hey. good morning.

Here, There, Everywhere was playing in the coffee place this morning, and I was glad to hear it.

Yesterday I ate a bacon maple apple donut. And I had the best Bloody Mary of my short life.

Tonight, Max and I get to eat 50 dollars worth of Sushi for 25 dollars. I don't quite understand how that works, but it's an exciting prospect no matter what.

I talked to Jason from work yesterday, and I'm glad I don't feel alone in the things that I feel.

if you're wondering.

I realized this morning that there is this 30 minutes before I actually begin working that I'm supposed to be here for - 30 minutes that I can do what I want with before I start doing what they pay me for, that I think I'll start using for this.

So I saw Weezer last night, in pouring rain. Rivers was playing at being an awkward rock god, and more than once he had to take off his glasses and wipe them on the white nike track suit he was wearing. Max came with me, but he was up in the Verizon lounge, staying dry, watching it on the screens. We didn't pay for the tickets.

And, continuing the theme of not paying for tickets, on Saturday night I saw Soko at the independent. She was adorable, and I met her beforehand and she put me on her guest list - and then I hung out with her for the rest of the evening, talking about nothing, enjoying/commenting on the music playing.

It was a wonderful weekend. I also ate a sandwich with avocado and fried mozarella sticks, among other things. It was delicious.

That's leisure time. For sure.

Why I've decided television isn't evil.

This morning I woke up and watched Zack Gailfiirnocdkraiis (sic) in Visioneers - a movie set in the future where people explode because their lives don't match up with their dream of what life should be. In the movie, television is shown as how I used to see it - as an opiate of the masses, the drug everyone takes to escape, to have on in the background, to turn their minds off because, gosh darnit, life isn't good and maybe someone on television's life probably is.

I used to see television like that. When I got to college, I didn't watch television. At all. TJ and I were proud of our severance from the tube, and I didn't start watching television again until my life was kind of spinning out of my control, and someone turned me on to Arrested Development. I was proud because I was going to finally be "an intellectual" or whatever, deriving my pleasure from the books I read and the people I would encounter. And then, you know, I wasn't. So I turned to television and there it was - people I wanted to know. Gob and Michael and George Michael, et al - and ensemble cast who I wanted to watch the plights of.

I didn't do much my Spring quarter of freshman year other than sit in my room and watch that show, the Office and (I'm embarrassed to admit, actually) My Name is Earl. I emerged from that year in a haze, going back home and working at Jamba Juice, disillusioned with the college experience and hoping that the next year would be better.

It was. I moved. I got new friends and integrated them with old ones, I started new projects. I became someone closer to who I am now, I think - and I realized what television could be to me - it's a way into the discussion. The cultural discussion, that is - the blueprint of humanity that we are all trying to look at from a bird's eye view, an amalgamation of television, the news, the people around us, the city we live in, the music we listen to, the movies we see, the way we form words in our conversation - sentences.

It was from there that I realize that television is not evil, it's just a facet of the multi-faceted diamond of life, given to us by (I'm not finishing this metaphor, you get it.) And ever since, I've seen television as two things - one, it's the door to new relationships with new people, be them fictional or real. Yes, I believe I have a relationship with Ned from Pushing Daisies - he is someone I know. I let him into my house, he makes pies that I emulate. I root for him. I hope he gets the girl. But Ned is also someone that I get to talk about, to someone else, someone real. Me and the person sitting next to me on the couch both get the chance to talk about him afterwards, talk about what happened to him and what we hope will happen to him in the future.

And then we get up, we take a walk and we go get a cup of coffee. We, the real person and I, talk about real people. We might even compare Ned to someone we know, and vice versa. We might even compare Ned to someone we don't know in real life. Do you see what I mean? Am I making myself clear? Everything bad, like television, can be good for you - it can be another way to get to know how you're living your life. It can provide a side of the venn diagram to which you compare your life. It can be a story that I want to emulate - not in plot, maybe, but in style and grace.

There is grace to the plot of Lost - there is a serenity to the way the men of Sterling Cooper talk to each other and belittle their women. There is (was) beauty to behold in the world of Pushing Daisies, and laughs to be shared with the friends of How I Met Your Mother. All of these things, all of these escapes - they aren't really escapes. You don't turn off your television because you want to turn off a facet of your life, you turn it off because your going to take those relationships and apply them to your real life, in whatever small way.

And yes, I still think it should be small. That's the insidious bit of television - there is always another show to watch, there are always a new group of friends to be letting into your living room. But there are also books to be read, movies to watch, and mostly, mostly, MOSTLY people to talk to these things about with. And that's really what it's all about - it's finding the people who will share in these things the way you share them with yourself. And I find that all the time. And that's why television isn't evil - if you don't let it be.

why don't you sit right down and stay a while?

Hey cats. Living in San Francisco has its perks. Like three fantastic ice cream places in walking distance. Max and I went and got weird ice cream at Harvey Slocombe last night - I had Thai Chili Lime, he had Root Beer.

Next time I'll have Jesus Juice - Red Wine and Coke flavored.

Today, I'm going to hang out in a cafe. Old school. I wrote a story, wanna read it?

Pigeons

My girlfriend likes pigeons. We moved to Venice because of it – she saw my pictures from my trip to Europe and saw all the pigeons and pointed at the picture.

“There,” she said, pointing. “Let’s move there.”

It’s nice to have rich parents, I thought as we boarded the plane. I asked her if she wanted to keep any of her things, and she said that we would buy things in Venice. So we are leaving our apartments fully furnished. I am leaving behind my collection of guitars that I bought at estate auctions. She is leaving behind her bird feeders.

In Venice, we get along great. We have sex with each other with the windows open. She leaves bird seed on the windowsill so that pigeons will come and keep her company while I’m out looking for work. I don’t need to work, and I won’t work, but it’s fun to look for it. I like to get dressed up and present myself to the American ex-patriots and convince them to hire me and then not call back.

While I’m out once I see a pigeon. He’s fearless. He is brown and white and mottled and he is eating off a café table while the people are still there. They are trying to shoo him away, but it’s not working. I walk up and ask them if I can have their pigeon.

“Si,” they say. I pick him up and take a piece of bread from their bread basket and go to my friend’s house. I ask him where a vet is, and he looks it up online, and tells me that the only one in walking distance doesn’t speak English. We tape record his neighbor asking the questions we want.

“Is it sanitary? Does it carry disease? Will it make a good pet?”

I bring the pigeon to the vet and play the questions for him, and then record what he says and take it back to my friend’s neighbor. He smiles and gives me the a-ok sign, so I bring the pigeon home.

