Wendy DeCora.com

I hope everyone was able to enjoy as much of a relaxing, yet productive weekend as I was.

Right after work on Friday, I went to see The Simpsons Movie. The theater was pretty full and the crowd was entertaining. Though one of the biggest laughs for me came before the movie even started. Sitting behind me was a group of seemingly college-type guys who were trying to be amusing to each other. One of the trailers before the movie was for Bee Movie, the Jerry Seinfeld animated movie. At the end of the trailer, the voice over announces that the female lead voice in the movie is done by Renée Zellweger, who is known to have certain amount of squintyness or sourpuss about her face in real life, but the character doesn’t resemble her. One of the guys then says,

Thank god we won’t have to look at her.

For some reason that struck both me and the woman sitting to my right as absolutely hysterical and we both just busted out laughing and couldn’t stop for awhile. Between my guffaws I heard the guy say kind of embarrassed, “oh I didn’t think I said it that loud.” As for the movie, I thought it delivered for all the Simpsons fans. It was an actual movie and not just four episodes smashed together that stayed true to the show and the characters. I thought the opening was really clever and enjoyed the ‘to be continued’ part. SPOILER: Is Dr. Nick really dead forever now? There were so many good lines, but having 90 minutes to keep trying to remember something that was funny while hearing dozens of other funny lines made it so hard for me to come out with lines to quote. I did find this one on the IMDB that I loved, though a lot of the funny was in the delivery: “You ever try going mad without power? No one listens to you.”

After I got home from the early movie (thank you 4:40pm matinée), I went nuts cleaning my apartment. I did three loads of laundry, dusted, vacuumed, cleaned my bathroom, scrubbed the kitchen, and I even scrubbed my kitchen floors. I also finished watching season one of Entourage on DVD, which is a fun guilty pleasure. TracyA described it to me as ‘Sex and the City for guys’ and she was right. Instead of four girlfriends in NYC, its four buddies in LA and I think the way its all shot on location in LA really makes it interesting. After all the cleaning and all the watching, it was nearly 2am and I was still wide awake. Since I knew I didn’t have anything in particular to get up for on Saturday, I took an Ambien and finally knocked out around 2:30am.

Saturday I rolled out of bed around 10am, it was lovely. I went out and ran a few errands, including recycling, which I love to do. I decided since this was the big moving weekend in town, one that I wouldn’t have to particpate in until next year, it was time I finished moving into my place by hanging the rest of my posters. I started hanging a few posters in my office and then I got distracted and decided to watch a movie, so I tossed in the Infamous DVD that I had gotten from the library. It was yet another film based on Truman Capote and his writing of In Cold Blood. I thought it was a good character study with many great actors and actresses in supporting roles. Special bonus points because Daniel Craig played the murderer Perry Smith. He even went brunette for the role, which I’m glad he didn’t do for Bond because his natural blond suits him much better.

I’d been hungry for something to snack on, so I made a batch of puppy chow/muddy buddies for snacking. I’m still working on my goal of reading 50 books this year and on Saturday I finished reading #32 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King. It was good and creepy, but not too much for my tastes. I did a little more cleaning and then I watched an episode of MST3K which was a really funny one that I hadn’t seen before.

Mac woke me up a bit earlier than I wanted to rise this morning, so I begrudingly got up and fed her and myself, then laid on the couch and watched the new FX show ‘Damages’ with Glenn Close. Its very ‘Alias meets John Grisham’ and I’m interested enough to watch a few more episodes and see where it goes. This morning was Antalya’s dedication at Jerry & Sara’s church. Here are a few photos:

