20.3.03
vanessa jean's songs of the moment
snoop dogg, beautiful. the video is set in rio, and the closing text is in portuguese, which just makes an excellent song superb. green pants, this link's for you.
john mayer, your body is a wonderland. "da-amn baby, you frus-tera-te me". the search for the best rainy day song is over.
there's one more on the list right now, but i don't know what it's called, or who it is by...so i just pray for it to come on the radio, and occassionally it does. if you have esp, please let me know what this song is called.
snoop dogg, beautiful. the video is set in rio, and the closing text is in portuguese, which just makes an excellent song superb. green pants, this link's for you.
john mayer, your body is a wonderland. "da-amn baby, you frus-tera-te me". the search for the best rainy day song is over.
there's one more on the list right now, but i don't know what it's called, or who it is by...so i just pray for it to come on the radio, and occassionally it does. if you have esp, please let me know what this song is called.
on a slightly happier note, this morning i went out on an expedition for some colorful neckties, which i found in abundance at the salvation army, along with 2 old suitcases that will make excellent display pieces for the upcoming 'breath of spring' show at new fairfield high school. how's that for a long sentence?
19.3.03
more this american life for the night. this episode hosts a nice tribute to mr. rogers and it's generally pretty cute.
certain things are just so funny they have to be shared. (again) this is from a this american life episode entitled 'classifieds'. not only is the entire episode based on a fantastic idea: search out and hear the stories of folks placing ads in the classified section of two chicago newspapers...lost dogs, making a band, lost girlfriends, and people in transition. it's act 5 that caught my attention, especially the conversation when this man calls a dog breeder. load the clip here, and start listening at minute 44.
"i got a cookbook, a grill, and bowls. i didn't know how much i liked bowls...they contained chaos."
q: "if i call up people who have dogs for sale, what should i ask them?"
a: "the dogs record of biting people is,"
"i got a cookbook, a grill, and bowls. i didn't know how much i liked bowls...they contained chaos."
q: "if i call up people who have dogs for sale, what should i ask them?"
a: "the dogs record of biting people is,"
this american life really gets me through the long work day. i highly recommend three kinds of deception which features a reading by david sedaris. this reading is actually one of my favorite parts from me talk pretty one day and it only gets better when the author reads it himself.
annabelle matheys is too shy to post. annabelle matheys also wants a pony. first, a list of ponies she can have...this one, this one, this one, this one or this one. however (and i hope this isn't what she really wants) i can't seem to find one of these ponies. sorry.
in the pony research process i found 0 comments
in the pony research process i found 0 comments
join the kitchen cabinet march madness pool. get rules and entry info here. win and get a cool vanessa jean prize.
thank goodness for the kitchen cabinet and their post about this cat.
happy warm wednesday morning!
hopefully this will be a slow posting day, because that would mean i'm at the bench making the duct tape accessorise all morning, noon, and night. oh yea. that and a trip to the post office, the copy store, and the salvation army to pick out some groovy neckties.
cross your fingers, wish me luck.
hopefully this will be a slow posting day, because that would mean i'm at the bench making the duct tape accessorise all morning, noon, and night. oh yea. that and a trip to the post office, the copy store, and the salvation army to pick out some groovy neckties.
cross your fingers, wish me luck.
more info about the business boost to duct tape manufacturers with the recent call for duct tape as a precautionary measure. yee-haw.
18.3.03
i have this friend. we call him phillips. he is one of the funniest people i know. i'm not just saying that in one of those off-the-top sort of ways. he really is one of the funniest people i know, maybe even the funniest person. he wants to be a writer, a comedy writer. we (this time there really is a 'we', and it's not just me) think he will become a famous writer for snl or something equally funny. he does stand up now, and his act is better every time i see him. last night he performed at the gotham comedy club, and he performs there on mondays, sometimes. anyhow, if you like funny people, or for any reason have any connections for funny people, you need to hear john. we're trying to make him famous.
duct tape this...
14. a nice man name freddie, who wrote a nice book entitled beat the house, held his bike helmet together with silver and black duct tape. between the duct tape and his recumbant bike we had a lot to talk about.
15. used to tape down wires and chords on a public sidewalk in soho. lots of tape, a grid of duct tape, holding down wires and preventing clumsy accidents. this is a pretty normal use for duct tape, but i'd never seen it used in such a public place with so much traffic.
