ericaaaaa

The Last Time I Saw The Mountain Goats

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:14:11 -0600

The last time I saw the Mountain Goats was in 2004 in Madison. They were playing in a basement coffeeshop with a capacity of maybe 100 people. I went with a friend who came in from out of town.

The last time I saw the Mountain Goats there were only two people playing on a small stage, instead of four. It was cozier, more intimate, and ultimately more enjoyable.

The last time I saw the Mountain Goats my roommate was trying to figure out what to wear on her first date with the boy she would eventually marry. We consulted her on whether she should wear her scarf in her hair or as a belt.

The last time I saw the Mountain Goats, I saw 21 Grams the following night. I went home and all my roommates were gone, and I got incredibly lonely and depressed thinking about how horrible it would be if anyone in my family died. The next morning I found out that my friend’s brother killed himself.

The last time I saw the Mountain Goats was actually last night at the Cedar, but it brought back a flood of memories.

Happy 60th Birthday to my Mom!

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:37:55 -0600

Happy 60th Birthday to my Mom!

red/blue (via my flickr) I can’t be the only person who...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:23:03 -0600

red/blue (via my flickr)

I can’t be the only person who got absolutely none of their to-do list done today right? Of course, I never put “enjoy this stupidly magnificent weather” on the list.

The question was, what does one get Andy for his 30th birthday?...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:30:13 -0600

The question was, what does one get Andy for his 30th birthday? I knew it had to be something above and beyond, and somehow I thought of our gchats. Our chats! Brimming with wittiness and wisdom! And endless musings on life and love! And so, some of the the highlights of three years of chats went into a book.

Slogging through our chat archives made me laugh and wince, but in the end I realized that I’m so glad to have people in my life that bring out this sort of repartee. Hooray for fabulous friends and chat logs.

Kale Soup This recipe is courtesy of my friend T, who really...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:47:00 -0600

Kale Soup

This recipe is courtesy of my friend T, who really only told me ingredients so it became even looser as I made it.

You need:

leeks (I used three)
garlic (I used three cloves)
potatoes (guess what! I used three!)
corn kernels
bunch of kale
6-8 cups stock
salt, pepper, and whatever else

All I did was saute the leeks, garlic, and potatoes in olive oil first, then added the stock and eventually the corn and FINALLY the kale for just a little bit. Then I blended it all and made it look like super green health juice.

I mean really, this soup just seems so goddamn healthy. But y’know, it also feels uh…really healthy. My version needed something and I couldn’t figure out what. I think the trick to this one is to unwaveringly believe that this green soup WILL in fact give you super powers. OR, eat it with a large dollop of sour cream and potato chips because being healthy is really about balance. Right?

Despite the one-child policy, millions of Chinese citizens don't know how to have sex without getting pregnant. - By Michelle Tsai - Slate Magazine

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:53:08 -0600

Despite the one-child policy, millions of Chinese citizens don't know how to have sex without getting pregnant. - By Michelle Tsai - Slate Magazine:

This is nuts.

Second Career Options (as motivated by my horoscope)

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:19:11 -0600

It’s a busy time to contemplate big changes when it comes to your employment situation, but something could occur now that has you doing exactly that. Whatever generates that spark of excitement in your mind is too darned important to put on the back burner until the hubbub around you subsides. Luckily one of your unique talents is multitasking. You can absolutely mull this over while getting lots done — and still have lots of fun.

Okay, I don’t know horoscope - this is less a prediction what will happen today and more life advice. But I’ll roll with it… being the multitasker that I am, (not unlike the other completely unique Aquarius multitaskers of the world) while I was making soup and doing laundry, I contemplated some second career options:

Textbook Copy Editor
Online Dating Counselor
Online Dating Profile Copy Editor
Writer (specifically writer of low-level books for older kids who need to read something at their literacy level that isn’t about learning to use the toilet or something meant for 3 year olds)
Writer (some other kind who probably never makes any money but has a nice office)
Writer of a Gimmick Blog Who, Given An Awesome Idea, Will Clearly Strike It Rich One Day
Fashion Designer (good god, this is even more unrealistic than writer!)
Consultant (Inspiration consultant)

Clearly running out of ideas here. Got any more?

Tuesday's Horoscope

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:26:09 -0600

You’re all over the map right now: socializing, errand running, and in all likelihood, some rather interesting romantic developments. Losing your head is one response, and so is getting so stressed out you can’t enjoy the good elements of this busy season. Luckily your powers of communication are amped up, letting you vent in ways that keep those around you intrigued and amused.

