Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Yeah, Saginaw!

Saginaw, Michigan is back on the map! A winning Mega Millions lottery ticket was sold at the South Michigan Express Stop, 408 S. Michigan - somebody I know may have just won a share of 35 million dollars! This is better than that Simon and Garfunkel song!

Saginaw's new claim to fame - B+

Big Ten Market/Morgan & York

In case you haven't noticed, I have been on a spree using my Newcomers Club coupons, and today I went to pick up my free 1/2 pound of coffee from Big Ten Market. The whole experience was heavenly. At first glance, it looks like an old gnarly party store - I drove by it and had to turn around and try again. Once you walk inside, however, you are basically transported to the chi-chi-est food shop you've ever seen. I don't think even Zingerman's can compare to Big Ten. For one thing, it wasn't crowded. I think there were three other customers while I was in there. They had a zillion kinds of wine and lots of liquor up at the front of the store, then it moved to breads and meats and cheeses, and finally coffee and chocolate... and it smelled divine. The staff was incredibly friendly - the nice lady at the cheese counter gave me a slice of Comte that was so good, I had to buy the special Comte cheese and tomato sandwich. And yes, it was delicious. Nothing but bread, cheese, 'maters, and a little salt and pepper, and it might have been the best sandwich I've ever had. But I'd really like to focus on the chocolate. Big Ten Market might be dangerous, because they have hand-made truffles, little bits of really dark chocolate (the favorite of this household), funny fruity things from Japan, and other assorted goodies. It's a very good thing that Big Ten is nowhere near my way home, because I would have to start going there all time, and then I would be even fatter and poorer than I already am. Big Ten, also known as Morgan and York (the official name when they went big time), you are the cat's meow.

Big Ten Market - A

UPDATE - the coffee was delicious!

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Grizzly Peak

I used yet another Newcomers Club coupon to have dinner at Grizzly Peak last night. Nate and I weren't "feelin' it" as far as dinner at home was concerned, so we thought we'd scope out this brewery downtown. Well, to use Nate's phrase, it was uninspiring. It wasn't bad, it was just generic mid-to-upscale food that we could have gotten anywhere. I had cheddar ale soup, which is one of my favorite things at Grizzly Peak's sister restaurant, North Peak in Traverse City, but Grizzly Peak's version was nowhere near as good as North Peak's - no mustard pretzels and an oilier consistency. I also had a chopped salad, which was basically a Cobb salad but all chopped up, and it was fine, but nothing special. Nate had a Cobb Chicken sandwich, and it was just a bunch of chicken, bread, and lame bleu cheese. Like lots of restaurants around Ann Arbor, it served its purpose - we didn't leave hungry - but average at best, and certainly nothing to write home about it. Which is funny, 'cause I'm writing home about it right now.

Grizzly Peak - B-

Monday, November 28, 2005

Dixboro General Store

Today, in my quest for my favorite brand of Christmas tree ornament, I went to the Dixboro General Store. Dixboro is a "community" on the outskirts of Ann Arbor - I call it a "community" because it's still part of Ann Arbor, but far enough away for people who live there to feel like they live out in the country. DGS had all those things that people hate about country houses: the cutesy little signs in the old-timey handwriting, the lopsided snowmen, tons and tons of Yankee candles, and those wooden reindeer that still have their log shape. Truth be told, I kind of like that stuff, but not all at once, and not all over the place. It was pretty overwhelming. DGS, of course, has Ann Arbor prices. It was pretty shocking to see how much those reindeer cost. Also, DGS says they're an authorized dealer of Old World Christmas ornaments, but they had a terrible selection. They had about ten different ornaments, and when I did some serious looking online, I found a store that has all the kinds of ornaments, in the hundreds. It was sad.
To give the Dixboro General Store some props, I used another Newcomers Club coupon and got a free Yankee Candle (and they aren't cheap) and 20% off something else I bought there. If I had more money and the ambition to have a completely country house, I would go there again, but until that day, I'll stick to my side of town.

Dixboro General Store - C+

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Affenpinscher

Wanna know what I really want for Christmas? An Affenpinscher. I saw this dog on the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving, and his ugly little face stole my heart. Just look at him! I might choose one without chach in his hair, though.

Why do I love this dog? Well, roughly translated, Affenpinscher means "monkey dog" in German. This is awesome. In French, however, the dog's description translates to "mustachioed little devil." This is for sure the dog I want. Monkey devil with a mustache? Yes, please!

