doin' things is what i like to do

If you know me (and chances are, if you're reading this, you probably do), you know about my love of Dunkin' Donuts. As a born-and-bred Masshole, this is in my blood. You southerners and NY snobs can have your Krispy Kremes, I'll take a Chocolate Honey Dipped donut over those sugar bombs any day.

Well, Dunkin' Donuts is attempting to reposition itself as the Coffee Supplier to the Proletariat. (Donuts are now a very small part of their profit margin). They've unleashed a brilliant brilliant ad campaign featuring music by They Might Be Giants. Slate has a great Ad Report Card about the campaign, comparing it to Target's rebranding from cheap to chic.

Check it out, but be warned: the "doin' things" jingle will stay in your head for weeks.

i am a stereotypical female

Mike and I went to brunch on Saturday and then stopped by Lord & Taylor, which is going out of business. The shoe department was pretty well stocked, so I went home with these babies at 40% off. They were still Way Too Much for shoes, but I figured you only live once. They'll be my fabulous summer shoes for quite a few seasons. The ladies at the checkout were all clucking about my purchases. I also bought some underwear and a pair of Børn flip-flops.

In baseball world, Liz and I celebrated the Phanatic's birthday with a Phillies win. We got to see the Mascot All-Star game in which my beloved Wally the Green Monster participated. I'm not even going to get into discussing the inflatable clam that ate an umpire and spit out the ump's pants. Yes, you read that correctly.

maybe it's true what they say about turning 30...

You know what? I really can't read most writing about pop music anymore. I sort of hate all of it. It's often too "cutesy" and desperately attempts to be overly stylized. I'm sure some of these people would argue that they're trying to engage in some sort of critical discourse, but it all seems like smoke and mirrors to me. Tell me what a record sounds like, why a genre is worthwhile and whether or not there should be A Canon. Don't give me random-ass quotes from obscure songs and awful, agonizing alliteration. Let me know what's worthwhile, and don't make it All About You and your supposed encyclopedic knowledge.

I'm cranky today, and I have no attention span.

Kieran, please tell me it gets better...

I'm embarking on Cool Running's Couch-to-5K Running Plan. I went for my first run/jog today, but only lasted 15 minutes instead of 20. When they talk about "runner's high," I doubt they meant the dope-sick nausea I felt halfway through my workout. Why is it that I can do 90 minutes of yoga and yet I cannot stomach 20 minutes of jogging and walking? I keep trying to tell myself, "It will get better. Your body will thank you when you're able to run 3 miles." At least the current attempt at fitness is actually good for me.

What is bad for me, however, is caffeine. I've stopped drinking it, but today I went to Starbucks with my hairdresser and got an iced coffee. I don't know why I "forgot" that iced coffee is just plain ol' evil caffeinated coffee on ice. For some reason, my brain thinks of it as more of a milkshake than anything else. So now I'm flying on my iced coffee and have turned into Twitchy McTwitcherson. Ugh.

From idea to practice

hot dog gun!, originally uploaded by heathalouise.

Let's think about this: somewhere, at some time, there was a meeting in which someone decided that it would be a good idea to create a contraption that shot hot dogs into the stands in between innings of a baseball game. Not only that, the contraption is shaped like a hot dog. Add the pig celebrating that his fellow swine are being slaughtered and turned into cannon fodder, and you've got good ol' American ingenuity.

Hot dog gun, I praise thee...

i love my job...

Because today, I get to talk about music on TV, and I'm showing The Monkees and The O.C. in class. If I had been more together, I would have taped an old episode of Miami Vice from TV Land. It's days like this that make me so freakin' happy that I work in a field that lets me use my endless TV knowledge to prove a point.

we love it when our friends become successful

Three cheers for my best friend: after four interviews, she finally got her Fancy State Job. "Heather, I'm living the dream" she shouted to me over the phone, "I'm middle management!" This makes me happy on so many levels. The girl has had enough craptacular things happen to her over the years (hello, Hurricane Katrina, anyone?), and now she seems to be back on track. Plus, it means she'll have cash to come and visit. Woohoo!

After catching up via On Demand, I've decided that I just do not like Big Love. Everyone on the show is loathsome, and Bill Paxton especially creeps me out. I don't think I can watch it anymore. I'll stick with The Sopranos and my super guilty pleasure The L Word, thanks.

it's not the age of reason

I’m watching the Red Sox play the Texas Rangers on MLB Extra Innings (yay free preview!), and it’s the Fox Sports Network Southwest feed. The color commentator is discussing how pitcher Josh Beckett is wearing the number 19 because the Sox are keeping 21 available in case Roger Clemens comes back to the Boston. The next thing out of the color guy’s mouth? “So, as the Old 97’s sing, he is only 19.” I am cracking up.