So far this year has been full of "firsts" … at least 7 come immediately to mind. (The title of this post is comprised of cryptic references to each of those "firsts". You can try to decipher them. But you won't. Actually... go ahead and try, this might be fun!) Some might impress you, some might make you laugh because maybe you've done them a million times… but they've all meant something significant to me. I'm pretty interested in seeing what the second half of the year holds.
This is all so uplifty!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
When ya gotta go, you gotta go...
I attended a National show this past weekend. I was all set to write a nice blog about it, but then I lost... well, let's just say I lost steam. So here are a few of the highlights. or at least I think they were. I only wish they'd done Geese of Beverly Road, or perhaps Lucky You, but that's okay... they played almost all my favorites otherwise. The videos aren't the best, but they ain't bad either!
They opened with Start a War
Apartment Story
Squalor Victoria, which I never really liked until I heard it live.
And they ended their second set with About Today... the perfect ending...
Friday, April 11, 2008
I'm in Like Flynn! (or something!)
Dear Emmy,
Thank you for applying to the 5th Annual Art Star Craft Bazaar. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to participate!
[...blah blah blah...]
In case you didn't pick up on it, I've been accepted to participate in my very first juried arts/crafts fair! (Okay! My first arts/crafts fair, period!) I'm so excited! Yay!
Thank you for applying to the 5th Annual Art Star Craft Bazaar. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to participate!
[...blah blah blah...]
In case you didn't pick up on it, I've been accepted to participate in my very first juried arts/crafts fair! (Okay! My first arts/crafts fair, period!) I'm so excited! Yay!
So if you were wondering what I was going to be doing May 31st and June 1st (and I know you were!) that's where I'll be! So stop by! and I demand you spend money! not necessarily on me, but at least on someone's stuff... And there will be bands there, too... like this one.
Today was just good in general... from the amazing weather (spring is finally here, thank heavens!)... to the nice thing my very first customer of the day said to me (I felt all warm and fuzzy)... to the amazing photos I printed this afternoon of someone's trip to India... It was just good all around.
Happy sigh... and junk.
Today was just good in general... from the amazing weather (spring is finally here, thank heavens!)... to the nice thing my very first customer of the day said to me (I felt all warm and fuzzy)... to the amazing photos I printed this afternoon of someone's trip to India... It was just good all around.
Happy sigh... and junk.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Why did the chicken and the satan worshiper cross the corn field?
I have a slightly over-active imagination. It has its positives (I'm very rarely bored) and negatives (quite a few sleepless nights and the occasional mild case of hypochondria). Regardless, it makes life interesting.
Let me take you back to one sleepless night that occurred during the summer of 1999...
Two important things to know: That summer, rather than 100 huge and characterless houses, there still was a cornfield behind my parent's house. And the neighbors still had chickens living in their coop. It certainly was far from living in the country, but it was still pretty rural. Most of my friends would get freaked out driving down my road at night. I didn't have any serious issues most of the time, but late at night in bed my over-active imagination would always conjure up men with knives coming to butcher me in my sleep. (Of course they also would conveniently be carrying ladders so they could reach my window. But nonetheless! They were after me!)
So anyway, back to the aforementioned pleasant summer evening of 1999... around 3 AM I was woken by the sudden sound of the neighbors' chickens (for lack of a better term) freaking out. The chickens were being attacked! What could it be? As it continued for several more minutes, my mind began to put the pieces together.
It was so obvious. CLEARLY a group a satanists were preparing for the upcoming new millennium. (Yeh, yeh, I knew technically the millennium didn't change until 2001, but those silly satanists didn't.) So there they were, stealing my neighbors' chickens in order to sacrifice them in the cornfield during one of their wacky satanic rituals honoring the new millennium. It was terrifying! So I turned on my light to help calm my nerves.
Oh God! Bad move! What the hell was I thinking! Now the satanists knew I was awake and was on to their game! So now I couldn't turn out my light because that's when they'd come and get me... so they could sacrifice ME instead of the chickens! Satan and the millennium gods would be so excited about the upgrade from poultry to human flesh!
However, eventually the chickens did quiet down, and I fell asleep.
The next morning when I woke up (still alive and unsacrificed) I went out to explore the corn field to find evidence of the horrible ceremony.
Man, let me tell you, those satanists are really good at covering their trail....
Let me take you back to one sleepless night that occurred during the summer of 1999...
Two important things to know: That summer, rather than 100 huge and characterless houses, there still was a cornfield behind my parent's house. And the neighbors still had chickens living in their coop. It certainly was far from living in the country, but it was still pretty rural. Most of my friends would get freaked out driving down my road at night. I didn't have any serious issues most of the time, but late at night in bed my over-active imagination would always conjure up men with knives coming to butcher me in my sleep. (Of course they also would conveniently be carrying ladders so they could reach my window. But nonetheless! They were after me!)
So anyway, back to the aforementioned pleasant summer evening of 1999... around 3 AM I was woken by the sudden sound of the neighbors' chickens (for lack of a better term) freaking out. The chickens were being attacked! What could it be? As it continued for several more minutes, my mind began to put the pieces together.
It was so obvious. CLEARLY a group a satanists were preparing for the upcoming new millennium. (Yeh, yeh, I knew technically the millennium didn't change until 2001, but those silly satanists didn't.) So there they were, stealing my neighbors' chickens in order to sacrifice them in the cornfield during one of their wacky satanic rituals honoring the new millennium. It was terrifying! So I turned on my light to help calm my nerves.
However, eventually the chickens did quiet down, and I fell asleep.
The next morning when I woke up (still alive and unsacrificed) I went out to explore the corn field to find evidence of the horrible ceremony.
Man, let me tell you, those satanists are really good at covering their trail....
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Things that make me happy: son of part 2: random stuff
I have a part 5 that should have been next, but I'm not feeling it right now. So more random stuff it is!