So I don't really want one of these dogs for Christmas, but I do want to spread the love for this mostly unheard-of breed. Go, little Affenpinscher, go!

Affenpinscher - A+!

Toothpaste for Dinner and Natalie Dee














If you haven't checked out Toothpaste for Dinner or Natalie Dee, go right now to www.toothpastefordinner.com and www.nataliedee.com - these are some of the funniest drawings you'll ever see. Drew and Natalie are married, so I think they borrow from each other in their drawings. Check this one out. I think Natalie used me as a model for the girl on the right.
Toothpaste for Dinner - B+
Natalie Dee - A-

Friday, November 25, 2005

Layer Cake

Here are some things I like in movies: heists; unexpected endings; double- and triple-crosses; large sums of money changing hands; British accents. Unfortunately, while watching Layer Cake, I discovered that I can't really handle all those things happening at once. I'm still not really sure what happened in this movie, mostly because I couldn't understand what people were saying half the time. I mean, I got the main parts, but I think there were a lot of small things I missed, mainly relationships between people. I sort of liked it, but I think it would take another viewing or two before I could really tell you what Layer Cake was all about.

Layer Cake - B-

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Nick and Jessica Split


The thing that bothers me the most about this is that you can still buy the "Hollywood Weddings" special issue of People with Nick and Jessica's wedding pictures all over the front (and presumably, all over the inside, too - I've never actually looked inside, believe it or not). I just saw it at the grocery store yesterday. Not that there weren't already a thousand ways for these two to be reminded of their marriage. I just think it sucks that every time Nick or Jess goes in a grocery store, they'll see pictures of their happy day staring back at them. Wait, what am I saying? They don't go to the grocery store!

Nick and Jessica's split - C

Thanksgiving



Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll. Hope the food is delicious, the parades festive and that your football team wins.

I'm thankful for the vast majority of you... OK, OK, I'm thankful for all of you. Twist my arm, why don't you?

Thanksgiving - A

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

RENT

It was great, y'all. Seriously great.

You want specifics? OK. The cast is as amazing as they were ten years ago, and Rosario and Tracie can totally hang with them. Rosario was actually pretty impressive - I always kind of liked her, but now I REALLY like her. Anthony Rapp, who for some reason gets last billing in the credits, is phenomenal. As for Jesse L. Martin and Wilson Jermaine Heredia - there are no words. They blew me away. They were absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking, and just so you know, Jesse is my new celebrity crush. I think I want to marry him.

Only two things I didn't like: 1 - Adam Pascal's hair. Ew. It's really shaggy and gross and makes him look like an aging rock star, especially since they show "early Roger" with short hair and he looks great. 2 - I also didn't like "Living in America." It was really music video-y, and none of the rest of the movie is, so it was sort of bizarre.

High points: "I'll Cover You - Reprise" - cried like a little girl; "La Vie Boheme" - I felt like I was in the Life Cafe; "Without You" - for once, a good use of the video montage!; "Out Tonight" - I'm telling you, Rosario is GOOD! This movie isn't going to win any Oscars, but it might just be the newest addition to my top ten list. It was everything I wanted it to be.

I'd also like to give a huge shoutout to all the people who were with me in the theater this snowy morning. You are die hard fans, yet you were able to restrain yourselves and didn't sing until the closing credits, which meant that I got to hear the movie instead of you. For that, you get an A.

RENT - A-

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Oh No, No, No

Please, say it ain't so.

Britney's 'Charity' Act?
Despite reports that their year-old marriage has hit a rough patch, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline looked very much together as they descended on New York late last week, but was their trip to the Big Apple more business than pleasure?
Although the London Mirror says the déclassé duo hit the town to shop their problems away (aka "retail-relationship therapy"), the Insider claims the semi-retired pop tartlet-turned-fashion-challenged mom of Sean Preston is in the midst of "serious negotiations" to take over the starring role in the Broadway production of "Sweet Charity."
If the thought of Britney warbling live eight times a week gives you a nervous twitch, consider this: Former backup hoofer-turned-underemployed wanna-be rapper Kevin could join her onstage.
"He'd be a dancer in the show," a mole tells the Insider. "The producers really want Britney and will do anything to make this happen."
Christina Applegate is currently starring as the titular lovelorn dancer in the revival, which the Federlines took in on Thursday (for their big night out, Spears wore a sparkly jacket stolen off the set of "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," while Federline sported snake-like cornrows that would have even Bo Derek rolling with laughter).
Britney's camp isn't commenting on the board-treading talk, but we'd be surprised if the new mom decides to make her debut on the Great White Way so soon after the arrival of her still under-wraps bundle of joy.
After all, it was just one year ago this week that the Britster gushed on her Web site, "To be a really good mom, I feel your child needs to be your full-time job. I want to raise my kids and share all of those precious moments with them and not rely on nannies."
Still, perhaps Mrs. Federline feels a connection to the production, filled as it is with ditties that some might say (hey, don't look at us) echo her own relationship, from "Big Spender" to "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" to "I Love to Cry at Weddings."

