Top 5 On Friday - Week 164

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 things you'd like to change about the music industry

1. The cost of music would change. CDs should not cost $20. The cost of a download is half that. A piece of plastic and some paper does not cost $10. If the industry wants to sell a product it needs to be affordable.

2. The industry will start looking for talent in ways other than American Idol. Seriously. And the whole world needs to be slapped for watching the various incarnations of this show. We do not need any more prefabricated artists putting out music written by idiots that all sounds the same!

3. Albums would not go out of print in a heartbeat. I marvel at the difficulty of buying the albums of any artist that isn't brand spanking new. If you're a band from the 60's and weren't in that batch of major bands (Stones, Beatles, Moodies) then most of your stuff is out of print, but hey...here have a few Greatest Hits compilations.

4. Classic artists will not be forced to put out hits packages. If they want to record a new album, let them! It might be the only good music out there for crying out loud. And to tie into this one: Back catalogs can only be remastered so many times in the space of 5 years. You can't have improved the sound quality that much. ~glares at Elvis Costello~

5. Artists will not be given recording contracts based on looks alone. Its a sad sorry shame that if The Mamas and The Papas were to have been given their first recording contract in the last 20 years, they would have had to kick Mama Cass from the band. The world is not full of airbrushed people. Talent is not airbrushed. Perhaps the recording industry should try to remember that, and go in search of the people that have talent rather than people that are pretty to look at. Who knows, they might catch a bonus and find one or two with both.

I'm A Lazy Bunny

I haven't been to the gym in 3 days. The sad part is I don't really care. I've spent the last few nights hunting down and watching Classic Doctor Who. Yeah. I'm obsessed, and it's not just with David Tennant, it's the whole flipping show. Mind you David Tennant makes the new shows ever so much prettier.

Last night I watched the final two episodes of The Image Of Fendahl. I love Tom Baker, and oddly I think the man resembles John Lodge of The Moody Blues just a bit. Not anymore, mind you, because Lodgey is still stunningly handsome, but back in the 70's they looked quite a bit alike. Maybe it's the puffy curly hair.

Tonight after going to the gym. (Yes, I must keep telling myself I'm going) I'll watch The Five Doctors. Or I'll put it on my mp3 player and watch it at the gym. That's one way to keep me running on the elliptical. God how I hate the elliptical. I think it's quite possible that I hate the gym right now. At least when it's so cold that I don't wish to leave the house after I've come home from work. I much rather going when the temperatures are above say, 50 degrees.

I wish spring would get here soon. I'm really done with freezing. It's not fun. The snow is no longer pretty and I'd like to go somewhere while I can still afford to put gas in my car. (Even if it is to the gym)

My TV Boyfriends - The Return Of The Hump Day Hunks

OK, we all know they are imaginary boyfriends, but that's neither here nor there. Throughout my life, even though I've never been too much of a tv addict, I've always had at least one actor that I harbored a huge crush on.

Starting with Davy Jones of the Monkees who I crushed on in the late 70's and throughout most of my life.



In the late 80's I kinda crushed on two of the guys on Full House, never mind who they are because it's too embarrassing. Suffice to say, John Stamos wasn't one of them.

~hangs head in shame~

Now in the 90's I had a few tv crushes all from British TV. Do you sense a pattern here yet? You should be.

The first one was Chris Barrie who played in the Sci-Fi (hmmm another pattern maybe) comedy Red Dwarf and The Brittas Empire



And yes, he was also in Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie. Blech!

Next up was the ever lovely Richard Coyle from Coupling. I loved his wacky goofball character, Jeff on the show.



Jack Davenport isn't too bad either.

Now for my current TV crush...

Do I have to even mention his name?



It's Doctor Who! Yeah, that would be David Tennant. Hmmm. Yum! What a lovely bunch of imaginary boyfriends I have.

A Little Humor

I got this in an email this morning and I haven't stopped LOL-ing since, so I thought I should share.

After all, sometimes there's so very little to laugh at.



And while I'm at it, a little Doctor Who humor or rather Doctor Whomer. LOL! I made a LOL! Well, not really.



Can you tell that I just have nothing exciting to share?

Concert Tickets From Hell

The Police are coming to Pittsburgh. I'm not fond of them very much. They never were a band that I liked much or wanted to see, however their opening act is Elvis Costello.

WTF!

The are coming to Pittsburgh and the tickets went on sale to the public Saturday.

You don't want to ask me if I'm going, you really don't, but I know you're going to.

NO!

Why not you ask?

Have you seen the ticket prices?

Seats in bugville, i.e. the lawn are $40. Yes $40 to get bitten up alive by every insect known to man and some we haven't identified yet. Good seats are even worse.

Are you sitting down for this?

You need to be.

Pavilion seating starts at $90 and goes all the way up to $200. OMFG! I love my music and I love Elvis, but I'm sorry there are no artists out there worth paying that kind of money for. No one is that good, unless they have found ways to bring people back from the dead and I imagine bring George Harrison and John Lennon back for a Beatles reunion would be a trifle difficult.

But there you are, further proof that the concert gods hate me and that ticket prices are absolutely insane!

Random 10 - Week 144

I haven't done my meme lately and actually I forgot to post it last night.

So from Music Memoirs


10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)


Over The Rhine - If Nothing Else
Over The Rhine - Snow Angels

Gordon Lightfoot - Cotton Jenny
Gordon Lightfoot - Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Gordon Lightfoot - Race Among The Ruins

Hem - Radiation Vibe
Hem - Red Shoes

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Distorted Angel
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - How Much I Lied

Justin Hayward - Day Must Come

Oh and now for the hotness...because the weekend is all about Doctor Who and Torchwood.

