Bumped into P.Joe at CFC...hadn't seen him for awhile.  Nice bumping into familiar faces since just about everyone I know is gone this time of year

The annoying thing about Laptops is the absence of the num pad, so I can 't make all my special "Alt+ " symbols, including the Raspberry face I invented when I was 16.  Oh yes, I invented it alright.  I have witnesses.  At least 1 anyway, out there somewhere.

Anyway, This Isn't It...G.D. is totally awesome.  When it's over, I'm going to go write the greatest song ever.

Ciao

Currently Listening Hearts & Unicorns By Giant Drag

Didn't do anything on Friday - no one's around!  I watched some TV and finished setting up the living room. 

I rented a few movies yesterday - Exorcism of Emily Rose and National Treasure.  Emily Rose was pretty entertaining.  The courtroom scenes were good, and there was some good scares too.  Much of the acting in between was pretty bad, though.  So, yeah I can see why critics didn't like.

They didn't like National Treasure, but I had no problem with it.  I thought it was pretty fun.

Went to UAG yesterday.  I'll check out CFC today - haven't been in ages.  Not much else planned - everyone is still out of town I think.  Maybe I'll get some more movies and work on my prelim document.

Yeah, lame update, but what can I say?

Merry Christmas everyone   Happy Birthday, JC.  double true!

Ciao

Currently Listening Arular By M.I.A.

Crap...Daltoman's right.  So, here we go:

Lazy Sunday still rules.  We had a mishmashed band practice last night, going through our set a few times, as well as a new song.  I dont know if I mentioned this, but apparently we have a New Years Eve gig at a bowling alley.  Yeah, I'm psyched too.

I saw Naria yesterday (Lazy Thursday) and it was pretty cool.  Got a book from DJ for Christmas. 

The house is mostly finished being rearranged.  I turned the old band/junk room into a little room with a couch and TV.  I've been writing songs in there.  It's a tiny room with good acoustics.

Hung out w/ LK last night, ate a stack (with biscuits).  Daltoman would have been proud, were he still with us.  Rest in peace, me friend.  Rest in peace.  That is, when you sleep in your CT bed, thinking about where to take your startup department next.

Apparently I'm not going home for Christmas, but will mostly hang around here.  Some UAG folks are around, so I'll try to track them down.  I need to work on my Prelim too, get the document referenced and all. I might go see another movie today since I'm just kinda hanging about.  Maybe Walk the Line?  I dunno.  I'll have to remember to bring some mr pibb and red vines = crazy delicious. 

Maybe I'll just go rent stuff.

Anyway I think that about covers it for this week.  Nothing too exciting.  Hope yall have a nice Christmas

Ciao

Currently Listening A Bigger Bang By The Rolling Stones

Phew...no more skipped days.  For now at least.

I came into work for a bit today, but left around 12:30 to get some errands done.  Man, even this little town is crazy with Christmas frenzy.  Traffic was ugly, my car is hemmoraging coolant, and it's like zero degrees out.  Well, ok it's not that cold, but, still...lots of excitement for such a lazy place.

Speaking of lazy, check out the greatest thing ever: Lazy Sunday - an SNL skit from last week.  SNAK ATTAK!  It never gets old...
http://youtube.com/watch.php?v=IggTu7kV7No&search=lazy%20sunday%20snl

Heading over to PT's place for dinner, then giving some gifts.  Then...hopefully finishing up the rearrangement in my house.

Ooooo the band has a New Years Eve gig!  Pretty sweet huh?  It's not final, but signs look good.  We're deciding what we'll play.  It's at a bowling alley.  How freaking sweet is that?!

Phones ringing dude.

Ciao

Currently Listening Star By Belly

Shoot...it's been another 3 days hasn't it?  Arrrgh.

