Mulling It Over

We just got back from several days in California, including a jaunt to Coachella, the music festival in the middle of the desert.  We danced in the sun with the surrounding mountains framing the revelry.  I've got many mind grapes to develop regarding the performances and, possibly more significantly in my mind, the festival-goers and how we view and listen to concerts.  But mostly, for the next couple of days in my mind I'll be reliving the fun and bemoaning the temperature drop from the trip back east.

All Carved Up

Hallowe'en here should be fun - dressing up, excessive excitement - but I find the obsession with "sexy" costumes utterly boring, and having been stuck on a train coming in from Long Island with youth pounding bud lights and vomiting in the toilets - at 7.30pm - it's just all a bit disappointing. Maybe it's a hangover from my youth in which I thought it was fun, but nowhere near as much fun as the fireworks, bonfires and sparklers that come with Guy Fawkes' Night a week later, pyromaniac that I am. Or maybe it's partly because I don't really like American "candy" that much - if I were likely to have a basket full of tasty chocolate, as opposed to Hershey's style chocolate, it might help.

Nonetheless, there are definitely Hallowe'en things I do enjoy, and pumpkins are one of them. Last night Dr. TOH and I partook of a traditional Rhode Island event that was remarkable in many ways. It's unseasonably cold - bloody well snowing in NYC today, for goodness' sake - and maybe that put off the crowds, but there were not the rumoured massive queues and problems reaching the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo. I'm not sure what I expected, but although I think I was a little disappointed at the painted pumpkins that were then carved, it was a remarkable experience. Not least for the choices of what represented a nation's identity, the theme being a Journey Round the World. The British bit started ok, what with James Bond and the Beatles' All You Need Is Love playing. We then hit Churchill and the Italian Job, but as the Beatles faded into the Benny Hill theme tune and I saw the Mr. Bean one, I began to despair, and that was confirmed with TOH's triumphant shrieks that there was, as he predicted, a Wills & Kate one. Ye gods.

But the best bit was at the end, where there was just pumpkin upon pumpkin, some absolutely bloody enormous (so big they had whole other pumpkins tucked inside). They looked spectacular, a strange dance track with cackling looped over and over, and it was beautiful. Hence the photos galore. So see below Frida Kahlo, the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Jack Sparrow & Fidel Castro (I'm sure placing them next to each other was not a coincidence), and some amazing pumpkins.

Keeping Up

Have I mentioned how much I adore The News Quiz? Well, I do. It's a superb way for me to keep in touch with politics at home (meaning I am a) informed and b) relieved of having to listen to John Humphreys haranguing people*), and this week I was laughing so much at the Buckfast thing I got very, very strange looks on the subway as I tried to hold back the tears of mirth. The weeks when it's not on are bleak for me, as I make do with whatever ersatz topical entertainment Radio 4 places in TNQ's stead, trying desperately to convince us that it's just as good. Not that I don't enjoy the other ones; they just pale in comparison to Toksvig** et al.***


* I used to podcast The Today Show, but it was unbearable after a while. I stopped after he was utterly out of line and abusive to a poor politician from Northern Ireland, whose name escapes me, but Humphreys was even more overtly aggressive than normal and utterly unreasonable. I'm less concerned when the politicians deserve it, but this was completely uncalled for and ridiculous.
** Did you know, I had no recollection whatsoever that she used to be on No. 73. But she was. A stalwart hero of entertainment.
*** I am also clearly onto a good thing, as there's a wonderfully ridiculous Telegraph article contemplating whether Radio 4 is alienating its "core audience" by having, according to commenters, Jeremy Hardy as a regular on TNQ, what with him being of the Socialist Alliance. It's terribly "smutty." This week TNQ even received a letter stating that there were too many women shrieking on TNQ, and there should be fewer women on it. Good work, people, good work.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I just logged onto BBC Radio fivelive to catch a report about the rather thrilling draw - no, not a contradiction in terms - in the third test at Newlands. I heard an excellent report by Michael Vaughn, who is becoming fast the most incisive and interesting commentator TMS now has - bright, perceptive, honest and very likable - I'm really impressed.

And then. Oh, BBC, really? Really? The next piece was about how Gordon Brown survived a leadership coup yesterday, which was fine. And then we descended into utterly offensive bilge as we heard about how women need to train their men and "withhold" things - presumably conjugal relations, was the wink wink nudge nudge behind the "expert's" tone - to stop them throwing their clothes on the floor. This is, apparently, an inherent problem with men because the expert's two sons did it - what more proof do you need? Furthermore, it is "the classic mistake of marriage that women think they can change their men, and men think their women won't change, but do." That's what the fivelive presenter, Peter Allen, stated, and we all laughed and went along with it because women are awful uncompromising nags who mother their husbands and men are little boys who need to be trained and are just naughty scallywags, really.

