I think I’m going to go back to school for my masters in storytelling, and my phd in mythology and folklore. Then I’m going to hit the job market.

Anyway this guy in his late 60’s wearing a double-breasted mink jacket walks up, says “Merry Christmas,” and sticks a new $20 bill in my hand.

this happened to a couple of friends of mine in new haven.  it was at the height of the whole grunge movement and i guess that, coupled with a boarding school student’s lackadaisical attitude towards bathing, made them look homeless.

oh man, RoL Bus was awesome!  And I realized that I have the same top as the one porn star Brittaney was wearing at elimination.  In my defense it’s really not something meant to be worn out n about.

It was a nice thought of him but I probably would have laughed in his face and totally ruined it.

Now the wife and I are a frugal pair, when we buy something we get every ounce of use out of it before we replace it. Being another sub-zero day, we put on our winter gear and headed to get some groceries. We were wearing the jackets we purchased some 15 years ago at K-Mart (yes K-Mart) for $5 each, designed for winter wear. Although very out of fashion, they still are very warm, and show no signs of wear. We also had on older bluejeans and sneakers.

Anyway this guy in his late 60’s wearing a double-breasted mink jacket walks up, says “Merry Christmas,” and sticks a new $20 bill in my hand.

I said ‘Why thank you.” I didn’t look what he gave me until after he walked away. He just walked out of the store without buying anything. Weird. I guess the wife & I must look needy.

The Current has been playing Half Asleep by School of Seven Bells recently. Has anyone heard them live?

Oh god, how I LOOOOOOOVED the Enz/Crowded House/Finn Brothers. I wish I could find an original copy (not the live version) of Split Enz’ Stuff and Nonsense. I love that song.

"Exactly. They are master pop craftsman. There is such a thing as a quality pop song. It is not an oxymoron."

Now if I can turn those girls on to Enz/Crowded House/Finn Brothers.

Oh my god, speaking of puppies:

on CBS Sunday morning today, they had Bella and Tara, a dog and an elephant. Somehow they became best friends (the elephant lived on a sanctuary). The eat together, sleep together, play together.

Anyway, somehow, Bella, the dog, suffered a spinal cord injury. For three weeks she was up in the office laying motionless. The elephant held vigil the entire time waiting for her. And when the dog was well enough they carried her out and the elephant starts chortling to her. The elephant petted her very very very very gently with her foot. And then after three weeks when the dog was better they went back to their old ways.

Adorable.

And then, because it’s CBS Sunday morning, they said something cheesy like, “They harbor no fears, no secrets, no prejudices--just two living creatures who somehow manage to look past their immense differences. If they can do it, what’s our excuse?”

UGH. Jesus God. Ruin a good story, already. It’s not that I’m not opposed to prejudism and all, but man, it was all cute and lovable, and then you got out the hammer ...

Here’s your daily found photo:

But I like that we have differing tastes: it’d be a damn dull world otherwise.

Hey, I <3 pop, especially good pop. I also really like Jools. Not that these are mutually exclusive of course. But Squeeze just never “worked” for me: ranking right up there with Phil Collins in terms of given a choice between listening to a tune or a shotgun blast up the anus would require thought.

Difford and Tilbrook are responsible for a handful of the best songs the Beatles never wrote.

Exactly. They are master pop craftsman. There is such a thing as a quality pop song. It is not an oxymoron.

"Squeeze: errr, ummm, errr… “

I’m a sucker for songs. Difford and Tilbrook are responsible for a handful of the best songs the Beatles never wrote. Plus, any band that can make me not mind the presence of Jools Holland nor Paul Carrack has something special going on.

I like the Pixies and Squeeze. Great girls you’re raising, GB. You’ve done well.

Pixies: great.
Squeeze: errr, ummm, errr…

By the way GoatBoy, could you make a Fat Jerry rip of this song with slightly different lyrics:

It was an itsy bitsy
Teeny Weeny
Purple microdot martini
That she dropped for the
First time today.

(I will leave the additional lyrics to your creative mind.)

Hey, she’ll be happy to bake Mario a cake! Cut her some slack.

---

From the proud daddy files:

Both daughters got mp3 players for Xmas. Among the nodescript pop of their peers they both wanted two bafflingly wonderful, incongruous things from my dusty shelves of still-jewel-boxed CDs:

All of Squeeze Singles 45s and Under and the Pixies song Hey.

