Ecstatic dance, baked rigatoni, road trip

I went to Dance Underground tonight for ecstatic dance. I dug it. It reminded me of the dance class I had in elementary school in which the teacher told us we were all ingredients in a stew in a giant witch's cauldron. We zoomed around the studio in a big circle like crazy little kids, which we were. It was great. Tonight was a little like that, for which I'm grateful. It's nice to have sore feet because you actually used your body for something other than sitting and typing and walking to lunch.

Also, I ate a lot of soy ice cream when I got back, and watched a bit of Top Chef with Angela, Michael, David, and Jessi.

Oh, and earlier today I had lunch at Skillet. I ordered baked rigatoni with ricotta and weird broccoli. It was fantastic. Dessert was Nutella and banana on crostini, and we also had Mexican Coke (real sugar! glass bottle!) to drink. And I'm writing an article about Dreamlets, the invention of potluck regular Matty Harper, for NWsource. I'm excited. The interview is on Monday.

In other news: Kickball starts tomorrow. It'll be fun to run around again, this time in a non-dance context. I sincerely hope our team name doesn't end up being the Schoolyard Bullies, though. Someone suggested the RickRollers, and I loved that. I hope we get to be the RickRollers.

Finally, I gave notice at work this past Friday. Tentative plan: Stay in Seattle through May, drive down the West Coast in June, return to Seattle by July 4 to fly to Germany with my mom for our Eurotrip. We're going to Freiburg, where I spent several years of my childhood, then Paris; the first leg of the trip is, in part, about a big dinner my mom has arranged in honor of my dad, who died approximately five years ago (June 11, 2003). After Paris, I might remain in Europe and Eurail it for a while, staying in hostels; upon my return, I'd sell or ship anything that didn't fit in my car (I'm buying Angela's car!), pack up the rest, and drive east. East! Through Montana and other pretty states, and hopefully to Chicago, where I'll pick up my friend Margo. Then we'll head to the East Coast; once we arrive, she'll fly back. That's one plan, anyway. And where will I end up? I'm thinking either Brooklyn or an intentional community in New England. The fictional Fieldstone Collective from The Ballad of Jack and Rose, even though we get only a brief glimpse of it, really inspired me.

It's not Caturday just yet

And, for the record, I actually was sick. But now I'm feeling better.

What did I do while sick? I ate pad Thai from Jamjuree, watched The Ballad of Jack and Rose (and liked it, much more than the krazy kritics), watched Idiocracy in its entirety on YouTube, and went through more tissues than I think I'd used in the previous year. And that, my friends, is a lot of tissues.

Trailer for "The Fall"

The Cell was a beautiful, beautiful movie -- visually, that is -- and Tarsem Singh, who directed it, has a new movie coming out. And it looks utterly gorgeous. I've watched movies before for the visual appeal alone, and it's a mixed bag (Final Fantasy, anyone?), but I doubt I'll be able to resist this one.

You finally get to stop hearing about "Quarterlife"

Whew. Anchor Cove reports that the show's second season might be... user-generated. Whatever. If I don't get to find out what happens with Dylan and Eric (and Debra!), I might have to take some hostages. Damn you, NBC, for assuming that slightly tepid ratings are reason enough to pull the plug on one of the few things bringing me consistent joy during the past couple weeks.

Things distracting me from watching "Quarterlife"

"Hey Ya" finally goes folk.

Jeff Goldblum is drunky.

And then there's this.

Yep, still watching "Quarterlife"

Nothin' to see here, folks. I'm on webisode 28 and still enjoying it a lot. I had a very nice time tonight at the Hopvine with Sheela, Celia, Robbie, and several other friendly people. After dinner, we stopped by Victrola for tea/coffee/cupcakes, listened to The Con by Tegan and Sara (which was playing over the sound system and sounds much better there than in my headphones or my cabin) for a bit, and parted ways. It was my first normal-feeling night since the breakup, and I'm grateful for it. I'm also grateful to be enjoying The Abstinence Teacher as much as I am. I'm experiencing the proverbial desire for it not to end -- same feeling about Quarterlife, naturally -- and the fear that it may take a while before I find another book that's this enjoyable without being total junk food. But I'm sure I will. I need to find a book club!

And now, back to Quarterlife. Hopefully less boring posts await you in the near future.

"Quarterlife" update

I'm on episode -- sorry, "webisode" -- nine now. The phrase "it's like Christmas in April" popped into my head. Exactly what I need, exactly when I need it: angsty twentysomethings grappling with romantic entanglements and daunting life goals. And while the series has its flaws -- including a weird lack of diversity and too much conventional beauty -- the concept of a well-made Web-based television show really pleases me, and Quarterlife bears it out enough to have more or less addicted me. Life's funny -- if I hadn't woken up at 4 a.m. today and spent the next four hours awake, I might never have thought to check this out. Thank you, insomnia!

Have I been up since 4 a.m.?

Yes.

Am I slightly addicted to Quarterlife?

Regrettably, yes.