Awk-berg!

In case you missed it:

Such a great moment!  Also, I think I'm starting to develop a little crush on Mr. Eisenberg . . . 


Update:  Video down.  Go here.

Angels Among Us

Usually I limit my flashback posts to Friday (mostly because of my love for alliteration), but allow me to break tradition in order to lift the spirits of an injured friend.  Austin, one of my best buddies, broke his hip last week and will be laid up for quite some time.  I would like to present him with a retelling of our first official "friendship adventure" which took place the very first time we hung out. 

That evening lead to one of the strangest situations in my adult life and provided Austin and I with a legion of inside jokes which would become the foundation of our friendship.  

One Friday evening I received a text from Austin inviting me to join him and a friend (Matt) at our neighborhood hot dog eatery.  I met Austin through work almost an entire year before this story takes place, but our friendship was evolving rather slowly due to the infrequency of our run-ins as well as a my personal opinion that you should avoid hanging out with coworkers until you have a firm understanding of their mental state, morals, and modus operandi. Austin had convinced me that he wasn't a total psycho and so I happily accepted his invitation.  

At some point I might do an entire post on the aforementioned hot dog eatery and all of the characters that are found there, because I know it would amuse some of you.  A teaser: this summer one of the cooks dyed his hair to resemble a hot dog (brown in the middle and blond on the sides).  Austin and I have since had many memorable moments there as well as a ridiculous phase of paranoia that centered on whether or not the owner, Damien, despised us.  

So I show up at the hot dog place, figure out that Matt is Matt, order food, and wait for Austin to arrive.  He shows up and we have a lovely conversation about who-knows-what, polish off our hot dogs, and move to a nearby bar for drinks.  Austin tells me that his friend Miguel is on the way to meet us, and at some point I excuse myself to use the ladies' room.  En route to the restroom I notice a young woman sitting by herself, with a book and glass of wine, smoking a cigarette.  I think it is important to note that the book she was reading was The Time Traveler's Wife- a novel about a highly unlikely romance.  

I return from the bathroom to find that Miguel has joined us, and that loner lady has taken my chair.  Ever the diplomatic bar patron I pull up an additional chair and join in the conversation.  For some reason I leapt to the conclusion that this young woman was Miguel's girlfriend who must have been waiting for him.  I'm not sure why I thought that.  I guess because it was the only explanation I could come up with for some woman taking my seat and everyone being fine with it.  

Prior to walking over to the bar we decided to eventually all end up at Matt's house and continue hanging out. We only spent about forty-five minutes there before someone suggested that we head over to Matt's. During our time at the bar Matt (who was seated directly across from me) was continuously giving me I-urgently-need-to-share-something-with-you eyes. As we were leaving the young lady (who I will refer to as Carol) shouts, "see y'all there."  I was now alone with Austin, Matt, and Miguel so I was finally able to inquire as to whether or not this was Miguel's girlfriend.  Miguel was actually offended and I quickly realized I wasn't the only one who thought she was a bit goofy.  I apologized to Miguel for thinking such a thought, and then it was Matt's turn to explain his eyes.  Apparently Carol had been aggressively pursuing a game of footsie with him under the table, and of course Matt was having none of it.  

"Wait a minute, then why is she coming to your house?" I asked.  

Matt and Miguel both groaned and quickly began blaming Austin who responded with "well, she was all alone, and she seemed friendly enough, and I didn't know about the footsies, and I don't know . . . she was hinting that she didn't have anything to do. She seems harmless."  

As many of you know I am also guilty of having this exact sort of naive "they-seem-harmless" mindset which has lead me to more undesirable situations than I care to remember.  This was one of the first indications that Austin and I were kindred spirits, and I quickly sided with him chiming in with a foreboding "what's the worst that could happen?" 

Well the worst that could happen goes a little something like this . . . 

I drop off my car at home and carpool with Austin over to Matt's where we find him making awkward small talk with Carol in his backyard next to a fire pit.  Matt gives me another I-urgently-need-to-share-something-with-you-look so we have a quick pow-wow in his kitchen where I learn that not only did Carol follow Matt to a convenience store (despite the fact that she had his address) but that she went inside and pretended to read a magazine while he purchased beer.  It seemed to him that she was attempting to go unnoticed, but since Matt is a normal person he felt compelled to say, "uh, hey Carol." She then pretended like she just happened to be there which was the first solid evidence (besides her eagerness to join a group of total strangers)  that she was a little off. 