This is bad, folks. Very, very bad.

Britney on Broadway - F

Just Like Heaven

I saw Just Like Heaven today at the dollar movie theater in the mall... only, Tuesday is 50 cent movie day! What a bargain! I could have seen it twice!

Well, this is not the best romantic comedy ever made. It's cute, sure, but look at the stars - Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo are the embodiment of cute. Reese plays a doctor who gets in a car accident, and Mark sublets her apartment, but her spirit is still there... and the hilarity ensues! Okay, not really. There's a typical spirit-possession gag with Reese jumping into Mark's body, causing him to make a fool of himself at a bar, and the rest is pretty cliche, too. Now, I don't want to ruin it for any of you, but since it's a romantic comedy, you know it works out in the end. You'll just have to watch to find out how. It was fine, and a pleasant way to waste a little time on a Tuesday afternoon, but if I were you, I wouldn't pay much more than a dollar to see this movie. Don't rush right out and rent it as soon as it comes out on DVD. Let it hit the non-new release shelf.

One great thing about this movie: Donal Logue. If you don't know who I'm talking about, check him out on IMDb. You know, that guy. I love him in everything he's in.

Just Like Heaven - C+

Monday, November 21, 2005

Best Flower Variety Name EVER

You know how varieties of flowers are given crazy names? For example, we have the Miss All American Beauty rose, the Estella Rijnveldt tulip, the Easter Bonnet daffodil, and the Bayou Scarlet begonia, just to name a few. Well, I think I have the flower with the best variety name EVER. It's an epiphyllum, sometimes called an orchid cactus (it's not really an orchid, though, so don't be fooled!). Just look at its loveliness. Now, what name did some grower think would be perfect for this lovely bloom?

The VIRGINIA STRONG.

Nope, no pictures of my actual mother on the Internet, but when I did a Google search for my mommy, I got a picture of this flower. Awww!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

the Virginia Strong epiphyllum (and Mom's birthday, too) - A+

Sunday, November 20, 2005

My Wild Night in Saginaw

As you can see, I am being licked on the face, and as you can also see, I like it.

Last night was the '80s karaoke birthday party of my friends Scott and Lisa. I wore an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, a little denim skirt, legwarmers, cowboy boots, enormous hoop earrings, and tons of white eye shadow, and I was one of the least dressed-up folks there. I saw some mall bangs and a couple lace gloves with no fingers. It was inspiring. The karaoke was sweet, and the party favors were awesome. I have a new Rubik's Cube keychain now.

Of all the people to run into at the bar, I saw my old camp counselor, Bobbi Fischer. She's married, teaching math at Saginaw High, and looks fabulous. She's also only six years older than I am. I always thought those counselors were so much older. Who knew?

'80s karaoke birthday party - A- (my hair wasn't nearly cool enough to merit an A)

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Museum of African American History... and My Secret Phobia

I went on a field trip this morning to the Museum of African American History in Detroit. As you can see from the picture, it's a super-sweet facility. The dome is huge, and has amazing acoustics. There's also a huge mural on the floor, of Africa, the U.S., a woman giving birth, "the Book of Knowledge" and some other stuff. It's really impressive. We went through the core exhibit, a history of slavery, which is called "And Still I Rise." It was incredibly well-crafted, educational, and... huge. Seriously. We went on the top deck of a ship and then through the hold underneath where all the slaves were kept, and there were African villages and 1950s-era Detroit recreations, too. It's probably the coolest museum I've ever been to.

