He put my stapler in jello again.

This is mom's cat Oliver. He misses his big brother Mohammad quite a lot. So much so that he's been throwing up a lot the past few days. I'm taking one for team Bedard tomorrow and doing the honors of taking him to the vet, just to make sure something horrible isn't going on with him. Understandably, Mom isn't too excited about going back there so soon. So, let's all hope for the best. Him throwing up might not be so bad. He could stand to loose a little weight. At 20+ pounds, he's about the size of a category two hurricane.

Well, Counting Crows was last week. And I just realized I hadn't talked about it yet. I could not overcome my hostility over paying $200 to be close to the stage, so I ended up on the lawn. But, I was surrounded by a fantastic group of people, including Maria, boyfriend, Daniel, Marky, J-Fah and Ben. We had fun. Adam Duritz was completely on-point, regardless of playing to a crowd that could seemingly care less. That's how you know you're an amazing preformer; when he carried over all of the bodies that didn't care and into the lawn for those of us who did. Thanks, buddy.

Their set list went a little something like this, in case you're curious/want it for your own documentation:

Hanging Tree
Omaha
Ms. Potter's Lullaby
If I Could Give All My Love
Murder of One ---> Doris Day (Sordid Humor)
Mercy
Washington Square
Miami (!!!)
Long December
Come Around
Rain King
(I don't think I forgot anything...)

I got so excited when they started playing Rain King because I thought maybe, just maybe, they'd do the version of it where they break into Thunder Road. They didn't, but it was still a fantastic closer.

Only Maria and myself stayed for Maroon 5 but we also had fun speculating on exactly how many STD's their singer may or may not be infected with.

Hey, anniversary went nicely. And a big reason for that was because I spotted the most exciting thing I've seen in months on my drive home from work...

ITSA ITALIAN ICE.


When I was growing up in Edgewood, I went to church every Sunday. Mostly cuz Grandpa was a minister and Dad did the church music. But, every Sunday after church, our family, being me, Mom, Dad, Grandpa and Grandma went to eat at La Placita. And after that, on the way back to Edgewood, Mom, Dad and me would stop at Itsa Italian Ice on Lomas and Washington for sugar-treat. Italian Ice is not be confused with slurpies or slushes, it's made the same way ice cream is, as opposed to being shaved ice. But Itsa was just the king of it. That establishment was such an important part of my childhood. I loved it, could not wait for it on Sundays. Sadly, it closed, gosh, maybe 15 years ago. Occausionally, their booth would pop up at State Fairs and Balloon Fiestas, but I've pretty much been Italian Ice-free for a decade and a half.

UNTIL NOW.


So, celebration to make benefit glorious anniversary began with Itsa Italian Ice, and opened up an old chapter in my life. Be warned, I'm sure that for the duration of my stay in New Mexico, if we're hanging out and bored or hungry, I will no doubt suggest we go to Itsa. Prepare.

PS. It's an amazing thing when you're able to laugh off problems at work.

Blessed be thy name.

Last night was the first night back to working in the El Rey. And there's nothing like standing for 10 hours to welcome you home. Attendance was poor, I think partially because it was Easter weekend and we had a week and a half to promote it. But I was really happy to see Joe Anderson and most of the Launchpad crew there. Take that, rocksquawk haters. I told Daniel this morning I feel like I had a weirdness hangover. You can still smell the smoke in the lobby, see the taped-up doors. We were projecting the film Dan Garduno shot in the saloon all night, so I watched it about 50 times over. In a way, it was comforting to be back, like a necessary step for the healing process, to get to be around my work family all night in the place where we're best aquatinted. But it was also just so, so odd to be next door to nothing. It's just not the same place, don't think it ever will be.

I'm honestly having a terrible time moving on from this. And I didn't expect it. It just doesn't seem to go away.

I took my grandmother to church this morning, which is always fantastically awkward. I see so much of myself in all the little girls at the church, zipped up and tied into the most adorable and uncomfortable garments, all in the name of Easter Sunday. Man, have I ever been there. And it never fails to amaze me how even after all these years, I still remember all the words to all the prayers. My grandma also unloaded about 5 million baby pictures on me, most of which involve me in those god awful (pun intended) frilly dresses. So, if you're up for a laugh, swing by my new apartment and check me out, circa 1989. I was damn cute, biggest eyes in the history of baby.

Church also means I got lots of parading in. My grandma loves to show me off, college degree and all. I don't she catches the sneers I do when I tell people my degree's in film. It's either "that's so cute" or "oh". I don't really care for either. Hey little old lady, go try the job market in 2008, thanks.


The prognosis for Wiggle Pants is wavering. The vet had to take out two more teeth and was not happy about how she was responding to the antibiotics. So, they took a tissue sample from the infection and sent it to the lab for testing. Might just be a nasty, nasty infection or it might be cancer. Needless to say, I'm hoping for the first, but I'm preparing myself for the worst. We'll know by the end of the week.

Working in conservative office has made me want to retreat into high school retardation whenever I'm not there. I almost got Kyle to play Chinese Fire Drill with me on Montgomery the other night. If anyone's up for that, let me know.