Did not sleep. Last night. Maybe it’s just because I couldn’t wind down my mind; maybe it’s because I knew I had to get up early for something (even if it was only THE DARK KNIGHT). Whatever though, I went to bed around 10:30 p.m., earlier than normal. It was a very conscious sleep, which is hard work. The whole time I felt like I was editing random bios. Then around 3:30 a.m. I decided I was sure that if I got up right then, I’d be able to pop and lock, like perfectly. I didn’t test the theory. Something else intricate happened around 4:30, like I think I started to think, skeptically, that I was a genius. Around 5:15 I could tell I was starting to fall asleep, which just pissed me off because I knew I was getting up around 6:30 or so. This is how I know I’d be the worst person to be around ever if I were an insomniac. I get really angry when I can’t sleep.

Full report on the Batman coming later tonight or tomorrow. I still love Christian Bale. As an actor, that is. I have to go exercise now.

Project Runway: Good start to the season. After seeing the garments created from materials purchased in a megagrocery store, I could say with confidence that vacuum-filter girl was gonna win and “that Tam guy” was gonna lose. I didn’t enunciate clearly enough, so my husband agreed with me, because he thought I’d said “that tan guy.” Who was kind of second-to-last place anyway. I now pronounce “Nina Garcia” exactly like Heidi Klum does.

Burn Notice: Oh my god, the worst episode of Burn ever. And I’m not saying it’s a well-written show to begin with. But just before it, I’d told my brother how great it was (fun-to-watch-wise, not critically). So he watched it with us. And it was SO BAD. Please get back on the horse next week, fellas.

Monk: Because I was so pleased with the previews for this season, and I saw that Hector Elizondo was going to be playing Monk’s new shrink, I put Monk back on the DVR schedule. Suffice it to say that I am taking it right back off again. It’s just boring. Not covering any new ground. And Brad Garrett had to have been playing the dumbest criminal ever. Except for that one guy:

“Mr. Mamadou Obotimbe Diabikile. He was shot by police and arrested after he tried to rob the Mali Development Bank in Bamako, Mali. Part of the reason that he was shot was that his movements were hindered by the seven pounds of magic charms he was wearing to make himself invisible.”

Psych: Fearless Guster! 1995-era Lassi! Shooter McGavin! Shawn Superschnozz! What more could one ask for? The answer is “nothing,” and yet!—there’s awesome writing and Cybill Shepherd tears. WHAT MORE COULD ONE ASK FOR? How about a preview of next week, eh? Thanks a ton. No offense, Dulé, I still love you. But Timothy Omundson may be my new favorite supporting actor. Maybe they’ll listen if I suggest he be nominated for a SAG Award this year…

Best video ever:

Yayyyyyyy! Comfort is back. Poor Jessica.

Courtney/Joshua

• Hip-hop (choreographer Dave Scott): The “Bride of Frankenstein” is a cool concept with a weird musicality. The two work well together but it’s hard, naturally, for Courtney to shine, though she does put the effort into her character, as Nigel notes. They’re in good unison.
• Rhumba (chor. Jean-Marc Genereaux): Woooooo! Very sexy and lovely. Good connection and sweet lifts. I love Josh! Mary’s right about the nuance here.

Kherington/Mark

• Two-step (chor. Ronnie and Brandi): Definitely interesting and intricate choreography; new style for the show. But these two have lots of noticeable errors, with Kherington the more awkward and Mark appearing solid.
• Jazz (chor. Tyce DiOrio): Don’t do “Canned Heat” unless you’re going to give us some Napoleon Dynamite conviction. Mark’s one of my faves but he’s not hitting all the time here; indeed he seems to be holding back. Kherington shows more joy in the dancing here. They’re well-synchronized.

Twitch/Comfort

• Waltz (chor. Hunter Robinson): Journey!!! You can tell these two are trying hard, matching lines. But Comfort just doesn’t have the natural grace required for this (straighten your damn legs, girl!). There’s a separation between the dancers and the dance.
• Hip-hop (chor. Dave Scott): (How awesome is this pairing? And then to draw hip-hop? Are we sure this show isn’t fixed?) When these two are popping and hitting, they’re just phenomenal, though at certain times they kinda lose me.The synching is incredibly difficult and they nail it. Ultimately this is a really awesome piece though. Lil’ C finally defined buck for me: “when internal artistry meets physical expression.”

Katee/Will

• Broadway (chor. Tyce DiOrio): As always, fun and lots of energy. Sometimes I feel like I can see Katee “dancing,” but other times she’s totally the character. Will is great throughout. Judges, enough with the boat metaphors.
• Pas de deux (chor. Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden): If there are any two dancers on this show who could do this dance (again a new style for the show, I believe), it is Katee and Will. Which adds to my supposition that it might be fixed. This is an unbelievably difficult routine. It requires total trust between the dancers, which is apparent. One major mistake. But it’s otherwise beautiful. The lines match, I love the circular feel of the dance. She’s like his doll. Weird song choice though.