So I got all angry and annoyed and disgusted at the general hetero-dominance and inherent sexism that demeans men and women by these assumptions... and then I took a breath and laughed. Because I am so utterly grateful that this is not our relationship, this is not TOH and I; at least, I really truly hope it's not.

And then I read Two Gentlemen of Lebowski and all grumpy things were forgotten. This is utterly magic. Sir Donald; thou art out of thy element.

Distraction

It's Wednesday, I have to work late, so to entertain myself during my supper (yes, Chinese takeaway in little paper boxes - TOH reckons that is "so lawyerly") I have been watching old "Even Stevphen" bits from the Daily Show.

This one is from 1999. Weirdly, Carrell and Colbert don't look that different, but take a look at Jon Stewart... wowzer.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Even Stevphen - Weather

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Funny Political News
Joke of the Day

The Best Medicine

Despite the overwhelming joy felt in parts this week, it's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. The problems with Prop 8 and the general overwhelming tide of homophobia has got to me. The ongoing problems in Mexico are overwhelming friends. Work's been hard. I've been exhausted all week, not made it to the gym and eaten badly which always make me feel sluggish and grim.

So I've decided that finding something that makes you giggle uncontrollably and reliably every time is pretty special.

And now I have three ultra-reliable, guaranteed to make your sides hurt clips on YouTube that I can call up whenever I need a bit of a boost. I give you (from newest to oldest): Paul Rudd Dance, Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods and Cake or Death.

Excitement

Why? Several reasons:

• Going for Korean food tonight - bibimbop is my all time favourite-named food
  
• Supreme Court strikes down death penalty for child rape - yes, it's a bloody awful thing, but death penalty ≠ solution (and, after a bad period, I feel the Court has made a couple of decent decisions this term - nothing as bad as Ledbetter, for example, including the case that I went to see on the Age Discrimination Act).
  
• Also, see this article about the increasing number of rebukes to the Bush Administration this term - very interesting
  
• Yesterday, dropped off the application for a visa to Mozambique - we're really going! Ulp! Yay! And if you're wondering why I'm so excited, click here. And here. And here.
• NB: less exciting: tetanus jab. Actually had to take painkillers to stop the aching in my arm yesterday. Grim.
• But more exciting - after Friday, pick up the passport and just need Kenya & Tanzania - yayayayayayayay!
• Just when I order a magic bullet, we find out that blended drinks are back - yeah baby!

UPDATE: Now I am VERY excited about two more things: Professor Schechter's scheduled return to tell us about domestic issues for the Bar - having a professor who is genuinely funny is a rare change and has been a delight this week - even if it does make the classes an hour longer than they need to be.

But secondly - DGC has introduced me to the onion video - I've known it was there for a while, but I'd never watched it before today - and, aptly, the one I watched was about the Supreme Court and the Death Penalty - enjoy!


Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'

Ups & Downs

This week has been a somewhat exhausting one. First, we got jonned this week. TOH's junior sibling was in town as my liver, wallet and expanded paunch know all too well. Still, mucho fun had by all, and I'm slowly starting to catch up on sleep, water and vegetables.

Second, the grind of school got to me a little, it must be said, particularly when TOH, TOH junior and various other friends were off having a simply marvellous time without me. So, it was apt that, to go with my somewhat changeable moods, on Thursday I went to an NJ institution known as "The Great Adventure" - the Garden State's version of Six Flags.* At Six Flags we went on many, many exciting rides, most of which were exhilarating (on the Superman they literally strap you in so you're lying horizontally facing the ground - awesome!), none of which quaked my guts beforehand like the Kingda Ka. If you've never had the fortune to see it, it's the world's tallest and fastest rollercoaster - and it's ridiculous. It's the equivalent of a 45 stories high; it gets up to 128 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds. Holy moly. I was absolutely bricking it beforehand. TOH junior wasn't much comfort, it must be said. We also had to be unsecured and secured three times, because the poor gentleman who must have waited about 45 minutes to get to the front seat was too large to fit under the secure harness. But once it got going - absolutely bloody brilliant. Wundebar. As you can see from the video below (you need to wait to about 53 seconds to see the real action).

* Why is it called Six Flags? Not because it's "more fun," as the adverts claim, but because there are "Six flags over Texas." Or some other such nonsense. But that's what DGC told me, and everything he says is true. And righteous. And awesome.

