A trip down memory lane

So I just got back from hanging out with some close high school friends, specifically those of us who made up the Frugal Actors' Guild. We went to a bar that was different, had a lot of techno going on the speakers but no dance floor, a bit confusing. Then we proceeded over to a friend's house and watched our two very minor motion pictures "When babysitting goes awry" and the commentary for the DVD of "Mission Imbecile." I was reminded of how bad an actor I am, which is partially due to the fact that whenever I'm on camera I adopt a bad british accent, I don't know why, it just happens. I think the best part was in the MI commentary when my friend Scott said of a rather suggestively dressed Deb, "You know, we should do an interview with Deb's pants." That killed me. Maybe not very funny perhaps to those who haven't seen it, or even to those who have, but she was wearing these very tight silver pants and, well, it was just spot on. Also the great line, "It's like herdin' turtles," ahh good stuff. In retrospect part of my bad acting may be due to the fact that I was wearing a winnie the pooh costume. Oh well, I've probably said too much, but wow, tonight really took me back. Also my best friend from junior high/high school told a story of videotaping a friend's wedding reception and uttering these immortal alcohol inspired lines, "When I first met ____ and _____ I thought they were brother and sister, but was relieved to find out that they're really cousins." (just for the sake of clarity I should mention that the couple were not actually cousins) Sorry if this was uninteresting to everyone who visits here regularly. ta.

Wisconsin

Just got back from Wisconsin. Had a decent time celebrating christmas with my dad, stepmom, and stepbrothers. Went sledding down a rather slick hill, which by virtue of its slickness, was a beast to steer on and led to much about-facing, twirling, and emergency bail outs. Good times, was remarkable though that a good deal of skill entered into the thing as I could very seldom go down as straight and fast as my brother andy. Oh well. Went to the bucks-spurs game which was fun. Went into overtime, bucks won on a 0.7 sec remaing inbounds play of lobbing it to bogut who put it in. now back in illinois with the other immediate family. Not much to say, Going to hang out with friends from high school in a little bit. Good Christmas, Hanukkah, and new years everyone.

I suppose I can receive a kiss and tell...

So this past monday, I embarked to the bus stop on my way to watch the new Narnia movie with bryan and akira, which was enjoyable but not nearly as good as the LOTR. On my way I chanced upon some free books outside of Powell's and picked up a copy of Norton's Anthology of American Short Fiction. Some time later I found myself headed downtown on Bus no. 6. There I asked the elderly woman next to me what the last stop was on Michigan before the 6 turned away from the lake. She replied with words that I failed to comprehend, but after doing so she noticed the book on my lap and asked if I was a writer. I confessed that I do dabble a bit with the writing but no, as of now no one pays me to write. She then expressed curiousity in the book itself and asked to leaf through it, a request I could do no other than acquiesce to. She was greatly interested in it and asked if she could buy it from me. I then had one of my passing bouts, thankfully short, of magnanimity and informed her that she could have it at the same price I did, namely for free. She was delighted to hear this and took down an address where she could send me a christmas card, and then proceeded to give me a light peck upon the cheek. We sat in silence for some time and then she informed me that she liked to write, had even written upon the state of sex for women after menopause, to which I had no response. She then grew a little sullen and confidentially asked me, "Joe, is the reason that you gave me the book because you don't know how to read?" This took me quite aback and I replied that no, I could in fact read, mumbling something under my breath to the effect of, "Actually that's why I picked it up in the first place." She got off soon after and I may be one card the richer come Christmas morning. Ahhh the 6. Its good to be back in Chicago.

Fare the well, great white north

So last night I went to Gastov's, a german eatery and bar in minnesota. The Hefe Wizen was boundlessly brilliant. It tasted like a fall day - crisp, clear, fields of wheat in the background, and the suggestion of lemon, delicious. I would be severely remiss however if I failed t note the particular vessel in which it was served, a two liter glass boot with the inscription, "Ein Bier, das Man(actually the german equivalent) mit freunden trinkt." Roughly, one beer and a man makes friends. Lyrica, clarification? The rules of the boat were as follwos: could not put it down, toe must be pointing out, you must tap it when you pass it, if it splashes you must drink again (note: this was actually quite the danger in the midregions of the glass as air would rise to the "toe" causing a gurgling sound [very startling when not expected] and if the level was dropped abruptly the bubble would race out, taking beer with it and shooting a drop or two on some poor sap's [my own] mug), and most importantly the second-to-last person to imbibe had to buy the next one. We had 5 if I recollect correctly. For dinner we ordered a dish that was supposedly for 3 but I think could serve 6-7 with ease, really just a collection of meats with red cabbage and veggies under them somewhere. After the food we tried some snuff, it tasted(?) like Vicks. I of course fouled up the delivery of it into my nose and had a brown spot at the tip of my nose until a kind neighbor, in-between low-level hysterics, informed me of the exact nature of my appearance. We finished it all off with a round of apple schnapps like licour, (sp?) which I now believe is the perfect way to end any meal. They of course had an accordian player who was also named Joe! How...not that uncommon, but he played a beautously bawdy song for us and let me subject the rest of the table to my take on percussion with the stick, which was made up of a small drum, cowbell, bells, and a cymbal on top.

