5.11.08

Category: dribblings

i hope all you Muthas had a good Mutha’s Day.

we’re back from TN. it was good to see little hoostin. he’s still in mucho pain and he doesn’t get out of his recliner much, but i probably wouldn’t either. he’ll FINALLY get the catheter out this wednesday. maybe he’ll feel like walking around more after that. poor dude. so please keep him on your prayer lists as he’s still very miserable.

his pain and misery didn’t stop us from watching a ton of Harvey Birdman episodes and a couple of Venture Brothers as well. he let me borrow his VB seasons 1 and 2 on DVD. kelly, i so know what we’re doing tomorrow.

fiddy.

True Confessions: i’ve been listening to a lot of Hall and Oates lately.

5.09.08

mr. fleegan and i will be in Good Ol’ Floppy Top this weekend visiting little bro. i won’t have internet access. but that won’t matter cos no one surfs the ‘net on the weekends anymore anyway. that’s so 1998.

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Family Bible by Melissa Delbridge

Category: 50 Books

26. Family Bible by Melissa Delbridge

This is a memoir written by a lady who grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL in the ’60s. It is fantastic. I laughed (out loud in the breakroom in front of my coworker. i kept apologizing cos she was trying to read a book while i was being a chucklehead.), I cried, and I loved every bit of this book.

The author talks about her family and growing up in Alabama during the Civil Rights movement. And while she’s generous with the humor, she does not sugarcoat ANYthing. She’s brutally honest… even about herself. And I gotta say that took some major guts.

The book is pretty short, but I can’t say that it’s sweet cos it does have some bite to it. It’s my favorite book I’ve read so far this year, and I’ll be recommending it to everyone. I know that I’ll be reading this one again. It was hilarious, brutal, and beautiful.

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Detective Story by Imre Kertész

Category: 50 Books

25. Detective Story by Imre Kertész

This is what the book says it’s about: (i stole this from the goodreads site, but it’s also what’s on the jacket cover of the book so no spoilers here.)

As readers, we are accustomed to reading stories of war and injustice from the victims’ point of view, sympathizing with their plight. In Detective Story, the tables have been turned, leaving us in the mind of a monster, as Nobel Laureate Imre Kertész plunges us into a story of the worst kind, told by a man living outside morality.

Now in prison, Antonio Martens is a torturer for the secret police of a recently defunct dictatorship. He requests and is given writing materials in his cell, and what he has to recount is his involvement in the surveillance, torture, and assassination of Federigo and Enrique Salinas, a prominent father and son whose principled but passive opposition to the regime left them vulnerable to the secret police. Preying on young Enrique’s aimless life, the secret police began to position him as a subversive and then targeted his father. Once this plan was set into motion, any means were justified to reach the regime’s chosen end—the destruction of an entire liberal class.

Inside Martens’s mind, we inhabit the rationalizing world of evil and see firsthand the inherent danger of inertia during times of crisis. A slim, explosive novel of justice railroaded by malevolence, Detective Story is a warning cry for our time.

 

 

 

 

Okay, so Martens is telling the story, and you know he’s in prison so you know that whatever government he was working for is no longer in charge (or maybe it is and he was imprisoned as a scapegoat, i guess, could be another way to look at it; the book doesn’t say.) But the cover made it sound like Martens is this evil killer-torturer guy, and maybe he is? But he never talks about what he did. And I would expect a killer-torturer Evil Sicko to brag about what he’s done, or at least describe the torture and get pleaseure out of talking about it. But he doesn’t talk specifically about it the torture (unless I missed something?) and he’s never braggy about it or even sounds like he’s glad it happened.

See, Martens was a police man. and then wherever this is goes under dictatorship or martial law or something and he’s recruited to The Corps. And he’s with these two other guys and they have the Interrogation Unit. So it’s not like he was in this from the beginning. And so I don’t get the whole Martens = evil thing. Because he’s telling the story, maybe he’s lying? I don’t know, but I didn’t feel that he was evil. I felt more like, if he was a policeman and then kinda forced to join this Interrogation group that tortures people, that maybe he’s more coward than evil.

