Pook-a-licious

Divine Intervention

2007-02-04T22:38:00.000-05:00

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, of Cruz Bay, Saint John, USVI, enlists the help of a higher traffic authority.

Last Week's Concert Recap

2006-11-06T20:02:00.000-05:00

Since I haven't posted anything here in approximately forever.

Saturday the 4th - The Obligatory Post Where I Gush About The Black Keys Show

AKA - That's a lot of noise for only two guys.

Tight. T-I-G-H-T. Tight. Tightthightthight.

And lovely LOUD. (I really needed a loud show. I could feel it soaking in and my brain sighed for love of the loudness.)

First. The opening act, The Black Angels = The Hollies + a smattering of Jim Morrison. They were quite decent (female drummer, which for whatever reason, always wins bonus points with me) and also very high. I'd go see them if they're around, but not for more than $10 ($15 if they were with somebody else good.)

Second. Following the theme of the evening, the drink of choice was Johnny Walker Black. Yum.

Third. "That Girl and Guy Who Would Not Stop Screaming and Singing Along Poorly" were right behind me. I didn't pay $18 to hear them mangle the songs. Tonight, though, was better about the request yelling. Probably because there was about 1.5 seconds between songs.

The set was only an hour, but easily the most intense hour I've witnessed. Owing to the fact that a) there's only two of them so nobody gets a rest, and b) they attack their instruments, I believe "blistering" would be an appropriate word to use. I read a review/article about how the drummer plays "like the drums just stole his mother's purse." Well, tonight the drums and guitar were in cahoots stealing mom's purse, running over the dog, and insulting the sister.

I am also jealous of Dan Auerbach's hair, because it's very nice and you know damn well the guy does nothing with it. Shampoo is probably a rarity, as is a comb. And I applaud Patrick's sock choice. If you're going to pull up one pantleg so it does not interfere with the kick drum, dark socks are a good choice, particularly in a complimentary color to one's Chucks. Well played. (Ok, I admit it. The drummer is my favorite of the two.)

Musically it pays to see The Black Keys live, given that distortion (lovely, lovely loud distortion) doesn't come through on a record. Even the most precisely engineered albums, and theirs are far from it thankfully, can't get that feel just right. If you like them, go to see them. It also reinforces the fact that they're 27. Dan singing sounds like a large 40-something African-American man who drinks whisky every day for breakfast. Technically, the drummer gets all the glory. While the guitar is done very well, drummer boy just about levitates off his seat while playing an array of items. He gets the variety, and it is exceptional.

And finally, tonight's set list = a happy me. They played about four songs of the new record (the one they're supposedly touring in support of) and a good 1/4 of The Big Come Up , their first record and still my favorite, and another 1/3 to 1/2 of Thickfreakness. And a little something off Rubber Factory, of course.

Wednesday the 1st - The Obligatory Post Where I Gush About The Decemberists Show

First. I'd like to say that I'd love to be about 4 inches taller so I could see while amongst the masses at the Electric Factory.

Second. Even though it's a general admission show, this does not excuse rudeness. No pushing.

Third. My top concert etiquette pet peeve - the yelling out of requests. Shut up. There is such thing as a set list, jackass. All those instrument switches are carefully planned and choreographed. And even if they're not, it's incredibly rude. Stop it. And specially stop with the "Freebird" bullshit. (Hmph.)

Ok, so it was a typically outrageously fun show, complete with a reenactment of the Charge of the Light Brigade. No, really. They played everything off The Crane Wife except "Summersong" and "When the War Came" (which I really wanted to hear) and a smattering of stuff off all their other albums. This lead to a face off between the left and right sides of the audience (and a short soliloquy a la West Side Story about how once you're a Jet, you're always a Jet even after you wear out your last pair of Clarks). On "16 Military Wives" we were asked to assist with the "la di da di da" parts (Decemberists shows are very interactive, you can't just stand there and listen). An imaginary pit of snakes divided the crowd (Colin: "You have to stay on your side. Oops. You just fell in to the pit of snakes. You're dead.") and we were instructed to sneer and growl at the opposing side while trying to out "la di da di da" them. During the mind-blowing Perfect Crime #2 (extended to a 15 minute version) we were advised "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you were using your time wisely, you'd be having a dance contest now." So the first ever Decemberists Dance Contest was held, though I was too far away to participate. The inclusion of "Legionnaires Lament" was a nice surprize, as was "Red Right Ankle". And the kinda awkward rendition of "Take It To the Limit" done with Lavender Diamond (who opened and I would not like to hear ever again. The is the second pretty bad L.A. based folk band I've seen open for the Decemberists. Maybe I'm just missing something with these choices.)

Didn't get home too late (11:45) and work didn't suck too hard today. Now to rest up for Saturday's show (which I imagine will be a bit louder and perhaps a slightly different crowd.)

peace, love, and hipsters...

Album Review

2006-07-24T13:31:00.000-04:00

Wow, three months since I last posted. Hmmm. Well here's a recent piece, a review of "The Eraser" by Thom Yorke.

Having given this a listen (was gonna go for two, but you'll see why I didn't) I will start off with what I think is useful information. If you can find this on sale, or get somebody to make a copy for you, take it. If it's not on sale, wait until it is. Worth having = yes. Worth going out of your way or budget to get = no.

Knowing that Thom Yorke is a, um, unique individual, I was expecting something kinda trippy and way out there from "The Eraser". 'Cuz old Thom is kinda trippy and way out there. Thing is, I'm finding it's not as out there as I might have hoped. Electronic-y, ambient, Thom spent some quality time with his computer for this one. His voice is the usual quasi-falsetto sometimes whine we've come to expect. First two tracks are quite nice, "Analyse" being an early favorite. Nice keyboard bit in there, and some lovely spiral-y sounds. (I hear in shapes, ok?) The middle - pretty much tracks four through seven - drags on, and in fact, drones on. Take "Skip Divided" as a good example of the droning, "Atoms for Peace", too. As someone who listens to a fair amount of electronic-y music from a variety of genres, I expect that element of repetition. This is by no means even close to house/trance beats, that after five minutes numb your brain. And there's so soul here either, nothing sweaty or grind-y. (Is that even a word? I don't think so.) Anyways, it's planned and calculated, and is an interesting combination of singing over an electronic base, which doesn't always happen, or doesn't happen well.

You won't mistake this for a Radiohead album, no chance of that. Radiohead has a unique ability to showcase individual band members, who are remarkably remarkable in their own right, within each track. "The Eraser" is quite sparse at times, really, and you can image Thom sitting at home in his bedroom, laptop in hand, putting this together. I wanted to listen through twice before writing this, however this is not an album that lends itself to repeat immediate listenings. I think it would fade away into the back of your brain if you did that, by the third track you wouldn't even be hearing it anymore. If "The Eraser" had a color, it would be gray, with a pinstripe here or there. Thin pinstripes. (Apparently I hear in colors too.)

Things pick up a bit at the end with "And It Rained All Night", and the last two songs are like the first two. Lovey boop-boop-beep aspect to the last one. A decent opening, a good close, but the middle drags. Not the first album to experience this, and certainly not the last. Definately worth a few listens.

3.5/5 stars

Amusing

2006-04-21T10:53:00.000-04:00

I had phoned home yesterday afternoon to check in and was filling the Momster in on the "Continuing Adventures(?) of Lori and Art" and how I was trying to figure out if next Friday I was going to drive into the city (and go broke paying for parking) or take the train (and have to find some way home). Mom's solution - "Take the train and let Art figure out what to do with you. And don't forget to shave your legs."

Infinitely practical woman. Wise, too.

