Rambling

So this is the first time I've seen the new posting page. Five minutes to midnight might not be the best time for something new, but what the heck. It's been an okay day. I think I got a lot done at work, but it doesn't really feel like it. And I did another page of my Magi story. I left it at a good spot, where I want to pick it up again. It's still meandering though. And I do need to go back and play with Beecher/McManus (the thing for my co-worker). I got another bit of Christmas shopping done - picked up a little something, either for my sister or her husband, depending on what else I find when I'm out. I have to take my dad's present back because it turns out he already has it. It'll just give me another chance to go through Borders. Tomorrow might be the perfect day to do something like that. Choir rehearsal went well, although tonight there was more work than fun. It'll probably be like that with the Friday service as well - that'll definitely be work.

Yes, there will probably be another McManus post in the next day or so.

Rambling

So this is the first time I've seen the new posting page. Five minutes to midnight might not be the best time for something new, but what the heck. It's been an okay day. I think I got a lot done at work, but it doesn't really feel like it. And I did another page of my Magi story. I left it at a good spot, where I want to pick it up again. It's still meandering though. And I do need to go back and play with Beecher/McManus (the thing for my co-worker). I got another bit of Christmas shopping done - picked up a little something, either for my sister or her husband, depending on what else I find when I'm out. I have to take my dad's present back because it turns out he already has it. It'll just give me another chance to go through Borders. Tomorrow might be the perfect day to do something like that. Choir rehearsal went well, although tonight there was more work than fun. It'll probably be like that with the Friday service as well - that'll definitely be work.

Yes, there will probably be another McManus post in the next day or so.

Books

So I got a little more Christmas shopping done tonight (I just freaked out somewhat because the type on the Update Journal page seems to be for the visually impaired - I actually like it, but it'll take a minute or two to get used to it). Back to topic, I looked at my Borders newsletter/ad that I get online and saw that they had these cookbooks for sale. My sister and her husband actually use cookbooks so I thought they'd make a good gift, they're on a Buy 2, Get 1 free type of deal so I decide to get them. Special note - the ad says that they are trade size - okay, seems a little small for a cookbook, but what the heck, I'm game. I get there and I'm looking around the cookbook section for these books - comb the whole store, the discount tables, everything but the music section looking for these cookbooks. I walk back to the cooking section and on an endcap - there they are. Only, they're not "trade size" as in, say, a nice trade size copy of "The Da Vinci Code". Oh, no - they are coffee table books, only in paperback. I got them anyway. So I wound up lugging three enormous cookbooks around Hollywood tonight. It was weird. Only have 3, possibly 4 gifts to pick up - I'll get my niece's on Saturday when I head out to see "The Good German". The Hollywood Reporter gave it a good review - I would have seen it anyway. Heck, I'm still waiting for the sequel to "Schizopolous" - one of the strangest, but funniest films I've ever seen. The reviews make it sound like Soderbergh does "Casablanca". How could I not love that - my favorite director paying homage to one of my favorite movies. The only thing that would make it better would be him working from my "Closure" (aka the "Great Queer Casablanca") script, but I'll take what I can get.

And when the heck is Van Sant going to make another movie? Have I lost track? The last thing of his I saw was either "Last Days" or "Elephant" (whichever came last). He's another one of those directors that I find watchable (along with Todd Haynes). I do plan on eventually getting the new Christine Vachon biography. She's fascinating - she produces a lot of independent film - "Poison, Hedwig & the Angry Inch", "Happiness". I've seen her in person a couple of times and read "Shooting to Kill" - which is basically about the making of "Velvet Goldmine". Of course, when I read the new book, I'll probably start wanting to make my films myself again. Which is weird because today I just feel like I'm in a completely different space than I was in even five years ago. Up to this point, I've seen one live action film this year "Thank You for Smoking". I used to see 3 or 4 movies a month, didn't matter if it was by myself or not. Maybe it's a quality issue, maybe I don't feel like spending $8+ at the movies if it's not going to entertain me, maybe it's because I'm doing all of these other things now that when the opportunity presents itself to stay home or go out, I'd rather stay home. This morning they announced the Golden Globe nominees - I didn't even know it was happening (since I moved here, I've gotten up and watched the announcements at 6-something). Who knows - maybe film will find its way onto my New Year's resolution list.