My girlfriend loves the pigeon. She names him Pierre. It sits on her shoulder and gets fat and she won’t put a blanket over the cage when we have sex. She says Pierre has no idea what’s happening anyway. I disagree. He snaps my guitar strings with his beak when I leave the apartment to go get another bottle of white wine.

I get bored of Venice eventually, but my girlfriend doesn’t. She has started sending Pierre out with messages, and the bird brings back messages. They are from a stranger, and she thinks it is the person that used to own Pierre. She won’t let me read the messages so I try to follow the bird on a bicycle. I’m too slow for a bird that can fly, so I borrow my friend’s moped and can finally keep up.

Pierre stops at a bookstore and gives the bookkeeper his leg. The bookkeeper is an old man. Bald. White eyebrows. He doesn’t wear glasses but he reads my girlfriend’s handwriting with a magnifying glass.

“Is that your pigeon?”

He doesn’t understand. I point to the pigeon and I point to him, I point to him and I point to the pigeon. He shakes his head. He shrugs his shoulders. I make an angry face. I mime writing a letter. I mime slitting my throat. He looks scared, like I got my point across. I moped back to my girlfriend.

“I don’t think that pigeon is coming back,” I said. I feel sick for being jealous of an old man but she kisses me.

“Tralala,” she says. “That’s why we moved to Venice. There are a lot of pigeons.”

I don’t understand, but I kiss her back.

matchstick girls.

Today I am going to write a new story.

Yesterday I met a guy who takes his typewriter to Haight Street and writes poems for people on a sliding scale. They are the only people who own those words. I wanted to ask him for one but I don't have cash and plus I want to do exactly what he was doing.

My new thing for yesterday was going with Max to go check out a motorcycle. It was a funny experience.

I read Three Bags Full yesterday and Wintergirls today. I am going through a book a day. No wonder I am always buying more books.

Sometimes being alone is an advantage.

I have not broken my new year's resolution to do something new every day.

But I have broken my steady stream of blogging. I thought about it often, and started a twitter so that I could remember the new things I did, but at the end of the day - I didn't blog.

I'm not even going to round up everything that I've done. Or hit on the big points. The big points should reveal themselves in reflective glory at some point.

Instead, I'm just going to say that I am going to blog again. I missed it. I like writing every day, and I like writing that I know that at least five people read.

I hope my new thing for today is going to be winning a writing contest. Or getting a job. Or an adventure.

But just in case, I am going to have to go to a new park anyway. On my Vespa moped.

keep them nice.

I'm giving myself a small round of applause today.

I finally (finally!) finished my first draft of the novel. That's a damned good new thing for the day.

It's 130 pages. 8 of those I wrote today.

It's probably going to be longer before it gets shorter.

But the most important is... I kind of like it.

drowned her in a bathtub.

Today's new thing was an attempt at musical zen.

I took a walk and listened to an album. I used to do this, so it's not exactly NEW, but I forgot how much I enjoyed it, and the album was new... so I'm counting it new. All you haters (there aren't any, but for some reason, I always talk to them) can say it's new or not. But I think it's new. That's the important thing.

The houses near me are startling. There were five treehouses, a red brick castle that overlooks all of Santa Cruz, homemade swings, well kept gardens, unkempt gardens, art deco gates, urban art... it was a beautiful walk. Set to absolutely fantastic music: cascading organ, build 'em up guitars, spanish flamenco picking, three singers, and a story worthy of... well. Folk mysticism, I guess. I would love to hear the whole thing just with a couple guitars and an organ, in front of a campfire, with Colin Meloy and crew telling the story with shadow puppets and their normal theatrics.

I loved it and plan on doing this more often. A good walk. Good music. Santa Cruz is a gorgeous place. I always forget that.

sink to the beat.

Today's new thing is a big step in my road to becoming...

becoming...

a good citizen?

Yeah.

Happy Graduation to Me!

said she's got it all, said she's got it all, said she's got it.

Back in Lulu's. Today's new thing is probably going to be Nick and Norah's playlist with Kristan.

But it might MIGHT MIGHT MIGHT be finishing this story. Or, at least, the first draft. That would be a great new thing. Perhaps the most fantastic new thing ever.

So, keep your fingers crossed? I know I am. It's making it hard to type. But all the luck it gives is worth it.

I want to go to heaven for the weather.

So Saturday was another trip to do an open mic night with Anthony, this time in San Francisco. We both bombed, but I don't think we should have - Farley's had an awful atmosphere, the comics were all bad people who used as many sound effects as they did punch lines, and the guys in front frowned the whole time.

Tough room.

But then Regina and Andre came to the rescue and took us to Andre's work/Soapstone factory, and we played on this giant crane, swinging about the soapstone warehouse. Seriously. And then they did crazy karaoke moves to Uninvited by Alanis Morisette and got kicked out of the karaoke bar for dropping the microphone.

Regina is a whirlwind of good time.

So three new things: Karaoke kick out, Stand up in San Francisco, and crane play. Heavy duty machinery equals heavy duty fun.

let's make some money.

Okay. I have a goal today.

I want to write to page 100.

So I'm liveblogging the event, just in case the new thing for today isn't "writing page 100 of the novel I'm writing."

I've never liveblogged before! Never really had a chance, but still!

So, let's see here... it's 2:25 pm. I have 9 and one half hours to write. I happen to be on page 60 since my last edit.

.....liveblogging now.....

2:26pm - blogging about liveblogging about writing. The spiral continues. It's like putting two mirrors that face each other. I'm at Lulu's at the Octagon (pretentious!) and I put a book on hold for myself over at Literary Guillotine as a treat for if I get as far as I want today. I have a full cup of coffee, a full cup of water. My computer is connected. My outline is next to me. I have fruit snacks, granola bars, and I am charged. Charrrrged. San Diego Super Chargers. Let's go team!

2:44pm - broken from my writing reverie by one someone whistling along to a song. The headphones are going to go on soon. I already wrote two pages! Beat that, Virgina Woolf!

3:08pm - it's funny what makes me stop writing. In this case, it was that I suddenly had no idea where my character was. Not my main character. The one that is going to enter the scene. I mapped out their conversation on my outline (and when I say mapped out, I mean I have three scribbles - "dead, me too" "where did they go?" "you and me, pete") but I have no idea where they have the conversation. So I stopped to visualize. I think they will have it on the couch, eating dry macaroni. Thanks, blog!

4:06pm - I am sort of trying to outlive everyone here at Lulu's. Wait, not outlive. Outstay. The girl on the right of me has been here before me. Same with the guy in the corner. Everyone on the other side of the octagon has changed, though. My coffee has gone cold, and I have that caffeine rush type of headache, but it isn't bad. I'll eat at six. I wrote eight pages this last hour. So, it seems extremely plausible that I can do forty by tonight. This goal seems incredibly reachable.

