the same there and back

No. 243: seriously, though

2009-05-05T20:49:00.001-07:00

Go read my new blog. And comment.

Puh-leeease?

H

No. 242: dippin out

2009-04-11T07:06:00.001-07:00

Hey, I'm going to wordpress b/c blogger is boring the crap out of me.

Get there HERE.

and thanks for reading, if you're in fact doing so.

hs <3

no. ___ (the one where she's gets all nostalgic)

2009-04-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

"the city"
by: the dismemberment plan
(for EVA and posse kids-- a brief story:

my friend mac came to visit me on his way down from Maine to Georgia and we had a music swap. he had never heard of "the dismemberment plan, black moth super rainbow, spank rock, girl talk, mr. matt diamond, mr. wkc, countless others"... so i made him listen to all that and some other people. it made me ubersentimental so i blooged about you. *nerd*)
herewego.

now i notice the street lamps hum
the ghosts of graffiti they couldn't quite erase,
the blank faced stares
on the subways as people go home.
the parks lay empty like my unmade bed
the streets are silent like my lifeless telephone
and this is where i live
but i've never felt less at home.

so i’m not unsympathetic
i see why you left
there’s no one to know
there’s nothing to do
the city’s been dead
since you’ve been gone…

sometimes i stand on my roof at night
and watch as something seems to happen
somewhere else
i feel like a breeze could pick me up
and carry me away.
out and over this iridescent grid
up and away
from the bar fights and neon lights
Out and away
from everything that makes me what i am
so i’m not unsympathetic
i see why you left
there's no one to know, there's nothing to do
the city's been dead
since you've been gone.

well i've never had
just whatever it is
you want baby
oh, i really tried
tried and tried with all my might
made me crazy
to try to figure out what it is i’ve done wrong
every time when
everything i love, everything I hold dear
heads out sometime
all i ever say
now
is good-bye
"six times"

... i was with you guys when i first heard that . i've now passed it on. so hi y'all.

<3 h

No. 240: Briefly

2009-03-30T12:33:00.001-07:00

Epic fail on that whole music thing.
Here's five more songs, enjoy them when you can.

Grace/ Phil Wickham- gorgeous music. His voice is like the guy from Muse, if he weren't annoying. His newer album isn't bad but I don't know it as well.
A Quick One While He's Away/ The Who- B/c Greg didn't know this song and everyone should. My personal favorite part of the song is the "cellocelllocellocello cellocellocellocello" in the middle, where their manager wouldn't hire an actual cellist.
End of the World/ R.E.M. - THAT'S GREAT it starts with an earth-quake/birds snakes and airplanes/ lenny bruce is not afraid.
The Ocean/ Led Zeppelin- it's just a really great song.
California / Joni Mitchell- it's warm weather music, honoring yesterday's gorgeous sunshine. Joni reminds me of the summer w/ the hippies, driving around eating pho and listening to records. It makes me long to go to Santa Cruz or at least Santa Barbara to visit Nick. I miss the beach.

Busy week. Mac came for a surprise visit. Work tomorrow, papers to write, lots of reading to do. Helping Carlos with the next stage of his film. One day the man will be famous and pay me back for gas.

My latest short story isn't as good as I was hoping it would be and now I'm having all these doubts about my entire career shorts and that I have any talent at all. I've also been looking into grad schools for M.A.s in Systematic and Historical Theology. Or Florida State for writing (they'll pay). Or SCAD for screen writing. Blech. I'm praying fervently for guidance.

Have a joyous week, kiddies.

HS

no. 239: music day

2009-03-18T06:50:00.001-07:00

Wednesday is going to be music day. 5 songs you should listen to delivered each week on Wednesdays.

(Nothing But) Flowers by Talking Heads - Rediscovered this by random today when uploading music to Fred's iPod. It's so fun. All RISD kis, btw.
Love and Happiness by Al Green- It was on the episode of House Matt and I watched last night. Second season, I think, where the cute blond girl is poisoning her husband with gold. Suuuch a great song. The opening notes are some of my favorite in all of music history. It promises to you that you are going to enjoy what's coming.
Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix) by Alabama 3- You know this to be the Sopranos theme song. The original isn't as compelling, I think. The beat is so great though, and as the theme song, it goes up against what are arguably the best opening credits to any show ever. Excepting maybe House.
My Girls by Animal Collective- Reason why this song is awesome: "I don't mean/to seem like I care about/ material things/ (like my social stats)/ I just want/ four walls and adobe slats/ for my girls!"
Song Of Hope by Robbie Seay Band- One of my favorite worship songs. "Just to know that you are near is enough". It's a good reminder that we're not left by ourselves down here.

Now, I should go work on my short story..... so... I'm going to do that. Right now. Riiiight now.

hs

no. 238: mcp

2009-03-17T20:19:00.001-07:00

i want to write about my man. i always try to shun the mushy posts but sometimes they're good for the soul. if you're not one for hearing about the significant others of others, i'd tune in next time, where i'll likely discuss something more publicly substantive.
this is my boo:
he's handsome, ain't he? good smile. crazy hair. he gets uncomfortable when i photograph him. his two reactions are to smile self-consciously or with a hint of irritation ask me to put the camera away. he smiled here, b/c being photographed was a welcome relief from homework, which he hates.

sometimes he is lazy. frightfully so. but sometimes he has drive and ambition and a desire to accomplish, which is admirable and frankly surpasses my own. our personalities differ in almost every way imaginable. but i love him.

the road leading to where we are today was really really long . we still fight and argue and create an unnecessary amount of angst but we love each other and have matured enough over the last three years to realize that's more important than being pissed off at individual failings. we drive each other crazy, which is sometimes (when in the literal sense) a problem. for the most part, though, it's positive and lately compels us to set aside self. we need to pray more about our relationship, the both of us. i could use some more patience with him and he could probably do with improved communication skills. that being said, i'm twenty, he's twenty-three, and we've got a while to figure this stuff out.

the best part is that we have fun together. he makes me laugh. we sat on the couch tonight and laughed a stupid commercials and ate mcflurries. he is my favorite non-familial person and better than anyone knows how to turn my terrible moods (unless of course they're caused by him).

he reads slowly. so much so that it frustrates me, sometimes. but he loves to read and loves books. he also has largely respectable taste in music, although emerson, lake & palmer and jefferson airplane are excluded in that statement. he dresses well. he thinks i'm gorgeous. he loves the Lord, although like me, his relationship with our terrifyingly large God could use some strengthening. we have both wobbled off the straight and narrow but this allows us to be gracious to one another.

mom always asks me if i think he's God's best for my life. i told her last night that i wasn't sure that there's some divinely intended best. i think God puts us with the people He puts us with and sometimes we fall in love with them. we make them the best by growing close enough to Him to love them as they should be loved and they us. i guess we'll see.

tomorrow matt and i are gonna to hang out for a while after he gets out of class. he's got work at 5. i'm going to drive all the way out to fairfax and sit in Saxby's to do my homework, rather than stay home b/c just being able to occasionally talk to him and ease his loooong shift will make him happy. i know this is silly and girlie and i'm ok with that.

i pray for your happiness, whoever you are, and that you are blessed with a love you have to work with. consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are faced with trials.

that's it for this sappy posting.

hs

No. 237: Kings

2009-03-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty excited for this new NBC jazz, Kings. Mostly b/c of Ian McShane who I LOVE. I think it's going to be interesting b/c it's based off of the story of King David (and oddly, a little of Esther in there). TV has been doing that well lately. The Sopranos was Greek Tragedy. Deadwood was Shakespeare. Now we're going to have Old Testament on television. This could be good or bad, but theirs engaging history there and if they handle it right, it will be highly watchable. I want another award for McShane, anyway, so hopefully this will give him an opportunity and boost NBC.

Today's the St. Patty's Day parade. Though none of the homies I'd expected are coming, it will still be good to see my family and miss Annie is accompanying me. I look forward to mummers but not rain. We'll see how it goes.

H.

No. 236: shiny shiny

2009-03-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

My parents are awesome and got me a new MacBook b/c my old laptop had reached the end of its glorious life. Goodbye, PC.
The world of Mac is at once confusing and simple. I love hotkeys. I love them. Carlos spent a good hour telling me stuff about my computer and I'm totally sold. Neil keeps telling Mom that she should replace her old PC with a Mac instead of a Dell. If you know my Mom, plug the Mac as well. I was so skeptical about Mac, so when people insult my new computer (cough Sam), I have to sympathize with them. But go check it out before you judge. It's lovey. And it comes with chess.

I've done really nothing today except eat an egg, read some Shakespeare and play on this thing. Dad soundly beat me at chess a couple of times. I'm never going to get good but for some reason I still enjoy playing. Scrabble is another game which has sucked me in but I find I'm actually able to win that sometimes. Fred was supposed to come up today but he's not feeling good and the weather is crap for walking around anyway, so here I sit in my comfy chair, waiting until I feel like dropping off my paper @ Dell House and going over to Jenny's to finish my laundry.

Jen and Bob are getting married tomorrow, congrats. Sunday: St. Patty's Day parade in Baltimore. Come up and have a good time with me!

Spoon is playing in PA. Greg, Carlos and I were gonna try to get tickets. If not to that show, then Of Montreal is also coming and I'd really like to see them. I'm still hoping a miracle is gonna snag me Animal Collective tix. A girl can dream.

HS

No. 235: just wants to know the reason why

2009-03-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

Read this. It's horrible.

This is what's going on in the world. I know it's not my fault and right now, there's probably nothing I can do about it. It just makes me so mad. This morning, I woke up in my apartment. I got ready and dressed and went to work for a few hours. After that, I went to the grocery store, picked up some cosmetics and stuff to cook for the next couple of days. I drove home. I called my mom on my cell phone. She's at home, relaxing on her day off of work. In Afghanistan, a 7 year old girl was raped by a guy 40 years older than her.

It made me sick to my stomach. They're so young. And wives, if they leave their husbands, have to beg and try to protect themselves in a country where a woman alone can be legally beaten to death in the street. It's getting worse.

Part of me thinks that I should just go over there. Do work with an organization or something. But I'm a woman, so it's not like talking to the people perpetrating this horrible crap will be open minded about my feelings that they're violating the spirit of their culture by doing this.

anyway... later I'm going to get a hair cut, read, watch a movie with my friends and try not to die of shame.

hs

No. 234: He's going down to the boulevard

2009-02-27T09:27:00.001-08:00

I'm currently using Linux. Dad learned is opened it on my computer to see what I thought. I dont' hate it, but I feel like it would annoy me in the end, not to be able to have things the way I want them. But the rumour is that I could make them the way I want them. anyway... it's interesting. and kudos to you Greg for being right about it.

i have to give mad props to Nora (my mad props receiver of the week) and Greg for their radio show. Last night's set was really good, actually. I get to guest DJ next week (4 songs of rediscovered awesome) so check it out: WJHU Radio.

kendall's coming up for some weekend in baltimore adventuring. hopefully i can keep her entertained. i'm excessively broke. it's almost frightening at this point. but i have a job and if i actually do some work, soon I'll have some money. ah money. the love of which is the root of all evil, they say. the sopranos illustrate this principle really well.

tips:
- ginger beer is delicious
- linus is alright
- adding a boiled egg or two to ramen makes it much more appetizing.
- "burning photographs" by ryan adams

hs

No. 233: an absolute infinite substance is indivisible

2009-02-26T15:21:00.000-08:00

being 20 and not knowing much, it's rare that i'm able with immediate clarity to discern anything about my own feelings. but i do know this:

i don't like spinoza.

hs

No. 232: the third planet is sure they're being watched

2009-02-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

i read a short story today by jean stafford (whose styles i'm still not sure i like). in it, there is a miserly woman, who despite herself cannot help but be cantankerous. she knows this about herself and tries to stop it but the situation always lends itself to her being a grouch.

in a similar vein, in find myself arguing without meaning to. last night i went out with some friends to the Charles to watch the short films that were nominated for the Oscars. afterwards, we gave another friend a ride home and he kept oddly bashing baltimore. i knew that he was from here and yet it didn't click with me that he would be slamming it so hard. i said baltimore was cute, and he got uppity about it and said it was gritty, which it is, but it's also cute in places. he kept saying, "i'm from here, i don't know why you're referencing the place like i don't know it". i couldn't just stop a second and say what i felt later, which was that if we had both grown up in the place, we both had valid opinions and i don't know why mine had any less importance than his did. i wasn't trying to negate his feelings about the city, just trying to assert my perceptions, which i felt equally worthy. i think i offended him without meaning to and it made me feel crummy.

there are people, like greg and my mother, that i can have heated conversations, even debates with and not mortally offend or get so excited that it becomes a fight. there are other people that doesn't hold true for. it's just annoying that i can't calm down enough to not let it be a fight, and i think that it only happens when the person starts to denounce my point of view. two people having a discussion about anything have equally valid opinions because they're collected from personal experiences. i think it's arrogance that leads us to diminish others in debate, and further than that, a narrow mindedness. some opinions are more valid than others, true, but not when it's a question of experiences.

anyway-- i don't like that about myself and i don't like it others yet it seems to be cropping up a lot lately. also christian bale. i can't get away from him. teddy showed greg, carlos and i a HILARIOUS video made from his explosion at the light director. catchy, except for that it's totally obscene.

I've decided I can't subscribe to Descartes. He doesn't go far enough.
Rereading Julius Caesar for class made me oddly miss Sami and Sarah. I was disecting Antony's speech to the crowd at the presentation of Caesar's body for ethos, pathos and logos and I think I'm going to end up writing my paper on it. NERD.

Also: going to finish Season 3 of Sorpanos and stop watching TV shows for a while. I need to be reading more than I am and definitely writing more. It hit me this morning that it's become routine for me, by accident, to watch a show when I have a free minute, whether or not I really want to. Gross.

HS

No. 231: off the record

2009-02-16T18:20:00.000-08:00

you've got to know that we will change and keep it off the record...

It's been a strange day. I woke up late, drove to class b/c it's in Olin and sat through the lecture taking notes without really absorbing anything. Section will clear it up on Wednesday so I'm not that worried. I meant to nap but ended up just working through til my next class, a workshop, only tolerable b/c of Hannah. Great names think alike, I suppose? Anyway, afterward, us dissatisfied would be workshopped went to Silk Road and really talked about our stories.

This weekend was oddly nice. Matt was sick so I went home to him for Valentine's day. It was not what I had anticipated but it was extremely enjoyable nonetheless. We made dinner together, ate with his family. It felt a little like the summer after Senior year except Mrs. P was significantly less hostile. I got a lot done this weekend, too, although less than I thought I was doing.

There's a lot more reading this semester than ever before. While that's a little frazzling b/c I don't get to spend as much time with the book as I'd like to, I'm also reading through a lot of excellent novels and things I'd been meaning to read anyway. I've become a believer in Salinger, though I think he makes himself too obvious. Still, I appreciate his love for smokers b/c they provide interesting plot details and kill time. I appreciate his love for italics now, although it initially bothered me. It's just that he gets excessive with it. But for the sake of internal voice, it plays out well. Mrs. Glass is wonderful in Franny & Zooey and it's because of her italics and her worrying and smoking.

God has been gracious to me today regarding school work and timing, etc. I'm near finished with the book I've got to write an essay on, and the due date of the essay itself was moved back a day. The novel I forgot I had to read isn't due until next week and it's much shorter than I thought it was and actually had me engrossed in the first 8 pages. We'll see if it delivers but it will be nice to actually have time to sit and read it as opposed to wing through it.

However, for some reason I've felt sloppy lately, and disconnected, in most things, notably excluding Matt and Mommy. The feeling is a little like being on a floaty raft in the middle of a big lake. You're on something that will not stop floating but you're a long way from shore and the figures you were using to mark you distance are getting kinda fuzzy. If that makes any sense.

It's been a while since I blogged but that's about all I've got. Back to work. I'll be ready for spring break when it comes, that's for sure.

HS

No. 230: Fans

2009-01-29T13:22:00.000-08:00

"You ain't got the slang but you got the face to play the role"..i.

Had lunch with Josh @ Chipotle today. It's nice to connect with people I usually associate with Columbia in places other than Columbia. Hopefully I'll get to chill with Anna up here soon. Josh called me out on some things, which for some reason didn't bother me at all. He's one of the people I can look in the face, admit I was wrong, say "it is what it is" and have that be that. Columbia houses an inordinate number of people who can do that with me. My mother and maybe Tess are the only other people I can think of outside of that.

Why do we have such a hard time owning up to our faults? I definitely have trouble with mine sometimes. Recently I've gotten better about it though. There are things wrong with me. That's just that. The Lord is working on my heart regarding many of those things. Some of them I'm not ready to let go of yet, however, and I know that's to my detriment. I don't know about this 100%, but most of the time, I'm ready to admit that. Sometimes I care too much about what other people think and sometimes I dont' care enough. Sometimes my mouth runs away with me. Sometimes I don't think it through. My temper can be totally irrational. If 80% of the people I care about said any of those things to me, I would be totally fine with it because it is what it is!

