The 47th in our 118-part series.
It’s something interesting on the television.
It’s 9:45 on a Sunday night, and do you know what we’re doing at stately IPB Manor, Gentle Reader? That’s right — we’re sitting in companionable, bored silence while taking turns playing Katamari Damacy. And do you know what we’ve done every single night for the last week? Good guess — exactly that same thing. Now, we are big fans of sitting on our couch for hours and hours every single night; it’s time we use to work on our various needlecrafty hobbies, and we keep in touch with friends online during this time, but we like to have something interesting on the TV as the primary focus here. And while we have become good, practiced hands at finding alternative stuff to watch (or in the case of this summer, to do) during the off-season, there is always a breaking point. And today we reached ours. We are bored. Bored, bored, bored. We need hockey to come back so there’s something to watch on TV.
Dear Sweet Lou,
What the fuck is going on with Paul Martin?
Love,
Genna
P.S. Keep Jimmy Dowd in the organization! Let him do special assignments because that sounds really cool, but I know it’s just like spreading rumours. I bet everyone doesn’t know that Paulie Martin is a transsexual. Jimmy Dowd to the rescue!
The best part about putting Dowd on “special assignments” is that he’s probably not astute enough to realize it’s different from “special teams”. So he’ll eagerly go out telling everyone that Paulie’s transgendered, thinking it’s just like being out on the PK! Plus, it gives Lou plausible deniability. “What’s that?” he says to Paulie’s agent, “Someone’s spreading rumors about Paul? No, that most definitely wasn’t me!”
And seriously, yeah, what’s going on with Paulie? I’m not going to put this all on Lou, though, because both sides are party to contract issues. So I’ll say to Lou, “Suck it up. You’ve got cap space, and while it’s scary thinking of him as a number one D-man, Paulie’s the proverbial bird in hand. Just give him the fucking money.” And I’ll say to Paulie, “Dude, no one else wants you. They all think you’re transgendered. Just sign the fucking contract.” Did that help?
SO true about TV. I don’t think I can stand it much longer. I’m reduced to actually TiVo-ing episodes of “Snapped” on the Oxygen channel.
I finally finished the entire Sex and the City series and now know Big’s real name. Hockey season can now begin.
We added Mythbusters and Spongebob to our tivo this summer. It’s been brutal. BRUTAL!!!!
And on that note, we’ve also reached our limit with Katamari for one day (that limit: 11 hours. No joke), so it’s off to bed. Maybe when I wake up there will be hockey again…
I finally finished the entire Sex and the City series and now know Big’s real name.
Last summer was a good one for us in the “watching an entire series on DVD” category for us because we caught the first three seasons of “The Wire”. Considering that’s kind of the pinnacle of scripted television, there’s really nowhere to go from there.
And seriously, yeah, what’s going on with Paulie? I’m not going to put this all on Lou, though, because both sides are party to contract issues.
While this is true, it seems like everything happens on Lou time.
I’ve also watched two Games to [Not] Remember (from the Stars point of view). The Islanders and the Rangers both showed their games against the Stars. We totally should have won that game against the Rangers. Even their broadcast team said so. Lundqvist needs to be on a less loathsome team.
Ahhh, “The Wire”. Yes, very good. My favorite is Season 2 with the ports. Everytime I drive by the Port of Long Beach/LA I wonder, “How many containers have dead hookers in them”
It sounds to me like you just need a new game to play. I would like to suggest Guitar Hero II (and not the new one that came out, just GH or GHII will suffice). Just trying to play the songs on hard will be plenty of time taken up – I should know, I still can’t do it (stupid orange fret).
Speaking of Guitar Hero II, here’s more evidence of Sherry’s stupidity:
So, we had GHII in the house for awhile and we’ve played it for months and hours and unlocked almost every song, purchased all the new outfits/characters and guitars, whatever. Yesterday I turn on the game and they tell me there’s a corruption in the data file on the memory card and would I like to overwrite the old one with a new file? I click on ‘no’, except I totally didn’t and went to ‘yes’ instead. And guess what? We had to re-do everything all over again. Actually, with a team effort the housemates and I managed to salvage almost everything within a couple of hours. Fun times!
And now I’m going to bed. Night!
SO true about TV. I don’t think I can stand it much longer. I’m reduced to actually TiVo-ing episodes of “Snapped” on the Oxygen channel.
I have two summer shows, one of which I’m slightly ashamed of (So You Think You Can Dance?) and one of which is decidedly uncool but I’m not the least ashamed of it. That being Doctor Who. Because seriously…the Doctor is awesome and David Tennant is awesome as the Doctor. If it weren’t for those two shows, my tv wouldn’t be turned on at all in the summer.
No love for Monk or Psych, Meg? Even though they are basically the same show.
I don’t dislike Monk of Psych…I’ve just never seen them. :)
That’s a valid reason :P They’re both pretty funny shows about crime solvers on USA.
About Monk via Wikipedia
I’d link to the Wikipedia article about Psych, but Senor Spam will this comment up.
*will eat this comment up.
Yes, I am still up at 5:00 AM. Just finished the second wave of assignments for Access and now onto PowerPoint!
Morning all! Broadcasting from the apple store, where I’m hoping they can fix my laptop –;; Bastard hard drive.
Back everything up, Mags!
Did that last week. It fried itself this morning.
It sounds to me like you just need a new game to play. I would like to suggest Guitar Hero II
Thanks for the suggestion, John! We actually have Guitar Hero and Grand Theft Auto as alternatives to Katamari, but I think we’ve entered the addiction phase of the summer. I’m not sure I can physically handle playing something else!
Sherry, that’s terrible about losing all your work, but I’m so glad you were able to win most of it back.
Genna, I love “Monk”! The plan was to watch Season 4 this summer, but I haven’t been feeling it.
My summer TV viewing includes more than my healthy share of made-for-TV movies. I think I must have seen 3 this weekend and I’m pretty certain they were all about the same thing.
Mags, isn’t it nice though that they have free wireless? I guess if your hard drive is shot then you are on one of the computers in the store?
Time to get some sleep! I am aware that this is not a normal sleeping schedule. This is just an introduction of the dysfunctional sleeping schedule of Genna.
I’ll probably be back around 4:30-5:00, whenever I get home from my dentist appointment. Let’s hope for no cavities! I have really crappy teeth and it seems no matter what I do, I always seem to get them. Don’t leave too many comments for me to catch up on. No more than say, 300ish?
I’ll probably be back around 4:30-5:00, whenever I get home from my dentist appointment. Let’s hope for no cavities!
Have fun at the dentist! After years and years of perfect dentist appointments, my dentist was very angry at me this past visit (last week) and made me convinced my teeth are falling out of my head. I even had a nightmare last night that the dental hygenist was showing up at my house every morning to make sure I was brushing right.
Good luck at the dentist Genna!
What’s all this with John suggesting we play a different game??? John, I’m horrified! :P (Just kidding. You’re probably right that it’s time for us to move on to something new. But like Pookie said, it’s an addiction. Katamari is like our disease now. Plus, the little prince is so cute, and seriously I can sit there for hours just watching him. There are times when I think I have the brain capacity of a hamster.)
Meg, I’ve heard many good things about “Doctor Who”, so I won’t hold that against you… ;-) (And say, weren’t you out in the woods for a while? Am I making that up? Did you have a good vacation? Or if you didn’t go on vacation and I’m just demonstrating more of my hamster brain, could you go easy on me and just pretend to have had a good vacation?)
As for “Monk”, we watched all the available seasons on DVD last summer before hitting “The Wire”. It was a study in “from the ridiculous to the sublime”. (But I really and shamelessly love “Monk”. It’s like “Murder, She Wrote” for the ’00s!)
And say, weren’t you out in the woods for a while? Am I making that up? Did you have a good vacation? Or if you didn’t go on vacation and I’m just demonstrating more of my hamster brain, could you go easy on me and just pretend to have had a good vacation?
I was indeed out in the woods. Glacier Nat’l Park in MT. It was a very nice vacation. Apparently this is prime forest fire time in that part of the world so it was a bit smoky at times, but lovely nevertheless.
I’m glad you had a great trip, Meg! And even gladder that the forest fires weren’t too much of a problem. I remember when we were out in AZ now would be the time of year to sit with a slushy drink on the patio and watch the smoke plumes across the valley from Tonto Nat’l Forest.
Glad you had a great trip Meg, and glad to have you back!
Glad to have you back and that you had a nice trip Meg!
Genna, yeah, I was on one of the computers they have set up there. Back on my laptop now though. Yay geniuses!
Glad that your computer got fixed so rapidly! That’s always a relief.
So, change of topic but I’m actually wasting my time right now reading synopses of old Jet Li movies. Fun times!
