Don't Read Unless Super Bored or Nostalgic!!

A day in the life (of past Blythe). Please note the SURPRISINGLY optimistic tone. (Oh the narcissism. Oh the NARCISSISM!)

September 17, 2005

12:25am

beautiful day!!!

so here is my yesterday into today.

after school yesterday

-i had to do my math homework (normal)

-i had to read all of the 20- some page packet and take notes for euro

-i had to write the 3 generalizations and support for the first packet for euro

-i had to read and take notes on 9 textbook pages for euro

-i had to write 2 interviews for 2 different zoo people for sr proj

-i had to put my 11 sources on notecards

-i had to find about 8 more sources

-i had to read all of my sources and make 40 notecards with a fact on each from the sources

-i had to work from 4-9:15

so i got home and started the packet but didn't even come close to finishing. when i got home at 9:30 i read all of the packet with notes, did my math, did the 3 generalizations, read and took notes on the first 3 pages of the euro textbook, and found some publishers for my sources for sr proj. also...we were having a graded discussion on all of the stuff for euro.. and you can't graduate if you don't pass sr proj. so all of that is what i had finished at about 2:30am and despite the 2 LITERS of soda that i drank (4 bottles), i wasn't able to go without sleep any longer. so i set my alarm for 5 and went upstairs to spend the very last of my energy taking notes on euro. while pretending to be asleep when a parent woke up, i actually fell asleep on my books,which is fine. then at like 4 am my sister comes to turn out the light because she can't sleep. i allow her to and now hold her directly responsible for the fact that i didn't wake up ontime so i couldn't take a shower but i also didn't miss my bus (thank heavens!!!!).

so i get to school, have a sip of soda, freak out during math... ya know! then i get to sr proj and realising that im never going to be able to turn in the sr proj stuff on time, i asked her what the penalty for a day late was. she said A NINE OUT OF TEN if i turn it in on monday so i thanked my lucky stars and got to finish euro during that entire block. SERIOUSLY, I FEEL BAD FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AS LOVED BY GOD AS MYSELF!!! so i ended up finishing (took whole block. it was a bloody MIRACLE!!!). went to class and participated fine in the discussion and then i was HOME FREE!!!! so then i was ridiculously happy and dispersed a lot of hugs. i have to say that before the home free moment, i saw milad!! and mr jackson!!! and so that was what kept me going.

anyway, we tried out in AST and i did... well... i know its really annoying to complain about these things... but i made a horrible mistake and tried to just belt this song and ... it went quite tragically.... but THATS OK!!!

so i get home and then hang out at claires house before work which is always GREAT! then i went to work, got paid the big bucks, found out that i only had to work until 12am (because they didn't want to pay me overtime... but whatever.) anyway, nearly fell asleep during work until i got my soda (by the way i finished 4 sodas before school, 2 during school, and 2 after school cumulating to 4+ liters (the pepsi was in a bigger bottle... thats why its a +). so miraculusly there are hardly any tags at all and we leave around 11:15!!!!! INSTEAD OF ONE!!!! its a MIRACLE!!!!

anyway, i get home and go to see the outcome of the tryouts. here is the cast list:

cast:

tulip: jen tanz

eddie: jeremy

king: brian

queen: blythe

viv: baliey

arty: jake

daffodil: janet

tour guide: jenna

nanny: lacey

pomp: brieanne

circumstance: sydney

jester: talia

gingerbread man: josh

beast: bob

snow white: jen w.

evil fairy: liz

cinderella: candice

rapunzel: julia

alice: emmy

YES I TOTALLY GOT THE VERY PART OF THE SONG I MESSED UP!i have 80 lines and 2 songs!!! im thrilled out of my petite mind!!!

if that weren't so overshadowing, i would also throw in that

1. TODAY IS FRIDAY!!! THAT MEANS MORE THAN SIX HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT ... for a few days...

2. found out sectionals are on tuesdays so can think about changing my availability for work

3. DEMETRI MARTIN IS MY FRIEND ON MYSPACE!! it makes me feel REALLY awesome...even tho really it is a sign that i am a loser!

i won't even tell you about my schedule for next week because itll ruin the amazingness that was my day today!!! HURRAH!!!!!!

