Farewell, my friend

I had to say goodbye to a good friend today. I met this friend in high school. We've had a sporadic relationship over the years, but whenever we met up we had a pleasant time together. My mom would joke when we got together, as ours was a very predictable relationship. Your personality became a bit more colorful over the years, but essentially you were the same as when we first met. I admit there were things about your personality I didn't exactly care for, but they were easy areas to avoid in our interactions. I don't think you ever held that against me.

But last night that all changed. We got together once again. About 1/3 of the way into our expected visit you let me know that it was time to call it a day. I persisted for a bit longer, as I was afraid that later that night I'd regret the short visit. So perhaps I did push it a bit. However, that is no need for you to come back and bug me for the rest of the night. To keep me awake until 1:30 am, insisting I pay attention to you. To continue to wake me up through the night, reminding me you were there. To continue to be there this morning. Eventually I did have to kick you out. It had just been enough.

So I'm sorry, Red Robin Macho Nachos, but no more. Now that leaves me more time to spend with the Chicken Tender Salad. I would have liked to have continued our relationship, but you obviously wanted something different.

The Amazing Race 6: Episode 3

Tonight's episode of The Amazing Race included, quite possibly, the easiest detour competion ever appearing on the program, and yet several teams took the slower route.

Teams were at the world's largest IKEA store. Option 1 was to count out items in bins (large bins, one of which contained very small stuffed bears. A total of 2304 items to be counted). When you got the count right you got the clue.

Option 2 was to put together an IKEA desk. Perhaps I would be at an advantage on this task, as I have owned my share of IKEA furniture over the years (including a desk quite similar to the one featured on the program), so know my way around allen wrenches and toggle bolts. IKEA is known worldwide because their furniture is made in order to be assembled at home. The instructions feature lots of pictures.

Yet people choose to count the 2,304 items. And when they got the count wrong they choose to count again. And again. And again. The final 2 teams did finally give up and switch to building the desk. Had they not made the switch they might still be in Sweden counting stuffed bears.

Props to Lena, who was eliminated with her sister Kristy this evening. Every race there is the dumb luck challenge. There are 20 clues spread throughout these 250 items. You must pick through the items until you find one with a clue. Maybe it will be the first one you try, or maybe not. Last time around it was chocolates that had to be bitten into. This time it was bales of hay that had to be unfurled. Lena spent over 8 hours unfurling hay bales. You could see the exhaustion on her continue to intensify. They arrived at the challenge third, and 2 hours after the final team checked in at the pitstop, in pitch black dark, the host came to eliminate them before they completed the challenge.

The Demise of a Game Show Ho

It's a good thing that KenJen lost tonight.

It's a super-cool thing that he lost on the same day a friend flew down to LA to tape her appearance on Jeopardy.

It's a fantasmagoric thing that he lost on a question that I thought was incredibly easy.

Get Off Your Lazy Bum

This morning I stopped at 7-11 for a Big Gulp on my way to the apartment to finish packing. That's what 7-11s are for. Big Gulps. Slurpees. Lottery Tickets. Candy Bars. Perhaps a Ho-Ho or some Beef Jerkey. Convenience stores are for convenience items. They can substitute for grocery stores when NECESSARY, but that has happened a grand total of twice in the life of Swank:

1. Winter 1994/1995 my best friend and I shared an apartment on top of pill hill in Portland. A bad snowstorm hit and being fresh out of college we didn't bother to have silly things like canned goods and food on hand. We called the pizza delivery guys and they laughed at us, so we were forced to do some emergency shopping at the Plaid Pantry that was within walking distance of the apartment. (This was pre-Swank). This experience led to the Swank Rule of Housing Location #2: You must be within walking distance of a grocery-store type establishment.
2. Christmas Day 1999 I was preparing for the First Annual House of Swank Boxing Day Dinner and ran out of eggs, so was forced to the local 7-11 to restock so that the preparations could continue for the feast to be served the following day. I also discovered that the Italian Sausage I had purchased earlier in the week had been inadvertently left at the store, but 7-11 couldn't help me there. Thankfully the Mom and Dad Grocery is always well stocked with ground beef.

Situations in which other alternatives weren't available. In my youth there MIGHT have been occassions when we went to 7-11 because we were desperately in need of milk, and it would take 1/2 the time to get to the 7-11 than it would to go to the grocery store.

So back to this morning. I'm buying my Big Gulp, and I notice someone that lives in my apartment complex is in the store buying milk. We only live 1/2 mile from the closest grocery store, so I hit the trip meter on the car to figure out if 7-11 is closer to home. It's not. It's further away. So why would someone go to 7-11 to purchase milk when the local grocery store is closer? It can't be price, because you know prices at the convenience store are jacked up. It's not the travel time, because the grocery store is closer. Speed of service can't be a factor because a) it's 10:30 on a Sunday morning and b) the grocery store has U-Scan, which take less time than a checker can if you have half a clue.

