Now's As Good A Time As Any

My brother and I returned from Ontario yesterday and a rousing performance from Stompin’ Tom. It was a rowdy (but not unfriendly) and patriotic crowd. Tom’s voice sounded outstanding as always and he was fantastic at connecting with his fans. He struck a good balance between interacting with them and ignoring them when they didn’t fit the plan of the show. Probably one of the top five shows I’ve ever seen.

On the way back, I filled up on Chicken Paprikas at Tony Packo’s (again) and built this crazy structure at COSI Toledo:

Then my brother knocked it down (at my urging, and while being videoed).

I’m very sad tonight. Many of the places that I so enjoyed visiting in New Orleans and environs may be wiped off the map by this time tomorrow. I hadn’t been paying close attention to the news because I was in Cleveland with family yesterday and today, and then I had to teach tonight, so I hadn’t even turned on the TV. But this looks unimaginably horrible. What a world.

The only positive thing is that unlike the tsunami, this hurricane is predictable and people can evacuate or take shelter, and people are really the most important thing. But this disaster will probably have an economic impact even greater than the tsunami. So even though far fewer people will lose their lives, millions will have their livelihood ruined and tens of millions more will take a significant (if indirect hit) to their standard of living.

Actually, it was technically yesterday because it’s after midnight…BUT…did you know that jealousy and envy are distinct? I had no idea! Here’s a web page that explains it all! (Er…disregard the part about polyamory…yikes!)

So the next five nights will be three at home, two away, with no two consecutive in the same place. Here tonight, Cleveland tomorrow, here Sunday, Windsor, Ontario Monday, here again Tuesday.

Did I already say how excited I am to see Stompin’ Tom in Kingsville, Ontario Monday night? Did I say whom I would rather see Stompin’ Tom than? None other than Bob Dylan. That’s how awesome the man is!

I sold four old law books on Half.com! Thanks to Banana Sauce for the inspiration!

Died of an inoperable brain tumor…I hope synthesizers aren’t found to cause cancer. We would lose a lot of prog-rockers and new wavers before their time.

This is the first first day of law school in three years when I’m not a student there…it’s hard to believe I was starting my second year a year ago. If you’re a new 1L and you’re reading this and you’re wondering why I’m not in law school anymore, you can read my old law school blog.

If you have a chance to say something to a famous person you admire, what should you say?

I saw it, laughed heartily, smiled on the way out. I revere comedians. It wasn’t as disgusting as I expected, but that may say more about me than about the movie.

I have too damn many books to read. Would someone please take them off my hands, read them, and tell me what they were about?

I think I saw a car with EU license plates tonight! It had an H on it…I think it was from Hungary! I guess somebody liked their car enough to ship it over. It was a pretty small car, and they were driving it pretty darn fast.

Can you find the link from this article on NFL.com to my law school notes? I think that’s pretty cool.

Every other news story makes me furious, despondent, or sick with fear, and there’s nothing I can do about any of it. Why do I bother reading?

Probably the biggest decision I’ll ever have to be a part of is whether to bring another person into the world. I’d have to be pretty sure that there will be a world worth living in 50 or 60 years down the line before I would do that. Doesn’t seem like other people are very concerned, though: they’re making babies like crazy, just like they always have.

Finished the DVD set, meaning that since Thursday night I’ve watched 24 episodes, the pilot, the pitch reel, the gag reel, and several episodes a second time with the Muppet Morsels subtitles on.

Highlights:

• Ethyl Merman singing “There’s No Business Like Show Business”…gave me goosebumps. Made me want to pack up a suitcase and hitchhike to Hollywood.
• The first appearance of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew (no Beaker yet)
• The first “Veterinarians’ Hospital” sketch
• Lena Horne sings “Sing a Song” with the Muppets
• Breaking the fourth wall (repeatedly, of course)
• Kaye Ballard and Miss Piggy have a musical battle to the tune of “One Note Samba”
• Valerie Harper’s showstopping “backstage” performance of “Broadway Baby”
• Robin singing “Halfway Down the Stairs” and, of course…
• “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green”…amen!

Whenever I get them I feel so insignificant. In Columbus, Ohio and my own little world, I’m considered by some to be smart, sophisticated, friendly and helpful. But at the University of Chicago, I was less than a speck of dust on the wing of a fly on the shoulder of somebody worth a damn. Why, oh why did I ever go there? Or rather, how, oh how did I ever get so arrogant as to believe that there was a place for me there?