Ring My Bell

New insomnia thing ... I watch high school band performances on YouTube.


I made my way through most of Detroit and New Orleans and now I'm in Omaha.Pretty uptight James Brown.

Proud Moment

Some post I made eaons ago continues to be popular with strangers. For awhile, I was getting lots of UK traffic for a Benny Hill post, but by far, this image of Taarna and my mention of boobs, teenage boys, and bondage, steals the show.

Today, my only visitor was a Google image searcher who typed in the terms "boob bondage."

Hope you enjoyed your time here, strange fellow!

16 Feb 09:39:16 Firefox 10.0
WinXP
1024x768
Independence,Missouri,United States
Comcast Cable (67.162.181.201) [Label IP Address]

hinmanfoodmusic.blogspot.com/2010/07/taarna-queen-of-teenage-boy-boob-and.html
www.google.com — boob bondage Image Search

Flying Saucer Attack

Tonight's insomnia doesn't come with Russian nesting dolls and imaginary boxes filled with fantasy. I guess that only happens when I wake up in the middle of the night after a few hours sleep.

Tonight's insomnia where I can't ever fall asleep to begin with because my mind is so full of the stress of the day and the dread of the back-to-back-to-back-to-back meetings in the morning, punctuated only with what will be an unpleasant encounter with a disgruntled employee with a sour personality.

With this kind of insomnia, when I stop the cycle of personal anxiety thoughts, I think about:
Israeli assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists,
Iranian retaliation for assassinations of their nuclear scientists,
Republican control of the US and criminalizing birth control,
Scott Walker diverting funds that are intended for people with foreclosed homes in order to fill budget deficits caused by giving tax breaks to people who by no stretch have foreclosed homes,
getting a lingering and fatal illness in which I cannot care for myself so I have to drag my sick butt home to be cared for by my mom or sister because I'm all alone,
is my eye just sore because I am now so tired and keep rubbing it, or, do I have pink-eye?

Good times in my bedroom tonight.

I thought about making a blog post in my other blog, but that would require a bit of thought and either my scanner or camera. Too much effort for the amount of energy I've got. Not to mention I want to leave writing in that blog as a source of joy and creativity. I'll leave that for another day.

This kind of insomnia reminds me of a decade, no closer to 15 years or so ago, when I had bouts and listened to Flying Saucer Attack and Low I Could Live in Hope at night a lot.

Jumpin' Jack

At the end of -->this review there is an awesome MP3.
I wish I was not in big repay debt-don't spend money mode, or I would buy Free Again: The 1970 Sessions.

And .... in contrast to what I just said, I registered for another set of classes at 2nd Story. It was expensive but I loved the last classes and if i break it down, it's less than $40 per class. Okay, that's still expensive. There is no way to pretend this id financially sensible right now, but I really did love the last class. I have a couple months to wait until they start though.

Page to the Stage
The goal of this 8-week class is to lead participants through our entire process, from story conception to fully realized performance, culminating in a simply produced 2nd Story style evening of stories in our studio space. Great for graduates of our Fundamentals class, or for more seasoned writers who are not afraid of a deadline.

I'm not only not afraid of a deadline, I look forward to having one!

Nesting Dolls

And it's an insomnia night!
Since I was awake, I listened to the Selected Shorts podcast with a reading of Allegra Goodman's La Vita Nuova.

I remembered reading and liking the story when I read it in the New Yorker in May 2010 and it was comforting in its familiarity as it unfolded even though I didn't remember what was going to come next. The sadness but gentleness was also perfect for 2:30am.

When I'm up in the middle of the night, I also give myself permission to compose my own comforting and familiar stories in my mind. I had not really thought about the process until tonight but I actually imagine a little box. I draw it behind my eyelids. Not a three-dimensional box, just a line drawing. A boundary. And then I suspend the daytime rules of not hoping for what's not likely to happen. I forget about protecting my feelings by being realistic.

I allow myself to pretend that the thing I most hope for is not only possible but happening: I'm sharing my life, happy and at ease, with the person I love. And then write little scenes with the new reality. The little scenes are comfortingly familiar too, very close to real life. Most involve making dinner on a lazy Saturday.

