DeManda Tension's Blog

Real Life: September 19-21: I'm not really there edition

Hi, Y'all! I'm in KC for a conference, sorta shopping for performers for Museum programs. I've seen some awesome stuff, as well as a few things that may scar me for life (like the woman who played Gershwin's "Summertime" on violin whilst doing body contortions--the performance ended with a dramatic kung-fu demo. Gershwin would be proud.) (Be warned--I picked up her dvd to "share" with all of you.)

 Tonight, while you guys are enjoying dinner, I'll be seeing more music and the like, (i.e. enjoying free booze), hopefully followed by more showcases and perhaps finally escaping the convention center and getting out into KC--maybe someone good is playing, seeing as I'm missing the Detroit Cobras in St. Louis tomorrow night.

Saturday: more conference, and then not getting to see the Detroit Cobras in St. Louis. I may actually get to go to a Museum or two.

Sunday: Home! Is anyone doing anything fun Sunday night?

 What is St. Louis doing?

Real Life: September 12-14: Muggy and Rainy Edition

Blech. It's muggy and sticky out. Let's stay indoors, shall we?

Tonight, I'm going to a lecture on Arms & Armor, then on to an art show at Hoffman LaChance, and then Imma bowl some. Whatchoo funna do?

Tomorrow, I will go to a Stray Rescue event and look at dogs. I will also maybe get a food with some pals and then go see that Polanski documentary at Webster in the evening--is anyone interested? 

Sunday: Work, followed by maybe another Polanski-film-related thing. 

Real Life: August 1-3, The Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Eight

Cripes! It's August and it feels like it! I'm staying inside, thank you very much, as no one wants to see what my hair does in this sort of weather.

I accidentally ate a dog biscuit yesterday (I thought it was a cookie), and would like to see that the weekend goes up from there, not down, so how are you going to help me out with that? 

Tonight, I'll work late, then toast GL Pal Alisa as she celebrates the ending of her year-long post as the bearded fellow at the the Art Hut. We'll be at the Royale after eight or so. Join us! After, I will possibly drink wine with Deer while she tells me how to make my apartment more presentable.

Tomorrow, it's a Pepper-Party! Shower in the a.m., and bachelorette in the p.m. I'm making goodie bags (which is, indirectly, what led to to me eating a dog biscuit)!

Sunday I work, and then I recover.

 Whatchoo doin?


 

Real Life: May 23-26: Memorial Day Edition

It's a holiday weekend! There is so much to do! Tonight I work late, and then I don't know what I'm doing, but I hear my boyfriend has super secret plans in store. On Saturday, I may go to the Joe-B-Que, I may get sucked into working, I may unpack stuff...the possibilities are endless! Come Sunday, I work again (it's African Arts Festival weekend in the park--you should check it out), and then I sally forth for an onion-flavored bbq.

 
So...what's on for Monday?
 

Random Links -n- Stuff

Some things I've seen lately:

Okay, so this is a series of commercials, but they're fairly entertaining:   Will it Blend?

The guy in these spots is a little on the "ready to snap / possibly dresses up like a ballerina when no one's around" vibe end of things, which makes it all the more entertaining.

How about   Chore Wars? As you can see, I've created a character (Duste Bunnye) and an adventure for any of you willing to join: Find a new mead hall (i.e. HL locale) for Friday nights. The group name for us is "Geek Life Filth". Do it!

Also: Recreations of baby pictures. I totally want to do this now. 

Bestest!

Not only is St. Louis the second most dangerous city in America (it's a shame we lost that first place slot to Detroit, neh?), and not only do we also rank up there for meth and syphilis, but we are now officially also the tenth most polluted city in the U.S.! We should have a party! A dirty, crime-ridden, diseased party.

If only that pesky high rating for being one of the most literate cities in 'merica wasn't marring such a stellar profile...

What's your city good for?
 

Real Life: March 21-23-ish

It's teh Eastard! What are your plans? Are you to go on an egg-spy run?

I work tonight, as per usual--where are all of you going to eat without me? Bug and Pants are out of town, BTW.