Another Book To Read

My friend has given me another book to drive me mad. So far it's working. I have no regrets on reading Einstein, but The Memory Keeper's Daughter is making me want to toss this book on the fire and I'm only about 40 pages in.

Let me explain a bit. The plot revolves around a married couple, the husband is a doctor and in 1964 has to give help deliver his wife's twins. The problem is one of the babies is born with Down's Syndrome.

Wait, it gets better. He gives the baby to the nurse and tells her to take the child to an institution and then tells his wife that the baby was born dead. That's where the problem starts for me. Especially as he tells his wife that he sent the baby to be buried already. So his wife didn't get to see the second child.

WTF!

That would be the end to that marriage. I'm not even sure I want to finish this. The plot is so annoying and the wife doesn't seem to want to fight. She's weak and annoying. Worse than any romance novel heroine.

Why can't my friend read good books? Oh wait, this is for a book group and obviously book groups only read crap in disguise as literature.

TV Obsessions

I admit that I don't watch a lot of telly, but when I get an obsession, it does take over. I have two of them now and they are related; Doctor Who and Torchwood. I live for Saturday night when they are on BBC America, and now I've learned that Doctor Who is also on Sci-Fi!

Of the two shows, I love Doctor Who the best. Why?

I think this is as good a reason as any to like Doctor Who better than Torchwood. Mmmm David Tennant. Seriously, some of the aliens out there, that are a bit friendlier towards the Time Lord, should try cloning him. I know I'd take one. I'd probably take two, just in case I wore one out.

He looks smashing in a tux too.

Mind you the guys on Torchwood are lovely to look at too, but none of them really do anything for me. I think its because none of them have that sexy geek look about them that David Tennant has.

And while I'm on the subject of Torchwood, I just listened to a few of John Barrowman's albums. I love him for his flaming, campy behavior and all the innuendo, and he has a lovely singing voice, I just wish I wouldn't have downloaded his Aspects of Lloyd Webber and Reflections Of Broadway albums. The songs he chose were ones that I'm used to hearing sung by other people, and for me his voice, though lovely, falls flat on some of these, especially the songs from Aspects of Love that Michael Ball sang. I'm so glad he didn't do Music Of The Night, I probably would never forgive him for that.

Now that I've gotten that off my mind, I'm going to see if I can find some Doctor Who to watch so that I can prepare myself for Sci-Fi Saturday on BBC America!

Top 5 On Friday - Week 163

From Music Memoirs



Top 5 songs from the movies.

Danny Elfman - Making Christmas from The Nightmare Before Christmas

Elvis Costello - She from Notting Hill


The Beatles - I Need You from Help!

The Monkees - Porpoise Song from Head

Duran Duran - Out Of My Mind from The Saint

Most of my choices come from little known soundtracks and well, definitely wouldn't be up for an Oscar, but they are great to me.

A Night Out

I'm going to T.G.I. Friday's for dinner tonight and I'm much too excited about it. I haven't been farther than 10 miles from home in almost a month. Oye! That's too long. But because I read Einstein for my friend for her reading group, I get treated to dinner.

I think that's a pretty good deal, especially as I love Friday's. Yum!

I'm going to have to conserve calories all day, because I don't usually eat out during the week and my body will go nuts. The last thing I need right now is more fat to move in on my butt, however I do need some tasty food.

The other good thing about getting out, is that I won't be sitting around staring at this computer all damn night, with the telly on in the background. Last night I ended up watching Torchwood Epi 4 over again. That also meant that I walked around saying "I catch ALIENS!" much to the chagrin of the people in my house that have never watched the show.

Oh and I might also add, I listened to a few of John Barrowman's albums last night. Loverly.

I lead such an exciting life, don't I? I think I deserve dessert too.

Einstein - Thursday Thirteen Style

I recently read the autobiography of Einstein by Walter Issacson and instead of a review I'm going to give you some facts about Einstein, because the book was really good. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys discovering new biographies. There's a lot to learn here.

1. Though Jewish, Einstein wasn't religious except for a brief period in his young adulthood. On on of applications for citizenship he listed his religion as Mosaic.

2. Married twice, with two sons, to his first wife, Milva Maric and 2 step-daughters with his second wife, Elsa.

3. He was very much a ladies man. He wasn't faithful to either wife, though he's second wife, Elsa, was more resigned to his infidelities.

4. His youngest son, suffered from mental illness and spent most of his life in a sanitarium.

5. By his thirties Einstein had held citizenship in three countries, Germany, Switzerland and the Austro-Hungarian Empire as it was then known.

6. He once went to a black tie affair without socks.

7. A small girl brought him an offering of fudge to get him to help her with her math homework. (Where was he when I needed help with my homework)

8. He didn't get a professorship until 4 years after his Theory Of Relativity was published.

9. Mileva received his the money he received from winning the Nobel Prize in her divorce settlement.

10. In the US, he was treated like a Hollywood celebrity, and he was considered a friend by people such as Charlie Chaplin and Upton Sinclair.

11. Two of his favorite pastimes included walking and playing the violin.

12. He owned a boat called Tinef which is Yiddish for a piece of junk.

13. He was very witty...I leave you with a very sweet quote from a quirky and absent-minded professor that changed the world. Told to Peter Bucky as they were driving in his convertible in the rain. Einstein had taken off his hat and placed it under his coat.

