This is saturday night.

Hi all.

I am going to Atown tonight and while I am all jacked up on super sugar and booze I just want to say hello. Good news, I am writing a story about a Racoon with a difficult past. I hope you will all have a chance to read it soon. I will post it when it is finished.

I am also working on a rug. Yes a rug. I will post pictures soon of my progress. I am documenting the entire effort. Oh, and, I am still biding my time until I move out. I am trying to be smart about the money. Save save save. Yeah, so know I am going to spend money on booze. Peace out.

Anja

This isn't the first time...

I am feeling that good old sense of wanderlust. I get it every six months or so. The feeling that I want to move away, start a new life, the feeling that everything about me is boring and I want it to be new. I want a new job, a new place to live, a new look. I want to go where no one knows me and be who I want to be without judgement or repremand for changing in any way.

Don't get me wrong, the people around me are loving and supportive. It is that feeling of waiting for life to begin. This is all very cliche and I will probably regret writing it and possibly take down the post. After all it is very whiny and boring this talk about "wishing". The grass is always greener as they say.

I have mostly been using this so far to post pictures or funny stories, I don't really think of it as a blog. I mean, not in the journal, pour my heart out on the webpage kind of way. I don't have much interest in those, I mean, the truth is how much do you really want other people in your head? It is a very vunerable thing to do.

Here I go talking myself out of this. I am going to just hit post. But not before spell checking. I have three misspelled words after all.

The first set at least...

Here is the first set of Chicago trip pictures. Trust me...there will be plenty more. These are the ones Jenny took. For those of you who don't know, I went with Jennie and Tiffiny, both of whom are photographers. So basically, I didn't even bother. Enjoy! Oh, btw...There are 4 pages, I don't know why the photos aren't automatically going to the next page. So make sure you click the little numbers to see them all!

Update!

So I am back from Chicago! I LOVE that city. Had a really great great time. I should be posting pics of both Chicago and Dragon Con from the weekend before very very soon.

I will tell stories later..now I must sleep!

Fellow blogger

I stumbled on the best blog last night (yes, I can say better than mine because there is no focus to mine much to my chagrin). You should all read it because it is AWESOME. I am not plugging this guy for any reason other than I really think this is funny. I don't even know him.

http://www.mycrazyroommate.com/

STARDUST review

So, I am making up for lost time....

I went to see Stardust which, I had pretty high hopes for...I mean come on, I named a friend after it. You don't just rename people unless you feel good about it.

From the start of the movie I felt like I was watching something I had already seen, I would even go so far as say it felt almost like watching Perfume: The Story of a Murderer...at first. But then the film became it's own. I enjoyed it. I forgot how much I enjoyed the writing of Neil Gaiman and proceeded to go directly to Amazon today and purchase several of his books that I had not read.

It was refreshing to see Claire Danes again in a large part and she even did a relatively convincing accent, unlike Michelle Pfeiffer whose accent was embarrassing. Robert Di Nero was funny but over the top and Ricky Gervais was...well..Ricky Gervais. It took me a while to warm up to Charlie Cox as Tristran (or Tristan in the film...probably as not to get on ignorant American's nerves..."Why they sayin' that name there wrong?") But by the end of the film I couldn't picture anyone doing it better. There was also a surprising amount of medium to big names scattered randomly in smaller parts throughout the film that you don't really even realize are there until you, well, go to the IMDB page to see who the hell that kid was that played Tristan. But also amongst the cast is Ian McKellen (narrator), Sienna Miller (Victoria), and Rupert Everett (Secondus) and a couple of people you will recognize but never remember their names.

Warning, this is a two hour long movie and if you get a soda...don't drink it all because you WILL have to use the restroom before the end, especially since there is a place you think will be the end but it won't be. Don't be tricked into thinking you are about to experience bladder relief just to be laughed at. Trickery I say.

CHICAGO!!

I am going on vacation in a few short weeks to Chicago! with Tiffiny and Jennie. (Yes, Chicago! has to come with an !) We are about to put together our itinerary so if anyone has any suggestions for some great places to see let me know in the comments section...thanks!

Lazy Chicken

So, yes, I started this blog and made everyone get excited but then disaparated off the face of the frikin earth. Go ahead and yell....Done? Good. Most of you probably know from my facebook and myspace stuff that Mom is crazy sick again. There is no end in sight to the ICU. She is very slowly but surely improving each day, although I wish I had GOOD news. I am just happy to report no new BAD news. The truth is I am starting to adjust to this life (probably not healthy :/ ) but I feel like I can still have a normal life while this is going on. So since I sort of have a personality again I am going to start posting again.

I still don't have any great direction on the posts, I really want this to be more than just the 'crap that falls out of my head and happens to land on the page'. But that said, the remainder of this post is going to be about the fact that I am going to move out. Therefore, I am looking for a place. If anyone sees a place or wants to help me keep an eye this is what I am looking for: 2-3 bedroom (I have a roommate lined up, although if you are looking to get some roommates we are not opposed to more people as long as there is plenty of co-habitation space) The entire point of my moving out is to have room to start setting up a screen print shop, so we need an extra bedroom or garage or basement...you get the idea. We are okay with the burbs...Greer, Taylors, Simpsonville, etc. Let me know if anyone sees anything and remember...WE HAVE A BUDGET!