The only reason I could determine as to why someone would go to the 7-11 rather than the grocery store in this situation is because they are a completely lazy person. From your car door to the front door of the 7-11 is maybe 5 steps. Once inside you're within 10 steps of everything they stock. At the grocery store you're going to be at LEAST 10 steps from the door, but probably closer to 30-40, because the spots right next to the door are always occupied. Then it's probably another 30-40 steps to the back of the store to the dairy cases. HOW CAN SOMEONE MANAGE TO WALK 100 STEPS WHEN THEY'RE WITHOUT MILK!!!!

People really do perplex me sometimes.

Time to Polish the Silver

I've been consumed with packing the last couple of days. I was supposed to be moving this weekend, and should be unpacking boxes in the condo right this very second, but decided to postpone a week because the head cold from hell put me way behind schedule on packing.

Sweetie offered to pack, but I am insisting on doing it all on my own. Two reasons for this:

1. Last time Sweetie helped me pack a piece of Corningware randomly exploded in his hand and we had to take him to the emergency room for 6 stitches. I just can't deal with that sort of drama right now, so better not to chance it.
2. More importantly: Stuff is going into boxes as MY stuff, and will come out of the boxes as OUR stuff. This makes packing a horribly sentimental job, so I must pack every item to get full emotional effect.

The good sides of the move are twofold:

1. I'm purging the hell out of my stuff. Tchotchkes, never-used kitchenware, and crap I have that no one needs (I'd been hauling around something like 2,000 envelopes, and I can't remember that last time I needed an envelope that didn't come with a card or a bill attached) -- so Goodwill is definitely benefiting from this whole cohabiting thing.
2. I've got silverware that DESPERATELY needs to be polished. I often forget about the silver until I use it or until I move. And given that I don't often use butter dishes or salt and pepper shakers, using silver ones happens even less frequently.

I'm excited about sharing a living space with Sweetie 100%. Can't go back to my place in a week. This really is all happening!

All Swankette Wants for Christmas

The whole Christmas gift issue is a tough one this year. Generally I ask my parents for some sort of home electronics and/or kitchen equipment that they graciously purchase for me. Everyone else is on their own.

This year there are more gift-givers for me (now taking part in Sweetie's sibling gift exchange), and with the current combination of households and impending wedding gift registry we're well stocked in the home electronics department, and I need to combine all of our kitchen stuff before I have any idea of what I want/need/have space for.

Plus, I really don't want a lot of STUFF. I already can't imagine how all of my stuff will combine with all of his stuff to occupy the condo, so now is not the time to add more stuff to the mix. However, in the interest of improving the economy, I shall now assemble a Christmas wish list of sorts that I can refer gift-givers to. Being online, it is easily editable, and if a stranger wanted to buy me something off the list, I won't complain, either. This list is subject to change throughout the season, but I promise only to add things, not to take things off. So if you've already bought me a gift no worries that I won't want it anymore.

1. A new car stereo. My car stereo died today. I suppose I could take it in and get it fixed, but that seems more trouble than it's probably worth. I drive a 2001 Subaru Forester, so the stereo should fit my car. And ideally it would have both a tape deck and a CD player.
2. Good Eats on DVD. I LOVE this show. It's the perfect blend of recipies, humor and science to totally captivate me. So I'd love to have it on DVD to really get down to some cooking.
3. Check out my amazon.com wishlist. (If there's no link that means it's not active, yet, check back later). Note: I've selected items of this list based on Amazon's recommendation wizard. Feel free to stray from the list, but use it for inspiration.
4. Spa stuff (Massage, manicure, pedicure, facials etc.) are always appreciated, especially as I strive to beautify myself for the big celebration next summer.

I AmThankful for Running Water

Wednesday night sweetie and I went to see Cake. A few notes:

1. Note to self: Trail-end of the head cold from hell + 2nd balcony seats + mild contact high = a slight case of vertigo which is really not fun at all.

2. Note to fans: I don't understand the random cheering in an attempt to get the band to take the stage faster. And if it were to somehow work, do you really want the band to take a stage when the drum kit is the only instrument present? I kind of like the guitars, the base and they keyboards. WOO HOO! THE ROADIE IS WALKING ACROSS THE STAGE! Even worse, I could sense folks getting restless when it took a little longer to get set up because they were having difficulties with some of the sound equipment. I am here to hear the band. I want them to sound good.

3. Note to John McCrea: You're not going to take over the spot as pretend boyfriend on my list, but if you were to call me and ask me to run away with you I might have to take a moment to think about it. Especially if you called to invite me to the local truck stop, because I picture you most at home in one of those booths eating a big piece of chicken fried steak and with a cup of hot coffee. Black. Because cream and sugar is for pussies. I'm not quite sure what it is about you, because normally Vince di Fiore would be much more my type in the band. Part of it is they way you stand there when someone else in the band is rocking out and just simply hold your arm out in their direction, with an expression on your face that says, "This other guy is totally rocking out right now. Why the fuck are you looking at me?" Part of it is the way you conduct the audience as if they are the 6th member of the band. But I think a large part of it is the vibraslap. It's got a sexual sounding name. You take a percussion instrument that was just throwin in with all the other cool percussion instruments in Mr. Leobold's grade school music class and you vault it to revered status. It not only gets its own bench to sit on during the show, but it gets a pillow to rest upon. And the pillow is edged in flourescent tape, as if to say ,"Hey, everyone, check out this really cool instrument." Also, when you are about to play the vibraslap (do you ever refer to that as slapping the vibra?) you build up the anticipation. Hey, everyone, look what I'm about to do. I've got this really cool percussion instrument and I'm not afraid to use it. So yeah, you're a pretty kick-ass rock star.

