I forgot to recap my weekend. I don't want y'all to think I had an unworthy-of-recap sort of weekend. I'd hate for y'all to think I don't do anything unless I get free tix handed to me (ie: Red Sox last weekend)
Well, the weekend started out rather foully, when, on my way southward to Windsor on I91, I ran over who-effing-knows-what and blew out my rear passenger's side tire. It was no dramatic blow-out (like "kaaa-BLAMMO!!" and then me fishtailing all over the place) But I just heard something rattle against my undercarriage (I never did see what it was I hit...sounded like a stick, oddly enough) moments later, I noticed the increase in road noise..realized what that meant. Shiiiiiiit!! My exit was in sight at this point and I was really averse to pulling over on the interstate...so I drove on it aways. Yeah, yeah, I know...stupid. I just drove to the park & ride that's right near the exit ramp. And luckily, I did not fuck up my rim by doing so. Wrecked the steel belts though.
I had been on my way to meet up with my sis & the fam at the Moondance in Windsor, so, knowing that that crew was a mere 2 miles away, I rang my bro-in-law's cell. And he came (what seemed like eons later) with his pal Tom. I had already tried (& miserably failed) with a can of that Fix-a-flat schmeg. I got the jack, tire iron, & doughnut out of the trunk , and then some old biker dude stepped in to lend a hand. By the time Greg got there, there was not much left to do aside from tighten the lugs on the doughnut. Greg is insistent, though, that his arrival on the scene saved me from almost certain defiling and/or murder. Pishaw! The guy was this old chatty, Harley guy, possibly a vagrant. I am 98% sure he was harmless. It's the pasty faced dudes with Dwight Shrute style glasses who drive vans that you gotsta look out for.
In retrospect, it kinda pisses me off that I felt compelled to call Greg, and that I accepted help from some Harley dude (which is not to say that I didn't appreciate it. And I was very profuse with my thank-yous. Nauseatingly so. Shockingly, I refrained from busting out the Southern belle accent to coo "Ah have always depended on the kaaahndness of strangahs") But damn it... I know how to use a jack! I can capably weild a tire iron...I think.. Grrr!! I feel like I've let down the cause.
Anyways, after a quick detour to drop my gimpy be-doughnutted auto off at my parents', I went to the Moondance. The Moondance is this annual thang Windsor holds every Oct where they close off a section of Main St and have vendors, bands, fatty fair food, BEER. Oh this year they had fire baton jugglers...that was cool. Unfortunately, I missed the tarot & palm readers they had down at the hairdressers. I had wanted to pop in and get a reading (which I would only consent to if the medium/seer/sage/whatev. agreed at the outset that she would withhold any bad shit she foresaw) but forgot all about it.
Saturday was uneventful. It was basically, "figure-out-what-to-do-with-my-gimpy-car" day. I wound up taking my Dad's truck & bringing one of my winter tires to Walmart to get mounted onto my busted tire's rim. Now that is a surprisingly cheap procedure, I was pleased to learn. Dad tells me I've got to either get my other 3 winters mounted and put on the jalopy or I have to find another similar (if not same brand) all-season and swap that1 winter out. Does it really make a fat lotta difference ?? Really?? As you can see, I just wanna be done with the whole hassle. I suppose, ultimately, I'll just put on my 3 winters ( that will be cheaper as far as *immediate* expenses go, although I will have to get 1 more all season eventually) but knowing me I'll procrastinate for as long as I can.
Sunday was Octoberfest at Harpoon brewery. So, yeah, the mega-abridged version of my weekend would be-- Beer/ tire shopping / more beer. I was meeting Pam there at noon and had to stop at the store then gas up , making me about 15min late. But I called and left her voicemails (this time all profuse with the sorrys) When Pam & her boyfriend showed up approx 1hr & 45min late, my own guilt subsided quite a bit. Luckily, I'd run into some other people I knew (one of whom--bonus!!-- gave me some of his beer tickets) that's lucky for Pam, I mean, otherwise, I mighta been one pissed Octoberfester.
And Sunday night, like I mentioned in yesterday's post, I caught up on Grey's Anatomy (and Ugly Betty now that I think of it) with my sis. And maaaaan, I dunno if it was loitering about in the sun all day or the beer (or beer & sun collaborating to plague me) but I had a BITCH of a headache Sunday night...
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
TV chatter...
Heroes is on tonight ...yippy skippy. I've been rather enjoying Season 2's absence of Nikki/Jessica and her whole snooooooze of a subplot but I believe she's on tonight. Pissah. Still, I am eager for this episode. How the hell is Sylar back? Did he not get "run through" (swordplay jargon there). I thought he did, but last May seems a loooong time ago, and I swear, I can't remember clearly how most of these shows left off! I think he would've had to kill Clare and ingest her cerebellum (or whatever the hell his M.O. is) in order to acquire her invincibility. In a totally separate vein, I forget what happened to Invisible Claude. He didn't get killed or anything did he? Either way, they should contrive a way to bring him back. I enjoyed him. And I *REALLY* enjoy new amnesiac Peter. What a difference the right haircut & a layer of grit makes, eh? If he saved me from peril as he did that Irish barmaid, I would not be too proud to take him down via lust-induced tackle. However, it seems aforementioned Irish barmaid holds off until tonight's eppy. Oh, also I am looking forward to how West starts that "Oh, hey...saw you lop off your little toe and regenerate a new one" conversation with Claire.
I've also been tuning in to Chuck before Heroes. It's by no means "must-see TV" but it's pleasant enough. Zachary Levi really carries the show, though. His character is quite likeable but everyone else seems pretty cardboard.
Oh and speaking of NBC's Monday night lineup...what's with Medium being off until January? It's fine for shows like Nip/Tuck (on FX) to set their own wonky seasons, but this is NETWORK TV, people!! I thought perhaps it had been silently, covertly cancelled, but according to TV.com its status is "returning series" with Season 4 premiering in January. (TV.com also classes Men in Trees as a "returning series" but I feel pretty sure that show is a goner) I don't really care...I tune in sporadically at best. But I do like Jake Weber (my thing for him held over from my brief, ardent viewership of American Gothic 10 yrs ago) and like for him to be employed.
Last night I finally got around to watching Grey's Anatomy. Laura had it DVRed and I came over and watched it w/ her. We are pretty much in agreement about George & Izzie being an utterly repugnant couple. I say "pretty much" because we do differ on one point. I think Izzie is a redeemable character while Laura sez this horrid little romance ruins both characters indefinitely. Now I liked both George & Izzie before they decided, quite suddenly, that they was IN LOOOOVE. But George, methinks, has done far too much angsty whining, and pissing and moaning to wile his way back into my good graces. And worst of all, of course, is the impending heart-stomping he is going to give poor Callie (whom I like). But Izzie, while I suppose she is just as angsty and whiny as George, yet somehow I still like her just a smidge. I'm thinking she can turn this around--an affair with Sloane, perhaps?---and win back my favor. Ok that potential plot seems out of left field I know, but I do have a good argument for it. I've thought before that Sloane & Izzie would make a good pair. Think about it.. a big reason why Izzie & George don't work is that they're too much alike. Neurotic whiny sensitive type+ Neurotic whiny sensitive type = BLAH match up. You need 2 contrasting types to create TV chemistry, y'know? Izzie is all addled & neurotic, Sloane is cool & guarded. Sort of that interesting princess & rogue pairing (need I point out who is the "rogue" in this scenario? Sloane is the rogue. A DAMN sexy rogue, too, I must interject!! As long as I'm interjecting, I gotta grouse --it just kills me that Eric Dane is married to that Noxema Girl. I mean, I do realize it would be unreasonable of me to expect a fine-ass specimen such as McSteamy hisself to be single. But married to her? Really?? UGGGH -- she irritated me ages ago in those infernal commercials and she irritates me still. Sorry...have rather veered off topic, haven't I??)
Ok, secondly, what nifty poetic justice would it be if George & Izzie embarked on this ill-advised relationship and after they were well into it, Izzie winds up in some unavoidable mad love affair with Sloane and realizes (& must tell George) that she made a big mistake with him. Just like he did to poor Callie. That would be excellent.
I really DON'T expect that storyline to ever materialize, as these dramas never play out like I think they should (ridiculous!). But whatever plans Grey's has for Season 4 , they NEED to give McSteamy more to do. I like how his friendship w/ Derek is on the mend, but still, he is tragically underutilized. He needs something of a storyline. Ideally, he oughtta acquire a storyline of his own and some lovin'. Karev needs some lovin' too, come to think of it. That chick he saved during that ferry/bridge catastrophe does not count. Nothing really actually happened with her, which was just as well because she was LAME. I don't mean lame , as in unable to walk (although that may have been...having a slab o' concrete land on you can tend to hinder your perambulatory functions) I mean lame as in she sucked, I didn't like her. I mean, of course she was sucky, dude more or less found her under a rock, am I right??
Oh, and Addison needs to come back. I accidentally watched episode 2 of Private Practice and things ain't lookin' good for that newbie. I'm sure Seattle Grace will take her back right?? I had watched the weak-ass pilot for Private Practice, beheld that it was horrible, with all the pith and nuance of an infomercial, and earmarked the show as "one to skip". But last week, I taped the Pushing Daisies premiere but was unsure if it started up @ 8pm or 9pm so I just taped ABC from 8pm -10pm. So I saw that I'd caught PP as well, and opted to watch it, purely out of my strong inclination for always giving the benefit of the doubt. Good shows sometimes have bad pilots, y'know. Pilots sometimes must be very explanatory and have no momentum behind them so I see how they're tough to do. So I watched this PP episode, but ehh, no. The show is still crap. They had a very sad plot about a baby switch, but it was entirely the guest starring cast that made that story poignant. The regular cast was as dull and flat as ever. Kate Walsh was so excellent on Grey's too. She should just abandon ship as soon as possible, man.
Oh, but Pushing Daisies was pretty terrif. Quirky & whimsical, like I thought it would be, though I did not predict that I would be so smitten with Lee Pace. First off, for a guy, I detest the name Lee. Sure, there are worse guy names, and probably I wouldn't hate it so much if it didn't make me think of Lee Majors. LAME. Secondly, the guy did not look overly attractive in any of the ads for the show. And he's not traditionally foxy but..hmmm..I dunno.. he's got something. He has his own distinct mojo, I think. But anyways, if you have a free 8-9 slot in your Wednesday night (or in your DVR/Tivo's Wednesday night) you should seek this one out. I am curioso...can DVRs record 2 shows that air simultaneously?? I--obviously--do not have one. I eye my sister's covetously, that's as close as I get to this awe inspiring techno-marvel. Waaah.
I've also been tuning in to Chuck before Heroes. It's by no means "must-see TV" but it's pleasant enough. Zachary Levi really carries the show, though. His character is quite likeable but everyone else seems pretty cardboard.
Oh and speaking of NBC's Monday night lineup...what's with Medium being off until January? It's fine for shows like Nip/Tuck (on FX) to set their own wonky seasons, but this is NETWORK TV, people!! I thought perhaps it had been silently, covertly cancelled, but according to TV.com its status is "returning series" with Season 4 premiering in January. (TV.com also classes Men in Trees as a "returning series" but I feel pretty sure that show is a goner) I don't really care...I tune in sporadically at best. But I do like Jake Weber (my thing for him held over from my brief, ardent viewership of American Gothic 10 yrs ago) and like for him to be employed.
