Questions I am asking myself:

- Do I want to see the Vagina Monologues as performed by my Unitarian congregation? Points to consider: It's been about seven years since I've seen the Vagina Monologues, as performed at Virginia Tech. It was a Valentine's weekend performance (I think that's the traditional date on which the show is presented). It really was empowering, although I feel like a tool for writing that. This performance is likely to be more amateurish. The Vagina Monologues might not be hurt by that, but perhaps that is imparting too much power to the message and the supposed honesty of the show. It is still a performance.

Yeah, I kind of think I want to go. (Update: meghatronn has agreed to accompany me. Yay!)

- Do I want to go to the Inauguration? Right now I am looking to get around the system. There must be some venue where I can watch in comfort and on a big screen, and feeding off of other excited folks. I will have it all, I tell you!

Really, there are more important questions I'm asking myself. About the Bible, nontheism, careers, information, publishing, the semantic Web, money management, blah, blah. There's a painful process of making connections going on in my brain.

New Year's, Palace of Wonders, any takers? The show includes burlesque, fire breathing, sword swallowing, music, etc.

Tickets are $20 at the door. For New Year's transport for this particular festivity, I would suggest a taxi to and from Union Station (red line).

I've been to the Palace once, and it was a lively and highly entertaining time. Sadly, however, I don't think pictsy and her aerial silks are on the lineup for New Year's.

Speculation on a pre-election wedding for Bristol Palin: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4837644.ece

Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator - what would your name be if Sarah Palin was your mom?

My name would be Beans Harpoon Palin.

Cool site evaluating the truth of statements made by the candidates: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/ (damn terminal slash). In a cursory look, I can't detect any obvious partisanship but that doesn't mean it's not there.

So stupid new tenant doesn't want to move in early and save me some money, therefore moving day is now Saturday, September 27. This means Steve will be around and can bring his trailer, so I don't have to crash a rented UHaul because I wasn't looking forward to that.

All the lovely folks who volunteered are still welcome to help, although I totally understand if you have plans or if you are disgusted at the change in plans.

Tragically, normally dependable boyfriend and dad both busy on moving day. Desperately ISO 3 burly people for shortest moving party ever on Saturday, September 20. You only have to help with the big stuff, I'm moving the rest on my own. The move is only 2 miles away, so I expect this to take less than 90 minutes. I should share that the apartment is on the second floor, stairs only, and faces into a small courtyard so there'd be a walk of about 25 feet from the curb carrying aforementioned heavy artillery.

I'll pay you because I have no moving karma: I was thinking $25 each or the equivalent food or alcohol of your choice? Is that too low, too high, or does taking money for moving make you feel dirty?

EDIT: Okay, moving party moved to the 27th. Because I can't even move without having to move the dates. Sigh. At least this way Steve will be around and can drive his trailer instead of me having to navigate Old Town in a rented UHaul. Sorry for the trouble!

morcelu, antares11 and I attended the Hoot n Any pagan festival two weekends ago on the banks of the Tappahannock River (this fact, while not a prominent part of my weekend, was very amusing for some of the attendees who decreed that it sounded like a word Sean Connery would say and proceeded to say it as part of increasingly bad Sean Connery imitations).

It was an interesting experience. Put baldly, it was a wonderful bonfire, drum and dance circle on Friday night; a very bad's night sleep for me; a great breakfast by Doug; a weird mid-morning interlude resulting from me having drunk too much coffee and then becoming a human tent pole as we tried to keep the rain from pooling on the tarps hung above our friends' campsite; a nice jaunt to the pool; an early afternoon's mead drinking and an instructive chakra workshop; a farcical ritual; a community soup dinner; another fun although different drum and dance circle; a better night's sleep due in part to Doug's Belizian Sunrises; and a nice start back to civilization.

I will look back on the Hoot fondly although it was in some ways trying. It gave me great fodder for the re-write of my NaNoWriMo novel featuring a cast of pagans. Some of the characters were truly memorable, and I love the tensions that spring up among the supposedly spiritually enlightened. I also realized that I never want to buy into the deity aspect of paganism enough to attribute events to the will of a goddess or god.

