"Outage on the Island" written by Twisted on estrip.org

12/05/04 03:24 - ID#36463

Outage on the Island

Power just went out for an hour, at least on my part of the island. Luckily I have my trusty non-electronic Lego phone for just such an emergency. I love my Lego phone.

It even has a handy drawer for pen and pad, or spare Legos.

Yeah, I guess I could have just used my cell phone to call Alameda Power & Telecom. That would have been boring.

Update 12/11/04 - turns out a squirrel was the culprit.

Permalink: Outage_on_the_Island.html
Words: 95
Location: San Francisco, CA

Category: holiday

12/04/04 11:40 - ID#36462

Lighted Yacht Parade

Sometimes it's fun living on an island.

Permalink: Lighted_Yacht_Parade.html
Words: 9
Location: San Francisco, CA

Category: music

12/02/04 11:42 - ID#36461

Don't let's start

Come to think of it, my brother saw TMBG[inlink]paul,2467[/inlink]in Atlanta many years later and said the show kinda sucked (harsh words for my brother). Who knows, maybe it worked out for the best for him. But the thing I regret is letting a stupid reason keep me from going. I'd rather regret his first 18+ show sucking[inlink]twisted,86[/inlink]than not having done it. I guess it's all about me, after all.

More to say, but I seem to be stuck in this estrip time warp. Which reminds me -

Oh my gosh! I have to see that. Christopher Guest=genius also. (Non-sequitor, I know. So sue me.)

p.s. - the would-be 18+ show would have been in 1996. I saw them totally by accident around 1989 (a friend's band was opening for them, I had no idea who they were at the time). As soon as they start playing I turned to my friend and said "these are the guys who play 'Don't Let's Start,' which of course they were. That was a great show by TMBG. I think it's the only one I ever saw, though.

p.p.s. - I don't expect anybody to give a shit about this. Maybe it's time I hit the donation button in payment for the group therapy.

Permalink: Don_t_let_s_start.html
Words: 213
Location: San Francisco, CA

Category: family

12/01/04 02:01 - ID#36460

Depravity

Hmmm. There could be something to that.[inlink]drchlorine,63[/inlink] Can't comment further at the moment - have to pick up my sister[inlink]twisted,56[/inlink] in 10 minutes. ;-)

I wish I could be there though. I would be if I could. Have fun.

So my friend Kathy offered me two tickets to Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker tonight (she won them on the radio but can't go). This reference in the BBC review

was enough to convince me I wanted to go:

The boys in their tight white pants with braces reminded me of Freddie Mercury! Bourne takes his inspiration from many sources and loves creating roles for male dancers - so is this a homage to iconic Freddie?

I thought I had given up worrying what other people might think/feel/want (ok, not entirely), but now I'm wondering if my sister would be into this or not. Oh what the heck.

For some reason this reminds me of my brother's 18th birthday - my parents gave him a flight to Boston to stay with me for the weekend. We did the midnight Rocky Horror, Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation festival

, and saw the movie

Leaving Las Vegas. I wasn't trying to find the most depraved events going on that weekend, it just worked out that way. In fact, the main thing I wanted to take him to would have been his first 18+ show - They Might Be Giants. Not going is my biggest concert regret ever. It's not every lifetime you get to let down your brother on his 18th birthday.

Permalink: Depravity.html
Words: 278
Location: San Francisco, CA

Category: holiday

11/29/04 10:24 - ID#36459

Family Christmas Portrait

Ok - I can finally make this public. Kathy sent it to me to sharpen up, but I coudn't post it at the time because I would have "scooped" their Christmas card. Is that a great pic or what?
'
p.s. - I made Maggie''s scarf. They're snowflakes.

Permalink: Family_Christmas_Portrait.html
Words: 51
Location: San Francisco, CA

11/28/04 02:48 - ID#36458

Holy Toast!

(I can't take credit for the title, I stole it from this article about the lack of gay sex in movies. Grilled cheese reference is at the bottom.

)

Apparently that Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese[inlink]paul,2435[/inlink] sold for $28k.

Just as I'm giving up on buffed Greek gods, I find this. Remember that 10-year-old grilled-cheese sandwich found in Florida? The one embossed with an image of the Virgin Mary? No? It was up for auction on EBay. Still no? You people aren't reading the right news sites. Anyway. I've just read that the Holy Toast finally sold for $28,000. The Virgin's suffering face is still discernible and remarkably mold-free, considering its age. Stop shaking your heads, o ye of little faith! Google the words "Mary cheese sandwich" for a slew of reports.

Full Story on CNN

Permalink: Holy_Toast_.html
Words: 154
Location: San Francisco, CA

Category: friends

11/27/04 04:24 - ID#36457

52:52

Just talked to my ex for 52min52sec. Weird, huh? Thank god for free night & weekend minutes.

