Ramblings and Blather

I love me some Cake

2007-05-16T22:42:00.000-04:00

Last Friday I headed down to Baltimore to meet up with my sis to try our luck at getting last minute tix to the Cake concert at the outdoor Pier Six Pavilion at Inner Harbor. After my fortuitous experience with snagging a ticket at the eleventh hour for Ben Gibbard's solo act (see previous post; also, catch his DC concert on npr.org), I felt my trip to Maryland would not be wasted. My sis dropped me off at the pier and I headed to the box office where I encountered a security guard who informed the concert was sold out. Unthwarted, I scanned the area for another benevolent soul who might be parting with their unused tickets (Disclaimer: I do not make it a practice to support scalpers and would never pay and have never paid anything over face value for a ticket I've purchased outside of the box office.) After 10 minutes, I knew this was a losing battle, so I decided to scout out the venue. Pier Six Pavilion sits on, well, a pier, and juts out into the harbor. Along one side of the pier, there was a narrow canal about 100 ft wide, and across the way is a hotel and pedestrian boulevard with benches lining the canal. I crossed the bridge to access the other side with the hotel to find that there's a great view of the stage;a vantage point that's even better, I think, than that for those paying patrons with lawn seats. I sat myself on the side of the canal, legs dangled over the water, and called my sister with instructions to get us some dinner & and told her we were going to picnic whilst enjoying the tunes of Cake. We dined on seafood fettuccine and tiramisu while having a grand old time singing along with the band. Quite literally, we had our Cake, and ate it too.

Resurrecting the ramblefest

2007-05-10T18:30:00.000-04:00

It took a while, but she's back. After an especially intense bout of self-diagnosed seasonal affective disorder this winter during which I spent an inordinate amount of time slumbering 'neath the duvet covers, I have decided that it's high time to spew more of my senseless prattle into the netosphere. The real inspiration for the comeback is that I wanted to ooze multitudes of love and affection for Ben Gibbard and his stellar solo act that I caught last night at the TLA. Ben is the dreamy lead singer of "Death Cab for Cutie" and the (thus far) one-time ensemble "Postal Service." I do believe I love the man. (Yes, there are one or two of us 30-somethings that are still prone to schoolgirl crushes.) He's grounded, funny, and has voice clearer than a bottle of Evian. I loved the quirky way he constantly adjusted his glasses while playing the piano for "Soul Meets Body," and how he wrote a cheat sheet of lyrics for his acoustic version of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

I was fated to experience Ben's musical genius last night. I have known about the concert for a couple months, but as usual, didn't think to get tickets until they were sold out. Even though I was tired as hell, I decided that I would just head over and hope someone was getting rid of their tickets because they couldn't go. So there's little old me standing in a crowd of mostly college age hippy type kids looking for someone with tickets. I stand in line, ticketless, pondering just how the hell I'm going to get in when a guy asks me if I need one. I nod yes and was about to ask how much when he tells me, "It's free." Fate, I tell you.

Well, hopefully I'll have more gushing about cute singers, belly-button gazing, and wtf? moments to post into the ether as we move through spring into summer. Ta ta!

Blech

2006-10-18T16:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'm back. (Hi Kathy! Hee hee.) I just thought I'd share this gross little tidbit with you. The 2-3 companies on the floor of our office building all share bathroom facilities here. I suspect some gal on the floor, possibly one of our own, is purging their lunch down the toilets. It's the second time this week I walked into the first stall & saw remnants of food coating the sides of the bowl. You can imagine my instant recoil and frantic exit from the stall. Let's all say in unison: "Ewwwwwwwwwwwww." Now I hope it's just someone with a gastrointestinal ailment & that's she's treating it with some good old Pepto. However, the "intactness" of the bits of foodstuff lead me to think otherwise--and that's just nasty & plain sad. There's no need for that, darling. Especially when I have to look at it while trying to take a simple pee. I know it's a sickness and I hope she gets help, if that's indeed what happening.

