I'm not so big on Valentines Day. I always thought once I got someone special in my life that it would suddenly mean a lot more. Instead it has come to mean a lot less. It is actually a pleasant surprise.
My dismissive attitude to Valentines Day doesn't mean I don't like love and affection. In fact, I like those things quite a bit. I think hugs are the greatest. To celebrate valentines day I present you all with the best hug I have ever seen in my life.
Don't you all wish you had a friend like that?
I thought about putting up love songs for the guessing today but it was far too much work. It's all shuffle like normal.
1. I see us in the park/ Strolling the summer days/ Of imaginings in my head. Knocks Me Off My Feet, Stevie Wonder. Identified by Mom.
2. Well I went to school/ Oh/ Well I went to school/ Haha/ Well I went to school/ In Olympia. Rock Star, Hole. Identified by Jason.
3. Dear I thought I'd drop a line/ The weather's cool/ The folks are fine/ I'm in bed each night by nine
4. Sitting down by my window/ Looking at the rain/ Sitting down my window/ All around I felt it/ All I could see was the rain
5. I feel pretty/ Oh so pretty/ I feel pretty and witty and gay. I Feel Pretty, West Side Story. Identified by Chatty Knitter.
Showing posts with label Presents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Presents. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Friday, July 27, 2007
EARLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND NATALIE IS A STUPID
Today a horrible thing happened. My iPod was slightly destroyed. I think that I will be able to fix it but I am slightly nervous. Lakeiya’s (you can see all posts that include Lakeiya here and the most important one that indroduces her here) last day at the office is today, “sob, cry, wail,” and I made her three CDs to send her off on her way. One is full of soul, one is bubbly happy and fun, and the other isfull of really good songs. They are great CDs. I hope she enjoys them half as much as I do. I wanted to make sure the playlists were on my iPod so that I could enjoy them. I wasn’t sure if they were getting added properly so I synced them to the iPod. MISTAKE!!! It erased everything but those playlists. I should certainly know better but I was half asleep and it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Of course my iTunes library is still intact. However, there are some songs on there that I can’t play in iTunes for reasons unknown. It can’t find the source file or something. Anyway, I think I can still put them on the iPod but I’m not sure. I know I can’t put them on CDs. I am so worried. All my Wesly Willis might be lost. Much of me Belle and Sebastian is also in that same boat. I’ll have to wait until I get home to be sure but keep your fingers crossed for me and for my shuffle game. One good thing to come out of it is that I can now clean up my iPod and get rid of all the crap that ended up on it.
Tomorrow my Blog will be one year old. It also happens to be Lakeiya's birthday. I don’t typically post on Saturdays and tomorrow will probably not be an exception to that rule. Because of that, I wanted to give this page a happy birthday a little bit early. Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting and making this a happy page. It has become more than something to do to keep me from being bored. It has become something I enjoy and has grown and has allowed me to be introduced to some interesting people. Happy Birthday to you, my Almost Interesting friend and to you my Certainly Interesting but Soon Departing friend.
The one unguessed song from this week:
These are the games that we employ/ I am a girl and you’re a boy/ No matter what you said to me/ I didn’t have the energy. happens to be “The Chair That Squeaks,” by The Rapture. I wouldn’t have known it either.
Of course my iTunes library is still intact. However, there are some songs on there that I can’t play in iTunes for reasons unknown. It can’t find the source file or something. Anyway, I think I can still put them on the iPod but I’m not sure. I know I can’t put them on CDs. I am so worried. All my Wesly Willis might be lost. Much of me Belle and Sebastian is also in that same boat. I’ll have to wait until I get home to be sure but keep your fingers crossed for me and for my shuffle game. One good thing to come out of it is that I can now clean up my iPod and get rid of all the crap that ended up on it.
Tomorrow my Blog will be one year old. It also happens to be Lakeiya's birthday. I don’t typically post on Saturdays and tomorrow will probably not be an exception to that rule. Because of that, I wanted to give this page a happy birthday a little bit early. Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting and making this a happy page. It has become more than something to do to keep me from being bored. It has become something I enjoy and has grown and has allowed me to be introduced to some interesting people. Happy Birthday to you, my Almost Interesting friend and to you my Certainly Interesting but Soon Departing friend.
The one unguessed song from this week:
These are the games that we employ/ I am a girl and you’re a boy/ No matter what you said to me/ I didn’t have the energy. happens to be “The Chair That Squeaks,” by The Rapture. I wouldn’t have known it either.
Monday, July 16, 2007
PITCHFORK POST
The Pitchfork Music Festival:
Three (although I only went to two) days of awesomeness (and some disappointments as far as music quality goes). But all in all an awesome time. Monica got me a ticket for my birthday which was totally awesome. I would have gone anyway though.
