Randomosity

[mollyringle]

1. This was a cool day because (and this will only mean anything to a handful of you) Steve and I got to meet John Richards, a.k.a. John In The Morning at KEXP. As he is the coolest DJ on the coolest radio station in existence, I think that makes him the coolest DJ in the world. So it was a treat when the baby and I tailed Steve to a Seattle League ultimate frisbee game, and found that John had shown up to play on his team today. John has a small boy himself, and came over to say hi to us, and I had a nice long conversation with him about babies, pregnancy, and of course the radio station. (I was mildly fawning but I think I kept my cool.) He's very down to earth, as if actually unaware of being a celebrity. His hair is longer than in the photos on his page there, incidentally; and he looks younger, almost boyish, in real life; but I'd know that voice anywhere. Odd to hear it from an actual person and not a radio. :) You rock, John.

2. Swiped some spearmint leaves from a neighbor's yard the other night, opened a bottle of Maker's Mark, and we had mint juleps. Mmm. I bruised the mint, rather than chopping it. Southerners, I hope I did it "right."

3. Colin Firth fangirls: you do know about the movie 'Valmont,' yes? I rented it the other day. For the same story, 'Dangerous Liaisons' is better organized, but young Firth as rakish Valmont is a yummy treat. Good fun.

4. I'm late to this podcast thing, but I'm enjoying listening to Rick Steves' travel podcasts while I take walks with the kidlet. Travel the world while staying in your neighborhood! I now know lots more about Poland, Mexico, Cuba, Wales, and Egypt, to name a few destinations. Anyone have other podcast recommendations that fit the bill for entertainment with some educational value? Audio only, please. Even if I could watch videos on my iPod, I wouldn't try it while walking.

5. Just finished reading the very very good The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon. (Figured I should follow up one Pulitzer winner with another.) Beautiful, funny, poignant, all that. And Chabon has one truly impressive vocabulary, I might add, but the book does not feel pretentious despite his use of it.

Have a good Sunday. I think we're due to get rained upon some more. It's been warm rain, though, like a Hawaiian rainforest. Totally rocks. Keep yer sunshine, rest of the world.

Comments

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

2. Ooooh...haven't had one of those in ages. Hm. May need to go get some Spearmint.

3. *makes note*

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

It's possible that peppermint is the right mint to use. I'm not sure. But spearmint was the only thing on hand; and it was good.

[bluesound.livejournal.com]

I must have a rant about the name 'podcast' at some point, it's only a wanky term for an mp3 on a website, doesn't matter if it's streamed or not, given the evidence on various sites for it's usage. It's an excuse to hype up things on the internet, which to be honest is the last thing it needs, more hype.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

It is kind of a stupid word, but I fear it's too late to revoke it now. Usage is king, sayeth the linguist.

[dirae.livejournal.com]

I heart John Richards because he always pronounces Kevon's name correctly during the pledge drives (no Kay-von from him...) He's a nifty one to meet. Kevon and I think Cheryl Waters sounds a bit like you if you were a KEXP dj.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - I really liked this book as well. I'd suggest giving A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole a try.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I told John about you guys, kind of. Said I had online friends in Virginia who love the station and are members. He was very pleased.

I think I could sound like Cheryl if I enunciated better... :) Her playlists are quite good too.

Hee, I read Confederacy of Dunces a number of years ago. I remember telling Cat that Ignatius reminded me of him in some awful parallel universe. (This would be back when we all believed Andrew's life was rather weirder than it really was.) Only in attitude, of course; not physical description. I recall they were talking about making a movie of it. Starring Jack Black?... Haven't heard anything lately.

[dirae.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard of a film version, but hey... I'd be a-ok with it (You know, to see how they managed to translate it onto the big screen).

Speaking of "Cat"-like stories, pick up some Augusten Burroughs or David Sedaris if you haven't already. Their acebric tone is pleasing enough in short doses-- though one of Burroughs' tales about his starring role in a Tang commerical that never was is something I can always pick up a read again.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Oh, indeed, I need to get more Sedaris. I read some of his essays a few years ago, and was laughing so hard I couldn't even explain to Steve why I was laughing. I'll have to look up Burroughs then too, if it's in the same vein. Cool.

[shebit.livejournal.com]

While Dangerous Liasons is the better film, I have to say that Valmont's Valmont is a more believable serial seducer. Malkovich is always very watchable, of course, but also more than a little creepy, while young DarcyFirth is rakish and handsome.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I'd much rather get ruined by Firth than Malkovich. :D The grin...*sigh*

[shebit.livejournal.com]

He did make a rather desirable Valmont. I certainly wouldn't mind being ruined by that.

[elycia.livejournal.com]

you do know about the movie 'Valmont,' yes?

WHOOOP! (aside: Didn't I nudge you to check this out a little while ago?) Colin Firth makes my ovaries wibble, so of course I like this version better than DL. But I also think Fariuza Balk (sp?) is about 500% more believable as Cecile than Uma Thurman ("Monsieur, please meet my virgin daughter who is not only a foot taller than you, but also strangely resembles a prepubescent Amazon"), Henry Thomas ROCKS MY SOCKS as Daunceny, and Annette Bening has possibly my favorite movie line EVER: "Do you think a man can change?" "Yes... for the worse."

And as for the mint, I must confess that I've never had a mint julep in my life. Sorry! :-)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Was it you who nudged me? Must've been. It was someone on LJ. And yah, Firth is totally yummy, at pretty much whatever age. Bening was a delight too.

What, you didn't like Keanu Reeves? Heheh. He should never be allowed in period pieces. It's just disconcerting. Balk and Thomas actually looked like teenagers, so that was an improvement--in fact, from the careful staging it looked like they used a body double for Balk when Firth was kissing her tushie. Can't be having 15-year-old actresses do that kind of thing, I guess. :)