It's 2002. How about that?

JT-You still in DC? Or are you back in Buffalo? How're things up there? The reports I hear sound just amazing. I hope everything's okay.

I started the Congo line at Christmas dinner.

I knew my trip to Michigan had gone well.
I arrived Sat. night at Ted's family's house around 2am (he and his sister had come to the Detroit airport to give me a ride to Midland). And his parents even woke up to tell me hello before stumbling back to bed (though first offering me wine and food if I wanted it). It's nice to get to make a first impression when you're hosts are barely awake.

Here are the highlights from the trip:

Sunday - a siteseeing tour of Midland. Or as my dad asked "there's more than one sight?" Ted drove me by his high school (isn't that a law when you bring someone home), we walked around some community gardens, brrr, and went to a science display at the center for the arts. There was a room for appreciating different types of music. We got up and danced during it. Swing, interpretive, and when the score from Chariots of Fire came on, I did slow motion running around the sound-proof room. Luckily the place wasn't too crowded, or I'm sure we would have drawn an audience. That night I met some of his high school friends and went to see Lord of the Rings. I really liked the movie though at three hours I was a bit tired of sitting through the fight scene, bit of exposition, fight scene, bit of exposition, fight scene plot. I met a bunch of Ted's old friends. One of his friends, when I was talking about what time cartoons were on, told Ted "She's a keeper!"

Monday - It snowed!! I felt like I was inside of a snow globe. I coerced Ted into a snowball fight and then made probably the world's smallest snowman. It was maybe 8 inches high (it hadn't snowed that much - but I was determined to enjoy winter activities) We went to a big Xmas eve party at his parent's friends house that night. Ted was Santa. Though his Santa developed a Romanian accent and had a hard time keeping up the pillow used to make his jolly belly. So Santa was ho, ho, hoing and at the same time hitching up his pants. I ate a lot of vodka infused Michigan cherries. A fine treat. And did some dancing. I learned the pasta dance. Something you do when you're presenting a plate of pasta to your guests. It was basically four minutes of bouncing around with a large plate. I loved it, though my calves needed a few days to recover. Some of the younger guests breakdanced. I got my swing fill in.

Tuesday - Ted's five year old nephew woke us up by knocking on the door and Ted's old enough to know better brother-in-law woke us up with a loud playing of Adam Sandler's Hanukah song (I guess, in my honor). And so many presents. I couldn't believe the generosity of his family. I now have new red sneakers with monkey faces on them. And new perfume and some jewelry and Michigan state shirts and these cool stockings his parents picked up in Italy. Well, I have a lot of thank you notes to write. His parents threw a big dinner that night and when Harry Belafonte came on over the stereo, the Congo line was born.

Wednesday - nothing but sitting around while different friends of different family members dropped by to visit. Apples to Apples was played, a hit as that game always is. More eating. More drinking. A short nap. And then back to the airport and a return home.

It's nice to be in a house for one instead of sharing space with 10 people.
I think the visit went well. "Everyone loved you!" one of the guests told me. That's nice to know. I guess I passed.

I had a pretty swell Christmas myself. It was a bit different this year than in years past. Since my grandmother has been ill, we've been trading Christmas morning breakfast duty between my aunt and uncle's house and my parent's house. This year it was the parent's turn. So we had full house Christmas morning. And this is the first year that we've had Meredith and Grace around and that was nice. I don't know what her family does for Christmas but it was a busy, busy Christmas day for us and for her. I think she had fun.

Last night, I got to babysit Grace while Thad and Meredith went out to eat. That was nice. It's never been just she and I for very long. We had a good time. We watched some of the new Almost Famous DVD and then she went to sleep.

Tonight, my uncle Scott and his wife went to a movie and left his kids with my parents and I. We're Babysitting Central over here. But, it was funny. Sarah is a crazyass two year old and Christopher is only four weeks old. He looks like a little pink Yoda.

After they left my mom and I went to see the 10:15 show of Ocean's Eleven on an impluse. She doesn't have to go to work tomorrow.

Then I get an email from Benji telling me that we may have two new shows in January. Yeah! (One is at Greg's house, Upma. Know anything about this?)

I watched more of Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love today than I would thought myself capable of.

When I get back to Greensboro, I have to make Thad a Best of Kiss: 1980-1989 cd. I'm looking forward to this with frightening joy. I (heart) Kiss. Especially the corny eighties years.

I've discovered the address of my very dear and totally estranged friend, Meagan Jolliffe, and I want to write her. What do you say to someone you haven't spoken to in four years? We didn't part on bad terms. But, we became friends during a really bad time and we've always had kind of a war buddy relationship. Benji says we might play Wilmington, which is where she lives now. I'd really like her to come to the show. I guess that's a good way to bridge the years.

