The Blow by Blow

     I considered giving the blow-by-blow yesterday, but I wanted to focus on the surprise party, and I didn't want to come off as too gloaty.   Also I can recall in my recent past saying "the quick version, I don't need the blow-by-blow."  If I'm instructing others to edit, perhaps I should take my own advice.  Also, I try to avoid recapping my weekends every Monday.  It would be repetitive and again, gloaty.  I bet people hate me a little bit when they ask "how was your weekend?" just to be polite and I come back with "Fantastic.  It was great.  Sooo good, seriously.  Way better than yours."
     Thursday Afternoon.  The weekend begins.  (I'll give my friends fake names, so they're not dragged into the internet for no reason.)  I left work at lunch time to go meet Blaire at the airport.  I got to the airport at almost the exact same time her plane did.  There were no metro problems, or baggage issues, or security problems.  It was practically tropical when she landed.
     The Grocery Store.  Blaire and I made a quick trip to the grocery store for cake supplies and lunch supplies.  This wouldn't be worth mentioning other than the fact the grocery store is across the street from the birthday girl's (Tootie's) apartment.  It created an extra fun factor; we were extra vigilant while picking out cake mix.
     Spring Breakdown.  I love this movie, and Blaire needed to see it.  True, it was a beautiful day outside, but it was also a beautiful day inside.  I made the cake, put it in the oven, popped some popcorn, we made sandwiches, and settled in for a hilarious 87 minutes.  I almost have the movie memorized, but I didn't ruin it for Blaire. 
     Cake Decorating.  Tootie's favorite kind of cake is white cake with white frosting.  I thought it would be hilarious to then also write on the cake with white frosting, so it was white on white on white- a Wilco cake, if you will.  This was amusing for a minute, but then it was really hard to see the message, so I outlined it.  I thought for sure I would ruin it, but it came out pretty well.

     The Waiting.  This whole time I was fielding text messages from Tootie, and lying in my responses.  Blaire and I walked down to the bar with the cake and a backpack full of T-shirts.  Yes, we had 30 matching T-shirts, because nothing says we're all here to party like matching T-shirts.  People arrived, put their T-shirts on, ordered beer, and waited.  Tootie entered and was blown away.  She had indeed been enjoying St. Patrick's Day, but when she walked in the back room of the bar and her friends were waiting, and we said "Surprise!  Happy Birthday!," well, a lesser person would poo themselves.  Hugs and beers all around.  There was a priceless double take when Tootie saw Blaire and it sunk in that a plane and serious subterfuge had been involved.
     Operation After Shock.  Friday morning was wonderfully slow going.  Blaire and I made breakfast- cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, and coffee, and we watched the Thursday night line up from the night before.  To borrow a phrase, it was awesome-sauce.  I mentioned this yesterday, but there were still more surprises lined up.  Tootie loves the zoo and our friend Natalie was due in with her husband, George, and their son, Clooney.  Clooney is the perfect age to enjoy the zoo, so it seemed to line up perfectly to just surprise Tootie at the zoo with Natalie, George, and Clooney.  She expected Blaire and me, but walking up with an extra three people in tow was amazing.
     Lunch on the Circle.  Post zoo, we grabbed sandwiches from a local deli and picniced on the circle. Norman Rockwell couldn't have painted it better.  He probably would have left out some of the riff raff who use the trees as their bathroom.  It's part of the ambiance though.
     Schmorgesborg.  We sat on the circle long enough to each get a little sun-burned.  We packed up and split up a little bit- I went with Natalie and crew to pick up snackies, and Blaire and Tootie went to buy shoes, including a pair of flip-flops for yours truly.  My favorite kind of shoes are the ones that just appear.  We spent the rest of the night at my place eating cheese and crackers and popcorn and cocktail wieners and wine.  Tootie's husband was eventually able to join us; one big happy framily.
     NYC.  Every time I mentioned New York City, we said it in that mooing voice from those old Pace commercials.  Haha, funny commercial, but seriously, New York City would be the least economical place ever to make salsa.  A 5 oz. jar would be $12 because of all their overhead.  Still, Saturday morning was nice.  We had coffee and a simple breakfast.  I got ready for the bus and the rest of the framily had a full day of relaxing planned.  The bus ride was fine, NYC was awesome, per uj, and the Super Moon came out. 
     Just when you think it's over.  Gosh, it seems like the weekend was already jam packed, but there's a entire extra day.  On Sunday, Tootie and I made a Zipcar trip to Trader Joes.  This is a big deal.  Then we strolled through the Farmers' Market, where she picked up a potted rosemary and I picked up some buffalo meat.  There was a lull where she read magazines on my couch while I cooked my lunches for the week.  Then we met her husband for lunch at Panera.  That was an adventure- it shouldn't have been, because it was Panera, but it was.  Then Tootie and I headed back to her place to watch the Michigan-Duke game.
     Couch Shopping.  After suffering a heart break I didn't really understand, we went couch shopping.  I know, how many hours are in the day, right?  Considering buying a giant bright red couch is hilarious.  However, Tootie hit it on the head with "I'm not sure I can afford a $4000 joke."  Good point.
     Sushi Happy Hour.  We slipped in the door of a sushi restaurant about 9 minutes before the end of their happy hour.  They're nice enough to tell us this, and we just put a line down a column on their menu to get the order in in time.  Sushi and Sam Adams for dinner.
     One More Stop.  Poor Tootie's husband, who was stuck at the office all weekend.  We picked him up some 5 Guys and Tootie got in a cab to take it to him.  I skipped home, high on life!  I received report later that he was very pleased.

Phew.  So much goodness in such a short period of time.  Maybe the short version is better.