So, I have a fear. Not many people know about it, but it reared its ugly head today. I am afraid of historically dressed mannequins. Yes, you read that correctly. Historically dressed mannequins. I got lost in a museum when I was six years old, and I came around a corner and there were these mannequins in cowboy costumes and I flipped my shit. Now, over twenty years later, I still don't like them. They freak me out. And of course, in an exhibit about slavery, there were all sorts of mannequins in historical costumes. The first creepy ones were royalty from Benin circa 1700. Super scary. There were two that were absolutely horrific: a slave trader with curly hair and a bartender from the '50s... I saw those and had to turn away. I'm not joking. Ask my dad. We went to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame a couple summers ago and some of those vaqueros were evil.

Museum of African American History - A-
historically dressed mannequins - D

Friday, November 18, 2005

Amer's Mediterranean Deli

Amer's is an Ann Arbor institution - I remember getting a Torani steamer at Amer's when I was in high school (before I drank coffee) and I'm sure it was around before that. I had a coupon for five free dollars at Amer's (remember when the Newcomers lady came to my house this summer?), and decided to see what they had to offer me for dinner last night. Everything at Amer's is expensive, so I opted for a bagel with veggie cream cheese. It was delicious. I think a lot of it had to do with the addition of a thinly sliced tomato. I could have gotten bell pepper, onion, cucumber or sprouts, too. Not so much a bagel anymore, is it? It's a delicious meat-free bagel sandwich. It wasn't as hot as I would have liked, but I blame the walk back to work - my bagel was wrapped in foil, but that can't compete with below-freezing temperatures. My bagel with accoutrements was $2.11, which means I have $2.89 left on my little coupon. That won't get me very far, since a typical sandwich at Amer's is over six bucks, but I'll try another bagel again soon.
There's one thing abour Amer's that frustrates me: the pronunciation of the name. I've always said "Ahh-merz." Some people say "Uh-Meerz," and some people say "Uh-Mehrz." I need some clarification here.

Amer's Mediterranean Deli - B+

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Shakira "Don't Bother" Video

I think this is my new favorite video. If I were into girls, I would be so in love with Shakira - she is so hot. In this video, she prances around in a little nightie with a leather strap tied around her arm. Yowza. Also, the new Ford Mustang is prominent in this video, and I think it is one of the sexiest cars to come around in a long time. I love that Shakira plays the guitar in a junkyard. It seems like a video cliche, but when you're Shakira, you can do whatever you want. And the song's catchy, too! Don't bother, she'll be fine. This is one smokin' video. If you haven't gotten on the "morning videos instead of morning news" bandwagon, "Don't Bother" is your excuse.

Shakira "Don't Bother" video - A-

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

A New Look For Fall

I'm trying a new look for my blog. I think I like it. It was a pain in the ass to change, though.

What do you think?

my blog's new style - I for Incomplete... tell me what you think of it

UPDATE: final grade - D - the votes are in and you say "too pink." I'll start shopping for another new template soon!

Old Navy












I decided to have a little non-buying shopping trip today, and went to Old Navy. I hadn't been to Old Navy in a while, and the last time I had been to one, it was in the Traverse City outlet mall. For what it's worth, if you're looking for chain retail clothing, don't go to TC. They have crap.
The Ann Arbor Old Navy was heavenly. Their selection was huge - velvet blazers and sequin shoes and jeans and tank tops and great pajama pants and cute skirts and jackets and vests and purses and scarves, and all reasonably priced... it was awesome! I saw lots of things I wanted to get for myself and for Christmas gifts. Who knew? Plus, they also had wrapping paper, gift bags, bows and such. I guess it really is one-stop shopping. I had decided that Old Navy was lame, but today's trip changed my mind - and I left without spending a penny.

Old Navy - A-

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Project Runway Season 2

So today, I was sitting around at home, channel surfing and looking for something to watch to pass some time, and I stopped on Bravo... and behold, I saw a commercial for season 2 of Project Runway! I almost wet my pants with excitement.
The "sophomore season" can be a hard one. I think a lot of shows get better with a little time under their belts. Case in point: American Idol. You know, Kelly really is the best contestant to have been on AI, but the show improved a lot during season 2. But some shows have a hard time living up to the hype they got during their first season. Look at Desperate Housewives. Sure, it's still a great show, and is in the top five every week, but a lot of people feel something is missing this season.
But back to Project Runway - it will be hard to top season 1. It was truly magical. The designers were crazy characters; will there ever be another Jay, Austin, or (God forbid) Wendy? Plus, the design challenges were so interesting, and really showed what the designers were made of, and I hope that Tim and Michael and Heidi and the rest of the gang can come up with new challenges so the viewers don't just get a rehash of the season 1 challenges. I'll be watching with high hopes and high expectations. Don't let me down, PR, or "you're out."