My mom gave me Peanuts: A Golden Celebration and Peanuts: The Art of Charles Shultz for Christmas because I've been trumpeting the genius of Shultz very loudly lately. Both books are just wonderful. I think they're kind of pricey, so only buy them if you're hooked. Instead, you guys have got to go to Barnes and Noble and read some of them. Art Spiegleman said a Peanuts cartoon is like a haiku. I couldn't agree more. The best ones (and they're not all winners, of course) are beautiful. Minimal, lyrical and totally, totally brutal. Read The Art of... for, duh, the art. The strip selection is weaker in that one, because the authors focus on the drawings. Chris Ware (of Jimmy Corrigan fame) lent his collection of strips for the book. A Golden Celebration has funnier, and generally better, strips collected.

Hey, the Beach Boys and I wish you happy holidays!
Feed the goat!

Upma - congrats - knock 'em dead again. You are golden!!
Angie - thanks. Now I just have to survive true winter weather. Meaning, my southern ass has no business in below freezing weather. Layering is practical, yet so stifling. Mike, how long have you lived in Boston? Does the cold get to you? When I applied to colleges, I wouldn't even apply north of the mason-dixon line. And - I echo the sentiments "$1000 tip, hot damn!"
Weezie - I'm curious. Have you been writing much lately? I'd still love to read anything you've done on the side that you'd like to share. I'm sure you could make a grocery list poetic.
Speaking of, here is my grocery list:
1) airplane luxury kit: bottled water, yummy snacks and trashy magazines for the flight tomorrow
2) whatever I want to eat for breakfast tomorrow before I throw most of the contents of my fridge in the trash so it won't smell something awful when I return in five days
3) something for a "let's get together and make dinner tonight" thing with my friend who is a spent time in Italy and can make something out of a nothing-pantry cook
This work day is draaaaaggggggging.
Mike - Ethan's my boy. But who do you think'll take it all?

Upma - I took a whole class at UT that you just summed up in your one paragraph on not judging a movie by its book. Very well put. I went and saw Ocean's 11 last night. I love me a good caper. I plan on seeing LOTR sometime over the weekend. I read it long enough ago that I just have vague memories of most of the scenes except for the ones with Preciousss, those stuck with me. I leave Saturday for Michigan and will be there through Wednesday. I'm a mix of nerves and excitement over that. It seems too early to meeting parents, yet, things like this can be as big as you decide you want them to be. I'm taking the it's not that big of a deal but an opportunity to get to know Ted better and see a state I've never been to stance. The gift exchange among friends continues. Some fun loot I've received:
1) Fat Mama's Knock you Naked margarita mix (from a friend I'm throwing a fallen southern belle party with in january)
2) black faux suede running shoes with a white kitty kat face in place of laces (these are never leaving my feet)
3) the Tingler (it sounds dirtier than it really is i.e. - it's this metal claw thing for massaging your head, ahhh, heaven)
And I've had fun doing the gift making/shoping this year as well. For Ted, I went around town and took pictures from places he likes to go and made a combination photo/gift "day in his life" The 7:30am gift had a polaroid transfer photo of a coffee cup and then a robot shaped alarm clock, a male grooming kit, etc. Then I had one for 12 noon and one for 9:45pm. It was so much fun to work on. Speaking of work, back to finding photos of obscure German authors. Have a happy holiday everyone.

Actually, I'm finding that people who've never read the books are enjoying the film more. so maybe you should see it first. Although, I am in no way suggesting that you shouldn't read the book. Of course, they are way better than the film in ways that don't really compare.

I got a chance to see Lord of the Rings last night. It was dope.

Angie - so my friend Paul (the host of the aforementioned party) sent out a recap of the event:

"Well, a big hearty Nixon thanks to all who attended the Nixon in China gala. For those who didn't make it, such an epic, classic feat was as once-in-a-lifetime as was the actual Nixon and Mao summit. But just because it's fun, let's recap the event.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Authentic Mao decor provided by Stephanie Mo.
Many guests in theme-inspired dress.
One actual ninja in attendance.
Hasty decorating by Richard and Katelijne.
Exciting Apples to Apples hilarity, provided by Stephanie F and dominated by Kelly.
Tasty dinner and desserts, and Mao-tinis: "the chairman's choice!"
A "Monkey vs Robot" viewing.
A phone call from the moms: "I can't believe you called your mother from your party."
LOWLIGHTS:
During the first 30 minutes of the party, more coughing than a tuberculosis field hospital at the battle of the Somme.
Japanese Ovaltine."

