Angels in the Architecture

I talked to my mom on the phone, ate breakfast, took a shower, did laundry and some ironing, got dressed, and at 2pm looked out the window and said "What!? It's not even snowing yet."

I turned around and when I looked out the window 90 seconds later, it was snowing.

ain't fair, you know

Statehood Day #151:

x 1098091283091810. When did Train get good?

Jake's Recipe for Falker Satherhood.

Stellaluna board book! I can't let Stellina exist any longer with this book in her possession. Especially since she'll probably know how to read by the time she turns 2, she's so wicked smart.

New Orleans guidebook. (heyyyy ladies I have bought us a guidebook)

DONUTS.

A single lol.

Wednesday plans to conquer tacos. and to pick up MARC tickets.

eta: I just ordered three new Moleskines! giftcards to evil giant chain bookstores are awesome when I don't have to save them for textbooks.

eta II: An excellent postcard to add to my collection! Someday I will get to send someone awesome some really cool postcards.

All these things have happened today.

we draw the line

Someday I'd like to actually say intelligent things.


Ten things that are awesome:

1. Chicken Paprikas. The other day Roommate M. asked when I would cook it again, which made me feel really awesome. And helped me deal with Roommate R. not being interested in eating my stew. To be fair, it wasn't that great but I thought it was pretty delicious. I digress.

2. Multilingual children. Tonight I'm watching a two-and-a-half year old who speaks Russian and English! It is very intimidating. Also, makes me want to shake my fist at Russia. Another great thing, children who can sign. SO USEFUL.

3. Amazon Prime! Also, her cousin Optimus.

4. Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. I'm in a phase where no music is appealing to me and much of it makes me really upset, but I can't stand silence, so I need to listen to WWDTM almost constantly. It is good that I have almost 3 years of archives on my iPod.

5. WATER. I'm really thirsty right now and maybe I'm a terrible person for not trusting DC's tap water, but I'd rather hell of Brita my water before I drink it. So at this very moment, I have no water, and I want some.

6. Comfortable and flattering high heels. There, I said it. I'm a girl. Blah. At least I'm not blogging about makeup and all the different brands you should buy.

7. Bedtime rituals. Mine is insane these days. After showering, washing my face, brushing my teeth, and taking my contacts out, then I put on WWDTM and take my various medications and vitamins, and break out the baby oil, Nivea, and chapstick. Then I spend 5 minutes trying to get the correct volume on my iPod. ... good thing I sleep alone.

8. Cake. and ice cream. And ice cream cake.

9. Not being high maintenance. I guess that's the right way to say that? Okay, my current bedtime ritual makes me seem like I would be the kind of person that would be super high maintenance, but really I surprise myself with how self-sufficient I am. Thanks for making me fend for myself starting at age 14, Mom. I've got this emotional independence thing down maybe too well.

10. Dogs.


There. That was supposed to make me feel better.

eta: Upon re-reading this post, I realize that I sound really high maintenance. zomg I promise I'm not.

Azithromycin and Benadryl

Happy upcoming Anna Howard Shaw Day, and Oregon's 151st birthday.

zen zen zen zen zen zen

blahhhh

She ain't no diva

Looks like I just blew an entire week being sick and angry. That week was pretty much a gift that could have single-handedly saved my GPA, and I blew it.

And I'm still sick and still angry. And a whole lot of sad, too. Oh, and broke.

WHY HELLO

okay, time for something new.

welcome back

So, as you see, I've been on a New Pornographers kick. I don't know what took me so long to come back around to them, but Holy Macy, where have I been.

I should join a band. I can sing, and I am excellent at brainstorming excellent band names. Future band members, hello. Nice to meet you.

So my latest project, other than school school and more school, has been embracing my indie/hipster destiny. For crying out loud, I was born on 34th and Hawthorne in the 1980s, how much more fate can you get? Anyway, life. it will be awesomer after graduation, right? it's going to be so awesome?

anyone who is not dating me right now is so missing out, let me tell you.

Because I am named News From the District, I should tell you, THERE IS A FUCKTON OF SNOW HERE.
and that's the news from the District, where all the women are lame, all the men are huge jerks, and all the children are spoiled.

Stay With Me, Go Places

please?

