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wThe Whine Column |
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I'll try to keep the actual whining to a minimum, I promise. But this is where I'll rant about work, stupid people and the like, plus make mention of the random interesting things in my life. Email me at quizbabe at yahoo dot com if you want to whine back.
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wMonday, September 30, 2002 |
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Pathetic
I sort of see where Matt is coming from, in that "gee, isn't that nice he gave his girlfriend pleasure in an unselfish way, especially when she's so desperately trying to preserve her virginity," but here's my problem with calling Justin Timberlake a "good guy." What Matt seems to be overlooking is that Justin gave up this information on the radio in exchange for having his new song played more. That's just pathetic.
I can just imagine the conversation as it might have played out:
"Hi guys, how long 'til my song comes on again?" "Well Justin, it's already in the every-45-minutes rotation, and we've just heard it, so you'll have to wait another 40 minutes." "Isn't there anything I can do to get my song on more?" "Sure, give us the dirt on your relationship with Britney -- did you bang her or what?" "I can't tell you that, it's too ... how many more times a day will the song air?" "Six." "Deal. Here's the scoop."
How sleazy is this guy that he traded very intimate information on his personal life best left to tabloid fodder to get his song played 30 more times a week? I'm disgusted that the radio hosts would make such an offer, and I'm disgusted that Justin Timberlake would take them up on that offer, then try to act all reluctant and whatever about it. What a slimeball.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of his or of Britney's, but this sucks. I mean, she gets her dirty little secret aired and gets nothing in return, while he gets the admiration of boys (and dirty old men) everywhere for licking her plus more air play for his new single. That ain't right.
Then again, we didn't get her side of the story. Maybe he wasn't good and she's planning to let everyone know that. Ah, revenge.
posted by
Allyson at 12:35 AM
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wSaturday, September 28, 2002 |
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Hack
Not the show, but a description of my writing. It turns out that lately all I want to write here are snippets about random topics rather than actual "columns," per se, which is what I think I should do more of in this forum -- you know, keep what few writing skills I have polished.
But my mind is muddled, so here's some more random musings.
~~~A quote I could not possibly have made up but someone actually wrote it. Ben Nuckols wrote a review of the new movie "The Tuxedo" for the Associated Press, and this is what he has to say about Jennifer Love Hewitt: "She fills out a role that's nothing on the page -- a rookie operative in a vaguely defined intelligence agency -- with feisty confidence and improvisational spirit."
Insert your own boob joke here.
~~~Overheard at the Gap Oulet at Wrentham Village (an outlet mall in Wrentham, Mass.): "These are a size 1? They're so big!" I know that some people are just naturally thin. I am clearly not one of them, nor do I care that much. But really. You wear a size 1 and you're complaining about how big the pair of size 1 jeans you are holding up look compared to your twig body? Stop your bitching.
~~~Had a very Greek day on Saturday. We went out for Greek food and then saw "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," in preparation for our trip (we leave Thursday!) and because I wanted to see the movie. Go see it. It's funny and romantic but not terribly sappy. Matt seems to think that the family in the movie is a bit like my family -- probably because of the swarm of cousins -- though the only things we've ever roasted on the lawn are marshmallows and what we like to call "dough things," for lack of a better name. (It's buttermilk biscuit dough rolled into a rope, coiled around a skewer or stick, then toasted over a fire, brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar. Yum!) Yes, my family is weird, but they make life fun.
~~~Did I mention our vacation? I'll be seeing my friend Marina for the first time in more than five years. She is going to meet us at the airport, and I'm wondering if I'll recognize her, if she's changed much in the time since I last saw her. She should have no trouble spotting me, as a pasty-skinned blonde in Cyprus is going to stick out like a sore thumb. And there will be two of us -- me and Matt. Plus, I still look the same as I did five years ago. Hell, I still look the same as I did 10 years ago, give or take a few pounds. Seriously, I would easily fit the "least changed since high school" category.
Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius is about to attempt to draw Bugs Bunny out of his hole for "dinner." (Apparently Road Runner is on vacation.) Wonder if he'll be successful this time? ;)
posted by
Allyson at 1:13 AM
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wWednesday, September 18, 2002 |
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Ben Folds rocks!
Coming soon to record stores everywhere (Oct. 8, to be exact) is a Ben Folds live CD (first U.S. pressing will also have a seven-track DVD extra). Unfortunately, none of the tracks on the CD is from the Boston show in June, which is how I knew this live disc was being released. But the cool thing is that if you go to Ben's Web site, you can get an advance listen to some of the songs.
If the only song by Ben Folds Five you know is "Brick," then you really don't know Ben Folds' music at all. While representative of the band's musical style in that it was piano-drums-bass with no guitar, that song was much darker in tone than most of their work. I mean, a song about abortion is rarely going to reflect a group's general oeuvre. And I suppose "She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly" is almost the diametrical opposite of "This will cheer you up for sure. See I got your old ID and you're all dressed up like The Cure."
Anyway, Matt's not really a fan because he thinks the songs (both Ben solo and with the Five) are overproduced. Ben and his piano playing live in a place like Avalon has a different feel altogether and it seems the hubby actually enjoyed himself when we dragged him to the June show. So I highly recommend you check out the Web site, where in addition to the daily debut of songs from the live CD you can find the video for "Still Fightin' It" plus scenes from the making of the video for "Rockin' the Suburbs" (directed, oddly enough, by Weird Al Yankovic).
That's my plug for today. Again, I get no kickbacks from Ben Folds for promoting his stuff. I just like his music a lot and think you all should, too. You'll thank me later.
posted by
Allyson at 1:16 PM
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wTuesday, September 17, 2002 |
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Checking In
It's been more than a week since I've written, which is because I just haven't felt like writing. But I thought I'd poke my head out of my prairie dog hole and give my devoted audience something to read. ;)
Our recent trip to Six Flags was fun. The park wasn't too crowded, so the longest we waited in line for a ride was 40 minutes for Superman the first time we went on it -- only waited 25 the second time, which was fantastic considering the first time we ever went on it, two years ago, we waited an hour and 45 minutes. Totally worth it. Fantastic roller coaster. Kicks the ass of the new Batman ride, which really isn't that impressive. Thank god we only waited about 10 minutes for that. We're also glad we didn't bite for the Fastlane pass when we first got to the park. It's a little gizmo that you use to "hold" your place in line and it alerts you when it's your turn to ride, so you don't have to stand in line (you do still have to wait, though instead of waiting in line you can sit somewhere and have a snack, play some games, etc.). It costs like $20 for the day, and on the day we were there would have been a waste of money. Past visits during the heart of summer, though, have demonstrated what this gadget's usefulness might be.
I was in a funk yesterday because I got a lovely form email from the job I applied for recently saying while they had received a number of impressive resumes, they had narrowed down the field to the applicants they thought best suited their needs and I was not one of them. I can't imagine why -- I was perfect for that job. So I made the mistake of being an optimist and getting my hopes up. Seems like almost every time I do that, betraying my pessimistic nature, I get disappointed. I'm just hoping that my optimism and excitement about my trip doesn't get dashed this way.
Well, that's going to have to hold you for now, as I have to go pack dinner for work tonight, then actually go to work. Yipee.
posted by
Allyson at 1:50 PM
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wSaturday, September 07, 2002 |
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More Random Musings
Everyone's favorite -- accumulated stuff in my head comes flowing out in babbling prose ...
~~~I have two words for southern New England radio stations: ENOUGH ALREADY! I'm glad that Matt and I have decided to play our Greek language lesson tapes on our way to Six Flags tomorrow (actually today by date but tomorrow by the fact that I have yet to sleep and get up the next day), because if I have to spend another day flipping stations from one Rolling Stones song to the next I think I am going to scream! Yes, I know a lot of people think they're great. I don't. Thank god their last concert in the "Boston" stop of the new world tour is Sunday; then radio stations can return to their regular, mostly Stones-free format. Seriously, if the classical station could find a recording the Boston Pops did of a Stones tune they would play it -- incessantly, to be sure.