Who knows, maybe the insomnia is not caused by drinks and dinner too close to bedtime. Maybe its about wanting the permission dream.

Girl in a Coma Morning

Coming out of three days of flu, doing some chores around the house and listening/watching Girl in a Coma.

I have my ongoing thrill whenever I find women singers that I like.



Tiny Desk concert:

When this Kiss is Over, It will Start Again

I've been a bit too busy at work, too busy with out-of-town visitors, and too preoccupied with some new stuff happening in life to write.

Today I was home all day but too hopped up on flu meds and too busy emailing back and forth with work.

Want to write soon though.

Also realized today, after having a music craving for Heaven and Thank You for Sending Me an Angel that my Talking Heads Collection is sorely lacking. How is it I don't have Stop Making Sense on my iPod??? Birthday gift to me, from me!

Plan on Listening to the Sounds Opinions

interview with Debbie Harry tomorrow on way to work. I wonder if it will be beautiful and warm again in the morning and I can walk?

Queen of the Underground

Didn't have time today to write a fun post but I did write one for my work blog. Exciting insight into my daily life --->here

But in other news, coming soon, to my life:



and then the next night:

Harlem Nocturne

Feeling the Harlem Nocturne this East Ukrainian Village morning.

5:30am Thoughts

Last night before bed I trimmed my bangs.

The whole process of setting up hair cut appointments is a big burden. If a place doesn't have online appointment requests, I will go for months putting off calling them because I have some sort of phone calling phobia. They always tell me "just to drop in for my complimentary bang trim" between appointments but how do I know if my lady is there? How do I know if it is a busy time?

Ugh.

And when I looked at the website yesterday, my lady was no longer in the staff listing so I think she left.

So I was desperate. I think I did an okay job, but now that I am tossing and turning before dawn, I wonder what kind of crazy hair I am going to find in the mirror with the cold morning light?

Robot

The Robot died.
So I thought a bit about Lost in Space, not surprising that it was one of my favorites as a kid.

1. I remember walking around for weeks, okay, years, calling out "Dooooctor Smiiiiiiith." Like the alien lady in that one episode.

2. I thought the dad was more handsome than Don. I kind of hated Don.

3. My sister, Debbie, is four years older than I am. Debbie has blonde hair and I have brown hair. Debbie's best friend, Joy, also had brown hair. When we played Lost in Space, Debbie got to be Judy, because she was the older sister and had the right color hair. But Joy got to be Judy too ... because she wanted to be Judy. Since there were already two Judys, I didn't see why there could not be three.

They told me that I had to Penny, because I was the younger sister, I had brown hair, and my name (Jenny) rhymed.

Penny was cooler anyway.

4. Debbie and Joy also made up a song about me called "Jenny is my Cow. Mooo. Mooo." They obviously didn't grow up to be Bob Dylan.

5. I don't remember the first time I saw Vincent Price, but I know when I did, Dr. Smith was more famous to me. I thought VP looked a bit like him.

Thanks for the TV show, Robot guy.

I wish I could write like Robertson Davies ...1

"McVarish always reminds me of the fairy-tale about the girl out of whose mouth a toad leapt whenever she spoke. He could say more nasty things in ordinary conversation than anybody I have ever known, and he could make poor innocents like Ellerman accept them as wit."

BO Barn

This was my favorite side image from the live feed. It made me giggle. Obama just seems like such a city guy in his distinguished suits, not a barn guy.

SOTU address makes me happy ... well, the W. speeches didn't, nor the Poppy. I don't think I watched any Reagan and if I saw a Carter I don't recall. So basically, Democratic SOTU have made me happy.

So I'm glad to have that to watch and consider at the end of this crabby day. I stayed crabby all through yoga class where I fed my anger, thinking about how I hate that the yoga room smells like butt crack, I hate how my sweaty feet feel on the wood floor when they hang over the towel during savasana, how I hate the first and last weird breathing. And for all that awful, I deserved a pound or two lost.

And now I feel ready to let it go, move beyond it, and start my month two tomorrow.