Project Runway season 2 - B+ (I'll reevaluate after December 7!)

Watch Yourself

It's the opening day of firearm deer season in Michigan. I don't think I've ever been in Michigan for the opening day on a Tuesday - it's kind of a letdown for all the hunters who can't turn it into a three- or four-day weekend. Never fear, the fanatics are out there: Newaygo Public Schools have the day off today, for "Deer Day." Go out and bag one, son! I call this post "Watch Yourself" because if you're traipsing around out there, wear your orange!
The worst part of deer season is seeing all the sad little deer strapped to the hoods and roofs of cars flying down the highway. Super gross.

deer season - C (a few points for population control)

Monday, November 14, 2005

Mirrormask

Let me start by saying I only saw about twenty minutes of this movie - Nate came to see it and when I was done working I joined him - so I can't give it a completely accurate review. What I did see was completely wacky. Mirrormask is, I think, the story of a girl who draws a bunch of fantasy worlds and gets sucked into one of those worlds, through the windows she draws, by a princess who is trying to escape her evil queen mother. It was very Labyrinth-esque. The princess in the "real world" destroys the drawn worlds by crumpling the drawings - no more windows, no more ways for the real girl to back to the real world. I probably would have thought it was kind of confusing even if I'd seen the whole thing. One nice thing I discovered while watching this movie is that Gina McKee, who plays the queen (and of course, the real girl's mother - very Wizard of Oz) and was also in Notting Hill as Bella, isn't paralyzed at all. That whole wheelchair thing in Notting Hill? A clever story device.

Mirrormask - B-
Gina McKee being able to walk - A+

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Stupid VCR

Remember that episode of Desperate Housewives, season 1, when Lynette flips out and cries at the kitchen table? That's sort of how I feel. I tried to program my VCR and it didn't work. No new epsiode of Desperate Housewives. No new episode of Grey's Anatomy. No nothin'. Thanks for the VCR, old roommates, but three years later I still can't program it.

bad VCR - F

Saturday, November 12, 2005

The Squid and the Whale

This movie was really, really great. I'm always a big fan of ensemble pieces, especially if they're family-oriented. Not family-friendly, mind you - In the Bedroom and Junebug are definitely not for the kids. The Squid and the Whale is the story of an incredibly intelligent family going through a divorce in New York in the mid-'80s. One of the things I really liked about this movie was that it was obvious that it was set in the '80s, but not in a ridiculous way, like parts of Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion. It's exciting to me that the '80s can be used as a historical time period now. Anyway, the acting was superb - Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney were fabulous, and the kids were just wonderful, heartbreaking and hilarious all at the same time. In fact, I'd say that pretty much sums up the whole movie - heartbreaking and hilarious. It has a Wes Anderson flair (he was one of the producers and the writer/director of this movie co-wrote The Life Aquatic), the music is superb, and the dialogue is completely believable. Watch for the scene where Jeff Daniels' voice breaks a little - that's going to be his Oscar clip.

I think TSATW is the pinnacle of Billy Baldwin's career, that's for sure.

The Squid and the Whale - A

Friday, November 11, 2005

PetSmart Commercial

Have you seen this commercial? It makes me want a dachshund real bad. Okay, that's not true, doxies are evil little dogs who will turn on you if given the opportunity... but this commercial makes me forget that. Little dog, big toy. So cute. So, so cute. And when she runs the toy through the checkout and the little doggie is holding the new toy in his mouth and so HE gets run through the checkout, too? I love that. Way to go, PetSmart advertisers.

PetSmart commercial - B+

What A Very Good Year

Lots of really important things happened in 1965. Canada adopted the red and white maple leaf flag. Disney launched Epcot Center. Dr. Dre. Bjork and Shania Twain were all born in 1965, and A Charlie Brown Christmas premiered that very same year.

But perhaps the best thing of all happened on November 11, 1965. No, not the independence of Rhodesia, although that happened that day, too. 11/11/65 was the day that Nell McNutt and Monte Strong tied the knot. Those crazy kids!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad - as Dr. Dre would say, Still doing that shit, right?

Mom and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary - A+!

