survives weekend in freezing woods; subsisted on cookies, she says.

There is an article about Neko Case in this week's edition of the New York Times Magazine. MY SPHERES ARE INTERSECTING AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS. And unlike in most instances where I say that and I really mean, "My feelings about this matter lean towards the negative," this time I really don't know! I mean, on one hand there's yay, but on the other hand there's a lot of ???.

In other news, I sprained my ankle and it's still impressively swollen and there's some bruising. But I can walk okay. Also, I discovered that 280 East has a lot of things in common with Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

But aside from that, I had a nice weekend. And there were cookies!

Hey, look over here!

So, I got older. I ... didn't get over it. I have wanted to blog but nothing is good enough. December is full of birthdays.

My options for topics are either You Know What, discussing how I fail in various arenas, memes, or something else entirely. I opt for meme. I had several caffeinated beverages today.

BUT WHICH MEME?

Actually, I don't even know if this counts. Let's all take a quiz!

Can You Guess Where My Accent Is From?

To psyche you out before you even begin, I scored 42. Because I'm awesome. But I won't tell you what I got wrong, because that's less awesome.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

IT'S ON.

I don't know if I can handle this.

Maybe it is me.

Last week, between Doctor Who and this community I joined that I don't want to tell you about, I don't think I moved from the computer for maybe 72 hours. In lieu of trying to remember what meals I missed, let me just say: all of them.

But now? I just had a "the internet is so boring" moment.

My recent experience taught me that I don't necessarily want to revive the days when all I would do was sit in front of a high-volume community for hours on end. Even if it is consistently entertaining. For one thing, I have other shit to do. (Which, not that I didn't in high school, but ... eh ... not really ... eh ... I don't really now either ... eh.) Also I'm old now and I get thrown into crises about how my life is slipping away and is essentially over every other day. (Yeah, I know. I don't want to hear it. When was the last time you tried to break into an industry obsessed with youth and beauty?)

AND TODAY I'M ALREADY BORED WITH THE INTERNET.

I'm so bored I just blogged, basically. So, I'm going to go do some needlepoint and watch the Colbert Report and mull over all the responsibilities I'm shirking.

What is wrong with me?

iPod introspection.

So, I've been spending a lot of time out of my house lately, which has led me to exploring some of the functions on my iPod. Turns out that iTunes will automatically compile a playlist of the songs that you listen to most often ... so that you can listen to them more often.

I checked out my list. And it was odd. It's not an entirely accurate system. Turns out that if you take a song off your iPod and then put it back on, it will reset the count. Ditto if you change the file name. Also, it counts a "play" as reaching the end of the track, and sometimes I will skip back to the beginning of a song if I want to hear it again, so songs with long fade outs are under-represented. And a whole bunch of other explanations and excuses.

Anyway, as it stands, these are the songs I've played the most, on my iPod:
Love Song To My Guru - Katell Keineg with The Floors
(Fair. I've listened to this a million times.)
That's All Right, Mama - Arthur Crudup
(Really? It's catchy, but this is a surprise showing.)
Pistol - Dustin Krensue
(Fair. I love this song.)
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie
(Fair. Embarrassingly enough.)
Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley
(True story: I didn't like this song at all when I first heard it, and then something clicked, and I listened to it all the time.)
Challengers - The New Pornographers
(Neko Case sing so pretty.)
All That I Want - The Weepies
(I haven't listened to this since Christmastide. This list is out of date!)
Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds
(Surprising!)
From Where I'm Standing - Schuyler Fisk
(Jenny's right, she has a really pretty voice.)
Freedom Is Only A Hippogriff Away - The Mudbloods
(The only Wizard Rock song on the list! Seriously though, this is an excellent song even if you don't know Harry Potter from a hole in the ground.)
All The Old Showstoppers - The New Pornographers
(Hee! I just talked about this! I suspect stuffed ballots.)
Backwater Blues - Dave Van Ronk
(Again, really? Then again, there was a playlist that I had to listen to for a while because I was MAKING A CD FOR SOMEONE, and this was on it.)
Someday You Will Be Loved - Death Cab For Cutie
(Oy. In my defense, this would make a great fan video that I'll never make.)
Hiding In Plain Sight - Lauren Hoffman
(I'm surprised she's not better represented - I listened to her A LOT a while back.)
We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives - Los Campesinos!
(Hee!)
Paperweight - Schuyler Fisk and ... some dude.
(No really, she sings pretty.)
Keep On The Sunny Side - The Whites
(Again, hee!)
Australia - The Shins
(Yup. Totally fair.)
I've Just Seen A Face - The Beatles
(Really?)
Both Hands - Ani DiFranco
(Utterly fair.)
Expectations - Belle And Sebastian
(Fair.)
The Engine Driver - The Decemberists
(I guess? Although I've listened to "Yankee Bayonet" so many more times, I think.)
1234 - Feist
(Really?)
So Long - Guster
(I guess so!)
Diggin' My Potatoes - Lonnie Donegan
(Hee! Hee! Hee!)