Thems my girls.

Hey Dragon! You can have her.

Serves the Ice Princess proper.

for yer chuckles:

Super Mario rescues the Princess

Calm down, chew some gum.

Christmas straw
During the daylight a man of the family takes a large armful of straw from a stack, and ties it with a rope. Right after the badnjak has been brought into the house, the same is done with this bundle of straw, with the same rituals. In some regions, it is carried three times around the house before it is taken in. Having put it down on the floor, the man who brought the bundle in imitates a hen clucking to call her chicks. Children of the family approach him imitating chicks and pick at the straw, which is then strewn all over the floor. Some people throw walnuts on this straw.

Holy batshit crazy…

Don’t forget Serbian Christmas. That usually worked for my folks even though we were of Finnish/Swede/German nomadic background.

Indeed. Not that I’m getting anyone 12 gifts (except myself of course!)

There are, after all twelve days to Christmas, aren’t there?

Packaging up late Xmas gifts
Late is a funny word.
My mom was always trying to sell us on the idea of exchanging gifts at the Epiphany, to commemorate the arrival of the Magi, doncha know (giving her the chance to do her shopping during the after christmas sales).

what a sweet smirk your cat has!
So what’s everyone up to?

Went to see Doubt at the multitheater today. I walked out thinking “Geez you didn’t have to bash me over the head with a hammer”
then in the car discovered that Mr Balderdash had come to the exact opposite conclusion to mine, so ... he’s a sexist pig, and that’s all there is to it.

I’m not really into shoes being a guy and all but…

Packaging up late Xmas gifts for the family. Fat Jerry-wear all around!

So what’s everyone up to? 

Went outlet shopping today but forgot to get my drugs, so now I have to go back out on the wretched train, since MurDuke took his car for boy’s night out, and mine is still being held hostage and the repair shop thanks to the incompetent fuckwittage of my insurance co.

Don’t tear all the lights down!

Heh, the lights are attached to the tree.  You’ll notice there are no ornaments near the bottom of the tree—all the ones that were there, she batted them down and I put them back up on a higher spot.

Now the tree’s been put away.  Sigh, holidays over.  Just 2-3 more months of snow and SAD.

Nice tree MuDU. I like your blue angel soldier. Is his color in some way symbolic?

Thanks, they are actually nutcracker figurines.  No special symbolism other than I bought all the ornaments at Target on the same day I bought my tree, and decided I would have a silver-and-turquoise theme.

And the winner of the Grossest French Kiss Award.

And the winner of the Lamest 2008 Year in Review Video award goes to MSNBC. Sorry folks, there is a 30 second ass-wipe commercial ahead of the main video.

It’s 62 and sunny here…

Well so far ‘09 is being a good year, although the temp this morning is -2. Nice tree MuDU. I like your blue angel soldier. Is his color in some way symbolic?

Hey Eloise! Don’t tear all the lights down!

Great photos. I particularly like the close-ups.

aon, I finally uploaded a few pix of the weez w/ the Christmas tree:

So who’s for Penn State in the Rose Bowl?

As we approach the daily hi time (2 pm locally) were at about 26 degrees. Not really too bad for a New Years Day. Growing up in northern Mn, often the NYD high would be -10F.

Bitterly cold outside. I went out to get some lox. Nobody’s out there, except at Rudy’s, the famous dive bar, where some people are still smoking and drinking. BLEGH! at 10 a.m.? I’m all for a good time, but the party does end, people.

It was 45 degrees, humid, and blowing from the north along the river, so Mr Balderdash and I couldn’t stand another minute downtown waiting for the Giant Moon Pie to drop. I’m sure it was lovely and all, and
Charmaine Neville’s band was doing great, but sheesh! Not enough adult beverages.
I don’t understand how the beautiful young girls in their short short dresses survived. antifreeze no doubt.

Just imagine! You too could be standing there for 7 fricking hours in the cold! That could be your new year!

I forgot to get grapes.

That’s good as it really looks windy now. The wind chill at Times Square is 4. Those people are nutz!

Working good at the moment!

Hows the heat in your flat?

They found a bar.

Please go out, find a bar! Find a bar!

But it totally sounds like they are having a party.