Sunday, May 15, 2011

stale pbj

Sometimes I get CD's from the library. I'll just browse through the CD section, grab a few that I've heard about, and then listen to 'em at home. The problem is that sometimes I listen to something once, put it aside, and then forget exactly what I thought of it before returning it to the library. So, before I forget, just a quick reminder to myself: Peter, Bjorn and John, you totally suck.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

T-Bone's spa therapy

I've never had a professional massage. I'm not shitting you; I shit you not. There are some people out there who get a massage every week, you know? Hell, you can get a massage at the airport, for christ's sake. But I'm just not a self-pamperin' sort of guy. Except ...

Every 6 months, I schedule an appointment and go to a local place for my own little special therapy. I get to sit in a comfy chair, put some shades on, kick back, watch a little TV on the ceiling, and let someone else take care of me for a while. And where is this magical haven, you ask? Why, it's my dental hygienist's office!

Seriously, for me, getting my teeth cleaned is the closest I get to a sort of man-spa session. And if you think carefully about it, the comparison is apt. In addition to the chair, and the sunglasses, and the comforting elevator music, you're also getting your teeth cleaned. When I leave that office, my smile is looking like a million bucks, and it stays that way until I eat a burrito or something like that and get a bunch of chicken shreds caught in my teeth. But even then, I know that in another 6 months, the dental hygienist is going to pull those shreds out.

What about the discomfort, you also ask? Ah, let's face it: it's not that bad. OK, getting the mini-water jet on an exposed nerve is bad, and I guess I don't like that thing that makes the high-pitched whine. And spit sinks. Why did they ever do away with spit sinks? They had 'em when I was a kid; and back then, going to the dentist for me was like spending the day at an amusement park. Suction sucks! If I can find a dentist around here who still has a spit sink, I'll be happier than a pig in pig heaven.

So there you have it. That's how I roll. I bet most of you Mad City fans never saw this one coming.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

hallie bateman, superstar

Some people believe in eating locally. I believe in consuming local art. My latest and maybe greatest find occurred not too long ago, when I stumbled across an art exhibit at Beyond the Bridge Cafe in Tacoma. It's not even my usual coffee house hangout! I've been going to Metronome mostly. But for whatever reason I went to Beyond the Bridge that day and saw the exhibit by local artist Hallie Bateman.

Not sure if you've checked out the link to the Ridiculous Sister website (it's right over there), but that site belongs to Hallie and has plenty of her cool art. She's currently a senior at University of Puget Sound, which is less than a mile away from my crib, and will be graduating real soon. The piece that I liked the most at her art exhibit (a crocodile in a wedding dress) was already sold, which distressed me, but soon thereafter I came up with the idea of commissioning an art work for my friend B-Phat's "man cave" (check out the link for Concords Are Better - it's right over there). I got in touch with Hallie and sold her on the idea, so to speak, and the results were staggering. Just look at that smile on B-Phat's face! You can tell he likes his man cave picture.

At any rate, check out her website, and think about commissioning something for yourself. It's the gift that keeps on giving ...