DImY Ass

So the cat survived and I selflessly stayed in tonight to wait on him hand and foot and coddle him as only seems appropriate for a tiny thing that just had his manhood ripped out. Except, oops! he really couldn't care less that I'm here. He'd rather just eat crickets that he somehow keeps finding and bringing upstairs and cryyyyyy because he's starving despite having been fed twice as well as having snacked on said crickets.

So instead of being out doing something fantastic as you all must know I am wont to do on normal Monday nights, I'm at home trying to finish up JJ's birthday present. Since I'm running a pretty low budget operation these days I thought I'd compile some DIY projects and send them her way to what I'm sure will be all glory laud and honor. Except that means I actually have to make something and of course that means I will over extend myself trying to create a masterpiece that will take too much time and cost too much money (see every cooking and/or baking attempt of late).

I started out with copying a few CDs I knew she'd like. She knows Jay so I'm sure The Extraordinaires is a solid bet, in addition to the newish Rainer Maria live album she may or may not already have. Then I figured I'd add some effort and actually make a mix. I've never achieved the mix perfection that is one of Ray's mix CDs. Of all people he's taught me the most about the importance of song selection, diversity, and order on mixes, but I have yet to feel like I've really conquered the science.

Thus far I've got the songs...

Jenny - Stellastarr*
Vanishing Act - The Fatales
For Real - Okkervil River
C'mon C'mon - The Von Bondies
God Is Going to Get Sick of Me - Aberdeen City
I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes - Tom Vek
High Travoltage - Truman Sparks
I Know I Know I Know - Tegan and Sara
The New Face of Zero and One - The New Pornographers
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloow - Arctic Monkeys
Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
Oh Mandy - The Spinto Band
The City - The Dismemberment Plan

but not the order. [Admittedly, Ray is owed some credit for this mix itself as it includes not only one of his band's songs but also a song I know solely from one of his compilations.]

So I should've been set with that. But noooooo. I had to go read the best section of the Sunday WaPo, Sunday Source, and learn about this nifty little craft. Suddenly, an epiphany. Kill all the upcoming November birthdays and possibly even some Xmas gifts with one stone/craft project!

What perfect timing! With all potential distractions away on tour, [busy urinating on the road into a makeshift toilet/beerbong], I had all the weekend in the world to craft it up. But here I am, three days later, about $40 poorer, and still batik placemat-less.

I haven't even tried the damn thing yet so who knows whether it's gonna be a catastrophic failure. I do know that my attempts to DIMyself and save some money have caused the devil of consumerism to LAUGH in my face as I've ultimately already spent more on supplies than I meant to burn through overall, and am not done shopping yet, not to mention the extra money I will probably use on a real present once I realize my craft project is a bust and decide I must get something to compensate for the failed artistic endeavour that I never intended to undertake in the first place.

I want to say it's the effort [and money spent on the effort] that counts, but really, it's only the effort that counts if you're recognized for that effort, and it's not like I'm going to send a note along with her CDs explaining what a nightmare my attempt to make her placemats was, but hey! at least I tried! that's almost as good as me actually giving you something cool and useful! If only I could trust she'd be so infinitely entralled with crickets as the cat.