Serrabee's Weekend in KnoxVegas

So, I don't know if anyone in Knoxville will read this, but you should seriously check out some of these shows this weekend, because I can't make them all:

Friday

• Pick up the Snake, Saturday Night Preacher & Absolute Power at the Electric Ballroom (I attended my 1st rave there around the weekend of my 18th birthday, if memory serves. A great space, but I'm not sure what they're doing with it these days. I'm sure it's still dark & loud.)
• Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy, AJ’s Sports Bar in Maryville: Someone should check them out, cause I know I won't, but I like the name (not really like, but it catches the attention).

Saturday

• The Chillbillies, Coyote Joe’s, 10pm. $2: Sounds like a crappy venue, but I liked the band when I saw them this spring---sort of a smallish big-band jazz sound. And hey, it's only $2.
• Mad Tea Party w/ Incredible Heat Machine, Preservation Pub, 10pm: What I am actually doing Sat. night. The Pub is surrounded by controversy these days, what with all the marijuana & money laundering, so I figure I'd better go there while I still can.

What I'm Missin'

Here's a brief listing of what I'm missing over the next few days out of the Mtown:

• 2morrow: Free Swing Dancing lessons at the U of M Fieldhouse (thought I'd give it a whirl, even though I don't know my left from my right).
• Thurs: Join Drinking Liberally, at dish as usual, or watch the sun set over the Mississippi River from the vantage point of the Madison Hotel.
• Fri: Trolley Tour, as usual, and probably some art openings elsewhere. You want to be well-rounded, don'tcha?
• Sat: Rae-Ray & Holly Cole at Otherlands, followed by Noise Choir at Hi Tone,& then Papa Top's also playing at everyone's favorite pirate bar, The Bucc (what, you have a pirate bar you like better? chuh.)
• Sun: I dunno, but after being out 4 nites in a row, and before being out 4 more next week, I'd probably take a break (if I were going to be here, of course).

I wish I were going to be around this week/end for all the fun goings-on, but it can't be helped. Plus, I've had a great time here the past few days, even since my weekend officially ended. I went to Bosco's with a friend and discovered that they still have Folonari Pinot Grigio for 5.75/glass, though most of their other wines are up to $7 or 8 each. Their Biere de Garde (in bottles only, coming up on draft) is really fresh and sparkly, too, so try it next month. Last night took me to Cafe Ole with the flight attendant crew + others, and I finally got to try the watermelon margarita. Weird. It was compared to the Jolly Rancher martinis at Swig, which I think was apt. Fish tacos are awesome there, even if they don't make them right (you're supposed to use salsa fresca and cabbage, but this ain't Cali).

Anxiously Awaiting?

Things are off to a rough start this week. It looks like I'll be driving to KnoxVegas tomorrow for a funeral (not an unexpected event). I know you are all anxiously awaiting a date for the blogger bash, but I have to check on availability and make sure I'll actually be back in town (so of course it won't be this weekend). It will decidedly be a Sun. night as that is what everyone has overwhelmingly voted on. As for location... I was actually waiting on RATC to follow up on the secret HiTone access she offered us, but it looks like everyone wants to do the Deli, and it also looks like several people decidedly don't want to make it the HiTone due to heat & ventilation complaints anyway. Well, I've got to motor if I'm going to make it to the funeral. I'll be in touch, y'all.

Culture/sub-culture

It's been busy here on my little planetoid. I had a weekend full of cultural experiences, that's for sure. I love entertaining people, especially those who are so accommodating and easy to please as My Favorite Dave. Not only did he not have a lot of preconceived notions about Memphis, he had a couple of great suggestions for stuff to do, which made my job as hostess easier. We spent all day Sat. at Elmwood Cemetary and the Mississippi River Museum, after a very tasty lamb lunch at Casa Blanca in Cooper-Young (including some window shopping which resulted in the purchase of 1 Harlan T. Bobo record, for his roommate).

