Guess what. I'm gonna be on Road Trip Nation! Thanks to the Unknown Reader who recommended my blog to her friend Camilla. Unknown Reader, I enjoyed meeting your friend!
Sneak preview of upcoming novel.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Don't be mad.Sorry I've been the worst blog updater in the world lately. But you know how it goes. Blah blah excuses go here.
Important Stuff
I got some awesome sandals on sale at TJ Maxx today. I ate some awesome Indian food. The cats are doing good, but won't stop date-raping each other.
Books!
I read The Yoko-something Officers' Club, by Sarah Bird, and enjoyed it.
I read The Bostonians, by Henry James, and it totally upset and traumatized me, until finally it led to understanding of my own young life.
I read Maurice, by E. M. Forster, and it made me feel sorry for Victorian gays and for Victorian peeps in general, because they never had sex, and it messed with their minds.
I read a bunch of cookbooks, even though I don't like to cook.
Suburban Woe
I accidentally burned up all the grass on my front lawn, with fertilizer, and finally ended up replacing it with sod. It took a long time, because St. Augustine sod is hard to find in Houston this time of year. Apparently.
So I bought all this new grass, which looked half dead, and now I have to water the living hell out of it every single day. Just like my neighbors, who don't even have new grass. I bought a new kind of sprinkler, too. It hasn't rained at all lately.
So then, yesterday, they started warning us that there might be a hurricane or, as British people pronounce it on NPR, hurrakin.
And my first thought was, "Oh, hell yes. Please let there be a hurracane."
And the news was like, "Jesus Christ! Fill up your gas tanks now! Governor Perry is readying the school bus fleet in San Antonio!"
Then I talked to some neighbors and coworkers, and they were like, "I kind of hope we have a hurricane so I can quit watering my lawn."
And I was like, "Me, too!"
Before the Lousiana/Mississippi tragedy, we were never afraid of hurracanes in Houston. They happen in the waters near here pretty often, and as long as the ground isn't saturated beforehand, nothing really happens.
But I'm glad we have disaster plans in place now. Better safe than sorry.
But I hope we get a few thunderstorms, at least. We really need some rain right now. I hope it's not a sin to say so.
Movies!
We saw The Dark Knight and it scared me, to imagine people being so evil and crazy.
I hate crazy people, lately. If you're crazy and you're reading this, don't mess with me. Don't talk to me. Stop leaving me comments. Got it?
We saw Wall-E, and it was beautiful. I saw it twice, actually. Tears ran down my face the whole time, both times.
You either saw that one already, and you believe me, or else you haven't seen it and you don't. It's okay. I understand that some people categorically hate Disney, or hate animated movies, or hate leftist conspiracies to make conservatives feel guilty. (Or whatever.) But if you saw Wall-E and liked it, then I'm glad for you. Write to me privately and tell me what your favorite part was. If you want.
That's all for now.
I need to get off the computer and go work out. I'm in the mood to work out! Y'all wish me luck setting up Dance Dance Revolution, without my kids here to help me. My kids are all with their dad for the moment. That means I can't play console games or even watch TV, pretty much, because I don't know all the wires and controllers like they do. Feel sorry for me, y'all. Wish me luck figuring it out.
But mostly, send my grass vibes, okay? Send it "grow well soon" vibes. And wish for us to get a lot of rain, but not enough to hurt anyone.
Love,
Gwen
Labels: books, domestic, Houston, pop culture
8:06 PM #Comments:
I'd send you the excess we are having this year if I could! New England is mosquito hell this year.I can't wait to see Wall-E, but I still believe you.
Girl, write down the instructions!! We are a house of tech lovers, so its never an issue, but its really not hard, I promise!
And...vibes are humming...
# posted by
Nilliem : 8:49 PM
I was hoping Dolly would hit Corpus so we'd get more rain out of it. They said it's supposed to rain this afternoon and tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath.
So yeah, I guiltily cheer on hurricanes too because we need the rain.
# posted by
: 9:29 AM
Wall-e is my new favorite obsession and I don't usually love animated/Pixar movies. When he dances with trash can hat for EVE in the trailer and she tries to imitate it makes my heart melt. I have to go see it again!
# posted by
: 2:13 PM
I loved Wall-E too. The love story between the rusty old trash can and the beautiful new iPod was my favorite part.
I hate crazy people too, lately, especially ones I used to date, who now claim to be miraculously cured.
Good luck with your hurricane. Can you help me not be bored to tears by a Henry James book? I had to put down The Turn of the Screw because I fell asleep.
