The Myth & The Majesty

1. As an offshoot of Party of One , let me just say ... I love being a regular at a restaurant. I love walking into a place and knowing the staff by name. I love it when they know what I'm going to order before I order it. I love the comfort of chatting with people who wander through. However, it's a little alarming when you realize how much more you hear as a regular than as a normal diner. 2. I'm really looking forward to "The Avengers" on Friday, even if it'll be a little while before I get to see it. Maybe it's because it's a Joss Whedon movie. Maybe it's because it's been in the works for so long and I've heard about it since almost the very beginning. Maybe it's just because I'm a nerd. In any case, I can't wait. 3. It's been some time since I paid this much attention to "Dancing With The Stars." I guess it took them casting a Packer. (And Urkel! Who knew we'd ever have the chance to look at Urkel and sa...

Here's the thing.                                                                                            (Hey, post 1337!) I'm very particular about some things. The people I'm around. (Aren't we all?) The books I read. The things I consume -- beer, most definitely. Coffee to a large degree. Wine, sometimes. Baked goods to a degree that may be a little out of hand. I've been called a snob, and to be honest ... I'm kind of okay with that. Some things in life are worth the extra time, effort, and/or money. But you know what? S...

Spring. And a concert I won't get to see (but a trip I need to make anyway).  And summer campfires. And one of my favorite places.

Dr. Dennis: [ On TV ] Get real, Kevin, 'cause when you feel like a dirtbag, it's because you're a dirtbag. Right? So just own it. Say it out loud: "I am a dirtbag."  Lou: Dirtbag? I don't think that guy's a real doctor. (From "Over the Hedge." Cinematic masterpiece? Maybe not. Occasionally hilarious? Definitely.) I have come to believe that everyone should do a truly random job at least once in their adult life. I'm not talking about the things you did when you were sixteen or while putting yourself through college, but something later in life, something that is completely different than what you've always done. The last year and a half has been good for perspective, if nothing else, and my newest employment has been particularly interesting so far. And -- here's something fun -- it's slowly restoring my faith in humanity. Doesn't seem to make sense, does it? Here's the thing. I do a lot of TV-related number ...

After a weekend of lying around, moaning, and thinking my head was going to cave in -- or of drugging myself sufficiently to function and then doing the moaning/head cave-in thing again -- it felt great to wake up feeling normal. I've never been so excited about a Monday. Ever.

Seventy last week Then rainy and cool today... Thanks a lot, SoDak. Hard-to-rise Thursday Bagel waiting on my desk My coworkers rock. Bandstand & New Year's Lost an icon yesterday Rest in peace, Dick Clark. Birthday coming up Should maybe celebrate, but ... please don't sing to me. Five syllables here Seven to follow that line But this line has two extra.

Last year, I wrote a little bit about my mild obsession with bookstores . Now, let me tell you the problem that comes from that. I love books. I love the feeling of a book in my hands, I love their portability, I love that they never need charging, and I love (gasp!) being able to take notes right in them. I love being able to take one into a bar with me without being too concerned about consequences.  [Please ignore the bobbleheads.] Not to say I wouldn't consider a Nook or a Kindle, but truth be told, I love my paper. The catch here is that sometimes ... I go a bit overboard. I spend a lot of time and money in bookstores. I'm never safe at a library sale (but at least then I only spend $5!). When I had my big apartment all to myself, I spent a little too much of my disposable income filling it with books. I had about six different sets of shelves to fill and they were all packed -- fiction, nonfiction, travel, cook, serial killers and mental illness, science an...