The normal routine for celebrating the 4th of July is to trek through Sugarhouse, dogs and a loaded wagon in tow, mingle at the street fair, then head to the park, stake out a claim of lawn by the tree closest to the Sizzler parking lot, and spend the rest of the day lounging on the grass waiting for the fireworks.  The dogs love it, and can't ( Read more... )

After much deliberation compounded by nobody else stepping up, I've received permission to host a Super Bowl party. I promise no seafood, vegetarian options, ample seating, and the usual fantasy football awards presentation at halftime.

Of course, of those of you reading this...I really only expect maybe Kelly and Caitlin to be like "oh wow, maybe ( Read more... )

I took my flex (half)day yesterday, even though I could've worked a full day and racked up some more comp time.  Since I had extra prep time and my hair's getting long (read: big), I decided to pull out some of the anti-frizzy serum and actually try to style my hair.  I ended up quasi-parting it; Chris thought it was hilarious because it made me ( Read more... )

On Sunday, Chris and I went to an 11 am showing of Cloverfield.  He liked it a lot; I thought it was quite good.  The only thing is we sat relatively close to the screen (below the concourse) and the camera movement made me sick.  I kept it together until after the movie, then ducked into the restroom as we walked out.  Fortunately, all I had eaten ( Read more... )

We don't really have a dress code, but if we did, I think iPod earbuds would be a key component.  Seems like everyone's sporting them.  I had been nervous about rocking mine here, but it seems my fears were unwarranted.  These earbuds don't quite have the sonic quality of my Sennheisers, but they don't make me look like Princess Leia either.

This ( Read more... )

I was half-asleep this morning when I stumbled outside in my snowboots and bathrobe to move my car so that Chris could go to work.  I'm sure I looked even less glamorous than it sounds.  But this morning...it was warm!  I even thought to myself, "Wow, I like the temperature today."  Then I got in my car and checked the climate control system for ( Read more... )

The 3rd floor, where Chris works, has a "12 Days of Christmas" thing where each day people sign up and bring in food.  Since I eat their food, I figured I'd chip in with Chris's group today.  I didn't really know what their plan was (neither did Chris), but I saw the assignments.  Someone was bringing scones.  Two people were bringing chili.  Chris ( Read more... )

I just got back from vetoing.  I don't feel particularly empowered.  I just feel like there should've been a "HELL NO" box on the ballot, or at least on the exit poll.  This is one of those elections that I don't really feel like I voted for anything; I was voting against stuff.  But given the stuff I was voting against, I'm ok with that.  Just as ( Read more... )

The Blues Brothers won Funniest Costume.  wtf?  Mario and Luigi were robbed.   We won Grossest Costume, because the judges had obviously never even heard of Shaun of the Dead and totally didn't get it, fixating instead on the coterie of zombies.  When the judges looked at Mario and Luigi with blank stares, I knew it was going to be a loooonnnnggg ( Read more... )

I found this article interesting (reposted from SFGate.com).

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As I often tell my students, virtually all of American cinema shares a common characteristic so pervasive that we don't even see it, any more than we see the air we breathe. American movies are about a single question: What is ( Read more... )