Blues on the Bluff was great, even including some swing/blues dancing lessons atop the Chickasaw burial mound. I hope that wasn't offensive to them. If I didn't want to be cremated, I'd hope someone would come along hundreds of years later to dance on my grave. By the time he left Sunday, I felt like the day after Christmas.

Dang it!

I just missed my opportunity to become Mrs Harlan T Bobo. A friend texted me that he was at Tha Lamplighter tonight, only my crazy phone didn't send the message thru til I got off my call (90 mins. later). I will just think of this as a sign. I don't really want an album like Too Much Love to be made about me; or rather, I don't really want to be involved in a realationship that would inspire those songs. Too much heart-stopping emotion went into those lyrics; you can hear the yearning and the desperation, the denial and angered misery that went into it as if they were happening at this moment. It's kinda like watching footage of Sept. 11th or seeing footage of Chernobyl, in that a sense of ineffable desolation and suffering seeps through your skin.

Okay, I know I'm tipsy when I start using words like "ineffable." Goodnite, y'all.

Advice

I get a lot of advice from people, mostly those I don't know very well, like co-workers and acquaintences. Anyone who knows me at all won't ever set me up on a blind date, invite me to join them at church, recommend a chain restaurant, or a say to me a second time: "[insert movie name here] was so great, you'd love it!" This is pretty much all because I won't. Won't go on a date with your friend, or go to church (with you or without you), or like any restaurant movie that' s not foreign, indie, or at least weird. So most people don't try telling me that I'll want to do something because they thought it was a good idea; maybe I'm a contrarian, and just don't like it because I've been told it's great.

But I did get some good advice yesterday: Since the heat is baking my poor car in the parking lot, which is full sun, try cracking the windows a half inch. Otherwise they might actually crack as the0 hot air inside the car expands. It seemed logical and not a matter of preference, just a scientific tidbit. So when I remembered to try it today, imagine my surprise when the car was actually cooler when I got in to leave for lunch.

Once I tried washing my windshield with wiper fluid (stored under the hood, and therefore out of the direct sun, so much cooler) on a sunny afternoon. Well, this was my old Civic, and it had a hairline crack in the glass which instantly spread to several inches long when the cooler liquid made conact with the scorching glass. Of course, common sense might have told me what it took me $180 to learn. (But at least the guys came out to work to replace it several days later, when I finally decided that I couldn't live with it that way forever. Ironically, I wrecked my car soon afterward.)

technorati tag: advice

Survey says...

Well, we'll see in a week or so what local bloggers want to do for our next gathering. Please feel free to suggest more locations, even though I've shot Bosco's down. I have some prior experience scheduling groups of 12-100 for meetings & happy hours around town, so it's not idle negativism. At this posting, it is leaning towards a Sunday in the comments below, but if you would rather do a weekend night or want to let us know a bad weekend, now's the time.

Attention all local bloggers:

Please vote on the best time & location for the Memphis Blogger Bash next month. Spread the word to your fellow bloggers who don't read here, link to this post, or email the link to others. I'd love to see a diverse turnout so I can have the pleasure of meeting you all!

Don't worry; you'll have plenty of time since I can't do it this month---I want to give people some notice anyway---and I've already heard that the 1st weekend in August is out. It's a good thing I'm sorting the dates out, because I'm notorious for having scheduling conflicts with prior bashes.

I remember one was held at Quetzal, and I really wanted to go. I think that was last fall and I just made it there for the first time ever this week. I tried the turkey & brie sandwich, which was good, but I was happy it was served with a lovely (though uncomplicated) salad. Must go back sometime for the coffee, which is the organic, fair trade kind. As a plus, it is roasted on-site by some cute guys.

I think I got a sunburn from washing the dog this evening. Either that or the heat has me so dehydrated that my skin is shrivelling up as a result. Creepy. I often say the only reason I really need a man in my life is to scratch my back, but now I know I am wrong. I also need one to put lotion on it, just so my skin doesn't dry up & blow away. Disgusting.

