I don’t know why this cracked me up — maybe because I first watched it at about 3:30AM — but I can’t get over either the guy in the red track suit, or Zack Galifiwhatzit coming out as a way-too-long-flute player. This season of SNL looks like a lot of fun.

The Statler Brothers, Flowers on the Wall

Holy cow, folks. I think I almost wept watching this trailer. I am so excited Spike Jonze got a hold of this. Handle with care, Spike.

Where The Wild Things Are, The Movie!

Arcade Fire, Wake Up

1. High def television.  Hey guess what?!  We have it!  We have had it for a year and we had never watched it!  Aaaaack.  For some reason, we had to go behind the television to rehook something or reprogram something or look for a pork chop bone.  Shaun realized that instead of an HDMI cable (high def MAGIC installer-thing), our television was hooked up with a big fat cable from 1982 that dumbed down our television.  SHANNAN YOU WERE RIGHT.  We were not watching HD television.  I think it is akin to the folks who don’t know if they have ever had an orgasm.  YOU KNOW.  As soon as we hooked up the got-it-at-Best-Buy-should-have-had-it-all along cable, it happened to be on a channel (Paladium?) that Elvis Costello was performing on.  In a purple suit!  With facial stubble and little tiny hairs growing out of the side of his ears!  And sweat!  Drippy high def beads of it as he rocked his way right into our living room!  He and his entire band might as well have been tamping down the carpet right in front of our couch.

2. Tickets to Thievery Corporation and Andrew Bird, both in upcoming weeks.

3. Frank Orrall playing/touring with Thievery Corporation.  Score!

4. Did I mention high def television?  It’s like we got a new TV.  Wanna come over and watch something?

5. Elvis Costello, Every Day I Write The Book

Battle against embitterment and take part in 365 days of Grace in Small Things.

1. Tonka trucks

2. Cringe-worthy awards shows (Colin Farrell talked for a really long time tonight on the Golden Globes)

3. Netflix

4. Wally Lamb coming out of his decade-long absence with The Hour I First Believed

5. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Please Read The Letter

Battle against embitterment and take part in 365 days of Grace in Small Things.

1. The telephone.  I just had a moment. Went looking for a set of DVDs for a recuperating friend in a little-used cabinet in my living room.  Out crashed a 3/4 full bottle of wine (white, even! euw), and by crashed I don’t mean it broke, it just invaded my day.  I was so ticked off at how much time and emotional effort it took me to pour it out, burst into tears about it, feel guilty that it was there, pray, rail against the world, and make it upstairs to the office to slam out this entry.  Amidst all that, I got a couple folks on the phone who talked me up off the floor, over to the sink, and through the melee of feelings.  Today I am grateful for the telephone.

2. Tissues!

3. Six Feet Under, all five seasons, even if it was in the cabinet with some rank-ass wine.

4. My friend Traci’s healthy lymph-nodes!

5. Sinead O’Connor, Thank You

Battle against embitterment and take part in 365 days of Grace in Small Things.

This video is cracking us up this morning over breakfast.

Things are better today, thanks. Hoofah.

The Evening Birds, The Lion Sleeps Tonight

It won’t go far towards letting you know how I am (doin’ okay, you?), but hopefully this will crack you up like it did me today (thanks, Wendy!)

Mary J. Blige, Just Fine

Anybody still there?

I am.

And I’m okay, thanks for asking. I have heard from friends and strangers far and near and I appreciate every whisper. I do.

Lots of new, and sadly some repeats of old, old, old. Over the next weeks I plan to work through some things here, both at home and on Fannfare. November is National Blog Posting Every Day Month (or some such thing) so I am committing to try to say hello every day.

Solomother always posts about music being helpful to her in tough times. I quote today from the new duet album from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss which I simply can’t turn off. Well, sometimes I have to because I tear up and can’t see the screen or get my work done, etc. It’s excellent.

Also inspiring (Wow.) is this video. Good heavens. What do I have to complain about, again?

Certainly not readers and commenters on my blog. Let me know you’re out there!

I haven’t been reading blogs either. I need to check in with my favorites — you should too. Schmutzie, how are you? Hanging in there, Leah? Every day, I hope Kate continues to heal.

Please come back and see me.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Please Read the Letter

Schmutzie had a great idea — at least I thought so, and have been grooving to it this morning. She invited Spring with this video. I couldn’t help but chair dance. Not to be confused with pole dancing. I need another few months to get back into that. Ahem.

I love the break at about 1:16 when the dude and the animals just rock out. Sort of how I felt today when it was gettin’ towards quittin’ time.

Have a great weekend!

Tori Amos, Cornflake Girl

I saw this heartbreaking video on my local Moms’ listserv this morning, and it took my breath away. I’m not sure what to do with the feelings it brings up in me, other than to share it, and encourage you to pass it on. I can also suggest a great blog for parents committed to raising children with an anti-racist outlook.

Marvin Gaye, What’s Happening Brother?