Last night I finally got around to watching Grey's Anatomy. Laura had it DVRed and I came over and watched it w/ her. We are pretty much in agreement about George & Izzie being an utterly repugnant couple. I say "pretty much" because we do differ on one point. I think Izzie is a redeemable character while Laura sez this horrid little romance ruins both characters indefinitely. Now I liked both George & Izzie before they decided, quite suddenly, that they was IN LOOOOVE. But George, methinks, has done far too much angsty whining, and pissing and moaning to wile his way back into my good graces. And worst of all, of course, is the impending heart-stomping he is going to give poor Callie (whom I like). But Izzie, while I suppose she is just as angsty and whiny as George, yet somehow I still like her just a smidge. I'm thinking she can turn this around--an affair with Sloane, perhaps?---and win back my favor. Ok that potential plot seems out of left field I know, but I do have a good argument for it. I've thought before that Sloane & Izzie would make a good pair. Think about it.. a big reason why Izzie & George don't work is that they're too much alike. Neurotic whiny sensitive type+ Neurotic whiny sensitive type = BLAH match up. You need 2 contrasting types to create TV chemistry, y'know? Izzie is all addled & neurotic, Sloane is cool & guarded. Sort of that interesting princess & rogue pairing (need I point out who is the "rogue" in this scenario? Sloane is the rogue. A DAMN sexy rogue, too, I must interject!! As long as I'm interjecting, I gotta grouse --it just kills me that Eric Dane is married to that Noxema Girl. I mean, I do realize it would be unreasonable of me to expect a fine-ass specimen such as McSteamy hisself to be single. But married to her? Really?? UGGGH -- she irritated me ages ago in those infernal commercials and she irritates me still. Sorry...have rather veered off topic, haven't I??)
Ok, secondly, what nifty poetic justice would it be if George & Izzie embarked on this ill-advised relationship and after they were well into it, Izzie winds up in some unavoidable mad love affair with Sloane and realizes (& must tell George) that she made a big mistake with him. Just like he did to poor Callie. That would be excellent.
I really DON'T expect that storyline to ever materialize, as these dramas never play out like I think they should (ridiculous!). But whatever plans Grey's has for Season 4 , they NEED to give McSteamy more to do. I like how his friendship w/ Derek is on the mend, but still, he is tragically underutilized. He needs something of a storyline. Ideally, he oughtta acquire a storyline of his own and some lovin'. Karev needs some lovin' too, come to think of it. That chick he saved during that ferry/bridge catastrophe does not count. Nothing really actually happened with her, which was just as well because she was LAME. I don't mean lame , as in unable to walk (although that may have been...having a slab o' concrete land on you can tend to hinder your perambulatory functions) I mean lame as in she sucked, I didn't like her. I mean, of course she was sucky, dude more or less found her under a rock, am I right??
Oh, and Addison needs to come back. I accidentally watched episode 2 of Private Practice and things ain't lookin' good for that newbie. I'm sure Seattle Grace will take her back right?? I had watched the weak-ass pilot for Private Practice, beheld that it was horrible, with all the pith and nuance of an infomercial, and earmarked the show as "one to skip". But last week, I taped the Pushing Daisies premiere but was unsure if it started up @ 8pm or 9pm so I just taped ABC from 8pm -10pm. So I saw that I'd caught PP as well, and opted to watch it, purely out of my strong inclination for always giving the benefit of the doubt. Good shows sometimes have bad pilots, y'know. Pilots sometimes must be very explanatory and have no momentum behind them so I see how they're tough to do. So I watched this PP episode, but ehh, no. The show is still crap. They had a very sad plot about a baby switch, but it was entirely the guest starring cast that made that story poignant. The regular cast was as dull and flat as ever. Kate Walsh was so excellent on Grey's too. She should just abandon ship as soon as possible, man.
Oh, but Pushing Daisies was pretty terrif. Quirky & whimsical, like I thought it would be, though I did not predict that I would be so smitten with Lee Pace. First off, for a guy, I detest the name Lee. Sure, there are worse guy names, and probably I wouldn't hate it so much if it didn't make me think of Lee Majors. LAME. Secondly, the guy did not look overly attractive in any of the ads for the show. And he's not traditionally foxy but..hmmm..I dunno.. he's got something. He has his own distinct mojo, I think. But anyways, if you have a free 8-9 slot in your Wednesday night (or in your DVR/Tivo's Wednesday night) you should seek this one out. I am curioso...can DVRs record 2 shows that air simultaneously?? I--obviously--do not have one. I eye my sister's covetously, that's as close as I get to this awe inspiring techno-marvel. Waaah.
Friday, October 05, 2007
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Wa' me --YOOOOOOU--crank dat soulja boy (WTF?)
"Crank that Soulja Boy (Supaman)" is playing in my earbuds at present (on the Accuradio "HitKast" channel) It's an effective song in that the beat does make me want to dance (Dance Apart To the Beat..that is....thanks , Chubby Checker!) but what's really got me enthralled is the litany of gibberish that's passing for lyrics in this song. I particularly like that howlin' "YOOOOOU!" that starts off (and closes) the song. I know it's way "square" of me to be looking for any sense or coherence here, but I can't help it. I think he's saying something about RoboCop...repeated references to Superman....super soakers? Baby mate? Did he say "baby mate"? What in the name of Pete's Dragon is any of this shit about???? I suppose I could just look up the lyrics of this thing, but I have a feeling that that would not shed any light on anything. This song has got me utterly perplexed...maybe a little obsessed...this is my 4th consecutive listen.
I've been listening to a lot of Accuradio today. I do love my tunes, but another reason I've kept the earbuds in today is that I DON'T WANT TO SOCIALIZE with anybody. So I've been listening to music, zoning out doing order entry, talking only when I get calls... It's funny...I always name my coworkers as the #1 best thing about my job, and I don't retract that , but lately they've been getting on my f-ing nerves. Well not ALL of 'em. Just Robin & Lisa, really. But lemme say, in their defense, that I'm sure it's at least 80% me. I'm either getting pissed because I feel they're always on my case or just crazy irritated by their dumb jokes. I don't want to be so cross, I'm thinking if I withdraw from office society for the day it'll somehow restore my core of Zenny calm.
OK...back to the tunes I've been listening to (because I feel like a HUGE bitch sniping about my mates behind they backs) Here's some of the noteworthy stuff...
*Stronger --Kanye West: I know a week or so ago, I proclaimed myself a member of "Team Fiddy" and liked Ayo Technology better than Stronger. Well, I've changed my stance on that. That's my prerogative.I can do that. I still like Ayo Technology, but after a coupla listens, Stronger has really grown on me. I think I may have been initially swayed by the appearance of Justin Timberlake in 50's video. Oh, and Timbaland...I like him too (ahh, but *not* in the same way I dig JT) And even though Timbaland is an awesome collaborator, he's kinda become the standard "go-to guy" hasn't he? And so I applaud Kanye for choosing Daft Punk to partner up with....it's sort of (pardon the corporate jargon) "out-of-the-box thinking" and shows stellar taste (I love Daft Punk).
*Hey There Delilah--Plain White T's: I shouldn't put this under "Tunes I've Been Listening To" heading...I should instead use a heading like "Songs I Keep Hearing the Make Me Rush Feverishly for the Skip Button" That's a smidge lengthy though, eh? Initially I was apathetic toward the Delilah song but I've grown to loathe it fervently. And it's all I can do to avoid the thing!! Undoubtedly the hearing it come on the radio ('net or car radio) something like 900 times daily accounts for the rapid apathy-to-hatred demotion.
*Wake-up Call--Maroon 5 : Love this song. Love Adam Levine more...I would NEVER play him like that!!
*Glamorous--Fergie: I do like this song actually. But am kind of anti-Fergie (pants pisser!) So although I enjoy every listen of the tune, it totally improves the song (for me, personally) if , when she sings "sippin', reminiscing on days when I had a Mustang" I sub in the line "sippin, reminiscing on days when I had a MOUSTACHE". HAA.
*I Got it from my Mama-- Will i. am: An ode to genetically bestowed hubba-hubba. Hmm. I don't doubt that Mr. i. am (perhaps when I am referring to him, I should switch to third person? That'd be Mr. he. is) prefers this particular brand of hottie, but in this era of gym junkies and ubiquitous plastic surgery, how relevant is this song?
I was also thinking this tune would be ideal theme music for that atrocious MTV show "Date My Mom" Lemme paste here some lyrics and lay on ya a bit of the gospel of Will he. is.-- "If the girl real fine,Nine times out of ten,She fine just like her mama And if her mama real ugly,I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama If the girl real sexy,Nine times out of ten,She sexy like her mama.If the girl real hot,Nine times out of ten,She hot just like her mama.And if her mama real ugly,I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama "
That's Will .i. am carrying on the fine work of Gregor Mendel. Genetics...they started with peas and now black eyed peas...naw, you know what , there were the stirring of a very witty quip in my head there but I can't seem to construct it properly. Shit.
I've been listening to a lot of Accuradio today. I do love my tunes, but another reason I've kept the earbuds in today is that I DON'T WANT TO SOCIALIZE with anybody. So I've been listening to music, zoning out doing order entry, talking only when I get calls... It's funny...I always name my coworkers as the #1 best thing about my job, and I don't retract that , but lately they've been getting on my f-ing nerves. Well not ALL of 'em. Just Robin & Lisa, really. But lemme say, in their defense, that I'm sure it's at least 80% me. I'm either getting pissed because I feel they're always on my case or just crazy irritated by their dumb jokes. I don't want to be so cross, I'm thinking if I withdraw from office society for the day it'll somehow restore my core of Zenny calm.
OK...back to the tunes I've been listening to (because I feel like a HUGE bitch sniping about my mates behind they backs) Here's some of the noteworthy stuff...
*Stronger --Kanye West: I know a week or so ago, I proclaimed myself a member of "Team Fiddy" and liked Ayo Technology better than Stronger. Well, I've changed my stance on that. That's my prerogative.I can do that. I still like Ayo Technology, but after a coupla listens, Stronger has really grown on me. I think I may have been initially swayed by the appearance of Justin Timberlake in 50's video. Oh, and Timbaland...I like him too (ahh, but *not* in the same way I dig JT) And even though Timbaland is an awesome collaborator, he's kinda become the standard "go-to guy" hasn't he? And so I applaud Kanye for choosing Daft Punk to partner up with....it's sort of (pardon the corporate jargon) "out-of-the-box thinking" and shows stellar taste (I love Daft Punk).
*Hey There Delilah--Plain White T's: I shouldn't put this under "Tunes I've Been Listening To" heading...I should instead use a heading like "Songs I Keep Hearing the Make Me Rush Feverishly for the Skip Button" That's a smidge lengthy though, eh? Initially I was apathetic toward the Delilah song but I've grown to loathe it fervently. And it's all I can do to avoid the thing!! Undoubtedly the hearing it come on the radio ('net or car radio) something like 900 times daily accounts for the rapid apathy-to-hatred demotion.
*Wake-up Call--Maroon 5 : Love this song. Love Adam Levine more...I would NEVER play him like that!!
*Glamorous--Fergie: I do like this song actually. But am kind of anti-Fergie (pants pisser!) So although I enjoy every listen of the tune, it totally improves the song (for me, personally) if , when she sings "sippin', reminiscing on days when I had a Mustang" I sub in the line "sippin, reminiscing on days when I had a MOUSTACHE". HAA.
*I Got it from my Mama-- Will i. am: An ode to genetically bestowed hubba-hubba. Hmm. I don't doubt that Mr. i. am (perhaps when I am referring to him, I should switch to third person? That'd be Mr. he. is) prefers this particular brand of hottie, but in this era of gym junkies and ubiquitous plastic surgery, how relevant is this song?
