burning questions, and date #2

Here are some wonderings:
* Is anyone else concerned about Jane magazine’s sudden helm-change? Why did Jane Pratt leave? Why didn’t she give us notice, or a goodbye? Was she forced out? Am I being a jerk because I think her replacement, Brandon Whatever, is totally square? Is my paranoia warranted, or am I just haunted by the fate of Sassy, oh those long years ago. Is Jane going to fold? Or worse, become a Marie Claire JV mag? Anyone in publishing want to shed some light?
* Am I the only lady who, when choosing a stall in a public bathroom, tries to use the power of reason to determine which is the least used? I take note of the stall I would automatically head for, and then use the opposite one. Do other ladies do that? What are your stall selecting strategies, girls?
* Why do I drive my car so much? Every week when I fill up I resolve to make this tank last, and then next thing you know I’m at the pump again. I hate this routine for so many reasons. Someone help me break the cycle! (Freddy?)
* I want to know how many people read my blog. It is vain, yes. But I no longer have a counter, and I honestly have no idea. Recently a nice lady found me on flickr, said she read perfect heart, and asked if she could add me as a contact. Very sweet! It made me wonder how many others are out there, monitoring my follies. If you are reading this, will you please leave a “here,” or “present” or something similar in the comments? Consider it an informal survey. Thank you.
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And now on to date #2 with Mike Merrill. This one was actually set up in advance of our little wager. Mike accompanied me to my cohort holiday party, which is rather like an office party, only less awkward (I’m guessing). We had just come from Jona’s AMAZING curated birthday show at Nocturnal. Mike and I both had pieces in the show- Mike made a rad video with Steve, and I did a performance art piece based on Toastmasters. (Also, Steve made another sweet movie, Rebecca sang a great song, Flint did the most wonderful stand up routine I have ever seen, and many other friends made killer stuff for dear Jona on his special day!)
So by the time we arrived at the cohort party, it was late and things were winding down. Which is code for people were drunk. On a couple of occasions I introduced Mike to someone, and he put out his hand to shake, only to be pulled into a tight elementary-school-teacher hug. He was a very good sport about the hugging thing. Also about the “seeing the future educators of America’s youth grinding on each other and slapping each other’s asses” thing. And also the thing where Kathleen, the raddest 45 year old mom I know gave him a squeeze and said, “Oh Mike! We’ve heard so much about you!” They have?
Anyway, the party was fun, and I didn’t feel too worried about Mike- he’s no wall flower. I just went ahead and backed my ass up with Megan and Shelley, and let Mike talk stocks and bonds with the spouses. So, was this date better than date #1? Hard to say. He didn’t bring along a chaperone this time, but I also didn’t win any money on this date. I’d say they are tied. There are some great photos of date #2, but Mike hasn’t uploaded them onto flickr yet, so I can’t post them. I will try to get the real gems up soon. 2 down, 2 to go!

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19 Responses to burning questions, and date #2

  1. karla says:

    you are not alone. i once heard that most people don’t use the very first stall so i either go for that one or one of the end ones. i also always go for the handicapped stall and just hope no handicap person comes in while i am. i like those ones because there’s usually a mirror in there and i have this thing where i get embarressed or something to look at myself in the mirror around others. fear of being thought vain? i don’t know.
    i also found the leaving of jane abrupt…
    p.s. i came upon your blog when googling Best Friends Forever. i also saw your one minute movie at holocene. i liked it.

  2. Larry Forney says:

    i guess you already know I read your dealie.
    i have no idea how i ended up making it so my last comment linked to a friend’s webcomic, but, whatever.

  3. a.h. says:

    you know i always read. and count m.c. cuz he’ll never admit it.

  4. freddy says:

    Jane the magazine blew anyway. So self-indulgent and shrill and affected. I didn’t know about her departure, but I’m not sorry.
    We should go out for drinks sometime and talk about what your goals and wishes are about driving less, and how you can make that happen in a way that works for you. Shoot me an email with a date proposal if that sounds good to you.

  5. ritchey says:

    i also loathe Jane magazine. That is one shitty self-serving publication–one of the worst of the faux-feminist-but-really-we-want-boys-to-think-we’re-cute vibe style. I would say it is even worse than Bust. It is sad because Jane Pratt was once so legit, it appears. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LADIES?? WHY, GOD?

  6. Mikey says:

    Who knew future teachers liked to shake and slap ass so much! Though, looking back in time, I imagine that many of my teachers (especially the younger ones) were not as “square” as I assumed at the time. And it’s not just any party where everyone is staring at a parade of different boobs and taking pictures of boners… yikes!

  7. allison says:

    hey willow, you know that i read this, of course.
    and it’s almost always the first stall for me, as i do believe it gets overlooked. or maybe i would just like to believe it.
    are you going home for the holidays? when? i will be in the pacific northwest for a little while in late december and i want to party with you if you are around!
    i have been taking a dance class and have new amazing moves! i will totally teach them to you! promise!

  8. james says:

    count me down as a reader….
    also… i always choose the closest stall. so, keep that in mind when choosing yours. i guess. ha…. pretty ridiculous advice really.

  9. pie says:

    i read thank you.

  10. rebecca says:

    First stall. Wait a minute, I thought it was the “most seldom used” one…

  11. European says:

    And as far as bathroom stalls go, I never ever use the first one OR the one I automatically go to. I like using the disabled-person stalls because there’s lots of room in there for purse, jacket, … . I also will not go into a stall where the seat is up or the lid is down because that would mean touching it.
    And I am pretty normal otherwise.

  12. willow says:

    Wow, hi!
    Larry- that link totally confused me! I thought you had suddenly started drawing wonderful comics by the dozen. I really like your friend’s stuff.
    Allison- Hey girl! I’ll be in Denver the 20th to the 28th. Email me your dates in the NW and hopefully we can p-a-r-t-y.
    Jane Haters- I have a lot to say on this topic, but I will save it for another post.
    A.H.- Breaking a taboo! Congratulations!
    First Stall Users- I thought I was the only one!
    Thanks, guys. I hope this attendance-taking didn’t seem to needy and weird. I was honestly just curious! Honestly!

  13. Liz says:

    I’m here, too!

  14. Sally says:

    Count me in. I really just come here to be hypnotized by your background pattern. And then sometimes I read things and laugh. But mostly it’s the background pattern.

  15. gilly says:

    Hi, it’s Gilly. I am a faithful reader and an friend of Ritchey’s. I am not a fan of the “new” Jane magazine. I only read Jane because I long for the bygone days of Sassy. Imagine being a teenager now-you’d get to choose between Elle Girl and Cosmo Girl-what kind of a life IS that?

  16. Mikey says:

    Well, you’d also have the internet, which gives you things like Regarding. :)

  17. enjanerd says:

    I stop by every now and then.

  18. jessica says:

    found your blog through ritchey’s. i read in article that the first stall is the one that everyone uses b/c it is close to the door. therefore, it supposedly is usually the dirtiest.

  19. susan says:

    I thought I was the only one who did that…
    and you’re definitely not the only one who was shocked about the Jane thing. i don’t have a subscription, but I’m a pretty frequent reader, and I was completely baffled about the change–I assumed I missed the issue where she gave an explanation, but I’m not sure now there was ever much of one–from what I read, it was almost definitely a “force out” situation–that’s what seems to be the word on the street. I’m guessing it wasn’t bringing in enough money and this was their “solution” to shake things up, but I think it’s appalling. This was the only women’s mag I found halfway readable.

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