So my mom headed back on Saturday morning.  We redid my living room a lot - new curtains (the old ones were grandfathered in from the lady who owned the house before me and they were crazy-ugly), slipcovers for my ugly couches, and some new things for the walls.  Most of that came from the house my parents are selling in Maryland.  My mom should be in Alaska w/ my dad and brother by the end of January.  Then it's just me in the continental USA.  wild...

I'm redoing the "band" room since my band doesn't practice there anymore and the diamond took his drums.  Got a futon for it (very UNLIKE simmasmack's nasty one), which I'll put together this evening.  Also my mom brought some old stereo equipment from the MD house and I set that up in there.  And I have a TV in my room that I never watch, so I'll put it in there.  It should be pretty cool.

Saturday night I went to a bday party with the meister and his ladyfriend, up in Momence, IL (near Kankakee).  It was at a bar that had been rented out.  They had some tasty meatballs and chicken wings, a pretty cool band, and a keg of BL Smoothie.  We went to some rich kid's house after, a cousin of someone related to the bday girl I think.  That was pretty cool too I guess, although I didn't really know anyone. I'm not sure if people were mostly older or younger than me, but I feel farther and farther away from that "scene" every day.  People were arguing about music and it was basically a 3D-living-Pitchfork pretention party.  You could have cut the naysaying with a knife.  Definitely not my scene.

But, still, it was a lot of fun.  Free party, free ride, good times.  Went to UAG yesterday and then came home and crashed.  Missed Fat City with the Meister and K(S)G for the Bears night game.  Sorry boyo's.  I wasn't feeling so well. 

Today....lot of peoples aren't here in the office.  My prelim date has finally been finalized, so I'm going to get back to work on it after a 3-month hiatus. 

Some friends were in a car accident but apparently they're ok.  We'll dedicate the next podcast (whenever that is...) to the subject.

Arrrggh I still have 3 Podcast episodes to edit.

Coach D, where are you!? I need you to 'spice' things up!  And KP, where you at?  The city needs its superhero...

Ciao

Currently Listening Picaresque By The Decemberists

Currently Listening King By Belly

Currently Listening Van Lear Rose By Loretta Lynn

Ooop....skipped a day.  Once upon a time, that was unthinkable but, these days, it's becoming all-too-often.  I suppose maybe I am neglecting the site, but there's been a lot going on to justify it.

I spent pretty much all day yesterday writing an article for a conference I'm bringing a poster to next year.  It's an educational article, about using visualizations in a student-centered manner.  I have no idea if it's any good or not - I didn't even have time to have anyone look over it b/c it was due yesterday and they were begging for submissions.  Ah well.

I went to Biaggi's with my mom on Wednesday night.  Have you guys been there recently?   I used to really like them, but the last two times I've gone, the food hasn't been very good. Granted, I've gotten veal both times, but my mom's pasta was kinda blah too.  It's sad, b/c the about 3 months ago, I had the pork chops and they were amazing.  Ah well.

After, we saw Syriana.  It was...complicated.  It was all about oil.  Brought back the good ole' days at ExxonMobil 

My mom cooked last night, and we stayed in and watched the Interpreter - that was pretty good. We also watched the super-fancy version of Fellowship of the Ring b/c she hadn't seen it.  I hadn't seen the new one, with all the extra scenes, so that was pretty cool.  Today I think we're just going shopping or something.  I went to work on Wednesday and Thursday, but I'm not going today.

My mom has brought all kinds of stuff from home since she'll be finally moving to Alaska as soon as the house is sold.  She brought all these Indian rugs and wall art, so I'll probably do a little redecorating and gentrification of my living room.  Hehe...no more dart boards and Heineken signs

Going to some bday party with the meister tomorrow evening.  Looking forward to that.  I'm meeting w/ P.T. on Sunday after UAG for some proposal he has for me...not sure what that's about.  No band practice on Sunday   but we'll probably get together to watch the Bears in the evening.

Well, this was your basic vanilla update post.  Sorry it wasn't more exciting!