I was also thinking this tune would be ideal theme music for that atrocious MTV show "Date My Mom" Lemme paste here some lyrics and lay on ya a bit of the gospel of Will he. is.-- "If the girl real fine,Nine times out of ten,She fine just like her mama And if her mama real ugly,I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama If the girl real sexy,Nine times out of ten,She sexy like her mama.If the girl real hot,Nine times out of ten,She hot just like her mama.And if her mama real ugly,I guarantee ya she gon’ be ugly like her mama "
That's Will .i. am carrying on the fine work of Gregor Mendel. Genetics...they started with peas and now black eyed peas...naw, you know what , there were the stirring of a very witty quip in my head there but I can't seem to construct it properly. Shit.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
alternate birthday vegetation plan
Maybe instead of a Halloween movie marathon I could initiate a "Dark Shadows' marathon where a crew hunkered down and watched the whole fucking series. Hmm. The whole fucking series ran from 1966--1971 so that might take considerably longer than the movie marathon. Also there's the issue of procuring the ENTIRE series. But it will be my birthday (and..UGH..a major one, at that) so really, someone should just buy it for me, eh??
willy nilly hodge podge
Today's outfit kind of gives off the impression that I am taking fashion tips from my niece...the 2yr old one. By that, I mean, I look sort of like I'm playing dress-up today.
See, I wanted to wear this skirt ... this floaty, flowy coral thing with silver thread pinstripes running through it. I zeroed in on said skirt because I'd not worn it in a long while and also it would nicely match this silvery pair of earrings I'd made last night (I've been doing beadwork a lot lately...producing like mad...I'm only wearing like 1/8 of the stuff I make...I'm amassing quite the jewelry surplus) So I paired the skirt w/ a black v-neck tee and (because I was cold) a denim jacket. Also, I didn't want my bare legs exposed to the a.m. chilliness (also the skirt is somewhat sheer) so I was going to slip on some black tights. Oh snaaaap...my lone pair of black tights are dirty! But I was not deterred ...I put black leggings on underneath the skirt. Ohhh, and it's infinitely more shabby than the standard(circa 1987) bike shorts/ mid calf leggings under a skirt play. Yeeeah, these leggings come right down to the top of my feets (all the better to conceal my hirsute gams) and you can totally see 'em peeking out from under my skirt. Oh, and on my feet -these beaded silver slipper-like mules. Objectively, I consider the whole ensemble and it makes me cringe. But really, I feel pretty good about it. It seems it's rather liberating to let your inner child pick out your clothes every now & then. Plus, I'm quite happy with my shoes (sometimes shoes really do "make or break it" for me) and these earrings are maaaahvelous (if I do say so myself!!)
I for lunch I had these microwaveable mini quesadillas which were decent, but I felt I needed to accent these 'dillas with dipping condiments, so I'd also procured (at my nearby Shaw's) an 8oz container of sour cream & a tub of guacamole. Thank god for the guac!!! I'd intended to grab the low fat sour cream and made the horrid faux pas of grabbing FAT FREE SOUR CREAM instead. It's amazing how something that is so excellent, condiment ROYALTY, when tweaked ever so slightly, can transmogrify into such heinous slop. It pretty much tastes like plain yogurt..which is also vile.
Tonight I'm back making dinner for my parents on "Make Dinner for the Parents Night" after a 2 week hiatus. I think I'll make turkey sloppy Joes and zucchini fritters. Sound good? I'll letchya know...
Well, due to "Make Dinner for the Parents Night" I am going to miss the series premiere of "Pushing Daisies". What --pardon my brief aside-- the hell is up with the name of that show anyways?? I think it's supposed to be a kind of jokey morbid reference, but then shouldn't it be "Pushing UP Daisies"?? "Pushing Daisies" makes it sound like it's about selling flowers. Minor title quibbles aside, this show looks like it'll be pretty good. Luckily, I had the foresight to tape it. It's gotten a lotta positive pre-premiere buzz, I know that. It looks whimsical yet simultaneously poignant y'know? Like it has that kind of Amelie vibe about it, knowwhatimeanvern? And I DO so enjoy a bit o' whimsy. Plus-- it has Anna Friel in it and she was in the excellent miniseries Our Mutual Friend (which may well be the best $14.99 I ever spent in Borders). Incidentally,later on in her career this lucky lass got to tongue tossle with Gerard Butler in Timeline (a total dud of a film...worthwhile only for ogling GB outfitted in 14th century attire). And the male lead of the show--Lee Pace--well I dunno him from Adam, but I appreciate the retro flavored risk he's taking with his coiffure.
[Seriously, DON'T knock the twist,man. Don't you f***ing dare!! ]
Now let's take a moment, shall we, to learn a bit about Chubby Checker...who turns 66years old today(and YOU thought I was being totally arbitrary...au contraire! It's his b-day, foo!!)
So, fresh fodder for your "ya learn somethin' new everyday file"...here is 3 things you may not have known about Chubby Checker...
1.His birth name is Ernest Evans
2.He has a freakishly tall daughter who plays in the WNBA
3. His website proclaims him the originator of the concept of ""Dancing Apart to the Beat". I'm not entirely sure what he means by that. I think he means that prior to his arrival on the scene, no one was dancing sans partner to a beat? That's what it sounds like...and I'm seriously skeptical that Chubbers can take full credit for that. The best bit on his website is where they describe the twist ( for, I suppose, young 'uns who have never had the thrill of watching the gloriously redunkulous spectacle that is the Twist) . ChubbyChecker.com explains :" The Twist is putting out a cigarette with both feet, wiping off your bottom with a towel to the beat of the music. If you're wiping off your bottom with a towel to the beat your not touching your partner and doing that thing at the same time. This is "Dancing Apart To The Beat".
Uhhh huh... so ok, I was stomping out the 2 ciggies I was smoking in the shower and towelling off my ass at the same time...however I was touching a partner that whole time so I'm not sure quite WHAT I was doing. Apparently I was not following the doctrine of Chubby Checker properly...I dunno. His website's homepage blathers on with even more nonsensical jibber jabber of that nature plus a myriad of moronic grammatical errors.
But hey, don't think I don't appreciate the dude. I do! Firstly & foremostly I am awed & impressed that he attained any degree of success as a singer with that voice he has. It has something of a Kermit the Frog timbre to it...like he might have phlegm welling up in his esophagus. And the Twist...I love. I don't quite understand why I find it so g.d. amusing, but no other dance move evokes a comparable comical effect. Y'know,really sticking out your arse and doing a very exaggerated, fey-wristed, circa 1961 Bandstand twist (imagine doing that in a packed club...HAAA!) And let's not overlook Chub's 1987 collaboration with The Fat Boys. It takes a great & sorta commendable shamelessness to rehash your former glories with The Fat Boys.
So here's to ya, Mr. Checker, sir. I fully intend to towel off my ass in time to some rock 'n' roll music in homage to you today. Happy damn birthday!!
See, I wanted to wear this skirt ... this floaty, flowy coral thing with silver thread pinstripes running through it. I zeroed in on said skirt because I'd not worn it in a long while and also it would nicely match this silvery pair of earrings I'd made last night (I've been doing beadwork a lot lately...producing like mad...I'm only wearing like 1/8 of the stuff I make...I'm amassing quite the jewelry surplus) So I paired the skirt w/ a black v-neck tee and (because I was cold) a denim jacket. Also, I didn't want my bare legs exposed to the a.m. chilliness (also the skirt is somewhat sheer) so I was going to slip on some black tights. Oh snaaaap...my lone pair of black tights are dirty! But I was not deterred ...I put black leggings on underneath the skirt. Ohhh, and it's infinitely more shabby than the standard(circa 1987) bike shorts/ mid calf leggings under a skirt play. Yeeeah, these leggings come right down to the top of my feets (all the better to conceal my hirsute gams) and you can totally see 'em peeking out from under my skirt. Oh, and on my feet -these beaded silver slipper-like mules. Objectively, I consider the whole ensemble and it makes me cringe. But really, I feel pretty good about it. It seems it's rather liberating to let your inner child pick out your clothes every now & then. Plus, I'm quite happy with my shoes (sometimes shoes really do "make or break it" for me) and these earrings are maaaahvelous (if I do say so myself!!)
I for lunch I had these microwaveable mini quesadillas which were decent, but I felt I needed to accent these 'dillas with dipping condiments, so I'd also procured (at my nearby Shaw's) an 8oz container of sour cream & a tub of guacamole. Thank god for the guac!!! I'd intended to grab the low fat sour cream and made the horrid faux pas of grabbing FAT FREE SOUR CREAM instead. It's amazing how something that is so excellent, condiment ROYALTY, when tweaked ever so slightly, can transmogrify into such heinous slop. It pretty much tastes like plain yogurt..which is also vile.
Tonight I'm back making dinner for my parents on "Make Dinner for the Parents Night" after a 2 week hiatus. I think I'll make turkey sloppy Joes and zucchini fritters. Sound good? I'll letchya know...
Well, due to "Make Dinner for the Parents Night" I am going to miss the series premiere of "Pushing Daisies". What --pardon my brief aside-- the hell is up with the name of that show anyways?? I think it's supposed to be a kind of jokey morbid reference, but then shouldn't it be "Pushing UP Daisies"?? "Pushing Daisies" makes it sound like it's about selling flowers. Minor title quibbles aside, this show looks like it'll be pretty good. Luckily, I had the foresight to tape it. It's gotten a lotta positive pre-premiere buzz, I know that. It looks whimsical yet simultaneously poignant y'know? Like it has that kind of Amelie vibe about it, knowwhatimeanvern? And I DO so enjoy a bit o' whimsy. Plus-- it has Anna Friel in it and she was in the excellent miniseries Our Mutual Friend (which may well be the best $14.99 I ever spent in Borders). Incidentally,later on in her career this lucky lass got to tongue tossle with Gerard Butler in Timeline (a total dud of a film...worthwhile only for ogling GB outfitted in 14th century attire). And the male lead of the show--Lee Pace--well I dunno him from Adam, but I appreciate the retro flavored risk he's taking with his coiffure.
[Seriously, DON'T knock the twist,man. Don't you f***ing dare!! ]
Now let's take a moment, shall we, to learn a bit about Chubby Checker...who turns 66years old today(and YOU thought I was being totally arbitrary...au contraire! It's his b-day, foo!!)
So, fresh fodder for your "ya learn somethin' new everyday file"...here is 3 things you may not have known about Chubby Checker...
1.His birth name is Ernest Evans
2.He has a freakishly tall daughter who plays in the WNBA
3. His website proclaims him the originator of the concept of ""Dancing Apart to the Beat". I'm not entirely sure what he means by that. I think he means that prior to his arrival on the scene, no one was dancing sans partner to a beat? That's what it sounds like...and I'm seriously skeptical that Chubbers can take full credit for that. The best bit on his website is where they describe the twist ( for, I suppose, young 'uns who have never had the thrill of watching the gloriously redunkulous spectacle that is the Twist) . ChubbyChecker.com explains :" The Twist is putting out a cigarette with both feet, wiping off your bottom with a towel to the beat of the music. If you're wiping off your bottom with a towel to the beat your not touching your partner and doing that thing at the same time. This is "Dancing Apart To The Beat".
Uhhh huh... so ok, I was stomping out the 2 ciggies I was smoking in the shower and towelling off my ass at the same time...however I was touching a partner that whole time so I'm not sure quite WHAT I was doing. Apparently I was not following the doctrine of Chubby Checker properly...I dunno. His website's homepage blathers on with even more nonsensical jibber jabber of that nature plus a myriad of moronic grammatical errors.
But hey, don't think I don't appreciate the dude. I do! Firstly & foremostly I am awed & impressed that he attained any degree of success as a singer with that voice he has. It has something of a Kermit the Frog timbre to it...like he might have phlegm welling up in his esophagus. And the Twist...I love. I don't quite understand why I find it so g.d. amusing, but no other dance move evokes a comparable comical effect. Y'know,really sticking out your arse and doing a very exaggerated, fey-wristed, circa 1961 Bandstand twist (imagine doing that in a packed club...HAAA!) And let's not overlook Chub's 1987 collaboration with The Fat Boys. It takes a great & sorta commendable shamelessness to rehash your former glories with The Fat Boys.
