chock full of expectations

So sometime last week — Monday, I think — I finally got around to visiting Mike Viola's web site, which I don't do daily. Turns out he posted on 2/14 that this Joe's Pub party was a send-off ("I'm waving goodbye, you think I'm waving hello"). He's moving his family to Los Angeles.

While we wish them happiness, fun and amazing success in L.A., it's a huge downer to lose them, especially after getting to see him play all these weeks in a row. It's been 11 years that we've been following Mike Viola's career, and back in the beginning, he played out all the time with the Candy Butchers. We'd see them once a week at a minimum. What a delight.

Anyway, here's a Mike Viola song about everything ever. It's not a great example of his similarities to Marshall Crenshaw (see last week's post), but it's a great example of his greatness, in that it's totally live, very simple and completely devastating. He isn't even showing off what a great singer and guitar player he is on this one. There are probably 10 MV songs on my 100 Greatest Songs of All Time list, but this is way up there.

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Also, if you are keeping track, I got a crazy bad crush on someone at the show (not Mike Viola, obviously). If you want to know more, find me and ask about it. Poor Dollie and Kim would certainly like a break from hearing about him. He is dreamy, though.

I represent Queens

I've decided that I want to move to Kew Gardens, and take the LIRR to work every day. Wouldn't that be a delight? Do you have a Kew Gardens apartment for me? Do tell.

you'd better start warming up

Should I move to Minnesota?

It's not like I have a job here. And my friends keep leaving NY — and one of my #1 favorite people of all time ever already lives in MN. Plus Minneapolis is super fun.

But these things have been true before and I haven't left. Now, though, I am beginning to see a pattern.

Exhibit A:

My longtime pretend love, Josh Hartnett. He's from St. Paul.

Exhibit B:

My most recent heartbreak, "Big Brother" Nick is another Minnesotan (PS Did you notice how he wore a St. Cloud State shirt on "The Early Show" after he was evicted?)

And that matters because it's the alma mater of ...

The great Exhibit C:
(Click him. He talks!)

I may never get over his leaving me* (*OK, not me, but me) but maybe if I lived nearer to his home, it would ease the pain.

Or, you know, I could find my very own Minnesota dream boy. That may also work.

I take a guess: Is someone shopping at Payless?

I found a house that I want to buy. It's in Buffalo. It's white and brick, with four bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms and refinished (super shiny!) hardwood floors. I love it.

And I found a vacation I want to take. It's in Peru. There is glorious Machu Picchu, plus a fancy hotel with a bath butler — I never heard of this, but now that I've seen the results, I know I need it.

Now I just need $120,000 to do both right. Pretty cheap, when you think about it. So pay up, someone. Thanks!

On Saturday, on my way home from running out to buy medicine, I cried all the way home. But it was laughing. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant went through all the verses of "Old Mother Hubbard," and that mess is crazy. Seriously, crying. I should post it somewhere. I probably won't though. For I am lazy in that way. I'm sorry.