I work tomorrow morning, but would be super into a girly shopping trip (finally!) in the afternoon...Ima? Coral? Deer? Anyone interested? I may be doing a big trivia thing in the evening, on a casino boat, with a whole round dedicated to Shriner history. FUN!

Sunday I will art it up with the kiddos, and then I'll go to the 'rents' house for chocolate monkey goodness.

Whatchoo doing?  

Real Life: February 22-24

It's a weekend! A crappy, icy, cold, wet, sleet-y, frozen weekend. How are you going to enjoy it?

I plan on avoiding the out-of-doors as much as possible. I aim to stay in and read. I defy you to convince me otherwise.

Oh, wait--tonight I may be up for some food with some pals, and tomorrow I may be up for some shopping (and running a few work-related errands). There's trivia to enjoy later. Sunday I think I might work first, and then help my little brother celebrate his birthday in the evening. 

Hmmm...I think I might leave the house after all. How about you? 

Two Things: One of Them a Good'un, the Other One I Question...

First the good thing: My newest addiction is Shelfari, one of those social-networking sites--this one based entirely on books on your bookshelf. Fill your shelf, invite your friends, brag about how well-read you are, learn about new authors, write snotty reviews...

I've managed to suck a few of you in already, but more of you should hop on board (find me listed under the usual "Demanda Tension")--think of all of the time you can waste, all the new books you can find--Geeklife semi-regular Cobra 77 has already hipped me to Jorge Luis Borges, and I'm super stoked about reading him (once I get my latest project out of the way: reading all of the random, half-finished magazines I have laying around my apartment and then recycling them).

<creepy, zombie-stylee-voice> Joooiiinnn Ussssss...</creepy, zombie-stylee-voice>

 In other news, Here is a report I find highly dubious, as a driver in St. Louis: Third most courteous? No way. Clealy we've dropped the ball on this one. I will be doing my part to be more visible with my road rage, rather than keeping it simmering just beneath the surface. I'll send you all copies of my mug shots.
 

Geekrant: Worstest Film

I'm starting this discussion mostly so I can talk about a film I saw last night.

Prior to last night, the top five worst films I'd ever seen (excluding the "so bad it's good" category) were: "The Frighteners", "The Isle of Dr. Moreau" ('90s Brando version), "Ghosts of Mars" (a sci-fi movie that pronounced the word "nuclear" "nucular"), "The Devil's Advocate", and, at #1 and holding, "The Scarlet Letter" (Demi Moore edition).

I'm officially announcing that "Ghosts of Mars" has been bumped from the list, because last night, I saw "Lady in the Water". Seriously--what the hell!?! The ridiculously improbable actions of the badly stereotyped characters; the coherence-lacking plotline (and not in a deliberate, David-Lynch-sort-of-way), the pomposity it must have taken on M. Night Shyamalan's part to create for himself the role of  a sort of world-changing, doomed, noble visionary--all of these things were painful to suffer through, and yet I made myself watch 'til the end. I am a chump.

Based on a bedtime story M. Night Shyamalan wrote for his children, the story is so full of leaps and holes and afterthought-add-on-plot-developers that it must be patiently explained to the viewers in a series of "Oh, here's more of this folktale that my mom has decided to remember so this story makes some sort of sense" narrations. Also, (and maybe Shyamalan did this on purpose to muddy the waters for some bizarre reason), the "folk tale" the story is supposed to be based on is told in fits and starts by a non-English speaking Korean woman (translated by her comic, club-hopping daughter) as she recalls it being told to her as a child--I ask you : are words like "narf", "scrunt", and "eatlon" the least bit Korean sounding?

Did any of the actors involved actually read the script? Were they allowed to? There were some genuinely talented people in the cast of this film, and they (or their agents) should have known better. The cinematography was murky, dark, and full of action-obscuring cuts, which I assume was deliberate, but just looked first-year-of-film-school-amateur.

 
Okay, my rant is over--now it's your turn. What's the worst movie you've seen lately, or what is your all-time five-worst list? 

Geeklife: Real Life Nov. 30th-Dec. 2

Hey, y'all! I'm gettin' this thread stared early because I have things to say about the weekend!

My plans: I think that HL tonight should involve celebrating Christian's birthday, which is Monday (30!). Where are we going? I have no ideas right now, and Chris will prolly eat anywhere, so please make suggestions.