4:55pm - didn't write nearly as much this hour. I'm trying to get Pete back. Then everything is going to hop skip and jump towards a conclusion. I wouldn't be surprised if that happened, anyway. I think it will. Pete is the catalyst. Tock is trying. Ha! I'm talking utter nonsense. The guy to the left of me left, but the guy and the gear to the right are still there. I'm writing a novel, guy and girl. What are YOU doing?

5:25pm - thanks for the words of encouragement, April. I'm on page 75. But, that was with two interruptions. One was Chris Miller! He was my favorite employee from Sockshop. He quit before I got back from England, and I hadn't seen him since. And then Julio for a moment. We discussed sunglass flotation. And now I'm behind. Or whatever. I might be right on schedule. Pete's back soon. I missed him.

6:32pm - I win! I have officially been here the longest. Or perhaps I lose. I don't know. I am running out of steam. I am quite, quite hungry. And I don't want to spend any more money on coffee. I should go home, I guess... and then try to write more there. Maybe outside? 4 hours, 22 pages. Not bad.

9:16pm - ran into more folks I know - my focus is totally gone. Going, going gone. But it's a ground roll double. It ain't no home run. I still think I can write some more, but I want to hang out with some people tonight as well. I have decided to extend the deadline past midnight. We all know that it makes more sense if the day is just how long I've been awake. So... keep your fingers crossed. I have a good feeling about writing again at around 1030 or so.

12:33am - lightning struck. I know how it ends. It is the only way it could end. I can't wait. I have a long way to go, but I can do it. I'll see you all on the other side.

1:49am - I may know how to end it, and it's going to be awesome. But I can't write it well anymore. Caffeine fried my brain. I'm going to drink water and go to bed. 92 pages, my friends. Eight from the goal. Thanks for playing. Tomorrow and Sunday - the sprint to the finish line.

does he love you?

Everything in the show Dexter creeps me out.

But it also keeps me watching. I watched the entire first season in about a week. It's my new thing for today, because I finished it. The last three episodes are some of the best things I've seen for television since I started watching Mad Men. I miss Mad Men. But Dexter does an admirable job filling the time until the next episode of Mad Men.

The weirdest thing, though: about two weeks ago, I read KJF's book Wit's End. It talked about Santa Cruz being a murder capitol (capital?). Then, a couple days after I finished reading that book, I was clicking "random article" on wikipedia and came up on a serial killer that terrorized Santa Cruz a few decades ago. Erin randomly brought up the other killer in conversation the next day. The next night? We had a dinner party that had a choice between watching 300 and American Psycho, the movie where Christian Bale plays a serial killer. And then, a couple days after that, I finish The OC, go to delete the file from my computer, and see that a long time ago, Max gave me the first season of Dexter to watch. And there it was, beckoning me.

Oh, unknowable universe, what does it all mean?

Jeez, even the promo shots for this show are terrifying. That is NOT his hand.

I'm glad I'm horrified by Dexter. But I don't quite understand what makes me keep watching. Is it all the suspense? Is it poor Rita? Why am I so fascinated? Someone else who watches the show, let me know.

into the fold.

I left my camera in Davis, damnit. Or "dammit?" Which is correct? Dad, do you know? Ask mom.

Today's new thing was a book signing for Neil Strauss. I have never read one of his books. However, he has written such tomes of American literature like How to Make Love like a Pornstar (with Jenna Jameson, of course) and The Dirt with Motley Crue. But perhaps he is best known for The Game, which is about his rise to the top of the pick-up artist secret society. He gives a lot of advice on how to become a pick-up artist yourself.

Anthony and I went because for the book Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life, we heard he was bringing a live wolf to readings. He did not bring a live wolf to this reading. But he should have.

He is not a classically attractive man by any means.

So, that's comforting.

All the questions had little to nothing to do with his new book. Everyone wanted more advice on how to pick up women. There were about two girls in the crowd. He had brought his girlfriend along with him, and would use her an example, as in, "this is the type of girl you could get." She was heavily made up and showed a lot of cleavage.

Overall, I think the reading did its job. I want to read his book now. The first chapter of Emergency is him about to kill a goat. I'm trying to get a copy of the book The Game on bookmooch. He was a really, really nice guy. He gave me advice on how to write for Rolling Stone, which is his day job.

I don't want to be a pick up artist. But I think "running the game" (that's how everyone referred to it) sounds like an interesting new thing. Then again, everyone in line to get their book signed said it mostly boiled down to confidence.

knock three times.

I traveled back from Davis. That was my new thing.

I also started to read my first Sherlock Holmes collection, which is going to be a bit of an uphill climb of a task, although it's already proven to be fantastic. Mr. Holmes, I would accompany you to the ends of the earth, magnifying glass in hands. You solve the mysteries, I'll get the ants.

So. Two new things. Thank you, Jaclyn, for a nice little getaway, complete with soul searching, conversation, new and old types of alcohol, some raucous friends, and some good ol' fashioned television. Relaxation and getaway at its finest, in a v-shaped floorplan of a house.

all the stars were falling.

Sacramento is a sad, sad town. Ravaged by our recession, I believe. Almost completely barren, with shops closed every which way, and lots of buildings just left empty. Also, the french cafe was randomly closed.

Those are not good, those things!

But Jacyln and I enjoyed ourselves anyway. No giddy thrills, more just a bit of time-honored exploration and a bit of sweet cake just at the right time, accompanied by a riesling. I feel like we are such old souls.

Also, Dexter. Dexter freaks me out. Dexter makes me feel queasy. I like Dexter anyway.

Also, a wondrous bar, where another old Saugusian was quenching a parched throat. A bar that wanted to be tiki, or wanted to get away from its Tiki roots. Either way, they played non-single Weezer, and that was a kick. And I finally like the way Old Fashioneds taste. Here's to you, Don Draper...

good show!

Today: traveled to Davis for my new thing to visit Jaclyn.

A new place always equals new things, especially with old friends. I just realized I met Jaclyn six years ago. Six years! She sated my thirst for Santa Claritan intellectual life - we used to watch indie movies, talk about books and music, and basically feel a tiny bit superior to the cultural black hole that I felt SCV was when I was a kid.

So. Davis is a new town. Sort of like a baby Santa Cruz - planned, but hippy-ish. A wonderful co-op.

Another first: mead. Elderflower mead. It left a bit to be desired. And who knew that Jaclyn would have such raucous friends?

More Davis (and a bit of Sacramento?) tomorrow!

why why why?

I did a violent thing for le truc nouveau.