Friday:
I go pick up my tickets so that I can sell my Friday ones to Morgan and Cheryl because I don’t care about Slint, Gza, or Sonic Youth. Apparently I should care about Sonic Youth because “if I knew then I would know,” but I don’t know so it doesn’t matter. I then go home and chill out to prepare for a weekend of fun.
Saturday:
I wake up later than I planned but early enough to get there by 5pm to see Iron and Wine. I was actually early enough to see Grizzly Bear and I am glad I was because what a fun group of guys. I need to get some of their music and listen to it. They had great harmonies and made funny faces while making the harmonies. I could see their faces because we had the most awesome spot right up against the rail on the left side of the stage. Ah yeah. Iron and Wine was up next. I had been a little afraid that Iron and Wine would be too chill to put on a great show but boy oh boy was I wrong. That concert was AWESOME. Sam has a beard for the ages; the album cover with little birds nesting in it is an accurate representation. A poor lady stood for hours trying to get a picture with him but didn’t. Then it was time for Clipse. They aren’t the greatest Rap group I have ever seen but they can certainly rock a mic and put on an excellent show. The little white kids knew every word and were incredibly into it. I enjoyed myself as well.
Sunday:
Sunday was THE DAY. I was incredibly excited for two bands, although I was disappointed by both. Band one was Brightblack Morning Light which, as Tony said “doesn’t even make sense.” They are a group of ridiculous hippies with sticks and feathers and hippie smells. Yes, we were close enough to smell them. The problem was that their equipment wasn’t working and their set-up took too long and they only played for about 25 minutes and things weren’t even working during that time. They were still fun though. Then we headed over to the main stage to stakeout a spot for Of Montreal. Jamie Lidell was playing before them and Monica said he was supposed to be good and I was excited even though I knew nothing about him. His set started and I had a new hero. The man was INCREIBLE. His voice was like Jimmy Ruffin had a baby with Prince, Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder. The only thing was this baby came out white and scruffy complete with gold smoking jacket and turban with streamers coming of it. Needless to say I wasn’t expecting the voice when I saw him. He was a literal one man show. It was just him and his sound board. He mixed tracks by laying down vocal pieces and created complex beats. He had energy like you wouldn’t and that voice was awesome. I think he may have been the highlight of the festival and that is strange because Of Montreal is easily one of my favorite three bands. I’m not saying Of Montreal didn’t put on a great show, because they did, but I would have liked to see them play longer and play older stuff but I shouldn’t have expected that given the constricts of a festival. As Tony put it, “they put on an old fashioned rock show,” they had costumes, theatrics, jumped all around, and the lad singer got mostly naked. That’s what it’s all about. After the show Tony and I walked around and sat down to listen to half of De La Soul before I had to head home and sleep before my class this morning. We should have stayed though because after De La Monica and co. got backstage and met Jamie Lidell and Of Montreal. Crap. Oh well.
All in all, it was a great festival. I am a new shade of pink, but it is fading into a nice brown. I have the worst farmer tan in history and have a glasses tan to boot. At least I wear my glasses all the time so people don’t notice the big line down the middle of my face.
1. She’s a witch of trouble in electric blue/ In her own mad mind she’s in love with you/ With you. Strange Brew, Cream. Identified by Mom.
2. Down in the cellar in the Boho zone/ I went looking for some sweet inspiration/ Oh well, just another hard time and with Negro affectations
3. I just wanna fuck bad bitches/ all them nights I never had bitches/ Now I’m all up in that ass bitches/ Mad at your boyfriend ain’t you
4. Well showing how it used to be/ So hard/ This hard /Used to get those kicks for free/ But now I’m towing the line
5. Oh we could rock/ Or we could bomb/ Or we could try/ Like super hard.
Three (although I only went to two) days of awesomeness (and some disappointments as far as music quality goes). But all in all an awesome time. Monica got me a ticket for my birthday which was totally awesome. I would have gone anyway though.
Friday:
I go pick up my tickets so that I can sell my Friday ones to Morgan and Cheryl because I don’t care about Slint, Gza, or Sonic Youth. Apparently I should care about Sonic Youth because “if I knew then I would know,” but I don’t know so it doesn’t matter. I then go home and chill out to prepare for a weekend of fun.