We thought we lost you

"It should be hard. I like that it's hard. [...] But it should be a little easier.
Just a little easier. 'Cause in that difference is ... everything."

Yes a heart will always go one step too far

Today is Hourly Comic Day! So that's exciting. For some reason my account isn't activated on the forums yet (??) so I might post them here, who knows.

I hate winter.

year in review, hey there

Year: 2009

Age: 21

Idol: E. Findlay, J. Waters.

Favorite Song: Everything's Easy, Girlyman

Prized Possession: still kittens.

Best Shoes: I love my patent ribbon pumps from Old Navy, and my rain boots, and my Old Navy skimmers, too

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Went to Eastern Europe!
Volunteered, for real
met a 4-star commander in the Coast Guard, or something

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes, because easy resolutions happen to me, and yes I suppose

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
There is baby Grabby but I think perhaps she was born in 2008.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Michael Jackson?

5. What countries did you visit?
Heathrow (is its own country), Hungary, Romania

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
money, and a few intangibles

7. What date(s) from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 20
March 6
July 27
September 24

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
not dying?

9. What was your biggest failure?
my fall 2009 GPA!

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury?
stuck my foot in a revolving door, dropped a huge thing of laundry detergent on my foot, dropped a chair on my foot... also pulled my hamstring in March and that is just starting to get fixed fo rillz.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
vacuum cleaner

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jon Stewart, George Tiller

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Scott Roeder, Glenn Beck, my cat

14. Where did most of your money go?
rent, kittens, alcohol, food, printing money. probably in that order.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Inauguration weekend! Natalie visiting! Lindsey visiting! What!

16. What song(s!) will always remind you of 2009?
Everything's Easy, Trees Still Bend, People Got A Lotta Nerve, The Next Time You Say "Forever," Testarossas for Everyone!, all MJ songs, much of the Lady Gaga

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? WAY happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? samezies?
iii. richer or poorer? poorer
iv. younger or older? I am exactly one year older.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
sleeping, homework

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
sleeping, homework

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Midnight Mass at the Cathedral, homework

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
putting that off

23. How many one-night stands?
hm?

24. What was your favorite TV program?
-30 Rock
-Glee
-Boston Legal

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no!

26. What was the best book you read?
Books? Fathers and Sons, Ivan Turgenev; part of Trinity, Leon Uris

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Neko Case (re-discovery), Super Mash Bros., Glee? Lady Gaga? yeah babyyy

28. What did you want and get?
What

29. What did you want and not get?
What

29.5. What did you get and not want?
Eeeek

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Battle Royale? White Nights, This Is Spinal Tap, Imagine Me and You. I don't remember if I saw any films that were released this year, but those are movies that I saw this year.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
Babysat! drank! made poor decisions! Got paid for that first thing and did not pay for those second two!

32. What surprised you most this year?
Scandal!

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
normal.

34. What kept you sane?
Ballet, Natalie, Lindsey, getting things out of my head, babbies

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jon Stewart

36. What political issue/news story stirred you the most?
all of them.

37. Who did you miss?
Stella

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Marta and Janos, 22 or so of my chambersingermates, Captain Bananio and Zannah and Prince Philip and their parents, Stellina and her mom, Paola and Mary, W, and Tim's housemates they are good fun.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
um, pay your credit card bills on time.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Because my life is only mine to hold
The nights are cold and it's snowing
In Vermont, but all that I want is here
In the clear light of the streetlight
Still on most days, I hear myself say
Everything's easy

or

Not quite lost, not quite found
Just somewhere different now

In which I scream

I Don't Love Anyone - Belle & Sebastian, from "Tigermilk" (1996) Last played 08/31/09 9:12 pm. Heh.
Favorite line: I don't love anyone / Well, maybe my sister
Verdict: Yes, I like it. I'll probably keep it.

Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - Old 97s, from "Hitchhike to Rhome" (1994) Zero plays!
Here's a video of it live.
I haven't listened to this album, like, at all. It kind of seems like everyone has covered this song.
Verdict: If I'm listening to this album, I'll probably be listening to Wish the Worst or Mama Tried or this song. But I probably still won't listen to this album that much, because Wish the Worst is better live, and Mama Tried has been covered better.