:oP

pook-out
(who will not forget to shave her legs)

break

2006-04-06T13:19:00.000-04:00

[A is for age:] 25
[B is for booze of choice:] Gin (Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire)
[C is for career:] Something involving old houses.
[D is for your dog's name:] Malcolm.
[E is for essential item you use everyday:] Moisturizer.
[F is for favorite song at the moment:] "Gimme Some Salt" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
[G is for favorite games:] Monopoly
[H is for Home town] Franconia, Pa.
[J is for favorite juice?:] Cranberry
[K is for kids?] Never. Ever. No.
[L is for last hug] Heather, I think.
[M is for marriage:] Maybe someday.
[N is for name of your crush:] I perpetually have a crush on Sherlock Holmes and Atticus Finch.
[O is for overnight hospital stays:] A few total.
[P is for phobias:] I'm just generally nervous.
[Q is for quote:] "You can call me Lori, Dr. Miller if you're nasty."
[R is for biggest regret:] Lately, procrastinating.
[S is for status:] Fabulous. I am always fabulous.
[T is for time you wake up:] As early as I can drag my sorry ass out of bed.
[U is for underwear:] Pale pink boy shorts. Very cute.
[V is for vegetable you love:] Beets.
[W is for worst habit:] Lately, procrastinating.
[X is for x-rays you've had:] Lots.
[Y is for yummy food you make:] Everything I make is yummy.
[Z is for zodiac sign:] Virgo.

It's too late now...

2006-02-23T00:05:00.000-05:00

..but I really should have been a civil engineer.

You scored as Mathematics. You should be a Math major! Like Pythagoras, you are analytical, rational, and when are always ready to tackle the problem head-on!

Mathematics

100%

Engineering

100%

English

83%

Chemistry

83%

Dance

83%

Sociology

67%

Linguistics

67%

Anthropology

58%

Philosophy

58%

Psychology

50%

Theater

50%

Journalism

42%

Biology

42%

Art

25%

What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3)
created with QuizFarm.com

Feeling...alphabetical?

2006-02-14T23:04:00.000-05:00

A - Available? I suppose that would depend who you are...
A - Age: 25
A - Annoyance: Stupid customers. Nasty customers. Kids who throw books on the floor.

B - Best Friends? Sarah, Evie, Becky, Heather, Kate
B - Bar: Rooney's is nice, and close. But the Deer Park has Shiner. Decisions, decisions.
B - Birthday? September 18

C - Crush: not at the moment.
C - Car: The (Slightly Damaged) Blueberry.
C - Cat: Don't care for 'em so much.

D - Dead Pets Name: Niki.
D - Dads Name: Dad, duh. (Ok, it's Bob.)
D - Dog: Malcolm

E - Easiest person to talk to: Becky. So much so that we have most of our conversations talking over each other. And yet we still understand perfectly. However everyone else looks confused.
E - Eggs: soft-boiled, with buttered toast.
E - Email: nos.da.cariad2@gmail.com

F - Favorite color? At the moment, dark green.
F - Food: Sushi (Philly Rolls, specifically) and anything in the CHEESE family.
F - Foreign Slang: Teringlijder (which is one version of motherfucker in Dutch.)

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Both!
G - God: Um, No.
G - Good Time: NAP TIME!

H - Hair Color: blonde-ish, brown-ish, red-ish
H - Height: 5'4.75
H - Happy: About tomorrow being the day after Valentines day when all the chocolate goes on sale.

I - Ice Cream: Ben and Jerry's Karamel Sutra, or Hagen Daas Strawberry
I - Instrument: Piano, working on guitar, and my favorite - suspended cymbals.
I - Idol: Saint Wendy (who I talked to today).

J - Jewelery: None today, just Band-Aids on my fingers.
J - Job: Graduate Research Assistant and Bookseller
J - Joke: Anything dirty that must be told in a wisper.

K - Kids: None, No, Never.
K - karate: Wax on!
K - kung fu: fighting...

L - Longest Car Ride: 8-9 hours, headed to NC about a million years ago.
L - Longest Relationship: 5 minutes? Not even.
L - Love: is rather nice, really.

M - Milk Flavor: coffee or strawberry.
M - Mothers Name: Beth (not Debbie :oP)
M - Movie Last Watched: The Sting

N - Number of Siblings: 1 human, 1 canine
N - Northern or Southern: Northern (I'm a yankee, through and through, and I put sugar in my cornbread).
N - Name: Lori, L-Dawg, Pookie

O - One Wish? No more language exams. Ever.
O - One Phobia? Nazis. Seriously, bad dreams every time. Even the PBS specials freak me out.
O - Otter Pop: is that legal?

P - Parents, are they married or divorced: married, 31.5 years.
P - Part of your appearence you like best: Eyes, they're nice.
P - Part of your Personality you like best: My deviousness. Ok, and my patience.

Q - Quote: "That's absurd, I love it." (I missed "House" tonight, damnit.)
Q - Question for the next person: So how 'bout them Red Sox?
Q - Quick or Slow?: Depends on what it is...

R - Reason to smile: Trader Joe's restocked Volcano Coffee, the bestest coffee ever. Evar.
R - Reality TV Show: No thanks. Though I ocassionally get sucked into Project Runway.
R - Right or Left: Righty.

S - Song Last Heard: Something at work. Either Belle and Sebastian or Spoon.
S - Season: Winter.
S - Sex: Yes, please!

T - Time you woke up: 8:30
T - Time Now: 11:24
T - Time for bed: Somewhere between 12:30 and 2, hopefully

U - Unknown Fact about me: I am an EXCELLENT liar.
U - Unicorns?: Oh, pretty!
U - U are?: Alphabet foul!! I call an alphabet foul!

V - Vegetable you hate: Lima beans.
V - Vegetable you love: Mushrooms, zucchini, beets.
V - View on Politics: Screaming left liberal, borderline socialist.

W- Worst Habits: Procrastinating.
W- Where are you going to travel next? Bed. And as in leaving the apartment, work.
W- Weight: too much. According to me anyways. ('bout 135, give or take).

X - X-Rays: Got a collection, want to see?
X - X-Rated Porn: Is there any other kind?
X - X-xtra special someone: I'm gonna go with "no" on this one.

Y - Year you were born: 1980
Y - Year it is now: 2006
Y - Yellow?: I like.

Z - Zoo Animal: Polar bears.
Z - Zodiac: Virgo, with a capital VIRGO. Look it up in the dictionary, there's a picture of me. Organizing something.
Z - Zoolander: Didn't like the movie.

Deep Thought of the Day

2006-02-12T21:34:00.000-05:00

The selfishness of city winters.

[Realized while unearthing (unsnowing?) The Blueberry on 14th Street today.]

The Life of a Bookseller

2006-02-08T10:42:00.000-05:00

Highlight of Work This Week: Katy and I picking out five books to send to a guy in prison. And according to the woman on the phone, who cares enough to send books (more than once) but not to pick them out herself, we weren't to choose ones that were too "pussified".

"Pussified" immediately became the word of the day.

Based on our choices, we think he'll be safe in the shower.

pook-out

Pop Quiz!

2006-02-02T23:08:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: Please know that the songs currently in iTunes are approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of my total music collection. I'm currently formulating a strategy to get all music digitized and organized. So, I'm working with the currently limited selection. Um, that was three currently's in three sentences. Oh look, another one.

Open iTunes/iPod or Windows Media Player to answer the following. Go to your library. Answer, no matter how embarrassing it is.

Number of songs: 1067

Sort by song:
First Song: (De Le) Yaleo - Santana
Last Song: Zoo Station - U2

Sort by time:
Shortest song: 0:04 - (Four Seconds of Noise) - Hot Hot Heat
Longest song: 12:27 - The Calling - Santana (And I really only have one Santana album, for all their appearances here).
Actual Song 9:36 - (I think I'm supposed to find a song with that time.) Since there isn't an exact one, the closest at 9:50 is "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade" by The Decemberists

Sort by artist:
First Artist: 10,000 Maniacs
Last Artist: Zero 7

Sort by album:
First Album: "...Somewhere More Familiar" by Sister Hazel
Last Album: "Violent Femmes", by Violent Femmes

Top Five Most Played Songs:
1. Galang - M.I.A.
2. Chariot - Gavin DeGraw
3. July, July! - The Decemberists
4. Rock Star - N.E.R.D.
5. Howl - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Search:
"Sex": 19 (all but two on Blood Sugar Sex Magik), the others are Sonic Youth ("Self-Obsessed and Sexxee") and for some inexplicable reason Eric Clapton and B.B. King ("I Wanna Be").
"Death": 1 - Death by Chocolate, by DePhazz
"Love": 89, good heavens. Most are from the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes. Ray Charles, and Diana Krall.
"You": 142. No details.

