Amy Poehler

She clarified that she was aware of the questionnaire and had prepared both honest and comedic answers.

1.ensemble, macaroni
2.panties,panties
3.dancing-movement, money
4.cynicism, flip-flops on the subway
5.my son when he sighs before sleep, cha-ching
6.anyone in pain, the sound of a man crying while I make love to him
7.fuck, fuuuck
8.teacher, trophy wife
9.finance, maggot therapy person who gets them out
10."Come on in.", "See, your mother was right."
Who in the history of the planet would you like to spend an evening with? 11.JFK, Prince And the night with? 12. Paul Newman, Eleanor Roosevelt

Las Vegas Trip Part One

We flew outta Grand Island on Thursday arriving without event fifty minutes later, thanks to the time change.

Friday we were going to go to Waffles Café for breakfast, but they probably (I say probably because it looked closed with the shades drawn and we didn't go up to the door) closed at 10am, so instead we went to Mandalay Bay and ate lunch at The Burger Bar.

Hubert Keller's restaurant was very delicious and wonderful. I had the Kobe beef burger with caramelized onions, oyster mushrooms and Black Perigord truffle sauce. Marcy had the Surf and Turf burger. Dessert was quite wonderful. We got the sampler paddle of beer floats: Blue Moon/strawberry ice cream, Guinness Stout/coffee, Lindemans framboise/vanilla, dunkel/chocolate, and Höegaarden/raspberry velvet. I recommend you try any of these combinations, though the best were the Blue Moon and Lindemans.

Supper was at In-n-Out Burger. I'd never been, but wanted to go based on its reputation. To paraphrase Abe Lincoln, if reputation is the shadow of the tree and character is the tree itself, then In-n-Out has a great tree. One clever touch is Rev 3:20 on the wrapper for the burgers. The burger, fries and shake were all well executed, and when that is all you have on the menu, it had better be.

Next was the feature of the day, The Bravery concert poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel. The concert was short, 50 minutes, but they made up for it in quality. I was very impressed with them, and Marcy loves them and still does.

After the concert, we went to the Fremont Street Experience in downtown, or the old Strip. According to Bryant, the current strip is unincorporated, not providing any taxes to the municipality, so the city needs the Fremont thing to boost its tax revenue. All in all, it was something to see, but not better than the regular Strip. After that we went to Circus Circus, but the shows were already over, so we went home and went to bed.

Notebook and Knowing

Once before I've mentioned my little notebook that I write thoughts and shopping lists and words I want to know more about. Well its 50 pages are almost filled front and back, and I've been looking for another. Of course, the canteen at the state developmental center where my mother got the original for less than 50 cents no longer carries it.

At first I scoffed at the gift from my mother, but now as I try to replace it, I realize how very great it is. First is the size, it's 2.5" by 4.25" which fits perfectly in my pocket. Second, it's spiral bound [initially, a white or pink spiral (i forget.) replaced by a black one from work], which is really handy because it stays open and makes it easy to write on each side of the page. Antepenultimately, it started with a pink elastic band that could hold it closed, but that wore out. Fourth, it has a plastic cover which resists wear and tear, though the back cover is regular notebook cardboard and is holding up fine. Finally and most important, it is not ruled. I've found other notebooks that are small, but not others that are small and unlined. The closest replacement I've found is the Moleskine Volant X-Small (any suggestions on which color to get are welcome), but I'm holding out ordering it until I check at my local novelty store, The Bad Robot.

I love that I have strong opinions on what I'm looking for. There is a joy that comes from the confidence of knowing.

Pictures of My Notebook

Jason Bateman

1. Happy
2. Shush
3. Humility
4. Arrogance, unsubstantiated arrogance
5. I've always liked the sound of a can of tennis balls being opened. I don't play, but I just like that sound.
6. NYC garbage trucks
7. I like douche.
8. Architecture,
9. driving nyc garbage truck,
10. "come right on in, everybody you've ever know is right behind that door."

Mundane, Mundane. Can't Trust That Day.

I write this from work today, on Labor Day.

My walk home from downtown Lincoln goes by the Night Before Lounge, a "gentleman's" club (do they spend all their time opening doors for each other, while saying please and thank you?) with exotic dancers (apparently they know more dance moves than Stir-the-Bowl and the Running Man). The last time I passed by there, a patron was re-entering after finishing his cigarette. This made me realize a couple things. Either the exotic dancing at the Night Before Lounge isn't that compelling, or nicotine is an addiction so powerful it will drive men away from half naked dancing women.

Now on to some of my favorite things.

My favorite raisin bran cereal is Post; it is head and shoulders above Kellogg's and their two scoops.

My favorite toilet paper is Charmin's Basic.

My favorite pen is the Pilot G-2, and I might even prefer the blue ink to the black.

My favorite hair conditioner is American Crew's Citrus Mint.

Have a safe and happy last day of Summer.