process + color

two reasons why today was awesome.

2011-02-02T19:58:00.002-05:00

1. We had a snow day. I haven't had a snow day since I was in high school.

2. My new bobby hat for my 19th Wardens outfit came in the mail. First RCRD bout of the season is Saturday—so effing excited.

the 2011 post-holiday reading list aka books i got for christmas

2011-01-02T23:58:00.003-05:00

1. What Would Jefferson Do? - Thom Hartmann - I'm already 1/3 done with this book and it's terribly fascinating, while at the same time terribly depressing. Even having been an AP History student in high school—books like this leave me feeling gypped. Only in my adult life have I discovered how incredibly interesting history is, especially American history. The current re-writing of my favorite founding father by the conservative right is a particular pet peeve of mine. In reading a book like this, you realize why they're rushing around trying to change how people remember the man like Jefferson.

2. FDR - Jean Edward Smith - This is the FDR biography and I've been meaning to read it forever. Now I have no excuse.

3. Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt - HW Brands - I'm very excited for this one. Another FDR tome, I'm kind of forcing myself to read FDR first and then this. I am absolutely fascinated by Roosevelt's concern for the middle and lower classes over his own—and have long been a fan of the theory that his experiences in Warm Springs with both people with disabilities and people living in poverty effected his approach to issues of class and financial equality during his presidency.

4. The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson - Too many things I like together in book form for this to be anything but, well, fantastic.

5. Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People - Amy Sedaris - Can I be adopted into the Sedaris family, please?

merry merry. happy happy.

2011-01-02T19:33:00.010-05:00

Dollar Store Secret Santa has been going on since college and now the group is larger and each year stockings more and more ridiculous.

The rules are simple:

- When picking names you can't get yourself or your significant other
- Items in the stocking have to be under a dollar

This year, I got Matt D and he got me. And it's fair to say, he got me good.

In my stocking was:

6 crafty paper hats (one pictured)
a grow-an-ostrich in a plastic egg
a weird foot shaped foot scrubber
2 small plastic skulls
a wooden exclamation point
a monkey covering his eyes
a ramones-esque skull sticker
2 koosh-ball looking animals
2 stick on mustaches
HOME in sequins (Matt D read this as a creative spelling of "homey" apparently)
a pair of pom pom keychains (one has since been given to Matt D as a symbol of our friendship)
a tiny box of angry bunny stickers
a dog that kind of looks like a lion
a child size Miami Dolphins shot glass
a matchbook of small candles
a wooden letter K with markers to color it
glittery monkey stickers
a nail file (because Matt D enjoys torturing me with flashbacks to Black Swan)
a modded Jake The Cowboy sticker book with Jake Gyllenhaal's face and added commentary
AND... the complete 98° discography. Three in my stocking and the last two wrapped as a present and marked "OPEN THIS LAST". That last one took a lot of dedication and apparently a lot of scouring through the bargain bins at Record Archive. Now, whenever we carpool with MAMA's house—I'll bring the tunes.

And poor Bill had to wait through stockings and presentes before he was allowed to open the 3+ foot tall present Anna carried in for him.

By the time we were done with Christmas, it was barely over an hour until the New Year—which we rang in with Christmas Crackers, paper hats and champagne.

Kind of wished someone had asked me to talk about Jefferson at this point—for my own version of Drunken History.

Oh, and PS: Still finding confetti EVERYWHERE.

on the whovian calendar: it's the year of the eleven

2011-01-01T13:01:00.002-05:00

Happy 2011, everyone!

This makes me so happy!!!

happy happy 2010.

2010-12-31T15:15:00.009-05:00

2010. Sometimes it felt like it was flying by and others where it was positively dragging itself as though it's legs were broken. But when I look back at pictures, it's only the flying bits—which I am incredibly grateful for. I'm fortunate, in many ways. But what I remember most about 2010 is how fortunate I am for the amazing people I have in my life.

There were a few firsts this year. First high school reunion, first trip to Denver (and first professional-type convention). I had my first try-out for roller derby and thusly my first knee injury (meniscus tear). Still, I got my first derby name (Frankie Dee Bruisevelt)—and my first time out as a non-skating official. With the obvious exceptions, firsts are fun.

Then there are the things that happen every year. Holidays, birthdays, sunny days in San Diego in the middle of July. For the third year, Comic Con week was the thing I looked forward to the most and was not disappointed—a week in my favorite city with my favorite people surrounded by our favorite things. There are few things better than that.

We had True Blood Sundays and a game night here and there. Shenanigans abound. These are the people I know I can count on.

It was also the summer (or year) of Scott Pilgrim. I don't think a movie has quite dominated my life in such a way. Jason Schwartzman signed my phone and I got to meet Edgar Wright outside a classy old theatre before the sneak preview.

And as far as the furry friends? It was a year of first there too for the smaller one. Clark had his first therapy visit, his first agility trial and a bunch of first place ribbons. And Maggie's had her best year yet. Coming from a neglectful home, learning to be a dog and relax and play has been a process. But this year she's come out of her shell. It's nice to be able to take her more places. I think she enjoys it too.

Happy, happy, near year and here's to a lovely 2011.

you've got a bit of a panda vibe going on.

2010-12-30T21:40:00.006-05:00

Along with the Whovian episode and the Jedward disaster fest, this ensemble (with Cee Lo Green) has entered my top three episodes of Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

"Pandas are absolute wankers."

i said hey! what's going on?

2010-12-29T23:15:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite pre-holiday events?

The annual Val visit and the dinner that we celebrated it with.

Where else can you sample shepherd's pie, mac and cheese and/or taco boats, find out that Anna's bed only holds five adults and get a 4 Non Blondes song stuck in your head forever?

merry merry.

2010-12-24T09:59:00.002-05:00

If you celebrate this holiday religiously or just for warmth and joy of being with your loved ones—Merry Christmas.

Here's a little holiday mix I put together:

1. Winter Wonderland | Phantom Planet - for obvious reasons.

2. Oi To The World | No Doubt - Who doesn't like a punk vs. skins holiday carol? One of the most fun holiday songs, ever.

3. Fairytale Of New York | Pogues & Kristy MacColl - Shane MacGowan, 'nuff said.

4. Somewhere In My Memory | John Williams - Home Alone 2 is one of my favorite Christmas movies (after Santa Claus: The Movie of course) and in a recent discussion about which was better, the first Home Alone or the second... bird lady trumps shovel man.

5. Carol of the Bells | Phantom Planet - Again, obvs.

6. White Wine In The Sun | Tim Minchin - Now one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. So incredibly witty and beautiful and I usually tear up at the end.

7. Sleigh Ride | John Williams with The Boston Pops- Coming from a New Englander family—the Boston Pops have been a staple throughout my childhood memories of Christmas. This was always my favorite song as a kid because they make the whip sound and someone makes a trombone whinny like a horse at the end.

8. Happy Xmas War is Over | Neil Diamond - They didn't have the John Lennon one on grooveshark and the fact that Neil Diamond covered this made me laugh. Oh, Neil.

flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&playlistID=41225732&style=metal&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window" />

skip to the end.

2010-12-12T21:38:00.005-05:00

After a full day of shopping with Anna and Jess, I came home to chill out and ended up listening to a Kevin Smith Smodcast—SMoviemakers with Edgar Wright.

And now I'm going to end up starting an epic rewatch of Spaced, because it's simply been too long and hearing Edgar talk about the process working up to that... I've got a renewed craving.

I think Matt's still stoked to have been ahead of the curve on that one. I remember when it arrived on the doorstep from amazon.uk for his freshly de-regionalized DVD player our first Christmas. That was my gateway drug into British television.

No looking back, no regrets. Fried gold.

my buddy bernie.

2010-12-10T21:19:00.004-05:00

I don't have many living heroes. People who I greatly admire who can still surprise me with their selfless actions. But one of them is Bernie Sanders, who I would get all giddy about when he stopped by on Olbermann or Rachel Maddow. One of two Independents in the Senate, Senator Sanders is a Democratic Socialist—sharing my values about things like single payer healthcare, income equality, accessible and quality education (and I could go on and on). He makes me wish I lived in Vermont.

Today, the honorable Senator Sanders took to the floor of the Senate at 10:25am and eviscerated the proposed tax bill in what ended up being an 8.5 hour filibuster. He pointed out the ridiculous nature of giving tax cuts to the richest of the rich while the middle class in this country gets pushed further and further towards the poverty line. I tuned in on my C-SPAN radio app (YES, I HAVE A CSPAN APP—DEAL WITH IT) at the start and listened all the way through.

All the way through. Sitting at my desk, working and listening. Going home for lunch and listening. Getting home from work and watching on TV. Bernie was supporting me by speaking and I was going to support him by paying attention. Within 30 minutes of being home, I had sent emails to both of my own Senators—because in the end, that is what this about. Participating in your government.

This is where I really wish more people my age were like the young people in the UK. There should be rallies in the streets over this and so many other injustices that get passed because nobody cares, nobody bothers to understand.

Thank goodness for people like Senator Sanders. At 28, I couldn't imagine talking for 8.5 hours and he did so passionately at the age of 69.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/10/bernie-sanders-filibuster_n_795087.html

whose streets? our streets.

2010-12-09T22:15:00.003-05:00

It annoys and disappoints me to no end that this kind of protest doesn't happen here. American young adults are brainwashed into thinking the news and politics are boring and would rather watch Dancing With The Stars than stand up for their rights and protest the government cutting their education benefits.

