Kick & Go

2009-01-14T06:37:00.000-08:00

FYI - to anyone that make catch this blog - I am no longer updating this

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2005-12-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

Santa is a scary mofo
Posted by Picasa

May you all have a Happy Holiday and a peaceful and joyous New Year!!!

John Lennon & Yoko Ono ~ Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ).mp3

:::chatterchatterchatter::::

2005-11-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

I said BRRRRR! / It's cold in here! / there must be some Toros in the atmosphere!

Okay. I really like the movie "Bring It On".
Sue me.
I am a sucker for cheerleading competitions ( and the lil pseudo-punk rock Jesse Bradford. )
Eliza Dushku is pretty hot too.
That's a different topic though.

It's cold here in Austin. It's a jolt to the system ( considering it was 85 a few days ago. )
Bust out the semi-winter jackets, long pants, sweaters kinda cold.
It feels good. Refreshing. Makes it actually feel like November ( or the November that I know. )
IT MAKES ME FEEL ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!
( sorry )

My son Rohen is now 2 months old. Almost 9 weeks. ZOOOOOM - time is a-flying.
I gotta bundle him up good when we head outside into the brisk air. Wonder how long this cold front will last. Will Thanksgiving be celebrated in short sleeves with the AC on?

Mmmm. Thanksgiving.
Which really means MMMMM. FOOD.
Puuuumpkin piiiie. Tuuuuurnips. Maaashed potaaatoes.

( damn, I'm hungry )

Brrr...it's cold in here....

The Cure - Shiver And Shake.mp3
The Sugarcubes - Cold Sweat.mp3
Madonna - Frozen.mp3

Yeah, I suck

2005-11-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

I have a cold.
My 3 year old has a cold.
I've got a 7 week old baby.
I don't have much time for blogging.
I wish I did though.
I miss having nothing to say in colorful paragraphs.
I make a promise to you, my faithful reader ( notice I didn't make that plural? ) and to myself that I will get this thing going again.

Really....

Alison Moyet - There Are Worse Things I Could Do.mp3

Meat Coma

2005-10-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Does it come with a barf bag?
Posted by Picasa

Okay, I'm all for food.
I'm all for LOTS of food.
I'm all for silly, stupid novelty types of food.
Deep fried Oreos, for example.
I'll accept it and even try it...once. Maybe.
That weird Monte Cristo sandwich I've heard about at Bennigan's
( isn't it a deep fried sandwich? I mean, WTF. But, okay. Whatev....)

But a SIX POUND fucking hamburger!!??! My colon spasms just LOOKING at that photo.
It's a heart attack in a bun. Who!? What!? WHHHHYYYY?
I don't even want to know what happens to your body after you eat it.
I wonder if that guy in the photo finished it. And what's up with the pile of pickles on TOP of the bun? Cram that shit in! Throw some donuts, sardines, and cat food in there while you're at it!
LOAD IT UP!!!! Make it REALLY worth the eat!
There's got to be a world's record in there somewhere ( definitely, if you add some Fancy Feast. )

Ack. Aaugh. Eew. Bleurgh.
I love a big meaty burger, but jeekus crow that's just...vile.

Pixies - Gigantic.mp3

Sheesh

2005-10-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

You have a baby and suddenly your blog goes to shit.

I apologize.

I will get back on here....someday.

But yeah, I had a baby.
Sept. 16th at 8:14am.

His name is Rohen and he's lovely.

But he takes up a lot of my blogging time.

It's about that time

2005-09-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

Aaawww
Posted by Picasa

So, as many of you know...I'm gonna have a baby soon.
Like really soon. FOUR DAYS kinda soon. Yeah. SOON.
I go into the hospital on Friday the 16th at 6am ( grrroaaaan ) and my c-section should be taking place around 7:30am. That's what I get for making large babies with enormous heads. A c-section. My second one. At least this time around I KNOW it's coming, I've been there, I'm prepared for it. With my first...well, let's just say two weeks late, 2 days of unbelievable torture to get him out of me, and THEN the c-section. So, this advance notice is quite nice.

We are as ready as we can be. We have all the baby necessities. We've got the family babysitters in our house for the weekend to watch our 3 year old. And I can't tell you how ready I am to NOT be pregnant. I feel like I have a 30 pound medicine ball strapped to my gut. The carpal tunnel ( due to swollen cells ) is excruciating at times. The stretchmarks, the heartburn, the backaches, you get the picture. I want it OVER. Me wanty no more pregnant.

Mostly, I just want to meet my son. I can't wait to see him.
I can't wait for this new chapter to begin. Dying to see who he looks like.
Dying to hold him. It's gonna be one wild day....

Keep your fingers crossed for me. Send good thoughts for a safe c-section, a healthy baby, and a mom that doesn't go loopy with post partum chaos and hormone crash!!

Here's some "baby-fied" tunes.....

Gillian Welch, Emmy Lou Harris, Alison Krauss - Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby.mp3
You Are My Sunshine.mp3
Bing Crosby - Toora Loora Loora ( Irish Lullaby ).mp3
Ring Around The Rosie.mp3

"COCK ROCK" takes on a whole new meaning

2005-09-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

How's it hangin?
Posted by Picasa

"Ladies and Gentleman! Live from The Roxy....it's DEATH COCK!!!"

Turbonegro - I Got Erection.mp3
Peaches - Shake Your Dix.mp3

*I hope this makes up for my lack of posting....hehhehhehheh.....

2005-08-31T21:47:00.000-07:00

Donate to the RED CROSS.
Give blood. Give money.
Find out what is happening locally wherever you are and help out.
More and more lives are at stake, and we've got to do what we can.

I officially suck

2005-08-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

I've lapsed.
Hard.
I don't have the mental energy to "get clever" with any blog-posts lately.
I have ideas and tons of music...I'm just feeling really lazy and un-creative at the moment.
I suck.
I feel bad.
I know blogs have moments of lag, but I didn't want to drop the ball ( and I really don't PLAN to ) yet, blehblehblehblehblehblehblehblehblehbleh......

3 weeks left until baby time.
That will be time-consuming enough.
Maybe it will give me something to discuss.

I'm a bad blog-mom

2005-08-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've totally neglected my blog lately. Life has been busy and my brain has been consumed by other things ( like that I am having a baby in the next few weeks or so. ) I do have topics that come to my mind and I do think of music that would go great with it - it's just taking the time to sit and "make sense of it all".

I had a baby shower recently and I accumulated over 1,000 diapers as gifts.
How fucking awesome is that!? This kid can shit for weeks and weeks and I'm all set!!

Anyway....I'll redeem my laziness soon.
Cross my heart.

Adios July tunes

2005-08-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

I've nixed all the mp3's from July posts - just so you know.
I held out as long as I could.

Drugs are bad, mmkay?

2005-08-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

Rail anyone?
Posted by Picasa

Cocaine*: a crystalline narcotic alkaloid refined from the cocoa plant that acts as a powerful short-acting stimulant and is pharmacologically similar to amphetamines.

*Also known as: blow, charlie, scarface, angie, cheese, powder, base, icing, perico, nose candy, shmeck, belushi, snow, gak, blizzard, serpico, chaz, big c, lady caine, schoolboy, blanca, aunt nora, foo foo, jelly, bernie, mama coca, flake, sneeze, cecil, happy dust, scottie, merk, disco, movie star, sleigh ride, paradise white, snort, wooly, stardust.....

There was a time in my life when I LOOOOOOVED this drug.
I didn't own me. I didn't have a problem where I needed to go to rehab. But, I did let it get out of control at times, and I know it had a stronger pull on me than I expected.

First time I tried it was Fall of 1992. A roommate of mine ( and her boyfriend ) brought some home. I know she had done it before, and I was curious. I was 23. I wasn't drug free by any means at this time ( I was quite a pothead ) and I thought "Why not?" That's when the love affair began. I say this now: If you have never tried it and you THINK it might be something you would enjoy - DON'T DO IT. Trust me....

Long story short, I spent the next few years getting coked out of my mind on most weekends.
Taking money out of my rent and grocery funds to pay for drugs. Not paying my rent for 3 months one time because I had blown it on booze and blow. Meeting and hanging out with people and you would NEVER want to hang out with because you had drugs. Seeing 7am after not having been to bed yet. Sinus shut down. Greediness. Life of the party. Teeth grinding. The drip. The ritual, the camaraderie, the distance, the fake enthusiasm. I've had amazing nights on it and I've had awful nights on it. Sunday mornings where you need to get to work, and you are coming down hard and feeling like death, but you still need to snort a little to keep you from crashing. Sharing bathrooms in crowded nightclubs, offering keybumps out of your paper stash.
Hours and hours and hours of meaningless, excited chatter amongst coked up friends. The silent group circling around the mirror - watching the chop - anxious - waiting.

One day I finally said ( as I was FLYING high on some decent stuff we got ) "Is this fun? I feel like crap. How is this fun?" and I decided at that moment that I had to stop. That was in 1995.
Cut to 10 years later. Do I think about it?
Yes.
Have I wanted to buy some in the last 10 years?
Yes.
Have I had to leave a party or a room because someone had it in front of me and the temptation was too great?
Yes.
Can I still recall the smell and taste of it? If I watch someone do it in movies, do I get a slight longing for it?
Yes. Yes. Yes. and Yes.

Pretty powerful stuff, huh? And I wasn't even some junkie cokefiend. THAT'S how intense the stuff is. TEN YEARS after the fact. I'm 36 now. About to be a mom to TWO boys. I know what I can and can't do with my life, and cocaine is one of them. It's bad news ( despite some of the enjoyment it did give me. ) It CAN kill you. You don't always know what you are getting. And it really fucks up your body. Be smart. Don't do it.

Eric Clapton - Cocaine.mp3
Dillinger - Cocaine ( Running Around My Brain ).mp3
Queens Of The Stone Age - Feel Good Hit Of The Summer.mp3
Johnny Cash - Cocaine Blues ( live at Folsom Prison ).mp3

Douchebag Supreme

2005-08-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

So, I'm driving down the highway today. In the middle lane. Notice the silver pickup in front of me has a bumper sticker that says "HANG UP AND DRIVE" ( with a crossed out cellphone next to it. ) I'm down with that. If I have to use the phone in the car it's BRIEF, and I mean BRIEF. It's not safe, and I hate the assholes who's driving speed drops down 12 mph slower than the designated speed limit in a fast lane because they are bitching with their wife about going to the store. ANYWAY.....

So, I'm driving behind that truck. Saw the bumper sticker. Decide to move over to the left lane so I could catch a little more speed, and as I start to past the silver pickup, I notice the guy at the wheel is ON HIS CELLPHONE!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the biggest asshole on the planet.

L7 - Shitlist.mp3

You go ( ahem ) girl!

2005-07-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

Noxeema Jackson, at your service
Posted by Picasa

I'm ending my birthday post week ( and weekend ) with Wesley Snipes. He turns 43 today.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Snipes. ( I promise to cut back on the birthday posts too....okay, maybe. )

I like Wesley Snipes. He's got a list of decent movies under his belt: New Jack City, Jungle Fever, Murder at 1600, The Fan, White Men Can't Jump, Blade ( okay, I've never seen Blade...but a lot of people did...right? ) and I always thought he could hold his own. My personal favorite of his is To Wong Foo: With Love, From Julie Newmar. I'm a sucker for a drag queen and I think he did an AWESOME job as Noxeema Jackson.

So, for his birthday, I'm gonna put down a few tracks from some of his movies.
Check em out...

from "Waiting To Exhale"
Chaka Khan - My Funny Valentine.mp3
Mary J. Blige - Not Gon' Cry.mp3
from "To Wong Foo: With Love, From Julie Newmar"
Salt 'N Pepa - I Am The Body Beautiful.mp3
from "Blade II"
Ice Cube & Paul Oakenfeld - Right Here, Right Now.mp3
from "Jungle Fever"
Stevie Wonder - Jungle Fever.mp3

"We're cloudbusting, Daddy."

2005-07-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

Kate Bush
Posted by Picasa

First, I would like to wish Kate Bush a very happy 46th birthday.

I LOVE KATE BUSH!!
So unique, creative, passionate, beautiful, haunting….
There is nobody like her – yet many ladies try to emulate her
style as much as they can. I think she is in my top 3 for female singers.
Definitely. She howls, whispers, seduces, croons, loves, aches all at once.