The cover made this sound like it was going to kill your mind with evil and torture and kind of in a “this could happen to you! beware!” kind of way. And if the book had actually been about that? It would’ve been pretty good. It just did not come across that way at all. It could be that it was ‘lost in translation’ somehow? But the guy who translated the book into English has won awards for his work as a translator, so i don’t know.

And I know that the author is supposed to be this awesome Nobel Prize winning author, and that’s awesome, but this book is just not that good. But I do feel bad slamming it for some reason.

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Sacred by Dennis Lehane

Category: 50 Books

24. Sacred by Dennis Lehane

Book three of the Kenzie/Gennaro series. And since I’ve already read book four, Gone, Baby, Gone all that’s left is book five. I’m kinda sad though cos that’s the last book in the series. I’m not sure if he plans on writing any more of those. So I’m trying to hold off reading the last one. This is the one with the billionaire Trevor Stone and his daughter, Desiree. They’re pretty much evil. Have I mentioned that I love this series?

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Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane

Category: 50 Books

23. Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane

This is book 2 of the Kenzie/Gennaro series. This time they deal with a serial killer.

I love these books.

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5.05.08

Category: dribblings

happy Cinco de Mayo!

now, onto the funny business.

last night mr, fleegan and i were having one of those “who would you do?” conversations. so we’re going through ’70s and ’80s television shows. look, it happens. we’d run the gamut and we’re down to this: mr. fleegan asks, “who would you do from Taxi?”

“ew, no one. they’re all crazy or too jew-y.”

“jew-y?”

“i don’t like the jew hair.”

“what are you talking about?”

“the poofy man hair jew perm.”

“that has nothing to do with being jewish.”

“i’m not saying it does, what i’m saying is i don’t like it. it’s a turn off. if i HAVE to pick someone from Taxi it would HAVE to be Tony Danza. and honestly? i’m not that into him.”

“jew hair?”

“no, he’s got italian guy hair. it’s not his looks really, it’s more that he’s Tony Danza.”

“i’d do Marilu Henner.”

“well, yeah cos on Taxi she’s like, your only choice.”

“i’d pick her over all the Charlie’s Angels.”

“really?”

“big time.”

“i can’t tell if you’re serious or not.”

“i’m serious.”

“Marilu Henner. with the hair?”

“with the red hair.”

“is that it? the hair?”

“it’s a fact, reds have more sex than blondes.”

“really?”

“yes.”

“how do you know this?”

“…”

“okay, so Agent Scully or Marilu Henner.”

“no contest.”

“Scully?”

“no! Marilu Henner, baby.”

“what?! are you doing this on purpose?”

“no.”

“she’s old enough to be your mom.”

“i’m talking about when she was in her prime.”

“the hell’s that got to do with it? when she was in her prime she was STILL old enough to be your mom. you were what? 6?”

“and?”

“and you’d pick her over Scully?”

“hell yes, she’s in my top five.”

“Marilu Henner is in your top five?!”

“oh yeah. probably number 2.”

“even with her jew face?”

“now you’re being mean.”

“of course i am! who’s number 1?”

“scarlett johansen? probably. i don’t know though. Marilu Henner is so hot.”

“you know, NONE of our other friends would ever pick Marilu for their top…30, even.”

“good. that’s just more Marilu Henner for me.”

“i hate you.”

“…”

“okay, wait! ’70s and ’80s tv, right? i got it. i know who’d top Marilu Henner.”

“two Marilu Henners?”

“shut your Face Off starringnicholascaeandjohntravolta. Valerie Bertinelli.”

“hm, she’s cute, but i’d still do Marilu Henner.”

“oh come on!”

“i’m serious.”

“NO ONE picks Marilu over Valerie Bertinelli. no one. ever.”

“i do.”

“Marilu fucking Henner. Didn’t she hawk Ronco junk for awhile?”