"You see, my hair has withstood water many times before, but I don't know how many times my hat can."

Getting Nowhere Fast

Today is going to be a slow day. I can feel it. I'm not moving at my usual pace. I don't know why. Maybe it's the weather. It's still damn cold.

I'm frozen in place. That has to be it.

I'm trying to remind myself that at least tomorrow will be better. There's no snow in the forecast and my friend is taking me to TGIFridays because I read Einstein for her. I'm still marveling at the fact I read the whole thing. Sage has asked for a review, which I will do tonight in a roundabout way. Assuming I move a little bit better then. Right now I'll consider myself lucky if I get my clothes on and make it to work.

Seriously, I think it would be great to go to work in my pajamas. I could guarantee that no one would notice and I would be comfortable and cozy. Of course I'd look pretty weird, but hey, I'd still be comfortable.

I think I need a nice strong cup of coffee to kick me in the butt, because everyone in the house is up and running, except me, and that includes 4 cats that are playing hockey with a lipstick sample that used to be on my dresser.

The Mother Of All Surveys

I got an email from Oldies Radio today to take part in a music survey, of what I'd like to hear on the radio, particularly on Oldies Radio.

Its 700 songs long. Thank god they only play 15 seconds or it would take forever to get through.

The first question they ask: What's your favorite radio station? Oh ok, WPKL. I like my oldies radio.

Next question: Who's your favorite DJ? Uh trick question! OK, I pick Fish. Basically because he's a hottie and a goober.

After those questions come the songs. I feel like it's Oldies Radio Survivor and I can vote songs off the island. So far I've voted Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springstein and CCR off the island.

This survey is way too much fun. There were even songs that I haven't heard on Pickle much, like David Bowie's Fame. Hmmm, Fishy. They played Bowie on the quiz! Play some Bowie during The Real Dill Pickle Morning Show!!!

I wonder how long it will take to get through 700 songs?

Tuesday Tunes - Week 21

From Music Memoirs


What if you had a $100 gift card to the music store of your choice, what would you buy? I've been waiting patiently to qualify for the $100 Amazon Gift Card from my bank. If I ever get it, I intend to take down my wish list. 2 Over The Rhine CDs, 2 Gordon Lightfoot CDs and 2 HEM CDs and if there was anything left over I'd get something from Amazon Marketplace.

What if you had the chance to see your favorite band play anywhere in the world, what band would it be, and where would you be seeing them?
I'm a lame person. I'd want to see Gordon Lightfoot from a casino in Atlantic City. I have no desire to see anyone outside the US. I'd like to be in the front row somewhere like the Borgata or The House Of Blues. And I'd have the bonus of seeing the ocean that I love and miss dreadfully while I was there. It couldn't get better for me.

What if you had a chance to have a job in the music industry, what job would it be and why did you choose it?
Would it be bad of me if I said I wouldn't mind nabbing the job of a certain irksome DJ? Probably but I wouldn't mind having his job for a bit. He gets to torture the listening public with some of the worst oldies out there. Oops did I say that The Pickle plays crap? Yes, I did. 99.3 The Pickle plays crap oldies, however their crap oldies are slightly better than some of the other crap that's played, so that's what I listen to.

But back to why I want his job. He gets to interview some moderately interesting people and he gets to MC some cool concerts, even though he doesn't think so. Mind you, from the look of the concert schedule this year, I don't want his job right now. Lots of crap is sponsered by The Pickle this year. Lots of crap.

Monday Randomosity

My day consisted of

~ Sending 2 emails to Fishy, just because. No reason, except I wanted to see if he'd answer. He did. Apparently he was bored today or feeling sorry for me. My guess it was a boring day at the Pickle.

~ I finished reading Einstein. I have to say that though it wasn't a book that I would have picked for myself, it was good. I learned a lot in the week I spent reading it. I felt a tinge of sadness at the end, reading about his death. Of the biographies that I've read, I have to say, he would have been one person I would have liked to have known.

~ Laundry. Have I mentioned how much I hate doing the laundry?

~ I'm arranging my Pink Zen O'Doom to have all my current favorite artists: Gordon Lightfoot, Elvis Costello, Over The Rhine, Hem, A Fine Frenzy, Keri Noble, Bernie Barlow and Justin Hayward and whatever Moodies will fit on it.

~ Continued pricing Ford Focuses in the area. Why? I don't know, as the car can't happen until December at the earliest.

~ Plotting going to bed by 9 to make up for lost time. I'm so very very sleepy

Sleep, I Had None Of It

If I got 3 hours of sleep last night I was lucky. Between people coming into my house late and other people getting up at ungodly hours of the morning, I'd like to hurt a few members of my family.

I really don't know how I'm going to manage not to fall asleep on my desk at work today.

It doesn't help matters that the weather turned briefly warm and I was roasting last night under my usual mountain of blankets.

So I'm going to be a cranky individual today, a very cranky individual. Me without sleep is not a good thing at all.

At one point I even turned the light on and read about 20 more pages in the Einstein biography. That didn't help! I laid awake until long after 1 o'clock in the morning and at 4 o'clock my father got up and that was the end of any hope I had of sleeping. Why? Because he had to check on the cat. At 4 a.m. I hear Mutchka wailing because he's got his hands in the cat's mouth to make sure he didn't have any loose teeth.

It will be a small miracle if I don't beat the crap out of at least one person today.

Sleep, I want it. I need it. I didn't get any of it.

Another One Of Those Days

My Mutchka kitty is feeling under the weather. He wasn't eating normally today and my dad is making a huge issue about it.