Being outside at night --
I love being outside at night, especially in the late spring and summer. There is this certain time shortly after sunset... when it's just starting to get completely dark. I get this feeling, I can't really explain it. Kind of relaxed, like I should be sitting outside with no artificial lighting, and some sort of beverage. I always thought if I were to get married, I'd want to do it at that time of night (except I haven't been able to really pinpoint it which would make it difficult when writing the invitations). Part of me thinks it's also the crickets and other nighttime critters (though I do love hearing them while going to sleep at night), but when I lived in a town (yeh, it was pretty small, but there was constantly traffic and fire whistles and whatnot) I felt the same way at night, or when I had to wake up for work hours before the sun was up. I'm not a fan of the beach, but in my opinion, the best time to go is when everyone else is asleep. I also recently discovered I love driving long distances at night, too, except for all the lovely truckers... and, ahem, it's harder to see the cops.
Thrift Stores --
How can you not love thrift stores? My favorite local store is run by Mennonites... it's clean, well organized, and always has a plethora of phenomenal stuff. AND every week certain colored price tags are 50% off. Awesome. You can't beat one of last year's best selling novels for 75¢. I've picked up so many vintage/antique pieces for next to nothing.. like my antique silverware collection (give me a break, I'm a dork) and that old silver box. And of course a couple of just completely weird things... like that wood & glass thing I'm still not sure the purpose of.
Breakfast --
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And also the best. I already went over how I feel about cinnamon buns. But the truth is, I love all breakfast foods. My dad makes killer omelets. I will never be able to make one that compares. Even the crappy weekend breakfast food at college made my mouth water. Ask me out for breakfast and we're friends for life.
Witnessing other people accomplish great things --
I'm such a sap about this. I will get choked up over the littlest things. I was just watching and episode of Scrubs where a patient (Pvt. Dancer) was finally able to write his name again and it's all chicken scratch, but he's so proud of himself... I teared up. Of course I was on the treadmill at the time, and I seem to get more emotional over stuff when I'm running... but I digress. It's anything really... stuff on broadway, stuff off broadway, art, movies, writing, doing good deeds (uh.. charity stuff and whatnot), just someone doing something well, ANYTHING. I remember one time I was watching some random human interest story about a local glass manufacturer who was hired to make the windows to some massive and important building. I must have been a little hormonal at the time, 'cause even that was a little too much for me to handle. I just get so proud of people. I just read A Widow for One Year by John Irving, and there was one passage that made me think of this: "And there was a meaner, more selfish reason for Ruth's tears. It was that reading Yeats had discouraged her from even trying to be a poet; hers were the tears a writer cried when ever a writer heard something better than anything he or she could have written." So maybe it's a little jealousy rather than amazement that makes me this way. But even in that jealousy, I'm definitely amazed.
Bear --
Meet Bear, my childhood friend. You may have seen him make a cameo in an earlier post. We were tight. I took him for show-and-tell every single day in nursery school, and I think even in Kindergarten. I was one of those saps who couldn't be without him. I'd carry him around by the ears. The poor little dude has had 3 pairs. One was very short lived because while my mom was nice enough to replace the previous ones, I thought they were hideous. (They were chocolate brown, and clearly Bear is NOT chocolate brown. Even as a babe I had standards!) so I snipped the thread and told her they fell off. The thing is, this guy still makes me happy. He's the comfort blankie that was never taken away. I did give up sucking my thumb, so give me a little credit! And anyway, this quote always makes me feel less like a loser about the whole thing: "Dolls have a great patience. Dolls know how to wait, and how to keep love. A world-hardened weary man in his middle years might one day come across a stuffed bear he loved as a child and be surprised, and his hardness broken for a minute as he feels a tug in his breast as if a line immeasurably long and thin were still attached between his heart and this scuffed and forgotten friend. But the bear never doubted."
Being barefoot --
Ya know those people who constantly wear shoes in their own homes? What is wrong with those people?! (No offense if you are one of them, but... what the hell is wrong with you people?!) I really dislike confining my feet to shoes. Even socks, sometimes. I prefer to drive barefoot, I enjoy grass, and anything warmed by the sun. I even take my shoes off at work most of the time, although it looks "less professional." I wish it was acceptable to walk around as God intended... uh... barefoot. I can't wait until spring! (I think we got enough of my feet last time, so sorry, no picture.)
Being outside at night --
I love being outside at night, especially in the late spring and summer. There is this certain time shortly after sunset... when it's just starting to get completely dark. I get this feeling, I can't really explain it. Kind of relaxed, like I should be sitting outside with no artificial lighting, and some sort of beverage. I always thought if I were to get married, I'd want to do it at that time of night (except I haven't been able to really pinpoint it which would make it difficult when writing the invitations). Part of me thinks it's also the crickets and other nighttime critters (though I do love hearing them while going to sleep at night), but when I lived in a town (yeh, it was pretty small, but there was constantly traffic and fire whistles and whatnot) I felt the same way at night, or when I had to wake up for work hours before the sun was up. I'm not a fan of the beach, but in my opinion, the best time to go is when everyone else is asleep. I also recently discovered I love driving long distances at night, too, except for all the lovely truckers... and, ahem, it's harder to see the cops.
Thrift Stores -- How can you not love thrift stores? My favorite local store is run by Mennonites... it's clean, well organized, and always has a plethora of phenomenal stuff. AND every week certain colored price tags are 50% off. Awesome. You can't beat one of last year's best selling novels for 75¢. I've picked up so many vintage/antique pieces for next to nothing.. like my antique silverware collection (give me a break, I'm a dork) and that old silver box. And of course a couple of just completely weird things... like that wood & glass thing I'm still not sure the purpose of.
Breakfast --
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And also the best. I already went over how I feel about cinnamon buns. But the truth is, I love all breakfast foods. My dad makes killer omelets. I will never be able to make one that compares. Even the crappy weekend breakfast food at college made my mouth water. Ask me out for breakfast and we're friends for life.