“don’t care. i’d still do her.”

“okay, red heads. what about Tanya Roberts?”

“ooh, from the Beastmaster! she had really pretty eyes.”

“eyes? don’t even! like, you were looking at her eyes? please.”

“heh. no really. pretty eyes. still, she’s no Marilu Henner.”

“really?”

“really.”

“so who could top Marilu Henner?”

“me, hopefully.”

“you’re dead.”

personally, i don’t see it. i mean, she has black teeth.

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4.30.08

Category: dribblings

justin got to come home today! yay! i think he’s still hurting a lot but i’m sure he feels better being at his own place.

***

every time a patron checks out or returns Karen Kingsbury’s Fame i always sing, “FAME! i’m gonna live forevah! i’m gonna learn how to fly!…” and if i’m really lucky, they’re also checking out/returning Karen Kingsbury’s Remember. so then i get to sing, “remember, remember, remember, remember my name. FAME! i’m gonna live forevah!…” and i gotta say that so far? none of the patrons have reacted. i’m talking i’ve done this for over a year. and not one patron has responded. should i give this joke up? or, is it that i should employ my coworkers to join me as back up singers and add some choreography?
i thought so.

i am still coughing but not as much as yesterday. however, i’ve kind of lost my voice. and it sounds hilarious. or pathetic. it sounds pathetic, but also like mickey mouse. so i’m glad i didn’t have to work at the ‘brary. cos me answering the phone wouldn’t have gone well, i’m sure.

“squeak squeak”

“hello? is this the liberry?”

“squeak squeak”

“hello? anyone? liberry?”

mmm, liberries are my favorite. if we had a pint of liberries we could make a pie or cobbler. or, we could use them to choke people who say liberry.

 

my pal over at the left bank showed me this awesome site that i’m sure all of you cool and hip people already know about, skreemr. i’m sorta addicted to it. and if i’m at home on the computer i’ve got it pulled up and am using it to listen to all the songs i love so much but would be too embarrassed to buy, or would buy but only listen to it once or twice. i’ve listened to a lot (A LOT) of Pointer Sisters. George Benson, Franki Valli, Pete Seeger, Robbie Dupree (go listen to “Steal Away” right now. and if you’re not sucked back into 1980, then nothing will suck you. back. to 1980.)kylie minogue (“I Should Be So Lucky” my friends and i were sitting around one evening and this song came on and when it got to the chorus i busted out all singing and everyone was all, “you know this song? i’ve never heard of it.” and they all acted like they’d never heard of it. well, they should be so lucky. it was a puzzlement that i had heard of something that they haven’t because believe you me, my friends have heard it all.)

oh and speaking of Kylie Minogue (and how come i’m the only one i know who has ever talked about her, anyway?) am i crazy out of my mind? because i thought she did the song “Toxic”, but i can only find Britney Spears’ singing it. but i’m pretty sure Kylie Minogue did it too, and in the video she was dancing all over the back of a semi-truck? or maybe it was a train? did i dream this because i can’t find it. and i really don’t think i could make this up. and i’m going to stop talking about kyile minogue now. before i lose all my cool points.
too late!

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4.27.08

Category: dribblings

justin is still in the hospital. he’s getting to eat a little bit. but otherwise i think things are still the same. pain. nausea. and for the past two days they keep saying, “he might get to go home tomorrow.” but then he never gets to. he’s miserable. but i still think this surgery went better than the last one, cos i seem to remember he had a fever for days after the last one. and this one hasn’t been like that. still, please keep him in your prayers.

