Bonk is a lot of fun, and that's what you'd expect from Mary Roach. I was a big fan of Stiff, not such a fan of Spook. It's not nearly as salacious as you might expect. It's never dry but somewhat clinical.

Meanwhile, I finally finished watching the documentary Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary. you know what? Not what I expected and in a bad way. I didn't expect a 90 minute interview (light on the questions) where she recounted the last days of Hitler, nor did I expect her humanization of Hitler. for once, seeing someone humanized wasn't welcome. Really, he was an atrocious person who did horrible things and I don't care how much he loved his job, or how kind he was to his staff. I don't need the blow by blow of the last days. He was murdering people while she worked for him. I realize that at the time some didn't know the extent of the torture and death in the camps, but at the same time Hitler was still vocal in his hatred of the Jewish people. I mean, it's not as if it was a quirk--his whole plan was to create a master race! You can't excuse that, and in my opinion she was just as complicit as those tried in Nuremburg.

Maybe I missed the point, though.

Labels: books, movies

Originally posted 12/19/2006

I go watch roller derby practice. We're having a get together on Dec 22, email comanche dot red at gmail dot com for details.

Labels: podcast, schmoovecast

Originally posted 12/14/06

special interview with Lindsay Smellen.

Labels: podcast, schmoovecast

I finally broke down and signed up for piratesonline. I've been killed twice. good times! So this is why I haven't updated in several days. I just plain ole forgot. Join me if you like.

Anyway, I am going to disney world! I got my reservation packet today! It's all full of goodies and now I just wait. One month from today, right???

Labels: pirates online

This weekend was the Stomp in Knoxville. The Stomp is an annual Tennessee derby conference where the three existing teams in TN (Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville) play each other and have fun mini-challenges. Our league started it last year, and next year I assume memphis will be hosting. In future years perhaps we will see fledgling Johnson City and Chattanooga leagues participating!

I am under financial restrictions, self imposed. I used some hotel reward points for the room (fancy!), and rode with the Splatters (I paid for a tank of gas which was considerably less expensive than it would've been for me to drive myself and pay for a hotel).

During Saturday's bouts Memphis won two, Knoxville won one, and Nashville won zero. I don't remember the exact scores but they should be on the Nashville Rollergirls site within a few days. Parting was done but not by me as we had our first B-team bout the next day! I took a long walk through downtown Knoxville with Macy for food and some alcohol. there was an abandoned home fenced off but I REALLY wanted to explore. Clearer heads (Macy's) prevailed so I skipped it. It was dark and my picture didn't really turn out but others have taken pictures--the boarded up windows and doors were covered in art (from flickr, not taken by me):



More from flickr (not taken by me):

Cape Sale with a little more of the house (and check out the artist's page.
From the front
Freaky
Whimsy

Later, at the liquor store, we were told that the building was definitely haunted by the spirit of a young boy who was abused and later died in the house.

So, our B-team took on Johnson City--except that it was only a few JC folk and mostly Knoxville girls, including a couple of girls who had played the day before on their All-Stars team. Hardly seems fair (there was more unfairness but it was rumor so I will not post it here), but at any rate we ended up winning. Again, don't remember the score, but again, check the site in a couple of days.

I missed the mini-challenges (saw a tiny bit of Amazons vs Shorties) because I really wanted to stop at the two French's (Frenches's? French'ses?) in Crossville as these are the originals and they seem to be the best! Yes, there are two stores, both on Main right off of 40, catty-corner to one another. One carries western wear and boots, one carries regular shoes, both have large rack rooms. The Splatters both seemed interested so I wanted to strike while the iron was hot and while the store was still open. I was less impressed this time around but that's ok, I still walked away with a pair of Indigo by Clarks (does this make me old?). There is also another further up 40, but we did not stop there.

I did get home, dog under the kitchen table (no, he was not there over night alone, he stayed with my parents). Off to bed.