Witnessing other people accomplish great things --
I'm such a sap about this. I will get choked up over the littlest things. I was just watching and episode of Scrubs where a patient (Pvt. Dancer) was finally able to write his name again and it's all chicken scratch, but he's so proud of himself... I teared up. Of course I was on the treadmill at the time, and I seem to get more emotional over stuff when I'm running... but I digress. It's anything really... stuff on broadway, stuff off broadway, art, movies, writing, doing good deeds (uh.. charity stuff and whatnot), just someone doing something well, ANYTHING. I remember one time I was watching some random human interest story about a local glass manufacturer who was hired to make the windows to some massive and important building. I must have been a little hormonal at the time, 'cause even that was a little too much for me to handle. I just get so proud of people. I just read A Widow for One Year by John Irving, and there was one passage that made me think of this: "And there was a meaner, more selfish reason for Ruth's tears. It was that reading Yeats had discouraged her from even trying to be a poet; hers were the tears a writer cried when ever a writer heard something better than anything he or she could have written." So maybe it's a little jealousy rather than amazement that makes me this way. But even in that jealousy, I'm definitely amazed.
Bear --
Meet Bear, my childhood friend. You may have seen him make a cameo in an earlier post. We were tight. I took him for show-and-tell every single day in nursery school, and I think even in Kindergarten. I was one of those saps who couldn't be without him. I'd carry him around by the ears. The poor little dude has had 3 pairs. One was very short lived because while my mom was nice enough to replace the previous ones, I thought they were hideous. (They were chocolate brown, and clearly Bear is NOT chocolate brown. Even as a babe I had standards!) so I snipped the thread and told her they fell off. The thing is, this guy still makes me happy. He's the comfort blankie that was never taken away. I did give up sucking my thumb, so give me a little credit! And anyway, this quote always makes me feel less like a loser about the whole thing: "Dolls have a great patience. Dolls know how to wait, and how to keep love. A world-hardened weary man in his middle years might one day come across a stuffed bear he loved as a child and be surprised, and his hardness broken for a minute as he feels a tug in his breast as if a line immeasurably long and thin were still attached between his heart and this scuffed and forgotten friend. But the bear never doubted."
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Things that make me happy: part 4: Music
I think almost everyone will tell you how they love music and it's such a huge part of their lives. It's just how we work, I guess. Something we can all relate to in one way or another, be it the words, the melodies, or even the mathematical part of it (yes, someone tried to discuss this with me at length one time, and even though I could appreciate what he was saying I can't say I completely "got" it, I'm more the words/melody side). Did you know there's a branch of psychology dedicated to music and how if affects our behaviors, experiences, interaction... and junk? I guess it makes sense that there should be. But I never figured there was an entire branch dedicated to it.
Without going into boring details, my history with music is pretty sordid. There were some periods I'm still ashamed of. I'm easily influenced by people around me, which may account for it. After several years of drifting, I think I've found my niche. I credit my discovery of the Beatles at the age of 15 for helping me along the way. Of course I always knew who they were. My mom would always play "Birthday" for.. uh.. for our birthdays (that, and the Winnie the Pooh "Birthday Birthday" song) on our little Fisher Price record player. I don't even know what really prompted me to start listening to them later on, but I know around that time the Anthologies, Free as a Bird and Real Love were released. But I must have been into them before, because the first anthology was released on my 16th birthday, and I was incredibly excited about the coincidence. What I do remember is listening to the so called "white album" for what I thought was the first time, and realizing that I already knew the words. I don't know where I heard it, but someone once said the Beatles have become part of our DNA. And I think they're right. I also think they stole this idea from me because I've been saying it for ages. (I LOVE this video! I can't catch them anymore because my Beatles knowledge is slipping, but there are TONS of subtle references to songs and whatnot.)
So let's see, where to go from here? I have some perennial favorites, and some I'll forget about in a few months. I guess this is a bit of a hodgepodge of the two. And this is really only skimming the surface.
On the playlist: Some of these will be mentioned below, but for the one that is not ...
The Engine Driver by the Decemberists -- Completely obsessed with this right now. It's almost as bad as when I was obsessed with Rufus Wainwright's version of "Hallelujah". (interesting bit of trivia, Rufus's version was on the earlier versions of the Shrek soundtrack, but now it's the John Cale version, which I believe is also the one heard in the film. I don't know why it was changed. Rufus' version is better.) (On another side note, the Shrek movies also make me happy. They're awfully cute. And all message-y. And funny. Well, the first 2. The third is kinda lame.)
El Sorcho will always be my favorite Weezer song. We have a bit of a history dating back to when I still taped songs off the radio, and then rediscovering it a few years later. I like Weezer. They make me happy. How can I not sing along... in my car... alone? And I can't think of Weezer without thinking of the 2001 Y100 FEZtival where I saw them. And we learned the Weezer, uh, gang sign.
I have a bit of a girl crush on Regina Spektor. She's a weird one. Maybe a little too weird. So I guess my girl crush is mainly on her music. I just recently bought her Soviet Kitsch CD. Naturally I don't like it as much as Begin to Hope. At least not yet. but isn't that how it works a lot of the time? I've got one of her songs on the playlist there... while I'm not the biggest fan of it, I do LOVE how she sings "...when I would only smoke Marlboro's". When I listen to it in the car I repeat that part over and over. It gives me chills. Anyway, I am loving this song right now:
Guster will always been one of my favorites... even though their newer stuff isn't really doing much for me. They're quirky. I like quirky. My favorite songs change from time to time... right now it's Parachute (on the playlist), but Demons is always a good one. I particularly love the addition of the banjo in this version.
I first heard "Top shelf" by Man Man on YRock on XPN (mentioned previously)... (YRock is the "alternative music" portion of XPN.) Not really my style, but it seemed "right" at the time. And still does. Sometimes you just need something, uh, drastically different, right? They’re from Philly, so how can I not support them? And I hear their live shows totally "shred". They "jam" for a while, then go into Top Shelf. If you can hang in there that long.
Somehow this feels unfinished... but I don't know what else to say.