***

son of a-! i’m sick again. again! i’ve got the cough of 1000 days. how did this happen? i’m never sick! i don’t get sick! and on the off years that i do get sick? i don’t get sick for another year or two. what the hell, man? i turn 30 and now i get consumption every 4 months? i don’t like this. not at all! i just had this what, in november? i’ve been hacking up the ol’ lung butter all weekend. i was going to go visit little bro, but seeing as how he’s in a hospital i didn’t think it would be an awesome idea to bring him my germs. so then i was going to go to this thing the GPL was putting on at the mall. it was going to be at least something awesome to do. but no, i stayed at home on the couch coughing up a lung into kleenex.

i’m totally blaming this on the ‘brary. i know it’s the germs from those rugrats that cough all over the place and wipe their snotnoses on our books and puzzles and doors or whathaveyou. and tomorrow my cow-orkers are gonna hate me and act like i’ve got the plague. BECAUSE I HAVE THE PLAGUE.
…if it hadn’t been for you germy kids!

***

before i caught my cold we had some girl’s night shenanigans.

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4.25.08

Category: dribblings

there was a strange piece of mail in the mailbox this afternoon. it was addressed to me and there was no return address in the corner or on the back. a letter of intrigue!

i carefully opened it up (in case any sort of white powder came out. mmmm, powdered donuts.) and inside was a bookmark with a post-it stuck on it. this is the greatest piece of mail i’ve received in a long time!

you will all be jealous of the prize that was sent to me by Daktari!, and if you’re not jealous then i don’t even want to know you anymore. in hopes of attaining a Spy Club code name for his wife or daughter, Daktari! has sent me a genuine pleather bookmark that he scored from some kind of important meeting he attended with (wait for it…) SCANTRON. yes, as in the test sheets you had to buy in college? that is some SWEET SWAG, yo!

some of you may remember (it seems so long ago doesn’t it?) when this site was not a site at all, but was in fact… a mailer. it was a weekly e-mail that was sent out to anyone who could take it. and back in that day, if you sent me some swag (preferably something awesomely useless from your job… with a logo or something on it. but honestly i’ll take whatever. swagwhore over here.) i’d give you a Spy Club nickname and a job in the club. the best part about this club is there’s no annual meeting and nothing to vote on. you just get a cool nickname and i get a lot of free pens and junk! it must be said, however, that some people have sent me some very nice things. not just work swag. some of the stuff i can remember off the top of my head (it’s been literally YEARS since anyone has asked for a Spy Name): Agent Orange sent me a mixed CD of punk music. Mr Beard gave me a LotR cup. Disco Millie sent a rad key chain from Nevada. and Cowboy Zydeco sent me a whole grab bag of prizes including stickers, a can of armadillo meat (heh), and these cool spinny things (i still have them, CZ!).

so how jealous are you of my scantron bookmark? i know. the jealousy, it eats you up inside doesn’t it? it would me too.
Daktari! i can’t give Wheezy a nickname cos she’s only one and already has like, 3 nicknames that i know of (EA, E-town, and Wheezy) that’s more nicknames than some people have their whole life. plus, to give a Spy Club name and job to one so young just doesn’t seem like a good idea. i need to wait a few years to see what job she’ll fit into. but your gift is not in vain, nay! it has bought for your lovely wife a Spy Club name and job. Patti, your spy name is Stormy Wunderblatt. you’re an expert with knives (obviously) and you’re in charge of imports/exports and you’re in the Poetry Squad. it’s mostly limericks. bawdy ones. you should have no trouble fitting in.

thank you, Daktari! i love my bookmark!

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4.24.08

Category: dribblings

the computers at work are wonky and have been for two weeks. this means that once or twice a day we have to shut everything down and check out stuff by hand. the patrons have been pretty cool about it although they all say the same thing, “computers not working? you have to write everything down, eh? like the Dark Ages!” ha, yes. only we’d all be burned as witches. anyway, the worst part is that we can’t look up any books because our card catalogue is on the computer, right? i hate not being able to tell someone if we do/don’t have the book they’re looking for. it’s bush league. if they’re looking for books on a certain subject we can point them in the right direction, it’s just the specific titles that we can’t be sure of. cos maybe we have that book and it’s checked out, or maybe we don’t have the book at all.

it just a wee bit frustrating is all. working in a library and not able to actually answer a question. unless of course you need your Roman numerals one through ten, i can do those.

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