It snowed today. Big, thick flakes that stuck. The kids in the apartment complex across the street had a snowball fight instead of shooting at each other.
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Rug
Today, as I methodically vacuumed the rugs, I remembered something that happened a few weeks ago. The maintenance people were systematically going from apartment to apartment, changing air filters and checking the smoke detectors. A stern little woman herded the maintenance men around, delegating which apartment each should go to.
Eventually they came to my apartment. Once the little woman had a chance to appraise my place she said, “This isn’t your apartment, is it? Is this your girlfriend’s?” When I insisted that I lived there and asked her to explain, she just snickered. I would love to meet someone who had three video game consoles and a Millennium Falcon in her living room.
Just before she left, she looked at my rugs and exclaimed, “Where did you get these?”
I told her I bought them years ago at Wal-Mart.
She said, “No. I looked at Wal-Mart for rugs like this and they didn’t have them.”
Then she walked out.
Could He Be the One?
Recently I decided to try reading the the Dune books in chronological order, including the extended universe books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. I made it about 100 or so pages into the Butlerian Jihad before I couldn’t stand it. The story seemed epic and could have been interesting, but the writing was just so juvenile I couldn’t justify spending more time in the series.
So I satisfied my Dune craving by rewatching the Dune Extended Edition with Nick and Amanda. Despite the horribly dated effects, it is still awesome.
Achievement Unlocked
Sometimes I fall into that slough of self-examination where I feel as though I have accomplished nothing with my life. Or, when compared to Person X, I am found wanting. This often happens when I’m not currently working on a creative project, as they tend to define me and give me purpose.
So I think it might be helpful to recollect the things I have achieved. Not in a boastful, resting on my laurels sort of way. But to remind myself that I am the same person who did all of those things. Try it yourself when you are feeling somewhat less than. Continue reading →
Mike Doughty, Yeah
As with JoCo, it seems that going to see Mike Doughty has become a yearly ritual. This time he dropped by the soon to be closing Cactus Cafe on the UT campus. Entering the sleek, hip student union made me pine for college and youth.
This was the first time I had seen the Question Jar show, where he answers written questions from the audience between every few songs. He kept the answers pithy and amusing. It was a typical Doughty set, with a few Soul Coughing tunes and stuff from the new album thrown in. I hadn’t realized how similar the guitar riffs were on about half of his songs. It created a perpetual anticipation: Which song is this? Is it going to be Circles?
He played Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well and Tremendous Brunettes, but no Gambler cover and no Pleasure on Credit. Can’t have everything.
Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker, based on “The Sword of Truth” novels, is an archetypical (that is to say, cliche) fantasy show on par with Xena, full of sketchy special effects and cheesy dialogue. But I have a huge crush on Kahlan so I’ve decided the show is awesome and I’m going to watch it. So there.
Don’t Press the Button
Something I like to do: Make random widgets in Photoshop.
Banks
Does anyone know why Banks won’t process many transactions on the weekend or on holidays? Most of the time everything is completely run by computers. Whenever I speak to a bank employee, they is often “nothing they can do about it” because “the system won’t let me.” Computers don’t sleep. So what can’t I make a payment today just because it is President’s Day?
A Visit to the Greenbelt
I went for a walk in the Greenbelt area with my friend Kristina. Initially the day promised sunshine and clear skies, but by the time we arrived it had turned cold and windy. Tons of people, Valentine’s Day couples mostly, were moving along the trail with their dogs. Beautiful spot, just wished it were warmer.
Near the falls someone’s canoe had tipped over and they were slowly making their way back to shore. A Labrador made a brave attempt to rescue the paddle that got whisked away downstream, but returned to shore wet and paddle-less. These waters are cold in the summer. I shivered just watching this guy wading through the chest-deep water.
Afterwards we sought out the warmth of a sushi restaurant. Hot miso soup was just the thing.
Sick Day
Yesterday I thought I was just tired from lack of sleep and travel, but I was up at random times coughing up foam. Today I felt wretched. Called in sick, went back to bed, had some proper rest and food. It was one of those days where I wished there was someone else around that could go to the store and get food or say soothing things to me. Sigh.