That's french for the "new thing!"

I shot a gun at a shooting range with Max! It was such a bizarre, violent, yet fun experience... the only thing I can really compare it to is bowling. We even shared a "lane."

I didn't particularly like shooting the gun, actually. It was fun in an odd sort of way, but I didn't feel that rush of power that people talk about. It actually felt removed, oddly... sort of like one step away from a video game.

It was safe, though. And really loud! So loud.

We shot a zombie target! I killed a zombie!

I want to write a short story about it. But I'll add something to it to make it better. One of the best things about the shooting range is that the place has taxidermied animals EVERYWHERE.

Man. It felt weird. But I'm glad I did it! Strangest new thing yet!

california, here we come.

I finished watching The OC today.

That was my new thing.

I started watching it with Erin last Summer.

And I finished it today, with Erin.

I love bookends!

It was not very good, actually. But I'm glad to have that finished. It was an epic episode, though. I won't ruin it. But I was fascinated. It definitely ended when it should have.

Time for a new Josh Schwartz show! Gossip Girl, anyone?

lalalala, shanghai!

The last time I planted something it was a failure.

So for today's new thing, I planted a Wolfberry seed (a bunch of Wolfberry seeds) with Anthony. Partly inspired by Seedolks.

I won't take a picture of it. That will jinx it.

I hope it grows.

I got a watch on my wrist.

Just got back from my final Creative Writing class with Karen Joy Fowler.

I really, really loved her class. She was a very nurturing CW professor.

I had her sign my book.

That's my new thing for today - I have never had a professor sign their book, and it was strange - not like other book signings. She wrote that it was a pleasure to work with me.

And I was really glad to hear that. I would take a picture of that, but I think it's cooler if I keep it between her and me. But, of course I had to blog about it!

Of course I had to.

It's ancient common sense.

I'm almost done with finals! I only have one more. I also have a stack of stories to read for tomorrow. Lots of things to do. I also forgot to do laundry on Sunday. So I bet I will run out before the week is over.

You know what's weird? When all of your soaps run out in unison. Conditioner, shampoo, bar soap, face wash... all at once. It's an interesting condition. That happened recently and I wanted to talk about it on here, because it happens to me kind of often!

What was my new thing today?

Oh yes, that's right.

I don't ever talk about reading books as my new thing because I often read books and that doesn't necessarily mean they are a new thing, but they don't always change my ideology on things.

I read Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. Everyone should read this book...

It re-taught me something I already kind of knew... that community is importan

t. Community change is just as important as world change. You don't have to think so large that you get lost, and I think that's an important lesson.

So that's my new thing for today. The book is about 90 pages long and it's good like that. It makes me want to write. All good books make me want to write my own good book. Maybe that's happening. Maybe I will blog about it.

dirt on your new shoes.

A little bit ago I saw a deal on some new RAM for this computer that I type-type-type on.

I've never opened up this computer before.

So, Max helped me open it up and add it in.

I think I can tell a difference! I really think I can!

Instead of 1 gig of RAM, now it's at 1.5! Woo!

I think fixing up this computer is a good idea. I think it will last me a long time (knock on internet wood) as sort of a desktop. It's so plugged in that it's nearly impossible to take anywhere.

Look! Sort of computer guts!

where do you go to, my lovely?

Okay so today's new thing was a continuation of a week ago's new thing, which was starting to build that cigar box today.

Today's new thing was finishing and playing that cigar box guitar.

It sounds AWFUL.

But there it stands, in all of its glory! We need to tune it, probably. And re-situate the nails, I think. There are probably lots of things we need to do to it, but it's built.

When we first turned it on, the screech woke up Max. It sounds kind of like aliens descending on earth and firing rayguns.

Awful, awful noise. Kind of disappointing.

Actually, lots of disappointing.

Oh oh. We've got eyes like Oklahoma.

Bookmooch came through! I got my CW professor Karen Joy Fowler's book in the mail.

It's an uncorrected proof, and a different title! I already like the first 50 pages, and it is difficult to read it without picturing her. But that's okay, I think.

I love bookmooch! Everyone should join Bookmooch.com. You sign up your books and then you can request other books! You should do it. Really. And it's free!

Wooooo I'm going to go reeeead.

the stars of track and field are beautiful people.

I got rejected by Sci-Fi/Fantasy magazine today. That was my new thing.

It's okay though. I sent in Nancy and the Traffic Light.

I think it's because that story is too slight and flighty for their pages... but that's okay. I think I'll send it off again. I like that story quite a lot.

I'm going to save my rejection letter. Usually, it's an e-mail, and I delete it. I haven't sent in a story someplace in ages and ages. I'm going to be better about that now.

come on, ulysses.

Today I got real haunted by a comic book I bought. I read "Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth" and it was terrifying!

I loved it. But I hate being scared. It's awesome to have the sunlight to save you, though. Tell you that much.

For you!

So today, the government gave me money.

The sum was for doing well on a test in High School. I've had the envelope to send in to get this money for ages.

And I only just did it.

But still!

Awesome. Thanks government! I'm going to buy myself some RAM.

change your mind!

My section leader told me I was a brilliant student.

I liked that a lot, but I couldn't figure out why - I was walking with her over to family student housing because I couldn't find a book I wanted to use for my paper at the library. And she just said it.

Nice of her, really.

Also, a new thing: no section leader (TA?) has ever called me brilliant.

I will die with my foot in my mouth.

Is it lame that my new thing today was driving home from Chico?

Because that's what it was.

So... there.

get guilty.

Chico's a strange little city. I don't quite understand it, and I certainly couldn't live here, but I'm having a good time. There's all sorts of new things to do in a new city - a new farmer's market, a new place to get burgers (Madison BEAR Garden! Ha!) a new place to dance...

I love travel for this reason. Delicious travel. Ashlee and I watched Kung Fu Panda, too, which I hadn't seen before.

It's pretty funny. It made me want to fight with chopsticks.

who's gonna hear your help me help me now?

I'm going to drive to Chico today to see Ashlee. She and I have been close ever since we met - in High School, we played Romeo and Juliet in a modernized version, and fell for each other. I actually love that story - seems fittingly, if cliche-y, romantic.

Then we had a tumultuous year of breaking up and getting back together, and then somehow (still not sure how this happened) we became friends again, and I'm glad for it. She's known me for so long, and knows a side of me not everyone knows, and it will be nice to see her again.

I have Harry Potter 6 and the new Yeah Yeah Yeah's CD loaded onto my iPod. And a pocket full of mango flavored dum-dums. Can't stop me now, world.

times before that, I was cruel.