My god, Yahoo! horoscope, it’s like you are following me around in a creepy but loving way! It’s true, I am all over the map - socializing, check! (sort of), errand running, AND HOW! Romantic developments, we’ll get back to that in just a minute. And yes, my powers of communication are completely AMPED, they’re like full up to TWELVE on whatever meter you wish to use. Eleven? Eleven? Eff that, I’ve got email, twitter, tumblr, facebook statuses, email, text messages, my phone and if you multiply those by two and then subtract two you get TWELVE. [Stay with me, I know, math can be hard.]

Where were we? Oh right, some “rather interesting romantic developments.” Well, horoscope, this is where you might be wrong. I have not fallen in love with anything or anyone today. I haven’t eaten any stupendously delicious foods, I did not see the full moon rising…even my polling place, a place potentially full of romantic possibility (?), felt lonely. But never fear, it is barely past six o’clock! The night is still young! Thus, I’m holding out on grading this horoscope.

Happy Birthday, Andy. I am very happy to be celebrating your...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:26:28 -0600

Happy Birthday, Andy. I am very happy to be celebrating your birthday for the fifth time here in Minnesota. Here’s to five more!

Lessons from my daily horoscope:

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:47:59 -0600

Interesting news will come from some unexpected places today, and surprises will coming from many different directions. These treats will have a wonderful way of speeding up the day and reminding you that you just never know what the universe has in store for you. So get ready for just about anything — you’ll be surprised at what comes out of peoples’ mouths when you’re really listening.

Brain: Shit, yo, I am so ready for the universe has in store for me! Bring it on, world!

[forgets ever reading this]

PHONE RINGS. The number is listed as unavailable.

Brain: YOU BETTER ANSWER! It’s the universe calling!

Me: …hello?

Caller: Hi, Erica? Just calling to make sure you vote for Chris Coleman tomorrow and [blah blah blah]…

Me: Yeah, thanks, I’ll vote tomorrow.

Brain: What the hell was that? You weren’t really listening. Surprises will never come your way if you can’t even follow astrological directions.

PHONE RINGS AGAIN. The number is listed, but unknown to me.

Me: Hello?

Caller: Is this Erica?

Me: Yes.

Caller: Hi, I’m calling for the [something something league of voters] to remind you to vote for Chris Coleman…

Me: Yeah, don’t worry, I’m voting for him…

Caller: and, also the DFL-endorsed picks for school board, [blah blah blah]…

Me: Yup. I’ll be there!

Brain: Look at what you did again! Had you just listened, he might have thrown a curveball and told you to vote for PAWLENTY! Or something equally ridiculous.

LESSON: People should call me more so I don’t have to fake pretend to listen to voting volunteers in order to make my horoscope work out in my favor. I give today’s horoscope a C-.

Jill Sobule - Supermodel (from the Clueless...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:16:52 -0600

Jill Sobule - Supermodel (from the Clueless soundtrack)

Resurrecting Old CDs from the Shelf #1

I realize that a soundtrack isn’t like a normal album in many obvious ways, but this is the first one I pulled in this project (that I will continue until I get sick of it). If the soundtrack is from a movie I really like (check!), it will only take me back to the specific scene, and often I only want to listen to the song for as long as it’s sampled in the movie. About half of the songs on the soundtrack are like that for me, though there are a few gems, like this one. It’s so deliciously 90s girl rock, and it contains all sorts of sort-of-ironic-sort-of-not lyrics like this:

And I wrote my school report

On why I love my jeans

Why I love my jeans

So yeah. If any karaoke place has this on their list (doubtful) it will totally be my new song.

Improvised Lentil Soup

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:47:00 -0500

The former vegetarian in me hates to admit this, but the secret to really good lentil soup is bacon.

I’m sorry. Maybe the splash of balsamic helped too, but I’ve made lentil soup many times and it’s always been kind of bland, and the leftover bacon I had helped it. A lot.

There are no pictures because it’s dark and lentil soup was not exactly destined for magazine covers, you know what I’m saying?

Improvised Lentil Soup

In a stock pot, saute the following in olive oil:

chopped onions
minced garlic
chopped carrots
chopped potatoes
chopped bacon (kind of optional)
(and whatever else, like celery!)

When they are soft, add:

8 cups stock/water/some combination of the two
1-2 cups lentils
if you only have 1 cup of lentils, try brown rice!
herbs like thyme and oregano

Simmer until things are all good and soupy. At the end, don’t forget to add:

salt and pepper
a splash of balsamic vinegar
and might I suggest, some chopped spinach or kale, whatever you have around.