So here's to ya, Mr. Checker, sir. I fully intend to towel off my ass in time to some rock 'n' roll music in homage to you today. Happy damn birthday!!
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
battle of the Microsoft Paint masterpieces
I was gazing admiringly at my blog's recent picture of Vincent Price playing for the Red Sox (in a thunderstorm) and wondered how this stacked up to last summer's "David Coverdale of Whitesnake Enjoying a Lobster Dinner". Which one is truly my magnum opus??
I feel sure that "David Coverdale...Lobster Dinner " was better executed, but the premise of Vincent Price playing for the Red Sox is faaaaar more amusing.
Really, this should inspire some profound debate that moves one to examine one's philosophy of art. What is more integral to a piece of art's worth-- its aesthetic value or its "message"?? Aristotle, with his concentration on art and its role in society(as in Poetics or Ars Rhetorica) would be the ideal consult for such a debate. Although . . . not only is Aristotle a HUGE Whitesnake fan, he is also known to root for the Yankees. So it would not be unreasonable to question his objectivity in this case.
Perhaps I'll try to summon the spirit of Socrates for consultation instead. After all, any philosopher in the Wyld Stallions posse is A-OK in my book...
I feel sure that "David Coverdale...Lobster Dinner " was better executed, but the premise of Vincent Price playing for the Red Sox is faaaaar more amusing.
Really, this should inspire some profound debate that moves one to examine one's philosophy of art. What is more integral to a piece of art's worth-- its aesthetic value or its "message"?? Aristotle, with his concentration on art and its role in society(as in Poetics or Ars Rhetorica) would be the ideal consult for such a debate. Although . . . not only is Aristotle a HUGE Whitesnake fan, he is also known to root for the Yankees. So it would not be unreasonable to question his objectivity in this case.
Perhaps I'll try to summon the spirit of Socrates for consultation instead. After all, any philosopher in the Wyld Stallions posse is A-OK in my book...
Monday, October 01, 2007
weekend recap (the Reader's Digest version)
Lemme see...
Friday night we had a comical incident with a skunk in the garbage can at my folk's house.
Saturday I didn't do much. I helped my father clean out the old playhouse (am toying with the notion of repurposing that playhouse as like "studio space" now that there's room to move in it) then I fell asleep playing Sudoku...proceeded to nap for 2 hrs.
Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY...the Red Sox game was terrif. Firstly & foremostly, I cannot gush enough over the whole Milne Travel experience. Ohhh, the convenience of having somebody else organize the trip, navigate, drive, having a bus with a toilet on it! (I did avail myself of the onboard facilities, and it was a weird sensation to be peeing & aware all the while of traffic rushing by 5 ft to your right... I suppose if I patronized outhouses on median strips, it would have seemed less weird to me) Well, possibly because the return transport was all arranged for us, Roxanne & I felt free (when we got to Fenway an hour & a half before game time) to quaff a couple bevvies at Boston Beer Works. I particularly enjoyed their blueberry brew ...sounds funky but it was really good. They actually floated small blueberries in it. And I think it was this fruity brew that really knocked me on my ass...ok, " knocked me on my ass" is probably too strong a phrase but a buzz was most definitely acquired. A buzz that was not conducive to finding your assigned box & row (took us a looong time). I think that Milne has a good section (they buy up a block at the start of the season) but, this being my first pro sports game of any kind, I'm no afficianado of these things. I sat in the right field box , Box 92 , Section 6, row F seat #6. We were right down on the field and I bet if I hadn't left my binoculars on the bus, I'd have had a great view of the action. I did not need binoculars, however, to gawk at the fox that, at about the 6th inning, snuck into the row ahead of us (mmm, well, I think it was 2 rows in front of us actually, but luckily there was no one in the row right ahead of us to impede my view of said fox) . He had on a #58 Papelbon shirt, and he sort of evoked Channing Tatum in A Guide to Recognizing your Saints. He was very into the game...made it easier to stare shamelessly. Yes I DID watch the game too (though probably not as intently). And drank some more beer and ate really yummy bad-for-me eats.
I tend to zero in on the "soundtrack " of events/ places. When I shop, go out to eat, whatever, I'm always listening to the piped in music. I read an ESPN article once that listed a bunch of baseball players (don't recall if they were AL or NL players) and what these players selected as their at-bat music. That would be the only kind of ESPN article that's apt to interest me, really.
So I sorta had me "ears open" to pick out the at-bat music. The only player who stood out in that regard was Mike Lowell (#25) who had Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" play when he went to bat. Niiiiiice. Very solid choice...I don't know if I'd use it , if I were the pro-ball player, not sure what I'd pick. Maybe some AC/DC? Prodigy?
Friday night we had a comical incident with a skunk in the garbage can at my folk's house.
Saturday I didn't do much. I helped my father clean out the old playhouse (am toying with the notion of repurposing that playhouse as like "studio space" now that there's room to move in it) then I fell asleep playing Sudoku...proceeded to nap for 2 hrs.
Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY...the Red Sox game was terrif. Firstly & foremostly, I cannot gush enough over the whole Milne Travel experience. Ohhh, the convenience of having somebody else organize the trip, navigate, drive, having a bus with a toilet on it! (I did avail myself of the onboard facilities, and it was a weird sensation to be peeing & aware all the while of traffic rushing by 5 ft to your right... I suppose if I patronized outhouses on median strips, it would have seemed less weird to me) Well, possibly because the return transport was all arranged for us, Roxanne & I felt free (when we got to Fenway an hour & a half before game time) to quaff a couple bevvies at Boston Beer Works. I particularly enjoyed their blueberry brew ...sounds funky but it was really good. They actually floated small blueberries in it. And I think it was this fruity brew that really knocked me on my ass...ok, " knocked me on my ass" is probably too strong a phrase but a buzz was most definitely acquired. A buzz that was not conducive to finding your assigned box & row (took us a looong time). I think that Milne has a good section (they buy up a block at the start of the season) but, this being my first pro sports game of any kind, I'm no afficianado of these things. I sat in the right field box , Box 92 , Section 6, row F seat #6. We were right down on the field and I bet if I hadn't left my binoculars on the bus, I'd have had a great view of the action. I did not need binoculars, however, to gawk at the fox that, at about the 6th inning, snuck into the row ahead of us (mmm, well, I think it was 2 rows in front of us actually, but luckily there was no one in the row right ahead of us to impede my view of said fox) . He had on a #58 Papelbon shirt, and he sort of evoked Channing Tatum in A Guide to Recognizing your Saints. He was very into the game...made it easier to stare shamelessly. Yes I DID watch the game too (though probably not as intently). And drank some more beer and ate really yummy bad-for-me eats.
I tend to zero in on the "soundtrack " of events/ places. When I shop, go out to eat, whatever, I'm always listening to the piped in music. I read an ESPN article once that listed a bunch of baseball players (don't recall if they were AL or NL players) and what these players selected as their at-bat music. That would be the only kind of ESPN article that's apt to interest me, really.
So I sorta had me "ears open" to pick out the at-bat music. The only player who stood out in that regard was Mike Lowell (#25) who had Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" play when he went to bat. Niiiiiice. Very solid choice...I don't know if I'd use it , if I were the pro-ball player, not sure what I'd pick. Maybe some AC/DC? Prodigy?
Friday, September 28, 2007
T-storms B-ball and H-ween movies
I had a total blank slate for my weekend when suddenly the cosmos intervened this morning. My pal Roxanne emailed me to see if Iwas at all interested in taking in a Red Sox game. The bank she works for has been going through some arduous and mysterious “conversion” (I suppose, though, that it remains so mysterious only because I’ve never been sufficiently interested in what exactly THE CONVERSION entails, so I’ve never quizzed R for details) and as a reward for all their extra time & effort the big wiggies gave out Red Sox tix to some of the peons. It’s this package through Milne Travel where a bus carts
you to & from the game. So that’s the plan for Sunday.. Red Sox game w/ Roxanny. I’m not the most avid of sports fans…ahhh, well, not avid at all really, but I am pretty excited nonetheless. Roxanne pitched the notion of skipping the game and taking a taxi from the stadium to Faneuil Hall to shop & lunch & sight see , & I was pretty damn tempted but ultimately I vetoed that plan. It would be wasting FREE TICKETS for one thing... and also I have never been to any pro sports game..I feel like it’s something I ought to experience.It’s funny..just last night I had been thinking about Boston , more specifically, thinking that it’s been too damn long since I’ve visited. I have no good excuse really, just haven’t gotten around to organizing a trip in a few years. OK, well if I am to be perfectly honest, I must confess that driving & navigating around Bean Town intimidates me terribly. So this bus trip is ideal, huh?
I was thinking about Boston because of the terrible thunderstorms last night. I was driving home and there were these GINORMO-COLOSSAL bolts zig-zagging across the sky…it would go from these massive bolts to the 360 degree radius around me lighting up to midday brightness. Intense! I’m not afraid during a T-storm as long as I’m inside…I definitely am skittish about going out in it. I always feel super safe when I’m in my car. Thunderstorms are actually pretty rad to drive in... as long as your visibility isn't getting f***ed up by torrential rain. Last night I kept hydroplaning all over the damn place, which freaked me out , so I dropped down to like, 10 mph under the speed limit. I could practically feel the vexation of the truck behind me. Maybe I imagined that but seriously, the dude was right on my ass my whole ride home.
I was thinking about Boston because of the terrible thunderstorms last night. I was driving home and there were these GINORMO-COLOSSAL bolts zig-zagging across the sky…it would go from these massive bolts to the 360 degree radius around me lighting up to midday brightness. Intense! I’m not afraid during a T-storm as long as I’m inside…I definitely am skittish about going out in it. I always feel super safe when I’m in my car. Thunderstorms are actually pretty rad to drive in... as long as your visibility isn't getting f***ed up by torrential rain. Last night I kept hydroplaning all over the damn place, which freaked me out , so I dropped down to like, 10 mph under the speed limit. I could practically feel the vexation of the truck behind me. Maybe I imagined that but seriously, the dude was right on my ass my whole ride home.
But anyways--back to the lightning-Boston correlation. Lightning invariably reminds me of the Theater of Electricity at the Boston Museum of Science where these huge columns with big orbs on the top of ‘em (oh alright, it is an air-insulated Van de Graaff generator , if I must be accurate) shoot lightning (out of their orbs). And a museum staffer gives this schpiel on Ben Franklin, lightning & electricity (I forget in what order) from inside of this big bird cage. He chats about how safe from lightning one is when in an auto. And then he makes the lightning ZZZZZZAAP! his birdcage!! In case you think I’m hallucinating, looky HERE . I haven’t been to the BMoS in quite some time, but I’ve been a slew of times (probably 7…does 7 count as a slew??) and I never miss the Theater of Electricity shows. I sometimes skip the Omni Theater, but that’s not my choosing. I tend to have the misfortune of going to the BMoS with people who are made woozy/ queasy by the Omni Theater and my party winds up skipping it for that reason. Me, I LOVE me some Omni, it doesn’t make me woozy or queasy, but I have not partaken as often as I’d have liked.
Anyways, I always think of that show during a lighning storm (I think it’s a real testament to the effectiveness of the lightning show that I’ve carried it around in the foreground of my cluttered noggin for nearly 20 years now) . Now, thunder makes me think of Poltergeist, when Craig T Nelson--or maybe the chick that played the mom-- was explaining to the dorky son how to determine how far away a storm is by counting between thunder rumbles (I’ve heard that before --outside of horror movies. I don’t really see how that’s scientifically feasible) this is on the same night that the creepy tree swallows him up, but of course prior to the creepy tree swallowing him up..and OK I KNOW the name of the actress who played the mom (and if pressed I will name names) but my acting like I didn’t know was a passive aggressive means of complimenting Craig T. Nelson via indicating that he is my fave Poltergeist parent by a large margin. I hope he remains untouched by that ghastly “Poltergeist Curse” ...he seems like a cool shit.
