Wed, Oct 18th
Enjoyed a much overdue visit with Maria. She came over after work and I showed her around my pee-stained, disaster area of a house. We sat around and talked movies and music and had a really nice time. She told me a funny story of Genny’s new kid (i can’t ever remember his name, michael i think) eating rabbit poop and having to go to the emergency room. Ewwww!

Fri, Oct 20th
Drove up to Richmond for a slumber party with Indreia. Another visit that was long overdue. We had an absolute blast. We went out to dinner at Su Casa, which is now my new favorite mexican restaurant. I look forward to eating there again.

Then we stopped by the store and proceeded to buy 35 beers. Our eyes were a little bigger than our tolerance level, ahahah. They had a Saranac pumpkin which I had to get, and 2 new Magic Hats I hadn’t heard of. We stayed up all night long getting drunk and visiting and listening to good music.

The next day we went to Ellwood for veggie burgers. Yummmmm. God I love those things. After that we went to Anthill, which is one of my favorite stores in Carytown, but I always forget about it because it’s way up at the beginning. I’m always destined to find treasures there.

This time around I ended up with two really awesome new lamps. One is made from an old telephone, the other made from an old table-top mixer. It looks like it came straight out of Jeunet’s City of Lost Children. I also ended up with a pretty damn good condition portable movie screen which was terribly exciting because Julio and I have been specifically looking for one of those. And the bonus find - a record holder. Especially nice since the one I found at Target didn’t even hold records. False advertising.

I met up with CvT later that day and met his cute new kitty, Chingu. He’s a wild one. We went back up to Carytown for a little Plan 9 shopping, of course. I told him I wasn’t allowed to buy much because I had just spent tons at Anthill, but 16 new cds later…

Professional spender.

Thurs, Oct 26th
Happy Birthday to Me!
Julio and I drove down to Chapel HIll to visit with Osiris and Alison and to go see the Dresden Dolls in Raleigh. The four of us had dinner at a place called Acme. We had the most delicious appetizer of pumpkin raviolis topped with goat cheese, pecans, and pomegranate seeds.

Osiris went with us to the show. We got there just as the Red Paintings were ending. We only had to wait around for about 20 minutes for the show, which was nice. They played a really good set, and I love their stage presence and audience interactions, but the show was just too damn long. They played for over 2.5 hours. It would have been fine if it was a sit down show, or a dance your ass off show, but just standing against a wall for that long watching two people play was a bit much for all of us. We were quite ready to go home.

Fri, Oct 27th
Alison took off work to hang out with us the next day, yippeeee! We made the obligatory stops at Whole Foods and Weaver St (where jared found for me still another pumpkin ale - edenton brewing company - they just keep coming this year), and then she took us to a really awesome gallery/store called Wootini. They had some really precious art work on display and some great toys. I haven’t been paying too much attention to the toy scene now that I don’t have an office I need to decorate.

I got this really great one called Sweet Tooth from the Good Wood Gang series. They had David Horvath’s new creatures, but no Evil Ice Cream. I’m always keeping my eye out for them.

As I was walking to the book section I spied issues #1 and #3 of Hi Fructose. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! Those magazines always sell out immediately and are hard to find anywhere online. And there they were, sitting on a rack in perfect condition. I had to swallow my excitement so that I didn’t explode in the store, but you can bet I grabbed both of them right away and wasn’t letting go.

I had mentioned to Julio on the way in that 2 new Camille Rose Garcia books had been published that I had not gotten yet. Wootini had them both (can you imagine the love I was radiating for this place?). Jules bought me the one on her work, and I got myself the one that she wrote.

I also found a precious new bag there that I wouldn’t let Alison buy for me. Alison, you are already generous enough, and I always have so much fun when I come down to see you guys. I can’t wait for the next 506/Cat’s Cradle show!

After a rainy morning of flexing my shopping skills, we met up with Charlotte and Dan at the Hidden Temple. The gang gave me a beautiful picture of Kyler holding a bird which Jules is going to frame for me. We all had a delicious lunch at Carrburritos and then Jared and I headed home in the yucky rain.

Sun, Oct 29th
Happy Birthday, Sweet Charlotte!
Sunday was my last day to hang out with my beloved Rob and Carrie. They leave for Portland before I get back from Hawaii.

I love you guys so hard and I know that we will see each other again soon. Immense hugs and kisses for real. (and to Sam and Lu since I didn’t get to see them) Wob, I look forward to our date.

Mon, Oct 30th
Off to Hawaii…