A week ago Kend all and I started ragging on Jordan and he got mad and stormed off. I meant to apologize but didn't and then forgot about the whole thing. I didn't think about it until today when Matt mentioned him. When I said I'd forogotten to apologize, he said that Jordan wasn't necessarily mad at me, but his opinion of me had changed. That bugged me so much. I think it's because I let my mouth get in the way when the only reason I was raggin' him in the first place is because I care about him and don't want him to get in his own way. I need to apologize, but I got to the place today after this irked me for about an hour, that if he still felt that way, then I was better off not caring. It just proves the point about which we were arguing in the first place. I do like him an awful lot though and it sucks to lose friends over ridiculous things.

It's so cold. And icey. I hate ice. I've almost fallen about 40 times in the last 2 days. Still- it's gorgeous and I know there will probably be a point this summer where I'm sweating and miserable and I think, "I wish all of this was covered in ice". But I doubt it. I'm ready for a beach.

Dinner @ Dad's tonight and sorting my rent, etc. Hopefully getting a air card for my computer internet (which hopefully won't mess with my PS3 hook up). Then either going dancing with Maddie G or coming home to fall immediately asleep. Worked out for the first time in 6 months today and it was rough. Tomorrow I'm either going to go hang out in Columbia or go home for the weekend. Who knows. I hate making plans lately.

I've been listening to the same music as usual. It's getting old. I need some new hip hop (other than Biggie, its mostly been Danger Doom or Mos Def) and a good rock band that doesn't bore me. Revisiting The Strokes has been good, though. I'm babbling now.

HS.

no. 229: 11 o'clock and all's well

2009-01-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

desperately needing the right music to fall asleep to and not getting it quite right with pandora, i went to a newer source: musicovery.com (interactive webRadio). it's pretty good. anyway, it provided me with "three o'clock blues" a collaborative tune with mr. B.B. King and mr. Eric Clapton-- two of my favorite guitarists. anyway, it's stellar and you should check it out.

obama was inaugurated today, as i'm sure you know if you're, you know... reading this. it was amazing and i will admit to a few tears. for the most part, though, i'm wondering how much MONEY was just like... thrown away... for that party. anyway. i was distracted with my symbolist poem which turned out not exactly right, and the fact that i just wanted to hug W. around the torso and sob, "you can go home now, you poor silly man". congrats to our new POTUS and co. don't screw us too hard.

two more classes, both workshops, in the intersession class. it was more work than i wanted to do but i'm actually glad i took it. i've been writing all day and the TA was most excellent, despite what seemed to be a need to overcompensate for her insecurity with arrogant authority-- but they're all sort of like that, i've found, and i am sure that if i one day serve my time i'll do the same thing. maybe.

now i'm going to bed. hopefully going to see rissa/abby/anna tomorrow. and greg comes back to charm city. carlos on thursday, which means my main chill unit will be complete. then the second, harder semester starts.

hs.

no. 228: world

2009-01-08T19:04:00.001-08:00

this morning i read about God's promises to abram. he becomes abraham, the father of a race. then i read psalm 8, a song to God about how amazing it is that He cares for us, when He has made so many other things we would consider greater. the author of the psalm expresses wonder that the the same Mind that created the heavens and the earth also considers us in its care.

sometimes i walk around in the world and the ugliness and evil in it crushes me. it's probably not healthy, but i've spent days on the couch just being freaked out at how bad everything has gotten. then there are days like today, where not necessarily everything goes right, and not necessarily all of my problems are gone... but there's sunshine. and that's enough. beauty outside, a lovely sunset, yummy dinner and then stumbleupon (b/c i'm a time waster in that way). stumble upon may be a tool to both help and harm, i suppose. it reminds me that the world is still kind of a mess, but there is some absolute and definite Good and Beauty out there and that's reassuring.

check it out.
@
<3

hs

No. 227: film

2009-01-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

there are certain movies you see after they've been out for a long time, after they've been heavily talked about, that you finally see and they turn out to actually be good! these films actually elicit the response, "oh! my gosh, this is good!" makes me feel like popular taste isn't always totally wrong. and i guess that's all i've got to say about that.

big lebowski
uncle buck
benny & joon
my cousin vinny
annie hall
shogun assassin
the scarlet pimpernel
reality bites
across the universe
don't look back
hellyboy II (i'm not kidding. see this.)
what's up, doc?

" -so, my therapist.
- oh, you're in therapy?
- aren't you?"

No. 226: dramatic scenes in a movie

2009-01-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

so, there's this scene in Leon: The Professional, where Leon is pwning serious crooked DEA butt, and has to get little Natalie Portman, Mathilda down the crawl space so she can escape and live. There's an incredible, touching moment, and then he turns around and straight ROARS as a rocket crashes through the walls and explodes. It's SO hard.

and one of the top ten saddest moments in a movie is when stansfield puts a cap in the backc of Leon's head right as he's about to escape into blissful safety and a solid future (which could not, of course, happen to one who'd broken the Utopian code with their career his whole life).

that movie also includes one of my favorite incidences of unexpected justice ever.

Leon: Stansfield?
Stansfield: At your service.
Leon: This. is for. Mathilda.
[Grenade explodes, ending the already fading Leon and the evil snarky jerk, Stansfield.]

so anyway-- my writers in film class should be interesting. heavy reading list but what else have i got to do? no one's really back yet. EA, Posse people are in town this weekend, which shall be a righteous rejoinder. tomorrow night is Jenny's Epiphanny party. excited about that. and then friday going to visit obachan. not sure what else is going on other than that and i'm pretty sure i don't need much more than that anyway.

i'm actually going to read and go to sleep now. i've been going to bed at a reasonable hour for the last few nights and it's been working out for me. ridiculous how much sleep helps in life.

"shape of my heart" caps off Leon: The Professional, cementing it in the 90s. totally ok with it.

-hs

No. 225: songs

2009-01-03T10:12:00.001-08:00

b/c i probably won't have time to post them tomorrow, here are the last 7 songs of Hannah's 2008 Songs to Live To. It's been fun.

1. Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell: I have always loved Joni Mitchell, and this song, though a little melodramatic, is really beautiful and encapsulates the year pretty well.
2. The View - Modest Mouse: Probably one of my favorite Modest Mouse songs. Favorite line, also encapsulating much of the year: "We are fixed right where we stand."
3. Beast of Burden - Rolling Stones: Oddly poignant moments of my year have taken place to Rolling Stones songs.
4. New Year's Eve - The Walkmen: Ovious.
5. The New Year -Death Cab for Cutie: Also obvious... but a bunch of the lyrics describe my sentiment on New Year's day.
6. When the Rain Comes - Third Day: Fred and I sitting around the dining room table hanging out yesterday listening to Third Day. Not a bad second day of the year.
7. Golden Slumbers - The Beatles: In honor of the conclusion of this playlist. I hope you've enjoyed some of our musical adventures.

HS.

No. 224: Comcast blows

2009-01-03T07:44:00.001-08:00

So... I found out this morning that my Comcast bill was $100. They changed it over and apparently I didn't pay last month's bill. Do you know that it's cheaper to get both internet AND cable, than to get JUST the internet? I don't WANT cable! I'll just watch TV! Blech.

Anyway, today is my Obachan's (grandmother's) birthday and I'm driving to Upper Marlboro. Then I think Matt is taking me to dinner somewhere. Right now I actually need to get some writing done, since I was going to write and read SO much this vacation and I've done precisely nul.

Going back up to the Hop on Sunday night. Have to stop in at Daddy's and get my rent, which is a giant pain, but oh well. Then Intersession starts on Monday. I'm actually excited, and I think I know and like the TA teaching my screen writing class. So this should be good.

Come visit me at the Hop!
Happy New Year, everyone.

HS.

No. 223: i don't feel any different

2009-01-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

so this is the new year

2009 begins.
Happy new year, everyone.
May God bless you and keep you, b/c goodness knows we need some help down here.

hs.

No. 222: happy holidays to you

2008-12-30T09:12:00.000-08:00

merry christmas to everyone i didn't already say it to. it was a lovely year. got a new camera, yay.
it was amazing to see all my family. sophia has grown up so much and liv is huge and so adorable. owen and logan are getting older too. corey's leaving on the 5th with the Marines for Iraq. scary.

but yes-- the next big seasonal event is New Year's Eve. I have no idea where to spend it. i want to drop in on MBC's thing, i want to see McQ's, and Lauren is having a thing at her place in CP, and tess and kathryn just wanna chill, which sounds nice, too. but driving on NYE is a poor decision, so I have to plan it right. i would also like to look fantastic, at least once, to mark the start of a new year which will see me in a lot of sweat pants and t-shirts. can't figure out what to wear, though. if 2007 was the year of problems, 2008 was the year of indecision. i'll pray about it, we'll see where i end up. i think it'll be a good time whatever it ends up being.

had breakfast with tess and mom this morning at silver diner in honor of tess's return from venezuela and her advent to spain for the semester. it was great to see her, but i hate that nova doesn't have good breakfast places. jimmy's or blue moon would've been so much more appealing and memorable. i miss Charm City, man. i'm very glad i'm going back for intersession. i think being in NoVa much longer than a couple weeks would start to get to me. although it's been really good to see mom and to hang out at my house, which i love, and to see kendall and the like. still-- i miss carlos and greg and maddie and all the More people. blah.

saw the Spirit with some kids in Columbia last night. enh. it wasn't great, it wasn't awful, it was just entertainment. could've waited til it came out on DVD though. did finally see Hellboy II at McQ's, which was phenomenal. Just enjoyed the crap out of the direction DelToro went. Creepy, magical, action packed and punning. Satisfying to the max. Now I wanna see Valkyrie, and Tarantino's war film. What's with war movies all of a sudden? Did anyone see Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

here are the songs, there's only 5, and no playlist. all christmas tunes. I got mad lazy. Last week's, the last post of the Songs of 2008, will be good, I promise.

Silent Night - Bing Crosby
Jingle Bells - Bing Crosby
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Perry Como
Baby, It's Cold Outside - Zooey Daschenel and Will Ferrell
The Hannukah Song - Adam Sandler

And that's all I have to say about that.
=hs=

No. 221: is this it?

2008-12-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

was sick like a dog this morning so i called out of work. felt terrible, but ugh.
slept for like 10 hours and then laid on my couch and watched a movie until i felt well enough to motivate. packed up and headed home, except for i left my watch in columbia and now i'm just gonna hang out here for a while. i'm excited to be done with school for a while. it was a long semester. i'm excited to be home, hanging out with NoVa people and seeing my mother on the regular. i'm sure i'll go crazy in a week.

here are songs, b/c i know i won't do it tomorrow.

A Widow's Toast- Neko Case: Nostalgia
Daria - Cake: Driving
Anthem for a SeventeenYear Old Girl - Broken Social Scene: Film kids
Huddle Formation - The Go! Team: Fox, me, music video.
Graduate - Third Eye Blind: Jumping around like a moron.
Tumbing Tumbleweeds - Sons of the Pioneers: The Dude abides.
Creep - Radiohead: Bad cover at Mad City.

enjoy your holiday, friends and relatives.

-hs

No. 220: and in the end...

2008-12-17T23:24:00.000-08:00

in 12 hours, i have a final. the last thing of the semester. woo hoo!
but tomorrow morning will be cramming a serious amount of coffee and wordsworth in to my head. sigh. just gotta make it past saturday 3pm. then it's all fun and games.
Fred and mom sent me fruit and potted herbs. hilarious.

cool website of the day: www.musicovery.com

-hs

No. 219: 218bI il

2008-12-17T15:48:00.000-08:00

Songs from last week.

Playlist missing two.

Be Still & Know- Bellafea: Fortunate accidental find.
Let It Be Me- Ray LaMontagne: The new album made me like him again.
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead: This song followed me around last week.
Swimmers- Broken Social Scene: I can't decide between this song and the song on next week's playlist as my favorite. But this is a great song for a morning.
Where Is My Mind? - The Pixies: Never liked this song before Andrew told me to listen to the band again, and then I realized it's on the end of Fight Club, where "Tyler" and Marla watch the buildings fall. It's great.
The Christmas Song - Perry Como: Dad and I cut down my tree on Saturday. My apartment is all decorated and christmasy now.
The Scenic World - Beirut... I may have put this on here before. Ah well.

-HS.

No. 218: motivation

2008-12-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

i have never been less motivated to study in my life. my grade is important, and in general, doing well academically has always been something i've strived for. but this final just absolutely does not promote studying. 18th century literature was largely dull the first go-round. reviewing the dull is just frustrating. i do want to do well tomorrow, though, finish strong and what not.

volunteered to work an 8 hour shift at Carma's on saturday, so i'm in Balitmore til saturday night or sunday morning. then it's home to comfiness and mum's cookin'. plus kathryn is home and i'm SO psyched to see her. i think there's a thing in Columbia on saturday too, possibly at larissa's behest, and since she is da proverbial bomb, i'll probably find myself in that area. nick is home, which is nice.

today is carlos's birthday. happy birthday, carlos.

onward with the studying, the soul bruising studying.

-hs.

No.216: with your feet on the air and you head on the ground...

2008-12-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

new sensation of the day: missing the person you are when you're around certain people.

finally got to target and picked up some more x-mas gifts. almost completely done now. had lunch with jenny @ belvedere, which was delicious. going over there for dinner tomorrow night which should be good. aaand I got my watch back, so i feel balanced again.

it's been a totally gross day. but the short story is done and the article analysis is done and now only the paper is left and my stupid 18th century lit final on the 18th. then it's done and break can start and i can begin to read things for pleasure again.

to finish:

anthony bourdain's kitchen confidential
mark danielewski's house of leaves
jessica blau's summer of naked swim parties

and then there's the long list of books yet to be read. ah well.

i might be getting an internship with Penguin for the summer. that means living in NYC! woo hoo. anyway, have a good night.

hs.

Crash Test Dummies - Swimming In Your Ocean

2008-12-09T19:21:00.001-08:00

I like this song despite myself.
And this is a really great video for it.

I'm having a really weird day.

HS

Advent Conspiracy Promo Video

2008-12-08T07:08:00.001-08:00

Fred sent me this and it made me cry. It's the Christmas season, anyway, though. There's so much crap going on and I'm all strung out on what to get people for Christmas. Mostly I just want to see everyone and spend some time with my family. But gifting is pretty important, I suppose. Anyway, watch the video and think about it.
Cheers.
H.

No. 213: Clementine

2008-12-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

That's the title of one of my favorite Eliot Smith songs. The Pandora station for CocoRosie is phenomenal for quiet Saturday mornings. And for relaxing after arguments. Both of which qualify today.

People, basically, fail to communicate well sometimes and as a result say stupid things and hurt one another. It's such a lack of faith on everyone's part. But the Lord's words were sweet this morning, so how bad a day can it possibly be?

Anyway, here are the songs since I probably will forget to do them tomorrow.

1. Let it Be Me - Social Distortion: It took me a long time to like Social D, but now I really really do. And sometimes, one just needs to walk around the JHU campus in giant headphones, blasting them. It's cathartic.

2. True Affection - The Blow: Found them by accident the other day. Trying to download Blow from piratebay and got this instead. They're great though. Cute, kinda. But this is a great song.

3. Do It Again- Nada Surf: Driving back from home on Tuesday I wanted to hear them for some reason. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Nada Surf. Their show was last night and I could've gone, but making the treck to 9:30 would've been a bit much for me. Anway, there are great lines in this song, my favorite being, "Maybe this weight was a gift/ Like I had to see what I could lift".

4. Body Breaks - Devendra Banhart: Like "When They Come", "Body Breaks" is a favorite DB track to fall asleep to. It's really lovely and sweet. He's such a weird guy, though.

5. Against Pollution- The Mountain Goats: Listened to my three favorite Mountain Goats albums while reading Aristotle yesterday. Oh John Darnielle, make me cry.

6. Heart of Glass- Nouvelle Vague: Pandora radio. One of the greatest 80s covers I've ever heard. Honestly, I love Blondie, but listening to Heart of Glass by them just grates on me. This is a fair rendition.

7. Storm - Jose Gonzalez: Simply appropriate for the week gone by. (No link on playlist)

Cheers.

No. 212: bloggin?

2008-12-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

"Arianna Huffington: You know, 50 thousand blogs are started every day.

John Stewart: You make it sound like a sexually transmitted disease!!

Arianna Huffington: No, no. It's a lot more fun."

How did all of America not just die laughing? I love this woman. Her accent is the best thing since Zsa Zsa Gabor.

My nails are purple.

I'm going to Andrew's class fashion show thing tonight.

I did NOT read House of Leaves for Glenn's class and I feel bad about it.

But oh well.

Have a nice Thursday.

Cheers.

No. 211: long december

2008-12-03T08:24:00.001-08:00

So it's December now. Mum's birthday (and Mike's) was yesterday. Drove home Monday night and had lunch with her Tuesday which was really nice. My mother is a cool chick and she puts up with a lot.

anyway-- this week is the last full week of classes. I have monday next week, then reading period. A final on the 15th and a paper due. No idea when the 18th century lit final is. Hopefually I won't have to take Cog psych.

thanksgiving was interesting. spent thursday with jo and nick. ate thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant, though. spent friday with the puppies, watching HBO on demand. Saturday was awesome-- cowboy bebop w/andrew and then dinner @ jo's with the fredericks, etc. nice. seeing nick and all the columbia kids was a lot of fun. sunday i went home for church and watched the giants/redskins game at the loizous. i think i've just decided to like the giants and be a giants fan. eli manning, you know?

here's the songs from last week, i know they're late, soory.