Labels: roller derby, travel

Well, I would like to day I've gotten my eloquence back, but it isn't so. here goes the ramble.

tomorrow early I leave for knoxville. eight hours of derby. oh, I'm just watching tomorrow. i don't actually skate until sunday--our b-team vs johnson city. rock on. i'm using free hotel points since i am broke as a joke!

and for the first friday in a long time I wasn't tired all day.

Labels: roller derby

Last night's Project Runway was the BEST. EVER. Drag every week. Yes. More Varla Jean! And those of you who haven't, go see Girls Will Be Girls!

Made another run to the bookstore. Still have only slightly less than $250!

Meanwhile, I finshed The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi. It's good enough, it just seems too soon. I know that doesn't make sense considering the last Monster murder took place in the 1980s, but the aftermath appears to be VERY fresh. I'm a sucker for true crime, though.

And I'd like to remind you that when you use the amazon links I get money, money I will use for texts (one of my books will be $78!!!). Even if you don't buy the item once you're there I get a cut of what you buy.

Labels: books, television

there really is none! i'm still sore from our super-crazy practice yesterday! Regular day. screen printed a tee for the stomp this weekend. our b-team has a scrimmage/bout! very excited.

Labels: roller derby

so tired. rough practice. late meeting. forgot to update last night. off to bed.

Labels: roller derby

Well, minor drama. Fluidmaster broke at a weird time and had to be replaced. That is in your toilet tank if you didn't know. Luckily, my mom knew what to do as she'd done it before (she was glad I knew how to turn off the water--hey, that's the one thing I DO know!).

It made me late to meet up with Mandy. We managed to check out the art from the Tomato Arts Fest and then made it to the TN Arts League to attend an opening. Night ended at the hookah bar. Good times!

Oh, and the morning started with estate sales where i found nothing. well, I found a hit clips alarm clock. Do you remember Hit Clips? No? Because no one really does. I think it lasted for about five minutes in the late nineties/early naughties. They were clips only a minute or two long on a small chip that you put in the player. When the song was over you put in the next one. Do you now see why they didn't last long? OH, and few songs/artists were available. It was a lot of NSYNC and Britney.

Labels: art, drama

There's a dichotomy with me and derby. People keep telling me I'm getting better, and I'm doing just fine, and I should stay with it.

At the same time, the hard evidence doesn't reflect this. I'm not doing better. The stats sheets indicate this. The lineups don't reflect this. I don't mean my b-team status, I actually embrace that and enjoy it (life is easier when you aren't worried about rankings or standings).

I'm actually not upset with the interpersonal dynamics anymore, but i am to the point where I'm questioning why I bother. Oh, there's the obvious--that all my friends are in derby and to leave would be to lose friends. Wait. i've been over this before. I won't bore you with it. i just wish someone would be honest. sometimes I think they encourage me to stay in so they can have a laugh later. someone's got to be the worst, and it looks like that's me.

Please do not mistake this for depression because I'm not depressed. i'm just realistic. i'm happier than I've been in a long time. Why jeapordize my happiness by staying with something i'm not good at? I sucked at running and dropped it (but only after several months of trying).

There are other roles for me in derby that don't involve putting on skates. I'm thinking it's time to explore those options.

I know, you hate reading about derby, but between that and school that's what pretty much monopolizes my thinking and time.

Meanwhile, Flash Dog is here.

Labels: roller derby

too tired to update really. tonight was class preview. Can you guess what I'm taking?

Labels: school

This grass is far too perfect

too tired to say much of anything. tonight we presented our baggage projects for sculpture class. pictures to come! people were exposing things about themselves that we did not know. you know, the kinds of things that make you feel like an a-hole for not being nicer.

My classmate Beverly gave me a very nice print.

More later. promise. not tonight though. tired. can't think.

Labels: school

we won! damsels of distress won their first bout EVER! Boy, was it fun. I even got to jam once! of course, it was the last jam of the night. and I didn't get through the pack once. and I got hit HARD. But whatever, my mommy and daddy got to see me jam.

more tomorrow.

Labels: roller derby

God Bless Google Street View. I say this because they haven't gotten to the street I live on yet. I also say this because they DO have my childhood home on there.