I owe my love for Kate Bush to my high school art teacher. He was in his early 30’s when I was in his class, and he quickly tuned into the more "arty-weird" kids and took them under his wing. He had screen prints and photos of her up in his art room, and he would discuss her with energy and enthusiasm. One day, he gave me a few cassette tapes and said:
"I want you to listen to these. REALLY listen to these. I think you will like her."

He was right. Not only was I beside myself that my art teacher ( oh yeah, for the record, I was totally hot for the guy ) singled me out for this musical journey – but now I would have something that he and I could share ( that many other students did not! ) I became hooked on Kate Bush in 1986. Unfortunately, due to her being terrified of flying – she never – and I mean NEVER – comes to the US. I maaaaaybe had a chance to see her live in the 80’s, but now? Forget it. You can rent/buy some old concert footage though, and to quote her:
"Wow wow wow wow woooooow…unbelieeeeevable!"

Dancer-singer-performance artist-muse. She was so ahead of her time at such a young age ( recording "Wuthering Heights" at 17. ) I could go to many websites and cut and paste her "history" so you could get a better understanding of who she is – but to me – it’s best just to listen…..

Kate Bush - Babooshka.mp3
Kate Bush - This Womans Work.mp3
Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill.mp3
Kate Bush - And Dream Of Sheep.mp3
Kate Bush - The Man With The Child In His Eyes.mp3
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights.mp3

Don't worry

2005-07-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

I'm still here.
Gonna close out the month with 3 birthday posts in a row starting tomorrow ( with lots of great tunes as well. )

Will keep the songs up for an extra week for everyone's listening pleasure ( since I usually yank everything down at the end of the month.) It would be kinda cruel to have stuff up for ONE day and then "See ya!!"

Aren't I nice?

The suspense is killing you, isn't it.....

Happy Birthday Mr. Brownstone

2005-07-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Slash from GNR
Posted by Picasa

Today, Slash from Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver turns 40.
I'll bet many people took bets that he would never see this age.
Quite a party rep the boy has!

Am I a Slash fan? In a nutshell, yeah. Sure. I think he's a talented guitarist.
Am I a Guns N' Roses fan? In a nutshell, sort of. I like "Appetite for Destruction" and
that's it. To me, that's the only album I will listen to by them. All the drawn out, overindulgent ballad bullshit they created on later albums makes me want to puke ( don't even get me started about that song "Civil War" or "November Rain". ) I hated all the Stones/Zeppelin covers they've ever done, and I think Axl Rose is a wiry psycho douchebag.
NICE EXTENSIONS BUDDY!!!!

ps - I don't even have an opinion about Velvet Revolver. They have some notoriety and people enjoy them - but I say "Whatever."

That being said, I still want to wish a Happy Birthday to Slash. Let see if you can keep rockin for another 40 ( hahaha! yeah, I know.... )
Guns 'N Roses - My Michelle.mp3
Guns 'N Roses - It's So Easy.mp3

A sandwich is a sandwich.....

2005-07-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm.....Manwich-y
Posted by Picasa

....BUT A MANWICH IS A MEAL!!!!!

Are you down with the Manwich?

It's a pretty smart concept. Take sauce, dump on meat, stir, VOILA! Dinner.

Again, that's if you are into the whole sloppy joe thing.

I didn't like Manwiches and/or sloppy joes as a kid. I have no fond memories of the Lunch Lady serving up hot piles of slop on a bun ( I was more a "swedish meatballs" kinda girl. ) It wasn't until I was an adult that the joy of Manwich lured me in.

Hunt's Manwich Sauce is definitely a food product that I can recall being pimped on tv when I was a kid, then teenager, then in my 20's, and so on. That's impressive, to have that kind of longevity. We break out the Manwich action at my house on occasion. I think I'm having a slight aversion to it while I'm pregnant though. It juuuust doesn't taste the same. They have also added more flavors to the Manwich roster as well ( besides the tried and true original.)

Now they have a BBQ flavor, and a garlic one I believe? Maybe even something else...

Oh Manwich! What a sandwich!

Beat Box Boys - Yum Yum Eat 'Em Up.mp3

"Once upon a time....."

2005-07-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

I'm a nostalgia junkie.
I love finding & collecting toys, movies, games, books, etc etc etc from my youth.
Just yesterday, I went berzerk because I found out that GNIP GNOP was getting re-made for the masses ( for those that have never heard of it - check out this: http://www.feelingretro.com ) I owned and loved this game ( but I seem to recall getting my knuckles bashed apart on the game. ) Anyone else have this problem?

Inchworm, Milky The Marvelous Milking Cow, Vincent Price's Shrunken Apple Head kit, Creepy Crawlers thingmaker, Digger the Dog, Sweet April dolls ( that cry real tears! ) Baby Alive, Romper Stompers, Smack It!, Patches McGee ( "Patches! Patches McGee! That lil' ragamuffin filled with lots of love and stuffin!" - I think that's how the jingle went. ) The Joey Stivic doll, The Sunshine Family, Slime....the list is endless. And that's just toys!!

Now that I have kid(s) of my own, I'm always thinking about things from MY youth that I could pass onto them. I do have a large container filled with some of my collectibles that I will share and save for them - but what comes to my mind most are the BOOKS of my childhood. My husband and I are big readers - LOVE the books - and lately I've been hunting down my favorites from the past to either read again ( nostalgia phase ) or save for the kiddies.
These are the books that I loved the most:

"Ginnie and Geneva" - by Catherine Woolley (released in 1948 - the tale of 2 girls that meet and become best friends. It's so squeaky clean and fun. I would get lost in this book in the 5th grade - wanting to have the bond that they did. There are a few other G&G books - a cookbook even, which is rare and pricy and I'm DYING to get it - but this is my favorite. )

"The Adventures of Patrick the Mouse" - by Katja Beskow ( A story of a little mouse that lives in Sweden, with his mom and dad and 17 other brothers and sisters. Feeling a little cramped in his house and too curious for his own good, his wandering off gets him lost and caught up in an amazing worldwide adventure. )

"The Great Brain" - by John Fitzgerald ( Takes place in "turn of the century Utah". The story of Tom, and his brothers/family. There is a Tom Sawyer kind of feel to it. I love the many tales within the book: Basil the greek kid with the Erector set, being quarantined while having the mumps, the first indoor flush toilet, etc etc. There is a series of these books, and I read them all.
In fact, some of you may recall that Jimmy Osmond and the Osmond clan actually turned the book into a movie. )

"Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret"/ "Blubber"/ "Starring Sally J. Friedman as herself"/ "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing"....... - by Judy Blume ( I'm a little bummed that I am/will be the mother of 2 boys, only because I really wanted to share all the girly Judy Blume books with my imaginary daughters one day. These books, to me, are essential for every 10-12 year old girl. They may be dated in some ways, but they are still so great to read. Judy did make many "boyish" books as well - and frankly, I would love if it my boys wanted to read the chick ones too. )

I don't want this post to get TOO huge, and I'm finding it's starting to spreeeaaaaaad, so I'm just gonna list the other books I wanted to mention ( without giving a brief description. )
Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Lorax, The Phantom Tollbooth, Ramona The Brave - and other Ramona stories, Where The Wild Things Are, oooh I could go on and on.....

I love the stuff of my youth. I get fueled by images of 70's and 80's memorabilia.
Here's a couple tunes that bring me back to "that time". ( if only I had FREE TO BE YOU AND ME on cd and not vinyl....sigh )

"Spiderman Theme" ( by Will Power ) from THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ( I wish they would show reruns of this show on PBS. The Electric Company was THE SHIT!!! )Spiderman theme.mp3

"S.W.A.T. Theme" ( by Rhythm Heritage ) In the 70's, S.W.A.T. was a hit tv show - which then became a Samuel L. Jackson flick a few years ago. Me and many friends would get together and "play SWAT" - I always wanted to be Hondo - and we would put on this 45rpm and BLAST it from my babysitter's house.
S.W.A.T. theme.mp3

BOW WOW WOW Yippy Yo Yippy Yay

2005-07-18T11:36:00.000-07:00

Australian Cattle Dog puppy = aaaaaw!
Posted by Picasa

Well, I made my obiligatory blog post about my cats - giving them praise and what for. But mostly, I did it so I wouldn't feel guilty about THIS post ( which I had been planning. )

I'm a dog girl! Love them! More than cats. Way more. Dogs rule! All about the dogs!!

I've graduated from a dog grooming school. I watch Westminster every year with a pad and paper, listing my favorties and doing my own judging from the couch ( and any other dog show I can find on tv. ) I've helped out with a Texas Dog Walk for the past 2 years ( mc'ing this year. ) I've attended small dog shows, I try to catch Fly Ball challenges on ESPN2.
I LOOOOOVE DOGS!!!!!

I grew up never owning a dog ( small apartment, landlord didn't allow. ) so I always took a fancy to my friend's dogs. I never actually "owned" ( in this case, "co-owned" ) a dog until I was 25. A rottweiller. A wonderful experience. And unfortunately, with 3 crazy cats - a 3 year old son - and another baby on the way....we won't be getting a dog in this house any time soon. But trust me on this, we WILL have dogs. We WIIIIILL get dogs some day. Luckily, my husband is also a dog lover. We discuss our future dogs pets. We take joy on our family member's dogs. There is something about a dog. I relate to them. I feel like I understand them. I know some people that had bad dog experiences as a kid, and it's made them timid and skeptical around them. I was attacked viciously by a dog on our street, but it never stopped me from loving them and wanting to own a flock. WOMAN'S best friend.

Do I love ALL dogs? Yes and no. I mean, I'm a lover of the dog, per se. But, not every breed floats my boat. I'm not too big on the ankle biters, except for Chihuahuas. I don't care for the foofee poofee yapping hairballs ( that would look like a dustmop if you put a pole in it's butt. ) Shih Tzu's, Lhasa Apsos, Pekingnese, etc etc. Yes, I have met some GREAT dogs of those particular breeds...but, they don't do it for me.
And while it's hard for me to pick a TOP 5 - I'm gonna try to right here:

MY TOP 5 FAVORITE DOG BREEDS:
1. Australian Cattle Dog ( who is pictured up top )
2. Greyhound
3. French Bulldog
4. Carolina Dog
5. Coon Hound

Okay, I would probably add another 5 more breeds in there - but I'll stick to those. My husband loves German Shepherds ( I do too. ) My mother in law owns a beautiful and sweet Great Pyrenees ( love them too. ) Rhodesian Ridgebacks are great. Scottish Wolfhounds. Belgian Malinois. Great Danes. Welsh Corgis. German Shorthaired Pointers.....see? It's hard! But, I will say this: I USED to like Cocker Spaniels. That is, until I started grooming them. I quickly learned how UN-CUTE and NASTY these little things can be. I've met more that were evil than friendly, and it turned me off on the breed. Same with Airdale Terriers ( one of the owners of the school had 6 insane ones that she would bring in and they would bark ALL day and terrorize the other doggie patrons. ) So, I'm totally over them. I could ramble on and on about dogs...but I'll stop here.

If you have a dog, give them a big hug for me.
Adam & The Ants - Dog Eat Dog.mp3
George Clinton - Atomic Dog.mp3
AC/DC - Givin' The Dog A Bone.mp3

9021-OOOOOH!

2005-07-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Brian Austin Green cools off by the pool
Posted by Picasa

First, we must say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Brian Austin Green ( aka David Silver ) for he is 32 years old today! Wooohooooo!

I will tell anyone. I LOVED "BEVERLY HILLS 90210". I remember who I was with and where I was when I caught the premiere episode in 1990 ( I was 21. ) It wasn't shocking or too provocative or depressing. It was just this somewhat trendy nighttime teen soap opera that was SO fun to get hooked on. The pilot is one big commercial for California almost. Namedropping this store and this boutique and this fashion statement and this "cool" band ( ie: David Silver wearing a New Order shirt. ) It was laughable and the characters were snooty 2 dimensional paper dolls. However, the writers did their best ( and achieved I think ) to turn these cookie cutter kids into individuals with depth and quirks and heart. Well, MOST of them.