They just rebooted the whole system (apparently I did something that they call “bricking” a hard drive. Nothing can be recovered, you just have to reset everything). Everything is lost, but it’s all on cd anyway, so no worried :).
Sherry, I thought he was pretty good in Hero. That movie isn’t old by any stretch of the imagination though.
Mags, ‘Hero’ is actually one of my favourite movies. I grew up on Jet Li movies and loved them when I was younger. I saw one of his old ones yesterday and spent most of it laughing an snarking at how terrible it was, but it sort of inspired me to maybe watch more of them, heh.
Glad your computer is back, Mags! Back that shit up, people!
Hi Meg! Welcome back!
I would like to make a suggestion regarding TV to watch on DVD. It sounds scary and hopelessly nerdy, but please, just listen. I would like to insist that you would all love……Battlestar Galactica. I know, it’s the nerdiest sounding show of all time, but I’m telling you, it’s really, really really good, and I don’t even like SciFi. There are three complete seasons to watch, so it should keep you happy for a few weeks, tv-wise. I am so jealous of people who still have their first viewing of Battlestar Galactica ahead of them. It’s a great show because when it’s not being genuinely AWESOME, it’s really fun to make fun of. Everyone on it is very hott, and there are sexy robots. What’s not to love?
Kate, I’ve actually been considering adding that to my Netflix. I think I really should.
Do it, Meg! It ROCKS! I watched it after my friend Mike practically begged me to do so. He was desperate for someone to talk about BSG with him. Just watch the mini-series, if that doesn’t hook you, you’re craaa-zy.
I have long been in a dance of death with Battlestar Gallactica. (And yes, I remember watching the first version of it on TV when I was a kid. Probably in reruns? That show was older than me, right? Right?) See, I’m one of those people who just can’t stand book/movie/TV recommendations. Does anyone here also have that problem? That even if the person doing the recommending has impeccable taste and you know they’re right, as soon as someone tells you you’ll probably like something, you just immediately develop a violent aversion to it? It’s terrible, and all of us have this problem at IPB Manor, so it’s always really funny how we have to tiptoe around suggesting books to one another. At any rate, I LONG resisted “The Wire” for this reason, and am now doing the same thing with “Battlestar Gallactica”. I know I’m going to like it. I know it’s widely considered one of the best series on TV in recent years. And I know it’s a lot easier on the eyes (and heart) than “The Wire” (my current measuring stick for the worthiness of all television programming). But I just can’t watch it because I’m so irrational and I’m like, “NEVER! I’LL SHOW YOU! I’LL SHOW YOU ALL!!!” (But I will relent. Someday.)
Listen to Kate guys! She’s so right! I used to watch BSG, but they stopped showing it in the middle of season 2 for some insane reason. I hear the end of season 3 is a killer though.
Schnookie, I can TOTALLY relate to your aversion to recommendations. I’m the same way! The more someone wants me to watch something the more I refuse to watch it. BSG is the perfect example. My friend Mike practically had to PAY me to watch the mini series…poor guy was desperate.
I won’t say anything else, lest I drive you forever away, except: Your summer will be so much better with Battlestar Galactica. Battlestar Galactica has the power to distract you from this drab hockeyless existence. You will forget all about hockey.
I’m one of those people who just can’t stand book/movie/TV recommendations. Does anyone here also have that problem?
Book recommendations aren’t my favorite because I have a long list of things to read and a bunch of the people I know expect you to push a book to the trong of your list the instant they recommend it. I like hearing about the books people like, but unless their recommendations are very un-pushy, I get annoyed by them. TV and movie recs I’m more ok with.
So, change of topic but I’m actually wasting my time right now reading synopses of old Jet Li movies. Fun times!
Man, the Enforcer is one of my favorites! Why NOT tie a rope around your son’s waist and whip him around in a room full of thugs?
Your summer will be so much better with Battlestar Galactica. Battlestar Galactica has the power to distract you from this drab hockeyless existence. You will forget all about hockey.
Keep talking like that and it won’t EVER happen! :P
Seriously, though, there is nothing I hate worse than someone recommending something rabidly, then sitting down with you to watch it. Or forcing you to watch it. I get really, really petty then, and will force myself to hate whatever it is they’re showing me, and I’ll just sit in pained, stony silence until it’s done. On top of genuinely hating “Heroes” on its own merit, I doubly hated it because Kate the Great made us watch it last Thanksgiving (she’d tivoed the entire series to that point), and I just gritted my teeth and made a huge show of how awful I was finding it. I’m such a grown-up.
DUDE! I have hated entire albums of music for years only to discover I love them years later….. and that I only hated them in the first place because someone sat down with me in front of the stereo all, “See? Isn’t this the greatest album of all time?” If someone actually gives me a book as a GIFT? Forget it.
I shall never mention Battlestar Galactica again.
If someone actually gives me a book as a GIFT? Forget it.
Oh man, SERIOUSLY! I have a book on my shelf that was an unsolicited loaner. A friend handed it to me at a party once and said, “I think you’ll love this, but I do need it back some day!” Well, she either should have taken it back right then, or considered it a loss, because I’m never going to read it, but now I can’t give it back without her being like, “Did you enjoy it?” Lessons learned, people — don’t every give Schnookie a book that you expect to get back someday after she’s actually read it.
I have become strangely very good at staying open-minded when hearing new music, but then only from VERY select people.
“I just gritted my teeth and made a huge show of how awful I was finding it. I’m such a grown-up.”
I find that I only do that with certain people. There are just some people that recommend the lamest stuff!
What I’ve been doing all summer? Check it out, every week I scroll through the movie listings on IFC and these 2 random ass movie channels that I get (don’t know how). Anyways, I record every movie that looks interesting based on the plot synopsis or the cast. Then I watch ‘em! I’ve watched about 20-30 movies that I had never heard of, they’re all free, and a lot of them are really good.
The only problem is that I can’t keep up, I’m currently backlogged about 20 movies.
I am definitely the worst about music and books. I have a copy of “Eat, Pray, Love” that I acquired by unsolicited recommendation that has been sitting untouched on my bookshelf for 6 months. No way I’m reading that. Television and movies are the easiest for me to enjoy in spite of a recommendation (which is why I didn’t immediately recognize the signs of your Extreme Recommendation Aversion.)
andrew, that’s a great suggestion! I should probably just turn on TCM every night, because we have the best time either falling in love with the random old movies they show (anyone else here adore “The Bachelor And The Bobby-Soxer” the other night?) or we just die laughing at the bad random old movies (anyone else here see that really bizarre-o Robert Mitchum one with the guy wearing the cowhide parka?).
By the way, I meant to ask a few days ago, how were those heirloom tomatoes? Did you do anything fancy with them?
Oh, sure. You take andrews reccommendation like it’s a spoon full of sugar.
Extreme Recommendation Aversion
I’m so glad to hear this has a clinical name! And I’m also relieved to hear you completely understand this. So many people I know don’t, and I have found myself wondering if I’m just an unusually spiteful wench.
Oh, sure. You take andrews reccommendation like it’s a spoon full of sugar.
What did you expect? :P
And notice I took his recommendation, and modified it. I wouldn’t just watch IFC. I’d watch TCM. Big difference!
Well, you might still be a spiteful wench, but you’re in good company. :P
Man, the Enforcer is one of my favorites! Why NOT tie a rope around your son’s waist and whip him around in a room full of thugs?
Got the job done, didn’t it? Even better than that was the whole entire hotel sequence in “Meltdown”. Hourray for mindless destruction!
I’m going to have to rent some of these movies. My friends and I tried to sit through the Kung-Fu Movie marathon Spike had a couple of weeks ago but we couldn’t get over the horrible dubbing jobs.
Extreme Recommendation Aversion
See, this just makes me feel bad! When people recommend something saying “I think you’ll love it” I try my hardest to like it because it’s nice enough that they thought of me in the first place. So when I end up hating it I really hem and haw around trying to admit it.
“we have the best time either falling in love with the random old movies they show (anyone else here adore “The Bachelor And The Bobby-Soxer” the other night?) or we just die laughing at the bad random old movies”
Seriously, you can’t lose. I watched an awesomely bad horror flick with Drew Barrymore last night, called “Doppelganger”. So lame! The way I see it, you’re either gonna be introduced to new favorites, or you’re gonna get a night of unintentional comedy.
“I meant to ask a few days ago, how were those heirloom tomatoes? Did you do anything fancy with them?”
They were awesome! I swear I can’t stop! I’m going through about 5 lbs a week. I made a few things: I did gnocchi tossed in olive oil with seared pancetta, basil, dry peppercorn jack cheese, and a fat Brandywine tomato. I also made a mixed tomato & fresh mozzarella salad with salami….yum!
“My friends and I tried to sit through the Kung-Fu Movie marathon Spike had a couple of weeks ago but we couldn’t get over the horrible dubbing jobs.”