After church and a tasty lunch at the church, I ran into Walgreens to buy some conditioner. I ran into my mom’s old boss who is now a pastor in Iowa City and bought my conditioner. I paid cash, which I rarely do, and on the way out, I threw away my receipt at the garbage can outside the store. I then got in my car and went to Office Depot and bought some magnets. Riveting stuff. I get back to my apartment and go to get out of my car and I cannot find my conditioner. I tear the basically clean cart apart thinking I’ve lost my mind. This was a big bottle of conditioner (it was on sale), where could it be? Then I thought, “someone stole my conditioner when I was in Office Depot!” But that made no sense to me since why would they only take the conditioner? Then I thought back to when I left Walgreens and thought maybe I had actually left it on the garbage can outside the store. But would it still be there? I headed back and it wasn’t outside. I went in and, of course, the girl who had checked me out wasn’t working the registers anymore. There were two guys working now. I went to the one who was the assistant manager and started with “I was here just a bit ago and has anyone brought in a bottle of conditioner that might have been left outside?” This guy is looking at me like I’m nuts. But then, from the other register, that guy says, “is this what you’re looking for?” and hands me my bag and my conditioner! Woo! Conditioner is very important to my life.

The rest of today I spent hanging posters, they’re pretty much all up now. Though I always have things that need to be framed and matted. I hadn’t done any matting in awhile, but I did this this afternoon:

[What? You didn't think I could go an entire post and not mention Bonerama in some way, did you?]

After all the hanging, I watched 3 Days of the Condor with Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway. It was decent, but spies have come a long way in the last 32 years. I think I could’ve taken him out three or four times along the way.

Now I’m watching tonight’s episode of ‘The 4400‘ and then I’m heading to bed having enjoyed a good weekend. I have a lot to do at work tomorrow, but I’m glad I didn’t go in this weekend. I needed some non-work time. Have a good week!

As I mentioned previously, Bonerama was in Iowa City on Friday, July 20th, and Mark and Craig were interviewed by my friend Frosty on his KRUI radio show, “The Bomb.”

Its twenty six minutes of informative and entertaining conversation and you can enjoy the entire interview right here:

[This post is going to be bizarre, just so you're warned.]

While I was enjoying my new laundry facilities last night, I was chatting with Jeff. We were discussing if we’d seen Sunday’s episode of The Sopranos yet. Neither of us had, but were both working to remedy that situation. I finally got around to watching it at about 9:30pm. Holy crap! I won’t spoil it for anyone because I know a lot of people watch it in a very time-shifted manner, but man, it was crazy! I immediately called Jeff thinking he would’ve seen it by now too. But he had not, and at this point it was 11:30pm eastern. However, my excitement and astonishment meant that he was going to cave and stay up and watch it. He then informed me that he was going to call me when it was over. So I did what any good TV watching friend would do: I turned my phone off and went to bed. Heh.

However, I wasn’t rewarded with a peaceful nights sleep. I read for awhile and then it took me a bit to get to sleep. Once I did I had a very vivid dream. The beginning of the dream was so blissful. In the dream it was a lovely summertime and I was living in this great old house, doing nothing much in particular. The best part? John Mayer was my next door neighbor. Oh yeah. Good times. He was just taking some time off to relax and work on some new music. We’d hang out. I’d listen to him play guitar. He was the sarcastic, intelligent, and amusing friend I’m sure he’d be.

[An aside back into the real world: He has an EP out on iTunes called 'The Village Sessions' and there is a bonus video with it. A 20 minute piece on how he created/wrote the song 'In Repair' in one day with no plans before he hit the studio was astounding. Serious musical genius at work there. Its what draws me to his music more than anything. Nothing more attractive than true musical talent.]

Unfortunately, my lovely dream world couldn’t last forever. Eventually John had to go back out on tour and he packed up and left. But before he went, he gave me his cell number and told me to call whenever if I ever needed anything. Aw. How sweet.
The next thing I know, people are breaking into my house and chasing me. I’m being hunted by the mob. (This is where my mind is getting me back for ignoring Jeff.) And I’m running all over the place. And it wouldn’t be a good dream if the surroundings didn’t constantly shift. One minute I’m running down an alley, the next I’m out in a windswept field, near a dirt road watching a few people be bludgeoned to death. It was very Miller’s Crossing. And then there is more fleeing on my part. I’m hiding in office buildings, I’m running suburban streets. My cousin Audrey (who lives in Holland?!) appears and takes my mom to safety. More running. More locations.

I finally get myself hidden away and I realize I can’t call my family or I’d put them in danger. What is a girl to do when she’s running from the mob? She calls John Mayer, obviously. I call. He answers. I describe my situation. He completely freaks out and hangs up on me!

