Traditionally, the Shenk-Valerio offspring sleep in Biz's room the night before Christmas, reading the aforementioned title aloud and then listening to a children's audiotape of A Christmas Carol. Last night, Matt instead brought his projector and we watched disc 2 of The Two Towers on the ceiling.
I was kind of disappointed.
This is called "aging."
Anyway, Santa came and was good as always. I now have enough cookware to last through 2039, easy, and some new slippers. At this point in the day we take breaks from one another to shower and play Mario Kart, etc., and I weigh the moral implications of ignoring the family in favor of my new West Wing DVDs (yessss) (family won) (but only because I'm a pussy).
Now it's time to think about my resolutions for the new year, which include finding a job in January and--here's the tricky part--keeping it for a whole year.
12.25.2006
12.22.2006
Boo Hoo Bye Bye
So... it's my last day at Christie's. What's next? I have no idea-- I am on the verge! Ok, that was a line from my eleventh grade play,* but it clearly applies here, no?
Anyway, here's where I'd get all mushy and talk about what I learned or freak out about my life ADD and general aimlessness, but honestly, I'm pretty glad to be leaving and excited for the changes coming in January. CK, I will miss our lunches!
*On the Verge
Anyway, here's where I'd get all mushy and talk about what I learned or freak out about my life ADD and general aimlessness, but honestly, I'm pretty glad to be leaving and excited for the changes coming in January. CK, I will miss our lunches!
*On the Verge
12.21.2006
D-U-K-E
Yes the Duke game is tonight. Go to Hell... Gonzaga...
Yes I will be there.
Yes I'm pretty sure I have my Game Day Wifebeater in the city, unwashable due to Magic Marker-based nature of its decoration.
Who the fuck did you come to see?
Yeah, that's right.
Yes I will be there.
Yes I'm pretty sure I have my Game Day Wifebeater in the city, unwashable due to Magic Marker-based nature of its decoration.
Who the fuck did you come to see?
Yeah, that's right.
12.19.2006
She's Back
The puppy-fur hat lady is back. Since she just came in to pick up rather than bid, it was the Casual Ensemble--knee-length coat covered in Chanel boucle, the hat still a full 2'x3', though, and topped with several dramatic onyx feathers.
I want to see Her Wardrobe.
I want to see Her Wardrobe.
12.17.2006
Yeah Shanghai Deluxe Corp
I had soup dumplings at Yeah Shanghai Deluxe Corp today. Dan and Ameet raved about the crack in their juicy little centers, but Alok and I, as we ate 24 of them, were all "meh."
Five hours later, they are all I can think about. AT ALL.
Five hours later, they are all I can think about. AT ALL.
12.14.2006
Do You Know Why Jack Welch Is The Greatest Leader Since The Pharaohs?
I don't. Alec Baldwin does, and shared it with us on 30 Rock, but I forget, or didn't hear, because I was laughing too hard.
I like that show.
It's much better than that Studio 60 POS.
They were filming across the street when I came back from lunch, and I stood and watched, because I am a famewhore.
Tina Fey's hair looked shiny.
It was sweet.
I like that show.
It's much better than that Studio 60 POS.
They were filming across the street when I came back from lunch, and I stood and watched, because I am a famewhore.
Tina Fey's hair looked shiny.
It was sweet.
Crazy Rich Crazies
Today: Jewelry from the Collection of Helene Arpels. There are some very large diamonds in that room. Also: The House Sale (rich people getting rid of their lesser furniture).
This means: crazies. Crazy Parade.
The first couple came in as I was arriving, a older gentleman in a fur-trimmed knee-length coat, leaning on a gold-topped cane, supporting his lovely wife, a tall woman in her own fur-trimmed floor-length coat, wearing a serious Kentucky Derby-size My Fair Lady-style wide-brimmed chapeau, covered entirely in what appeared to be puppy fur.
Jewelry.
This means: crazies. Crazy Parade.
The first couple came in as I was arriving, a older gentleman in a fur-trimmed knee-length coat, leaning on a gold-topped cane, supporting his lovely wife, a tall woman in her own fur-trimmed floor-length coat, wearing a serious Kentucky Derby-size My Fair Lady-style wide-brimmed chapeau, covered entirely in what appeared to be puppy fur.