Finally, an observation. I could not see a single set-list from my perch in the 2nd balcony. Which means either they've all memorized their set, or they call songs as they go. My other favorite band does the same thing. So, apparently, if you want to be one of Swankette's favorite bands you should eschew the set list and call your songs instead.

The Amazing Race 6: Episode 2

For the second season in a row the team that Sweetie and I picked as the sacrificial lamb pre-race has come back to surprise us. Last season we figured the Bowling Moms would be eliminated in the first week. They came in 3rd. This year we figured the senior citizens were just along for the ride, and they're continuing to hold on. They also win style points this week for utilizing a senior citizen discount on the train in Norway.

It is no surprise who was eliminated this week, and that's the female friends from New York. An equilizer saved them last week, and they were given another equilizer in this episode, but the game only has so many equilizers before they catch up with you.

Even though it would have meant certain elimination for my team of choice last season, I like the new twist this season allowing one teammate to complete no more than 6 roadblocks over the course of the race.

There was lots of fighting and difficulty between teammates this week. Here are basic rules you need to remember before competing in The Amazing Race:

1. Recognize your individual strengths and weaknesses. Play to strengths and try to minimize weaknesses. If your teammate failed archery in college it's probably not the best idea to ask them to complete the archery challenge.
2. It's worth it to take 5 seconds to figure out a plan of attack. Having a strategy you can execute to plan will save you more than the 5 seconds you invested to come up with the plan.
3. Once you have a plan, stick to it. The only reason to completely deviate from a plan is because you came up with an absoultely horrible plan, and if you are only capable of coming up with horrible plans you're better of sitting at home and watching the show rather than participating. If you switch from one plan to another you are just wasting time. There are rare exceptions to this rule when it comes to detours, but rarely is it worth the while.
4. Remember, you are a TEAM. Yelling abusive remarks about how stupid your teammate is and how they can't get anything done isn't going to help the two of you win the race. Recognize that you will have moments of yelling and stress, but make sure to kiss and make up later.
5. The Amazing Race is not the place to test a relationship. If you don't have a strong relationship that can survive the yelling and the stress your doomed.

They're taking a northerly route this race, which is an interesting change of pace. It will be interesting to see where they go from here. Next week it looks like they'll be at IKEA headquarters. Perhaps the challenge will be to pronounce the names of IKEA products.

Morning Has Broken

My morning routine has reached a critical point, and if I don't do something to control it soon bad things may happen.

I am NOT a morning person. The "Swankette must have less than a 30 minute commute to work" rule is as much about me hating commuting as it is about me needing every possible moment of sleep in the morning, and not wanting to get up one second earlier than is absolutely necessary.

When I was living solo my morning routine went something like this:

7:00 am - Alarm #1 (radio) goes off.
7:30 am - Alarm #2 (buzzer) goes off.
7:50 am - Swankette manages to drag her butt out of bed and into the shower
8:05 am - Swankette gets dressed
8:18 am - Swankette does her hair
8:20-8:30 am - Swankette arrives at work, on time.

Now that I'm with Sweetie this should all be easier. He leaves at 6:30 am, and wakes me up before he goes. I should be able to get up, shower, do my makeup, eat a proper breakfast, do a little light cleaning around the house, post to the blog, pay bills, create a Martha Stewart masterpiece, and still arrive at work early.

Here's the current routine:

6:30 am - Sweetie wakes me as he leaves the house. He turns the radio and the light on, so I know it's really time to wake up.
6:31 am - fall back asleep
7:00 am - wake up on my own (amazing, but true)
7:20 am - I really should get out of bed now, but the news will be on in a few minutes, so I'll just lie here a little longer
7:30 am - drag my butt out of bed and into the shower
7:50 am - out of the shower, I wrap my hair in a towel and crawl under the covers again with a book
8:15 am - oh yeah, I've got to go to work today. Better get up and get dressed.
8:28 am - hair
8:30 am - leave the house
8:40 am - Need caffeine, must stop at 7-11 for a Diet Coke
8:45 - 8:50 am - make it into work. Hopefully boss hasn't noticed I'm late.

Thankfully work hasn't been too busy lately that I can get away with this, but I really need to figure out a way to get up and get to work on time. Especially since Sweetie has already started his work day when I'm just beginning to drag my butt out of bed.

True Love

I've been fighting the head cold from hell for about the last week. The kind where your head is so congested that it feels like your head has expanded to three times its normal size. The kind where you can only breathe through your left nostril. Wait, now it's your right nostril. Back to the left nostril again. But that doesn't really matter, because you are spending a significant amount of time plugging your nose, trying to pop your ears. The kind where your tongue becomes fuzzy because when you aren't chewing gum trying to pop those damn ears you're sucking on a lozenge trying to ease the scratchy throat.