This evening I went and saw Watchmen at the midnight screening, but I'm backdating this blog post because I am... like that. It's my blog, I'll do what I want.

Watchmen was a mess. It was fun, though, and also incredibly violent, and strange to see on screen. I think, now, that it was pretty good in some ways and terrible in others, but ultimately, it's the best that movie could be on a screen. Silk Spectre II looked exactly like she did in the comic, and Nite Owl II's story and portrayal was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

My dad told me he's reading it. We so rarely read the same things that it will be interesting to see what he thinks.

shut your eyes, you and I.

More mail related new-ness!

I joined bookmooch.com. It's this incredible site where you trade books! If you have a book you don't mind getting rid of, you list it on your profile. And then someone can mooch it from you and you send it to them, wherever they are, and you search for stuff you like.... it's socialist book borrowing.

Incredible.

I sent off two books today in my glorious introduction to the bookmooch world, and eagerly await a return of some kind... everyone should join! EVERYONE WHO READS THIS BLOG SHOULD JOIN!

Seriousness means capitals. And vice versa

heads will roll on the floor.

I went to a YA fiction workshop for my new thing today. It was in this neat room in the feminist study library on campus, and I met a penpal accidentally who had gone as well. It was interesting, if not illuminating. Jill Wolfson writes well, though, and it was neat to meet her.

She told me she would look over my book. I wonder if she was kidding.

I'm at my worst when it's from my lips.

Today's new thing: Out of country package sending. One parrot to Paris, One gorilla to New Zealand. I was in the post office line for an hour and a half, thinking to myself: this is probably the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone ever.

But that's not true, of course. There are Simple Life with Paris Hilton marathons, stacks of cheese in our refrigerator that go uneaten, favorite actors losing their jobs. And all that poverty and war too.

So, in context, the post office wasn't that bad. But out of context - I could've died.

For you, oooh.

The Cigar Box Guitar construction has commenced!

It looks like it's going to be the most incredible thing you have ever seen. Well, no. But I can't wait.

We couldn't finish it because I wanted to spray paint its name on it: Betsy Mae.

At some point, I will be able to say the phrase, "I'm a-gonna go strum the heckfire on the strings of ol' Betsy Mae!"

And I'm going to say it all the time.

Also: Happy Birthday Sara!

red and blue and black for you.

Today's new thing was a new version of Balderdash at Candice's. Instead of famous date, they had bizarre laws, worded like: In Soco, Pennsylvania, it is illegal for a dog...

And then you finish the sentence. That particular one is "take a nap in a Barbershop."

I love that game.

i wear my boots, you wear your hat.

After lots of put-put-putting around, Anthony and I finally managed to pick up enough steam to go downtown for a drink at a bar I'd never been to - It's tiki themed. There was a time in my life that I only wore hawaiian shirts (why? we shall never know.) and this spoke to that part of my hear that loves lounge culture. We drank drinks out of tiki-mask cups and listened to island-y music while bad surf movies played silently in the corner.

But then!

I wanted sushi - inexpensive sushi - so we went to Trader Joe's, where we kept running into old pals from all over. It was a very exciting sushi trip. And when we came out, my friend Andrew Costello was pulling in, arms laden with recycling.

C: Time to recycle!

A: (not getting it's a joke) Yeah, we just saw a show, so. Yeah.

C: Oh yeah? What show?

A: Dr. Horrible's Sing Along blog, up at the Barn.

C: You're kidding!

A: Yeah, you guys should go see it. They are doing a ten-o-clock one.

AB: It's 9:56 now.

A: Oh, yeah. Well, let's drive you up there.

C: Ha. What, really?

And they did! Dr. Horrible's Sing Along blog, live! It was lots of fun.

I love when new things lead to other new things.

parisian girls are all so sweet and smart.

Today, my new thing was practicing two-man juggling with Anthony. A juggling duet? What's the term for that? He gave me three practice balls to juggle with and I do that when I feel restless, which is a lot. So I'm a beginner juggler.

Duet juggling was difficult, but we got it going once. I should have filmed it.

One of his hit me in the head after about 2o minutes of trying. I thought it was an accident until just now. Anthony may have it out for me. I'll keep you all posted.

keep hearing your name.

I got a haircut. I hate it.
But I've gotten haircuts I hate before.

Today, my great new thing was being told that my play was accepted into Chautauqua 2009, a student-run festival of plays. I can't wait to see it.

meet me where your mind won't kiss me.

Today I did something that I'm pretty proud of.

I defied my T.A.

Now, my mother has a phrase for the people in class who sit in the back of the room and point out inconsistencies with the same joy and self-pleasure as a pirate who found buried treasure on his own. She calls them "bright boys" and I never want to embody the stereotype because it sounds awful, self-congratulatory and the opposite of true intelligence.

But I was disgusted by the guest lecturer today, who dressed up her lecture on Susan Sontag in hyper-feminist leanings and tried to push it as fact rather than opinion. I didn't mind the agenda, or the opinion, but I do mind being told something that is 100 percent opinion and be expected to write it down in my notebook, to be regurgitated later.

So in class today, I commented. My T.A. defended the guest lecturer and the entire section turned, pointing out the inconsistencies between the reading and the guest lecturer's opinion-dominated message. Susan Sontag is a lot of posturing, and it's easy to posture upon posturing, and eventually, my TA agreed, and started talking down the guest lecturer as well.

It was interesting. I felt like my ire was bright boy misplaced enthusiasm, but I'm glad it wasn't.

What do you think?

a horror film.

Today, I wanted my new thing to be that I sold a stuffed animal.

Two hours left on that.

If not, then I have another new thing. But I'll talk about it tomorrow.

I've got love in my tummy.

Would you like some unconditional love?

Then perhaps you should buy a homemade stuffed animal!

Today's new thing is the online marketplace store GRAND OPENING OF:

(cue Final Countdown)

StuffedMisfit.etsy.com!

You should buy one, and make me a hundredaire!

welcome to the space olympics.

Good Evening.

I am writing this from the year 3022.

Not really, but I find this song to be quite amusing. I would post the youtube link, but I'm pretty sure it's over-blogged by now, so I'll just leave it that I like it, and wish I had thousands of dollars to create crazy clips and have a huge audience watch them.

Instead, it's Halloween in February here at the house. I am 3-Hole Punch version of Christopher.

It's another reference to mainstream pop culture! I'm 2 for 2!

Anthony is a youtube video. It was my idea, and I got it from the internet. Good ol' internet. Everyone pet your computers and tell them how nice they are.

when i was at harvard...

I didn't fulfill my new thing for today.

So I ate my new blueberry muffin mini-wheats.

That's the new thing for today, cereal.