And a question of my own: Currently Listening - "No Need to Argue" by The Cranberries, specifically "Zombie." Earlier I had tthe "do do do" intro to "Ode to my Familly" in my head and just haven't turned it off yet.

Three things...

2006-01-06T20:42:00.000-05:00

I think are fabulous.

1) The Condiment Packet Museum

2) Takk, by Sigur Ros

(Click for something beautiful...)

3) Trader Joe's Sesame Spinoza Bagels. It bagels the mind.

That is all.

Recap.

2006-01-04T15:06:00.000-05:00

2005 Survey – A little late, but oh well.

1) Was 2005 a good year for you?
Um, maybe not so much.

2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
Quilt Voices closing. Seriously.

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Any moment that involved my department being complete assholes. There were a lot of those. Specially the moment when they pulled my funding. Fuckers.

4) Where were you when 2005 began?
In my old apartment, watching the Twilight Zone.

5) Who were you with?
Just me.

6) Where will you be when 2005 ends?
I was at my new apartment, watching the Twilight Zone.

7) Who will you be with when 2005 ends?
Just me. (Noticing a trend.)

8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2005?
I don’t make resolutions.

9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2006?
See #8.

10) Did you fall in love in 2005?
No. But I did kiss more people in 2005 than any other year (Heather, Megan, Jen, and Jamie. And two of those were while playing Truth or Dare. :oP)

11) If yes, with who?
See #10.

12) If yes, do they know?
How would they know if I don’t even know?

14) You regret it?
Erm. No.

15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2005?
Well, usually you have to be with somebody to break up with them.

16) Did you make any new friends in 2005?
Yes. Heather moved from being an acquaintance to being one of my bestest friends. And Becky too.

17) Who are your favorite new friends?
Heather, Sean, Jon, Becky, Megan, Jamie. And, even though I’ve never met them, Angela and Stella, because they make Sarah so happy.

18) What was your favorite month of 2005?
I don’t know. Shit happened in all of them. I can’t find a negative event-less month. Though maybe February, because of the Savannah trip.

19) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005?
Only in my imagination.

20) How many different states did you travel to in 2005?
5 - Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Georgia, New Jersey

21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005?
My grandfather died, but I didn’t consider us close.

22) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
My Sarah!! And Evie.

23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005?
Harry f*ing Potter!!! Narnia was good too, for being Disney. And Jarhead really made me think.

24) What was your favorite song from 2005?
Oh Christ. Um…Lately, by David Gray (which I think would be my theme song for 2005)…My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist, by The Decemberists…Ain’t No Easy Way, by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club…Galang, by M.I.A.

25) What was your favorite record from 2005?

If I had to pick one, “Life In Slow Motion” by David Gray (you can all look surprised now.) Others include “Picaresque” by The Decemberists, Micah P. Hinson and the Gospel of Progress, “Make Believe” by Weezer, “Back to Bedlam” by James Blunt (though technically I bought it in 2006), and “Howl” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

26) How many concerts did you see in 2005?
Three, a new record. David Gray times two, and The Decemberists.

27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2005?
They were all my favorites. The August David Gray show was the best for crowd energy (compared to the other times I’ve seen him), the October David Gray show was the best musically (again, compared to his other shows – and that moment at the end when he took out his ear-thingies to listen to the crowd sing Babylon at him made me want to cry). And the Decemberists were the best for being completely goofy and fabulous and for being one of the most FUN shows I’ve ever been to (specially the screaming like you’re being swallowed by a whale part).

28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005?
Yes, compared to other years, I did drink more. Though my “a lot” is not everyone’s “a lot.”

29) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2005?
Considering I rarely do any drugs to start with, no. Smoking twice (with the continued zero reaction) was it. I’m immune.

30) How many people did you hurt this year?
Hopefully no one, intentionally.

31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Nah.

33) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005?
I’m good at picking up on that sort of thing. And I don’t think anything major was lied about.

34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005?
I wanted to.

35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2005?
The usual taking advantage of me by friends and colleagues.

36) How much money did you spend in 2005?
More than usual, but out of necessity. New car, new apartment, new computer. In terms of “luxury” items, I spent too much on music, though I usually consider music a necessity, in the same category as food and toilet paper.

37) What was your proudest moment of 2005?
Realizing that I was the lead on the Ocean View project and that Becky and Beth were relying on me to run the whole thing. Without asking me first, of course, but whatever…

38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005?
Don’t know. I go out of my way not to embarrass myself.

39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be?
That I would have been more persistent with a few things.

40) What are your plans for 2006?
Get the departmental mess fixed, write a National Register nomination, get a job (and soon!), read more books, continue to teach myself to speak Welsh and play the guitar (though not necessarily at the same time). Practice my Italian and German, and also French, which I think I’m better at than I realize.

Merry Christmas to all...

2006-01-01T00:25:00.000-05:00

Whoops, wrong holiday! Judging from the various bangs and occassional boom coming from outside, it's New Year's. I hope all of this noise is happening away from my car. This is a city, you know. Tight quarters round here.

Wheee. (Why don't they have a rolling eyes smiley?) I spent my evening curled up under a quilt, watching the Twilight Zone. In fact, one of my favorite episodes was on at midnight (The Masks, directed by Ida Lupino). And I didn't shake any money this year. While the story goes it's supposed to bring you good monetary karma, it has never worked in the past. I think Dad was making things up when he told me that. Or else Baby New Year owes me about 25 years worth of back pay. Of course, you're also supposed to kiss someone at midnight. Eventually I'll find a nice boy who won't mind catching up on those years without a kiss. Oh wait, that's all of them.

At any rate, Happy New Year to everyone. May it be filled with good times and love and lots of laughing, and a lack of extreme worry, or fear.

May it NOT be filled with the assinine idea that if your 25 minute work-out dvd is good, then the 45 minute work-out dvd will be twice as good. Hobbling around like an old lady because your legs are so sore you think twice about standing up and walking (even when you have to pee) is not sexy.

And on a completely unrelated note, I've switched to Garnier shampoo and damn does it smell good. I like the blindingly lime green bottle, too.

peace, love, and shampoo-y goodness...

My dearest Snapey-poo...

2005-12-09T18:29:00.000-05:00

Severus Snape
You clearly do not scare easily. You want a man
who is sharp, intellectual, cultured, and not
too mushy. Get underneath his cool, sarcastic
exterior and who knows what treasures you might
find.

Who is your Harry Potter love match? (for girls)
brought to you by Quizilla

Well, yeah..

2005-12-07T21:00:00.000-05:00

SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to
point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

Nubbin

2005-11-12T14:52:00.000-05:00

So, who here doesn't have time for a real post???

You are Rerun!

Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

2005-10-22T00:56:00.000-04:00

Your 1920's Name is:

Ophelia Gussie

What's Your 1920's Name?

Hey, I like that!

Got grad school?

2005-10-10T00:20:00.000-04:00

Hmm, haven't updated here since my birthday. A quick summary: school, school, school, school, school, Decemberists concert, David Gray concert (yes, again), and oh look, back to school tomorrow....

(Though two shows in one weekend is nice, I got absolutely no work done. And now the word "school" looks wicked wrong, since I've typed it so many times.)

Sarah I hope you got your messages!

pook-out

Hippo Birdies...

2005-09-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

Hippo Birdie to Ewe,
Hippo Birdie to Ewe,
Hippo Birdie dear Pookie,
Hippo Birdie to Ewe!

And how is Pookie celebrating her quarter century? By working at school all day.

Woot!!

(Please insert the appropriate amount of sarcasm into that Woot!! because there is definitely some there.)

pook-out

Say What?

2005-08-27T22:05:00.000-04:00

Quote of the Day:

"This Magic 8 Ball knows nothing about 18th century political satire."
~Me

So, I switched to flipping a quarter since George Washington is on the quarter and he was an 18th century kinda guy.

[Note: This is how my brain is working the week before classes start. I can't wait for December.]

X marks the spot...