I won't be the millionth (that word looks really weird-o) person to say it is hot as hell, and since it's only mid-July it will only get worse (if that is even possible). I will just say that, according to the usual ironic timing, it should cool off this weekend because of rain that just may make Blues on the Bluff a soggy affair.

My Favorite Dave

My favorite Dave arrives in town from Knoxville this weekend. We have known each other since 1st grade but I guess we were both too shy to be friends in high school. Plus, we had opposing nerd schedules: He was a Latin dork, I was a band geek; he had honors Chem, I had AP English. Like 2 ships passing in the night---if they are nerdy ships, that is.

Anyway, I love showing people around my adopted hometown. Here's the plan for this weekend so far:

Fri pm: We will probably grab a bite at either dish or Jasmine, mosey over to Otherlands to hear Blair Combest, then shoot down to the Summer Drive-in for the 2nd showing (and probably arrive in the middle of Pirates of the Carribean II). If we're still feeling lively, maybe he'll teach me some swing dancing steps.

Sat. am: Lately I just don't wake up hungry on weekdays. Maybe it is my stomach protesting that I don't take it to the Arcade for sweet-potato pancakes? That sounds like a great Sat. morning plan. Sightseeing at Sun Studios, which I've actually never seen, or Stax, which I have toured before.

This is probably going to be interspersed between lunch at a taqueria and dinner at Abyssinia, the Ethiopian place on Poplar, unless of course he wants to eat Central BBQ (one of my favorites!) while we're at Blues on the Bluff. The Bo-Keys, Last Chance Jug Band, and the Burnside Exploration. If I can drag him to Wild Bill's, I just might do that, but if not---there's always NTJ and the Secret Service at HiTone (if it's not hot enough for ya yet! cause you know how sweltering it can be there already).

I am worn out just writing about alla this.

Sun. am: We may take in an early brunch at one of my two fave places, either at Bosco's for the wonderful omlettes, or Rachel Ray's favorite: Brother Juniper's. Maybe we visit the new exhibit at the Brooks Museum, an Annie Liebowitz show, after which I'm sure he will be dying to get back on the road and take a break from my managing ways. I think I was a tour director in a previous life.

BOTB, not BYOB

Blogger Bash, anyone?

So, it's time to plan another blogger bash!

Please post whatever days & times work for you in comments here. I am pulling for a weekend so we can pull out all the stops. It's been said that conservatives come early & leave early, while liberals come late & stay late. Well, now let's try a non-partisan party: Let's all come early and leave late this time! Here are the only guidelines:

1. If you blog, you are invited: wherever you blog---livejournal, Xanga, blogspot, or indie blogger---you're encouraged to come join the community. Even if you're on hiatus. (Yes, even you, Len! Especially you.)
2. You don't have to tell us who you really are. Blog aliases will do, just tell us where you blog. No showing up, saying you have a secret blog, any of that crap. Seriously, dude, it's not that big a deal. Because:
3. If you choose to use your actual identity with us, we promise not to reveal your true name to non-bloggers.

I think that is all. You can also email locations, dates, other parameters to me at .::serrabee at gmail dot com:. Keep in mind that many of us can't really throw down on weekdays because we have kids and/or real jobs, most of us live in & around Midtown, and some of us don't smoke.

I have talked about the value of building actual relationships before, but I think it's worth noting again that even if you believe that the internet has expanded our opportunities by bringing us new ways to communicate with each other, you understand that not only are there unique perils associated with it, there's a whole new set of barriers specific to electronic communication. So knock down the walls of the local blogosphere and join us!

You know, while I'm on the subject, I must note that the anonymity of a blogger cannot possibly be undervalued. Once the people reading your writing know you, they begin to critique, correct, ridicule, and judge you out loud. This is done in an attempt to poke you back into your leetle performing-circus-bear box whenver you write something they disagree with, find offensive, think is snarky or narcissistic, etc.