The conversation made very very happy Charlie informed me that I would not be overse to a go at the Nero Wolfe series. This statement made me positively bounce with joy as I've been a fan of these books since george introduced me to them. Apparently Charlie and his roommate have formed a local NW appreciation society, it reportedly hopes to meet on the roof of the liquor store behind their house. I have realized of late that I am particularly fond of the Nero or Mencken type of character that is not ashamed to seek their own comfort, has a cynical view of humanity while haveing a well-developed sense of personal morality, and is wickedly funny.

After dinner we went downstairs to the bar and 2+ hours of polka dancing. One gentleman of 72 winters was quite the thing, bedecked in black trousers, a blue shirt, and red suspenders who had his run wih most of the young ladies within a step or two of the dance floor. He was naturally, quite the polka dancer, and I tried to study his movements to pick up a thing or two.

Gastov's in short: Excellent beer, fantastic beer, german food, snuff to your satisfaction, and learn the polka while you're there.

This past week I reread the first 3 books in the Aubrey/Maturin or Master and Commander series. I now feel these books are a-tip-toe above anything else as far as enjoyable series books go. They have it all with their hilarious banter, thrilling naval action scenes, a sloth, espionage, women (at times), and the sheer volume of their collected adventures which will keep you in reading material for some time. The only possible bug-a-boo is that O'Brien is not shy with the naval or early 1800s English jaron. It's qite thick at times but with application and digilence you may hope to understand what the weather-gauge, mizzenmast, and laudanum are; I myself almost know what the weather-gauge is, or at least I understand the importance of having it in any naval action. In all earnestness though, I reccomend them to any landlubber whoever hoped, or didn't even know they hoped, to raise their blue flag at the mizzen.

So as the title of this post implies I have left MN and am back in Chicago. I took the train which wound up being a 9 hour journey. The scenery was quite nice, especially as we followed the Mississippi into La Crosse, the bluffs and the eagles I saw were very striking. Also we wound up being quite the attraction ourselves. They were fixing a bridge in Milwaukee which means we had to take a detour down a different rail line. For some reason this elicited great excitement in local locomotive appreciation chapters. When we made the detour there we no less than 20 people there videotaping and taking pictures of it, and along the way I saw another 10 people taking pictures of us. I don't know if this was the first time a passenger train had gone down that line in 50 years but some people were doing all they could to document it. Anyway, I have no plans except dinner club on Monday the next few days so if anyone has any ideas, let me know. Cheers.

This is just to say

That yesterday I punctured myself and drew blood while cooking. Specifically, with pasta, angel hair, it hurt a lot.

An interesting tidbit

Was just reading the NYT and learned an interesting fact: the celebration of Christmas was banned in Massachusetts from 1659 to 1681. For more check out below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/opinion/04sun3.html?hp

I also learned from ESPN today that a US Senator is trying to start an investigation into the BCS and its supposed lack of fairness.

Today I went with Joel and found Ice Lake, which might be the most diminuitive lake in a state that claims 10K of them. I say found because its approaches are well-guarded by wetlands and all shapes and sizes of flying biting insects in the non-wintry months. After walking its circumference I surmised that its square footage was around 1000 sq. feet. Which in my book makes it a permanent puddle rather than a geographically interesting body of water, certainly not a lake.

Also we've started playing table tennis with two collapsible rectangular tables Its quite enjoyable as you now have a front edge to contend with that can make amusing things happen like popping the ball into the air just out of reach or hitting the front edge of your opponent's table only to have the ball bounce back to your own.

So I'm gonna be rockin' pretty hard to public television tonight as they are broadcasting a springstein concert from 1975 London. Though as much as I love the boss I think I've got to get back to the big city.

Some random things:

Finally saw Ong Bak:Thai Warrior. I enjoyed parts of it immensely. It looked like he could have possibly done all/most the acrobatics sans wires, which if he did is incredible. I would highly recommend the movie for anyone who likes martial arts stuff.

Just reread Master and Commander. Love that book, parts of it are pretty dense with nautical explanations and such but I think is worth it. The books are surprisingly all very funny in addition to everything else you'd expect and so I don't think anyone who reads will be disappointed, for a second opinion ask mr cho.

And finally, don't feel like writing much tonight, I think that I will be back in chicago next saturday in the afternoon sometime, this plan is hinges on amtrak running on time, so of course I'll be thrilled if I'm only 1 hour later than expected. Not sure if I'll go to suburbs or southside first but any who read this can expect me at dinner club that monday.