1 Jillion Things

About... 1 jillion-ish things to say. Let me list:

1. Old blog stuff

a. Christmas

So, I can't say I just STARTED re-reading and reformatting my old blogs, but I've been attacking the project with luster recently. On Christmas day, in particular, I got through January through May of my junior year. Which means that I spent most of Christmas day feeling EXTREMELY sorry for myself in the past. I can't say my nostalgia totally glosses over this period--I remember the pain. But reading it in my own words, every day, at all hours of the night. That was some TERRIBLE pain. Past Blythe was WAY fucking stronger than current Blythe is. And also, while throughout the past year, if not longer, I've been really worshipping my mother and trying to be as grateful as I can because I finally see what she gives me, I am pretty miffed at past-mom. I don't BLAME her per se, but some of the shit was pretty lame.

b. My sister.

I also realized that I started writing a blog in December of my sophomore year of high school, which is essentially where my sister is now! I decided to send her my blogs so that perhaps she can read them when she is miserable or happy or whatever and know exactly how I felt that day when I was her age (I really wrote almost every day).

I sent her December 10th through January 30th. I did this strategically for 2 reasons: 1) so she would care about it more. If I sent it to her in a clump, she might get overwhelmed by the length (I wrote 687 pages between 2003 and 2008 (size 9, single spaced. I'm a maniac. A self-obsessed maniac.)) and never read it OR read it all at once and it will go on the shelf with the rest of her books. I mean... this IS pretty neat. I don't care if I'm narcissistic. 2) I don't want to send her junior year yet. I distinctly remember (even before I read it) how much I loved sophomore year. I wasn't insecure about school or my friends and we were starting to hang out with boys (not in a sexy way, but in a regular way. I think that helps to even girls out, even if the boys we hung out with were... nothing like any group of boys I've ever met since then. In a semi-negative, definitely awkward, but okay way). But junior year. Nearly every entry is steeped with misery and panic and desperation. I think I'd rather her read them when she's actually in it... so she knows she's not alone. Or HOPEFULLY so she can be like "whoa, I'm not in THIS much pain. Jesus!"

Unfortunately, she didn't read my instructions and read the two months I sent her on Christmas morning and promptly asked me for more. I forgot that she's a heavy reader. I was also very flattered because I'm pretty aware that the audience for my new obsession (Past Blythe) is EXTREMELY narrow. I didn't give her more, but maybe I'll give her February soon.

Mostly, I really want it to inspire her to write a blog. A) so I can know more about her on a day to day basis. B) So she can nostalgically look back and glean the pleasure that I'm having right now... and the wisdom, weirdly. C) So when my brother is a sophomore on Christmas day, we can BOTH send him our blogs and then he can know how each of us felt. Unfortunately, it's impossible to say whether he would care what his older sisters felt, whether he would actually read them or not (can't determine how much he likes to read because he's 12 now), and whether or not he would really relate at ALL because he's a boy. Still, the dream is there.

(Weirdly, it's likely that my sister will read all of the above.)

c. I know everything already, but I just forgot.

Some of the stuff I find is super weird. On July 10, 2005 I write "i really feel like if can get into boston universtiy that that may be the college i choose. I don't know... I just have a feeling." However, I chose BU through tears in December of 2005.

Also (this was from a cosmo quiz):

e) what's your dream vacation?_________________________________

e. im not sure im actually into the location that much. i know i specifically declined a week in mexico so that i could have more time with my friends. it defiantely isn't lazing about on the beach or something. i would say that i would love to repeat possibly my best trip ever which is LA with my best friend. universal studios and disney world and water world and a knight thing... and id like to go to epcot. yeah... i like theme parks MUCH better than the beach or seeing natural or historical sites. but i have to go with someone awesome. i also REALLY like road trips. id really want to drive there. id want to drive half way and then fly the rest of the way because i love flying too. that would be the best.

2. Christmas with Caroline.

So... Christmas was lovely. Although... well I pretty much knew that I would be reminded of the details closer to the date. What I told other people was happening was that Caroline would arrive at 2pm and would leave at 4am. What was ACTUALLY supposed to happen was that Caroline would arrive at 4pm and leave at 8am. What HAPPENED was Caroline arrived at 7:15pm and I dropped her off at 6am for her flight. The stroke of miracle was that I had, for whatever reason, not slept until 6am on Christmas eve (technically Christmas day-- maybe it was a throwback to excitement of yester-year). Thus I woke up late, thus I was pretty alive until 6am the following day.

To sum up:

I slept until 1pm.

I ate canned soup.

I went to Denny's twice.

It rained.

Caroline and I chatted and she looked through my scrapbooks.

We looked through apartment listings for me.

Caroline gave me the most DELICIOUS treat I've ever had with toffee and peanuts and almonds and chocolate. It was HEAVEN and the BEST part was that it didn't hurt my teeth. I ate them all within days. She also gave me some heavenly sourdough bread.

We played logic puzzles. I always forget that Caroline is super into puzzles-- both logic and the actual kind with pieces. It truly makes me like her even better.

We parted ways as she took her Air Canada (?) flight to Israel.

3. Sarah Silverman

I finished The Time Travelers Wife for the second time, and again desperately needed a new book. I kind of wanted a quick, sure thing so instead of taking suggestions, I decided to get The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. So when I get into the library (a mere 9 hours ago) all of the computers to look up books are out of order. So before I go to the front desk, I decide to look for The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman. I have looked for that book every time I've been to the library. It ALWAYS says it's available and I never see it in the stacks. Honestly, I'd already given it up for lost, but I'm pretty sure I just wanted to look like I had some direction when I was in the library. I was pretty much just wandering and checking all of the computers... and then unfortunately re-checking them because of my ever-surprising lack of spacial orientation and recognition of inanimate objects and displays. What I'm saying is, after wandering around like a fool, I took off in the only direction I knew: the Sarah Silverman direction. But guys. Today it was THERE!! Miracle miracle miracle!!!

I am a third through it and it's HILARIOUS (obviously). The lady checking it out was a middle aged white woman (of the rare, kind/endearing variety) and giggled at the title and the fact that it was non-fiction. "I'll have to remember this book. Is she some sort of comedian?" In my mind, I told her that it was VERY unlikely that she would like it, but on the outside I told her that if she was around when I returned it, I would let her know how it went.

4. Woody Allen, Bette Davis, and a touch of Judy Garland.

Oh Netflix.

Hannah and Her Sisters: I LOVED it. I loved it so much that it made me reevaluate my entire opinion of Woody Allen. Maybe I wasn't ready for him before, but now I think that what I mistook to be pretension, primarily because of the lengthy dialogue, I now find to be perfect. I love that the camera angles are off... like sometimes, but rarely, someone is talking and they are completely obscured and I feel like it's real. I love how he doesn't flirt around with the beginning of the movie. He simply does VO of what's in his head. But it gets the point across because then you can see the discomfort in every action, and you can see the obliviousness of everyone else and you know EXACTLY how that feels.

So then I watched

Manhattan: Loved it. LOVED it.

And then:

Crimes and Misdemeanors: I really loved that too, although the plot was VERY similar to Match Point.

I would not ever date Woody Allen because he writes about infidelity in nearly ever movie I've seen of his...

It disturbs me that in Manhattan he dates a 17 year old (when he is 42) and then in Crimes he hangs out with his even younger niece all the time. In fact, it doesn't disturb me SO much, as I find is strange that he is willing to do that when there is the obvious connection to his marriage with his step daughter.

Woody Allen is very concerned about God (obviously-- which is part of the reason I loved Hannah and Her Sisters so much. His character perfectly describes the reason why I've been getting middle-of-the-night death panic attacks since I was 8 years old.) and, as part of that I guess, crime that gets off scot-free.

I was also in the mood for some Bette Davis:

I watched Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? It was a LITTLE fun because I know that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford loathed each other and Bette Davis was known for being a huge bitch and Joan Crawford was known for being nice, but then LATER people think of her as being a psycho because of her daughter's memoir and then the movie (Mommie Dearest). But mostly I hated it because they kept doing close-ups of everyone for reactions that were too long and too fake to be tolerated. Plus it was too one-sided. Mostly though, I didn't realize that it was going to be so thriller-y. I thought it was going to be more tragic than scary. It wasn't.

All About Eve. I DID enjoy that one. I just thought it was unique in that Bette was kind of arrogant and suspecting and whatever but she was also endearing and right and she really turned out just fine anyway. Like.. there was resentment, but she really got what she wanted anyway. So... it was neat. Plus, Kevin told me it's similar to Black Swan. Good news.

And then I guess I needed Judy Garland so I watched A Star is Born. I watched half and then I talked to Kevin and I told him how it was silly because I didn't think she died during the making of the film (and I was right) but for 5-ish minutes they have scenes where it is just dialogue and still shots. And those are punctuated by driving shots or exteriors of buildings and stuff. It's very weird and I don't know why they did that. She also sings like... a 12 minute song in which a montage of stuff happens on very VERY cheap sets. It's EXTREMELY bizarre. But actually, the second half (it's like... 3 hours long!!) is really awesome and WAAAAY more tragic than I would have thought.