Um. So, geez. What this playlist tells me is that I'm really fucking maudlin. And that I may have the Blues. What the hell?

In which I look totally fucking emo.

Backstory: This coming Saturday there's an audition in town that I was considering going to. Even though I would have to get there late, because my Business Venture ties me up for a good chunk of my Saturdays. I can't let that stop me! Plus, I think I would be well-suited to that one role. No, not the sax player. I am not in the slightest bit emo, but I have range. Although, ironically, and for the first time ever, I may be too tall.

Of course, if you read all the small print, winning the audition would include not simply playing an emo character, but ... becoming part of an actual emo band. And while I would love to play a character and/or be in a band, there are certain lines that cannot be crossed. Which lead me to my decision of "no."

But!! Not until I had already tarted myself up emo-style to prove to myself I could. And took pictures. For the record, this is generally what my awesome new hair looks like. It looks even better when I'm not wearing all black and lipstick for eyeliner.

Emo!
Emo!!
Emo!!!

I feel the strange urge to get a MySpace.

But never mind all that now!

Oh, it's my blog! So, um, I did a whole bunch of stuff last month. No time to dwell on it! Also, I had a devil of a time coming up with something to blog about that didn't take too long and make me get tired and bored and stop. So instead, let me tell you about

Fan Videos I've Never Made, Part 2.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - The Warrior, by Scandal (or Skandal. Kirk: I'm still not sure.)
First, let me tell you that I cannot believe I forgot to mention this one last time. This is the song that first brought the idea of actually making fan videos to my mind. One, because it's for Buffy, the fandom that introduced me to fanvids. Two, guys, seriously, you have no idea. Aside from being totally perfect for Buffy in every way, the song also name-drops or overtly references at least 5 different episode titles.

Well isn't love primitive?
A wild gift that you wanna give
Break out of captivity
And follow me you stereo jungle child
Love is the kill
Your heart's still wild

Harry Potter - My Body Is A Cage, Arcade Fire
I recently got a chance to listen to Neon Bible by Arcade Fire. It was okay, but not great. The songs tended to mumble and run together, and while I almost liked several of them, it was, as I quipped to the boy, like trying to decide which was your favorite shade of blue. My favorite shade turned out to be the song above. The sound is dark, moody, and epic, and yet it's somehow also adolescent and kinda gay. Hence, Harry Potter. It would probably work better after the next two films come out, and there's more material to work with.

I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow

Lord of the Rings (Battle of the Pelennor Fields) - All Along The Watchtower, Bob Dylan
Now, don't get me wrong. I realize that "All Along The Watchtower" has been used for everything ever. However, I would use the actual Dylan version, and that makes me better than most people. Furthermore, how many of those things that feature this song have an actual watchtower, with actual princes all along it? That's what I thought, bitches.

You don't need lyrics, right?


Thanks for reading! Tune in next time.