You cannot justify tripling tuition in a country where you still pay an old lady to wear a shiny hat and live in a castle.

i really like christmas. it's sentimental i know, but i just really like it.

2010-12-08T23:25:00.006-05:00

Christmas time is here.

Time for nerdy cheer.

Seriously though, I love our geek tree. It's the first time we've had a white pine. I like the long needles, but I wish the branches were stronger. I love that there's more than one Wolverine hidden among the white pine branches and we have classy, blown glass ornaments of Batman, Chewbacca and the Incredible Hulk. If I had to guess, there's probably an even percentage of DC and Marvel adornments, followed by Star Wars, Disney and then random awesomeness.

Like the Simpsons...

And some swanky, martini goodness thanks to Charles.

And a place for Wonder Woman to hang her hat.. er... tiara?

And for those other people out there who don't buy into the mythology, my favorite song of the season. You know, this... and Frosty the Snowman.

sick puppy.

2010-12-01T22:02:00.003-05:00

There's nothing sadder than a sick dog. Especially one who gets so congested he snorts and then scares himself into a shaking stupor.

I don't know where he picked it up, but Clark got a cold. While I knew they existed, I never had a dog actually catch a cold before.

Little dogs with short, squat, little faces can have a cold turn into something real nasty, real quick. So after a trip to the vet, he's on antibiotics. He loves being on medicine. To him, he's thrilled to get a piece of cheese twice a day—who cares if it's stuffed with pills?

my brother in law is awesome.

2010-11-23T20:56:00.004-05:00

Went and saw Josh's band play at the Bug Jar.

Goons rock.

This is one of my favorite pictures I've taken with the Hipstamatic. Oh you little iPhone gem, you.

oh canada.

2010-11-09T22:48:00.007-05:00

Can I just move to Toronto please, Canada?

Okay, I know. I looked at your immigration site and I don't have a standing job offer, nor am I qualified in any of the careers you're actively recruiting for. But my other dream locale is San Diego and you're the only East Coast city I'd give up year round awesome weather for.

I guess I do have family somewhere deep in the heart of French Canada... but I don't know if they'd sponsor me. You know, considering I haven't seen them since I was a toddler.

But seriously, I love your city on the Lake, the great Tdot. And I grew up near New York. People go apeshit for it where I currently reside, but between you and me—it's allright. Toronto? Way more fun, way better vibe. Plus, you celebrated my arrival with a Day of the Dead festival.

I love you more than words.

another reason why my friends > your friends.

2010-09-26T10:19:00.005-04:00

Matt was all about going to this year's Oktoberfest and when he floated the idea out to everyone at MAMA's house, they were game. I wasn't quite sure what to expect (aside from German food and plenty of beer). Needless to say, we had a blast. It wasn't just German food, but amazing German food—and plenty of beer under this giant tent at Camp Eastman. The music just kept going. Austrian singers, bands with those giant alp horns and this old man who yodeled. That has to be a dying art, right?

Then there was this guy who played accordion. He'd do traditional pieces, but then he'd also play to karaoke tracks of party songs? At least, I think that's what was happening. The thing was that he didn't know the words. So he'd kind of come in at the chorus and then fade out for the rest of the song. It was hilarious.

But not as hilarious as the chicken dance—at least at our table.

Matt D's interpretation of the Chicken Dance = pure awesome.

"Matt learned the chicken dance from the Bluth family." - Matt A

one song a day: song twenty-nine| favorite song at this time last year

2010-09-26T10:01:00.002-04:00

This is where my memory fails. But I'm pretty sure I had Gogol Bordello in heavy rotation last fall. So I'm going to make an educated guess that this was my favorite song from roughly the same time last year. I love these guys.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh: The Mighty Boosh - Eels
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument: The Surfaris - Wipeout
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play: Green Day - Holiday
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty: Fall Out Boy - Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name...
Day 29. A song from your childhood: The Little Mermaid - Part of Your World
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year: Gogol Bordello - Start Wearing Purple

So that's it! A month of songs spread out over several! But now that's done. Whew.

one song a day: song twenty-nine| song from your childhood

2010-09-26T09:58:00.003-04:00

The Little Mermaid was the first movie my parents took me to see when I was little and it was where I fell in love with animation and remains one of my favorite animated features to this day (though, Ariel loses out to Belle when it comes to favorite Disney movies).

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh: The Mighty Boosh - Eels
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument: The Surfaris - Wipeout
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play: Green Day - Holiday
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty: Fall Out Boy - Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name...
Day 29. A song from your childhood: The Little Mermaid - Part of Your World
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-eight| song that makes you feel guilty

2010-09-26T09:45:00.003-04:00

I feel so unbelievably guilty for liking this Fall Out Boy song, but I can't help it. It just gets in my head and lives there.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh: The Mighty Boosh - Eels
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument: The Surfaris - Wipeout
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play: Green Day - Holiday
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty: Fall Out Boy - Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name...
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-seven| song you wish you could play

2010-09-26T09:41:00.002-04:00

Any part of this song. Guitar. Drums. I wish I could do it. I need to get back to teaching myself guitar.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh: The Mighty Boosh - Eels
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument: The Surfaris - Wipeout
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play: Green Day - Holiday
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-six| song that makes you can play on an instrument

2010-09-26T09:16:00.003-04:00

Easy choice, because (sadly) this is it. I can play this on a guitar.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh: The Mighty Boosh - Eels
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument: The Surfaris - Wipeout
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-five| song that makes you laugh

2010-09-26T09:12:00.003-04:00

It's the Mighty Boosh. What more can I say? (Except, I love you Noel Fielding!)

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh: The Mighty Boosh - Eels
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-four| song that you want to play at your funeral

2010-09-22T23:05:00.002-04:00

You know, not even sure why. I didn't exactly have one in mind and when I was cruising through my iTunes, this stuck out to me.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-three | song that you want to play at your wedding

2010-09-22T22:53:00.003-04:00

I wish I had known this song existed before we got hitched. This totally would have been played and I would have done a happy dance along to this beautiful song. I suppose I could stretch heritages to get it to apply to Matt + me. Since his lineage stretches back to English roots and mine tread along French Canadian lines.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: Frank Turner - To Take You Home
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-two | song that you listen to when you’re sad

2010-09-22T22:39:00.003-04:00

One of the saddest songs I have ever heard. If I want to kick sadness into downright depression, I listen to this.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad: The Decemberists - Leslie Anne Levine
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty-one | song that you listen to when you’re happy

2010-08-18T22:07:00.004-04:00

This song always makes me happy; despite the topic. It's just kind of pop-y, fun and I love the guitar.

The video make me even happier, as it's another work of art by the owner of my life right now, Edgar Wright.

Can I move to England now, pls?

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy: Charlotte Hatherley - Bastardo
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twenty | song that you listen to when you’re angry

2010-08-18T21:51:00.005-04:00

For some reason, the songs I listen to when I'm angry are these really march-y songs. Because it was between this and Green Day's "Holiday". But Frank pulled ahead, perhaps because of the fiddle (or guitar breakdown in this live version). That and he played this song live, dedicating it to Ben Franklin.

So if ever a man should ask you for your business or your name
Tell him to go and fuck himself, tell his friends to do the same.
Because a man who'd trade his liberty for a safe and dreamless sleep
Doesn't deserve the both of them, and neither shall he keep.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry: Frank Turner - Sons of Liberty
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song nineteen | song from your favorite album

2010-08-18T21:41:00.003-04:00

I love Raise the Dead, it is possibly my favorite Phantom Planet album (it runs neck and neck with the self-titled). But for as long as I've loved them, I didn't get to see them live until 2008, a few weeks before I got married. They were the first opening act for Panic At The Disco. They only played about 5 songs on stage, including this one—which wasn't even a single at the time. I about lost my freakin' mind.

At the merch table after their set, I got to meet the guys and Alex cued me in to a post-Panic show out by the tour bus. And sure enough, after the headliner, Alex came out and took requests from the dedicated Phantom Planet fans gathered outside the Gordon Fieldhouse. It was like a camp singalong... only with way more awesome.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album: Phantom Planet - Dropped
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song eighteen | song that you wish you heard on the radio

2010-08-14T13:58:00.005-04:00

Go see Scott Pilgrim VS The World. Now. It's amazing, it deserves happiness and I want to cover Bryan Lee O'Malley (for creating it) and Edgar Wright (for making it such an awesome movie) in kisses forever.

FOR THE FULL VIDEO (Can't find a version that'll let me embed it): CLICK HERE

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Clash at Demonhead (Metric) - Black Sheep
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song seventeen | song that you hear often on the radio

2010-08-14T13:45:00.002-04:00

I don't listen to much local radio, mainly because I find fake-DJ-voice insufferable. I occasionally listen to WBER, but usually if I'm in the mood for music, I've got my iPhone plugged into the car. However, I am a public radio addict. I love it. It's the only balanced news source out there and the non-news programming is awesome (much love to This American Life!). So this is the best clip I could find to support that.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio: NPR/PRI/APM - Various Public Radio Themes
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song sixteen | song that you used to love but now hate

2010-08-14T13:29:00.003-04:00

I was one of those crazy girls who saw Titanic 10+ times in high school. My Leonardo DiCaprio love knew no bounds. I used to tune into the radio, hoping, praying that they'd play the remix of this song with lines from the movie in it. If I had to listen to this song from start to finish now? I'd never stop screaming.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love: The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate: Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song fifteen | song that describes you

2010-08-11T21:30:00.003-04:00

Well, this is a problem. The song that best describes me already holds the "Day One" spot. But it's kind of the best fit and I wouldn't feel honest putting anything else here. So, I'm going to put it, but I'll put a secondary, so there's a bit of something new with the entry.

