Michael: Hey, send me that link to the monkey sex video. I'm going to forward it like it's hot.

Links and a bit of shameless self-promotion. Hey, someone has to do it.

• I recently self-published a new poetry & photography book called Squirrel Sonnets & other Rodent Rhymes. Yes, there are actual sonnets and no, all of the other poems do not necessarily rhyme. Click on the link to see a preview and/or order a copy. I also have copies on hand in case anyone wants one signed.
  

• The few photos I took at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con are now posted on flickr. If you are a fan of Battlestar Galactica, you may even find a few of them interesting. Especially if you like Apollo.
  

• One of my dogs, Little Guy, commented on the L.A. Times' database of the names of registered dogs in the county. He also compares himself to a Brady kid. It's not the first time.
  

• I'll pimp this again next week, but if you want to check out a cool art show on opening night, i am 8-bit is having an extravaganza on the 14th. My husband, E, has put together a really cool video installation that should be featured prominently in the gallery.

This last one has nothing to do with me, except that it has two things I like:

• If you, like me, love Ben Folds and hamsters, check out this video for the song "Carrying Cathy." It's not new, but I just saw it again tonight and enjoyed it very much. Hamsters. Ben Folds. Yes!

Ice Lolly Sticks, Jazz Chickens, & Ninja Sheep

Within the last month, E and I have been to the Kodak "The New Home for the Academy Awards" Theatre in Hollywood twice to see British comedians. It's a nice, posh theater and feels more intimate than it looks on tv. Last month, we saw Ricky Gervais, who was quite hilarious. His stand-up persona is not too far off from his David Brent character on the UK version of The Office. Very funny and very raunchy.

Tonight was a special treat. We saw probably my favorite British comedian and definitely my very favorite transvestite--Eddie Izzard. Tonight he happened to be an "off duty transvestite," as he put it, which is fine by me. He looked quite dapper in his jeans, coat with tails, and facial hair. Not only is he downright funny, but he is intelligent, often joking about history or current events. But, along with that he can be downright silly as well. He's just brilliant. Oh, and early in the show, he said something about a hamster!

I've been lucky enough to see some of Eddie's shows he did in the past year or so at The Coronet (before it became Largo). He'd come to L.A. for a week or two to test out material for this tour. I really loved the thing he did about bees, but it didn't make the cut. He did do the one about the giraffe trying to warn the other giraffe about a tiger. Maybe only Ren knows what I'm talking about and maybe I'm just crazy. There was also plenty of the usual badger and spoon talk as well.

We got sweet t-shirts tonight. I'm planning to wear mine to an upcoming event, so I can't say anything about it yet.

You Don't Have To Be A Man-Ho

A few weeks ago, E was browsing the Largo calendar online and noticed an event called The 1st National International New Zealand Day. Knowing that Flight of the Conchords have played the venue quite a few times (none of which I'd been to, dammit!), including the weekend before when we were in San Diego, he had a feeling they might be part of this Kiwi celebration. I immediately called for tickets.

$20 souvenir mug. Proceeds went to charity. I got the last one too, suckas!

There's something you should know about E and that's the fact that he is usually right. I'm not just saying that-it's a fact. So, yes, the Flight of the Conchords were absolutely part of the Largo show and in fact were the hosts. They were on stage several times and treated us to many new songs that I can already picture as hilarious vignettes in the upcoming season of their HBO show. Let's just say that Jemaine may need to prostitute himself for some creme brulee.

Other acts included Bo Runga, Bic Runga, and Greg Johnson. We've seen Bic perform a few times and her sister, Bo, is just as talented. Greg was great too. One of the best parts of the show was Rhys Darby in his dual role of stand-up comedian (himself) and band manager (Murray). He played Murray off stage and did such things as call the guys in for an "emergency band meeting," complete with roll call. It was hilarious! He also did a small portion of his stand-up act, which is pretty side splitting.

All in all, we had a blast and are still talking about the show.