And a good day to you all.

Revived

2006-10-10T11:17:00.000-04:00

It was another weekend sojourn to the nation's capital to meet up with fam (2 sisters, bro in law, niece, & cousin). We were sight-seeing fools the entire time, fitting in a few museums and monuments into our 3 days.

Sunday was the big 10 mile run I've been gearing up for--what a fabulous day for a race. After the rain on Fri. and a chilly Sat., we were oh so lucky for the sunny skies and mild temperature. The course started & ended at the Pentagon and took us over a couple bridges, along the National Mall, around the Capitol, and was gloriously scenic, rivaling the half marathon route for Philly's Distance Run. I was going to use my mp3 player for a little motivation, but was glad I left it because running alongside my cousin for the first half of the race, the cheering crowds with their cowbells, and seeing my niece at the halfway point were plenty inspiration. Whenever I felt I was losing steam, I thought of all the people out there who aren't mobile like the rest of us--the handicapped, those with crippling illnesses, etc. and it gave me an extra boost of energy to run for them. In particular, several times during the run I thought of my sister's friend who recently succumbed to cancer, an active girl who probably would have enjoyed the race course just as much I was loving it.

We ended our weekend with another trip to Annapolis. They had a boat show going on so there were a lot of people milling about. The weather was still grand and we walked around Main Street and the Naval Academy for most of the day (a good thing for my muscles as they aren't as sore as I expected to be post-run.)

I pooped out early yesterday but today I feel especially alive and renewed. There's nothing like a dose of good times with your loved ones and a completing a physical challenge--all in one weekend!

Blog Slump

2006-10-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

Haven't been posting as regularly as I do. Actually, I haven't been do a whole lot of anything lately besides prepping for my run (T minus 6 days!!) I was just thinking this morning, as I stared at a novel sprawled on my bedroom floor, about how I haven't touched a book in weeks. I've been listening to music a lot though, recycling through a bunch of old tunes, and also moving through the Netflix queue. Maybe it's the onset of autumn & the new chill in the air. Lazy October days. My mind's a of big blob of goo.

Delete Delete Delete

2006-09-27T22:29:00.000-04:00

After this evening's run, I decided to throw in some stair runs up the Art Museum steps, Rocky-style for a little variety in the exercise routine. I was really huffin & puffin up those babies. On my second go-round, I noticed a guy--vaguely cute in the nanosecond I glimpsed him--on the top of the steps with his camera poised to snap my mug as I approached the top stair. I kinda gave him a "what the heck are you doing" look as he clicked a pic of me, gross & dripping sweat everywhere. So the next time up I notice he's following my ascent up the steps with his camera as if he's filming me on video. Now I'm freaked out coz I'm looking pretty nasty from my workout and this stranger is saving my image of nastiness in motion to his camera. Perfect. My pic or vid is going to end up on some website with a black rectangle over my eyes and a caption that reads "What not to wear in public when working out & sweating profusely" or something cruel of that nature. I cut out on my next set of stairs after that and headed home. Wherever you are, museum cameraman, be a good lad now and just erase all of that episode. Would be much appreciated. Thank you, thank you very much.

Clearing the old noggin

2006-09-25T12:23:00.000-04:00

This weekend was a quiet weekend of mental detox and enjoyment of the season's transition to fall in the city. My training for the Army race (2 weeks!) is going well--I feel a massive difference from when I started weeks ago. I'm still prone to episodes of narcolepsy if I stay in my apartment too long, but in general, the energy level has definitely perked up. Despite my resolve to get some job search/life change things done this weekend--procrastination mode set in & I ended up doing it this morning. Sadly, a life change for me just can't be accomplished in a weekend. But smelling the roses can.

Ok, that was boring. But what ya gonna do?

Mecca lecca hi mecca hiney ho.

