One A Day

Being a string player, I'm easily amused when I hear a popular song transferred to a string quartet. This has resulted in a slight overindulgence in all things from Vitamin Records. Fortunately, eMusic is once again feeding this latest listening quirk.

Panic! At The Disco and Hinder sound so much better on violin, cello, and viola. And then there's the delightful interpretations of songs like "Been Caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction and "Lovecats" by The Cure. I love it!

Backwards Tilt Toward Autumn

I just realized that September 1st is Saturday. While Autumn is my favorite season, it seems to creep up on me. I forget that the summer heat will end and that soon I'll be able to wear my most comfortable outfit: jeans and a t-shirt under a hoodie. Then, as the sun casts a warm glow on everything, I'll welcome the season with music I was listening to exactly 14 years ago as I moved from one part of my life into another.

Cranes - Jewel


Pet Shop Boys - Can You Forgive Her?


Kate Bush - Eat The Music


Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Someday I Suppose


Saint Etienne - Who Do You Think You Are?


Liz Phair - Never Said

Decorating Inspiration

As Matt and I continue fixing up our house at a very leisurely pace, I've been contemplating decorating schemes and the various sources of inspiration for what I want in our house. I thought a group of pictures would show it best:

As Seen in Inc. Magazine

Best. Name. For. A. Company. Ever.

I saw an ad for that company on the second to last page of the latest issue of Inc.

Jane Says She's Going Away To Spain

Well, thankfully I didn't renew my subscription to Jane magazine. This week I received a postcard saying that Conde Nast has decided to discontinue publishing Jane, but that they think I will "love" the issues of Glamour that they will send to fulfill my subscription terms.

Are they serious??? I mean, I may not have been as big of a Jane fan after Jane Pratt left as editor, but Glamour? Do the publishers take their readers to be insipid females whose main concern is how to lose ten pounds in 7 minutes in order to fit into that size 0 dress for that happening party at the new "it" club in the city? Please. If you think I'm exaggerating, take a look at the majority of topics for Glamour's blog page.

NY Post naturally dished about this issue too.

I guess I'll stick with my Stepford-Wife-ish subscription to Real Simple and the "Polish Bible": Consumer Reports. At least there I know I'll always have a handle on what the "classic" looks are in fashion and what ballpoint pen won't die in a middle of journal writing bender.

The World Goes By Like The Humid Air

The air is very close in our house. I know it's easier to bear this humidity inside than out because I've closed every window and shade against the sun and hot air. Still, my hair is sticking to my neck and my shirt is clinging to me in an uncomfortably, lewd fashion. That'll learn me to attempt doing any kind of housework in this tropical heat. Well, the dancing around to Scissor Sisters probably wasn't a good idea either. September and its cool breezes cannot come fast enough.

What A Wicked Thing To Do

Someone kill me now. I have seen it all, and it was bad. I curse Jeff Spevak for even mentioning that this exists in his review.



For some relief, here is the original in all its sensual, glorious state:

Two In One

The mix is done. It's all on one disc with a distinct switch mid-way from the driving-too-fast-with-the-windows-down musical section to a series of cover songs. It's being left on a desk tonight when I go do the news.

Unassuming Guest Hostess

Part One
Keane - Is It Any Wonder?
The Darkness - Dinner Lady Arms
Matthew Sweet - Where You Get Love
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Someday I Suppose
Mint Royale - Kenny's Last Dance
Touch And Go - Would You?
K-OS - Electrick Heat/The Seekwill
Tricky - Brand New Rettro
Justin Timberlake - LoveStoned/I Think She Knows Interlude

Part Two
Nouvelle Vague - Ever Fallen In Love?
Vitamin String Quartet - Been Caught Stealing
Faith No More - Easy
Ministry - Lay Lady Lay
Easy Star All-Stars - Let Down
Ivy - Let's Go To Bed
New Found Glory - The Glory Of Love
Reel Big Fish - We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful

Artist Share

Matt and I went to the first Artist Share session at the Reg Studio this afternoon. It's a pretty cool concept that Tara Eastman put together in conjunction with Westminster Presbyterian and the Arts Council. For a taste of what took place today, and information about upcoming Artist Share events, watch this little video: (You might see a few familiar faces)

Unassuming Hostess

Several ideas are floating around in my head for a new iTunes mix, but I haven't completely nailed down the theme. The subject of this post is probably going to be the title for the mix.