Thanks to everyone who is thinking about Mom and sending the good vibes (in whatever form you send them in), I appreciate it and look forward to soon becoming more social.

Fallen off

I haven't posted in a while. Not that things haven't been interesting. Mom is sick again. She had a small stroke. She will make a full recovery. Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive.

Saw Hot Rod tonight. It was pretty good. Really random. REALLY random. It had a great tribute to Footloose in it. Very strange becuase there was that AND a reference to 2 Ligit 2 Quit, BOTH of which I discussed/danced out last night. Who would have thought 2 Ligit could come up twice, separatly, in less than 24 hours? This may be the end times.

I may need to find one of those count down clock things. I am getting closer to my trip to Chicago and getting more and more excited by the minute. It will be baked cereal. I haven't been on vacation in a good while so that part will be nice, and seeing a new city. Maybe it was all those vacations as a kid spent in the woods that makes me enjoy cities so much now. Who knows.

I have been itching to move away lately. Someone give me a reason to stay...anyone?

Lace up your McFly's...the DeLorean is back!

I was estatic when I found this post on Slashdot! There is apparantly a Texas based company that restores DeLorean's that is now doing a limited run of NEW DeLorean's! According to the article rooted at the LA Times there are 6,500 currently still on the road. That is soon about to change. The firm plans to release about 20 cars a year for an undisclosed amount of time.
For those of you unfamiliar with the DeLorean (seriously, how are we friends!) the car is famed for it's wing doors and futuristic stainless steel exterior. Production of the original car actually stopped in 1982, three years before it's debut as Doc's time machine in the original Back to the Future (1985). This is exciting kids! Although with an original price tag of 25,000...in 1982....who knows what the 2008 price tag will be!

See full article here.

name calling

I was just posting a bulletin on myspace when it occured to me how many nicknames I really have. Now, nicknames are fine, there are only a few throughout my life that have bothered me, but it does remind me of all the other names I have been called which I don't particularly enjoy so much. Some of the nicknames I get called now where taunts when I was a child. I suppose it doesn't take a truly creative 4th grader or 23-year old to come up with Onion. But Onion I decided to embrace, as many of you know I actually use it as a trademark in my design. I own Oniondesigner.com, which is one of the places that you can see my work. I guess if you can't beat them, join them.
I think the worst instance of the Onion escapades was in fact in 4th grade (although trust me it started way before that). You see, the problem was that I was friends with a guy named Herb. Can you see where this is going? Onion and Herb, sitting in a tree. Making...dip apparently. Alright. Seriously.
Then you have to take into account that my name is spelled A-N-J-A. Yes, that is a J, which I assume you know about since you are reading this. Some of you know how angry I get when a girl has my name and spells it with a Y. Where do they get off? If I had to deal with the crap of "Andjaa, Ondja, however you say that" all my life then so should they.
I have learned to enjoy my semi-unique name (I have actually known over 10 Anja's in my life and 4 of them have actually spelled it that way). It is a good ice breaker. I did go through a brief stint where I tried to get everyone to call me Nicole. They mutinied.
But then there is the whole Anja Nicole Smith thing. It will be less and less of a problem going forward but everyone in my generation and the one before me at least will always remember the connection. Perhaps her untimely death will give me the opportunity to take back Anja/Anna Nicole Smith (I have always clung to that one letter and been grateful I am not a busty blonde).
But seriously folks, whatever you call me...Anjalog, Onha, Anjapalooza, Firefox, Onion...just don't call me Andjaa!

Gay's get there own debate. Strange.

I am excited about this, don't get me wrong. The fact that this many key candidates are paying enough attention to GLBT issues is awesome. The guest list is impressive :

* Hillary Clinton,
* Christopher Dodd,
* John Edwards,
* Mike Gravel,
* Dennis Kucinich,
* Barack Obama, and
* Bill Richardson

But it is sort of strange. And it is airing on MTV and Logo. Good for us. We get our own debate. And not unlike the YouTube debates the questions are generated by the public at large, the HRC sent me an email today asking me for a question. So what would be my question? My number one "agenda" is getting included in the anti-discrimination laws, I think the whole marriage and adoption issues would be helped if we were recognized as human beings period.

I just wonder...none of these candidates (to my knowledge)are running on a pro-gay platform. The candidate that so far has been most supportive is actually former New York mayor Rudy Gulliani although he has been shy about it since he is running with the big boys. Perhaps it is part of his distancing himself from this issue. But it seems stupid to not include himself.

Maybe the entire idea will just take some getting used to. I should be excited right? Well, except that during the YouTube debate all of the democrats when asked about gay issues politely said, "Sorry, but no". I guess I just feel like there is no reason to have a debate to hear about all of the things that they AREN'T going to do.

Hairspray...John Travolta?