And for ironic kicks ...

1. Go to Career Cruising, www.careercruising.com
2. Put in Username: nycareers and Password: landmark.
3. Take their “Career Matchmaker” questions.
4. Post the top twenty results.


1. Costume Designer
2. Special Effects Technician
3. Animator
4. Fashion Designer
5. Makeup Artist
6. Set Designer
7. Graphic Designer
8. Artist
9. Computer Animator
10. Medical Illustrator
11. Comedian
12. Composer
13. Website Designer
14. Industrial Designer
15. Desktop Publisher
16. Cartoonist/Comic Illustrator
17. Actor
18. Musician
19. Video Game Developer
20. Magician

I'm not quite sure if I'm surprised about any of this! Also, I just want to make sure that no one worries about my current state of disemployment. Besides it being the best thing ever, I already have things in the works.

I was listening to a lot of Bon Jovi last night.

So, now I'm going to do that thing where a lot of stuff has actually happened to me recently, but I'm not going to talk about it. Instead! Here are some quiz results that will amuse only Jenny, when she eventually reads this.

You Are 69% New Jersey!

You are definitely Jersey. Well done, my friend. You are most likely from this great state, and you fit right in. Odds are, you love being Jersey!

How New Jersey Are You?
Make Your Own Quiz

You Are 87% North Jersey

You are totally North Jersey! You really know the area and have Jersey pride. Chances are you just got back from being down the shore! Unless you're taking this test in wintertime in which case you just got back from Christmas shopping in Paramus. Unless it's Sunday, in which case... Hey how come I didn't see you in church today? =P

The Ultimate North Jersey Quiz
Create Your Own Quiz

You are 56% Southern Jerseyan

Just because you moved here full time doesn't make you a local. No matter how hard you try you'll never truly be Southern Jerseyan so I would not abandon those Pennsylvania, New York, or Northern Jersey roots. Cause we can tell.

South Jersey Quiz

Bwah!! Seriously, guys, I really don't care about the Major Deegan.

Hooray for knitting!

Since I began knitting, I've started noticing a lot of things that I hadn't before. The way that fabric is made, for example. I was never exactly certain of what "cotton knit shirt" meant, but I sure do now!

Also since then, I've taken to noticing knit items on the people around me, and wondering, idly, if the items are handmade. Usually, my conclusion is "no." I mean, anything woven, or anything were the knit is very fine, that's a definite no. It gets trickier once the yarn is noticeably heavier. Could be handmade! But still, I decide, probably not. Not that I want to impune on my fellow crafters, but I don't tend to see things that are, frankly, crappy enough to be obviously handmade.

Today I identified my first unquestionably hand-knit items and a person who was, I am certain, a knitter. I went into town today, and while I was loitering around the Port Authority (I was too early for my planned activity - which is always preferable to being too late) I noticed a girl coming out of the bathroom. She was wearing a very long, chunky, garter-stitch scarf, in alternating blocks of red and gold. I suspected that this item was handmade. I didn't become absolutely certain until, while going down the stairs, I spotted a young man wearing the exact same scarf, only his was green and silver. Sure enough, the girl came down the stairs and she and the boy drew closer and closer, until off they went in their rival house scarves.

This made me so very happy I cannot explain. It was welcome, because my day up until that point had been pretty crappy. Actually, my entire weekend had the flavor of a hellish ordeal at some points. But enough about that. Knitting solves everything! And I was then in quite a nice frame of mind as I trotted off to do my undisclosed activities.

I wish you were dead.

I've been sitting around thinking about something that is probably unique to me. Sometimes, when I'm dealing with an emotionally difficult situation, I long for the simplicity of grieving over a dead loved one.

God, that sounds so fucked up. But it's true. As I've mentioned many times, I've had a lot of practice mourning over people who've died. There have been a lot. Not very many lately, though. That's a good thing. I'm not meaning to suggest that having loved ones drop dead on you is any fun. I'm glad it's been a while. Instead though, in recent years, I've been having embattled emotional interludes with people who remain resolutely alive. Alive, but rejecting me. Alive, but angering me. Alive, but disappointing me.

