Wednesday, May 18, 2005

"Bits and bobs"

"Bits and bobs" is a nice little bit of British slang, don't you think? To return to a post from very long ago, my thoughts on various idiomatic expressions are hardening... I've been particularly annoyed by "mates" recently. Is this a way to avoid saying "friends"?

I bought shoes on eBay. Yes, these are the shoes that J— told A— to buy. I got carried away in the bidding, as one does on eBay, but they were still a great deal in the end, and it wasn't nearly the level of getting carried away as happened in my now-infamous shameful episode with the antique perfume bottles. (I don't want to talk about it.) Anyway, they are the most beautiful shoes I have ever owned in my life. (Yes, even more beautiful than the two-tone spectator wingtips stolen by a certain ex-boyfriend who shall remain nameless...)

If you are ever freaking out about finishing a bit project, and are looking for websites that will lull you into a stupor for a while, may I recommend the American Apparel pseudo-pornographic online catalog. I know, I know, it is very crass, cynical marketing indeed. But godDAMN those are some hot hipster-trash models. (Note that there are video clip both in "archived photo collections" and accompanying individual items inside the catalog.) I mean... a poorly-groomed beard, hairy belly, AND eyes that point in two different directions?! I'll take that in a medium, please.

Finally: this is the worst single piece of writing I've laid eyes on in weeks and weeks. (Scroll past the inoffensive Midgette thing, down to the second review.) I mean, seriously. "You must decide"?! I'm sorry, I though YOU were the reviewer, Mr. Holland. And if anyone can explain to me what this sentence even means, I'd love to hear it: "The absence of sighs and exhalations common to traditional music establishes a sense of frozen time." WHAT? This is the New York Times people! The paper of record! WHAT THE FUCK!

Yesterday I saw the National Beijing Opera Company of China. It was really fantastic. Many people left during intermission, and there's no denying that Peking Opera can be a hard sell, but seriously, it was great. I was trying to think of how I would convince these people to stay (and, in addition, to stop laughing at manifestly unfunny moments), but it's hard, because they were reacting negatively to really fundamental things about the genre—the vocal style, the melodic language. Perhaps a good thought-exercise for future music pedagogues... They're doing a different work each night for the rest of the week, and there are a lot of rush tickets, so I'm planning on going tonight and tomorrow, unless I get a better offer.

Everyone of my friends in San Francisco should go to Brian McC's Eurovision Song Contest Champagne Brunch this weekend. Seriously, it is guaranteed to be super fun. Write me for details if you don't know Brian personally...

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