16. a good slogan! a bleecker street phone booth scrawled with the slogan, "duct tape bush". so this wasn't real duct tape, but it sort of metaphorically serves a purpose here. i think. it's still funny. luckily i had my camera and took a picture (the woman on the phone at the time looked a little concerened), and i will try to get them up.
17. duct tape used to hold two beams together. well, it was one of those construction on the sidewalk barrier things, and the horizontal and vertical metal pipes were held together with duct tape. it was old and rotting, but duct tape none the less.
mexican food is one thing. mexi-cali food is another. there's a new restaurant downtown. it's that 'cool' mixed genre kind of thing. they use a lot of cilantro. it's cheap, portions are large, i'm pretty much neutral on the place, but i had to at least mention that there is another new place to eat in new haven.
back to making belts.
back to making belts.
oh ya! who's the smarty pants now! today i received a new credit card in the mail, to replace my old one. and of course, i did my best to prevent credit card fraud, and i cut up my card. well, being the clever person i am, i cut up the new card, not the old one. clearly i am firing on all cylinders today.
aren't kids cute? i remember when playing with junk around the house was fun? wait, that's pretty much what i still do, hmmm....
the article is worth looking at for the picture alone. that looks more like something belonging to the daily show than a newspaper.
the article is worth looking at for the picture alone. that looks more like something belonging to the daily show than a newspaper.
thank you ny times for summing up the relationship between ridge and duct tape and humor in one concise article. this is worth reading if you like duct tape and have lots of free time.
this incident is quite sad.
so, i have downloaded the march madness form from the kitchen cabinet, and i am excited. "why vanessa? you don't give 2 cents about basketball, nor do you actually know anything about basketball?! why?"
my response...because i get to pick things, which is always fun. i get to pick underdogs, which i usually do. i get to use my favorite selection method of all time: the favorite state standing (heck, vermont always has a chance in my book). because it's fun, and sometimes i am freakily good at it too. (when i say 'sometimes' i mean once in a blue moon). so, join the pool and have your own fun.
my response...because i get to pick things, which is always fun. i get to pick underdogs, which i usually do. i get to use my favorite selection method of all time: the favorite state standing (heck, vermont always has a chance in my book). because it's fun, and sometimes i am freakily good at it too. (when i say 'sometimes' i mean once in a blue moon). so, join the pool and have your own fun.
i was in new york yesterday. i also needed a new pair of pants. i haven't gone clothes shopping since last may, and i don't have anything apprpriate (without holes or un-saggy-enough) to wear on the morning show this sunday. but since i was in new york, possible the fashion capital of our country, i decided to do some shopping. my fashion taste is eclectic and i like to be funky, so can i tell you how excited and relieved i was to find a gap? ok, so i'm really no fashionista, especially when it comes to basics like pants...i know gap fits me, so be it! the 'stretch pants' ad campaign gap is running right now is irresistably cute, and i just had to try on the stretch cargo pants in black which is thought to be appropriatly funky and functional (really, i'm pretty boring). i splurged a bit though too, which was naughty and exciting. these awesome capri pants greeted me as i walked to the women's level, and i just couldn't resist them. they're cute, and they actually fit, a huge plus. and i even bought a t-shirt because it was too hot to wear my longsleve while walking around town. i shop rarely (heck, i just like to spice up my wardrobe with fun accessories) but when i do, i guess i just want everyone to know!
in other exciting news, vanessa jean did an interview with the new york observer about the duct tape designs. this one came about purely through the joys of yale connections, and with much thanks to noelle hancock who now writes for the observer, and previously wrote for the yale daily news. neat-o. will keep my roaring audience (the old guy, b.p, and the kitchen cabinet) updated on when the article comes out.
the most exciting news is...vanessa jean will now be available at a new york location! oh yes, this is exciting! the goods have gotten into blush, a nice little store on bleecker street. more info to come, but they will have hot hannas, meris, carolines, a betty, belts, and a few more! this is terribly exciting!
the folks over at the kitchen cabinet are hosting the kitchen cabinet march madness pool! they are fun people, basketball is a fun thing, there will even be a fun vanessa jean prize. click here for details and entry information. i say do it! because it will be fun. i will be participating, and my knowledge and logic of basketball is nill. we'll except that i will be cheering for the quakers the whole way through.
16.3.03
want to know something funny? b.p. and i both listened to this american life episode, testosterone, today. oh, it's late and i'm lazy, look the link up yourself. i too enjoyed it to the max, it just might have to go on repeat soon.
