Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Top 5 Favorite Books of All Time

Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King

I read this as an undergrad and was never really the same. It is whimsical, historical, chock full of metaphor, and entertaining to boot. I can honestly say that my Native American Lit class was one of the most interesting and invigorating classes I ever had the pleasure to attend. I would also highly recommend James Welch's Fool's Crow and anything, anything by Louise Erdrich. But start here first.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

My friend Chris loaned this to me not too long after its release. I sat down at my kitchen table, thinking I'd read a chapter or two, and didn't budge until it was finished. It's a quick read, obviously, but an astonishingly satisfying read, as well. The part with the dog? I lost my shit completely. For those still on the fence about that whole "death" thing--where it leads, what it means, am I going to hell, etc.--it is also strangely comforting. Considering the main protagonist's demise, this is no small feat.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

I love the crazy ass book. Ishmael's introductory explanation as to why he sets off on a whaling ship is particularly meaningful to me: "Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses...and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can." Sound like anyone you know? Lately?

It by Stephen King

It must be said that every time I finish this book, I cry. Sometimes it's just a sniffle and watery eyes; sometimes I bawl like a baby. Despite King's questionable choices of plot (as I age, the way the kids get out of the sewers grows creepier and creepier) and a regrettable, stereotypical female lead (which, to be fair, he's worked heroically to improve upon in subsequent novels), this is the most satisfying, terrifying, and fantastically rich book of King's. What originally inspired my strong emotional reaction still holds true today: losers band together to fight an unfathomable foe. It's the loveliness of that friendship that particularly struck me, and its mark remains today.

The Monster at the End of This Book by Grover

I won't spoil the ending, but if you haven't read it, do it, do it now. Because I still love the story, the anticipation, and Grover.

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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Cake Wrecks Wrawks

If you haven't visited the Cake Wrecks site (linked on the right) you should probably go there ay sap. Seriously, even the wrecks look good to me, especially when they are white on white. It's sad. Anyway, the site does devote time to some awesome cakes...

And beautiful cakes...

But then there are the real wrecks -- here's the one that started it all...

There's also the badly executed...

And then there's the horrifically ill-advised...


Favorite it!

Beautiful Storms

Yesterday ended with a tantrumy thunderstorm and, while trumpeting hornsnozzle sounds out of my nose and coughing spitting little hacks here and there, I was not unable to lean out my window and catch this shot.


People in NYC are pretty sick of the rain (it has, almost literally, rained all June long), but you have to admit this is a lovely little payoff.

Friday, June 26, 2009

MJ Faves

My favorite Michael Jackson songs…

Can You Feel It



Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough

Smooth Criminal

You are Not Alone

Of course, Billie Jean

And probably my favorite of all…

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Annoyed

All of the preliminary reviews for Transformers 2 have been nothing short of meh, verging on disdainful. Major sighs of disgust.

In the first movie, I was sadly relieved when the uncomfortable stereotyped "Jazz" character was killed off. Even with the justification that they learned to speak human via the radio, hence justifying the embarrassingly out of date "hood" speak of the irritating Jazz, it was clearly too over the top and grating.

Now, it seems, Michael Bay simply cannot resist the lure of stereotyping even more disastrously, this time worse, with gold teefs to boot. Jesus CHRIST, Michael Asshole Bay, does no one help you understand the world and the reality of the world that surrounds you?

Of course, it seems the racism is only part of the problem. I could seriously cry. If you have something as awesome and righteous as the FUCKING TRANSFORMERS to create for all the world to enjoy, wouldn't you think the first priority would be to make it completely and unabashedly awesome? *GIANT* sighs of disgust.

I will still see it. But if I come out of the theater crying and windmilling just to hurt anyone as much as I hurt inside, only Michael Bay and his stupid idiot ego are to blame.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Zumi's Dance

I LOVE this freaking dog. She can lick my gums all she wants. Crazy foole.

The Donut Whole




A longer, more (ridiculously) detailed blog post to come, but for now, because Facebook is an Asshole, I do want to share my photos from Wichita's newest, greatest donut shop, now in business, and booming by the looks of it.







Saturday, June 06, 2009

Happy Bday Lil Miss Craig!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Euphoria

How does one reach a feeling of euphoria? Well, there's drugs. But if you don't have any on hand, there's also the clip of Harold and Kumar singing a classic 80s tune...



OR.

There's the feeling you get, after 15 years of servitude, of finally and completely paying off the student loan. It. Is. OVER. As of today, the final payment of $265.00 has set me free of that debt. YES!!!!! High kicks and slow claps for me, suckas!

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Monday, June 01, 2009

More Cat Yodeling

I love that I know where they are in the first sequence of this video. (Hey! That's where we saw that lameass Spiderman 3!)

I just love these guys. They're kind of psycho and also hilarious. At a view count of 263,218, about 76% of Wichita's population (as of the 2000 census, thanks Wikipedia) has seen this video. So boss.