And that’s when I wake up. Its 2:45am. The moon is shining in my window into my eyes and I’m sweating. Great.

On my way to work this morning I contemplated my dream, even though I know its pointless. I was wondering where the John Mayer aspect of it came in. The mob stuff was obvious from watching The Sopranos right before bed. I’ve been listening to a lot of his music lately, though I have been for months and I’ve never had a dream about him.

Then I opened my email this morning, the very first message I saw was the notification that my tickets for the John Mayer concert I’m going to in a few weeks had shipped… This is where you’d cue the creepy music if you believed in those kind of premonitions. *chuckle*

At least I haven’t had my recurring dream of Mark Mullins being murdered lately. Those really freak me out.

for Jeff…

IC area peeps are welcome to stop by my place and have some for real.

The Steele family dropped by my place this evening and Taly was so cute I had to share.

When we roll out old pictures of Jeff and wish him a happy birthday.

P.S. Jeff, buy your plane ticket!!!

Thursday evening I enjoyed a long, semi-drawn out meal hosted by Jerry & Sara that also included Donor and Frosty & Margaret. Sara made some very delicious risotto and baked chicken. Frosty eventually brought a tasty Caesar salad complete with homemade croûtons. It was fun to recount past weddings and roadtrips over some good drinks and tasty ice cream. I think all our storytelling eventually come back to one of two events:
1) Jeff & Katie’s wedding extravangaza. (”mmmmm… chocolate dome”)
2) The infamous road trip to Ohio State (”Why are we leaving? Its only halftime, right?”)

Friday evening, I went over to D’s for a girls’ night shopping party she was hosting. Even though I’m not usually one for jewelry or purses, I did order one necklace that will fill a void in my very small necklace wardrobe. And even if I hadn’t bought anything, it was worth the drive to see The Roethlers and eat Ma Zillman’s tailgating cracker crack mix.

I awoke on Saturday morning to our condo being more like a college dorm. Rachel is in the Iowa Swing Dance club and the club was hosting a three day event at the university. Other swing dancers came in from the area and Rachel had volunteered to host some. (yes, I knew in advance, I didn’t just wake up to the downstairs being full of girls.) There were seven girls staying so I was charitable and let some of them use my bathroom. When did I get so old that college sophomores look SO YOUNG? Though one girl was shocked to learn my age. Either she was humoring me or I got more confirmation that I did win the genetic lottery at least as far as aging goes.

I was considering going over to Kinnick for the spring “game” and taking in some tailgating. But when morning rolled around, I was tired and it really didn’t feel like spring out too much. Not enough to motivate me to go sit outside and watch the football team practice. I miss the days when it was an actual game. Knee injuries ruin everyone’s fun.

My mom arrived in town that afternoon as we were driving over to the Dubuque area (St. Donatus to be exact) for a memorial service for my cousin Martha Marie who sadly died way before her time. Its very strange for me to think that she’s dead. She was a member of my generation of my family. I did not know her well as she grew up and lived (for the most part) on the east coast, but the times I did spend with her, she was a very interesting and fun person. My fondest memory of her was a few years ago when I was in NYC for a long weekend seeing Bonerama (New CD out in 2 weeks!) shows. After three shows in a row, I was pretty much exhausted and getting rather ill. I already had plans to stay with her for my last night in town and she just took such good care of me. We went out and had real New York cheesecake while she told me stories about her life. Then she took me back to her place and let me rest while her roommate made us this truly wonderful meal. It was just a really nice time with a wonderful member of my family. She will be greatly missed.

I woke up Sunday to the household full of girls again, but they did eventually leave. I spent most of the day sorting through clothes in my closet and drawers in preparation for moving in two weeks. (Anyone want to help me out the weekend of the 28th??) I also dug out some storage containers that had clothes that I had packed away before I moved to my current residence a year and a half ago. Most of those went straight into the “see you later” pile. I have five bags of clothes that I will sort one more time tonight in order to determine what I can take to the consignment shop and then the rest goes to goodwill. All the sorting and considering actually took many hours.

