Frida, Frida, Nice Ta Meetcha

Two completely unrelated topics: Halloween and the movie Changeling.
Halloween -- I haz it. Or, hadz it. Last night was the blessed event and for the first time in years I dressed up in a real costume. Not, Wear-Everything-Black-And-Call-It-Teen-Goth costume, but a costume. My neighbor/housemate/landlady let me borrow her jewelry, fake flowers and a dress that she used last year to dress up as Frida Kahlo. So on Friday night I fought years of instinct that have kept me battling my natural tendency towards uni brow and drew one in on purpose. It was the best Halloween I've had in years--I even enjoyed going to two parties full of people I'd either never met or barely knew and, if you know me, I'm not much of a party person even when I know everyone. But I think I made a damn fine Frida.

MY FACE ISN'T USED TO LOOKING THAT SERIOUS. I'M TOO NATURALLY SMILEY.

Changeling -- Liz and I saw this movie tonight and I cannot get it out of my head. It's eating me from the inside. In a good way. I wanted to see it because I think Angelina Jolie is a good actress and I love the few movies I've seen Clint Eastwood direct--though I have to say that he doesn't have a good track record for "happy ending" films, so I knew I was in for a hardcore drama. It was a wonderful movie, I was thoroughly impressed by the acting of all involved. Even minor characters--one man who played a lawyer couldn't have been in the movie for more than 15 minutes altogether but he made an impression on me. At one point all he did was make a small, protective lunge forward with a defensive look on his face and I was mesmerized, I really couldn't look away from him. But it was one of the most intense movies I have ever seen. Let's be honest, I cried a couple times. It was a true story (not "based on a true story" which generally means something like 85-90% of it is made up) but I wish it wasn't because it is not a pleasant story. Alas, this film was not about happy endings. This film was about justice and hope in very horrible circumstances. You feel vindicated in a way, which makes this it's own kind of "feel good" movie, but it's definitely not in a daisies and unicorns style. All that to say, if you can handle the gut-wrenching aspects for the sake of a well told, well done story, PLEASE go see it.

And In Your Dreams, Whatever They Be

THEIRS IS A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Wow, it's been a long time since I blogged. That's what happens when you're employed, I suppose: you don't have time to think that every little stupid thing you do might be interesting. Because it's probably not, anyway. More about the job later. And by later I mean next time I blog. I don't feel like organizing thoughts about work right now. I will, however, post an e-mail I sent to my former co-worker/current friend. For those of you who don't know, I have ridiculous dreams. Seriously. Ask me about them some time--I once dreamed an entire movie that had a soundtrack AND rolled credits at the end. Also, I usually remember them in far more vivid detail than other people. There are a number of dreams I had when I was a child that I still remember clearly. Last night was an excellent series of dreams. Enjoy:

Beth, I blame you and your e-mail and its mention of men for the fact that last night all my dreams revolved around me being awkward around men and wishing I had a boyfriend. Seriously. And they were all the WEIRDEST dreams. I can't recall them exactly, but in one, Matt was trying to date me again...sort of. He wasn't sure if he wanted to and so he kept trying to sneakily hold my hand over the wall of our cubicles (we were in an office?) and I kept thinking "WHAT the HELL are you doing?" but I figured it was easier to let him do that and just forget it happened than mention it. Then I dreamed that the guy I dated in Italy moved to Seattle and had a girlfriend and she hated me because I was taller than her and therefore closer to his 6'4". THEN I dreamed that Fred Astaire told me that he needed my help on an important caper, so I went with him to an amusement park where we found this guy who was really important and then Fred started ignoring me and we were all eating corn dogs and gently singing "Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole except Fred didn't notice me anymore and it made me really sad. I'm insane and I blame you.

I love my brain.

Young Lady With the Socks on Her Hands

I rode the bus today and feel very good about it. Gosh, I just love public transportation!