15.3.03
i'm glad to see documented proof that 'hon' is to baltimore as 'dude' is to southern california. annabelle matheys told me so, but it's good to read a second opinion
russian google. dumbhooves, this one's for you!
there is nothing wrong with using the internet to look for people. green pants and i can vouch that the internet is a valuable tool for matching a face to a name, or learning a little more about a certain so-and-so who's name pops up in monday morning gossip. the article is yet another find in my google of 'google'.
more google related press, this one on molesting google, who knew? sadly, i couldn't find the original article.
have you ever googled ' google'? i got curious, and in the process i discovered this 'google search ends in dublin' headline. my first thought excited thought was, "google is all googled out! google found the last googleable topic in dublin, and now google has no more googeling to do." actually, google will establish european headquarters in dublin: home of questionable syntax and a future "lead player in the digital media industry."
ah shucks, i just wanted to say google alot.
ah shucks, i just wanted to say google alot.
this is a little story about vanessa jean and green pants...and a bizarre encounter with a photographer.
it was sometime in our first two years at yale, either then end of freshman year or the beginning of sophomore year. we were walking through the woolsey rotunda, and stopped by a nice and non-threatening man. he was young, just young enough to make his request seem ok. he was carrying his camera, and looked a little embarassed when he asked us if he could photograph our feet. living in new haven, people on the street ask you for things all the time. "can you spare some change?" "sign this petition!" "but tickets to this acappela groups show, please?" "would you like to buy a flower?" it's normal to get some pretty odd requests walking around town. the request to photograph our feet was something incredibly new! it seemed safe. he was nice. he even said it was for a 'project'. so we complied. we sat on the bench outside and he photographed our feet, and later our hands, as we laughed nervously, not quite sure if we were being taken advantage of. in less that five minutes the encounter was over, and we were giggling as we walked home. to this day we don't know what those photos were used for. we can only hope it was for a good cause. we're waiting for them to show up on the internet, to be a part of a documentary...we hope only something so positive. but that is the story of the mysterious foot photographer. if you have an information on this event, please e-mail.
it was sometime in our first two years at yale, either then end of freshman year or the beginning of sophomore year. we were walking through the woolsey rotunda, and stopped by a nice and non-threatening man. he was young, just young enough to make his request seem ok. he was carrying his camera, and looked a little embarassed when he asked us if he could photograph our feet. living in new haven, people on the street ask you for things all the time. "can you spare some change?" "sign this petition!" "but tickets to this acappela groups show, please?" "would you like to buy a flower?" it's normal to get some pretty odd requests walking around town. the request to photograph our feet was something incredibly new! it seemed safe. he was nice. he even said it was for a 'project'. so we complied. we sat on the bench outside and he photographed our feet, and later our hands, as we laughed nervously, not quite sure if we were being taken advantage of. in less that five minutes the encounter was over, and we were giggling as we walked home. to this day we don't know what those photos were used for. we can only hope it was for a good cause. we're waiting for them to show up on the internet, to be a part of a documentary...we hope only something so positive. but that is the story of the mysterious foot photographer. if you have an information on this event, please e-mail.
i need lo-jack for my scissors. they tend to run away. i know, i work them hard, they get used all the time. so it's not unusual for me to find them napping in the corner or resting under my workbench, or even grabbing a snack in the kitchen...but sometimes...just sometimes i can't find them. this is one of those times, and i don't know where to look next.
this duct tape double website always throws me for a loop. ok, so i admit for occassionally doing goolge searches for vanessa jean and duct tape or anything related. and every time i look up duct tape, this website pops up in the top 10. it's actually a pretty darn resourceful use for duct tape, and i'm pretty impressed, but it just throws me off.
my roomie (we'll call him delta for the sake of anonymity, in case the feds get wind of this), just told me about a great get-rich-quick scheme. ok, maybe it's more of a quick cash method, but check it out. delta says try to bet someone that they can write down the names of all 50 states in ten or fifteen minutes. he says they'll take the bait because it sounds easy. but oh no, they will fail cause it's a lot harder than it seems. oh, i gotta try this one out, any geographically challenged takers? mr. squirrel perhaps?
yesterday the old guy teased me. he commented that the blog sounded a little bit like the muttering of a crazy person sentenced to solitary confinement. he's convinced no one reads this blog. so if you do read this blog, um, keep reading and tell friends, and one day i will prove that i am not crazy and just babbling to myself.
annabelle matheys makes a good note...since i work alone all day, i probably do sound like a crazy person.
