Is that a Monet?

That's probably what you're asking yourself as you stare in amazement at this priceless work of art. However, you couldn't be further from the truth. It is the first installment in many to come from the artistic hand of none other than moi (that's the artistic Frenchman coming out of me).

I'll start the bidding at $5,000.

You are what you eat...and listen to.

Call it embracing my heritage, fulfilling my destiny, or what you wish. I just purchased this album, and I like it. Yes, that's correct. The Whitest Boy Alive.

Another Word to the Wise

With the purchase of my new cell phone comes a new service contract with Cingular. I purchased it online, and selected the option to "port" over my existing number to my new carrier.

Great, right? Well, yes, minus this weekend and next few days while I wait for my phone to be delivered. I didn't realize they would port my number instantly. So that means when I tried to use my phone Friday night it told me I wasn't an authorized Sprint subscriber. And when people have tried to call me, they get a "voicemail not configured yet" message.

So my words of advice: if you're going to switch over cell phone carriers and keep your same number, buy your new phone from the store.

But perhaps what is more sad is how disconnected I feel. What if someone wanted to call me? What if someone wanted to play soccer? What if someone was throwing a party in my honor and I couldn't be reached to make it? I just know all of my fans out there are having a nervous breakdown because they can't reach me. Right? Anyone? Buehler?

$240 Worth of Puddin

I cook, and then I chill. Awwwwww, yeahhhhh.

I'm on the Mobile Phone

Readers may be surprised to hear that I'm joining the 21st century. I just purchased this phone:

I Heart Firefox

Just downloaded Firefox 2.0.

Talk about a sweet web browser with awesome search capabilities baked right in. Want to search Flickr? IMDB? Wikipedia? GoodSearch? Oh yeah, or what's that one company?...Google? You can search all and even more from within your toolbar.

Afraid of mistyping when filling out a form, sending an email, or posting a comment on the greatest blog on this side of the dot-com? With Firefox 2.0 there is automatic spell checking. As I type this, it is politely underlining any misspelled words in red, suggesting I change them or add them to the dictionary. Brilliant. These people are brilliant.

Word to the Wise

You know when you check your bags at the airport, and they give you the little baggage claim sticker for a receipt?

My advice: check it for accuracy, always.

I just flew down to Atlanta this past weekend, and upon arriving I happened to glance at my claim tag. It was for Thomas Neafus, flying to South Bend, IN. Crap. I ended up wearing my same set of clothes for 3 days straight.

Sound familiar Diana?

Tip O' the Day

Ever have a window open on your computer that is somewhat off-screen, and you can't move it because your mouse can't reach the title bar? That happened to me today, and I found this tip to help out:

1. Hold down Alt + Spacebar
2. Press the M key
3. Use the arrow keys to relocate the window (or move your mouse)
4. Press the Enter key when you have the window in the desired location

U2 and iPod, Sitting in a Tree

Today I present to you the ruminations from Tre J, a friend of mine:

Have I shared my Ipod/U2 conspiracy theory with you two? Remember the ads U2 did with Apple, and Bono gracing the screen of the new video Ipod, and the U2 Ipod?? I think U2 brokered some deal with Apple that Apple could use them for
marketing purposes if Apple would change it's shuffle algorithm to play U2 more. Three of the last six songs that have played on my Ipod (it's on shuffle now) have been U2 songs. I have maybe 100 U2 songs out of a total of over 15,000 songs. It's a conspiracy, I tell ya.

Why Am I Not Surprised?

After living in Atlanta and working in Covington, this news article holds a dear place in my heart. It really embodies my 2 years in the south, and brings back memories of similar events that continually left me in awe ($1,000,000 bill at Wal-Mart, the "Lost" children of Rockdale County, crazy man running over family in McDonalds parking lot, etc.). If only I would have started a scrapbook the day I arrived. I'm pretty sure it would have been a best-seller.

A woman and her two young children will get a special Christmas dinner at one of Atlanta’s most expensive restaurants this year — courtesy of a Rockdale County judge who imposed that sentence on a man charged with family violence on Christmas Day.