Ciao

Currently Listening Van Lear Rose By Loretta Lynn

Currently Listening So Jealous By Tegan and Sara

Currently Listening One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back By The Darkness

It's been a busy few days.  Got a bunch of things done and submitted today, including a research statement and updated resume for a fellowship my advisor has nominated me for.  It's no fellowship of the ring, but it's still pretty cool.

I'm trying to rush out an "article" for an educational , but I'm skeptical it'll work out.  I'll have to work on it tomorrow.

My mom has come to visit.  She got in around 11pm last night, like 3 hours later than I expected.  I'm not sure what we're going to do...go out to eat and maybe do something.  This Friday is the GSAC Christmas party, but I'll only be able to make a brief appearance if anything, since she'll still be in town.

My brother had her bring over one of his busted-up old guitars.  I'm gonna see if I can fix it up.  Johnnyork's latest song is still being mixed, but it should be ready to go sometime soon I hope.  Check out the website to give us more hits.

That's about it - nothing much to really report.  The weather has been pretty crappy lately, but that's to be expected.

Ciao

Currently Listening One Moment More By Mindy Smith

Currently Listening So Jealous By Tegan and Sara

28,000 hits exactly.  Good times.

Had a lovely dinner at the 'Dynasty, then watched a movie w/ DJ and littleC. 

I still need to clean up for my mom's arrival tomorrow.

I think there may be an important merger coming soon.  Maybe not.  Depends on my courage.

Ciao

Currently Listening So Jealous By Tegan and Sara, Tegan & Sara

Hmm I missed a few days didn't I?  Sorry sorry...

Friday potluck was pretty fun.  I cooked a ton and it all got ate.  Actually everyone cooked something and it all got ate.  The holiday season is killing my waistline.  or, rather, plumping it up nicely.

I had a meeting at 12 on Saturday, but I had some time to kill after so I went and saw Harry Potter.  It was pretty good I guess.  I liked the third one better.  Harry gets the Asian fever though.  haha I thought that was pretty funny.  And then he takes some Indian girls to a dance.  p-i-m-p.

hung out w/ duder and j et al on Saturday - brought c-note and lk along.  UAG, Fat City, and Johnnyork practice on Sunday.

So, yeah we practice in this garage way out east of Champaign, and it's been FREEZING in there lately.  It's supposed to be heated, but the furnace is out of diesel.  We had one little wimpy space heater that was not up to the job.  So, yeah we were in pretty bad shape.  We were actually recording, and finally got this one particular JY masterpiece to tape.  Cnote is mixing it now, and I'll post up a link when it's finished.

Watched an intense SVU last night, made spaghetti (that was supposed to be my lunch but I forgot to bring it) and crashed.  I think I'm having dinner w/ DJ.  My mom is coming to visit tomorrow night, so I need to clean up the place and move all the bodies.

hah just kidding.  I always do as Jack Black did.

This was a pretty "rebus" entry wasn't it.  Hmm...

Ciao

Currently Listening Aerial By Kate Bush

LINK's got a pretty cool story about a girl who escaped N Korea awhile back and who has grown up a bit since.  At least, I think that's what's going on. 

Shoveled the driveway and sidewalk.  I'm getting kinda old for this - definitely feeling some back...um...soreness.  I'm sure it'll go away soon.

I'm hoping things are going ok up in Chicago.  I updated the activity pretty quick to make up for me not being there to run it.  Eh, I'm sure it's ok.

I actually probably could have driven up...I'm feeling kinda guilty that I didn't.  I haven't driven yet today - the roads are fine, aren't they?  It's hard for me to tell b/c I live on a little side street, which hasn't been plowed.  Whatever.  What's done is done.   At least I was able to shovel.  I've gotten a little bit of work done.  And I'll be able to reheat the food for tonight myself, instead of barely having time to pick it up cold and heat it up at the HUB.

Hey, can I ask for some feedback on the Johnnyork site? 

Ok back to work.

