Just Another Manic Wednesday

Ah, Wednesday, production day. I have given up on trying to finish my column for this week considering I'm so far past deadline. There's always next week.

I saw a great show last night. . . I would post a photo but I have used up my space for March on my Flickr site. Maybe in April. Anyway, Jason Martin, darling of Troy, put on a really fun set at the bookstore. And John Brodeur opened. (We won't discuss Brodeur's website--let's just say it's not indicative of his talent.) I really wish that boy would get his new CD pressed and packaged. It's so good, and nobody knows.

So I have made it to the gym everyday before work except for yesterday. I woke up feeling completely ill, and spent the morning puking (fun) and therefore I did not got to the gym. I made up for it this morning, though, with an extra half hour on weights.

In other news, I'm hungry, and I want sushi for dinner. Badly. I'll probably end up eating cereal, or rice and vegetables. Again. I need some variety in my diet.

P.S. I cannot wait for this book to come out. I've had my copy reserved for months.


Conversation going on in my office right now:
Rick: "Anyone know where Lisben, New York is?"
John R.: "Portugal."

I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie

This is hysterical.

Pink Pants Day

I had an explosive confrontation with an irate club owner last night (Kate, call me for details). I actually got kicked out of his bar! I have never been kicked out of a bar in my life. Well, I guess there really is a first time for everything. He was really, really angry about something I wrote, but his rage is unfounded, to say the least. I wonder if he even read the article. . .

Today, Friday, March 25, marks the end of one whole work week during which I made it to the gym every morning before work! I am very pleased with myself. I am wearing pink pants today. They are a great pick-me-up. I recommend them to everybody. . . well, maybe just for the ladies.

Proud Kitty Owner

Jonah
Originally uploaded by kathrynjo.

This is what my cats do every time I'm about to go away. They're smart little critters. They think that if they lay in my suitcase, I won't be able to pack it. This is a picture of my sweet big fat cat Jonah. I also have a little black cat named Sam. She's adorable. I'll post a pic of her sometime in the near future. If they were human, Jonah would be the more conservative of the two. Sam wears her heart on her sleeve and is not shy about wanting to be loved and adored.

Bookworm

For those of you keeping score, this morning marks three days in a row that I have made it to the gym before work! I am very proud of myself.

I bought three new books last night. Enduring Love by Ian McEwan, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, and Roscoe by William Kennedy. I had originally gone to buy McEwan's new book Saturday, but ended up with these three instead. I hear that Anna Karenina is quite boring, but I figure it's a classic, and I should read it eventually. I will not read any of them for quite a while considering I am a quarter-way through a book I am deeply enjoying, Independent People by Nobel Prize-winning Icelandic author Halldor Laxness.

Ah well, I'll get to them in time.

Very Important Announcement

I went to the gym BEFORE work today! This is a very exciting accomplishment for me. I awoke at 6:25, was at the gym by 6:45, and home by 8. . . shower, breakfast, making of the bed and feeding of the cats followed, then work by 9:15. Damn, that felt good. Now let's see if I can repeat this all tomorrow. . .

For the Waitresses

I'm convinced that having been a waitress for many years has helped build my character. At least that's what I tell myself. For years I was a full-time waitress, and for the last three (as long as I have been working at the paper) I have been part-time. Being a waitress has definitely helped define the kind of person I am, and I'm sure it's at least partly due to the profession that I have a hell of a lot of patience. The other day I read an article from The New York Times that my grandmother had clipped and sent to me about being a server, and about how servers can often be writers, or bloggers, or website-posters, so beware of how you treat your server because who knows if they're logging in late at night (maybe after you've stiffed them on a tip) and bitching about you online. I checked out a couple of the websites they reference, and I have been getting the biggest kick out of them. To read these server (and chef) rants, go to bitterwaitress.com or stainedapron.com.

Just as I Suspected, Iceland Rocks

bl31
Originally uploaded by kathrynjo.

I just got back from Iceland. This is the beautiful Blue Lagoon, located outside Reykjavik. It was an amazing experience to swim here. It's a geothermically heated spa in the middle of this gigantic lava field. The water is milky with all the minerals and silica. It's fun to have your hair freeze while your body gets over heated in the hot water. I highly recommend everyone to get to this place.

I Hate the IRS

I am not happy with the way my taxes have turned out this year. I hate owing even more money to the government! Hate it! I was all ready to get my car paid off (I'm almost done with this loan, damn it) and instead of getting any money back, I owe them. I want to move to the Bahamas. I hear they don't have to pay taxes there. Screw 'em.

Free Screen Cleaner

This is quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen.

I'll Give You a Quarter to Transcribe My Interview For Me

I am procrastinating. I have a ton of transcription to do and I don't want to do it.

I'm getting sick! I've been drinking a ton of water and juice, eating healthily and working out like mad. So why am I getting sick? Maybe it's my body going through detox or something. Whatever it is, it's a pain in the ass.

I screwed up in my column this week--I wrote a blurb about an art show that the Underground Artists are putting on and forgot to put the date! It happens to be tonight. Luckily I can use the excuse that I'm helping keep the show "underground."

Anniversary

Twelve years ago today, my family fell apart.

Watch What You Say, Oscar

It is unbelievable how dumbed down the Oscars were on Sunday night. I was completely satisfied with the awards and recipients, but Chris Rock's monologue was not nearly as funny as it could have been for fear of offending anyone. For example (I heard this on Howard Stern this morning so who knows if this is accurate), when Rock said that Renee Zellweger had to put on 20 pound to play Bridget Jones, and that she'd have to put on another 80 pounds if she were to play Deacon Jones (which was a pretty old reference), he was supposed to say Star Jones instead. Interesting.

Read more on this.

Lyric of the Day

This isn't technically a lyric, but it is on the disc.

"For my next trick, I will paint my face on the Mona Lisa while using the Shroud of Turin as my dropcloth."
--Jim Carrey, on singing "I Am the Walrus" on a George Martin compilation disc.

Alright, Kate, I'm Updating. . .

I've had some hesitations about keeping this blog, but I've decided not to be ridiculous. So, upon the request of my girl Kate P., I am updating.

So I joined the gym finally, and I am addicted. I would love to be able to get up in the morning to go work out, but unfortunately, my attempts at being a morning person are futile at best. Therefore I have been working out in the afternoons. Hey, it's better than nothing.

On Friday night, Kate and I went to see Paranoid Social Club at E. O'Dwyer's in Saratoga Springs. It was a great show, but the crowd was obnoxious! I don't mean to sound old, but when you have to practically mosh in order to keep standing upright, it gets annoying. People were throwing strings of green plastic beads from the balcony; I had a lump on my head on Saturday as proof. I smelled like gin from at least three mixed drinks being poured on my jeans. And Kate got her sweatshirt stolen that she bought in London. People are asses.
(Look for a pic of the show in the paper on Thursday.)

This is a damn funny blog for those of you wishing to waste a bit of time at work.