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I've been listening to Humble Cub. You should, too.

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Watched this last night. You should watch it, too. Adaptation of a Roald Dahl book by Wes Anderson featuring the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson. Do I really need to say more?

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Nostalgic lately...

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Something oddly comforting about this whole song.

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Went to the fair with my best friend yesterday. It was fun until our stress levels skyrocketed.

We scored a free elephant ear, shopped around the merchants, ate some food, looked at the sheep, and I also played some games. Around the time we got to the sheep, both of us started to near panic mode. We both hate crowds. After that, it was a mad rush for me to use up my tickets and for us to score sugary foodstuffs and beverages before hitting the road.

I didn't go on the rides I wanted because by the time we neared them, I knew it was no longer a good idea. Even just the swings or haunted house would have put me far over the edge. We did the "fun house", but that apparently wasn't so great an idea, either.

But we did have some good fun. And I got some cool stuff: A frog scraper, a frog necklace, a Lady Gaga poster (thanks, dart game!), a Little Mermaid bracelet, the New Testament IN SPANISH (for FREE! from those Gideon people!), etc. And today, I finished my M&M-covered caramel apple for breakfast, and I have been periodically digging into my cotton candy bag.

But even as much fun as we did have, I now remember what kept me from going to the fair for the past decade or so. Of course, like I remarked to my friend on the relaxing ride back, what really counts is that we left the place alive and still friends.

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Blast from the past.

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Blackbird Blackbird – Pure (official music video) from Isaac Bauman on Vimeo.

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My Subway sandwich.

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They made a trailer?! Sweet. Now you HAVE to go see it, right?

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This video is just plain awesome. No more need be said.

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(Photo: Ben Heine)

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It's this woman's birthday. I took that as an excuse to post a purdy picture.

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(Photo: amanda.k)

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(Photo: amanda.k)

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(Photo: Jonathan Cargill)

I keep listening to this song. Please ignore the video. Just listen.

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Bitch

by Carolyn Kizer

Now, when he and I meet, after all these years,
I say to the bitch inside me, don’t start growling.
He isn’t a trespasser anymore,
Just an old acquaintance tipping his hat.
My voice says, “Nice to see you,”
As the bitch starts to bark hysterically.
He isn’t an enemy now,
Where are your manners, I say, as I say,
“How are the children? They must be growing up.”
At a kind word from him, a look like the old days,
The bitch changes her tone; she begins to whimper.
She wants to snuggle up to him, to cringe.
Down, girl! Keep your distance
Or I’ll give you a taste of the choke-chain.
“Fine, I’m just fine,” I tell him.
She slobbers and grovels.
After all, I am her mistress. She is basically loyal.
It’s just that she remembers how she came running
Each evening, when she heard his step;
How she lay at his feet and looked up adoringly
Though he was absorbed in his paper;
Or, bored with her devotion, ordered her to the kitchen
Until he was ready to play.
But the small careless kindnesses
When he’d had a good day, or a couple of drinks,
Come back to her now, seem more important
Than the casual cruelties, the ultimate dismissal.
“It’s nice to know you are doing so well,” I say.
He couldn’t have taken you with him;
You were too demonstrative, too clumsy,
Not like the well-groomed pets of his new friends.
“Give my regards to your wife,” I say. You gag
As I drag you off by the scruff,
Saying, “Goodbye! Goodbye! Nice to have seen you again.”

Just read this poem for homework. It's pretty good, and so true.

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(Photo: Chris Bennion)

So, A Doctor in Spite of Himself was amazing and hilarious. If you happen to be in Seattle, head over to Intiman and see it, now! It's totally worth it.

Memorable quotes include:
"...our village behind the big city, 'ich we call 'Enumclaw'." (country bumpkin)
"Laughter is the best medicine, that and Nyquil."
"So, would you say you became a doctor in spite of yourself?"
"I have no idea what the f*ck you just said."

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It occurred to me that I hadn't put in the good word for Cold Comfort Farm, yet. Having used this photo at my haircut appointment today, I think it prudent to spread the word: Good movie.

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(Photo: Intiman)

Can't wait to see this tomorrow.

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Just heard, thanks to a friend.

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Charles Bukowski, "70 Minutes in Hell"

Just found this at the library. Did not know it existed, much less that it was right here at my workplace. I'm so excited!

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(Photo: Michael Yamashita)

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This caught my eye as I was leaving campus just some minutes ago. I had to click a shot.

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(Photo: Copy Cat Chic)

I have one of these guys hanging from the rear-view mirror of my new car via a noose. Thank you, BigLots. It's five dollars well-spent, I'd say.

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I can't praise Lady Gaga enough. She's on FIRE! First that awesome spread in Vanity Fair, now she wins like 8 VMA's (7 of which were for "Bad Romance"). Go, girl.

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Happy Birthday, Fiona Apple! You're pretty fucking awesome.

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It's been a while! So here's some songs I've been into lately, just for you.
Note: The ones with asterisks beside them link to particularly interesting videos. The rest are just YouTube videos with pictures. I made the list because embedding them got messy, and I'm OCD.

Antony & the Johnsons, "Hope There's Someone" *
the Magnetic Fields, "You Must Be Out of Your Mind"
Martina Topely Bird, "Baby Blue" *
Perfume Genius, "Mr. Peterson" *
Cee-Lo Green, "Fuck You" *
Twin Shadow, "I Can't Wait"

Enjoy!

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Nice way to start the day.

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One of my classes this semester is Literature and the Environment. As part of our discussion today, our professor asked us when we had first percieved that the environment (the world we live in) was in a form of danger.

One person remarked about how she (back home) lived in the country, and she watched the land being parcelled out and divided and built over as a child.

Another commented on how, in kindergarten, it was impressed up him (and many of us) that the rainforest, though beautiful and full of life, was being destroyed and cut down.

I had to think really hard.

And this is what came to me:

When I was little, not more than five years old, I was out on the bay with my dad and I think a friend of his. We were motorboating around, having a good time. I liked to steer it in circles. We at lunch in the middle of the bay.

When I was done eating, I dropped my plastic fork in the ocean, not even thinking. My dad told me not to do that, that a fish would try to eat it and die. I was killing fishes. I love fish.

I was so ashamed.

And I really, looking back on it, think that that was the first time I realized that we -- humans -- have the capacity to negatively affect the environment.