driving gadget-y

I love these days of gadget-y driving. Nowadays, wherever I go, I have my phone (web enabled, with camera and GPS capabilities), my iPod (with wi-fi, GPS capabilities, and oh yeah, podcasts and music), my GPS, and the car itself (4WD!). And often I have my camera with me. And these aren't things available only to the wealthy anymore, thankfully - they're within most people's reach at this point thanks to continual price drops. Since I spent my high school and college years and after driving rickety old cars through blinding white-out blizzards (the kinds where you don't even see the road) through extremely rural areas, it is with a sense of delightful, cushioned security that I travel now, knowing how...connected I am. And entertained. After all, if there are any mechanical problems, I have a phone and TWO kinds of roadside assistance! Of course, before all this stuff, I didn't worry about what I didn't have or what might happen if I broke down in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard (which happened a lot), because we couldn't miss what didn't exist, and we were ok with what we got: the car and the radio/cassette player, and the assumption that we could trek to some kind person's house and use their phone if the car broke down.

The only downside, that I've just recently noticed: when you get out of the car (say you're traveling and want to pop into a rest stop): you now have to disconnect and take down the GPS and put it away, disconnect the iPod and put it away, and put the phone away. None of those things can be visible in the car while you're not in it or you're asking for a break-in. So it's a slightly inconvenient added bit of choreography that's unique to these times. But for me, so worth it.

recently viewed items

Here's a screen shot of my recently viewed items on Amazon. The toothpaste, of course, refers to this entry (and my 6 tubes of Cinnamint arrived today, thank you very much); vacuum bags for the constant vac'ing I must do in order to keep the fur production under control; "The Aristocrats" was mentioned in this entry; and then there's The Big Penis Book. Yeah, I read about it today and looked it up on Amazon, only to find that it's 1.) $60, and 2.) unavailable. But for those two details, I totally would get The Big Penis Book. Because who doesn't like a big penis? Or an average-sized one. Oh c'mon, you know you do.

Now let's just sit back and see what people find this entry from searching for...you know.

morning items

After a disheartening day (understatement) and a night of horrible and heartbreaking dreams, I woke up to two interesting pieces of news. One is this:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-bookit12-2008jun12,0,6621615.story

Title is Universal options "Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory". The book is a detailed, close-up view of, well, exactly what it says. Many, or even all, of the major players mentioned are people I know and have known and worked with for years. I haven't read the book yet. I want to read it, but don't want to $26 read it. But apparently there are lots of facts manipulated for the sake of storytelling, and bookselling. And unfortunately, some people are portrayed negatively when they should not have been. I don't imagine the movie will be 1.) good or 2.) portray this community positively. Nor do I think it will be particularly interesting. It's a niche interest, misunderstood by people outside of it ("they're all dorks!"), and not necessarily even LIKED all the time by people inside of it (um, me). And if "Sing Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace" (rightfully panned) is any indication...

Yesterday, I talked extensively to my friend V (about the C situation). He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, and he's kind and he loves me, but of course it was all difficult to hear (hence the night of very bad dreams).

For quite a while now, he's periodically toured with and opened for George Carlin. That George would have a (admittedly hilarious) singer-songwriter open for him is just plain cool, and George's audience loved V. Woke up to the news that George died yesterday of heart failure. Obviously, this will affect V's career somewhat, but it's also just a huge loss. My very favorite parts of "The Aristocrats" are Carlin's appearances, because he is essentially giving a history lesson in how comedy evolved. I have loved him since I was a kid. You will be missed, George.

resigned.

There's nothing else I can do, so that's that. Assume nothing, take no action, reset. I am exhausted, sad, angry, frustrated, and completely confused.

a sad day indeed

Dear Tom's Of Maine:

I was dismayed to learn that your Cinnamint toothpaste has been discontinued. Actually, dismayed is sort of an understatement. I almost cried when I read it on [this site]. I have been using this toothpaste solely for YEARS, and cannot tell you how much I love (loved!) it. In fact, I wrote to you years ago telling you this, and sent you one of my CDs (I’m a musician). I got a lovely letter back and some toothpaste (yay!). Many a time I have been traveling and forgotten my Cinnamint, which then requires a trip or trips to find a store that carries it, lest I be forced to use – gasp! – something else. I read on your website that you’ve made this decision in an effort to keep only those products that prove most popular, and of course that makes sense. Further, if Cinnamint hasn’t been one of your best sellers, it makes sense to discontinue it. Ya can’t keep it in production just for ME (though...consider it). But I did want to tell you how much I love this product, and I’ve through the years been a stalwart proponent of it, trying to get others to try it and love it like I have. Apparently my grassroots efforts haven’t paid off.