Sherry! The lousy over-dubbing is what makes the movie!!
“Even better than that was the whole entire hotel sequence in “Meltdown”.”
awesome. Ever seen ‘City on Fire’?
Jay-sus, andrew! That food sounds delicious. I’m starving.
We got 8 pounds of heirlooms last week from our farm, and who even knows how many more will come along this week… I might have to try this pancetta/peppercorn jack/gnocchi affair. That sounds so good! (Heirloom tomatoes are something I really can’t even put a value on, for how much I love them. Our farm offers two membership sizes, “individual”, which is a reasonable amount of produce a week, and “family”, which is obscene in quantity. So I got an individual share once and it wasn’t enough for me just because I wasn’t getting enough heirloom tomatoes. So now I pay twice as much and end up going home every week with, like, 6 heads of lettuce and 4 watermelons [no joke -- that was just a portion of last week's haul], but I also get 8 lbs of the heirloom tomatoes, and I wouldn’t be satisfied with any less. And then when the tomato season ends, I’m like, “Wait, why do I get this much produce again?”)
Sherry! The lousy over-dubbing is what makes the movie!!
That’s what I’m told but I just can’t watch action movies like that! I suppose I’m somewhat spoiled from watching the movies in their original Chinese so it at least sounds normal.
Ever seen ‘City on Fire’?
Yes! But a long time ago but I don’t quite remember what it’s about. The best Chow Yun-Fat movies were the God of Gamblers movies though…those were not only full of explosions and destruction but intriguing plot-points! Well, sort of.
“I might have to try this pancetta/peppercorn jack/gnocchi affair.”
It’s good, very simple. A good summer dish. But the tomato mozzarella salad is the real star. Salami, tomatos, fresh mozzarella…..soooo good!
“So now I pay twice as much and end up going home every week with, like, 6 heads of lettuce and 4 watermelons”
That’s awesome, more food than you can possibly keep up with! And Pookie doesn’t even eat any vegetables!
Oh yeah, Kate! I forgot, I was laughing at your earlier posts, when you were pitching BSG. All I could think of was The Office:
Bears, beets, Battlestar Gallactica.
Here is a friend’s picture of her haul from the farm last week — and she gets the individual size. Pookie is an incredibly trouper about eating all the veggies, because she loves tomatoes, and stuff like onions, potatoes and garlic don’t really count as veggies. It’s the greens, summer squash and winter squash I have a hard time getting through on my own!
I find that I only do that with certain people. There are just some people that recommend the lamest stuff!
I hear ya, andrew. I have a friend who insists on trying to convert me to that throat-clearing-death-metal genre. Dude, I didn’t like the first the thirty bands you tried to make me listen to, what makes you think I’m going to like the thirty-first? But he will still put on a CD and look at me with anticipation expecting me to say that I like this one (even though it sounds just like all the other stuff to me).
All I could think of was The Office:
Bears, beets, Battlestar Gallactica.
Yeah, the Dwight Shrute factor has been hurting Battlestar Galactica for years.
Here is a friend’s picture of her haul from the farm last week — and she gets the individual size.
Wow. That’s a lot of veg. Clearly I need to find something similar here…
People never recommend books/movies to me for some reason. Most of my friends don’t seem to read or go to anything but mainstream movies, so I suppose that helps.
Schnookie, I’m not a big vegetable eater (and feel much the way your friend does about tomatoes) and those photos are still making me jealous.
“Here is a friend’s picture of her haul from the farm last week — and she gets the individual size.”
That’s incredible. Those are some good looking groceries!
“Dude, I didn’t like the first the thirty bands you tried to make me listen to, what makes you think I’m going to like the thirty-first?”
I know right!! A little while back a friend was trying to get me into Dragon Force. He just wouldn’t quit. I finally had to tell him that I don’t own any chainmail, and there are no orcs to slay in my neighborhood. (I really did tell him that, but he’s a good friend. I felt he needed to hear it.)
Being a sufferer of Extreme Recommendation Aversion, I find it’s particularly bad when you work in a library, because patrons and coworkers are always telling me to read stuff. In fact, as I’m typing, I’m being told to pass recommendations onto to Kate the Great (from someone with impeccable taste in reading).
A little while back a friend was trying to get me into Dragon Force.
Oh em gee. One of my friends kept on trying to get me to watch their YouTube videos and when I finally relented I really wondered why I agree in the first place. We were doing a group project together for marketing class and every couple of minutes he would stop and try to show us a video.
Oh em gee.
I am very much a fan of abbreviations that save entirely no time at all. Seriously, I am.
“One of my friends kept on trying to get me to watch their YouTube videos”
So lame!! I actually did watch one of their videos and it was EXACTLY what I though it was going to be. Lots of guitar solos on mountain tops while armageddon crashes around a bunch of dudes with bad perms and far too much leather.
Lots of guitar solos on mountain tops while armageddon crashes around a bunch of dudes with bad perms and far too much leather.
Sounds like just another day at IPB Manor.
A little while back a friend was trying to get me into Dragon Force.
I don’t know what Dragon Force is, but it reminds of the time an ex-roommate really REALLY wanted me to join one of those clubs where everyone dresses up in Renaissance clothing and goes camping. I have to admit I was vaguely tempted because she was an excellent seamstress and every time I got drunk she would convince me to try on one of the amazing gowns she made….and I have to admit that was kind of fun. When I asked her what the bare minimum I could get away with in terms of playing the stupid “We are from another era” game, and she told me that in order not so seem rude I would have to call the men “My Lord”, and be referred to as “My Lady”, at which point I told my friend, “Forget it. I’m out.”
Last summer we had a barbeque with a couple of friends who live in a more rural part of the state, and Kate the Great. So the friends were telling us about how the American Society of Anachronists were camping out near their property and were always naked in the pond and whatnot. As it turns out, the Anachronists kind of confine themselves to a “Renaissance Faire” sort of idea of what timeframe they’d prefer to live in (so, sadly, there aren’t a bunch of cavemen and Gilded Age people thrown into the mix). So as we chortled over lunch at the Renaissance Faire types (no offense to any who might be reading this), Kate the Great pipes up, “I’ve been to a few Renaissance Faires and really enjoyed them! You can hear some great lutists at them.” And she was being serious. I swear, there are just some times I don’t believe we’re really related.
“one of those clubs where everyone dresses up in Renaissance clothing and goes camping.”
Yeah, they’re a metal band that does exactly that. Just add lots of shredding guitar solos. And Kate, I’m glad you didn’t join in.
“Sounds like just another day at IPB Manor.”
You haven’t even heard the worst part, Schnookie. At the end of the video, you find out it’s some sort of GH2 type video game and there’s these two kids controlling the band! So the 2 guitar players are basically soloing back and forth for points. Kidding me? Anyways, look it up on youtube. I don’t know the name of the song. Just type in “lame ass metal” and it should pop up.
I’ve been to Renaissance Faires. But I don’t dress up or call people by fake titles.
I’m under the impression hat the Society for Creative Anachronism does not actually like Ren Faires though because they’re not accurate.
have to call the men “My Lord”, and be referred to as “My Lady”
I had some friends in high school who were into that sort of thing, and it just pissed me off to no end. Honey, they didn’t say that in those days. And definitely not with an American accent.
I’m under the impression that the Society for Creative Anachronism does not actually like Ren Faires though because they’re not accurate.
Hm, seems like they’re not as creative as their name would suggest!
Indeed! Actually, the impression I get is that they take themselves very seriously. People, you run around dressed up in costumes, pretending to be from a time before the great invention of indoor plumbing. How important do you really think you are?
Kate the Great pipes up, “I’ve been to a few Renaissance Faires and really enjoyed them! You can hear some great lutists at them.”
I think this is how I was nearly sucked in (not the lutist part). My friend who participated in these things was an intelligent, attractive women. I valued her opinion in nearly every other area of life…..and let me tell you, those dresses made me feel like a pretty, pretty princess. She was always trying to convince me that I would be a huge hit with the “Lords” due to the fact that I wasn’t an intolerable freak like many of the other “Ladies”. It was a confusing time.
Actually, the impression I get is that they take themselves very seriously.
I think they have some incredibly important system of royalty based on hugely attended “joisting” festivals. Once my ex-roommate had some friends over and when they left she was all excited because I had been unknowingly chatting with the Crowned Prince of Something or Other. Insane.
I know somebody who worked at the Ren Faires and she’s a lot more balanced than some of the people I know who go to Anime Conventions. I’ve actually always wanted to check the Faires out though. They seem like they would be fun to visit once in awhile. All I know about Ren Faires is what I’ve seen on Gilmore Girls.
I know somebody who worked at the Ren Faires and she’s a lot more balanced than some of the people I know who go to Anime Conventions.
Yeah, I think a lot of the Ren Faire people are actors, students looking for a fun summer job, etc.
I just loved that Kate the Great seemed to think the lutists would be a good selling point for a bunch of people who are sitting there laughing at the concept of Renaissance Faires. I mean, does that really sound like a crowd that feels the only thing modern life is lacking is quality luting? Now, the “You’ll feel like a pretty, pretty princess” is a very appealing aspect to sell the Faires on, or perhaps, “the food is really good” (I don’t know if it is…) or better yet, “the drinks are really good”. But the luting? Not so much. (And by the way, who wouldn’t want to win the heart of a “Lord” just because you’re not as much of an intolerable freak as everyone else at the Faire? Because, uh, there’s no way the “Lord” would also be an intolerable freak, right? Right?)
“the food is really good”
The food at a fair I went to in Germany (which wasn’t necessarily a ren fair, there were just a lot of ren stands) was pretty good, but that’s probably just German food being pretty good.
(and I am told the drinks are excellent. Lots of obscure beers)
“or better yet, “the drinks are really good”.”
I hope you like mead.
I hope you like mead.
HA! Yeah, um, so I don’t see a lot of Renaissance Faires in my future. (I’m allergic to lutes, I think.)
“(I’m allergic to lutes, I think.)”
How ’bout lyres?
I actually got no problem with the faires. I’ve never actually been to one, so I can’t cast judgement. However….we were driving by the park the other day where there was a faire going on…and we saw about 20 people running around LARPing (live action role playing) with fake swords and shit. I will make fun of, and cast judgement on those poor souls.
(And by the way, who wouldn’t want to win the heart of a “Lord” just because you’re not as much of an intolerable freak as everyone else at the Faire? Because, uh, there’s no way the “Lord” would also be an intolerable freak, right? Right?)
Yeah, this was at the heart of my hesitation, Schnookie. I’m wary of any dating pool in which I am a prime catch. Hee.
The fake swords! And armor! I just….couldn’t call those dudes “My Lord”.
I will make fun of, and cast judgement on those poor souls.
I’m doing it right now, in fact, and I didn’t even SEE them! Wow. (We have a friend whose brother got married recently. So this friend and his brother and all their old buddies from high school got together for his bachelor party… at Medieval Times. I make fun of and cast judgement on those poor souls too.)
(Of course, I’m the person who blogged today all about how I’m sitting around sipping prosecco cocktails and playing Katamari Damacy all day long, so I realize I don’t have much of a leg to stand on.)
(But still…)
Kate, I like the image overhaul! The new blog, the caboose avatar, it’s all very nicely done!
Thanks, andrew!
Kate, I’d say that I like the new blog too, but now that andrew recommended it, it’s kind of lost its luster.
I know! Stop recommending things, andrew! What are you trying to do kill my new blog on it’s first day? :D
haha! Sorry Kate! I promise, I won’t tell anyone I know.
You might as well just junk the blog Katebits. There’s no point now.
So, should I go by Kate, or Katebits on the new blog? The thing is, if I go by Kate there, I’ll go by Kate here, because there’s no way I’m going to bother logging in and out of WordPress. I’m surprisingly fond of “Katebits”, but maybe not so fond as to use it as my blogging name. On the other hand, thanks to IPB, Katebits is definitely my hockey obsessed persona.
I’m sure this dilemma is incredibly fascinating to you guys! :D
I’ll always know you’re Katebits, even if it’s hidden from the rest of the world!
Okay, good. And I will never ever bother to learn your real name, even if it is what’s on your drivers license.
Kate, that decision is going to have to come from within. But I’m sure, either way, it’ll be great!
Kate, I like Katebits. It sets you apart from all the other Kates in the world.
Maybe Kate and Katebits should go out into the forest and hit each other with rubber swords until a clear victor can be declared!
“Maybe Kate and Katebits should go out into the forest and hit each other with rubber swords until a clear victor can be declared!”
As Sherry would say, ‘oh em gee’.
That is some funny shit right there, Katebits.
I’m sure this dilemma is incredibly fascinating to you guys! :D
Katebits, I’m not entirely sure about the mental health implications, but I’ve found great satisfaction in creating and nurturing Earl Sleek, the blog persona. It’s great–Sleek’s a great King-hater and Shark-taunter, a notorious drinker, a number cruncher, and an attempted cartoonist. He’s perfect for BoC.
But then there’s me, the guy outside the blogosphere, who secretly likes the Kings.
So I’d vote for blogging as Katebits–to represent that hockey-crazy side of you. Outside the blog you can switch back to “Kate” mode, and thus drive yourself batty with the petty differences.
“But then there’s me, the guy outside the blogosphere, who secretly likes the Kings.”
Ewww. I knew it.
And I will never ever bother to learn your real name, even if it is what’s on your drivers license.
It there’s one thing we’ve all learned from IPB, it should be that a drivers license is a TOTALLY unreliable source of information.
But then there’s me, the guy outside the blogosphere, who secretly likes the Kings.
Oho — aren’t we just trying to cover all our bases now! :P
So I’d vote for blogging as Katebits–to represent that hockey-crazy side of you. Outside the blog you can switch back to “Kate” mode, and thus drive yourself batty with the petty differences.
This is one of the many things I find so bizarre about the interwebs. I find the ability to willfully manipulate my “personality” both fun and confusing.
Thanks for your input guys! I wonder what I’ll decide to do….
Maybe Kate and Katebits should go out into the forest and hit each other with rubber swords until a clear victor can be declared!
Hehehe, fell off my chair laughing :D
But then there’s me, the guy outside the blogosphere, who secretly likes the Kings.
Hee. I bet the “real you” is a teetotaler who hates statbits!
As Sherry would say, ‘oh em gee’.
Hey, you guys still understood what I meant, that’s what matters :P
The new blog is cook, Katebits! And I totally vote for the dual personalities, it makes things interesting :P
Hee. I bet the “real you” is a teetotaler who hates statbits!
Yeah, and I can’t draw very well unless I start calling myself “Earl” either. Strangeness.
Awfully quiet in here today…
LOOK–a woodchuck!
It is quite around IPB today. Must be a case of the Mondays.
That’s a kickass woodchuck Sherry.
Must be.
It would have kicked more ass if it were nunchucks.
LOOK–Sid’s caboose!
Katebits, for purely selfish reasons, I say go by Katebits. Now, I don’t think my sister Kate is likely to jump on IPB and start saying Katebitish things, so I’m not really going to get you guys confused, but still…
Here, have a cat
Mags, I see your cat and raise you bunny lifting a car.
Sherry, I see your bunny and raise you a ridiculous cat bed
Mags, I see your ridiculous cat bed (which I kind of want even though I have no cat) and raise you chair made of pandas.
Wow. I’d never be able to knit any of that stuff!
Show us what you can knit! That’ll speed things up around here.
Damn, I want that chair.
I see your chair and raise you A vintage skiing robot.
Mags, I see your vintage skiing robot and raise you a stuffed ulcer.
Show us what you can knit!
My brow?
Show us what you can knit!
My brow?
ZING!
(I have one of those. Kissing disease I think…)
Sherry, I see your stuffed ulcer and raise you a pomeranian puppy.
My brow?
I sort of don’t know what that means.
POMMERDOODLE!
Okay, I have to end this now since it’s quitting time. See ya!
Bye Sherry! See you later!
Bye Sherry! You’re the lucky one. I’ve got 45 more minutes, and I’m fighting to stay awake…
I’ll see your 45 minutes, and raise you 2 hours (sigh). If you’re bored, you can read a not-very-detailed post about drinking with Rudy Kelly, which was pretty fun. Odd revelation: he likes the Ducks’ new logo more than I do.
I’ll lower your 2 hours and give you — quitting time! Woo-hoo!
I’m going to buy a new computer! Yaaaaaaay! I’ve been trying to edge this one toward death for months now and I finally killed it!
Heather, WHOOOOOOOOOO! New technology is always fun! (I’d say get a Mac, but recommendations don’t seem to work, so I suggest get a Windows PC instead :P)
Hooray Heather B! I am getting a bit worried with all these dying computers, though. Is there really no cure for the dreaded IPB Virus?
(Oh, and too bad about the old one dying, that’s never cook)
Oh, I’m thrilled this one is finally dead. Mark wouldn’t get a new one until then. And unlike some people, all my important files are backed up :-)
Earl, it sounds like your incognito meeting with Rudy Kelly was a delight! That picture sure made it look like a rolicking good time, at any rate! (By the way, can you give me any advice about starting my own hockey blog?)
Heather, a new computer? SUPER EXCITING!
I just got a new toshiba laptop for school. Soooo pretty. This is my first ever laptop. I keep wanting to pet it haha. It needs a name though. Any suggestions?
Oooh. Congrats on the new computer, Heather! If you are not already planning to do so, may I strongly encourage you to get a laptop? I never could have predicted how awesome it is to sit in front of the television while computing.
alix, Pookie and I have two Toshiba laptops (the first one died, or so we thought, and only after we replaced it did it come back to life. So now we sit next to each other on the couch and IM each other), and I adore them. I’m so excited for you! I don’t know how I lived without a laptop and wireless interwebs. Actually, I know how I lived: I lived without IPB. There would be no blog if not for our ability to log on wirelessly. At any rate, ours are named Peacocky (for the fact that he’s peacock blue) and, totally originally, The IPB Machine.
Alix, I haven’t named mine. I’m a firm believer that one day the computer will tell me what it wants to be called. (I go through different ones every day, and one day it’ll tell me. Just like Napo and Bitter told me)
I never could have predicted how awesome it is to sit in front of the television while computing.
That revelation was a lot like the one I had about my iPod, and the one I had for TiVo, come to think of it. I was living what I thought was a full, rich life before it came along, but as soon as I’d had a taste, I could never go back. I’m like a Mamet bear after eating human flesh.
“I’m like a Mamet bear after eating human flesh.”
Well that’s pleasant!
It needs a name though. Any suggestions?
Call it Chelios. Sure it will drive you insane with its persistent difficulty, but it should well outlast its expected life. I don’t know how to kill a Chelios.
I don’t know how to kill a Chelios.
The government doesn’t either. (I suggest decapitation. He could be an Immortal)
I never could have predicted how awesome it is to sit in front of the television while computing.
As a guy who’s just recently gotten around to activating his own wireless network, I can vouch for this. The downside? I keep waking up on the couch in the morning.
“He could be an Immortal”
There can be only one.
I never could have predicted how awesome it is to sit in front of the television while computing.
As a guy who’s just recently gotten around to activating his own wireless network, I can vouch for this. The downside? I keep waking up on the couch in the morning.
That’s why you lie on a nice tempur-pedic mattress that has a TV a little over arm’s distance away while computing.
Can I get a “hell yea” for no cavities? Angels should be singing and buying me that HDTV I want.
Congrats on having a clean bill of dental health, Genna!
And on that note, I’m going home. See you all once I’m settled in front of my TV, computing and Katamariing and wondering when it’s too soon to start counting hours until hockey comes back.
Well you guys…I officially killed my power cord (sparks are bad, right?)
Steph. Er, yes.
Mags, that puppy is so cute! I want one as long as it can stay that way forever!
Heather, I agree with Mags on the computer issue. Macs are nice, sleek, pretty, fun, etc. Who would want such a thing?
I officially killed my power cord.
Another casualty in the IPB-destroys-all-computers saga. Sparks are bad, unless you can quickly come up with a good pet name for them.
Haha I hate Chelios but it would be the immortal computer. Mags I think I’ll take your advice and wait to name it. Nothing is jumping out at me. Maybe not having to leave my couch anymore to go on the computer will finally urge me to start my very own hockey blog. Holy run on sentence batman. Thanks for your excitement on my behalf Schnookie :)
Hey, at least nothing in my apartment caught on fire.
Another casualty in the IPB-destroys-all-computers saga.
You know what, at least I didn’t spill beer on it this time.
And I take a sort of frustrated satisfaction in the idea that HP is shipping me a new power cord (and battery!) for free, despite that I totally voided the warranty with that whole beer-spilling thing.
Steph! According to my newspaper, the Tigers are back on top! (and they’re usually pretty good about reporting baseball news)
Whoo! Better keep it up, since we play the Indians and the Yankees right in a row in some weird baseball type home and away in the next couple weeks. (Zumaya, Rogers, and PitchyCrunchy are all on track to be back soon, too!)
“You know what, at least I didn’t spill beer on it this time.”
A girl after my own heart. I think I ruined 3 or 4 keyboards in college due to irreparable beer related damage.
Didn’t help that I wouldn’t sit down to write a paper without a six-pack.
You know what, at least I didn’t spill beer on it this time.
Good for you. I can’t even begin to tell you how many keyboards I have lost to diet coke (in fact, I lost one to diet coke + IPB. Lesson learned, don’t drink and IPB folks)
A girl after my own heart. I think I ruined 3 or 4 keyboards in college due to irreparable beer related damage.
I killed a keyboard with some sort of liquid my freshman year, this time it was the entire screen and backlight. (I remember thinking afterward: “At least it was the shitty beer I was going to pawn off on people anyway…”)
Note to self: be wary accepting beer presents from Steph.
Note to self: be wary accepting beer presents from Steph.
Don’t worry. Nothing the like of “apple spice” beer is ever getting near my apartment ever again. (My neighbor did leave some Busch Light [that she found in her closet] in my fridge when she moved out though, if you’re interested…)
Hmm, my keyboard does look a little parched.
It’s not like there’s a better use for Busch Light.
oh man, another hour and a half before quittin’ time. I don’t know if I’m gonna make it.
My kid brother, now about to be a senior in college, swears that he loves Busch Light. I keep telling him that he’s an idiot, but I think I’ve been doing that his whole life because he’s adamant.
Aw, I’m proud of him sticking to his guns, though. It’s an old economics problem–if you’re content with the cheap alternative, there’s no incentive to become more discriminating with your tastes, I guess.
“if you’re content with the cheap alternative, there’s no incentive to become more discriminating with your tastes”
I don’t see why it can’t be both though, y’know? I’m more than happy to buy a 12 pack of Pabst or Guinness. Either one is gonna make me happy! But then again, I am weird.
It’s an old economics problem–if you’re content with the cheap alternative, there’s no incentive to become more discriminating with your tastes, I guess.
If your brother was part of a large number content with the cheap stuff, then the incentive would be for the good stuff to get cheaper.
One less Bryzgalov bidder? Phoenix Coyotes signed Alex Auld, which means that Florida (more or less) traded Luongo and Krajicek for Bryan Allen.
I’m more than happy to buy a 12 pack of Pabst
Oh now that’s just disgusting :P
“Florida (more or less) traded Luongo and Krajicek for Bryan Allen.”
haha, that and the Jack Johnson/Tim Gleason fiasco have to go down as the worst trades in recent memory.
I just got a new toshiba laptop for school. It needs a name though. Any suggestions?
My first thought was, “Sheba.” But you probably should wait and see if you feel something from it.
I already have names picked out for future kittens, but I’ll probably end up naming them something that they remind me of when I get them.
“Oh now that’s just disgusting :P”
C’mon Steph! It’s not that bad.
Sometimes a guy just needs a can of PBR and a shot of bourbon. Goes down smooooth.
By the way, Patty, you’ll be happy to note that Rudy Kelly was very impressed with my drinking of Jack-Two-Ohs. He was even more impressed when the bartender tried to talk me into drinking happy-hour-cheaper Jim Beam and I wouldn’t have any of it.
C’mon Steph! It’s not that bad.
Sometimes a guy just needs a can of PBR and a shot of bourbon. Goes down smooooth.
I really don’t know what my deal is with PBR but it tastes like something akin to club soda (except a little grosser) to me – that watery. But I always like dark beer better anyway.
Just kind of catching up on comments –
I’m only a mild fan of the Rennaissance Faire that they have here. I have gone with people who are kind of between the RenFaire enthusiasts and me, the crap-it’s-hot-out-here kind of visitor. They don’t wear costumes or think about it any other time, but they go every year, rain or shine. I go every few years because I like the food on a stick and I enjoy the shows if they’re different from the last time, which they usually aren’t.
There is a real cool guy there every year that is HUGE! Gotta be 6′8″ at least, and built. He stands at the entrance in all his warrior leather and chainmail and stuff with his arms crossed and people take their picture with him and he acts all tough. I like that guy.
Oh Earl, it brings a tear.
I’m so proud! Did you tell RudyKelly where you got the idea to start drinking it?
I’ve been meaning to ask, too, if it has improved your condition the next morning, not drinking it with sugar. Can you tell any difference?
“it tastes like something akin to club soda (except a little grosser) to me”
Yeah, that’s pretty much it.
I’m a fan of dark beer over all others, for sure. But I also like to change it up, and certain occasions call for certain types of beer y’know?
I do not like beer at all. But if I’m somewhere where there’s only beer and I don’t want everybody hounding me, I like the Coors Lights and the PBRs that barely have beer taste. I can nurse one of those so people will leave me alone.
But I also like to change it up, and certain occasions call for certain types of beer y’know?
Definitely! Especially in summer, lighter beers can be really nice.
Anyway I’m out of here – time to give up my brief computer lab existance in favor of food and the Tigers game. Catch you all later!
Bye Steph!
Go Pudge! And, you know, the rest of the Tigers.
“I do not like beer at all.”
I don’t understand what you just said.