Anyways, I always think of that show during a lighning storm (I think it’s a real testament to the effectiveness of the lightning show that I’ve carried it around in the foreground of my cluttered noggin for nearly 20 years now) . Now, thunder makes me think of Poltergeist, when Craig T Nelson--or maybe the chick that played the mom-- was explaining to the dorky son how to determine how far away a storm is by counting between thunder rumbles (I’ve heard that before --outside of horror movies. I don’t really see how that’s scientifically feasible) this is on the same night that the creepy tree swallows him up, but of course prior to the creepy tree swallowing him up..and OK I KNOW the name of the actress who played the mom (and if pressed I will name names) but my acting like I didn’t know was a passive aggressive means of complimenting Craig T. Nelson via indicating that he is my fave Poltergeist parent by a large margin. I hope he remains untouched by that ghastly “Poltergeist Curse” ...he seems like a cool shit.
Speaking of horror movies (sorry for being SUCH a tangent whore tonight) I really want to do a horror movie marathon for my birthday. I've put that out there for my past 3 birthdays and nobody's cooperating. But if I keep harping on it they'll have to obey?? Right?? Can't people just cater to my every whim on my birthday? Is that too damn much to ask?
I don't like all horror movies (I am totally put off by the likes of Saw or Hostel or anything Rob Zombie had a hand in making)and the ones I do like I really only get in the mood for in the fall. Here is a list of movies I own that I would like to submit for the proposed Halloween 07 Halloween Movie Marathon (**indicates one I've not yet watched)
1. Halloween II **
2. Mad Monster Party (not a horror movie,btw. It's utterly delightful)
3. American Werewolf in London (a classic)
4.Poltergeist (ditto)
5. E.T. ( I actually own a VHS tape of this. I have been super tempted on several occasions--this past weekend in Target, for instance-- to buy the E.T. DVD. But even though VHS is the LAMEST ever I still find myself adverse to buying a movie I already own, y'know??)
6.Suspira ** (kind of an obscure one. Write -ups on it seem intriguing though)
7. Amityville Horror**(I bought the 2005 remake w/ Ryan Reynolds in it. I debated for a bit about buying the original vs. the remake. I finally opted for the remake because even though the whole Amityville premise intrigues me, it's not guaranteed that I will for sure like the movie. This way, if I watch the movie and it sucks, you've got a sort of consolation prize. Y'know, you'll grouse: "Well, that was a damned waste of time...but hey, at least Ryan Reynolds was running around in fiiiiine form in a clingy wet tee. There's that, anyhow" Still, I'd like to check out the original too.
8.An American Haunting * (*meaning I watched 1/2 of it)
9. Evil Dead 2 ** (How can I not like it? I like 1 & even the 3rd installment-which really seemed more like an adventure flick. Plus, Bruce Campbell is the cat's jammies)
Also for an ideal Halloween movie marathon, one would have to get ahold of The Worst Witch and maybe Teen Witch and the Thriller video (is that on DVD? It oughtta be!) Oh, and DEFINITELY something with Vincent Price in it! I've watched quite a bit of Price and I particularly dug The Abominable Dr Phibes . I've not been able to get my hands on The Masque of the Red Death though, and that looks pretty rad.
Please lemme know if I'm leaving out anything crucial, eh?
Thursday, September 27, 2007
kooky new addition to my Amazon wish list...
Having never seen an episode of Dark Shadows, I nonetheless find myself suddenly very intrigued by the show. I think it sprang up as an Amazon recommendation when I looked up American Gothic ...I LOOOVED that tragically short lived show and thought of it today because today happens to be the 49th birthday of one Mr. Shaun Cassidy--he of the Da-doo-ron-ron album with the ginormo head shot of him sporting a stupid visor (I hate visors) and also the producer of American Gothic. Oh fiiiiine...here is the visual aide goodness you're dyin' for...
Yep...we owned this. After hunting down the album cover image, yes, I do realize that that is NOT a horrible visor. In my mind's eye's misty memories it was a visor, but we learn that in real life it was not. But that is a queer looking cap there, no?? I remember kind of crushing over this album cover (when I was like, in kindnergarten, which is silly enough, I should've been ga-ga over that kid in E.T. or something. Yeah..Henry Thomas..not the gawky older brother... whatever happened to that dude anyways??) For the record...this is no longer twitterpation inducing to me. Dude is WAAAY too pretty. But I have digressed severely... back to Dark Shadows...
I read it was SC's b-day, thought of that great show he produced and went to put it on my Amazon wish list, after which, Amazon spit back Dark Shadows as a recommendation. So I read up on it a lot here and a li'l bit on Amazon. And then I was pretty quickly convinced that this was a show for me...much like that sudden fixation I had earlier this year with The Prisoner (also on my wish list) . I just thought it totally sounded (pardon the trite phrase) "right up my alley". I added "Dark Shadows: DVD Collection Vol 1" to the wish list and more and more volumes would spring up (which I would add to the wish list). So there are 26 Volumes. Seems like they could condense this somehow? Where's the damned box set??
Fittingly, it is storming pretty hellaciously outside (the right sort of atmospheric conditions for like, I dunno, a vampiric soap opera or somethin') . I started this post (this **BONUS** post) to kill time waiting for the T-storms to taper off before I made a dash for my vehicle. But--just my flippin' luck-- the weather seems to have intensified out there.
I would set up a cot and crash in me cubby, if it weren't for the season premiere of The Office tonight...
Yep...we owned this. After hunting down the album cover image, yes, I do realize that that is NOT a horrible visor. In my mind's eye's misty memories it was a visor, but we learn that in real life it was not. But that is a queer looking cap there, no?? I remember kind of crushing over this album cover (when I was like, in kindnergarten, which is silly enough, I should've been ga-ga over that kid in E.T. or something. Yeah..Henry Thomas..not the gawky older brother... whatever happened to that dude anyways??) For the record...this is no longer twitterpation inducing to me. Dude is WAAAY too pretty. But I have digressed severely... back to Dark Shadows...
I read it was SC's b-day, thought of that great show he produced and went to put it on my Amazon wish list, after which, Amazon spit back Dark Shadows as a recommendation. So I read up on it a lot here and a li'l bit on Amazon. And then I was pretty quickly convinced that this was a show for me...much like that sudden fixation I had earlier this year with The Prisoner (also on my wish list) . I just thought it totally sounded (pardon the trite phrase) "right up my alley". I added "Dark Shadows: DVD Collection Vol 1" to the wish list and more and more volumes would spring up (which I would add to the wish list). So there are 26 Volumes. Seems like they could condense this somehow? Where's the damned box set??
Fittingly, it is storming pretty hellaciously outside (the right sort of atmospheric conditions for like, I dunno, a vampiric soap opera or somethin') . I started this post (this **BONUS** post) to kill time waiting for the T-storms to taper off before I made a dash for my vehicle. But--just my flippin' luck-- the weather seems to have intensified out there.
I would set up a cot and crash in me cubby, if it weren't for the season premiere of The Office tonight...
Verdict is in...
. . . on my new 'do. I've had it for a week now and have resolutely decided that I like it very much indeed. Well, probably I'd determined that by the weekend, but I just now got around to telling y'all.
I got a shoulder-length layered cut with bangs. I have this straight, fine hair that really needs layers in it if it is to show any signs of life at all. So it is a cut I've had before. So nothing revolutionary, but it works. Me likey. And I am happy having honest-to-goodness, bona fide bangs again. Last time I went somewhere new, and I asked for bangs and the chick supposedly gave me "side bangs" but they really looked liked just another layer. So I went with the "wispy" model this time around and the result is quite fetching, methinks.
But the color is really the bestest. My hairdresser and I pored over the swatch board for a few minutes and finally decided to mix red with a dark brown. I wanted to go red but I didn't want to really evoke Lucille Ball (or Ronald McDonald)...hence the addition of the dark brown. The resulting color is tres chic.
I got a shoulder-length layered cut with bangs. I have this straight, fine hair that really needs layers in it if it is to show any signs of life at all. So it is a cut I've had before. So nothing revolutionary, but it works. Me likey. And I am happy having honest-to-goodness, bona fide bangs again. Last time I went somewhere new, and I asked for bangs and the chick supposedly gave me "side bangs" but they really looked liked just another layer. So I went with the "wispy" model this time around and the result is quite fetching, methinks.
But the color is really the bestest. My hairdresser and I pored over the swatch board for a few minutes and finally decided to mix red with a dark brown. I wanted to go red but I didn't want to really evoke Lucille Ball (or Ronald McDonald)...hence the addition of the dark brown. The resulting color is tres chic.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
cinematic blather
Here's some stuff I've been perusing on the Worst Previews website--
Virgin Territory - This looks like Shakespearian Porky's or somethin'. A costume piece + teen flick? HOW can I resist that? This is such a guilty pleasure, I probably will just wait & rent it (or go to the theater in deep disguise)
No Country for Old Men First off, I really dig the Coen bros. Fargo was terrif, and O Brother Where Art Thou & The Big Lebowski are 2 of my absolute FAVES. With this movie, they're working with Tommy Lee Jones whom I also rather fond of. Plus the story looks good...all advance reviews I read on IMDB were positive. I may even read the book.
August Rush Ok, the big draw here, I confess, is Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as one of the romantic leads. And it's not just Meyers playing some hot dude (effortlessly playing a hot dude, on account of his innate hotness) but he's playing some guitar god/rock star type and you know a guitar and an ounce of musical talent increases one's hotness exponentially.
Juno --this looks really good. Ellen Page is a promising young talent (is that snooty and condescending sounding?? It was supposed to just be complimentary) And I do enjoy Jason Bateman (even if I never did watch any of his TV shows)
Enchanted-- this looks like a good one to take the nieces to . I am always pleased to see James Marsden get work too.
Southland Tales -- I am *very* eager for this one. It's the 2nd film from the creator of Donnie Darko...so it should be interesting (not sure whether or not I can count on "enjoyable") It has this giant oddball mixed bag of an ensemble cast ...headed up by The R-- um, I'm sorry, Dwayne Johnson.. who I really dig for some inexplicable reason. (Hell, I might even see The Game Plan...y'know, if somebody was buying my ticket for me..) and he's reuniting with Seann William "Stiffler" "3First Names" Scott whom I also enjoy. Another enjoyable male in this cast is Justin Timberlake, but it looks like, from the movie's image gallery, that JT plays some deformed cretin. So I'm not so much looking forward to his part in this epic. Other interesting casting choices--
*Wallace Shawn (very prolific actor...but he will always be Vizzini in The Princess Bride to me)
Stuff in theaters now that I might check out--
3:10 to Yuma - I like Westerns. I am by no means a Western enthusiast...it's one of those areas I dabble in (I am a great dabbler). Usually for a Western to pull me in, it has to star someone I dig. Christian Bale certainly fits that bill...
Shoot 'Em Up Yeah... "action" isn't really my genre but this film seems to offer up some PRIMO Clive Owen ogling. In case I've not mentioned it previously, I HEART Clive. I'm pretty sure I have mentioned that. A few weeks ago US Weekly had this pointless little blurb (it may or may not have been in their insipid "Stars--They're Just Like Us!!" section..it was of like caliber, anyways) about Clive and how devoted he is to his wife. It had some quote he'd given about how his wife is a queen and he would never endanger what he has at home (awwww) and accompanying this blurb was some snapshot of him shopping with the Mrs. which instantaneously brought out the petty bitch in me...as my initial response was "My...the Mrs is rather frumpy...somewhat dumpy" and that THRILLED me. Is that wicked of me?
Anyways..the WP page for Shoot 'Em Up has the TV trailer we've all seen, but then it has a clip that's uhh, ahem... not for general audiences...due to incidence of graphic violence and the much less offputting incidence of Clive Owen getting nakey.