And, in looking at it, WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO TO OUR YARD??? They seem to have put some stucco on the outside too, or at least painted it an ugly stucco color. And the rocks! The entire front yard is ROCKS! Please don't respond and tell me it's an acceptable alternative to a yard, I say it's just LAZY. It makes the yard look tiny. The orange tree is gone (I think we got three oranges the whole time we had it. The giant pine tree is gone. The Japanese plum tree is still standing but I guarantee you the new owners aren't enjoying them as much as we did. Oh, that remains the most delicious fruit I've ever tasted.

The house two over is STILL overgrown. I know the Chambers still live in the neighborhood. I wonder if the Moores still live in their old house and I wish I knew what Angie was up to; last I heard she had a baby as a teenager and was living at home (she was in her 20s). In 1999 we drove past her old house and saw an unsupervised child playing in the street--this apple did NOT fall far from the tree (I met Angie because her unsupervised four-year-old self walked right up to me shortly after we moved in).

My virtual bike ride also reminded me how ugly FL can be (sorry, Angi and Samantha).

I also looked up a certain hardware store in Cleveland, OH. Back when I worked for the seed co we were sent to Ohio. One of the stores was an old hardware store in a somewhat undesirable part of town. It was the kind of place you really don't see around much anymore. i remember the owner was very old, and they didn't sell the minimum amount of seed for the season. Our rules were that if the minimum wasn't met we'd leave enough seed to make up the minimum and they'd cut us a check for the amount. Well, he refused to pay the minimum and I just let it go. This man, the owner, was very old and I wasn't sure how much longer he'd run the store. According to google it still stands but the sign was taken down at some point (is there a way to see when the google maps folks took their street view pics?). It was likely one of the last reminders of what the neighborhood used to be.

Labels: past, youth

I don't have much to say today except that I didn't see any car crashes, although an ambulance passed me on the way home.

I finished my class project.

Oh, and I do not like this new song I Kissed a Girl. We already had a song in the 1990s about girl on girl kissing and it was much more clever and fun.

I'm not sure this daily blogging is going to work. my writing sucks and I just don't have that much going on!

Labels: school

This image is of the lovely pie and pint jewelry from Cherry Blossom Designs. I'm very pleased!

I also got a product to test. I hope it works out. I can't share any details but it is timely.

Meanwhile, I was once again in close proximity to a car accident. That's three crashes in two days. Please be careful, you guys! This one was odd, though. I was walking denny and he poops near the entrance to my complex. I hear a crash and turn around and apparently one lady turning out of the complex didn't see a lady coming down the main road and ran into her front passenger quarter. Now, the entrance to my subdivision is hardy a blind area; you can easily see the cars coming down the main road. This means either ridiculous lack of observance or something was up with the woman coming down the road. The lady who was likely at fault (exiting the complex) swore that she looked and looked but didn't see the other lady, even asking "where did you come from?" Something strange.

I don't know what else to say except this is one of my few nights off and I'm ready for sleep. Can't remember last night's dream.

Labels: drama, mail

Today I saw two car crashes just a scant few feet from each other. they were far enough away that one likely didn't cause the other. the first one happened as I was sitting at the light and all I saw was an SUV spin around--I'm guessing someone was turning and hit a car going sraight (or vice versa).

Here's a diagram illustrating the proximity of the crashes and the order in which I came across them:

**|**
**|-2
**|**
-----
__1__

It was all very frightening!

So, it's bout preparation time here at the Dog Pound (although, given my derby name "tipi" might be more accurate--and more offensive). Friday I start with the feast of a thousand carbohydrates and the great water intake. Of course, I had an annoying practice tonight that had me wanting to yell back. Seriously--I was totally fed up.