Without going into boring details, my history with music is pretty sordid. There were some periods I'm still ashamed of. I'm easily influenced by people around me, which may account for it. After several years of drifting, I think I've found my niche. I credit my discovery of the Beatles at the age of 15 for helping me along the way. Of course I always knew who they were. My mom would always play "Birthday" for.. uh.. for our birthdays (that, and the Winnie the Pooh "Birthday Birthday" song) on our little Fisher Price record player. I don't even know what really prompted me to start listening to them later on, but I know around that time the Anthologies, Free as a Bird and Real Love were released. But I must have been into them before, because the first anthology was released on my 16th birthday, and I was incredibly excited about the coincidence. What I do remember is listening to the so called "white album" for what I thought was the first time, and realizing that I already knew the words. I don't know where I heard it, but someone once said the Beatles have become part of our DNA. And I think they're right. I also think they stole this idea from me because I've been saying it for ages. (I LOVE this video! I can't catch them anymore because my Beatles knowledge is slipping, but there are TONS of subtle references to songs and whatnot.)
So let's see, where to go from here? I have some perennial favorites, and some I'll forget about in a few months. I guess this is a bit of a hodgepodge of the two. And this is really only skimming the surface.
On the playlist: Some of these will be mentioned below, but for the one that is not ...
The Engine Driver by the Decemberists -- Completely obsessed with this right now. It's almost as bad as when I was obsessed with Rufus Wainwright's version of "Hallelujah". (interesting bit of trivia, Rufus's version was on the earlier versions of the Shrek soundtrack, but now it's the John Cale version, which I believe is also the one heard in the film. I don't know why it was changed. Rufus' version is better.) (On another side note, the Shrek movies also make me happy. They're awfully cute. And all message-y. And funny. Well, the first 2. The third is kinda lame.)
El Sorcho will always be my favorite Weezer song. We have a bit of a history dating back to when I still taped songs off the radio, and then rediscovering it a few years later. I like Weezer. They make me happy. How can I not sing along... in my car... alone? And I can't think of Weezer without thinking of the 2001 Y100 FEZtival where I saw them. And we learned the Weezer, uh, gang sign.
I have a bit of a girl crush on Regina Spektor. She's a weird one. Maybe a little too weird. So I guess my girl crush is mainly on her music. I just recently bought her Soviet Kitsch CD. Naturally I don't like it as much as Begin to Hope. At least not yet. but isn't that how it works a lot of the time? I've got one of her songs on the playlist there... while I'm not the biggest fan of it, I do LOVE how she sings "...when I would only smoke Marlboro's". When I listen to it in the car I repeat that part over and over. It gives me chills. Anyway, I am loving this song right now:
Guster will always been one of my favorites... even though their newer stuff isn't really doing much for me. They're quirky. I like quirky. My favorite songs change from time to time... right now it's Parachute (on the playlist), but Demons is always a good one. I particularly love the addition of the banjo in this version.
I first heard "Top shelf" by Man Man on YRock on XPN (mentioned previously)... (YRock is the "alternative music" portion of XPN.) Not really my style, but it seemed "right" at the time. And still does. Sometimes you just need something, uh, drastically different, right? They’re from Philly, so how can I not support them? And I hear their live shows totally "shred". They "jam" for a while, then go into Top Shelf. If you can hang in there that long.
Somehow this feels unfinished... but I don't know what else to say.
Things that make me happy: part 3: Movies... and TV, too
I have a bunch of favorite movies, well, actually probably not as many as most people. I guess I can be sort of picky as to what I will call a "favorite." But if I had a gun to my head and and someone asking me to pick a favorite, I still would have some trouble. But I can at least narrow it down.
I don't watch much TV anymore, I don't know why, since my attention span seems to be getting shorter, and TV is perfect for that. So there are only a few shows I enjoy. One is LOST, but I wouldn't say it makes me HAPPY. More... frustrated maybe? At the very least it's entertaining. and I do love it. But other than that...
Wonderfalls was one of those shows that unfortunately didn't make it for more than a few episodes. Fortunately there was still a HUGE fan base, and while the rest of the season never aired, it did end up on DVD. One Christmas, on a whim (I'd never seen an episode), I requested it... and got it! One of the best "eh, why not" moments of my life. I will periodically watch all 13 episodes. It makes me happy. Until I remember I don't know what happens after the last episode, and never will. *sad sigh*
| Definitely one of those “feel good” movies. Cute, clever, and sometimes funny, and a love story to boot. You can’t help but see a little of yourself in Amelie... or another character. But hey, it’s no girly movie. Okay, admittedly I don’t know THAT many people who have seen it (let alone guys), but 100% of the guys I DO know who have seen it like it as much as the girls. So there. |
| Ever read a book, see a movie, or hear a song that you just weren’t sure you’d like… until you got to that one paragraph, that one scene, that one line that just absolutely did it for you? That’s how I felt about American Beauty when I saw this scene. As depressing as this movie is… I still can’t help but feel happy at the end. |
| So call me a typical girl, or a sap. Whatever. I love this Pride and Prejudice. And, for you other girly saps (or you Austin freaks), yes I've seen the Colin Firth version, and yes, I like that, too, I mean, COLIN FIRTH! But I adore this particular version. Probably because it's not 8 hours long. |
I saw Juno today. It was way good. I mean, I had tears streaming down my face at one point. And I don't even completely get the attraction to reproduction and babies. Here are some cute elderly people and their opinion of the movie. |
I don't watch much TV anymore, I don't know why, since my attention span seems to be getting shorter, and TV is perfect for that. So there are only a few shows I enjoy. One is LOST, but I wouldn't say it makes me HAPPY. More... frustrated maybe? At the very least it's entertaining. and I do love it. But other than that...