Okay, so another one. Nearly as good, but not as fitting as Frank. Hm. You know what.. no. Nothing else is holding up. So yeah, enjoy the live version.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love - The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you - Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song fourteen | song that no one would expect you to love

2010-08-08T10:35:00.004-04:00

Of the Golden Age of American musicals, this is my favorite (and apparently it's Seth McFarlane's favorite too—songs often making appearances in episodes of Family Guy). Watching Harold Hill as he charms and cons an entire town echos everything from politics to advertising. Creating false problems so that you can offer the solution (at a cost, of course). And while what he's doing is so devious in nature, you can't help but admire his cunning—even if it's through song. Every time I see someone on the right give a speech, I can't help but think of Harold Hill (though, with far less flair).

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love - The Music Man/Robert Preston - Ya Got Trouble
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song thirteen | song that is a guilty pleasure

2010-08-08T00:02:00.003-04:00

This is a lie. I don't even really feel guilty for loving this song. Suck it, internet meme. I love auto-tune Finn and I'm proud.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Finn & Jake - The Baby Song
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song twelve | song from a band you hate

2010-08-01T10:37:00.003-04:00

Nickelback is the worst band ever. Ever. Ever, ever, ever, ever.

And all their songs sound the same.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate: Nickelback - All of their songs
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song eleven | song from your favorite band

2010-07-31T12:14:00.005-04:00

Phantom Planet has been my favorite band since... early college? Must be, this video is circa 2002. Anyway, Lonely Day was the first Phantom Planet song I ever heard and it sent me on the quest to track down the album and started my SoCal power pop obsession.

This video got my all nostalgic: since both JB and Jason were still in the band when this was made.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band: Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song ten | song that makes you fall asleep

2010-07-31T12:02:00.002-04:00

I first heard a snippet of this song while watching Hellboy and immediately hit the internet to find out who the band was and got the CD. This being back when I was at RIT and Anna and I left our respective computers to softly play music at night when we slept... Heroes and Villains (the album) was in heavy rotation at nighty-night time.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep: Palo Alto - Breathe In
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song nine | song that you can dance to

2010-07-31T11:49:00.003-04:00

Back from San Diego! That's a post in itself.. but for now, the list continues.

This song has been dancing in and out of my head since May for some unknown reason. I kept hearing it on the radio, it was covered at my high school reunion and then it showed up here:

And if the Doctor can dance to it, so can I. Plus, <3 Freddie Mercury!

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to: Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song eight | song that you know all the words to

2010-07-17T13:28:00.002-04:00

So I have a thing for songs about not growing up. So what? I think people who try to conform to the generally accepted idea of acting like "a grown up" are insufferably boring. And like Milo says..

... I don't want to be like other adults, 'cause they've already died.

I feel bad for people who get hung up on growing up. Dr. Seuss pointed out that time only makes you grow old... growing up is a decision you make all on your own.

Stop being boring. Step one, learn all the words to this song. ;D

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to: Descendents - When I Get Old
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song seven | song that reminds you of a certain event

2010-07-15T10:26:00.002-04:00

This song reminds me of when I first drove home with my orange Pontiac Vibe. It was the first new-to-me car that I ever bought on my own. I made a CD of songs for the inaugural drive from Honeoye Falls to the Oxford University apartment and this was on there.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Weezer - The Good Life
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song six | song that reminds your of somewhere

2010-07-13T20:30:00.002-04:00

This song reminds me of San Diego... and California in general. It's always on my iPod/Phone and listened to at some point while I'm on the West Coast. And I mean, come on... look at the video. It's total California-lust porn.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Rooney - Blueside
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song five | song that reminds your of someone

2010-07-12T19:47:00.003-04:00

This is another one of the contenders for favorite song, but it fit so perfectly here because it reminds me of Matt. Less than a month into dating, he burned this song to a CD for me because he said it reminded him of us. And it did, it has and I think it always will. It's one of the most down to earth love songs by one of our favorite bands.

And on our wedding bands, without speaking to each other about it ahead of time, we had the same line engraved on the inside of the rings...

I'm so glad that you exist.

The only bummer? Not a fan of the video.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone: The Weakerthans - The Reasons
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song four | song that makes you sad

2010-07-11T11:17:00.004-04:00

I love musicals. It's one of those weird things that sometimes people don't expect me to like. But I admit, I'm a musical snob. I'd never set foot in a theatre for something like "Legally Blonde: The Musical". And with so much garbage on Broadway because people won't take chances and just spend money on things they are familiar with as movies... shows like where my song today comes from, get overlooked by the masses. Which is a shame.

I was incredibly fortunate to see it twice; once on Broadway the weekend Matt and I got engaged. That was with the original Broadway cast, including Lea Michelle (now on Glee) and Johnathan Groff (who guest starred on Glee this past season). The second time I saw it, it was the travelling show and we got stage seating, which was one of the most amazing experiences in my life (again, total musical nerd). When you sit on stage, they give you a little rundown before the show starts of what you can and cannot do ( so you don't bother the actors or spoil the show in any way). One of the things is that you can't sing along because the microphones will pick it up. That wasn't a problem, I can control that. But when it gets to this part of the show, where today's song comes from, I was struggling not to audibly cry. Nobody needed that going across the sound system.

(SPRING AWAKENING SPOILERS AHEAD)

But this song makes me so incredibly sad because it's sung by the lead, Melchior, at the funeral for his best friend, the tortured character of Moritz—to the parents who had treated the delicate Moritz so coldly. Groff's voice is hauntingly beautiful and cuts me to the core.

And all of the crying you wouldn't understand. You just let him cry, 'make a man out of him.'

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad: Spring Awakening/Johnathan Groff - Left Behind
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song three | song that makes you happy

2010-07-10T10:33:00.003-04:00

The Hold Steady is a band Matt introduced me to when he became obsessed with them—and for good reason, they're fucking amazing. In the past few years, I've seen them live more than any other band in my life and their shows are always amazing. This is my favorite Hold Steady song, I love the lyrics and just the general feeling of the song, the up and down, the build up and the quiet. And every time I hear it, I turn it up and every time we've seen the Hold Steady, they've played it and I sing along at the top of my lungs. Craig Finn is incredible on stage, he always looks like he's having the time of his life and that makes a live performance. Remembering how that feels, hearing your favorite song played live, just brings that rush of happiness each time I heard it, no matter where I am.

We're just dust in the spotlight, we're just kind of floating.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy: The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
Day 04. A song that makes you sad
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song two | least favorite song

2010-07-09T17:52:00.004-04:00

Okay, least favorite song. I don't like this song:

a. Because it's bad 90's R&B
b. Because it's the the song the stupid people in my class voted in as the theme song for the Junior Ring Dance (what folks in other places call Junior Prom).

It just reminds me of everything I hated about high school.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song: Joe - Don't Wanna Be A Player No More
Day 03. A song that makes you happy
Day 04. A song that makes you sad
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

one song a day: song one | favorite song

2010-07-08T23:11:00.003-04:00

I snagged this from an old livejournal friend. It seemed musical and/or fun.
So, day one, favorite song.
This was the first song that came to mind and I was going back and forth if I should pull it out and use it right away because it fits into some of the other categories. And I suppose that's why it's my favorite song. (And get ready, you're going to see Frank Turner all over this list.) It makes me happy, it makes me sad, I know all the words, it's a song I wish I could play, it makes me guilty, it describes me and I could dance to it all day long. Most of all, it makes me think. Hearing this song is a reminder about the ideas that are important to me. Sometimes I feel surrounded by a world obsessed with pretense, image, status and all the other useless things that people make a mad grab for to feel important... and Frank just grounds me with this amazing song.

I won't sit down. I won't shut up and most of all I will not grow up.

Day 01. Your favorite song: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
Day 02. Your least favorite song
Day 03. A song that makes you happy
Day 04. A song that makes you sad
Day 05. A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06. A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 07. A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08. A song that you know all the words to
Day 09. A song that you can dance to
Day 10. A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11. A song from your favorite band
Day 12. A song from a band you hate
Day 13. A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14. A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15. A song that describes you
Day 16. A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17. A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19. A song from your favorite album
Day 20. A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21. A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22. A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23. A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24. A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25. A song that makes you laugh
Day 26. A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27. A song that you wish you could play
Day 28. A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29. A song from your childhood
Day 30. Your favorite song at this time last year

where did june go?

2010-07-03T22:31:00.013-04:00

As I sit here watching neighborhood fireworks through the front window, I can't believe we're already three days into July.

So what happened in the fleeting month of June? A heck of a lot, actually.

HOW DESIGN CONFERENCE

So, back in January (at least I think it was January) I found out that I was going to be one of three designers from work sent to the annual HOW Design Conference. While that was exciting on its own—the fact that his year's conference was in Denver added to the thrill. It was my first time visiting the city and I do love me some urban exploring.

Denver is an amazing city. It's incredibly easy to get around sans-automobile and outside of conference time—there was a lot to see and do. Taking a cue from my foodie husband, I looked up some places to check out meal-wise before we left. My favorite (which we visited twice during those 4 days) was Steuben's. I almost felt bad eating there without Matt because it's the kind of place he dreams about opening.