1. State of Love and Trust - Pearl Jam : Grunge, man.

2. Sunday Morning- Nico & the Velvet Underground: It was very early Sunday morning when this came on and it was perfect.

3. Hey Muscles, I Love You - Muscles - Fun song to dance like an idiot to.

4. Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse - Minus the Bear: Off the mix Fox sent me from Seattle. It's wonderful.

5. 99 Red Balloons- Goldfinger: "Ska cover of an 80s song... how original."

6. I'm Looking Through You - The Beatles: Driving around Columbia w/Nick, Mel and Andrew.

7. Three Little Birds - Bob Marley: Because sometimes I need to be reminded that every little thing is gonna be alright.

No playlist now. I'll stick the songs on the one for next week. <3

Cheers.

No. 209: 208b

2008-11-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

Also--

When you're feeling a little stressed out about college and life and growing up and parents-- there is nothing better than a few chapters of the Bible and Reality Bites.

I'm pretty sure there's nothing that Ethan Hawke chewing on a guitar and Janine Gaoafalo dancing to "My Sharona" can't fix. Plus, who hasn't had to make a toilet paper coffee filter?

anyway-- that's my advice for the morning. Bible and 90s movies.

No. 208: Think

2008-11-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I think my parents project onto me.

Like that's a novel feature of the parent-child relationship. Whatever. I love them anyway.

I got a bunch of different invites for Thanksgiving day. At first I thought how nice that was of everyone. But now I'm just infinitely stressed out. My parents are going to Ohio. I knew I didn't want to leave the states I call home, so that made that easy, except now I have to rush home to see them before they go. Tomorrow I was invited to dinner with Jo & Nick, which I think I'm accepting. I was then invited to a party Dad is throwing in Dundalk, that I feel like I have to at least stop into b/c I had to run out on hanging with Dad to write my essay last night. Then Jenny invited me to Granny's for their thing. That means GREAT pie, horses and puppies and I haven't seen Jenny in ages. It also means driving all the way out to the farm. Aaand Matt wants me to go over there and hang out and Kendall and I haven't seen each other in a week or so.

My only desire after the past ridiculously busy week is to eat as much as humanly possible and watch football. I just have to decide where. I only have so much gas and time and way too many invitations. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I just want to relax. It's stressing me out.

My goal over the break was to finish Jessica Blau's novel, read the chapter of Frankenstien I'm supposed to, finish Holy Land (by Waldie, it is AWESOME!), and write at least 5 pages of my short story. I see a maximum of two of these actually getting done. We'll see I guess.

Going to eat a hard boiled egg, drink some tea, get in the shower and go home.

Cheers on your turkey day.

No. 207: life w/out beef.

2008-11-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a really ridiculous week. Monday was uneventful. Worked out, gave Carlos et al. a ride to their shoot, hung out after, went to bed. . Tuesday was a mad dash up and back from DC. Wednesday I reported for Jury duty. Came home and did some work, hung out. Thursday jury duty, went out with Gayle and her peeps. Friday, jury duty. Worked out, studied. Hung out. Went to bed. Today is studying/breaking with 90s movies. Cog Psych test on Monday after Jury Duty (pray the case is over early). Paper for 18th century lit due date moved to Wedesday (thank you, Lord).

The songs for this week are early for once. I know I won't do them tomorrow (more studying).

I'll be so glad when Wednesday rolls around.

Last week's:

Another Round- Foo Fighters
Novel- Tim Williams: Forgot about him entirely. Found again on shuffle.
This Time of Year- Better Than Ezra: It's that time.
Burn One Down- Ben Harper
Suite No. 1 Prelude- Yo Yo Ma: Pretty.
Time Bomb- The Format: I got in a really pop-punk mood for some reason.
The Time Warp- RHPS Cast: In honor of Luke.

This weeks:

Alison- Elvis Costello: Sometimes you need to listen to one Elvis or another.
Down in Mexico- The Coasters: Thank you, Miss Ferlito.
Hold Tight- Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mitch & Titch: And the award for Best Song in a Vehicular Homicide Scene goes to....
Just Like Heaven- Goldfinger: GREAT ska cover of an 80s song.
Love & Appreciate II- Murs: Murs for President is pretty respectable, I won't lie. He matured and I appreciate it. "The Science" is probably a better song, but this one is sweet.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper: For Gayle.
What if We Give it All Away- R.E.M.: I have this album on vinyl. It was a morning for records.

Ta-da!

No. 206: how things go

2008-11-19T22:53:00.001-08:00

I know I haven't done the songs yet for last week, but they can wait. I'm serving jury duty for the next few days, so everything is sort of on hold that is more or less trivial. AKA I'm not getting to go to any of my classes that I actually do need to go to. Two papers and a test next week and I don't have time to hear the lectures about the topics the papers are on. Missing the psych class was missing info on my test Monday. So... good luck to me and all your prayers welcome. I'm just saying, though: irony, right? Anyway-- that's our political system and I'm happy to serve. Makes me feel closer to Baltimore, somehow, a little. And this is just one semester's courses-- I got a few left to go. Anyway my point of even entering into this silly world of blog was to say this about people:

They will surprise you.

I wonder about my friends, where their lives are going to take them. People I've grown up with are getting married and starting lives together. Kids not much older than I am. And others of my friends off jetsetting the globe in travels our parents would never have had available to them. It's interesting. I have to rely a lot on God for the aleviation of this, but a lot of the time thinking about it stresses me out. Our forebearers and then our peers define our cultural norms, and I wonder at the precidents we're all setting for each other. Where are we setting the bar? The things you and your friends are doing are defining our era. It's a little nerve-wracking, I guess.

Possibly I'm experiencing alarmist theories b/c of Snow White, the Barthelme book Glenn assigned our Authors class. It's almost threatening, somehow, the way it's written. Probably sitting in a courthouse for 8 1/2 hours has made me more suseptible to currents like that, I don't know. But in any case-- I'll be excited to read something more calming and familiar (which oddly enough for me is going to be stuff) like Shakespeare, next semester.

I'll post the songs probably tomorrow night.

Cheers, hon.

Ooooh P.S. I met Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair Magazine (which I one day hope to emply me). He was lovely, and I giggled like a moron as I skipped away in glee. Lawd, it must have been like watching Saved by the Bell crash into 30 Rock. In any case, it was awesome (also talked to Andrea Mitchell and nearly knocked down her husband, the incredible Alen Greespan, which was highly embarrasing).

No. 205: Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2008-11-11T20:24:00.000-08:00

I'm welcoming the final real onset of Fall-- listening to Marley, praying for small graces, working my butt off, watching good movies, dinner with friends.

Friday is my night to cook for the kids-- soup and bread and salad. Thanks to God for simple meals. I'm a moron and thought I lost my card, so I canceled it, only to find it in my coat pocket. So I'm running on cash and Melissa and I agreed that the best meal you can make for friends, with limited funding, and still have it be delicious, is good soup and crusty bread and a bag-o-salad. So there's that. I recommend doing this with a group of good people once a week. Talk about good stuff, laugh honestly. The more and more I learn about how crappy the world is when you're alone, the more I realize that connection like that is important, and it's what God gave us to each other for-- communing, and all, with each other and Him. My mom has always been big about stuff like that, too, and it's interesting to see how much the different traditions of our parents can affect us.

Anyway, that.

In preparation for the day of thanks on the last Thursday of this month (which Jo and Nick so graciously invited me to share with them):

*Thanks to Melissa for the rad hair cut.

*Thanks to Kathryn for the great Spain updates.

*Thanks to the people at Carma's this morning who were really patient with me on my first day running the front.

*Thanks to Mom for blowing up the pictures to poster size for me to provide sweet apartment adornments.

* Thanks to Ally for making class interesting today.

*Big thanks to Ben Mays, currently on the cover of the Hop Newspaper, for wearing a button down and khakis to an election riot on N. Charles st.

* Thanks to Bob Marley for "Satisfy My Soul".

Thanks also to 10W40 oil, which nourishes my poor automobile on the rare occasions I remember to use it for its purpose, and not as clutter in the backseat of my car.

Cheers.

P.S. @ Midnight, a Happy Birthday to MCP. XXIII is all you, man.

No. 204: Songs, week.

2008-11-10T09:29:00.001-08:00

Monday: Classes, need to return movies, Melissa is cutting my hair.

Tuesday: Opening @ Carma's, nap til class, dinner w/ Jen?

Wednesday: Case's 23rd b-day, pre-reg for writing sems, class, home?

Thursday: Class.

Friday: Section. Quantum of Solace comes out.

No papers or anything, but tests next week I need to start studying for, and WAY too much reading. Blech.

Songs:

Take On Me by Reel Big Fish: Watch the literal version of the music video by Ah-Ha.
How Does a Duck Know? by The Crash Test Dummies: So awesome.
Cocoon by The Decemberists: Was in that sort of mood last week. Such a gorgeous song but sad.
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) by James Taylor: Playing on the radio at Carma's and got firmly stuck in my head.
White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes: Listen to this in the early morning when it's very cold.
Violet Hill by Coldplay: So.... I don't love Viva La Vida, I think it's sort of overrated but this song is pretty good, and video (which for some reason was on my computer) is awesome.
Surfin' the Bird by The Ramones: I blame Andrew and Dan, who had this on and had us all dancing to it at closing at Mad City. Good times. But not it haunts me. Stupid song.

Cheers.

Take On Me:The Literal Edition

2008-11-06T14:50:00.001-08:00

Yo... this... this is comedic genius.
Big thanks to Andrew.

Cheers.
H.

No. 202: Ask not what your country can do for you...

2008-11-04T16:26:00.000-08:00

I voted today.
About four different people in my life called to make sure I was voting. I voted. Check. It was pretty neat, actually. Yay democratic process!

Anyway, aside from that the rest of the day was sort've crappy, although not without its own lessons. I guess being able to extract those lessons from the crap is what determines you an optimist or a pessimist.

This paper will not defeat me. I'm only a half a page into five pages and I feel like I'd rather scrape my nails against every chalk board in American than keep writing it. It's at least a little encouraging to know: a) everyone else in Aristotle is feeling the same thing and b) tomorrow it will be over. In fact if I crack down, it'll be over in two hours. It may not be great, but it'll be over. c) Obama is gonna take down that nut Sarah Palin tonight (and yes, I've totally stopped considering John McCain). also d) I have three more discs of Deadwood.

As I'm now a declared liberal (though a moderate one), people have been asking me if I'm pro-Obama or anti-McCain. Here is my answer:
A lot of dear friends have been voicing really serious concerns about Obama. Just weird feelings that permeate their being. Four different people who have little to no contact with one another who live in different cities have used the exact same words in describing how they feel about him. It was a little eerie to hear Kendall's words come out of Tess's mouth. And a liberal girlfriend of mine said them not a day later. Two elections of voting and a hard fast Democrat voted for McCain this morning b/c Obama makes her skin crawl for reasons she does not know. She's black, btw.
Honestly, to me, Obama isn't amazing. He doesn't wig me out like he does some people, and he doesn't impress me by being half black, although I'm glad America finally got its crap together enough to get a black man in the runnings. But politically he is uninteresting and his views on abortion are horrific. I'll tell you openly that I voted for him, but voted for him with a sort of melancholy, b/c honestly, Id've liked for a viable third option.
McCain almost got me. He almost got me because of his abortion views, he almost got me because of his small business plan, he almost got me b/c even if he was awful, the liklihood of him living through even four years is low and he couldn't have really threatened much of my way of life. He lost me with Palin.
I felt morally compelled to vote against him then. That woman is derranged and I cannot support a ticket with her name on it. It's like giving up on America for me and unlike a lot of my more skeptical friends, I'm not ready to do that yet. I know this is strong and I know that she's probably not evil, and she's probably not as stupid as the media has hyped her out to be. But the fact that that's something I had to say means I could not, would not vote for her. She fills me with anxiety about politics more so than anything ever in my life. Her lack of tact and intelligence isn't comforting (as it is to some) because it signifies she's down to earth, "in touch" with the people. It just means she has no tact or intelligence, something we don't tollerate in our personal relationships. Why should someone in charge of the country get away with being ignorant and embarrasing because they play it off as "woodsy" and "down home"? She's played dirty, along with McCain, and she's accused others of doing exactly what she's done in manipulating and contorting politics to her whim. I'm sorry guys, I couldn't.
I hope Obama's not going to screw us over, I really do. I voted for Baltimore because this is the city I love. I voted for his education plan, his economy plan, his health care plan. Despite knowing people that own their own businesses and are suffering in this economy, I voted for his tax plan, b/c the government for the first time since the Great Depression, I think, is really in danger and really does need our money and cutting taxes or even saying you will (I think McCain knows this is a lie) is impossible. We as a people need to take the hit for now, stop going to movies, stop shopping at Gap, stop eating out every night. Then, when we statrt generating some relief, and the deficit stops sky-rocketing, we can demand tax cuts and build policy. But for right now, the house is on fire, and McCain is saying that you can totally crash at his place. No thanks. I''d rather put the fire out first if you don't mind.

Anyway-- that was me procrastinating via political ranting (I really know not enough about politics). Also-- stop putting up crappy youtube videos, people. I love you all, but seriously. At least upload some high quality media and stop making a joke of your point.

... said the blogger.

Cheers.
H.

No. 201: the deeper damage is best.

2008-11-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

Songs.
Halloween was alright.
It was a good weekend.
Watch the Grizzly Man.
I now have borrowed Season 3 of Deadwood and it is awesome.
Seeing Mom & Fred ROCKED.
Grandparents are coming for dinner on Friday.
I want to see Wilco in concert.
I need a new computer (macbook?)
No Country For Old Men was an AMAZING book.
Emma sucks, but watching Clueless was great.
Anyone want to sell me an HD TV for cheep?
Cheers.
H.

I Think I'll Disappear Now by Crash Test Dummies- It's just a good song. And adequately describes the feeling of running into one's exes unexpectedly.
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away by Pearl Jam- One of my favorite Beatles songs done by one of my favorite grunge rockers. Sigh.
Red Shoes by Kate Bush- so fun to listen to! and a great song for running. And i want red ballet flats.
Dramamine by Modest Mouse- Had never heard this and Andrew played it for me. SO goood.
Bustin' Surfboards by The Tornados- Pulp Fiction.
The Laws Have Changed by The New Pornographers- Just a fun song.
Smile by onelinedrawing- been a while, but for some reason landed on the album and this song, oh this lovely song, stood out. it's such a sweet expression. and the dude is just SO sad in other songs that it's happy. plus, you know... robots.

Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in my Hand by Primitive Radio Gods- Put this on a mix for Fox after I heard it on the radio. Sooo good.
No Regrets by Aesop Rock- "I'm busy, thank you much."
Like Today by Atmosphere- Drivin' around listening. MM.
Absolutely Sweet Marie by Bob Dylan- Had a seriously Dylan couple of days.
Halloween by Matt Pond PA- Well, you know.
Spoonman by Soundgarden- Andrew's fault
Anything by Third Day - heard this on Pandora the other day, it was GORGEOUS and I forgot how much I like them.

No. 200: two-hundred

2008-10-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

This is my 200th entry. Considering some of the blogs of others I read, that's sort of sad. But for me-- an undertaking. I'm a self-hating blogger, I think. My mom has one, though. She's in Isreal right now, so you should check it out. Plus she's funny.

The PS3 is finally hooked up. I'm working out the router/wireless kinks. Does anyone know how to get the IPs not to compete? I want to be able to use my computer's wireless and the Triple's at the same time. Let me know, if you know. And also my UPnP is freaking out, but I'm still downloading. Anyway.

Sittingin 18th century lit. I have a paper due Friday. I looked at the topics this morning and like none of them. This is going to be a sad 6-8 pages, man. But I'll knock it out tonight and tomorrow and it'll be done. The next paper will rock. Mostly b/c this one will suck and I actually want to perform well in this class. Plus my TA rocks and should have something interesting to read if he has to read it anyway, yeah?

I didn't do songs for Sunday, but I can do them now, if you like. Couldn't find the first song on the playlist, but here they are.

Come get breakfast at Carma's tomorrow (8:30-12:30), and say hullo.