Gravity - Vienna Teng, "Waking Hour" (2002, woo, breaking into the 21st century)
Music video here - no guarantee that it's not a really lame video, I'm skeptical of the first 13 seconds already.
I like this song, I can't figure out what she reminds me of. It's a little too obvious and formulaic to me... but I like it anyway.
Verdict: I'll keep it but not something I'd listen to every day. Won't skip it when it comes on, but I won't say more than "huh"

Next up, A Question Mark - Elliott Smith


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

MUM Day Four: Reik's "Que Vida La Mia"

Que Vida La Mia - Reik, from "Reik"

Listen here
Play count: 2. Last played: oh, I'll check in a minute.

I think I got this from Gaby! or Lindsey! Either way, not my sister.

I was going to post a link to the lyrics in English but I've spent a few minutes trying to find them and can't, so I'm over that.

Ok so I'm kind of cheating with this one, I've listened to it 2x on my iTunes but I really have heard it more than that.

Full disclosure-- I am very much okay with my love of so-bad-it's-good music. This is most definitely in the so-bad-it's-good category. I'm just a fan of Mexicans right now?

That's all I can manage tonight :(

MUM Day Three: Lauryn Hill's "Everything is Everything"

Today was supposed to be We've Never Met, by Neko Case, but it is a total lie that the playcount is zero on that. Instead, this post could also be called "where the hell has Lauryn Hill been all my life ok so maybe just for the past 11 years"

Everything is Everything - Lauryn Hill, from "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," 1998

Play count: 0

Listen/watch here

Ok so this song is pretty freaking awesome. And I obviously mean album when I say song. I am the last person in the world to know this. The only song my iTunes says I've listened to is Lost Ones, on 7/29/09 at 5:12pm. Obviously the first thing I did after I listened to Everything is Everything was listen to the rest of the album, and um, well, now I'm a little distracted with that.

My West Coast middle class white girl self feels not qualified to talk about the merits of this song, so what I will say is that you should listen to it right now, and think, and all that.

Um yes I am keeping this song and I might listen to the album multiple times every day for a while.

Current play count: I don't actually know because it's on my iPod but I'm sure it's at least 6, because I've been listening to it since 7:45 this morning.

So there you have me discovering the Miseducation, feel free to berate me for being 11 years late.

MUM Day Two: Sleater-Kinney's "Don't Talk Like"

Ok, so I admit I'm a terrible child of the Pacific Northwest and don't listen to Sleater-Kinney enough. Or ... ever?

Don't Talk Like - Sleater-Kinney, from "The Hot Rock," 1999.

Play count: 1. Last played: 12/05/08, 4:44pm. Readers should assume I have received everything from my sister, unless mentioned otherwise.

Listen here.

First I have to say that after an hour and a half of singing 18th century German choral music, Sleater-Kinney is a little ... dissonant. Magnificat anima mea Dominum? Yeah, not so much. That being said, though I wasn't feeling incensed or indignant enough to really appreciate the full feminist empowerment of Sleater-Kinney, I found myself turning up the last minute, 'cause it rocks, and totally loving this song. No problems putting this on repeat.

Also, this song really makes me think of the '90s... for some reason I picture Ten Things I Hate About You very vividly. Coincidentally, the album and film were released in the same year. This is the only Sleater-Kinney album I own, which is kind of sad (but I do own the track You're No Rock and Roll Fun, which is an excellent one). Apparently in later years they got more "mainstream," so maybe the '90s scene in the PNW sounded like this?

It also reminds me of how annoying I was when I was 19. I mean, I'm annoying now, but I think (hope!) I get less and less annoying as the years progress, and 19 was a tough year. Also, I am not very far removed from that age, so this is annoying that I'm talking about it as though I'm soooo much older and wiser.

There's a part of me
That works just like a child
There's a part of me
That's you

I'll keep it, but not for everyday use. For dissonant, angry days, or days when I watch Ten Things.

Current play count: 8

The amount of body parts I needed to ice today after ballet class makes me feel like an old woman. Ugh.

MUM Day One: Clem Snide's "Strong Enough"

Welcome to the Month of Undiscovered Music, aka MUM, fka November!

Strong Enough - Clem Snide, from the album Soft Spot

Play count: 1. Last played 10/08/06 at 10:59pm. Received from my sister, yay.