Some upcoming flicks of note--
PS I Love You - Basically any project starring Gerard Butler (siiigh!) I consider noteworthy. This one is a total SKIP though. He must have committed to this prior to 300. I feel certain of it. He is soooo much better than this. I could totally have overlooked this being formulaic pap (hell, I do indulge in formulaic pap from time to time) but to watch Ger be all in love with Hilary Swank? UUGGH..I don't think I could bear it. I know she's this multiple Oscar winner/ karate prodigy, but I can't stand Swank. Is she too horsey for my liking? Too Swanky? I just can't pinpoint what specifically is about her that irks me so... Also irksome is how in this PS I Love You trailer, I'm pretty sure the announcer dude says "JARED Butler". I'm pretty positive that is NOT how it's said, you ill-prepared bastard.Virgin Territory - This looks like Shakespearian Porky's or somethin'. A costume piece + teen flick? HOW can I resist that? This is such a guilty pleasure, I probably will just wait & rent it (or go to the theater in deep disguise)
No Country for Old Men First off, I really dig the Coen bros. Fargo was terrif, and O Brother Where Art Thou & The Big Lebowski are 2 of my absolute FAVES. With this movie, they're working with Tommy Lee Jones whom I also rather fond of. Plus the story looks good...all advance reviews I read on IMDB were positive. I may even read the book.
August Rush Ok, the big draw here, I confess, is Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as one of the romantic leads. And it's not just Meyers playing some hot dude (effortlessly playing a hot dude, on account of his innate hotness) but he's playing some guitar god/rock star type and you know a guitar and an ounce of musical talent increases one's hotness exponentially.
Juno --this looks really good. Ellen Page is a promising young talent (is that snooty and condescending sounding?? It was supposed to just be complimentary) And I do enjoy Jason Bateman (even if I never did watch any of his TV shows)
Enchanted-- this looks like a good one to take the nieces to . I am always pleased to see James Marsden get work too.
Southland Tales -- I am *very* eager for this one. It's the 2nd film from the creator of Donnie Darko...so it should be interesting (not sure whether or not I can count on "enjoyable") It has this giant oddball mixed bag of an ensemble cast ...headed up by The R-- um, I'm sorry, Dwayne Johnson.. who I really dig for some inexplicable reason. (Hell, I might even see The Game Plan...y'know, if somebody was buying my ticket for me..) and he's reuniting with Seann William "Stiffler" "3First Names" Scott whom I also enjoy. Another enjoyable male in this cast is Justin Timberlake, but it looks like, from the movie's image gallery, that JT plays some deformed cretin. So I'm not so much looking forward to his part in this epic. Other interesting casting choices--
*Wallace Shawn (very prolific actor...but he will always be Vizzini in The Princess Bride to me)
*lots of past & present SNL folk: Jon Lovitz, Cheri Oteri, Janeane Garofaolo, Amy Poehler
*celebrity alien Bai Ling
*Will Sasso -who (even though he's been in some movies) I think of as a TV actor... I'm always interested to see TV actors "transition" to the big screen . Which brings me to the most intriguing casting choice of all...
*John Laroquette-- Don't get me wrong..I like this dude. He is by far my FAVORITE Night Court alum. So odd & yet cool that he got picked for this big production. True, he did land a role on "Boston Public" but as far as movies go, when was the last time he did a movie that wasn't for the Hallmark Channel??
The IMDB genre classification for Southland Tales calls it a "Comedy / Drama / Musical / Sci-Fi / Thriller" Who could resist that? I'm particularly curious to see how it's a musical??
Now, watching the trailer I thought "Oh..well this looks pretty nutty, but doesn't look like it will rival Donnie Darko for WTF?? Factor" But I'm no longer sure about that..I went to the official website and that made me think this movie might even surpass D.D. in the WTF?? dept. I'm torn, really. You watch the trailer proffered on its Worst Previews page and then go to http://www.southlandtales.com/ and then you come up with a verdict...
since I've got Movies Present & Movies Future covered, let's bring it full circle with..
Movies I Regret Missing this Summer
Two big regrets-- I read the novels Evening and Stardust and fully intended to see their film versions. In my defense.. neither movie got a very widespread release (at least not in my part o' the country) Still, I can't shake the feeling that I've done a poor job at supporting Claire Danes this summer.
Speaking of super-limited film releases...it's not even evident that Eagle Vs Shark was ever released (only that the mighty IMDB & Worst Previews sez that it was) But if it hadn't had a wee, miniscule, top-secret premiere, I think I woulda seen the thing. I don't get HBO, but from what little I've seen of the Flight of the Conchords guys, I've become rather smitten. This isn't really a Conchords film but it does feature 1/2 of the duo (the towering, bespectacled half) Jermaine Clement who I find oddly alluring... (his co-Conchord Brett is pretty attractive as well, but as he happens to be a traditionally handsome fellah, I would , in his case, omit the "oddly" part of the compliment)
grody to the max
Totally ignoring the news I should be tracking (presidential campaigns, Myanmar, the WAR, etc...) I tend to zero in on THIS type of story.
In fact, I so enjoyed this particular tale that I read it aloud to my office mates. I was particularly delighted by the whole familial rift subplot...I mean, imagine you're in this family and you have this oddball uncle/ cousin/ nephew who won't throw away his severed leg for mysterious "religious" reasons. I suppose we're all apt to have that "weird uncle"...but I can't fathom having that weird of an uncle.
Now, surprise severed leg stories do NOT make me gag (got quite a chortle out of it, really). But my lunch, on the other hand..BLEECCCCCH!!! I stopped at the Co-op last night and grabbed some eats-- their deli dept. has terrific take-out. Really unique fare...not your run-of-the-mill deli dept grub (potato salad, macaroni salad, etc.) Some of the stuff I'll get there: salmon & samosas, mini turkey meatloafs, quesadillas..(the list goes on & on)....a lot of good food. Anyways I grabbed , for today's lunch, three terriyaki beef skewers & about a half lb of broccolini. The skewers were yummy..had a really good marinade and seemed leaner (and perhaps of a better grade of meat) then I get from a Chinese restaurant. But the broccolini...EWWW. I'm not averse to my veggies, not at all, and I actually happen to be one of the minority that likes broccoli...but this stuff tasted like it was sauteed in CLOROX. Still, I forced about 5 of 'em down my gullet (resulting in horrible tortured sounds that I could not suppress from bursting from my larynx) and picked out all the mushrooms (those weren't quite so bad) trying to come away with what nutritional value I could.
In fact, I so enjoyed this particular tale that I read it aloud to my office mates. I was particularly delighted by the whole familial rift subplot...I mean, imagine you're in this family and you have this oddball uncle/ cousin/ nephew who won't throw away his severed leg for mysterious "religious" reasons. I suppose we're all apt to have that "weird uncle"...but I can't fathom having that weird of an uncle.
Now, surprise severed leg stories do NOT make me gag (got quite a chortle out of it, really). But my lunch, on the other hand..BLEECCCCCH!!! I stopped at the Co-op last night and grabbed some eats-- their deli dept. has terrific take-out. Really unique fare...not your run-of-the-mill deli dept grub (potato salad, macaroni salad, etc.) Some of the stuff I'll get there: salmon & samosas, mini turkey meatloafs, quesadillas..(the list goes on & on)....a lot of good food. Anyways I grabbed , for today's lunch, three terriyaki beef skewers & about a half lb of broccolini. The skewers were yummy..had a really good marinade and seemed leaner (and perhaps of a better grade of meat) then I get from a Chinese restaurant. But the broccolini...EWWW. I'm not averse to my veggies, not at all, and I actually happen to be one of the minority that likes broccoli...but this stuff tasted like it was sauteed in CLOROX. Still, I forced about 5 of 'em down my gullet (resulting in horrible tortured sounds that I could not suppress from bursting from my larynx) and picked out all the mushrooms (those weren't quite so bad) trying to come away with what nutritional value I could.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
celebrity birthday jamboree
It struck me as rather nutty to discover that Catherine Zeta Jones was born on this day in 1969 ...on her husband's 25th birthday.
If CZJ actually had her li'l heart set on marrying somebody with the same birthday as her, I can come up with at least 5 cooler people she coulda wed...
1.Will Smith (b. 9/25/1968)
2. Hal Sparks (b. 9/25/1971) I loved him on Celebrity Duets. He made it all the way to the final three, ya know! They oughtta do another season of that show. Oh, and another season of Rock Star too, please...
3.Michael Madsen (b. 9/25/1958) I don't even think I need to enumerate all the hows and whys of Michael Madsen being a cool shit. It's just. . just..established FACT. I love this guy.
4. Anson Williams (b. 9/25/1949) aka POTSY. I just learned today that this dude is the nephew of Dr Henry Heimlich (of HEIMLICH MANEUVER FAME) I am not even making that up. Wow. Cool garbanzos.
5. Shel Silverstein (b 9/25/1930; d. 5/10/1999) Hey she apparently likes older dudes...why not one who was 39 years older (and could rhyme)??
But it's just as well that ZJ married lame old Michael Douglas..I'm not particularly a fan of hers anyway..
If CZJ actually had her li'l heart set on marrying somebody with the same birthday as her, I can come up with at least 5 cooler people she coulda wed...
1.Will Smith (b. 9/25/1968)
2. Hal Sparks (b. 9/25/1971) I loved him on Celebrity Duets. He made it all the way to the final three, ya know! They oughtta do another season of that show. Oh, and another season of Rock Star too, please...
3.Michael Madsen (b. 9/25/1958) I don't even think I need to enumerate all the hows and whys of Michael Madsen being a cool shit. It's just. . just..established FACT. I love this guy.
4. Anson Williams (b. 9/25/1949) aka POTSY. I just learned today that this dude is the nephew of Dr Henry Heimlich (of HEIMLICH MANEUVER FAME) I am not even making that up. Wow. Cool garbanzos.
5. Shel Silverstein (b 9/25/1930; d. 5/10/1999) Hey she apparently likes older dudes...why not one who was 39 years older (and could rhyme)??
But it's just as well that ZJ married lame old Michael Douglas..I'm not particularly a fan of hers anyway..
Monday, September 24, 2007
she flies thru the air with the greatest of ease...
The dress I have on today totally looks like maternity wear. Don't get me wrong..I still adore it. The color is lovely --a very dark green-blue (using the Crayola rule here, wherein all hyphenated two color color names, the second color is predominant) and I also picked up a shirt of the same color so I have a neat monochromatic thing a-happenin'.It's a fine cord jumper- comes just to the knee, with big woody buttons at the straps and (*bonus*) pockets. But it's what is called "trapeze-cut" which is funny, because this is soo NOT the cut of attire that I would wear on a trapeze. Although, considering the fact that I haven't the upper arm strength to master the monkey bars, I don't think the what-to-wear-on-the-trapeze dilemma is truly apt to plague me. But I digress. I suppose they call it "trapeze" cut because of how it "swings away" from the body. In the case of this jumper, swings faaaar away. However, I don't think a size down would've fit up top (although, I confess, I didn't try on a different size) I should mention the deal -clincher detail here--that Old Navy had this frock marked down more than 50%. Because nobody was buying these bun-in-the-ovenizers?? Maybe. But I am a sucker for a bargain and I am in love with this color. I paired it with a denim jacket and scarf to sort of detract from any excessive trapeziness. Also, I'm hoping that any oglers opt to focus on my hot gams. "ZOINKS! That dame must be gestating QUINTS! But check those shapely stems..."
And my stems/ gams/leggies ARE looking mighty fine today- if I do say so myself. I love black tights. They let you flash some leg free from all worry about having pale, poultry-ish leg complexion and/or manstubble. Or so I've heard, I mean. MY legs are both perfectly smooth and nicely tanned at present...