After the bags were moved to the basement, I sat down and watched The Amazing Race (boring ep. Shut up, Mirna! Go Danny & Oswald!) and then the premier of Drive (with the delicious and talented Nathan Fillion). Did anyone else catch Drive? I really liked it. Tonight it is on during its regular time slot at 7pm central, right before 24. Please watch it so Fox won’t cancel it. (Who am I kidding, I like it and its on Fox. Its doomed.) In some ways it did remind me of a fictionalized Amazing Race (but sadly, no Phil). One of the female leads looked so familiar to me. I kept trying to place her. In the second hour, I finally figured out where I knew her from: The X-Files, of course. Duh. The actress is named Kristin Lehman and she played Esther Nairn/Invisigoth in the episode ‘Kill Switch’ from season five. That I could recognize her without all the black eye makeup and nose ring made me laugh. My brain is still full of X-Files facts. Good to know.

First a quick reminder to all of you out there: backup your data.

Last night my external hard drive decided to start having fits. Thanks to Jeff for trying to get me in off the ledge. I don’t know the full extend of the damage to my iTunes collection yet. There were drive formatting issues and other kinds of fun. MS-DOS is evil. EVIL. I ended up ordering another external drive from OWC today so I can have a backup of my backup and do all kinds of reformatting fun this weekend when I really don’t have time to be playing with my computer.

I was up way too late last night dealing with that, as well as watching Harry on Letterman and then having some kind of big band-related breakdown that I contemplated into the wee hours of the morning.

The passions in my life can be so draining.

So today I’m TIRED. Super tired. The serious ass kicking I gave myself at the gym last night didn’t help too much. I need to kick my workouts up, but last night just wasn’t the night to do it. C’est la vie.

I’ve been trying to stay rather low key for this next week because my life is about to get CRAZY. As you can see by my various countdowns on the right side of the page. But that’s not all that’s upcoming. Seriously.

Saturday I’m on-call at work, which pretty much guarantees there will be some kind of bad weather incident somewhere in the US which will require me to come into work at 6am. If you get two feet of snow on Friday night, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Also on Saturday afternoon, I just found that I have tickets to see/hear Barack Obama speak in Cedar Rapids. Thanks to Colleen for hooking me up with those. It sounds like he’s going to announce he’s really running for President that morning in Springfield, so he can officially go onto my If You’re Running For President and Come to My Area, I’ll Give You a Look list.

Tuesday is Doogie’s birthday. I assume there will be eating somewhere.
Wednesday, I’m getting my hair done in Ames. (yes, I go to Ames for my hair styling. I only trust my friend Meredith to touch it.)
Then Thursday its off to Chicago for Bonerama with Julie, back to Iowa City to meet my mom to go to St. Louis for more Bonerama.
Possibly attending the Iowa v. Minnesota wrestling meet on Sunday night (the 18th). I have President’s Day off, but I have various appointments to attend that day. I sold my John Mayer tickets (I’ll catch him next time around; or after he dumps Jessica Simpson) so I will actually be at work the 20th and 21st.

And then: I’m off to LA for the Red Carpet at the Academy Awards! As well as visiting friends and relatives. And Oprah. I got tickets to her post-Oscar show on Monday the 26th.

MADNESS. MADNESS.

It doesn’t help that Feb. is also sweeps month. I think my TiVo may have a heart attack.

I thought maybe talking about it would wake me up. But no. I still just want a nap.
So sleepy!

I had two Super Bowl parties to attend this evening. One at the Utech’s and one at the Roethler’s. Good food and good friends were present at both. There are a plethora of babies about these days. I took pictures of many of them which I’ll most likely post tomorrow, but I liked this one of Lindsey and I. (Which I took more out of random chance as I was trying to keep her from grabbing my camera.)

It was a good game. Go football! That rain must have sucked for the fans that were actually there. The commercials were really, really marginal. Big props to Prince for fighting through that weather to put on a great halftime show!

How long until football again?