It was a blast to watch. I lived with 5 guys in 1991-92 and they would RACE home on time ( with a case of beer ) to catch it. It wasn't just a show for the teenybop girl crowd. My 20-something rocker party crowd enjoyed it too. I knew people that had 90210 Nights ( complete with the Brenda Bitch drinking game. ) Anytime Brenda said something bitchy, you drank. So, you got hammered a lot.

They tried to stay current with their topics. Brenda's pregnancy scare. Racism. Etc etc.
The best episodes revolved around all the "addiction" and "drug/booze use" that occurred on the show. It all started with Brandon crashing his car after downing some of Steve's lethal punch at a party ( quick trivia question: What was the name of Brandon's car? MONDALE! )
The way the writers ( and Mr. & Mrs. Walsh ) treated that moment in future discussions, you'd think Brandon was Bukowski. Let's see, then Donna gets drunk at the prom. Kelly gets hooked on diet pills during her modeling phase. Brandon's wild girlfriend, Emily Valentine slips "Euphoria" into their drinks ( nice ecstasy cover. ) David gets hooked on crystal meth. Valerie is a pothead. Kelly becomes a coke fiend. Donna goes on a painkiller binge because of her back. David is now a manic depressive and must go on psychiatric medication. Noah is a lush. Valerie gets slipped a roofie. And of course, Dylan becomes a heroin addict.

COME ON!!! HOW COULD ANYONE NOT LOVE THAT SHOW!?!?!?!
( they should have made Andrea a glue sniffer or something. )

The last few years sucked. No question. But, I'll stand by the first 6 years easily.
I want them to come out with a dvd box set of the series - but it would be huge in size - seeing that it was on for 10 years.

While trying to find a fitting popular 90's tune to pay homage to the show, I came across this ditty and I think it says it all....

Madonna - Take A Bow.mp3

Anger is an energy! Anger is an energy!

2005-07-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

Johnny Lydon, sans spots.
Posted by Picasa

The Independant Film Channel ( aka IFC ) has been celebrating "Punk Month" by showing lots of old school punk documentaries ( The Filth and The Fury ) and various punk-inspired movies ( SLC Punk!, Sid & Nancy ) - so of course The Sex Pistols are discussed quite a bit ( and I'm a Pistols fan ) which in turn gets me to thinking about Public Image Limited ( aka PIL ) and it makes me say "Damn. They were good." ( phew...what a rambling sentence.... )

For those that don't know, PIL was the band Johnny (Rotten) Lydon formed after the crumbling of the Sex Pistols. I don't really want to get into a lengthy bio of the band. Feeling too lazy for that at the moment. I just want to say that they have A LOT of great albums and some really memorable, rocking songs. That's all.

And here are a few of them!

If this stuff new to you - look them up and find out more!

Public Image Limited - Rise.mp3

Public Image Limited - This Is Not A Love Song.mp3

Public Image Limited - Public Image.mp3

Public Image Limited - Disappointed.mp3

Public Image Limited - The Body.mp3

Mama got a new set o' wheels

2005-07-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

That's a fiiiiine automobile...
Posted by Picasa

Okay, that's NOT the car that we got ( but damn, that's pretty sweet, huh? ) I imagine Prince or Barney driving around in that thing.

We got ourselves a 2004 Toyota Corolla S ( the sporty sedan ) in dark metallic gray.
In a word: it's FABULOUS!!!

I have never owned a nice car. A new car. Mine have always been a couple steps past "running", and that's it. They've been about 10 years old, and what most folks affectionately called a beater. When my husband and I got married, I also married into his vehicle - the Toyota 4Runner. Now, this is a TROOPER of a vehicle. It's got 200k on it now ( engine has 125k ) and it's stiiiiiiiill going. Gotta appreciate that. But, it too is now 11 years old ( 94 ) and I didn't even start to drive it until it already had 5 years under it's belt.

But now....we have the SMOOOOOOOOOTH driving 2004 Toyota Corolla.
It's so nice. Sleek. Dependable. Not a gas guzzler. I'm giddy over it, and I'm totally not a "CAR GIRL". I took it on a 60 mile ( to and from ) roadtrip today just so I could enjoy how comfortable and quiet it is. I heart you, Corolla.

I know - not the best comeback post - but it's valid.
Got some good "car inspired" tunes for y'all to enjoy though!!

Depeche Mode - Behind The Wheel.mp3
Melissa Etheridge w/ kd lang - Sleep While I Drive (live).mp3
Gary Numan - Cars.mp3
Audioslave - Gasoline.mp3
The Clash - Brand New Cadillac.mp3

IT'S ALIVE! IT'S ALIVE!!!

2005-07-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

Yeah! It's working now! Woohoo!!

There will be a glorious post ( chock full of tasty tunes ) within the next 24 hours.
You've all been so patient ( you probably didn't even notice )

As Patsy Stone would say:

"Cheers. Thanks a lot."

PLEASE STAND BY

2005-07-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

Due to a domain transfer, I can't update my site ( or fix the momentary glitches ) at the present moment. This will be rectified in a few days though - so don't fret!! Just waiting for the transfer to complete.

Temporary setback. Please talk amongst yourselves.
Back soon!

Long weekends kick my ass

2005-07-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

**Having domain provider difficulties - changed companies - have to transfer over - background and mp3's are down for the moment - will fix ASAP**

I love a long weekend.
It means my husband gets an extra day off. More time home with me and our son. Usually it revolves around a "holiday" of some sort, so lots of my new married-into family gets together and it's a lot of fun. We do have a great time together. But, it also means 3-4 days of nonstop activity, people, eating, going, doing, playing, eating, moving, playing, driving, people, doing, going, eating - lather, rinse, repeat.

I'm wiped out.
Okay, I'm also 7 months pregnant in the grueling TX heat. It was 100-102 ALL weekend ( and it's supposed to hit 103 today. ) That can beat down a cowboy, let alone a fragile knocked up Yankee heat pussy like myself.

So, I'm sorta worthless at the moment. Gotta get my mind back into the 'blogosphere' ( if you will ) and give you something of SOME worth. I'll be back soon with guns blazing, but, for today...I can only muster up this:

Beatles - I'm So Tired.mp3

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

JUNE TUNES ( last day!! )

2005-06-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

Seeing as it is June 30th, today will be the LAST day any of the mp3's from my June posts are up. If there is anything you want to check out ( or snag ) do it today! Cuz they are getting yanked tomorrow!

signed,
the management

I Want Your Sex

2005-06-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

George Michael: The WHAM years.
Posted by Hello

Actually, I don't want your sex. And as we've discovered in the past 5-8 years, you surely wouldn't want mine either. That doesn't mean I don't dig you, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou.

I loved WHAM! UK ( later shortened to Wham ) as a teen ( and find that I listen to the Fantastic! album A LOT...still! ) and when he went solo, I was all for it. FAITH and LISTEN WITHOUT PREJUDICE are excellent albums. I think he has such a smooth, beautiful voice. He's got skillz ( used a Z for extra badass points. )

Anyway, it occurred to me on Saturday that it was his birthday ( the 25th.) He turned 41. But, Home Depot, Batman Begins, and lots of italian food got in the way of me making a blog-post about it. So, here it is....a couple days belated. Happy Birthday, George. Stay outta them rest area bathrooms!

George Michael - They Won't Go When I Go.mp3
( this is a Stevie Wonder cover, FYI )

George Michael - Too Funky.mp3
George Michael - Father Figure.mp3

I'm a dog girl, but.....

2005-06-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Xena, Freddy, and Homer aka "My Pussy Posse"

Recently, a lot of my friends have lost some of their treasured pets. It's a very sad thing to go through. I've been there. This is why I felt the need to give some props to my cats.

I'm the first to admit, my cats are more of an annoyance than a joy. Something happens when you have a kid. These furballs were once my babies. Now, I'm like "Get out of my way." There is always a pile of cat barf waiting to be cleaned up. They shed everywhere. They stink up the place with their nasty pee smell and stinky litter. And the one that still has his claws loves to sink them into any upholstered furniture in his path. But we rescued them for a reason. We wanted pets. We wanted to save them from being put to sleep. And I will continue to care for them and give them a comfortable home as long as they live ( and being indoor cats, that could be a loooong time ) No matter HOW much they grate on my nerves!

Let me introduce you to the cat clan....

First up is Xena ( top photo ) - She is a gray tabby. Technically, she is Gabe's cat. He adopted her in Austin from an animal hospital sometime before he moved to Boston ( 97? 98? ) and at the time the vet thought she was about 4 years old. We are under the assumption now that Xena is either 11 or 12. She's the oldest of the group and only female. Declawed and spayed. Very quiet and likes to be left alone. Sleeps in our computer room most of the time. Pretty sweet, and loves to sit on laps when it's HER decision - but if you were to piss her off ( like the other cats do ) she will turn into one hissing growling bitch. She will also do this at the vet too. Hard to believe this petite, bony little thing can have a screech like she does. But trust me, she does.

Next up is Freddy ( middle photo ) - He is a dark haired tiger cat. Hands down the most beautiful of the 3. Amazing that we found him at a shelter. Gorgeous striped pattern with spotted stomach and the most incredible green-agua eyes. Freddy was adopted by both Gabe and I in 2000 from an animal shelter in Danvers, MA and he was about a year and a 1/2 then ( we say he is 6 or so. ) The youngest of the bunch, and hands down the biggest love slut I've ever known for a cat. LOVES LOVES LOVES to be petted and held and cuddled and will climb all over you to get some affection. He can be skittish and is known to hide when company comes over, but once he mellows you, you can't get rid of him. Neutered and HAS his claws, he's been known to do some damage ( you should see the walls at our old East Boston apt. ) and he does have a tendency to get TOO comfy and dig his claws in your thighs. Likes to stare out the window and makes really strange noises at squirrels and birds, and goes apeshit if you open a can of tuna.

Last but definitely not least is Homer ( last photo ) - He is a Maine Coon cat. Complete with a huge head, double paws, and weighs in at 20lbs. ( and yes, that's normal for a Maine Coon! ) I adopted him from a cat hospital in Auburn, MA as a gift to myself on my 30th birthday. He was a 2 year old neutered MONSTER in a cage, and I just knew I had to have him. He's 8 years old now ( the middle cat ) and he also has no claws. Definitely a mellow cat. Will just sit and watch what's going on around him. Not phased by much. However, he's not a super friendly guy either. While he does have a purr that sounds like an outboard motor, he bites. Mostly it's a persnickety playful bite, but when he wants to ( and if provoked ) he will take a chomp. Been that way every since I got him ( leads me to believe he wasn't treated well at his first home ) Has a low gurgly meow and will sit nearby as I eat cereal, PRAYING I give him the leftover milk.

Unfortunately, because all of these cats come from different homes at different times, it makes them very wary of each other. They "tolerate" each other. That's it. No cuddling. No sleeping together. And if one is in the other's space, they let them know FAST. I've known cats that were way mor of a hassle than these guys are, so I guess I can't complain TOO much. While I may be a dog girl ( the reason we have cats is because where we were both living, we couldn't have dogs ) I do like a good cat. You'll hear all about my dog fascination in another post.

Squeeze - Cool For Cats.mp3

The Cure - Love Cats.mp3

Tom Jones - What's New, Pussycat?.mp3

Bela Lugosi's Dead....

2005-06-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

Dave Vanian of The Damned: a goth-punk vision
Posted by Hello

Leather pants, black nail polish, torn fishnets, vinyl dresses, boots with endless buckles, burgundy velvet, capes, corsets, piercings, pasty skin, makeup for days, crimped-teased-dyed-extensioned hair.....you've entered the Goth Fashion World.

I wouldn't call myself a "visual goth" by any means. Day to day I do not look like Diamanda Galas or Elvira. For the past 20 years - since I was 16, I have DEFINITELY dabbled in it, and it's a look I can appreciate and pull off ( sometimes ) - My hair has been dyed black more times than I can count ( and purple, and red, and burgundy. ) I have more black in my wardrobe than anything else. And I've got the boots, the leather, the vinyl, the buckles, the chains, the fishnets, etc. for when I really want to step into Gothville for the evening. I love a hot goth boy or girl. If someone can really put a look together and WORK IT, I'm all for it. I will always clock on the boy with Ian Astbury hair, unbuttoned frilly white blouse, torn Nick Cave t-shirt and bondage pants. I will always crush on the girl with the dark red waist length dreadlocks, septum piercing, black PVC maid's dress, and 6 inch platform vinyl thigh high boots. It's hot. Something about the goth look turns me on. But, as we all know, there are people that just CANNOT pull off that style, no matter how hard they try.