No One's Gonna Love You by Band of Horses- Ccease to Begin is a phenomenal album and I'm totally in love with it. His voice is so gorgeous and they've got these jangly haunting guitars. The whole thing is good. This one especially and then "Is There a Ghost".
Voice On Tape (Robot Explosion Mix) by Jenny Owen Youngs: Heard this by accident and I can't remember where. I love her, b /c she's cute and a little horrible, too. Like, the softer voiced version of Joanna Newsom, or a less dark version of PJ Harvey.
Hang Me Up to Dry by Cold War Kids: I did not buy into them until I heard this song on WTMD at work the other day. The album is great. They feel a little like if you smashed Kings of Leon and Cartel together, with the attitude of We Are Scientists. They're going for Elbow, but not quite making it. It's still good, though. The guitarist isn't exactly inspired, but there's some great original sound there.
Bixby Canyon Bridge by Death Cab for Cutie: I had thought I was done with them. I really did. But then I had to download the album, just to check it out, and was expected to be as disappointed with it as I was with Plans. But it's not bad, man. And this song is GORGEOUS and it almost made me cry the first time I heard it.
Summer Wind by Madeleine Peyroux: My favorite cover of a Sinatra song thus far. I like his version better, but hers is so great, and her voice is incredible. Try out her cover of Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go", too. Also "I'll Look Around" and "I'm Alright".
In the Morning of the Magicians by The Flaming Lips: I rediscovered them, and good LORD am I glad. This is such a fun song, and it's good music for this kind of weather, although Carlos thinks they're more of a summer band. Whatever, man. Wayne Coyne is a man for all seasons.
MMM, MMM, MMM, MMM by Crash Test Dummies: Good for a slightly morbid sing-a-long on the way back from Poe's grave with a bunch of people. I missed them. Downloading the album b/c I actually have been chased down by "Two Knights and Maidens". I think it has something to do with the Renn Fest. Anyway-- I can't get over how deep this guys voice is. It's good.

Cheers.

No. 199: Almost

2008-10-16T20:52:00.001-07:00

So I'm almost done with the two weeks from hell. I get a week of relax and then another cycle of doom. But at least I know what I"ll be in for, you know?

Just work at 7:30 (til 10-- weirdest shift EVER), section @ 12, which isn't a big deal b/c my TA is awesome and I'll get to hate on Wordsworth for like an hour, and then DONE! Friday night I'm goin to a reading and a screening and then sitting on my couch with No Country for Old Men and reading until I'm done with that. Then I've got two Herzog films beggin' my attention (Grizzly Man and Wild Blue Yonder).

Saturday I have to go to da market and purchase items for mah bruncheon! It's going to be "pretty h-co" and will feature "HD snacks", which translated out of the bastardized Chad Warden dialect my friends tend to speak in, means that it'll be a lot of fun and have some excellent food. SO if you're in the area, stop by the MDer and snag some fritata or french toast.

As a last note before I read some more hateful Wordsworth and fall asleep reading Blood Meridian (which as of today is in my top 20 favorite books-- so strange, since I HATED this book up until like, 11:30 this morning when I got to the middle)--

While I know how late it is to be saying this, in case you a) haven't gotten into it or b) haven't listened to it for a while: The Flaming Lips rock, and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is a great album.

That's all.

Cheers.

No. 198: ANGER

2008-10-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

So, I was sucked into watching the debates by the facility provided by live internet television. I stoppped catching up on Season 2 of House to watch this. I'm pretty sure my heart rate is up to about the level it is after a half an hour of steady running.

Neither one of these candidates are great shakes. I think Obama is pretty cool, but let's be totally honest-- if he wasn't black, there wouldn't be a fuss. I say that without any possible racial bias, being "of African-American heritage", so this isn't a race thing. It's a politics thing-- he isn't great, and he won't do any more than another decent candidate. He'll just be do less harm, I think.

But McCain....

If God wasn't a just and merciful God, and His great power and wisdom fell into my hands for just one hour, I would make sure every bird in a ten mile radius pooped all over John McCain's entire campaign space and on his badly coiffeured head. Watching this campaign without shouting at him while he speaks is like trying not to jump when a car backfires. He's such a miserable person. His politics are bad, his personal attacks are bad and he's got the most horrible running mate I can imagine. If he wins, I'm not really sure what will happen to our country. A theory I've heard and sort of ascribe to is as follows:

John McCain will likely die within the next four years. I don't say this as a wish, I wish the man the best of health. But he's 72 years old, he's got health issues, and he is signing up to do one of the hardest, most stressful jobs imagineable. His ticker will not hold, man. So sadly in a spray of white lillies, the grand old boy begins his eternal sleep and has to face the Maker and reconcile all his outlandish lies. So there's that.

And then what happens? The darkness of the Palin years descends. When she was appointed to public office, the first thing she did was appoint officials. The officials she appointed all happened to have graduated from her grammer school class. So she'll probably keep up this trend, and appoint someone to be VP. He will be the anti Christ, and we'll enter into the end times.

Possibly I'm being ironical. This whole campaign feels like a sad attempt at an Alanis Morissette song. But possibly electing John McCain ushers in the Apocalypse.

I'm just saying.

Remember, take some deep breaths while you watch this. I know it's hard, but it'll all be over soon.

Cheers.

No. 197: the galley

2008-10-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a mostly rough couple of weeks. With a few highlights of awesome:

- Mom coming to visit last Friday (I missed her)

- Getting a stein, finally, at the Renn Fest

- The curtains I wanted being on sale and MG being around to help me out with 'em.

- Seeing The White Elephan by Werner Herzog

- Buying my router on ebay.

- Seeing Knicky.

Cog Psych test on Wednesday I dont' feel ready for and a redrafting of a paper I wrote for 18th ct. lit due on Friday. Working tonight closing, Thursday closing, and a random 2 1/2 hours on Friday morning. Then dinner with the kids on Friday night (making salmon, I think). Then my weekend starts. And I'm doing nothing. I'm sitting on my couch all weekend reading No Country for Old Men and drinking tea and listening to the 37 albums I downloaded. Sunday, I think I'm going to see Burn After Reading with Andrew, but I have no idea. And I still don't know if I'm ever even going to see Matt again. It's been that kind of week. And it's only Tuesday.

Have Jean's class today. Not super psyched, considering I haven't read any of anyone's pieces, and mine is crap, and I have to go to work immediately after. Blech.

Anway-- here are the songs. I kind of like this set, it's quirky. Next week's are shaping up pretty nicely, too, since I've been listening to some new stuff.

The view from my aparment is really nice. Thank the Lord for the 9th floor horizon.

Satisfy My Soul by Bob Marley
The Nearness of You by Nora Jones
Paperback Writer by The Beatles
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue by Bob Dylan
So Lonely by The Police
Who Could Win a Rabbit by Animal Collective
Notice by Gomez

Cheers.

No. 196: in terms of music

2008-10-07T12:37:00.001-07:00

This is a rough review.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/node/145831

Pitchfork is mean.

-H

No.195: two of life's best mind canaries

2008-10-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Okay. I wanna run this by you:

Sarah Palin -- Skipper Barbie. Enh? She's an evil, dull-witted Skipper Barbie who accused the likely future President of the United States of "palling around with terrorists". She did this during a time of hideous financialy crisis and whilst our country is engaged in a ridiculous harmful war with, wait for it: terrorists. This woman should be tied to a chair in a locked room and forced to watch Brady Bunch re-runs until she finally loses that fragile, fragile grip on sanity she now barely possesses. But that might've been the cause of the problem to begin with.

Anyway--

Shakespeare was alright. The new theater in DC is gorgeous. The play was an all-male rendition of Romeo & Juliet. It was... it was okay. I've seen it before done much better by the same company. The dude that played Juliet made me furious, and while I'm usually a die-hard Mercutio fan, the actor who played him WAY over played him, so when Tibalt kills him, I was sort of glad about it. Anyway, dinner at the new Mexican restaurant next to it was PHENOMENAL. Carne Asada destroyed me. And they make the guacamole at your table. Shweet.

Tomorrow is church and then driving up to Columbia to fetch my couch from Jo's. Maybe say hullo to the Columbia kids and up to the More. I've got to write a 5-6 page paper on Aristotle for Wednesday and who is NOT jazzed about it? This girl here.

So yeah.

here are the songs, last weeks with barely a description or playlist and this weeks with both.

cheers.

p.s. if you haven't already, listen to the song "At Last" by Neko Case. There's a great Emily Dickinson reference and she's so whistful it'll make you cry. Perfect Fall music.

Judgment of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig's Tune) by Joni Mitchell
Avril 14 by Aphex Twin: Carlos wants to use this in one of his movies. Gorgeous tune.
Just a Girl by No Doubt
Little Motel by Modest Mouse: I forgot how much I like the more ballady stuff by them.
Top Yourself by The Raconteurs: Driving around Ocean City with a generally BA attitude amongst hundreds of V-dubs. It was rad.
Drive My Car by The Beatles
The Man in Me by BobDylan: Matt bought me The Big Lebowski. Love.

This Weeks:

Hotel California by Gipsy Kings: Another Big Lebowski tune. Carlos and I stayed up absurdly late and watched it. The scene where you first meet Jesus is only as good as it is because of this song. Beautiful camera work. Silly Coen bros.
Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip: From Trailor Park Boys. Sooo good. Must to check it out. "How their voices rang with that Aryan twang". Hilarious.
Smart Went Crazy by Atmosphere: I love the horn section in this song. He's incredibly creative and I really like You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having. It's a respectable album.This song is probably a highlight, though.
Grey Gardens by Rufus Wainwright: Went to a screening of Grey Gardens the other night. Rufus Wainwright has a song about it, and there's a Books song with a line from the movie in it, but I'd never seen it. The Gilmore Girls like it, though, so I had a strong (fictional) backing. Anway-- it's great. So twisted, are these women, and yet so delightful in their utter strangeness. See it. And listento this song.
The Great Salt Lakes by Band of Horses: I really really like them. I don't know what to say other than that. Mike was arguing with me that Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes are boring, and whilst I love both, I can agree with him. But Band of Horses is usually grouped in amongst those, and I never, ever ever find them boring. It's really good music for the weather we've been having lately, especially for you melancholy types.
Bad Things by Jace Everett: Last night at dinner Marian asked me what my guilty TV pleasure was of late (b/c Mike likes Gossip Girl and we tease liberally). I said I didn't really have one, since Deadwood and House are generally respectable shows. But then I realized Jenny has me sort of compelled to watchTrueBlood. This song is so pretty in its absence of pretty. I love the guys voice a lot. I don't recommend the show, because I would find myself morally remiss, but the song is great.
Crackerbox Palace by George Harrison: Ben put George on while I was dropping him off last night (while I was drivin the wrong way up Charles Street-- oh boy was that an adventure). I hadn't listened to Harrison in SOOO long. But I'm feeling a return to that genre of music. We'll see.

No. 194: Bodkin.

2008-10-03T09:34:00.001-07:00

I want an AirBook. A lot.

And to have less laundry to do.

And to see my mother.

One of these things is going to happen.

Also, Shakespeare tomorrow!

Also: Alexander Pope is a turkey.

Cheers.

P.S. Songs are coming, I promise. It's been an incredibly stacked week... Sorry.

No. 193: I know, I know, I know...

2008-10-01T11:07:00.001-07:00

It's been a week, and I'm tardy as usual on songs and updates, and.. like it matters. I'm blogging.

Anyway-- here's the things that so moves me to visit the digital blather realm:

Pirates exist, man. They are still at large. They're just not as hot as Johnny Depp or as Robin-hood esque as say, Sinbad.

Songs later.

Cheers.

P.S. House Season 2 is pretty good. Just have to catch up in time for season 5.

No. 192:a brief musical exposition.

2008-09-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is not an update. It's been a crazy week. But I'm bored in18th century literature, so here's Sunday's 7. I was up in York with my family so I couldn't post yesterday. But here it is.

*This list is not alphabetical on purpose. I just noticed that it's A-B-C.

Love & Happiness - Al Green: Dinner last Monday was hilarious. Thanks to Dave and Ster, and Ben for breaking out some fly dance moves. And Janine for the Dominion Ice Cream.
Walking on Broken Glass - Annie Lennox: I was in a mad Annie Lennox mood last week for a bit. Had to hear "Keep Young and Beautiful", for no reason I could tell you. She's phenomenal, though.
Knees of my Bees - Alanis Morissette: Thinkin' 'bout my boy. Plus it's a fun song.
Baby You're a Rich Man - The Beatles: Watched Yellow Submarine with Greg and Carlos the other night and this song stuck firmly in my head for the next 24 hours. One of my favorites of their later stuff.
Still Fighting It - Ben Folds Five: Had Rockin' the Suburbs on when I was in the shower, belting out all the songs. This song is so different from that album-- very emotional. Anyway, the piano breaks are gorgeous.
Skinny Love - Bon Iver: New favorite song. I also like that Michael Kimball (who I met on Monday and who signed my copy of his new book!) likes Bon Iver. Thanks to Diamond who first introduced me to him.
Find Love - Clem Snide: Hanging out with my man, he put this album on and discovered he likes them, which he should. I want them to come out with something else, but I think Eef Barzelay is doing solo things. I'd still love to see them.

So there are those. Stuff today, class and work tomorrow, busy week ahead. But H20 with the boys this weekend!!! That will be a blast. Corey's going with his amazing tricked out Jetta. Gonna be a good weekend.

Cheers.

No. 191: you or your memory

2008-09-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a weird week, and it's only Wednesday. I've been extraordinarily tired for the majority of this week--staying up late to read, study, catch up on films, insomnia. Got rid of the bug problem with a healthy dosing of Raid, though. Thank God for modern technology.

Last week's 7:

With or Without You// U2: It was in "Tell Noone", which Greg and Carlos and I went to see last week. Great French film with phenomenal acting and a twisty plot. I thought it was strange to have a U2 song from the 90s in a foreign film, but I guess it's just a sensible.
Mr. November// The National: I love this band. And Mr. November reminded me of Matt, I suppose.
Why Didn't You Call Me//Macy Grey: I woke up with this song in my head and it would not leave. I ended up downloading her greatest hits (the existence of which is hilarious to me, b/c she wasn't... you know... that great). Anyway-- it's a good song.
If You Fall// Azure Ray: On a mix I'm making for a friend. I hadn't listened to Azure Ray since first semester of sophomore year, and then Mike put her on a mix for me last spring, but yeah... kinda worthy.
Two of Us//The Beatles: This is one of my favorite Beatles songs period, but Carlos put it on a mix he made for me this summer. It's basically been following me around ever since. Anyways-- it's a sweet song.
And This is For//Murs: One of my favorite of his. Attitude this man has. Flow is another thing he's got.
Woman (MSTRKRFT Remix)//Wolf Mother: I was in a phase wherein I loved remixes. XXXChange's mix of "The Eraser" by Thom Yorke, Aesop Rock remixing "Lovecraft in Brooklyn" by The Mountain Goats... anyway, this is another one. I like to listen to it when I'm getting ready to go out or something... it's a good song for dancing around like a moron.

So there's that. I'm not doing the playlist b/c, well, I don't feel like it.

FYI-- Aristotle is a ridiculous class. But I will not let it overcome me. I will understand!

My mother leaves for Rwanda on Friday and I'm trying very hard not to freak out. It's rough. She'll be fine, though. God has this woman's back like none other.

And finally, for those of you who don't know, since we've been kind of quiet about it: Matt and I are back together. We'll see how it goes. Both of us are pretty happy about it, though.

Cheers, kids.

No. 190: Why We're Going to Have a Democratic White Houset, or Sarah Palin is a Whack Job

2008-09-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

Did anyone catch this interview on ABC Charlie Gibson did with Palin? I read about it on Politico.com (great great site), and then some reviews of the interview by people I respect (except for the Republican governor from Missouri… seriously, are you delusional sir?). Everyone said it was sort of a disaster; even the Republicans who were trying to make it sound like less of a disaster than it was were doing management, not promotion.

Sarah Palin totally banished any faith I had in her ability to lead a country. I'm sure she'd be fun to have at a party, and she's pretty. But why do I CARE? There was a great comment that somebody left at the bottom of the recap of the interview on the ABC website. This dude said a lot of things, but what I liked was, "I'm just some jerk, and it's disappointing that she doesn't know any more than I do." That's what it is. It's not that Palin's a moron. It's that she's ignorant. SHE CAN'T BE PRESIDENT. She can't. She has no idea what this country is like, period, nonetheless what Washington is like. No one likes the thought that DC is an ole boys club. But having grown up close to the House (my mother met her husband working in a congressional office) and close to the Senate (my aunt worked in Kerry's office) and in lobbying offices, there's no denying that it IS an ole boys club. You have to know how to play ball and then learn to manipulate it for that curved pitch. Palin seems to be taking the route of, "Nope... It will change because I want it to", but she's not showing anything that suggest she'd be able to do that.

This drove me absolutely nutty:

GIBSON: Have you ever met a foreign head of state?

PALIN: There in the state of Alaska, our international trade activities bring in many leaders of other countries.

GIBSON: And all governors deal with trade delegations.

PALIN: Right.

GIBSON: Who act at the behest of their governments.

PALIN: Right, right.

GIBSON: I'm talking about somebody who's a head of state, who can negotiate for that country. Ever met one?

PALIN: I have not and I think if you go back in history and if you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I just gave you. But, Charlie, again, we've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time. It is for no more politics as usual and somebody's big, fat resume maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state ... these last couple of weeks ... it has been overwhelming to me that confirmation of the message that Americans are getting sick and tired of that self-dealing and kind of that closed door, good old boy network that has been the Washington elite.