And yes, I see that you have the Cinnamon-Clove version (and I find it interesting this flavor would be more popular than cinnamon alone), and I got some of that. It’s pleasant, though the clove-y flavor does remind me of getting a filling done (which I’m doing today, in fact), so it has some negative connotations. Still, if that’s what I get, that’s what I get.

If there is any remaining Cinnamint that I can buy, could you please let me know? My daily toothbrushing is now a somber affair without it.

Thanks for the great products!

-Amy

UPDATE: Tom's wrote back to tell me that Cinnamint is still available on drugstore.com. I totally just ordered 6 tubes of it. Mmmm.

Modern American Gothic

I'm feeling sick-nervous, though the weekend was nice. But C stuff, and Shirley's now-constant hiding (and needing to go the vet), and Rocco's little...digestive issue (you don't want to know), and having some work I'm not exactly sure how to do have got me roiling. Is that the right word? Yes, it is:

"be in a state of turbulence or agitation"

And I also am getting a filling tomorrow, and paying full price for the privilege. Wee!

But I love my Arricca and G, my sister-wife and pretend polygamous husband, and here's one reason why: Friday night, all of a sudden I thought, while lying in bed, "I want to do an American Gothic recreation with them". No idea why. It just popped in there, as they say in "Ghostbusters". I bring it up with them yesterday and they did not blink an eye. They just went to get the pitch fork and the apron. LOVE them.

Jukebox Stories were (was?) fun too. Good to meet Prince in person, and very random that Dan was there and had a connection to them. This whole weekend, actually, has been full of strange connections.

Oh, and the National Museum of Dance is kinda lame.

draw me something

First, I gotta say that I'm ok with this kind of "heat wave". Though areas right near here really ARE sweltering, right here and now it's a delightful 72 out, and with the ceiling fan going, completely comfortable. I'm sure it won't last forever, but this is MY idea of summer. Though the ocean does keep things cooler than non-coastal areas, it does and will get massively uncomfortable eventually, so I'll enjoy this while I have it.

My sister has a new DVD out, that she plans to sell at her lectures (she lectures nationally on art therapy and anxiety). Produced and directed by my brother and sister-in-law, it's a whole family project.

techie week, SATC...

I decided to get myself an iPod Touch this week. I needed a new iPod, since mine was very low capacity and I could only keep a little bit of music on it, plus I really liked the wi-fi capabilities of the Touch. Plus I was feeling emotionally shitty, so...retail! Of course it's sleek and very cool. The interface is every bit as badass as you've heard (if you haven't seen it up close and personal). My only gripe is that the contacts won't sync with Google contacts.

Then my wireless router, which has been dropping out periodically, stopped working all together this morning. Now, maybe it's not really broken, but after a few months of intermittent problems that I could fix, and today when I couldn't, I thought: I can hire someone (who will be expensive) to come over here and troubleshoot (and they may well end up saying "your router is broken"), or I can pay for phone support from the router's maker (same potential outcome). Or I can buy a new one. For $50. So that's what I did. Wireless is a mystery to me. But now it's working again.

My brother, sister and SIL went to see C last night. Apparently it was a very weird gig, one that he didn't know would be weird, and he was part of a lineup that wasn't nearly of his level (and where everyone cleared out after he played). In a tiny theatre in LA. And "weird" would still be an apt description of how things are with us. In other words, I have no clue what's going on, still. And can't really recount it here. But things got super-weird last night, completely separate from my family meeting him, which was weird enough. Have I said "weird" enough times?

Went to see the SATC movie on Fri and was not surprisingly disappointed. I didn't think it'd translate well, and it didn't. I hoped it might, but...no. The clothes were fabulous, the performances were fine, but the script was fairly terrible. It felt very rote and completely lacking the magic that the series had. The most dramatic scene of the movie was laughably bad when it should not have been, and the story lines were hollow. And I resent the reviews I've read that state that people (read: women, because how many stories do I have to read about how MEN HATE SATC, how emasculating it was, how shallow, how silly...) who love the series will absolutely love the movie. Well, here's one who didn't.

Temps went from cold rain in the 50s two days ago to 90s today. Delightful. Might have to make yet another big ticket (to me) purchase soon: an air conditioner.

just asking...

Could Jewel suck any more?