Octopus Garden

    I went to the Jesse James festival in Northfield, MN, today. One of the things I saw there was some artwork called 'Octopus Garden'. According to the plate next to it, this was just put on public display back in May. I try to see some different things each year, so it meant walking Division Street more than I had in previous years. This also led to finding the Archer House, west of the museum/site of the bank robbery. I liked finding the Archer House as it had a restaurant inside it called 'The Tavern' in the basement. I know this as an old-school term for a bar, my dad liked using this term, or even 'Beer Joint'. It had something on the wall saying 'Edison diamond disc phonograph, a musical masterpiece'. There was also some sidewalk art in town that said 'Life is short, have sex'. I really liked one photo I got of a young woman in a long dress and wearing sunglasses, she was smoking. As far as I know she was unaware I was taking the picture, I prefer it that way. Another was of a dentist-turned-writer. He had a Western outfits on, all black including the hat, with an American flag in the background. I got two of a man in a duck costume, reminding me of a rubber duck. I thought of my 'Ohio friend' when I was in a book shop, where I got a book about the St. Paul Saints baseball team, it was called 'Slouching toward Fargo'. Somebody was asking about the book called 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho, and I recall getting a copy after my 'Ohio friend' recommended it to me. I let this friend know on Twitter.
    Once I left town, I went back up north and stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Lakeville. First time I had been there in over a year, when I was still in a relationship. I got a photo of a plush dancing dog.
   I fell asleep after getting back from Northfield, and in the evening I called my dad. I figured he would like to hear about the festival, and I spoke of seeing an IH Metro vehicle there. It was a mobile food unit, selling Dipping Dots ice cream. He was telling me about an escaped inmate from the county jail. The man was wearing only flip-flops and boxer shorts when he escaped, and at one point was hiding out in an abandoned camper or travel trailer. He wasn't a fugitive for long.  

Grand Budapest Hotel Movie

    I rented a Redbox movie, 'Grand Budapest Hotel', at McDonald's this morning where I was having an Egg McMuffin. It was campy but I liked it. Seemed a little silly where the uniform hat said 'Lobby Boy' on it, but after all this is a comedy. It was not entirely based on fact related to wars as it seemed to have the war starting in 1932, but one can write the story they want when it is fictionalized. Same is true with the apparent names of the locations in Europe. It was told in flashback, seen this before and this works fine. I recognized many of the cast members when they appeared, like Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Ed Norton. I knew it had an all-star cast. It was funny when in one scene how different people kept asking if he was the guy from the hotel. Also funny how he had plenty of people in his 'Network' helping him, the concierge that is, though the story in many ways still centers around the 'lobby boy'.
   When I was at McDonald's I liked hearing the story of a security guard at concerts, he said many of them had been at the Xcel Center in St. Paul. I spoke of seeing Lady Gaga there, and said he worked the one where she had the meat dress and didn't want to work her concerts again.
   Tonight a comic asked me to review a Youtube video of his comedy set, 18 minutes. I said 'Forgive me if I sound like a stodgy academic'. But I wanted to be thorough since I was asked for my opinion. He does not have a nickname yet. I said I liked the voice impressions he did, especially of family.  One was about advice on haircuts from his dad.

Three Sisters Art Gallery

    Tonight I went to an event at Three Sisters Art Gallery in Lower-town St. Paul. I liked seeing some Charlie Brown and Snoopy figurines on display there. I know it is the first time I had been there. Good food as usual, as I like the sliced cheese available. I claimed a bottle of water and took it with me. I didn't stay for long, about 30 minutes. I wanted to get to a high school football game.
   The game I went to see was North St. Paul hosting Hill-Murray. North St. Paul trailed 14-0 at the half and lost 36-18, and did not convert an extra point or two-point play. When Hill-Murray converted a two-pointer to put them up 29-12, I said 'Why?' Normally I go to see homecoming there, but a scheduling conflict exists for that game later this month so I moved up my visit.
    After the game I went back to my car and saw something under the wiper. The note said 'Next time I visit someone, park here (or is it there?) instead of blocks away. Signed, concerned resident'. Well, all I can say to 'Concerned resident' is that I don't visit your town much, just annually for a football game. While I am thankful it wasn't a parking ticket, I have no idea what to do with this information.
  At work, the political science guy was joking about what his weekend plans were- to dig graves and then put bodies in them. I asked him who he was going to whack, people that owe him money?
    I just finished watching ABC's 'Nightline' show. There were features about the recent death of entertainer Joan Rivers, as well as an 'On assignment' piece about snake charming in India.