Saturday:
I wake up later than I planned but early enough to get there by 5pm to see Iron and Wine. I was actually early enough to see Grizzly Bear and I am glad I was because what a fun group of guys. I need to get some of their music and listen to it. They had great harmonies and made funny faces while making the harmonies. I could see their faces because we had the most awesome spot right up against the rail on the left side of the stage. Ah yeah. Iron and Wine was up next. I had been a little afraid that Iron and Wine would be too chill to put on a great show but boy oh boy was I wrong. That concert was AWESOME. Sam has a beard for the ages; the album cover with little birds nesting in it is an accurate representation. A poor lady stood for hours trying to get a picture with him but didn’t. Then it was time for Clipse. They aren’t the greatest Rap group I have ever seen but they can certainly rock a mic and put on an excellent show. The little white kids knew every word and were incredibly into it. I enjoyed myself as well.
Sunday:
Sunday was THE DAY. I was incredibly excited for two bands, although I was disappointed by both. Band one was Brightblack Morning Light which, as Tony said “doesn’t even make sense.” They are a group of ridiculous hippies with sticks and feathers and hippie smells. Yes, we were close enough to smell them. The problem was that their equipment wasn’t working and their set-up took too long and they only played for about 25 minutes and things weren’t even working during that time. They were still fun though. Then we headed over to the main stage to stakeout a spot for Of Montreal. Jamie Lidell was playing before them and Monica said he was supposed to be good and I was excited even though I knew nothing about him. His set started and I had a new hero. The man was INCREIBLE. His voice was like Jimmy Ruffin had a baby with Prince, Otis Redding and Stevie Wonder. The only thing was this baby came out white and scruffy complete with gold smoking jacket and turban with streamers coming of it. Needless to say I wasn’t expecting the voice when I saw him. He was a literal one man show. It was just him and his sound board. He mixed tracks by laying down vocal pieces and created complex beats. He had energy like you wouldn’t and that voice was awesome. I think he may have been the highlight of the festival and that is strange because Of Montreal is easily one of my favorite three bands. I’m not saying Of Montreal didn’t put on a great show, because they did, but I would have liked to see them play longer and play older stuff but I shouldn’t have expected that given the constricts of a festival. As Tony put it, “they put on an old fashioned rock show,” they had costumes, theatrics, jumped all around, and the lad singer got mostly naked. That’s what it’s all about. After the show Tony and I walked around and sat down to listen to half of De La Soul before I had to head home and sleep before my class this morning. We should have stayed though because after De La Monica and co. got backstage and met Jamie Lidell and Of Montreal. Crap. Oh well.
All in all, it was a great festival. I am a new shade of pink, but it is fading into a nice brown. I have the worst farmer tan in history and have a glasses tan to boot. At least I wear my glasses all the time so people don’t notice the big line down the middle of my face.
1. She’s a witch of trouble in electric blue/ In her own mad mind she’s in love with you/ With you. Strange Brew, Cream. Identified by Mom.
2. Down in the cellar in the Boho zone/ I went looking for some sweet inspiration/ Oh well, just another hard time and with Negro affectations
3. I just wanna fuck bad bitches/ all them nights I never had bitches/ Now I’m all up in that ass bitches/ Mad at your boyfriend ain’t you
4. Well showing how it used to be/ So hard/ This hard /Used to get those kicks for free/ But now I’m towing the line
5. Oh we could rock/ Or we could bomb/ Or we could try/ Like super hard.
Friday, April 27, 2007
INTERVIEW PART 2 AND A HIDDEN FOODIE FRIDAY
Part two in the interview game comes from Johnny Yen. His questions required some serious thought.
1. You’ve been asked re-record your favorite album with whoever you want, living or dead. What album is it and who would you choose?
This was by far the hardest question. My favorite Album would have to be something so completely cohesive and wonderful that most of the newer albums wouldn’t do. I then had to think if I would want the album done by a band with a completely different style, which would be cool but could possibly suck or if I wanted to go with a similar artist that would potentially end up sounding too much like the original. I am still not sure if I have made the right decision. For the album I chose “Blonde on Blonde” because it’s pretty much perfect and although I love listening to Bob Dylan, many people don’t and therefore miss out on the wonderment. I thought about “Electric Ladyland” or “Abbey Road” but I don’t think anyone doesn’t like listening to Jimi or The Beatles. I was incredibly close to having Belle and Sebastian redo the album but then realized that, while I adore their music, I am not the hugest fan of their covers. I also thought very seriously about choosing Camera Obscura but I thought the female touch might be a little too strange for me I didn’t want to pick them just to be different. Therefore, Of Montreal will be covering Blonde on Blonde.
2. A scientist develops a machine that will allow you to be transported into the past and live for a year in any time you want. What timeframe do you choose and why?
This was by far the easiest question of the bunch, I’m going to be a total cheeseball and say 1969 because I want more than anything to go to Woodstock and roll around in the hippie filled love mud.
Chicago has built five new schools. You’ve been asked to name them. What five names do you choose and why?
