So, someone just pointed out to me that I've had this blog for a long time and, actually, I had not realized just how long it had been. My first post was on November 2nd, 2002 - amazing.

Anyway, here's what I'm into at the moment:

1) Skype. Free telephone over the internet - what could be better? My username is coco_guillotine so contact me if you sign up or whatever. If I'm not online, calls we be forwarded to my cell phone, which I pay for (I think) so you can talk to me for free. Woo! Call me now*, I'LL TELL YOU YOUR FORTUNE**. Actually, we can talk about the weird couple from NZ who were trying to sell Stephen Amway or whatever it was when we were on the train from Vancouver to Seattle that one time***.
2) Kings of Leon On Call. Totally my favourite song at the moment. Stephen doesn't get it, says it's because I grew up listening to Oz Rock (Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil etc.). Whatever, so good. Was anyone else listening to K-XWZ in 1980something or was it just me? New Wave totally passed me by.
3) blip.fm. It's pretty cool. It's music microblogging. I mean, ok, sometimes you can't listen to songs you've posted because they're "unavailable" but, actually, I'd really like to listen to what you guys are listening to. Sign up, make me a contact, post songs: it's fun. Come on. Even if we can't talk, at least we can share music, right?
4) The DKNY cozy. Kind of cheesy but actually so useful and what I want to wear ALL THE TIME. I wish I had one in every colour.
5) Eastern Shore Tea Co Christmas Tea. It may not be quite as good as the old Fortnum & Mason Christmas tea but it's damn close and very delicious. Let me know if you want me to send you some.
6) Rye. Who knew?
7) Rye Rye.

Happy new year, cats and kittens.



* So when I was a kid and all into Star Trek: the Next Generation, the show would air late at night and half the ads on then were for sex lines (Call me, call me now, I'm waiting for your call, until the people who watched Star Trek and taped it for their kids complained. Fair enough, though, because those ads were ew.
** Probably not but I'll bust out my tarot cards if you insist.
** We can also talk about how intense the Canadian border guards are. Seriously.

Why I haven't been blogging

Because I have Facebook and Flickr and between the two everything of interest that I'm up to is pretty much covered. I mean, it's not as though I was doing any sort of, ur, cultural commentary or political assessment here. Anyway, if you're absolutely interested in the day to day stuff I stumble upon online, I also have Twitter and Tumblr streams (and I'm also on Google Wave, which most of you don't seem to be so never mind about that). The former is mostly just sites I come across and find interesting and what I'm listening to on blip.fm, that latter is images. Phew. Enough? More than enough, I'm sure. I probably won't blog at all anymore.

In brief

1) Stephen started a new job. He's working at DKNY on Madison Ave, which is great news.
2) We are going to Denver for a few days at the end of the month. Stephen is looking forward to riding his scooter, I'm looking forward to eating at my favourite restaurant and we're both very excited about all that open sky and Colorado sunshine.
3) I am starting Bitsy on a raw food diet. It's almost all meat, more like what cats eat in the wild.
4) The bigamist brides documentary got canceled and now I'm working on a pilot for a show in which chefs will recreate historical meals. I'm currently trying to source parrot meat. Sigh. I am also doing a little work on another pilot for a series about grudge killings. To be honest, I find doing research about murder less depressing than trawling exotic meat sites online. Did you know that you can buy lion meat on the internet? Well, you can. Yuk.
5) Predators shouldn't eat predators.
6) I need a haircut.
7) And a pedicure.
8) Last night I dreamt about a super intelligent rat who had shaved his own fur off. I had to kill him with my bare hands. I broke his neck but then he revived himself and I tore his head off with my fingers. VERY DISTURBING.
9) I made rice pudding last night for the first time in my life. It was ok but I used the wrong type of rice. Will try again soon.

Wuh..?

Ok, so I haven't blogged a bit recently and the reason is this: Facebook. Yeah, you know. Mostly I just take personality quizzes (eg. What's your cholo/chola name? Which David Lynch movie are you?) and play this little game in which you run a farm. Sigh.

So, anyway, I'm not working on the wedding dress show anymore. I'm still working for the same production company but now I'm working on a documentary special about female bigamists. I'm getting to do some interesting research and speak to a lot of sheriff's office and county clerk employees in places like Georgia and Kentucky. Anyway, if the thing ever goes to air I'll let you know.

As for everyone else, Stephen is still job hunting and Bitsy is enjoying a new training regimen in which we ignore her obnoxious behaviour and give her chicken jerky just for not doing something bad. I don't know if it's working yet but she sure does like those meaty treats.

Lastly, I have a Twitter stream. Duh, of course. If you're looking for updates on what I'm doing (because, really, aren't you just doing that NON STOP?) it's a better place to check than here.

What? What?

Nothing. Just nothing.

It's Spring. Nothing much has changed except that there are leaves on the trees and the cat is even crazier than usual.

Nothing to worry about

This is my absolute favourite song right now. I just can't listen to it enough. The video is excellent.

When will there be good news?

Right about now, actually. The good news is this: I have a full time job and am getting paid to work. I'm now working as a post-production co-ordinator (or something like that) for a reality tv show about brides shopping for their wedding dresses. Of all things. It's actually really interesting and I am enjoying it. If you're interested in reading about the show or seeing a tiny clip click here. I would not have thought that I'd be interested in a show about wedding dresses but it's actually oddly compelling. I feel as though I could totally write some sort of thesis on Western/American ideas about weddings and marriage. It's certainly tempting. You would not believe how many times I've heard someone say about a wedding, 'it's every little girl's dream'. I'm kind of amazed by it, to be honest, because it has certainly never been my dream. Anyway, it's kind of a cool show and I'm really, really, really happy and grateful to have a job. None of my other friends who have been laid off recently have found new jobs yet. I'm in the process of trying to get Stephen employed. Right now he's getting paid by the NY state government to watch Hulu.com, entertain the cat and take naps. It's not actually as fun as it sounds.

Another day in the life

So... not much going on today, really. Well, I got up early so that I could log onto the NY Department of Labor website to sign up for unemployment "benefits" and now I am watching the cat clean herself on the window ledge. Have you ever really just watched a cat groom? It's fascinating. My favourite bit is when she makes a sort of fist and licks between her front toes and combs the fur there with her teeth. She looks so tough!

Today I am going to make white beans with rosemary for lunch. Tonight I am going to make hot sauced glazed tempeh, sauteed greens and baked sweet potatoes for dinner.

Um, I guess I'll look for jobs and, hmm, think about the direction, if any, in which my work life is going and, well, try to figure something out. I'm not really sure what to do with myself but I suppose I have plenty of time to think about it. I am wondering whether or not I should take a course or classes of some kind. Anyway. We'll see.

I finally succumbed to the Facebook behemoth and signed up. Don't get me started. It seemed like a good way to keep in touch with people as potential work contacts and, also, it just looked kind of fun. It's been nice to reestablish contact with some old friends and I like being able to see what everyone is up to. I was amazed to see so many people that I have no desire at all to reconnect with. Amazing.