| How can you not love Scrubs? People have their comfort foods, their blankies... I have a comfort TV show. I bought season 1 on DVD just because I was going to be alone one weekend and needed something to entertain myself. Best purchase ever. I would watch it whenever I was down. It was the only thing I could fall asleep to. It made me happy. And still does. And so do all the other seasons. Now it's what I run to. Or try to run to. |
Wonderfalls was one of those shows that unfortunately didn't make it for more than a few episodes. Fortunately there was still a HUGE fan base, and while the rest of the season never aired, it did end up on DVD. One Christmas, on a whim (I'd never seen an episode), I requested it... and got it! One of the best "eh, why not" moments of my life. I will periodically watch all 13 episodes. It makes me happy. Until I remember I don't know what happens after the last episode, and never will. *sad sigh*
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Things that make me happy: part 2: random stuff
This was going to be my final segment, but for some reason it came together before the other parts. And I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, so at some point there will probably be a "Things that make me happy:part 2: random things: the sequel."
the innards of warm cinnamon buns –
I don’t think there’s much more I need to say. They’re warm and cinnamon-y and doughy and with just the right amount of icing (just a little). The other day after I scheduled a frightening dental procedure I immediately went and bought an Entenmann’s Ultimate Super Cinnamon Bun and stuck it in the microwave when I got home. The last bite... heaven. Ya know those commercials that say “chocolate is the 8th wonder of the world, warm chocolate the 9th”? They couldn't be more wrong. The 8th AND the 9th are totally the innards of warm cinnamon buns. Cinnabons are also pretty awesome.
Food in general.--
And unfortunately you can tell from my multiple squishy parts. To list all the specific food I enjoy would be silly. So of course I’m going to try. Swedish Fish, Chex Mix, California Pizza Kitchen’s Sausage, Pepperoni and mushroom pizza, dried pears, Chinese, Thai, India (especially that one dish from Passage to India… that chicken in the red buttery curry sauce, yum!), bread pudding, peanut butter, roasted red pepper & tomato soup, dark chocolate… there’s much more, but I don’t really need to think about it right now…
Running –
I know! It's craziness! I recently began attempting to train my self to run. At this point my progress is still pretty laughable, but I’m progressing! I never would have believed it, but the other day I had about a half hour long CONVERSATION about running. My friend Jen asked if I’d like to join her for theTitusville , NJ
books and people who read them --
I LOVE books. I buy them faster than I can read them. Someday when I have my own house I want a library room filled wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling with book shelves... that just so happen to be filled with books. I recently had a discussion with my parents about the “dumbing down of America.” I think it was after my dad saw a news story in response to an episode of “Are you smarter than a 5th grader” with Kellie Pickler as the contestant. My dad was surprised to hear in the news story that a large portion of Americans don’t even read one book in a year. I guess it’s a generational thing, because this is nothing new to my ears. I know tons of people who have never read a book for their own pleasure… which means, I can assume, once they left school, they never picked up another book. And even that might be too generous. I’m willing to bet many of those people rarely read books even while at school. My point is… I love books. And I love people who read them. This may be where I’m most prejudiced. (hey whether we want to admit it or not, we all are in some way.) I make assumptions about people who don’t like to read. Sometimes I’m right, sometimes I’m wrong. So I guess it’s safer to say I like people who read books. In fact I may as go so far as to say I adore people who like to read books. I don’t know what it is. I guess I figure it says a lot about a person's character. Sort of like how people who like/are kind to dogs. I dunno. but I don’t think there’s much that could make me like you more.
| My new shoes - It's materialistic, I know, but I can't help it! It's rare that I like shoes (this is only the 2nd pair I've been this crazy for)... and these are pretty hot. And I think things are "hot" even less often than I get excited about shoes. (I think my feet and ankles look deceptively skinny here....) |  |
the innards of warm cinnamon buns –
I don’t think there’s much more I need to say. They’re warm and cinnamon-y and doughy and with just the right amount of icing (just a little). The other day after I scheduled a frightening dental procedure I immediately went and bought an Entenmann’s Ultimate Super Cinnamon Bun and stuck it in the microwave when I got home. The last bite... heaven. Ya know those commercials that say “chocolate is the 8th wonder of the world, warm chocolate the 9th”? They couldn't be more wrong. The 8th AND the 9th are totally the innards of warm cinnamon buns. Cinnabons are also pretty awesome.
Food in general.--
And unfortunately you can tell from my multiple squishy parts. To list all the specific food I enjoy would be silly. So of course I’m going to try. Swedish Fish, Chex Mix, California Pizza Kitchen’s Sausage, Pepperoni and mushroom pizza, dried pears, Chinese, Thai, India (especially that one dish from Passage to India… that chicken in the red buttery curry sauce, yum!), bread pudding, peanut butter, roasted red pepper & tomato soup, dark chocolate… there’s much more, but I don’t really need to think about it right now…
Running –
I know! It's craziness! I recently began attempting to train my self to run. At this point my progress is still pretty laughable, but I’m progressing! I never would have believed it, but the other day I had about a half hour long CONVERSATION about running. My friend Jen asked if I’d like to join her for the
books and people who read them --
I LOVE books. I buy them faster than I can read them. Someday when I have my own house I want a library room filled wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling with book shelves... that just so happen to be filled with books. I recently had a discussion with my parents about the “dumbing down of America.” I think it was after my dad saw a news story in response to an episode of “Are you smarter than a 5th grader” with Kellie Pickler as the contestant. My dad was surprised to hear in the news story that a large portion of Americans don’t even read one book in a year. I guess it’s a generational thing, because this is nothing new to my ears. I know tons of people who have never read a book for their own pleasure… which means, I can assume, once they left school, they never picked up another book. And even that might be too generous. I’m willing to bet many of those people rarely read books even while at school. My point is… I love books. And I love people who read them. This may be where I’m most prejudiced. (hey whether we want to admit it or not, we all are in some way.) I make assumptions about people who don’t like to read. Sometimes I’m right, sometimes I’m wrong. So I guess it’s safer to say I like people who read books. In fact I may as go so far as to say I adore people who like to read books. I don’t know what it is. I guess I figure it says a lot about a person's character. Sort of like how people who like/are kind to dogs. I dunno. but I don’t think there’s much that could make me like you more.Naps --
From the time I finally was old enough not to be forced to take naps until I left college I NEVER napped. It wasn’t until I was living on my own (more or less) in Virginia and had a job with completely random hours (sometimes leave at 9:30PM one night and then have to be there before 6AM the next morning. And of course it was around these types of days that there would be some kind of crisis at the apartment, but that‘s another story.) Naturally one day, I started napping. It was usually during one of my Scrubs marathons. It was so weird at first since, as I said, I hadn’t really napped since I was about 5. Yes, I can be kinda grouchy and out of it for a while after I wake up from naps, but when my alarm goes off in the morning, the first thing I think is: What’s the earliest I can take a nap? And then… I’m happy.
