I haven't felt like updating this thing lately. I have the week off and am in the midst of the post-Christmas depression.

RANDOM:
On King of the Hill Hank has an iMac. He keeps clicking the mouse at the monitor to start it. It brings the funny.

Camper Van Beethoven is touring again. Alan already bought tickets (First Ave, Jan. 21) and since Kevin is out of town (Alan bought him a ticket for Christmas.) I get the ticket. Woo hoo! I've learned my lesson: no mixed drinks at First Ave. That Ryan Adams show nearly killed me. Fun fact: the show holds the record for most alcohol consumed during a show in the Twin Cities. Which is not surprising. Apparently, toward the end of the 3 hour show, Ryan was throwing beers into the crowd.

I think I decided the show was annoying when he performed When the Stars Go Blue and then, when it was over, asked if he could do it again. So he did. I'm sure some people think it's arty or clever but I think it's just stupid.

Okay, I'm going to randomly pick an episode from the Simpsons episode guide. It'll be a hoot! Here goes:

Secrets of a Successful Marriage. Episode 1F20. Original air date: 5.19.94.

A clip:

Marge: Homer, I really don't like you telling personal secrets in your class.
Homer: Marge, I didn't tell 'em personal stuff.
Marge: Today at the Qwik-E-Mart everybody knew I dyed my hair!
Homer: Oh you mean about you.

Heh.

Oh! Something else interesting. I got a Jackass the Movie flask half-filled with Bourbon. What a kickass Secret Santa gift. I can't wait to use it.

I have done absolutely nothing today. I should be ashamed of myself. In the old days, when I did nothing on a Sunday I would feel guilty. I think I'm over that.

Last night I didn't expect to do much of anything. Boy, was I wrong. Amanda and Todd came over, and then Alan's friend Brian came over with this guy, Mike. Mike is apparently insane. And not in a good way.

Amanda and I were in the back room watching Trading Spaces (which all the guys rolled their eyes at, of course). Mike came crawling in on all fours, and proceeded to pick up—with his mouth, mind you—Alan's Leatherman from the table and crawl back out. Then the trash can inched into the room. Odd.

I had a blast. It was such an unexpected evening. It's so cool that Amanda and Todd moved so close. They're coming over for Amazing Race on Wednesday again.

I feel like babbling. I just got back from having a few beers with Amanda. She called me up last night and invited me to a bake sale.

It was actually at Chino Latino's and was organized to raise funds for a local chef who was diagnosed with cancer, Pam Sherman. She doesn't have enough money to pay for treatment, so local chefs/bakers came together to raise money. Places like New French, Broder's, Whole Foods, where else? Lots of places. We signed up for a raffle and bought some focaccia and bagel cinnamon crunchy roll things. Amanda's mom came too and bought a bunch of good stuff. It was really cool. Amanda read about it in City Pages.

Dara Moskowitz's column had a write up. Both Amanda and I religiously read her column. She has my vote for best food critic ever. Honest and basic; not smacking of pretension. In one of her last reviews, she reviewed Manny's Tortas, and liked it. Because Manny's rules. And so does Manny.

We watched Amazing Race last night with Amanda and Todd. John Vito and Jill were axed. Heartbreaking!

Anyway, after that we watched Jackass on video. Alan's friend worked on the movie and had an advanced copy. The movie was okay. Basically it was the show with stuff that didn't make it past censors. Not worth seeing it in the theatre.

Alan's friend Mark hung out for awhile with Johnny Knoxville and the cast. He had a funny story from the experience:

The Jackass guys had a game they'd play, called I'm Not Leaving. They would go into a bar and act like a complete... jackass. They'd grab someone's drink as they were trying to take a sip, or urinate on the bar, or just cause general mayhem. Then when the bouncers would go to throw them out they'd go limp, so they would have to be physically thrown out of the joint. Whoever landed furthest from the door won. Mark said he was bruised for weeks.

I am thoroughly bored and equally lonely. I took the week off and now am climbing the walls.

But on the other hand, it's nice to have some time off, as it's been forever. I've also taken the opportunity to get some errands done. My long hair is disappearing on Friday. I got my eyes checked out today. My prescription hasn't changed a bit. I was amazed. It's been two years since I had them checked last. Oops. Last time I went I got a year's worth of disposable contacts. Which lasted two years. I got a lengthy lecture.

I forgot the perk of getting your eyes checked: FREEBIES! I got a bunch of Renu contact lens solution, two new cases, and a bunch of eyedrops. Sweeeeet.

random things I learned at the eye doctor:
1. Never go to the U of M hospital. "The vultures make you sign your life away."
2. Someone named Doris has a dead deer in her trunk. The neighbor shot it.
3. You can apparently manage to fall down and pull your TV on top of you without serious injury.
4. When they numb your eyes to get your "pressure checked," it feels really weird. Then try to put contacts back in. I felt like my eyelids were asleep. It took me about five minutes.

Coolest thing about being off work: SIMPSONS!

Woo hoo!