My favorite part is that Judy is singing with an orchestra and then she goes over to her boyfriend who is a declining star and an alcoholic and they are talking to each other to the side while the orchestra is performing music-only bits of the song. You don't hear what they say but the producer lowers a microphone into their conversation, unbeknownst to them. And then when they do the playback, you hear that he is proposing and she says "no" but all in a flirty way. And she says he drinks too much and asks if he would stop for her and he says she's not worth it, all giggly and they're fine and everything. So they hear it back with everyone. I just like it because... I hate when intimate moments are public. I don't understand why that's a romantic comedy standard because as soon as it's public, it's a show. And that's insincere. I guess it's because you can say anything to someone in privacy but you wouldn't say something so strong in front of witnesses unless you really mean it. But... I don't think it's necessary because I think a good movie should be able to build in some trust. But either way, this kind of crossed both hurdles. And MORE importantly, she agrees to marry him because "that's too public of a proposal to not say yes to" (I guess that's another reason for the public declarations). But... it's just neat that she WAS able to for see problems, but the circumstance caused her change her mind.

Very good movie though. Really liked it by the end.

Lastly, I also I have to mention: Corina and I stopped at Borders the other day because we were awkwardly an hour early to Devon's party. I saw both a Nightmare Before Christmas AND an Office monopoly game!!! It took so much will power, POSSIBLY divine power, to make me not buy it. If I had anyone, ANYONE I knew who would play with me even once every 3 months I would have bought it... and also I would marry them. It might actually have to be 2 other people because monopoly is pretty rough with only 2. A marri'age a trois.

Double lastly, for posterity purposes I just want to note that I keep a diary, mostly for extreme cases of unhappiness and confusion. I obviously keep a blog. I talked to Kevin for two hours every day. Yet I also starting writing a document on my computer which is TO Kevin, but not completely. Like... it's stuff that I don't REALLY know if I want him to read because it gets kind of weird. Well... I started writing a similar one to Natalya. Which is, honestly, even more weird because I don't understand why I can't just write those things to imaginary Kevin if no one is reading it anyway.

And this isn't a too-much-time-on-my-hands situation, because I have ... really not anymore time than I ever have. I know it's politically incorrect, but I just keep waiting for the schizophrenia. I mean, on top of Superfresh Blythe... I just feel like I'm splitting my thoughts into too many pieces...

Quite Busy

Seems like there is so much to say!

1. It's been raining for like... 6 days straight. I was pissed for maybe... 2 of them, before I learned that now is no time for flats. One day was spent getting my feet soaked and then drying them and my suede flats by the space heater. Over and over and over again. But... now that I've mastered the use of my umbrella, carefully chosen pants that don't drag on the ground, and which sweatshirt is allowed to be wet and which isn't, it's not so bad. I'm pretty sure at the end it will be like a cold-- you barely notice it, yet it's such a wonderful surprise when you can breathe through your nose again.

2. Christmas cards was a failure. I bought four and gave away three. The only gifts I got were for my bosses. They were both picture frames. Initially I tried to go to the mall. It was pouring (obviously) and when I got out at my exit, the roads were packed leading me to believe that someone was hit by a car. Nay. It was PACKED because people were trying to get into the mall. Aloud I said "fuck this," and turned right around. I totally forgot that shopping around Christmas is the pinnacle of unpleasant.

3. Actually this week has been great because I got so many presents. I got a pocketbook and 2 movie theater passes!! A BUNCH of makeup (semi-mystery) and some shirts (lucky) and a coupon book and MONEY! I just... forgot about that part. Also, I want to know when the tables will turn and I will give more than receive, because I basically do nothing but receive now.

4. I've been babysitting this 8-year-old kid (there are 2, but the older one kind of chills on his own). I don't want to tell the whole tale, but I'll give the highlights:

a. He has his own nail polish, which he used on my nails, my toenails, and several rocks.

b. He was obsessed with making beaded animals, although not especially geckos.

c. He has his own jewelry box, the prize object being a coral necklace.

Him: This is real coral. It's worth $450 but it was brought down to $97 and we bought it on Black Friday for $42.

Me: Oh, did you buy it for your mom, or is it for you?

Him: It's mine. And this jewelry box is real leather!