L.A. Colors Flashpop

    After watching 'Big Bang Theory' and 'The Millers' tonight on CBS, I took a walk around the neighborhood. I am now starting off with a shopping bag, expecting to see plenty of trash along the way. This night was no different. There was plenty of the typical things- namely, the food and drink containers. But I also saw some cardboard, and one of them said 'L.A. Colors Flashpop'. It said it was flashy dual ended polish for endless color options. One image had a caption saying 'Reverse French Mani'. Online searches it led to results saying Cover Girl and Maybelline, which must be the maker of this product. I am still very much interested in what I see as litter. I did one thing that was like before, getting a photo of it like I did with a Minnesota Twins poster. Then it was tossed in the trash.
   The prime time episode of 'Big Bang Theory' was one I hadn't seen yet. It was where Sheldon considered moving to geology. I had seen the syndicated rerun before, I liked it. Sheldon's mom showed up after he started getting cats to fill the void after the relationship with Amy Farrah Fowler ended. Much like many previous Thursdays, I liked being able to get caught up on paperwork. This included getting an application in for a comedy festival. Another thing was to make a reservation for
a hotel later this month, when I will be attending a wedding near a casino. It looks like the logistics should be no problem with making it to all of the events I want to attend, such as some of the plays in the area. It just means my weekends for this month and the next will be busy. I am used to this how even after Labor Day I am busy with events for a while. There are various annual events I like to see such as festivals. I had to write it out on a printed online page in terms of what event tickets have already been ordered.

Body Moving, Beastie Boys

     We did Wii dancing again at the workplace in the afternoon, since it was raining. One of the songs we danced to was 'Body Moving', the Fatboy Slim remix of the Beastie Boys song. It seemed appropriate for exercising, since it is about bodies moving. Another was 'That's not my name' which reminded me of 'Nasty' by Janet Jackson. Since Janet would say 'No my first name ain't Baby'. Early on it was 'Rasputin', a familiar one but I haven't looked up his story on Wikipedia yet.
   After being at the comedy club, eventually I was on Youtube wanting to listen to more Eminem songs. These were ones I was less familiar with, but I liked hearing them. It was 'The way I am', 'Sing for the moment' (which sampled from 'Dream on' by Aerosmith), and 'Till I collapse'. What I liked is that these three have just as much passion as the others.
   At the comedy club tonight, I was informed last week's show was canceled, I wasn't there as I was at the State Fair and the Saints baseball game. This is a rare occurrence. The 'Baby puppet' from last night's show performed again, originally she was to be the show closer but was moved up. She did one about whiskey being like an abusive boyfriend, and liking Crown Royal. According to notes, another was about a vitamin packet. The godmother did one about a bucket list. Others were about clown school, bumper cars, and yoga at church. The ex-cop did ones about weight loss, divorce, and sleep apnea. Software developer did ones  about 'Tequila and a compliment', and adopting from China. Kentucky native did one about pull-ups at the state fair. Others were about changing German names, a clean romance novel, and finding a bar. Self-checkout was the show closer. He did one about 80's night. Others were about trying to lose weight, his son's DARE seminar, finally 'cough and giggle'. There was also a woman holding a balloon, she said it was for a 'Meet Up' event. I got a photo of the balloon woman at the end of the show. We have had a 'Meet Up' group before. Ding Dong was MC. She did ones about day drinking, Court TV, and her daughter's college fund. Laundry did one about how he loves mowing the lawn more than his kids, and another was 'knock knock' jokes. Locks of love said Minneapolis didn't invent hipsters. Others were about her dad returning a greeting card, self-driving cars, and Wisconsin road names. Capital City did ones about not being a MILF, and friends making her a 'pretend relative'.