That's understandable. We all love Mutchka. He's our oldest kitty. He'll be 14 this year, which from what I gather is damn old for a cat.

He usually has a very healthy appetite, but today he's been listless.

My father however has to make a huge drama out of the fact the cat isn't eating. (Though he has eaten today, just not a lot or with his usual vigor)

It's making all of us crazy.

He can't leave the poor cat alone. The concept of "The cat will eat when he's good and damn ready and not a second before," just won't sink in.

ARGH!

Oh and how is it that when the weather is good, my car is in the garage all day and when it's miserable out, I have the car, but just don't feel like doing anything? Huh? Huh?

I need out of the house before I go mad.

Wait, I'm already mad.


And these two icons sum it up well

Taxes = Done

I felt feisty yesterday and I sat down and did my taxes, which was remarkably easy since I only have one W-2 and one 1099. It's really nice that I can do my taxes for free, because I'm poor. But at this point I don't even care. Why? Cos I'm getting money back!

Can I get a woot! for that?

As long as nothing terrible happens in the next 10 months that money is going to go into a nice savings account so it can grow a little bit and become a down payment on the new car I desperately need and want. I can't guarantee that it will be a brand new car, but it will be a close to new car, hopefully a Ford Focus, because next to the Mini Cooper that's the car I covet most.

The Mini is the car of my dreams, that I'll never have the cash to pay for. The Focus is the car that I can hope to own.

Now I just have to sort out if I can afford to put gas in a new car or pay for the full coverage I'll have to pay on a car that won't be paid off for several years.

So much to decide. Oh and then I'll need a man to come haggle with me when I go to the dealership. Because well, I know nothing about cars and all I care about as far as stuff in the car...would be CD player, automatic transmission and air conditioning that I will probably never use.

I wonder if there's a rent-a-man shop I can go to when I need to start looking at cars, because my dad's getting a bit too old for the haggling.

Gordon Lightfoot Tickets = Squee

SQUEE!

I've got tickets about a little more than 10 rows back dead center on the aisle for Gordon Lightfoot's show at The Harv @ The Mountaineer Gaming Resort in WV in June!!

I'm going to see Gord!!!!

I'm going to see Gord!!!

Can you tell I'm thrilled?

Do you know how much I've come to love Gord over the last two years? A lot and it's actually thanks to 99.3 The Pickle, but don't tell them that, they don't need to know.

I'm over the moon.

I've got good seats, as far as casino shows go. And I'm going to see Gord!

SQUEE!!!!!

This Made My Day

Look at what Mel made for me!



Thank you! It's so pretty! I may add it as my email signature.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 162

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 songs that "tell someone off" or you'd like to dedicate to someone you'd like to tell off.

I'm feeling bitter and cranky this morning. I could send a few of these of to that DJ from 99.3. I'll let you guess which ones.

1. The Byrds - Feel A Whole Lot Better
boomp3.com

2. The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball


3. Dolly Parton - Shinola


4. Midge Ure - Lied


5. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Next Time Round
(I was going to use I Hope You're Happy Now, but I wanted something a little lighter to balance out all the snark in these last 4 songs)


Oh and you really really have to listen to the Dolly Parton song, its a hoot!

My V-Day Shocker

Mr. Fishy said happy Valentine's Day to his better half on the air today.

I fell off my chair.

Better half?

OMG!

Thanks for telling me about that Fish. It was nice to hear it that way. Granted what little friendship we had has faltered and fallen apart in the last few months. Still, hearing that this morning, kinda hurt.

I never harbored any aspirations to being anything other than a friend, but crikey one could tell the girl that had a huge crush on him for a year, that the person he was involved with was going to be a wife..or was a wife...or ... ARGH!

I am every manner of a fool.

What radio station do I listen to now? I guess WJPA. Maybe I'll get around to finding speakers for my Zen.

What a Valentine's Day present that was.

Crikey!

Happy F-ing Valentine's Day

As you can see I have no love for this holiday. Never had, never will. The only time in my 33 years that I had a significant other on this rather pathetic holiday was my senior year. I was given carnations. Yeah. Dead people flowers. Thanks a lot.

I love how the media tries to make this day into a retail dream. If anyone ever bought me a shiny new Lexus for Valentine's Day, I would have them sent to the mental ward for evaluation. A box of Godiva chocolates is sufficient, or something shiny from a jewelry store, but never mind that. I'll really just take the Godiva chocolates. I'm easy to please really.

If I'm allowed to fantasize a bit a night out in The South Side of Pittsburgh is nice too. There are any number of restaurants that would make me happy and some lovely coffee shops too. It doesn't take much.6 It doesn't even have to be on Valentine's Day. Heck the Godiva chocolate doesn't even have to come in a box shaped like a heart.

I've never really understood the need to have a day where people told you that they loved you. Don't they do it any other time of the year? If they don't, this one day is pretty meaningless. Love should be expressed at all times, regardless of the day of the year it is. It shouldn't have to require a box of candy, flowers, or shiny objects.

So to all of you out there that have someone to love, tell them. And if you don't have someone to love, it's not the end of the world, it just feels that way today. Tomorrow life will return as always. But if someone offers you a cookie, candy etc, EAT IT! Who cares?

Happy Valentine's Day...from one bitter cranky bitch to the world! I love ya all, I really do.

The Return Of The Weird Dream

I've been remembering my dreams a lot lately, more so then ever. I don't know if its because I'm sleeping differently or what, but yikes! Lots of dreams and all of them weird.