Tomorrow (day), I'm thinking of doing the annual cookie spree down on Cherokee street, enjoying the anniversary of a certain skating party (remember when the cats and I had to stay at Dave's because the ice storm wiped out power at The Onion House? I do). Cookie Spree link: http://www.riverfronttimes.com/search/events.php?oid=425158

 Tomorrow (night), I have no plans, except maybe a little book shopping.

Sunday (day): crazy big event at teh art hut--I'll have passes to the silver exhibition, chestnut roasting, tea and finger sandwiches,  carolers, and for our project, we'll bee decorating tea cakes (I'm working with a pastry chef on this one). Free. Join us!

Sunday (night): party-thingee

Monday (day): Pop-out fun for the CL.

Monday (night): school, then maybe that Electric 6 show at the Creepy Crawl?

Whatchoo doing? 

Geeklife Intarweb Contest Number Three: Find the Most Sickeningly Cute Kitten, Ever!

I think the name says it all, folks. As usual, safe-for-work kittens only.

Also, Congratulations to contest number two's obvious winner, numberoneinheaven for the terrifying celebrity endorsement link to this Charles Bronson ad:  http://youtube.com/watch?v=CV3gA7hNItY

Your Brock-a-Brella is in the mail as soon as you send me an address, madam! 

Geeklife: Real Life October 12-15

As long as I'm signed in to comment on Hotpants's article, I might as well put one of these up, non? I hear Bug and Pants are out of town this weekend, supporting that nice Matthew boy's Baltimore Marathon endeavor, so it's up to us to soldier on.

For those of you who know her, btw, Miss Mary G. had a small, squishy baby on Tuesday. I visited her last night, and reconfirmed that I do not want children. The baby is super cute, though, and I look forward to being some sort of bad-influence-aunt-type-person. 

Tonight, I, as per usual, work late, and then I have a hot date with that one lad. I hear Marky's spinning records at the Royale--perhaps we'll see you there?

Tomorrow, I'd like to do something fun that also requires some sort of exercise--any recommendations? In the evening, I believe I'll head over to Mangia to see Tone Rodent play some rock.

Sunday I will see the Buffy Musical, as I had the date wrong last weekend. Once More, With Feeling!

Monday I'll be toasting aged porkchops in a can.

Geeklife Intarweb Contest Number Two! (plus contest #1 winner)

First things first: Congratulations to Porkchop, for bringing me what I felt to be the girliest weblink, ever!

<a href="http://www.beinggirl.com/en_US/pages/home.jsp"> How to be a girl</a>

I was expecting more of something coated in pink, beribboned, fairly ballerina princess-osity, but a girl mag site brought to us by a big, corporate tampon company (they are also responsible for the Olgilvie Home Perm) is just as good in my book. Expect your girly prize shortly.

On to contest number two! I think this one's funna be a good one: Find me the most pathetically hilarious, tragically funny, or unintentionally ironic celebrity product endorsement to be found in a webpage. The winner, as usual, will receive a thematically appropriate award. Do it!
 

I have no idea why that link is not working, by the way. 

Geeklife Intarweb Contest Number One!

New feature! New Feature! I thought I'd try to liven things up by creating a happy, funtime, I-could-stand-some-amusing-links challenge (webtest? comweb? mega intarweb throwdown?).

Here's the idea: I'll give you a theme, and you have to find the website what best fits that theme. Post a link in the message boards. Winners, judged solely by me by way of a secret, ultra-complex, math-heavy formula (or just the entry that makes me laugh the hardest), will receive a cheap, goofy prize in keeping with that contest's theme. Also bragging rights on being the best web-huntsperson the web has ever seen, of course.

A rule or two: Safe for work content only, please--I'll be doing this on my lunch break. Also, I will not ship prizes internationally (sorry, Geeklife Finland).

So here we go:

CONTEST NUMBER ONE: Find me the girliest website!

Almost anything goes, folks--kittens, tiaras, lumberjacks, you name it, if it's girly, link it! I'll say that I'll leave this open until, say, two weeks from now, which would be September 13th, 'kay?

GO!