A week or so late, maybe, but I love being late to a party. Here, in a vague sort of order, are my favorite songs from 2008. Also, I could only come up with 9. Wow, I kinda suck at this.
9. The Ting-Tings, "Shut Up and Let Me Go". I like this one despite the unfortunate use in an iPod ad.
8. Flo Rida, "Low". I know. Boots with the fur? Kills me. Love it.
7. Finger Eleven, "Paralyzer"
6. O.A.R., "Shattered". This was an end of the year addition for me. Now, it's a shower favorite.
5. Estelle/Kanye West, "American Boy". I think Kanye West is a total douche. But he happens to be a talented douche.
6. T-Pain, "Church". "Some bitches think they're hard, so why they think I'm not?" This one is always a mood lifter.
5. Matt Nathanson, "Come On Get Higher". Just yummy.
4. Jason Mraz, "I'm Yours". Despite that needing a dictionary thing, this song is a keeper.
3. Katy Perry, "Hot and Cold". I tried to stay away from this one, to stay away from Katy Perry in general. But it can't be stopped. This one gets the whole house rocking, and the whole family jumping. You can keep your "I Kissed A Girl" - I don't care for it.
2. This may be cheating, but the whole album "Feed The Animals", by Girl Talk. I love a good mash-up.
1. Weezer, "Pork and Beans". "Working out at the gym to fit my underwear." Genius.
My Command Central is out of order today - technical difficulties, waiting on tech support, may try alcohol soon. Due to these, uh... delays... I am unable to form any cohesive block of words for you to read and be fulfilled for the rest of your days. Best I can manage is to toss you some memos from the only Departments that have bothered checking in around here lately:
From the Dept. of the Sick and the Sad:
I'm not sure I believe in Hell, literally, so understand that I don't have any clue what I'm talking about when I tell you I'm totally going there because I thought it was the best thing in the whole world when, the other night, Riley was talking about Swiper and referred to him as "that stinky box". I know. Believe me, I know.
Also, technically under the jurisdiction of this department is the announcement that Mason has been sickity sick all week - like, actually sick, not just mental like me. None of us are sleeping well. Woe has been greatly upon us, but things are looking up.
NEXT!
From the Dept. of Gainful Employment:
I have a department for this? Hmm. Well, ok. Maybe I'll be forming one soon. Let's just say - Under Construction.
NEXT!
From the Dept. of There Is Something Seriously Wrong With Me:
Yesterday as I was stringing up some lights I felt a tickle in my ear and since have been certain that a little bug crawled in there. I am now having relentless images of baby spiders streaming out of my ear in nine months (wait, how long is the spider gestation period? Looks like I need a Dept. of Useless R & D) and OMG, just typing that has made me hyperventilate. I have poured peroxide in my ear but so far have recovered no incriminating evidence. I don't want to talk about it anymore. If you are half as grossed out as I am, I am SO, SO sorry.
I am also bothered, as I get sometimes, by what I see as blatant incorrect word usage. My victim today is Jason Mraz, who sings (and I presume wrote) (again, I need research) that lovely ditty "I'm Yours". Nice song. I sing along freely - even to the Hawaiian guys. And there's ukulele, and who doesn't love some ukulele, am I right? But - BUT! I would like to submit this stanza for your perusal:
"Listen to the music of the moment people, dance and sing We're just one big family And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved loved loved loved loved."
Do you know what godforsaken means? Because I know what godforsaken means. And in the famous words of the Dread Pirate Roberts, I do not think it means what Jason Mraz thinks it means. Call me, Jason. We'll work this out over coffee or something.
NEXT!
From the Dept. of So, How's Your Holiday Spirit?:
Ok, ok. Things have been looking grim around here. Sick baby, lost a week to Thanksgiving (whyyyyyyy was it a week late this year and do you think I'll ever stop whining about it?) and have been scrambling about basically trying to hold my shit together. Well. No more. Mason is ok, and I really, really, REALLY love the holiday season. So, the attitude adjustment starts right.... now. Wait - I have to put on some appropriate music. Ok, now. I have decided that although there is a lot to do, it is all stuff that I genuinely enjoy doing, so I'm going to lose the Grinchiness and just love it. For example - tonight, after all the craziness of the week, I'd love to just curl up tonight and watch a good Christmas movie. But we have our first holiday party of the season, and I will get to see people I love seeing, and so I'm going to put on my red heels and have a good time, dammit.