It's pretty good dry. I don't like cereal and milk.

They can't all be winners.

I don't even care for me.

OH!

I uploaded all of those comics I made the other day.

They are right here. <---------------

Tell me what you think in the comments! Please! You all don't understand (assuming anyone reads this) how much comments MATTER to a BLOGGER.

didn't catch me falling (falling, falling)

I have a stack of 2005 Cosmos in my closet because of today's new thing.

I was thinking about all of their sex tips, and how they must not have new ones, really, in every issue - so I went to the library and asked if they had a back catalog. They did - five years worth of it. I followed the woman back and she gave me 2005s, which she was going to throw away to make room for 2009.

I think I'm going to make a John Nash-esque collage, writing with red and blue pens where the sex tips double up. I'll put it on my wall until people make too many lewd comments or something.

I love when new things lead to other new things.

I was meant for the stage.

Today, Anthony and I were on a walk when we noticed our neighbor's car running with no one inside.

I'd never talked to them, so for the new thing for the day, I knocked on the door. Two yippy dogs answered, and then him. He was charging his battery.

He didn't even come out to chat, like I wanted.

Next time!

the things I do possess.

For the new thing for today, I planted my tulip from Amsterdam in that cup. It doesn't live in my room, though. It lives in full sunlight. I've never planted tulips before, and certainly not in a cup, and certainly not flowers from Amsterdam.

My money is on it never sprouting. That's pessimistic, but I would rather be surprised

christmas came early for me.

every blog title is a lyric from a song, in case you didn't know.

today I called sick into work because I woke up and felt like my head was on fire.

It wasn't, by the way, but I definitely slept in and wrote and slept more and made chicken noodle soup and felt like I had done the right thing.

Today's new thing: I sat and memorized ukulele chords. The chords I knew already were the ones I looked up to write a song about kissing on a bus. I didn't even know what they were. So I looked at my chord chart and then looked away, and now I know A through G. I can play, slowly, a major scale!

Hurrah!

It was a small little thing but a thing nonetheless.

I love this rain. I walked in it under an umbrella for about three minutes and felt peaceful.

it backfired at the disco.

Saturday's New Thing:

I left love mix cd's all over the bus - sad love songs about love lost.

I just thought, you know... a sobering experience for those in a relationship, and a place to find solace for those who weren't.

I didn't leave any way to contact me, like I usually do with my letters. I just did it. I wonder if anyone will like them.

oo. wah. oo.

Today was a San Franciscan day of plenty and plush purchases with Anthony.

We took up our post where Haight met Ashbury and sold a few, but what led to my new thing for a day was a German photographer named Alex who took our picture.

Acting dead.

Killed by our stuffed animals.

You'll see what they look like when I do - he hasn't posted us yet. His flickr has many projects on it: Death by ----, people looking deadpan meeting Mike Wazowski, people who hug things. I am excited to be up there soon.

We also met up with one of the favorite recurring characters of my life, Regina. She took us to a place called Bangkok Best (described as the best restaurant in SF and, probably, a name of a porn) and I had excellent soup.

I love San Francisco. It makes me have good new things.

red and black and blue for you.

New thing today:

Lemongrass Chicken roll-ups from Trader Joe's.

Deep fried.

They were delicious, but made me want a soda - Anthony and I traveled to 7-11, where the man was "tired of breaking 20's". He told us that he wasn't a bank. But, it wasn't that he couldn't break 20's.

He just didn't want to.

I think his new thing for the day was being a drain on humanity's patience with convenience store clerks. We didn't buy anything, but I do want to speak to the guy's supervisor.

don't you worry a bit.

Good evening.

What a terrible new thing for the day:

I took a test to become an "enumerator" for the "census bureau" which is government speak for "bothersome person who wants to count things in your home when you've sat down for dinner."

I got there at 3, as they told me to, and did not begin to take the test until about 430 because of the 40 over-40 year-olds who wasted time screwing up their standardized test, their resume, and the pencil lead they took the test with.

The test was easier than the CAT9. I pity anyone who misses more than 3.

At least I made a friend: a late-2o's UCSC graduate who was trying to make it on Etsy.

So, in case you didn't know already, government tests are not a good way to spend your day.

what I give to you is just what I'm going through.

Quitting Sockshop was my new thing for today.

Five days of school and then two days of work ended up not jiving with the ol' writing schedule - and let's face it. I want to write, I want to be a writer. I do not want to sell shoes. I don't want to end up like Sascha did... three and a half years into it, a manager, realizing that three of her best years were spent there.

Nope, not the plan. So I quit my job, and instead added another 500 words to my daily writing goal. I'm going to actively seek editors and agents and all that, and I'm going to make stuffed animals with Anthony and sell them when I need some extra scratch.

Also, I might become a part of the census bureau, because apparently you get to set your own hours and those hours are 20 dollars each.

I bought myself a comic as a quitting present: It's the new Spiderman, and Obama is on the cover:


Ridiculous. Chameleon didn't even know his nickname on the basketball team.

To ruin the surprise: tomorrow, my new thing is to take a placement test/interview for the census bureau. It could be incredibly boring, but I also got the Coraline soundtrack, so maybe it will be creepy.

why'd you say hallelujah?

It was either in a movie or a memory that a character (or me) had trouble saying hallelujah for a while. I think it was pronounced hallelulah instead.

A year ago me would worry that I was mixing my memories with movies. This year me LOVES this fact, and embraces it, hoping that soon, my life will be indescirnable from the movies I watch. This is a strange hope, but I think it's viable. You just have to believe.

Today, my new thing: I went and saw The Wrestler with my friend named after a state, Montana. She loved it, I am not so convinced... it was brutal, violent, and very sad. Torment is a fascinating thing to watch, an even more fascinating thing to read, which I am doing right now. Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections torments me with every word, and I bet upon bet that all of this frustration is going to come to a bad end. I'm going to read something really happy after this. A mystery, where I'm sure they solve it. That will be satisfying.

paranoia, paranoia...

Today, Erin and I traversed a sodden, downpoured 17 highway to see Coraline in 3d.

It was an absolute visual treat. I would say visionary. Totally mental - creepy, hilarious, unsettling and mind-blowing. The world they created was gorgeous and terrifying.

I loved every three-dimensional second. I'll see it again.

I hope three dimensional film-making is the wave of the future. I also wonder if Neil Gaiman is totally set on being Neil Gaiman. Because if he's not, I'd love to fill his shoes.

les limites.

The new thing today was a bit irresponsible... I took an hour lunch and had a mixed drink. But it was with my manager, so perhaps that is okay? But she also just quit. So maybe not.

