Girls Night with Diane & Mary

We didn't do our nails or hair or whatever girls do at girl's night.

We did arts & crafts, sewing and I spent some time online updating my address on mail that was still being delivered to Diane's. It was kind-of like what one might do on a night in. Just with pals. Made me miss having Diane as a roommate and Mary down the road.

It was during this night I made my candy corn totem.

And Mary did some tailoring for me (she put darts in a blouse that needed a little more shape in order to show off my girly curves). I helped and learned a little about sewing.
Coloring was also available, but no takers.

The Girlymanhood of the Traveling White House Crasher Wig

Halloween a la McKinney style. A co-worker chooses my name out of a hat, and assigns me to dress as Michaele Salahi. I don't know who this is, but Google reminds me I actually do (White House Crasher).

Organizer of McKinney Halloween Party doesn't give me my assignment until Monday (party is on Friday) and I'm in Columbus for most of the week so I have no idea how this is going to come together. Diane (who dresses up as something different every day during Halloween week) sends me a you tube video about how to wrap a saari and offers me a blond wig. But I've no idea when I can acquire either.

I land in Columbus on Thursday night. I am so not in the mood to go to a craft store at 8:30pm at night (nor am I sure one is open) or Target and tonight is also Hot Club of Durham. Seeing PEOPLE and dancing are important for my sanity so I chose that instead. The plan is to venture to Wal*Mart (one of the few 24 hour places in the area) after the dance and take my chances. I am hating on party organizer a little when I pull into Wal*Mart at 11:45pm.

I end up acquiring the best part of my costume at the dance. Tareq (i.e. Colin). It's a closed McKinney party and I figure what better way to bring the costume to life than to bring a real uninvited guest playing the role of an uninvited guest? And Colin was an easy sell. The conversation went something like this:

Jamie: I have an idea for you and I think you'll like it. Do you have a tux and 20 minutes tomorrow night?
Colin: OK.

After the dance I head to Wal*Mart and find a sheet that will do the trick.

At work, I prepare a prop. McKinney president (pictured below) will be present at the party, so I decide to add that detail to ticket.

David delivers the wig (thanks Diane). I've also learned that Girlyman (a band) is in town so after I "crash" the Halloween party I will be meeting up with David & Bengt for the show in Carborro.So, here's me in costume before I leave my apartment. The wig is unbelievably itchy and errant strands of hair are itching my face. It's like the thing has a life if it's own.

My neighbors are Indian so I'm very stealth about leaving the apartment I can't move too quickly all wrapped like this and of course I run into my neighbors as I'm getting into the car. David is driving and I'm antsy for him to drive us out of there.

So, here's a funny part (I say that only because many parts of this saga are funny). McKinney president dressed up as Lady Gaga for the Halloween Party. So, here were are, meeting our very dignified McK President.

I made a co-worker dress up as a cupcake. She's all about her baked goods. Now she is a baked good. Heh.

And that was the party.

Now, onto the concert. During the first act, Girlyman lamented they had no costumes. During intermission, I gave them my wig. During Act Two, every member of the band wore the wig. It was hit. They did all find it itchy and uncomfortable however.

A little song about the hot and uncomfortable wig

More commentary on the wig

And here you have each and every band member with wig. Doris, Nate, JJ & Ty

JJ Drummer with wig especially funny.

“a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

A new Woody Allen film comes out.  I see it.  That must be the New Yorker in me.  I remember arriving at the Galaxy (indie movie theater in Cary) early to see the "premiere" of Match Point.  Ended up being me and four other people.  Sigh.

I was able to get a few friends to join me a the Carolina Theater in Durham (a cool destination in and of itself) to see "You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger." on Sunday.

I felt very happy the moment the black and white credits in the "Woody Allen" font appeared.  Going into the movie I wondered what young attractive actress would be Allen's love interest in the film.  I saw "Naomi Watts" and I thought I had it figured out.  Turns out Woody Allen isn't in this one (though the movie does include the requisite older man younger woman couple - just not featuring WA/NW.)

 There was a snippet of music played repeatedly that really made me want to hear the rest of it and dance.  Fellow swing dancer Colin was feeling it too.  There was a stage on this theater and with a drink (or three), a dare and the cooperation of Colin we might have "Lindy Bombed" the movie.

The song sounded remarkably like "Louisiana Fairytale" (one of my favorite swing dancing songs ever) but wasn't.  Just enough notes to make me think I was going to hear the rest of it.  The snippet was from "If I Had You" by Benny Goodman.

It was driving me a little nuts and as soon as I got home I had to listen to both songs from start to finish.

Now I just need to dance to one of the songs from start to finish.  Just my luck that one of the pals who joined at the movie (Ken) is the DJ @ Hot Club of Durham this week so perhaps (pretty please Ken) I'll have the opportunity.

"You're not supposed to talk about Party of the Right Fight Club."