A 30 Second Emotional Roller Coaster Ride

     A few days ago I ordered some DVDs (Spring Breakdown among them) from Amazon and they were scheduled to arrive today.  While at work, I kind of forgot, but then as I walked closer and closer to my house, I remembered, and I nearly ran home.  I didn't run, because of the snow and ice and because I don't like running if I'm not being chased.  But I was excited to get my movies.  As I approached my front door I experienced the wildest emotional roller coaster to be had in 30 seconds.
     I walked up to the door and I saw the yellow UPS sticker indicating they had been there.  I was sad as I wished they could just leave the packages.  I got really sad.
     Then I approached the door and read the sticker.  It read "In your absence your package was left under the mailbox."  I got really happy.
    Then I looked under the mailbox and nothing was there.  I got really sad.
    Then I peered through the door I was opening towards the lobby and saw the package.  A neighbor and brought it inside and left it on the steps.  I was really really happy.

     If I were graph my emotions as a function of time, it would look like this:

That is basically a roller coaster.  An emotional roller coaster. 

Watch Instantly Sunday: A Review Part II

     Yesterday's post was a bit of a misnomer, because none of those were actually viewed on Watch Instantly.  This post picks up where yesterday's left off: me in my room in front of the computer.  Some time between Meet The Press and Prelude To A Kiss, I decided I wanted the fun again; I was cured.  Bring it on, Netflix.

Spring Breakdown.  I didn't know this movie existed, and I don't know how I've gone so long without it in my life.  It stars Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, and Parker Posey.  Also, Amber Tamblyn, Mae Whitman, Sarah Hagan, Seth Meyers, (a wee bit of Will Arnett), Missi Pyle, and Jane Lynch.  A little bit of research tells me that this film missed a theatrical release all together.  That's a shame- I would have watched this three times in the theaters.  It's a female centric comedy, and maybe stupid studio politics had something to do with it not getting a break.  I hate that I even wrote that sentence.  The sentence to follow that will quickly lead my into a downward spiral of feminist theory and comedy.  I'll save that for a Master's class.
     This is a very funny movie.  The gist is that there are three "friends forever" who may just be life long dorks.  They get the opportunity to go to a traditional Spring Break hot spot, and even though they're way beyond the appropriate age to do so, they go.  They have a sort of assignment to befriend a group of teenagers who are dorks in their own right.  It's a fish out of water story, times six.
      It won me over with the opening sequence- the three leads at a talent show, singing Cyndi Lauper's True Colors with full earnest, and singing it pretty well.  The song ends and we reverse to the audience- the silent, bored, audience.  The tone is set.  We fast forward fifteen years and the story takes off.
     The official reviews of this movie were not too great, but I suppose if you're looking for reasons not to like it, maybe you would come to some of the same conclusions.  The most oft quoted statement is about a fine group of comediennes not used to their full potential.  This is actually the kind of review that I believe to be covered in bullshit.  Amy Poehler is hilarious.  Rachel Dratch is hilarious.  Parker Posey  is hilarious.  Put them together, and they're hilarious cubed.
     They stick together, and there are a lot of great group scenes with the three of them.  But they each also take a personal journey, coming into their own, learning about who they really are, and discovering that who they are is better than who they think they want to be.  Yes, the journey is a little farcical.  But Amy Poehler is both hot and hilarious in dreds- I hope "see you lader hosen"  becomes something people really say.  I plan to spearhead the movement.
     You know what, perhaps I have already said too much.  Just watch this movie.  I'm going to go watch it again.  Right now.


25 Years of Improv.  The 25th Anniversary of the Improv Olympic in Chicago.  A whole bunch of Improv Olympic alum got together to celebrate the anniversary of this awesome, funny place.  This was good Sunday afternoon viewing- it offers good insight into the process of improv and comedy in general.  And you get the idea that improv isn't really about comedy at first, it's about creation.  But eventually, creation is pretty funny.  And yes, Amy Phoehler was there.  It was a theme for the day.

Upright Citizens Brigade Season Two.  While watching the Improv Olympic Anniversary show, I was reminded of the short lived Comedy Central show put on by the UCB founders Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts.  Season one wasn't available on watch instantly, so I delved in with season two.  I was hesitant, but then figured plot probably wasn't a huge player for the show.   I watched two full episodes, and was pretty sure I understood the show.  It was funny, but not always laugh out loud funny.  It may have been a bit dated, I'm not quite sure.  I remember when it was actually on Comedy Central, and I probably watched it a little bit, but didn't get it back then.  It was my fault I didn't get it.  The Wu Tang Clang finding your underground lair is funny.  Go with it.

Saturday Night Live: Season 27.  I'm pretty pumped that most older seasons of SNL are available on Watch Instantly now.  I started with season 27 because it was Amy Poehler's first season.  She started as a featured player, and by episode 11 she was in the full cast.  I made it through the first 11 episodes, and it's easy to see why she so quickly gained the attention.  I think it's something called commitment.  She consistently gave great performances and great characters- the porn star on a date, the trashy woman who shuts herself in an oven, Loose Bear, bratty teenager.  Well, the list goes on and on.  This was also the season with Will Ferrel, Tracy Morgan, Chris Katan,  Darell Hammond, Maya Rudolf, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, and Jimmy Fallon (and one or two other people.  Dean something maybe?).  I also really really love watching the old Weekend Updates.  That's consistently been my favorite segment.  Season 27 was the second year of Tina Fey & Jimmy Fallon.  There are some episodes that get pretty hacked up, based on lack of music rights and other such things that we don't really need to understand.  But Weekend Update is always there, and always awesome.  Tina Fey offered to throw a pizza party for the airport security guard who could find a terrorist.  "So, if you love pizza, and you hate terrorism, pull your head out of your ass and get all up in Makmoud's carry-on."