If I didn't love this d@mn blog so much, I'd abandon ship for unchartered waters. Maybe I will anyway. But first, let's have another party so we can all talk to those people we missed last time.

Lived-in Bars

This video was filmed inside the Lamplighter in Midtown Memphis, which is where I have a habit of ending the night after Drinking Liberally (probably far too liberally, if you want to know the truth). More on that after the video.

Cat Power - Lived in Bars [from Scenestars]

Once again, I had a great time at dish for the weekly meeting of assorted Midtown liberals, this time attended by DailyKos' Gina Cooper and Sen. Cohen himself. It made for quite a gathering, but not necessarily my kind; I prefer the group at a size where you can actually have a discussion and meet some new people. Instead, I hung out with Freedonian, Pesky Fly, WTL and the two Sarahs for the most part. It was like a safe haven for the blogger in a wilderness of cocktail party talk. Also once again, the cute guy was once again sitting at the bar when I arrived (don't know if you read about him here before, but there's a funny story behind him). He left soon, leaving me to drool over a cute guy who was much too young for me. I think he was gay---not because he ran away when I joined the group he was in; he was far too cute & clean, plus he had a Razr phone. Anyway, I enjoyed talking to Chris, Rick, David & the gang about blogging (specifically about our own blogs---bloggers are nothing if not narcissists!). It's nice to hear postive things about my self-absorbed lifestyle once in a while. Often I get a prick of conscience that I am wasting not only my own time but my readers' as well with the frivolities that masquerade as my life. Cause my real life is way less self-involved---I volunteer, listen to NPR, donate to worthy causes, am devoted to my family, etc. in real life. That's just not so fun to talk about as hanging out in seedy bars and going to shows.

Which makes a nice segue into last night, when I got to see my favorite local musician, hands down: Mr. Harlan T. Bobo. I'm sure some people will think I'm shallow and a bandwagon-jumper for just now sharing my secret love for him, but it's not entirely true (or at least that's not what makes it true, if I am all that). I actually get embarassed because I am so enamoured of him that I don't like to talk about it. It makes me blush, and it is like being 13 all over again. I wanted to stay at the show until he was absolutely finished playing so I could see if he remembered to pick up the shirt he'd used to wipe off his sweat (hey, it may be worth a lot one day) but I just couldn't do it. Personally, I was so slick with a fine sheen of sweat that I discovered my hand stamp had come off on other parts of my body when I got home. I know, eewwww... but that was nothing compared to Harlan, which is how I like my rock stars: good n'sweaty.

If you have made to the end of this super-sized post, congratulations. You win nothing but your freedom. I'm going to The Majestic with friends tonight, so I'm sure I'll be back with a review tomorrow, plus an update on our other downtown antics.

technorati tag: Cat Power

UPDATE: It was aiight, nothing too unique, but good anyway.

I adventurously tried the Cucumber-Lavendar martini, which my friend said "sound[ed] sexy as hell," but I told him there's nothing sexy about fresh bits of lavendar in your teeth. It was refreshing enough, though.

The shoetstring fries were great, but unfortunately I had to eat them off of M's plate, since they didn't come with the salmon. The shot-glass desserts were good, too---it's worth going just for them. It just seemed like the flavors weren't completely balanced, as if there was one really strong accent to each dish: lavendar in the martini; salt in the glaze on the salmon; sugar in the pork tenderloin; lemon in the raspberry Creme Sofia.

Pricing was in line with a mid-range white-tablecloth restaurant in Memphis, which is to say not outrageous but you don't feel like ordering 2 of the $9 drinks. I did like that the waitress pointed out the fact that they 20%ed us (there were 10 at our table). The service was very attentive, but there seemed to be a couple of extra servers because there was always someone draped over the balcony railing watching us below as if we were zoo animals. I hope Patrick & Deni will put a stop to that.

