A sampling of the things I saw at the Masonic show on Thursday night.

The Continental Club, which is like the South-Austin-Hipster 78704 Mecca. (I had never been, clearly I am just now officially cool.) Elvis on a postcard. A green Kangol hat. Jack Daniels. K-dog. A snooty brown sweater who seemed offended when I lit her cigarette (it's just professional habit, lady, ease down). One of the guys from Spoon (Kev pointed him out). Tall boots, everywhere. Red curls, beautiful. Shiner Bock. Rye-bread. swagger. American People, the opening act, who looked like what the Partidge Family Band would be like if none of the Partidge family had anything in common and didn't even like each other (They were great). Black Lipstick, unloading. black lipstick. Baby Newsum. More Jack Daniel's, Kev told me to get a sponsor (he was just kidding MOM). Great Bathroom Graffitti, which isn't a band name but should be.

And, oh yeah, a killer Masonic show. Those guys rock. They also roll. Big fun.

All right, now it's time for kitty updates. This is how low my life has sunk.

We have two now, Jessie and Nug. They're Sarah's, not ours, and they are weird, as cats tend to be. Jessie is fat, somewhat affectionate, and wide eyed. Sarah says she likes guys, whatever that means. She mostly ignores us, though she has staked out a favorite spot on my leather easy chair. She has claws, unlike Thomas, so she better be careful around the leather is all I'm sayin'. She hides in Kevin's closet a lot, but basically she tends to wander about the house during the day.

Nug is actually a myth, not a cat. He's not really here. He hides away in a deep cave (under the spare bed in what's supposed to be the office) and only emerges in the depths of night to wreak havok on the inahbitants of the village below (actually, I think he's scared of the sun). Nug does emerge at night, and Sarah says both her cats are mostly nocturnal. So we have something in common. However, neither of them drools. I'm just sayin' .

Technical difficulties? Here's your answer! Thank God for the 'Net. Also, Granola says I have to let everyone know when New Stuff shows up in other areas of this site. I just assumed you could all look for yourselves, but whatever. Anyone notice how the great hero figure always has two masters, one whom he loves, the other whom he rebels against. Kevin and Sarah are my blogging Yoda and Obi-wan. Now, figure out which is which.

It's late and I can't sleep. I should be tired, I worked all night. I had a hard night last night, and I've been a little down about my friend. I am also wrestling with some weird personal stuff that I may get around to writing about, maybe not. Maybe it's just the good old family insomnia (thanks Mom, thanks Grandma) but I can't sleep. So here's some of the stuff rolling around in my head.

One To become a member of Mensa you have to have a tested IQ in the 98th percentile. You also have to pay membership fees! Doing so should immediately disqualify someone as a genius, as far as I'm concerned.

Two We get cats tomorrow. Jessie and Nug. I bet they are not nearly as cool as Thomas, but we'll see.

Three I'm re-reading Ludlum's The Bourne Identity. There's an upcoming adaptation starring Matt Damon and the girl from Run Lola Run. I just don't see it though. I read it several years ago, and then, as now, Jason Bourne in my head looks a little like a young Robert Redford.

Four I am also reading Steve Martin's Shopgirl which is absolutely charming. For the first three chapters, I could hear Steve Martin nararrting in my head as I was reading, like a voice over by him from a movie. Weird.

Five Reading two books at once isn't whats keeping me up at night. I am almost positive. I think.

Six Sifl and Olly are the two funniest socks in the history of man. Kevin unearthed some old episodes on tape, and we've been watching and shooting milk out of our noses. I don't even drink milk (I'm allergic).

Seven I met a young woman tonight, which is not that unusual since I work in a bar (its official policy to refer to it as "the club"). She had absolutely the most beautiful laugh in the history of man. It sparkled. I hope she comes back, just so I can make her laugh again.