(Disclaimer, I don't know anything about these videos, I just picked them in kind of a hurry to share the songs. So enjoy the songs! And maybe the videos?)
Happy Thursday, one and all! While I can't pick a favorite song for all time, I always have one or two favorites at any given time.
Recently I came across this on Pandora. I had forgotten how much I love it!
So naturally I ordered the CD from MelCat so I could hear more from this band. That's when I discovered they also sang this song:
That song was on a CD one of Erica's friends sent her when we were roommates on Locust Street. We listened to the CD, oh, a thousand times? A week? It was our fav! It was the soundtrack to the winter of 2007 along with (for me) Against Me
Fiona Apple
And the Hold Steady
So now my old favorite songs are new again! It's like being an angsty 23 year old again, except I'm not actually. Which is preferable. Now songs like this are my real favorites:
I've known about this band for a while and liked what I've heard. But as I was trying to find stuff to listen to on YouTube while I work I put on a few videos and it just hit me in a certain way. I'm now in full on obsession mode.
The thing that brought The Dead Weather to mind was the preview for AMC's new Western Hell on Wheels. I don't have cable at my house (thus my obsession with DVD's I can get through the library like Moonlighting) so I didn't see the premiere last night. The previews do kind of make my Deadwood-loving heart beat a little faster so maybe I'll watch the show online or when the DVD's come out. But back to the point, the song on the previews for Hell on Wheels had me humming and straining to think WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT SONG until I finally got to a computer and with some creative Googling re-discovered my favorite Dead Weather song:
3) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
It took me 50 pages and at least two zombie nightmare before I decided I liked this book (and that I probably shouldn't read it before I go to bed). It's weird and can be a little jarring sometimes if you're really familiar with Pride and Prejudice but if you're willing to take it for what it is, it's a pretty enjoyable read. There's some gross zombie action, some country dances and gossip, something for everyone!
You know what I love? A good rainy Thursday in October complete with blustery winds, leaves flyin' all over the place, gray skies, umbrellas, rain coats, and that cozy feeling of being inside on such a day: hopefully under a blanket, with a cup of tea and a cookie and a cat and a book. I am at work right now but I am FULLY PREPPED to get that cozy after work and maybe after a large meal at Los Palominos with no fewer than two big margaritas. I love today! I also love:
1) My Haircut
I did it: I went with this cut. As I suspected, it was basically what I already had with a few layers and some coaching from my hair stylist. Did you know that when you want your hair to do something besides what it naturally does there's this stuff you can put it in? It's called product and there are all different kinds that do different things! You don't have to just use the power of your mind! I now use a little gel and a little hair spray along with a straightening iron (which I already had and used, but now I use it to curl my hair. Which is weird). It's a bit more work than before BUT it's messy so it's not that much more work and it looks pretty even as it starts to relax a little throughout the day. So I'm pleased.
2) Halloween Time
Oooo, Halloween! Spooky, scary (boys becoming men, men becoming wolves)! I love Halloween time! My dad is a huge Halloween dork: my parent's house gets completely decked out each October with a graveyard in the front yard and all kinds of decorations that jump and scream and threaten you as you walk past them. There are boiling eyeballs on the bookcases, at least three Frankenstein monsters, skulls that gnash their teeth, a Medusa head with moving snake hair, and a life-size zombie (or something, he sort of defies categorization) that lifts his head off his shoulders. Part of the Halloween experience, of course, is watching all the movies and books that get saved for this time of year. When my sisters and I were little, we were not allowed to watch Halloween movies at any other time than October. It was a way of keeping those movies festive and celebrating the season and both my sisters and I keep this tradition. I cheat every once in a while (I can't keep zombie movies only to October, I just can't!) but there is something really satisfying about saving seasonal movies for their seasons. For example:
These are forever linked in my mind because my family has an old VHS recording from when they were played one after the other on TV. My dad burned these onto a DVD complete with the old 80's commercial because it just wouldn't be Halloween for my sisters and I if we couldn't sing along with Ronald McDonald and the Chicken McNuggets when they sing "Scared Silly." Just wait until Christmas when I can tell you all about the three part harmony in the McDonalds commercial "Hardnose Mrs. Hatcher."