[Adapted from The Joy Of Cooking]

Programming Notes

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:17 -0500

November is coming soon, and instead of attempting to do NaNoWriMo when I am truly awful at fiction, I’m going to update my blog every day. Simple links, videos, and pictures I like won’t count - we’re talking full text post action here. You can also expect more writing on themes, perhaps more Rants On Ridiculous Scenes In Movies, reviews of albums I own but haven’t listened to in years, and trying to live by my horoscope. Any more ideas? Let’s hear ‘em.
I am nearing 500 tumblr posts, and I want to do something special. Now friends, when I said I wanted to do something fun for my 400th post, it was all radio silence and tumbleweeds. This will not do! Sure, I can think of something myself but it would be better if you helped. Tools at my disposal include a camera, a webcam, a penchant for dressing up and being silly, and a willingness to embarrass myself (but not too much).

Ideas? Comments? How is your day?

"I went to church, so I always dressed up and would ride my bicycle…so that’s why I do it that way —..."

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:01:11 -0500

“I went to church, so I always dressed up and would ride my bicycle…so that’s why I do it that way — I do it that way naturally. That’s the way I ride my bike.”

- Lan Yin Tsai, 84, of New Jersey, talking about her outfit when she rides 150 miles for charity. (via mooniker)

From me: this lady is AWESOME.

Hello, this is my cat Selby. Have you met my cat? Here she...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:14:23 -0500

Hello, this is my cat Selby. Have you met my cat? Here she is!

And yes, Selby is named after a prominent street in St. Paul. If you ever have a pet in need of a name, look to the streets. Here are some ideas:

Good Twin Cities Street Names for Pets:

Selby
Marshall
Emerson
Cleveland
John Ireland
Theodore (Wirth)
Franklin
Minnehaha

Bad Twin Cities Street Names for Pets:

Ayd Mill
Lake
University
South Twelfth
Garfield (only because it’s been done already)
Cretin

[This post was shamelessly recycled from my old blog because none of you read that. Also, thanks to Sarah for the picture.]

Rants About Ridiculous Scenes In Otherwise Okay Movies #1: the Underwater Makeout Scene in Whip It

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:03:31 -0500

A good kissing scene in a movie should leave something to be desired, something that seems just a little out of reach, yet achievable. Example: the pouring rain kissing scene from The Notebook. It’s romantic, and hot, and even though it’s maybe not LIKELY that I’ll just happen to get in a little argument with a fella in the middle of a rainstorm that culminates in our making out hardcore, it’s still possible. (Right?)

In Whip It we have Bliss, the roller girl, and her adorable indie rock crush, Oliver. Somehow they end up at a deserted but very well lit indoor pool late at night. They stand on opposite sides of the pool deck, make eyes at each other, then dive in and start kissing underwater. The good news is that instead of using the cliched “let’s pull off all our clothes and swim naked”, they instead take off their clothes underwater. (This movie has a lot of cliches already.) The bad news is that the whole scene was SO. FREAKING. STUPID. It looked nice enough, but I kept thinking oh hey you guys just drowned because give me a break you can’t stay under that long without air. Believe me I’ve tried. Also oh hey I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a pool with chlorine but keeping your eyes open underwater actually hurts a lot and isn’t super sexy and you can’t see anything all that well and doesn’t Bliss wear contacts anyway and OMG THIS IS SO FREAKING STUPID.

So yeah. The movie was enjoyable overall, I mean, nothing spectacular, but fun enough. Why they had to go and ruin a potentially very fun makeout scene is beyond me, though.

lessons learned from a borked sewing machine | bits and bobbins

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:30:55 -0500

lessons learned from a borked sewing machine | bits and bobbins:

Some excellent words of wisdom from one of my favorite blogs.

Plodders Have A Place, But Is It In A Marathon?

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:45:34 -0500

Plodders Have A Place, But Is It In A Marathon?:

I have some very mixed feelings after reading this, though I’m falling more on the side of the slow runners. Some quotes:

“It used to be that running a marathon was worth something — there used to be a pride saying that you ran a marathon, but not anymore. Now it’s, ‘How low is the bar?’ ”

Really low, like months of training and 26.2 miles of running low. It’s crazy how many people are willing to do that.

“I have had people say that I’ve ruined the sport of running, but what I’ve been trying to do is promote the activity of running to an entire generation of people.”

Amen, brother!

Last year, 44 percent of the field for [the Honolulu marathon] finished in more than six hours — with some marathoners stopping for lunch along the course.

Okay, that is starting to verge on ridiculous. Lunch? Just join one of those day long charity walks!

So in sum:

Running a marathon is hard.
Some runners are snobs.
If you’re going to get lunch in the middle of a race, you’re a joke.

Oct 16 (via Candi Mandi) SORRY. This is also adorable. [via...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:08:31 -0500

Oct 16 (via Candi Mandi)

SORRY. This is also adorable.

[via bitsandbobbins via wardrobe remix]

October! (via anja louise verdugo) SO ADORABLE. [via...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:07:05 -0500

October! (via anja louise verdugo)

SO ADORABLE.

[via bitsandbobbins via wardrobe remix]