The great thing about iTunes mixes is that they can be as small or large as you want. When I first got my iPod, the first thing I did was create a "WBER Vicariously" mix that featured all the music I had that I knew had been played on WBER at some point. Then I would drive around, pretending I had my own digital link to the station. Unfortunately, I haven't kept it updated and now it's more like "WBER Vicariously Circa 2003."

Last year, I started creating mixes that I actually burned to disc for one of my friends in The Unexpected Guests. That evolved into making mixes specifically for that group, even if they didn't request them, because it was fun (ahem *whispers* fan girl). Suddenly, I had a challenge to compress the list of songs buzzing in my head down to fit onto 80mb of disc space.

The latest mix, whether for them or my amusement, has boiled down to two thoughts. One is a mix of interesting covers of songs. Maybe covers that stylistically are not what you'd expect. The other thought is to do a mix of interesting sounding songs that maybe sound pretty ordinary alone, but paired up might perk someone's interest. That kind of theme is ordinary and what everyone tries to do, but it works. We'll see. I'll post it when it's done.

Addendum: I worked on it some more over lunch, and it's evolved into something that will sound perfect in my car, with the windows down, driving along a 55 mph highway, singing at the top of my lungs. Very happy with it so far. It rocks a little, shakes a little, and has a certain element of cool. No one else may like it, but it's pretty damn fine to me. Final play list forthcoming.

Rootless Tree

My current favorite song. This is a different version than what's getting air play, but it's ever so good.

Damien Rice - "Rootless Tree"

Mud-luscious

The State University College of Brockport will display seldom-seen art by E.E. Cummings in its MetroCenter on 55 St. Paul Street this Fall.

When I took AP English as a senior, our teacher had us pick an author's name out of a hat to study for the year. I, unluckily in my opinion, chose E.E. Cummings. This also happened to be the author our teacher was studying for the year. Naturally, my luck also extended to picking a Poet. I find poetry hard enough to decipher without the personal quirks of E.E. Cummings.

Nonetheless, I trudged through the year reading more about the man than studying his poems. In all honestly, for someone who likes to learn I took very little away from the project. When I skimmed the wikipedia entry today, nothing jumped out as "Oh yeah! I remember that!" Chalk it up to senioritis combined with the fact that I was stubbornly opposed to being told to dive passionately into a research topic that wasn't my picking. Teenage girls, I tell ya'.

Fortunately, time dulls that sullen edge and I'm a little more receptive to learning more about the man I was meant to know quite well 12 years ago. Perhaps I will find myself in Rochester in October for this exhibit.

Faithful Musings

A few months ago, I found a site where a guy had written blog commentary on the various books of the Bible. I find the commentary insightful and interesting.

Those who know me best know that I'm not religious. I was raised Catholic, but never fully embraced that religion even as a kid. My feelings toward any kind of organized religion are tolerance at best. But years of Catholic up-bringing do tend to result in what I call an "agnostically challenged" state when it comes to religion and my feelings about a higher power.

I've asked myself the question on several occasions about how I feel about the possibility of a God. Over the years, this has led to me considering other faiths including Judaism, Wicca, Lutheran, and a return to Catholicism. Each time, the main issue that confronted me was my ability to "suspend belief" and believe that a God existed as explained by scripture or that multiple Gods/Spirits existed. I found it near impossible.

However, I've never quite doubted that something exists outside of ourselves as human beings. And that is why I never classified myself as an Atheist, but sometimes feel "agnostic" even too specific a label.

Part of me thinks that I will find the answer some day, but that the answer will only truly come with death. I'm not looking to be saved, nor do I wish anyone to try. It took me awhile to determine that sitting with other people in an attempt to worship something that we all probably had different opinions about was not the right thing for me.

She Is Raging

I'm in a mood today. The rational outward side of me is civil and almost pleasant, but inside I'm raging. It's the kind of raging that wishes to challenge any emo boy band to even try to write something that can compare to the monthly madness that most women go through.

Limp Bizkit says it the best.

This is uncensored. You've been forewarned:

Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis

I've spent a little part of this morning getting caught up on the Interstate Bridge 35W collapse in Minneapolis. This included tuning into the morning show on KDWB to make sure my "little brother" and his girlfriend were okay.

James Lileks live-blogged it on buzz.mn yesterday.