Chelsie/Gev

• Contemporary (chor. Sonya): Good connection, cool song choice. Seems more a showcase for Gev, though he’s a tad stiff in the shoulders during the leaps. But Chelsie is really throwing herself into this dance, throwing herself around.
• Jive (chor. Jean-Marc Genereaux): Tough choreography. Not sure they got all the right footwork, and they worked through the gaffes. Gev’s trying is obvious. And no, Mary, it’s not “respectful,” it’s “respectable.”

Solos:

• Chelsie: A ballroomer. This is boring. The dress makes her look heavy.
• Gev: Lots of cools moves/acrobatics, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it dancing.
• Courtney: It’s alright, but I’m needing more. So tired of these identical emoting contemporary routines.
• Mark: Such a unique style. Really love the “Bohemian Rhapsody.” No wow though.
• Comfort: I need more tech from her. It’s starting to look the same.
• Twitch: Super-T! Always gives us a really sharp, technical but musical solo routine. Wade Robson song sounded like Michael Jackson.
• Katee: Nothing spectacular in this contempo routine, but it’s pretty.
• Will: Well-thought-out and deliberate movement. It’s not spastic. Beautiful articulation, as always.
• Kherington: Contemporary. Again. Bleh.
• Joshua: He gets mundane then reminds you why he’s on this show.

Well, I hope Twitch, Josh, and Will are there till the bitter end. Don’t know if I can predict tonight’s results show at all.

I got my first piece of mail—two, actually!—at work today. A mere three years after being hired.

Still don’t have business cards though…

Uh, duh.

I hope they make Andy Dick register as a sex offender.

Does this guy get away with this crap because he’s *famous*? Famous for being a douche. Why do people like Chris Farley overdose instead of people like this?

From the article:

Several of Dick’s friends attempted to remove him from the location…

“Dick’s friends.” My new favorite oxymoron.

I’m so proud of myself.

Every morning my breakfast consists of about a serving and a half of Quaker Oatmeal Square, dry, and a mug o’ tea.

Lately Target has had “value packs” of this cereal: 36 oz. double packs. These double packs have coupons on the side of the box that say “Buy any 2 and get $3 off” and the selection of eligible cereals includes, naturally, Quaker Oatmeal Squares (14 oz. or larger size).

So I ran out last week and I kept putting off the Target run. I’m really lazy about running errands like that.

Wednesday being my easy day, I stopped in on my way to work. They still had the limited-time value packs. I picked one up, and this customer-service rep—whom I admit I misjudged in my head on sight—said, “You want me to mark that for you? It’s going on sale today.” So I was immediately grateful and humbled. “Sure! Thank you!!” So I take two, not knowing whether I’ll be able to use my coupon on the value packs, even though the coupon clearly states 14 oz. or larger size.

And the coupon worked! So the value packs that were originally $4.99 were marked down to $4.24, and then I got $3 off. Weeks’ worth of breakfast for $5.48! And I learned a gentle lesson about appearances, to boot!

Today my 5-year-old bro decided his Golden Retrievers needed haircuts.

This always makes me wonder how thoughts occur to children. Was he practicing for when he cuts his own hair? Or for a future profession? Did he simply think that the dogs could use a new style? Was there any impish intent involved?

When I asked him about it he just laughed and said he didn’t know. (Bet it wasn’t nearly so humorous when my mom caught him, though.) Then he wanted to know why they have special places where dogs can get their hair cut.

Because Starbucks now practically owns Pinkberry, I had the opportunity this morning to sample the new Sorbetto, a yogurty drink made with Pinkberry fro-yo. I think I asked for the Tangy Tropical Mango flavor, but it was white and they just called it Tangy, so I don’t really know what I tried.

As a member of the Red Mango Mafia, I can’t exactly condone the consumption of Pinkberry. I can say, however, that this Sorbetto drink may be the only acceptable way to imbibe it. Be warned, though: It is frozener than frozen yogurt, which we all know is effing arctic. Because it is liquidish, it is much more prone—nay, guaranteed—to induce brain freeze.

Also, on my walk to Starbucks, a man approached me on the street to ask if there was a liquor store nearby.

Also, yay Christian Bale. You are the superhero of my heart. The Dark Knight is likely to be the pinnacle of my year.

Highs and lows in the world of alternative energy for me these days.

1. Dear Hybrid Owner: Owning an environmentally friendly car may give you certain freedoms when it comes to carpool lanes. However, it does not give you the right to cut people off when your lane is ending and the cutoffee is clearly ahead of you.

2. My brother Oly is leading his intrepid solar-car team on a race from Dallas to Calgary. Today marked the second leg. Go, Wildcats! And my awesome engineering bro.