The Dromomaniac

One More Day

I'm digging this time-off stuff. It's really nice.

We met up with Paul's friend Chris on Friday night to see the new Charlie Kauffman film (Senedoche, NY, or something like that). We all had high hopes for it based on Kauffman and the cast (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams, etc). And the first hour was very interesting and surreal. But as we turned the corner towards the second hour, I couldn't take it anymore. It became almost Woody Allen-esque in its self-indulgent neuroticism, but it lacked the silliness that can make Allen's films entertaining. Towards the end, it's clear that Kauffman really needed someone to step up and insist he edit. I was very very glad when it finally ended.

Yesterday, Paul and I went for a hike down by Ellicottville yesterday and holy SCHLAMOLY! I couldn't believe the amount of snow on the ground. There's about a foot already, maybe more. We tried to make it Little Rock City, but the trail was impassable, so instead we just hiked around that general area for three hours. We were both pretty pooped. We inhaled some onion rings (yeah, that's right - onion rings, bitches!) at Ellicottville Brew Pub (or whatever the name is) before heading home.

Paul's going solo to the Bills game today and I'm struggling to come up with teaching material for the week. I think I'd like to do something based on "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" but that means I have to hightail it to a bookstore and buy some books. Which means I have to get out of my bathrobe. Which means that it's not likely to happen anytime soon.

Down Time

This Thanksgiving was by far the best one I've had in a looooooooong time. Paul and I lingered in bed until around 10, which is not unusual for me on the weekends these days, but is always oh-so-delicious. We'd gone out the night before for a little while to send off his brother, who is moving back to Pittsburgh, but we stayed remarkably sober and therefore felt fantastariffic in the morning. I convinced Paul to start a Thanksgiving tradition by taking a long walk around Delaware Park, so once I dragged him away from his new TV (no comment), we bundled up and headed out. We ended up walking for about five miles, which felt great and helped build the hunger for dinner. We hit his folks' place by around 3; his mom was pretty pooped already from cooking all day, so we all just chilled. I attacked his youngest nephew with tickle torture every couple of minutes just to stir things up. After dinner, we hungout a bit more and then decided to go out somewhere for a digestif. Since this is Buffalo and not NYC, there was hardly anything open, and since we didn't want a dive-bar, we ended up at Oliver's. It's pretty swanky in there despite the location, and I got a madeira while Paul got a scotch. It's the kind of bar I love - low-key but upscale, sort of like the Algonquin.

Today's off to a delicious start as well: I already made curried lentil soup and carrot bread AND cleaned up at the AmVets 50% off sale. I have tons I need to do: clean the basement, the bathroom, and move out my stuff from the upstairs apartment as our tenant is moving in tomorrow, but I'm kinda liking the laziness of leisure.

Thanks a Bunch

Well, it's that glorious time of year during which I offer up my thanks. And this year, it's easier to do since life most sincerely does not suck.

As always, I'm thankful for my mom. How one broad can so consistantly rock is incomprehensible, but lo! she does.

I'm thankful for Paul who has shown me that love need not be painful. He's welcomed me into his life with open arms. So he's like Steve Perry, minus the voice, but plus looks, which very much works out to my advantage.

I'm thankful for my job. I'm so glad I've gotten back into teaching and that I can get my daily doses of cute and sass all in one (or six) location(s). Good stuff.

I'm thankful for having a home. This is a first for me. No more moving!

I'm thankful for Lucie, even though, as Frank Zappa sang, Lucille has messed my mind up but I still love her.

I'm thankful, bien sur, for my friends. Yulia, P-cat, Ana, Dr. Ron Lelito, Jay, Warren, Moe, Kels, Claud, Dana - you're all incredible folks. Thank you for putting up with me.

Goddammit

Despite having gone to see the Best Band In The World last night (also known as ELECTRIC SIX, bitches!), I have a Moby song stuck in my head. Yet again, I blame Yulia.