5. Also!!! through job perks that I will not elaborate on, I got to see BLUE VALENTINE! The acting was superb, the plot was a little... short.

6. Devon's birthday was yesterday! Aforementioned 8-year-old's pizza party very soon today. Hanging with Liz tomorrow. Caroline on Christmas! Housesitting on the 29th. Breaks are short as hell.

In the Order I Thought It

I want to be able to watch Conan to support... but I guess it really doesn't make a difference because I've never had a monitoring box on my TV. Still... I want him to thrive on TBS.

A guy was cured of AIDS!

Larry King is doing his last show on Thursday after over 25 years of work! I don't know why this isn't a bigger deal?

Scarjo and Reynolds broke up. Very sad.

Yesterday I had a glorious dinner with Saralyn, Liz and Aaron. They make the best dinners! We had albacore, couscous, broccoli and wine with brownies for dessert! I can't WAIT until I have a roommate that's awesome and we can make real food (likely will never happen because I like routine in theory WAAAY more than in practice). Super lovely though. I'm very grateful.

Found out The Office season 6 is on instant watch for Netflix... so you know how my next few evenings will be spent. I started one episode yesterday and, as with what happened with season 5, I enjoyed it FAR more than I did the first time. I hold that waiting a week builds up the pressure and the show can never live up to the expectation. When you watch them at your leisure and you can do three in a row... much more satisfying.

Failed to mention that I watched A Very Potter Musical the other day. HILARIOUS! Also, Darren Criss, the newest Glee sensation, is the star. I'm in love. Damnit.

I don't know if I'm getting anything for Christmas, but if I do, I hope I get clothes. Even though my clothes are nicer now than they have been for the past...8-10 years... I have hit the point again in which if you see me every day for about... 8 days... you will know my entire wardrobe. I'm embarrassed. And I'm ashamed at my embarrassment. It's not SUCH a crisis that I've actually spent my own money on the remedy, but it would be nice for a Christmas miracle.

I need a new book NOW! I've reread way too many of my books. I need to go to the library TODAY and get SOMETHING! The first fiction book catches my fancy, I'm taking it. Today, in desperation, I grabbed The Time Travelers Wife. But I read that... not 3 years ago. I just can't keep rereading everything I own. That's for desperate times... and I have a library card.

Movies I've Seen, Movies I Want to See... The Usual...

Dear Claire,

Watch Wristcutters: A Love Story. Please please! It has all my (our?) favorite things: funny, crazy characters, road trip, existentialism, Patrick Fugit. Plus, the nature of the film and the featuring of Shannyn Sossamon made me think of The Rules of Attraction. And I'll never be over Patrick Fugit.

ANYWAY, when I watched it, I just thought, "God DAMNIT, why can't Claire be here! Why!!?!"

Love love love,

Blythe

I also watched The Messenger last night. Netflix recommended it because I love (500) Days of Summer, Little Children, and Little Miss Sunshine. In retrospect, that does make sense, but I was hoping for a LITTLE more funny. Mostly I just cried every 10 minutes. It started off good though-- Ben Foster and Jena Malone having graphic-enough sex. But... I would really love Ben Foster to stick with comedy. Even black comedy. It's not that he didn't pull it off... but he's just no Jeremy Renner. And that pains me because I love his energy and his voice and his face. And he has a special place in my heart because of Flash Forward (old, Disney Channel version).

In other news, I am almost off for Christmas. I'm going to work a little (/possibly the whole day) on Monday. Then I have the week (I might do some babysitting). Then on Christmas I'm going to spend the day near-ish to LAX airport to hang with Caroline while she's waiting for her flight to Israel. I'm excited, but a LITTLE worried that I might get a surge of grief. I'm not totally sure how important Christmas is to me. Then, at the end of the month, I'm housesitting, which is definitely going to be the best part!

Plans for the break:

1. Christmas cards. I might have to do those this week, actually. Seems so daunting, but I can't wait to pick out the movie to watch while I do it. And the snacks. Yeah... I can make that fun, probs.

2. Finish scrapbook. Originally I stopped because I wanted to savor it, but now it's just sitting on my floor waiting to be done. Last year I watched Groundhog's Day and Ghostbusters during scrapbook time. They were perfect PERFECT films for scrapbooking. High energy. Already seen them a jillion times so I don't need to watch carefully. This year I'd love Casper, if I can get it. Or maybe Mrs. Doubtfire. Harriet the Spy?