A Rockies game, a free pedicab ride, a near-empty Coyote Ugly franchise on a Monday night and an accidental stumbling into a dueling piano bar—Denver nightlife served us well.

The conference? A blast. Like Comic-Con for graphic designers. It was a creative gut-check and kick in the pants to get busy making things. In fact, most of the lessons/inspiration I took home with me related to things to do outside of work to be a happier creative sort overall. I was a bookshop fiend and used my SDCC skills to load up on awesome swag in the resource room.

DOGS

Maggie, Clark and I spent a Saturday morning walking for a good cause—the Rochester Animal Services shelter. It was a fun day in the park near Verona Street followed by an interesting walk around the area about Frontier Field. Maggie, who is still a work in progress when it comes to socializing with strange dogs, did incredibly well.

Clark is an agility superstar. The day after the walk, we went to Amherst for his second agility trial and he placed 1st in all three events and earned his Novice title, moving up to Open in Standard and JWW. His therapy work has been wonderful as well. Because of some scheduling conflicts, we had to skip one of our regular visits and got to go to a new place. He loves it and people respond well to him. Like any good athlete, he has his charity work. Hah.

TRICERABRATION

MAMA's house continued it's excellent party throwing streak, celebrating not just Halloween this year, but the 17th anniversary of Jurassic Park with their Tricerabration picnic.

My favorite dino-themed dishes were Anna's mom's dino egg (a hollowed out melon with lemon and vanilla pudding) and the idea of Eric's dino-nugget and tater tot diorama (only existing as an idea, as putting it together would have involved touching everyone's food).

We brought over the firepit and as the sun went down, MAMA's house broke that out. I love campfires, the building of them and the socializing around them. Especially on those perfect summer nights where it's just chilly enough for the fire to be comfortable.

iPHONE

I usually don't like to facebrag (or since this is a blog and not facebook... I guess it's blogbrag?)... but I've been looking forward to this since the first speculation of a new phone.

My iPhone 4, I loves it.

HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

Ten years? Already. GTFO. But apparently it has been. I originally was dead set against going, mainly because there was apparently some folks butthurt about not having prom on a boat, so they were making up for that by booking the reunion on some river-faring vessel. But Ali and Jen tempted me with the promises of much laughter... and I went.

Since the river booze cruise wasn't everyone's cup of tea, we put together a picnic the afternoon of at my dad's house. What a great time! Saw people I hadn't seen in ages, got to meet significant others and offspring and catch up with old friends.

The boat... surprisingly fun! Former nay-sayers changed their mind at the picnic and our group took over the top deck. Got to see more folks I'd all but lost touch with and drank my $50 in liquor at least. We followed up the boatride with a few drinks at The Steel House and Mariners (oh, camp memories) and then Ali, Tom, Claire, Matt & I retired to Michael's Diner until we called our DD.

TELEVISION

Summer TV, endings and beginnings.

June brought the end of the new season of Doctor Who and it was so bloody brilliant. Matt Smith is my favorite Doctor, hands down. There's a Tennant episode of WXXI right now and while it's a great one (Silence in the Library), he's just not as fun as Smith. Look at him dance!

I can't wait for the Christmas episode. However, there is something to fill the gap. True Blood is back and so are the odd theme nights that go along with them at the Austin house. Matt found a cake weck at Tops that we passed off as an AIDSburger cake. True Blood is fantastic and over the top, never taking itself too seriously. Though, I could have done without the end scene of the third episode. Some things you just can't unsee, I suppose.

And July? It's going to be the best month yet. I don't have a full week of work until August due to things like 4th of July, my birthday shenanigans and, of course, Comic Con. This year Matt & I and the boys are all flying out together. Matt took me to see Tron at the Dryden tonight to properly prepare me for the awesomeness all over San Diego that is Tron Legacy and Anna and I have agreed to celebrate our birthdays proper in the Gaslamp Quarter (saving our birthday wishes for Comic-Con week).

mmmm. zzzzz.

2010-05-29T20:43:00.002-04:00

A bit of gardening, a bit of napping, homemade fish tacos and Tecate with the boy.

I love Saturdays.

heaven is a place on earth.

2010-05-13T23:41:00.003-04:00

On his radio show, Charlie Brooker proposed the best idea for a reality show ever and now I'm obsessed with it. The show's called "Heaven Is A Place On Earth". Where you find people undergoing operations, wait until they come 'round and you convince them they've died on the table. Then they get to meet John Lennon, Einstein, people in masks etc.. and see how long you can keep the act up.

Reality tv fakes love, adventure and self-respect... why not fake death?

monday. monday.

2010-04-12T23:43:00.005-04:00

Here's a surefire cure for the Mondays:

The Hold Steady at the Club at Waterstreet. I love the club side at Waterstreet, but not as much as I love the Hold Steady. We just saw them in Syracuse Saturday night and that show had been kind of a let down. I like their slower songs... but not in concert. Tonight blew doors down. Then again, I'm always partial to a show when the last song of the night is my absolute favorite song.

Roc City Roller Derby season tickets. How cool are these? I mean, besides the fact that they're season tickets... they're dog tags. You're looking at season ticket holder #180. I can wait for the season to properly start. We went to Buffalo a few weekends ago to check out QCRG—they were amazing and the set up at the Rainbow Rink is unreal.

part of your world.

2010-03-25T22:20:00.001-04:00

I want to see this so bad.

For those Tim Burton fans still sticking around after my previous post, watch this trailer to see the dark master circa 1981, whilst he was an animator working on The Fox and the Hound.

family dinner time.

2010-03-18T23:36:00.003-04:00

I love big get togethers—here or at MAMA's house, doesn't matter. Tonight we celebrated a late St. Patty's day by gathering around the ol' library table at MAMA's house for a bounty of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, shepherd's pie and more. Conversation worked it's way around in circles, somehow always arriving at Matt D with a turkey baster.

I have the best friends in the world.

FINALLY.

2010-03-04T17:56:00.004-05:00

Usually I'm so utterly alone in my legendary disdain for Tim Burton. He gets credit for being some kind of genius when 99% of the time he's taking something that already exists and just making it creepier.

Big Fish is the only film of his I genuinely like, even Nightmare Before Xmas has lost it's lustre (Coraline also filled any gap left by not having a favorite Henry Sellick flick on my list.) But Big Fish departs from his usual formula and that's probably why. I don't even think Johnny Depp is in it. I know it sounds impossible, but it may be true. Wait. Maybe he's in the catfish outfit. DAMN YOU, BURTON!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Matt D pointed me in the direction of this little gem too...

a concert where frank turner and some others play.

2010-03-01T22:12:00.006-05:00

In the fall, we bought tickets for a show at Water Street, based on the presumption that two of our favorite bands/singers would be there. The first was Murder By Death, who I've seen a few times before. The second was Frank Turner, who I'd never seen and was completely obsessed with.

A week or so before the show, he dropped off the tour. I was crushed.

So when the Flogging Molly tour was announced with Frank as one of the supporting acts, I was there. So there... despite not being much of a Flogging Molly fan.

A truly awful band took the stage first. The Architects. It was like bad butt rock straight from the 80's.

The following tweets were twittered:

"Seriously, The Architects? What year is this? Or have I fallen victim to a hot tub time machine?"

"Yay. The suck has ended."

When the suck had indeed ended, Frank Turner came out with his full band. It was amazing. How often does Ben Franklin get a shout out during a rock show? Not often enough. But apparently the song that followed the historical reference really pissed off the drunk kid in front of me and he held his swaying fists up with both middle fingers extended. It was funny, until he continued to do so well into the next song. My favorite song; completely non-political. A god damn love song. It was impossible to record without his meaty fist cutting in and out of the shot.

Regardless, I'm so glad he sang this.

As for Flogging Molly... who cares? I have nothing against the band, but the crowd had done wonders to turn me off to the headliner. These are people who crawl out of their caves once or twice a year to go to a show that's not in a stadium. They don't know how to act when you're standing on the floor.

I've realized that what I don't like about Flogging Molly fans is the same thing I don't like about people who are really into Jimmy Buffet. These are people pretending to be Irish, like Parrotheads pretend they're all going to end up living on a beach some day. This was made crystal clear when Dave King commented that the next song was about the Irish being sent to Barbados by the thousands. This Cromwellian act was cheered. Cheered to the point that King had to point out this was part of a greater plan to wipe out the Irish race to get the appropriate "booo" from the gathered masses. Yeah, that wasn't a cruise so much as forced indentured servitude.

Matt and I wandered back to the merch tables and with the ATM out of cash and a tenner between us, I got 7-inch from Frank Turner... directly. He signed the cover, my heart raced and I babbled something about how much I love his music and he was just English and adorable and reached out to shake my hand.

a change of scenery.

2010-02-27T10:11:00.001-05:00

A new blog layout and I am most pleased.

it's just not a mystery.

2010-02-13T18:50:00.003-05:00

Everytime Bob Costas teased that noone knew who would light the Olympic cauldron last night, I cringed.

It's Canada.

It's going to be Wayne Gretzky.

hudson valley bourdain.

2010-02-08T17:50:00.004-05:00

I'm excited because apparently tonight's episode of No Reservations is all about exploring the land of my youth, the Hudson Valley. The little pocket of New York I so often have to describe to people as halfway between Albany and New York City. Mohonk is supposedly featured in the episode, which is pretty cool

if i can't move to california, the uk would do.