It's all about the shoes

2006-09-20T14:11:00.000-04:00

I'm not much of a brand whore--everyone likes nice things, but my frugality (thanks Mom! And that's a very sincere thanks) and that pesky necessity of paying rent every month often overpowers my desire for a cute pair of Manolo Blahniks or a $200 pair of jeans (even if they make my ass look fabulous). This mindset also extends into my choice of athletic footwear--I usually pay $50-$70 for running shoes and almost never given weight to what type of shoe is good for my foot, whether it has cushioning, if it corrects supination/pronation, etc. But a couple weeks ago I decided to get another pair and went to a place that does gait analysis (a complex way of saying that they examine the wear on the bottom of your shoes and watch you run/walk a few meters to figure out how your feet land). The guy told me I needed a little more stability and brought out a couple pairs. I tried them on before telling him my price range--which turned out for the best. The first pair, an Asics Gel model, was the priciest but by far the most comfortable and conformed to the shape of my foot. I tried a few more pairs that he brought out that were cheaper, but I was sold. And I am dizzy in love with them. I have been running in them the past week or so and it's such a difference--lightweight and bouncy. I'm thinking of buying another couple pairs to last me over the next year or two. Never never never will I skimp on running shoes again. Love your feet, peoples!!!

It's cold and there are wolves out

2006-09-14T14:10:00.000-04:00

Dreary, dreary, dull and bleary. I really need to stop being so negative. I usually can keep the negativity in check but this weather is bringing my shit down. Down, I say. But supposedly the sun will come out, this weekend! Bet your bottom dollar that this weekenddddd...there'll be sun. Just one day with a healthy dose of sunshine-delivered vitamin D and I'll be oh so fine. And I get to see my baby niece in Atlanta. A light of hope shines before me... Ok, melodrama over. Move on along, nothing to see here.

It's a conspiracy

2006-09-12T15:34:00.000-04:00

Everyone is out to get me today. Usually it's only a handful of people, but today it's them & the rest of the world. Go away, harbringers of evil. Poof! You've disappeared.

Blisters and pain

2006-09-07T21:44:00.000-04:00

It's just about one month until the Army 10-miler and my feet are all kinds of beat up from a mix of increased mileage and new shoes. That, and I just think my legs and feet are wonky. I cut my run short today when the shin pain (it's baaaaaack) started in again. Argh--I hope I don't have to live with this forever. They say shin splints are a sign of weak calves. If I start bulking up my calves more, I'll end up looking like a German weightlifter. Hotness.

Ahoy, mateys

2006-09-05T12:14:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, lil sis and I trucked on down to Annapolis, MD, a short 30 min drive from DC (or 45 min if you get lost going thru downtown.) Annapolis is of course home to the famous US Naval Academy but also boasts a quaint little downtown complete with a postcard perfect dock area and a bunch of unique boutiques and eateries lining Main Street.

The Naval Academy campus was quite impressive--well maintained with beautiful architecture and oozing with history. The cadets should feel lucky to take the chemistry courses and practice lacrosse at this place. We had to smile every time we passed the newly enrolled freshmen sporting their dress-whites all around town. (Class of 2010? I am so very old old old.)

Photo credits: Annapolis Visitor's Bureau

The weather was extremely cooperative--clear skies, mild and breezy--encouraging us to spend most of our day in Annapolis: a brunch of Eggs Florentine & a crabcake sandwich (a must-we're in MD!) in a garden patio while playing a game of Scrabble (ok, ok, "ew" is not a word, but "ducting" definitely is), a game of frisbee on one of the practice fields on the USNA grounds, and a promenade through town while enjoying homemade local ice cream. So that's how it was: a simple, but thoroughly satisfying Labor Day in a Mid-Atlantic coastal town.

Drip drip drop

2006-09-05T12:14:00.000-04:00

I feel so gross right now. I just got in this morning from DC & had to wade thru all the puddles and raindrops to get to the office. Wearing low-heeled sling-backs. And carrying 3 bags. I'm just a big, soggy mess. Blechhh.

