wampug friday

still highly in edit mode. i'm going home for thanksgiving and have this dream that i can have the manuscript finished by then. in the way of dreams, there's probably little reality in this one, but that means no dawdling.

this video is courtesy of my red-haired sis. see how many times you watch it. five for me so far.

ducks in a row?

it's the weekend! or it's practically the weekend (still worthy of celebrating).

i'm slacking off already. which means today is the perfect day for a dancing dog video. except i couldn't find any that lived up to the other two i already posted. here are some decent runner ups.

phew. that was a tough hour of research.

no, for the record, you're not a bad person if you laugh at this one. only if you laugh repeatedly, like i did.

this video gets a little iffy/scary, but it's still good for the huh-huh chuckle.

and buda bump da bum bump. that's all folks. tell me if i missed one.

happy weekend!

my one sis sent these:

and

and



and this (one of my old favorites) from fabulous crit partner

keep 'em coming people!

geeking out

it's here! the final Harry Potter film is out.

a week ago i waxed poetic about Harry Potter coming to an end. how there would never be a new film to get all excited about. i mourned traditions ending. i expressed fears that i'd never feel that anticipation about a film series again. then i clicked on the news and realized it was the day that the United States space shuttle program was ending. um, oops.

to my knowledge, the auto industry is not closing up shop, nor is the National Endowments for the Arts calling it quits today, so i don't have to question my blogging and life's values and priorities. i can just talk Harry Potter.

now where was i? some people i know have already seen the film.

in Buffalo, my little sister went with her husband, Dan. lil' sis dressed up as Hermoine Granger.

Dan dressed up as Dan.

in Hoboken, New Jersey, my crit partner wore her Ravenclaw gear and did the whole back to back thing:

look how their shirts match the color of the wand glow behind them. coincidence? or carefully plotted move that shows their true natures and alliances?

yeah, coincidence.

me? i'm going in just 3 hours with my sister. since i don't wear costumes on Halloween, the extent of my dressing up might be to draw an owl on my hand. (notice the use of the word 'might'?)

at work last night, i was told about a movie theatre that exists in the Financial District that no one ever goes to, because no one knows it exists. my sis and i aren't going to that theatre. we're going to the huge one in Union Square.

"people talk to the screen at that one," said the informant who knows about the quiet movie theatre.

"exactly!" i said.

most times i like my movie watching to be quiet. who doesn't love the escapism that comes with getting entirely absorbed in the big screen? normally if people rustle their popcorn bag too loudly behind me i get annoyed. but for big blockbuster releases? there's nothing better than having hundreds of other people gasping and laughing along with you.

i saw the Heath Ledger Batman movie in a Times Square theatre. every time someone yelled at the Joker, the whole theatre cheered. it was awesome. seeing a film with a big boisterous crowd transforms the experience of movie watching -- which we've all done plenty of -- into a cultural event. and considering that i watch almost all my movies off Netflix now, engaging in a little shared screen talking feels good for my soul.

haven't seen any of the Harry Potter films? don't remember the last one?

don't let that stop you! here's a video that crunches the last 7 films into a six minute catch-up:

really not interested in Harry Potter? haven't seen any and ain't gonna start now? here's something to bring a little joy and magic into your day, too. because while there's nothing i want to watch more than that Harry Potter film today, dancing dog videos come pretty close.

what do you do?

life is good.

i might only be saying that because i'm having my first proper cup of coffee in a week. but so what? you have to say it when you feel it, right? so....

the heat just came on, a banana breads in the oven, i have three days off in a row which i don't plan on being sick for this time, and my writing is progressing swimmingly. right now, life is freakin' great.

this was going to be a blog post about baking. and how now i bake and i never did before and isn't it cool as adults that we continue to grow and learn? then i thought about it.

i bake exactly four things comfortably: bread, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies and apple crumb cake. that cake recipe is a new addition, too. so until about 2 weeks ago, three things.

that's like saying i'm a swimmer when my only stroke is doggy paddle (though you should see my underwater handstand).

but maybe that's the great thing about being an adult. we can say and do whatever we want. you know, barring mean things.

so i'll say it proudly: I BAKE four things!

this week from work i'll acquire that shortbread cookie recipe. that'll put me up to 5. it's a slow start, but visit me when i'm 70 and be prepared to have your socks blown off.

and here, to light up your wednesday, is a fabulous dancing dog video: