Innocent Ramblings of a So-Called Writer

Bohemian Rhapsody: Muppet Style

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:26:36 -0500

Bohemian Rhapsody: Muppet Style:

The Muppets cover of Bohemian Rhapsody.

This is the greatest thing I’ve seen in, well, maybe ever.

Who doesn’t love the Muppets? Seriously? Who? Because I will hurt them.

It appears that my mom’s Twitter account has been hacked...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:51:06 -0500

It appears that my mom’s Twitter account has been hacked by Robin Williams circa 1987

LOST brings another addict into the fold

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:43:04 -0500

My cousin Ryan finally gave in to the all-consuming power of LOST. His tale, a harrowing one, is brilliantly detailed below.

* As for my response to the last line of his post: Hell yeah you do.

photog-blog:

For the first time since 2004, I’m finally off my Losticil. Two days ago, I was calmly sitting in my room with several pre-grad school assignments taunting my academic prowess; daring me not to procrastinate. I sighed, knowing that if there was nothing significant on my agenda there was no reason not to do the work. Then it happened. Just as I had cracked one of my books I heard a familiar chime. It was my twice-a-day Losticil reminder.

I’ve been on this stuff since my senior year of high school when the CDC & Pfizer began joint trials to combat a widespread outbreak of what’s now commonly known as Lost Discussion Deficiency Syndrome (LLDS). I was only 17 at the time, but soon after the pilot premiered, I began to show the symptoms. Since I was a dedicated student-athlete (and die-hard Smallville fan) I never got a chance to watch the episodes, and thus was absolutely clueless. My brother would be discussing plot details with my cousins and I would try to join in the conversation. He’d be talking about numbers, or hatches, or Sawyers, or Others, and I’d just stand there and mumble, “Uhhh, yeah, totally, that sure was crazy.” The room would begin to spin, I’d piss my pants, pass out and then forget where I was for a while. Thanks to J.J. Abrams, I spent my 18th birthday in the hospital, wondering if I’d ever feel accepted by the Lost-viewing public.

Even once I began to take Losticil it only helped me combat the “episodes” (pun not intended) rather than make meaningful plot discussion possible. At first, I wasn’t so adamant about taking the pills on time but then it happened. Season one finale, Exodus: part 2. The hatch was blown open, revealing a much deeper secret than was ever anticipated. That happened to be the same night I forgot to take my dose before falling asleep. Sure enough, a minute after the season wrapped, I began to receive frantic calls from all of my friends. My body was unable to comprehend what they were telling me and my body went into shock. After waking from a three day coma, I swore to never miss a pill again.

So when my Losticil reminder began to chime two days ago, I popped the cap off my little bottle and dropped a pill in my hand. I stared at it for what seemed like an eternity and then slowly looked up at my TV. Netflix’s streaming service recently came to the PS3 and I was well aware that there were four seasons of Lost in glorious HD screaming for streaming. It was at that point that I knew the time had come. My choice had already been made. Perhaps it was destiny. I flushed my remaining pills down the toilet, poured neat glass of boubon and finally succumbed to the show that had been the bane of my existence since 2004. And I’ve never felt better.

Within two days I finished the 25 episodes of the first season. I sit here now, writing this no less than three feet from a 42 inch Samsung with Lost Season 2: episode 9 selected on the screen. I’m well aware that there’s a long road ahead, but it’s one I’m very much looking forward to traveling.

- Ryan

p.s. Jenn, I now know why your cat’s name is Sawyer…

photog-blog: Photoshoot, 11/13 The picture of the pup with...

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:19:00 -0500

photog-blog:

Photoshoot, 11/13

The picture of the pup with sand on his nose is so cute I could die.

Awesome shots, Ry!

Perception Something to think about…. Washington, DC Metro...

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:13:38 -0500

Perception

Something to think about….

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*Do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.

How many other things are we missing?

(via heymissy:allthingsalishan:mzreport:genevieveclare)

ethancushing: YES! YES INDEED!!!!!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:15:00 -0500

ethancushing:

YES!