Yesterday I dreamed that I was at a casino and I won $300. (If only. If only) I don't know who I was with, but it was pouring down rain. I think I was in Atlantic City, because I think I mentioned either the Tropicana or the Taj both of which are on the boardwalk.

The day before that I had a dream about that Pickle DJ, you know the one that I used to post about all the time. Yeah. Fishy or He-who-should-be-flushed-down-the-toilet. He was playing The Moody Blues on the air and he screwed up something about the song or the band, I can't remember which. I do know that he had played Question. I got really mad at him for that too. The rest of the dream doesn't matter, m'kay? The world doesn't need to know that my subconscious mind is still gagging for a shag, so to speak.

Last night I was driving around in a storm doing something for my boss, only my boss wasn't my boss.

Weird. I don't know where my brain is coming up with these ideas. I would prefer they come up with a story I could write down or that I could concentrate on Einstein for more than 20 pages a day. (God that book hurts me)

I just want one day of blissful sleep, without something that makes me ponder what goes on in my head the whole next day.

Oh and I think I'm coming down with a cold too. Yay. Do you know what that means? Nyquil. And we all know that Nyquil = WEIRD DREAMS!

Snow Day

Thanks to the bad weather I had today off. What did I do with the blissful time that I had, you might ask.

I made headway in the reading of Einstein. I'm about 100 pages into it. Only about 440 pages to go. Good gravy!

I made brownie's and cookies and read through several of my mother's cookbooks, looking for ideas for new things to make me well rounded, and I do mean that literally.

I pondered how many times in one day I could want to stab myself with a fork because of the stupidity of my father. Let me explain. My dad is almost 82 and stubborn as a mule and hard of hearing. What he doesn't hear, he makes up and that always causes arguments. When he starts the random arguments I reach for the fork. It's to a point where we're all reaching for the fork. It's not that we don't love him. It's that he's aggravating. He'd rather argue than admit he's wrong. Perhaps this is a "Man" thing, but I don't want to group half the world when its not necessary.

I cleaned the space with pots and pans and marveled again at how when you get rid of things and start putting stuff back you have less space than when you started.

I think I'll be happy to go back to work tomorrow.

Tuesday Tunes - Week 20

From Music Memoirs
A special Valentine's Day word association since everyone likes them so much. As always, tell us the first song, album, artist, band that comes to mind when you see these 10 words.

Hearts: David Bowie - The Hearts Filthy Lesson
Flowers: Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond - You Don't Bring Me Flowers
Broken: Elvis Costello - Broken
Wedding: Paul Stookey - The Wedding Song
Heartbreak: Tom Petty & The Heartbreaks
Bitter: Bitter Sweet (A great band with a rather amusing album called The Mating Game)
Chocolate: Rufus Wainwright - Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk
Candy: Elvis Costello - So Like Candy
Alcohol: The Moody Blues - Send Me No Wine
Toy: The Monkees - Cuddly Toy

More Winter

This has sincerely got to stop. At least we have snow out there. I figure if we're going to have winter weather it might as well be snow. Anything is better than freezing rain, which if the forecast is to believed, is coming later.

This is just ridiculous.

Why couldn't that stupid groundhog predict an early spring?

I may make it to work today, assuming that they decide to plow my hill. It's always nice to know that the snow crews don't even bother with certain parts of town, and fuck anyone that lives in those parts of town.

Grrr

I'm sick of bitching about the weather. I'm sick of cold. I'm sick of snow. I'm sick of worrying about if or how I'll make it to work. Plus a few other things that come with my job that I don't share as you'd seriously question my sanity for staying there, if you knew.

Again I ask, just where the hell is spring! It needs to get here ASAP, before I turn into a popsicle!

Great Costello Song!

Elvis Costello w/Amsterdam - Don't Throw Your Love Away

boomp3.com

Listen and enjoy!

Take The Cold And Shove It

My brain can only focus on one thing this morning, the fact that it's below 10 degrees outside.

I've had it with this weather. I'm sure the rest of the country that's been blanketed with snow for the last month will agree with me. This winter needs to end.

Two weeks ago we had a few days with temperatures in or around 60. That's not fair. The weather shouldn't be allowed to taunt us like that. It's cruel and it's inhumane!

I want spring.

I'm sick of trying to find sweaters to wear. I'm sick of jeans. I'm sick of sleeping with 3 or more blankets. I want to be warm. I wouldn't mind seeing a flower or two either. That would be bliss.

The only joy I had this weekend was coffee and bird watching with the friend that's forcing me to read the Einstein biography. BTW I'm up to 70 pages on that one. Someone should be proud of me, because it's an awkward book and it's not anything that I usually would want to read. However, I don't mind reading it under the millions of blankets, propped up by about 6 pillows.

Still, warmth, I need it and I need it now!

And What Did I Do With My 2 Days Off

Nothing!

Yup!

Nothing!

Well besides grocery shopping at Aldi and Walmart. We now have food for the next few days and I have stuff for my lunches. Oh and I also have a pair of new shoes for work that are almost dressy and yet still casual. Woot! And they were on sale too, for $11!

Yay!

I contemplated buying curtains but I don't know a damn thing about curtains. The room that needs them gets a lot of sunlight so I've seriously been contemplating the blackout curtains, which are rather pricey. I also know I don't have curtain rods, but the metal bar, so that will make things even more fun. Woo hoo!