I’m going to assume that they are going to be five themed charter schools because it makes my answers more fun.
The Robert Heinlein High School of Scientific Humanism- I probably chose this because I just finished rereading Stranger in a Strange Land. This school would have a science focus but also be concerned with philosophy and how to apply science to the betterment of humankind.
X Elementary- This school would be focused on radical social movements, not only African-American as the name may suggest, and would teach children the importance of speaking out for their communities.
You Are Different; So Are We High- The name comes from the brochure Sarah Lawrence sent out to prospective students. While the high school would have to have a few more required classes than Sarah Lawrence did, students would be able to plan their curriculums and classes would be taught in the conference style.
We Know Trades and Will Make Lots Of Money High School- This school will focus on getting people into the trades. It is hard to get the proper information on how to enter these lucrative fields and such a school would directly funnel low-income students who may not plan for college into high paying careers.
Natalie’s Elementary School of Stuff- I had to name one after me. This school would incorporate teaching styles from Open, Montessori, and traditional schools into one cohesive wonder of education and learning.
4. If you could have a dinner with five people, living or dead, who would it be and what dinner and drinks would you serve?
Being an incredible book nerd I’m going to go with five authors. So that I can contribute to the discussion I’ll have to pick people whose body of work I am pretty familiar with. I’ll take Dostoyevsky (and somehow he will magically speak English), Tom Robbins, Saul Bellow, Toni Morrison, and Ralph Ellison. I thought about inviting Kurt Vonnegut but since I couldn’t also invite Monica because I am selfish and that would mean one less author I figured it would be better not to include him than to ruin a great friendship. Obviously these people have very different writing styles but all of them write about the turmoil of being human. I think it would be a fantastic discussion. I would need to serve a large meal with many courses so that we can sit and talk. I find Mexican food delicious and easy to make in large amounts so that is what we will eat. We’ll have some fine Vodka to drink with various mixers. I know Vodka isn’t usually paired with Mexican food but we have to do something to make Dostoyevsky feel a little more at home.
Appetizer- Yucca Frita, I have never made it but man that stuff is delicious and it can’t be that hard to fry yucca.
Salad- (Here comes Foodie Friday) Nopalitos salad with cilantro lime vinaigrette (this recipe makes about four salads)
-Two hearts of romaine sliced in thin strips
-Two Scallions (the green part) sliced into .5 inch tubes
-Four thinly sliced radishes
-Two cups nopalitos (pickled prickly pear cactus)
-¼ cup crumbled queso fresco
Dressing-
-3tbsp lime juice
-3tbsp olive oil
-3tbsp balsamic vinegar
-1 clove garlic
-1 small jalapeno (chopped a little)
-2 tbsp cilantro
-Pinch of salt
-Grind of pepper
Place ingredients in food processor or blender and whir it up.
Soup- Gazpacho recipe from Mom
Main Course- Tacos (I made delicious and very rustic tortillas this week which was incredibly fun and easy and would be a great dinner party food) with homemade salsa and guacamole. I would cook some black beans and get Tony to prepare some meat
Dessert- Ben and Jerry’s Stephen Colbert’s Americone Dream Ice Cream.
5. Like my wife, you grew up in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and now live in Chicago. What are the pros/cons of living in each place?
Minneapolis (I did NOT grow up in St. Paul) is a wonderful place to grow up. It has a small town feel although there is enough to do so that you aren’t relegated to the two small town young person entertainments, driving around and getting drunk (not that we didn’t do plenty of that). The lakes are beautiful and you can swim in them without feeling disgusting. Chicago has some parks and obviously a huge lake but nothing to compare with the looking for fossils along the banks of the Mississippi and the general greenery. Unfortunately, the people there think they live in a much bigger city than they actually live in and that can cause some inflated assumptions about how great and cosmopolitan Minneapolis actually is. As you get older, there isn’t as much to do and you need to stretch your legs. Chicago’s hyper-segregation is the hands down worst thing about this city. Minneapolis seems to be more segregated by class than race, although the two often go hand in hand. However, the museums, theater, and shopping in Chicago leave Minneapolis far behind (not that there aren’t great places to do those things in Minneapolis, don’t get all naming places Mom). Chicago is a true big city, and if you want that type of environment it is the place to be. If you want the attractions of a big city, albeit on a smaller scale, and the ease of small town granola crunching life, Minneapolis is the place to be.
I still have two slots open if anyone else is game.
Bucktown, Smif-N-Wessun- I have nothing to say good or bad about this. It is relatively standard sounding mid 90s decent rap.
The Chronic (Intro), Dr. Dre- THis always takes me back to the summer of 92 watching MTV videos with shoshana while the parents are at work. This wasn't on the TV but it just gets me ready for all the wonders of The Chronic to take me back.