The most difficult part was hanging out with a group of people, some of whom I know slightly, and being alternately acknowledged and ignored, and realizing that I am definitely superfluous. I'm not entirely sure that I want to become too deeply involved with this group, especially after the Hoot, partially because it (like all groups) seems a perpetuation of high school in both cliqueness and humor (also, let's be honest, I don't think they will let me get too involved). I realize that for those who were not lucky enough to spend their adolescence with the like-minded, the freedom to quote Monty Python may only come with middle age. But me, I've been there and done that. Breaking it down, most of the women were lovely. The men ignored me, but then they probably have little use for all the new pagans who are drawn to Irene (who is a priestess and compelling personality) and will fade out of the picture quickly (especially when the men are already in relationships). It's not worth the effort. Looking back, I can tell that some people, like me, also seemed fairly new and to be trying to hold on to their precarious position in the group. And to be quite fair, I'm not sure I met anyone halfway or gave them a reason to want to pursue a friendship with me. I remembered again that I can't force these things and make people warm to me and want to confide in me and be bosom buddies.

I may slowly make more friends through my Harry Potter meetup group and possibly through the Democratic campaign. I think I need to broaden--to meet people less like me or at least like me in a different way than my current friends (who are mostly from high school and fast becoming historical friends). I had the best time on Friday working at a voter registration table at the Kingstowne farmer's market, and I found everyone shockingly easy to talk to. Perhaps I have made a breakthrough in my communication with strangers; but then I think how poorly I communicated at the Hoot and I'm not sure. I have decided that other than working, sleeping and seeing Steve, volunteering for the campaign is the most important thing I can do for the next few months.

Continuing my trend of making snap living arrangement decisions, I have signed a lease that begins Sept 19 on a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom at Avalon at Cameron Court on Eisenhower Avenue, near that Metro and on the fringes of Old Town. The rent per person is $917.50/mo plus a $200/yr amenities fee (see more on amenities behind the cut) and all utilities but trash.

Now I am in search of the perfect partner to share my residential bliss. If you know someone who is quiet and fairly clean, particularly in common areas, and respectful of other people's (my) need for space, please put me in touch with them. That's a vague description of course, but it's the foundation upon which this edifice will be built. If this person does not come burdened with outdated 70s furniture given them by their aunt in Minnesota, so much the better.* I like an apartment decorated to match or complement itself and to conform to my general taste: dark wood and cleaner lines. But matching is the key; it seems more welcoming to me.

*I think longingly of when Jenna and I moved in together and found that we accorded reasonably well on these subjects.

( More details to pass on: )

The goal is to find a roommate and get a 2-br, 2-ba apartment in Alexandria at the end of September. Does anyone know of someone looking for a similar living situation? I may be looking into getting a dog, so this potential roommate would have to be cool with that. Also, they would have to be on the neat side and preferably the quieter side.

I saw Mamma Mia last night at the Old Town Theater, which is not as historic as I expected but does provide food and beer. It was a very fun experience, mostly because the entire cast was game about making idiots of themselves and several of them sang with gusto while lacking a tune and a bucket.

Seriously, Washington Post, the cover story on your print edition, taking up about 60% of the landscape, is about people getting thwacked by branches while riding on a double decker bus?

I could be persuaded to abandon sleeping in on Saturday in favor of Team Wench's Prepare for Faire yard sale (proceeds to National MS Society). Any interest?

This summer has been a a bad one for animal rescue groups. Foster parents are needed for small breed dogs from this reputable DC and Baltimore area rescue organization, which just got landed with 29 animals from a puppy mill this week. Consider fostering if you are in a position to!

Wizard rock concert Saturday night at the Patrick Henry library. Call the library to reserve a spot and come in your wizarding wear!

I forgot to mention the ice luge at my family's Memorial Day party:
Sunday, May 25
4pm
6021 Crupper Pl, Fairfax, 22030

Professional goal: have a staff that does promotion and marketing for me.

I can't decide what to do on Saturday ... get tickets to the Carter Barron free version of Hamlet, risking the rain and driving into the city? Or stay in Old Town and coax people to me, to me!!! /crazy laugh/

I propose Thursday, June 12 for tapas and flamenco at Las Tapas on King Street. Remember kiddies, you can ride the free trolley from the Metro all the way down King Street!