It's more than the look though - you've got to have the right soundtrack for the setting. As someone that has frequented many "Goth Nights" at various nightclubs in my time, there are certain songs & bands that are MANDATORY for the evening. Bauhaus, Skinny Puppy, NIN, The Cure, The Damned, Ministry, Nitzer Ebb. A little goth, a little industrial, a little new wave, a little electo-clash ( a new term I'm still grasping for a sound/image that is NOT new. ) Throw in a pack of Djarums and some tea rose oil and you are all set. I know I'm being somewhat stereotypical here, but as someone who's been around the scene for a while, I've seen that it hasn't changed THAT much ( accept for the addition of some bands, Hot Topic - making goth fashion more accessible, and better hair dying products. ) Even the dance moves are the same. The infamous being ( what my good friend Mr. Sarah calls ) "Catching Butterflies". You've seen it. Put on a slow Siouxsie tune like Beatles cover "Dear Prudence" and you will watch the room quickly turn into a mass of swirling bodies, all reaching up to the sky in slow motion with fingerless gloves, like they are trying to catch that mystical fluttering bug. I'm not knocking it. I'm guilty of it. But get out of my way if "Radio Babylon" by Meat Beat Manifesto comes on, because I'll be one dancing sweaty flailing pogo'ing goth fool.

I dig the goth scene. I dig the look, I like the music, and it's a pretty passive friendly bunch. You aren't gonna see anyone on "Industrial Sundays" try to beat someone's ass for bumping into you at the bar. Instead, you may see some guys sharing a tube of black lipstick at the urinal. And I like that.

Now, go get your black suede creepers, your skintight Peter Murphy t-shirt , and purple vinyl Lip Service pants. We got some "gothin" to do!

Siouxsie & The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden.mp3
Ministry - Burning Inside.mp3
Nitzer Ebb - Join In The Chant.mp3
The Damned - Anything.mp3
Bauhaus - Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores.mp3
Sisters Of Mercy - Lucretia (My Reflection).mp3
The Cure - One Hundred Years.mp3
Nine Inch Nails - Kinda I Want To.mp3
Skinny Puppy - Dig It.mp3
The Birthday Party - Release The Bats.mp3
Ministry - Everyday Is Halloween.mp3
Front 242 - Headhunter.mp3
Tones On Tail - Go.mp3

A God turns 45

2005-06-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

John Taylor ( Duran Duran ) - 1981. A mere 19 years old. And gorgeous.
Posted by Hello

Today is John Taylor of Duran Duran's 45th birthday.
To think that I remember celebrating ( with a fucking CAKE even ) his 25th birthday totally blows my mind. Aaaaah, the memories. The love I had for the guy. The obsession. The LUST.
I mean, it's still there - but it's mellowed. I'm not the hysterical 16 year old anymore.

*swoon*

I love his early look. The "New Romantic" frilly burgundy pasty lanky Brit boy.

Happy Birthday to you, NIGEL ( hehheh...his real first name ) Any "Duranies" reading this are like "Duuuuuh? We know!! Puh-leeease!"

But, did you know ( or remember ) that he was born at Sorrento Maternity Hospital ( outside of Birmingham, England - near Hollywood) and that he weighed 6 lbs 12 oz?

Wow, that's kinda scary.
Here are some tunes to pay homage to my man, JT.

Duran Duran -New Religion.mp3
Duran Duran - All She Wants Is.mp3
Duran Duran - Come Undone.mp3
Duran Duran - Anyone Out There.mp3
Duran Duran - Planet Earth.mp3

I wish I had an mp3 of "I Do What I Do" ( by John himself from the '9 1/2 Weeks' stdk ) - as well as any of his Terroristen/Neurotic Outsiders or solo stuff. I have them, just not in a format I can use on here!

VH 4-Eva

2005-06-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

Van Halen, in their sexy drunken heyday
Posted by Hello

I love Van Halen.

Really, I do. I think they are one of the best rock bands ever created.

Let me elaborate on this.

I love VAN HALEN.

1984 and earlier.

I do NOT like anything past that.

I do NOT like Van HAGAR whaaaaatsoever.

And do not get me started on the addition of Gary Cherone.

Van Halen or Bust, baby.

Diver Down. Fair Warning. Women and Children First. VH II.

You see where I'm going. This is the Van Halen that I will acknowledge.

My VH appreciation started in 1979-1980, when I was in the 5th grade. I was 10 turning 11 and I had a brother in high school. He turned me onto them. I thought they were wild and crazy and that David Lee Roth had such a sexy mane of hair. It wasn't until Jr. High that my infatuation turned onto Eddie Van Halen, and I started covering the inside of my locker with pictures of him and writing letters to Valerie Bertinelli about "how cool" her husband was. Van Halen reminds me of my youth. Summertime. Feathered hair. Trans Ams. Cut off shorts. Carnivals. Metalheads. Sun-In. First tastes of booze at a slumber party. They were the ultimate fun time kick ass rock band. Not only was the frotntman one of the most sexually expressive/outrageous performers (with a killer voice) to hit the stage, the band was by far one of the most innovative ( guitar player and drummer at least ) to come along. That Eddie sure can shred.

After 1984 ( the year and album ) it all hit the fan. Band turmoil, booze, fights, and Adios Dave.

Sure, Roth went onto a pretty successful solo career ( "Eat Em' & Smile is a kick ass album". Saw the tour and it was great. He got another amazing guitarist to rely on , Steve Vai. He could have done a lot worse. "Crazy from the Heat" is okay too. After that? Eeeeeeh....)

I will give credit where credit is due. Van HAGAR was very well-received. But, it was NOT for me. It was DAVE or NOTHING. And I stand by that. When I was working at Tower Records, and they came out with that Van Halen Greatest Hits ( that was a mix of both Roth AND Hagar ) if we were playing it in the store, I would sneak into our dj booth and try to program it in advance so no Sammy songs were played. My boss would get pissed, but I had to "represent".

Van Halen may not be the band for you. You may think Roth is too overboard and Eddie is just finger-masturbating on his Flying V, but they made some incredible music. I won't argue with you though if you say Michael Anthony is a boring bass player. "Running With The Devil" can tell you that. But, he's vital to the group. Just as Alex is with his tight drum fills and notorious "SSSSSS" cymbal sound. They rocked the 80's. Just listen and see:

Van Halen - Everybody Wants Some.mp3

Van Halen - One Foot Out The Door.mp3

Van Halen - Hot For Teacher.mp3

Van Halen - Eruption (great live version).mp3

Van Halen - Atomic Punk.mp3

OJ: Part Deux?

2005-06-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson, arriving at the courthouse on June 13th 2005, to hear his verdict.
Posted by Hello

Results are in. After 14 weeks of heavy duty trial. Michael Jackson. Not guilty on all 10 counts ( lewd act with a minor, attempt of lewd act with a minor, conspiracy to abduct, giving alcohol to minor, etc etc. )

My thoughts?

BULLSHIT!!!

I'm sorry. NOT GUILTY ON ALL 10 COUNTS?
I know some of the prosecution got flimsy at times. There is talk that the accuser's parents set him up to testify. There are things to be questioned. And there is a the fact that Jackson has repeatedly shared his bed with young boys and he fully admits to it. I just don't believe that's "all there is." The secrets. The private room. The phonecalls. Very DEVIANT and inappropriate behavior.

Something is rotten in Denmark. I mean, Neverland.
He better not be getting away with this.
This better be legitimate. The idea of a possible child molester, as famous and revered as he is ( was. is. was. ) , being set free makes me sick and enraged.

Clutch - Binge & Purge.mp3

Happy Birthday Judy Garland!

2005-06-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale ( from The Wizard of Oz )
Posted by Hello

(Apparently I have a penchant for wishing anyone named JUDY a Happy Birthday. First Judy Collins, now this. Totally unplanned. Why is that? Kismet? Fate? Judy Fetish? Maybe I've accidentally stumbled upon a theme and I should stick with it.... )

Anyway, Judy Garland would have been 83 today. Would have been interesting to see how she would look now or where here career would have gone ( had she not loved the pills. )
I bet she's "somewhere over the rainbow" right now.
:choke:gasp:cough:
Yeah, that was weak.

Judy Garland - Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.mp3

Thank you for coming back.....

2005-06-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

the best fucking show on earth
Posted by Hello

....BUT HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME!!

I'm having some issues over the return of Six Feet Under. Tonight is the season premiere of Season 5. I've been waiting MONTHS for this. I am counting the hours until it comes on this evening. So, you could say I am very happy.

But, I'm not just happy. I'm also groaning in agony because this is going to be it's LAST SEASON. Fini. Adios. No more. Not gonna re-appear in 6 months. It's GONE. Done. And it's killing me.

I'm sure you are thinking, "Jill. Get a grip. It's a goddamn TV show."

But, I looooooooved this show. Never has a show touched me on so many levels as Six Feet Under. It's thought provoking, spiritual, clever, disturbing, sweet, sexy, upsetting. It's probably the most REAL show I've ever seen. You fall in love with these characters. Their fuck ups and complexities. The chemistry between David and Keith. Ruth and her gentle sincerity. Claire and her desperation for truth, art, and love. Nate's confusion. Brenda's power.

I bow to the creators of Six Feet Under, for making a show so magical. While I agree that a show should stop when it's still intense, and not when it's 3 seasons tired and burnt - it doesn't make it any easier on me to know that it won't be there anymore.

Everything about this show is amazing. From the music, to the storyline, to the cinematography, to the acting. I could ramble on for hours about my favorite moments on the show. The ones that made me cry, cringe, or crack up. But, I'm gonna end this post with a song that was played in Episode 45: "Terror Starts At Home" from Season 4.

Thank you, Six Feet Under.

When your time comes, may you rest in peace.

Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism.mp3

Dream Brother

2005-06-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

Jeff Buckley - RIP
Posted by Hello

How could I forget. On May 29th, I make a brief boring post about nothing, when it was the date of something far more important to me. May 29th, 1997 was the day that Jeff Buckley was pronounced dead. Drowned. And a part of my heart shattered. I know I sound tragic and groupie-like, but his music has been so much to me. I have never met someone with such charisma, talent, heart, humor, and a pure joy for song and life ( no matter how painful or sad life can be. ) I didn't like to share him with anyone. I felt like those songs were mine and mine only, and the people in my life at the time ( boyfriend mostly ) weren't worthy enough to experience it. His "Grace" album became a sanctuary to me. My life at the time of it's popularity was filled with chaos and hurt, and his voice made it go away. I feel honored to have met him. One of the best memories of my life is sitting up in the VIP section of Avalon with Jeff, drinking beer, watching PJ Harvey. I mean, you don't GET moments like that. You can't even make that shit up. In a word, it was AWESOME. I knew his girlfriend at the time, and they would pop into Tower when he was in town and he was always friendly and down to earth. We cracked jokes about his chicken salad sandwich at the in-store he did and then in a blink of an eye, he could walk onto that stage and go from "average joe" to "voice from beyond". I've seen him perform twice and both times I was brought to tears. Magical, beautiful, raw, tender, aggressive, out of control.....he took me with him when he sang.

It's so sad that he is gone. So young. The only thing about his death that gives me any comfort is that he died singing. Drunk in the Mississippi River, his guitar player says that Jeff was floating in the water, singing Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" at the top of his lungs shortly before he disappeared into it's murky depths after a boat went by. If there is a way to go....

Again, I know I sound like some crazed sycophant. What makes him better than anyone else?

Why is HE so special? Because he was. That's all. His music made my emotions come alive. The good and the bad. The world might argue with me. Some of my friends might say "Eh" when hearing some of his songs. But to me, he was larger than life while at the same time being so small and fragile. The day that I found out he had gone missing and was presumed dead, I broke down into tears at work. I went home later that evening, put on "Grace", lit a sage bundle, and stared at the wall and cried some more. Dramatic, sure - but I needed to grieve. Someone who moved me so deeply was gone. I also wrote a poem ( which I still have ) and here it is:

In Sweet Memory

So fully ripe with flavor

In the milky coat of summer

That angel's drunken wander

Did he ever stop to ponder

that this might possibly be

a last attempt for free?