On the grand scale of pain this kind of illness ranks somewhere above stubbing my toe and below monthly cramps. In other words, annoying, but nothing you can't deal with. You go on with your life as normal, but with frequent breaks for nose blowing and ear popping.

Yesterday I continued with apartment packing as well. The body didn't like that too much, so it took revenge on my by running a slight fever and breaking me down to the point where I was forced to take a nap on the floor. The cold just wasn't getting enough attention, so after awaking I decided to head back to the Sweetie's place and take is easy for the night. I stopped for rations along the way which, in addition to something for dinner, included bubble bath and a trashy novel to read.

I arrived at the Sweetie's shortly before he was preparing to leave for a work obligation for the evening. Upon learning of my illness I could hear the guilt in his voice about having to leave me alone for a few hours. He was ready to cook for me, to go buy me rations. To tend to my illness and nurse me back to health. "But really, Sweetie, it's just a head cold."

How many Sweeties will bend that far backwards for a stuffed up nose? Let's see if he's so generous the next time I stub a toe.

Successful Floor Sleeping

Prior to yesterday I can recall two situations in which I have slept on the floor, without any sort of padding etc. below me:

1. College. When perhaps I'd had a few (dozen) cocktails, and perhaps all the couches were already taken, and that patch of carpet just looked oh so tantalizing because I am ever so sleepy now.

2. 2001. While working for the minor leauge baseball team. Pre-season, when my boss and I were probably averaging 18 hour days to get stuff together enough so that a baseball game could be played on opening night. I had an apartment with a lumpy, frame-less futon less than a 5 minute walk from my office. However, there were a couple of times when that wouldn't work because I only had about 2-3 hours available for sleep, and if I succumbed to the futon I would be out cold for 2 days. So I'd take a sweatshirt and ball it up under my head, and sleep under my desk. My boss did the same thing. We'd take afternoon catnaps the same way sometimes. We shared an office, and I'm sure a fly on the wall would have been quite amused at 4 am the morning of the home opener when there were papers strewn everywhere, all the lights were on, and there were just 2 sets of legs sticking out from under the desks.

One thing I do know for a fact is that everytime in the past I've ended up sleeping on the floor I have ended up with aches and pains in places I didn't know could ache and pain. It really is not kind on the joints. So I now avoid it at all costs.

Yesterday, while simultaneously packing and fighting the head cold from hell, it was unavoidable. I was running a slight fever, and my body decided it needed to sleep it off. I contemplated driving back to the Sweetie's where I would have my choice of sleeping locations (loveseat, La-Z-Boy or bed), but that was not an option. My body informed me we would be sleeping before I left the parking lot, so I needed to stay put. Unfortunately, my bed and sofa were both covered in crap, so were not appropriate places to sleep.

My options were:
1. Call the Sweetie and have him come pick me up (which I'm sure he would have done)
2. Clear the stuff off either the couch or the bed.
3. Take a nap on the floor.

My body decided that #3 was the preferable option, but did grant me time to go grab a couple of pillows from the bedroom before I drifted off.

I'm not sure if it was because I had two pillows under my head, or if it was because my body is so stuffed up right now that all the gunk inside of me served as an ad hoc mattress, but when i woke up 2 hours later I was not aching or stiff at all. The head cold still ruled my world, but I didn't have to add achy onto the top of that.

And for that I am thankful.

A Cup of Civil War Apples

This is the weekend in the Pac-10 (and I believe throughout college football) where the local rivals face each other. That means Pullman, Washington will play host to the Apple Cup and Corvallis, Oregon will be seeing Civil War. I will be rooting for the home team in both instances. (If you're curious why, look here. Rule #1 and Rule #3, Scenario 3, subscenario 2 (whichever team wins goes on to a bowl game, the same game in either case) are called into effect).

I'm not sure when or how the battles got their names, but I've got some issues. In Washington the annual football rivalry is known as the Apple Cup. In Oregon anytime the two schools face each other it's known as Civil War. A Duck and a Beaver could meet at a bar for a beer and it would be known as Civil War. But if you look at the rivalries, Washington's run much deeper than Oregon's do. So while the Washingtonians are pelting each other with apples (and I wouldn't be surprised if I heard a story of that happening) Oregonian's are engaged in a very laissez-faire civil war.

And the whole Civil War moniker is very misleading. The schools are about 1 hour apart, both in the Willamette Valley. Oregon has some definite divides. The east vs. the west. The south vs. the north. Springfield vs. Eugene. But mid-Willamette Valley vs. southern-Willamette Valley? I don't think so.

At least I don't live in Texas. If I posted such disparaging remarks about football in Texas I think they could sentence me to the death penalty.

Swankette's Rules of Pac-10 Rooting

For the record, when a Pac-10 athletic competition is going on, here is how I select which team to root for. Pick the first situation that applies:

1. Root against the University of Washington

2. Root for the State of Oregon (either Oregon State University or the University of Oregon)

3. When OSU and UofO are competing against each other root according to the following scenarios:

Scenario 1: UofO wins they go to the post-season. OSU wins they go nowhere, except maybe out to pizza to celebrate winning a game. Root for UofO.