Some things fall apart
Some things make you whole
Some things that you find
Are beyond your control

I love you and you're beautiful
You write your own songs
What if the right part of leaving
Turned out to be wrong

If I could kiss you now
Oh I'd kiss you now again and again
'Til I don't know where I begin
And where you end

Thought I fell in love the other day
With an old friend of mine
I was running kisses
Down every inch of her spine

We had the roof down
The sun came shining in
The black fact is
That I was thinking of you

If I could kiss you now
Oh I'd kiss you now again and again
'Til I don't know where I begin
And where you end

I slept in the sun the other day
I thought I was fine
Everything seemed perfect
'Til I had you on my mind

I tried to love you
I did all that I could
I wish that the bad now
Had finally turned into good

If I could kiss you now
Oh I'd kiss you now again and again
'Til I don't know where I begin
And where you end

White Tooth Man

Said the plain clothes cop to the beauty queen
“I’ve seen nothing but a spoke in a wheel”
So she gave up her crown to a kid with a crutch
And they both felt cheated after closing the deal
And the white tooth man I ran with him
Got all cut up from pissin out in the weeds
And a fight upstate with a broken blade
And a wife whose finger never wanted a ring

Said the plain clothes cop to the Indian chief
“I’ve made nothing but an honest mistake”
The postman cried while reading the mail
And we all got trampled in the Christmas parade
And the white tooth man who sold me a gun
A map of Canaan and a government bond
Said “I love this town, but it ain’t the same”
The ski mask ripped as he was putting it on

Said the plain clothes cop to the holy ghost
“I’ve heard nothing yet that wasn’t the wind”
And we all got sick on a strip club meal
While the statehouse pardoned all the witches again
So the white tooth man with his kids in the car
And a wad of money that was already spent
Said “I love my dog but she just ran away,
She’ll keep running like the world never ends”

Note to Self

Dear Me,

You know how you always just throw your socks into the drawer right after laundry? You always tell me that they'll be easy enough to pair up when you're getting dressed in the morning. Well, that's bullshit. I'm sick of digging through and finding jack. It's getting really played out.

Much Thanks,

You

Ode to Heat

Oh heating pad, you're so rad!

With you, life ain't bad and I'm not sad!

Dear heating pad!

(You're really a blanket, but 'tevs.)

Homeward Bound (I Wish I Was)

Despite my earlier attempts to get down to NYC and LI and all of the other acronyms outside of BUF, I am DETERMINED to get there afore this year be out. Hence, plans for the holidays.

See, now that I'm schoolin' again, I have two fully glorious and delicious weeks off around Christmas during which I plan to do nothing other than revel in my atheism and thank God that people believe in Him enough to create federal holidays around Him. Faith rocks.

Paul and I will be going downstate following Christmas, and antics will include (but will in no way be limited to):

-New Year's Eve, Crooklyn-style

-Dodging bullets in Washington Heights

-Forcing sing-a-longs at 55 Bar

-Gorging on veg fare

-Kazoo serenades

Sure, I'll have to visit family members on LI and all, but SHIZZLE, ma nizzles: this will be the first non-work-extended NYC trip in a loung time. 

For now, I'm going to shake off the 20F weather by taking my umpteenth hot bath of the day and pouring (yet another) glass o' red.

What Happens When Your Mother Joins Facebook (Part I)

Mom: Will you be my friend ???
           -Mom

Jay:     YOU HAVE TO ADD ME AS A FRIEND

Mom: Alright already ! I think that I did.

           -M

Jay: Finafuckingly

The Duderinos

Well, since my mom keeps checking this blog and I haven't updated, I'll do my lil' tribute to Men I Inexplicably Love. I've given props to the chicas before, so it's time for the chicos. Some are eye candy, most are not, and for one reason or another, I just dig 'em.

George Clooney. Ah, Mr. Clooney. He's a looker, most certainly, but he looks a little too much for my brother to have me diggin on his looks. I think he's so deliciously sarcastic that I can't help but love him. Sigh.

John Turturro. He's pretty amazingly awesome in a really awesome way. He goes from playing The Jesus to a Hogwhollop with ease and grace. And him and Clooney together and I'm good for any Coen bros film.

Chris Martin. See, now this one baffles me. I don't find him the least bit attractive, but I do so love Coldplay that I guess it spills over to him. He's also quite a douche in  interviews, but I respect their music since they don't crank out shit often. So Chris Martin? Keep you mouth shut and keep penning music and we'll be good.

Timbaland. I know, I know, I've paid tribute to Timbo before, but c'MON! It's love. 

Stephen Colbert. Paul made the mistake of turning me on to "The Colbert Report" and now I swoon over Stephen Colbert.  It cannot be helped.

Barack Obama. Yes, it's true: I have a crush on the President-elect. Looks count. Fact. I do wish he'd grow out his 'fro, though. His 1970s pics were the shiz.