Blast from the past

Did you know musicians still make videos? Yeah, me neither! I was at my drummer's house for band practice today, and he showed me the K.T. Tunstall video for "Big Black Horse & The Cherry Tree" on Comcast OnDemand. It was virtually impossible to find - why are there video menus so convoluted? - but I was SERIOUSLY impressed. Actually, I was intimidated - why are WE doing this song when this artist is so freakin' talented? In the live version I watched, she records separate tracks live, and activates them with foot pedals while playing guitar and singing. She also plays tambourine by stomping on it, which further impresses me b/c I struggle with playing it in a conventional fashion. Yeah, yeah, it's just a tambourine - but I seriously have some coordination issues with it. Harder than it looks, folks. Well, harder if you're also trying to sing, anyway.

Back to videos, though - I was inspired to watch more of 'em this evening, and have found a few that really amused me. Kelly Clarkson's video for - well, some Kelly Clarkson song - features all these people singing along with her and getting caught in the act. Who can't identify? The Red Hot Chili Peppers video for "Dani California" spoofs other musical performance from various decades. Goth Flea made me laugh out loud. Out loud, people. In not so happy video news, I have never been less attracted to John Corbett. Remember how he started as "Chris in the Morning" on Northern Exposure and he was off-beat and dreamy? Then he was on Sex and the City and you were glad he was getting work but always thought he was too good for Carrie and he should've been with you instead? OH - and how he got his haircut for his second turn as Aidan on that show and you were thrilled? Well - his hair is now dangerously close to stringy. Almost of Michael Bolton proportions, but even HE finally cut it. So Corbett is apparently a country singer now, and he sounds exactly like himself when he sings. That's not really all that great. And the song is ridiculously sappy, but not as bad as the video which features lots of shots of him working ON A FARM. Oh, John. Oh no, John.

Musical Interlude

I just spent the last half hour downloading alternate versions of songs on my new band's set list. We're getting ready to start practicing on our own, away from the auspices of the music school, and I'm intimidated because I am going to need to get - EQUIPMENT. UGH. I have a real aversion to this stuff, too. I am perfectly content to let someone else do this kind of thing for me. Anyone? Anyone?

Not to jinx things, but it's been calm at work and I hear I may actually get to work on - GASP - OTHER PROJECTS!!! I will still be on call for the current team I work with, but this will be a nice opportunity to work with different people and learn new things. I still feel like I'm pretty ignorant about many tasks common to people with my job. If you asked me to create a list of things paralegals do, mine would be rather short. But it would sure involve lots of freakin' boxes.

The L.C. continues to elude me. Still friendly, still seems to be potential, still steadfastly not asking me out. Sigh.

Thoughts of "marathon" are floating around again - M.K. is looking for a buddy to do this with, and I may be coercible. Coming home when it's still light outside DOES provide some pretty good inspiration.

Who's having the Best - Week - Ever?

I'd like to nominate - me! Work was reasonable, and I was reminded what it was like to have a life. Movie on Monday, saw a play on Tuesday, drinks with the L.C. on Wednesday, band practice Thursday, Mexican food and an Amazing Race marathon (that also turned into a sleepover in the John Malkovich room) at Chez R.K. on Friday, and quality time with my favorite baby girl the little P.K. this evening. I napped so hard this afternoon, when I woke up I just lay still for another 10 minutes and thought how I wanted to stay exactly in that position in my comfy bed until I developed bed sores. But the cupboard was distressingly bare, and I had to straighten up before the P.K. clan arrived, so I headed out to T.J.'s and bought groceries that were way too heavy - when you have to walk home with your groceries, you should never use a cart instead of a hand-basket b/c it's too easy to lose track of what you'll have to lift.

Momentous Occasion

Yes, it has finally happened. I have used the last of the Method hand soap in the kitchen. As I noted to Mr. and Mrs. C., the shape of the bottle gives this product a startling long life. It's a good product and all, but I get bored of most bath products before I get to the end of them. Dr. SP noted once that I have more bath products than anyone she's ever known, which is surprising since I'm not even all that "girly". Apparently, it's genetic - because my cousin KB is just as bad. Worse. She started younger.

Trivia C had free movie passes to go see Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. It was a sweet film - worth renting. But what was really striking was the amazing similarity between the boy playing the young John Goodman and the guy who worked at the bakery. Trivia C said they must be father and son, but I said the resemblance was even more striking. I said they had to be the same person, and she was (understandably) incredulous. Well. Guess what. In 1990, the same director made a short film. Titled Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School. Uh-huh. Same actor. Wild.

Unbloggable

Yes, look for the new blog "Unbloggable" soon from my friend PSB. He seems a bit incredulous about the motivation of anyone in the blogging community, so Banane and I suggested this title for him. Look for discourses on why Tom Delay is way more evil than Nixon, and 10 people to beat down if you're stuck on a deserted island. Eating them is optional.