2010-01-30T12:51:00.004-05:00

My nights with American television are few and far between, especially now that we've found a great source for more British imports (you do what you can, BBC America and I love you for it). Matt and I are currently catching up on a Heroes-ish show called The Misfits.

It's fun and I already love the Irish kid and the creeper who looks like the singer from Joy Division*. Funny thing is, I've never actually watched Heroes. I missed that train when it started and I don't like jumping into the middle of something like that. Sure, the seasons are all on Netflix, so I don't have much of an excuse —one day, I suppose, one day.

Anyway, the opening credits for Misfits is pretty sweet.

*He also played Moritz in the London production of Spring Awakening. Everything's connected.

four seasons are for phonies.

2010-01-29T18:21:00.003-05:00

I will not miss snow. Everytime I bring up my hatred of winter and thus, my wanting to move to Southern California people go...

"Oh you just wait, you're going to miss having four seasons."

I really won't. Not even a little. It's like someone else telling me what my favorite color should be.

Three-hundred and fifty-eight days out of the year I miss the Pacific Ocean, reliably warm weather and that part of 163 that cuts through Balboa Park. I miss Dog Beach, Ocean Beach and the pier. I miss truly amazing fish tacos, In-N-Out and real Mexican food.

The world at large thinks that the trip to California in July is only fueled by nerd-lust for Comic Con. Sadly, it's my one week of the year where I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.

she said love may make you blind, kid.

2010-01-26T23:56:00.003-05:00

Spring Awakening is coming to Rochester...

... and that is amazing in its own right. But if you watch the above video, note the risers on the sides of the stage with people sitting there. That is where Matt and I will be sitting for the Valentine's Day matinee show. I'm so freakin' excited, there aren't words.

Spring Awakening was part of the NYC trip that Matt put together when he asked me to marry him. In fact, that's was what we did the evening after we got engaged in Central Park. So it's special for that reason. It's also special because it's one of those rare musicals we both enjoy (instead of me thoroughly enjoying and Matt barely stomaching). It's not fluff (ie: not based on a Reese Witherspoon movie), the music is fantastic, the performances just suck you right into the story...

I'm gushing. I can't help it. I'm a musical nerd/snob and I just adore this show.

in case anyone was wondering...

2010-01-23T19:09:00.002-05:00

Yes, I've always been this eff-ing cool.

tweet. tweet.

2010-01-17T13:47:00.002-05:00

I'm tweeting in public now.

@kara_austin

For those who follow me on my original Twitter account, it's still my main. This one's just going to be scrubbed up and family-friendly. You know... no dead celebrity jokes within minutes of their passing.

that's not how you play video games.

2010-01-10T00:15:00.003-05:00

Matt: So, do you like the Playstation?

Kara: Yeah, I guess. I mean, I never thought I'd dislike it. I still like the Xbox better. It's more warm and fuzzy. Like, sometimes I just want to give it a cuddle.

Matt: ...

playaid? kitchenstation?

2010-01-10T00:09:00.003-05:00

Thanks to gift cards and Christmas cash, two household dreams are coming true.

Matt gets to be the coolest kid on the block by owning all the current video game systems with the addition of a PS3.

And Kara's going to level up her baking skills with the arrival of this:

It's not here yet, but just the promise of my long-admired-from-afar Ice Blue Kitchenaid mixer has somewhat made up for an awful week. No longer will I fret burning out the motor of my handmixer when subjecting it to things like gingerbread dough.

it's been that kind of day.

2010-01-07T22:49:00.000-05:00

i always thought he was mister who and just happened to be a doctor.

2010-01-03T12:16:00.005-05:00

Spoilers for Doctor Who: End of Time ahead. Consider yourself warned.

Christmas and New Years were a bit weepy on the count of the end of David Tennant as Doctor Who. I didn't like the first part of the holiday special, but the second wrapped things up allright and I'll give Russell T. Davies a pass on the whole "Doctor's reward". It's incredibly convenient; but I can't say I didn't love the Doctor getting a chance to see everyone again. Though, I still don't like the Star Wars cantina scene they threw Captain Jack in. However, allons-y Alonzo.

I always feel bad for Sarah Jane. I've never even seen an episode when she was a proper companion —but the idea of travelling with the Doctor, then getting left, stuck in a normal life again is just heartbreaking. As terrible as it is in it's own right, at least Donna can't remember. She doesn't know what she's missing. But I'll miss Donna a whole lot. Wilf too.

I didn't think I'd cry, but the final Ten and Rose scene pushed me over the edge.

It's incredibly unfair that David Tennant's run on Doctor Who has come to an end. This is compounded by the fact that we have to wait until the spring to see Matt Smith in action.

We did get this:

Matt found an interesting bit of trivia, as it seems to be that "Geronimo" is going to be this Doctor's catch phrase. There's an old WWII paratrooper's chant that goes:

Down from Heaven comes ELEVEN

and there's HELL to pay below

shout "GERONIMO" "GERONIMO"

Is it spring yet?

ex-mas wrap up.

2010-01-03T00:19:00.007-05:00

before christmas.

Before the actual holidays hit there was the usual smattering of pre-tinsel festivities. Two work parties (both mine, oddly enough) and a Christmas small dog playgroup that I took the Clarkster to. The dog park is often heavy on the big dogs and he is kind of "meh" on that. So he worked the room like Sinatra and I embarrassed him and myself by handing him over to a stranger in a fuzzy suit.

holly daze.

Christmas was with my folks this year. Having run through PTO days like they were burning a hole in my pocket (not that I regret it. I fucking love you San Diego, Williamsburg and New Hampshire), I had to work Christmas Eve. Matt took the day off and had the car ready by the time work was over. Four to five hours later, we ducked into Kingston for food and then headed to the countryside for an evening with my dad and stepmother.

Christmas Day had it's child-of-divorce schedule: wake up at dad's for breakfast and stockings, go to mom's for presents and dinner, then back to dad's for presents. We shook up the usual schedule by getting Dad and Gaelen out to a Christmas Day night movie: Sherlock Holmes.

It was brilliant. RDJ has raced up my list of favorite actors. Even the previews before the flick were promising. Hot Tub Time Machine, Tracey Morgan/Bruce Willis/Stiffler/Kevin Smith awesomness and the new Christopher Nolan mindfuck (with Leo DiCaprio and Ellen Page). However, this was my first exposure to Leap Year and as much as I enjoy Amy Adams; that looks like pure garbage.

Saturday was Christmas with the extended family on my dad's side. So after a winding trip through the back roads connecting the Hudson Valley with Connecticut, we were in the thick of family. I don't get to see that side of my family often, so each time's a treat.

Sunday we headed home. However, we made a point to stop at Sonic on the way out. Fun times.

sweet lootz.

I know that whole "Santa's always watching" is a boldface lie because I got way too many awesome presents. Clark and I scored a tunnel and weave poles for agility from my mom. Dad and Gaelen fed my anglophile DVD collection with the first season of The IT Crowd and Matt was just spectacularly amazing to me.

The big present(s) aren't ready for primetime blogging yet. They're part of a year long project that, if all goes well, will probably dominate my blogging from there on out. But aside from that, my N64-like, present meltdown came when I opened a box containing the import of The Mighty Boosh: Future Sailors Live Tour. Four DVDs, a card game and a Boosh belt buckle.

Oh, and one incredibly happy girl.

Future Sailors is beyond hilarious. The only bit I've really seen before is the Bob Fossil Dance Academy and that was live in SD at the Boosh secret show. I want to run away and join the Boosh, pls.

I am incredibly spoiled by British TV. Thank god for BBC America, Adult Swim and the internet. The only American stuff I regularly watch is on the premium channels (save for my guilty pleasure human trainwreck shows like Hoarders). The major networks could drop off the face of the planet and I wouldn't bat an eye.

you're gonna be huge, kid.

2009-12-16T22:45:00.002-05:00

Well, it's official. Clark is a Canine Good Citizen.
He passed his test tonight at Lollypop Farm and by doing so is now able to move on to the next round of class/testing for the Delta Society. I'm super excited about this.

For anyone keeping score, since this is an AKC title, it gets tagged onto his fancy AKC name. You're looking at Clark Mosef Moetallica Kent, CGC.

equal rights for all.

2009-12-02T23:30:00.004-05:00

It's incredibly disappointing to me that I live in a state where a majority the legislative body doesn't believe in equal rights for all residents. Four local state senators cowardly and silently, voted against marriage equality today.

Like we chanted in the freezing rain tonight: gay, straight, black, white —marriage is a civil right.

For those interested in "protecting traditional marriage"... what about outlawing divorce?

arts and farts and crafts.

2009-11-29T21:08:00.004-05:00

I went to the Second Storie: Indie Market today with Matt D and Adam.
It was such an incredibly cool event. The cash I brought was positively burning a hole in my pocket. Being so close to the holidays, I needed to remind myself to buy for other people —I did (and such purchases shall remain nameless on the internet).

But I also got one lil' thing for myself. I've been admiring this poster since I saw it in the window of Taco John's.
It's by fellow RIT alumni, Pete Lazarski, who is a super talented designer/illustrator/wizard. It's going to look sweet up on the wall over the orange love seat we picked up from Ikea last weekend.

my dog fails at cinema.

2009-11-28T21:42:00.003-05:00

As a goof, I stopped on one of the movie channels that had Beverly Hills Chihuahua on to see if Clark would pay attention.