annabelle matheys makes a good note...since i work alone all day, i probably do sound like a crazy person.
things at the b.p. blog have switched around a bit. he found out that i found out about this blog (how's that for he said/she said) and has made some interesting changes in color and template and content. i think the content is great already, but the new color scheme is hot (aqua and avocado, if you want to do it vanessa jean color style) with a nice block format. oh, am i so jealous? yes i am. b.p. also gave himself away, he directed me to a blog genealogy site. from there it was just a click or two till i found him out. b.p, along with the kitchen cabinet, are now my top blog reading ventures of the day. b.p. is a good guy, with lots of opinions, and lots of surfing skill. his posts overflow with striking content and fun links. what more can a girl ask for?
14.3.03
duct tape this...
12. yesterday, the nice camera man had trouble affixing the little black microphone and cord to my sweater. it just kept falling off, or the cord kept exposing itself. we all paused for a moment, searching for a solution...almost one of those silly scenes where everyone strokes their chin in deep thought...and all at once we realized a little strip of black duct tape could keep the microphone in place. then we laughed alot.
13. yesterday on passions (the best soap ever. i was excited to see that their website features a family tree. steve the monkey might be interested in that info. oh! the days gone by of watching passions with steve the monkey.) beth tied her poor mother to her wheel chair with duct tape. actually, it looked more like paper tape, or gaffers tape, but i think they wanted it to be duct tape.
even more good news! as if life couldn't get any better right now...i've been invited onto the news channel 8 weekend morning show. rise and shine around 7 sunday march 23th to watch the wtnh. this is by far the silliest thing that has ever happened in the course of the world. except when i was invited to a rubber duck race, that was silly too.
so, last night it really happened. jodi latina and tim, the nice camera man, came to do an interview in (what they called) my bedroom workplace. (that turn just sounded a little odd to me). after about an hour and a half here, they left, and the vanessa jean story hit the channel 8 news twice last nice and once this morning. yeehaw! i spent 5 minutes being mortified and embarassed watching myself, but it's done good for business. but, ha ha you can watch it too. click here the broadcast will pop up in real player or whatever. the mini maron and the queener got a shout out too! the segment text and some photos are also available on the website as well.
my favorite request so far is from a woman who needs a dog carrier for the 'teacup puppy' she's getting in a while. that will be a first for me. i will keep you posted, but it was exciting!
my favorite request so far is from a woman who needs a dog carrier for the 'teacup puppy' she's getting in a while. that will be a first for me. i will keep you posted, but it was exciting!
the world is now a better and more sarcastic place. my good friend b.p. is now blogging. he's the nice one who introduced me to this american life . this might be the most exciting new reading in a while. go, check it out. fantastico!
post note - it seems as if b.p. didn't want me to know about this blog. oh well, he's been discovered.
post post note - see link to out of school. out of work. out of control. at right. he seems to not want me to know about his blog, but what the hell.
post note - it seems as if b.p. didn't want me to know about this blog. oh well, he's been discovered.
post post note - see link to out of school. out of work. out of control. at right. he seems to not want me to know about his blog, but what the hell.
13.3.03
martha and her niece sophie "make sweetly scented homemade soaps" on today's episode of martha stewart living. sophie picks up a single pantyhose to 'buff' the soap after removed from the mold. "and we can buff it with a panyhoe," she says. martha quietly replies, calmly "oh, you can use pantyhose." niece sophie continues to call it a "pantyhoe". martha looks a bit shocked, and asks why she isn't calling it pantyhose. sophie replies, "because it's only one," with a happy grin.
i could spend hours looking at these archives of the 'stuck at prom' duct tape prom outfit entrants from past years. holy cow, these are so impressive.
people actually do this for fun and for fundraising. looks kinda fun.
this is not a new (or newly updated) site, but i just found it for the first time. i guess they beat me to 101 uses for duct tape. but do check out the picture link on the page too...naughty for passing that on.
fantastico! this explains a lot.
keep your fingers crossed that today will be the big tv news day for vanessa jean. news channel 8 was scheduled to come by the vanessa jean studio to do an interview last evening, but got pulled away by 'breaking news' last minute. i'm hoping for a slow news day! be sure to watch news channel 8 new haven tonight.
