April Round-Up - 2011

Holy crap. Since I was out of town at the end of last month/beginning of this month, my Round-Up completely slipped my mind. And I'm under a week away from having to do one for May as well, so I'd better just put this one up now, half-assed as it may be.

Movies Seen: Seventeen, with five in a theater. I reviewed a bunch of those movies, so if you want to know what I thought of the following, click on through!

Your Highness
Scream 4
Stake Land
Meek's Cutoff
Miss Representation
Fast Five
The Selling

Books Read: Four books, and three trade comics. Follow links to read reviews, where applicable.

"Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" by Patton Oswalt.

"Faithful Place" by Tana French.

"Stephen King's N."

"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer.

"The Walking Dead – Vol. 1 and 2" by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore.

"Bossypants" by Tina Fey.

Fancy Dinners Out: None!

Live Shows Seen: Technically, none, but I did go to WonderCon for all three days of its ridiculousness.

Shoes Bought: None!

Jealous?

I saw a crazy street person the other day, (in San Francisco? Really?!), and it totally reminded me of this moment from "Dr. Katz."

What I Learned on My Southern Vacation

Last week, I was in Baton Rouge and New Orleans visiting family. Here are some things I learned while there.

* Junebugs may have a cute name, but they are disgusting.

* Sweet tea is readily available in Baton Rouge, but not in New Orleans.

* San Francisco is an incredibly segregated and white city.

* Any time is the right time for beignets.

* Cheap shoes and muggy weather do not mix.

* Just try and find the bathrooms in the Ye Olde Original Dungeon. I dare ya.

* Baton Rouge is a maddening collection of endlessly long streets with no signs that change names indiscriminately.

* It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

* That said, it's kind of refreshing having to go outside to warm up.

* The French Quarter is like Disneyland for drinkers.

* The South loves its salt.

* Boudin balls are delicious balls.

* Balls of the testicular variety tattooed in your armpit are not so delicious, even if you are a cute female bartender.

* New Orleanians do not believe in turn signals.

* If you drive to the New Orleans Airport in the middle of the night, you will for a moment think you have taken a wrong turn and are actually driving on the tarmac, and are about to get hit by a plane. Stay calm. It's only an illusion.

* Lunch at Commander's Palace, with 25 cent martinis (of various flavors), is an awesome deal.

* Off-street parking in the French Quarter is highway robbery.

* New Orleans cab drivers might very well take you for a ride, but it will likely be an entertaining one.

* It's hard to find a real New Orleans accent in the French Quarter.

* I miss my Southern kinfolk, but am glad I live where I do.