I just rolled a 3479m katamari. Whoa. King GET.

Foo Fighters concert was amazing, as expected. Weezer played before them so their set was shorter than usual (I believe by my count this was the fifth time I’ve seen them live) but they were still bursting with energy and excitement. It was very special being in the audience this time because this is their home crowd. The Foo Fighters are from Seattle originally, so this was them coming home. There’s a different sort of connection one can feel for the musicians when they can talk about the place you live and places they’ve been with which you’re familiar. One thing I had suspected for awhile was that their song Aurora from their CD There is Nothing Left to Lose was actually about Aurora Ave., also called Hwy 99. This was the main street we took to get to the concert and a popular alternate to using the I-5 (main interstate that runs through the city.) Dave Grohl talked about all the things he used to do when he lived by Aurora, from buying a go-kart to going to drive ins and drive thrus and buying long underwear at the Fred Meyer’s. I felt special because I could relate to these things in a way I never had the chance to before. *smiles* It was great having Will there with me so I could share something with him that I am very passionate about. He had a good time, so I’m most pleased. We had a bit of an adventure finding the car afterwards but that was easily solved.

Driving home on Aurora Ave. had a new significance. Surprisingly the Northbound lanes were very empty so there was this stillness and quiet that made everything feel really relaxed and comfortable. The song played through my head and I felt a new appreciation for my surroundings. Mmm. :D

Also of importance today was the interview. It went quite well indeed, and the guys I talked to seem really eager to have me on the team. If I get the job I’ll be working as a subcontractor so I won’t get any benefits but the hourly wage will more than make up for that fact. The hours are flexible and they encourage their subcontractors to work from home during times that are convenient for them. It sounds almost too good to be true! I’ll post more details once things are finalized (ie, if I actually *get* the job) so keep watching for that. For anyone who’s interested, it’s another Plone job. It seems that having that skill at the top of my resume has paid off tremendously. :D

Check out my new Foo Fighters shirt. Huuu. :3

Next Wednesday is going to be a big day. I have another interview in the afternoon and then there’s the Foo Fighters concert in the evening. I hope the interview goes well so I can fully enjoy the Foo.

In other news I feel absolutely terrible right now. My body just feels generally crappy and I have a Jules-magnitude headache. I feel a little frustrated as my statements about feeling unwell have been met with generally unsympathetic and sarcastic remarks. I wish Jules were here.

Since I started making lists of all the media I need to experience, I think it’s also a good idea to make note of the blankets I have thus far promised people. If you are interested in one and have a suggestion, leave it as a comment and I’ll add you to the list. Current wait time is…God only knows. A couple years?

For people
Will - Rush
Jules - Momo
Brian - ?
Dickie - ?
Rayme - Sandman
Jon - ?
Chris - Prince of All Cosmos
Peter - Escher reptiles
JimmyD - MST3K
Mom/Dad - Holstein spots
Kang - Domo Kun

Other ideas
Totoro
Jack Skellington
Australian flag
Strongbad, Homestarrunner

Much to my surprise (and delight) Caroline in the City is out on DVD. Small catch though–only in the UK: Caroline in the City Season 1. Of course that means it’s region 2 PAL so I can’t watch it on any of my equipment. Not to mention I have no money to buy it. However…it does leave some hope that someday it’ll come out in the states. (Why UK first though, when it’s an American show?)

I just put up an extremely minimalistic redesign for Freshly Dead. Now that I have my professional portfolio up, I will keep this site as more of a personal webspace. I plan on using this as mostly a repository for my more casual stuff, things like snapshots and sketches. I’m not sure if I’ll stay with the current layout and how much of the content I’ll permanently remove, but this is how it’ll be for now. I haven’t yet removed all my art images, but I’m sure the people who keep linking to Eyegor and the Drunk Dead Fish without permission will suddenly be surprised to see them gone. Hah.

Aching forearms, neck, and shoulders. Headache. I don’t want to stop crocheting but it seems my body has decided for me that it’s time. :( I guess I’ll read or something.

Mirrormask was absolutely wonderful. The visual style was absolutely stunning, it was total surreal eye candy…brilliant script, wonderful actors (small cast)…Neil Gaiman is truly a genius. And Dave McKean must have one of the most original, expansive imaginations on earth…GOD…just… *explodes with delight* This movie made me want to create beautiful things even more than I already do…the desire to paint returned so strongly. All I can say is WOW. I am blown away.