Jewelry.
12.13.2006
Watch Me FLY!!!
Sophomore year, after "Drinking Like A Freshman Night," Pwd and I awoke groaning and went to brunch at Foster's. At Foster's, a pricey-yet-casual type of Martha Stewart/Barefoot Contessa hybrid place, I threw up, and Pwd wet himself. Toast of the town.
The night earlier, I had wrestled Bret, a 6'5" Christian, to the ground, and sat on him for no remembered reason. Pwd had wrapped himself in decorative paper and run for the second-floor Wayne Manor window, shouting, "Watch me FLY!!!"
Much like this animal from 125 million years ago, as depicted on the front screen of the NY Times online.
This is a great animal to be during drinking games.
The night earlier, I had wrestled Bret, a 6'5" Christian, to the ground, and sat on him for no remembered reason. Pwd had wrapped himself in decorative paper and run for the second-floor Wayne Manor window, shouting, "Watch me FLY!!!"
Much like this animal from 125 million years ago, as depicted on the front screen of the NY Times online.
This is a great animal to be during drinking games.
12.12.2006
I Was Right
Yes, I was right. As usual.
"But Meghan, you're right all the time," you say. "To what specific correct instance are you referring?"
Ah yes, sorry. Shortly before leaving LA, I kind of thought that Tim Urban was going to be on The Apprentice. And it's official! He is!
Jacob, who recaps the show on Television Without Pity, aka The Site That Has Gotten Me Through The Day For A Year And A Half Now And Which Is Also Occasionally Quoted In The New York Times, has already called him "deep-fried sex on a plate," which must make him feel good.
So this is actually to the surprise of no one; maybe someone bought his "I'm going to Europe and will be unreachable for two months even though I was available for email queries in Vietnam" schtick, but I hope it wasn't one of his pricey-ass tutors (I used to be one). And K. says the general tone of chatter in LA indicates that he went far on the show.
Does this entry make me a famewhore?
...
...
...
Shit.
Anyway, Tim is cool and I hope that his team won a lot so we don't have to see him sleep in tents.
"But Meghan, you're right all the time," you say. "To what specific correct instance are you referring?"
Ah yes, sorry. Shortly before leaving LA, I kind of thought that Tim Urban was going to be on The Apprentice. And it's official! He is!
Jacob, who recaps the show on Television Without Pity, aka The Site That Has Gotten Me Through The Day For A Year And A Half Now And Which Is Also Occasionally Quoted In The New York Times, has already called him "deep-fried sex on a plate," which must make him feel good.
So this is actually to the surprise of no one; maybe someone bought his "I'm going to Europe and will be unreachable for two months even though I was available for email queries in Vietnam" schtick, but I hope it wasn't one of his pricey-ass tutors (I used to be one). And K. says the general tone of chatter in LA indicates that he went far on the show.
Does this entry make me a famewhore?
...
...
...
Shit.
Anyway, Tim is cool and I hope that his team won a lot so we don't have to see him sleep in tents.
Under 14 Minutes To Alienate The Office For The Day; New Record For Bosses Besides David Brent/Michael Scott
So my manager, the one who sometimes eats half a banana and then leaves the banana carcass within my Smell Zone, gathered the office 'round at 9:13, for a lecture on closing the safe each night. Because last night, it was left open. By him.
"Team," he said, "in the end, it's about responsibility."
Nine days left.
"Team," he said, "in the end, it's about responsibility."
Nine days left.
12.11.2006
Oh Lady Luck, How You Love Me
Last night I went to see an experimental jazz ensemble at a bar called "Stain." Yes, I can see the chartreuse sneaking into your skin; cut it out with the envy already. Except perhaps not, because the bar had some excellent wines and stouts, and a kitten, and the music would have actually worked on the soundtrack to Stranger than Fiction (that's a good thing). Earlier that day I watched a new OC and, again... it was funny. All these negative harbingers coming to nothing. This morning you could swing your arms on the L, my Dunkin' Donuts coffee stayed hot longer than usual, and I only kind of need my scarf.
I'm thinking a twelve-room apartment will come by later today.
I'm thinking a twelve-room apartment will come by later today.