PLEASANTLY BALD GUY AT 3RD & PIKE STOP

A lady next to me was having a very pleasant conversation with herself. Not the kind where the person is yelling at someone nonexistent, it was almost as if she were talking on the phone with a good friend (I checked, no ear piece and no cell unless they were invisible). She was talking very softly and happily about the arrival of Christmas and the beauty of nature and how wonderful it was. I wandered around downtown a bit and stopped at Pike's Market for a few minutes where a young guy selling various pastas shouted, "You, young lady with the socks on her hands! Come try some chocolate pasta!" I like my arm warmers.

"GEE, WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN KNITWEAR?"

In other news, I'M EMPLOYED!!! With job! Having of a place to go Monday-Friday 40 hours a week!

HOORAY FOR ME!!

That's right, I'm finally going to return to the status of "Gainfully Employed". I interviewed Thursday morning and by Thursday afternoon I was hired.

"I'm hiiiiired/I hope I don't get fiiiiiired/In 30 years I'll be retired/But for now I'm simply hiiiiired" - MST3K

Apparently they actually canceled other interviews they had planned because they liked me so much (they said I was "sharp" and they liked my enthusiasm). So starting Monday I'll be doing the 8:30-5 thing (not quite the ring of 9-5 but I'm going for honesty). It's nice because the place is so very close to my house that in nice weather I can bike there and even if I drive I'll be using very little gas. Tomorrow I see about taking the bus there. Hooray! I'm employed!!! Now i guess I won't have to spend my days winding my miscellaneous yarn into center-pull balls...actually, that's kind of sad. Oh well--I HAVE A JOB!

I LEAD A SMALL BUT HAPPY LIFE

The Sweet Sounds of Matrimony

Well, my friend's wedding is over and done with. I'm sure she's glad the stress of the event is gone, but it's always sad that the fun, partying part can't last much longer.

I arrived in Sacramento on Thursday and was met at the airport by my lovely sister. (1) It was great to see her walking on her own as the last time I saw her she was still in a cast and on crutches/in a wheelchair due to her broken ankle. Now she has a scar, a slight limp and some "hardware" in her "robot ankle" but seems otherwise fine. (2) She was driving our old brown Ford Aerostar van which has been in the family for ages. We both drove it during high school and MAN, did being in it bring back memories. It even smelled the way I remember it. It's funny when a dusty van smell makes you nostalgic. The best part was that the power window on the driver's side is failing so whenever you want it open you have to push it down while holding the button, and when you want it up you have to pull. Not a safe maneuver when driving, but a hilarious one at least.

On Friday I drove down to Ione with another bridesmaid, one of my really good friends (of the group of four whose friendship survived junior high, high school, college and now these post-college years -- we're so impressive).

FRIENDS FOR SO LONG: THE GAL TO MY RIGHT
ALSO: I'M FRIGGIN' HUGE!

The event was held at a tiny B&B interestingly located next to an Ace Hardware--you could see and hear the fans from their ventilation system all during the rehearsal (never fear, the music played at the wedding drown out the sounds in a surprisingly effective manner). I was extremely pleased to find out that the groom had one exceedingly tall friend, so I got to walk with someone who was taller than me even when I was wearing heels--excellent (he also had dark hair and heavy, dark plastic glasses so we matched excellently during the rehearsal).

THE BRIDAL PARTY

The wedding itself went well aside from a few minor hiccups that no one really noticed and that didn't make a huge difference. Of course the maid of honor, sister of the bride was weeping right from the get go, as were the mothers of the bride and groom. None of the bridesmaids fell on the cobble stone walk way even though we were wearing heels. For dinner they had friggin' DELICIOUS steak and mashed potatoes. The bartender was VERY generous with the amount of alcohol in the drinks, especially for people in the wedding party (hellooooo wedding punch that was literally half vodka, oy!) And on the way home I got to ride with my oldest friend--I've known him since the 3rd grade--which was great because I don't get to spend much time with him (although I suppose that's to be expected when you live in different towns and now different states). All in all an excellent trip home.

CONGRATULATIONS!

And as a reward for making it all the way through this blog post, I offer you the following fun:
WTF?
ACK!
HOLY CRAP!!!

Oh Joy, Rapture!