Quotes--
It took me a while before I realized it, but apparently I collect quotes. Many of my books are dog-eared, or there are lists of page numbers, I’ve got a few notebooks with quotes from songs, movies, plays, tv, essays, the radio, people I know, newspapers, even one from a video game I played long ago (The quote is still one of my favorites : ”…The two would never be separated, and some say they are still together, up among the stars, where hamsters are giants and men become legends.” Of course it makes no sense unless you know the game). But I think my favorite is from Castaway: “And I know what I have to do now. I have to keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”
Photography--
I think it’s pretty obvious. I mean, I majored in photography. I don’t think I can really describe how much I enjoy wandering around with a bag full of cameras (especially in foreign countries), or working in a darkroom. (I’ve never admitted it to anyone but when I’m there alone I sometimes sing. Out loud. It’s terrible. … oh and I think the dark room in college was haunted, but that is also another story.) I’ve learned to love sitting in front of a computer to work on photos too. Gotta change with the times, I guess. (even though some of the changes aren’t that great… like Polaroid not making film anymore! Gasp!) Sometimes hours will disappear without me even noticing. It’s frustrating as hell, but I still love it. Oh yeh, and you can buy it. So…. buy it.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Things that make me happy: part 1: art
Sometimes I get the impression that people think I'm gloomy. So maybe I am kinda quiet. And maybe I don't smile a whole heck of a lot. I smile when I have a reason to. And I laugh (sincerely laugh) even more rarely than I smile. But my humor is dry, and laughing ruins it!But when I'm around people I like, I laugh a lot. For instance, today I was out shopping with a friend and I was laughing so much, and so obnoxiously I think I got on a lot of people's nerves. But I was slightly hopped up on pain meds/lack of sleep. Plus, we were having such a good time. (except when we stopped to get drinks and that a-hole asked Jen if I was her mother. Admittedly, Jen does look kinda young, and I am older than her, but still! her MOTHER?!) So screw them. (I feel kinda guilty about using such a bad picture of Jen, so here's a sneak peek of a photo I'm hoping to use in a future entry.)
Anyway, I think I drifted on a little tangent there...
My point is, I'm a lot more optimistic than people realize. Uh, but I like to consider myself an optimist with pessimistic tendencies. Pessimism and sarcasm kinda go hand in hand, don't they? And personally, I can't live without sarcasm. But that's beside the point! I'm happy! So I thought, through a series of blogs I'd share a few of the things that make me happy. And here we go... with art.
Anyway, I think I drifted on a little tangent there...
My point is, I'm a lot more optimistic than people realize. Uh, but I like to consider myself an optimist with pessimistic tendencies. Pessimism and sarcasm kinda go hand in hand, don't they? And personally, I can't live without sarcasm. But that's beside the point! I'm happy! So I thought, through a series of blogs I'd share a few of the things that make me happy. And here we go... with art.
 | I don't know who took this photo, but this sad little beat - up 4x6 is one of my most prized possessions. I worked in a camera store after college where this photo was taped up on the wall in the lab... most likely it was taken by one of our customers (or a customer from 10 years prior to that) and one of the techs liked it enough to save it. Every time I walked into the lab this photo caught my eye. When I finally left, I took the photo with me. And I'm still deliriously happy I did. |
| Growing up we had a book of the painting collection at the Louvre. These days the spine is broken and the pages are falling out. Whether this was caused by me looking at it a billion times, or simply because the book is too freaking huge and heavy to be supported by that wimpy little spine, we may never |  The Burial of Atalaby Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson 1808 |
 |
| Emil Nolde was another subject of a poem I wrote back in the day. And the topic of a paper for an art history class. The guy’s pretty interesting and controversial. He was a Nazi supporter in the beginning, but his work was then condemned by Hitler as “degenerate art.” But Mr. Nolde didn’t give up; he kept painting in secret and was later awarded some pretty high honors by Germany. Anyhoo… This is my favorite piece by him. In fact, one of the main reasons I did my paper on his was so I’d have a reason to take the slide out of the art building and scan it for myself. I’m particularly fond of the little touches of light he put on the edges of the clouds. Told you I was a sucker for things with light. |  |
 | I love Louis Comfort Tiffany. And the weird thing is, you can buy Tshirts on amazon.com that say those very words. (I love the guy, but don't shirts and hats seem a just little random?) I realized he did more than lamps on my first trip to the Met. (I love the Met, too. I sometimes wish I lived closer to NY just so I could go there on a regular basis.) His lamps don’t really tickle my fancy, but I love the panels. How can you not when they look like this? |
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Late Bloomer
When I get a new CD I tend to listen to it once or twice, then put it away. I like to let it ferment for a while. That way when I put it back in my player the songs sound familiar ... and it's sort of like finding an old friend. This is especially helpful when you're not sure whether you're going to like something... or not.
My most recent "old friend" was Brandi Carlile's "The Story". I bought it almost a year ago after hearing the title track on the radio. It took a few tries to get into it a second time. It's a little overly dramatic. A little chichéd. Some of the lines make me cringe like you wouldn't believe. ("Even when I was flat broke you made me feel like a million bucks"? .. excuse me, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.) But over all it's mostly very enjoyable. I'm not a big fan of female singers. I can only listen to Rachel Yamagata or Regina Spektor for extended periods of time... everyone else just kinda drives me nutty after a while, but I'm really enjoying this at the moment.