Flat cat

2006-08-30T22:55:00.000-04:00

I just saw an unlucky feline lying dead in the street as I was walking home. I hate cats, but I don't like seeing them as roadkill either. But rats, on the other hand, I really don't mind when their mangled carcasses are run over beyond all recognition. I saw another of the nasty rodents today at Rittenhouse while there were a shitload of people congregated tonight for a concert in the park. Fucking mite-infested, belly-crawling, music-loving beast. You go away now!

My indecision...

2006-08-29T14:47:00.000-04:00

...is slowly killing my inner lifeforce.

Whole Foods Hotties

2006-08-27T20:21:00.000-04:00

This is the next in a series of my boy crazy postings (see Dr. McDreamy and my own proposed Axe Clix commercial). Topic du jour (or nuit, as it were) is the vast number of hot hot hot and most likely single (and healthy!) men that roam the produce aisles and peruse the salad bar at the Whole Foods on 20th & Hamilton Blvd. OK, I'm certain we need to insert a fudge factor of at least 50% to account for those cuties who are gay (why are all gay men so damn good-looking!!?!--it is so unfair!); nonetheless, the eye candy is exceptionally abundant over there. I randomly kept bumping into the same cute guy as I made my way thru the store (wouldn't that be great if he was stalking me??! haha!)--we entered the store at the same time, stood next to each other picking through fruit at the peach bin, were side-by side while staring at the dairy items, and even ended up checking out at the same counter (tho there was some girl between us.) I'm going to have to head over there to stock up on cage-free chicken and soy milk every Sunday evening from now on. Yowsas!

Hooky

2006-08-23T14:37:00.000-04:00

My sister from GA flew into DC last night so I decided to head down there yesterday evening to meet up with her & my other sister for dinner with the intent of returning to Philly tomorrow morning in time for work. However, there were problems with planes/trains/automobiles so she didn't end up dining with us and arrived around midnight. I decided that I'd take the next day off to have lunch with her and also enjoy an unharried evening out tonight with my best gals. I spent this morning shopping for an outfit (and doling out cash I should not be spending!) so I could pop straight into work tomorrow morning without going home to change first. Priorities, priorities. (Don't worry, I'm an excellent bargain hunter.) I feel like a schlub for skipping out on work but the chance to spend time with my sisters is well worth any negative consequences. (Well, ask me again when I'm unemployed & homeless, trolling the trash bins for dinner.) Byah!!

Note: To fend off a little of my self-imposed guilt, I did spend an hour or so writing a few cover letters for some DC jobs. So there.

Army Run: Training Update

2006-08-22T15:53:00.000-04:00

My training routine for the DC race has been, in a word, sporadic. I've gotten to the point where I can run a few miles straight without stopping, but I believe that is in large part due to the milder weather we have been experiencing. The old shin hurts every so often, but it's a duller pain, nothing like the shooting, searing sensations I used to get. I still feel like a Clydesdale stomping along the path and am longing to regain that fleet footedness I've felt in the past. Age & gravity are slowly taking their toll. Only 51 more days. Yikes! Hoo, mama.

"These are the lives you'd like to lead..."

2006-08-21T16:29:00.000-04:00

So says Fallout Boy. This weekend was spent reflecting and rejuvenating on the sand, being silly with the girls, and listening to the whishing sounds of the waves on the shore in Sea Isle City. I'm not a regular to the Jersey Shore but have been a handful of times over the past few years--this was the first time in a long while I had been to the area for reasons other than a wild last minute hankering to play a hand of blackjack in AC. I didn't realize how much city life had frazzled me as of late until I was sitting on a beach chair, getting sunburnt, and not caring one damn about all the bothersome notions and worries that typically infiltrate my mind. It was pure and heavenly relaxation that only sunshine, fresh ocean air and the presence of good people can deliver. I was even chipper at work this morning, a rare occurrence indeed. Ahhh, the simple things in life; it's all about the simple things. Yes, I'm talking crazy--once all that ocean air that's intoxicated me has flushed out my system, I'll be back to my normal bitchy self.