You Shook Me All Night Long, Tori Amos- Tori is another one of those artists whose covers I am not particularly fond of. Purple Rain is pretty good though. I thought about having her cover a great album but iknow exactly what it would sound like so no. However, if anyone wants to buy me a present I hear she is about to come out with a new album.
1. You’ve been asked re-record your favorite album with whoever you want, living or dead. What album is it and who would you choose?
This was by far the hardest question. My favorite Album would have to be something so completely cohesive and wonderful that most of the newer albums wouldn’t do. I then had to think if I would want the album done by a band with a completely different style, which would be cool but could possibly suck or if I wanted to go with a similar artist that would potentially end up sounding too much like the original. I am still not sure if I have made the right decision. For the album I chose “Blonde on Blonde” because it’s pretty much perfect and although I love listening to Bob Dylan, many people don’t and therefore miss out on the wonderment. I thought about “Electric Ladyland” or “Abbey Road” but I don’t think anyone doesn’t like listening to Jimi or The Beatles. I was incredibly close to having Belle and Sebastian redo the album but then realized that, while I adore their music, I am not the hugest fan of their covers. I also thought very seriously about choosing Camera Obscura but I thought the female touch might be a little too strange for me I didn’t want to pick them just to be different. Therefore, Of Montreal will be covering Blonde on Blonde.
2. A scientist develops a machine that will allow you to be transported into the past and live for a year in any time you want. What timeframe do you choose and why?
This was by far the easiest question of the bunch, I’m going to be a total cheeseball and say 1969 because I want more than anything to go to Woodstock and roll around in the hippie filled love mud.
Chicago has built five new schools. You’ve been asked to name them. What five names do you choose and why?
I’m going to assume that they are going to be five themed charter schools because it makes my answers more fun.
The Robert Heinlein High School of Scientific Humanism- I probably chose this because I just finished rereading Stranger in a Strange Land. This school would have a science focus but also be concerned with philosophy and how to apply science to the betterment of humankind.
X Elementary- This school would be focused on radical social movements, not only African-American as the name may suggest, and would teach children the importance of speaking out for their communities.
You Are Different; So Are We High- The name comes from the brochure Sarah Lawrence sent out to prospective students. While the high school would have to have a few more required classes than Sarah Lawrence did, students would be able to plan their curriculums and classes would be taught in the conference style.
We Know Trades and Will Make Lots Of Money High School- This school will focus on getting people into the trades. It is hard to get the proper information on how to enter these lucrative fields and such a school would directly funnel low-income students who may not plan for college into high paying careers.
Natalie’s Elementary School of Stuff- I had to name one after me. This school would incorporate teaching styles from Open, Montessori, and traditional schools into one cohesive wonder of education and learning.
4. If you could have a dinner with five people, living or dead, who would it be and what dinner and drinks would you serve?
Being an incredible book nerd I’m going to go with five authors. So that I can contribute to the discussion I’ll have to pick people whose body of work I am pretty familiar with. I’ll take Dostoyevsky (and somehow he will magically speak English), Tom Robbins, Saul Bellow, Toni Morrison, and Ralph Ellison. I thought about inviting Kurt Vonnegut but since I couldn’t also invite Monica because I am selfish and that would mean one less author I figured it would be better not to include him than to ruin a great friendship. Obviously these people have very different writing styles but all of them write about the turmoil of being human. I think it would be a fantastic discussion. I would need to serve a large meal with many courses so that we can sit and talk. I find Mexican food delicious and easy to make in large amounts so that is what we will eat. We’ll have some fine Vodka to drink with various mixers. I know Vodka isn’t usually paired with Mexican food but we have to do something to make Dostoyevsky feel a little more at home.
Appetizer- Yucca Frita, I have never made it but man that stuff is delicious and it can’t be that hard to fry yucca.
Salad- (Here comes Foodie Friday) Nopalitos salad with cilantro lime vinaigrette (this recipe makes about four salads)
-Two hearts of romaine sliced in thin strips
-Two Scallions (the green part) sliced into .5 inch tubes
-Four thinly sliced radishes
-Two cups nopalitos (pickled prickly pear cactus)
-¼ cup crumbled queso fresco
Dressing-
-3tbsp lime juice
-3tbsp olive oil
-3tbsp balsamic vinegar
-1 clove garlic
-1 small jalapeno (chopped a little)
-2 tbsp cilantro
-Pinch of salt
-Grind of pepper
Place ingredients in food processor or blender and whir it up.