Upma - good luck! It sounds like the whole weekend had good mojo.
So Friday night I went to a few theme parties - my favorite: the "Nixon goes to China" one. I got to eat duck, flip through Mao's little red book, drink out of a Presidential glass collection glass, eat weird Asian candy, but left before the Godzilla movies/old Iron Chef episodes screening started. (so not everything went strictly with the theme, but it was still great)
Saturday I had the green slime photo shoot for work. (8th grade girl playing around with slime). That slime dyed my entire right hand green for the next 48 hours. It was a bit freakish. That night Ted and I went to the Nutcracker. I love that during intermission, all the dressed up little girls in the audience dance around, inspired. I was tempted to do a few pirouettes myself. I was supposed to go to a show that night (Silver Scooter's last one ever), but fell asleep instead. Tired out by watching other people dance, I guess. Yesterday I worked on making polaroid transfers (part of a few people's gifts) with my friend Beverly for about 9 hours. Then did wrapping of gifts, making sure to have a few extras this year so I'm prepared when people have something for me.

No, I've never seen it. I can't imagine that it would be that great of a movie if it was just based on the plot of the song. The plot isn't as remarkable as the tone and character of the narrator.

Just had a great lunch. Vegan sloppy joes, will you be my valentine?

Nothing else happening in my life.

Good vibes to Upma, who interviews today.

Guys, start a band. People say totally nice things to you when you're in a band. Tonight, between songs, some person I've never seen before said, "You're a good band!" to us. Thank you, stranger! It was a great show.

I think "Highway Patrolman" is my favorite song on Nebraska, with "Nebraska" a close second. But, jeez everything on there is classic. "Mansion on the Hill" on the new live album is incredible. Just floored me when I saw him perform it. If you like the Nebraska style song writing check out "My Hometown" on Born In the USA or "Stolen Car" on The River and Tracks or "the Promise" on 18 Tracks. I am without words to describe these songs. But, my favorite Springsteen song is "the River." He never wrote a better song than that.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I'm turning 26. I'm staring my thirties dead in the eye.

I have no idea what constitutes a high-maintenance woman. I suppose I know a few who seem high maintenance, but far be it for me judge them so.

Angie - I haven't seen those musicians, sorry. And who from NOLA were you hanging with? Happy Lauren?

Spent the weekend eating cheese and working.
Friday night - fondue, a total spread, heaven. And then a birthday party after.
Saturday day - working - returning photos to sources, then out for a super fantastic dinner meeting my friend Lorrie's new swain. He's a charmer.
Sunday day - made green slime for work, had some issues with cornstarch clumpiness, had a volcano explosion when attempting to put failed slime down disposal, went to afternoon photo shoot with bits of green slime attached to shirt and pants. Was a hand model for mood ring photo shoot, played in the studio. Ate queso.

I'm Monet's Waterlilies.

I went here to find out "What Work of Art I'd be"

http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~mar/tests/art/

The answer:

You are Pablo Picasso's Three Musicians.

You are colourful and provoking, always looking to break out of the mould and to pioneer new ways of doing things. You have a jaunty outlook and although you are a bit weird, most people have some idea what you're about.

I loved Amelie. Upma - you were so right. I walked out of there on a cloud.
Today I get to go to the toy store for work to buy ten mood rings and other heat sensitive products for a photo shoot going on later.

Upma - tell me more about your digital camera! - and what are you going to use it for? Post some stuff up when you get a chance - maybe of you three bloggers on the town?
My latest toy is a Daylab 35 - it's used for making polaroid transfers. I spent all Saturday afternoon messing around in my kitchen with them. So far I only really like one or two out of the ten that I made, but hopefully that ratio will improve with practice (and the book I ordered with tips and techniques).
I'm going to go see Amelie tonight.
Tomorrow night I am hanging out with a fellow photo dork and taking pictures at night around town.
Thursday I'm going to a Pictionary playing/drinking hot chocolate party. Friday is fondue night and then a birthday party.
Angie - I'd love to hang out if you get some free time while you're here. Given how busy the week is so far, I'm not sure what the rest of my weekend will be like, but send me an email closer to your visit and maybe it'll all work out.
Weezie - I want to read anything you'll write. I'm sure it'll be fantastic.
Upma - your lady comment made me think of a (perfectly serious) comment a co-worker made to me. She had been watching a vintage Oprah episode (circa 1983, I believe). According to Oprah's expert, boys like it when you're a bitch to them and when you wear skirts.
Take that for what you will. Nothing like generalizations to get you through the day.
So time to head off to the gym. My friend Lorrie and I are thinking of writing some articles about our gym conversations. We've had gym staff come over to us (more than once) since we're giggling so loudly like little kids and want to know what on earth we're talking about (which is usually something we can't tell them at least not without a serious fit of giggles - shelly, it reminds me of tofu's "like a ninja" comment in computer science class senior year that got us sent to the hall) Though then again maybe those conversations wouldn't interest the outside world. It is a lot of boy talk/state of the world/various torture and pleasure from interpersonal relationships, day in the life, and theories.