Scenario 2: OSU wins they go to postseason, but by postseason we mean the Insight.com Bowl. UofO wins they go to the postseason and get to kick some butt in the Rose Bowl. Root for UofO.

Scenario 3: Neither of the above scenarios apply. Root for OSU.

4. Root for Washington State University

5. Flip a coin.

Fun at Work

Is it wrong to send a company I work with more business because their fax machine plays "Mary Had Little Lamb" and I think that's really cool?

The Amazing Race 6: Episode 1

As an obsessive fan of the show, I feel the need to blog about it. If you don't watch and you're interested in a play-by-play account of what happened you can go to the show's website. I shall simply share my thoughts.

The first team eliminated were Avi and Joe. My friend, Kaphine, who doesn't watch the show picked them to finish first. There were two things that kept me from selecting them. 1) One of them commented that he didn't want to have to eat non-kosher food. You cannot go into the race NOT wanting to do anything, you have to willingly accept any challenge that comes your way. 2) They said they often make snap decisions without thinking things through. That can be a big mistake in the race. Bye-bye boys.

That leaves the team I selected sitting in last place. I may have given Dad too much credit for being in the CIA, and not enough credit for carrying several extra pounds that slow him down on physical challenges.

Sweetie's team (the wrestlers) looks promising, but I haven't decided for sure about them. I do want them to make it into a third world country. Frequently in the race the teams will have to take a train ride in a third-world country in India or Southeast Asia. Invariably, the women get felt up on the train and it upsets some of them a LOT. I want this to happen to Lori, so she can body slam the guy. That would be must-see TV!

Every season there is a player I end up despising. They are mean, often abusive, grating, and I get as upset at their teammate for putting up with them as I do at the player for being such an ass. Usually the hatred doesn't arrive until we are several episodes into the program. It develops and builds as I watch their interaction with their partner and with others over time.

This season I selected my most-hated player from the first moment he spoke. He is easily my most hated player ever on this show. He practically admits to being an abusive husband, and his actions all back this up 110%. The most hated player of this season would be Jonathan. To the point where if he wins the race (God forbid) I may never be able to watch the show again. He and Victoria state they are going on the race to test their relationship, which always means instant disqualification from the "Will they win? Pre-race pool."

Stay tuned next week for another update. I have hope my teams can pull up in front of the grandparents and the friends that sit immediately in front of them, but only time will tell.

Movie Review: The Incredibles

Went to see The Incredibles this weekend with my parents. It was an excellent movie, as everyone else seems to agree, so I wont dwell on that here. However, there are a few outstanding items of note that I have not seen mentioned yet:

The villan is obviously an homage to Heat Miser from the old Rankin and Bass Christmas Special The Year Without a Santa Claus. Add an incidental hero named Frozone who could be an African-American Snow Miser and I'm humming the tunes all the day long. THIS is the eye to detail the folks at Pixar have.

Sarah Vowell has the voice of an angst-ridden teenage girl. Angst-ridden teenage girls everywhere could learn a thing or two or ten from her.

The character that steals the show, however, is the costume designer who appears to be Edith Head as played by a campy Linda Hunt (from The Year of Living Dangerously). I think I was laughing every second this character was on the screen, and will now look down my nose on every superhero with a cape.

So go see the movie. And if this review doesn't convince you, go read one of the other billion reviews out on the web and then go see it.

Cover Tunes I'd Like to Hear

Aerosmith covering "Spirits in the Material World" (originally done by The Police).

They actually did cover it in a dream I had last night (with Little Steven VanZandt playing guitar) and it was really, really cool.

Vengance

Today karma came through and then some.

First, I was recognized for having to put up with evil people with a 6-pack of St. Pauli Girl. The idiot still remains, but at least others know that I am not the idiot here.

As an added bonus, I was innocently driving down the freeway in the right-hand lane where out of nowhere a guy cut in front of me to cut across to the exit we were almost past. To the point where I had to hit the brakes to not hit the guy. Half a second later there were flashing lights in the rearview mirror - the cops saw the bastard and were going to punish him for his wrongdoings.

So pardon me, I've got a 6-pack of St. Pauli Girl with my name on it.

Half-Life

I'm not quite sure why I was pondering this earlier this evening, but I think there needs to be an anniversary-like celebration when you've known a friend for over half of your life.

So, if you meet your friend Johnny on your 16th birthday, you two would celebrate your half-life celebration on your 32nd birthday. And now that I'm typing this I'm realizing that you would have to have 2 half-life celebrations (one for each of you) unless you shared a Birthday. And now that I'm typing THIS I'm realizing that we're right around the half-life celebration for my friend Morgan and I. Well, the second of our half-lives.

Friends come and go, but if you've known someone for half of your life there is a really good chance that they're with you for the long haul regardless of what else may happen. The proof of that is my friend Heidi, who is about as diametrically opposed to me as two people can be, yet we remain friends to the end. Even in high school (after we had passed the half-life mark) we were vastly different from each other. When others would comment we would simply state we didn't know any better than to be friends.

So, a belated happy half-life to those I haven't celebrated with, and to those with whom my half-life has yet to happen we'll need to plan something fun.