Or, as Calamity Jane said in Deadwood

"F**k yourself, with a fist-punch up your a**, today at the present moment!"

This just popped up on my computer screen and I think Jane is talking about my yoga attendance/weight issue feelings.

1 Month

I have completed my first monthly auto-pay month at the yoga studio and met/exceeded my attendance goals of going at least one weekday and one weekend: I went to 18 classes.

Feeling good about that but regretting one week where I got lazy and missed four days in a row. My goal for the upcoming month is to go to 20 classes.

Trying to be positive but must admit that the fact that I weighed myself this morning and I have lost absolutely nothing makes me a bit angry. When you increase your activity level, dramatically improve eating habits, decrease eating out, decrease alcohol consumption ... and lose nothing...it doesn't seem right.

Fuck you, unfair life.

I'm trying to be positive -- but sometimes being angry is a positive and healthy reaction.

I should celebrate with something yoga related but honestly, I already bought some new yoga clothes and a yoga towel. I would like to buy some cute shorts to wear, but right now, I don't feel like seeing my stomach blub hanging over the top of them when i contort myself into painful postures. Maybe next month if I actually lose some fat.

16 Tons

When you've got Tennessee Ernie Ford and Odetta singing, why on earth would you get a big, fruity, choir to "ooooh" behind them?

It's been a Tennessee Ernie night for me and I went on a long Wayfaring Stranger tangent too.

Wisconsin: Recall Petitions Delivered

This is so great.
Next up, Michigan Emergency Manager Law.

They Were Young and they had Forever

Johnny Mathis night.
Is there anything Johnny Mathis can't make better?

Discoveries

Fascinating. I just read an article with this tidbit of info.

"the gut can function just fine in a decapitated person. In fact, you can pull the gut out of someone, drop it in a nutrient bath in a lab, and it goes right on digesting."

I once did a science project on the digestive tract. I also did one on the ear. I can still envision the picture of the ear drum from the family medical book we had when I was growing up.

And I found these two mummified oranges way, way back in my fridge behind a container of cumin simple syrup.

Get Up

This week I've conducted two job interviews using my KISS notebook and I bought twee toppers to sort out my work keys.

Can I get fired for being 12 years old?

Fun Tuesday Morning KISS Fact: I just learned Destroyer was released on my 7th birthday.

Belly Full of BBQ Beef and Midwest IPA

I really need to write something substantial. I've had a bunch of ideas and, honestly, the time but I have not had the energy. All I've done is little blurbs and some pictures.

Today I went to Lillie's Q and had some tri-tip and corn bread. I mostly went since I saw they had tapped the Bell's Hop Slam. Yum.

I also went to Myopic and bought some books: 4 mystery novels (going to dig into one right now); Bright Lights, Big City since I said I was going to try it, another copy of Sam Shepard Fool for Love since I gave away the other copy that I posted about in October; and a hardcover, 1974 edition of All the President's Men with a great book jacket that has a graph paper background.


I also stopped at Reckless records and returned a Bruce Springsteen CD and bought the Decemberist's album.

I really should not be buying anything, my credit card bill is out of control. I was looking at the monthly interest charged on my last statement and it is absolutely appalling. I've been amazingly irresponsible the past year, I understand why, but I need to make some major adjustments. I feel like I have been with my health, exercise, eating, drinking. Now I need to get my finances under control.

I should explore cheaper Internet access, cable bill is huge and I turned on the TV for the first time in weeks today to watch the Packers game -- until it made me too uptight. I can't watch sports, Republican debates or Republican politicians. It just raises my blood pressure too much.

I was sad for the Packers and for my Packer's loving friend. I'm not superstitious but I did hope that a belly full of BBQ beef and Midwest IPA would have sent out some good vibes and mojo.

Last and very least of my day's excitement, I am set on being a better freezer owner (renter). I have made sure to label correctly (with the re-usable labels I have around) the last four things I've frozen. I have way to many containers of frozen mystery soups, bean concoctions, and tomato-based somethings.

Every time You Call My Name

Every week I refill my pill container with vitamins.
For the past 3 weeks, every time I do, I start singing Fly Like an Eagle.