I'm trying not to think about singing tomorrow. It's a bit unnerving. My choir director said he might be around as well - nothing like a little pressure. It'll be what it is. And what it'll be 24 hours from now is over, so I really shouldn't worry too much. And then it'll be time for the next performance on Saturday night. I went to pass out the invites for it today and noticed at the top of the invitations it says "Your invited". Ouch. That's a huge pet peeve of mine. Maybe I'll volunteer my services as proofreader.

Books

So I got a little more Christmas shopping done tonight (I just freaked out somewhat because the type on the Update Journal page seems to be for the visually impaired - I actually like it, but it'll take a minute or two to get used to it). Back to topic, I looked at my Borders newsletter/ad that I get online and saw that they had these cookbooks for sale. My sister and her husband actually use cookbooks so I thought they'd make a good gift, they're on a Buy 2, Get 1 free type of deal so I decide to get them. Special note - the ad says that they are trade size - okay, seems a little small for a cookbook, but what the heck, I'm game. I get there and I'm looking around the cookbook section for these books - comb the whole store, the discount tables, everything but the music section looking for these cookbooks. I walk back to the cooking section and on an endcap - there they are. Only, they're not "trade size" as in, say, a nice trade size copy of "The Da Vinci Code". Oh, no - they are coffee table books, only in paperback. I got them anyway. So I wound up lugging three enormous cookbooks around Hollywood tonight. It was weird. Only have 3, possibly 4 gifts to pick up - I'll get my niece's on Saturday when I head out to see "The Good German". The Hollywood Reporter gave it a good review - I would have seen it anyway. Heck, I'm still waiting for the sequel to "Schizopolous" - one of the strangest, but funniest films I've ever seen. The reviews make it sound like Soderbergh does "Casablanca". How could I not love that - my favorite director paying homage to one of my favorite movies. The only thing that would make it better would be him working from my "Closure" (aka the "Great Queer Casablanca") script, but I'll take what I can get.

And when the heck is Van Sant going to make another movie? Have I lost track? The last thing of his I saw was either "Last Days" or "Elephant" (whichever came last). He's another one of those directors that I find watchable (along with Todd Haynes). I do plan on eventually getting the new Christine Vachon biography. She's fascinating - she produces a lot of independent film - "Poison, Hedwig & the Angry Inch", "Happiness". I've seen her in person a couple of times and read "Shooting to Kill" - which is basically about the making of "Velvet Goldmine". Of course, when I read the new book, I'll probably start wanting to make my films myself again. Which is weird because today I just feel like I'm in a completely different space than I was in even five years ago. Up to this point, I've seen one live action film this year "Thank You for Smoking". I used to see 3 or 4 movies a month, didn't matter if it was by myself or not. Maybe it's a quality issue, maybe I don't feel like spending $8+ at the movies if it's not going to entertain me, maybe it's because I'm doing all of these other things now that when the opportunity presents itself to stay home or go out, I'd rather stay home. This morning they announced the Golden Globe nominees - I didn't even know it was happening (since I moved here, I've gotten up and watched the announcements at 6-something). Who knows - maybe film will find its way onto my New Year's resolution list.

I'm trying not to think about singing tomorrow. It's a bit unnerving. My choir director said he might be around as well - nothing like a little pressure. It'll be what it is. And what it'll be 24 hours from now is over, so I really shouldn't worry too much. And then it'll be time for the next performance on Saturday night. I went to pass out the invites for it today and noticed at the top of the invitations it says "Your invited". Ouch. That's a huge pet peeve of mine. Maybe I'll volunteer my services as proofreader.