Soup- Gazpacho recipe from Mom
Main Course- Tacos (I made delicious and very rustic tortillas this week which was incredibly fun and easy and would be a great dinner party food) with homemade salsa and guacamole. I would cook some black beans and get Tony to prepare some meat
Dessert- Ben and Jerry’s Stephen Colbert’s Americone Dream Ice Cream.
5. Like my wife, you grew up in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and now live in Chicago. What are the pros/cons of living in each place?
Minneapolis (I did NOT grow up in St. Paul) is a wonderful place to grow up. It has a small town feel although there is enough to do so that you aren’t relegated to the two small town young person entertainments, driving around and getting drunk (not that we didn’t do plenty of that). The lakes are beautiful and you can swim in them without feeling disgusting. Chicago has some parks and obviously a huge lake but nothing to compare with the looking for fossils along the banks of the Mississippi and the general greenery. Unfortunately, the people there think they live in a much bigger city than they actually live in and that can cause some inflated assumptions about how great and cosmopolitan Minneapolis actually is. As you get older, there isn’t as much to do and you need to stretch your legs. Chicago’s hyper-segregation is the hands down worst thing about this city. Minneapolis seems to be more segregated by class than race, although the two often go hand in hand. However, the museums, theater, and shopping in Chicago leave Minneapolis far behind (not that there aren’t great places to do those things in Minneapolis, don’t get all naming places Mom). Chicago is a true big city, and if you want that type of environment it is the place to be. If you want the attractions of a big city, albeit on a smaller scale, and the ease of small town granola crunching life, Minneapolis is the place to be.
I still have two slots open if anyone else is game.
Bucktown, Smif-N-Wessun- I have nothing to say good or bad about this. It is relatively standard sounding mid 90s decent rap.
The Chronic (Intro), Dr. Dre- THis always takes me back to the summer of 92 watching MTV videos with shoshana while the parents are at work. This wasn't on the TV but it just gets me ready for all the wonders of The Chronic to take me back.
You Shook Me All Night Long, Tori Amos- Tori is another one of those artists whose covers I am not particularly fond of. Purple Rain is pretty good though. I thought about having her cover a great album but iknow exactly what it would sound like so no. However, if anyone wants to buy me a present I hear she is about to come out with a new album.
Friday, December 08, 2006
TODAY I DID STUFF AND THINGS
Today is a very productive day. I started and finished my Christmas shopping. I won’t be able to talk about what I got people because they could read this blog. I got good things though and everyone will be happy. I love shopping on the Internet. I believe that everything will be here with time to spare before I fly home. In case that doesn’t happen, sorry family. I did have to venture to one store though to round out shopping and it took me about 30 minutes to do so. I thought that was pretty good. 30 minutes of store time for the holidays. I am good. To be fair, I only had four people to shop for. Being poor, I am not shopping for anyone other than my immediate family (and Tony of course but he is like family). I feel for people who have to shop for all types of people. At some point I really should start to buy things for my cousins but that will have to wait until I am less poor. Now they just get a happy birthday if they are lucky.
The door to my office is closed. I generally prefer to have it open because when it is closed I feel like I am projecting a go away I don’t want to talk to you attitude. That is not the case. Plus, my door automatically locks so if anyone wants to come and talk to me then I have to get up and open the door. That seems really silly. I only have an office because there was no room for me in my department and I operate relatively solo, everyone else is part of a team. I’m not complaining. I’m just saying it isn’t like I have an office because I am important or anything, certainly not important enough to lock everyone out.
After my class next Tuesday and Wednesday I am going to be ready to go on vacation. Unfortunately, I will have eight days of work left before vacation will be able to start. Those will be very difficult days. My class seems like it will b good sized so maybe I can fill those days with follow-up appointments with the students. If I have to meet with people I will be more likely to not notice how long days can be. Today was one of those really long days and I don’t know why. I have plenty to do and have done a lot. However, It is only two thirty. It seems like it is time to go. Huh.
Tomorrow I am going to go to karaoke with Monica and friends. I am a little nervous. I haven’t done karaoke in front of people since the Alumni Club closed. I have to say that my performances that night were two of the greatest karaoke times of all (my solo of Humpty Dance and duet of Dancin’ With Myself with Monica) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t fallen off my game. Eh, I’m sure it will be ok. I wonder if Tony will come. Once he said that if he came to Karaoke he would sing Strokin’ because he wanted to go Clarence Carter Clarence Carter over and over. I would like to see that. I don’t think he would actually do it. Of all the many times I invited him to come to karaoke he never did. I think a lot of the things I do he simply tolerates. This is particularly true of karaoke and DDR. These things are done in the home and not in public so if he would have to leave the house to tolerate something why would he bother? I probably wouldn’t.
I am busy listening to the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack so my iPod is busy. I am debating if it is worth stopping this soundtrack for a proper shuffle. It probably is. The only reason I am listening to it is that I just read Monica’s blog and she mentioned how great this soundtrack is in her shuffle. It would be strange for me to forego mine because of hers. Shuffle away:
Mean Mr. Mustard, The Beatles- Man this song is good. It reminds me of the honey mustard and onion cashews that I purchased this morning and are in my desk. If you are questioning the deliciousness of such a flavored nut stop (unless you are Monica because she will die). These nuts are fantastic! They taste like the tangy mustardy pretzel bites and you just can’t mess with that.
L.A. Woman, The Doors- This song is kind of not all that great. I mean I love the Doors plenty and all but sometimes they are just silly. This song is one of those times to me.
Summertime Blues, T-Rex- Huh, not bad for Summertime Blues.
That was a really boring shuffle. I should have kept listening to the Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack. I think I was on TV Eye.
The door to my office is closed. I generally prefer to have it open because when it is closed I feel like I am projecting a go away I don’t want to talk to you attitude. That is not the case. Plus, my door automatically locks so if anyone wants to come and talk to me then I have to get up and open the door. That seems really silly. I only have an office because there was no room for me in my department and I operate relatively solo, everyone else is part of a team. I’m not complaining. I’m just saying it isn’t like I have an office because I am important or anything, certainly not important enough to lock everyone out.
After my class next Tuesday and Wednesday I am going to be ready to go on vacation. Unfortunately, I will have eight days of work left before vacation will be able to start. Those will be very difficult days. My class seems like it will b good sized so maybe I can fill those days with follow-up appointments with the students. If I have to meet with people I will be more likely to not notice how long days can be. Today was one of those really long days and I don’t know why. I have plenty to do and have done a lot. However, It is only two thirty. It seems like it is time to go. Huh.
Tomorrow I am going to go to karaoke with Monica and friends. I am a little nervous. I haven’t done karaoke in front of people since the Alumni Club closed. I have to say that my performances that night were two of the greatest karaoke times of all (my solo of Humpty Dance and duet of Dancin’ With Myself with Monica) but that doesn’t mean I haven’t fallen off my game. Eh, I’m sure it will be ok. I wonder if Tony will come. Once he said that if he came to Karaoke he would sing Strokin’ because he wanted to go Clarence Carter Clarence Carter over and over. I would like to see that. I don’t think he would actually do it. Of all the many times I invited him to come to karaoke he never did. I think a lot of the things I do he simply tolerates. This is particularly true of karaoke and DDR. These things are done in the home and not in public so if he would have to leave the house to tolerate something why would he bother? I probably wouldn’t.
I am busy listening to the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack so my iPod is busy. I am debating if it is worth stopping this soundtrack for a proper shuffle. It probably is. The only reason I am listening to it is that I just read Monica’s blog and she mentioned how great this soundtrack is in her shuffle. It would be strange for me to forego mine because of hers. Shuffle away:
Mean Mr. Mustard, The Beatles- Man this song is good. It reminds me of the honey mustard and onion cashews that I purchased this morning and are in my desk. If you are questioning the deliciousness of such a flavored nut stop (unless you are Monica because she will die). These nuts are fantastic! They taste like the tangy mustardy pretzel bites and you just can’t mess with that.
L.A. Woman, The Doors- This song is kind of not all that great. I mean I love the Doors plenty and all but sometimes they are just silly. This song is one of those times to me.
Summertime Blues, T-Rex- Huh, not bad for Summertime Blues.
That was a really boring shuffle. I should have kept listening to the Velvet Goldmine Soundtrack. I think I was on TV Eye.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
THINGS THAT I LOVE- PART VI
Like pizza, this post is about yet another thing that everyone loves, presents. I generally say that I don’t like surprises but I actually sometimes do. I like presents that I am expecting and that I know are coming because they represent things I know I want but I can’t get for myself for various reasons. I like presents for holidays that I am not expecting. However, even more exciting are the totally unexpected presents like I got last night.
Tony’s mother had sent him a bunch of clothes and a lot of them didn’t fit right or weren’t really something he would wear often so he was going to exchange them. He had asked if there was anything I wanted for the house and I suggested maybe a blender. I have a cool little chopper thing but it only holds about a cup of stuff and I can’t make smoothies in it. Plus I think the little container on it has a crack in it so it is certainly not good for liquids. Then again, I know a good blender isn’t the cheapest thing so I told him if it wasn’t really something in the budget it was fine because I know he needed some stuff.