I didn't get my taxes done, because I don't know if I have enough ink in my printer. Which is essentially the cost of going to H & R Block to get the return done. Damn Damn Damn! This isn't fair. Especially as I'm in the bracket knowns as, "dirt poor," so that I can electronically file online for free.

PAH!

Why do things have to be so darn complicated?

OMG Torchwood

Last night's episode of Torchwood was so damn sad. I loved it.

I can't believe I remembered to watch it. OK, I can. What I can't believe is that I was looking forward to watching it all week. It didn't disappoint either. For that matter, Doctor Who didn't too. Plus as I've said before, the new Doctor is such a flipping cutie, it's worth it to watch just for him.

But back to to Torchwood. If you like sci-fi/supernatural shows and you aren't a prude, you really should watch this show. It's got time travel, aliens, even ghosts. You really can't go wrong with it. Plus it's got eye candy for one and all.

What I love about the Brits is that they don't seem to have the hangups about sexuality and whatnot that we have here. A naked bum wouldn't see a channel getting fined millions. And I've seen John Barrowman get into a lip lock with at least two other people on Torchwood in the last few episodes. I usually find myself quite jealous of whoever gets the lip lock too.

But back to last night's episode that was about a rift in time. A rift that had part of 1918 and present time merging. That's all I'll say about the plot. I will tell you that the storyline is so good, that even if you don't like this sort of thing you'd like this episode. So if you get BBC America, watch it. You may find yourself wanting to see another and another.

Another Boring Day

The weekend is here and what do I have to do? Grocery shop, exercise, grocery shop, exercise. Oh and my taxes. I really should do them this weekend. I need my refund and I only have 2 things to enter this year.

Blergh! I hate doing taxes. I hate grocery shopping. I hate exercise.

I'm in a funk. It's a combination of the weather being so lousy and all the insane issues in my family as well as my car which has an "orange light o'doom" which is keeping me from driving anywhere that's more than 10 miles from my house.

I need sunlight and flowers. I need Valentine's Day to be over. I need to stop thinking about stuff that I can't change. I need to stop looking at ads for cars in the paper, because I'm in no position to even look at them now.

I need to be content with what I have right now, even it that isn't much.

It's a shame that's easier said than done.

I wish my excitement today wouldn't be watching the new episode of Torchwood on BBC America and Dr. Who.

Of course, I can color my hair tonight that would be exciting, right?

Nah, I didn't think so either.

Ho hum!

I Was Bribed Into Reading This

I don't think I ever took a bribe to read a book. Usually I'll read anything, no matter how bad it is. I read romance, biographies, cookbooks. You name it, I read it. However, today I was handed a rather odd book to read and I'm already finding it daunting.



It's over 500 pages and a lot of it has to do with his theories and whatnot. To say that I'm a bit terrified of the words that will be ahead of me, is barely touching on fear this book strikes in me. I'm not sure how I agreed to read it, except a good friend of mine is reading it for a book group she belongs to and wants another perspective on it to take to the group.

ARGH!

Why would anyone pick this? I will however get a cup of coffee at Starbuck's if I help and a chance to view a movie I've wanted to see for quite a long while. So I'll suffer it. Who knows, I might learn something, or I might be bored to death.

Top 5 On Friay - Week 161

From Music Memoirs (for Valentine's Day next week. BLERGH)

Top 5 songs that best say "I Love You"
I'm doing this a bit different...the songs say I love you at least to me.

John Lennon - Woman
If this song doesn't say I love you, I don't know what song does.


Elvis Costello - Still
One of the prettiest EC songs, even though the album its from is far from one of my favorites. If he wanted, he could sing this one to me any day.


Tommy James - Love Words
I fell in love with this song from the minute I heard it. It's one of the songs that give me those warm fuzzy feelings even when I have no one to feel them about. It does have the unfortunate problem of making me think about someone that I would rather not think about though.

Gordon Lightfoot - Inspiration Lady
I dream of someone dedicating this song to me. It may not come out and scream I love you but the words Gordon uses say it better, trust me.

The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin
Nothing says "I love you" better than this song, even though I don't like it one bit. This version is from the Hall Of Fame live CD. I do admit to enjoying this song just a bit when it's performed live.

The Gym Fills Me With Rage

I'm not sure how healthy going to the gym is for me. Every time I go, I end up in a rage. I want to grab those 99 lb wenches that have to share their tattooed backs to the world. Erm the crack in your butt doesn't appeal to me, and while I'm at it, eat a damn cheeseburger.

I can understand and appreciate wanting to be comfortable while working out. I work up quite a sweat when I'm there but there are a few things that shouldn't be acceptable.

1. Viewing the pelvic bone or the crack in you backside because your pants are low rise.

2. Your gut poking out of your tank top because its riding up because it's too goddamn small!

3. Shorts that are too short thus sharing with the world your butt cheeks. No thank you.

I have no problem with the human body, but personally I think it should remain clothed in public places. Heck, I generally feel the human body should be clothed all the time. I'm not a huge fan of naked.

But these half naked chickies really get to me. Even worse when they are teenagers and they bring a friend to work out with them and they spend more time gabbing then exercising. Oh and lets not forget the friend doesn't exercise, she just parks her butt on the machine that I want to use.

If it's not one thing its the other.

~head desk~

If getting violently angry while working out burned loads of calories, I would be invisible right now, because I would have wasted away to nothing.

I Can't Believe It!

I got my concert update from Mr. Small's and I saw that there was suddenly another concert scheduled on the day that Over The Rhine was supposed to be playing there.

WTF!

I just bought my tickets on Saturday!