How long did it take her to answer that question?! And then when she did answer it, she gives some crap response like, "No, I've never met any foreign leader and you don't need some big fat resume to run the country". Actually, YOU DO! We're in a damn war, woman! This is the only job in the country you truly can't be overqualified for. I want your resume to be 85 pages long, I want you to be able to dictate the Constitution word for word, to understand advanced chemistry, and be able to hop on one foot whilst singing the American National Anthem backwards on key. Some foreign experience would be nice, too. Just saying.

This, also, was so frustrating I wanted to throw my computer on the ground and move to Canada:

And, Charlie, you're in Alaska. We have that very narrow maritime border between the United States, and the 49th state, Alaska, and Russia. They are our next door neighbors.We need to have a good relationship with them. They're very, very important to us and they are our next door neighbor.

GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?

PALIN: They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.

GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they're doing in Georgia?

PALIN: Well, I'm giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it's in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.

In case you missed it and were wondering, she never actuallys answers the question. She uses the words "insight", "Georgia" and "Russia", but never provides anything close to an insight.

America-- seriously, if you vote her in, I'm becoming a Canuck and learning to say "aboot".

Cheers.

No. 189: "We the People..." or why i'm going democrat

2008-09-07T12:21:00.001-07:00

While he sort of scares me to my core, it's recently become more likely that I'll be voting for Obama in the upcoming election.

Reasons include:
*Not voting Republica. I think Sarah Palin is an alien who will arrange for the de-particularization of the highly likely-to-shuffle off this mortal coil-soon-anyway McCain in order to become the nice-legged President of the Human Race. She will then turn the planet over to her alien race for performing tests. Also, because she has no foreign experience during wart-times with extremists who disrespect and abuse women. So... I can't turn Republican.

* I turned 18 just after the last vote to elect O.D.B. (Old Dubya Bush). I've seen what happens when we don't take part. There ain't no WAY I was not going to vote in this election.

*I know next to nothing about the independents. I know that enough people don't know anything about the independents. Thus they won't be in the White House.

*And so I am forced to go Democrat (since I decided writing in Stewart/Colbert would be a wasted vote). And thus Obama.

But the following was reassuring: On the Annotated meeing for the new Democrat Platform, "Listening to America", the Obama campaign worked to raise support for the local meetings of the Democratic Party. The meetings took place in people's homes, in churches, town halls, etc. People were getting involved with their party. The mayor, the plumber, the bakers, the out of work dead beat who lives around the corner: they were talking to government, getting involved, getting informed. Their conversations, debates, responses were recorded. The government paid attention to what the people were saying and as a result: the new platform. It was heartening, a small gesture towards true Grecian democracy. I was proud of America, just for a second.

This is a quote:
:Littleton, NH, 7/20. We the people should be citizen participants, not consumers of government."

Amen.

I ask this of all of you: No matter who or what you vote for, know what they stand for. Know what the issues are that you care about. READ. RESEARCH. Don't pick a name or face you like and go with that. Don't vote because that's who your friends are voting for and there's a t-shirt. Don't vote for someone because your parents do. Vote because that person is going to lead the people leading the country for the next 4-8 years. If they mess it up, it's your fault, too.

I'll see you at the polls.
Cheers.

No. 188: Ready or not

2008-09-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sermon notes from McLean's online campus.

- I like that Lon has no plans to retire. Retirement kills people.
- MAKE AN IMPACT on secular Washington with the MESSAGE OF JESUS CHRIST!
- If people don't care that they've condemned themselves, they won't care that Jesus can save them.
- 1 Corinthians 15: 1-3
- Romans 1:16 ; we believe that the power of the Gospel is sufficient for the work of the Gospel:
* To convince people to embrace the significance of what Jesus did on the cross in light of their sin.
- Acts 1:8- Start in your own Jerusalem... DC is ridiculous.

It's hard to listen to sermons like this sometimes, but I'm glad Lon still preaches them. Jesus pissed people off, even in loving them. If we're not doing the same thing as people who claim to follow Him, we're doing something wrong. Had a conversation with Carlos and Greg last night about God, and how (and I cannot stress this enough) GOD IS NOT PEOPLE.
"Hundreds of travesties have been carried out in the name of God..."
" By people..."
"It's used to control the masses..."
"By people....'
"Christians are the most ignorant, stubborn..."
"They're PEOPLE!"

This is easy. There is evil. There is horrible stuff. I mean, pick up What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Carver and read a couple of the stories (I'm thinking of "Tell the Women We're Going"). People are gross. God lets it happen. I can sympathize with people that think this is whacked, because it's something I struggle with. But He also lets other things happen:

Sunsets
Sunrises
Gershwin compositions
DaVinci
The redwoods
Waves
technicolor
Smiles
the laughter of little kids
free will.

We can't pick and choose what we do or do not want God to do. This is something that has messed with me for a long time. It makes me angry that this ridiculous, stupid and horrible war is going on. I don't get why He doesn't just end it. But it's not really up to me to get. It's frustrating.

Anyway-- those were my morning thoughts. Also, read Psalm 40.

I have to go to Home Depot today. Carlos and I made the journey to the flippin' paint store in the rain yesterday only to find it closed at 12. So today we're off to "the paint gurus" at Home Depot to match the red of his couch accent pillows. Then I have to go to my father's, which, you know... is in Dundalk. Hopefully I can make a stop at Scratch and Dent and see if I can't find my TV stand for cheap. And figure out when I can get my couch. Whatever.

Here's the playlist, as promised, with this week's songs (making this the longest entry in a while).

Blame it On the Bossa Nova by Eydie Gormen: Ainsley Hayes is caught dancing in her bathrobe by Sam Seaborn on the second season of West Wing, which I've been watching lately. It's an incredibly well scripted scene, especially when the President walks in. Anyway-- i love this show, but it's been depressing in light of real life events.
Why Didn't You Call Me by Macy Gray: I have no idea why, but I woke up with this song stuck in my head two days ago. I haven't really thought of Macy Gray in about three years, but there it is.
Tell Him by Lauryn Hill: Wanted to hear "Superstar" by her and ended up going through the whole album again. This is the last track and it's gorgeous.
The Joyride by People Under the Stairs: My new favorite hip-hop group, thanks to Nick. Good fun.
Amsterdam by Peter Bjorn & John: Played this album at dinner when Sterling and Mike came over the other night. Had forgotten about this song. So worthy. I hear their new one isn't great shakes, though.
Gone Fishing by Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby: It was raining and disgusting yesterday. I decided Louis Armstrong was appropriate. I'd never heard this song before. Bing Crosby is too wonderful and I really like them together.
Ageless Beauty (The Most Serene Republic Mix) by Stars: Made a silly picture slide thing for Matt and sent it to him with directions to watch it along with this song. I love the guitars in the beginning. Is Most Serene Republic a good band? I'll have to check them out.

and now? a shower and commencing my day.

cheers.

No. 187: last beat

2008-09-06T07:40:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I slacked a little in the whole blogging area.

Without the playlist, here are the songs from the past weeks. I've been moving back into my apartment, settling myself, kirking out about books, working at Carma's, getting out of my Ecology class and getting into Intro to Cog Psych, which I've heard is amazing. Catching up on House.
Anyway, here. The explanations are short for the first one, mostly b/c I didn't write any down when I wrote down the songs, but yeah...

Rain by Patty Griffin: It was kind of gross in San Diego. Made me feel like listening to sad girl music.
Santeria by Sublime: Nick and I sang along to this whilst it blared through the speakers of the GIANT SUV we had in Santa Barbara. It was a good moment.
Build Me Up, Buttercup by The Foundations: This played on the radio in California about every 10 minutes one day. It was sort of eerie.
Iron Man by Black Sabbath: Nick wanted to watch the movie in Santa Barbara and then Dad, when I got to San Diego. Having already seen it twice and being utterly exhausted, I fell asleep almost instantly both times.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel: Someone was talking about it before I got on the plane home. We didn't technically cross over the sea, but there was that aeroplane.
Evil by Interpol: Whenever I put my Ipod on shuffle last week, this song would come up. The beginning is so pretty, though, the harmony and all.
Never Gonna Give You Up by Cake: Matt tried to teach me how to drive the GTI while we were listening to Cake's Rarities and B-Sides. I stalled out a lot to this song, much to my frustration. I've been assured it's a difficult car to learn on.

Today I'm going to get paint with Carlos (red) for our walls. I'm painting an accent wall in my dinning area, he's doing his whole apartment. First, Jenny's coming over and we're going to get my books. It is a rainy, gross day and we've both decided to dress like slobs. So if you see me today, just know that I look that way on purpose. ;) I also have to go over to my father's at some point today and get my rent check, since he's being a five year old and refusing to just send it to me. Because I reallly want to make a half hour drive over to Dundalk to pick up a damn check. But I'm relaxing about it, b/c as my mother and Matt both reminded me: it doesn't do a lot to drop to his level and get angry about it. He hasn't changed in 40 years, he's not likely to now just b/c I'm mad at him. And so, I wooooo-saaaahh.

Tomorrow: While I eat breakfast I'll post this week's 7, with the playlist included.

Cheers,
H.

P.S. Finally saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind last night. SOOOO good. I now have a near overpowering desire to sculpt mashed potatos. Silly.

No. 186: Vacation (A Summary)

2008-08-31T21:21:00.001-07:00

I went to London for three weeks at the beginning of the summer. I was back for a week before I moved up to Baltimore to intern for the Urbanite. On most weekends I came home. I found out that traffic can zap years from your life if you sit in it enough, especially on the Beltway. I'm thinking there's a time/space rift there.

My internship ended and I came home for about a week, wherein I helped friends get ready to move and ran errands. Last week, I was offered a trip to California with my dad. That was sort of altered to a trip out to California with my friend Nick, who's moving out there to Santa Barbara City College, and his mom, Jo (who I know b/c she used to date my dad, and she's my uncle's wife's step-cousin (making Nick my second cousin twice removed)). We spent the first three days driving Nick to school, finding him a place to live nearish campus, going to Ikea to get his apartment furniture and then putting it together. Then I took a 5 hours Amtrak along the coast from Santa Barbara down to La Jolla to meet my dad. We spent two days walking around aimlessly, hanging out with his (incredibly cool and surprisingly young) co-workers, and watching movies. We went to the Del Mar race track, which was very neat. Then we took a plane home on Saturday night.

Today, Nick and I and a bunch of his friends went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival (probably my favorite time yet) and shouted the word, "HUZZAH!" about 1,000 times. Jousting has never been so rolicking. And a 3 year old, absolutely lovely little blond girl ran up to me, looked all the way up to my eyes and said, "You're beautiful!", then hid behind her mother's knee. It was the sweetest thing.

Drove back after giving Nick and send off with all his friends in Columbia.

And now I'm home, until Tuesday, wherein I'll be going back up to Baltimore to start work Wed and then school Thurs. And so ended my summer.

Now: a shower and then blissful rest.

Cheers, you grand few.

No. 185: What?!!

2008-08-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin?! Sarah Palin?!!!
Does John McCain WANT to lose?! He picks a 44 year old beauty queen runner from ALASKA up with barely any political experience to be on his ticket. Seriously? She's a "dynamic politician" said CNN, and this of course is true. But for the love of God! He just lost his own race. Signed off on his own concession speech. America could love this woman, they could-- she's gorgeous and hey, Alaska's cool, but what other than being a beautiful woman who knows something about fishing does she bring the country? He stuck her on there b/c Hilary didn't win. If Hilary had gotten the nomination, would John McCain's running mate be a black guy from Hawaii?

I mean, I get that Obama asked Biden because of his foreign experience, but that's something WE WANT! We want a guy who knows about foreign affairs. Obama was weak in that area and he made his (possible) administration stronger. McCain just put a middle aged chick on the ticket who's gonna go with him on trips and look like his daughter!

American politics make me so so so sad.

On a less completely baffling note: Today I'm going to the Del Mar Race track with Dad. Bing Crosby built it. I'm wearing a dress and a hat. Wee!

Cheers.
H.

No. 184: An assorted bouquet of things

2008-08-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

Home for the Holidays is my new favorite holiday movie. For some strang reason it's on TV here in (supposed to be) sunny (but isn't at all) La Jolla. Dylan McDermott (who has never been sexier) and Holly Hunter (before the travesty that is Saving Grace) and Robert Downey, Jr (who has never had worse hair) It's fantastic. Seriously. Some of the best lines from a movie ever. And Jodie Foster directed it!
I should probably leave this hotel room. I'm just completely unmotivated to leave. If it were sunny, maybe. But... being as it's gray and oddly damp...
Rennaisance festival on Sunday with Nick and Jo. Very excited.
I want a big cat, preferrably an oversized tabby with a personality.

Cheers.

No. 183b: Bad numbers

2008-08-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm a moron and can't number my blog posts. Whatever.

Santa Barbara is gorgeous!!! Jo and I took Nick to class yesterday and then drove around the Mesa/West Beach area looking for apartments for him. It was a good time. We picked him up, walked around shopping (I got a hat from this all hemp store... amazing). Then ate at this great Italian restaurant. Nick and I walked around town for a while and I found a fro-yo shop that had comparable fro yo to that which we had in London. Happiness is sugar-free fro-yo. Came back and fell asleep while Nick watched Iron Man. This morning we went to breakfast and Staples and now we're going to search for apartments and take Nick to class again. I'm contemplating joining him, just because... well... it's Santa Barbara City College. The campus is on the shore (literally overlooking the ocean), and everyone is gorgeous and I really miss school. I'm so glad to be going back next week, which is something I never thought I'd say.

Taking the train to San Diego tomorrow to meet up with Dad. Have no idea what hotel we're staying in, and when he gets off of work, so I don't really know the whole situation. But I'm sure I'll figure it out by the time I need to. Right now, I'm just so jazzed to be here. Jo and I are going to lay by the pool a good portion of today, I think. Nice! I feel like I NEED to go to the gym at least once while I'm here, but it's so difficult to feel motivated on my one week of vacation. Ah well.

Jo has me addicted to Starbuck's again. I'd broken the habit and now I'm back. It used to be the dirty chais that got me. Now I crave the Venti green tea lemonade. My own American affluent attitude is depressing, but for Pete's sake, I'm on vacation in Santa Barbara! You should see our bathroom. I could swim in the tub. All I can say is thank God. And thanks for this place, too! Ocean on one side, gorgeous mountains on the other. Hasn't been hotter than 80 the entire time we've been here, 65-70 at night, and the most wonderfully pretty skies. I'm moving to California. It's decided.

Cheers.
H.

No. 183: the rad name of our organization?

2008-08-23T19:13:00.001-07:00

So I watched a lot of Aqua Teen Hunger Force this week. It was a good time.

Anyway--

I'm jumping the gun on the songs, b/c I know that I'll be at church or on a plane for most of tomorrow. But after my stupidly annoying flight (I hate flying. I hate it.), I will be in CALIFORNIA! Weee. Drive up the coast from LA to Santa Barbara and kick it with Nick & Jo until Wednesday where I take a train from SB to Del Mar and lounge about with Dad, go see a horse race at the track on Friday, and then plane it home Saturday. The first and only week of real honest to God vacation of my summer. I am so jazzed.

I've decided to write a short story of apostolic fiction. As Chuck Palahniuk describes it, apostolic fiction is when "a surviving apostle tells the story of his hero. There are two men and a woman. And one man, the hero, is shot to death." My take on the genre will be a little different, I think. But not too different. Also: the reason Fight Club was such a rockin' movie (aside from great casting), is that it almost exactly follows and narrates from the book. Couldn't put the thing down.

Anyway-- here are this week's songs.

1. The Knife// Grizzly Bear: Heard a great remix of this song the other day and was thinking about it. I really like Grizzly Bear. I've heard they're not awesome live, but ah well.

2. Take the Money and Run // Steve Miller: Hear this in Saxby's all the time and love it. Never knew what it was until I asked the other day. Now I hear it in my head whenever I'm driving. I have no idea why.
3. Words // Ryan Adams: On the way home from helping Matt clean and pack, I was driving down 66. The sun was setting and an absurd cloud formation had perfectly framed it as it went down. I had the windows up and the AC on (b/c it reduces the drag in my car, which makes it perform better and I've found actually helps me on gas), so it was really quiet. This song was playing from the Elizabethtown soundtrack (vol. II-- the only reason that movie didn't completely shame Cameron Crowe was the soundtrack). It was a really good moment. I miss Ryan Adams. But he'll have to wait for a full revival until I get back. He's East coast music.
4. We Have Forgotten// Six Pence None the Richer: Shut up. It' s a lovely song.
5. FNT// Semisonic: I got a strange hankering to hear the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack the other day-- probably spurred on by thoughts of the late, great Heath Ledger. Anyway, I forgot how much I love this song. It's got a good beat and fun lyrics and the guys voice is incredibly appealing.
6. Join Together// The Who: From a commercial that's on all the time during the Olympics on MSNBC. Matt was so shocked that I didn't know it that I had to look it up. It is actually pretty strange that I wouldn't have heard this song, considering my past with Who fans, but more so because it's just a stellar tune. Very classic Who.
7. California// Phantom Planet: Because... I'm going there. And because "Going to California" would be too easy. Also b/c Girl Talk uses a snippet from this song in one of my favorite of his songs.