I mean, come on. Don't those shoes make YOU want to have fun?
If I don't get a hole-in-one soon, I'm going to shoot somebody with my "laser".
Last night, as Riley and Mason are jumping together on the trampoline (I have been exiled to the steps), and Riley continually tries to roughhouse with his sister:
Riley: :::pushes Mason down, cackles with toddler glee:::
Mason: NO! No, no, no.
Mommy: RILEY! Don't you push your sister!
Riley: Don't push Mason!
Mommy: That's right. No pushing. Also, no hitting and no kicking.
Riley: And no biting!
Mommy: (impressed) Yes, that's right. Don't you bite.
Riley: Or baby will be SO sad.
Mommy: Yes. Also, she will kick your ass. Be warned.
Wouldn't you like to know my favorite song this week? Here it is:
... or however that old quote goes. Am too lazy to Google it just now. Perhaps one of you fine folks can help me out?
So, I'm back from the beach, and recovering from all that, plus dealing with some lovely virality/jungle fever/Ebola-itis. Complete with spots on my children. AWESOME. I promise, promise, PROMISE to get some photos and words out here soon, but today just ain't the day. Sad sad, sniffle, sniffle, I KNOW. I'd like to make a not-really-so-funny joke here about how nobody is reading anyway and blah blah blah, but as it turns out there was a comment on my last post wondering where I've been and, oh hell, I'll just quote it:
"Where has my favorite blogger of America gone?????"
IsweartoGodIdidnotmakethatup.
Though I guess I can't swear that I didn't sleepwalk down here in the middle of the night and post it myself. Because how would I know? If it's me, I hope I'm paying myself something good. Anyhow, thanks for the love. I love you too, Internet. Every last sweaty drop of you. For you give me such goodness and joy, that I can only throw out some foot photos and ill-conceived ALLCAPS in hopes of someday repaying you.
In addition to my other sacrifices, I also attempt to share with you awesome things I find out here on the cutting edge of it all, usually in the trolling of other, much cooler blogs. Things like GT, or Girl Talk, mastermind of truly awesome mashups. Look, and judge for yourselves... I promise you won't be sorry:
He's offering the album up pay-what-you-want Radiohead style, which I love in that whole ANARCHY! way, though I didn't partake of it when Radiohead offered it, because I just don't do Radiohead. But I just might do this one.
Speaking of anarchy, I am considering asking for a Zune for my birthday. Don't tell Marc, he doesn't know yet. I'm not sure yet, but I'm AM sure I'll hear some strong opinions about it. It just feels so FIGHT THE POWER, which is funny, because since when did it become subversive to want to buy a Microsoft product?
(That's right - I don't have an iPod. All of my previous and current MP3 players have been Creative.)
Have you seen The Dark Knight yet? No? Well, why are still sitting there? GO! It's ok. I'll wait.
You're back?
Ok, now, let's talk about it. Did you love it as much as I did? I mean, I even liked it better than Batman Begins, which I loved, and I never love sequels better than originals. Well, ok, almost never. I was concerned that all the hype about Heath Ledger's performance was due to his unfortunate death, but I was wrong. He really was THAT good.
About 10 minutes into the movie, I recall thinking to myself that there was a minor criticism I was going to have to tell Marc about after the movie but - get this - by the end of the movie, I had forgotten all about. The criticism had never existed. And believe me, there are few things I enjoy in this world more than finding minor things to criticize.
Wait - ok, here's one. I heard rumblings on the Intarnets about "what's up with Batman's voice?" and I have to agree. While I get it, it was still distracting.
But that's it! That's all! Can you believe it?!!@#@!
Ok, what else, what else...
I was supposed to see The X-Files the night before last, but some person to remain unnamed bailed on me, and now I may never find the truth. Mulder and Scully have evaded me, and it makes me sad.
Oh, hey, books! Been reading lots of those. As you may have noticed on the sidebar on the right there, I'm deep into the Twilight series. I've read the first 3, and am waiting to pick up "Breaking Dawn" (note to self: DO NOT FORGET TO FIND THIS BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR BEACH THIS WEEKEND). I picked up "Twilight" a couple months ago because I just kept hearing about it over and over, so I figured I'd better check it out. Took me a while to start it, because I was finishing the massive undertaking that was "Pillars of the Earth" (a bookclub pick and, as it turns out, I am the only one who has finished it. Hmph.)