The Amazing Race 6 Predictions

The Amazing Race is easily my favorite reality show. Sweetie and I have been watching it together from the first season. (It was a long-distance relationshp at the time, so watching it together meant we called each other during the commercial breaks).

A new season starts on Tuesday. For the past two seasons Sweetie and I have picked who we think will win the race before the first episode, so that we have a rooting interest.

Season 4 I picked the team that came in third.
Last Season I picked the team that won it all.

I'm nervous about my pick this season. There are two teams that have caught my attention. Unfortunately, one of the two teams does not have a Q&A posted on the site. The Q&A gives a lot of good information on dynamics and experience, so without a Q&A they're too much of a wildcard.

Therefore, I predict the father/daughter team of Gus and Hera to be the winners of Amazing Race 6. They've got a good mix of athleticism and intelligence. They aren't using the race to test and see if their relationship will be a success (never a good sign). Traditionally parent/child teams haven't done so hot. That's what scares me. However, last season their demise was due in part to the fact that dad had a major injury coming out of the blocks. Were it not for that I think they would have been very realy contenders. I think this father/daughter teams offers similar strengths and weaknesses.

Interested to see how well my prediction holds? Tune in next Tuesday to find out.

Movie Review: Wimbledon

I have Ryan McCluskey to thank for seeing this movie. He's an old friend of the family and our parents are still close friends, so I stay informed of what's up with his career. Thus far he's appeared in one made for TV movie and two feature films, none of which I would have seen had he not been in them, all of which I've seen now. OK, the made for TV movie I turned off after the first 20 minutes, since he died 15 minutes in, but I saw his part. In Resident Evil he was the first person in the credits (credits were in order of appearance), and also in the preview which I thought was pretty darn cool.

The reason I go see everything he's in is not only because I think he's a pretty darn good actor and it's cool to see someone I know on the big screen, but someday they're going to do an E! True Hollywood Story about him, and they'll surely want to interview me to talk about how we used to watch MTV in his basement in our junior high days, so I feel I must stay on top of his career to be prepared for when that time comes.

If you go to see this movie exclusively because of Ryan's appearance you may be dissappointed because his part is very small and near the end of the movie. Have you seen the movie? At the end when the guy is playing in the Wimbledon finals and the girl walks into the stands Ryan is the broadcast director who says something to the effect of, "Look who's come into the stands, get a shot of her." You get a brief shot of his face and a shot of his wrist.

So that was a bust, but I still found enjoyment in the movie. The opening credits grabbed my attention as they were very well done. It was as if they were a tennis ball being volleyed across the screen, so you found yourself doing the back and forth with your head to read them.

It's about as predictable a plot as a romantic comedy can have. Kirsten Dunst is tennis' hot new thing. Her Dad is her manager, and great things are expected of her here. Paul Bettany is ranked 119th in the world and made it into the tournament on a wildcard. This is to be his final tournament, and he's already got the job as a tennis pro at the swanky country club lined up. The two randomly meet. Her dad dissapproves because the boy will take her attention off the game. She doesn't listen. Her game suffers, but he goes on to win the Wimbledon finals and the girl of his dreams. Hopefully I haven't spoiled anyting for you.

The cinematography was awesome. They used some cool effects and angles that made it visually interesting to watch.

Paul Bettany is adorable. He may become my new fake boyfriend. He's got that quirky charm that just sucks you in and grabs him. He's not asked to do any great acting in this role, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have it in him. He definitely has the looks, charm and british accent to be the next Hugh Grant.

Kirsten Dunst is a whole other story. The girl cannot act. As in it is difficult to watch scenes where she is on the screen because she is so obviously just reciting memorized lines and not putting any emotion or character into any of it at all. I know she's the hot young thing and everyone loves her, but I'm telling you don't get sucked in by the hype.

Final verdict: If you're home doing nothing some Saturday afternoon and it comes on cable it's probably worth a watch. Or if you're seriously in need of a romantic comedy with an enchanting male lead it could be worth a rental at the local video store. Otherwise it's probably not worth ith. There are many other movies that do what it sets out to do a little less predictably and without a horrible leading actress holding court.

Bands Reunited

The bass player of one of my favorite bands in high school is now on the faculty of my college alma mater. That's just too darn cool for words.

Mistakes

I admit that I am human. As a human I occassionally make mistakes. Sometimes it's an oversight, sometimes it's a miscommunication and sometimes I have no clue what it is but it just happens. When I realize that I've made a mistake I admit to my mistakes. I apologize for my mistakes. I do what I can to make up for my mistakes. I try to learn from my mistakes If I discover that I've made a mistake early on in a project, especially if it's a very important project, I will be extra careful to make sure that no more mistakes were made.

I do not ignore mistakes. I do not pretend mistakes didn't happen. I especially do not try to pawn off my mistakes onto other people.

So when other people make multiple mistakes on a project I'm associated with and then try to say that I am responsible for those mistakes it makes me really, really, really, really mad.

Leftover Day

It's time to make another plea to the masses to start to recognize the best holiday of the year. You may not have heard of this holiday yet, but give it time. The holiday I am speaking of is, of course, Leftover Day, officially celebrated the day after Thanksgiving.

