Packing up and moving

Ok, not really packing up as iWeb won't let me import almost six years of writing from Blogger, but I'm going to try something new for a while.  If you like the letters to Tess or how I overreact, feel free to hit the new RSS over on the "new blog" portion of russellsauve.com

National health care. Woo-Hoo!

So we now have national health care. 

I have opinions and none of them matter because the bill passed.  I'm aware that everything I'm writing is a pointless rant. 

But here they are anyways. 

I'm fine with a federal health care plan for freelancers, bartenders, strippers, dance and music instructors, and waitresses.....If they pay for it, in their taxes. 

But I'm not OK paying for their health care.  Why should I be forced to pay for their health care?  I already pay for mine. 

And what about the unemployed?  Not those that can't work but those that choose NOT to work.  Why should I be forced, through paying taxes, to give to those who refuse to work?

Please post a comment.  It's going to be a law soon.  So tell me why I'm so wrong for having these opinions.

FOOD!

My Friend, Whitney, had a neat-o post based on the Food Network Show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate.  I am lovingly stealing her idea.
Whitney's explanation: "There's been a show on Food Network lately, asking famous chefs, hosts and food writers about their favorite foods. I've been inspired to create my own list using their categories."

Guilty Pleasures: Late night Taco Bell but not their shrimp tacos (creepy).  The Fresco menu is pretty good.  

Wake Up Call: Patty Melt Plate with no cheese with hash browns; scattered, smothered, chunked and topped, it's the only thing I ever order - Waffle House

Hometown Favorites: The Boss wings and a side salad from Wild Wing.

Sugar Rush: I don't eat sugar but about twice a year I'll have a bite (literally a bite) of Key Lime pie.  Other than that sugarfree cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.
 
Chocolate: See above; I miss Whatchamacallit candy bars and Samoas.
 
Cheesy: Mom makes an incredible Cheesy Vegetable Chowder which is a misnomer because there's a pound of bacon in it.  So cheesy, so good, so bad for you.

Hot and Spicy: TMI wings from Taco Mac

The Classics: Boar's Head Italian sub from Publix.  

Crunchy: Raw vegetables.  I <3 salads.  But not premade.  Salads I make.

Totally Fried: OKRA, frozen...fresh.... I don't care.  LOVE FRIED OKRA

Bar-B-Que: BBQ1.

With Bacon: Rat Toes from 6 Feet Under.  One of the best things I've ever put in my mouth, also on that list; tits. 

Pizza: Thin crust loaded with meat, Bellacino's

Between Bread: Hamburger from either Muss and Turner's or Publik.

With My Hands: Hotdog from a street vendor (I love street meat vendors) or from Barker's Redhots.

Holiday: Summer sausage.  Which begs the question why is summer sausage so prevalent during the holidays? 
 
Salty Goodness: Boiled peanuts bought from the side of the road on the way to Athens on game day. 

Meat Fest: The best steak I ever had was in Nacogdoches, Texas.  But I can't remember the name of the restaurant.  Also, the onion rings came stacked high in a pyramid on a paper plate. 

Snack Attack: Pistachios, cashews, sharp cheddar cheese. 

Served Cold: Sushi from Little Buddha in Las Vegas, specifically Yellowtail sashimi with the thinest sliver of jalapeño.  

Really? This is the best you have?

This is my 2000th post and it's as lame as the rest.

I've been going back and forth whether or not to host another NCAA bracket challenge because;
1) I put up the prize and have nothing to gain.
2) I'm lazy
3) I'm fucking lazy

But it looks like I just spent the time setting the damn thing up. So if you want a free shot at a $25 Amazon gift certificate, register at http://sauve.mayhem.cbssports.com/e. The password is bracket.

Bring it bitches.

2009 Russell

It's a few months late, but here's the movies I watched, shows I watched, books I read and music I purchased in 2009. Lesson learned from keeping this list; I need to watch less shitty movies and read more books.

Movies
Prince Caspian
Juno
Watchmen
Beer Wars
Religulous
Star Trek
Wolverine
GI Joe
Transformers 2
The Hangover
The Proposal
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Terminator 4
Twisted: A Balloonamentary

Live shows
Movin' Out
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Happy Days
A Chorus Line
Jersey Boys
Chicago
The Color Purple
RAIN
Legally Blonde (4 times, I freaking LOVE this show)
Rockettes

Book
The Complete Joy of Homebrewing
I'll Sleep when I'm Dead; The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon
Last Words: A Memoir by George Carlin

Albums
Spring Awakening Sound Track - Duncan Sheik
Do You Believe In Gosh? - Mitch Hedberg
Snacktime - Barenaked Ladies
Hindu Love Gods - Hindu Love Gods
The Wind - Warren Zevon
All I Ever Wanted - Kelly Clarkson
Southern Gothic - The Constellations
Kooza - Cirque Du Soleil