3. Paint? We'll see. I'm actually all prepared to finish one that I started... a year ago? But... I secretly love it. It's one of my favorite pictures of Bob Dylan and his girlfriend in 1963-ish.

4. Hang with Julia. She's leaving for Santa Cruz in January, and she is coming back in April at the earliest.

Look, there are great movies to be picked for my entire break. That looks like the gist.

And OBVIOUSLY see Blue Valentine.

Added later: Just saw Annette Benning on the street!

But I Am Hopeful...

I watched the Babies documentary yesterday. It was like... a feature length youtube video of babies doing cute crap. No narration. No words really, except from the moms. But there were no subtitles so I only understood the American mom. But... it wasn't entirely chronological and it there wasn't much theme to each part, except occasionally, like when they showed all the babies interacting with cats. Can't say I didn't enjoy myself, although that could be my uterus talking.

If I get paid more after January, I want to move at the end of February. Not even because of my roommate (well... that's a lie... but not the point at this moment), but because I'm so far away from work! I spend 2 hours a day commuting (1.25 hours in the morning, and .75 hours at night). And I'm only 8 miles away from work!! And that does not count days like today when a road that I travel 3ish miles on had 2/3 lanes closed. And the closed part of the road couldn't have been more than... 30 feet... maybe less. Basically nothing, but merging the already unbearable traffic caused me to be 20 minutes late!! And I always show up 15 minutes early!

More importantly though, it means that I spend 12 hours a day at work or en route. That gives me literally 4 hours of spare time, 2 of which I use to talk to Kevin, which is crucial to my mental health.

I need a hobby!! Where's the a cappella? Need I start painting again, a hobby that I fear will only add to my state of recluse? I need something to live for.

Two from the Bin

This actually happened a couple of weeks ago, but while a manager in my office was interviewing applicants for a job, she mentioned that "if you want to network with your friends, you have to find your own time to do it." The concept of "networking" with my friends is pretty depressing. Chat, hang, share with, cling to for dear life... yes. Network... gross. Opposite.

I started netflix again. I KNOW that I'm poor... but actually I think I can spend $10 for a month of happiness. More importantly, my account was at the limit for being on hold, so I had to restart or risk losing all of my work on it. I've rated 881 movies (that is an over-estimate because certainly many of the pieces I've rated are TV shows) and I don't want to start again.

ANYWAY, yesterday I went straight home and watched two movies that I would never think to watch. I just thought, I'm in the mood to see something that I've never heard of-- support some indies and find some gems like the miracle of Cashback or Love Me If You Dare.

1. Show Me Love- Swedish young lesbian movie. I've never seen a Swedish movie before, actually. I thought it was fantastic. The main girl was so obnoxiously confident and rambunctious and got whatever she wanted, but... she was so cool anyway! And very pretty. She (Alexandra Dahlstrom) looked like a cross between Alyssa Milano and Eliza Dushku from Bring It On... except blonde. I think, POSSIBLY, what contributed to her being so pretty in the movie was that you rarely saw her completely head on. ANYWAY, pieces of the soundtrack were hilarious. It was pretty dark and then there were random 90s pop songs. "Show Me Love" by Robyn was actually the final song in the film, and it was so inappropriate! Not lyrically... but tonally.

2. Mary and Max-

This was the logline: Mary Dinkle, a chubby 8-year-old Australian girl, and Max Horovitz, an obese, middle-aged New Yorker with Asperger's syndrome, are a pair of unlikely pen pals in this quirky clay animation feature from writer-director Adam Elliot. Corresponding for two decades, the friends delve into a variety topics, including sex, kleptomania, psychiatry, taxidermy and more.

Awesome.

I actually only read the first two lines until just now, but I was so interested in an independent claymation because it seemed so expensive and unlikely. It was funny because they used a lot of screen time on stills of the environment with voice over of the correspondence or narrator. Also, there were very few colors. ANYWAY, it was quite dark but uplifting, although it didn't have the most extensive plot. More of a vignette... but a little plot. Plus, turns out Toni Colette and Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Eric Bana did the voices.

Good Weekend

It was a good weekend, filled with all of my favorite things.

Friday I did nothing... save work.

