The Tattoo: Phase One

Okay, Mom, don't freak out. At least not yet because it's not even that "shocking" yet. This is only the outline. Once it's filled in, it'll be mostly gray shading with some green and purple coloring as well.

I have to say, I love Diving Swallow. It's very mellow and it's pretty much all chicks. I especially loved that the other woman who was in there getting some work done on her leg was reading "Eat, Pray, Love" the whole time and occasionally dozing off. Yeah.

Gingered yams dominated my Thanksgiving experience. How 'bout you?

I am never eating yams without ginger ever again. They are amazing. My friend Shannon, who hosted dinner this year, says you simply prepare mashed yams as you otherwise would, but add carmelized onions and garlic, ginger POWDER (!!) and dried currants. Fucking delicious.

Other highlights:
_ Stephanie bought new brown boots. I happen to have a huge fixation on brown boots and am really, really jealous.
_ Steph and Andy would not tell me who wins Project Runway. Apparently, they won't know until like a week before the rest of us (you mean it's not fixed?!). Last year, Andy was nominated for an Emmy for his editing work on the show (Screw you, Amazing Race!). He said that two seasons ago, he also cut the final Runway episodes, but had to do it around the clock over a period of 3 days, and then he came down with rheumatic fever.
_ At one point after dinner, three people were on Mac laptops and one person was on an iPhone. The room was completely silent. That made me feel uncomfortable, sad and nostalgic for the days before social networking sites. It also made me wonder how many kids think Steve Jobs is president.
_ Friend Shannon is a theater professor at Cal and she's up for tenure this year. I'm thinking about starting a letter writing campaign to the department head. Something along the lines of "Shannon Steen is the only thing standing between your program and irrelevance." Wanna lend your voice? Please direct all letters here.
_ Andy pointed out that me and Stephanie always say "No, yeah" or "No, it's true" when we agree with someone. No, yeah, it's totally true. Is it a Midwestern thing? Are we retarded? (Incidentally, using the word "retarded" in casual conversation is something we also do frequently. Midwest thing, or just insensitive?) We finally decided that we just really like saying "no."
_ Um I should probably post photos or something. I forgot to take any.

I am getting a tattoo.

I've always had major tattoo lust but abstained for the usual reasons, like "What if I don't like it when I'm older" and "it just seems so permanent." I do have a tattoo on the small of my back that I got in college—what's now referred to as a "tramp stamp." I don't regret this tattoo one bit, but neither do I ever really get to look at it. A few months ago, I gave in and decided on a swirl of birds for my upper left arm.

There are several things that changed my mind about getting a major tattoo: 1.) Since so many things in life are frighteningly permanent, the permanence of a tattoo seems trivial, 2.) the body is ever changing, and it will eventually become something we don't even recognize, so what's so frigging sacred about the flesh? 3.) there will likely be many things I won't like about my body as I age that, again, worrying about not liking my tattoo seems trivial, and the most compelling argument of all, 5.) Eh, fuck it. You only live once. Also, my tattoo artist rocks the bird tattoo. I'm very, very excited.

I've even decided on a second, much more minor tattoo that I want next: The word "Contrary." I've been called this more times that I can count, and I figure maybe it's time to let strangers know what they're getting into with me.

Creepy, beautifully done interactive Arcade Fire video.

Haven't posted anything in a while (sorry Mom). Funny how writing for a living sometimes saps your desire to write on your spare time! Anyhoo, take a look at this incredible vid for "Neon Bible."

UPDATE: Uh, actually, this video is also on the Neon Bible website. OOPS. It is entirely worth exploring and done by the same guy who did the video. In this site, as on the Neon Bible Album, Arcade Fire stays true to the theme of "Don't you miss being a kid?" (my answer is no, for the record) but also explores religion and evangelism in America. Wait, are nostalgia for childhood and our yearning for the paternalism of religion CONNECTED? TELL US, ARCADE FIRE! Also, I am drunk.

Love, Jocelyn

Ensmarten yourself, help others.

Just discovered a site where you can broaden your vocabulary AND do your part to end world hunger. It's in the same vein as the grow-a-mustache-and-help-support-gifted-youth nonsensical, yet somehow totally compelling and fun approach to money raising that seems to have taken hold in the world of worthy causes. At freerice.com, for every word that you properly define, 10 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Program by advertisers. It's all multiple choice and the difficulty of the words adjusts as you go along. It can keep you occupied for HOURS when you should be doing other crap—yet, for once, you don't have to feel guilty.