2005-08-21T18:45:00.000-04:00

This weekend I discovered the location of the Twilight Zone - College Park, Maryland.

It's also where all the Stepford Wives congregate and the Stepford Husbands watch football.

Saturday was a thoroughly disturbing day.

Things I Don't Understand...

2005-08-12T18:32:00.000-04:00

~ short-sleeved turtlenecks in hundred degree weather. or any weather for that matter.

~micah hinson's album classification: "alt-country".

~the strangely addictive quality of cheeze-its.

Hey you!!

2005-08-10T11:29:00.000-04:00

SARAH!!

Call me when you get a chance.

Another note for Sarah...

2005-08-01T13:54:00.000-04:00

On Friday night I'll be calling your phone, and if you'd like a souvenir David Gray voice mail or two, don't answer!!

I hope you had a loverly weekend. Sounded like fun.

pook-out

For Sarah...

2005-07-25T14:40:00.000-04:00

...the ginger diva.

And because I got a bag of uncrystallized candied ginger today at Trader Joe's (and have been trying to get an explanation of the uncrystallized vs. crystallied vs. candied).

http://www.gingerpeople.com/products.html

pook-out

You like me! You really like me!!

2005-07-21T17:57:00.000-04:00

(In Strongbad voice): "Check me out. No seriously, check me out!"

http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2005/mar/historian071505.html

Click on that, boys and girls, follow the steps to my ever-so-forgetful advisor's video and see...ME! Well, a little of me, the back of my head, and Becky and David.

Do you think I should get an agent?

hehehe

P.S. That was the 1725 house we're working on in the video. The guy filming was gone by the time I was a) perched two stories up on a rickety ladder, and b) crawing around on the roof.

pook-out

I'm just wild about Harry...

2005-07-20T14:50:00.000-04:00

*two small spoilers ahead, stop reading now or I can't be held responsible...*

Finally finished Harry 6. Loved it, nice and dark and totally intertwined with book 5 (which I didn't manage to read again and was struggling to remember small details). Very proud of myself for not crying through the last three chapters. And how much do I love Tonks and Lupin? Right on, my pink-haired sister, right on. I think the key word for this book was "snog", which is one of my most favoritest words. I had a really nice colored lipstick once that was called "snog", and I believe that is the main reason I bought it, aside from the color. Oh, and I think "R.A.B." is Regulus Black, Sirius's brother (which would be an interesting twist since he was a Death Eater...)

Now back to real work, which this week means spending way too much quality time with Gilbert Stuart paintings and Paul Revere prints. But for 12 bucks an hour, I can deal.

pook-out

Food porn.

2005-07-18T13:34:00.000-04:00

Anna's 31st Birthday Feast...

And my amazing strawberry cheese pie...

(The food wasn't as blurry as the pictures make it out to be...dunno why this is happening.)

I also heard I was a turtle...

2005-07-11T08:44:00.000-04:00

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Genius Spice Trader.

Where You Lived: Japan.

How You Died: Buried alive.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

You're pretty when I'm drunk...

2005-06-30T16:55:00.000-04:00

I believe that the people at the ABC Liquor Store now know me by name.

But it's only because I was appointed "Booze Procurement Officer" for 4th of July.

And because I'm moving next Friday and I'm relieving them of a great number of lovely sturdy, FREE boxes.

I may make another trip tomorrow.

Also in the course of packing up the apartment, specifically my cd collection, I've been experiencing a R.E.M. renaissance. They've always been my very favorite band for about the last 15 or so years, but lately I've been listening to a load of other things (hooray for used cd's from Amazon). But I listened to "In Time" the other day and have been consequently listening to all their albums (since I own ALL of them). The real point of this is that I stumbled across the video for "Animal", which was a new song on "In Time" and can I just say Damn! Michael Stipe looks good! He was always attractive in that tortured artist/intelligent and well-spoken way, but in the video it's more in a "Why don't you remove a few more of your clothes" kinda way. I think this also coincides with my personal revelation that I've got a thing for bald/bald-ish guys. It's more than a trend folks, it's a fact. Like me realizing I'm a shoe girl - although that happened about two years ago.

Alright, must find some substantial food 'afore I go out for drinks with my historian friends.

Baby, instant soup doesn't really grab me.
Today I need something more sub-sub-sub-substantial.
A can of beans or blackeyed peas, some Nescafe and ice...

(Name that tune!!)

From the desk of...

2005-06-27T00:09:00.000-04:00

TeaTable42 (12:00:49 AM): guess where i was today?
BoxFive (12:00:53 AM): where?
TeaTable42 (12:00:59 AM): the red sox game!
TeaTable42 (12:01:13 AM): k, i guess technically it was a phillies game but i went to see the red sox
BoxFive (12:01:16 AM): awesome!
TeaTable42 (12:01:36 AM): and i was in the company of red sox fans...we formed our own little enclave
BoxFive (12:01:59 AM): yay
BoxFive (12:02:07 AM): it was a good gam
TeaTable42 (12:02:20 AM): i think it's kinda funny that i had to go to a game in philly to see the red sox...i'd still like to get to fenway at some point
TeaTable42 (12:02:24 AM): and it was a good game
BoxFive (12:03:34 AM): yeah well all but one of the 5 games i've gone to this year
BoxFive (12:03:36 AM): they've lost
BoxFive (12:03:37 AM): haha
TeaTable42 (12:04:56 AM): but they're in first place and that's what really counts...and 6 games ahead of the yankees
BoxFive (12:05:02 AM): exactly
BoxFive (12:05:14 AM): the yankees are a big heaping pile of 200 million dollar goo
BoxFive (12:05:15 AM): lol
TeaTable42 (12:05:26 AM): hehe
TeaTable42 (12:07:19 AM): ok, i'm off to bed...got up at 6:15 today, ugh...but just wanted to make sure i told you about the game, knew you'd be proud for me standing up to all those philly fans
BoxFive (12:07:40 AM): i am very proud!

Evie is proud of me, yay!!

heh.

Danger, Will Robinson...

2005-06-22T22:17:00.000-04:00

Danger!

New "Danger Food" (i.e. something that you feel compelled to eat the whole box/bag in an uncontrollable spasm of yumminess)...

Rosemary and Olive Oil Triscuits.

And I thought the plain ones were pretty good. Damn. These are just salty and oily enough to satiate the ravenous beast known as "munchies" without totally killing one's healthy eating plan.

And speaking of health - today I got all of my vitamin C from two "Orange Crush" drinks at Deer Park - juice of a whole orange, Van Gogh vodka, triple sec, and a splash of Sprite. Very refreshing, not too sweet, and very dangerous. You can't really taste the booze and don't know you're in trouble until you try to stand up and walk.

(I only had two, I had to drive myself home. I walked like a pro.)

Of course now I've got cracker crumbs in the keyboard...oops.

pook-out

Because I need another distraction...

2005-06-15T12:29:00.000-04:00

15 Years Ago (1990), I:
1. Turned 10
2. Was in the fourth grade
3. Went to North Carolina for the first time
4. I think we got our dog Niki that year...dunno.

10 Years Ago (1995), I:
1. Turned 15
2. Started high school, four mostly wasted years
3. Was the historian of the Key Club
4. Got picked on by my english teacher for reading "Tropic of Cancer" in class (she was appalled my mother let me read it).
5. Became good friends with a guy I'd previously had a huge crush on.

5 Years Ago (2000), I:
1. Was a sophomore at Emerson
2. Didn't march indoor/outdoor for the first time in a while.
3. Had to transfer schools and leave my friends.
4. Met my best friend in the whole world.
5. Worked my first summer at Indian Creek Foundation, and contemplated running away from work every. single. day.

4 Years Ago (2001), I:
1. Started at UD, and was miserable.
2. Turned 21 and had a Manhattan as my first official drink
3. Worked my last summer at Indian Creek, nights this time.
4. Took a summer painting class and didn't like to follow the rules (I used my fingers, and you don't usually with oil paint)

3 Years Ago (2002), I:
1. Started hanging out with the University Courtyards crew, which later turned out to be a mistake, and was dubbed "Beer Pong Scholarship Girl"
2. Went to a party in Baltimore, took a limo
3. Worked at the reserve room at the library some more
4. Took summer classes and had a 4.0 gpa
5. Interned at a museum and realized I never want to work in a museum.