He didn't just pay attention, that little asshole called my bluff —he watched the whole damn movie while I cooked dinner.

a city in the armpit of some mountains.

2009-11-28T21:11:00.014-05:00

Pittsburgh was a weird city and yet, a fun trip. There's literally nothing leading up to getting to Pittsburgh. No buildup of suburbs, just boring highway dotted with signs for fireworks warehouses and then, BAM, there's a city.

Priceline landed us in a pretty swank hotel near the river and the convention center, right across from PNC Park.

We started out Saturday by visiting the Andy Warhol museum, across the river. The museum was about 50% Warhol, 40% Shepard Fairey and 10% pulpy old movie posters.

It was fantastic. I got to play with giant, floating, mylar pillows, stand next to a two-story Shepard Fairey paste-up, see 21 fading Elvises (Evli?) and brought home my first real Fairey print (and a sticker too).

After that we went to this crazy old record store. It was like walking into the pages of High Fidelity.

We refueled with a cookie and some mochas at a fun, lil' coffee shop near the record dungeon.

Then we drove through a mountain to go to Ikea.

While at the mall near the Ikea there were some baked goods shenanigans. I found a Christmas Cake Wreck: The Ass-Faced Santa.

And then there was a gingerbread metropolis!

Ikea Time Warp. We got a fold out loveseat (an orange one), new coffee table, end table and some other odds and ends. It's all there on the cart, oddly enough.

The next morning, we headed out in search of a delicious breakfast. We went to one of the incarnations of Pamela's, a Pittsburgh staple. The pancakes are so good, that when the President was on the campaign trail, he had some —then brought the staff in to cook a Memorial Day breakfast for a bunch of troops in DC. God damn, they were some of the best pancakes I've ever had in my entire life. I don't have a picture of the plate, because they put me into a good food coma.

After that, we stopped at Trader Joe's to stock up on TJ goodness before heading home. It's crazy. We bring coolers, cooler bags and seriously do a month or two of grocery shopping. Trader Joe's, Rochester is just as much of a stain on the Rustbelt as Pittsburgh. Please come save us.

on the road.

2009-11-20T21:42:00.001-05:00

We're on our way to Pittsburgh for the weekend.

A new city to explore, Ikea stop and Trader Joe's. I am quite excited.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

work it.

2009-11-19T07:12:00.004-05:00

I've been sandwiching work in between strength training in the morning and cardio in the evening. I'm also not eating like an idiot. I've stopped drinking soda cold turkey and I've cut artificial sweeteners from my diet as well. That's made a huuuge difference on how I feel day to day. That artificial sugar stuff is garbage.

This has been going on for the better part of two weeks now.

Something I've learned through this whole process? That core exercises suck when you have no core strength to begin with. Also, this has all but solved my going-to-bed-too-late problem, now that I am ready to pass out around 10:30 at night.

I need a real exercise mat for the morning stuff. The yoga mat I picked up at Old Navy does nothing in the way of softening the floor. It's good for the basics like crunches and stuff like that, at least.

werewolf bar mitzvah. spooky scary.

2009-11-05T23:35:00.001-05:00

I love Halloween. I was especially excited for a True Blood themed Halloween this year (at least for me and the jack-o-lanterns that graced our front porch).
Sookie.

Bill didn't come out so good. The pattern was a mess after the transfer.

And Eric.. oh, Eric. I think he actually turned out the best. Still, I'm not afraid of Eric.

While the Sookie costume kind of came together quietly over a few weeks, I was bouncing up and down as I got ready for trick-or-treaters and the party. The most startling part of the outfit was the wig. I've never thought about going blonde before and I'll never consider it in the future. It was just odd and the wig was huge. I had to tame it's madness into a side ponytail deal.
It's hard to see in the photo, but I even had a silver chain looped around, circa season one. Oh, the nerdiness.

Matt's moon costume was awesome when he had the sky-board on and eerie when he was just covered in white face paint. I think he scared some kids at the door. :D He made it all by himself too and had a blast doing it.

We hung out at home until about nine, because I love the fact that we get trick-or-treaters. To help with our ongoing efforts to eat right, I ended up buying candy that neither of us would touch: mini tootsie roll pops, lemon heads and the ultimate leper of the candy world, Twilight candy hearts. I unleashed that sparkly awfulness on about 40 or so kids who came to the door and left with necco wafers emblazoned with Twilighty sayings.

After that, we killed the porch lights and headed to the MAMA's house bash.

MAMA's house rocks and throws the BEST Halloween party. I love getting the chance to see the City Newspaper peeps. Among them was a Sam Merlotte. :D

Anna's Dalek costume kicked ass. So did the Doctor Who themed shots that fateful Monday night was filled with. I think I filled my Merlotte's glass twice with Time Rotors and I did a few of the TARDIS shots in the neato test tubes she got.

The boys were Calvin and Hobbes. I think this is them acting out a panel from the comic strip. I'm not sure, I'm kinda stealing the party pics from Matt's flickr.

Sunday, we rejoined MAMA's house for brunch and then headed to Target to sweep up some Halloween clearance deals. It's a great time of year for people who love things with skulls on them. :D I think my favorite is the glittery, black skull that's now on the table near the door.

Then the post-Halloween let down set in Monday morning. Next year seems so far away.

imitation is the highest form of flattery?

2009-10-27T23:48:00.006-04:00

Anna and I went on shenanigans tonight. Most of the trip was spent collecting the remaining bits and pieces for her Dalek dress and one or two things for my Sookie outfit. While wandering around JoAnn's in Henrietta, I came across these little gems in the framing section:

Super Weak, by none other than the infamous Nick James.

And who doesn't remember that toe-tappin' tune, You Are My Moonshine, by Jay Charles.

Turn it up to 11 for Diana Boss' big hit, Ain't No Fountain High Enough.

They're so bad, I kind of wanted them. However, I think I might just cut some holes in real 45s and make some neato mirrors for the house. It makes me wish I had kept some of the ones from the wedding centerpieces. Oh well, to the Bop Shop.

there's no way this is a good idea.

2009-10-26T21:20:00.009-04:00

In preparation for the MAMA's House Halloween party, Matt and Anna have been concocting a plethora of shots, trying to tie them in via color or any stretch of the imagination to Doctor Who (in honor of Anna's Dalek Dress). So.. drinking ourselves silly on a Monday night. Go team!

And down we go...

My kitchen turned into a bar with Anna at the helm.

What the hell is in this thing?

A winner, maybe? Anna seems to think so.

Oh shit.. we better write this down. That was awesome.

bark to the park.

2009-10-26T19:50:00.011-04:00

Okay, I remembered to bring my camera this time. Can I tell you how bummed out I am that it gets so dark so early now?

I love having a dog who I can trust off leash. Clark will toddle ahead, then check back to make sure I'm still with him. Then when he sees another dog, he looks back to see if it's okay to go say hello.

Ellison is absolutely gorgeous this time of year. I can't believe the colors.

So much to do, so much to see.

The moon's already out.

Time to head home.

When we left the dog park area, it looked like this.

When we got to the car, it looked like this. Redonkulous.

fall days, dog days.

2009-10-25T17:33:00.005-04:00

Matt and I took the fuzz balls down to the park today. Matt fell in love with the idea of getting an Airedale Terrier as our next dog and was even looking up info on the breed on his iPhone while we were there. I think we have "next dogs" lined up for years —since we're not going to be a three dog household. Also on the waiting list, dog names. I still want to call a dog Spiderman and we are definitely having a dog named ASBO at some point. But Matt pointed out that people names for dogs are pretty awesome and I agree. I see an Airedale named Charlie in our future somewhere.

Maggie stayed on-leash, but did better this time than previous ones while being around a lot of other dogs. Maggie's kind of a work in progress. I don't know what her previous owners did to her, but I can tell you that they didn't work on socializing her AT ALL. So it's been a slow and steady process just getting her to the point where she's not flipping out when she sees another dog she doesn't know. The headcollar helps.

I need to remember to bring my camera the next time I go to Ellison (which might just be tomorrow afternoon). Not only are the trees gorgeous in their fall colors, but I'd love to have some photos of my little social butterfly running around with the other dogs down there.

In other canine news, Clark needs to lose a few pounds: so sayeth the vet as well as the agility instructor. He's not morbidly obese, but on a little dog, two or three pounds can make all the difference. So, that means I just finished cooking dinner for the dog. Hah. It's nothing ornate, I'm just cutting his dog food intake by half and replacing that with cooked veggies. Tonight I learned that cooked carrots, peas and spinach are awesome —a sprinkling of uncooked celery... not so much.

With both Matt and I getting on the eating right and exercise wagon, it's kinda funny/weird to have Clark jumping on board. Maggie... well, Maggie has a goddamn hummingbird metabolism.

nobody knows halloween like MAMA

2009-10-25T00:10:00.006-04:00

Thank god for an easy Halloween costume, otherwise I don't know how I'd pull it together this week. The plan started as just going as a generic Merlotte's waitress. Then I saw a blonde wig on sale at JoAnne's... and now I'm going for the full Sookie Stackhouse treatment. The hardest piece of the costume puzzle to track down was black shorts/skirt. The season has passed for that kind of stuff and Merlotte's girls aren't known for wearing sensible slacks. Thank you, Target clearance rack! I bought an official Merlotte's apron from HBO and the boys are letting me borrow an empty bottle of TruBlood for the evening. It's easier to carry that around on a tray as opposed to a pitcher of Mountain Dew (got to love the South).