12.3.03
i'm still thanking b.p. and wbez and ira glass and everyone for this american life and the years of archived shows available online. these audio segments brighten my days tremendously...and i can't remember what pre-tal life was like...too much top 20!...it almost makes me sick to think about it.
yesterday was a particularly long day at the computer, typing press releases to send out to tv shows (remember my promise? you = hero if you put me in touch with anyone who wants to give vanessa jean * duct tape design some good press!). anyhow, i nearly finished clearing through the entire 'staff favorites' list, including: prey, simulated words, fiasco, conventions, primary, monogamy, guns, jobs that take over your life, media fringe, who's canadian?, and mapping. you do the math, each show is 59 minutes long. act 2 of the mapping episode, "Jack Hitt visits Toby Lester, who has mapped all the ambient sounds in his world: the hum of the heater, the fan on the computer." since hearing this piece, around roughly 9.30 last night, i have done nothing excpet pick out the ambient sounds around me, and wonder if they are manipulating my moods. that, and all my thoughts unfold in the same narrative style of each this america life story. oh yay.
yesterday was a particularly long day at the computer, typing press releases to send out to tv shows (remember my promise? you = hero if you put me in touch with anyone who wants to give vanessa jean * duct tape design some good press!). anyhow, i nearly finished clearing through the entire 'staff favorites' list, including: prey, simulated words, fiasco, conventions, primary, monogamy, guns, jobs that take over your life, media fringe, who's canadian?, and mapping. you do the math, each show is 59 minutes long. act 2 of the mapping episode, "Jack Hitt visits Toby Lester, who has mapped all the ambient sounds in his world: the hum of the heater, the fan on the computer." since hearing this piece, around roughly 9.30 last night, i have done nothing excpet pick out the ambient sounds around me, and wonder if they are manipulating my moods. that, and all my thoughts unfold in the same narrative style of each this america life story. oh yay.
i think it's hilarious that duct tape has become a metaphor for something larger...something formless, vaugely related to war and homeland security and craftiness. duct tape carries a different weight now (and i'm not talking regular vs. professional vs. nuclear). it's no longer just arkansas chrome, but it holds political implications, as suggested by this salon headline, "Iraqis: "Smoking gun" made with duct tape". it's heavy, it's ironic, and it still won't save us from attack.
cross your fingers. there's a chance that the goofiness of vanessa jean * duct tape design might make the news. watch new haven's news channel 8 tonight and tomorrow for a possible vanessa jean spot. but i think we might all have to cross our fingers for a slow news day though...don't worry, i'll keep you updated.
11.3.03
the vanessa jean silly discovery of the day... gooogle dot com will redirect you to, the real, google. those google folks are so smart. google, google, google.
a completely not-related-to-duct-tape-in-any-way post. the all time best movie (not including the real all time best movie, pride and prejudice) to watch right now is super troopers. i don't really recommend this to anyone too young, anyone who doesn't like tasteless movies, and a list of other people who might not like it. but really, where in the world can you have such quotes as, "you crapped on my heart," "oh, biker, right," and "sorry about that, when they get that syrup in them they get all antsy in the pant-sy." brilliance.
yuppers, the annual duct tape prom outfit competition. i'm all for 'costumes' but i think this year their winners need more of a 'hip fashion' style with their goods. if you're a high school prom-goer, and you want help designing your prom dress, let me know, and i'll help you out.
fantastic. duct tape on the anti-war front. "the accessories worn by much of the crowd, from pink boas to Day-Glo pink wigs and pink silky slips to pink duct tape and stuffed pink bunnies." i'd like to see how that pink duct tape turned out.
i'm sorry, but shouldn't this headline end with 'dc'? wow, i'm glad that the foxnews headline writers passed the eighth grade literary styles test.
yes, yes finally a post about the anchorage duct tape ball. i have yet to find a good set of photos from the ball, but i'm sure it was a fantastic shindig.
this is what happens when e-mails are slow and my mail box is consistently empty: i think my e-mail is broken. ok, i know this is completely illogical. e-mail rarely 'gets broken' and when the system is down, they usually tell you. but on days like these i think it's not that people aren't e-mailing me, it's just that these e-mails aren't getting through. same with the vaness jean order form...it's not that people aren't ordering...it's just that their orders aren't getting to me. ok, ok so this would actually be a serious problem. so, to help me test, pick out your favorite vanessa jean bag, belt or wallet (c'mon, i know you've just been waiting to order something), place your order, and let me know if it doesn't go through. ok, ok that's a cheap shot at trying to increase orders...but that doesn't mean my weird neurosis doesn't still exist.
let me just say that the e-mails have been so slow today that i have hardly even heard from the old guy.
let me just say that the e-mails have been so slow today that i have hardly even heard from the old guy.
who knew there were so many results for green peppers when doing a google image search. wowzers. i'm looking this up because i am making a custom darcy bag with a big red tomato and green pepper on the front flap (it's not that crazy, the neck tie is blue with veggies on it). looking up vegetables sure beats sending out press releases.