So I went over to the Over The Rhine website and lo and behold they postponed the concert because they are the opening act for Ani Difranco.

PAH!

They are still coming to Pittsburgh, but to a different venue and as a opening act instead of a headliner.

Whatever expletive you'd like to insert hear would probably fit.

I was so excited about this concert. I had plans of a fully enjoyable weekend. A concert on Saturday and maybe going to the mountains or somewhere fun on the Sunday, since I had plans of renting a car.

All my plans are shot to hell. However I will be better off financially.

Yay!(That's a very sarcastic yay! I might add)

I better get good seats for Gordon Lightfoot, or I will cry, and that's a fact.

Why Isn't It Over Yet?

I was hoping someone would have walked away with a victory after yesterday's super Tuesday, pick your favorite idjit contest. Such was not the case.

Dammit!

I have to say that I'm one of the few younger voters that won't be casting my vote for Barack Obama. I do not like Barack Obama. I do not like him her or there. I do not like him anywhere. I don't like Barack Obama. I do not like him Sam I Am. (Apologies to Dr. Seuss)

So nope, I guess I don't want change, or at least his brand of change. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the country called Bill Clinton, Slick Willy, but I think Barack sounds a bit more so. But that's just me. If he had more experience in the Senate, maybe, just maybe I could cast my vote for him. I like to know that my politicians are well seasoned when it comes down to lying to us. Campaign promises = lies.

It would be nice if either democrat would do something wonderful about health care. I'd like to have it one day. But I don't hold any faith in either candidate. I'd like to see one of them end the war in Iraq, but I can't see that happening either, no matter how much we all want it to happen.

The mess the next president has to clean up is pretty big and I don't think any of them have a dust pan big enough to even start the process.

Dammit, why did Gore have to lose the election in 2000! Oh wait..he really didn't.

(I promise this will be my last and hopefully only political rant for a long time)

Love Is The Ultimate Fashion

That was the title of the email I got from my favorite store this week. Thanks Dots for reminding me that I'm out of fashion!

PAH!

I will be so glad when next Thursday is over. Valentine's Day has never been and probably never will be a favorite day of mine. I'm sick of the commercials for jewelry and whatnot.

I'd just like someone to go out with and have a beer or two and a few giggles. It would be a plus if we shared the same musical interests.

~sigh~

Last year I had a very nice day, even though it ended with me worse off in the long run, heartbroken and with what was left of my self esteem in tatters and no answers for why I became persona non-grata many months later. Except maybe that I'm obnoxious and always have been.

I guess I'll be out of fashion again this year, and no amount of pretty red and pink frilly/sleazy/sexy clothes will change that.

PAH!

Lots Of Stuff and an meme

~ There was a thunder storm this morning at about 4 a.m. That was so weird. Thunder in February.

~ I've been very cranky lately and at one point I thought it was just me, but I've determined it's people that are making me that way. I got into an argument with a friend, who is no longer a friend over my Lenten complaints, said friend is a vegan and was pushing vegetarian lifestyle, which is fine, except when I have to find food during Lent there are 6 other people in my family, all of us carnivores. I told him I didn't want to argue, but it ended in an argument. I know now, that I could never live with Paul McCartney. Nope, couldn't do it.

~ My new favorite Gordon Lightfoot song is Race Among The Ruins. I haven't heard a Gordon song I didn't like yet. But here's a sample of the lyrics:

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew
Away you will go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon

~ I don't think small cats exist anymore. My Itchy is a tiny thing but any time I've seen cats around the neighborhood or in shelters they are all BIG. My Bootsie has to be nearly 20 lbs. She's bigger and heavier than our little Malti-poo.

~ I'm seriously contemplating giving up the memes as no one seems to play them anymore. I wish more people would play the memes. I get really angry at the people that play in other people's comments but can't be bothered to play on their own blogs. The point of memes like that is to get other players to come to your blog, make new friends etc. BLAH. So come on people go to Music Memoirs and play the memes every now and then, please?

And here's Tuesday Tunes from Music Memoirs: It's word association this week.

Game: Justin Hayward - Learning The Game
Loss: The Beatles - I'm A Loser
Excited: Roxette - Do You Get Excited?
Nervous: The Moody Blues - Nervous (One of my favorite Lodgey songs)
Win: The Grass Roots - Glory Bound
Run: Erasure - Run To The Sun
Cheer: Cheer Down - George Harrison
Halftime: Paul McCartney (Best halftime act ever!)
Shuffle: The Superbowl Shuffle - By Da Bears
Ring: ABBA - Ring Ring

Random Factoids About Me

~ I have a schedule and I adhere to it almost perfectly. I get up, I check email, blog, get ready for work, visit part of my friends list, eat breakfast, check email one last time, and go to work.

~ I hate exercise, yet I force myself to work out about hour or so 3 times a week.

~ My favorite band ISN'T The Moody Blues, though they are in the Top 10 and they are the artist that I've seen the most in concert. I will not go to see them again, though. You can only hear the same 20 tired songs so many times, before you realize you are throwing $100 away and getting next to nothing back in return.

~ One of my favorite movie musicals is The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, which I watched at a very young age. Dolly Parton is one of the best country singers out there, and I'm not overly fond of country music.

~ At any given time I will be reading at least one book, if not more. Right now I'm reading this one:

Barbara Michaels - Be Buried In The Rain



~ I hate taking down the Christmas tree. I put it off as long as possible. This year the tree didn't come down until Feb 2. My parents are the same way, and our Christmas tree is still up downstairs. My friend Karen is keeping her tree up until March 27. I don't know why.

