Heh heh

This year, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address occur on the same day.

It is an ironic juxtaposition of events: one involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to a creature of little intelligence for prognostication while the other involves a groundhog.

Thank you Kara, for my laugh for today

Me & Alter-Me

Need I say more? Check out this excellent time-sucking device
Brought to you courtesy of your friendly neighborhood procrastinator - for more tips, check back here early and often (or you could do it later...).

Thank You Bemidji!

I'd just like to take a moment to thank all of my dear new-found friends in Bemidji who have helped me to reinstigate habits I thought I had left behind: smoking, coffee, and far too much wine...
Okay, okay, I'm loving every minute of it. I am a weak, weak soul, and you all preyed upon me like a pack of wolves. But, mmmmm, vice - it hurts so good!
ps - a special thanks to Jessie, who provided the caffeine, the sunny walk, and the inspiring art that made it possible for me to write last night, and (paradoxically) get the best nights sleep I've had in some time. The only thing that could have made it better was, well, maybe some wine and a cigarette (see what you people are doing to me? Satan's minions!)

Celebrate Procrastination!

I would just like to take a moment to celebrate my third attempt at working today by doing a little blogging about it. You may think that this is silly and more than a little counterproductive, especially since my other two attempts at work today have resulted in the following (in order): 1)blogging and 2)blogging. Well, you may say, what's so different about this latest (failed) attempt at working, and isn't celebrating it by blogging about it a little like an alcoholic having a kegger to celebrate falling off the wagon? And you would be right, my friend, you would be right. But I'm still not working! Hah! Who feels silly now?

Why We Fight

As a corollary to my post yesterday, check out NPR's Midmorning show's interview with Eugene Jarecki, director of the new documentary, "Why We Fight" Here's the trailer, and here's the interview (it's about an hour long, but totally fascinating). I can't wait to check out the film.
oh, and if you haven't guessed, Erin has figured out how to link - yay for me!

Eavesdropping...

As far as interesting interviews go, NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross has got to be one of the best. Yesterday she interviewed Eric Lichtblau, the New York Times reporter and author of "State of War" who broke the eavesdropping story. To hear the interview (it's about 45 minutes long), click here

Go Figure...

at least i go well with coffee!

You Are Mud Pie

You're the perfect combo of flavor and depth Those who like you give into their impulses

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Tales of a Newly Born Insomniac

I always thought it would be cool to be an insomniac. Just think of all that time that normal folk spend sleeping, and how much stuff you could do! Of course, this from the perspective of someone who, if left to fall into my own sleeping pattern, sleeps a solid 7 hours from about 2 am until 9ish. I also (used to) have the ability to announce at just about any time of night, "I'm going to bed now," at which point I would go in the bedroom, lie down, and go to sleep.
Not so anymore! The trite phrase that pops into my head as I'm tossing and turning all night: "Be careful what you wish for." All those folks out there who (like me, formerly) think that it would be great to have more time in the middle of the night to read, write, whatever... you are wrong!
Insomnia sucks. Here's the thing: It never occured to me that, as I'm laying there, unable to sleep, I would be so dog tired that I wouldn't have the energy or brain power to do anything besides lay there and blink my burning eyes in the dark and flip from side to side in search of the magic sleeping position. Insomnia is a torturous state in which one wants to sleep so bad that tears actually come to your eyes. It recalls the frustration of being a small child, not in control of your own destiny, forced to go to an adult gathering for hours, until you wail with the sheer frustration and exhaustion of it all. Sleep is tantalizing, just out of reach, and it seems like even your cozy pillow is taunting you.
But the wierdest part of insomnia occurs not at night, but during the day. The exhaustion and sleepless state experienced at night persist throughout the day, lending everything a surreal glow. I walk around in a little bubble, like I'm moving through the world instead of in it. When I talk to people the words seem to come from far away, from the back of my head (the id, people) straight out of my mouth, without passing through any of the usual censors. Hmmm. If I wasn't so damned tired, I'm pretty sure this would do really cool things to my writing.

Songs I Can't Stop Listening To

This is not a list of my favorite songs, although some of them are favorites. This is a list of the most current of those songs that I listen to compulsively for a short period of time (in no particular order).

Street Life - Randi Crawford
Easy Chair - Bob Dylan
Fast Shadow - Wu Tang Clan
Do Me - Jean McKnight
I'm Beginning to See the Light - Velvet Underground
Police & Thieves - The Clash
Sugar In My Bowl - Nina Simone
Sweet Black Angel - Rolling Stones
... & On - Erykah Badu
These Days - Nico
Baby Bitch - Ween
New Slang - The Shins
Rolling with Heat - The Roots
Ain't That Lovin' You - Jimmy Reed
Go It Alone - Beck
Sela - Lauren Hill

Long Live Classic Rock!

If I had to pick theme music for Minnesota, it would be classic rock. I'm not generally much of a fan, but it has become almost standard listening in my car since I've moved here. It just seems to fit the setting perfectly, the ideal soundtrack for gravel road driving. Perfect example: This morning, sunrise, I am driving down a white road that seems neverendingly straight between dark-stubbled fields. The sky is lightening and gray, and there is a rim of pink above the black trees that line the horizon for 360 degrees. And, well, there's no two ways about it, I am hauling ass, and listening to a crazy 15 minute live version of Smoke On The Water. Where else could you hear such a thing at sunrise, I ask you? Following that, in approximate order, were: Mississippi Queen, Sweet Melissa, Jackson Browne, and a little AC/DC, all played at the obscenely loud level that seemed suitable this morning. It took me a while to get over my embarrassment over my secret predilection for classic rock, but I am no longer ashamed - I am a classic rock convert. My college roommate would be soooo proud! (Are you listening, Carito?)

It's a new year, and it's been over a month since I posted to my blog. This can be mainly attributed to my deep-seated slacker nature, but also has to do with my library's policy about blocking blogger.com. Also factor in a trick shoulder with a viral infection, strained tendons, and, well, my deep-seated slacker nature. But I am back, it's a new year and one of my many resolutions is to get my shit together. That may sound a little vague, but believe me, it doesn't have to be specific, since it applies equally to almost every facet of my life (baking being the notable exception - I've been baking bread, scones, and whatnot like a fiend for nearly a month - at least something is getting done, even if its only effect is to create another layer of fat on my body). Oh, but before I do begin to get my shit together, I must take a short break from vacation to go on a weekend cruise. Yes, its true, life is very hard. When I get back, I will regale my faithful blogging-type friends with tales of mayhem aboard a Caribbean cruise with too many female relations and one very ugly beach bag.