Thursday, November 10, 2005

some guy named robb - the pale sessions v. 1 - everything matters

some guy named robb's latest release is his best yet. Robb McCormick, sgnr's front (and often only) man, pushes the envelope with his third album - it's definitely darker than his previous stuff, but more subtle and more raw, too. The album's first track, "Between These Strings," is for me the focal point of the album, a love song with some heartache behind it. Also, Robb includes some spoken word tracks, "Three Cheers" and "The Common Distance," which show he's not just a good musician, but a real poet as well. The final track is a reworking of one of his most-loved tunes, "Express Lane Love." Not just everybody can poke fun at themselves. Way to be, Robb.

You gotta love the success of old friends (especially when that success allows them to send you free CDs). For those of you in the greater Arkansas/Oklahoma area, Robb will be playing a live show near you someday - the man's a touring machine - and you really should see him. some guy named robb's a hell of a live show. Those of you reading in other parts of the country should buy his albums at www.someguynamedrobb.com so he'll make a lot of money, get famous, and then tour the whole country and not just a little corner of the South. It'll be worth it, and if you tell him I sent you, maybe someday he'll finally record the song he wrote for me back in the late '90s.

the pale sessions v. 1 - everything matters - A

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

It's Edmund Fitzgerald Day - on November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald, loaded with over 26,000 tons of iron ore and 29 crew members, sank in Lake Superior, only seventeen miles from Whitefish Point, Michigan.

You know you love the song. You know you do! Gordon Lightfoot is a genius.

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - shipwreck - D-; song - A

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Teen Vogue and the Willis Girls

I like to keep up with the goings-on of the Willis girls, and this month, Teen Vogue gave me a little gift - an article and photo shoot on Rumer, Scout, and Talullah! It was just so refreshing to read about how much these girls love their mom and trust her totally when it comes to fashion. Little Lullah even loves to play dress up in her mom's old designer castoffs! Ha ha! Rumer slums it in one picture, wearing a sweater from J. Crew. Hello? That's like the celebrity version of the Salvation Army! Also, I was so happy to hear that Bruce stopped by and Ashton waved hello during the shoot. These girls are just so loved!

Seriously, it was sort of gross. I don't think an eleven-year-old should ever be included in a fashion magazine, especially not one as creepy-looking as Talullah. Look at those eyes... just don't look too close. Scout is beautiful, but both of the older girls came across as really, really pretentious. Oh, little Ru - the woods of northern Michigan could have been so good to you, but you gave it all up for Marc Jacobs and Galliano.

Teen Vogue and the Willis girls - C+ (well, it was good for a laugh!)

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Nose to the Grindstone


homework - C-

finishing homework (someday) - A+

Arbor Brewing Company

I got a little gift certificate to Arbor Brewing Company at my last work meeting, so we scoped the place out for lunch on Sunday. The atmosphere is fine - it's right on Washington, one of those downtown Ann Arbor streets - but the food was not so good. For some reason, I decided to order buffalo wings. Don't judge. They were fine at the time, but I sort of felt gross for most of the evening, and I think the wings are to blame. Plus, the sauce aggravated a hangnail. I think that's a bad sign. Nate had a Georgia Reuben, with turkey instead of corned beef, and he said it was cold and sort of nasty and the fries probably came from the bottom of the fryer batch. No good, ABC. If I get another gift certificate from work, I'll eat there, but it wouldn't be my top choice.

Arbor Brewing Company - C

Monday, November 07, 2005

A Note from Dad


Hi, I'm David Strong. I love my yard, Harry Potter, Steven Seagal movies, and naps. Today's my birthday. Yep yep yep yep yep.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Dad's birthday - A

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Capote

Everything you've heard about this movie is true. It's really, really good. Philip Seymour Hoffman will get nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Truman Capote. It was intense, and dark, and had just the right amount of shock and gruesomeness, and it absolutely drew me in. Sure, it's a little slow at times, like most dramas, but the dialogue is great and the costumes are wonderful and the music is creepy and perfect. It's one of the best movies I've seen this year.

Still, there's something about it that I can't put my finger on, and I can't give it a solid A. There a few scenes that seemed pretty contrived, with dialogue that people would never say in real life. Also, PSH was just tremendous, but no one's talking about Catherine Keener and Clifton Collins, Jr., whose performances give this movie its meat. I hate that. I loved both of them. Also, this may be farfetched, but I'm afraid that this movie is going to have a DaVinci Code affect. You know, all those people going on tours of the Louvre and monasteries in France and England to see where it "really took place." I don't like the idea of hordes of people travelling to Kansas.