Lazy Re-post: Otherlands Coffee Shop

Told you I'm lazy!

But not to lazy to show up this weekend. I know for sure I will be there when Blair plays Fri., 7/21, and I'm up for the Scandaliz Vandalistz the following weekend. Blair is my 2nd fave local musician these days (right behind Harlan, of course!) and I have out-of-town company coming in whom I will want to impress with how cool Memphis is. Shouldn't be difficult, as he's coming from KnoxVegas.

OTHERLANDS LIVE GRAND OPENING Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15

Always a $5 Cover. Doors at 7 pm. All ages. Smoke free. Beer Coffee and Food. Large patio and deck. 641 S Cooper in Midtown Memphis. 901-278-4994.

Otherlands is now hosting live music every Friday and Saturday (and most Wednesdays as well). Look for the very best performing artists from Memphis and all over the planet. We have an expanded beer menu and ALL coffee drinks are now available at night. The giftshop area has now been converted to seating, so the whole building is full of LIVE MUSIC.

Shows brought to you by M.A.M.A. will also continue. Join our MySpace friends or our mailing list for frequent updates and the first news on upcoming shows.

JULY LINEUP!!!!!

Friday, July 14, 2006: Ben Nichols of Lucero and Brad Bailey of The Glass.

Saturday, July 15, 2006: Fat Possum recording artist Robert Belfour with special guest Dan Montgomery featuring Roy Brewer.

Friday, July 21, 2006: Blair Combest and Steven Simmons

Saturday, July 22, 2006: Rae-Ray with special guest Holly Cole.

Friday, July 28, 2006: Scandaliz Vandalistz and Imagination Head

Saturday, July 29, 2006: Benefit for Sawed Off Collaboratve Filmmaker

Friday, August 4, 2006: Hot new artist Mark Bolding with a special guest

Saturday, Augut 5, 2006: Giant Bear unplugged

SPECIAL EVENTS!!!!

Tuesday, August 8, 2006: INCENDIO! World music/flamenco band from Los Angeles, CA. Check out more on this outstanding band at www.incendioband.com

Saturday, August 12, 2006: Sid Selvidge, presented by M.A.M.A.

COMING SOON!!!! Friday, August 25, 2006: Cory Branan

Friday, September 1, 2006: Jim Dickinson

WEDNESDAY SHOWS!!!!

July 12: Deering and Down

July 19: Central Standards

July 26: Niko Lyras & Friends

August 9: Alvin Youngblood Hart ($15 cover)

DON'T MISS THE GRAND OPENING THIS WEEKEND!!!!!

Friday, July 14, 2006: Two of Memphis' hottest frontmen on stage solo in an intimate environment. Liberty & Lament recording artists LUCERO have become one of the most influential and popular touring acts in America. Taking a little time off from touring after recording an album for their Warner Brothers imprint label, Ben Nichols will be playing solo accoustic. The new album was produced by Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven frontman, David Lowery. Get a rare chance at hearing some new Lucero tunes.

Saturday, July 15, 2006, Fat Possum recording artist Robert Belfour with special guest Dan Montgomery featuring Roy Brewer.

Robert Belfour was born in a small plank house several miles South of Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1940. It was one of several shacks on the Hurdle farm, part of which his father rented until his death in 1953.

The specific part of Mississippi where Robert was born is the hill country in the northern part of the state. This region has a distinctly different culture than the more famous Mississippi Delta and the Blues from that region is strong and unique.

Like most of the other accomplished performers from the area R.L. Burnside, Fred Mcdowell, Joe Callicott, Jesse Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, and Charlie Feathers-- Robert Belfour, was submerged in the area's rich musical heritage. Robert's first memory is that of his father playing a resonator guitar in a style similar to that of Charlie Pattons. Robert ate at picnics held by Othar Turner, and at church sung gospel songs led by Syd Hemphill. When free from chores, Robert could be found in the company of neighbor, and future label mate, Junior Kimbrough. Robert was 13 when his father died bringing and end to his childhood. From then on all of Robert's energy went to helping his mother provide for him and his younger brother. Robert spent what little free time he had learning to chord his father's guitar.

