Listening (music): Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. It’s an interesting collaboration, who would have put these two together? I guess Robert Plant would, since he pursued the partnership. I found myself wanting more Robert and less Alison, but it works. I especially like Polly Come Home. Well, that and Killing the Blues, but I discount that preference a bit because I am rather sentimental regarding Shawn Colvin’s version.
Watching: Grindhouse – Planet Terror and Death Proof. I think I might love the horror/thriller genre. It’s not necessarily being scared, because these weren’t so scary, it’s just fun. I tend to laugh harder at non-comedies because the humor is unexpected and dark. And of course with Tarantino and Rodriguez, the stylistic stuff makes it fun, too. Plus, Vanessa Ferlito and Rose McGowan are hot.
Listening (radio program): This American Life, The Devil Inside, act 2. I just watched the Dexter episode with the descriptions of the Dark Passenger. I guess what The Powers are trying to tell me is that everyone has an inner destructive voice – or maybe not everyone, but at least not just me.
Cooking: finally, cooler weather! I made my favorite soup – gingery miso chicken broth with mushrooms, tofu, and spinach.
Listening (live): Interview with Jonathon Lethem. I attempted Motherless Brooklyn years ago and couldn’t get into it, but I think I’ll try again because he’s such a cool guy. Talked a lot about the relationship between what’s going on in one’s head and what’s in the world and how fiction is one of the only art forms that bridges that gap (symphonies and poetry are fully in one’s head, movies are fully in the world). He also has progressive views on copyright and how especially big, huge successes like Harry Potter should be held to a different standard – that eventually they’re part of every kid’s experience and so permission should be granted to use that, shape it into something new. This was my first event at the library’s new performance space and it’s quite snazzy.
Reading: Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. Perhaps a return trip to Washington D.C. is in order. Also, I’d love to read a biographies on Robert Todd Lincoln and Edwin Booth.
Eating: it makes sense that Concord grapes would taste like Concord grape juice, but I had never had them before and didn’t know. Their skins slip off, they’re not attached to the meat, so it’s like eating eyeballs – tasty grapey eyeballs. The pomegranate was less successful – how do you eat it? And how is it ever worth it? People rave about these things, but I don’t get it.
Realizing: Must have been a Halloween discussion – someone asked me how to kill a zombie and I knew the answer. Follow up questions regarding vampires and werewolves also no problem. I never thought I’d be this particular kind of dork.
Photo by paul goyette.