Shiny New Baby Puppet

    I got a real treat tonight at the comedy club. A comic from Chicago if I am not mistaken was part of the lineup. I recognized her as the one that the DC native called a 'Mouthy broad' on a Facebook posting. I was laughing a lot, including one bit about a 'Shiny new baby puppet'. I did introduce myself after the show. We are not Facebook friends yet but I sent a friend request. I also let the DC native know and he said she has a new fan. Other jokes of hers were about drinking Crown Royal, pro-twerk, losing 48 pounds, hit on my married dudes, and her dad. Magic Man did ones about a stolen laptop, shovel your walk, the drive through, and tennis camp.
   There were plenty of other good comics besides this one that is new to me. Turtle check did ones about Vanilla Ice, and throwing up. Ding Dong did ones about judge TV shows and her daughter's college fund. Hipster plantation did ones about working at Goodwill, and LeBron Gretzky. Self checkout did ones about trying to lose weight, cough and giggle, finally 'one of the uggos'. Based on my notes, another was 'wasted effort to impress'. Rut-roh did ones about no consolation, talking in code at a party, a co-exist bumper sticker, finally Smash Mouth and Shrek.
   I did a posting about favorite Eminem songs, prompted by the question of which ones I sang into a microphone over the weekend. My 5 favorites: 'Lose yourself', 'Need a doctor', 'Beautiful', 'Without Me', 'Real Slim Shady'. I like 'Beautiful' as he speaks of comedy, 'Hiding behind the tears of a clown'. I like baseball a lot, so it also scores points for the video including footage of the demolition of Tiger Stadium. I made it there for a game in its final season in 1999.
   It was my first day back at work after having 4 days off. It was a little easier than expected on the payoff report, but I wasn't complaining at all.

Dill Pickle Button

     I went to the Renaissance Festival today. One of the souvenirs I picked up was a dill pickle button. It has the cast of 'Big Bang Theory' on it but says 'Big dill theory' instead. I liked getting it for just a dollar. When it was sold to me I said it reminded me of how there was an episode of this show where the gang went to a renaissance festival. I also got two postcards for a dollar. One appears to be a Merlin type holding a staff with a bird of prey on it, and Merlin is riding a dog. There is a castle in the background. The other has a nude woman with butterfly wings (a nymph?) and there is a frog in the corner. I did see the last Robin Hood show of the day, I know two of the guys in it. Looks like the show has been modified some since last year, nothing wrong with that. The actor playing Robin Hood put his hat on top of mine at the start of the show, wasn't sure what was happening at first.
   In the evening after getting back I went to Walgreen to get photos onto a disc so I could post them to Facebook. This included four photos for my 'Ring of honor', six comics in all, now up to 32. This included the Hillary Clinton look-alike, sub teacher, Perkins employee, Louisiana native, school bouncer, and the barber. A total of 12 were posted, two were in the news feed and not in the album. This included a pig statue from Mason City, and seeing hot dish at a pizza buffet. The pig statue got plenty of likes. The Mason City native asked where it was found, I said it was near the middle of town and many of them are for sale at high prices. The 'Ring of honor' photos got plenty of likes, as expected. I even posted a selfie from my hotel room. The photographer from Alabama liked many of the photos, including the selfie. I said I am thankful somebody likes it, as usually it takes me 3-4 tries before I find one I like as they are hard to do. According to her updates she is out of town now, in her native South. I didn't think I would get into doing 'Selfies' but I have 4 posted now, all of them since early June.