Listen here

Subtle, which Clem Snide does well. Not annoying. Cute lyrics - "Don't cut onions in your mind," though "you're the flower of my heart" is kind of lame. It's a mood song, I don't exactly know what that means, but there is a mood that goes with this song. It's a walking-in-the-rain-on-a-late-Thursday-afternoon song. I'll keep it.

Current play count: 6

To whiskey and gin

Let's not pretend that I've listened to anything but the soundtrack from Glee this month.

Also on the October playlist:

The State I Am In - Belle & Sebastian
Can't Stand - Chuckanut Drive (my sister says "Really? that's old-school")
Don't Think Twice - Joan & Indigo Girls
The State I Found You In - Girlyman
The Scarlet Tide - Alison Krauss

Also, all that Girlyman from September.

But I'm being very honest when I discuss Glee. It's a serious[ly bad] addiction.

Ok, so now that we have established that I only listen to the same 27 songs over and over and over, it's time for November!

Loyal readers will remember last November was a Month of Happy. One happy thing per day. This November is Month of Undiscovered Music! My sister and I will both be picking one song from our iTunes libraries every day, with the qualification that the song has 3 playcounts or less, and writing about it. I will write here, she will write there.

So, that starts tomorrow. Get ready.

The Shape I Found You In

Captain Bananio and Stellina met at the park yesterday. Captain Bananio was confused because I was there with Stellina, and he was there with his other nanny, who was also confused as to why he had come over and attached himself to me. CB's mother's impression of CB's reaction after she heard the story was pretty accurate: "Hey, wait, you're my girl, but wait, I'm here with this other girl and she's my girl too, wait, what?"

Captain Bananio recommenced picking up leaves, and I finally peeled Stellina off of me, and then they just kind of stood there and looked at each other in a cute curious way.

When they get married in a few decades, I will tell this story in my toast at the reception.

Then a few minutes later Captain Bananio walked into the slide, and looked offended that it had been in his way. Typical.

Playlists from recent months

August 2009
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Baba O'Riley - The Who
John Saw That Number - Neko Case
Closer to Me - Chuckanut Drive
The Hard Way - Chuckanut Drive
Kickin' In Your Door - Chuckanut Drive
Runnin' Out of Fools - Neko Case
I Wish I Was the Moon - Neko Case

August was a good month and a confusing month, but not as good and confusing as September. I spent a lot of time listening to all of Blacklisted, not just those two tracks.

September has three playlists, one for before September 24, and one for after September 24, and one for the approximate middle-to-end of the month. I listened to lots of Blacklisted but also some Middle Cyclone, early on in the month.

September-at-large 2009
People Got a Lotta Nerve - Neko Case
Everything's Easy - Girlyman
Somebody to Love - Queen
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Michael Buble (this is because of Prince Philip... just go with it)
Melt Show - Old 97s
Hold on Hope - Guided By Voices

and then Melt Show over and over and over and Everything's Easy over and over and over.

post-September 24th, 2009
Comptine D'un Autre Été: L'après Midi - from the soundtrack of Amelie
Mark Rothko Song - Dar Williams
Calling the Moon - Dar Williams
I Wish I Was The Moon - Dar Williams
I Wonder Where You've Gone - Girlyman
Somewhere Different Now - Girlyman
Tell Me There's A Reason - Girlyman
Everything's Easy - Girlyman
Trees Still Bend - Girlyman
The Shape I Found You In - Girlyman
Storms Were Mine - Girlyman

Yes, a very Girlyman-heavy week. Also the rest of their new album, I listened to all of it over and over, really.

Mid-to-end September 2009 (the keep-me-alive playlist)
Bust Your Windows - Glee Cast
Won't Be Home - Old 97s
Ring The Alarm - Beyonce
Untouchable Face - Ani DiFranco
Niteclub - Old 97s
Wish the Worst - Old 97s
Rehab - Glee Cast
Gold Digger - Glee Cast
I Fucking Bleed Purple and Gold - Super Smash Bros.
and of course
Harder Better Faster Stronger - Daft Punk

20 Hours in America

Sitting for a new family (still with the old kids occasionally! don't lose hope), little girl born 8 days after Captain Bananio. She'll need a name.

From what I can tell, her favorite thing is to do laps - big counterclockwise circles. Maybe she will be Stellina.