Saturday I started my day late, deposited some checks and went to the grocery store for some soup at about 2pm. While I'm sitting outside eating and reading, a man (MAYBE homeless, but I don't want to be presumptuous) came over to me and gave me a yogurt (and a plastic knife to eat it with... oops) and then started talking to me about the antics he got into with a man he met on the street, a bottle of vodka and some weed. "And I'm from the east coast," he told me, "so I have this." He proceeds to empty out a tiny purse, first taking out what is clearly rolling papers and tobacco, and then placing a little cube of hash on the table. At 2pm in the afternoon. At the table outside of the grocery store. He told me about moving some lady's couch in order to get free things out of the donation bin (location unknown). "And guess what was on the couch! PAISLEY!" I congratulate him and tell him I have to leave, returning his yogurt. He told me it was for me-- he only bought it to shoplift. "I'm not paying $3.99 for pistachios!" His name is John Biscuit, which he uses both as a name and an exclamation. "And I was like 'John Biscuit, give me the vodka!'"

I left and returned to my car, and was shocked to see that he followed me to bestow some sage advice: wear my seatbelt because it's Saturday and there are a lot of drunk people on the road, lock my doors, and never leave my keys in the ignition. Oh, and the lord will provide. I thanked him and closed my door. He knocked on my door shortly after to double-remind me to lock my door. Thanks, John Biscuit.

Later I went to hang out with Cassidy and his girlfriend, Elena. We watched Clerks, which was very entertaining, although the acting was just terrible. But I needed to see that film, and I'm pretty sure Clerks 2 is in my immediate future.

THEN I went to get a little dessert with Liz for 40ish minutes for a quick catch up at like... midnight.

Then on Sunday I hung out with Corina for our regular Skins (UK) mini marathon (only 2 episodes this time). We ate at Big Boy where allegedly Miley Cyrus is a regular. After every bit of slightly poor service ie: giving me ice when I requested none (which I must add, never TRULY bothers me at all... in fact, it's the most forgivable error that I frequently encounter-- how could you POSSIBLY remember no ice if you fill 100 drinks a day and every other one has ice), we exclaimed (/ said quietly to each other) "would Miley Cyrus get this treatment?! Would Miley have ice in her glass right now!?"

More importantly, Corina and I skyped with the Chords ladies which was bittersweet... but mostly sweet. I don't think I know ANY of the songs that they do anymore, which... seems FAR too soon. I want mandatory singing for 6+ hours a week. This is my dream.

All in all I'd say this has been an abnormally social weekend. In fact, yesterday I went to get a late meal with my friend Charlene... although I was SLIGHTLY bitter about the cheapest food being a $7 soup. Although... it was AMAZING soup. Potato leek, smoked trout and chive. Incredible. But I'd rather have regular-good soup for $2.

Side note: Charlene got a new job and started last week. I was sad that she left, but I think if people weren't coming and going in my life so much, I would be FAR more sentimental. As is, I'm sure we'll hang out as evidenced by yesterday.

Plus, next weekend Julia is having a 2-day party (I'm pretty sure/quite confident that you go home in between, but it's awesome saying 2-day party).

In other news:

-I still have not finished the scrapbook.

-I bought my mom a gift for her birthday on Etsy and it came in yesterday and it's sadly not as pretty as I thought it would be.

-I think I need to do Christmas cards. Like... for my career. I guess I'll just have to make a day of it. On my imaginary list, my mechanic is number 1.

IFC

So I guess IFC is my new favorite channel...

IFC is becoming the go-to network for fans of off-kilter comedy: The network announced Wednesday that it will begin airing "The Larry Sanders Show," "The Ben Stiller Show," "Mr. Show with Bob and David" and "Action" beginning in January.

The shows will debut on IFC in 2011, joining "Monty Python’s Flying Circus," "Arrested Development," "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared." The repeats fill out a comedy slate that also includes the new originals "Onion News Network" and "Portlandia," a short-based scripted series from Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.

The new shows will rotate through a new 90-minute, Monday-Wednesday comedy block beginning Jan. 3, featuring exclusive new interviews with the writers, creators and stars of each show. It will be hosted by comedian Scott Aukerman, who wrote and appeared on "Mr. Show." The first episode will feature Andy Dick ("The Ben Stiller Show") and Sarah Silverman ("Mr. Show").

"Larry Sanders" will debut Jan. 3, "Ben Stiller" Jan. 5, "Mr. Show" Jan. 7, and "Action" in late 2011.

Weather Change

Today a guy came into the office saying "at least the weather is nice today. Finally." I thought it was a bit rich for someone in southern California, but on a much more real level, I completely agreed.