esprit de l'escalier

Tickertape parade last week

Some co-worker friends and I went to the parade in honor of the White Sox last week. Here are a couple of Jolynne's pictures.

Monster movies and a scarf

This evening I settled in for a couple of monster movies on cable to crochet a scarf for my sister. I'm showing it here well before I intend to give it to her because I know she doesn't read my blog too frequently (she leads a life that is *much* less tethered to the computer, and I envy her that), and because if she does see it and doesn't like it, she can put in a change request well before Christmas. She requested a light blue scarf to go with her light blue winter ensemble. I couldn't quite conform to that request. Why make a scarf that will completely blend in with the rest of the outfit? I hope it doesn't clash, though. The colors didn't come out very well in the picture, the lighting is poor. It's extremely soft and I think will be very warm. I hope she likes it. I wish she was here now to give it to her. I'm very bad at keeping gifts secret, I just want to give them immediately.

My friend Elaine came over this afternoon and we made a dent in our backlog of Gilmore Girls episodes, and then I watched An American Werewolf in London and Hulk. I'm pretty sure I've seen at least parts of American Werewolf before, I remember the beginning and the part in the hospital, but it was all very fuzzy. I really enjoyed it this evening. Is it creepy that I find the ending sadly beautiful? She sees him dead and the credits roll.

I also really enjoyed Hulk, which I was surprised about. I remember when it came out and thought, "What the hell is Ang Lee doing?" But now that I've seen it, I'm prepared to eat crow. I know it wasn't well received, but it's definitely an Ang Lee film, lots of visual poetry. I love how he used split and embedded screens to emulate a comic book. And Sam Elliot's perfectly clipped mustache. There is this scene, during Bruce Banner's second transformation into the Hulk where he heads to this cabin in the woods where Jennifer Connelly is staying, to try and protect her. You see her in the cabin, and she hears something and goes outside, searching with her flashlight. She shines the light over this beautifully gnarled old tree. Faintly you see what might be a large hand, then the faint outline of his head. He slowly becomes apparent to us as if our eyes are adjusting as her's are. I thought it was totally poetic. Then some rabid mutant dogs attack, but for a moment it feels very real, even if he's all CG and green. There's lots of King Kong in the story, and a fair amount of Greek myth, and I really enjoyed it. It kept the crochet moving along nicely. Plus, Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly? So pretty.

Concert hopping

Tonight I went from one concert (Dar Williams at the Vic) to another (Rhett Miller of the Old 97's at the Abbey Pub) with my friend Cindy. The day after she bought our tickets to see Dar, Cindy found out that Rhett (whom she loves, with very good reason) was playing a late solo show. One we would have to go to. And I'm very happy I did.

I saw Dar Williams a couple of years ago in Indy with my friend Stacey. It was awesome. We got to meet her (briefly), because of a connection Stacey had with the radio station sponsoring the show. She was very mellow tonight. She's recently had a baby and chatted to the audience about lots of stuff, from her hair to sustainable living, to biodiesel to cracks about the Scooter indictments today. The crowd very much made me think of Collins. The Vic was outfitted with seats, and we were up front, which was great. She played some of the songs I adore, which is always excellent.

After the second encore ended, Cindy and I were quick out of our seats, hopped in a cab, picked up her car and found our way to the Abbey Pub. We missed the beginning of Rhett's set, but probably heard him sing for a little over an hour. It was fantastic. The atmosphere change was huge. We went from very crunchy, mother earthy to a smoky, sweaty, beer soaked joint. I have to say, I enjoyed the second atmosphere better. I like when I can shake my butt a little. And Rhett. Good LORD. That man is ATTRACTIVE. I think he looks younger now than when I saw the Old 97's a couple of months ago. I found a picture online of him from a solo show. I hope it can convey to you what I hope it does. I mean, the man doesn't like to button the top of his shirt. Why should I complain? His hair was all flopping in his face and he's got this great grin, singing his heart out. Speeding through them, with the crowd jumping and singing along with him. He's rock and roll with a little country, hilarious lyrics about love going wrong or dying or driving a man crazy. Just fantastic. If you can get a hold of the Old 97's album Satellite Rides, it comes with a second cd of six live songs. You won't be able to turn it off, or to stop shaking your ass.

Songs in my head: Dar: "Mercy of the Fallen" and "As Cool As I Am."
Rhett: "Rollerskate Skinny" and "Won't Be Home."

My jack-o-lantern and more Halloween fun

Isn't she cute?

Aren't Tricia, pumpkin and I cute?

Here's my brother in his "Alas, poor Yorick" pose... (His staging of the photo entirely. That's the scarf I just crocheted for him. Also his choice on color.)