I’m just messin’, but seriously I love the stuff. My wife even bought me a homebrew kit one year. I’ve been making beer for the last few years, but it’s tough to make a consistently good brew.
Did you tell RudyKelly where you got the idea to start drinking it?
Um, shoot, I probably neglected to do that. But I did point out the move from Coke to water, and how it’s a major switch for me.
if it has improved your condition the next morning, not drinking it with sugar. Can you tell any difference?
I’m pretty liquor-trained. I don’t usually pain very much in the morning, whether it’s coke or water. Still, it hasn’t made anything noticeably worse, so that’s cool!
He was even more impressed when the bartender tried to talk me into drinking happy-hour-cheaper Jim Beam and I wouldn’t have any of it.
More economics: When you’re Jack Daniels, you can charge whatever you want. :D
My wife even bought me a homebrew kit one year. I’ve been making beer for the last few years, but it’s tough to make a consistently good brew.
Oooh, really? I assume brewing my own beer is the next step up from roasting my own coffee beans, and that I’ll inevitably get there someday, but it seems like something that would be tough.
Okay, really going now! Thanks for the cheering Patty – I’m sure Pudge will do great just for you :D
Um, shoot, I probably neglected to do that.
That’s okay. Someday, when we all get together for a drink, you can point it out then. Then I’ll be instantly cook.
(Need to get andrew on the Jack-Two-Ohs, too.)
I really really don’t like beer. But I just really don’t like alcohol.
Go on, call me boring. It’s not like my yearmates/teammates/housemates/friends don’t :P
“I assume brewing my own beer is the next step up from roasting my own coffee beans”
it’s not that it’s especially difficult, it’s just remembering your sanitation, keeping proper temperatures, yeast activity, etc. Once you go through a few batches it gets easier.
“(Need to get andrew on the Jack-Two-Ohs, too.)”
Sorry Patty, but as long as there’s Jameson in the house, I just can’t do it. It’d be like cheating on your best gal.
I don’t understand what you just said.
I sure wish I liked beer. It’s a lot easier to come by when I go over to friends’ houses for games or barbecues. They’ll say, um.. I think I got some vodka in here somewhere! And I’ll say, nah, I’ll just have a Diet Coke. (That I brought, because they usually don’t have that, either.)
“I really really don’t like beer.”
Mags, your next door neighbor is probably the single greatest beer producing country in the world. I can’t even imagine how much I would enjoy being that close to Belgium. If you ever grow to like beer, you really should take advantage of it!
I really really don’t like beer. But I just really don’t like alcohol.
Don’t feel too bad. I drink a lot less than I used to. It doesn’t hold the same appeal it did years ago. There is only the rare occasion when I get hammered anymore. Usually on margaritas or something that sneak up on me.
I have it on my list to get sloshed at the Draft Convention, but if I don’t get around to it I’ll help you herd people into taxis.
andrew, maybe I just haven’t had the luck to taste a really good beer.
Do y’all get Shiner Bock outside of this part of the country? Everybody raves about it, but it’s awful. I think it’s just because it’s dark.
It might be a cheap beer, but I get the impression it’s slightly higher-end. But I have hung around with some CHEAP beer drinkers, so they might not be a good indication.
I have it on my list to get sloshed at the Draft Convention, but if I don’t get around to it I’ll help you herd people into taxis.
We can’t have this sort of wishwashy drink commitment, Patty. Besides, there will be plenty of NHL hopefuls around to help herd us into taxis, I’m sure.
OK, I’m outta here! Another unproductive day at the office, gotta love ‘em.
Mags, your next door neighbor is probably the single greatest beer producing country in the world
True. And they do have nice beers. It just so isn’t my thing. It’s more a genuine fear of the effect of alcohol than anything else I think.
I’ll help you herd people into taxis.
Count me in. I’m good at that :P
We can’t have this sort of wishwashy drink commitment, Patty. Besides, there will be plenty of NHL hopefuls around to help herd us into taxis, I’m sure.
I would not mind at all being herded into a taxi by an NHL hopeful.
“Do y’all get Shiner Bock outside of this part of the country?”
I love Shiner Bock! I actually think it’s a very good beer, and not just because it’s cheap!
“maybe I just haven’t had the luck to taste a really good beer.”
Don’t worry about it Patty. In fact, I’ve found that trying “better beers” will turn non-beer drinkers even further off from the whole thing. It’s because the fancier the beer, the more (or wackier) flavor you’re gonna get. Usually will just scare off an already admitted beer-a-phobe.
I really really don’t like beer. But I just really don’t like alcohol.
Go on, call me boring. It’s not like my yearmates/teammates/housemates/friends don’t :P
So there will be sober people!
So there will be sober people!
Most likely, yes.
Ok, bed now. Mamma A.Oil is putting her foot down (over IM. Quite a skill that) and my hand is KILLING me. Pain pills were aaaare yooouuuuu.
See you lot tomorrow!
In fact, I’ve found that trying “better beers” will turn non-beer drinkers even further off from the whole thing.
This is my theory, too. Beer lovers think a beer is better if tastes more like beer than another beer. But the opposite is true of a beer hater.
And they’ll tell you a beer isn’t that strong when it really is, to a beer hater. Kind of like the people that try to get me to try fish that “isn’t that fishy tasting.” I say, if you’re willing to eat sushi, and I’m not willing to eat fish sticks, then we have a different idea of what constitutes a “fishy” taste.
see ya Mags, have a good ‘un.
Gunnite, Mags! Tell A.Oil we said Hey!
(Sorry your hand still hurts. Wanna Sprite or a coloring book or something?)
Most likely, yes.
Ok, bed now. Mamma A.Oil is putting her foot down (over IM. Quite a skill that) and my hand is KILLING me. Pain pills were aaaare yooouuuuu.
See you lot tomorrow!
I was beginning to think that I was the only one that didn’t drink. Night Mags, I hope your hand feels better. I love the sleep it off method, I do that with my sinuses.
“This is my theory, too. Beer lovers think a beer is better if tastes more like beer than another beer. But the opposite is true of a beer hater.”
haha! So true! My dad is a “beer lover” in that he drinks a lot of it, but he hates good beer. He drinks Coors Light, exclusively. I can’t get him to drink anything good. Drives me to distraction.
“…like the people that try to get me to try fish that “isn’t that fishy tasting.””
That is so funny because I won’t eat fish, except for sushi. Because cooked fish is too fishy tasting!
I don’t have any kids, so my repertoire for comforting a sick or injured person is very limited. Still, a Sprite might make you feel better. :D
I’m off to brave the traffic. Talk to y’all later.
See ya Patty, have a beer for me tonight!
Genna, you’re not alone…I know that Mags and Sherry don’t drink. I think Meg said she doesn’t really drink either. I think there are a few others too. So you’ve definitely got some backup.
That is so funny because I won’t eat fish, except for sushi. Because cooked fish is too fishy tasting!
Nobody’s been big enough to force me to try sushi. I assumed it would be worse than cooked fish. I have had the one that is cooked (California roll?) just when I find myself in a sushi restaurant and don’t want to seem rude by not ordering anything at all.
(I love shrimp, by the way. In just about any form. Especially Gulf shrimp.)
That is so funny because I won’t eat fish, except for sushi. Because cooked fish is too fishy tasting!
Andrew, I’m the same way. As long as you go to a place with good fresh sushi, then it shouldn’t taste fishy. I do eat tuna fish salad and whitefish spread, which are both kind of fishy.
See ya Patty, have a beer for me tonight!
Hookay! *rolls eyes*
:P
The problem with a sushi place is that it smells fishy. When I’m at Genghis Grill, I have to hold my breath when I go by the raw seafood stuff on the buffet. I can’t imagine that raw fish is less fishy than cooked fish. I just don’t believe it! :D
I don’t even like the smell of coastal towns.
(really leaving now.)
“I do eat tuna fish salad and whitefish spread, which are both kind of fishy.”
Yeah, I guess I’ll eat fish and chips. But that doesn’t really count, because it’s been fried into oblivion.
Patty, next time you go to sushi with someone order some nigiri maguro. It’s a slice of raw tuna on a little thing of rice. I guarantee you it doesn’t taste fishy. It’s just good! But, if you don’t like the texture, I won’t be mad at you.
Andrew, it’s probably better if she starts out with a tuna roll. I find that sometimes there’s just too much fish in my mouth for actual sushi pieces.
“it’s probably better if she starts out with a tuna roll.”
You might be right Genna, but she’s gonna have to be careful with rolls, because seaweed is the fishiest tasting thing on the menu (besides mackerel, blech!). I try to avoid too much seaweed, can’t handle the stuff.
Okay, I’m headed home. See you guys all later.
And Patty, I just sort of skimmed over this earlier:
“I have to hold my breath when I go by the raw seafood stuff on the buffet.”