When Matt and I returned we found that Miguel had arrived.  I pulled up a chair next to Carol, and attempted to make conversation.  I soon learned that the only conversation Carol wanted to have was a Matt-centered conversation.  When I inquired as to why she decided to join our group she pointed to  Matt who was definitely in earshot and said, "I took one look at that one and said to myself- wherever he's going, you're going." Then she implored me to "help her out with him" and I informed her that I didn't really know him.  "Well I plan on getting to know him very well tonight" was her eerie response.   

It was my turn to throw an I-urgently-need-to-share-something look Matt's way.  We headed to the kitchen and I informed him of Carol's plans to seduce him.  He seemed rather horrified, but continued to show Carol a reasonable amount of gentlemanly kindness. 

As the night wore on Carol became increasingly quiet and finally excused herself to go the bathroom.  The group dynamic was such that almost an hour passed before I said, "hey y'all, where's that girl?"  

This is going to sound melodramatic (and maybe it was) but we got a little scared.  We all began putting forth these ridiculous speculations regarding what she was doing inside.  I think I genuinely frightened Matt when I suggested the possibility that she was lying naked in his bed.  He breathed a sigh of relief when Austin and I agreed to investigate.  

So at the time Matt was living in this huuuge old house.  It took Austin and I at least five minutes (which seems like an eternity when you're walking through an old, dark house searching for a strange girl that may or may not be crazy).  We finally found her in one of Matt's supplemental living rooms curled up on couch sucking her thumb and mumbling incoherently.  This seemed particularly odd seeing as how it was 10:30.  

Of course when Austin and I returned to Miguel and Matt we told them that Carol was waiting for Matt in bed, but didn't have the heart to keep the joke going as Matt was genuinely disturbed by that prospect. Miguel had to split, and I was getting tired myself but decided to stay until we got this whole Carol thing sorted out. Clearly we had no idea who we were dealing with and I didn't want a Duke lacrosse team type situation on anyone's hands which I made the mistake of referencing. 

I think that is what convinced Matt to go inside and suggest to Carol that she might be more comfortable sleeping in her vehicle.  He reasoned that she would be in a familiar place when she woke up and wouldn't be so confused.  When he returned to the backyard after escorting her to her car he informed us that she had attempted a kiss, but that he was able to turn away just in time to manage a clumsy embrace instead.  Matt also reported that there was more bad news.  During their "good-bye" Matt noticed that her back right tire was completely flat.  

"I bet she slashed it when she got here so she'd have an excuse to stay the night!" I exclaimed.  Matt was not amused.  

About thirty minutes passed before Carol returned, stumbling into the backyard with vomit on her shirt.  She walked past us, and went inside only to return wearing the same shirt which was now completely soaked by water and turned inside out.  She profusely apologized for her behavior and explained that she was going through some stuff and probably shouldn't be drinking, so there was some semblance of sanity.

Matt attempted to change Carol's tire, but there was something awry with the spare.  The three of us decided that taking her home should be a group endeavor so we loaded up in Matt's car and began following Carol's directions.  We quickly realized that we were heading to the absolute worst neighborhood in our fair city.  Think prostitutes and drug dealers and eight year olds riding bicycles, cigarettes in hand.  Pretty sure I also saw a pack of dogs 15 strong.  

The actual drop-off was strange because Carol wanted to be let out about three houses down from what she claimed was her home.  We saw her heading towards what appeared to be an abandoned old monster of a place that screamed "crack house."  Could this chubby, spectacles-wearing, Time Traveler's Wife-reading, pasty white girl really be headed there?  Apparently so.  

The only logical conclusion Austin and I were able to come up with was that Carol was some sort of angel sent to Earth to test the kindness and hospitality of mortals.  I think we were passing the test until we dropped her off in one of the scariest neighborhoods in southwest Texas.  

Carol, wherever you are, I hope that you would be happy to learn that your inexplicable behavior solidified a budding friendship that has produced many more stories such as these and that on those rare occasions when Austin and I are beginning to feel the bleakness of boredom setting in, one of us turns to the other and says, "we really should call Carol and see what she's up to tonight."  

And who knows, maybe in your confused state you were left wondering whether or not you were in the presence of angels that evening as well.  

"Kurt Vonnegut, Meet Brenda Walsh"

If you are an avid reader who has also managed to watch massive amounts of television throughout your life- this is the blog for you!

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On

Do you have a case of the Mondays? I bet Marcel the Shell With Shoes On can cure it!