“Basically you were hung over and didn’t want to be involved in some activities your wife planned,” Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation told Wendell Jerome Herman Rogers II. “You acted up and ruined Christmas, so this year you’re going to make it up to them.”

The Best Bar in America

I didn't need Esquire to tell me that Nye's Polenaise is the best bar in America. The locals knew that long ago. If you read the article written up by Esquire, you'll hear mention of Fran, the "seventy-freaking-seven" year-old waitress. She served us Friday night, and was as sweet as a grandmother should be. She topped off my coffee every 5 minutes "to keep it warm", she informed.

Move Over Van Gogh

I survived my first oil painting class. There were about 10 people in class; some with experience, some without (yours truly being one of them). I was instructed to paint shapes, not things, and to seperate my scene into light and dark objects. I didn't finish my Welsh mountain scene, but I did walk away with my very own color wheel.

I will start the bidding at $500.

Austin Kayaks Rock

If you've been following any of my posts for the past month, then you would have read about my dear friend Katie's unfortunate accident.

I was just informed about Austin Kayaks, and the benefit auction they are running on Katie and John's behalf. It's definitely worth a read...and a bid.

Google Search Bar

Any fans of the Google Search Toolbar? I'm one of them. I like the new feature of Suggested Search, as well as the ability to see your search history. I'm assuming the Suggested Search works by compiling the most recent commonly used PG-related searches performed by the millions of people out there that use Google every day.

I was going to perform a search for "Why buy back stock", when I noticed what apparently is a widely searched-for topic that starts with the word "Why". I was so taken aback I had to capture the screen.

Are we (men) really that bad? And if so, are there that many women our there searching for a rational answer to such a problem? Are they hoping for an "Ohhhhhhh. I get it now. Oh Kenny, you're so silly! I forgive you!" moment?

The Bad Plus

Last night Brad and I saw The Bad Plus perform at Ted Mann Auditorium. It was a great show, thanks in part to the group being so "telepathically tight". Their drummer, David King, put on possibly the best drum performance I've ever seen live.

For me, the highlight of the night was when they rocked out to their own version of Tom Sawyer, by Rush. Certain people in the crowd were visibly over-excited once this happened. It's not too common to see fist pumps during a jazz performance, but I guess The Bad Plus is not your average jazz band. I have a feeling Big MO would have followed suit...

Studio C

Robbie won tickets to see the Barenaked Ladies play at Cities 97 Studio C (actually KCCO in downtown Minneapolis) today, and I was fortunate enough to tag along. It was a small acoustic set -- around 5 songs, but totally cool. I was happy when they played Brian Wilson, probably my favorite song of theirs.

More Fall Fun

In my previous post I forgot to mention more happenings from the weekend.

One was visiting the ever-splendid Deardorff Family Orchard, where Robbie, Amanda, and I picked apples, ate them till we puked, and then ate some more. OK, so we didn't puke, but Robbie did grace us with a Mr. Peepers interpretation, and I did get a slight stomach ache from eating too many apples.

Sunday was another action-packed day. After dropping Jen off at the airport, I headed over to Lake Calhoun to catch up with Robbie and Amanda again to watch their friend Colby run by in the Twin Cities Marathon.

If you've never seen a marathon or triathalon before I highly recommend you check it out. Find a group of people that are cheering non-stop, and you're guaranteed a good time. After a while you sort of feel like they are cheering for you. Besides, you deserve it. It's exhausting watching someone run 26 miles.

Fabulous Fall

This weekend was a perfect example of why I love fall. Absolutely beautiful weather, trees ablaze in red, orange, and yellow, crisp mornings, and cool evenings. I wish I could have this for months and months.

My sister was in town, and we got the chance to mill about the farmer's market, complete with coffee and raspberry scone in honor of dad. We then spent the warm afternoon strolling along Cedar Lake, laughing at old family stories and chatting about the future. I'm so happy and grateful to have such a wonderful family. It's something that is implied, but rarely communicated, as many things in this world. I love you guys! (Brothers don't shake hands...brothers got to hug!)