Things left to do? I have to add the Merlotte's logo to the shirt I bought, track down a waitress tray and put together a little restaurant check/order pad. Oh, and shoes. I have to figure out shoes.

I tried to convince Matt to go as Terry, but he wasn't into it. Haha. The plan now is for him to go as The Moon from The Mighty Boosh. I take back what I said about having it easy on costume making this week —we need to figure out how The Moon is going to work. I mean, the smudgy white make up is easy. We just need to build a giantic circle around his face and have it be seamless.

However it gets put together, I'm sure it's going to be awesome.

I'm so excited for the MAMA's House Halloween extravaganza!

cute overload at home.

2009-03-04T22:28:00.004-05:00

We have foofy, long-haired dogs because of Matt's allergies.

I grew up with rough-and-tumble labs and dals and he grew up in a dog-less house. Now we have two dogs, Maggie (who we adopted from Lollypop as an adult) and Clark (who we got from a breeder as a puppy). Matt claims that Maggie is his favorite, because he saw her first -- but now that Clark's settling down out of crazy.. well.. puppy-ness; they're finding more in common with each other.

Clark adores Matt. He'll sneak attack him in the morning by creeping up to wake him up by licking his face, loses his damn mind when Matt gets home and then there are moments like this where I'm glad to have any kind of picture-taking device nearby.

They're just two guys chilling out for an evening at home.

Also, please note the amazing combination of the Black Cross shirt with polar bear PJ pants. Someone is totally punk rock right now.

writer's block prompt ( borrowed from lj )

2009-01-25T23:46:00.001-05:00

Even if you're not actively eavesdropping, you can hear some interesting things. What's the best conversation you've ever overheard?

There's a tie and Anna was involved with both.

There was the infamous overheard Target conversation that I think will be quoted forever. We were wandering around the toy/seasonal department as a mother and her tweenage brood passed. I don't know if it counts as overhearing someone when they're shouting at their children but needless to say, we heard her loud and clear.

"Can we get batteries? I need some batteries."

"No! We're not getting batteries today!"

"Oh, what about sunscreen? I need sunscreen, Mom"

"No!! We have sunscreen at home!"

The next awesome conversation I overheard was between two kids, maybe somewhere between the ages of 8-11. They were ahead of Anna and I while we were in line to return something at WalMart. The older kid turns to the younger and...

"What's the most money you've ever found?"

"Like on the ground or in a bush?"

"On the ground.. or in a bush."

"Like... four dollars."

"I found twenty dollars in a bush."

"Really? Wow.."

First off, older kid is totally lying. He asked first so that he could boast a larger amount than the younger kid. Secondly, I love the categories. Money found on the ground.. money found in a bush.

things that might appear in my stand-up one day.

2009-01-11T23:35:00.002-05:00

Local news shows are truly intolerable.

auld lang syne.

2009-01-01T22:56:00.005-05:00

Of all the New Year's parties we've thrown, I think last night was one of the best. This is probably for a couple of reasons:

We have the coolest friends in the world, therefore success is guaranteed.

Tuesday night's trip to Party City yeilded a bounty of decorations, hats, noisemakers and other party-enhancing accessories.
There was an insane amount of awesome food. From mini burgers for the carnivorous crowd to some spicy vegan chilli, there was something for everyone.
Sweet, sweet playlist put together by Matt.
There was an equally crazy amount of adult beverages. Anna invented and in the same night perfected her recipe for Peppermint Dickables (frozen peppermint martini mix + vodka + chocolate milk). My drink of choice was Diet Pepsi with UV Cherry Vodka. It was amazing and at the same time it was dangerous because I couldn't taste the alcohol at all.
Pick up games of party balloon volleyball.
The start of a brand new challenge: Pass the Hot Dog Toaster. Check your mailbox, it may be headed your way.
Another year of laughter when the exploited Dick Clark falls off the countdown by at least a second or more.
Anna's Party Crackers which produced paper hats and weird, small toys that included butterfly balls, a frog and a pink over-sized paperclip.

It was a freakin' fantastic night. We did Oxford University Christmas before the party which includes the annual "Dollar Store Secret Santa Stocking Stuffer Extravaganza" followed by present opening. That's the third Christmas Matt and I have done this year and we still have two more to do this weekend when we go to Kingston to see my folks for the holiday. This was a trip that was supposed to happen the weekend before Christmas but that got snowed out. So we're heading down after work tomorrow for the weekend.

2008 is gone and long live 2009! This past year had it's ups and downs. Getting married and getting laid off seem to be the best examples of each of those respectively and we've enjoyed the good and worked through the bad. It's worked out, more or less.

2009 is going to be packed with awesome:

Tim & Eric at the Town Ballroom in a few weeks
Updating the bathroom this winter
Louis CK in Verona in Feb
Williamsburg with the fam in June
Three weddings (so far) to come
Everything's booked for Comic Con in SD this July
All the awesome stuff that's just not plotted out yet

As for resolutions, I just have one. It's kind of all encompassing. I'm calling it my Superman resolution. It isn't based completely on comic nerd-itry. I figure if I have to Clark Kent it for eight hours a day, five days a week I need to really make something out of the rest of the time. My office/studio is coming together and I want to get back into all the fun, creative stuff I used to do on my own but fell out of. My print Gocco is dying (they stopped making the supplies), so I want to learn to screen print. I need to be creatively challenged and I think that and some other things will sate that need. I want to do more things with my friends and family. They keep me sane and the time spent with them are the best times I have. I want to focus on what's truly important to me. Getting healthier, happier and overall enjoying the ride by not forgetting that it is just that.

tweet. tweet.

2008-12-30T00:03:00.001-05:00

So apparently I'm Twittering now. I blame Anna.

a new morning zoo

2008-12-09T21:10:00.003-05:00

If this was real, it would be my favorite show on the air. Sorry, O&A.

Thank you, Stephen Colbert.

Let me tell you the truth. The truth is, what is. And what should be is a fantasy, a terrible terrible lie that someone gave to the people long ago.

2008-12-06T20:20:00.003-05:00

The world is like a ride at an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it, you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round and it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud. And it's fun, for a while.

Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question: 'Is this real? Or is this just a ride?' And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and they say 'Hey! Don't worry, don't be afraid - ever - because... this is just a ride.' And we kill those people.

'Shut him up! We have a lot invested in this ride! Shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry; look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real.'

It's just a ride. But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that - ever notice that? - and we let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter, because... it's just a ride, and we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort. No worry. No job. No savings and money. Just a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead, see all of us as one.

Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, into a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defense each year and, instead, spend it feeding, clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would do many times over - not one human being excluded - and we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever. In peace.

ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for...

2008-10-20T20:33:00.005-04:00

ROBERT KATT

After weeks of being without its fourth and final member, legendary Rockband supergroup, Robert Katt is complete.

From left to right: Matt (Matt), Anaru (Anna), Penny Moore (Kara) and Chester (Bill).

it's like sitting on a canadian tuxedo.

2008-08-14T21:44:00.002-04:00

There are certain mysteries in life that I've resigned to never solving.

For example, denim furniture.

Why?

vay cay.

2008-08-10T17:40:00.002-04:00

This week cannot possibly go by quickly enough. Saturday we leave for New Hampshire. Wolfeboro shares the hallowed spot in my heart of "favorite place in the world" with my beloved San Diego.

I can't wait to see my family, to share the awesomeness that is our NH house with my new in-laws and to have the lake as a backyard for one whole week.

video killed the radio star.

2008-08-03T00:20:00.004-04:00

Matt has launched his internet radio station. Tune in Mondays and Thursdays at 8pm EST for the live broadcasts of the Matty O Show on Radio Irregular!

Sometimes I pop up. Sometimes it's just Matt. Then there are the times where we have a full house like last Thursday's show that included myself, Matt, Bill and Anna. Matt went to college for radio and has been out of the game for something like 8 years. But he's back in and really having a great time with it. The show's a lot of fun to do and now that I'm technologically current, I have to work on not only the station logo but my programming for the CMYKara hour.

So yeah, tune in. radioirregular.com

chilling out mac and relaxing all cool

2008-08-02T23:50:00.003-04:00

There has been serious Apple injection in my life as of late. I suppose it's best to go in chronological order.

My birthday this year fell within two weeks of the renewal date of my phone plan. So as a part of my birthday present (a large part), Matt vowed to find an iPhone for me. After many calls, trips to various AT&T stores in the Rochester area, Matt tracked down a pair at the Apple store. So a few weeks after the glorious day of my birth, I had an iPhone in hand thanks to my awesome husband. It is so much fun to have. I can fit all of my music on it with room to spare, make my own custom ringtones, surf all of the internets, check my email.. all through the same device. This is also the first Apple device I've owned that can play video. I still haven't gotten over how neat that is. Among other things, Anna brought me back a card from ComicCon for a free episode of Dexter and I watched it on my phone during my lunchbreak -- so incredibly cool.

Then, while waiting for an iPod, my computer began it's drawn-out, dramatic death. If my office was a stage, the frankenstein desktop I've been using for the past few years would have been chewing the scenery with the way it went out. First, it stopped booting up in anything other than safe mode. Then it stopped recognizing my mouse and keyboard, so I had to switch them over to USB ports. Then those started being an on and off type of thing. Then the motherboard just... fried. That was it. I was planning on upgrading in the next few months and this forced my hand.