I’m tired! It has been a very fun and quite crazy weekend. I have photos, but considering the amount of knitting I have to complete in the next week, I doubt I’ll get pictures posted until after Christmas. For now, here’s the bulleted list roundup of the eating/events:

• Wednesday after work I finished getting all my “these must be mailed” Christmas presents ready to go in the mail. I then stopped by the Steele abode to drop off Antalya’s cutest. sweater. ever. and found Jerry’s sister, Savannah, was visiting. Which then turned into us all going out to the Hamburg for dinner. Jerry and I had a collaborative meal since I wanted an omelet and french fries and he wanted a tenderloin and pancakes.
• Thursday was my holiday party at work (budget code: 707003) and I continued my yearly tradition of attempting to eat my weight in cream puffs. There was the added bonus of chocolate covered cream puffs AND a chocolate fountain this year. The chocolate covered cream puffs were tasty, but one just can’t consume the same quantity of those in comparison to the plain ones. The chocolate fountain was fun, but most people just stood around it, unsure how to proceed. Grab a skewer and plunge on in!
• Friday night was a birthday party for Colleen at her and Doogie’s place in the CRapids. They always throw really good parties. There were drinks, there was a lot of good food, and a little too much dancing in the living room. I also got to try my grip on the Nintendo Wii, thanks to some random guy who brought his along. I’m better at virtual bowling than I am at real bowling. But I can see why people are excited about that gaming system. Its really social and easy even for people who aren’t really gamers, like me. At the end of the night, I was prepared and I had brought along my toothbrush so I crashed in the guest room.
• Saturday morning I woke up way too early and headed back home where I then slept for a few more hours, waking up to find MacGyver was sleeping on my hair, pinning me to my pillow. That was interesting. I managed to rouse myself in time to run one failed shopping errand in search of Keebler Munch’ems crackers (seriously, can you get those anymore anywhere??) before heading to a cookie exchange at my co-worker Laura’s home in West Branch. It was nice to see her place after hearing about projects and such over the past couple of years. Met some nice people and Laura’s cat, Tigger, thought I was really nice. I took sugar cookies to exchange and came home with about 6 dozen assorted cookies. Knowing I was going to get all these cookies was the catalyst for the party that Rachel and I then hosted on Saturday night. We were going to be very laid back about it and just have the cookies for eating, but somewhere along the way we freaked out and made all kinds of other food. We had 23 people over, but we probably had food for 75. *laughs* But it was a really good time and a good mix of my friends and Rachel’s friends. Props to Frosty for making really great hot chocolate. He even made real whipped cream on the spot! There was a white elephant gift exchange and a round of my new Scene It game. (It was very clear who among Rachel’s friends didn’t know me because one of the guys who was on my team was just amazed that I was answering most of the questions right. *chuckle*) The party broke up around midnight and Rachel and I pushed as many bags of goodies on as many people as we could as they left. We cleaned up most of the mess that night and I got to sleep around 1:30am.
• Sunday morning I fought the bad urge to sleep until Monday and went to church with the Steele family to see Jerry sing with their church choir. It was a really nice service, the choir sounded great, and we got to sing four good Christmas hymns which made me happy. My only complaint (because I always have to have one *wink*), was that ‘Hark, the Herald Angels Sing’ was being played in a lower key than it is originally in because it was no challenge at all to sing the fun ‘Gloria’ part. Sara’s parents and grandmother had also come to town for the service and Savannah was still in town. After church, I joined them all for dinner at Bob’s Your Uncle. Then, because global warming is trying to make me crazy with this complete lack of cold and snow, Jerry, Savannah, and I joined Frosty and Jerry’s friend Mark for 15 holes of Frisbee golf at the new course out by the dog park. It was a lot of fun, I still totally suck at frisbee throwing, but its a fun time just walking and Frosty’s always very encouraging no matter how good or horrid one is. I got home around 5pm completely exhausted and not a little bit cold. I needed to knit, but I ended up just collapsing in my recliner with Mac and watching ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and the ‘Survivor’ finale before attempting to go to bed. Because the weekend hadn’t been long enough, my insomnia decided to visit and I was awake until sometime after 1am.

It was a really really great weekend. Thanks to all my friends who made it so.
But man, I need a nap!