(I'm about to talk about some general plot points of the series a bit, so maybe spoiler alert here, if you haven't read them and intend to? Go forward at your own risk, though I hardly think I'm sharing anything gasp-worthy! Bwahahaaha.)
Once I was in the middle of "Twilight", I began to feel a bit annoyed at myself for reading a series aimed at "Young Adults" until I was able to step back and realize that the emotional simplicity (what I mean is - while the writing itself is lush and descriptive, the story is not exactly deep) was simply a product of having a 17 year old girl for a narrator. Once I let go of that and let myself remember what it's like to think like a teenager, it's been a very fun ride. I look forward to seeing if Bella becomes a vampire - I'm Team Edward, of course - though I personally suspect she'll choose Jacob, and humanity, in the end. Though from a business perspective, it would be wise of the author to turn her, because think of the future books that storyline invites. Looking forward to sharing more thoughts on that once I finish the last book.
Speaking of books, new bookclub possibly happening tonight. Must start mainlining ibuprofen now.
Ok, since I'm on a roll, let's just round it out with brief discussions of music and television.
Music: I currently enjoy confusing myself over this special tribute to summertime, whiskey and teen sex:
Excepting his tendency to bust into an unnecessary scream in the middle of all of his songs, I like Kid Rock. But this song, "All Summer Long" for those who don't care to watch the video, is full of all sorts of conflicts for me. Basically, I don't want to like it, because the lyrics are terrible. "We were trying different things, we were smoking funny things" - ?!?!?! Besides, if I want a nostalgic summertime song, I have PLENTY of other options. The trouble, then, are those insidious samples... how DARE he entice a Midwestern girl like myself who was brought up on classic rock with BOTH "Werewolves of London" and "Sweet Home Alabama"? He must know my response is practically Pavlovian. I can't NOT listen - in fact, I turn it up when this song comes on. And for this, Kid Rock sorta sucks.
And on a separate note, here is my favorite song of the day (video is irrelevant - I just like the song):
And finally, TV. Still digging So You Think You Can Dance, rooting for Twitch, but thinking Katee will win. And Eureka is back, which makes me inordinately happy. Aren't you watching it? Here, check it out:
Aaaaand that's all I've got today. Must go do some beach prep. Anyone care to tell me about any great media-type stuff I'm missing?
Driving to the Farmer's Market. This is my little ritual that I look forward to all week. A cool Saturday morning, me in the convertible, music playing as loud as I want. Look at that corn popping up!
Convertible hair. I don't mind a bit. On this particular trip, some songs I heard that made me happy:
"Havana Daydreamin'" - Jimmy Buffett
"Hello, It's Me" - Todd Rundgren
"Peter Piper" - Run DMC
"Hello Eugene" - Pink Martini
"Love Stinks" - J Geils Band
Sirius Satellite Radio, you are a friend of mine.
These pretty little things are gooseberries. I ate them on the way home. Well, not ALL of them.
Because I was looking forward to having this for lunch. Grilled CBLT, made mostly from my purchases that morning. Yum yum yum yum yum tomato.
Other business:
Been super light on the posting round these parts lately, and I shore do apologize for it. (I don't know why I've tossed on a Texan accent, let's just go with it.) Firstly I was having a TypePad login problem that kept me from posting yesterday, but that's all better now. I also have just been crazy busy, and often have a lot of paint on my fingers.
But when I DON'T have paint on my fingers, I've been taking lots of photos, and have a few stories to share. I downloaded all 20 majillion photos from the past 2 months or so yesterday, and will be getting to posting them soon. Along with photos of my painted bathroom, which surely you are dying to see. (Yes, YOU ARE, dammit.) Promise.
My musical fascination of the week, for your enjoyment (or for you to scoff at, if you've been listening to this for, like, WEEKS NOW, GOD, and you're just so over it already. In which case, hopefully someday you will get over your hipster self.) (But feel free to keep on coming around here to scoff at me until you do!)
I love the horns. I'm not usually a horn lover. Go figure.