Just kinda wanted to share. Other than that, this is rather pointless.
Anyway, of course my favorite song is the "hidden" track, and naturally it's unavailable online. So enjoy this video. I love the old guy with the piano. or try this video .
And then, if you so choose, here are the songs from the CD. well.. the ones I could find.
My most recent "old friend" was Brandi Carlile's "The Story". I bought it almost a year ago after hearing the title track on the radio. It took a few tries to get into it a second time. It's a little overly dramatic. A little chichéd. Some of the lines make me cringe like you wouldn't believe. ("Even when I was flat broke you made me feel like a million bucks"? .. excuse me, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.) But over all it's mostly very enjoyable. I'm not a big fan of female singers. I can only listen to Rachel Yamagata or Regina Spektor for extended periods of time... everyone else just kinda drives me nutty after a while, but I'm really enjoying this at the moment.
Just kinda wanted to share. Other than that, this is rather pointless.
Anyway, of course my favorite song is the "hidden" track, and naturally it's unavailable online. So enjoy this video. I love the old guy with the piano. or try this video .
And then, if you so choose, here are the songs from the CD. well.. the ones I could find.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sucky Things Suck.
Is it me or are there more completely sucky things these days? They’re everywhere! I feel like I’m being bombarded with more crappy movies than ever. Okay... so its not like I actually see them when they come out, most of these I saw as reruns on weekend TV. These can’t even be placed in that category where the movie is so utterly craptastic it becomes completely awesome again. (i.e. Lying in Wait. Well, it does star the spectacular Rutger Hauer, so… you know.) Here's just a few things that have been getting on my nerves lately...
Movies:
War of the Worlds – Oh Stephen Spielberg… This makes me sad. Probably the hands down worst alien invaders movie I’ve ever seen (uh.. not that I've seen a lot. I think the only other one I've seen was Independence Day). My favorite part of the whole movie watching experience was when my mom and I gave up trying to enjoy it and just started pointing out the oxymorons and plot-holes.
The Number 23 – Just… wha? I really am speechless about the whole thing.
Bulletproof Monk – Oh come on! What the hell is she wearing at the end?! She’s walking around a busy park/common area wearing some hideous red leather matrix style thingy-- and not one person does a double take!
The Sweetest Thing – I dunno. I'd heard some several people that this was pretty good. They were right, assuming "pretty good" is code for "the crappiest romantic comedy you will see in a looooong time." But eh, I've come to accept almost anything with Cameron Diaz is guaranteed crap.
Songs:
Through Glass by Stone Sour – this song has been getting on my nerves for about 2 years now. The lyrics are just heinous…. It's like some pathetic angsty teenager tried to write some super deep poem that was so filled with clichés and similes, it didn’t make sense anymore. And then there’s the video… it’s been described as “clever.” Uh… sure... if you have a half a pea brain in your little pea head and need the “message” smooshed in your face every 2 seconds.
Thnks fr th Mmrs by Fall Out Boy – First of all, all the vowels from the title were so embarrassed to be associated with such crap, they ran off. And… parts of the song remind me of when N’Sync guest starred on the Simpsons and the kids formed The Party Posse…
Books:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger -- okay so I know this book was a huge hit, and they’re even making a movie of it… but I must be missing something. I thought it was terribly predictable and while I’m usually okay with things that involve time travel and am willing to occasionally overlook some inconsistencies and problems with logic/physics (I am in no way an expert) I was just completely bothered by some pretty major issues that she glossed over with some incredibly lame excuses.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen – another one that’s gotten a buttload of attention… and I’m just not sure why. Possibly the most predictable book I’ve ever read. Not one single word surprised me.
Oh the other hand:
things that give me hope that there is still goodness in the world:
Waitress -- starring Keri Russell
Atonement (the book) – by Ian McEwan
some things on deviantART
My new shoes
And finally, enjoy this little picture for the upcoming "holiday."
Movies:
War of the Worlds – Oh Stephen Spielberg… This makes me sad. Probably the hands down worst alien invaders movie I’ve ever seen (uh.. not that I've seen a lot. I think the only other one I've seen was Independence Day). My favorite part of the whole movie watching experience was when my mom and I gave up trying to enjoy it and just started pointing out the oxymorons and plot-holes.
The Number 23 – Just… wha? I really am speechless about the whole thing.
Bulletproof Monk – Oh come on! What the hell is she wearing at the end?! She’s walking around a busy park/common area wearing some hideous red leather matrix style thingy-- and not one person does a double take!
The Sweetest Thing – I dunno. I'd heard some several people that this was pretty good. They were right, assuming "pretty good" is code for "the crappiest romantic comedy you will see in a looooong time." But eh, I've come to accept almost anything with Cameron Diaz is guaranteed crap.
Songs:
Through Glass by Stone Sour – this song has been getting on my nerves for about 2 years now. The lyrics are just heinous…. It's like some pathetic angsty teenager tried to write some super deep poem that was so filled with clichés and similes, it didn’t make sense anymore. And then there’s the video… it’s been described as “clever.” Uh… sure... if you have a half a pea brain in your little pea head and need the “message” smooshed in your face every 2 seconds.
Thnks fr th Mmrs by Fall Out Boy – First of all, all the vowels from the title were so embarrassed to be associated with such crap, they ran off. And… parts of the song remind me of when N’Sync guest starred on the Simpsons and the kids formed The Party Posse…
Books:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger -- okay so I know this book was a huge hit, and they’re even making a movie of it… but I must be missing something. I thought it was terribly predictable and while I’m usually okay with things that involve time travel and am willing to occasionally overlook some inconsistencies and problems with logic/physics (I am in no way an expert) I was just completely bothered by some pretty major issues that she glossed over with some incredibly lame excuses.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen – another one that’s gotten a buttload of attention… and I’m just not sure why. Possibly the most predictable book I’ve ever read. Not one single word surprised me.