This has been making its way around the internet.
I had a few dates with said man (I was a card carrying Libertarian at the time. I seduced him with it).
Fortunately, I am not said ex-girlfriend.

I am friend of said man - let's call him Todd.
I don't know Helen (though I know she went to Enloe in Raleigh).
But I know Todd.
And he's awesome.
I almost fell out my chair laughing when I watched this video.

With Todd, I'm guaranteed smart & entertaining conversation (or e-mails, now that I live in North Carolina).

Todd is my birthday twin (well, to the month and day).

Todd is on my blog roll.
(and I've had the occasional mention on his blog). He also wrote a personal ad that got the distinction of being the funniest thing I had heard all week.

If you Google Todd Seavey you'll likely get something related to C-SPAN-2. Hit "Images" and you'll get this as your first hit. The woman in the picture who is not me dated Todd and trademarked him "My Boyfriend Todd."

Todd is good at Scrabble. This means more to me now than it did in 2002 (Scrabble plays a bigger role in my life right now than I would like to admit).

Todd also played trivia in NYC (another activity that plays a bigger role in my life in North Carolina than I would like to admit).

He is one of the people I always make a point of seeing when I'm in New York City.
Of the myriad of things to do in New York Todd uncovers the least conventional but most fun.
And he'll go along with whatever, be it humming a tune while I swing dance with myself in Harlem.
.

Nonsense Wakes Up Brain Cells

McKinney has five words: Listen, Provoke, Love, Simplify Believe.
I was asked for my five words. Now does the title of the post make sense?

Here are the alts.
People that care don't mind.
Work is love made visible.
The best of what's around.
I can walk under ladders.
Did that make any sense?
Love all, trust a few.
I know what I know.
I've just been faking it.
Everything put together falls apart.

Doing this felt a little like playing Scrabble.
Except I was using words, not letters.
And there were no points. As far as I know.

Things I like about CLT

• Rocking Chairs
• Grand Piano
• Band of America ATM (deposit expense check and get cash for grumpy taxi drivers and friendly hotel staff, like Shuttle Dave)
• Free Wi-Fi (this is new)
• Close enough to RDU that if you're really delayed you can just drive and get home. And maybe even sneak in a trip to Ikea.
• Yovana

I had a short connection through CLT and only had time to enjoy one of these pleasures.  See above picture.  I had three dollars total in my wallet and Bank Of America would have been the sensible choice.  But can you really compare greenbacks to chocolate vanilla swirl with butterfinger topping (which they put in the middle instead of the top which is brilliant) in a nice waffle cone.

Jeni's Ice Cream is so delicious, the dog drove to High Street to get some.

Forget about the milkman, I've got a Gatorade dealer.

When I first moved to Durham, before I had a car I recall taking a taxi to Target to get toilet paper.
A few weeks ago, in Columbus I took a taxi to Kroger to get provisions.  I took a bit of convincing to get the taxi to drive me down there, wait, and take me back but an advance tip solved that problem.

I ended up visiting the Kroger in German Village.  For my North Carolina pals I'll simply say it felt like being in a Harris Teeter.  Kroger HQ's are in Ohio so these store are much nicer.  In NC, there's a Kroger right down the road from me but HT is worth the drive.

So, back to Ohio.

Old reliables (non perishable, require no prep) for me include:  Sprite Zero, Gatorade, Clif Bars & Cliff bars.  With these things around I don't have to order a $12 dessert from room service if I just want a sweet nibble.  And, if I don't want to risk taking the elevator to get to the company cafeteria (I have a newfound wariness for company elevators) or if I just plain miss lunchtime I'm not going to be grumped out for the rest of the day.

I mentioned my excursion to a Client.  A Client who has been in a role like mine before (work away from home) and he offered to pick up whatever I needed when he does his "Kroger Run" on Sundays.  Lo and behold, he brings me Gatorade.

I have a dealer.  Hehe.  Now I just need to get it delivered chilled.  World's Greatest Client in the World.  He's on my side.

Scavenging for Sweets

I've never kept too many provisions in my apartment to begin with. Now that I'm traveling quite a bit, I've more of less reverted to my old ways of ordering in. Except, you can't order in too much. Thus, a bizarre level of familiarity with the folks at Pops Pizza.

Anyway, tonight I was craving something sweet. Chocolate. It didn't take long, but I did look through all my cabinets. And imagine my delight when I saw this. It was a gift from Callie Lipkin, photographer awesome from Chicago.
And imagine my disappointment when I saw the other side of the can (Callie, I still appreciate the gift - next time I have an English muffin.)I can't keep too many sweets in the house. I would eat them all. When I lived with Diane, she (at my request) hid goodies from me so that I had to really want it to ask her. I miss that. And Diane in general. Hi Diane.

Third Time's a Charm

Er, not quite.

I'm not sure the sepia tone enhances this in anyway.  It would take some pretty significant editing to do that.

Instagram can make sheets look cool. Vibrams, not so much.