They Might Be Giants (Boy)

I first heard songs by They Might Be Giants when I was six years old, on an episode of Tiny Toon Adventures. It took me a little while to realize the songs weren't made specifically for the show, but were rather off of a legitimate album by a legitimate band. Therefore, TMBG is officially the first band I ever held a great affinity for.



I got the album "Flood" when I was a little tyke and was fascinated by the contents of the songs. Birdhouses in my soul? Someone singing a song about being dead? Minimum Wage? Particles and city name changes? What is this brilliance?

Now, twenty years later, I was finally seeing them in concert for the first time. My good friend alerted me to the event and because the ticket was affordable, I agreed to go. It's hard to go to a concert like TMBG and leave in a bad mood. The songs were all energetic and perky and filled with nostalgia for me.

I also happened to win a raffle in the lobby and scored some vouchers to any Milwaukee Admirals home game of my choice! Now it's time to don the Halloween costume and get my trick-or-treat on...

Skeet Skeet

Tonight was a friend's karaoke birthday party. We all picked rap songs that we awkward white kids could perform. This song is a staple karaoke tune for the guy I'm seeing.

I chose this gem by the Bloodhound Gang because I knew all the words:

Austin, Day Seven

• For the third time, I ran into the director of one of the short films I saw during the festival. He’s from London, and it turns out his hotel room is right next to my hotel room. We exchanged greetings and I wished him safe travels back to the UK as I got into my cab.
• The theme song from “The X-Files” was playing in the taxi as I climbed in. Moment of win.
• On the plane, I sat next to a young woman named Oksana. She slept the whole way, but when we landed she woke up and I wound out she was born in Russia, raised in an orphanage until she was ten when she heard about Jesus and prayed for a family to adopt her. She then moved to Southern California and eventually Texas. She looked perfectly Russian, but spoke with a perfect Texas drawl.
• The Ozarks look gorgeous in their fall attire. I got to observe this as I flew over Branson, Missouri.
• So begins the grieving process of my re-introduction into normal life. I had initially been hesitant to take this trip. My chest feels heavy now, like I should be sobbing. I once read that travel allows you to come back to your home and see it for the first time. I think that’s what this feeling is. I feel… foreign.

Austin, Day Six

• Best line from any of the films I saw over the past week: “Make a blind man straight, make a black man gay.”

• With only three dollars left, I was beginning to wonder what to do for dinner, and then found a free Luna bar in my film festival swag bag. win!

• While walking back to my hotel, I heard a Snoop Dogg song blasting from a nearby bar. Naturally I gravitated toward the sound, curious about what kind of Austin restaurant would play that music so loud. Upon walking in I discovered that Snoop Dogg was in fact performing there, in concert. Fo shizzle. That was awkward.

Austin, Days Three/Four/Five

Day Three:

• This city is deceptively hilly. My ass will be toned in no time.

• There is a Car2Go program here. SMART Cars can be rented by the minute and left at designated stations when finished. It’s a great system and I’m painfully jealous that this is not available in Milwaukee.

• So much homelessness. So, so much. They sit quietly in their own communities and don’t ask for handouts.

• 92% of the state of Texas is in an extreme drought right now. What is left of the grass disintegrates under your shoes as you walk. The lawn around the Capitol is pristine, however.

• Sat in on a discussion with Caroline Thompson, writer of “Edward Scissorhands,” “Black Beauty,” “A Nightmare Before Christmas” and a bunch of other films you’ve heard of. Very insightful. She’s a witty lass.

Day Four:

• Saw James Franco at the premiere of his directorial debut, “Sal.” His smile is disarming. It takes him a long time to finish sentences. The film wasn’t bad.

• Made friends with a group of high school students while in line for a short film showcase. I learned that Texas has 24 different dialects. They got in before me and saved me a seat.

• My neck and shoulders have been acting up and it’s impacting my sleep. A massage would really help; alas, my now limited funds put that out of reach. I’ve been trying to compensate by stretching and using a hot towel as a compress.

• The birds here are so loud. And screechy.

• Went to a local Tex-Mex bar to watch the Packers game. Befriended some Pittsburgh fans watching the Steelers game on the screen next to me. One of them had an adorable smiley toddler son who applauded everything.

• I am intrigued by the fashion in Austin. Sure, there are some cowboy hats and boots and belt buckles, but there are also people wearing jumpers and pantsuits and ankle boots with knee high socks.

• There has been plenty of time to be alone with my thoughts. That—- combined with the sugar detox and the lack of credit card—- has revealed more to me about what I can do without and what I don’t need. Strangely, the physical limitations have helped to further clarify my emotional needs and desires. They are so lovely in their simplicity, and yet I deprived myself for so long…

Day Five:

• Walked over two miles for a slice of pizza… Worth it.

