Ladies and Gentleman, chiru.
Thank you, Melanie.

Having a lovely morning sitting in Joscelyn’s studio, trying to get some pages written while she has her hair done. Joscelyn shares her space with Jen Denslow of Blooming Lotus, so the air in here smells divine. Jen just gifted me with two bags of bath salts. I have died and gone to heaven.

Well… it’s a terrestrial kind of heaven, alas, one where I’m still distracted by my own anxieties. So much to get done. What I wouldn’t give for a 48 hour day every now and then.

This weekend’s MO-KAN Comic Conspiracy was not, how you say, “heavily attended.” On the upside, it was thoroughly satisfying social experience. Inspiring, even. I feel a little like I did leaving Memphis. I’d like to write more about it, but, uh, if I hope to soothe those anxieties, I need to get some work done first.

I sent my father my halloween photo and he sent back this picture he took of me in Misawa, Japan when I was four years old. Aw, Dad. I love you.

• Just as I was ready to give up on it, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip coughed up a decent episode. Fraction pointed out that this one was the first written after Sorkin had his ensemble and knew who he was writing for. I’ll point out that this episode all but abandoned Harriet (thank god) and the cringe-inducing Harriet-Matt romance. Were it not for that horrible moment at the end — I won’t blow it for you, in case it’s still on your DVR — I’d be wholly on-board. As it stands, I’m guardedly optimistic;
• I’m still enjoying Dexter, but as a kind of “this is much smarter and more fun than CSI” candy. I don’t mind watching it and working at the same time;
• 30 Rock is much better than I expected it to be;
• I love The Biggest Loser. That’s right, I said it. And if he can manage to stay at the ranch, I pick Marty to win;
• Veronica Mars seems to have found its groove again, halleluja. I do hate the new theme song remix, however. Hate;
• I’m still watching Heroes, though I swear I have no idea why;
• New Wire this week?

The penultimate Planetary (#26) is out today. My understanding is that this issue essentially ends the series, with issue #27 intended as coda.

Now, I swear I don’t usually sit around pondering how or when I’m going to read a particular comic, but Planetary… well, Planetary is different. Planetary is special. I know for a lot of Ellis fans Transmet is the thing, but for me, it’s Planetary. It’s just so… rich.

So. Night before last and I was sitting around pondering when and how I would read Planetary #26 and I got as far as to decide to make it a thing. An event. First, I believe I will go back and re-read the series from the beginning — to refresh my memory and to fill in the blanks of the issues I’ve missed for one reason or other. Then, when I get to the last five or six issues, I think those should be read in a single sitting. Someplace warm, with coffee and handknits and good light.

We were invited to FOUR parties on the 21st and only made it to one. There’s another batch this weekend, but we’re both so tired I doubt we’ll have it in us to dress up again. Halloween night I expect we’ll stay home and hand out candy to the kids — there were a TON of trick-or-treaters last year and Fraction was in NYC so he missed out on the fun.

(I grossly underestimated the number of children in the neighborhood in 2005. Consequently, I ran out of candy and ended up handing out bottles of water, lil’ homiez and those honey sticks you use in hot tea. It’s a miracle our house wasn’t egged.)

I should also mention that the kimono is my absolute favorite in my collection and was a gift from Jodi a/k/a Baka Gaijiin.

Last night? I totally learned to do this. So! Much! Fun!

(My teacher. My iMix.)

In no particular order:

• Add links to Flickr page, Natty Minx, We Endure, Stylehive and MySpace to bio below;
• Wrap Kelly Porter‘s wedding present and deliver it to her;
• Post office: drop off Fraction’s package, send comics to Eric, send comics to Jean, mail needles back to Nikol;
• Catch up on e-mails;
• Return phone calls;
• UPS store – drop off box and packing peanuts from Midtown Comics for recycling;
• Costco – salad mix, apple slices…I can’t remember what else. Crap;
• plant tulip bulbs;
• finish refinishing buffet table, bring it back inside and restock it, take the drawers downstairs for stripping;
• Get started on kitchen! Go to Home Depot with Fraction and pick out new countertop, order it, then call Mr. Graft to schedule the remodel;
• Run 2 miles today;
• Pack for lesson with Tobi tonight;
• Catch up on Japanese studying;
• Use this list to update GTD;
• Block Andy’s hat, post picture of progress;
• Make a list of where you are work-wise and what deadlines are looming;
• Post worklog to blog;
• Freak out.

Miscellany:

* The new TV shows suck. The only one I’m holding out hope for is Dexter. Thank god we still have The Wire. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is particularly disappointing. We continue to watch it for some reason (the reason: Fraction’s man-crush on Aaron Sorkin) whereas we dumped The Nine immediately. (At some point during the second episode of The Nine I found myself thinking “oh, fuck you,” as if the writers could hear me.) I’ll be shocked if Sorkin pulls Studio 60 out of the crapper, though. Its only chance, I think, is abandoning the tedious love story. Sadly, I think tonight’s episode (rather heavy-handedly) established the love story as the show’s central metaphor. Harriet Matalin and Matt Carville work together, see? They can disagree and still love another, see? …We may be doomed.

* Started the weekend with the Jared Coones Memorial Pumpkin Run. (My race: here.) It was stupid cold and I had to get up at 5:45 a.m., but it felt great and I left with a sense of accomplishment. I ran with my friend Gene, the Captain of last year’s triathlon team. It was great to see Gene, Jen Mies and Tom Coones, who along with his wife and children, has turned his family’s tragedy into a gift to the community and a salute to the memory of his son. I’m making it sound horribly depressing but it wasn’t at all. It was inspiring. And fun. And early. Very, very early.

* I think I know what I’m going to get Fraction for Christmas. Well… I have an idea anyway. Wah wah. Here’s a hint: it’s not yarn.

* Oh, okay — here’s another: it’s not a spinning wheel.

* Speaking of spinning wheels, after the race on Saturday I headed to Nikol’s for Yarn School. I didn’t attend as a student, but went to help clean up, serve food, make coffee, whatever. I’m not sure I did that much, but I hope I was helpful. I had a ball.

* Thanks to Adrian of Hello Yarn (on whom I crush hard, for she is HI-larious), Robin and I’m not sure who all else, I now covet a pair of clogs. Adrian wears a black steel-toed version by Bastad Troentorps called “Picasso.” Of course she does. Robin wears Danskos. I found these on Zappos. They’re all spendy. Of course. Bitches.

* Adrian and I were talking about DIY coffee roasting on the way to the airport this morning and my interest is renewed.

* I’m looking forward to Stranger Than Fiction, in part because of MK12‘s involvement and in part because the trailer is cut to the ELO song DON’T BRING ME DOWN. As previously established, I heart ELO. Anyway, I’m kind of hoping it’s Charlie Kaufman without being Charlie Kaufman.

* Andy Mac’s pirate hat is progressing nicely, thank you. I need to go get some yarn for the lining.

* I start lessons with Tobi Holloway tomorrow. W00t.

* I’m worried about moths. I need to clean out the closet. And everything else. Sigh.

* Work updates tomorrow.

First post at the new address.

Let’s post a photo and see how it looks. This is the hat I’m knitting for Andy MacDonald of NYCMech, 24seven and now, Red Warrior:

The pattern is titled “We Call Them Pirates” and it’s available free, courtesy of Adrian at Hello Yarn.