10.3.03
bad use of duct tape. booooo.
alias. sadly not a new episode last night. but no complaints at watching sydney and co take down sd-6, again. now we can have sydeny all the time with this fun game.
it's monday. that means it's back-to-work-for-the-whole-day day! which means probably lots more posting. i'll be sitting here, all day, typing press releases (aka letters begging network tv programs to have me on their show) about duct tape and why it's so cool. posting and procrastination might flood in today. if you happen to be procrastinating too, check this out. that's just one of the many, many things you can play with on this fun site. and if you happen to be going out on a date in the near future, check in here first.
and if you happen to know anyone important on tv, or in the tv business. you'll be my forever hero if you can put me in touch with them!
and if you happen to know anyone important on tv, or in the tv business. you'll be my forever hero if you can put me in touch with them!
9.3.03
pizza, pizza, pizza! new haven is well known for it's delicious pizza. most folks believe that the best new haven pizza is found in wooster square. i disagree. the best pizza in new haven is modern pizza on state street. birch beer and eggplant pizza...hands down the best.
today was a warm and sunny day. the wind blew in a bit this afternoon, but no complaints here. i had an incredibly fun time this morning running in a 5k race, and then eating a delicious pancake, sausage and egg breakfast. the afternoon is brimming over with pride and prejudice, the puppy channel, duct tape greeting cards and general business.
6.3.03
posting is slow. the old guy is out for a bit. it's snowed here all day. well, until about 3. for some reason, all the snow (and shoveling) makes me hungry. if anyone wants to bring me a hit pastrami and swiss sandwich from the local pizza place...i be your best duct-taping friend forever. this american life is barely getting me through. however, i'm not quite sure i know what i am getting through. there's plenty of bags to be made, but most of them are waiting for a fresh delivery of supplies. there's plenty of up-keep work to do: making hang tags, belt starters, general organizing. i've been calling stores, and also trying to collect a few unpaid bills! however, with so much to do, i feel a little oppressed by the duct tape forces! maybe it's just the general gloom of the weather (did i mention it snowed), but i need some sort of new motivation! right now the thought of flowers is getting me through. duct tape flowers i mean! they are cute, colorful, and riveted to the dainty spring and summer bags (and belts!) just waiting for you to see them. back to pretending to be uber-productive.
3.3.03
wow, the e-mails regarding the old guy's 2.23.03 post about war, saddam etc are still pouring in. he's a nice old guy, and he watches a lot of FOXnews channel, i mean a lot, so be nice when you reprimand him! and as much as i like reading e-mails pointing out the errors in his logic and historical accounts (which i do, he's an old guy who rarely admits to being wrong, so it's good when other people tell him so) the old guy now has his own e-mail. so please, e-mail the old guy with your thoughts. he's just waiting to hear from you.
alias. alias. alias. the old guy harbors a theory that irina is not evil, just fightin' the good fight on her own. maybe he will grace us with his opinions on the matter. kate at the the kitchen cabinet poses a delicious hypothesis on sydney's parentage.
the strike at yale university. let the yale daily news educate you on the issues, then read the kitchen cabinet for some good perspectives.
i don't want to get involved with the politics of the issue, but i happened to drive through the middle of campus today, and this is what i saw. mind you, this is just what i saw, let's pretend i didn't even know that anyone was striking.
one aspect of this saga is clear, the allegiance of the weather. clearly the weather is siding with the administration, no questions asked. a sunny, warm day would declare the weather's preference for the striking parties, while an overcast but tolerable day designates partiality. however, a 17 degree thermometer and a three degree windchill makes this one a no brainer. as this is only the first day of the strike the weather may have a change of heart, so check back for daily (if not hourly) assessments of the weather's alliance.
driving down grove street, i noticed a small group of workers on strike, bundled in multiple jackets with their faces burried in their hoods. having to hug yourself in order to keep warm hinders the ability to really advertise the 'strike' sign hanging on your neck and chest.