YES INDEED!!!!!

Heart. Love. Adore. Awesome. Legen - Wait for it - DARY!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:12:44 -0500

Heart. Love. Adore. Awesome.

Legen - Wait for it - DARY!

In the words of a show I don’t even watch but obviously am...

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:43:17 -0500

In the words of a show I don’t even watch but obviously am culturally aware enough to grasp on to the salient details of….. “I DIE”.

genevieveclare:

Annie Playing

I’ve become one of those people that posts videos of their dogs/babies doing boring shit. I wish I was even remotely embarrassed.

We started calling her Annie (like Little Orphan Annie), and have absolutely fallen in love with her - shocking, I know. If we didn’t travel so much and had room in this shoebox of an apartment, we definitely would have kept her. But it wouldn’t have been fair to her as she grew up, so…

We may have found a permanent home for the little one! Casey and I are sharing her this week and then she’s off to a friend of a friend this Saturday, who wants to adopt her.

There are so many pups at Biscuits & Bath and all over the country who need adopting. Please, please, please consider adoption if you’re thinking about getting a dog.

PS: Thanks to Mary and Meera for giving her the creepy rat toy.

"Paying taxes is like going to the zoo. Admission is twenty bucks. You can’t walk in and go, “Here’s..."

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:58:31 -0500

“Paying taxes is like going to the zoo. Admission is twenty bucks. You can’t walk in and go, “Here’s $18.50. I don’t like zebras.””

- Jon Stewart, demolishing the rationale behind the Stupak Amendment. (via alcaniglia: absurdlakefront: apsies) (via lizlemon) (via inmyopinion)

Joe on SYTYCD

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:40:57 -0500

Precious Mollee (Age 18, on SYTYCD) : So tonight, we are pushing "cute Mollee" off the stage, and when I step out there tonight I am going to be "sexy Mollee"!

Joe (watching from the couch): No! No! How about "mature, responsible Mollee!"

Joe was really uncomfortable with the idea of Sexy Mollee. Turns out, so was Mollee. Her dance was terrible.

icanmakewaffles: This 1961 postcard sure makes the East Peoria,...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:28:21 -0500

icanmakewaffles:

This 1961 postcard sure makes the East Peoria, Ill., Holiday Inn look glamorous.

I have been to East Peoria on quite a few occasions (unfortunately). I can tell you with some authority that there is absolutely nothing glamorous about it. Though, it is quite possible that this hotel is still there, granted it is more likely a meth lab now than a hotel.

Preetiest Hair in Hollywood

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:17:18 -0500

These are the women who I believe have the most enviable locks in LaLa Land:

(In no particular order)

1) Sarah Chalke

2) Mandy Moore

3) Sarah Lancaster

4) Isla Fisher

5) Reese Witherspoon

No. It is not a mistake that I have, on more than on occasion, copied every single one of these cuts/colors. (And I will continue to do so.)

What do you think? Did I forget anyone?

To Long to Tweet

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:52:31 -0500

I had a really idiotic thought this morning. ”Man! I hate it when I have {what I believe to be} something really funny to say that doesn’t fit in 140 characters!”

Uh yeah, dimwit, that is what you started a blog for SEVERAL YEARS before you ever even heard of Twitter.

Anyway, here is what I was wanting to say when I had that brainless revelation:

The panicked adrenaline rush that I get when I almost side swipe the wall in our incredibly narrow parking garage at work is EXACTLY equivalent to the rush that I get when almost accidentally dropping a piece of toast jelly-side down. Apparently I find getting massive body work on my car done to be just as much of a hassle as getting out the Windex to wipe down the counter. Curious.

An Open Letter to the Man That Runs the Tasti D-Lite On My Block

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:05:36 -0500

genevieveclare:

Dear Sir,

When my family goes around the table this Thanksgiving to say what we’re grateful for, your name is going to come up.