And my stems/ gams/leggies ARE looking mighty fine today- if I do say so myself. I love black tights. They let you flash some leg free from all worry about having pale, poultry-ish leg complexion and/or manstubble. Or so I've heard, I mean. MY legs are both perfectly smooth and nicely tanned at present...
Saturday, September 22, 2007
80s throwback
Saw this one on MTV during my Wed night insomnia bout and I thought.. "Wow, what a 80s new wavey throwback' I should clarify that--from me-- that's a compliment.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Autumnal Equinox Mix
Bought some tuneage off of Puretracks last weekend and burned me a mix of songs last night. So, technically it was 3days too early to be an Autumnal Equinox Mix, but that's a far better title than what I actually scrawled across the disc in Sharpie- "9/20/07 ChupaFraggle Mix"
It's an odd mix..and I didn't even work in all 26 tracks I downloaded. Some of 'em (5th Dimension "Wedding Bell Blues" for example) I just couldn't make fit. As it is, it's a very mixed mix... cheezy oldies, current guilty pleasure pop , guitar riffy rockers... it's just all over the place (as am I, so I suppose it's apropos)
I'm listening to it now...and can't really conjur up anything noteworthy to write about ...
...therefore you're going to get a full track listing...
1. You Can't Sit Down/ The Dovells [ The Dovells are exaggerating a bit here. I actually have remained seated while listening to this song. It is difficult...but not impossible ]
2.Everyday /Buddy Holly &the Crickets
3.Tin Man / America [I dig the lyrics, but they are a smidge befuddling. I mean-"But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man/that he didn't, didn't already have/ And cause never was the reason for the evening/ or the tropic of Sir Galahad" what the f*** is that all about? ]
4.She's Gone /Hall & Oates [this is used in Cherish so it always makes me think of that flick...]
5.New York Groove / Ace Frehley(KISS) [I attribute to this Ace Frehley with KISS credited parenthetically because this seems to me like such a departure from standard KISS fare. I don't think they would've conceived of this as a group. It took the brave solo endeavor of guitarist Ace Frehley to bring this gem about. Yeesh...a sentence like that makes me sound just like El Presidente of the Ace Frehley Fan Club or something...but honestly know jacksprat about the guy. But I love, LOVE, LOVE this song!]
6. Baby's on Fire / Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack [not sure I shoulda bought this one. I like it in Velvet Goldmine but without the visual of tasty Jonathan Rhys Meyers (as this glam-androgynous David Bowie type--but much foxier) singing it...eh. The song on its own is actually kinda SCARY.]
7.My Doorbell /White Stripes [I didn't download this one actually; it's from the 1 White Stripes CD I own and it was on the computer from some mix I made a while back. I was listening to it while ordering the track list and thought to meself "This song is so flippin' terrific! Lemme jam it in here somewheres..." ]
8.Deuce / KISS [This song has some truly rad guitar in it. I don't have much use for its lyrics
...although... the word "deuce" makes me think of poo. So that's a funny little bonus there]
9.Paralyzer / Finger Eleven [I am quite smitten with this song these days. Such a switcheroo from Finger Eleven's 1st breakout hit "One Thing". That song was ok...a tad wuss-ified... and in no way did it hint at the possibility of FE having the capacity for such awesomeness! Oh, the other day my friend Heather opined about how much she loathes this song and I was rather outraged. And in other Heathers-with-foolish-opinions news, my other friend Heather (yes, I have two. Fancy that) opined the other day that "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" was a stupid movie. And she didn't mean stupid-good sort of stupid. She kind of said it was a waste-of-time piece of crapola and I very nearly bounded over the cubicle wall and attacked her for it]
10.In the Mood/Robert Plant [I WOULD be El Presidente of the Robert Plant Fan Club....if I had any ambition at all]
11.Girlfriend / Avril Lavigne [A real rah-rah cheer song to wake one up after the mellow rock out that is "In the Mood" It wasn't a good transition there really. But --I am sheepish to confess--I dig this song and I wanted to burn it onto CD]
12.Flathead / the Fratellis [from a past download..I thought it would fit in well after a real rah-rah cheer song. Possibly to redeem myself/ prove that I can juxtapose tracks properly...]
13. 20th Century Boy / Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack [This one is NOT scary on its own. ]
14. I Was Made For Lovin' You /KISS [me gusto mucho mucho***awesome possum*** I was made for loving this song. ..sorry, that was unforgiveably corny ]
15. Abracadabra /Steve Miller Band [I believe die hard SteveMillerites consider this his big "sell out" song but it is MY favorite thing he does]
16. Spill the Wine / WAR [this acid trip of a song was how I discovered the Songfacts site. I wanted to know precisely which hallucinogen made these lyrics possible- "This really blew my mind, the fact that me,an overfed, long-haired leaping gnomeshould be the star of a Hollywood movie!!" Blew your mind is RIGHT, fellah!]
17. Brandy / Looking Glass [aaahh the sad saga of Brandy. That silly, stupid wench Brandy. I'm tearing up ]
18. Seasons in the Sun / Terry Jacks [Read the lyrics!! This is tied with "Dust in the Wind" for the title of Saddest Fucking Song EVER!!]
19. Suddenly I See /KT Tunstall [I imagine this song is about YOURS TRULY being all illuminating, gorgeous, and all that good stuff. Is that vain?]
20. Private Eyes / Hall & Oates [the quick, well-placed hand claps just make this song]
21.Glamorous /Fergie [Guilty pleasure. It irks me though, to hear them sing "If you ain't got no money take your broke BROKE home" Come ON! I want 'em to sing "ass". Just sing "ASS" people! It's not even a bona fide swear anymore!! ]
22.Honey / Moby [I downloaded this aaaages ago and forgot to burn it to a CD. It kinda makes me wanna jump double Dutch which is something I would never do...that would be just--just a CALAMITOUS spectacle to behold]
It's an odd mix..and I didn't even work in all 26 tracks I downloaded. Some of 'em (5th Dimension "Wedding Bell Blues" for example) I just couldn't make fit. As it is, it's a very mixed mix... cheezy oldies, current guilty pleasure pop , guitar riffy rockers... it's just all over the place (as am I, so I suppose it's apropos)
I'm listening to it now...and can't really conjur up anything noteworthy to write about ...
...therefore you're going to get a full track listing...
1. You Can't Sit Down/ The Dovells [ The Dovells are exaggerating a bit here. I actually have remained seated while listening to this song. It is difficult...but not impossible ]
2.Everyday /Buddy Holly &the Crickets
3.Tin Man / America [I dig the lyrics, but they are a smidge befuddling. I mean-"But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man/that he didn't, didn't already have/ And cause never was the reason for the evening/ or the tropic of Sir Galahad" what the f*** is that all about? ]
4.She's Gone /Hall & Oates [this is used in Cherish so it always makes me think of that flick...]
5.New York Groove / Ace Frehley(KISS) [I attribute to this Ace Frehley with KISS credited parenthetically because this seems to me like such a departure from standard KISS fare. I don't think they would've conceived of this as a group. It took the brave solo endeavor of guitarist Ace Frehley to bring this gem about. Yeesh...a sentence like that makes me sound just like El Presidente of the Ace Frehley Fan Club or something...but honestly know jacksprat about the guy. But I love, LOVE, LOVE this song!]
6. Baby's on Fire / Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack [not sure I shoulda bought this one. I like it in Velvet Goldmine but without the visual of tasty Jonathan Rhys Meyers (as this glam-androgynous David Bowie type--but much foxier) singing it...eh. The song on its own is actually kinda SCARY.]
7.My Doorbell /White Stripes [I didn't download this one actually; it's from the 1 White Stripes CD I own and it was on the computer from some mix I made a while back. I was listening to it while ordering the track list and thought to meself "This song is so flippin' terrific! Lemme jam it in here somewheres..." ]
8.Deuce / KISS [This song has some truly rad guitar in it. I don't have much use for its lyrics
...although... the word "deuce" makes me think of poo. So that's a funny little bonus there]
9.Paralyzer / Finger Eleven [I am quite smitten with this song these days. Such a switcheroo from Finger Eleven's 1st breakout hit "One Thing". That song was ok...a tad wuss-ified... and in no way did it hint at the possibility of FE having the capacity for such awesomeness! Oh, the other day my friend Heather opined about how much she loathes this song and I was rather outraged. And in other Heathers-with-foolish-opinions news, my other friend Heather (yes, I have two. Fancy that) opined the other day that "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" was a stupid movie. And she didn't mean stupid-good sort of stupid. She kind of said it was a waste-of-time piece of crapola and I very nearly bounded over the cubicle wall and attacked her for it]
10.In the Mood/Robert Plant [I WOULD be El Presidente of the Robert Plant Fan Club....if I had any ambition at all]
11.Girlfriend / Avril Lavigne [A real rah-rah cheer song to wake one up after the mellow rock out that is "In the Mood" It wasn't a good transition there really. But --I am sheepish to confess--I dig this song and I wanted to burn it onto CD]
12.Flathead / the Fratellis [from a past download..I thought it would fit in well after a real rah-rah cheer song. Possibly to redeem myself/ prove that I can juxtapose tracks properly...]
13. 20th Century Boy / Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack [This one is NOT scary on its own. ]
14. I Was Made For Lovin' You /KISS [me gusto mucho mucho***awesome possum*** I was made for loving this song. ..sorry, that was unforgiveably corny ]
15. Abracadabra /Steve Miller Band [I believe die hard SteveMillerites consider this his big "sell out" song but it is MY favorite thing he does]
16. Spill the Wine / WAR [this acid trip of a song was how I discovered the Songfacts site. I wanted to know precisely which hallucinogen made these lyrics possible- "This really blew my mind, the fact that me,an overfed, long-haired leaping gnomeshould be the star of a Hollywood movie!!" Blew your mind is RIGHT, fellah!]
17. Brandy / Looking Glass [aaahh the sad saga of Brandy. That silly, stupid wench Brandy. I'm tearing up ]
18. Seasons in the Sun / Terry Jacks [Read the lyrics!! This is tied with "Dust in the Wind" for the title of Saddest Fucking Song EVER!!]
19. Suddenly I See /KT Tunstall [I imagine this song is about YOURS TRULY being all illuminating, gorgeous, and all that good stuff. Is that vain?]
20. Private Eyes / Hall & Oates [the quick, well-placed hand claps just make this song]
21.Glamorous /Fergie [Guilty pleasure. It irks me though, to hear them sing "If you ain't got no money take your broke BROKE home" Come ON! I want 'em to sing "ass". Just sing "ASS" people! It's not even a bona fide swear anymore!! ]
22.Honey / Moby [I downloaded this aaaages ago and forgot to burn it to a CD. It kinda makes me wanna jump double Dutch which is something I would never do...that would be just--just a CALAMITOUS spectacle to behold]
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Insomnia
I learned today... I am much more "bright eyed & bushy tailed" at 7:30am when I have not gone to bed at all than I am waking up at 7:30am after a full night's sleep. Ahh well, that is a slight exaggeration. I did sleep some last night..but only about 4hrs. My chum Heather says that that’s all the slumber time she needs in a night….maybe I’m the same way and never realized. For years and years I’ve been getting an average of 7 hrs a night , so perhaps my body’s been storing the excess. And finally, last night, my body sez to me , “I reckon yer all tanked up on sleep, mate” (because sometimes my body talks with an Aussie accent, ok?)
It could be going to bed so damn early that discombobulated me. I had quite a nice night out with my friend Pam (& her friend Mary…who I suppose is now my friend once removed) but wasn’t out very late.. got home about 8:45pm and wasn’t really in the mood to watch telly or read…(Well, I was very briefly tempted to switch on the finale of Last Comic Standing, but after Laura kinda tipped me off that my boy Gerry Dee got eliminated, it just doesn't feel worthwhile any more) ..and I thought it was such a lovely evening, that I should end it on a high note and turn in early. Still, I browsed through magazines for about an hour, trying to scout out THE perfect hairstyle (I have a cut & color scheduled for tonight) I ended up actually “turning in” at 10 of 10—that, for me, is wicked early.