An angel's voice was silenced

in a last attempt for leisure.

There was no saving grace

A silver lining now been cut.

Songs are floating into space

Tears flow down a lover's face.

This was his last goodbye

A last attempt for leisure.

It's no Walt Whitman, but it came from a real place in my heart.

I wish he could be here, creating and singing. He had so much more to give.

RIP Jeff

*I apologize for the bad spacing/un-even paragraphs. Blogger is not co-operating with me today.

Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Should've Come Over.mp3

Jeff Buckley w/ Shudder To Think - I Want Someone Badly.mp3

Jeff Buckley - New Year's Prayer.mp3

Jeff Buckley - Calling You ( Jevetta Steele cover ).mp3

Jeff Buckley - Everybody Here Wants You.mp3

Happy Memorial Day

2005-05-29T00:59:00.000-07:00

Like you care. It's an extra day off from work for most people. That's the best part about it.
My weekend has and will continue to be about eating a ton of food. Lots of family here to celebrate our niece turning one. Good times. Will eat my weight in macaroni salad tomorrow.
I have nothing.
Wasteful, boring post.
I owe you one.

Don't be a bummer, Summer

2005-05-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

Summer is here.
It didn't greet Austin kindly, with a few gentle hints of its' arrival.
Instead it came like an onslaught of smacks to the face. More like suckerpunchs, actually. While we all know it gets hot in Texas, we were treated to a big surprise from Mother Nature. We got a record high of 97 degrees on Saturday. That's QUITE high for May. Nobody expected it or was too ready for it. Then to make things more exciting, on Sunday we watched the mercury bubble towards 99 degrees. I think we were just one notch cooler than Hell. That first taste was pretty brutal. By 11am on Saturday, the sun felt like a hundred burning angry fists, and I was getting pummelled. Our trip to the Farmer's Market ended quite abruptly. I found I couldn't focus on the bounty of organic veggies and raw milk cheeses due to my panting and fear of melting in my place. Being pregnant and just getting over a chest cold SURELY didn't help my situation either. Knocked up in Texas summer. It is quite a cruel joke. At least by Sunday we were prepared for the worst.

I'm an admitted heat pussy. I lived in New England for 33 years. I understand wind chill factors, not heat indexes and high pressure systems that suck the clouds out of the sky. While it gets hot up North, it doesn't get TEXAS hot. While it does hit the 90's in Boston, it doesn't hit it for one month straight. Or two. Don't get me started with that bullshit of "It's a dry heat." To quote my friend, Buddy: "Anyone that says that should be shot in the taint." So eloquent, so true. Ever been to Las Vegas in June? Dry heat my ass!!! It was 107 degrees of evil desert heat and it felt like walking thru a pizza oven. My move to Texas had me a bit worried. I wasn't sure I would be able to stand a powerful summer that went from May ( sometimes April ) to October. I've held my own though. You may have caught me off-guard this weekend, but I'm back on my feet. I'm ready for you now, Summer! Give me some scorching pavement? I've got my flip flops. Turn my car into a sauna? I'll just crank the icy A/C! Think you can invade my home? Try to get past my central air conditioning! I dare you!!! And to up the ante, I've got SPF 45, a sun hat, and an inground pool, you scalding motherfucker!!! May a 1000 popsicles be rammed up your sunny anus!

Jane's Addiction - Summertime Rolls.mp3
The Sundays - Summertime.mp3
B-52's - Summer Of Love.mp3

Kiss My Grits

2005-05-21T00:26:00.000-07:00

Flo from ALICE - Posted by Hello

MAY 21st is "NATIONAL WAIT STAFF DAY"!!!

Hey Good Lookin? Whatcha Got Cookin?

2005-05-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

"Hello. My name is Jill, and I'm addicted to cookbooks."

( group in unison ) "Hello Jill."

It's true. I've been a cookbook addict for about - um - 6 years now. I'd always loved scouring the pages and being intrigued by a particular theme cookbook or one by a favorite chef, but slowly, it started getting out of hand. The 4 or 5 that I'd had soon multiplied to....108. Yes. 108.
And I didn't even count the recipes I've torn out of magazines that I've saved, or the HUGE manila folder of hand-written recipes that I jotted down during my "boring time" while manning the reception desk at Tower Records. The recipe collecting started before the cookbook collecting. We had a large magazine section in the store, and I would bring up Bon Appetite, Cooking Light, Saveur, Food & Wine, etc. and write down the recipes I found tasty or intriguing. I ended up having a huge stack of pages, seeing as I did this for months. Oh yeah, there's my online Word Document that is set aside for recipes I find online as well. It's about 13 pages long at the moment.

Cookbook Junkie. Recipe Whore. That's me.

Is there a method to my cookbook madness? Yes and no. There are specific types of cookbooks I like to collect ( my main focus being the hardbound Better Homes & Garden series from the late 1950's to early 1970's - which I have about 25+ of and I'm still hunting a particular few. ) These are scavenged from Ebay, Goodwill, and other various thrift stores. Mostly, it's the photography of the food I'm fascinated with. That particular time period was all about "make it pretty" ( which means gaudy ) and some of the recipes are too hilarious for words. Aspic? Ham N' Lima Bake? I don't think so. I also love kitschy things, like old County Fair cookbooks, celebrity cookbooks ( I have a Minnie Pearl one that I cherish ) , and other quirky things like that. If I can find the bizarre, I'm all for it. My weirdest is a cookbook all about insects. No joke. Put together by a nutritionist and a scientist. Some bugs are QUITE good for you, actually. If you are ever feeling peckish for some "Stinkbug Pate", drop me a line. My cookbook love is also serious too. I DO love to cook ( as does my husband ) - and we never get enough chance to in the ways we'd like - but I like having this arsenal in my kitchen to run to. I love to learn. I watch the Food Network ALL the time. My favorite type of food is italian ( my guinea roots ) therefore, you will find books from Biba Gaggiano, Mario Batali, The North End, and even The Sopranos on my shelf. I'm a sucker for Jamie Oliver ( I heart the Naked Chef ) so I have 3 or 4 from his series. Since I'm a Texan now, I've got a few books to help me learn true cowboy cuisine, yet I still have my Yankee pride and I've got my New England gaggle of books to keep me grounded ( Durgin Park! ) Be it vintage, new, Ming Tsai, Red Sage, Garlic, Fondue, Rick Bayless, Bread: I have books that run the gamut of gastronomy ( does that even make sense? ) and I plan on getting more and more. I loooove my large bookshelf in the kitchen just STACKED with my cookbooks. I know they say that it's a mild form of OCD to get obsessed with collecting items, but I'll take it!!!

PS: If Chef Masaharu Morimoto ever comes out with a cookbook, I will crap myself with joy.
I love him like little girls love Hilary Duff.

Louis Jordan - Beans And Cornbread.mp3
Dinah Shore - Shoofly Pie.mp3
Outkast - Fish & Grits.mp3
Louis Prima - My Cucuzza.mp3
Ween - Pork Roll Egg And Cheese.mp3

They say it's your birthday

2005-05-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

Send in the clowns.....
Posted by Hello

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY COLLINS!!!!

Dream A Little Dream

2005-05-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

Zzzzzzzzzz
Posted by Hello

This morning, I woke up and realized I just had the STRANGEST dream.
I don't remember all of it, all I know is that at one point I was watching Thomas the Tank Engine on tv, and he was singing "Cities in Dust" by Siouxsie & The Banshees. What's weirder is that there was no acknowledgement in the dream about the song ( like "Oh, he's singing Siouxsie." ) I just happened to wake up RIGHT after I had it, and the words to the song were still in my head. After running the lyrics in my brain for a few seconds, I realized what it was.

Weird? I think so. It was like my world and my son's world collided in my mind.

I'm a dreamer. My whole life I've had vivid, memorable dreams.
I have also suffered from horrible nightmares my whole life too.
Admittedly, they've mellowed a little bit....but when a doozie hits....watch out. For about 10 years, I was having steady dreams about tornadoes. Very frightening, action-packed nightmares where I could see these giant twisters either on the horizon coming towards me, or I was trapped in a house or basement somewhere while they ripped the place to pieces. I came to find out later ( thanks to my therapist ) that tornadoes in dreams signify "anxiety - fear of the unknown". Yeah, that's me. This was the same woman that diagnosed me with generalized anxiety disorder, so hearing that information wasn't exactly shocking. My nightmares are also the things that would make Clive Barker jizz in his pants. If only there was a way to somehow "zap" my nightmares onto video, I'd own Wes Craven. Very bloody, gorey, disturbing....the one I had about Sylvester Stallone as a vampire was so fucked up and gross that I will never forget it. Okay, it's disturbing enough that I dreamt about Sly, but in this dream, I watched someone put a meathook in his eye and then for what seemed like 45 minutes, I watched them slowly drag the hook thru his eye socket, forehead, skull. It wouldn't end. Larger than life and in full technicolor. Sick sick shit. All from my head.

I've also had this re-occurring dream that pops up every 6 months to a year that isn't exactly a nightmare, but it's not that fun either. It's about me having to go thru high school again. For some reason my 1987 graduation was bogus - almost as if it never happened - and I had to go back. I've woken up thinking it was real for a moment too ( but this was back when I did a lot of drugs, so...... )

Of course, I love a good sex dream. Who doesn't?!? I remember being in high school, and I went thru this phase where it felt like I could totally control my dreams, and I was going to bed early so I could create these elaborate sexual fantasies with me and John Taylor. Aaaah, memories.
It's nice to wake up knowing a sex dream snuck up on you during your slumber. Wow, Jeremy Irons wanted *ME* to give him head? Awesome!! That threesome with Angelina Jolie and Prince was HOT!! Not sure if it's just me, but I have such a lengthy photographic memory, that LOTS of things stay in my head for yeaaaaaaaaars. I still recall a dream I had in 3rd grade about our guidance counselor ( Mrs. Callahan ) and her dolphin hand puppet ( Duso the Dolphin...don't even get me going about the song about him ) and in the dream I sat in her office and poured bottles of ketchup all over this box of Colorforms. This dream is over 25 years old, but it's still stamped in my mind like it was yesterday. Then there was the 6th grade dream about me being one of The Warriors ( a Baseball Fury ) . My friend Dee Dee was so enthralled with that one that she made me repeat it at lunch time. There are many more just like that filed away in the "Dream" cabinet in my skull.

I hope to keep dreaming this way. Well, the shitty stuff can go disappear and I wouldn't mind, but I love having such wild stuff go on in my head. Except for anything sad or scary involving my husband or kids. Hate it. HAAAAAAAAATE it. Nothing worse than spontaneous tears on your pillow at 3am because of something fucked up that startled you out of a deep sleep. Oh yeah, vomit too. Can't handle vomit in real life, let alone in my dreams. But if some nights I get a chance to dance with Eddie Izzard in a mud pit or let John Waters paint my toenails, that's a damn good night. Even if it's in my mind.

The Cure - If Only Tonight We Could Sleep.mp3
Megadeth - Wake Up Dead.mp3
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams.mp3
Connie Francis & Hank Williams - Send Me The Pillow You Dream On.mp3

B.S.S.

2005-05-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Being. Sick. Sucks.

Actually, I'm not the one who is sick. Thankfully. And I hope I didn't jinx myself by saying that and come down with this nastiness in the next 36 hours. My husband and son are sick. Husband is on the mend, back at work, functioning properly. He battled his disease demons already. The son isn't doing so hot. Common fever ( fevers are good by the way, they can just be frightening at times if they get too high ) and a sore throat. A little booger action. Sore throats and toddlers don't mix. They make for one cranky, sad individual. Right now I'm grateful for Whole Fruit popsicles, Throat Coat tea, Children's Tylenol, and Dora the Explorer. Without this combination, I might climb the nearest, tallest tree and jump. When your kid is sick, it's nerve-wracking. I try to remain levelheaded and calm and very "Aw, he'll be fine" ( even though my stomach is in knots over it.) You feel helpless and anxious, worry about it getting worse, watch for symptoms, try anything to make them feel better. My poor little guy. He's being a trooper.