Ciao

Currently Listening Stereotype A By Cibo Matto

So, I ended up not driving to Chicago today b/c of the snow.  It probably would have been fine, but my teacher was kinda worried and I figured I might as well not chance it.  I went over an activity I did last year, revised it, made a new worksheet, and sent it to her.  She'll just do it with them, without me.  It's sad, though, b/c I miss my kids!

Tonight is the ECM potluck.  I cooked two Indian dishes last night, plus a big pot of rice.  Should be good times.  jbomb called last night for advice on cooking indian food too, which was funny since I was in the middle of cooking indian food.  so how many times do you think i can say 'indian' in one paragraph?  apparently, 4.  Hehe.

After that, there's another thing to go to, and maybe johnnyork will put on an impromptu performance.  probably not, but Dare to Dream, right? 

Speaking of which, more updates to the Johnnyork website.  cnote is working on a blog-type thing.  I put the button up but took down the link b/c it's still being developed.

I should probably go out and shovel my driveway.  Hrumph.  Since I'm home, I'm trying to get some other work done too, so, we'll see what shakes out.

Ciao!

Currently Listening Aerial By Kate Bush

More craziness at work.  One of my coworkers is about to have a baby though, which is pretty cool.

I've got some meetings i need to prepare for.  Not happy about that.

Made some updates/changes to the Johnnyork website - consolidated some redundant sections.  More changes coming soon.

Went to a SG Potluck last night - good times.  I made some Indian food.  People are always happy with Indian food.  Funny how that is.  Someone made this chicken casserole thing w/ leftover stuffing.  It was money.  There was lasagne too.  And a bunch of other stuff.  But my stomach was hurting for some reason.  I ate anyway, but it was a little unhappy for me.

I stopped by Legends for a bit, then went over to the Meister's place, but he had gone to sleep!  So I went home, listened to Loveline for a bit, and went to bed early.

I have another potluck thing tomorrow, which I have to cook for tonight.  I also have to get my lesson plan together for tomorrow.  I plan to leave for Chicago around 8AM tomorrow morning, teach, come back to Champaign, pick up the food I cook tonight, and head straight over to the HUB where the dinner is.  After that, there's this other thing, which I'm hoping the rest of Johnnyork makes it out to.  I'm going to miss CFC LG, which is sad

So, yeah it'll be busy.  They're saying it's going to snow - I hope nothing too bad. 

Ciao

Currently Listening So Jealous By Tegan and Sara

Sweet.  C_note tweaked our latest song a bit.  If you haven't heard this one, you haven't heard the song

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ekwagner/Rolled.mp3

Ciao

You know what rocks?  The White Stripes cover of that Tegan and Sara song.  Yeah, that totally rocks. 

Johnnyork has been busy setting up the messageboard, recording, etc etc.  But as we stand on the verge of superstardom, we have to make sure we stay committed to the most important thing. 

Stealing your girlfriends, that is.

Haha j/k . No more gfs.   No we need to record the songs we haven't finished yet.  And get some more gigs.  There's a thing this Friday that hopefully we'll all be going to, so we can have another JY pow-wow outside the practice space.  Actually, we've been getting together on Sundays before rehearal to watch the Bears game at Fat City, which I think is really good.  It's a little rough b/c the games sometimes run late, so practice is starting later than before, but at least the Diamond gets to see his studying friend.

Haha that was good times.  I think Diamond and I are the only ones on the planet who know what I'm talking about.

I want to see this Harry Potter movie.  I like the other ones a lot.  I also want to see the crazy Narnia movie.  I'm pretty sure I read that stuff when I was younger, but I can't remember.  Actually, there are a bunch of movies I want to see.  Ah well.

Things at work are kind of a mess right now.  A bunch of decisions hang in the air and I'm just kinda waiting to see what shakes out.  I'm just trying to stay focused on the few work-related things that are definites. 

My prelim has been moved again.  It's getting depressing.  Maybe I will go to the Sudan after all.

Ciao

Currently Listening One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back By The Darkness

Currently Listening So Jealous By Tegan and Sara