I fell asleep easily enough, but got up twice in the night to pee (odd…because it’s NOT as if I really tanked up—2 glasses of red wine and then an après din din Irish coffee but anywhoo..) and upon completing the second of those potty treks, the insomnia kicked in. Was lying in bed at 2:07 am and I could not sleep to save me life! I tried to force myself into slumber for about an hour and a half…no dice
This is what I did from 2:07 a.m. until 3:34am to try and combat my sleeplessness:
*Listened to opera
*Laid there lamenting about how UNGODLY BRIGHT the glow of my alarm clock is
*Picked a scab on my arm
Clive Owen was in Closer along with….
Natalie Portman
who was in some Star Wars prequel (I can’t be bothered to remember
It could be going to bed so damn early that discombobulated me. I had quite a nice night out with my friend Pam (& her friend Mary…who I suppose is now my friend once removed) but wasn’t out very late.. got home about 8:45pm and wasn’t really in the mood to watch telly or read…(Well, I was very briefly tempted to switch on the finale of Last Comic Standing, but after Laura kinda tipped me off that my boy Gerry Dee got eliminated, it just doesn't feel worthwhile any more) ..and I thought it was such a lovely evening, that I should end it on a high note and turn in early. Still, I browsed through magazines for about an hour, trying to scout out THE perfect hairstyle (I have a cut & color scheduled for tonight) I ended up actually “turning in” at 10 of 10—that, for me, is wicked early.
I fell asleep easily enough, but got up twice in the night to pee (odd…because it’s NOT as if I really tanked up—2 glasses of red wine and then an après din din Irish coffee but anywhoo..) and upon completing the second of those potty treks, the insomnia kicked in. Was lying in bed at 2:07 am and I could not sleep to save me life! I tried to force myself into slumber for about an hour and a half…no dice
This is what I did from 2:07 a.m. until 3:34am to try and combat my sleeplessness:
*Listened to opera
*Laid there lamenting about how UNGODLY BRIGHT the glow of my alarm clock is
*Picked a scab on my arm
*Admired how neat-o my silver nail polish looked in the glow of my alarm clock
*Some of my fave mind games --not like, manipulative, mess w/ other people’s heads type of mind games, I mean like mind games I use to occupy my mind when I try to fall asleep. This way I am less likely to start ruminating about my problems, y’see… I don't know if y'all ever do it, but take it from yours truly- thinking about one's problems is fucking depressing!
Anyways, as to the nature of these games… I first was casting the movie of the last book I read (“North and South”) which is something I always do— usually halfway through, sometimes immediately post- book. [TANGENT: Y’know there is actually a site for such a thing—Imagine Casting and what’s more, I actually created a free account on there and submitted a few casts for consideration. Lame , right? Second only to fan-fic in the pantheon of dorkiness. My casts aren’t on there, by the way, they remain “offline” until some fool site administrator deems them fit for public consumption. My casts have been under review for AAAAAGES. So-- cool (albeit dorky) idea, but I cannot really recommend the site.]
Another thing I do is try to link Actor A to Actor B in as few movies as possible -this is sort of an offshoot of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game, except I wouldn’t do that (using Kevin Bacon)because that’s rather played out and I don’t like Kevin Bacon all that much anyways. So for instance, I might link Clive Owen (yes, please!) to Ewan McGregor (yum!) going thusly:
*Some of my fave mind games --not like, manipulative, mess w/ other people’s heads type of mind games, I mean like mind games I use to occupy my mind when I try to fall asleep. This way I am less likely to start ruminating about my problems, y’see… I don't know if y'all ever do it, but take it from yours truly- thinking about one's problems is fucking depressing!
Anyways, as to the nature of these games… I first was casting the movie of the last book I read (“North and South”) which is something I always do— usually halfway through, sometimes immediately post- book. [TANGENT: Y’know there is actually a site for such a thing—Imagine Casting and what’s more, I actually created a free account on there and submitted a few casts for consideration. Lame , right? Second only to fan-fic in the pantheon of dorkiness. My casts aren’t on there, by the way, they remain “offline” until some fool site administrator deems them fit for public consumption. My casts have been under review for AAAAAGES. So-- cool (albeit dorky) idea, but I cannot really recommend the site.]
Another thing I do is try to link Actor A to Actor B in as few movies as possible -this is sort of an offshoot of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game, except I wouldn’t do that (using Kevin Bacon)because that’s rather played out and I don’t like Kevin Bacon all that much anyways. So for instance, I might link Clive Owen (yes, please!) to Ewan McGregor (yum!) going thusly:
Clive Owen was in Closer along with….
Natalie Portman
who was in some Star Wars prequel (I can’t be bothered to remember
their proper names, ‘kay?) with Ewan McGregor
Two movies-- that was an easy one.
And neither of these mind games succeeded in lulling me off to Snoozetown. So then I sort of did this Scattergories type thing in my head where I went through the alphabet and had to come up with some type of animal for each letter. Antelope, Badger, Capybara, Dingo,Elephant, etc. etc.& so on. Which sounds pretty basic, but I got stuck on the letter “N” believe it or not!! First I thought "nightengale" but rejected it, because I came up with that by thinking back to the inside covers of those Sweet Pickles books (and that felt like cheating) and then I was thinking of Norwegian Elkhound, but thought that was rather "splitting hairs" and thought I could do better. But I was really, truly stumped! On "N"!! So at this juncture the game started to aggravate me and said aggravation aggravated my existing insomnia. Great, huh??
Two movies-- that was an easy one.
And neither of these mind games succeeded in lulling me off to Snoozetown. So then I sort of did this Scattergories type thing in my head where I went through the alphabet and had to come up with some type of animal for each letter. Antelope, Badger, Capybara, Dingo,Elephant, etc. etc.& so on. Which sounds pretty basic, but I got stuck on the letter “N” believe it or not!! First I thought "nightengale" but rejected it, because I came up with that by thinking back to the inside covers of those Sweet Pickles books (and that felt like cheating) and then I was thinking of Norwegian Elkhound, but thought that was rather "splitting hairs" and thought I could do better. But I was really, truly stumped! On "N"!! So at this juncture the game started to aggravate me and said aggravation aggravated my existing insomnia. Great, huh??
*Thought about what I would do to fill in the time gap between my 6pm ETA in Windsor and my 6:45pm hair appointment
*took out my opera CD...nearly changed it to the Mary Poppins soundtrack (changed my mind on account of that being too upbeat for inducing slumber) nearly changed it to the Sound of Music soundtrack (but I could only locate disc 2 of a 2 disc set, y'see, and "Lonely Goatherd" was on disc 1 and I thought the omission of "Goatherd" would be too much of a bummer) and finally decided to switch to some spoken word CD rather than another music CD. So I put in Monty Python's Previous Record (yep, that's the name of it) which was mostly quite funny, which was probably a bad pick because I stayed up and listened to the whole thing. Especially amusing --after having dined out with this real wine afficianado type (Mary, not Pam)-- was listening to their Australian Table Wines bit. Love that...
So, at like 3:33 a.m. I finally gave in, resigned myself to NOT sleeping. I decided I would watch TV until it was time to prep for work.
First I watched Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle . I really dug it... though I suspect I would have enjoyed the profanity filled version more. Damn censors. Like anyone watching TBS at 3:30 in the morning is young & impressionable and /or needs to be guarded from cuss words. Whatev. I may have to buy that movie. Is it weird that I think both Harold & Kumar are cute? Harold especially. Lisa & I have this running gag that we are going to do some sort of White Castle pilgrimage of our own--see we were chatting one day about Sliders-- a phenom I have never experienced firsthand, sadly, I had just seen something on 'em on the Food Network the evening prior to said chat. Anyways , we both musta been hungry at the time because we were both practically salivating over how good they sounded (let the record show--we were NOT stoned!!) Well, watching the end of Harold & Kumar only exacerbated my hankerin' for Sliders...previously, I was only half-kidding about the whole Sandra & Lisa Go to White Castle scheme...now I'm only 1/4 kidding.
During commercials I flipped to AMC, which was playing West Side Story. I'd never seen it before, and was curious. I couldn't really get into it ...Harold & Kumar had won my heart first and I had to be prompt about flipping back to them (I was ) plus something about Natalie Wood doing a Puerto Rican accent irked the bejesus outta me. It's odd.. me, not being into West Side Story. I am usually such a musical junkie!!
And then after the movie, they were playing the oddest thang on Mtv & Vh1....videos!! I watched a whole slew of videos!! Here's the one for Maroon 5's latest (Wake-up Call) that I watched 3 times.
After 3 viewings, I still can't tell if that's Jeremy Sisto that gets shot or some no-name actor (not that Jeremy Sisto is any BIG name..) But that's unimportant. What I really came away from this video with was a keen desire to see Adam Levine starring in an action movie. And I don't even like action movies. Dude is HOT. Despite that scrawniness about him, the narrow head and mildly odd coiffure, I find him rather appealing. Oh yeah ..I dig the song too.
Also I saw a video for the first single off 50Cent's latest and the new Kanye. And thus far, I find myself on Team Fiddy, surprisingly. I would not have predicted that. I've always liked Kanye. Even with his sour grapey cry babyness about the VMAs, I still like him. But Fiddy's song had Justin Timberlake AND Timbaland. Kryptonite, baby! Great song and JT was in fiiiine form in the video! Although, oddly, his own video, for "Love Stoned" was way dull...it was much like listening to a song and watching the visualizations on Windows Media. Let's just say I was underwelmed. But back to the big Kanye vs. 50 debate...I want to just reiterate that I do like Mr West...more than anything I appreciate his recent valiant efforts to singlehandedly bring the Venetian blind shade back into fashion...
I've seen K-West sportin' these around town, and even in his "Stronger" video...and every time I see it, it is like a winking homage to my 1985 Halloween costume where I was aiming to be this way trippendicular Cyndi Lauper type and I wore 3 or 4 plastic charm necklaces, crimped hair, and a red pair of these shades. Kanye is giving me a shout out and he doesn't even know it!! (although he knows now...if he reads my blog)
And I saw this unmemorable Rhianna video, and I just remember thinking,"Oh, she IS rather adorable. I hope she is dating Shia LeBouef" And then I saw Ashley Tisdale (not last night on the telly...actually just a minute or so ago in my 'net meanderings) and she made me think "Oy does that broad grate on my nerves. She ought not smile that ubiquitous Ashley Tisdale smile...it makes her look like an utter twit." Also there was this Rooney video for "When Did Your Heart Go Missing" (good song, bland video) and a most impressive "An End has a Start" by Editors.
Sorry to prattle on about all that, but it was quite a treat to catch a glimpse of that majestic and elusive beast that is the music video.
Oh and there was this commercial that kept consistently cracking my shit up. It's a Comcast commercial with a huge talking tree frog. I fully intended to embed that here or at least link you but the ad was inexplicably absent from YouTube.
So TV starts sucking, I discovered, around 6:30 a.m....lots of Gunthy-Renker infomercial rubbish and news. Bleccch and NO THANKS. So about quarter of 7 I started to get ready for work...I had time for a shower, but I deliberately did not wash my hair (nope, not when it was going to drink up that high-qual SAlon shampoo when I went in for my cut) I went to Denny's and had a nice big breakfast and started to read I, Claudius. The Meat Lover's Breakfast was a great consolation after my insomnia ordeal--an array of breakfast meats (bacon, sausage & super yummy grilled ham slab) two eggs (done over easy) hash browns and instead of the standard buttermilk pancakes (call me loco, but I am NOT a pancake fan) I subbed an English muffin. And copius quantities of coffee, OF COURSE. MMMmmm--mmm! Tomorrow a.m. I shall go back to Kashi, but DAMN was that good!!
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