Tick tock Tick.

So then I started watching Steve Miller Band videos on YouTube.
Steve Miller planned on being cool. Then Abracadabra happened.
But I've watched the 70s footage. I've seen the funky shirts. I still think you were cool, Steve. And I think it is a shame they barely let you in to your own 80s video.

I don't believe...

that putting 8 quarters in my dryer will give me double the time. Will it? Are you sure?

Mind Shaping Music

This is, possibly, the first song I remember. Or at least the first song I actively put on for myself to hear. My sister and I had the 45, but not the paper jacket so I don't recognize that image.

Boobs

This ample breasted mannequin (with no legs) on Milwaukee Avenue makes me laugh. Who knew that plaster could look unsupported?

Just took some bacon out of the freezer. Tomorrow night after yoga class ... bacon, eggs, mushrooms, pecorino-romano, pasta.

Big portion.
Ample breast sized portion.

I Love You, Pasta

This recipe looks ridiculously complicated and absolutely amazing and tasty. Some weekend soon I will make it and eat it for dinner with a nice red wine.

What Michelle Obama Had for Lunch: Garlicky Spinach Pasta with Mushrooms Recipe
Have what the First Lady had at Gramercy Tavern
by The Gilt Taste Kitchen January 11, 2012

When Michelle Obama came to Gramercy Tavern for lunch, young cook Sophie Brickman wasn’t ready—she hadn’t read up on current events to make conversation, and given that her belt was made up of plastic wrap twisted through her belt loops, she wasn’t really dressed for the part either. Read her charming story about how a great kitchen kicks into high gear when VIPs arrive, and afterwards, treat yourself to the dish the First Lady had for lunch that day, this intense, thoughtful rendition of a pasta classic. It's definitely restaurant-food, with lots of careful steps most home cooks would never think to do, but it's fabulously delicious.

Gramercy Tavern’s Spinach Fettuccine with Mushrooms and Garlic
Adapted from chef Michael Anthony
Serves 2 as a main course, or 4 as an appetizer

8 ounces fresh fettuccine, spinach flavored if possible
4 teaspoons garlic oil (see below)
4 generous handfuls mushrooms, stemmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (use any variety – crimini, shiitake, or foraged hen of the woods)
8 - 12 cloves garlic confit (see below)
4 tablespoons green garlic or scallions, shaved in thin rounds
1 cup basic mushroom stock (see below)
4 teaspoons garlic puree (see below)
2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 cups spinach, loosely packed, stems removed
4 tablespoons minced shallot
4 teaspoons butter, cold, in chunks
2 teaspoons grated parmesan, plus more for serving
Chopped fresh herbs (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil.
Meanwhile, heat the garlic oil over medium-high heat in a large sauté pan until shimmering. Add mushrooms in one layer and sear without stirring. When the undersides are browned, turn and brown on all sides. Do this in batches if necessary. Season with salt and pepper.
Lower heat to medium, add garlic confit and green garlic and cook until tender, about 1 minute.
Add the mushroom stock and reduce by ¼, about 3 minutes over medium-high heat. Once sauce is reduced, add garlic puree and lemon juice and stir to combine. Turn off heat and reserve.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in another large pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add spinach and shallots and cook until spinach is completely wilted. Add a couple tablespoons water or stock if necessary to keep it moist while sautéing. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Add pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente, then strain.
While the pasta is cooking, reheat the mushroom sauce over medium heat and whisk in the butter to form a creamy sauce.
Toss pasta, mushroom sauce, grated cheese and herbs (if using) until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Divide spinach between bowls, and divide pasta on top. Spoon any extra sauce over, and finish with a few ribbons of grated parmesan. Serve immediately.

Garlic Confit and Garlic Oil

1 head of garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
Grapeseed or olive oil, to cover.

Put garlic cloves in a small sauce pan and cover with grapeseed or olive oil.
Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes, or until garlic is soft.
Store, covered and refrigerated, until ready to use, up to three days.

