Who are these people?

Great story in the The New Yorker about the undecideds, by the brilliant David Sedaris. It is a wonder of the universe. Who are these people? {Said in a an exasperated, slightly condescending tone.]

Undecided
David Sedaris
The New Yorker, Oct. 27, 2008
I don’t know that it was always this way, but, for as long as I can remember, just as we move into the final weeks of the Presidential campaign the focus shifts to the undecided voters. “Who are they?” the news anchors ask. “And how might they determine the outcome of this election?”

Words and phrases

David Sedaris is one of the funniest people alive. Here's some of his wit (see here for previous post). From Me Talk Pretty One Day.

• Hokey claptrap
• Saucebox -- that is, his French teacher's mouth as in "I didn't know what would next come out of her saucebox." She is mean and unpredictable, often berating students.

Here he reads one of his funniest essays -- on the Stadium Pal.

Mouthiness for almost Monday

I'm listening to David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day. I read the book and have already listened to the audio once. (Bonus! David reads the book!) I'm not a re-reader of books so that tells you about the brilliance of the book. It's one of the funniest ever. Examples:

• A concept as uninviting as a shampoo cocktail
• [Remarking on the sorry state of many Americans' attire while traveling in Europe.] Comfort has its place but it seems rude to visit another country dressed as if you're there to mow its lawn.

Since it's the equivalent of Monday here (yesterday was Memorial Day, a holiday.) A few more laughs to get you off the ground.

• I'm a great interviewee. I have something else no one has. My brain. Which I use to my advantage when advantageous. (Andy on "The Office.")
• Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes (An appetizer on the menu at Granite City. I understand the concept -- chunks instead of paltry crab shred. But I still don't want to eat anything that has "lump" in the name.)
• Take it to shutty town. (A euphemism for shut up from "King of Queens.")

From the above you'd think I watch a lot of television. Not so. But when I watch a show like "The Office," in which you are always gifted with at least one gut-busting laugh, I write down funny things I hear. Nerdy but it delights me to no end.

Cupcakes!

A couple of months back, the movie "Strangers with Candy" was released. One of the local stories about the movie was an interview with Amy Sedaris and included her recipe for vanilla cupcakes.

I tried these a few weeks ago. They are the best cupcakes ever. And I didn't even make the frosting. Sedaris also has a new book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. I'm sure that it is hilarious, yet oddly disturbing. Like most of her work.

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Interview on NPR