At sixty, Belfour's guitar playing is mature and highly accomplished; his voice, clear and powerful, and the sound is pure country blues. Robert left the hills of North Mississippi forty years ago, but his music never did.

technorati tag:blues music

I am still laaazzzy...

Just not as lazy as these folks: They want people to hang posters for them for free for the Tom Waits show that goes on sale Friday:

We need to find some reliable people in the Memphis area who are willing to poster for us. We’d need a round of posters put up within the next couple of days, another wave toward the end of next week, and a final round the week of the show (which takes place August 4). We can’t give comp tickets to this show, unfortunately. We can provide some CDs and merchandise from various bands, or we can pay. ... Any ideas as to how we might find such people? We’d need them to keep a list of places where they postered and, if possible, take photos of some of the posters hanging in store windows or public places.

Yeah, I was too lazy to go golfing with my buddy W [not that W!] tonight, even though tomorrow is his birthday, but I'm not too lazy to hang my own posters.

Moving thoughts

I'm 31 now, so I've begun to think: Do I still want to be living in Memphis when I'm 41? The answer is always different, but it's the fact that I ask the question that makes me think of moving.

I really like it here, and I have a good group of friends I've developed over the past decade +, so it's a tough call. I really love my house, plus I'm now taking baby steps toward cultivating relationships on my block... but I feel like I need to create an environment for changing some of my habits & behaviors. I want to do stuff that I seldom have opportunity to do, and

But after talking to my cousin last weekend, who is contemplating moving out of his hometown, I realized it wouldn't be as easy as I thought.

People say wherever you go, there you are---and it's true. But it's not me I'm running from; it's a sort of energy-sapping attitude and negative energy that I've always realized Memphis has. It's like the one thing all Memphians have in common, and about the only thing we have in common with city expatriates. But it's not something that's conducive to change, positive thinking, or personal growth. It's an attitude that tells you "Let it go, give up, because there's no use, there's nothing you can possibly to do change the Memphis [politics/crime/traffic/racerelations/whatever]---so don't bother trying." It's pervasive and not very subtle.

memphis . cool . movies

From John Beifuss & the CA:

"Indie films and "rockumentaries" will be screened this month at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art as the Overton Park institution continues its renewed commitment to movie programming. "The series continues at 2 p.m. July 16 with 'Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley,' a look at the too-short life of the singer-songwriter whose intensely devoted following has continued to grow since Buckley's 1997 drowning in the Mississippi River near Mud Island."

There's more, too. This was just my personal favorite choice; unfortunately, that is brunch day---so I'll either have to cut things short, kicking everyone out in time to go, or move it elsewhere & leave early to make the film. I loved Jeff Buckley; one of my regrets that year was only catching him once at the old Barrister's where he played every Thursday or something. Folks, that is one lesson to be learned for use when you're older: you can't ever go back, so when you have the chance to stay out late & see great rock'n'roll, DO IT! even if it's on a weeknight. [via Memphis.cool.movies.]

Best-Of's

So here's my favorite "Best of Craig's List" in a long, long time:

Dear Crazy-As-Bat-Shit-Lady: I am honored that you chose my ad for a mini fridge out of all the ads you could have chosen. It makes me feel good that my mini fridge will be supplying you with the ice-cold beverages you've obviously become accustomed to. Next time you answer one of my ads, please note the following:

