Wednesday, February 28, 2007
human beings are monogamous, but we don't act it because we make things complicated.
rosie thomas's new music does almost the same thing to me as a listener as playing music does.
i like to cook things for boys.
and: i believe now that i was born an optimist. i will make it a point to stick to my roots.
i think things can be better than they are and i'd like to help.
i believe i'll see changes in my lifetime that will confirm this.
and someone really could fall in love with me just the way i am.
it makes no sense for the world to seem brighter under such grim skies.
posted by renee 10:20 AM
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
he's right
people like us
we don't have kids this young, or houses
instead, we have french fries and beer on a monday night
and in an old warehouse building
full of cigarette butts and empty bottles
drafty windows and doors loose on their hinges
and other people, a carpeted wall away on either side
who also don't know how to feel human
without an instrument in their hands
so, late into the snowy darkness
we make music
and i feel like a whole person
i wouldn't trade that for much of anything
and if it comes right down to being responsible vs. feeling whole
the choice will be easy
posted by renee 10:36 AM
Sunday, February 25, 2007
ain't nuthin brings minnesotans together like the weather
the sun comes out and we reappear from hibernation to sit on our front portches and talk over the back fence when we barbeque
and the snow comes down and i swear some people just wander around all day with a shovel to dig their neighbors out if they get their cars stuck
everyone seems happy when there's a snowstorm. i guess that explains why we live here. we must like it.
p.s. heatbox was bee-you-ti-ful last night, as per usual.
posted by renee 4:01 PM
Friday, February 23, 2007
don't get into comparative religion arguments with washed up grammy-winning musicians who have too much time on their hands, particularly if they consider themselves to be divine. it's hard to argue about much of anything effectively with someone who believes himself to be God.
posted by renee 4:18 PM
Thursday, February 22, 2007
feminist rant:
what is is about being a woman
that means
automatically
that if you are a man
i am asking for your opinion
about how i look
just by standing there
or did you think
that it might always be safe
to tell a girl that she's too skinny
because even though it's worded like criticism
she'll take it as a compliment
(by the way, i am NOT too skinny
according to the metropolitan life insurance tables
and they are far more official than YOU
even though they're still often wrong)
either way
you picked the WRONG girl
on whom to bestow your opinion
posted by renee 9:52 AM
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
mulligatawny
make 6 cups vegetable broth however you like it and keep at a simmer
cut up 2 stalks celery, a yellow onion, 3-4 cloves garlic into little pieces
in a different pot, heat some oil and then sautee the celery mixture until soft
meanwhile, dice 2 granny smith apples
add the apples and 1 1/2-2 tsp yellow curry powder and 1 1/2 tsp garam masala (or cumin, etc) to the celery/onion mixture
after 2-3 minutes, add the broth and 1/2 cup brown basmati rice and bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 10-12 minutes to cook rice
cut a block of firm tofu into bite size pieces and add to soup. simmer for 7-8 more minutes
stir in 1 can coconut milk, 1 tbsp lemon juice and some salt and pepper
while the soup is heating through that last time, toast some thin sliced almonds in a dry pan on the stove for about 2 minutes or until they smell all almondy
put some soup in a bowl
sprinkle almonds and some fresh parsley on top
eat and feel warm
(i also made rosemary flatbread and stuffed mushrooms, but the mushrooms turned out weird and weren't a good compliment anyway... if you want the bread recipe, let me know. also, you meat eaters can use chicken broth and cooked cubes of chicken breast in place of the tofu... also, you can add carrots or leeks or plain yogurt or potatoes or red lentils.........hooray for variations)
posted by renee 3:37 PM
Thursday, February 15, 2007
1.) overuse of sarcasm is like crying wolf. then, when you're in a high-stress situation and i respond with a joke, you can't blame me. i'm operating based on history and pattern.
2.) we complain a lot about traffic, but really, the ease with which cars generally maneuver on the urban freeway is a beautiful example of what can happen when someone is in charge and creates a set of rules that are, for the most part, adhered to. imagine what it would be like if we routinely put ourselves in giant metal death traps, careening down cement pathways at completely unnatural speeds, while hundreds of others do the same thing and the were NO LAWS. really, it's incredible that there aren't more accidents.
3.) i lost the little measuring cup for my generic dayquil substitute. in leiu of measuring, i've just been taking swigs straight from the bottle. and i think that's fine.