I'm not a good sick patient. I can tough it out like the best of them, but I can also get very crybaby whiny over things like a sinus infection ( crying and sinus infections don't mix either. ) I HAVE to have tissues with lotion in them. I HAVE to have certain kinds of orange juice. I HAVE to have specific cough drops. Yeah, I get rather 'Mommie Dearest' when I'm on my sick bed. Not always though. Back in March, the husband had to go away for 4 days to San Francisco ( gaming conference ) and wouldn't you know, I get sick the day he's leaving. And I mean SICK. The head, the throat, the sinuses, the chest, the cough. Fucking miserable. Newly pregnant too ( which wasn't making me feel too swell to begin with ), a major cold, and playing Super Parent for the next 100 hours, SOLO. It was NOT fun.

Anyway. That's all I can muster today for my blog. A post plagued with illness and "bleh". We ALL slept like shit last night ( up off and on checking temperatures and responding to tears ) and I'm on Mom-Autopilot ( which feels like one notch above "Re-Animator Zombie". ) Fingers crossed that what he has doesn't get worse and we end up at a doctor's office. Oh yeah, and that I don't catch this funk.

Mudhoney - Touch Me, I'm Sick.mp3

La Mosca Bionica!!

2005-05-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

Ole!
Posted by Hello

Actually, La Mosca Bionica means "The Bionic Fly".
What I really should be saying is HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!

Like you REALLY care, huh? Unless you are mexican, not many people give a hoot. No offense to my mexican "hermanos y hermanas", but it's true. I don't think we ever learned about it in school ( go figure - white bread small town in Massachusetts. ) But, I'm down for it!!

Depending on where you live, this day might not even register a 'blip' on your social event calendar, but here in Austin - it's pretty big. Weekend long fiestas, car shows, and every mexican joint packed to the rafters. Hey, if I could, I'd be sucking down a delicious top shelf Mexican Martini at Trudy's tonight. Pregnancy got in the way of that though.

So, go roast some cabrito on the grill, gobble up some menudo, have some churros for dessert, and wash it all down with an icy glass of horchata.

Hasta luego!

Bert Kaempfert - Mexican Shuffle.mp3

Oh Mother!

2005-05-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

Carol Brady aka Super Mom
Posted by Hello

A Mother's Day Commentary ( early, because I will be busy all weekend )

Note: I had made this well thought out post, and *BAM*, the server went bunk and I lost it.
I don't think I could retrieve ( mentally ) everything word for word...so I'll just bullet thru and see what happens.

*I have issues about Mother's Day because of my own screwed up relationship with my mom. For years, I have often gotten jealous on this particular day because I think of the really good mom-daughter relationships out there and hate that I got shafted. I am the girl in the Hallmark store trying to find the non-mushy, non-emotional "fart joke" card because LOVE and MY MOM don't mix. I find I am buying the card out of guilt, not because I want to tell her how wonderful she is or thank her for all she's done. She did not teach me about love or show me love ( in the right ways ) and in turn it's caused me years of angst and confusion about how I really feel about my mom. But, that's my saga. She's not a horrible person, but she should have tried HARDER to be BETTER.

*After saying all that above, I also feel I have no right to complain about my Mother's Day issues, because I have good friends that have lost their moms ( way earlier than they should have ) and I know they'd give anything to have them back - even for just that one day - so I feel like my rant isn't as legit as theirs could be. If I could bring those moms magically back for them, I would. I may complain, but I also know it would be pretty upsetting if she were gone.

* I can't say Mother's Day is a total bust for me, because now I'M a mom and I reap the benefits of the day ( whatever they might be. ) I only hope my kids feel love and affection and happiness towards me on this day in the future and not the dark cloud in my brain that I get. I will say this though - the neglect, violence, cruelty and mistakes my mother made have turned me into a better mom. It taught me EVERYTHING a mother should NOT do. All the hugs I didn't get, I have plenty for my kids. All the talks we should have had, I will discuss endlessly with my kids. All the abuse I suffered, my kids will never understand or experience. And they will never be able to say "My mother never said I Love You".....like I can.

*I've met some incredible moms in my years. Moms filled with such love, respect, and inspiration for their kids. Moms that make you say "Let me be HALF the person she is."
I love those moms. I've also met some shitty moms too. Moms who are selfish, neglectful, and totally unaware of the damage they are doing. Moms that make you say "Wow, I feel so bad
for those kids." Unfortunately, it seems like there are more of the bad than good.

*I'm not the only girl on the planet with Mom grievances. I think even the best mom can do a few annoying things from time to time. I know the most patient mom can have that moment where she is so tempted to slap her child. I know the most loving mom can have that moment where she just wants to walk out of the house and scream. I know the most giving mom can have that moment of "Jesus, do I have to read that AGAIN?" at bed time.
We aren't perfect. We just feel we have to be. Some make it look easier than others. Some give up.

To all you moms out there, doing it solo. To all you moms out there, sacrificing your life to make sure your child has better than you did. To all you moms out there that are tired and depressed because you feel like you aren't doing a good job. To all you working moms out there that go non-stop and still make quality time for your kid. To all you stay at home moms that don't get any adult interaction for days on end ( except when Dad comes home. )
I salute you.
Happy Mother's Day

PS: So this doesn't look all bad, my mom can be very funny - she spoils her grandson rotten ( whether we want to or not ) and she's always willing to spend money on something silly for me.
She has her good side. Not everything bad from the past was entirely her fault.
Wait until June when you see my Father's Day rant......

Tracy Bonham - Mother Mother.mp3
Danzig - Mother.mp3

FYI

2005-05-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

Remember kids: At the end of each month, I will "archive" ( ie: yank ) all the mp3's from that month. Seeing as it's now May 1st, it means all the mp3's from April posts will go bye-bye.
I know. Don't cry.
It's so I can keep my download folder less crowded and the cyber buzzards off of my ass.
Ya dig?

I don't have much to add today, but I will submit one of my favorite photos.
It makes me smile so.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I like that there new-fangled intarweb!

2005-04-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Isn't technology cool?

I know. Staggering understatement. But, sometimes it's just so amazing to me, that I can't even wrap my head around it enough to BEGIN to give it the praise it deserves.

This is all stemming from my new camera phone. We got an upgrade in our cell phone service and now we have camera phones. Did you ever think when you were 10 years old that we'd have things like CAMERA PHONES!? Mind you, I was 10 about 26 years ago. You newbies might not be able to understand this feeling that I have. Did you ever think they'd make cameras that don't involve film or dropping film off at a processing place where you pick your photos up later? Now we can take pictures and print them at home! You can take pictures and SEE what it is you are taking a picture of. We can put 1000's of songs onto one tiny little rectangular device that fits in your pocket. We can talk to people in France online ( either typing it out onto a screen or a speaking into microphone.) We can GO ONLINE, period. I can make this blog. It's endless.

Whoa. It's all I got. Whoa. Sometimes I sit and overthink these things and my mind is blown. I mean, don't even get me started on surgical technology and what doctors have the means to do now. I'm still trying to grasp the concept of my new camera phone. The one that can play actual songs ( and not some bleep-blip-ding ring tone. )

"Beat On The Brat" by the Ramones is my new ringtone by the way.
Yeah, I'm cool.

"I Love Technology" - (Napoleon Dynamite inspired remix)

All The Young Dudes

2005-04-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

Duran Duran - the "New Romantic" years.
Posted by Hello

I'm a sucker for a pretty boy. A pretty rocker boy. That being said, I looooooved the 80's. I was a teenage girl, trying desperately to be a goth-new wave fashionista, and with all these tarted up frilly boys wearing just as much Maybelline as I, well...it was heaven.

Depeche Mode, Japan, Duran Duran, ABC, Thompson Twins, Culture Club, Bauhaus, The Cure, Gene Loves Jezebel, etc, etc : each band having a singer or keyboard player more stylish and androgynous than the next. Girls actually had a MALE to look up to for fashion tips and make up advice. I totally wanted to have John Taylor's sultry burgundy mop of hair alongside Adam Ant's flair for dramatic makeup. I wanted Boy George's array of wigs and weaves and Martin Gore's fetish boytoy leather gear. Shit, they looked better than most girls on a GOOD day. I ate it up. A few guy friends of mine did too.

Years later I find I am still turned on and intrigued by that 80's suave-glam style ( while some photos make me laugh out loud. ) I am also quick to remember that there are photos of me in the 80's that should be burned for my attempts at trying to adopt a look that only a professional stylist and a gold card could create. But hey, it's part of growing up. Most of those guys were in their early 20's ( young and cocky ), and I'm sure they crack up at how much blush they have smeared across their photogenic cheekbones when they go thru an old tour program. I guess the Glam Invasion of the 70's paved the way for that ( Bowie, Bolan, Sweet, Gary Glitter, Kiss - although they aren't glam, but they get top billing for famous made up rockers. ) And that look transformed in the 80's thru many different styles of music as well ( Think Motley Crue: They went from the "satanic bondage" look to "one lipstick tube away from tranny" in their first 6 years. ) Now, if you turn on MTV, you will see the makeup thing is still pretty major to a lot of bands today.

I think a lot of today's punk-pop bands are in a fashion regression. Lots of biting off of 80's style with a more "DIY" edge to it. They may think it's clever, but I say "Samhain beat you to it.". Some nu-metal poseurs ( Mudvayne, Slipknot, Insane Clown Posse ) all went a bit nutty with the stage makeup-death/gore look to get attention, which is really just biting off of the black metal makeup trend ( which, once again, can be guided right back to Kiss - and maybe, King Diamond )

Anyway. Rock boys in makeup. I could have easily made this post "The History of Makeup in Rock Music" ( and I started to venture in that direction ) but I'd rather just pay tribute to it. Stand proud as a lover of the androgynous girl-boy musician. Here are some of my favorite bands that were quite well known for their visual pretty boy appeal as well as their songs.

David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
Adam & The Ants - Beat My Guest
Thompson Twins - Lies
Depeche Mode - Dressed In Black
The Damned - New Rose
Culture Club - Time (Clock of the Heart)
Duran Duran - My Own Way
The Cure - Screw
Dead Or Alive - Big Daddy Of The Rhythm

"Look Ma! A penis!"

2005-04-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

David Letterman shows off a photo of his new son, Harry.
Posted by Hello

Today I had a sonogram and found out that the growing person inside of me is a BOY!! Yes. A boy. ANOTHER boy ( I have one already. ) I was wishing for a girl, but I can't say I am disappointed. Not in the slightest. I'll have two boys. Mama of 2 sons. I will reign supreme as Queen Mother. Matriarch. Lone Female of the Clan. I will be loved and praised forever ( okay, until they are 13 and I suddenly become "The Plague". ) 'Tis the curse of Moms. You are Goddess Incarnate until puberty hits, then you get smacked down a few pegs and are told you are about cool as a roll of papertowels. Knowing this, I choose to bask in the glow of my sweet boy love and Super-Mom status as long as they deem me fit to carry the torch.

For my soon-to-be second son ( in September ) I give you this song.

( Now we just have to come up with a name for the little guy! )

John Lennon - Beautiful Boy

Sad Songs Say So Much

2005-04-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ya big crybaby
Posted by Hello

Do songs make you cry?
Are you one of those people that hears a certain melody, and you are instantly fighting back tears? Eyes welling up while you drive in your car because a heartwrenching tune has popped up on your iPod?

That's me. Big time. At the movies, watching tv, in the car...doesn't matter.

Sometimes it has nothing to do with the lyrics either. It can be the slow aching drone of a cello, or the sad, simplistic minor keys on a piano. But they just WRENCH something out of you, don't they? I hate to admit this, but at Sea World ( during Shamu's show ) , they started to play the most ridiculous adult-contemporary drivel - a ballad that had a chorus of "You Raise Me Up" (something perfect for an Olympic ice skating performance) and I will admit that it got me. I sat misty eyed, watching these amazing killer whales soar thru the water to this song, and while it might have been their beauty that made me teary, the song helped. A REALLY STUPID song, too.