~~~I am also sick and tired of people who call Sept. 11 "nine-one-one." If those horrible events had happened on, say, Sept. 10, no one would be calling it "nine-one-zero." This rant also includes people who call it "nine-eleven." Of course, not having an official name for the day makes it hard to say what people should be calling it -- it's not like Pearl Harbor Day or D-Day in that the attack didn't happen in just one place, nor was it an American-planned invasion with a specific military designation. I guess if people just call it "September eleventh" that is OK by me -- that's what I've been calling it in the few references I've made to it. I suppose I'll make an obligatory post on the day itself, just to serve as my own personal record.
~~~Since most (if not all) of you reading are BU grads, and since I would imagine that you, like me, still owe a decent chunk of change for that education and don't have any to spare to donate to the alma mater, calling for a boycott of donations over this story would be pointless. But I personally will come out and say that not a cent of my money will be donated in any sort of alumna capacity until Silber is gone. This really goes too far.
To quote, " ... Silber, who resumed day-to-day control of the university after a six-year hiatus, 'questioned the rationale of running a school that engages in activities that are not germane to its purpose.'" Next thing you know he'll cut football ... I was going to question how hockey is germane to the university's purpose, but then I remembered all the money it brings in. Ol' Lefty can bite me.
~~~One more thing and then it's time for "Daria." How is it that everyone I know in real life has different ring tones on their cell phones, but everyone in Salem (on "Days of our Lives") has the same ring? Wait ... you mean soaps aren't real? There really aren't alien twins who landed on a wooded hilltop during the Gemini meteor shower, in possession of a strange blue key?
posted by
Allyson at 12:59 AM
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wWednesday, September 04, 2002 |
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Six Readers
Last night I mentioned to someone that I had five known readers. Based on today's email, I now know of at least six people who have read my blog. Thanks. The rest of you ... well, write me at quizbabe@yahoo.com if you want or read in anonymity. Either way, I hope you are amused/entertained/enlightened/disturbed by what you find here.
Job hunting still sucks. I've not heard back from a promising resume submission yet, but a phone call will be made either tomorrow or Friday to check on its status. I don't want to be a pain in the ass about it, but I really want to make sure I at least get an interview for this job -- not sure what the salary is, but it can't possibly be less than what I make now and the commute would be a walk in the park compared to my current 45-mile-each-way trek.
Not much new in my world otherwise. Matt and I reaffirmed our standing as dorks by spending our Friday night at the Museum of Science. We went to the Imax to see a film on Australia, which was very cool. Then we had a light dinner at the "Science Street Cafe," which the musem offers on Friday nights as a sort of bistro dining option. They have a live jazz combo and offer a decent selection of drinks and what they call appetizers but which are actually enough for dinner if you're not completely famished. Plus I went the extra-dork route and bought the companion book to the PBS series "The Life of Birds," which had been yet another of my late-night nature-show-watching habits. (The book, I might add, was on sale and ended up costing $6.50.)
Saturday we spent at a birthday party for a friend and then at my parents' house with my mom and sister as a sort of going-away family thing for my sister, who moved into an apartment at Coolidge Corner in Brookline on Sunday with her three roommates from college and another friend (all 2002 Northeastern grads). She has a job (which she doesn't like all that much, but rent in Brookline ain't cheap) and a new (used) car that is much nicer than what I drive. I'm really happy for her, but lament the fact that she is now a grown-up, which makes me (supposedly) even more of a grown-up. Eek!
Sunday I worked, as I do every Sunday, once again ruining a perfectly good long holiday weekend. Monday we went shopping, napped, had dinner, watched Love Boat. Yesterday was just another weekday, as is today so far.
Twenty-nine days and counting to vacation. Don't think I'm not excited about it.
posted by
Allyson at 12:57 PM
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wTuesday, September 03, 2002 |
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A Special Post
This post is dedicated to one of my devoted readers. He'll know who he is. For the rest of you, I promise a real post soon.
old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school old school bite me
posted by
Allyson at 12:46 PM
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