There's a grieving process that takes place with it. But it's all mixed up and roily and even less fun than grief normally is. And then I wish they were dead.

Sorry folks! It's been one of those days. For a few days. I have not done myself any favors by insisting on listening to The Velvet Underground, Janis Joplin, Devics, and Nina Simone. Oops!

Oh boy oh boy, GOOD OMENS.

So at 9:39AM yesterday I was turning 23 and ... buying some iced tea from the CVS. And then afterwards my day pretty much sucked. The details aren't terribly important. I've had better. But on the other hand, I've also had worse. And then I had wine. Hooray!

And now it's a new day, a new year, and people, it's going to be NONSTOP OPTIMISM around here for at least the next few days.

Thank you everyone who sent me fine birthday wishes. You kids are alright.

It means I'd blog more.

I know I've said this before, but I'd like to redo my blog. Like, crazy redo it. But still keep it with Blogger, because I don't want to pay for anything or put too much time into it. ... Sort of.

But seriously, I'm tired of the dark colors. I'm sick of the small lettering and the craziness that happens when I use italics. I'd like to link to things. ... Maybe.

I know how I'd like it to look (one word: sounds like, uh, "proles") but I've forgotten all the html I ever knew. Oh no! Who can help me!

Really, who can help me?

What!!

Oh come on ! I got an O on my WOMBAT, for Heaven's sake! Also, I contend that five of my answers should have been acceptable. The correct answer was: Peter Pettigrew. I wrote: Wormtail. Come on now. Also, some of my wild guesses wound up being annoyingly close.

In other news! Earlier this week, I got to hang out with some of the members of a band called The Fabulous Entourage. Libby, the lead singer in pink, borrowed my necklace, and then we got lost driving around Hoboken. [/not explaining]

I got the chance see them perform one of their songs (about twenty times), which was pretty entertaining (about nineteen times). I wouldn't say that it's the sort of thing I'd go crazy over out of context, but I think I'll be picking up a CD in support. And if you're any sort of shady internet friend to me, you'll consider checking them out, right? They're good peops. Glam rock and Motown? Oh, you are intrigued.

I've been up to stuff!

I am in the midst of a six-day weekend, my friends. It's pretty awesome! I mean, I have activities planned for every day, but just the fact that I'm not going to work makes it highly enjoyable. If they didn't pay me, I don't think I'd go. Which, on one level: hah hah, but I believe that a worthwhile goal would be to exclusively do activities about which that is not true.

My mother and I took up the carpet in the dining room. (Because: CARPET IN A DINING ROOM. WHAT THE HELL.) It went okay! It was labor intensive.

Today we went to New York (only I managed to refer to it as "going into town") to see a play written by ejbronte of the WD. It was pretty good! Much better than I expected, really. Some, but not all, of the acting was very good, and the production values were decidely professional. They had some trouble with the lighting, though. And they spent twenty minutes at intermission trying to fix the problem. They should have just rolled with it. The important part, the writing, was crisp and clever. I was very impressed. And I also got to meet the lady herself (#72), who was nothing at all like I expected. She's very small and effervescent and full of smiles.

I considered writing this on the board, but I honestly did think anyone cared. The most important thing, though, is that I did *not* meet anyone who I would have had to punch in the neck. This is something that I have to worry about when I go into town, and at this locale the danger was slightly elevated. Although I probably never had to worry.

Then I went out to dinner with my mother at a restaurant on 46th called "No Pants." Okay, not really. It was called Le Sans Culottes, but I prefer to think of it as "No Pants." ... The name was the bulk of the reason we wound up going there. But the food was delicious. I had duck and creme brulee. And 3/4 a glass of red wine, which means that I was totally drunk. Possibly close to shit-faced. But I held it together. Mostly by reminding myself that the situation made me so incredibly lame. And then I bought four bottles of tea! Joy!!