I mean, everyone knows that music can really heighten an emotion. What the fuck do you think movie scores and soundtracks are for? The scene in "She's Having a Baby" where Kevin Bacon's wife is rushed in to have an emergency c-section, while he sits afraid and helpless in the hallway is ALREADY a tearjerker. Adding Kate Bush's "This Woman's Work" in the background is enough to make you fall on the floor in a bawling heap. It's perfect. It's torture.

I love a good cry. I love hearing a song that makes me feel it right down to the center of my being. I love that a song can be so sad, or beautiful, or raw that I am in tears. Sure, it's happened at inopportune moments, but that's okay. It's great that a piece of music can evoke that much feeling in me. Whether it's their voice, their words, their music - or a combination of all three - it's a great compliment to those artists. They got me. YOU moved me. Thank you. Sometimes it's like they are singing TO you, or it's like you could have written the words yourself. Whatever it is, it got under your skin and the tears are a-flowing.

Here are some of my all-time favorite weepy tunes. The first song (REM) is obvious ( by the title alone) , but it still doesn't take away anything from it. It GOT me. It's an anthem for anyone embracing some pain, and who can't relate to that? All the others songs on here have made Kleenex an extra buck or two as well. I have to explain The Dixie Chicks one though. I respect them musically, but it's not really my cup of tea. A couple years ago, a friend mine took her life and it really hit many of us hard. The worst being that she left behind a 2 year old son ( as the mother of a little boy, this was crushing to me. ) At the funeral, they played "Godspeed" by the Dixie Chicks, and it was like she had come out of the clouds and was singing to her little boy. They could not have chosen a better song, and at the same time, it was so incredibly painful to hear. That song will forever make me cry. And the last song I chose (INCUBUS) , while I find it very pretty and touching in a lyrical sense, it was the last 30 seconds that caved me in. Something about the way he sings it just tears thru me.
*sigh*
Pardon me while I tune in and sob ....

Note: Many songs off of Sarah McLachlan's "Fumbling Thru Ecstasy" album can get me going too, but I couldn't pick just one...so I left them off the list.

REM - Everybody Hurts
Aimee Mann - Wise Up
Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Should've Come Over
Jennifer Holliday - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
Dixie Chicks - Godspeed
Sinead O'Connor - Troy
India.Arie - Ready For Love
Incubus - Southern Girl

Cheers to Mushy Peas

2005-04-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

Mmmm. Mushy Peas.
Posted by Hello

We can eat sushi in South Carolina. We can eat cannoli in Colorado. We can eat escargot in the East Village. Foods from almost any region can be enjoyed almost anywhere else in the world. Ethiopian. Vietnamese. Mexican. Yet, I've noticed that SOME food items seem to stay where they started. My example being: mushy peas.

For those not in the know : mushy peas are dried marrowfat peas which have been soaked overnight and then boiled. They are a great favourite of the north of England and are a traditional accompaniment to fish and chips. I've eaten at a few "English" pubs in the US, and many tried to create a menu similar to what you might find outside of London. Bangers and mash. Kidney pie. Shepherd's pie. But I've yet to see mushy peas on the menu. This is me though. There could be places out there in the US that serve them and I'm just not aware, but it's not exactly a food item you hear about regularly. Be honest...did YOU know about mushy peas? I had no clue until about 2-3 years ago.

The thing is, we have peas here. It's a common vegetable ( one of my favorites actually ) and the only way you ever hear it getting used is in it's typical spherical form or made into soup. The mushy thing never came into play. Granted, the pea they use is different from the average garden variety pea we usually eat - but I'm sure we can get these marrowfat peas. If you can get cucuzza ( long bright green italian zucchini ) in a supermarket, then we should be able to get these fancy peas. I guarantee more than half of the US has never heard of mushy peas. Shit, even HAGGIS made it into specialty stores and butcher shops within the US, but in my opinion, Scotland can have it BACK. The reason we know about it is because of how disgusting it sounds. I recall Mel Gibson being taunted into eating some on Jay Leno. Like Mike Myers said in "So I Married An Axe Murderer" ( paraphrase )
"I believe most Scottish cuisine was based on a dare."

But, this is about MUSHY PEAS.

I'm gonna have to start scouring the international section in fancy grocery stores to see if a can of mushy peas pops up ( I've seen them online. ) I want them to get their due. The world needs to know about mushy peas, damn it!! Maybe England is being tight-lipped about their sloppy green concoction, but it was adorable "Naked Chef" Jamie Oliver that opened my eyes to mushy peas. Maybe it's because I'm a proud pea lover that I find this mushy pea mystery so exciting.

Oi Oi Oi!!! Mushy Peas!

Motorhead - God Save The Queen ( Sex Pistols cover )

"Brandy, you're a fine girl."

2005-04-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

Girl songs. Songs about girls. Songs about many girls, a girlfriend, a girl you hate, a troubled girl.
One of the dudes from the band Toto ( Jeff Porcaro? Steve Porcaro? ) wrote a HUGE hit about his then girlfriend, Roseanna Arquette ( the song "Roseanna". Duh. ) "Julia" ( the famous Beatles tune ) was written about John Lennon's mother ( who died in a car crash when he was 16. ) "Mandy" by Barry Manilow was apparently written for a special female in his life...his dog. Sometimes it's just a story or a memory they have that's created into song and they fabricate a fictitious girl ( I have to believe there really isn't anyone named "Severina", even though The Mission UK sing about her very passionately. ) Hall & Oates "Sara Smile". A real girl? Yes, Daryll Hall's now ex-wife. Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia, My Reflection". A real girl? Um, hard to say. Great name though. SO goth.

It's quite an honor to have a song written about you. Wait, lemme rephrase that. It's quite an honor to have a COMPLIMENTARY song written about you. Nobody wants to be remembered as that heathen bitch that broke some lead singer's heart ( especially if it does well on the Billboard charts, because that song will be on the airwaves forever. ) But, to be immortalized in music history as the whore that messed up the drummer might be cool too. Gives you about 4 minutes of fame and maybe a guest spot on some trashy "Where Are They Now" video show on VH-1.

However, it's NOT very fun to have a song NOT written about YOU exactly, but your name is featured prominently in the title and/or chorus. I guarantee that lots of women between the ages of 30-45 with the name Sherry have been serenaded MORE than once by Steve Perry's 80's ballad "Oh Sherry". If your name is Roxanne , you either got bombarded with a classic by The Police, or your more obscure hip-hop savvy friends belted out UTFO's 1984 hit "Roxanne, Roxanne". I didn't experience any of this type of torture until Shaun Cassidy's version of "Da Doo Ron Ron" came out when I was in elementary school. To cut to the second line of the song ( "Somebody told me that her name was Jill...da doo ron ron rooooon" ) well - you know what I heard, A LOT, for a good 4 months. It sucked. Don't even get me started about that goddamn nursery rhyme either.

Anyway. It's what's on my mind lately. Songs with about girls - a girl - that girl. Christine Sixteen. Suzie is a Headbanger. Oh Marie. Barbara Ann. Magical mythical sirens in the songwriters' mind, or actual flesh and blood women that loved and/or destroyed them. Below are a couple of my favorite songs that revolve around a girl. I have no idea if these girls they are singing about are real. If you know the answer to that - please share.

Oh yeah. Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't it sound like Steve Perry is singing "CINNAMON GUUU-UUUUM!" at the beginning of "Oh Sherry"?

Ready For The World - Oh Sheila
Concrete Blonde - Caroline

Here fishy, fishy, fishy

2005-04-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

I'm going to Sea World tomorrow!!

I'm very excited about this, since I haven't been to a Sea World since I was about 6-7 years old ( and it was in Ohio too - who puts a Sea World in Ohio? ) Well, it's long gone now - and the one I am going to is in San Antonio, TX.

Stoked!

Shamu, here I fucking come!

*boring post, I know*

Would a band by any other name smell so sweet?

2005-04-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

Band names. So much to think about with a band name.
It's a musical rite of passage to come up with your band name. I remember my high school boyfriend and his buddies spending hours trying to come up with a name for their band: something cool, trendy, unique, mysterious, easy to say, etc. Inspirations for band names come from a zillion places. Let me show you what I mean by listing some more popular bands and where their names came from:

Pearl Jam - Apparently, Eddie Vedder had a grandma named Pearl and she made some kind of fucked up jam. That's the story there.

Duran Duran - It's the name of the evil do-er played by Miles O'Shea in the movie "Barbarella". Except the name was spelled Durand Durand ( they took off the ending d's )

Steely Dan - Named after a dildo from William Burroughs book "Naked Lunch"

Marilyn Manson - A combination of hollywood glamour/models and serial killers. MARILYN Monroe & Charles MANSON. The members of the band also changed their names to follow suit, ie: Ginger Fish ( GINGER Rogers and Albert FISH ) Although it could be for Ginger from Gilligan's Island. I don't know for sure. Either would work.

Seriously, I could go on for days with examples. Movies, relatives, books, something you saw on the street, ex-girlfriends, hometowns, food. I don't know if I dare mention how the band Korn got their name ( it's pretty gross ). In a nutshell, it was a conversation they overheard. Something involving sex and feces. Oh please, don't make me say more...please....

A band name can make you and break you, in my opinion. If it's good - you are safe. If it's really stupid - you will be known as the band with the really stupid name. You could be an incredibly talented jazz band, but if you have a name that sounds somewhat childish and crass - those jazz critics might pass you by. If your band was created when you were 17 years old, odds are that same band name MIGHT not be appealing to you 6 years down the road. My example being the band INCUBUS. They started up when they were in high school. 15-17 years old. I can see how the term "incubus" might be intriguing and cool to a young horny teenage boy....

DEFINITION: INCUBUS - An evil spirit supposed to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep.

But they themselves will tell you ( 10 years later ) that they totally regret giving their band that name. As adult men, they realize that it might be seen as offensive to women and they are pretty embarrassed by it. Problem is, they've sold millions of albums with it. That's how they are known. Can't walk away now. But, they wish they could.

Some bands try a little too hard to come up with something hip and cool, biting into something so "NOW" ( or so "2 weeks ago" ) that they don't see how desperate and stupid it looks. My example? About 9 months after the movie 'Pulp Fiction' came out, I recall seeing a band name pop up in the club listings ( in a Boston paper ) and it made me cringe. The name? FIVE DOLLAR MILKSHAKE. Anybody that has seen 'Pulp Fiction' recalls the five dollar milkshake scene. Anybody that was breathing in the mid early 90's recalls how INSANE the publicity and hype was over that movie ( well deserved too, but.... ) and 9 months after the fact, I see it as tacky and weak to try to jump into their cool pool. And now ( if the band still exists, which I doubt ) it's almost laughable.

Certain genres of music always inspire names fitting to their sound.
If you heard the names PUNGENT STENCH, CANNIBAL CORPSE, or KILLDOZER - would you think gospel? Country? I think not. Nothing funnier than watching Headbanger's Ball and seeing the hardcore/metal band names these days. Usually they start with a preposition ( OF, AFTER, AGAINST, FOR ) and then it follows up with something involving death, anguish, pain, etc etc. But, the worst band names? The WORST? I hate ANY band name ( or tv show or movie ) that starts with an adverb or verb ending in 'ing', and ends with a girl's name. Usually it's a 2 word title, sometimes 3. Whether they get success or not - I fucking HATE it. Chasing Amy, Judging Amy, Suddenly Susan, Reaching Chloe, Running from Sheila, Blissfully Melissa, Achingly Margaret... whatever...STOP! STOP THE MADNESS! That trend must stop.

Then there are band names that make you go "Huh?"
Be it stupid or spelled weird ( adding y's instead of i's and z's instead of s's - think WYLD STALLYNZ from "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" ) or lengthy or cryptic - it leaves you scratching your head thinking "Where the hell did that come from?" Maybe that's what they were going for - and if so - it worked!

Anway...I could discuss this forever.
I'm quick to get pissy about a dumb band name.
I'm quick to cheer a really cool one.
And I've often thought "If I could be in a band, what would my band name be?" and well - the one name I've come up with is rather foul and I shouldn't repeat it. I guess I should go back to the drawing board with that.