Okay so there's that.

Cheers.
H.

No .182: As the great Gemaine once said:

2008-08-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I freestyle I lose confidence.

Oi.

-H.

No. 181: Better

2008-08-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a day late, which is worse than last week, but better than usual. I'm not going to do a playlist.com thing b/c last time I got yelled at (for the first time ever) by the pirate police, even though I didn't pirate the song. Whatever.
Here's the 7:

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) // Jimi Hendrix: This song stalked me all last week. Everywhere I went, and on my ipod when on random and on XM at Saxby's. So there.
Gasoline // Audioslave: Because sometimes I just need to rock out. Plus I had to fill up my car and mom's car a lot last week and I just kept hearing it in my head as I drove away. But thankfully, it's down from $3.80 to $3.68, so... you know... things could be worse.
Thou Shalt Always Kill // Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip: This is courtesy of Mike N., of the Posse. At dinner last week, he played this for me. It's a song of generally good council. Everything from "thou shalt not judge Lethal Weapon by Danny Glover" to "thou shall give equal worth to tragedies that occur in non-English speaking countries as to those that occurred in non-English speaking countries" etc. I especially love, " Thou shalt not express your shock at the fact that Sharon got off with Brad at a club last night by saying; "Izziiit". For some reason it reminds me of Francesca, and now I miss that crazy kidd.
Lovecraft in Brooklyn// The Mountain Goats: I got hooked on this song b/c I heard a random remix that Aesop Rock did of it, which you should check out. I'm pretty sure it's on Aes's myspace. Anyway-- it rocks. The song in itself is great too. John Darnielle is just like that.
The Eraser (XXXChange Remix) // Thom Yorke: I'd heard it before but never paid too much attention. The album it's on is great, the song by itself is great, but Armani XXXChange is an incredible DJ and so the remix is sick nasty.
Soul on Fire // Spiritualized: Apparently they've been around for a while and I never knew about them. Mike, again, recommended. Very very very relaxed music, but worth a listen like you wouldn't believe. Pretty music.
Hey Now (Mean Muggin')// XZibit: Realized while watching Pimp My Ride that I had never actually listened to any of XZibit's music. So I youtubed the infamous X>Z and this song (among others) came up. I'll be honest: I don't like his voice. I don't love his rhymes. But the girl singing in this song and the chorus is pretty fun, so I thought I'd share.

So there's that.
Supposed to hang out with Jo tomorrow, but haven't heard from her, so that might not occur. If not, I have to decide whether or not I want to go back to Baltimore and hang out up there all week, or if I want to stay here. What I really would love to do is go to the beach. I don't know if any of my family members are there, but it would be nice to see them. Have somewhere to sleep at night, but spend all day sitting on the beach writing, reading, napping and listening to music in my giant headphones. I just want to whole heartedly center and restore before school starts again. Carlos and Greg come back to Charm City on Sunday. I'm excited.

Seeing Rosie was lovely. She's a whirlwind, and refreshing. She reminds me that I have no need to be self-conscious and that it's a waste of energy. It's good to be around people as direct as Roe. I was really glad to see her. Aaaand, she introduced me into the world of the Carvel banana milkshake. If you live in the A-town area, head to your local Carvel and partake, I say.

Cheers.
H.

No. 180: "Blood is not better!" -X to the Z, XZibit.

2008-08-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

I've been watching Pimp my Ride (it was the only thing on after Malcolm in the Middle-- best show ever). I never really loved XZibit until today. He's amazing, though. Good sense of humor. Terrible, terrible actor. But seems like a cool guy to kick it with.
I know there's starving in the world, horrible things, but I can't help wishing that GAS would pimp my Jetta. Green Machine. Can you imagine? It'd be rad. Unlikely, but I'm just saying.

As an equally shallow aside: The LG Dare commerical with the chick on the building is incredible.

No idea what I'm doing today. But I want my car back.

Cheers.
H.

No. 179: "Safety first! Then teamwork!"

2008-08-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

This morning I was really excited because Jenny gave me this beautiful garden tomato and some yummy thin slice wheat bread. I was going to make a delicious summer favorite: toasted tomato/mayonnaise sandwich (the only time mayo is ever acceptable to my tastes). So I stick the toast in the oven and put it on the "toast to dark brown" setting and take my coffee to the table where I proceed to make my schedule of availability for Carma's next semester. About ten minutes later, I look up and realize that my kitchen (which is incredibly small) has filled up with smoking which is pouring from my toaster. Walking into the kitchen, I realize that the smoke is coming from the FIRE which has engulfed my little toast. Huge flames, people. Huge. So, reacting with a lot more calm than I thought myself capable, I unplug the toaster and proceed to dump two or three glasses of water onto the toast. The fire stops, and it's so hot that it dries up most of the water, so only a bit spilled out onto my freezer-- easily cleaned. I then proceeded to unplug my complete useless fire-detector which only started making piercing, annoying beeping sounds after I had already extinguished the fire and started to fan the smoke out.

So that was my morning's excitement. Going in to meet/debrief with Tracy at 1, and then no real plans to speak of. My summer starts today, which is nice. Two weeks of extreme chill before that thing which is Jr. Year.

Today's lesson: Keep an eye on your toaster ovens. Get a good fire alarm.

Cheers.
H.

No. 178: 177b

2008-08-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

AHHHHHHHH! This just DOESN'T stop, does it?

No. 176: Slacker

2008-08-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

Okay... I'm a little late with this week's seven. But it's been a weird week. Actually stayed pretty busy at work, and house sitting for Jenny. I think I'm allergic to Lester, which is really sad because he's adorable. I'd rather be able to enjoy that without red, itchy eyes and continual sneezing. Ah well. Home tomorrow to see Fred and my darling mum, who I've missed slightly more than usual. I started tearing up twice this week while watching Gilmore Girls... it was really lame.

So anyway-- here's the playlist.
Also: House is awesome. Seriously. Watching the first season, finally, and it's good to know that it was good to start and it was good in the third season, and hopefully it'll be good when I finally catch up. Can't wait for the new season of the Office. Going to have to make friends with someone who has more than two channels, so I can watch it.

Finished Shogun, finally. Did NOT see some of the end twists coming. It was pretty rad. Toranaga is... well... you should read it is all I'm saying.

Finally: I want to work for Vanity Fair SO much! The article on Hilary in August's issue is amazing. Probably even more so after watching Primary Colors this morning. I forgot how much I liked that movie.

So, in conclusion: this weekend should be nice, listen to "Terrible Angels" by CoCo Rosie and uhm... always tip your waitress.

Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis: From going to PJ's and chilling with Mike, Sterling, Dave, Dom and Alyson. Listened to that whole album the next morning. I actually really do like Oasis.
By Your Side by CoCo Rosie: Seriously, though? They're probably my favorite new interest. Been around forever, I know, but a woman at work whose computer I was using had the CoCo Rosie station saved on her Pandora. I was hooked at the first raspy-sweet croon.
Long Distance Call by Phoenix: Another XM find. I think I found them on the Stars radio station. But so amazing. Love this song.
Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder: My birthday was last week...
Boss of Me by They Might Be Giants: Malcolm in the Middle theme song. Best. Show. Ever.
Stay With Me by Rod Stewart: I just heard it A LOT last week. On the radio, movies, people humming it, etc. Kind o f annoying, actually.
Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler: It was playing in the grocery store. I had to dramatize! And then Bandits was on yesterday. Weee.

Cheers.
H.

No. 175: Hmm

2008-08-01T06:07:00.001-07:00

My car is a little busted. It's going to be expensive to fix. But fix it I shall. Have to go pick it up later today. It's weird to think about my poor little Betty VW all crippled. But it's a car. just a car.
History Channel sometimes ROCKS. There's a great special on Rome on right now. I miss Latin. .... I am a huge nerd.
I get to drive Mum's convertible while they're in Hawaii. RAD! It's such a gorgeous day, too. Hot, but pretty.
Vanity Fair is an incredible magazine.
I want to work for Michelle Obama.
Being twenty is pretty cool, I guess.

That's all folks.

Cheers.
H.

No. 174: twenty.. something

2008-07-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Okay.

So today I'm 20 years old.
19 was a completely worthless age. Not the greatest year of my life either. Not totally miserable, but not superfantabulous.
Hopefully this one will be better, although 20, aside from an exit from "that teenage feeling", offers me nothing. Not legal drinking, not the ability to rent a car. Just double decades and only one "e".
In the words of the Mountain Goats, "I am gonna make it through this year/ if it kills me".
Last night was a lot of fun. Went to "Submarine to Sebastian's Under the Sea" (otherwise known as Rocket to Venus) with Mike and Dave and Dom and his girlfriend Alyson, and "Little" Sterling. Dave and I ordered Brussel sprouts and sliders... delish.

And now I'm at work, but both of my bosses are out of the office. I don't really want to stick around until Jean gets back and thinks up something for me to do, but I feel totally lame coming in for twenty minutes, doing nothing and leaving. I'm going to go ask Edit if they have anything. Then I'm gonna bail.

Mum and everyone come home today from the DR. Very exciting. I missed them.

Oh, and also: Check out the Bake Sale EP by the Cool Kids. "Basement Party" is (in the words of the recently black Mike Normyle) "chron".

Cheers.
H.

No. 173: wake up the dawn and ask her why.. (psht)

2008-07-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

Okay-- here's the songs from the last couple lists and then last weeks.

I turn 20 tomorrow. Wee...

Refuge// Matisyahu: after about the third time hearing it on Pandora, it grew on me.
Mysterious Ways// U2: probably still my favorite U2 song besides Elevation and Sunday, Bloody Sunday.
Old Apartment// Barenaked Ladies: Listened to them ALL DAY at work last Thursday.
The Ballad of John and Yoko// The Beatles: It was playing is Saxby's a few weeks ago. I hadn't heard it in so long it took me a second to remember that it was the Beatles and what album.
Where Do I Begin (Away Team Mix) // Shirley Bassey: From Costes 3, which is just amazing. Check it out, highly recommended.
The Harbor is Yours// Aesop Rock: This week's favorite Aes Rock song.
Teardrop// Massive Attack: ... I started watching House.

Cheers.
H.

No. 172: Songs and not much else.

2008-07-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

In a similar spirit to an e-mail I got from Jenny last week, the explanations for last week's and this week's seven will be a maximum of three words long. There unfortunately won't be any accompanying playlist b/c playlist.com is being a butt face. Technical difficulties will be sorted, however, so don't you worry.

Heaven is Gonna Burn Your Eyes// Thievery Corporation: Ethereal
Kingston 12// Damien Marley: Great beat.
Merry Happy// Kate Nash: Pretty!
The Step and the Walk// The Duke Spirit: Thanks, Peterman.
Beat (Health Life and Fire)// Thao and the Get Down, Stay Down: Thanks, Tall Kid.
Don't Be Upset// Jeffrey and Jack Lewis: I love Pandora.
Hot In Here// Jenny Owen Youngs: Deviously cute.

Tangerine// Led Zeppelin: Was feeling hippie.
Regret// New Order: Was feeling 90s.
Burn One Down// Ben Harper: Chill acoustic.
Cocoon// Jack Johnson: Blame Pandora.
His Magesty rides// The JuJu Orchestra: Go listen!
Spitting Venom// Modest Mouse: New Favorite.
The Beginning is the End// Smashing Pumpkins: Batman + Watchmen.

Today should be interesting.

Cheers.
H.

No. 171: So...

2008-07-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, I lied about that whole second part of the 7 thing. I'll do two this weekend (that's probably a lie also).
Today was extremely ridiculous. Too many ups and downs. But it seems like it's going to pan out alright. And I don't have to be at work til like 10:30 tomorrow. So that's good. Going to see Dark Knight tonight with the DJ and TMD. Should be a good time. Plan on seeing it again when I get home, so I hope it's good. I've heard, "Awesome" and "Deeply disturbing". So... that's a good bed time story. Have to read the Bible and listen to something fluffy as I go to sleep. Not that I've had a dream I remember in months. Which is kind of weird, actually.

Also-- I've gotten a little more than half way through Shogun. It's amazing.

So...

that's all I've got.
oh, except that i have this deep seated distrust of middle aged unkempt white men in Baltimore. They leer. It's disquieting.

cheers.
H.

No. 169: The Office

2008-07-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

Today is going to be a rough day. Got up early. Went back to sleep.
Made coffee, tidied the apartment, showered. Went to work. Got their five minutes later than I wanted to, but it didn't matter. Tracy left me some giant sticky notes from last weeks meeting to type up, about 1/8 of which I couldn't read because the handwriting was possibly Sanskrit. And now I'm blogging until she gets back from the "emergency meeting" and gives me another task to do. I know I haven't worked much, but I'm hoping to get out early today. There's no AC in the building, we're on the top floor, and I decided to where long pants and a polo today b/c it's usually 4 degrees. So now I'm sweating. Also PMSing so I'm on the edge of bursting into tears. It's really sad, actually, so much so that it's funny-- which makes me feel better, I suppose.

I have two weeks worth of "7 Songs" to do, b/c I'm lame. Here's July 6, 2008 and I'll do last Sunday (July 13) when I get home tonight.

Keep Off the Lawn// Aesop Rock-- I always skipped this one and went straight to "None Shall Pass" on this album. The intro is just too long and it annoys me. But then I was spacing out and it played and I realized how great it is. I just love the, "You look- you look- you look-you look- you look- you look-- you look like you've seen a ghost." He's got good beats, does Aesop.
Speed Laws// Mos Def-- A man with rhythm and a broad mind. Plus an excellent production quality and sick rhymes. I highly recommend this song. "Take a breath, take ten paces back".
How to Quit// Sam Phillips-- Because sometimes, you must chill, and if you do so, Sam is your girl. First started listening to her because of Gilmore Girls. She's got a very cool, folksy, Suzanne Vegas sort of thing going.
Boys Don't Cry//Grant-Lee Phillips-- The husband after the wife. I was going to put "Smile" on here, but I heard this Cure cover the other day and loved it. So it's here instead. It's a pretty good cover, although I have to say I like the Reel Big Fish version even better. Still-- not bad.
Noah's Ark// Coco Rosie-- Beautiful and amazing rock. Sometimes very slow and chill and sometimes very violent, which is why I like them (they're sisters, btw). Found them through Pandora. Lord love Pandora.
Elevator Love Letter//Stars-- One of my favorite songs right now. Just entirely gorgeous, and a sentiment a lot of people feel, although it's totally twisted. Still-- the music is wonderful, and their voices perfect. I'm thinking of driving to Philly in August to see their show at the Trocadero. But that sort of depends on the birthday funding I get at the end of the month, if any. Need to get my car fixed first.
Scar Tissue// Red Hot Chili Peppers: Sometimes I forget how good they were/are. A lot of people went crazy over the last album, which I was kind of underwhelmed by, but I grew up listening to the Chili Peppers, and I still love this song and attach to good memories of driving around with my dad. Listened to it on the way to work this morning, and even though I was in a terrible mood, it helped.

So there's that. The rest later on tonight. Having dinner with Mike, which will be nice after not seeing him for so long. I pray it will lack awkwardness and be full of relaxation and fun, which I think I'm going to need after today. Sigh.

Anyway--
Cheers.
H.

No. 168: "the status of jerusalem"

2008-07-15T07:48:00.001-07:00

The more I read the news and watch press briefings, the more I realized how phrase-oriented it all is. A while ago, Ze Frank did a "the show" on the press slogan "The Forces of Reality". Now it's the candidates talking about "the status of Jerusalem".

Journalism is failing us!
Ahhh!

Cheers.
H.

No. 167: wager

2008-07-01T10:52:00.001-07:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWBT00931920080701

read this.
seriously.

I give it two months min., six months max., before Isreal and Iran start going to town on each other. Anything the DOD tries to squelch that hard has to be imminent. Oi.

Also. Everyone should read this. Because it's real, and it's happening and ignoring it is not going to make the Arctic ice melt any slower.

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/2956

There's a lot going on. And I want to help.
I just don't know where to start.
I'm thinking: move to California and start doing coastal conservation research with Wallace J. Nichols. Also I could learn to surf. Because that would help the environment.

It's been an alright day. I spent the morning taking care of things and then went to the pool and read for two hours before work. And now I'm at work, rabbit trailing from my assignments because I'm all stressed out about global warming and US foreign policy. Sigh.

Cheers.
H.

No. 166: Music and your weekly update.

2008-06-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's been awhile.
This issue of Hannah's Neurotic Blog features two (count 'em- one, two) seven songs, making a double feature.

I went home on Saturday and apartment stuff shopped with mom, which was fun, and saw (most of) Prince Caspian with her and Victoria. It was pretty good, I must say. The guy that played Caspian was not ugly.

I recently saw Indiana Jones as well. If you haven't seen it yet, skip to the next paragraph, but YO! What was with the aliens?!! Really Lucas? Really Spielberg? Anyway.

I now want to see: Kung Fu Panda, Wall.E, Get Smart, Incredible Hulk (b/c COME ON!, Edward Norton?! yes, thanks), and Wanted. Should be nifty.