2 Years Ago (2003), I:
1. Turned 23, which is a nothing kinda birthday.
2. Got my B.A.
3. Got accepted to every graduate program I applied to (5!!)
4. Turned down Tufts for the second time.
5. Started graduate school.

1 Year Ago (2004), I:
1. Started learning German...ugh
2. Started my masters thesis
3. Rocked the research assistant job
4. Spent the summer practicing my Italian
5. Did my first elevation plan drawing

This Year (2005), I:
1. Was accepted into the PhD program
2. Finished my masters thesis (well, next month)
3. Was still battling the Albatros that is the language exam
4. Got my amazing new Scion xA, which I love with all my heart
5. Learned why I love the 18th century so much

Yesterday, I:
1. Did laundry
2. Called about a quote from the movers
3. Got mad at my mother
4. Bought a 5th row ticket for the David Gray show at the Merriam
5. Bought myself a fig at the grocery store (a fresh fig, not of the Newton variety)

Today, I:
1. Drank two cups of coffee
2. Listened to Steve Wonder's Greatest Hits, Volume 2
3. Will go to the mall later with Anna where we will act like 13 year olds (except I'm 24 and she's 30). Though even when I was 13 I didn't act like a 13 year old.

5 TV Shows I Like:
1. CSI
2. House
3. The Daily Show
4. Jimmy Newtron
5. MI-5

Places I've Lived:
1. Franconia, Pa.
2. Boston, Ma.
3. Newark, De.

Now wasn't that fun?

Swimmin' pools and movie stars...

2005-06-10T12:42:00.000-04:00

In bands.

Normally I'm quite suspicious about the whole model to actress, or actor to musician routine. I think because many of these people suck at both, but we, the poor huddled masses, are subjected to double exposure of these usually annoying people that end up as D list celebrities trying to revive their careers on reality television.

But I digress...

Wednesday I was listening to WXPN (www.wxpn.com) the bestest Philly radio station and heard a song I'd never heard before but really liked. I've found lots of people I really like this way. This is why WXPN is so good - I never know what I'll hear but I generally like it...a lot. I discovered Jamie Cullum and Inara George and Citizen Cope and Snow Patrol (though I've never heard the rest of their album, just the song "Run") this way. And, even better, the station is excellent about promoting local music and getting their playlists up in a timely manner and they make it very easy to find a song you heard but didn't catch the name, or enough of the lyrics to google them. (Have I ever mentioned how much I love the fact that "google" is now a verb?) So I heard a song on Wednesday, really liked it, looked it up yesterday. Turns out it's called "Tired of Being Sorry" by Ringside. Turn to the trusty internet to listen again and find some info about the band. The album gets decent reviews - generally characterized as good but not life altering. I consider purchasing it since I like the singer's scratchy voice, and when I find it for 3.99 used on Amazon.com, I get it. And my continued efforts to unearth some info about the band leads me to their website (www.ringsideband.com) where I discover that a) they are impossibly good looking, and b) one looks very familiar but I don't know why. (And this is where my earlier diatribe comes in...) The familiar looking one is an actor, though I've never seen any of his movies, he's still familiar. What is remarkable is that their music doesn't suck and, supposedly, this guy is a good actor. Who knew this was even possible. Ringside has been opening for Weezer (no small feat) a band who I have really like for, well ever, and I have none of their albums. Just the random song here and there ("Say It Ain't So" is my favorite). Perhaps I should investigate the possibility of filling out my Weezer collection, though I'm totally out of CD storage devices. They are just piled all over right now. I think this problem deserves a trip to Ikea.

And while I'm procrastinating (need to clean my apartment today - and need in the way that Tammy Faye Baker needs a new makeup artist) I watched "The Transporter" last night. Not too bad, but not too good. The soundtrack was excellent however. After some more music research, I spent a lot of yesterday online, I find a problem. There is a soundtrack. However, the British one is different than the American one and harder to find without ordering directly from our Anglican friends and spending dollars I don't have (and with the exchange rate being what it is, lots of dollars I don't have). The American one isn't bad, in fact, looks good. But the British one has all the nice techno mixes, while the American one has been reduced solely to rap and rap-ish. (I hate the labels for types of music, can you tell? I also hate labels for kinds of art too, but that's another story...). I'm considering finding the track list for the British version and perhaps trying to cobble it together. iTunes was no help at all (even with the American stuff) so I shall do some more research and see what happens.

Oh, and the movie itself - Bond without the morality. Jason Statham plays the lead (he was fabulous in Snatch, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels). He fairs with a good amount of success, if only the rest of the cast and the dialogue didn't suck so much - it falls between hokey and super-hokey. It's an action movie with too much action, though he spends lots of time with his shirt off and that's ok with me (British eye candy, my favorite kind). Plot wise - if you've seen "The Hire" films that BMW did a few years ago, you've pretty much seen The Transporter. Thing is that "The Hire" series had Clive Owen and we all know how I feel about him. (And if you don't know I'm give you an example - he was on the cover of the March issue of Equire and I was thisclose to going over to the magazine rack in Brew HaHa where I saw it and licking the cover.)

Alright. As the Mad Hatter said in Alice in Wonderland, "Enough of this folderol!"

pook-out

Decisions, descisions.

2005-06-03T20:24:00.000-04:00

Apparently, if I changed my mind and decided to give up on this whole architectural historian thing, my best career alternative would be to become a bookie.

This follows other career advice suggesting I join the mafia, because like being a bookie, who would suspect me?

Of course, my plan would be to become a croupier.

peace, love, and illegal betting...

It's that time again...

2005-06-02T01:02:00.000-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!!

With much love from the Pookster.

People are idiots. Well, as least some of them...

2005-06-01T17:17:00.000-04:00

This morning I turned in the form stating that I would not be renewing my lease at the end of July.

This afternoon the complex office called and left a message wanting to know what they could do to change my mind about vacating.

I just laughed.

Casually throwing lingerie...

2005-05-30T19:21:00.000-04:00

I've spent most of the weekend NOT working on the full draft of my master's thesis due on Wednesday. What I was doing instead was working out the scale for the floorplan of my new apartment (why anyone would draw out a plan and not include the scale, I don't know), transferring the plan to graph paper (my favorite paper product in the universe, besides toilet paper), measuring my furniture, and figuring out where everything is going to go.

I'm an architectural historian. Scale drawings are what I do for fun. Did I ever mention I own water proof graph paper? This can also be taken as an indication of how badly I want out of fucking Fox Run. "Experienced and efficient maintenance staff" my ass, ya bitches. (I feel better now...)

The only potential trouble spot is the living room. I've got to get at least two bookcases, my futon, at least one POANG chair and POANG footstool (love Ikea names), and my dining table with chairs in there. At this point, I don't know where any of the electrical or cable outlets are, so all arrangements are tentative at this point. I can inherit (for free!) a shelving unit (FJUS shelves at Ikea) from the 'rents since they have extra and my kitchen has about two cabinets.

I'm trying to avoid buying things since a) I have all the basics, and b) I have no money to spare. However, I'd like to get an oriental-style rug for the living room. The carpet throughout the apartments is poop brown. And while I have various area rugs, I'd like a little cohesion in the living room. More exciting than the rug is that I'll need some sort of divider between the bedroom and the alcove, since the alcove is the office and I need particular and definite seperation between my work and sleeping spaces. It's a wide opening for a curtain, so I am going to get a...

folding screen!!

I've always wanted one of these. Target has some nice ones, for not too much money. Not only can I section off the room, I can casually throw all of my slinky lingerie over the screen...

Though I'm fairly sure that my two slips and random pairs of oddly patterned tights do not count as slinky lingere. Neither does my pair of undies that have cows on them who are saying "Qui a die...Grosse vache?", "Oh la vache!", and "Vachement cool...". (And the spelling errors are theirs. I think it's supposed to be "vraiment", if I remember correctly from 10th grade.)