I finally bit the bullet and asked out the LC. It was just as scary as I thought, with an unpredicted but predictable outcome - the proposed meeting was drinks after work that evening - and he said yes, but seemed surprised, and then made it sound really casual, and then backed out and asked for a rain check sometime next week due to family holiday weekend obligations. It seems as though the "next week" offer is sincere, but I will still be fretting until we actually find ourselves somewhere outside of the office building.

Fortunately, a plan B(s) turned up - Banane and PSB. Banane and I met at Cafe Prague for a glass of wine, then met PSB at an Italian place in North Beach (imagine!) whose name I always forget but they had a pretty good linguini with clam sauce although the olive oil/balsamic they offer for the bread always tastes a bit odd. We discussed the blood boiling that ensues upon hearing "I'm not a feminist, but..." and later at Caffe Trieste agreed that hating Hilary Clinton doesn't make PSB an anti-feminist because we all know he would honestly hate her whatever her gender. I've never worked up any real animosity towards her and don't understand why she seems to be such a lightning rod for it, but Banane and I agreed it's disappointing she had to keep forgiving Bill's slimy affairs and putting on a public stand-by-your-man face when we really wanted her to knee him in the balls. I don't hate Bill, either, but wish he'd taken more responsibility for the pain his lack of restraint (or air of sexual entitlement?) caused his wife and the Democrats who had to listen to the conservatives bitch about how this made him an unsuitable leader. Neither is good, but if you're the President I'd rather you fucked around than fucked over the country.

I'M not crazy.

I know I am not crazy because someone else has decided to mass market this. And I bet someone is wearing it pinned to their cheery Chico's vest when they go to work tomorrow, to the horror of their co-workers.

And I feel you smirking at my last post, KM the Y. You won't smirk when I'm dead. Because I. Will. Die.

OK, I won't die. I was even ready to resolve this today. The fates were conspiring to... aggravate me. Because today I win the baseball ticket lottery. Oh, that's a good one, fates. You're HILARIOUS.

News of the band: did you know the song "White Room" is about a train station? Those of you who actually listen to lyrics are saying, "Yes, dumbshit." Well, I didn't. As a kid, I always found this song kinda creepy. This and "Nights in White Satin". And Karen Carpenter's voice. I scared easily.

If only

If only I could get drunk at work, this wouldn't be a problem. Ah, liquid courage. I had warehouse duty today (blech) but it finished early (yay!) and it was a surprisingly lovely evening (HOOray!) so I met KM the younger and her good friend M for cocktails downtown. Even M, who doesn't know me, said flat out that I need to just ask the LC out already. And I know this. I wished I could do it RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT, all fortified with martini. I was even confident that "Tomorrow is it. That is my deadline." But by the time I got home, and the buzz was beginning to wear - fear was returning. I told KM if he were to reject me I would die. Just up and die. She said this is probably not true. (OK, she didn't qualify it with a "probably".)

But I would. Just die, I mean. I would just die. Yup.

Blogging Powers Activate

Since my last post:

Went to see the 'rents and my sis in Gig Harbor. Had a really nice, relaxing, time being at home. Few small outings, read my book, caught up on The Sopranos. Ate food I didn't cook.

Came back to the city, and felt pretty good about it. I like living here.

Went back to work, and managed to only feel like walking out once.

Had more in-depth conversations with the L.C., and still did nothing about it. Mentioned this to friends and while my obsession is still comical, it's teetering on the edge of dull. OK, it may have fallen over the edge. I have all sorts of plots in mind, but don't know how to follow through with any of them. If he's such a nice guy, what could the worst-case scenario possibly be? The worst? He would say something like "I'm just not that into you," but would probably be too nice to elaborate on the faults that make this so. Next worst - he IS actually seeing someone else, then I have to continue pining and dreading spending the rest of my life alone. 3rd worst - I make him very uncomfortable and any future interactions become awkward and painful. Now we can move to the neutral. We do something, and it turns out he's not all that, and I have to move on.

I have this weird relationship with "the fates" and I don't want to write out the best case scenarios, unless they're WILDLY fantastical. Such as: Not only does he fall madly in love with me, but it turns out he has just come into a tremendous sum of money and we spend the rest of our lives dividing our time between noble causes and frivolous pursuits.

OK, back to my current activity list:

Had the first meeting with my new band workshop. The bass player and I appear to be the only ones under 45, but this is not a bad thing - because older musicians are SEASONED. Our set list is leaning a little heavy on country/rockabilly, but sounds good so far.

Attended a fabulous dinner party at Chez P.K. - who knew pureed carrots were DELICIOUS? I had 'em for breakfast today, too. Spent some quality time with the newest P.K., and she is ridiculously smiley and adorable. S.P. and I went to a fabulous spa today, utilizing gift certificates, and it was sooooo relaxing. It was the most comfortable massage table I've ever been on. I still smell all nice and lavendar-y.