No Comprendo Parte Tres

My friend Kellie recently purchased this t-shirt:  

Obviously the perplexing combination of Desert Storm and E.T. made this peculiar find a must have.  Any theories as to why this was created?  

Hang In There Eisengberg

Even though I adored Colin Firth's performance in The King's Speech, I found myself rooting for Jesse Eisenberg during The Golden Globes last night. The success of The Social Network, which won Best Picture, was so utterly dependent on Eisenberg's portrayal of Zuckerberg that I felt he should have won Best Actor. Plus, Eisenberg always comes off as completely awkward and self-conscious, which may or may not be contrived (he's basically the male version of Kristen Stewart), so it would have been fun to watch him deliver a stilted speech.  Oh well, there's still the Oscars.  


Speaking of awkward, check out this interview in which the entertainment reporter thinks that Eisenberg is "doing Zuckerberg" when he's actually just being himself.  Forward to the fourth minute of the interview. So painful. 

Sweet Little Natalie Hershlag

Natalie Portman is everywhere lately.  Not that she was some obscure actress prior to lately, but she cranked out four movies in what must be record time: The Black Swan, No Strings Attached, Your Highness, and The Other Woman.  

It is so refreshing to see a child star transform into a seemingly well adjusted, successful adult actress.  I think Natalie's parents should create a pamphlet detailing how to properly raise child actors and distribute them throughout Hollywood.  Check out this clip of Natalie on David Letterman.  She's intelligent and confident, but very much fourteen years old.  I think that might be the secret.  

Good luck at The Golden Globes tonight little Natalie Hershlag! 

Real Lovers

There's No Business Like Show Business!

There's no business 

List Price:  $25.99

List Price $25.99

Like show business

Like no business I know

Everything about it is appealing

Everything that traffic will allow

Nowhere could you get that happy feeling

(Dancing With the Stars)

As when you're taking that extra bow

The Bunyip

I guess mentioning Artex and The Swamp of Sadness yesterday got me thinking about kids' movies that I watched repeatedly throughout my childhood even though they creeped me out.  You know what sorta movies I'm talking about- Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Willow.  Oh man . . . Willow.  

Apparently I grew up during a time when it was perfectly acceptable to make rather horrifying movies for children.  When I see David Bowie I'm not thinking about putting on my red shoes and dancing because I'm still suffering from the residual effects of watching Jareth the Goblin King drag Sarah Williams into the labyrinth.  But at least we can all relate, right?  Not always . . .

Whenever my brother and I behaved at the grocery (which was fairly hit or miss) we were allowed to rent a video from the small VHS rental section of our grocery store.  I grew up in a small town, and the selection was very limited.  I don't know how on earth an Australian animated feature ended up in this little grocery store in Texas, but it did.  Lemme tell you, during the 80s the American film makers were trying their damnedest to scare the bajeezus out of us kids, but they don't have anything on the Australians, who resorted to Aboriginal folklore and excruciatingly erie music .  Check out this very frightening clip from Dot and The Kangaroo and tell me that The Bunyip wouldn't haunt you for life if you had seen this as a child:

Since I was never able to talk through this with any of my American friends (who by the grace of God were never exposed to The Bunyip) I was very comforted by the YouTube comments which were mostly written by Australians.  My favorite:


"Just went to put out the rubbish in the dark, and got hit by some post-bunyip-stress." 

Ultimate Gloom

I had the day off, but the weather was so nasty that I gave into the gloom.  It reminded me of Artex being consumed by The Swamp of Sadness in The NeverEnding Story.  

I feel like every once in awhile it's okay to give yourself permission to embrace a melancholy or pensive state of mind.  So today I did not run errands or lunch with friends.  Nope.  I remained in my pajamas while taking down Christmas decorations and watched Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe.  

I think that might be the most dismal sentence I've ever written.  

From Peer To Peon

A few months ago, while working out at my gym, I was approached by a very friendly gentleman.  He casually struck up a conversation with me and asked me all sorts of questions about myself.  We probably talked for fifteen minutes.  He seemed really nice.  Then he told me his name (which I immediately recognized because he is a rather well known local politician) and explained to me that he was up for re-election, and asked if I would like a campaign t-shirt.  I never turn down a free t-shirt so I agreed.  He thought the shirts were in his car (he actually went out to the parking lot and looked), but turns out they were in his office.  I smiled and said “oh well, it was nice talking to you.”  He repeated his name and told me to remember to vote.  

