So... I guess I should mention that there's going to be a slight format change here... Dave was kind enough to step in and guest blog for me earlier this year and I've decided to let him keep his posting privileges. Dave's blog is not so much a straight forward regular every day blog. He came up with a rather unique format which totally works, but I know once in a while he'd like to rant about something, so I'm gonna give him a forum. And I hope that the more interactive format will keep me a little more interested in regularly maintaining my blog.

So, let's see what happens when two ex-boyfriends living in seperate cities try to live in the same webspace...

What can you expect from me in the future? My thoughts about Lafayette, LA, my new homebase (and it ain't gonna be all positive, boys & girls)... music music music (i'm a musical sponge and fiend)... general pop culture musings... comic book reviews, maybe... and lots of bitching...

Dave here with On Tender Hooks' first reader poll, which arose from a raging debate between Drew and myself. Perhaps not surprisingly, the question is about Batman. Which way does he swing--Republican or Democrat? Sure, he's filthy rich and tough on crime and all, but then again maybe that's too obvious a stereotype in this case. Readers, if any of you are still out there, what do you think?

Of course the most important news of the moment is last week's release of Tales From the Turnpike House by Saint Etienne. It's been a couple of years since the last album, Finisterre, and the wait has been excruciating.

I worship Saint Etienne like no other band. Since the day I first heard a vinyl 12 inch single of Only Love Can Break Your Heart, I've been theirs completely and utterly. They're THE BAND for me.

The new album is, IMO, absolutely gorgeous (with one song proving the exception). It's their first concept album. The songs all revolve around the occupants of a rooming house. They've gotten a bit of criticism for this, but I think they pulled it off wonderfully. It's mostly downtempo, except for Stars Above Us and A Good Thing, which have a bit more of a dance beat. There is one song, Relocate, however that I hate so much I reburnt the CD without it and took it out of my iTunes playlist. I can't even go into what it makes it so awful... it just is... *shudder*... ok... it's the guest vocalist and the cutesy setup of the song... *shudder*

Ooook... I'm back!

So, here's the dealio... I mentioned major changes in my life.

I've left New Orleans for my new home in Lafayette, Louisiana. I never would have thought in a million years that I'd give up New Orleans to move to Cajun swamp country. But I did.

Love does funny things to ya, huh?

When I met Don last year, I was pretty much sold from the night I met him. And we tried the medium distance relationship thing for months. It involved a lot of phone calls and Don driving to New Orleans 2 or 3 times a month. But, it wasn't enough.

So, very unexpectedly and very quickly, an opportunity to transfer to Lafayette (where Don lives) with my company came up. Within, 24 hours, Don found me an apartment that he described as "nice, but it's all about the neighborhood, not the apartment." The apartment turned out to be an amazing apartment with an amazing yard in an amazing neighborhood. And two weeks later, I moved to Lafayette.

And everything is working out just peachy... more details soon...