Cod and Courage

A couple of days ago, professional blogger, Joanna Goddard, asked, "What are your favorite things at Trader Joe's?"

I was worried the question might break the internet. Anyone who lives near a TJs can immediately rattle off their 5-15 MUST BUY TJ items (and that one thing that has irritatingly been out of stock for 5 months).

In fact, I've always been meaning to tell you guys my TJ favorites as well. So, to save us all time, I wrote a quick list in her comment section (go check that out). I'm thrilled she asked this question because people actually read her blog AND post comments, therefore this particular comment section is a treasure trove.

Thanks, Joanna and Trader Joe's, for both being awesome. You have me pumped to try some new foods. First up, the frozen Soy Ginger Cod...

....

Aaaand now, here's a bonus Friday round-up of things that made me say hmmm:

While we're on the topic of food, pantry meals I want to eat (or eat more of but don't).

I also really really really want to eat this. Last food item, I promise.

I'm in love with this room. The robes help. And the colors... oh the colors...

Imagine going to work in something beautiful, whether modern or super old yet properly preserved. Scroll through the comments for dozens more amazing buildings!

Helpful advice for overcoming work paralysis.

Verbose shermose - how more direct resume language may up your game in male-dominated career fields.

Live and let live. Sleep and let sleep.

Wise words to keep us grounded.

Modern poetry (and granola recipe, so sue me).

And finally, a quote I found while cruising rabbit blog:

My trip to Anchorage

A couple of weeks ago work sent me to Anchorage, AK. Rough, I know. In my time off I did a short hike starting at the Glen Alps trailhead in Chugach State Park. It was the perfect taste of nature. It woke me up. It said, I'm nature! Remember me? 

And now, my best hike pictures from my trusty Canon PowerShot SD 600 (kisses fingertips and throws them up into the air)...

Free desktop wallpaper! ;)

And another free desktop background!

Here I'm looking at motherfucking GLACIERS! for the first time.

Looking at the city of Anchorage, low clouds, and a motherfucking GLACIER.

I don't even have to say it.

OK, back to work....

What a waste

Let's talk movies. I squeeze in about one theater movie per year, and spend the rest of the year scraping the Netflix barrel for oldies but goodies, like Best Foreign Picture winners from 2006. I'm classy, you see. But this year I did manage to watch a critically acclaimed movie that was buzzed about this same year. The movie, Boyhood:

Read that jacket cover. I have one thing to say about this here critically acclaimed film. 

HE HAD A FUCKING SISTER. Yeah sure it was the director's daughter, so maybe it wouldn't be seen as fair to focus on her as much as the "boy". But hot damn, what a missed opportunity! All those years of footage for a male director to jerk off on his male younger self, when all this perfectly great girlhood, fuck, childhood material lays in waste. 

Are young girls not interestingly shaped by divorced parents and alcoholic step-dads as well? Surely they are.

Yes, this movie passed the Bechdel Test, and yes, the supporting female characters were strong (and strongly played). But come on, Richard Linklater. Get out of yourself. The women in your life aren't just your supporting cast. They have their own stories. I know what you're thinking. I'm just one man. I raised the money and poured my heart into this, not you. I did what interested me. It didn't hurt that it interested the people who funded it. 

Surely you can do better than that.

This kind of movie, taken together with all the buzz about it and the jacket cover (all of which ignores that this boy shared screentime almost equally with a girl, his fictional sister) does something so secretly and pervasively to the people who watch it. Men who watch this movie will rarely come to my rant on their own. Women might, and probably do, but maybe don't all realize how toxic this male-view can be when accumulated over time.

I guess that's why I'm here. To ruin your viewing enjoyment and your day. 

Anyone seen any good movies lately?

P.S. Here's a related, much more articulate article on the subject. Highly recommended reading.

Bang me

As my medium bob grows into a long bob, I'm dreaming of bangs and ponytails:

via Google Images

But one must be careful. Beautiful women, bangs, and not-very-long-hair don't always mesh for me, a la:

via Google Images

It's a tricky one. Pageboys and mom-dos must be avoided at all cost. Let's list the pros and cons.

Bangs pro - face looks younger and prettier (not verified), up-dos (my jam) easier and less painful, less sun exposure to face, done it before and liked it

Bangs con - exercise annoyances, hat annoyances, sister's vehement (yet unspecific) disapproval (note, however, this is the sister who also once disapproved of me wearing a green T-shirt to a bar in Manayunk because black was the unwritten dress code)

The verdict?

Let me just coax out another inch or so. Let me really get it all into a single ponytail. Let me try to love and relish my bang-free existence. Let me wait until I'm back in IL where my last hairdresser, bona fide bang cutter, resides.

Procrastination, it seems, is also my jam.