Here is how you celebrate Leftover Day: gather friends (family not allowed), eat leftovers, and hang out - perhaps playing games, perhaps watching a video, most definitely talking and most definitely not participating in the shopping deluge at the local mall.

The theory behind Leftover Day is this: The first social event after major family-centric holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) is usually spent rehashing the drama faced on the holiday. Comparing war stories as it were. Why not bring everyone together at once? And why not get it over with right away, so you can get past it and get on with your life.

The first Leftover Day was celebrated in Portland, Oregon in 1998. Kaphine, our future houseboy and I had ended up at Kaphine's mom's house (where she was living at the time) eating pie, playing Monopoly and watching Star Wars. We realized at one point that this was the perfect way to spend the day after Thanksgiving, and gave the holiday it's name shortly after that.

We have yet to get Hallmark on board with a Happy Leftover Day card, but I figure if we can get popular support then Hallmark will see the need and come up with the card on their own.

Bah, Humbug

Spring is my favorite time of year. The growth and rebirth after the hibernation of winter really takes a hold of me. To the point where I usually go through some major life change every Spring - new apartment, new job, new car, you name it.

But Fall is a close second. Spring is all about chaos and energy, but Fall is all about consistency and procedure.

It starts with Labor Day. Although it's been many years since it signified the first day of school for me, it continues to mark the end of summer's fun and frivolity, and time to get back to business.

September and October find the weather getting colder and the days getting shorter. There's an urgency in the air, you'd best get that last bit of energy expended before winter sets in. During my twenties I think my average number of dates per week always went up this time of year - there was just something in the air that wanted me walking around in those crisp fall evenings.

Daylight savings time marks an end to that, as darkness sets in late afternoon, and Halloween is one last social Hurrah before November arrives. Time to stock up on social interaction before November sets in.

November is all about nesting. Making casseroles and pies. Curling up under a warm blanket with a good book. Taking hot baths and drinking hot tea. This stage of fall culminates in Thanksgiving, which celebrates everything that November is about (and which, for the record, is the swankest holiday of the year).

And now we are prepared for December and the Advent/Christmas season. It's the greatest hits of October and November. You get the tradition and fun with family that was highlighted in November, along with the social atmosphere and must-work-hard-to-get-it-all-in aspect of October. The tradition of putting up the Christmas Tree with Grandma's ornaments, and thinking of Grandpa as you're forced to put the tinsel on the tree according to his dictates (exactly one strand of tinsel per branch. No more, no less), so that you can have friends over for a holiday shin-dig.

And it all culminates in an end of the year frenzy combining the many days of Christmas, along with New Years, and if you're lucky a Boxing Day celebration thrown in for good measure. Banking the good cheer, so that you can budget it out to last through the dark days of winter until Spring greets us anew.

So when merchants start advertising Christmas wares after Halloween, instead of waiting until after Thanksgiving when it's appropriate, it just messes with the whole cycle of the season. Too much joy too early! And when the merchants insist not only on selling Christmas decorations, but also start playing Christmas music a serious injustice has been committed.

If you're looking for me I'll be in the tub with a good book, or in the kitchen popping something tasty into the oven. (Or packing for the big move, but that's an anomaly this year).

Sadness

In the wake of the election I find myself getting sadder and sadder about the state of my country. And it's not all directed at who was selected as the leader of our country.

Politically I sit a little bit left of center most of the time. I voted predominantly democrat in this election, but a few republicans got my vote and one libertarian won me over (for the record, it was not a libertarian who suggested they would use their office to eliminate the office and all government, but a libertarian who promised fiscal conservatism in a position whose job it is to be fiscally conservative). Sitting where I do on the political spectrum it puts me to the right of most of my friends, and to the left of most of my family. You wouldn't know it from reading this blog, but usually I'm pretty politically apathetic.

My father is a hardcore republican. He grew up dirt poor in northern Wisconsin, and was told to learn to deal with it because it was his lot in life. His sister basically drank herself to death, a welfare mom with 6 different kids by 5 different dads (if memory serves). Dad used the military to get himself out of his situation, and worked himself up into a nice middle-class life in the suburbs. Because he was able to do this for himself he sincerely believes that everyone else can do this, too. I have a mentally ill brother that will never be able to pull himself up by his bootstraps (which Dad has a tough time with sometimes), and who takes advantage of Social Security and other social services out there. Dad would rather all taxes be cut, which would allow him to pay my brothers way through life rather than depending on the government.

My father is an intelligent, caring, thoughtful man. There is nothing he wouldn't do to help friends and family in a bind. He cares about his country, and wants to do what's best for it.

Being a republican and a Green Bay Packer fan I called my father Sunday morning and asked which trumped his rooting interests given the Washington Redskins were one of the best predictors of presidential race outcomes available. His response - if they can smash Babe Ruth's curse, they can smash this one, too.