Oh well, a girl can dream with her folding screen...

pook-out

...a casa mia.

2005-05-27T13:17:00.000-04:00

I found an apartment and it's all mine!!

Didn't get the Delfe Building (my first choice), but the one right next to it, #1508. [See website: http://www.bestfieldproperties.com/html/trolley_square.html ] First floor (nice!), pretty standard one bedroom kinda apartment. Only 12 units in the whole building, no kids, and all of the residents are my age or older, so it should be quiet. And all for only $795 a month. There are a buch of shops right across the street, and lots of things to walk to (which is why I wanted to be in Trolley Square). Plus, PARKS (and one is a dog park, so maybe dog-less, boy-less me can find a cute boy with a cute dog at the dog park...hehe), lots of walking paths along the river. So excited. On street parking, but I get a free permit from the city.

I get the keys on July 1, though my lease here at poopy Fox run isn't over until July 31st, but I plan on using the month to move as much as I can by myself. That way I don't have to spent a ton getting somebody else to do it. And I don't like the idea of other people packing up my stuff. Here's some info on the surrounding area - lots of this stuff is right across/down the street from me [ http://visittrolleysquare.com/index.cfm ]. So happy to be back in a city.

pook-out

Space pod interior...

2005-05-25T16:52:00.001-04:00

Space pod interior...
Originally uploaded by Pook-a-licious.

Space pod exterior...

2005-05-25T16:52:00.000-04:00

Space pod exterior...
Originally uploaded by Pook-a-licious.

And the winner is...

2005-05-21T16:06:00.000-04:00

ME!!!

I picked up the car yesterday. Took almost three hours (and thus I missed two other things I was suppsed to do) but she's mine! (The car is definately a she, but I don't know about a name...I'm not into naming objects...though I was considering "Blueberry".) I will take some pictures on Tuesday when I go home, and then post them.

Thus far, it's a great car to drive. Very little overall (almost a foot shorter than my Civic) but taller, and you sit up a bit higher. That's one of the things I didn't like about my Honda - you were sitting on the ground and couldn't see a damn thing. The cd player has fulfilled my every wish, and it's programmable for a text "welcome message" that's displayed for about 15 seconds when you start the car. Mine says "Don't Panic", ala Hitchhikers. My cell phone says the same thing. And that same LCD display you can set for a specific color, but I like it on Mixer so it changes ever 10 seconds or so. The interior is very "space pod" according to Becky, and I'd agree. It's a Jetsons car. Also loving the four doors and the hatchback - uber convenient.

Sarah, you would love this car. Though I think I could see you in an xB (that's the box-y one.) You seem like an xB kinda girl. :oP

pook-out

Baby did a bad, bad thing...

2005-05-18T07:19:00.000-04:00

She went cd shopping!

But not on purpose. Anyways, I got "Get Lifted" by John Legend. Very good stuff.

And "Latin: The Essential Album", so I have the proper music when I salsa and mambo my way around the apartment...alone.

*cry*

No news yet on when I get my car. Have to call the guy today to get the VIN number to complete the insurance forms, so perhaps he will be able to tell me when I can take possession. My Civic goes back to the dealer tomorrow, and then the Great Car Swap of 2005 begins. For a few days I have to drive Mom's CRV, and after that, I don't know. I think my currently unemployed brother should chauffeur me around, in exchange for me pointing out the sorostitutes in Newark. See, everybody wins.

Pook-out

Fin...And some other randomness.

2005-05-15T00:16:00.000-04:00

The Great French Doctor Debacle of 2005 has ended. He called, I ignored him, he got the hint. End of story.

I got myself made co-chair of the material culture symposium for 2006. Me, the girl who hates to be in charge and just recently learned to delegate. Ask me again how I feel about this in the fall when all the fun really starts. Though it's going to look great on my CV.

I've been out two Saturdays in a row! Last weekend was Kingdom of Heaven. This weekend Becky's boyfriend was visiting so we went out to dinner at Ali Baba's (hooray for Moroccan food!) so Leon could see I was a real person. Apparently everyone in Becky's family thinks I'm her imaginary friend that she made up so when she drinks martini's on Thursdays during CSI, she's not drinking alone. I'm real. I also drink martini's.

And finally, today I did nothing I needed to do. Instead, I started making cd's to put in the new car. 6 done, some more to go. So exciting...

pook-out

More Popcorn and Crazy French Doctors...

2005-05-10T22:11:00.000-04:00

First off, I saw Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy last night. *gasp* Two movies in three days, shocking!

Anyways, it's quite good. And this is coming from a girl who has read the books so many times she can't remember how many and can recite (pretty much) all six volumes, listened to the original radio broadcasts no less than 10 times, has played the video game, AND sat through a PBS pledge drive to carefully tape the BBC mini-series.

My only complaint - Marvin was a little too...round. I always pictured him looking more like CP3O from Star Wars. And, specially since Alan Rickman *growl* does the voice, and his voice is not very round. It's rather tall and thin, but anyhoo. And the guy who plays Arthur - spot on!! Favorite quote, "I'll handle this - I'm British. I know how to queue." (P.S. That wasn't in the original. Nice addition.)

Second, the crazy French doctor called today. I didn't get the call, was in class, and he didn't leave a message. I really don't want to talk to him. But would feel guilty for being a total bitch and ignoring the calls.

What to do, what to do...

And then he called again. Just once more. Thank heavens for caller ID.

Ack. Just ack. And an oie vay for good measure.

Mmmmm, popcorn....

2005-05-07T22:59:00.000-04:00

Just saw "Kingdom of Heaven." It's quite good, very Ridley Scott (which means lots of slow motions scenes and gallons of fake blood.)

Two things you learn from watching this movie, but you already knew.

One, Orlando Bloom is a hottie. Even when he's dirty.

Two, a lot of stupid shit has been carried out (and in still being carried out) in the name of a god. Doesn't matter what god, it's still fucking stupid. People are idiots.

New Car Update

2005-05-05T12:50:00.000-04:00

Requested the new car today! Had to get a different color, due to timing issues (well, issue singular - being that my lease will be up and I can't be without a car.) So instead of black cherry pearl, I'm getting indigo ink pearl, which was in fact my alternate favorite Scion color. So all is well. I can't find a good picture of the new color, but if you want to go to scion.com and play on their website, you can find it there. (The website is kinda fun, if you have a few minutes to play...)

Also (after living here for almost 2 years) finally got my Delaware drivers license. Best ID picture ever! I actually like it. Weird.

Pook-out

Parlez-vouz francais?

2005-05-02T21:52:00.000-04:00

My Somewhat Surreal Day, or The Crazy French Doctor (A Long Story)

I do solemnly swear, on a pound of real Kona coffee (hey, I was going for something sacred) that the following story is completely true. Even though it's gonna sound like it isn't. And I want comments on this one, damnit!

This morning I had an appointment to do research at the Wistar Institute at Penn. Ok fine. Their archive wasn't as good as I had hoped, but that's all right. I get done there about noon and begin to walk back to my car. Up one block (from Spruce to Walnut) and over two blocks (from 36th to 38th). I'm just at the entrance to the parking garage when I hear a "hello" next to me. I turn slightly to my left and there's a fairly non-descript guy next to me, smiling like a fool. Great, I think, strange man talking to me. So I say "hi" in a very dismissive, non-committal way. Girls have to master this skill as sometimes strangers talk to us and we must know how to quickly be rid of them with the least amount of interaction possible.

The guy continues to walk beside me. I've now missed the entrance to the garage, but I was thinking of taking a walk, just for kicks to view the lovely landscape of West Philly. He keeps talking. Asking little questions. Wants to know where I'm from. Surprised I'm not European. He is - French to be exact. He's very polite, and a little too enthusiastic. His name is Sebastian, from Paris. I continue with the small talk since I'm so damn polite, and though I tried to ditch him by going down 40th street, no dice. He wants to know if I'd like to get coffee.

I start thinking. Real fast. On one hand, this guy I met approximately two minutes before wants to get coffee and that's potentially fine. Plenty of people around, and since I'm a grown up and can take care of myself, I consider this option. On the other hand, he could be totally psycho. But, anybody could be. I decide to be brave. I need to be brave more often. We keep walking to find coffee. He's rather touchy feely, but that's a French thing. He's not creepy. Not particularly attractive or anything, but not creepy. We get to coffee.