I type this blog entry now from the comfort of my living room, on my shiny, new Macbook Pro. This is amazing. There are no wonky fans screeching when I turn it on, no leaving the room for a drink, snack or visit to the local library when I need to use an Adobe program. I haven't had a new computer since I graduated high school. So going on 9 years. I made it through most of college with the HP desktop I bought with my card money. After that, I bought some parts to reanimate an old computer of Bill's and that got me through our years at Oxford University and up until the present (some ungodly number of power supplies and motherboards later).

It's weird to have something that works after 'making do' for so long.

let this remind you why you once feared the dark.

2008-07-12T12:02:00.005-04:00

All I can think about right now is seeing Hellboy II: The Golden Army, again.

Am I predisposed to adore this movie?

Yes.

Sidenote: How freakin' cool is the character* design in the picture here? Seriously. It's like Pan's Labyrinth and Neil Gaiman had a baby. A morally and sexually ambiguous baby with eyes in its wings and an unlimited amount of patience.

* So as not to ruin anything for anyone, I won't even name the character pictured.

what i did on my summer vacation.

2008-06-24T16:22:00.003-04:00

The good news: I got a job. Starting Monday, I will be joining the team at Dixon Schwabl. I'm excited as my two-day test drive gave me a taste of what it's like to work there and I had a great time.

The bad news: this is my last week of what I've come to call my summer vacation. It's been great, I couldn't have been laid off at a better time of year. I had plenty of time to get things in order for the wedding and I also had some time to just unwind and enjoy my life.

While I still have my week in August with the family, it still feels like that final week before school resumed. So here's the rundown of what I did on my summer vacation.

Just Married - This one deserves an entry of its own. I promise. One will come.

Shenanigans with Laura - Partners in unemployment, Laura and I spent the first few weeks of vacation enjoying all that was denied to us in the working world. Matinee movies, long lunches and daytime television. In the ultimate shenanigan, we took a roadtrip to Boston when Laura got her new job. I rode shotgun while Laura looked at apartments and had a fun, whirlwind trip in Beantown.

Puppy Time - One of the best things about being home during the day is spending time with the dogs. I don't know who will be more upset when I rejoin the workforce, me or Clark. Maggie, like always, is relatively indifferent to me being home. Activities like going to Ellison today while everyone else is in neckties and khakis have been some of my favorites. Also over the break, Clark graduated from sleeping in his kennel to earning his bedroom privileges.

The Grass Is Always Greener - This is mundane, but it was a big deal to me. I repaired the dead spot in the lawn! This is my first house and therefore, my first time dealing with yard work. Leaves covered by snow all winter long had killed a spot in the yard and I nursed it back to life. I've also planted flowers, re-mulched the front garden and planned more green-thumb activities for the summer.

A Rose By Any Other Name - With looking for work and dealing with a change of name I had to update not only my resume but EVERY PIECE OF PAPER OR PLASTIC with my name on it. Also, my website. It's weird to sign something new after the "Kara" bit, but I'm getting used to it.

Created Life - NOT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. I downloaded the Spore creature creator and have been creating critters with Anna.

the best night of my life.

2008-05-07T13:49:00.007-04:00

It's hard to imagine a story titled as it is above that involves Panic At The Disco in any way, shape or form, but please bear with me. Last night was spectacular.

The Honda Civic Tour rolled into Rochester, boasting the names of such bands as Panic At The Disco, The Hush Sound, Motion City Soundtrack and Phantom Planet. The first three bands I would not cross the street to see normally, but I forked over my thirty dollars for the chance to see one of my all-time favorites, Phantom Planet. I've waited years for them to come to this part of the state and I wasn't going to miss that show for the world.

The only drawback was that PhanPlan was opening and not the headliner. They were actually the first band on stage. Alex went out and did 1.5 songs solo before the rest of the band joined him (there was something about Sam holding everyone up). Then they did the following set:

All Over Again
Dropped
Geronimo
Big Brat
California

Yeah, just five songs. I was initially disappointed, but when Alex mentioned he and the guys would be at the merch table to meet fans, I was feeling pretty good. Matt and I got in line and waited. I had absentmindedly left my pre-order copy of the new CD in the car, so I bought a second one to get their signatures. When I got to the table, I gave the insert to Alex first and mentioned that I was excited to see them and that they were the only reason I came to the show at all. He asked if my favorite songs were played and I said that some of them had.

Then the coolest thing in the world happened.

Alex said to go out to the tour buses at the end of the Panic set and he'd take requests on his acoustic for the Phantom Planet fans. I looked at him and said, "Seriously?". Apparently he was. So despite earlier plans to leave after PP, Matt and I hung out through the rest. The Hush Sound was okay, Motion City gets a solid "meh" and Panic At The Disco was really nothing. I don't get the draw, I suppose.

Anyway, when Panic went to their encore, Matt and I headed outside. We wandered around the buses and I noticed two women knocking on bus doors. I asked if they too were looking for Phantom Planet and I got a grumbled answer. Why so friendly? Well, when we did find the Phantom Planet bus, all these girls tried to do was get Alex to say he'd go to their house and use their hot tub. It was painfully pathetic. But I digress, I piped up and asked if he was still going to play and he confirmed he would, when Panic was totally through. So Matt and I wandered back and waited. The show inside the field house ended and the crowds dispersed. About 20-25 people were hanging on the sidewalk out by the buses, near this flight of stairs that leads up to the fieldhouse. About fifteen minutes after the show let out, Alex and Jeff came out (Alex with his guitar and Jeff with a video camera) and Alex gathered us by the stairs. He sat down and started taking requests in a campfire sing-a-long fashion.

Amazing. I still can't believe this whole thing happened. I was sitting by Alex Greenwald, listening to him take requests and organize audience participation in two part harmonies! Some of the older tunes required him to pull out his own lyrics via the web on his iPhone. But that was oddly cool. He likened it to trying to remember what you wore on some random Thursday while you were in high school. Some of the songs are that old. After he played 5-7 more songs, he was kind enough to sign more stuff and pose for pictures. All we had was Matt's cellphone, so the picture is fuzzy -- but I have a photo keepsake of me and Alex. It's cliche, but he's so nice in person and very real.

Phantom Planet is in my top five bands of all time and I got to sit on the steps outside the Gordon Field house with their lead singer and listen to an impromptu acoustic set.

And that's the story of the best night of my life.

And here are some crappy cell phone videos.

seriously?

2008-05-06T14:22:00.005-04:00

Hey, Upstaters who previously felt alienated by the city-centric "I Love New York" logo, apparently this one's for you!

I can't say anything nice about this. All that comes out when I look at it is "Ewwwwwwwwww…".

i think i'm in love with a serial killer.

2007-11-12T13:14:00.002-05:00

I am hopelessly addicted to Dexter. I don't know what that kind of trade in says about me. I used to be hooked on a pretty teenage drama, now I lock eyes with a well-meaning (adorable) Miami sociopath every Sunday night.

It's just so good.

double, double, toil and trouble

2007-10-30T23:24:00.001-04:00

After a grueling, week-long decoration grudge-match, one area in my office emerged victorious.

Mine.

Well, ours.

For those who don't know, I share an office with another art director (Courtney) and a writer (Laura). We're affectionately (at least I hope so) known as the Dorm Room. Apparently, most noobs at the agency get their start there and most of them are recent grads. We also have a little fridge, so it feels like a dorm room at times.

The agency held a Halloween decorating contest this year. Being the one in charge of promoting it, I may or maynot have included some mouthing off about how the dorm room would be taking on all comers.

Well, the production department responded. And it was, in fact, on.

We took our theme "The Demise of the Dormroom Three: A Forensic Nightmare" and went from funny, to bloody, to bloody funny, to.. wow, that's kinda wrong. That willy-nilly risktaking proved worth it when we got the most votes and claimed the prize of a pizza party.

congratulations are in order.

2007-10-29T23:29:00.000-04:00

He doesn't read this (not yet anyway). But congratulations to Sir William on his new job!

i love you too, but I'm gonna mace you in the face!

2007-10-29T15:40:00.001-04:00

Matt, Bill and I went to see the Darjeeling Limited yesterday (complete with Hotel Chevalier screening before the feature).

I adored it.

I'm a proven sucker for dysfunctional family flicks, that's already a given (I can watch Little Miss Sunshine to no end). That combined with Anderson's absolute love affair with color and composition -- I'm in heaven. It's gorgeous. I don't claim to be a film critic in any fashion, so I won't attempt to write my own synopsis. So to steal a bit from imdb.com:

"Three American brothers who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other -- to become brothers again like they used to be. Their "spiritual quest", however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray), and they eventually find themselves stranded alone in the middle of the desert with eleven suitcases, a printer, and a laminating machine. At this moment, a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins."

Aside from the visual attraction (both stylistic and Schwartzman), this Anderson film got to me more so than any of the others I've seen. I mentioned this to Matt after the movie, over baked potatoes at Wendy's and he seemed a bit surprised and asked why that was.

"I guess I get a story about carrying around your parent's baggage."

While it doesn't sound it, that is in no way depressing. It's therapeutic to see someone else go through it, even if it's just fictional. Maybe it'll take a train ride through India to patch up the all-too battered relationship between myself and my own sibling.

"I wonder if the three of us would've been friends in real life. Not as brothers, but as people." - Jack Whitman, The Darjeeling Limited

I wonder that too. But lately, it seems like the answer would be "no".