After the movie Will, Chad, Rayme, and I went out for curry (Will broke tradition and ordered a hamburger steak!) and afterwards we went to a bakery where Rayme insisted on buying me a tastybun which I will save for later because I was stuffed. I got a jasmine bubble tea on the way to the car (my personal indulgence) and we spent a lot of time in the Uwajimaya grocery store trying to come up with $10 worth of stuff to buy (so we could get our parking validated.) Will got the infamous Choco Pies (of “It’s Now!” fame) and I got a bunch of instant noodles.

I’ve spent most of the night listening to a Last.fm station “Artists similar to…” Basically you choose an artist you’re interested in, and it will grab a playlist of music that falls into the same category. I’ve been enjoying this method of musical discovery so much I’m putting off going to bed little by little because I hear a song I like, then I look it up the artist on wikipedia and amazon and find out more about them and other artists like them. It’s like following this little breadcrumb trail except it leads in dozens of different directions. I’m addicted. Thus far tonight I’ve found several artists I’m seriously interested in hearing more of (and a few of mild interest.) Damn I love Last.fm.

Guu.

I think my sleep schedule is slowly sliding back into place. Yesterday morning I set my alarm for 8 and got up without too much trouble. Jules called shortly after that so we talked for a bit then he went to bed so I showered, dressed, and had some breakfast while watching The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Several people including Will and Jules have recommended that film to me, and after the first viewing I feel pretty neutral towards it. I didn’t love it or hate it, I found it “okay.” It’s about how I felt about Lost in Translation, where it was so hyped up and everyone was saying how amazing it was and after I saw it I just felt it had been too aimless and meandering (which, of course, was the whole point.) It isn’t that I don’t find these kinds of films interesting (neither had any trouble holding my attention) but because the movie can’t seem to decide what type of film it wants to be I feel confused and uneasy. I do think I need to rewatch TLA without the expectation of it being any specific type of movie. (That’s my main problem, I naturally try to categorize things when I see them.)

I spent most of the day crocheting even though my neck, shoulders, and arms ached fiercely. I tried to take it a little more slowly this time, which seemed to help, but there was still quite a bit of pain. I don’t know if I’ve ever done a piece of art where I haven’t dived into it so completely that I sacrifice my health and comfort to experience the creative process. My drive to be totally involved in what I’m doing is, to me, exactly what makes me a real artist. I can’t *help* it, it’s something I absolutely have to do. I need to create beautiful things and be completely engrossed in the process.

In the afternoon I watched a few Mythbusters episodes and did some laundry (while still crocheting.) For dinner, Will and I walked down to this place I pass on the way to the park called Smokin’ Pete’s BBQ. The place smelled strongly of BBQ (overwhelmingly so) and the food was amazing. I really enjoy trying new places and being delighted by how good the food is…thus far there’s only been one place I’ve eaten at in Seattle that wasn’t that great, and it was a Chinese noodle house in the International District. It wasn’t *bad*, it just wasn’t anywhere as good as the other places I’ve tried. As in Wisconsin, I’m trying to get people to try new eating establishments so we’re not caught in the boring repetition of only going to the same 5 places. This is, of course, excepting Fort St. George, where we have our weekly curry. Curry has its own rules.

After dinner Will went to Omni to talk to Hiroko so I was on my own (as I am on weekend evenings.) I really felt like taking a walk, so while Jules went off to buy pants, I spent about an hour walking around my neighborhood. The air was cool and crisp, the moon glowing behind a thin layer of clouds, and music played in my ears. It’s so nice walking around a quiet neighborhood in a big city…it’s like its own little small town, and is a nice contrast to the busy nature of the city center. I felt fantastic when I returned home. I had a huge craving for jasmine iced tea, and luckily I’d just made a fresh pitcher of it (I drink *so* much of that in the course of a day) so I was able to indulge. I felt like watching a Lynch movie so I put in Blue Velvet and crocheted. While it was undoubtedly Lynchian, it wasn’t the headjob that I was expecting it to be. (I felt mild disappointment over that!) Still, it was enjoyable. After that Jules came back so we talked on Skype until I decided to sleep.

Today should be nice…we’re planning on seeing Mirrormask, getting curry, then watching the remaining episodes of Battlestar Galactica. I always enjoy getting together with Rayme and Chad for these gatherings (and being out with the 3 people I know in Seattle.)