I'm still sick. I can't shake it. I just want to sleep for hours and hours in the sun and feel healthy again, but here I am at work. My boss is not yet here and I have nothing to do. It's going to be a long day. So anyway-- here are the songs.

To Be Young// Ryan Adams: b/c it rocks and reminds me of two years ago in a good way.
The Comeback // Shout Out Louds: hadn't listened to them since the last time they made this list and missed them.
Ms. Jackson// Outkast: They're just good. I had the album playing a while ago, b/c I listened to "Fresh and Clean" when I got out of the shower, but yeah-- anyway. This is very 8th grade.
Jenny Don't Be Hasty// Paolo Nutini: Check him out if you haven't already.
Florida// Modest Mouse: For the longest time I never listened to this song b/c the beginning was so raucous and came on the heels of a chill song. Then I let it run one day and was so pleasantly surprised. It's a great song and a lot of fun. Isaac Brock's voice is perfect for their music.
Gold Watch // Lupe Fiasco: I know, he's on here every week almost, but this song just makes me happy. Especially b/c it comes in the middle of his socially conscious album and is about being kind of a G. I like it.
Goodnight Moon/ Shivaree: Kill. Bill. The end.

Time to Pretend// MGMT: I only really like this song from this album. Some of them are good, but this one has a special, indefineable OOMPH. Check it.
Handlebars// Flobots: Now it's radio-made super popular but Jordan Peterman first introduced me to them and this song. I still have the text on my cell wherein he schooled me. Anyway-- it's a great song b/c of its truth. The same kid that brags he can ride his bike with no handlebars is the same kid who grows up and gains the power to guide a missile by satellite. It's a little terrifying.
Fugee-La// The Fugees: Because of Ricky. And that's all I'm going to say.
Good Vibrations// The Beach Boys: Driving at sundown through Fairfax to this song is one of the most legitimate ways to spend an evening. I forgot how much I love them. "Don't Worry, Baby" almost made it, but this one has special sentimentality.
That's the Way// Led Zeppelin: It's Zeppelin. No explaination needed.
F-Stop Blues// Jack Johnson: Because I haven't listened to him in a while, and this is probably one of his best songs.
Rock Bottom Riser// Smog: Joe told me about them/him a while ago. "Drinking at the Dam" is another great song. But it's way to depressing. Anyway-- there's that.

So, my boss told me she doesn't have anything for me today and told me to go home and just come in tomorrow at noon. This works out well for me. I'm going to go to Jenny's now, get a pool pass, and come back here to lay in the sun and sleep. Have a gorgeous day, everyone.

Cheers.
H.

No. 165: A Softer World, because it's hilarious

2008-06-20T17:30:00.001-07:00

I've been sitting outside for the last hour reading these with Geof and assorted others, laughing uproariously. You almost feel bad at some of them. But then you realize it's even more hilarious.

Anyway-- we liked this one a lot.

http://www.asofterworld.com/index.php?id=157

Cheers!
H.

No. 162 (technically 164): Woa-oh Black Betty

2008-06-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

So...
I'm feeling AWFUL. Sickness is not awesome, especially when you don't have an extraordinary amount of Dayquil like I'm used to. I'm surviving though.
This morning I was delighted to find that my automatic timer on my coffee machine works and when I woke up I had coffee made. I was also delighted to find that after I sent her a desperate e-mail, Hilary was awesome and is letting me have until Monday to finish the Degas paper. Now it can actually be as good as I want it to be. I have all these notes but my head is so stuffy I can't think of how to put them down well. Pretty sure I have a sinus infection. It's very frustrating. But I have two pages and it shouldn't be too bad finishing this thing.

I finally got myself together to do the songs. So here they are.
First day of my internship is today. Pray it goes well.

Black Betty/ Ram Jam: You'll recognize this from the scene in Blow where Johnny Depp is walking through the airport in the white leisure suit. It's a great scene and an even better song, since I think a group of people and I recently decided that after Penelope Cruz gets pregnant, the movie is pretty much not worth watching since it just depresses the crap out of you. Anyway-- it's a good song.
Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games// Of Montreal: This band has been around for so long. I've heard so many of their songs without realizing it was them. I really love the line "Let's pretend we don't exist/ Let's pretend we're in Antarctica". It's a fun song.
Lil' King Kong// Simple Kid: From that car commercial (I want to say it's for a Scion or something) where everything gets animated as the car drives by. The very commercial makes me happy anyway, but this song is GREAT. and a lot of fun.
Ganja Babe// Michael Franti: In honor of Weeds starting again. Oh Nancy.
Consoler of the Lonely// The Raconteurs: Because I cannot stop listening to this song.
I'm Gonna DJ// R.E.M.: Such an amazing song. But it's been stuck in my head all morning b/c John had it as his away message. Oh DJs.
Passing By// Zero 7: It's just a great song. Very chill. Her voice is incredible. And I have a lot of good memories attached to this particular number.

Anyway-- That's that.
Cheers,
H.

No. 161: Maryland... er

2008-06-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

I'm now moved into the Marylander.
I have no internet access in my place, so I'm at the library.
But have no energy or time to do the songs.
It'll have to wait til I go home tomorrow. But I promise, I will have them up.

Anyway-- this internship with the Urbanite publisher might work out, or she might just get so fed up with the fact that I can't be in Maryland when she wants to meet with me that she tells me she found someone else. That would be unfortunate.

It has been the weirdest weekend. But I at least have yogurt in the fridge and it has FINALLY stopped raining and become a beautiful evening.

Cheers, H.

160: my sense of humor's void and null

2008-06-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

and I'm bored to tears.

download "consolers of the lonely" by the raconteurs.
do it now.

cheers.

No. 159: u.s.

2008-06-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

The first day back in the States was pretty sweet, let me just say.
Woke up, made myself some tea and yogurt and then talked to Mom-- one of the most surreal conversations I've ever had. But much needed.
Then I got ready.
Ben picked me up and we got lunch at Whole Foods and talked (first time I've seen the kid in 3 years. It was a whole day of surreality, let's just say that). Got coffee at Murky (YAY! I missed that place so much) and then went grocery shopping for Mum. Hilarious. Came back, went to Frontline with the family. Afterwards Ben and I went to Jammin' Java where Chris was running sound and met up with Kendall who is recently back from Greece. It was SO good to see KP, whose 19th birthday is today.
Today marks another occasion of les temps perdu, but I'm not giving it more than a passing thought. Which is now passed.
I hope to get a pedicure today, hopefully with Kendall. Then hair cut at 2:30 (YES!) and maybe hanging with Ben. Want to visit with other people but I've got to work distances and times. Gas is absurd now. $4.07? I mean, it's less expensive than in England, but in England I wasn't driving! Blech. I feel like I've got to go get a $1 Big Gulp just to remind myself of how inexpensive the States are and regain some perspective.

Finished The Rum Diary on the plane and started reading Under the Net by Iris Murdoch, which this far is a little obvious but really good. The narrator is extremely likable and most of the descriptions are entertaining. As a good philosopher, I expect her to be a good analyst of persona, so I think her characters are going to be really good. More so than I'd expect from a novel by say... Kant. Anyway: the songs.

1. Heart// Stars: I listened to my entire collection of the Stars (all three original albums and then Do You Trust Your Friends) while I was going from the res to the V&A to the Tate Britain and then the two hours I sat in the cafeteria of the Tate Britain researching Degas. I like this song the best.
2. Homeward Bound// Simon & Garfunkel: Because I went home last week and it was all I could think of on the plane.
3. God Save the Queen// The Sex Pistols: Bought the authorized "autobiography" of The Sex Pistols by John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten in a music store in Oxford for 3 pounds. Read the first three chapters on the bus ride back. It's great writing. Like Dylan's in its erratics, but you know-- English.
4. Somewhere Only We Know// Keane: Frank and I were singing this to each other when we made a brief trip into Accessorize. It's the Claire's of London. They played old pop hits and we got mad dramatic.
5. Believe// Cher: This. Is. My. Jam. JK. But the girls and I were all talking about how we all have our individual nostalgia moments with this song. Mine is with Mum, in the Cabrio, top down on the way to school every morning for like a month when it first came out on CD. Hilarious. Anyway, it was playing as we walked into our favorite London pub, Henry J.'s the last night we were in London. We were all shocked and then Frank took a video of me diva-singing it, which I hope never sees the light of Facebook.
6. A Foggy Day in London Town // Michael Buble: Obvious. Plus it was all I could hear in my head the whole time we were in the British Museum.
7. Rewind // Paolo Nutini: Off the P.S. I Love You soundtrack. But I'm not going to lie, I kind of love him. This song is mad gorgeous, though.

and there's that.
Cheers, H.

No. 158: Home!

2008-06-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

Got back last night. Unpacked, started laundry, saw Kathryn, talked to folk.
So good to see Mom and Fred.
SO good to take a long, lux shower in a big bathroom.
SOO good to sleep in my bed, which has no perceptible coil-pokeage and I don't feel constantly at risk of falling out of.

Woke up to a gorgeous summer morning, read some Bible (something I haven't done in a long time and I think was moved to do by a late night conversation with Ben-- he's oddly inspiring, which after 3 years is sort of unexpected).

Now I just want to be awake at home, you know? It's early and I should still probably be sleeping, but I don't think it's jet lag that woke me up. I'm just excited to be home.

Need to call the Marylander today and figure out my rent and I need t o call Vidal and get a hair cut b/c I look like a strange mop head, hippie.
It's so HOT here, but it doesn't bother me b/c it was so friggin' chilly in London all the time.

I'm doing the songs tomorrow, b/c really, I don't feel like sitting in front of this computer any more.

Mwah!
It's good to be home.

H.

No. 157: Songs and all

2008-06-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

Finished Something Wicked This Way Comes yesterday and started The Rum Diary, which I'm embarrassed to say I only realized was fiction after like ten pages. But it's great. My first Hunter S. Thompson novel. Jimmy Buffet reviewed it, which I found interesting. Anyway, it comes highly recommended so I look forward to having a good book to read the next few rainy afternoons and on the plane.

I'm ready to go home. It's been a good trip, but truly, I'm ready for the sun. Moving in the Marylander will not be my favorite picnic, but hey-- it'll only take a week or so and then I'm settled and can get back to the everyday. It will be SO good to see Mum and Fred and the girls and to hang around with guys again. I hadn't realized how different the energies are with just girls. Quite strange, actually. Not unpleasant. Just ready to see Bri and Geof and Jordan and Matt, etc. Plus I think Kuna's in town and after about a hundred years, it'd be cool to grab some pho with the hippie and argue theology. I am going to miss Francesca and the rest of the girls, however. But yes.. home calls.

Today was nice, despite the gross drizzly rain that persisted throughout. Francesca and I had a hilarious suitcase buying venture for her extra bag in the sketchiest suitcase store in the history of London. We went to Dullwich (pronounced Dull-itch), which was a really cute, sleepy little town. The gallery was designed by Soane, so of course it was interesting to look at. Anyway-- tomorrow we're going to Oxford for a walking tour and (my heart quickens) to visit The Eagle and Child!!!!! (aka the Bird and Baby aka the pub the Inklings spent all their time in). So psyched. Hope it doesn't rain all friggin' day.

So here's the songs. I'm particularly fond of this group.
Pray my suitcase weighs under 50 pounds. I've done some shopping, tee hee.

Search and Destroy// Iggy & the Stooges: Was watching The Life Aquatic the other day when it was rainy and I didn't feel like going out to dinner. I love the scene where Steve goes nuts when the pirates attack and he chases them off. This song plays and it's absolutely perfect.
Empty Shell// Cat Power: I hadn't really listened to The Greatest, although I've had it on my Ipod since it came out. But I gave it a really thorough listen while I rode back from Trafalger on the bus on like, Tuesday, and it's absolutely fabulous.
Garden Grove// Sublime: I've had this stuck in my head for days now. I think it's b/c it reminds me of home and The House, etc. But in any case, it's one of my favorite Sublime songs.
Kamera// Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is simply one of the greatest albums of all time. The end.
What Kind of Love Are You On?// Aerosmith: This song plays in the sketchy scene in Armageddon when the boys go out the night before they go up. Aerosmith was playing in a store when we went to Camden on Saturday and so I listened to all the songs of theirs on my Ipod. I had never really listened to this one though and then the lyric I love came up and I kind of freaked out for joy on the street while I was walking back to the Res from South Ken station. A little old lady with her umbrella was startled and I laughed. And then you found twenty dollars.
Gold and a Pager// The Cool Kids: I was rapping this (the bit about how he's got a hold of his jeans b/c they're falling off) b/c my jeans, too, were falling down on Saturday night when we went out for Sam's birthday and we were running around Piccadilly. It was apparently impressive to Francesca until I told her it wasn't just a free style. I don't own Nikes anyway. Or a pager. Still, it's a great song.
Glamorous// Fergie: We were discussing our guilty music pleasures on the train to Dullwich today and it came up that we sometimes love Fergie, even though she's ridiculous and peed herself on stage (which I found out about today for the first time... so I'm late). We also love the part where Ludacris raps. Because it's ludicrous.

So that's it.
Cheers. H.

Dynamite Hack Boyz In The Hood

2008-06-03T00:50:00.001-07:00

Hilarious. Good for a laugh on this rainy morning in London town. Four days til home!
-H

156b: An aside

2008-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

I can't decide if this severely pisses me off or if it's really admirable. Either way, I'm glad old Scotty isn't the press sec any more. Anyone who looks like they're going to cry that often on camera and isn't Ingrid Bergman needs to move to an alternative career anyway.

I might have to buy that book.
Maybe.

H.

156: "Woah-- there's an image."

2008-05-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

So this morning we went to the National Gallery and met with Jenny, who's a curator there, and dang good at it. But after the presentations the girls gave (well done, everyone, btw) I got really pale and dizzy and was at that awesome "about to pass out" stage. So when we broke for lunch, I walked really slowly around Trafalgar Square and decided I really couldn't handle the half hour walk through the park to Ken House. I feel bad about it still, and would've liked to go, but when I huffed it to get back to the museum to meet up , I got woozy again. Rather than push it, I decided to sit this afternoon out so I can be up to the rest of the week (which is going to be so much fun!).

I am, however, a bit bored now. Going to finish my novel in a bit, though. Maybe write some, if I'm up to it. I haven't written anything lately. It's pretty bad.

Miss home. But the weather is supposed to get better here and I think that the rest of the week is going to be a lot of fun, and I'm excited for Dad to come on Saturday. London isn't my favorite city, but it's growing on me. Love the girls, but walking around alone is really settling and the people watching is exceptional.

Love.
H.

No. 155: Here is What I Learned This Week

2008-05-26T14:53:00.000-07:00

1.

People

are

difficult.

2.

It is not just a stereotype that London is cold and rainy when it ought to be sunny and bright.

3.

Love is not about yourself, but the one you love and what makes them happy. If you're consumed with how and if and why they love you, your love for them isn't true. Also regarding love: you need to think about how everything you do affects the persons you love. Shielding yourself can push them away.

4.

I am not cut out for English living.

5.

I like home a lot more than I thought I did.

I find it interesting that the longest lesson is about love.
I suppose the weather is making me sappy.
Or the PMS.

Cheers from across the pond,
H

No. 154: big red buses, etc.

2008-05-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

London is a weird, weird place. It's a gagillion people with not a lot of money pretending they have as much money as the 10% that do. It's very NYC in that way. Going to Brighton was wonderful and I wish we were staying there. Much more like Baltimore. Still expensive, but really very friendly and bright and bohemian. If Dad's up for it, I'm going to try to take him next weekend or something. I've never been so glad to have my father in my area and am really excited he's coming. Hopefully we can have a few meals, even though he'll be going up to Cambridge for a stint.
Today we went to Spittlesfiled Market which is AMAZING and I spent a bunch of money. Got some gifts, though, so I don't feel horrid about it. Plus I've been trying to be really good about spending. Everything is so friggin' expensive though.

In any case, I feel bad about being so remiss in my song postings. I thought about just skipping last week all together, but the idea is to have 365 songs by the end of the year, and having that one random week wherein I was a lazybehind is just stupid. So here's a double header. I'm not explaining any but a few of them, b/c it's 10pm here and I want to read and go to sleep so I can be a functioning human for class tomorrow.

I miss everyone terribly and hope everyone is having a great break. Congrats to the graduates!

Between the Lines// Atmosphere
Tears in Heaven// Eric Clapton: Kathryn and I saw a kid playing this insanely well on guitar today in the Tube station. It was amazing and we both started singing along and then sighed at how sad a story it is.
Moped// Thao Nguyen
About Her// Malcom McLaren
When You're Falling// Afro Celt Sound System ft. Peter Gabriel
If I Ever Leave This World Alive// Flogging Molly: This was in P.S. I Love You, which I watched on the plane (which was a bad idea b/c it's the saddest movie ever).
Love You Til the End// The Pogues: see above.