Parapluies de Cherbourg: It "le sucks"

2006-08-15T11:38:00.000-04:00

I enjoy watching foreign films and when I received "Parapluies de Cherbourg" (or "Umbrellas of Cherbourg") from Netflix, I was doubly pleased to find out it was a musical--Gigi, Brigadoon, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers--love them. My expectations, alas, dithered away as I watched and listened with confusion to the first scene, set in a gas station. The dialogue was performed in a style called "recitative"--no rhyming, no particular standard cadence. So very strange. I couldn't get into it--I'm used to the grand MGM-style theatrical performances filmed by US directors with lavish sets, rows of gaily dressed chorus girls, and catchy tunes. I was wondering why on earth this came up in my recommendations & I looked it up online to find out the damn thing won the Palm D'or @ Cannes in 1964 (63?). WTF? My, how tastes have so greatly changed.

"Everything is Illuminated"--not so much

2006-08-11T09:32:00.000-04:00

The first few pages of the novel "Everything is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer were guffaw-out-loud funny, they being written from the point of view of a Yiddish narrator, Alex, in awkwardly formal English peppered with colloquial idioms. "I had performed recklessly well in my second year of English at university. This was a very majestic thing I did because my instructor was having shit between his brains." But I'm barely 30 pages in and I need to put it down because it's just all over the place. After the Yid-glish intro, it went into a story about a newborn child that floated to the surface of a river after a horse-drawn cart with her parents careened into the drink. Then it described a ceremony by Jewish elders who held ceremonies to determine her fate. There was chanting and shouting and general chaos, and finally I just couldn't do it. I tried, but I think I need something with a straightforward story & sequence to process right now. I'll have to come back to it. I'm just going to rent the movie with Elijah Wood in it and finish "In a Sunburnt Country" by Bill Bryson, a hilarious account of his sojourn through the country/continent of Australia. I had to chortle when he described the unfortunate event of an Aussie Prime Minister's drowning as "The Swim That Needs No Towel." I got halfway thru a couple months ago (was reading 3 of his books at the same time and got B.B. overload even though his writing absolutely drives me to tears) and retreived it from under my bed the other day. I looked like a damn fool in the park during lunch yesterday shaking with laughter while reading it. Try it, you'll like it. Even love it.

Shout outs to some musical artistes

2006-08-08T11:31:00.000-04:00

Spent another weekend in DC with the sis and got a chockful of live music at a couple bars in the Arlington area. Friday night we chanced upon a cover performer from Delaware, Paul Lewis, at an Irish bar, Molly Malone's, He had a pretty varied repertoire--slow versions of Prince's "Seven" and Robbie Williams' "Millenium" were both nice twists on the originals. Was enjoyable, sing-a-long background noise that went well with our cold brews. Sunday night, we stopped by a joint called "Galaxy Hut," a cave of a bar/restaurant that regularly hosts live acts in its intimate space (48 bodies max). We grooved to the tunes of two alternative country acts, New Heathens from New York and June Star from Baltimore. I'm not a huge country fan, but the drums and electric guitars certainly took away the honky-tonk twang found in mainstream C/W. The New Heathens sounded a bit like 'Gin Blossoms lite' and some of the lyrics made wanna say "huh?" (I wish I could remember a sampling), but overall not bad--hell, anyone who can get up & sing in front a crowd of 15 people & act like he's playing to a stadium deserves all kinds of kudos in my book. June Star's music was by far the better of the two--the front man's voice was nice & gravelly and the lyrics were headier. I love watching bands in small settings like this because you get a chance to talk to the performers. They feel comfortable enough to share on a personal level as well. For example, June Star's lead singer suggested several times during the show that the audience should peruse the book they just bought, "Penis Pokey." It's in the format of a children's book, only it has a big hole in the middle. Use your imaginiation. (I prayed that it hadn't been used as we flipped thru it, snickering.) Anyway, another lovely sejour in DC, tunes included.