Tell me everything, he says. I want to know it all, all about you. Damn, I think, I know I've heard this in a movie. The conversation continues in this vein. I've never been to Paris; he'll take me, and show me everything. His family lives in North Africa; do I want to see Algiers? Seriously, a fucking movie script and I'm not impressed. Totally useless conversation. But I couldn't tell him to fuck off. He did get me coffee and was nice. But that's all he is - nice, full stop. If I never see him again, I won't notice.

I ask if he's a student at Penn. Yes, in a way. He's actually an MD and has to do two years at an American school to be certified to practice in the states. A French doctor randomly asked me to coffee. He says I'm so beautiful, that's why. I've decided that I said yes to the coffee due to the shock of some guy telling me I was beautiful. This is bad.

He wants my phone number, asks if he can call me. At this point, I expect him to propose marriage. He's VERY enthusiastic. I am nonplussed. I am polite and conversational, but totally indifferent to this guy. No attraction what so ever. Some guys you see and want to tear their clothes off, regardless of the fact if they have a personality or not - they could still be fun for a little while. Or, others you talk to them for a bit and you like them for that. This guy, no, neither, uh uh. He writes down my number, lost his cell phone last week, and says he will call. Wants me to visit him this weekend. I say I'm busy ('cuz I am, thesis due yo - that wasn't even an excuse) and he says he will just call to see how I am. Keeps saying how beautiful I am. I am getting tired of this, feeling steamrolled by the French doctor. Plus, he needed a bath. Clothes were clean, he wasn't. And I CAN NOT abide boys who don't smell good. Sorry no. I say I have to go (I do, sorta).

Walks me back to the parking garage, telling me how we can be boyfriend and girlfriend. No, more than that! he says. He's very enthusiastic, have I mentioned that? I thanked him for the coffee. Gives me a hug, a reminder that he did in fact need a bath (ugh!) and remains set on calling me. I walk up five flights to my car and laugh hysterically at what just happened. And yes, I was looking cute today, but that’s no excuse.

Do I want to talk to the French doctor again? Not really so much. What to do if he calls? Haven’t a clue, but don’t want to be a bitch, even to a doctor who I will most likely never ever see again (though I’m spending more and more time at Penn and in the general West Philly area).

Now here’s the rub. Me – dateless since forever, would really like a boy, doesn’t want this boy. I reserve the right to be picky. Though a trend is developing – boys (two specifically, since I don’t count that weird kid in fourth grade who sent me the “do you like me? Check the yes or no box” note) have explicitly (today) and somewhat more subtly (freshman year in Boston, oh the drama) like me, but I don’t like them like that. The doctor today – overwhelming, but I’m proud of myself for even attempting the coffee excursion and executing it with style. The guy freshman year – a very good friend, who I just wasn’t interested in.

Why can’t any of the guys I like ever like me? I attract guys I’m not at all attracted to (and Sebastian needing a bath was only part of it). I’m just hoping he loses my number, never calls, and I don’t have to figure out how to tell him I’m not interested.

Am I crazy, or does any of this make sense?

I think I need a glass of wine…and all I have is a French red, ha!!

Peace, love, and crazy French doctors…

Cherry

2005-05-01T13:45:00.000-04:00

Cherry
Originally uploaded by Pook-a-licious.

I have come to the decision that on Tuesday morning I must venture into a big, scary car dealership all by myself and request my new car...

I'm writing exactly what I want on a super-sticky note, handing it to the dude (cuz it's always a dude) and telling him that I want it on the 14th with the best financing plan ever in the history of the universe.

And I will get it, damnit!

What is want is: xA in Black Cherry Pearl, with exterior accessories in the form of fog lights, and interior accessories in the form of a stereo upgrade to the Pioneer 6-disc CD.

Isn't it pretty?!?!?!

Untitled

2005-04-27T23:51:00.000-04:00

It is impossible to get work done while listening to Portishead. Particularly when one considers Portishead really great make-out music and there are no boys in sight.

*le sigh*

Popezilla

2005-04-19T23:47:00.000-04:00

A few thoughts on the new pope. And only because I am a total NPR junkie do I actually have a somewhat informed opinion. But, this is the opinion of a (very) non-catholic atheist who is opposed to religion in all forms and whose knowledge of the pope is largely historical. I know more about Sixtus V (a 16th century pope) than JPII. And I was alive for most of his papal par-tay.

The Pope. Il Papa. Popezilla.

I find it interesting that he is a conservative Catholic. Mostly because even liberal Catholics are still conservative. Of course, I think pretty much everyone is too conservative. Specially the Catholics...and the Mormons...and the Republicans...and the Democrats too. (Would all screaming left liberals please raise your vegan smoothies and adjust your hemp undies?)

He used to be head of the "Office of the Doctrine of the Faith", aka THE INQUISITION. ("The inquisition, what a show...the inquisition, here we go...I bet you're wishin', that we'd just go away-ay-ay-ay...but the Inquisition's here and it's here to stay!" Name that movie!) That it still exists, in any form, just reinforces the fact that the Vatican is still stuck in the 15th century. Maybe if "Benny to tha' 1-6" (his street name) works real hard, he could possibly break into 1501...just maybe.

He used to be a German solider during WW2. Granted, he deserted, since he was probably forced into service in the first place and we all know what happens when you say "no" to Hitler. However, he still looks like a Nazi. He is the stuff bad, bad dreams are made of.

His name, Ratzinger, (besides beginning with the word "rat") reminds me of John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff on Cheers. So I picture Cliff dressed up in the papal tiara swilling beer, perched on a barstool. (If only I had Photoshop....)

In all honesty, I'm jealous that he speaks Italian better than I do (and German for that matter!), although if I had been hanging out in Roma for the last 20 years, I'd be pretty damn good at it too. I'm also jealous that he gets to hang out in the Stanza della Segnatora, and the Stanza dell'Incendio, and the other papal apartments, featuring frescoes by Raphael. (And I remembered the names of the rooms, thanks to a very lovely boy I know...who cursed "goddamnit!" while in the Vatican. One of the reasons he's so lovely.)

However, the saving grace of all this mess - the dude is freakin 79 years old. He could kick off tomorrow for all anybody knows. Personally, I was hoping for a longer, more drawn out and dramatic selection process. And what were those cardinals thinking? You get sequestered with Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling and you call it quits after a day and a half? Idiots....

Mac Whore-dom

2005-04-17T12:57:00.000-04:00

I have turned into a Mac nerd lately. Three large-ish purchases, all 'puter related. And I'm so excited about them.

One, an 80GB LaCie hard drive, so that my precious research (translation: tunes) won't ever be lost. But seriously, this is on the sane end of the scale of "things people do to protect their thesis/dissertation". And my tunes have their own little home on my 20GB Archos Jukebox external drive/mp3 player. Problem is, it's full. A little rearranging is in order.

Two, an AirPort Extreme card, that has become complicated. See, the ultra cute Mac boy at the Apple Store told me that since my computer is all of 18 months old, I need the original AirPort Card, not the AirPort Extreme card. This requires ordering, rather than just picking up in the store. AirPort card arrives, and it doesn't fit. (And yes, I know how to install the damn thing.) Turns out, I DO need the AirPort Extreme card and cute boy was so wrong. But he's still cute. Now I'm debating if I want to a) go to the Apple Store AGAIN (I've been spending too much time there recently) and get what I really need, or b) just order it and avoid the mall completely.

And Three, by far the most exciting, I've preordered the new Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger". I've never been this jazzed about an operating system before in my life. Plus, with an education discount, it only cost me $69 (normally $129 for a single user), free shipping, and it will be delivered on the day it is first available.

I love being a Mac geek/whore.

Sorry Sarah...

2005-04-15T20:52:00.000-04:00

...I had to kick your ass. While drinking. Heh.

