material concern

only in philly would someone shoot someone else for talking during a movie.

but seriously, during the curious case of benjamin button?

and did the guy really think that would allow him to watch the rest of the film in peace?

here’s a friendly new years message from the coyote in my backyard.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kFucHoTy3o[/youtube]

thanks for reading material concern in 2008: there’s a ton more of you readers than last year: we grew by leaps and bounds!

We’ll be even better in 2009; i want to add more photos and possibly new features to start…let us know if you have any ideas of what you would like to see!

in 2009 we are also going to be adding ads and sponsors.

heather and I are currently viewing our numbers to figure out our ad rates, so let us know if you want an ad on material concern!

thanks again and happy new year!

i think i mentioned previously that we are into, or trying to get into board games: especially with the current economy:)

we got this great one for hannukah: chinatown.

Its basically a no-holds barred bargaining game, which for some reason takes place in chinatown

while it could be construed that the businesses you grow are stereotypical; takeout, dim sum, laundry etc,  i wouldn’t say it’s racist: just a little limited and the cover is strange. I was also wondering if there were other versions of other places with different groups and businesses (there are not), but since the point of the game is to be successful and grow your business i am letting things slide. agree? disagree?.

in any case, it was great to see everyone’s ‘business style.’

sorry for the long break in posts: our car broke down and we spent an unexpected vacation in the motels of central Cali. A couple days and several hundred dollars in repairs later: we are back in LA!

so, full disclosure: all i really did while housesitting was watch cable: i’ve never had cable other than in hotels and i’m like a moth to a mutli-channel flame.

so what did i watch? anything of value? doubtful.

some quality americana:

like animal house,

written by my dreamboat: harold ramis

anthony bourdain’s no reservations:

i said to isaac, like, before noon: “i could watch this all day…” and then, it was on, all day…awesome. I saw one once where he got too drunk and the camera men were making fun of him, but unfortunately none of that in the 6 hours i watched. however, he did make fun on rachel ray: that was possibly better.

i also found out that topanga is now on the dish: awesome. my nickname (given to me by the teacher, btw) in econ in high school was topanga: in part because i was probably a bit of a know it all with curly hair: but also because i sat next to a boy who looked like ben savage. no rider strong in class, tho.

topanga has lost a lot of weight: did anyone see her at the back of the magazines a while ago with big jeans?

and that the guy that plays the white gold milk rockstar was in Accepted.

all in all a quality time.

i also deep fried some cheesecake muffins, ate thai food, went to a diner and a cheesy fancy mexican restaurant in the valley and tried to go bowling: but thats probably what most not christmas-celebraters were doing, too.

also, i decided for a new years resolution to get rid of our tv. even our without cable tv.

at a lot of the grocery stores in LA,  you can get mexican ceramic banks…in the shape of pitbulls,

hamburgers (my favorite),

disney characters, or more traditional shapes like…piggies.

We’ve given these as “thanks for having us gifts” in addition to wine, and now i want one for myself.

pictured are examples I found online…

isaac and i are house sitting in the valley…I’ll be posting less this week due to the holidays, but will try to update on anything wonderful i find in the valley……

dear GAP,

you are so frustrating.

i know you are having hard times (still), but i thought with Patrick Robinson the clothes would be better and therefore, the GAP would be better.

but, in order to get people into the store…you have to at least pretend like you have something going on. You have to…i don’t know, show some of these new items I will supposedly want to buy to make me stop on my way to the Mac Store to fix my laptop, instead of boring me to death as i pass your windows.

you can’t, under any circumstances, put a bunch of mannequins (facing sideways btw) in the window wearing white tops and jeans and stupid fake bags you screenprinted SALE on. and then repeat it for men and women: in every single window.

Unless of course, you have given up completely.

sincerely,

me.

i guess that patagonia exercise earlier this week really flexed my continuing obsession with badly fitting camping gear (today fyi i am wearing a giant brushed flannel eddie bauer shirt belted over a normal outfit and actually thought about looking for my hiking boots but then i got bored and didn’t think it was really worth it outfit wise)…..

i started thinking about those really nubby fleece jackets that all the boys had in high school: i think they are coming back…its this whole “i need to feel warm because the economy is so cold” look (all the buffalo plaid wearers; yes you, get ready).

I found this one, that my friend Matt used to have I think, on ebay.

while searching on ebay, i found this funny picture which i thought i would share with you:

i’m so confused by this picture to sell an old fleece that everyone at my hebrew school had (except for me-please),  and the possibility that the girl is not wearing any pants.

we bought these sheets from target: they aren’t eco friendly, they dont have a high thread count, and they are printed, not woven.

but they were heavenly warm brushed cotton flannel and for $20.00: the perfect gift that keeps on giving.