After reading it, I feel obliged to tell you that of course the fish at a buffet stinks! It’s a buffet! Under no circumstances should you be eating anything raw at a buffet. Just never a good idea!
see you guys!
Under no circumstances should you be eating anything raw at a buffet. Just never a good idea!
Unless it’s a sushi buffet!
Patty, if you are going to venture into sushi land then you should go to a well known and good reviewed sushi restaurant. Sushi really shouldn’t smell fishy and I think if the seaweed is prepared properly it shouldn’t be yucky. If you want to get used to the seaweed first, then you can get vegetable rolls and then work up to a roll with fish in it. Avocado rolls are delish and one of my favourites. They make shrimp tempura rolls, so you might find those to your liking.
I love Shiner Bock! They serve it at my favoritest restaurant — The Roaring Fork in Scottsdale, AZ. I can’t find it here in Jersey, which makes me sad. My beer snob buds scoff at it, but hey, it’s fantastic with Southwestern foods and BBQ. I miss it. Also good? A Shiner Bock with some jalapeno vodka in it. I’m trying to break out of the idea that there is “good beer” and “bad beer” and think in terms of “beer I think is tasty” and “beer that is gross”. That said, I refuse to drink any beer than comes from a can.
That said, I refuse to drink any beer than comes from a can.
Poor Pookie. Someone one probably recommended she try beer-in-a-can and now she’s refused to consider it enjoyable.
Oh well, throw the beer cans my way, I guess.
Poor Pookie. Someone one probably recommended she try beer-in-a-can and now she’s refused to consider it enjoyable.
:^:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
At IPB Ottawa ‘08, you can have all the canned beers.
I guess I should admit that I’ve never actually had beer from a can. But I have Bud Light from a pitcher. That was when I decided no more Bud, Coors, Busch or anything of a similar quality.
Well, going by your recommendation-hating, I hereby rescind my recommendation of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away. Stay away. You’ll hate it.
Though I am a bit miffed still–after admitting to falling hard for my last recommendation (Katamari), you’d think I’d bought myself an exemption.
Anyway, watch Stomp the Yard instead. It’s great, I promise.
Maybe it’s the seaweed that is the fishy-smeller.
At the buffet I was talking about, you don’t eat it raw, you just collect all the stuff you want stir-fried and then hand it to the stir-fry guys. The raw chicken and beef and pork don’t smell too appetizing, either. But once it’s all cooked and at your table, it’s wonderfu.
I’m not a connoisseur or anything, and I’ve only tried it a couple of times, but I don’t really like that sticky rice much, either. But the shrimp tempura sounds interesting.
Oh, and the only beer I drink the comes in cans with any regularity is Guinness, which needs to be poured anyway, so I’m mostly baloney on this beer-in-a-can mockery. That said, it won’t take that much prodding to get me to drink a beer in a can. I got started on my dad’s addiction to Bud Light in a can, so it’s not unstomachable, just not preferred.
With the notable exception of me waxing poetic about “His Dark Materials” this weekend on IPB, I pretty much gave up giving recommendations after my friends promised they’d watch “Stella” if I watched “The Office”. I watched 2 episodes of “The Office” and then responded with a detailed analysis of what I did and didn’t like. They… never watched “Stella”. So I’ve pretty much decided I should never recommend anything. If I do, it’s because old habits die hard.
They… never watched “Stella”.
I hear that’s a pretty common affliction, actually. But since you’re done recommending it… :P
By the way, Katebits, if you’re still taking votes, I like Katebits.
They… never watched “Stella”.
I hear that’s a pretty common affliction, actually.
Yeah, yeah. But these people live and die with Entertainment Weekly, which named “Stella” one of the best TV shows of that year. I bet if they didn’t know I watched it… grumble grumble… they’d still not have watched it. Sigh. Philistines!!! (I also recommended they watch “Life of Mars”. They ignored me and then 2 months later wrote to say, “We just discovered this little gem of a show no one’s ever heard of, it’s called ‘Life on Mars’! You should check it out, if you weren’t so busy watching that garbage you call ‘hockey’.”)
Sleek! A shoutout in your BoC comments about the Jack and water was even better than telling RudyKelly.
“You should check it out, if you weren’t so busy watching that garbage you call ‘hockey’.”
I hope you gave them a piece of your mind about that little comment!
“You should check it out, if you weren’t so busy watching that garbage you call ‘hockey’.”
I hope you gave them a piece of your mind about that little comment!
I’ve completely given up. It’s so sad. They have no idea what they’re missing! NO IDEA! Maybe I need to start trying out Earl’s reverse psychology… “Hey guys, DON’T watch hockey!”
I have to admit, I refuse to watch Stella too. This phenomenon of refusing to do something based on nothing, is called “I refuse” amongst my friends. When negotiating movies or restaurants all a person has to say is, “I refuse” and it’s an automatic veto, no questions asked. It must not be abused or the system would fall apart. We are surprisingly respectful about “I refuse”.
Using “I refuse” for hockey is just a personality flaw.
Katebits, that is so rational and magnificent! I think we need to institute this in our lives, too, because I absolutely hate having to justify not wanting to do something by explaining, “I have an irrational block against it, and the more we all try to change that, the deeper in I’ll dig.”
“Life on Mars”
Oh wow! This show was great–is it still going on? I can’t believe how caught up I was in it the first season.
If you haven’t seen it, don’t ;)
“I have an irrational block against it, and the more we all try to change that, the deeper in I’ll dig.”
“I refuse” has done wonders for my friendships, particularly with one group of woman friends. We are all totally awesome, and totally nuts, and we all suffer from Extreme Recommendation Aversion. So if someone refuses, we don’t EVER try to convince. Being told “I refuse” is like being told all of the roads leading up to that restaurant are on fire, so going there is an impossibility.
I like that system, Katebits! It’s like the Recommendation version of my buddy Sumo-Jen’s “Yes, yes life sucks”. When you really just want to vent about something and you don’t want to hear helpful solutions that might diffuse your anger, you inform the person you’re complaining to that all you’re asking for is “yes, yes, life sucks”. Then the person being complained to is off the hook. They just say, when conversation lulls, “yes, yes life sucks”. It’s still sympathetic and heartfelt, it just weans out all the nastiness of trying to be helpful to someone who isn’t going to be receptive.
And yes, “I refuse” does not work for hockey. Particularly when you further your statement and say, “I refuse sports in general”. There is no way you can possibly object to all aspects of all sports. It. Makes. Me. So. Mad!!!
Ha! “yes, yes, life sucks” is AWESOME! I love it.
As for “I refuse” and hockey, it makes me think that there should be some other, even MORE seldom used phrase that can be deployed to make someone understand that in this particular situation, just this ONE time, “I refuse” should be reconsidered.
(I have already been tooting my own horn quite a bit today what with the new blog and all, but a few months ago I wrote a whole post about “I refuse”.
You totally don’t have to go read it now. I’m just saying. It’s there if you ever get bored. :D
When you really just want to vent about something and you don’t want to hear helpful solutions that might diffuse your anger, you inform the person you’re complaining to that all you’re asking for is “yes, yes, life sucks”. Then the person being complained to is off the hook. They just say, when conversation lulls, “yes, yes life sucks”.
Sometimes that’s all you need. I hate it when you really need to rant and you start letting it out to a friend and they just don’t respond because they don’t want to “deal” with it. I’m not looking for a Freudian psychoanalysis of the situation, I just want some occasional mmhmm, that sucks, I’m sorry to hear that, etc. Does that really take that much effort? Especially when it’s online, you don’t even have to read what I typed!
The worst is when someone tries to cheer you up before you are ready to be cheered. “yes, yes, life sucks” is perfect.
Does that really take that much effort? Especially when it’s online, you don’t even have to read what I typed!
I really do feel bad when I can’t help out someone because I’ve never been in that situation or everything I can think of to say will probably make them more upset so I say something along the lines of “Yikes. That sucks. Would you like a cupcake?”
Aww, Sherry. I’m totally coming to you for a cupcake the next time I am having troubles. :)
The worst is when someone tries to cheer you up before you are ready to be cheered. “yes, yes, life sucks” is perfect.
It really, really is. This handy phrase has diffused many a snippy fit here at IPB Manor.
As for trying to get these people to watch hockey using a “Just This Once” defense — no dice. They are beyond hope. Too bad they got stuck with me and Schnookie as friends! Hee hee! We played the Name Game with them (you have a deck of cards with famous people’s names on it and then you have to get your partner to guess the name using hints; we were able to clean-up by giving sports hints for all the names, regardless of who they were. I even got Schnookie to guess Bud Court correctly when I my mind I was thinking Bud Collins, the tennis announcer!)
Macs are nice, sleek, pretty, fun, etc. Who would want such a thing?