I’m grateful that you act like you have no idea who I am each time I walk into your tiny shop five times a week. I’m grateful that we put on a complex theatrical performance night after night – with me pretending to scan the menu on the wall, and you asking if I would like a topping like I haven’t ordered the exact same god@mn thing for six months. I’m grateful when our eyes meet across the store and you mouth “What would you like?” while foreigners are crowding me, cramming Sweedish Fish into their clear plastic bags. I’m grateful that you continue to let me put $5.25 on my credit card each night when I’m sure it costs you more than that just to run it through your ancient dial-up machine. I’m grateful that you don’t judge me when I walk in still sweating from a workout or when my pajamas peek out from underneath my coat just a little bit.

People say that heroes live among us. And you sir, are mine.

I love you,

Genna

Another reason to be grateful: Some of us don’t have fro yo within walking distance at all. I have to drive 7 minutes to get to frozen custard (not the same), and 25 for the Charlotte version of Pink Berry.

I am so glad that there is someone else in my immediate circle of relationships that now understands...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:50:52 -0500

I am so glad that there is someone else in my immediate circle of relationships that now understands what it feels like to know that your day is unproductive, incomplete and intellectually unfulfilled until you’ve watched at least two episodes of The West Wing.

I do realize, Sarah. I do realize what I have done to you. And I’m not sorry. I’m not sorry for making you a more fully realized, engaged citizen while at the same time entertaining you with some of the most well-written characters in TV history.

inmyopinion:

Leo: This is the most horrifying part of your liberalism. You think there are moral absolutes.

Barlett: There are moral absolutes.

Cannot. Stop. Watching. This. Show.

(I hope you realize what you’ve done to my social life, Jenn.)

Happy Birthday Time Travel!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:55:39 -0500

Great Scott! It’s November 5th! Thanks for the reminder, E.

ethancushing:

Doc Brown: Here’s a red-letter date in the history of science, November 5, 1955. Yes, of course, November 5, 1955.

Marty McFly: What, I don’t get what happened.

Doc: That was the day I invented time travel. I remember it vividly. I was standing on the edge of my toilet hanging a clock, the porcelain was wet, I slipped, hit my head on the edge of the sink. And when I came to I had a revelation, a picture, a picture in my head, a picture of this. This is what makes time travel possible. The flux capacitor.

Marty: The flux capacitor?

Doc: It’s taken me almost thirty years and my entire family fortune to realize the vision of that day, my god has it been that long.

My cousin is selling his totally sweet ride. Interested? Shoot...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:26:40 -0500

My cousin is selling his totally sweet ride. Interested? Shoot me an email at jenn.grabenstetter (at) gmail (dot) com or find his post on Craigslist, below.

photog-blog:

I’m selling my 1980 Buick Regal 4.9L Limited. Hit me up if you’re interested!

Check it out on Craigslist! http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/1452706100.html

I can’t tell you how giddy this image makes me. I was...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:37:28 -0500

I can’t tell you how giddy this image makes me. I was raised on Muppets, and I intend to raise my children on them as well, one day.

Hi Everyone, I’m a Mac. And, I’m a PC. And this is...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:47:00 -0400

Hi Everyone, I’m a Mac.

And, I’m a PC.

And this is the single most humbling moment of Jenn’s life - posting this ridiculous picture on the internet. I will be uploading attractive pictures of myself shortly to counter balance any disgust you might be feeling at this moment.

You have to admit, coming up with a costume idea that allowed my Halloween-adverse husband to wear his normal clothes was pretty genius.

Happy Halloween!

UPDATE: I tweeted this picture to John Hodgman, also known as THE ACTUAL GUY WHO PLAYS PC, and he retweeted it to his 158,000 followers. Mock twitter all you want, but ACTUAL PC has seen me in costume as him. That simply DOES NOT HAPPEN in a pre-twitter world.

In the course of one 24-hour period, I have been followed by...

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:41:53 -0400

In the course of one 24-hour period, I have been followed by Spencer Pratt, Uggs, and “E-Cigarette”.

What in God’s name did I do to deserve this? Whatever it is, God, I am sorry. Please make it stop.