at the intersection of elm and college, strikers were gathered on the corners. if they were not wearing bright signs that said 'strike' my first guess would be that this mass of people was leaving a wedding and heading to the reception. they looked jolly and happy. many people seemed to have that twinkle in the eye, nostalgic of a middle school snow day or half day, 'what do i do with all this time'? that excitement and anxiety of not being in school when you should, and not knowing what to do about it.
the strikers in front of phelps gate, picketing from phelps to the college/elm corner, appeared to be mingling, smiling and chatting. it looked more like rally outside the bus of the high school basketball team heading to the championships.
news trucks, media cars and reporters are sprinkles around the campus. ok, so this doesn't seem out of the ordinary for a strike.
this happens to be the only strike i have ever seen in person. i'm used to watching footage of strikers on the local news, or photos in the papers. both of which portray strikers as disgruntled, and determined to make something happen. the images i saw this morning (including one man who had his dog on a leash in the picket line) differed from any strike images i recall. i don't know exactly what that means, but it all increases my interest in the events. now i must get uber-informed.
i don't want to get involved with the politics of the issue, but i happened to drive through the middle of campus today, and this is what i saw. mind you, this is just what i saw, let's pretend i didn't even know that anyone was striking.
one aspect of this saga is clear, the allegiance of the weather. clearly the weather is siding with the administration, no questions asked. a sunny, warm day would declare the weather's preference for the striking parties, while an overcast but tolerable day designates partiality. however, a 17 degree thermometer and a three degree windchill makes this one a no brainer. as this is only the first day of the strike the weather may have a change of heart, so check back for daily (if not hourly) assessments of the weather's alliance.
driving down grove street, i noticed a small group of workers on strike, bundled in multiple jackets with their faces burried in their hoods. having to hug yourself in order to keep warm hinders the ability to really advertise the 'strike' sign hanging on your neck and chest.
at the intersection of elm and college, strikers were gathered on the corners. if they were not wearing bright signs that said 'strike' my first guess would be that this mass of people was leaving a wedding and heading to the reception. they looked jolly and happy. many people seemed to have that twinkle in the eye, nostalgic of a middle school snow day or half day, 'what do i do with all this time'? that excitement and anxiety of not being in school when you should, and not knowing what to do about it.
the strikers in front of phelps gate, picketing from phelps to the college/elm corner, appeared to be mingling, smiling and chatting. it looked more like rally outside the bus of the high school basketball team heading to the championships.
news trucks, media cars and reporters are sprinkles around the campus. ok, so this doesn't seem out of the ordinary for a strike.
this happens to be the only strike i have ever seen in person. i'm used to watching footage of strikers on the local news, or photos in the papers. both of which portray strikers as disgruntled, and determined to make something happen. the images i saw this morning (including one man who had his dog on a leash in the picket line) differed from any strike images i recall. i don't know exactly what that means, but it all increases my interest in the events. now i must get uber-informed.
we must have racoons, or else squirrels of enormous proportion. last night, between the (still) mysterious dribbling basketball sound and the rattle caused by the huge gusts of wind blowing through town...there was a new sound. it sounded like something (or someone?) was going through my trash. i don't mean to insinuate that some delicate little animal was gingerly picking through bits of food waste while sipping tea and reading last weekend's new york times. no way. these racoons were having a strong-racoon competition, tossing our trash cans instead of full kegs. i also think they set up a bowling alley, rolling trash cans at a properly assembled triangle of glass bottle pins. checking this morning, a few bins were knocked over but no sign of a critter frat house party remained...so i guess they can stay as long as they keep cleaning up. but why didn't they just invite me in the first place?
on my drive home from running some thrilling delivery errands, i passed east rock park. i squeaked with excitement when i saw a man ice skating on the wide icy patch created through the snow and rain cycle we've experienced lately. i happened to pass through the same park last weekend, and although not properly equipted, i skated in my running shoes. but really, on the inside i was wishing i had a pair of ice skates. i'm glad i'm not the only one who thinks it looks like a good place to skate!
i woke up this morning, and was happy to see bright, cheery, warm (looking) sunshine streaming through my window. but the pain and confusion of walking outside for the first time, and being hit with the gusts of icy wind and the chilly willy the penquin temperature, well, it took my breath away. so misleading, darn sun.
and as if my first five minutes outside couldn't get any better...while trying to drive my car away from the curb, it got lodged on a huge, frozen, icy snow mound, and i was temporarily stuck and in a panic. luckily, my quick mind formulated a plan for escaping the situation.