Speaking of carbohydrates, I was in my parents' car yesterday on the way to the Ice Cream Crankin. I saw an ad in a magazine for a famous diet plan that promised up to 15 lbs lost in two weeks (as always, there was the note that results aren't typical). Listen, if you are losing 15 lbs in two weeks and you're not under a doctor's supervision in doing so then YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG. Well, I hesitate to say that because if weight loss is the goal then losing is losing, but that's just too fast. You're harming your body and setting yourself up to gain that weight back just as fast as you lost it along with a few extra. Also, whatever means you use to lose should be something you are comfortable doing for the rest of your life. Weight loss comes from permanent life changes, not temporary fads. And any diet that severly restricts or prohibits fruits and vegetables just isn't worth it. Any diet that doesn't allow you to splurge once in a while is setting you up for failure.

Labels: drama, food, roller derby

Starts with a lackluster brunch that featured delicious $3 mimosas. It's a new enterprise in a new development. Everyone else at the table enjoyed it, I thought my omelette was lacking and the offerings were nothing to get excited about.

My DVR is set to pick up "Beavis and Butthead" when it airs. This morning I woke up with three hours worth! It's still funny, although the humor is slightly lessened by the fact that I've seen every episode dozens of times. It also reminded me how crappy music was back in the mid-nineties. Seriously.

Did I mention that yesterday i finished my final project for sculpture class? Well, for the most part. I've got some trimming to do Wednesday and THEN it's done. I'm happy with it. Thanks to all who helped (a more tangible thanks will be on the way later on. Unfortunately while finishing the project I missed a call from Angi and family (it's ok--I talked with them tonight).

Ice Cream Crankin was just as good as always. This year I stuck with the fruitier flavors and they didn't disappoint (well, some did). We, being Presbyterians, embrace the alcohol rather than avoid it and two of the flavors contained alcohol. They weren't just gimmicky either--they were actually delicious. Most interesting flavor was probably Veggietales, which is probably what you're thinking it is. My favorite was a tart, delicious lemon I tasted early on.

Can't remember my dream from last night, though I do vaguely remember having one.

Labels: dreams, food, school

i'm in bed and flash seems to be gassy. that means stinky. for a small dog he has some terribly stinky gas.

Today was the roller girls carwash to benefit Robyn's Nest, and animal rescue. We raised a lot of cash for them! It was hot though, and I am a tad sunburnt. Afterward I got to see Mandy for a bit which is always fun.

If you live in Nashville I have to recommend Dulce Desserts. Their Boston Creme Pie cupcake tastes like a chocolate dipped ice cream cone. Yum!

Last night I dreamed that my favorite lingerie store started selling clothes and had a closeout sale. great prices! unfortunately in wakefulness my favorite boutique didn't quite have the great prices the dream store did. Still, they have some crazy lovely clothes. I hope to save a bit of cash and go back.

Also dreamed that I was hanging out with Unknown Hinson. That was a bit strange.

Labels: dreams, roller derby

So, let's say you're trying to consume more dairy. because of this you're eating a yogurt every day. Now, you can choose between organic yogurt sweetened with sugar or regular store bought with artificial sweeteners. High fructose corn syrup is NOT in this picture. Which do you choose? Calorie count is essentially the same.

I like to stay away from the artificial sweeteners. I figure I get enough preservatives in other foods. But sugar is sugar. even if it is organic. I'm not foolish enough to believe that organic=healthy.

At any rate, it's something I wonder about. Cost is also a factor--the store brand with no sugar added is much less expensive than the organic with regular sugar.

I'm also not anti-sugar because sugar is in many healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. I do try to avoid high fructose corn syrup which is not easy because it's in so many products. You can't even feel safe with different products in the same brand.

Labels: food

I've been feeling slightly under the weather all weekI was SO worn out that I knew at 6:30 I wouldn't be awake much longer. sure enough, I was in bed at 7 and asleep around 7:30 (by my guess). It was a fitful night, but I dreamed about a close relative being addicted to cocaine. That made me angry so I ran off and found an old whorehouse. Well, old in establishment but modern in design. Anyway, the crappy economy was causing them to lose business so the front of the place was a shop that sold marital aids and exotic snacks. It was actually a cute looking place.

Labels: dreams