~ In the course of my 33 years I've had 6 dogs and 6 cats. Our family didn't have a cat until I was in college, though my parents had cats before I was born. I'm finding that I'm more a cat person in the past years, but I still love dogs.

Noone's Perfect

Forgive me if I'm too gleeful in the loss the New England Patriots received last night in the Super Bowl.

I'm a closet football fan. I didn't even watch the game. I don't watch the games most of the time, because it sends my nerves spiraling into chaos, but what I do watch is the score, and that I watch every 3 minutes.

Last night was a killer.

However the outcome was just as I wanted it to be.

Several of those last 18 games played by New England were won by last minute luck. Well their last minute luck ran out last night.

So if you don't mind, I'm still doing a happy dance, and if I hadn't consumed my one beer, Sam Adam's Cherry Wheat, at dinner, I would have broken open my last Purple Haze in celebration last night.

Nope, I don't like New England at all.

I do however have one nagging thought. What loving set of parent's names their son Eli? And why do I have that stupid Three Dog Night song stuck in my head. Oh you know the one I mean. Eli's Coming!

Random 10 - Week 141

From Music Memoirs

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

Over The Rhine - Suitcase
(This is one of my favorite songs right now)

Hem - Radiation Vibe
(Yes it is a cover of the Fountains Of Wayne song)

Gordon Lightfoot - Alberta Bound
(I finally downloaded the original version from Don Quixote)

Over The Rhine - If A Song Could Be President
(We'd probably be better off than with any of the bozos that are running right now)

Duran Duran - The Reflex
(The mix CD in my car is mostly 80's music)

Erasure - Take A Chance On Me
(Something I'd like to say to someone, but they wouldn't care)

Justin Hayward - Marie
(This is the worst thing Justin ever wrote, but oddly it stuck out from what I've been playing lately)

Diana Krall - Temptation
(The Girl In The Other Room is one of her best CDs. Buy it if you don't have it already!)

Keri Noble - Bartender
(The lyrics for this one are awesome)

Annie Lennox - Walking On Broken Glass
(Another great song from that mix)

And the picture?

Over The Rhine, cos I've got tickets to see them in March!!!

Torchwood

Since everyone and their grandmother seem to be watching this BBC show, I thought I'd give it a go.

I watched two episodes on BBC America last night, and I liked it. It was amusing. I'm not sure if I'll ever remember to turn it on again, but I liked it.

I was particularly amused when they killed the alien Fish.

~grins evilly~

My mother just sat there with her jaw to the floor. I think she might prefer Dr. Who. Personally I think the new Dr. is cuter than most of the cast of Torchwood, but then again I like em geeky. Though the show is a spinoff on the Doctor...making it all the more confusing for an American girl that never cared for the good doctor.

Still it wasn't a bad show and I seldom have anything to do on Saturday nights, so I might take up watching it. It has to be better than watching the same 4 BBC shows on PBS.

If I remember, maybe I'll watch it again next weekend.

I Got My Tickets

Guess who's going broke to see 2 concerts this year! Yup! It's me. I just shelled out $45 for two general admission tickets to see Over The Rhine in March. Woo Hoo!

I've still got another $50 or so to spend in 2 weeks on Gordon Lightfoot tickets. After this, I don't think I can afford anymore concerts for the rest of the year, unless it's someone very special, like Mr. Costello, and he'd best not be touring with Dylan, who I respect and admire, but could not listen to for several hours.

The only problem with this show is that I'm going to have to cough up $115 to get a rental car, because I do not trust Bernie the Beretta when it comes to driving that far away from home.

Yes, you read that right. I'm going to a concert in Pittsburgh and I'm renting a car, because my car is a piece of poo! So a concert that should have only cost $45 is now up to $116 and that's before gas and stuff you buy at the show, not to mention probably getting food on the way back from the show.

Oye! But I am sure that it will be worth it.

Brrrrr

Just when I thought the ice and snow were gone, they came back. How nice of them. At least now I don't really care what it does outside. I'm done with work for the week. I have nowhere I need to be until Sunday morning, when I have to go to church.

However I can't say I wasn't surprised when I walked out of my house tonight at 6:30 and saw the sleet coming down quite hard.

I wasn't pleased when Grandma insisted that the laundry had to come down today too. It could have waited til tomorrow, since her sidewalks freeze up faster than anyplace, but I got it done. I also made it back up to my house without killing myself.

Do I hear a woot for that? Cos I deserve one!

Now I'm going to spend the rest of the evening curled up here by the computer, work on a few mix CDs, sort out the Pink Zen O' Doom and drink some berry tea. Tonight is going to be all about relaxation.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....or sleet...or rain...or whatever...

Top 5 On Friday - Week 160

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 songs that help you get rid of the winter time "blahs"

Fountains Of Wayne - Radiation Vibe
I could use a radiation vibe right now. This song is a good reminder that its not going to be grey and icky for the rest of my days.

Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
Hey, the lyrics say burning the ground. Ahhh warm ground. Anything would be better than the weather we are having now.

Erasure - Run To The Sun
Oh how I'd love to do that, or rather to a place where there was some nice warm sun, and possibly a sandy beach. Mmmm. Bliss.

Gordon Lightfoot - A Summer Side Of Life
Just the tone and the acoustic guitar work on this song, pick me up. Oh how I wish it were summer.

Paul McCartney - Off The Ground
Nothing like a little perky Paulie goodness to cure what ails you.