The point being, though, is that I don't really fancy doing it again. But it felt good to be like Don Draper, if only for a minute. And the cool side of Don Draper, none of the affairs and the messed up past and dark history and mysterious horribleness that threatens to crush his teetering tower of cards.

It seems like being in business for yourself makes more and more sense. And it also seems like I am not going to be a tree-planter, although my previous work as a Jamba Juicer and babysitter more than qualifies me to dig holes for saplings.

Also, there are over 25 views on my stand-up comedy, but not a single comment. That strikes me as strange. If you're reading/watching/listening, you should comment! I like comments. They are like the crumble crust on the pie - probably not necessary, but don't you basically just have jumbled up fruit (words) without it?

lookin' at the sky above me.

Today, my new thing was to do a comic every hour. Journal-comic, that is. Usually not very funny, but at least a little bit absurd. I do a lot of stuff every day, and I also do a lot of nothing. I also have to uninstall/reinstall my HP printer before I can scan and put them all up for you all to enjoy/scoff at.

edit: thanks to the magic of max, I have added all of them.

Sigh.

But it was a good, rainy day. And if I start tomorrow off right, I think work can be bearable... because I think it will be one of my last shifts. Quitting sockshop is a "new thing" for the future.

The near future.

















Anthony joined in on the fun.


His are a little more nightmarish than mine...






His also stopped because he left the house and forgot to keep doing it.

Ah well.

so happy together.

Today was a strange one. Sluggish, cold, rainy... I spent most of it wishing I were in bed, reading The Corrections or watching My So-Called Life. That's right. I'm off my Gilligan's Island kick.

For now.

Tonight, though, was the rooftop comedy competition. Stand-up again. I had Anthony take video, which is the new thing for today: I've never put my stand-up on youtube before. I'm looking forward to it being lost amongst the shuffle, and no one ever really watching it. Sounds lovely.

Anywho here you go:



Side note: I'm moving on to the next round. It's in San Francisco!

and the music, as loud as can be.

Today's new thing is a culmination of effort from yesterday into today. I recorded a song using all the instruments I own.

Those instruments are:
-The Kaossilator
-Omnichord
-Electric Fender Guitar
-Acoustic Samick Guitar
-Ukulele
-Melodica (birthday present from Erin)
-Ocarina
-Harmonica
-25-key Midi Keyboard
-My Voice

And I'll tell you what: The song is average. I had this idea in my head that it would be really wonderful, but because I am only average at music creation, and below average at almost every single one of those instruments (the ocarina and the harmonica were used only as strange things at the end) I guess I should not have had such lofty expectations.

But the thing is, I did it. I wrote a song, and played the instruments, and it's not bad. Not great, but not bad. I think my favorite part is that you, as a listener, are almost painfully aware of my inability to play these instruments, but I hope you all find some type of enjoyment anyway.

Without further ado: Take a listen.

Next time, I'll have someone else sing.

happy face in my mind.

I'm smiling, because today's new thing was last minute.

The thing I'm noticing is that sometimes I do new things and decide they don't count. I take a new way to school, or get something new at a restaurant, or try a new way to make my sandwich at lunch, and think... eh. Not good enough.

So there's that. But blogworthy: I gave a double piggy back. It sounds wrong, but it ain't:



That was about 310 pounds. I am strong! I am an ox!

The best bit was throwing them off, like a... dinosaur.

Exactly like a dinosaur.

haylookit.

Today, I went and had strawberry infused tequila and gave Sascha relationship advice at a new bar. Not a new new bar, just new to me.

There isn't much I can say for it, other than it was pretty good, I like strawberries, and I think that paying for a psychic sounds like an excellent new thing.

New new new. There are so many places in town that I have never been. How strange!

that song's boring.

I turned 22 today.

I don't care if that's a cop out, I think that's new.

I played pinball, saw Slumdog Millionaire, and some of my friends went out to dinner with me at Pasta Moon.

It was glorious. Because for one, I have glorious and attractive friends...


And for two, Pasta Moon has these:


So that was my new thing for today. I bought a kaossilator too, but I am going to save that for some other new thing.

let's form it.

Don't you love candy?

I do.

There was a new candy at 7-11 next to the Nerds Rope display. This led me to believe that a) it was going to be as delicious as Nerds ropes, and b) that it was made by Wonka, who makes pretty good things usually. Although Wonka bars are sadly lacking in imagination.

So my new thing was eating that bar.

I imagined that, perhaps, this "Wazoo" bar, in "wild berriez" [sic] flavor would be good. It looked like something a unicorn might eat in magic fairy land - It was pink and about the size of a Snickers bar, covered in imitation Nerds. Indeed, this was not a Wonka product. Just an imitation. So it was an imitation of a facsimile of a fictitious chocolatier - and there wasn't even chocolate involved.

Long story short it tasted atrocious - like stale laffy taffy covered in tasteless marshmallow with chewable plastic on top.


I think my face says it all.

last night, I turned into a fly.

Friday's new thing changed often. I wasn't feeling so hot, so the original plan to make a cigar box guitar was thrown completely out the window. That will be a project for another day.

And then the plan was to win a bunch of money at a scratcher, and that didn't happen either. I was going to do the endless setlist (84 songs, 5.5 hours) on Rock Band, but 8 songs in and the guitar ran out of batteries (one more reason why video game guitars are not as cool as real guitars.)

So, at 11pm, Anthony taught me how to break the bottom off of a bottle using only the force of my hand.

Step 1: Find a bottle with a neck.
Step 2: Fill it up with water, leaving about 2 inches of room at the top.
Step 3: Go outside, hold the bottle firmly against your hip (beginner-style)
Step 4: While only allowing the lip of the bottle to protrude, and only a bit, bring your palm down on the top of the bottle and believe that you are going to hit the bottom off the bottle.
Step 5: Clean up mess.



I was successful on my second try, and then not successful again afterwards. And I really hurt my hand.

such a subtle wrist.

Let us time-travel to Thursday.

On Thursday, Max lent me his $150,323,988.23 camera, and I went downtown to take pictures of things. I asked people if they would let me take their picture, and they all said yes. That was surprising and welcoming. I also enjoyed looking like an artist/tourist. Here are a few of my favorites:

He has the killer eye.

I did not ask this scenery's permission.

This new building downtown is terrifying.

So that was Thursday. Friday and Saturday will get updates. I just wanted to get this one out of the way.

I've always listened to my critics.

I have two days worth of new things to update you on.

Two?

Yes, two.