• Today was my first venture south of the river. Now I’m finally beginning to understand what this city is about. I’d love to spend more time down there if my feet weren’t completely raw from walking everywhere.

• After attending two film festival screening, I started back across the river and through the city center to my hotel. I really love cities at night; they evoke a certain beauty and sensuality with their illuminated skylines and the murmur of music and conversation that permeates from every corner. I found myself wandering slowly and aimlessly during my first Austin nightlife experience… taking pictures and finally absorbing a genuine fondness for this place.

• Made the acquaintance of a tiny opossum crossing 10th Street. Thought it was a giant rat, at first. Wished it was an armadillo.

• Observed two men simultaneously mount a mechanical bull, sit back to back, and proceed to rattle together as they were bucked and jolted before a drunk audience.

• Took in some milky blues music oozing from a bar on South Street. Some guy shouted at me, asking if I was single. I told him I was married. Thankfully, I can only use that line for one more week.

• Came back to my hotel room and solo danced to swing music from my iPod, reminiscing about the last time I heard these songs and the great people who were with me. I’ve tried in vain to bury that part of myself.

Austin, Day Two

My credit card number was stolen off the Internet and my bank called to notify me. We canceled my card and I realized I'd be down here for a week with only the small amount of cash I brought.

Here's a cheap way to travel: consume nothing but water, herbal tea, and pure fruit juice and eat nothing but raw fruits and vegetables for several consecutive days of vacation. I've been meaning to do this for a while anyway. What better time than when I am far away for the convenience of my kitchen? I went grocery shopping and stored my produce in my hotel mini fridge.

I'm actually rather liking the challenge of being even more minimal with my spending. As I am currently holding my head while enduring sugar withdrawal, I'm hoping this detox will ultimately serve me well.

Austin, Day One

My guy interest offered to give me a ride to the airport at five-thirty in the morning. He showed up a half hour early to make sure I wasn't sitting around waiting for him. Then he took out my garbage and carried my luggage to the car. I gave him some freshly baked caramel bars as a token of my appreciation. He later told me they were his new addiction and he had to stop himself from eating them all in one sitting.

My layover in Kansas City gave me just enough time to pee before boarding my connecting flight to

Publish Post

Austin. Film Festival, here I come!

Some highlights upon landing in the capital of the Lone Star State:

• I walked about eight miles. My feet hurt.
• Everyone is extremely friendly, including the strung out shirtless flamboyant Carrot Top clone whose pants sat so low that his (lack of) manscaping was not a mystery.
• On that note, don’t walk too far east on 12th Street. There are more abandoned homes than inhabited ones.
• Organic vegan tropical smoothies!
• Sorry Gideons, but I used your hotel Bible as a cutting board for my figs.
• Flying all the way here to attend a film festival was a fantastic idea.

I AM ON VACATION AND LOVING IT.

My Halloween Costume

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Felicia Hardy, a.k.a The Black Cat:


For the past five years, my comic book loving gay bestie has been asking me to dress as her for Halloween. Each year I felt compelled to to try but would eventually chicken out and go with something else.

Not this year! I took the plunge, and so did the zipper on my bodysuit. I acquired the perfect costume pieces, the perfect wig, added some fur, created my own mask and necklace... and voila! Felicia is ready to come out and play. I'm a little nervous to wear something this low-cut in public. I'm not usually an advocate for dressing promiscuously just because the holiday permits wearing a costume.

The Black Cat is a character from the Spider-Man comics. She is a cat burglar who turns to the good side when she falls in love with Spider-Man. Since she wasn't a character in any of the movies, she is considered a little more of an obscure character... except to avid comic readers. I first learned of her from my ex boyfriend of long ago, who had a poster of her on his wall. Thus, the seed was planted.

Squashfest!

Knowing I won't be eating at any chain restaurants for a full year has me very excited to challenge myself by cooking new meals. I've even thought about learning to make my own bread, tortillas, salsa, sauces, ravioli, and soups. It's nice to be certain of every ingredient in the foods I eat, knowing there are no hidden additives or preservatives. This sort of mindfulness is not only healthy, but tasty too!

My next endeavor: tackling the plethora of squash in season. I want to make pumpkin risotto and butternut squash soup. I want to substitute spaghetti squash for pasta in a dish. Homemade pumpkin ravioli with a brown butter sage sauce sounds divine, doesn't it? Maybe throw some toasted pine nuts on top... glorious.

Wonderful Wonderful

"You're a wonderful cook."
"Thank you."
"You're a wonderful masseuse."
"Thank you!"
"You're a wonderful kisser."
"Really? Thank you!"
"You're a wonderful lady."
"You're making me blush."
"You should blush. It looks good on you."
"All these compliments... I don't know what to do!"
"Better start liking it, if you're going to keep me around for a while."
"I like the person giving me the compliments."
"Who is he? I'll fight him for the cook/masseuse/kisser lady."