artscape, otakon + employment

two weekends ago we went to gettysburg with our neighbor-friends and their fetus [yay babies!]. we drove through lots of monument-filled battlefields. it was eerie. it would have been even more eerie if it hadn't have been biker week. for lunch we ate some excellent pulled pork and pit beef at corbin's then drove home and were pooped.

last weekend was artscape and we got to see some awesome dancing, a human zoo, a mini rave and a great psychedelic band on the charles street bridge. it was also the weekend of a giant anime convention, which was pretty much the best people watching experience ever. friday we walked henry up to federal hill and on the way drank margaritas and watched the surreal mix of the usual baltimoreans and teens dressed in frilly costumes and boys with swords mingle. then we bought takeout lithuanian beer from the harbor way in and went to zellas. saturday after artscape we drank cans of pbr and G+Ts at club charles then walked home and drank some more at zellas.. that was the third time that week we closed the bar there. go us.

yesterday i found out i got a job!.. a two week temp placement doing production and design work. i start next week and it will be about 19.5 months since my last actual graphic design job. halleluja.

i love you mark bittman
i will soon take my first baltimore bus ride
i can't wait for the babies to come!
i want my cat to stop shedding all over my shit
i love you sweet corn and i love you cherries
i like how these people think
i bought a tiny suede leopard print fanny-pack/belt

did you know that alan thicke is robin thicke's father? this changes everything..

halloween, 80s style

my sister robin has posted some of our more memorable halloween costumes on facebook. minnie mouse was my favorite.. in '86 i was a cheese ball.. why was the chest freezer in the living room?

snuggie on the street

watch your back via NYT

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100 abandoned houses by kevin bauman

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two stories on toilet tissue: 1, 2

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unfortunate names

MI, money + mcgiver

being an adult is not as great as i expected it to be. it is awkward being in the same job pool as my parents and especially being concerned for my family's financial future.

in 1995 we lived in hyde park, NY and my dad worked at IBM, as did many of my classmates' parents. when they went bust my dad lost his job. over the summer, half the neighborhood moved out of state and my family was off to MI. my dad was lucky enough to find work at GM. 13 years later we're getting deja vu. our neighbor, an engineer at chrysler with a large family, was forced to take a buy out. my father in law decided to retire early after being offered a ford buyout two years ago. my father has lost half of his colleagues and fears his job will not survive past the end of the year.

i understand that much of the country does not have the perspective of those of us in MI. i also understand why america is so ant-socialist. those who start with nothing and earn things through hard work [or luck], the "american way," may not sympathise with those who need help, even if their situation is unavoidable. i was lucky enough to hold a national insurance card with my name on it. i also paid the taxes to fund it and, although i complained at the size of my paycheck, it was worth it. i did not having the fear i have now. last night i was cutting onions very carefully.. imagining chopping my finger off and having to give myself stitches, mcgiver style.

anyhow, i don't claim to be a economic or political expert, or even skilled writer. i'm sure my posts routinely reflect this. i do know we are lucky peter found a seemingly stable job. that's really all i was trying to say.

now that thanksgiving week is over i have gotten back into the delirium that is life without a job. the only reason i know what day it is is by what shows are on tv. oprah and dr. oz have convinced me i have ocd. i am a housewife with a stay-at-home husband and no kids.

besides watching a nauseating amount of daytime tv, i have been preparing to dispute a collection that is now being reflected in my credit report. this collection is tied to an unfortunate exacto knife accident that took place on thanksgiving-eve 2006 [thankfully i DID have insurance then]. for some reason i kept getting bills for the [worker's comp-covered] visit ER instead of my workplace.. even after i pointed out it was their bill to pay they took their sweet time paying, hence the collection. so, because i would like to be able to get a loan and purchase a home someday i need this fixed.

next week we are going to look for a place in baltimore. we have both been browsing apartments online and there are lots of hardwood floored, stooped, semi non-creepy row homes available. i can't wait to move in to a place and not move out a year later.

sorry much of this makes no sense.. here are some more coherent things to read:

the most dangerous cities have the worst NFL team
this is why people like me are afraid of guns
detroit schools have fewest students enrolled since WWI
does anyone else remember the lady who used to live here? greta really liked to wear scarves..
i have this book..
and this one too!

the final countdown

we will be home in t minus 19 days.
we will be hosting a [very long overdue] early fall waffle gathering.

hooray!

santogold + spilling beers

we are just home from seeing the fantastical santogold, spilling beverages and eating french fries. she was excellent. i apologize to the girl infront of me that i sloshed beer on for the last couple hours. it was very difficult to contain myself. and, yes, i do know her. being american and all. we all know one another. especially the the black people. we're all related.

jazzercse at its finest

just in from a day exploring york and a few minutes wandering around leeds. they are playing "perfect" on tv. peter and i just wsaw the longest, most awkward aerobics scene.. featuring jamie lee cutis and john travolta's package. i recommend it with no reservations.

alright.. update. now there is a male stripper. ***** [that is my rating out of five stars]. now his is moon-walking. wearing a jock-strap. thrusts.... wooooooo.