I'm flying home this weekend to be in one of my best friend's weddings (and not in an attempted break up Julia Roberts type way). So this is the second wedding in a little over a year in which I've been a bridesmaid and, once again, it seems strange that someone my age, and, in this case, someone I've known for almost half my life, is getting hitched. Although, technically she's already hitched, but this is the big ceremony where family and friends get to come and see and they do the "traditional" wedding thing. Matrimony. Weird. I'm still not dating anyone (and not even CLOSE since I'm in a new town and haven't even really met anyone outside my roommates yet) and therefore I'm still light years away from the reality of marriage and it just seems so weird inside my head that I can't grasp it. Dang, I miss having a boy.

Of course, I'm super happy for her and now I've actually MET the groom, which is good, since I wasn't around for any of the meeting/dating/proposal/civil ceremony stuff. Fortunately the last time I went home I finally met him and liked him quite immensely. Oh my friend, she's one of the greatest people I know. We met in the 8th grade I belive. If I remember correctly it was through mutual friends, but she was also in my P.E. class. I still remember the sun/moon celestial backpack she had and when she got a short haircut I was impressed and jealous that she'd chop off all her hair and look so darn good doing it. I remember going to her house to keep her company while her little sister had a sleepover with a dozen shrieking girls. I remember dying my hair, rinsing it thoroughly but STILL ending up leaving orange-y marks all over her white stuffed rabbit--she didn't even yell at me. She unfailingly makes me feel loved and good about myself. We never talk on the phone but when we see each other maybe twice a year it's all happiness and silliness and no awkwardness. I hope I'm friends with her for a very very very long time. Like, forever would be nice.

So on Thursday I'm flying down, Friday is the rehearsal and Saturday I'm hopefully squeezing my way into the bridesmaid dress. Squeezing. This is what happens when you try on and order dresses at a time when you're regularly going to a gym and running and then you quit your job, go on vacation, move out of state and don't have enough money to join a gym and running often seems to hurt your knees and ankles and so you don't work out regularly: you gain weight. Here's hoping that my change in diet is at least helping. I live with very health conscious people and, therefore, have been attempting to eat more green things and less cheese-coated, deep-fried things (mmmm...deep friiiied...). Pleeeease let me fit into the dress, I don't want to have to buy a corset.

Hmmmm, maybe I'll go for a run right now...

More Things Noted At Choir Rehearsal

1. One of the cellists has an incomparable white man fro. Really, it takes my breath away.

2. Another string player has the longest beard I have ever seen on a human being. He could literally tuck it into his belt if he so chose. Kudos, Sir, you are truly a champion of the beard.

3. When emphatically conducting the director hisses loudly. I'm not sure if this is a way of focusing his energy or if it is simply physics: with such wild flailing his poor diaphragm gets squeezed around so much he can't help but force out air. Whatever the case, I can hear it over the orchestra. Interesting.

4. I was doing a crossword puzzle during some down time. The clue: "Bethlehem product." Oh, how dearly I wish the answer had been "Jesus".

A Smattering of Things

Things Noted At Tonight's Choir Rehearsal:

1) There is someone in the other choir who laughs just like Brian Jensen. I have not yet been able to determine who it is. The mystery continues.

2) I have no idea where the conductor's down beat is. Ever. Seriously, I think he picks a differnt place to put it every 3-7 measures just to keep us on our toes. Not a fan, dude, not a fan (and I'm not the only one).

3) There is a 1 1/2 measure series of notes in the piece that sounds EXACTLY like the theme song from Batman: The Animated Series and I laugh every time I hear it. I have also drawn the Bat signal by it each time it occurs in the score. I hope someone in the audience picks it out.

4) I walked through a pocket of smell backstage that smelled EXACTLY like a copy of the book Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Margurite Henry which I owned as a child. I have no idea what backstage smelled like that and I have no idea why I remember the book smell so exactly.

5) Boychoirs are adorable. They're probably better musicians now at age 10 than I'll ever be. Of course, I guess it's not really cool to be a boy soprano when you're in junior high, but I applaud you, tiny singers, keep a-rockin'.