My dad, of course, voted for Bush. Scanning the blog-o-sphere I've seen a lot of mean things said about Bush supporters the past few days. How they are stupid, narrow-minded, don't think for themselves, etc. I'm not saying there aren't stupid, narrow-minded republicans who don't think for themsleves. But guess what people, there are also stupid, narrow-minded democrats who don't think for themselves. Just because these people hold different beliefs from you does not make them horrible human beings. How open-minded is it to persecute them simply because they chose to exercise their right to vote? My father sincerely believes that Bush is the best leader for this country.

I've heard it said you need to keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer. That's what I intend to do for the next four years. Not bitch and moan about how stupid republicans put us into this position, but try to befriend them and gain a little insight into their point of view. THIS is the way we're going to win people over to our side - by showing them the benefit of it. Not by calling them idiots because they can't see the benefits for themselves.

My mom is a pretty hardcore republican, too. But through talking to her, explaining issues to her, exploring all sides of the coin, she's voted for gay rights and other more progressive initiatives placed forth on the ballot in her state. On some of the more hot-button issues I count on my mom to cancel out my dad's vote.

This is what we need to be doing now as a nation. Not pointing fingers. Not rallying on about how smart we are. But looking at what we share in common. Make it so its not a red vs. blue country, but turn things all a bit more purple.

Jacket Required

I've been a shoe fiend for a long time now. I think it officially started in 1995 when I bought a pair of white Doc Marten brogues (aka the mafia golf shoes), and continues strong to this day.

I've got another confession to make. I just realized it today. I've got a coat/jacket fetish as well.

It started in Junior High, when my brother and I would fight over Dad's two prized jackets. One was a wool stadium jacket and the other was a vintage Levi's jeans jacket. I had the stadium jacket in Jr. High, but ended up with the Levi's jacket.

In high school it was the funky trenchcoat courtesy of goodwill. Then it was the leather bomber jacket I got for my 16th birthday.

Post-college came my first splurge for a totally frivolous, but necessary jacket. It was a plaid blazer that I bought at Nordstrom Rack for around $45.00. At the time the wardrobe priorities were cheap and multi-tasking. I was trying to create a work wardrobe out of nothing. I tried to avoid buying the jacket. I knew I didn't need the jacket. But I had to have the jacket. I finally justified the purchase because I had just graduated with a degree in marketing, and in my marketing 101 class in college the day we covered sales the professor always wore his plaid jacket, in honor of the cheezy used car salesman in the stereotypical plaid jacket. My plaid jacket was in honor of him and his plaid jacket.

Next was the raincoat. Couldn't just be the standard raincoat, had to be a red trenchcoat.

There have been more, but you get the idea. Today I added to the collection again.

The irony of it all. I prefer going barefoot, and am the one who will not take a coat with me when I'm going to the mall in the middle of winter, because it seems like such a waste of effort when you're only needing it for the two minutes walking from the car into the building. (Until your car breaks down, but that's a different post).

Movie Review: Ray

Went to see the movie Ray last night, and I highly recommend everyone reading this go out and see it if you haven't already.

First, we'll start with the issues I had with it. There are two. They are both casting decisions. And it's not that the actors aren't masters of their craft, but rather that they are so entrenched as another character in my mind that I had a tough time putting them into this movie into these characters. Interestingly enough, they were the two producers that followed Ray through his time at Atlantic Records.

One was played by Curtis Armstrong. AKA Booger in the Revenge of the Nerd movies. He also played a very Booger-like Character in two John Cusack hits of the 80's (and I could swear he was called Booger in at least one of those, too, but the IMDB disagrees). You cannot go from being a nerd named Booger to a Turkish record producer. Sorry, not a leap of faith my mind can take.

The other was played by Richard Schiff. AKA Toby Ziegler on West Wing. It's not that I have a tough time jumpig from head of White House communications staff to record producer. It's that they might as well have named the character Toby Ziegler, because it was the exact same character, but without a beard.

Now to the good stuff:

The acting was amazing. Jamie Foxx deserves an Academy Award nomination, at the very least, for his performance as an adult Ray Charles. He sang many of the songs, and until the closing credits it was difficult to tell sometimes if he was singing or if they were playing a recording of Ray Charles. I almost discounted this movie because he was starring in it, and now I can't wait to see what he comes out with next.

Also, the kid who played Ray Charles at age 7 deserves big praises as well. He had to show amazing breadth of character while going blind. Difficult enough for an adult, but to do it as a young child was absoultely amazing.

I never realized what an incredible man Ray Charles was. His business acumen and opportunism drastically helped shape the world of music we listen to today. However, you also see the downside of life that opportunism can bring upon you. I cannot even begin to imagine going through what he went through and surviving, much less becoming a world-celebrated musician who helped break down a lot of cultural barriers in our country.

Seattle has really been an important city in a lot of musical developments in this country. Everyone knows about grunge, but I don't think people realize that Ray Charles and Quincy Jones got their start here. I vaguely remember seeing something at EMP about it, but then promptly forgot about it.

So go see the movie. And unless you have a kick-ass sound system at home, make sure you do it while it's still in theaters. You won't regret it.

For the Truly Obsessed

Cnn.com is running live results of the election, including votes tabbed and exit poll data. So, since it's a slow day a work, I can sit at my desk and obsess about this all a bit longer.