4.) i got an unceremonious email from the humphrey institute informing me that they're recommending me for admission to the graduate school of the u of m (just a formality). huzzah! one down, three to go.
posted by renee 5:28 PM
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
i came to the realization the other day that i do a lot of things at which i am merely mediocre. maybe i'm not a perfectionist after all? i'm glad.also: when i'm sick, my higher brain function is impeded, which makes me better at my job.
also: john mayer and jessica simpson were at bunkers last night. i was not. it would have been interesting to see how hot she is in real life. oh well.
posted by renee 4:31 PM
Monday, February 12, 2007
GRAMMY MOMENTS
(yes, i am writing a post on my internet weblog about what i thought about a national television event which occurred yesterday just like THOUSANDS of teenage girls across the country. omigawd! beyonce!)
did anyone else think it was weird that both tom petty and neil diamond were up for album of the year in 2007?
i thought it was weird.
also: the particular brand of popular liberalism displayed by celebrities is frustrating to me. it's like.... well, it's like everybody in show biz wishes they were some combination of bono and george clooney but the rest of the world thinks that both of those guys are more self-righteous than righteous (although this may be unfair). either way, it's interesting to watch. i happen to like that gnarls barkley song and i approve of the dixie chicks.
other observations:
justin timberlake got upstaged by the skinny new girl, at least i thought so. i really don't get what all the fuss is about him.
i am SO BORED with the black eyed peas.
i totally hadn't figured out the lionel richie/nicole richie relationship... call me out of the loop. i guess that's probably to my credit.
secret: i have a tiny little abstract crush on ludacris..... not gonna lie.....
in other music news: i am STOKED about the new modest mouse album.
posted by renee 5:23 PM
Sunday, February 11, 2007
entertaining histrionic tendencies and imagining desired impossibilities
spending more time in worry and more time in peace
but very little in sorrow
which is nice
posted by renee 6:33 PM
Friday, February 09, 2007
underwhelmed.
we'll blame it on sleeping from 9:45 on wednesday night until 8:45 this morning with a 4 hour break last night to watch some disappointing television.
hooray for sick days.
(the old man called again and sounded whiny that i didn't answer. hint: if you call at 9:38 pm on a day when i happen to be ill and sound whiny, there is ZERO chance that i will call you back)
i have been attempting to supress it, but the truth is that more and more...
i want a PUPPY
posted by renee 4:47 PM
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
jay steinkruger is getting his PhD in biological organic chemistry because he thinks it's fun. this is highly amusing if you knew him when he was 16. back then he thought downloading every live track the dave matthews band ever recorded from napster was fun. (plus, for anyone who's curious, it turns out he's marrying the mayor!)
i think painting is fun, and baking cheesecake, and playing in a rock band. it is unfortunate that i am not entertained by anything that is potentially lucrative. i wouldn't mind being wealthy if i liked my job. as it is, i will choose a fulfilling life over a hefty paycheck every time they come into conflict.
that is not really what i wanted to write today.... hmm.... things "of consequence" elude my typing fingers.
i wish i had time to read more often.
posted by renee 10:03 AM
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
throat=sore
outside=blizzardy
tea=ginger ginseng; warm
last night: there was a BEAUTIFUL couple who knew lots of fancy dance moves and i totally know they only came out to show off, but heck. if i could do that, i'd show off too. (note: interesting dynamics fundamental to this type of dancing require that the man be very strong and the woman be very thin and able to make a rag doll out of herself)
and CRYSTAL is here. she, along with most everyone else who's gotten married, is still listed in my cell phone under her maiden name. this is not a statement other than the fact that it announces my laziness.
posted by renee 9:46 AM
Sunday, February 04, 2007
i go to a church full of pianos behind locked doors
please,
someone
find me a piano
posted by renee 9:40 PM
Saturday, February 03, 2007
i miss abby and lisa.
posted by renee 3:49 PM
Thursday, February 01, 2007
to be perfectly frank...
i'd like my internal monologue to just SHUT UP. it's gotten to the point where i'm never really doing what i'm doing. most of my energy at any given point is actually going to THINKING ABOUT what i'm doing instead of just doing it and THINKING ABOUT the conversation i'm having instead of just having it. the only exceptions i can think of are kissing and math. so i should be a married engineer, i guess....
feeling VULNERABLE
the best answer would be if someone sane would just hold me and tell me that i'm not crazy or at least tell me that he likes me even though i AM crazy.
instead i think i'll go do some long division.
posted by renee 9:31 PM
if i made about $5,000 a year more, i think it would almost justify letting danny o move into my basement and undertake the butler/chef duties he has promised in exchange for free rent and food.
but the novelty might kill me, especially after tonight, where it was observed that the evidence of his inevitable success is mounting rapidly.
now the cat is trying to eat my sweater.
time for bed.
posted by renee 12:21 AM