1. I am not Home Depot. If you travel thirty minutes to pick up a bulky 40-pound object, please come prepared with the necessary items you'll need to secure it to your vehicle. Yes, I have rope. I have a lot of rope. I have many different colors and sizes of rope. No, you can not have my rope. The ad said I was selling a fridge, not a fridge with rope. Nor was I selling a fridge with padding so that the pleather seats on your piece of crap car don't get marked up.
2. What part of 'buyer must pick up' in the ad was confusing to you? Yes, I have a vehicle. No, I don't want to haul your fridge all the way to East BumbleFuck on the hottest day of the year. No, I'm really really sure I don't want to do that. No, really. I'm sure.
3. Please call me only once with ALL your questions. I left for the day, and had 5 messages on my answering machine, the last one was at 10:30 pm. Frankly lady, you were sounding a bit too crazy by the end of the day. It's a fridge. A small metal box that keeps shit cold. I don't have the fridge's family tree. For all I know the fridge's was conceived by a slutty young Maytag that graced some hillbilly's side porch. I don't know the exact age of the fridge. I bought it a few months ago, I used it for a couple of days, ok, I lied, I used it a whole week. The fact is, you're not buying a race horse, you're buying a used fridge.
4. No, I will not knock $10 bucks off the price of the fridge because your anal retentive eyes picked up the ittiest, bittiest hairline scratch from across my driveway. I'm not making judgements on you, but I'm pretty damn sure Donald Trump didn't send you across the country to pick up a used fridge for Trump Towers. Though I'd wager the whole concept of the mini-fridge bar is a familar one to you.
5. Yes, you can unplug a fridge without any harm to the fridge. Believe me, the fridge is fine. The manufacturers have figured out a way to extend the life of a fridge that has been unplugged. Yes, I'm absolutely sure of that. No, you did not have to leave 2 messages about your concerns with the fridge being unplugged, and frankly it was a little embarrassing having the same conversation with you in my driveway where my neighbors could hear.
6. No, I don't have the operating instructions. I can write them down for you though: Plug fridge in. Open door. Put crap inside. Take crap out when it's cold. Eat or drink crap.
7. I am not a fridge pimp. I don't have any more fridges at that price. No, I don't know where you can get another fridge at that price. Yes, I know it's in great condition for the price, and I'm sure you'd like your other crazy-as-bat-shit-mini-fridge-buying-friends to have one just like it, but this is all I have. Here's a thought, there's this online classified ads website. Yeah, you may have heard of it, it's called CRAIGSLIST. I dunno, maybe, just maybe, in this great land of ours, there's another mini-fridge being advertised there.
8. Please remove my phone number from your address book. I think our relationship is over. Oh, and if you've added me to your AIM Buddy List, please delete me. Please. I beg you.

Yours truly, The mini-fridge seller

I really search the dregs of the internet after it gets too warm outside to sit & watch the world go by. TV only takes you so far---after the web has wrapped me up in its sticky seductive strands, it's hard to enjoy the environment of tv, where you have so little control over the content. Tennis, eh... infomercial, bleah... old Sunday afternoon movie presentation, yawn... I'd rather sit here and paint my toenails on the porch (which I already did last night). You can just tell I've been housebound for 4 days, can't ya?

In other news: The Victoria's Secret Sale is in its last week, so if you need any unmentionables (though they're still overpriced) now is the time. Never, never buy something at full price from VS. I have heard the IPEX is a good bra---in the words of one friend, "I never knew I had cleavage before!"---and I am always in the market for a strapless bra that's up to the task. So far, the best I've found is from Vassarette, which is thankfully not padded---but it's not smooth like the VS styles, it's a sort of lacy thing that might show under sheer stuff.

The quest continues.

DISCLAIMER: In no way do I pretend that this photo is of me or anything nearly resembling me.

Days of the Living Dead

I know I said I'm feeling better, but it's on a relative scale. I still don't feel safe eating very many things as a result of my karmic flu, but I'm at least up & about. I started the dishwasher, then took out the trash, pulled a few weeds in the garden, and came back inside, exhausted. I still feel like I've accomplished a lot (compared to the past 2 days---as I said, it's all relative). I do have the housecleaners coming this week, though, so things have to be ship-shape. I hate when strangers see my house when I'm unprepared & it's a wreck. A while back a friend of mine (ML) was getting dropped off here by another friend (MC), and when the driver (MC) popped into my house for the first time ever, it was a complete wreck. Now every time I see her I think of that. Yeah, I'm a little obsessive. Just not about cleaning house.