Co-written by Jennie Waller

Overall, a pleasant experience. Amanda Bynes was the obvious weak point. She was a BAD dancer and her quirky and should have been funny role faded into the background, there were simply too many outstanding performances for her mediocre one to stand out.

The adults of the film all stole the show. Michelle Pfeiffer, John Travolta, Queen Latifa and Christopher Walken made this movie. Even if you can't stand John Travolta for all the mistakes he made after Pulp Fiction. This is the John Travolta we love to hate in Grease, only better cuz he is in a fat suit dressed in drag.

Now, it has been a while since I have seen the original, I really couldn't even tell you the plot differences if there were any. But the story moved fluidly, was better organized and will satisfy any movie and musical fan. Have fun kids.

The infamous dance off

Most of you know already, but last Friday night a few of us went out for my birthday. We started at Wild Wings wear the band sucked and the drinks sucked and the beer was warm. We moved on. After a struggle over the validity of cover charges we ended up at Blue Martini.

Now, you should know that this was my second time at Blue Martini and on my first trip a precedent was set. The DJ played music ranging from the early 90's into the 2000's including but not limited to Salt N Peppa and Britney Spears. It was a bit like being at a wedding. So, to go along with the music Miranda, Tiffiny and I brought back a few of the old favorites in our dance repertoire. The butterfly, the cabbage patch, the sprinkler...

Back to Friday night. Although the music was slightly more recent this time we kept our new found tradition of dancing the oldies on the crowded dance floor. Only...it wasn't crowded for long. Before we knew it the entire club had backed up and was watching us. Miranda moonwalked. We were on a roll, grooving off each other. In the zone. Then...a couple challenged us. Back and forth, the tootsie roll, the robot, the Carlton, the sprinkler, the Molly Ringwold, the robot...wait? The robot again? You bust out the robot twice?!? Buz. You loose. We win. You got served.

It was awesome fun. The girl stopped and asked us where we were from, quizzingly, we say, "Here?!?" Apparently she was expecting something more urban. Perhaps Detroit, WHAT?

Democrat YouTube debate

I just finished watching the first YouTube debate. When I first heard about these debates I was really excited. The idea of web 2.0 reaching a wider audience and being embraced by mainstream media as well as involving the web community so directly in something so important is brand new and exciting.

This debate was definitely a bit different than most. The questions were obviously more candid and consequently I think the politicians were also. There were a few questions that really stuck hit home for me. One was a North Carolina African American minister asking why the religious views of a candidate was a good excuse for discrimination against homosexuals. I am sure you will hear about it in the news for the next few days, it seems to be a heavy favorite. It was directed at Edwards and he handled it fairly well. There was a lesbian couple asking directly if they will allow them to marry and finally a young kid who is an atheist asking how Non theist Americans get equal rights in a country that spends so much energy on the evangelical population.

It was a big night. Edwards and Clinton stuck out as leaders. I wish Obama had done better, he held is own but could have spun a bit less. Joe Biden did fairly well I think also. Anyone who didn't watch, I urge you to check YouTube for highlights. I look forward to September for the Republican debate.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows review, no spoilers...I promise!

I won't give any spoilers. I will just review. So, my first comment is that if you really want to read a book as soon as it comes out don't order it through Amazon even if it is guaranteed delivery. It came around 2 o'clock on Saturday which wouldn't have sucked so badly if I didn't have to work at the ballpark that night. Alas. I read roughly the first 150 pages before I had to leave for work and I was already crying. The ball game was tortuously long.

I finished last night around 10ish, feeling satisfied. The ending gets a little Lord of the Rings with the 50 endings but there are many twists and turns that will keep any fan satisfied. People die, people's allegiances are not where you thought they were and overall I feel okay with the fact that the Harry Potter journey has ended. It was a long time coming and I think that Rowling did a good job with it. I do think her writing style was influenced by the movies, but I have been said that in the last book also. The ending felt very movie-esque and I look forward to seeing the troupe of actors who, by then, we will have watched grow up, act out the dramatic conclusion.

Read more reviews and funny anecdotes on my facebook page.

Parade photos

Here are my pics from the actual parade. I know these are a long time coming but you have to understand that it started out as over 600 pics. I pared them down to what I think gives a pretty fair representation of the experience. It was awesome!

Pictures from Pride Atlanta 2007

These pictures are ACTUALLY from the party we went to on Saturday night called the Peach Party. It was hosted by Curve magazine. It was at the CW music complex and was a really good party. It was almost exclusively women and it was two floors each with a bit of a different theme. We danced like crazy people and where so very very drunk. Cheers and hope you enjoy the pics. I will have the actual parade and festival pics up shortly.

First Blog Post

We will see how this goes. Hello everyone! I am so glad I am finally getting this done. I just am not really satisfied with my facebook and myspace pages. I wanted something I could truly call my own.
I am not entirely sure what this will end up being as far as content. I think that is something that will naturally evolve over time. I hope at least. But, for now I will post pictures here, tell stories and link to stuff I find interesting. Probably design, tech, movies, you know the stuff you have in common with me ;)

Oh shit son, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows just arrived on my doorstep. Have to go read. See ya!