First of all, I got a new chair in my room. It is burnt orange and comfy, and it was given to me by Anthony, who got it for free from the thrift store his grandmother works at. Two days ago, my new thing was to sit down in my new chair, put my feet up, drape myself in my Linus blanket, and read for an hour. I came out of it with the clear head and warm fuzziness that only such an act could bring. Have you tried reading for an hour in a new chair with a Linus blanket? It is divine - add a box of Scotchmallows from See's Candy and I think I would have reached the apex of life.



So that was two days ago.

And yesterday, I tried my hand at making buffalo chicken wings. My mouth just salivated thinking about them - I fried a half pound of chicken legs in that wondrous silver machine and then doused them in buffalo sauce made via the Pioneer Woman Cooks, and I felt happy and alive. I won't feel so alive for much longer if my fried food intake doesn't slow, but I am happy to report that the deliciousness factor of my life has raised an incredible, unknowable amount.



Gilligan's Island update: I think my favorite character is Mr. Howell. And I'm either getting dumber, or the show is getting better - by the eighth episode, they have definitely hit a stride.

Today's new thing? Unknowable. It's only noon!

wind the frog.

Yesterday, my new thing was the creation and consumption of fried apple pies. They looked like wontons in a way... giant wontons. The pastry was flaky and delicious, and the insides were pleasantly warm and cinnamon apple-y. They were a lot of work, and I didn't even do much. I just folded a couple, and poorly at that... if you want your fried apple pies folded masterfully, Max is your man.

I wish I had had slightly melted ice cream to melt them in - oh well. That's a note for next time.

I have no idea what my new thing for today is. I suppose I have done a couple new things (some homework, started a new story) but I don't know. I have three hours to decide on something to do/go through with it/decide that the other couple of things were good enough.

I seem to have a love of nostalgia right now, which is bad for the "new thing everyday" project. I have started watching Gilligan's Island again, because I bought season one for a song at Amoeba. It's really a terrible show, especially first season - I can't believe that it was once considered to be quite the comedy. Was it? I should talk to some oldsters about this. Did people really love Gilligan's Island? There are parts where I am smacking my head because of the stupidity. Oddly enough, though, it's great to have on in the background. I took a nap with their voices in the background, and I had a pleasant, island-y dream.

I'm the man, you're the girl.

Yesterday, my new thing was to go to Jamba Juice in the morning and eat their oatmeal. For 2.95, they give you steal cut, organic oats, topped with blackberries and blueberries, sprinkled with brown sugar. It was absolutely delicious. Then I worked for 8 hours and tried to think about something else I could do instead, because I didn't think Jamba Juice oatmeal was very exciting. It isn't, but it's not uninteresting either - it made my morning a lot better and warmed me through. It was also a perfect companion to reading The Tale of Desperaux, which I finished at lunch yesterday. But I've finished a lot of books at lunch at work. It's a good book. If you have 90 minutes, you should read it, and slowly at that. The last page made me misty-eyed.

Today's new thing: Unknown. Hopefully incredibly exciting.

just somebody that you used to know.

Yesterday, my new thing was to go to a graveyard and catalogue death dates, age at death, the type of decoration on the grave, and if the gravestone marker held some type of description of the person at rest.

Morbid!

It was for class. Doing morbid things for class is a new one too, but I think it's all one package.

And today, my new thing was to talk to absolutely anyone that came within a three foot radius of me. It was an interesting one for a lot of reasons - usually, when I go downtown, I get engrossed in a book or my music or... you know. Anything but the people around me. Actually, not usually... usually, the morning coffee makes me into a gregarious, outgoing soul, so I talk to the first person I see on the bus that smiles at me. If they snub me, it's a book day. If they don't, it's a meet-some-strangers day. I don't do this methodically, I only just realized that this is usually how it goes.

So I worked today at the shoestore, and talked and talked and talked. I tried not to keep the conversation on shoes. I talked about Pixar and Wall-E, the Raven and the books I had recently. I talked about Paris and England and collecting things. People told me all sorts of things as well - a man told me he was going back to university to get another bachelor's - he was fifty. Another guy was annoyed that I was taking the interest off of shoes. I poked fun at our strange store's decorations with some of the younger folk, and I told fake attributes of what the shoes could do for you, as in, "those shoes are 400 dollars because they will whisper to you if you are lonely." Or, "The rubber is quite light - if NASA decides to allow it, they might get activated - it's anti-gravity rubber." I sold the most shoes. I also took a new way back to the bus station because I didn't want to talk to all of the strange people that populate the Santa Cruz streets at night.

On the bus home, I talked to a couple people that told me to come to their CEOs and Corporate Hos (Hoes? Ho's? 'ho's?) party. And I tried to talk to the guy next to me once they got off the bus, but he didn't want to talk at all. He just snubbed me. I stayed on the bus for the UCSC loop just to try more, but I think I really annoyed him. He was listening to Millencolin on his Zune, and if I want to be shallow, I could say it's for the better. Who wants to talk to someone who has a Zune?

But I was actually kind of hurt. I was really nice and he was not.

indian giver.

Yesterday, I went and did stand up comedy at the Fire Den as my new thing for the day - I have done stand-up comedy before, but never at a stand-up comedy open mic, especially not in a bar. I know that seems very specific, but I can tell you that it was a very, very new thing. The crowd was mostly over thirty, so my Harry Potter jokes went right over their head. I thought Harry Potter was universal, but maybe not! It went over well, though. I have been bringing a harmonica with me, and the harmonica has gotten way more laughs than I thought it would. When I do stand up comedy, I'm always curious if my humor will be funny to me, or funny to everyone.

I remembered, earlier this month, Anthony took me to a cookie factory. I'd never been to a cookie factory. I bought a six pack of cookies for a dollar.

I wonder what I will do today?

she's a ten.

Good morrow.

I made a New Year's Resolution this year to do something new every day. It has been going splendidly, but my memory is not what it once was: I have already begun to forget some of the new things that I have done.

So, that means I have to start a new blog.

I have had lots of blogs, starting with a deadjournal under an assumed name - followed by a livejournal that I still write in occasionally - a well-kept then deleted personal/music blog - a travel blog for my quarter abroad - and now this one. I think it can be anything I want.

Yesterday, I watched the inauguration. I had never watched an inauguration before, so that was my new thing for yesterday. It was inspiring, and I liked the bit where the oath-giver messed up. We all made the joke: "He will be the first to go."

Today, I went and saw Revolutionary Road. I had never seen that movie before - so there you go. It is a heart-wrenching movie, terribly sad - hopelessness and emptiness prevails. But it was beautifully shot with beautiful moments and beautiful actors and beautiful piano plinking. It was very good. There were people in the audience who laughed at odd times, and I'm going to just chalk that up to the imbeciles who go see movies and still wonder how "they got them pictures to move."

Tomorrow's new thing: Undecided