More on my pumpkin

Today when I bought my pumpkin, it was raining. I had my messenger bag slung over my shoulders and an umbrella in one hand. I picked my pumpkin from the muddy crowd at my feet and made my way to the sodden table of vegetables. It was difficult, but somehow I managed to get my wallet out, keep my umbrella over me and not get covered in mud (the trick lay in crooking the umbrella between my shoulder and chin). The good people at the vegetable stand gave me a garbage bag to put my pumpkin in, saving me again from the mud, and the bag lasted til I returned to the office.

Then I cleaned it in the sink, marvelling in its beauty. Isn't it a nice pumpkin? On my journey home this evening I just carried it in the crook of my arm, not unlike carrying a toddler around. Just a little smaller. I kind of expected more odd glances, I mean, I'm not used to seeing large gourds on the CTA, but maybe I just don't ride it at the right times.

The weather cleared up a bit today, though. The sky looked similar to the sky below.

Songs for a chilly, rainy day

I had to run to our other office to check on a mailling that's going out this week. Then I headed towards the Daley Center to pick up a pumpkin for a party tonight. It started raining, but I continued on because I needed the pumpkin and wouldn't be out again today. I bought a nice, smallish pumpkin for $2. Which seems more than reasonable. When I got back to my cube I needed some chilly weather music and thought I'd listen to The Best of Chet Baker Sings. His voice and trumpeting are so plaintive and sad, it really makes me want to be curled up in front of a fire. I guess I'll settle for sitting in front of a computer.

On blogging and my chatter

Natasha and I just had a nice heart to heart. The type you have with your best friend every now and then. Things are going on in your head and sometimes you just need to make sure that you're not crazy. That's where your friends come in. Thank god for that.

Anyhow, we were talking and I told her that sometimes I think of my blog as my "virtual roommate." I started it after she started dating Al and was gone a lot. As some of you know, I'm a fairly chatty individual. I need to just chatter at the end of the day. The blog was a good way of getting out the jumble of thoughts.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that I used to have such problems with expressing myself. Not that I still don't have my hang-ups. No wonder I used to be so frustrated and gassy. Now I often talk through my thoughts. Or I blog through them. Though I don't feel that that is quite up to par yet. I often feel like a lot I blog about is sort of half-baked. Like I start of strong about something, or at least sputter a beginning and then whoosh, I'm done. I need to work on that. Though I feel like a lot of my thoughts in general are half-baked. Maybe I'm just juggling too many things and always have my eye out for that next ball's landing. If that's the case, I'm just going to have to deal with having a gooey center.

Wow, not only do I chatter, but I carelessly mix my metaphors!

Sometimes though, when I blog, I feel like I'm talking to an empty room. I usually like to make eye contact with whomever I'm speaking. It's disconcerting to not know how things are going over with the audience. Though the comments section has been much busier lately. I really appreciate the comments. I know who some of the people are who read this, but not everyone. So let me know what you think.

Anyhow, I know that the Sox have won because I can hear celebratory gunfire and fireworks.

Currently playing: "My Moment in the Sun" by Clem Snide.
"Philosophers Stone" by Van Morrison.

Lunch with Anne...

...or how I always order a patty melt.

Anne and I had lunch today-- Wednesdays are becoming our regular lunch day. She gets to work earlier than I do, so we tend to eat early and greasy, regardless of the possibilities of heartburn. (Anne convinced her new-found heartburn is a sign of aging.) More often than not, we end up at Ada's, and Anne will most likely get something with pastrami (ooh, it's so good there) and a potato pancake, and I will get the patty melt. I love patty melts. Something so perfect about the combination of rye bread, sweet sauteed onions and swiss cheese on top of a burger. Have I told you that the only reason I couldn't become a vegetarian is because I couldn't give up cheeseburgers? It's true. (Somewhere my sister and my friend Amanda roll their vegetarian eyes at me.) Our lunches are wonderful and much needed. The grease and the gossip go so well together.

Go Sox!

Some fans in the office this morning...

Thanks Neva for the picture!

I guess it wasn't so bad afterall...

Last Tuesday I had a pretty whiny post about how my class was going and how I wrote a terrible paper that I was sure made no sense. Apparently, though it was poorly structured and written, I got an A-/B+ on it. Think if I applied myself! My degree in bullshitting Political Science is still helping me out...

My professor finally explained a bit more our final project. His original explanation of it in the syllabus was really confusing. Basically it needs to be a multi-modal annotated bibliography about something that has a connection to new media. I'm still not sure what I'm going to focus on. (Any ideas out there?) I might work with someone in the class to explore how new media is being used in disaster situations. Both to explain what is going on (sort of citizen journalist type stuff from camera phones to blogging) to getting help to the areas that need it (both in fund raising and raising awareness).

Anyhow, I forgot to get fruit to eat at break today, and was stuck in a meeting from 2-4 and ended up eating M&Ms and a nutrigrain bar for dinner... I am now capping it off with some ovaltine and saltines. It's time someone got to the grocery store.