greasergrrl's surprise machine

The documentary created about The Gits, a truly excellent band whose career was cut short by the murder of their singer, Mia Zapata, is finally complete and having its national release this week. When I saw an early screening in 2005, I contacted the filmmakers and gave them footage I filmed as a fan of possibly their most memorable show (thanks to Jean and MS Studios for making that happen).  I heard from a friend who saw the unfinished movie last year that the footage I provided plays a big part and I’m so happy – I knew when I filmed it, that it was really special.  The Seattle Times even mentioned it specifically today in Movies | Mia Zapata, the Gits get their due in fan's documentary | Seattle Times Newspaper:

After the SIFF screening, O'Kane was also offered more archival footage, including a delightful Seattle concert from March 1993 that captures the Gits playing in medieval knight and court-jester garb. It's an apt display of the wit that informed the band's persona and fueled their musical instinct.

I’ve been invited to the Seattle premiere party next week and have given permission for the entire concert to be shown at premiere parties, including in New York. 

And after all this time, I have a heavy heart about Mia’s death but I am so glad that this film was made, especially in the way it was:  it’s funny and focuses on their music.  I’m glad I could help.

See the Gits Movie near you (at NW Film Forum in Seattle).

Highlights from my 16 days off:

1. Only responded to 2 work emails!
2. Went on a motorcycle ride through Carnation, Fall City, Snoqualmie, and North Bend to Rattlesnake Lake
3. Took the dogs and spent the day at Rattlesnake Lake two days later.  Got sunburned knees.
4. Gardened, repotted plants, bought pretty flowers
5. Took a nap in the sun
6. Washed my cars
7. Got a pedicure
8. Rode around in the Miata with the top down
9. Put new floor mats, door sills, and a retro fuel door lid on the Miata
10. Picked out a hot tub and started working on a trade for it
11. Met my new neighbors
12. Read Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks (mind blowing)
13. Went to two Storm games
14. Played tour guide with visiting family, including antiquing in Snohomish
15. Became obsessed with antiques!   Went to many area antique shops and spent hours on ebay looking for cool metal household objects.  Bought an antique crank pencil sharpener, several padlocks, a hand mixer, two phones, crate labels and an adding machin e!
16. Watched the first half of the first season of 30 Rock all in one sitting
17. Upped my Netflix subscription
18. Learned about irrigation systems by trial and error
19. Bought a garage door opener and then learned from the installer that one piece doors need chain or belt drives, not screw drives like the Sears salesman said
20. Installed a dimmer in the dining room and a timer on a bathroom fan
21. Installed cable lines from the main box through the attic and into the walls for the office, Frank’s room and my room
22. Hung art
23. Discovered Third Place Books’ Commons (thanks, Frank!), listening to reggae while eating BBQ and watching kids dance
24. Finished a few old blog entries
25. Downloaded 8000 songs on my Zune Pass
26. Emissions tested and registered the Miata
27. Bought painting supplies and an interior design book
28. Went to BBQs
29. Had BBQs
30. Oh yeah – finished school, went to our graduation banquet, had a graduation party, went to a graduation party, and graduated!

One of the perks of going to UW’s MBA program was that students received a free subscription to the Wall Street Journal.  At first, this was really cool and we loved being able to understand more and more of the content but after our coursework really kicked in (oh, about the second week) we rarely found the time to page through the hard copy and the newspapers became a daily nuisance, littering our driveway and creating periodic recycling projects.  Not that I didn’t read it – I receive the WSJ in my email inbox every day, as well as their technology news.  But the hard copies – we won’t miss them.

And so goes the printed periodical…

My mind is an odd amalgam of creative and compulsive – artistic and anal.  It means I set up all sorts of organization systems that others find a bit OTT (Over The Top) but I find very satisfying.

My attic – file cards denote the sections o’ stuff:

Don’t you wish your box ‘o cords was this organized?  I think this was a structured procrastination project from my second quarter finals week:

What do you do with your miscellaneous AC adapters?  I end up keeping mine until I can’t figure out what they belong to and even then I keep them in their own Misc Adapters bag:

Can I tell you how happy I was when I saw this in Bed, Bath and Beyond?  I LOVE IT:

This makes me really happy too.  It’s a combination of two things I really like – organization and abundance:

My instrument cords still need some work but they’re better than they used to be:

Aren’t you glad I am spending my Staycation doing useful things like writing this blog entry??? 

After this past week crammed full of finals, our team Capstone Presentation, a marathon Graduation Banquet/Bar night, out of town family arriving, sight-seeing and adventuring, parties and celebratory dinners and finally Graduation, I am so exhausted I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t booked another week of Staycation.

I didn’t coin the term – I read about “The Joy of the Staycation” first in the Wall Street Journal which described a, “Fodor’s-free holiday without luggage, hotels, airplanes or foreign currency…basking in the comforts of home and, just outside, a city we typically don’t have much time to explore.” 

Then ABC News picked up the story, publishing useful “Tips for Planning a Great ‘Staycation’”  which include:

Schedule start and end dates. Just as you would with a vacation, schedule a beginning and ending for your staycation to make it feel like an official vacation. Otherwise, it runs the risk of feeling like just another string of nights in front of the tube.

Pack that time with activities. Plan a daily activity, and make sure something takes you out of the house — for fun — every day.

Declare a "choratorium." That means no chores! Don't make the bed, vacuum, clean out the closets, pull weeds — nothing. You're on vacation!

Take staycation photos or videos, just as you would if you went away from home for your vacation.

I can’t say that I’ll refrain from making my bed ;) but I am following the spirit of these rules next week.  No big homeowner-type projects like painting my living room or cleaning out the garage – just fun things like going to the zoo, taking the dogs on hikes, and getting that overdue pedicure.  And NO WORK EMAIL!

This is the kind of relaxation some people wait all year for and never get!  Now if only the weather would cooperate…