Well, Mr. B. for one. I’m not sure what exactly the hang up is, but it’s there nonetheless. He’s strictly PC. He did name the computer Lindy while I was napping though so I’ll give him credit for that.
We got a shiny new 19 inch, flat, widescreen monitor too. It’s sooo pretty.
Oooooh, congratulations Heather!
Well, Mr. B. for one. I’m not sure what exactly the hang up is, but it’s there nonetheless. He’s strictly PC. He did name the computer Lindy while I was napping though so I’ll give him credit for that.
But but but, the new Macs have both PC and Mac OS…
That monitor sounds nice. I want to get a desktop just so I can get one of the Apple’s cinema displays.
Hee. Lindy the computer.
Congratulations on the new computer, Heather! You can’t be the best Sabres blogger with some old clunker.
Genna, please accept my sincerest “yes, yes, life sucks” for all the times your buddies haven’t bothered to read what you’ve written!
Aww, Sherry. I’m totally coming to you for a cupcake the next time I am having troubles. :)
I wish you would! I love to bake and hear people’s problems :P sometimes at the same time! We have an awesome cupcake store near our place and I was lamenting the other day about how I wish I had somebody to give cupcakes too.
Gosh, I must sound like I’m from the ’50s. Look–a hobo!
He did name the computer Lindy while I was napping though so I’ll give him credit for that.
Heh, my computer’s name is Stefano. I think I would love to get a Mac since I work with a lot of graphics software but inevitably my future profession will probably involve a lot of uh, spreadsheets. The interface for a Mac is really hard to get used to at first but once you get the hang of it I hear it’s so much better than a PC. The one thing though is making sure all the hardware/software you want to buy is compatible, not to mention on average they’re a lot more expensive than PCs.
The interface for a Mac is really hard to get used to at first but once you get the hang of it I hear it’s so much better than a PC. The one thing though is making sure all the hardware/software you want to buy is compatible, not to mention on average they’re a lot more expensive than PCs.
Sherry, they really aren’t that hard to get used to. Prior to my PowerBook, I only had PCs. I got my PB before I left for college 2 summers ago. It was a little strange at first, but you adapt. There is no doubt that Macs are more expensive than PCs and so is the software, but I would never go back. Especially now that they have both operating systems on one, what’s the point? Of course I missed out on that, but I’m thinking of how nice my future laptop will be.
If you’re willing to ship, I’m willing to receive cupcakes!
Thanks Pookie! Sometimes I don’t care if my friends listen to me or not when I vent. Most of the times I probably don’t and want the “yes, yes, life sucks” response regardless if they read it or not. It’s just that I have one really good friend that doesn’t provide that kind of answer, any answer, and he probably doesn’t read what I wrote. You can’t do all three.
“yes, yes, life sucks” is perfect.
My mom used to always say, “I’m sorry, honey, I wish there was something I could do about it.”
She said it when I was 6 and sick. And when I was 22 and some dork broke up with me. And I once told my sister how sincerely better it made me feel when she said that. Now it’s kind of a running joke in the family. Not a making fun of me joke, but it’s the thing we all say in that situation.
She said it a lot during my remodel. :D
The one thing though is making sure all the hardware/software you want to buy is compatible, not to mention on average they’re a lot more expensive than PCs.
I think the software/hardware issue is what nags Mark even though I don’t think that’s as much of an issue as it once was.
As for computering in front of the TV – I can do that now! We just changed our internet service (bite me, Time Warner) and we were planning on moving the computer out of the future kids room anyway so we just did it now. Which means it’s in the same room as the TV. I’m watching Hell’s Kitchen and the Sabres/Sens brawl game even as I type this!
My mom used to always say, “I’m sorry, honey, I wish there was something I could do about it.”
Boomer always said, “Oh, sweetie, it’s okay!” It always made me feel soooo much better that I’m not above admitting that when I got into my first fender bender I was a wreck and had to call Boomer up cross-country to demand she say, “It’s okay, sweetie!”
Kate, I just read your “I Refuse” post and while this was totally not the point, I LOVE Chick-fil-a! Is there one around here?!?!?!?
Exactly, Pookie! I still call my mom when I’m really sick. I never get the kind of sympathy from anybody else that she can project with that one little sentence.
MamaScarlett’s take is: “I’m sorry it happened, honey. But at least next time you won’t be as stupid.”
Thanks, I feel much better!
Poor Sherry! That’s terrible!
Can I have a cupcake? Oh… wait.
Katebits, your new blog is adorable so far. You just reminded me of games on Google! Now I’m going to watch a game.
Sherry, that’s terrible! Next time MamaScarlett says that, know that somewhere IPBers everywhere are thinking, “Yes, yes, life sucks”.
Patty, Google video games are so much fun! I had a devil of a time finding good games on it though (see what I did just there?) because I was operating in librarian mode, using the most specific searches I could. For a while there I thought there was one NJ Devils video on the entire interwebs. Turns out people just don’t do a good job of cataloging videos!
Hey, thanks Patty! Google video is THE BEST. Maybe I will watch a Stars game tonight in your honor! (I am avoiding the Sabres games because of my ex-S,PW.)
Kate, I just read your “I Refuse” post and while this was totally not the point, I LOVE Chick-fil-a! Is there one around here?!?!?!?
Hee. I don’t know if there is a Chik-fil-a around here, Heather! I refuse to go. The most amazing thing about that post was how many people came forward to declare their undying love for Chik-fil-a. I guess I should try it someday.
The most amazing thing about that post was how many people came forward to declare their undying love for Chik-fil-a. I guess I should try it someday.
The only reason I would want to go to Chick-fil-a is that a friend of mine slipped up the other day and referred to it as Shit-fil-a. Because I’m 12 I found that hilariously funny.
Patty and Genna, I would love to ship you cupcakes :) I hope UPS accepts perishables and deliciousness.
It’s really not that bad because I know deep down, I would have said exactly what MamaScarlett says. She just has more guts than I do :P
According the Chick-fil-a website, there’s not one within 50 miles of here. Too bad. That’s one thing I really do miss about the south. Isn’t that ridiculous?
what MamaScarlett says
Sometimes moms are the only ones who can say that kind of thing. And sometimes they know it needs to be said. :D
Surely she was out of line in that case, though.
According the Chick-fil-a website, there’s not one within 50 miles of here. Too bad.
Do you ever go to Mighty Taco? I’ve been fascinated by it ever since hearing the “Morning Skate” podcast interview with Soupy.
Maybe I will watch a Stars game tonight in your honor!
While you’re watching, keep an eye on Zubov and see how smoooove he is. :D
Pookie, I’m not a fan of Mexican food so Mighty Taco is not my thing but everyone says it’s the cat’s pajamas. Mark won’t eat tacos from anywhere else and my brother’s say eating at Mighty Taco while visiting a few years ago ruined pretty much everything else for them. I will say this: you get a ton of food for cheap. You should check it out while you’re around! If you’re into hot dogs, I would also check out Ted’s.
I am a fan of Mexican food, which is why I won’t go near Mighty Taco any more than I would Taco Bell. I’ve never understood the Buffalo obsession with Mighty Taco and their low grade beef and un-subtle flavoring. But then, when it comes to food I’m a horrible Buffalonian (don’t like wings or beef on weck).
Meg, I’m mostly with you. I’ll eat wings but never more than a few at a time and honestly, I can’t tell much difference from restaurant to restaurant (though I can tell a difference between ones in Buffalo and ones at non-Buffalo places and/or chains) and I hate, hate, hate beef on weck. Yech. Hey, is sponge candy a regional thing? I never had it before I moved here.
Mark won’t eat tacos from anywhere else and my brother’s say eating at Mighty Taco while visiting a few years ago ruined pretty much everything else for them. I will say this: you get a ton of food for cheap. You should check it out while you’re around! If you’re into hot dogs, I would also check out Ted’s.
My friend from school that lives in Buffalo swears by Mighty Taco. He won’t eat Taco Bell because of this. I’m pretty sure he worked at Ted’s a couple of years ago too.
Hey, is sponge candy a regional thing? I never had it before I moved here.
I think so. I’ve never seen it anywhere else. I actually do like sponge candy well enough though.
Yeah, I looooooove sponge candy.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but my friend that lives in Ohio has had it before. She introduced me to it when we found it in Wegman’s in Ithaca. Disney sells it too for some reason.
Wow, that sounded real bitchy. I didn’t mean it that way.
Bubble un-busted, Genna. I just looked it up and while, like wings, it might be sold in some other places, it does seem to be a Buffalo invention. :D
Phew! I thought I ruined your dreams of sponge candy not being indigenous to Buffalo!
[...] and the crummy players that call the PBS box home, but in all honesty, that’s not the case. At just about this time last year, we’d reached the end of our ropes with summertime and all the stuff-that’s-not-hockey [...]