Set II:

Some Things Last a Long Time// Beach House (thanks for the referral M.G.)
Blackbird// The Beatles: The aforementioned kid played this right after.
Marketfresh//Broken Social Scene: Sat outside of Westminster Abbey, writing and listening to these guys and the Books. It was amazing.
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps//Cake
Typical Situation// Dave Matthews Band
A Sunday Smile// Beirut
Blame it on the Tetons// Modest Mouse

and that's about it.

-H

No. 153: London Calling

2008-05-20T16:59:00.000-07:00

okay-- so i haven't blogged, i didn't put the songs up (though i do have them written down) because i left the journal with them written down at home. BUT:

I am in London. I got here on Sunday and will be here until June 7th. It is excellent.
Update is that it's cold but I brought more clothes than a person should, so I think I'll be alright. It's expensive but I'm spending (mostly) wisely, getting gifts for people out of the way and budgeting for food, etc. London is amazing. The accents are great, the cars are amazing (I saw at least 30 Porches today), and the art I've been studying is INCREDIBLE. I got to see the original Degas, Two Dancers on a Stage and it almost made me cry. I've decided to write my course paper on Degas. Apparently he was kind of horrible, so this should be an interesting paper. Plus the Courtauld is a beautiful gallery.

Tomorrow we're going to about 5 different museums and then the Championships Manchester vs. Chelsea are tomorrow, so London is going to be NUTS. I've very excited. Sam's birthday is on June 1st and we're already making adventure plans.
Ursula, my "aunt", is meeting Natalie and I for dinner on Friday night and then Daddy comes on the 27th. Then Artie should be done with finals by then and he'll come to chill as well. It's going to be quite a trip. Natalie and I have plans for a day venture to Brighton Beach this weekend on Saturday. I think Sam and Kathryn are going to Paris. Monday we're all having Danish waffles for dinner at this place that does all you can eat for 5 quid.

This country is insane.
And now I'm going to bed b/c it's 1 something here.

I miss home. But London is lovely.

H.

Video Blog: Alive with the Glory of Love: a cover by Julia Nunes

2008-05-16T20:52:00.001-07:00

I love this song. I love the Say Anything version, I love Julia's version. It's just an authentically awesome song. It's really beautiful in her voice, though, I must say.
In anycase-- she does a cover of "Woe", as well. If you're a Say Anything fan like I am lately, it's a good thing to see/hear.

Off to England tomorrow afternoon. Geez.

H.

No. 151: Because I can't understand anything the lady at the CVS Pharmacy Counter is saying and it's driving me nuts.

2008-05-13T12:18:00.001-07:00

The leisure parts of today have been wonderful. Lunch with Tess at Bluemont was gorgeous.

The logistical business bits of today have been FRUSTRATING. But that's alright.
England is three days away.

Packing is going to be miserable.

H.

No. 150: Half Way Through

2008-05-13T06:24:00.001-07:00

Last Tuesday I finished my Sophomore year. I will probably end with a 3.08, or some such B+ nonsense. Next semester, I think, will be more productive and I an step it up with Writing Sems. I'm going to have to for Glen Blake and Jean McGarry.

Moving into the Marylander in June, which should be nice.
Leave for London for three weeks of study abroad on Saturday. I'm really excited, but it's also going to be kind of nerve wracking. My first time in a foreign country without any real adult presence. It'll be an experience, that's for sure. Natalie and I keep sending each other facebook message that equate to: "Blah blah blah ENGLAND blah blah blah EXCITED!" It's gonna be a good time.

Things are so weird right now. And I took Tums before I went to bed so I have HORRIBLE aftertaste morning breath, which you didn't need to know, but I felt like sharing.

Today I'm having lunch with Tess and then probably hanging out in Arlington, then having dinner with Fred @ Faccia Luna. Tomorrow I MUST clean my car before I go hang out with Travis. It's pretty grode right now.

Anyway--- that's what's up right now. Without further ado, here's this week's 7, late as usual.

Love You Madly// Cake: Found this on a mix I made Freshman year. It reminds me of Money Mac who I miss desperately and is St. Lucia in the 80 degree, sunny weather. Merr. Great song, though.
The Crunge// Led Zeppelin: One of Zeppelin's greatest. I was cruising to it in the sun a few days ago and it just worked. Houses of the Holy is an incredible album anyway, so that makes sense.
Work It (Remix)//Missy Elliot: This is only on here b/c of a saying that goes in our group that comes from this song. If you're being a little slow or stupid, for whatever reason, and you have a moment wherein speaking is harder that it should be, someone who catches you basically just goes, "Why you act all like errrr, duhh?" So that stupid phrase got stuck in my head and now this song (which is actually pretty sweet)is on here.
Party for the Fight to Write// Atmosphere: People (like Carlos) tend not to like Atmosphere. Mike likes him, but likes Safe Francis more. I personally love Atmosphere, I don't know why. Not all his music is super deep, but almost all of it is really nicely written, lyrically, and the beats are quite good. I mean, why not? It's a great song anyway. Have a listen.
Better Days// Citizen King: Watched the Malcolm in the Middle finally on My 20 a few days ago. You find out they've always destined Malcolm to become the working man's president. I like that. They played this song and then we all remembered liking it when it first came out. Then it got stuck in my head and was ruined for me. But here it's on the list, b/c it's actually a pretty good song.
Now That You Got It//Gwen Stefani: I don't really like her new direction. I got as much of a novelty kick out of "Hollaback Girl" as the next person, but then she kept going! and now I'm sort of ready for Ska Gwen again. Anyway-- I wanted to hear "Rich Girl" and "Wind It Up" yesterday, so I cut the album on. This song came on when it was on shuffle and I actually think the beat is one of the best beats I've heard all year. Check it.
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition my Condition was in)// Kenny Rogers: Three words: The Big Lewbowski. End of story.

Aaaaaand, the end.

H.

to circle the earth

2008-05-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

She's gorgeous, isn't she? Look at the curve of her arm and the way she brings the fan over. I love the movement of the photograph. Her name is Maria Osende, and she's a flamenco dancer for a professional dance company. The dress does it, too, and the line of her neck. I used to wish I could move like that. I was talking to Mimi today and she was saying how she wanted to get back into dance classes. I think I'd like that. As a kid, I was way too gawky for ballet. I didn't have the body for it, even though I've got alright feet. Flamenco dancers are seriously shaped women. I like that about them. Plus there's so much stillness and then snap to their movements, as opposed to ballet which is a little more fluid, some how. I don't know. Maybe I'm just babbling.
Dancing like that is one of the reasons I believe in God. There's something too definitely poetic about dancing and the beauty of the complexity of emotion that moves dancers for it to be accidental.

If it seems like I'm babbling, it's because I am. I'm three or four paragraphs away from being done with my last Expos essay. I don't want to finish it because then I have to work on my Nonfiction essay, which is weighing on my soul. I've actually really enjoyed doing the work and research for the Expos one, though. It's a great topic (funerals in Homeric society), and the flow came really well for this paper. The Nonfiction essay feels a lot like getting my wisdom teeth surgically removed with no anesthesia. Never ever again will I be in a Non Fiction class. Not my thing, and the English department is taking it over anyway.

Tomorrow I'm going to Red Maple with Mimi and maybe Carlos to have tapas and watch flamenco. Then Wednesday at 1 I'm going to the BTM to talk to Josh Griffin about making the graceful Miss Osende a permanent art piece. We'll see what he says.

I believe I'm coming home Friday or so. Need to work out the moving situation. Have to come back for a Passport appointment on Friday in any case. Blech. At least it will be over and I can stop worrying about it and just enjoy London. Packing is going to be hellish, though. London chique is a pain. Ah well. If an essay and packing for a cross-continental adventure are the biggest of my worries, life's pretty good.

H.

Boy With A Coin

2008-05-05T10:21:00.001-07:00

This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen and it goes with one of my favorite songs. Watching this for the first time the other night gave me shivers. He's so brilliant, this guy.

No. 147: Yeah, that should do it.

2008-05-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

"'A real man makes his own luck.' Billy Zane. Titatanic." - Dwight, the Office

So... I love The Office so much. It's up there with Arrested Development and Weeds.
Here are the songs, because I'm late again.

Volare// The Gipsy Kings: Beautiful, good fun.
Una Musica Brutal// The Gotan Project: They're amazing. Mellow, good to study to, great to drive to.
Honey and the Moon//Joseph Arthur: Blast from the past. Still a gorgeous song, though.
Beautiful Way// Beck: The chillest song I can think of.
Breathe In// Frou Frou: Felt like hearing this last night and remembered how awesome Guy and Imogen were together.
Kids with Guns (Heat Under the Baby Seat) // Lupe Fiasco: Couldn't find this on playlist.com, but it's on Hype Machine and I STRONGLY suggest you go check it out.
With A Little Help From My Friends // Joe Cocker: Because sometimes you need a little Joe Cocker.

I have two essays to write. One, five pages long, by Tomorrow night, one is supposed to be 12 pages and is due by Wednesday at 5. It's going to be a long 48 hours.

H.

No. 146: It's going alright, it's going alright. more insane by the minute.

2008-05-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

So... I took my last Spanish test today. Nada mas. Yay!

The rest of the day looks like me working on my Nonfiction paper in the DMC for three hours and then going to see Iron Man. Maybe. Some movie anyway. It's GORGEOUS outside, people.

You should listen to this, because it's brilliant:
Lupe Fiasco doing a Gorillaz thing. It's great. And provocative.

Then go outside and enjoy the sun!

Two weeks left. Then London. Ai yai yai.

H.

No. 145: upward over the mountain

2008-04-30T06:41:00.001-07:00

Yowzah.
Sometimes things fall apart. Friends have been breaking up. Mike and I broke up (uncomfortable, but for the best in the long run, I think). People in love are on the rocks right now. It's strange. The most beautiful and romantic time of the year and everything is turning cold again. It's not all bad though.

Today is my last day of Philosophy. Going to go take my test in ten minutes. Shouldn't be too bad. Then an hour and the first half of my Spanish test and thus the first half of my last day of Spanish (to be concluded Friday). Today is my last Nonfiction class (thankyouLord). Then I plan to take a LONG nap. Michael gave me the week off from Carma's. I need to talk to him b/c I'm going to be gone most of May and June. Sigh.

Here, quickly are the songs for Sunday. Sorry my posting is becoming a bit of a traditional lateness.

An aside: Chris just woke up and walked into the kitchen, scaring the bajezzus out of Nivia. Hearing the interaction from my room will probably turn out to be the highlight of my day. My apartment isn't all bad.

Kick, Push// Lupe Fiasco: Matt and Geof introduced me to Lupe's music last week. It's pretty great stuff. Intelligent, fun rap. Plus his voice is really nice. It's a little like Talib Kweli meets The Cool Kids, except replace BMX bikes with skateboards. "Superstar" is another amazing song, as is "The Cool". This is more appropriate considering the boys tried to teach me to long board with negative results.
Pangea//Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin: A nod to Ian for the intro. Really fun music. Reminds me a little of I'm From Barcelona, but more refined. Check it. Or as Ian said, "Wrap your little ears around that, sunshine. Thank me later."
Tokyo // The Books: This song is from The Lemon of Pink album which is great. I was initially going to put "Read, Eat, Sleep" on here, b/c Thought for Food is my favorite Books album, but anyway-- this is amazing.
Superconnected // Broken Social Scene: Such a scarily beautiful song. All their music is generally intense, but it's great. I've been listening to a lot of them lately, just from hanging around people that do, and I've begun to incorporate them into the favorites. Anyway-- enjoy this.
Grounds for Divorce// Wolf Parade: The version on the playlist is live, or rough cut or something. I like it. But the version on the album is phenomenal. Great fast driving song, or early morning driving. His voice is so haunting. And intense. I saw Sunset Rubdown live last semester and they were phenomenal as well.
Set You Free // The Black Keys: Pretty in love with this song since I first heard it. I like that they sound so much like delta blues but with this intense rock sound that's a little AC/DC, a little Sabbath. This song is not really like either of those, but I like it anyway. I feel like BB King would nod his head and approve this, and that sits well with me.
Final Frontier// RJD2: Def. my favorite RJD2 song. Just go listen to the album, I can't even talk about the talent.

After Philosophy Test:

Ok, so that went alright. Only took me 25 minutes to finish, but I feel like I did a good job. Studied hard enough for it. Now I've got the mind numbingly frightening Spanish test to take and from then on my day is cake.

You should listen to Buena Vista Social Club. Because it's good music.
And take me shopping, too. If you wanted.

H.

No. 144: SONGS

2008-04-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Okay-- So I'm three days late. What else is new.
This is a carefully selected list.
You either get the theme or you don't get the theme. But there is one.

Waiting for my Ruca// Sublime: My third favorite Sublime song (after "Santeria" and "Badfish"). Namesake.
Fire It Up// Modest Mouse: One of my favorite Modest Mouse songs. One of my favorite songs ever, in actuality. "Like trying to had the daylight from the sun". Nice.
Redemption Song// Bob Marley: Listened to this all the way through for the first time a week ago. GORGEOUS. sad.
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35: You do the math.
Grass // Animal Collective: Seriously-- it's gorgeous. They're creative and the new album is great.
Boy With a Coin // Iron & Wine: Carlos loves this song, and made me listen to it the other day and now I'm sold. It's quite lovely and the guitar work in the beginning is great.
Staring at the Sun // TV on the Radio: This is Face's favorite song by them, probably. I prefer "Wolf Like Me", but it doesn't really fit today's theme. Not a huge problem, since I listened to this a couple times last weekend and it truly is amazing.

These are awesome songs and speak for themselves, so I'm not describing them any more than that. Also I'm in class and should be paying more attention than that requires. Just listen, relax, and enjoy!
1<3
-banana

No. 143: Media

2008-04-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

I promise you, I'm gonna post the Seven for last Sunday. I have them, they're written down, I swear. But right now, I wanna talk briefly about an article I found on Digg about the Sudan, found here. There is an add on the bottom of this article:

"Teeth Whiteners Exposed"
7 Teeth Whitening Products Tested, Rated, and Reviewed. A Must Read!
www.Best-Teeth-Whitening.com

For a second, it actually made me physically sick.

But then again, I can't begin to imagine how much I must do every day that makes other people feel the same way.
Living without hypocrisy and without contradiction of belief is extremely difficult. The tragedy in the Sudan should be an outrage to all. What's horrible is that while I was deeply saddened by the article and pissed off at the people we put in charge to deal with stuff like this, I was more angry at the teeth whitening ad being on the same page.

Strange, no? Our priorities?

H.

No. 142: a modest obsession

2008-04-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

i've been listening to a lot of Modest Mouse. Carlos and I were talking about how initially when we heard about them we were ambivalent and even didn't really like them. a few weeks ago i heard, "float on" on the radio again and realized how great a song it is. so then i dug into the two albums i had. carlos got me on to We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. It's probably my favorite album right now.

i've been having these daily anthems. yesterday's was another Modest Mouse song I love ("The Good Times are Killing Me"). Today's is "Missed the Boat". It's such an amazing song. I youtubed the video, and found several. These two are my favorite. I think the first one is the official, and then the second was part of a contest. In any case-- here:

(this is great-- the girl at the end has the prettiest eyes, and I love that that monster turns into a cat)

h.

No. 141: rough

2008-04-15T09:08:00.001-07:00

It's been a rough week.
Went home on Sunday, randomly, to get a little R&R. Sorry I'm late on the songs. They're a good bunch, though. Enjoy.

What About Everything// Carbon Leaf: Heard this on the radio in Carma's. Remembered how much I loved them and pulled up all my mp3s. The line that starts "what about aeroplanes/what about you and me?" is so beautiful. They're really cool guys, too. Brownie fans.
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb// Spoon: The concert was last Friday. I didn't get to go, unfortunately, but Nora and Greg said it was amazing. Greg loves this song. My favorite is the already featured "The Underdog", but this is a pretty good one. Also, "Don't You Evah", which they played really wonderfully on Conan. Oh Spoon.
Finding Out True Love is Blind// Louis XIV: They're such dirty rockers. This is a great song, although when I want to hear them, I usually want to hear "Pledge of Allegiance". However, this makes the list b/c of his dry bitter, Danish-butter cookied slur of "oohhh chocolate girl/you look like something I want". Mmm.
Spiders// Lovedrug: I think I was listening to this by accident and realized anew how much I love them. I would term them mountaintop emo. Big sound, very angry and sometimes utterly desolate. The lyrics of this are fun, though.
At Last // Etta James: This is in honor of Matt Smith's poetry reading last Monday, wherein he read a poem of his about a washed up pool shark named Sugarbear performing this during karaoke. The image struck me really vividly. Anyway-- I love Etta James, and so should you.
So Cruel// U2: I started getting into their earlier ballady stuff after I heard "All I Want is You" on the Reality Bites soundtrack. I really like this song. It's got the same feel as "Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World", but is less annoying.
Eight Easy Steps//Alanis Morissette: I'm really into this sort of whimsical self-deprecation which is apparent in a lot of her songs as well as Spoon's and Modest Mouse's. Plus this song pretty much just rocks and sometimes you need a little angry chick music in your life.

So there's that.
Lately my living arrangement has been soul crushing. I'm ready for the summer.
One month.
I have to work for 7 hours today. I'm not excited. We'll see how it goes.

H.