12.07.2006
I Totally Should Have Submitted "My Mattress" For Awards Consideration
From this year's Grammy website. The nominees:
Category 7
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
* My Humps
The Black Eyed Peas
Track from: Monkey Business
[A&M Records]
* I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Death Cab For Cutie
Track from: Plans
[Atlantic Records]
* Over My Head (Cable Car)
The Fray
Track from: How To Save A Life
[Epic]
* Is It Any Wonder?
Keane
Track from: Under The Iron Sea
[Interscope Records]
* Stickwitu
The Pussycat Dolls
Track from: PCD
[A&M Records]
Wigfield
My Grandma Millie was a sweet lady. She liked LaBatt Blue, quilting, chicken a la King, and looking lovely. Have a shriveled black heart of tar? You'd still have trouble disliking Grandma Millie.
For some reason, I always called her Grandma Valerio. Impetuous child. Where were you, parents?
Anyway, Grandma Millie wore a wig in her later years, and the Most Adorable Baby Cousins On The Face Of The Freakin' Earth found it.
Millie lives!
For some reason, I always called her Grandma Valerio. Impetuous child. Where were you, parents?
Anyway, Grandma Millie wore a wig in her later years, and the Most Adorable Baby Cousins On The Face Of The Freakin' Earth found it.
Millie lives!
12.06.2006
Vertical Fidelious
I could easily make a Top 5 list of Things I Like About High Fidelity, The Contemporary Novel By Nick Hornby. Here, I'll do it.
1. Comprehensible stream of consciousness.
2. Appropriate and effective use of exclamatory punctuation.
3. Barry's recruitment into the band "Barrytown" due to his first name.
4. Incessant yet sparing use of Top 5 lists.
5. Identification with an irritating and immature protagonist that is still somehow uplifting.
It would be even simpler to compose a Top Five Things I Enjoyed About High Fidelity, The Film Starring John Cusack and Featuring Jack Black In His First Notice-Me Role, or even sub-divide it into Top Five Things I Appreciated About High Fidelity, The Film Starring John Cusack and Featuring Jack Black In His First Notice-Me Role, On The Film's Own Merits, Top Five Effectively Translated Moments From The Book To The Movie, and Top Five Bits I Preferred In The Adaptation, In Spite Of Myself (first on that one: making Laura, for absolutely no apparent reason, Danish).
So I suppose it makes sense that the producing powers that be wish to capitalize on America's proclivity towards Top Five lists: High Fidelity is now a Broadway musical, joining Jekyll and Hyde, The Color Purple, and… The Scarlet Pimpernel… as a possessor of the book-movie-musical Triple Crown. Maurbags got some free tickets, so we* saw it last night.
It wasn't bad. It wasn't awesome, and it had none of the appeal of the book/movie, but it didn't try to; it was a pretty different animal. The staging was unfocused but I was in love with the set, the female casting was terrible but the male chorus rocked it out, and the whole thing had a positive energy that took getting used to-- Hornby's Rob would never refer to Championship Vinyl as "the last real/best record store on Earth," but rather as a symbol of his downward mobility and depressive existence (blamed, of course, on an ex). Rob never did anything constructive to win Laura back--- he never got over her, wished her the best, and got on with his life, showing her he had changed enough for her to come back. In the book--and I want to say in the movie, but am I making this up?--she takes him back because she's too tired to find anyone else, but they end up happy anyway, eventually. And the DJ gig that Rob arranges "all by himself" in the musical? Laura arranges, pays for, and forces him to attend in the book.
I guess what I'm saying is that I didn't guiltily or increduously see myself in the show. I remember thinking throughout the movie--and I first saw the movie in high school, when the closest I'd come to heartbreak was Mike Romankiewicz ignoring me at a Chester party in the spring of 1999--"this is just like me! And I'm a girl!" Throughout the musical I just kept thinking--
"Aw, that's sweet---
--But that never happens."
*Yes, Roommate Maurbags, who works routine 14-hour days at the O'Neill, spent her night off at the theater.