# posted by
: 3:38 PM
Have to say that I wasn't planning to see Wall-E, mostly because I hadn't seen or heard anything about it until I saw a friend's comment on Facebook that she was taking her kids to it. Then I found out that it was Disney, and Disney of the last 20 odd years does little for me.
Then I read Palinode's review (contains spoilers) and I became interested. It's here: http://www.thepalinode.com/2008/07/its-wall-es-world-we-just-live-in-it.html
Your comments have increased my interest to the point of actually making an effort to see it. Love me some leftist conspiracies.
As for your lawn: go grass! Last summer was the driest summer on record in 50 years where I live. This summer is on course to be the wetest in a long time. I wish/hope my garden/grass' good fortunate extends to your yard.
- maggie
# posted by
: 8:46 PM
Have to say that I wasn't planning to see Wall-E, mostly because I hadn't seen or heard anything about it until I saw a friend's comment on Facebook that she was taking her kids to it. Then I found out that it was Disney, and Disney of the last 20 odd years does little for me.
Then I read Palinode's review (contains spoilers) and I became interested. It's here: http://www.thepalinode.com/2008/07/its-wall-es-world-we-just-live-in-it.html
Your comments have increased my interest to the point of actually making an effort to see it. Love me some leftist conspiracies.
As for your lawn: go grass! Last summer was the driest summer on record in 50 years where I live. This summer is on course to be the wetest in a long time. I wish/hope my garden/grass' good fortunate extends to your yard.
- maggie
# posted by
: 8:46 PM
'I hate crazy people, lately. If you're crazy and you're reading this, don't mess with me. Don't talk to me. Stop leaving me comments. Got it?'
Sure. I've learned a lot from you, good things, that will help others. I'm just not good, and anyone on the planet visits me at their own risk.
No more comments.
And thanks again, for your wonderful work.
# posted by
JL : 5:48 PM
I'm so glad that I was not the only one crying at Wall-E. I have only seen it once but I would love to see it again.
# posted by
: 7:27 PM
I totally cried during Wall-E. Of course I totally cry during everything.
I loved it more because my parents watched the baby and I actually got to go on a date. That was great.
# posted by
pinky pinkerson : 11:08 PM
Nilliem: Thank you. Dude... I know how to work each thing individually, and I know how to work them in conjunction, usually... but we recently added an XBox 360 to our set up, which is PS2 + DVD + cable box + VCR + very old TV. Our TV is so old that we have to use our VCR and several sets of red/yellow/white cables -- and TWO A/B switchboxes! -- to make everything work. See what I'm saying? And I had everything set in my mind until the kids added the XBox. I wasn't there the day they did it. So, basically, I couldn't even write down directions so much as draw a system diagram and then put a flow chart next to it. You know?
But I did figure it out, right after I told y'all that. I had to switch one red/yellow/white set for another, and then everything else went off without a hitch.
Please don't call the fire department on us. Also, don't laugh at me for having an old TV. It still works! Plus, it loves us and is part of our family, so I just feed it all the cables it needs until it goes to that great TV Shop in the Sky.
(I'm waiting for the new HD stuff to go into effect before I buy a new TV. Also, I am cheap.)
# posted by
Gwen : 11:06 AM
Shelly: Are y'all okay? I heard on the news that SA sustained a few million in damages? WTF? Is your property intact?
Anon 1: Right?? When he does that little roll-back move, it kills me.
Anon 2: Trash can + Ipod = ha!
And as for helping you not to get bored on HJ... No, I don't think I can. I think it's an acquired taste, like people who really like to do calculus problems or something. His prose is very dense. He has hidden sexiness and cattery in each paragraph, but you do have to work to find it. I understand if it's not worth the effort to some peeps. :)
Maggie: I wish I could take y'all's rain away. Really, when is someone going to invent a rain re-distributor? Isn't it high time?
Go see Wall-E! I think you'll like it. And thanks for that link -- his review was very interesting.
Fluffy: Do it! You deserve it!
Pinky: Sweet. Free babysitting rocks.
(I cry on everything, too. :) )
# posted by
Gwen : 11:13 AM
Shoot, now I can't go see Wall-E. Ever since the baby was born I cry twice as much as before, and I was already a cry baby. Seriously. I cried during Kung Fu Panda.
# posted by
: 4:52 PM
I just bought some new silver sandals too! They are FIERCE, if I do say so myself. Should post a Flickr photo.
# posted by
tina : 7:12 PM
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