Garlic Puree
Makes ½ cup

½ cup peeled garlic cloves
¼ cup whole milk
Salt, to taste

Place garlic in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Strain and repeat four times.
Return to pot and add milk, and water to cover if necessary.
Simmer until fork tender, about a half hour.
Cool slightly, transfer to a blender, and blend until smooth. Add salt to taste. Refrigerate until needed, up to three days.

Simple Mushroom Stock
Makes 1 quart

4 cups sliced white button mushrooms
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Place mushrooms in small saucepan and cover with water. Add a few pinches of salt and a few grinds of pepper.
Simmer over low heat, half-covered, for an hour.
Strain mushrooms out, taste and adjust for seasoning, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use, up to one week.

Time

I hope 2nd Story announces their upcoming class schedule soon and there is one I am interested in taking. Having some structure and time lines did help me do more writing. I feel like I am buried in work these days and getting nothing accomplished. House is a mess, no work on any of my projects. I did do a little bit of work on Sunday writing for my Museum of Round zine.

It was also fun on Monday night that two people at the 2nd Story show had come to the last night of my class, when we told our stories, and they remembered mine.

And now back to work work.
The round of interviews we just finished ended with an offer that was not accepted and now I have to start all over again.

Your Momma's Calling

I can't stop singing Rock 'n Roll Fantasy in my mind.

Memory Lane is Ugly

A Facebook post about a bar burning in Hamtramck led to conversation about a bar closing in Denver and me remembering this photo of a different bar. I didn't remember anything about this photo but a couple other people did and, of course, the memories are not flattering to me. The guy is Rick, a friend/roommate, and the half-butt is me in 1996.

Blech.
I hated that time in my life and just thinking about it makes me feel kind of creepy.

That time makes me think of drinking too much, not eating enough other than cheeseburgers at a stinky bar and then giant breakfast burritos at a hangover diner, trying to fit in with people with whom I was never going to fit and who didn't really like me very much. And Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-shirt, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Extra Width and Chocolate and Cheese.

On the brights side, I think that is about the last time I was close to the weight I'd like to be. I could wear those two beautiful dresses I bought in San Francisco Chinatown if I was that size again.

You're Still Young, That's Your Fault

I was walking up the steps at work just now and realized that I knew Cat Stevens became Yusef Islam and I knew neither was his "real" name, but I had no idea what his birth name was.

Why I would know that I can't imagine but, thanks to the power of Google and Wikipedia, I do now.

Steven Demetre Georgiou.

Now to think of how I can put this information to use in my life.

David Bowie Harmonica!

January 4, 1973.
Some of the best mullets and outfits in the history of music.
That grey frizzy hair thing under the straight black hair? Amazing.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Made plans with J. to go see 2nd Story next Monday. Theme?

Down the Rabbit Hole
Have you ever ended up in a new world either geographically or mentally or spiritually? What about working up the ladder—have you ever tried to climb to the top of certain job or social group or lifestyle? Join 2nd Story this January as our tellers share stories of these brave new worlds. From a a young opera singer's one night stand with a mobster, to a grad student trying to date a woman who has money to burn, our tellers will take you up the ladder and down the rabbit hole.

Someone else was feeling Grace Slick genius vibes too.

I really need to do some story writing soon.
Also, my potbelly sandwich stress eating lunch - 675 Calories

Hello COOKIES

After a wonderful, yet not fat-satisfying dinner with sauteed bok choy, brocolli, carrots, sprouts and a homemade lemon ponzu sauce ... I needed something sweet but did not have a lot on hand. I found a recipe for some peanut butter cookies, added a handful of chocolate chips, and then dotted in some fig-ginger preserves.

They are a bit too crumbly but delicious. But now I will have a stomach ache tonight since I ate cookie dough.

January 1

Great cooking day! I made:

roasted radishes
cranberry-persimmon sauce
fennel frond and pistachio pesto
stuffed cabbage with black-eyed pea/veggie and a wonderful creole tomato sauce

Don't worry, I'm getting too healthy: I also treated myself to lunch out for a giant ham-salami-prosciutto sandwich with pesto aioli and a Bitter Woman IPA.

World Keep On Turnin'

I gave it some long, hard thought and this was my choice for first song played in 2012.