This astral update comes from Paul:

If you're outside Sunday evening, look up at the sky. The space shuttle Discovery will pass over Memphis at 8:56 PM.

More here in case you're interested. Personally, I don't see the point in continuing to fly missions in decrepit & outdated birds while we're not making any intergalactic progress, but hey, I'm just a taxpayer.

technorati tag: Discovery

New drug pt 2

Uggh, I have just found the other antidote to blogging: the stomach flu. Hard to sit upright at a computer when you're nauseated. I don't want to vomit on my keyboard, either.

Thank goodness I don't have the brunch to plan and host this Sunday. It's not that I mind having it at my house; in fact, that's one of the things I wanted to do more of when I bought it 6 years ago. But it was all I could do to eat a small bowl of cherries yesterday, and now I can't even watch food commercials during the soaps. I doubt I could shop & clean house properly to prepare, so it's just a great stroke of timing that things worked out this way. Now I hear that a friend who was supposed to be coming in town is changing his plans at the last minute, as well. Sweet. I have no obligations and nothing to do but get ready for the house cleaners, who are coming next week. Ya-hoo!

In related news of upcoming events, I intentionally scheduled the cleaners to come the week before my brunch, which is also a week before my Favorite Dave (not to be confused with the other Daves, of course) is coming to visit. I haven't had a houseguest in a little while, unless you count my cousin stopping by on his way to a family funeral last week (which obviously I don't). My problem isn't what we should do while he's here, it's what can we take off the list? I wanted to see Blair Combest at Otherlands, go to Blues on the Bluff, maybe visit the zoo's new Northwest Passage exhibit, and catch a movie at the drive-in, not to mention all the culinary adventures we could have. Help! I'm going to make him stay a week so we can fit it all in.

I want a new drug

I just found the antidote to blogging. It is called happiness.

I wish there were a drug to simulate the way I feel now. That way it would be easily replicated, not to mention instantly accessible. Hell, there probably are some drugs that do the same thing. I do know that antidepressants make you feel like you're on a very even keel, which is not necessarily a good thing for everyone. I remember reading a statistic in a sociology class that fully 55% of American women have been on antidepressants at one time in their lives. What, my professor asked, does that say about our society? It's certainly not a good commentary.

My life continues to be good, making me more & more suspicious every day. Where did I get this dark, pessimistic nature? Of course it's not really great enough to bring fire raining down on my head in some sort of cosmic attempt to balance the universe... but I'm content. I really enjoy my life as it is---I like my friends, I have some fun stuff to look forward to this summer, and I was able to see some family this weekend for the first time in too long. To top it all off, fireworks greeted me at the end of my drive last night. Awesome. (That is one fun thing about living in flat lands as opposed to the TN hills. Miles and miles of sky each way you turn.)

My point is this: Mucking around in all of this contentment makes for a boring blog. I could tell you about my holiday weekend (it was great) or the punk band I made brownies for (they were all sweet) or some other personal story, but it would just feel like rubbing it in your invisible faces, so I won't. I just hope your shortened holiday week is as fun as mine should be. I've been filling in for a coworker this weekn & now have to give a presentation on Monday that I'm not really prepared for, if that makes all this bliss a little easier to swallow.

La Dolce Vita

Life is pretty sweet right now, I have to admit. That is usually a bad sign, isn't it? When the going gets good, things fall apart. Or whateva.

I am about to go see The Devil Wears Prada, my 2nd movie experience of the calendar year. I'll let you know how it goes seeing that Princess Diaries girl playing a very well-known chick-lit role. I can't wait to see her as Jane Austen, probably my favorite 19th-century novelist.

I will have more on last night's bus brouhaha for you later.