Fast-forward to yesterday. I was working on my shoulders and saw him coming towards me in the mirror. Mind you I have not seen this cat since our introduction. As he approached me I smiled and started to say “congratulations” but he interrupted with, “hey can I jump on this machine real quick before I head out.”  I was so taken aback (who cuts someone off when they’ve been on a machine for two minutes . . . or AT ALL!?) that I just said, “um, sure” and hopped off and headed to another machine.  

I tried to come up with a logical explanation why someone would force you off the equipment.  This is Spectrum- we aren’t using prison rules. Surely there must be some sort of emergency . . . that is forcing him to force me off the machine . . . so he can get in one last rep . . . before he speeds off . . . to throw on a cape . . . and . . . fight crime?

No, no, no. There is no plausible reason that he would need immediate access to that equipment.  As I continued working out I noticed that he actually did not “head out” after “jumping on the machine real quick.” No- he moved on to the next machine, and the next machine, and the next machine.  

This wouldn’t have bothered me so much if he had not behaved like a perfectly civilized, decent individual during election time only to treat me like a peon now that he’s safely in office.

I do not think I can stand for it.  

I’ve already begun to contemplate how I should handle our next encounter.  I’m thinking about asking him to vacate a machine so that I can use it . . . 

I’ll let you know how it goes.  

Christmas Eve Gift

Here's a weird tradition that you may or may not want to add to your Christmas repertoire.  For generations my family has played this bizarre game we call "Christmas Eve Gift."  The concept is simple: be the first person to say, "Christmas Eve Gift!"on Christmas Eve and then whoever you say that to has to buy a present for you on Christmas Eve, even if they have already purchased a gift for you.  It's maddening, but also very fun.  

My family is really competitive.  Distant cousins call in the wee hours of the morning only to be disappointed by a groggily gurgled yet instinctively automatic, "Christmas Eve Gift," on the other end.  My grandfather once rang our doorbell and then hid behind some shrubbery in order to gain the element of surprise.  I think he was seventy-five at the time.  


I know it's a little late to be explaining this, but I was so happy to receive one of my Christmas Eve Gift gifts in the mail today and I just had to share.  I told my friend Kellie about Christmas Eve Gift a few years ago so we began playing, and now she plays with her family too.  I got her this year and she gave me a really fun gift- Everything Balm!  


So next year if you're looking for a way to incorporate some competitive action into a time of peace and joy, tell your friends and family about Christmas Eve Gift! And remember, text messages count but are frowned upon.  

Leaves of Grass

Yes, it's another film review.  This is what happens when I have copious amounts of time off from work- I watch an inordinate amount of movies.  


Okay, check out this trailer and then I'll give you my opinion on whether or not you should devote time to this film:

Here's the first thing you should know about this movie:  most people dislike it.  As you can see from the trailer the storyline is walking that fine line between quirky and stupid, which most dramedies tend to do.  So if you have problems with peculiar idiosyncrasies in films such as likable grandpas addicted to heroin (Little Miss Sunshine) or voice-overs of hilariously egocentric letters written to a newly adopted African child named Ndugu (About Schmidt) then this is not the movie for you.  


I read a ton of reviews on IMDB after watching Leaves of Grass and saw everything from "profound, poignant and hilarious . . . the best regional film since Fargo" to "there are so many things wrong with this movie I don't know where to begin."  


I loved this film.  I think the exceptionally creative screenplay must be responsible for drawing such a talented cast which includes Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, and Keri Russell. You should also be on the lookout for the delightful Melanie Lynskey and the spectacular Steve Earle who I feel were both underutilized.  Tim Blake Nelson wrote the script with Ed Norton in mind, and if you have any doubts about Ed's ability to play two characters in one film you've obviously never seen Primal Fear.  I've read some complaints about Norton's Oklahoma accent, and while it's not perfect I wouldn't say it's terrible.  His character has an exaggerated accent, but it's believable for that particular character.  


This leads me to the topic of regional stereotypes.  People always get bent out of shape over regional stereotypes.  Generally it's exclusively when their particular region is 'the victim.'  To these people I say: get over it.  While you might be above your particular region's stereotype these formulas don't just pop up out of nowhere, and every state has one.  If you're feeling victimized by a regional stereotype you won't get any sympathy from me.  I'm from Texas.  


I hope I've given you a good idea of whether or not this film will appeal to you.  If you think you can handle a movie that involves Socrates, hydroponic marijuana production, Walt Whitman, catfish noodling, premature nursing home residency, and a Jewish philanthropist with drug ties- you are in for a real treat!