He got my bday package[inlink]twisted,71[/inlink] today. As part of my new "it doesn't have to be complicated and difficult in order to be good" policy, I took the easy way out and just bought him some stuff at my favorite store. He liked it.

(Please tell me there's no phallic symbolism underlying these gift choices. Oh god.)

The lava lamp nightlight is already plugged in, and he says it looks cool. Also filled up the pepper grinder - still trying to figure out how to adjust the coarseness. Says he really likes the fish box cutter 'cause he likes to keep one on the counter and this one looks fun. So I guess I can chalk that all up as a success.

Other topics covered:
He ordered VOIP (voice over IP) from vonage

Adjusting the tension on my old sewing machine (which he has)
Bike lights, tea cozies (again), Thanksgiving

My favorite store in Cambridge no longer carries the glow-in-the-dark koosh ball earrings. Why on earth would you discontinue an item like that? Luckily my reconstitution efforts have been somewhat successful. I'm going to have to attach the earwire some other way though.

Darn, I forgot to remind him to make himself some crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e with the blow torch I got him for his birthday last year. Why did I ever break up with a guy who might have made me crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e ? I must have been out of my mind.

Last year was a 'milestone' birthday, so I did the card thing (tying the blowtorch in with his toaster fetish).

I don't know what it is with him, but he turned around and bought a mini-blowtorch for me the last time he was out here. I'll never figure him out, but I can't seem to stop trying.

Avengers

show was a lot of fun last night. The girl standing in front of me asked if I was Penelope's sister (the lead singer). She said I look just like her. I really couldn't tell you.

Permalink: 52_52.html
Words: 371
Location: San Francisco, CA

Category: holiday

11/26/04 03:19 - ID#36456

Turkey good / Meat murder

Thanksgiving at Brenda & Kathy's

Prep / Presentation

Brenda's magnificent table setting. (Nice curtains!)

Maggie visits "grandma" / Biscotti at nose-level

Sam helps herself to an appetizer / Nosing around the table

I was there too. These self-portraits are not working. Could I look any happier?

Footwear change and it's off to Popscene[inlink]twisted,63[/inlink]. There's that thrilled expression again.

Sorry, that was a lot of pictures.

When I walked into Popscene and they were playing "Bizarre Love Triangle" (New Order) I knew I was where I'm supposed to be. My calves are killing me today.

The Avengers at Cafe du Nord

tonight. I'd better start making some money. Anybody want to buy a PJ Harvey[inlink]twisted,63[/inlink] poster?

p.s. - we have a turkey trot here too. Who knew?

How'd the (e:trotters) do yesterday?

Permalink: Turkey_good_Meat_murder.html
Words: 152
Location: San Francisco, CA

11/24/04 07:12 - ID#36455

feast or famine

After my estrip binge yesterday, I'm now on a restricted diet. Probably not a bad idea anyway going into the holidays, since I'm already late opening Santa's little workshop this year. Not good at time management.

I took this four day class that I don't want to talk about, and everybody in it wants to stay in touch with each other except me. I mean, they want to keep in touch with me, but I don't want to stay in touch with them. I am turning into my father. He went on an elderhostel

group trip to India and travelled with a small group of people for 2 weeks. They all wanted to exchange information to stay in touch, and he flat-out told them he had enjoyed spending time with them, but he had no interest in ever hearing from any of them again. My dad is not known for his tact.

So far today I've received over 15MB of digital pictures of people's kids, dogs and cats. None of them was scaled-down to email-appropriate size. And that's not counting the digital double prints of Mittens, HotDog and CoCo because she didn't think the first set went through.

This is about as much as fit in my email display window. Now, why on earth would I want to open that?

So, am I supposed to send something in return? I have no kids, dogs, cats, gerbils, fish, turtles, parakeets, or tadpoles. Although I've had all of those (except kids) in the past. Maybe I could russle up some stock footage.

No wonder I'm alone.

Permalink: feast_or_famine.html
Words: 269
Location: San Francisco, CA

11/23/04 06:56 - ID#36454

Phone exorcist

Something weird is happening with my phones. Just thought it was a random fluke last night when I hit some key combination that locked my cell phone. Which was a pain because I had no clue what the unlock code was (hint: try 9999 or the last four digits of your phone number if it ever happens to you). Anyway, didn't think much of it until a cop showed up at my door this morning. Asks me how I'm doing. I say fine. He says, you called 911? I say, noooo...(!) Turns out my landline called 911 w/o me. That's the number they traced it to.

That's weird, right?

The good news is I figured out how to turn the shutter sound off on my cell phone camera. Now I don't have to pretend to sneeze when I take a stealth close-up.

Last post today, I swear. Guess I had some pent-up journaling after my four-day hiatus.

Permalink: Phone_exorcist.html
Words: 155
Location: San Francisco, CA