Yay! Pixar was originally coming to Penn on October 25-26th, meaning that I was going to have to churn out a revised demo reel STAT. Now they’re not coming until January, giving me over a month more to get my act in gear. Sweet.
So North Korea now has the bomb. Of all the movies our world has to emulate today…
We’ll meet again,
Don’t know where,
Don’t know when,
But I know
We’ll meet again
Some sunny day.
Keep smiling through
Just like you
Always do
Till the blue skies
Drive the dark clouds
Far away.
BWEE! Renata baked me Hobo Brownies! SO MUCH LOVE!
And speaking of H-in-sunrays, I’ve uploaded a few pictures from the Hodgman/Coulton/Rees/Sedaris event!
John periodically interrupts Jonathan as he tries to sing about him and his book.
Jonathan is allowed to sing!
John chalks the infamous “H in Sunrays” on the front of the podium
and explains its significance
Jonathan sings “The Big Rock Candy Mountain”, a traditional hobo ballad
David Rees displays a cartoon which reminds me of Renata’s comic sensibilities
The cartoon is ANIMATED! Bask in the fearsome technology of the OVERHEAD PROJECTOR!
John inadvertently feels Amy Sedaris up while checking on her microphone pack
Bad Touch!
The InterviewMargaret Bridget Morgan prepares Amy’s traditional Cheese Ball recipe (which is delicious). When Amy first introduced her, she accidentally called her by the wrong name, and subsequently did so deliberately throughout the rest of the evening. I’m pretty sure Morgan was her real name.
Jonathan Coulton, David Rees, and MOI!
Me with John Hodgman. I have yet to be in a photo with a Famous Person and not look like I’m about to eat a baby.
This morning, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Representative Allyson Schwartz, and Congressional Democratic candidate Lois Murphy spoke at Penn about lots of interesting stuff and why the Democrats are great and the Republicans are lame. It was nice. I got to be on the teevee!
And afterwards, I got a strawberry/banana/Nutella crepe. Post-OMG SO MUCH HOMEWORK I COULD DIE fortnight, I’m feelin’ good!
The word of the day is BWEE. Close runner up, however, is “Hobo.” Today I met not only John Hodgman, and not only Jonathan Coulton, but also David Rees and Amy Sedaris.
I arrived at about 6:20 and was horrified to see a huge line of people out the door and partway down the block. However, once we filed in to the actual auditorum, I was able to snag a wing seat in the third row, which others must have assumed was reserved. I couldn’t have had a better view! If I had a long stick, I could have touched them. It was also an optimum seat for surreptitious recording of audio. Unfortunately, my batteries started dying almost immediately, so I wasn’t able to get any of David or Amy’s presentations. Tomorrow, I’ll post the audio I managed to record, along with pictures.
John Hodgman served as the Master of Ceremonies of sorts. He and Jonathan Coulton took the stage first, regaling the audience with tales of hobos and songs of candy mountains. They make an excellent performing duo, and there were times I thought the ancient auditorium seats would break under the strain of our violent laughter.
Then John introduced David Rees, who supplied is with a keen insight into the Alphabet Song and showed us some highly amusing cartoons. Then John interviewed Amy, which was hilarious on John’s part and kind of disappointing on Amy’s. We learned many tips on how to hostess and how to properly don pantyhose so they don’t snag. We also learned that John Hodgman’s wife does not have talons, nor is she a gryphon. Then a lackey made Amy’s cheeseball recipe while they answered questions from the audience. All in all, a lovely evening.
Afterwards, after waiting in the insanely long line for autographs, I got to chat with the guys, who were great. The three were fascinated by Das Book when I asked them to sign it, especially Jonathan Coulton. We had a rather long conversation, as far as autograph lines go. See all the autographs! Alas, Amy violated Jonathan’s instruction to not write below a given line. The drama that must have ensued!
You can also see my scrawled intentions to ask him about who might win in a fight between Lincoln, Wilson, and a pack of Mole Men. Instead, I asked him about his daughter, known only as “Hodgmina,” who I learned has advanced significantly since the publication of Areas of My Expertise, as children are wont to do. I imagine that like her mother, she has no talons or other gryphon-like properties, but Mr. Hodgman did not broach the subject. He did however compliment my “Ask Me How I Became a Pirate” shirt. He asked if I had a hobo shirt, and when I said I didn’t, he instructed me to get one at my earliest convenience. I’m tempted to paint the H in sunrays on the front of a hoodie.
And now I’m exhausted and going to bed. La!
After studying Physics for a couple hours last night and pretty much all day today, If I have to think about Physics for one more second, I will scream. Can we just skip the exam and go straight to the John Hodgman?
Amazon is being slow and stupid about my copy of My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, so I stopped by the campus bookstore after Physics to read Jim’s story. Mild spoilers follow.
There was some cheese, and at times it felt a bit ficcish (you can tell he’s used to novel-length writing rather than short stories), but it was still a delight. Though with all the shameless Harry/Murphy, I was annoyed when I remembered that the story takes place *before* they have “the talk” in Proven Guilty. Ah well. My ship will out!
Anyway, three cheers for werewolf geeks in love! *raises glass of Orange Mango Nantucket Nectars to Billy and Georgia*
Nitpicky criticism: I refuse to believe it’s possible Murphy and Bob had never met before. And while I usually adore Bob, he was a bit of a one-trick pony in this story, and his comments got old fast. Also, in a totally pathetic, why can’t I be this observant in critical reading for homework kind of way, I was under the impression that Murphy’s hair was too short to put in a ponytail. But then I’m basing her appearance on a line from a book that happens 5-6 years previous, so I’ll shut up now.
Verdict: Butcher fans in need of a Dresden fix will do a dance of joy. People that have never picked up a Dresden book will wonder what all the fuss is about, because it totally lacks the sense of worldbuilding that makes me love the series so much. Solution? Everyone, go read the series!
And now? Cramming for the Physics midterm. Boooo, hiss!
The Computer Graphics project was due at midnight. It isn’t quite done, but it’s submitted. I accomplished more than I thought I would, though, which is impressive! I’ll have to hit up the TAs for help in the next few days.
Major thanks to Will for help with troubleshooting!
Studio 60, what kinda crack you smoking? In the Commedia dell’arte, Pantaleone was the old miserly character: deep-voiced and flatulent, hunchbacked, rude, and bossy. That girl was totally not doing Pantaleone.
There is something deeply wrong with me that I know this. But even though his grasp of the Commedia sucks, Aaron Sorkin is still awesome. Studio 60 love!
Heroes was great, and I love Hiro to bits. Also, that girl Mohinder is with is totally a plant.
Aaaaaand CollegeBoxes can’t find my stuff.
I hate it when I’m right.