When I got home, not only was there a blender but also a big bag that he said was all for me. He got himself one pair of jeans and a video game (which obviously I will play too). So in the bag was a bath mat (cause you know we needed one), a pillow, a bathrobe, and slippers. The bag was filled with cozy and wonderful things for me. Particularly as it starts to get cold and we all want to be as cozy as possible in the cold. I was floored. Not only did he forgo getting stuff for him but he got stuff for me that was thoughtful and sweet.
See about a year ago when we started living together we had a thing about pillows. There was a good pillow, and a not as good pillow. I always sleep with many pillows so before we lived together, I used a bunch of throw pillows and both the good and not as good pillows. When we started living together I gave him the good pillow (cause he only uses one) and kept the many throw pillows and the not as good pillow. Which was fine by me. So when he got me a nice new allergen free pillow it was a really nice gesture. The bathrobe is the best thing I can think of. It is a total old lady robe. It’s really fuzzy and incredibly soft both inside and out. It goes down to my ankles and has a zipper instead of a tie so it is extra perfect to wear around all day and be all surrounded in warm and fuzzy. It’s like a bathrobe/longie (for those of you who don’t know a longie is just what Monica and I call those old school nightshirt things) and it’s just perfect plus it has pockets! The slippers are great too! They match the robe and are fluffy and warm and nice.
Apparently he didn’t understand why I was so excited and felt so good about things. He basically said he just thought it was the right thing to do. He had an opportunity to do something nice for me and why wouldn’t he. What a nice guy. So yeah, I love presents.
All but one song from the beginning of the week has been guessed and that's not bad.
1. Standing on the corner of a civilization. There's a time there's a place for me.
2. Girl I must warn you I sense something strange in my mind. Situation is serious let’s cure it cause we’re running out of time. Poison, Bel Biv Devoe. Identified by Monica
3. You are no good. You are a fucking asshole. You are a real jerk. You are a miserable creep
4. Sell the kids for food. Weather changes moods. Spring is here again. Reproductive glands. In Bloom, Nirvana. Identified by Monica
5. If you said good-bye to me tonight there would still be music left to write. For The Longest Time, Billy Joel. Identified by Monica
Tony’s mother had sent him a bunch of clothes and a lot of them didn’t fit right or weren’t really something he would wear often so he was going to exchange them. He had asked if there was anything I wanted for the house and I suggested maybe a blender. I have a cool little chopper thing but it only holds about a cup of stuff and I can’t make smoothies in it. Plus I think the little container on it has a crack in it so it is certainly not good for liquids. Then again, I know a good blender isn’t the cheapest thing so I told him if it wasn’t really something in the budget it was fine because I know he needed some stuff.
When I got home, not only was there a blender but also a big bag that he said was all for me. He got himself one pair of jeans and a video game (which obviously I will play too). So in the bag was a bath mat (cause you know we needed one), a pillow, a bathrobe, and slippers. The bag was filled with cozy and wonderful things for me. Particularly as it starts to get cold and we all want to be as cozy as possible in the cold. I was floored. Not only did he forgo getting stuff for him but he got stuff for me that was thoughtful and sweet.
See about a year ago when we started living together we had a thing about pillows. There was a good pillow, and a not as good pillow. I always sleep with many pillows so before we lived together, I used a bunch of throw pillows and both the good and not as good pillows. When we started living together I gave him the good pillow (cause he only uses one) and kept the many throw pillows and the not as good pillow. Which was fine by me. So when he got me a nice new allergen free pillow it was a really nice gesture. The bathrobe is the best thing I can think of. It is a total old lady robe. It’s really fuzzy and incredibly soft both inside and out. It goes down to my ankles and has a zipper instead of a tie so it is extra perfect to wear around all day and be all surrounded in warm and fuzzy. It’s like a bathrobe/longie (for those of you who don’t know a longie is just what Monica and I call those old school nightshirt things) and it’s just perfect plus it has pockets! The slippers are great too! They match the robe and are fluffy and warm and nice.
Apparently he didn’t understand why I was so excited and felt so good about things. He basically said he just thought it was the right thing to do. He had an opportunity to do something nice for me and why wouldn’t he. What a nice guy. So yeah, I love presents.
All but one song from the beginning of the week has been guessed and that's not bad.
1. Standing on the corner of a civilization. There's a time there's a place for me.
2. Girl I must warn you I sense something strange in my mind. Situation is serious let’s cure it cause we’re running out of time. Poison, Bel Biv Devoe. Identified by Monica
3. You are no good. You are a fucking asshole. You are a real jerk. You are a miserable creep
4. Sell the kids for food. Weather changes moods. Spring is here again. Reproductive glands. In Bloom, Nirvana. Identified by Monica
5. If you said good-bye to me tonight there would still be music left to write. For The Longest Time, Billy Joel. Identified by Monica
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