Now, back down to earth, to practice essays, and being at school at 8.30, and all the stuff I don't like. Still, saving myself up for another visit - and definitely sitting in the front row this time...

Sprung!

Every time I appear to think Spring has Sprung forth Summer, I am thwarted; hence being woken up by the gentle sound of rain this morning.

Nonetheless, yesterday's picnic in the park was one of surreptitious wine, sun, cards and boules, as I prefer to bocce. It strikes me often how proximity and exposure dictates some of the distinctions between Yankee and Albion English; in many cases, the former takes the Italian where we take the French - zucchini/courgette, bocce/boules, arugula/rocket (roquette, for its correct version) and so forth. Not sure it applies to eggplant, though - who the eff knows where you people got that.

But particularly exciting was the spotting of one of these handsome fellas, just pootling around in the bushes. As my friend pointed out, not a native bird - well, not this far north, as it is an Oriole, more often found around Baltimore. And, other than my friend Amy, possibly the prettiest thing from those parts.

Hiatus

It's the Monday of the first week after law school finished.

It's weird. But good. But weird.

So here are my aims for this post-law-school-pre-graduation-and-bar-course limbo:

1. Go to the gym! Seriously, I need some getting in shape to be done.
2. Catch up on my crappy tv.
   
3. Spend time doing stuff I'm not going to be able to do for months - or, at least, without severe pangs of guilt - go to the movies in the afternoon, have a kickaround in the park, that sort of thing
4. READ! For pleasure!

Erm, that's about it, really. Still, not bad eh? That's literally all I have to do for the next couple of weeks.

Clouds Beneath the Moon

Back down to earth and onto classes today. joy. Whereabouts of the luggage completely unknown at the moment, but hopefully it'll turn up at some point.

Blogging will resume tomorrow, I think, but perhaps I will post a couple of things that I wrote while on holiday. Yes, my commitment to you, dear readers, doesn't even cease while I'm sipping rum drinks by the pool.

Put Your Hands Together

This morning I had to drag myself to the gym. I nearly convinced myself I couldn't go because my elbow was hurting, which would interfere with my weight-training. Never mind that it really shouldn't have any effect on, you know, running. Nonetheless, I have discovered the joys of a gym buddy. Seriously: Telling someone else I'll be there just makes me go. The other person and I don't necessarily do the same thing, arrive at the same time or leave at the same time and yet, it works. Unbelievable. So I went.

And I had so much fun. Seriously - fun. I did weights (elbow withstood them pretty well, although I didn't do the pull up / tricep dip machine, just in case - safety first). Then I went on the cross-trainer, so that I would not try to run - I can't bear just walking on the treadmills. I normally loathe cross-trainers. Yet, for some reason my random shuffling of music was absolutely perfect. Therefore, I can solemnly swear that the following selection of music made my gym visit amazing this morning and you should try it. Honestly.

1. La Tortura - Shakira, from Fijaccion Oral (not the reggaeton remix, much as I love that one, too)
2. Let's Push Things Forward - The Streets
3. Turn the Page - The Streets
4. Fell in Love with a Girl - The White Stripes
5. Rose Rouge - St. Germain
6. 2D2F - Avenue D

Bizarre. But the endorphins are still swilling around my system, so...

Cross-posted at last.fm.

Carámbanos

Today is the first day I've felt properly, fully cold - winter is here! I was coming back from the supermarket and my hands, gloveless, were ICY due to the holding of the bags...

I grumble about the cold a lot, but it was actually pretty exciting. Also exciting is the advent calendar - maltesers, yum! - and the general trying to keep warm. It's time to handwash the old longjohns...

And so begins two weeks of very liittle other than work and work and... oh yes, that's right, more work. I cannot believe that the semester has gone so very quickly. What have I done? Things, apparently, although I'm not sure what. Speaking of which - time to actually get up and get that work done...

The One Who Walks In The Sun

Over the years, I have missed out on several fun occasions due to work things, and utterly far too frequently for my liking since joining law school. The top ones missed out on have been:

1) The Pharcyde - ok, so this was MA year, but so what? Thanks, character that makes me utterly innately incapable of doing anything for an essay until the night before.

2) 2ManyDJs - aaaaaaargh. Damn you note topic proposal!

3) Lily Allen - last night footnoting intervened. AAAARGH.

4) Screening of film on AIDS & Ethiopia and a woman's fight against feminization of HIV/AIDS. What was I doing? Footnoting.

5) Ok, I can't think of a five right now. But I will do.

Anyhoo, my point is that tonight, the rain is threatening to interfere with more fun that I had planned to not let law school ruin. SUNDANCE. EVERYONE. NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.