and as if my first five minutes outside couldn't get any better...while trying to drive my car away from the curb, it got lodged on a huge, frozen, icy snow mound, and i was temporarily stuck and in a panic. luckily, my quick mind formulated a plan for escaping the situation.
avril Lavigne is on the cover of the current rolling stone.
kate from the kitchen cabinet picked up on the old guy's 2.26.03 post about saddam, the war, and miscellaneous political topics. thanks kate, now the e-mails are pouring in. please kindly note that the old guy is responsible for the post in mention. questions and comments should be directed to the old guy.
i wrote a really, really, really great post. it was fantastic. then blogger wouldn't let me post it, and it vanished into the damp night air...sigh.
happy 3.3.03. it's almost as thrilling as last year's february. did i mention february went quick as a bunny this year? no joke.
9. clearly, the old guy's use of duct tape demonstrates his quick thinking and sharp wit. it also let him talk about his real baby, the corvette.
happy 3.3.03. it's almost as thrilling as last year's february. did i mention february went quick as a bunny this year? no joke.
duct tape this...
8. duct tape name tags for a murder mystery dinner, no joke. heck, why bother going out and buying those fancy adhesive name labels? we'd all look a lot cooler if we mingled with strips of duct tape on our shirts (or foreheads).9. clearly, the old guy's use of duct tape demonstrates his quick thinking and sharp wit. it also let him talk about his real baby, the corvette.
2.3.03
everyday i toil at my little bench, and it's fun. although sometimes the atmosphere is a little lacking. when things get a little quiet, i turn to music, news or stories. i can only listen to the top 20 songs on rotation on every clear channel communications station so many times, so i started looking for alternative types of audio fullfilment. my first endeavor was the twelve hour book on tape version of the red tent, by anita diamant. it was excellet, and left me hankering for more audio bliss. books on tape are expensive, and renting them adds up too. but today all my problems dissolved when b.p. let me in on the best secret of all time...this american life archives online. now my days will be filled with wonderful stories!
duct tape this...
5. last sunday's (2.23.03) alias featured duct tape in one of it's more ominous roles (rolls? can i pun here?). sloan and crew duct taped the week's explosives to the column in the bottom of the austrian bank. evil sloan, good sydney.
6. the empty building at crown and temple uses lots of duct tape to reinforce all of the cracked window on the building's front.
7. mysteriously, 3 pieces of duct tape (navy/camel/silver) have appeared on my car doorhandle. bizarre.
1.3.03
i see duct tape everywhere, and that's not just because i work with it every single day. everyone has a purpose for duct tape, and as we know, it's not used for ducts anymore. i'm going to take this time to list some great and unexpected uses for duct tape. watch out for the 'duct tape this' list in upcoming posts. i'm aiming for 100 bizarre, non-typical and minute uses for duct tape. if you spot a good one, i'd love to know, just e-mail me! here goes...
1. the neighbors use it to bundle roadside pick-up bulk cardboard for recycling...although the trash-picker-uppers didn't pick it up with the trash this week, hmmm?
2. silver duct tape holds our cable cord in place, thanks goodness, cause we're clumsy and it runs straight through the kitchen.
3. black duct tape patches the small hole in the butt of my running pants. why is one little hole going to stop me.
4. on the slide at the local park. i don't know if this serves a purpose, but it makes me happy.
duct tape this...
1. the neighbors use it to bundle roadside pick-up bulk cardboard for recycling...although the trash-picker-uppers didn't pick it up with the trash this week, hmmm?
2. silver duct tape holds our cable cord in place, thanks goodness, cause we're clumsy and it runs straight through the kitchen.
3. black duct tape patches the small hole in the butt of my running pants. why is one little hole going to stop me.
4. on the slide at the local park. i don't know if this serves a purpose, but it makes me happy.
welcome to march everyone. i think the fastest february of all recorded time has just ended, and now spring is just around the corner (right?).
lucky for us, march 1st brings us the girl's life magazine trend alert...and they are alerting readers to vanessa jean * duct tape design. check it out here. find out how to win an awesome duct tape id wallet or how to score a free duct tape bracelet with purchase at vanessa jean dot com. pretty cool.
alright folks, it's back to work for me, it's gonna be a long weekend!
lucky for us, march 1st brings us the girl's life magazine trend alert...and they are alerting readers to vanessa jean * duct tape design. check it out here. find out how to win an awesome duct tape id wallet or how to score a free duct tape bracelet with purchase at vanessa jean dot com. pretty cool.
alright folks, it's back to work for me, it's gonna be a long weekend!