Oh the other hand:
things that give me hope that there is still goodness in the world:
Waitress -- starring Keri Russell
Atonement (the book) – by Ian McEwan
some things on deviantART
My new shoes
And finally, enjoy this little picture for the upcoming "holiday."
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
the old apartment
Been feeling a little nostalgic for my old apartment. It was on the second floor of an old farmhouse, with most of the out-buildings still standing, so naturally there were lots of photo opportunities. The house itself was located in a "quaint" little town called Berryville (see the church on the left at the very top of the page? My place was directly across the street. The town had 2 stop lights and a population of about 3000, but there were at least 10 churches. From my apartment I could see ... or hear... no less than 4 of them.)
I've also been needing to get working on photos again... so I indulged my nostalgia and took care of the artsy needs at the same time. These here photos are the result. All are were taken in, around, or near my apartment in Virginia... enjoy!
The knocker on the front door of the downstairs apartment. Yup, it says Warner! Thought this would look good as an album cover...
Sunlight coming in through the kitchen window...
Lots of old junk in the barn out back, including this cabinet.
And this chair...
Various photogenic cats who resided with us at one time or another... Mr. Paddington "Cat" Paws, Linus, and Warner.
The hallway. With the hideous carpet.
One of my best friends and my former roomie. I think she hates this photo and I'm sure she'll kill me if she ever sees it...
Player piano, also in the barn.
The bulb and the pot were hanging out on the shed from the day I moved in until the day I moved out. And call me a dork, but I hope they're still there.
I had big plans, but I never did get around to painting the shutters...
Holy crap, I loved when the weather finally got warm enough to open the windows. I'd open both in my room and still between them and read... That's one of the things I miss the most.
Along Route 7 on the way to Leesburg.
One snowy night... if you take 30 paces straight through the middle of the photo, you get to Subway. Was I a lucky girl or what?
I've also been needing to get working on photos again... so I indulged my nostalgia and took care of the artsy needs at the same time. These here photos are the result. All are were taken in, around, or near my apartment in Virginia... enjoy!
Press play:
The knocker on the front door of the downstairs apartment. Yup, it says Warner! Thought this would look good as an album cover...Sunlight coming in through the kitchen window...Lots of old junk in the barn out back, including this cabinet.And this chair...Various photogenic cats who resided with us at one time or another... Mr. Paddington "Cat" Paws, Linus, and Warner.The hallway. With the hideous carpet.One of my best friends and my former roomie. I think she hates this photo and I'm sure she'll kill me if she ever sees it...Player piano, also in the barn.
The bulb and the pot were hanging out on the shed from the day I moved in until the day I moved out. And call me a dork, but I hope they're still there.I had big plans, but I never did get around to painting the shutters...Holy crap, I loved when the weather finally got warm enough to open the windows. I'd open both in my room and still between them and read... That's one of the things I miss the most.Along Route 7 on the way to Leesburg.One snowy night... if you take 30 paces straight through the middle of the photo, you get to Subway. Was I a lucky girl or what?Thursday, January 31, 2008
My most romantic Valentine’s Day memories. (or, people are a-holes)
I know Valentine’s Day is still two weeks away, but I’ve gotten into the spirit! Uh, well, as much into the spirit as someone who doesn’t really see the point in the “holiday” can. Anyway, it’s hard to avoid the commercials. They keep playing this one on the radio for a jewelry store that sells these hideous gifts. The one radio dude says he has yet to meet a woman who doesn’t LOVE them. Uh, I’m willing to bet I could find a virtually endless supply of women who would throw up a little at the sight of them. It’s the kind of tacky crap you expect to see in the houses of people who suddenly have too much money and don’t know what to do with it. … you know, sitting in a crystal vase on a table, next to a golden cherub fountain on top of a zebra print rug.
Valentine’s Day is bologna. And I’m not saying that just because I’ve been single for the last 27 V-Days…Many people believe Valentine’s Day was created by Hallmark to encourage people to buy worthless crap for their loved ones. I worked for Hallmark, so you can stop believing, and start knowing this is an actual fact.
But I digress.
So my first extra romantic Valentine’s Day story takes place a few years go, and actually I can’t remember if it was my first or second winter in Virginia, but it doesn’t matter, really. Anyway, it was Valentine’s and Kris and I were both single, so that night when she got home from school we decided to go into town for dinner. “In town” means “not where we lived”. We had about 5 restaurants, only 2 of which were any good. We should have just stayed in our little two-stop-light town where they knew us and liked us. But as they say, hindsight is 20/20. After driving around for a while, we finally settled on a restaurant (we’re indecisive when it comes to food… pretty much because we like everything).
We went in, and it was nearly empty. So we waited. And got hungry. And then after that we waited some more. Now I have to point out, the residents of Virginia are awfully polite. Not all of them, but a lot. My dad commented on it when I first moved down. I didn’t really notice until I moved back to Pennsylvania that he was right. So it was a little weird that no one even acknowledged we were there. However, that particular area of Virginia is also known for not being particularly open-minded. I told Kristi it was probably because they thought we were lesbians out on a romantic Valentines date. I have to admit, we never did get good service there (or anywhere, really. When Kris and I get together, we will consistently attract the worst server in the joint… Seriously, just ask Kristi about the guy at Perkins and the “brain muffins”). I was sort of joking about the whole lesbians thing, but I think I hit the nail on the head.
Eventually we just left. So we tried another place and luckily did get seated, had some excellent food, and some sparkling conversation (but of course!). But you wouldn’t believe the looks we got. We should have started making out and really riled things up!
My other extra special romantic Valentines Day memory is shorter…There’s a local shop that has always been a little infamous for the messages it will put on its sign. They’re just a tad controversial, you see. One Valentine’s Day the sign read:
Get your wife what she REALLY wants for Valentine’s Day: A vacuum cleaner!
Awesome.
Also, on a completely unrelated topic, you should read this book:
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