1. Comprehensible stream of consciousness.
2. Appropriate and effective use of exclamatory punctuation.
3. Barry's recruitment into the band "Barrytown" due to his first name.
4. Incessant yet sparing use of Top 5 lists.
5. Identification with an irritating and immature protagonist that is still somehow uplifting.
It would be even simpler to compose a Top Five Things I Enjoyed About High Fidelity, The Film Starring John Cusack and Featuring Jack Black In His First Notice-Me Role, or even sub-divide it into Top Five Things I Appreciated About High Fidelity, The Film Starring John Cusack and Featuring Jack Black In His First Notice-Me Role, On The Film's Own Merits, Top Five Effectively Translated Moments From The Book To The Movie, and Top Five Bits I Preferred In The Adaptation, In Spite Of Myself (first on that one: making Laura, for absolutely no apparent reason, Danish).
So I suppose it makes sense that the producing powers that be wish to capitalize on America's proclivity towards Top Five lists: High Fidelity is now a Broadway musical, joining Jekyll and Hyde, The Color Purple, and… The Scarlet Pimpernel… as a possessor of the book-movie-musical Triple Crown. Maurbags got some free tickets, so we* saw it last night.
It wasn't bad. It wasn't awesome, and it had none of the appeal of the book/movie, but it didn't try to; it was a pretty different animal. The staging was unfocused but I was in love with the set, the female casting was terrible but the male chorus rocked it out, and the whole thing had a positive energy that took getting used to-- Hornby's Rob would never refer to Championship Vinyl as "the last real/best record store on Earth," but rather as a symbol of his downward mobility and depressive existence (blamed, of course, on an ex). Rob never did anything constructive to win Laura back--- he never got over her, wished her the best, and got on with his life, showing her he had changed enough for her to come back. In the book--and I want to say in the movie, but am I making this up?--she takes him back because she's too tired to find anyone else, but they end up happy anyway, eventually. And the DJ gig that Rob arranges "all by himself" in the musical? Laura arranges, pays for, and forces him to attend in the book.
I guess what I'm saying is that I didn't guiltily or increduously see myself in the show. I remember thinking throughout the movie--and I first saw the movie in high school, when the closest I'd come to heartbreak was Mike Romankiewicz ignoring me at a Chester party in the spring of 1999--"this is just like me! And I'm a girl!" Throughout the musical I just kept thinking--
"Aw, that's sweet---
--But that never happens."
*Yes, Roommate Maurbags, who works routine 14-hour days at the O'Neill, spent her night off at the theater.
12.05.2006
Cold... So Cold...
Have I ever shown you pictures of where I used to live?
That was the view from my private-yet-affordable roof deck in probably May, but possibly January. Who can tell?
Can someone explain to me why I left it for a city that is currently THIRTY-SIX DEGREES?
Additionally, in LA, should such miserable weather ever have occurred, there would have been an immediate Alias-watching, pot-smoking, chicken-roasting, Taboo-tinged "Fuck This Weather" warm-up gathering at the Krackhouse, rather than mere shrugging of "it's not that bad."
I miss California.
That was the view from my private-yet-affordable roof deck in probably May, but possibly January. Who can tell?
Can someone explain to me why I left it for a city that is currently THIRTY-SIX DEGREES?
Additionally, in LA, should such miserable weather ever have occurred, there would have been an immediate Alias-watching, pot-smoking, chicken-roasting, Taboo-tinged "Fuck This Weather" warm-up gathering at the Krackhouse, rather than mere shrugging of "it's not that bad."
I miss California.
12.04.2006
So Exciting
WHEW. It's been just so BUSY lately. Yes, the business has involved a lot of lying around and silently cheering through my hangover at the WGN Superstation's season two 24 marathon, but I have been occupied nonetheless. So busy I've barely blogged, but you're lying if you say you noticed; you and I both know you were too busy trolling Perez Hilton for Britney va-jay-jay shots. I didn't check the gossip sites all week and that's what I discovered on Friday. Three news cycles, and Brit has stopped wearing panties. Fascinating.
Anyway I saw Tenacious D on Friday. Live. In concert. They sang sweet melodies of gentle fucking love and it was awesome. A truly terrible comedian, complete with combover, told awful crude jokes to open and Dan and I slapped our knees while the rest of the audience booed. Once the D came on the air thickened and blued with smoke and I feel that most of the audience was confused, and thought they were at a Phish concert. Whatevs. I saw Jack Black finish with a Tommy medley and you didn't, so nyah.