Here's an mp3 that a friend of mine recently gave me. Due to my recent condition ( "with child" ) he obviously found this band name quite funny. The thing is, the song itself is really catchy in the weirdest way. Think minimal low-budget dork funk-pop. Made me groove a little. But the band name? Yeah, ya lost me....

I Hate You When You're Pregnant - Tanning Booth

GOOD COVER, BAD COVER

2005-04-12T00:03:00.000-07:00

David Bowie and Mick Jagger singing Martha & the Vandella's "Dancing In The Streets"
Posted by Hello

*Disclaimer - The musical opinions reflected in this post are mine and mine only. You might hate the songs I am loving and love the songs I am hating. Deal with it. If it upsets you, get a blog of your own and complain about it*

I'm here to talk about cover songs. You know...some musician(s) doing someone else's music. This idea of bands and musicians covering other people's songs isn't exactly a new trend. Carl Perkins came out with "Blue Suede Shoes". It did okay in the charts. Elvis Presley covered it a few years later. Shazam! Gigantic success. Otis Redding had a minor hit with "Respect". Aretha Franklin came and covered it. Shazam! She'll go down in history for belting out that tune. You see where I'm going with this. In my mind though, it's become a much larger phenomenon ( or maybe it's getting noticed more with the whole remix-sample-song layering/borrowing that is done today. )

I'm not opposed to bands covering songs. I've heard some amazing renditions of another person's song. For example: Sinead O'Connor's version of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U". Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". THOSE are incredible. They made it their own. I'll be honest though, if it's a band I DON'T like covering a song I LIKE - yeah, I might get a tad ruffled. Downright surly even. Bauhaus covering Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" was okay for me. I love them both, AND Bauhaus did a pretty good job of it. But when Orgy did New Order's "Blue Monday", I wanted to repeatedly stab them with their eyeliner pencils. Who the fuck was Orgy anyway? I don't like when a new band comes out of the starting gates with a cover song. The safety net tune to get them airplay. They obviously wanted to record it, and the label is usually MORE THAN HAPPY to make it their debut single. I call bullshit on that. Cheating. Sorry, but that's what I think. At least No Doubt had some years, records, and major credibility under their belt before they chose to cover Talk Talk's "It's My Life" ( That was tough for me. I don't HATE No Doubt, but I wouldn't call myself a big fan either. And I liked that Talk Talk song. It put me in a weird spot if people asked if I liked it. I still don't know if I do. ) If a band I like covers a song from a band I like MORE, oooooh weeeeell then - they better do a stellar version of it or I'm gonna be crabby. Perfect example? Foo Fighters covering Prince's "Darling Nikki". I think the Foo Fighters are a very talented band - but my love for Prince borders on worship. "Darling Nikki" is one fucking helluva song. Can the Foo Fighters do it justice? I was incredibly skeptical. In fact, I was angry that they had the BALLS to try to cover it. And how did they do? I give it a B-. Dave Grohl is the shit, but you AIN'T Prince, bitch!

There is also the novelty of a band from one genre covering another song from a musician from a TOTALLY different genre. TONS of cd compilations have come out with artists paying "tribute" to some of their favorite bands - regardless of what style they play. Do you recall Garth Brooks' rendition of Kiss' "Hard Luck Woman" on the KISS MY ASS TRIBUTE album? Well, I do. Who would have thought that Garth and Kiss would ever meet up, right? But guess what? Garth earned much respect from me after that. Not only did he LOVE Kiss as a youngster, he did a GREAT job on the tune. Can't judge a book, I guess. Remember "IF I WERE A CARPENTER" ( Carpenter's tribute album ) with artists such as Babes in Toyland, Redd Kross, Shonen Knife, and Sonic Youth? Not exactly people you would associate with The Carpenters, but each band really expressed their love for them in the songs they chose. Sonic Youth's version of "Superstar" is both haunting and sentimental, while Grant Lee Buffalo's version of "We've Only Just Begun" actually made you forget for a moment that it WAS a cover. That was a very impressive compilation, I will admit ( and yeah, I dig the Carpenters big time too. ) Those are the good aspects of bands covering bands.

There are bad aspects too.

I'm gonna take a stand here and say that Fred Durst should not be allowed to touch ANYBODY else's songs...EVER. From George Michael to Pink Floyd - I feel he has embarassingly destroyed every song cover he has touched. His renditions lack style, talent, and respect for the other artist ( because in my mind, he feels his shitty singing IS great and that these bands should praise him for doing it. ) In that same breath, do I like Fred Durst? Nope. BIG nope. So, maybe that's your answer as to why I hate them. But, I'd like to believe that I TRY to leave my opinions of the band out of the equation when I'm deciding whether their version was worthy or not. As I mentioned before with the "novelty" thing, think Pat Boone and the 'heavy metal covers' album. HELLO!!!?!?! What was THAT about!? That was funny for about a week. And I'm the QUEEN of silly kitsch dumb ass shit like that, and I found it boring. Contrived. Forced. Desperate. I understand celebrities trying to buy into something "cool" in the market to get some recognition ( again ) but it was pretty sad.

But again, that's me.

Cover songs. You either love them or hate them. You might get really excited that your favorite band covered a song that you like equally as much, or you get insane because a band you despise covered a song that you love. Here are some cover tunes for you. Two that I found inspiring and beautiful and incredibly well done - and two that I find totally scary and bizarre.
Can you tell which ones fall in which category?

Rufus Wainwright sings The Beatles "Across the Universe"
Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer sing Bob Marley's "Redemption Song"
Barry Williams (aka Greg Brady) sings Queen's "We Are The Champions"
Andy Gibb & Victoria Principal sing The Everly Brothers "All I Have To Do Is Dream"

"Sounds like someone's got a case of the Mondays!"

2005-04-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

"Office Space"
Posted by Hello

Doesn't that phrase make you want to kick someone in the teeth?
A "case of the Mondays"?!!?
Oh my god. If ANYONE ever said that to me at work, I would have stapled their eyelids open with my shiny Swingline.

Really. Who DOES like to go back to work on a Monday ( after what was hopefully a good weekend. ) Most folks I know aren't too jazzed about it. Unless you make cotton candy for a living, I can't think of a job that would make me want to sprint to work. Maybe if you knew a juicy piece of gossip about another co-worker that you are just DYING to spread thru accounting, why would you be excited about work on a Monday?

People are entitled to be in a bad mood on a Monday. That "I haven't had my 4th cup of coffee yet - get out of my face, you smiling bastard" mood. Anyone that has ever had a cubicle farm type of job understands the gloom that can come with it. It's all the gray carpet half walls and fluorescent lighting. I can talk a good game about this NOW, seeing that I don't work ( I'm a mom at home, a whole different type of job entirely ) but there was a time where I lived it, knew it, and dreaded it.

Mondays.
Suck.

Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays

Heeeeeeeeey batter batter batter batter batter....

2005-04-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

So, I'm going to see "Fever Pitch" tomorrow. ( crickets chirping )

I have NO IDEA if this movie is going to be good or if it's going to tank. Odds are high on the reek factor, but I have hope. I'm a Drew fan, I'm a Jimmy fan, and I'm a Red Sox fan simply because I'm from Boston ( but I don't really enjoy baseball that much ) I'm just a sucker for the underdog. ( SCREW THE CURSE!!! SOX TAKE THE 2004 WORLD SERIES!!!! )

Anyway...fingers crossed it doesn't suck.
If it does - it's still a chance to hang out on my ass for almost 2 hours while gorging my face with junk food. Can't beat that.

**UPDATE - Saturday April 9th **
I give the movie a B+. I enjoyed it. It's not as corny as some romantic comedies, and I definitely enjoyed all the Boston visuals and nostalgia ( made me homesick a little. ) Drew and Jimmy had good chemistry together and I know I laughed out loud more than a few times. Good times....

Drew Barrymore & Jimmy Fallon in "Fever Pitch".
Posted by Hello

And because I love you, Jimmy.....this one's for you

Jimmy Fallon sings the "Ewok" song

I GOTTA DANCE!!!!

2005-04-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

jitterbug
Posted by Hello

Do you ever have those fantasies about breaking into a "FAME" moment while at work, in the grocery store, in the mall? You know - suddenly you hear a song come over the loud speaker or in someone's car and you are INSTANTLY motivated to bust into an impromptu dance routine ( you and the 15 other strangers around you. ) Well, I have those fantasies. Really. It's cheesy and hysterical as hell, not to mention dangerous. Doing the jitterbug in the middle of rush hour traffic might get you killed. But, a girl can dream, right?

The song of late that does it to me is Benny Goodman's "Sing Sing Swing". Right away, I turn into Ann Miller in "On The Town" and I'm tapping and twirling and getting flung in the air by handsome men. Then I snap out of it and realize I'm standing in a dreamy haze at HEB in the frozen foods aisle, looking at bags of tater tots.

But a girl can dream, right?

Benny Goodman - Sing Sing Swing

"I LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER.....

2005-04-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

OOOOW! BOSTON, YOU'RE MY HOME!"

the Boston skyline
Posted by Hello

I'm a Yankee. Born and raised in Massachusetts for 33 years. My father, grandfather, great-grandfather all raised families there ( after coming over from Italy. ) I may live in Austin, Texas now, but I will never forget my New England roots. BAH-STIN. WISTAH. It's where I'm from. Plus, I've only lived here for 3 years so far. I'm a "green Texan". A "wet behind the ears" Austinite, if you will.

I CAN'T forget my Yankee roots. They'd beat the crap out of me if I did. That's the thing about New Englanders. Pretty die-hard folk that would kick the shit out of you one minute, then give you the shirt off their back the next ( to help you wipe up the blood. ) You gotta love that. From blue blood to blue collar, they take pride in their frostiness as well as their willingness to make you their pal ( as long as a free beer is involved. )

Since I live in the "Live Music Capital Of The World" now - you'd think my tastes would instantly jump towards all that was fresh, new and inviting in the music scene of Austin.
Nope. Nada. Well, let me clarify that. I think there are MANY great bands here. But my heart
always stays loyal to the bands of my 20's. The bands that I drank with, grew up with, partied
with, rocked out with, toured with, loved and fought with ( some I knew "more" than others - if you catch my drift. Musician boyfriends aren't always a blast. ) Doesn't matter if the band has split up ( 90% of them have ) - this is the music that helped form the "rock chick" I am today. I still listen to their now out of print cd's. I still think back to that particular show at Bunratty's or The Rat. Their first downstairs headlining show at the Middle East. My friends. My rocker posse. And while it might be biased ( since I knew many of them personally and not just in a "fan" way ) I think some of these bands were AMAZING. If not that, just a shitload of fun.

These are some of the bands ( some I can easily say I've seen more than 25 times ) that rocked me, moved me, thrashed me, et cetera....hope you like them as much I as do.

La Gritona - Tony Alamo
Scissorfight - The Ballad of Jacco Macacco
Guerrero - Chedco
Spore - She Makes Me Feel Violent
Roadsaw - Not Today
Honkeyball - Kemosabi
Stompbox - Chevy S10
6L6 - Yeah Right
Tree - Not Afraid

THINK PINK

2005-04-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

It's April, which is the month for the "Pink Moon" (many flowers turn pink and bloom in April, thus the name pink moon. ) Because of that, I'm paying tribute to this pretty spring moon with songs in it's honor. I didn't go out and howl at it Monday night ( when it occurred ) so I'll make up for it here.

Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Social Distortion - Pretty In Pink

"You're too pure to be pink." ~ Betty Rizzo ( Grease )

He ain't no Scary Monster

2005-04-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Who can work a boa better than Bowie?
( Wow, what a great tongue twister )

Posted by Hello

Hello, I love you

2005-04-06T21:10:00.000-07:00

Baaaaaaa.....

I've joined the blogger herd. Decided it would be more fun to create my own than to bounce around thru the cyber blogspot maze every night.

I'm not here to amaze the world with my wit or intelligence. I'm funny as hell, but I don't need to constantly prove it ( lie ). I want to share the songs I love, the songs I hate, the objects of my youth that still provide me with excitement and wonder ( like Quisp cereal ), and any other thing that might pop into my head ( especially anything involving 70-80's pop culture. )

Hopefully there are many of you out there that enjoy what I have to offer ( not much. ) If so, like Cherry Valance said to Ponyboy Curtis in THE OUTSIDERS:
"You dig okay."