Capote - A-

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Zingerman's Roadhouse

Zingerman's Deli is an Ann Arbor institution - they sell the most awesome cheese, olive oil, chocolate, bread, wonderful spices and brownies and sausage and it's just an all-around amazing place. Zingerman's Roadhouse joined the ZCoB (that's Zingerman's Community of Businesses) in 2003. It's located right off the freeway in a little shopping center, in a building that used to be a Bill Knapp's.

I've eaten at the Roadhouse a few times, and it's good, but I just don't think it's all that it's cracked up to be. For one thing, it's incredibly expensive, even by Ann Arbor standards. You have to work hard to get out of there for less than $50 for two people. Second, the food crosses that line from down-home to high-brow. It's great that the food is made by local artisans, and doesn't have preservatives and is incredibly fresh, but I don't need the cheese on my burger imported from a tiny dairy in England to make me feel good about said burger. Finally, it's utter insanity in the restaurant if you go at a normal eating time. I've been there twice around 4 PM, and it's fine, but much later than that and it's loud and crowded and dark. Not my idea of a joyous dining experience. Yes, the food is really good, but in this case, it's just not good enough.

Zingerman's Roadhouse - B-

Friday, November 04, 2005

Euchre



Tomorrow night I am going to a Euchre party... and there's money on it, so I have to play well. I haven't played a good hand of Euchre in a few years, but I am confident that I will remember all the rules and make some good decisions and come out a winner! I'd better - Mama needs a new pair of shoes.

Euchre party - B

Stamps

I love stamps. There are so many sweet stamps available for purchase, I hardly know which ones to buy. I like my stamps to look good on my envelopes - I'm currently using these babies with the lovely flower. There's enough white in the stamp to look good on a colored envelope, yet enough color to look good on a white envelope. Yes, I consider these things. You got a problem with that?

I wish stamps weren't so expensive. I remember back in the '80s when stamps were just 20 cents apiece. I would send so many more letters and cards if stamps were less expensive. Plus, why do they have to be such a crazy amount? 37 cents? Please! That number's not divisible by anything! It's a prime number! No stamp should come in a denomination you absolutely have to use pennies to buy.

Stamps - A-

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Your Song

My brother called me last night, all crunked up on Spanish wine, wanting to know if there was a special song his wedding DJ could play for me and Nate. Isn't that sweet? I don't know if Golddigger by Kanye West is appropriate for a wedding, but it was very thoughtful of Pat and Natalie to think of us. Ha!

What's your song?

Wedding Songs - B+ (they're all wonderful, but some are cheesy, and you know it!)

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

The Face of an Unwashed Teenager


I have the most enormous zit, and it's right on the bridge of my nose where God and everyone can see it. It's terrible. I mean, I don't have a photo shoot coming up or anything, but it's probably the worst, most obvious zit I've had in a long time.
This is what I get for eating buttery popcorn at work. This is what I get for using corn starch as face powder on Halloween. I thought I was too old for these monsters, but I guess I was wrong wrong wrong.

Enormous nose zit - F

UPDATE: It's better, but now it's red. Damn.

My Tirade on Local Radio

Today is November 2. Thanksgiving is three weeks away. It's not even Veterans' Day. And yet, 100.3 in Detroit has started to play all Christmas music. Over fifty days until the big holiday, and I'm already hearing Amy Grant's wacky version of O Come All Ye Faithful and the Drifters singing I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. It's too early, folks. Now, I am not a Scrooge - I love Christmas, and I've done a little pre-shopping (where you think about what you want to get people), and yesterday I contemplated buying Christmas cards, but it is too early to hear nothing but Christmas music on the radio. Please, wait until after Thanksgiving.

On the plus side, I have a new favorite radio station - one I discovered when I was scanning for something to replace 100.3. Good times.

Christmas music before Thanksgiving - D-

Cheetos

I ate some Cheetos yesterday, and they were so good. If you haven't had Cheetos in a while, I highly recommend you get some. Mine were straight out of a vending machine, but still retained their freshness. Cheetos are great because they can be a nice addition as a side when you're having a sandwich, but they can also stand alone as a snack.

The best part of Cheetos is the spore left over on your fingers when you're done eating. Dried cheese product - yum! Of course, it's bad if you get said spore all over someone's homework that you're looking at. Sorry, Claire.

Cheetos - B+

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Being A Grown-Up



I've seen the man in a tie before, but shoot, does he look like a real adult or what?

Charlie's professional attire - A+!