Saturday brought Japanese tapas and Pwd's birthday party. Sunday brought Blue Hill with their chocolate bread pudding and tender succulent free-grazing (probably) voluntarily-slaughtered roasted baby cow mmmmmmmm.
Which brings us to today...
If I had one wish, it would be for shorter work weeks. Fuck world peace.
Anyway I saw Tenacious D on Friday. Live. In concert. They sang sweet melodies of gentle fucking love and it was awesome. A truly terrible comedian, complete with combover, told awful crude jokes to open and Dan and I slapped our knees while the rest of the audience booed. Once the D came on the air thickened and blued with smoke and I feel that most of the audience was confused, and thought they were at a Phish concert. Whatevs. I saw Jack Black finish with a Tommy medley and you didn't, so nyah.
Saturday brought Japanese tapas and Pwd's birthday party. Sunday brought Blue Hill with their chocolate bread pudding and tender succulent free-grazing (probably) voluntarily-slaughtered roasted baby cow mmmmmmmm.
Which brings us to today...
If I had one wish, it would be for shorter work weeks. Fuck world peace.
12.01.2006
EDDay
This day in 1999 was not a happy one.
Today? December 1st?
You honestly don't know what today is. Ah, I see, you went a normal high school.
December 1st. Early Decision.
This day in 1999, my mother got up, ran to the mailbox, put the little flag up even though she wasn't sending anything, and sat nervously staring out the sunroom windows, waiting to greet the mailman, or, if he happened to come on a bathroom break, to see he'd put the flag down and rush out to the driveway and carefully hold the envelope up to the light and think about steaming it open in the kitchen and eventually just ripping it open.
You know those movie scenes with 25-year-olds playing high school students tearing their envelopes and then reporting the news in a charmingly dramatic way, like, "I'm so sorry... THAT I WON'T BE HERE NEXT YEAR!"? Not so much. Parents called school to let us know, or letters waited on the kitchen counter, their tri-folds already rustling with the climate control, or were opened alone in the hallway while parents were at work.
Anyway, I and pretty much all my friends got deferred. It was rehearsal for the holiday concert that day, so we just kept taking turns going to the locker room and like, hugging each other, because our lives were kind of narrow and this was, to put it lightly, a big deal.
ANYWAY.
Those days are over. Early Decisions now come online, so last night my mother was at the computer at ten to eleven (actually, all day yesterday, "just in case"), nervously clicking "refresh" at ever possibility to reload, and called me shortly after midnight to tell me that yes, my brother had gotten in.
So Matt, my highly intelligent underachieving baby brother, you didn't really work for it, but hot damn, I am just so happy and proud!
Today? December 1st?
You honestly don't know what today is. Ah, I see, you went a normal high school.
December 1st. Early Decision.
This day in 1999, my mother got up, ran to the mailbox, put the little flag up even though she wasn't sending anything, and sat nervously staring out the sunroom windows, waiting to greet the mailman, or, if he happened to come on a bathroom break, to see he'd put the flag down and rush out to the driveway and carefully hold the envelope up to the light and think about steaming it open in the kitchen and eventually just ripping it open.
You know those movie scenes with 25-year-olds playing high school students tearing their envelopes and then reporting the news in a charmingly dramatic way, like, "I'm so sorry... THAT I WON'T BE HERE NEXT YEAR!"? Not so much. Parents called school to let us know, or letters waited on the kitchen counter, their tri-folds already rustling with the climate control, or were opened alone in the hallway while parents were at work.
Anyway, I and pretty much all my friends got deferred. It was rehearsal for the holiday concert that day, so we just kept taking turns going to the locker room and like, hugging each other, because our lives were kind of narrow and this was, to put it lightly, a big deal.
ANYWAY.
Those days are over. Early Decisions now come online, so last night my mother was at the computer at ten to eleven (actually, all day yesterday, "just in case"), nervously clicking "refresh" at ever possibility to reload, and called me shortly after midnight to tell me that yes, my brother had gotten in.
So Matt, my highly intelligent underachieving baby brother, you didn't really work for it, but hot damn, I am just so happy and proud!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)