Oh, also I watched the Lost finale. But you know that.

Tomorrow we will work on the floor some more.

On Tuesday I will be photographed for a multimedia project.

Last night I was inspired to write all sorts of things, but I was very tired and opted against writing any of it down. Instead, I just thought about it until I fell asleep, which means that I may have worked it out of my system, which means I will probably never write about those things. Or maybe I will! But probably not.

That was the worst funeral I've ever been to.

Um. Heh. Remember how I mentioned how I haven't felt like talking?

It passed. Or I broke it. I feel like a weight lifted off. And now I'm Chatty Cathy.

... She said, in a very short entry.

Seriously though, I feel a lot better right now. Even though things still suck a little bit? I'm working through it.

Half this entry is about Harry Potter.

There are many shirts that I would like for Christmas. Or, just in general really. For example, there's a shirt I'd like to get that says "You have a friend in cheeses."

I could have gotten it today, too! Because I was near both of the two retail locations of Murray's Cheese Shop, where one can purchase this item. But I was too busy walking the streets of SoHo in the rain! And wind! My shoes were soaked. The squishing was ridiculous. It was kind of enjoyable, though. But this is the sort of thing that Phoebe should do. In my imaginary world. Only she does it uptown.

When I got home, there was hail, which was kind of great. And I had a cream soda, which was also great. However, as in most instances where I walk more than I think I will, I'm now sporting an impressive laceration on my heel.

You don't care about any of this, though! You care about the Potter.

[Begin Spoiler for My Horrible Prediction For Book Seven. — Highlight to view]

One of the twins will die. And only one.

Here is why I think this.

Ms. Rowling has put forth the general knowledge that the final book will contain multiple casualties. Oh no! There are nine Weasleys altogether. This, I think, makes the odd pretty long that all of them are going to make it through unscathed. Plus there's some foreshadowing, like Mrs. Weasley's boggart, etc.

It can't be Ron, because Ron has to marry Hermione and make, like, a thousand red-headed babies. IT'S JUST THE FACTS HERE, PEOPLE.

It can't be Ginny, because Ginny exists in this dramatic circle with Harry and his mother. A red-haired woman who loved Harry gave her life to save him when this started. When this ends, a red-haired woman who loves Harry can't also die to save him. The reason you revisit the past is to provide a different outcome. I mean, I'm seriously talking out of my ass right now, but it wouldn't feel right to have Ginny die.

It won't be Bill, because he's already been ticked for having something terrible happen to him. If he died on top of it, that would be a little much. What did Bill ever do to anyone? Likewise, Mr. Weasley. He's already been attacked and recovered. He's done on tragedy.

It might be Mrs. Weasley, but, damn, that would suck. Harry's the one with the dead parent issues. He likes the Weasleys because they don't have any of that.

It might be Charlie. Nothing's really happened to him so far. But of all the Weasleys, he's the one we've seen the least, and hence know the least. His death would lack a certain emotional resonance. Likewise with Percy. I mean, would you miss Percy at this point? It makes more sense for his arc to have some sort of epiphany and do something to redeem himself. But he's not evil, so his redemption doesn't need to include death. In my opinion, anyway.

This leaves the twins. They're done. They're goners. They've already completed the transition from children to adults. They've made a useful contribution (the joke shop) to both the plot and the world of the book. And they notoriously get away with everything. Nothing bad has ever happened to them. You know, aside from that time that they couldn't play Quidditch. But what's that? I think at least one of them is on his last lucky chance. Why do I think just one? Um. No reason, really, except that OMG WOULDN'T THAT BE SO MESSED UP?? I mean, to kill off one twin? Wouldn't that be terrible? What the fuck is the matter with me!

And if you want me to pick which one ... Fred. Because Fred is the more assertive one. And, well, it's Fred and George, isn't it? If you take out Fred, you just have "and George." It would drive home the lack just a little bit more.

Dude. So messed up.

[End Spoiler]