English Genius
You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 93% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I
can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon
intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You
have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly!
Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 72% on Beginner
You scored higher than 70% on Intermediate
You scored higher than 87% on Advanced
You scored higher than 97% on Expert

Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on OkCupid Free Online Dating

Random Distrations

2005-04-02T12:49:00.000-05:00

There are two websites that I now read on a pretty much daily basis. "Pretty much" since one is updated daily, while the other is not. I'd like to share them.

#1 - Dooce (www.dooce.com)
I have no connection to this woman at all. I stumbled across her blog by randomly clicking on things (which I do sometimes). Now, I read everyday. Too funny. And the pictures are good. In some ways, I feel like a weird pesudo-stalker, but at the same time, I know others are doing the same damn thing. I appreciate the sarcasm and appropriate use of capitalization. People go a little crazy with the capitals sometimes and I don't like to be yelled at. If you check out the Categories, there are interesting (and hysterically funny) entires about Mormonism (the author being an ex-mormon), working in L.A., and remodeling a kitchen. Random, certainly. But you will laugh so much that you just might spit coffee all over your computer.

#2 - Meg's Boyfriend of the Week (www.megwood.com)
You must check out the Boyfriend Archive. It includes some of my most favorite people in the Wishful-Thinking-Boyfriend category. Basically, the gist of the site is the Boyfriend of the Week (usually an actor, but the occasional musician appears) is selected and described, justification for selection is included, and at the end a percentage (a score) is assigned. The score is based on the fact that MacGyver = 100% and is the man against which all others are measured. Right on, sister. The fact that she includes Clive Owen, all male cast members of CSI, and David Gray (I know Sarah will appreciate this) makes this my newest favorite site. I agree with most, but definitely not all, of her choices for Boyfriend of the Week. However, I'm fairly sure I'm in a minority when I disagree with the choice of Brad Pitt for Boyfriend of the Week, since I've never been too fond of him. But there are TWO entires for Colin Firth, so all is forgiven.

Soundtrack

2005-03-29T01:47:00.000-05:00

Your Life: The Soundtrack
Created by aiko and taken 22997 times on bzoink!
Opening credits	L'Appuntamento - Ornella Vanoni
Waking up	Do Your Thing - Basement Jaxx
Average day	Twentysomething - Jamie Cullum
First date	Moondance - Van Morrison
Falling in love	Tidal Wave - David Gray
Love scene	Do The Rump - Black Keys
Fight scene	Tea a la Menthe - nikkfurie
Breaking up	Imitation Leather Jacket - H2SO4
Getting back together	The Nearness of You - Etta James
Secret love	Everybody Here Wants You - Jeff Buckley
Life's okay	Far - Longpigs
Mental breakdown	Cannonball - Damien Rice
Driving	Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Learning a lesson	The Prize - Semisonic
Deep thought	The Boy Is Gone - Jason Mraz
Flashback	Passenger - Deftones
Partying	Mas - Kinky
Happy dance	Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Regreting	Let Go - Frou Frou
Long night alone	Mistress - Inara George
Death scene	The Promise - Tracy Chapman
Closing credits	Dancing Nancies - DMB
Create a Survey \| Search Surveys \| Go to bzoink!

Playing with the camera...

2005-03-26T16:31:00.000-05:00

Me
Originally uploaded by Pook-a-licious.

So I'm going through a photographic phase where I'm interested in taking pictures a) through things, and b) reflected off of things. For instance, while at the Philadelphia Flower Show the other week, I went crazy with my new and wicked cool 35mm camera taking pictures of layers of plants. How exciting, you're thinking. Last night, I got thinking about the mirrors in my bathroom. One on the wall over the sink, one on the cabinet door at a 90 degree angle to the wall mirror. Throw in my hand mirror and I was just a reflecting fool. But this one is an attempt at a reflected self portrait, evidenced by the backwards "Sony" on the camera. And I wasn't wearing my glasses since they reflect light kinda funny and leave big sploches of light on my face due to the angle of the lights. And since I'm pretty much blind without them, this photo required some cropping due to the weird angle I took the picture from.

Since it's Saturday, I have no problem ending a sentence with a preposition. I don't do grammar on the weekends.

P.S. - I took this picture (and the Savannah pictures) with a Sony Mavica MVC-CD500 (the best $700 I ever spent). I also use a Canon Rebel G2 (a real film camera, versus the digital Sony), my newest toy. And if anyone would like to donate a macro lens to my cause, I'll love you forever.

Cheers!

2005-03-25T19:43:00.000-05:00

Bacardi 151
Congratulations! You're 144 proof, with specific scores in beer (80) , wine (116), and liquor (86).

All right. No more messing around. Your knowledge of alcohol is so high
that you have drinking and getting plastered down to a science. Sure,
you could get wasted drinking beer, but who needs all those trips to
the bathroom? You head straight for the bar and pick up that which is
most efficient.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 89% on proof
You scored higher than 93% on beer index
You scored higher than 96% on wine index
You scored higher than 94% on liquor index

Link: The Alcohol Knowledge Test written by hoppersplit on Ok Cupid

2005-03-21T22:46:00.000-05:00

My horoscope for today: You Virgos can be quite picky about what you do and who you do it with. Currently, however, you may be feeling somewhat more impulsive. This could present annoying situations, for you may go into action without your usual sense of practical self-restraint. Don't be too hard on yourself as you make the most of the circumstances.

Translation: Really horny. Slut-mode, engaged. Don't jump anyone on the street. But don't feel bad about toying with some drunk frat boy you picked up, either.

Pook-out

Pretty Colors

2005-03-17T01:23:00.000-05:00

After some consideration, I have decided to have two blogs. Xanga may fall by the wayside eventually, since Blogger here seems to have more options and spell check and pretty colors.

I like the pretty colors.

And I plan on putting lots of my pictures on here. Since I take so many pictures and nobody ever sees them.

To start off, three pictures from Savannah, y'all.

Pook-out

Au?

2005-03-16T22:28:00.000-05:00

DSC00815
Originally uploaded by Pook-a-licious.

When was the last time you saw a gold bunny hood ornament?

War of Northern Aggression

2005-03-16T22:27:00.001-05:00

DSC00806
Originally uploaded by Pook-a-licious.

They still haven't gotten over this yet.

Big Dig's Redneck Cousin

2005-03-16T22:21:00.000-05:00

DSC00804
Originally uploaded by Pook-a-licious.

Umkay

2005-03-16T02:27:00.000-05:00

So in order to post to Sarah's page, they make me create one of my own. And since I'm not smart enough to make the complicated set up-ness work, the fact that I already have a blog at Xanga means nothing to these people.

Ah well, I was getting a little tired of Xanga anyways. Perhaps I shall make a virtual move.

Pook-out

Pook-a-licious

Divine Intervention

Last Week's Concert Recap

Saturday the 4th - The Obligatory Post Where I Gush About The Black Keys Show

Album Review

Amusing

*break*

It's too late now...

Feeling...alphabetical?

Deep Thought of the Day

The Life of a Bookseller

Pop Quiz!

Three things...

Recap.

Merry Christmas to all...

My dearest Snapey-poo...

Well, yeah..

Nubbin

Got grad school?

Hippo Birdies...

Say What?

X marks the spot...

Things I Don't Understand...

Hey you!!

Another note for Sarah...

For Sarah...

You like me! You really like me!!

I'm just wild about Harry...

Food porn.

I also heard I was a turtle...

You're pretty when I'm drunk...

From the desk of...

Danger, Will Robinson...

Because I need another distraction...

Swimmin' pools and movie stars...

Decisions, descisions.

It's that time again...

People are idiots. Well, as least some of them...

Casually throwing lingerie...

...a casa mia.

Space pod interior...

Space pod exterior...

And the winner is...

Baby did a bad, bad thing...

Fin...And some other randomness.

More Popcorn and Crazy French Doctors...

Mmmmm, popcorn....

New Car Update

Parlez-vouz francais?

Cherry

Untitled

Popezilla

Mac Whore-dom

Sorry Sarah...

Random Distrations

Soundtrack

Playing with the camera...

Cheers!

Pretty Colors

Au?

War of Northern Aggression

Big Dig's Redneck Cousin

Umkay

break