Singles
All Summer Long - Kid Rock
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Frank Sinatra
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (Fate): I. Allegro con brio - Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra
The Passenger - Iggy Pop
La Virgen de la Macarena - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra & Erich Kunzel
Free - Zac Brown Band
Papa Don't Preach - Glee Cast
Shelter from the Storm - Bob Dylan
All American - Levi Lowrey
Dancing With Myself - Glee Cast Version
Defying Gravity - Glee Cast Version
Sinnerman - Nina Simone
Appalachian Spring Suite - Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic
The Saints' Hallelujah - The Canadian Brass
Amazing Grace - The Canadian Brass
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, K. 331 -"Alla Turca": Rondo Alla Turca - The Canadian Brass
French Suite No 5 In G BWV 816 - James Rhodes
Love Shine Bright - Culture
All That Jazz - Chicago - The Musical
Don’t Walk Away - Xanadu Soundtrack
Happy Holiday / Let Yourself Go - Irving Berlin's White Christmas - The Musical
I Know It's Today - Shrek - The Musical
In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember) - Dirty Dancing (Original Cast Recording)
Practically Perfect - Mary Poppins (Original London Cast Recording)
Sherry - Jersey Boys (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Superboy and the Invisible Girl - Next to Normal (Original Cast Recording)
96,000 - In the Heights (Original Cast Recording)
Longview - Green Day
Holiday - Green Day
Basket Case - Green Day
When I Come Around - Green Day
The Book of Love - Peter Gabriel
Even a Dog Can Shake Hands - Warren Zevon
As you are - Garfunkel and Oates
The End - Garfunkel and Oates
i-would-never-rehearsal-track - Garfunkle and Oates
pregnant-women-are-smug - Garfunkel and Oates
Worst song medley - Garfunkel and Oates
Fuck You - Garfunkel and Oates
Indiana Indian - Modern Skirts
Trouble - Ray LaMontagne
Smoke - Ben Folds Five
Brick - Ben Folds Five
Glory with "Angel Tag" - UGA Redcoat Band
You Are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
Darling Nikki - Foo Fighters
Take Me Home Tonight - Eddie Money
Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band
Battle Hymn With Larry Munson Audio - UGA Redcoat Band
Glory With Angel Tag - UGA Redcoat Band
Someday I Suppose - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Life Is a Highway - Tom Cochrane
Dear Deer - Kate Micucci
Mr. Moon - Kate Micucci
Out the Door - Kate Micucci
Going to Georgia - The Mountain Goats
Dance Music - The Mountain Goats
No Children - The Mountain Goats
I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
Daysleeper - R.E.M.
Superman - R.E.M.
At My Most Beautiful - R.E.M.
Poor Poor Pitiful Me - Warren Zevon
Lawyers, Guns and Money - Warren Zevon
Mutineer - Warren Zevon

Dream this.

I have an unattainable dream. I've never confessed it to anyone and no it's not porn. (Somethings aren't possible without medical assistance.) But I've been thinking a lot about my dream recently and the levels of which desires likes this can come to fruition.

Everyone has a seemingly unattainable dream. For some it might be becoming an astronaut. For others, a professional musician playing with a major symphony. But there are levels to these dreams. You might not travel to space, but you can learn to fly. You might not play with chicago or New York but you can get paid playing church gigs, weddings or with a band.

Under the influence of wings, chili pups, and beer, I decided to take a small step towards this dream. Just to feel a part of it. Chances are, I'll crash and burn and that'll be ok. Just taking the step is enough to satisfy this dream. There will be no notice of this ahead of time but I'll post my findings after the fact. This should be entertaining for everyone but me.

Tess - 9 Months

Dear Tess,

A few days ago you turned 9 months old. You've now spent more time out in the world than you did in the womb. I consider this is a HUGE milestone; no one else will, but I do.

When you were born, I couldn't imagine what you'd be like at 9 months, let alone 9 days. Now I find myself wondering when you'll walk and when you'll say; "Dad" and actually direct it at me. You're actively talking now and by "talking" I mean endless and meaningless babbling. You will say; "dadadadadadadadadadadadadadada *breath* daddadadadadadadadadada *breath*; repeat. You have entire conversations with yourself like this and you're completely happy! If you were any cuter you would poop bunny guts.

You raise your arms when you see me to be picked up and you know that when I hold you a certain way, it's nap time. You smile all the time and.....you're crawling. You're officially mobile. You went for the dog food last night. Repeatedly.

Watching you learn basic lessons of physics, albeit the hard way, is hysterical. When you're on all fours and you reach for something, you haven't learned to adjust your center of gravity; so you fall over and most likely catch yourself with your face. If there's one thing you need to know about me; I think people falling down is the funniest thing ever. When you fall hard, I'll pick you up, hold and comfort you until you realize that you don't hurt as bad as you scared yourself. Once everything has blown over, I will sit back and giggle.

While I don't want you to get any bigger, I can't wait for you to be old enough to share with you the things that make me laugh. I want to listen to 1970's Steve Martin with you; and 1990's Dennis Leary (even though he stole some material) and Mitch Hedburg and Craig Shoemaker and Lenny Bruce and Bill Hicks. All types of comedy. And I really can't wait to tell you about Johnny and The Rat Pack and Letterman and the chin, and Conan.

Shit; then there's all this great music I have to force on you too.

Love,

Dad