The saga ends

2006-08-04T12:40:00.000-04:00

After my last post, the pretzel guy calls later that night. I screen both calls. Then a text to meet up in the city. Then another call. I finally answer with an annoyed, "Whuuuuuuuuuuuut? I'm home already. We could have hung out earlier when I was out at happy hour." So we go back & forth: he didn't want to meet me with all my friends around, I didn't want to meet up with him alone coz of all his off-color comments, he says it's just the way he jokes, I tell him that it's funny a couple times but then girls think you're a perv, he apologizes and he'd still like to meet up & that he's coming to the city, tell him I still don't want to meet up alone--sounds like too much of a date and I'm not big on dates, he says don't think of it as a date, let's just go get coffee. I submit & tell him just to meet him at the bar around the corner from me.

Turns out he's harmless. Just a regular guy who is ready to settle down. He was easy to talk to, but he managed to interlace a series of queries that are straight from a "how to find a girlfriend" handbook. What kind of music I like, do I cook, do I like dogs, do I like sports, etc. After he asked me if I liked to cook, I asked him if he had a list of questions in his back pocket that he was working from. Sheepish grin, then he jokingly reaches back & feigns a search for the list. The only common links that surfaced were that we both liked playing Scrabble and "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." (He gave me Vince Vaughn, I gave him Richard Gere, then I fumbled on Gene Hackman.)

He sent one final text--"thanks, had fun hanging out"--but I didn't respond. He was a nice guy, we had a good talk (interview), and I feel a little bad for poking fun and pre-judging. But I still hate dating. The end.

Slaving away in the office

2006-08-02T16:10:00.000-04:00

Latest text banter between me & pretzel boy from an earlier post (yes, I am deathly bored and have nothing better to do):

This morning:
Pretzel boy (PB): Hot enough for ya?

After no immediate reponse:
(PB): Sorry 2 bother u

This afternoon:
Moi: no worries—and yes, its africa hot out here

(PB): I was just being facisious (his spelling)

Moi: missed that—i guess facetiousness doesnt translate well to text msg

(PB): :) are we meeting up tonite?

Moi: sure—if you wanna hang out with a bunch of chicks. Brasserie on Walnut

(PB): i thought we were going out?

Moi: just come out for a drink—no one will bite you

(PB): i was kinda hoping you would :)

Moi: oh boy—u need to chill. i’m all for hanging out but first you need to stop with the innuendo, romeo

(PB): Ha ha! U love the attention! Whats the name of the place you’ll be at & what time?

Moi: It’s cute for a minute then quickly gets old. U sure u wanna meet up? I don’t think our agendas r the same

(PB): I was just havin fun!

(PB): I’m looking 4 a girlfriend, wat is your agenda? (this dude is a piece o' work)

Moi: lol-- i just wanna have a beer and wax philosophical about life

(PB): OK…now I know your* weird! (*his spelling)

ALERT, ALERT! Tall, attractive entrepreneur type. Skilled in double entendre and calling without leaving a message. Looking for a girlfriend who he can take for walks on the beach and for who he can cook 3 course meals. Can be located in Citizen's Bank Park near pretzel stand.

Guess who's doing the Army 10 miler?

2006-08-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

I have been scouring the bulletin boards at the Army 10-miler (the nation's largest 10 mile race!) website for the past couple months in the hopes that a registration slot from someone who could no longer run the race would open up since I didn't get around to signing up before the race sold out in June. My cousin is flying in from Cali to run it and had been bugging me to sign up before it ran out. Of course, I sat on it in my usualy procrastinator fashion. But today, I scored and will be running with 20,000+ others in DC come this October. Hoo-ah! I think the shin injury is healed up enough (jinx!!) for this endeavor. 67 days til race time--I need to get my butt in gear.