3) This song:
I am completely obsessed.
4) Fall Love
My friend Annie wrote this about how much she loves fall and what food/activity/media says fall to her. I have to say I am in complete agreement with her. I read Jane Eyre every November, watch Gilmore Girls from about September through December, and watch the temperature drop with glee until I can put on sweaters and tights.
5) Fall cooking and crafting
I have big, big plans for apple butter (thanks to Erica for the recipe and the ridiculously good jar of apple butter that she gave me), ginger snaps, split pea soup, apple/pumpkin risotto, white chicken chili and more more more cooking. I also intend to get my fall crafting under control and get ready for one last craft sale and start the holiday crafting (I've totally already started, for once, I am ahead of the game.) I just love cooking and crafting in the fall. Love it.
If this video doesn't make you happy, you need some serious help.*
I want to be in this video so badly! I want to be as cool as that tattooed girl hanging out by the piano but I definitely want to be the girl Frank pulls on stage to play the harmonica. Because I lurve him.
Earlier this week I looked at my calender to see two blank, white squares labeled Friday and Saturday. You know what that means? NO COMMITMENTS! I'm going to cook and read and watch a lot of Mad Men and knit A TON because Applefest is coming right up. I'm also going to buy myself something pretty with my birthday money because my Grandma told me to, and then I'm going to go show it to her. There's also a really good chance I'm going to drink too much coffee, eat a donut, get Mexican food for at least two meals and probably drink some wine (maybe even in a hot tub). Weekend, here I come!
Happy Thursday!
*Ok, try this:
Don Draper, kids. He will cheer you up anytime! (Also, you may have gotten pregnant just looking at these photos. Yes, even if you are a man. And you may be reduced to mumbling, "Don Draper...Handsome...Don...HANDSOME...Don Draper..." for the next hour or so.)
Lately I've been listening to a lot of Jim Croce during quiet moments at work. I was going to pick one of his songs for the Happy Thursday song, but I couldn't pick. Youtube kept reminding me of more songs and I love all of them. So here is a bunch for your listening pleasure.
But what is with the dog with the pacifier? I do not know; this was the only video I could find of Jim Croce singing this song. Don't look at the screen while the video is playing, just listen to Jim and imagine yourself surrounded about the three items in question.
This song sounds cheerful, but it's actually one of the most cutting songs. Playing this song while looking at someone meaningfully would be a really great way to break up with that someone if he or she deserved it. "If that's the way that you want it? That's the way I want it MORE." Jim puts the aggressive in passive aggressive.
Fun fact: I tried to draw this picture as a gift for my dad in art class my senior year of high school. I am not very good at drawing and the shading took practically the entire semester to do and it was still hideous. I never gave it to my dad and I now stick exclusively to fiber arts. Fun fact the second: I have only seriously considered two tattoo ideas in my entire life, one of which was to get "Hey" and "Baby" tattooed one word on each arm. I still haven't completely ruled that out.
At the craft sale, a few roller derby girls tried to recruit me and all I could think was, "But I'm not built like a 'fridgerator with a head." To be fair, neither were they, but I'm too big of a wimp. But if I ever do decide to try roller derby, I'll definitely be bad ass enough to get those tattoos I was thinking about. I'm seeing a whole alternative lifestyle for myself styled after Jim Croce songs. Hmmm...
He doesn't make working at the car wash sound very appealing, though.
Anyway, before I go off drinking and passive aggressively/awesomely insulting people and racing stock cars and talking some trash to the secretary (hey now mama, come on over here) and playing roller derby, I have to teach a knitting class this weekend and bartend at the lovely Annie's wedding Saturday night. And by "bartend" I mean pour glasses of wine and beer. The kegs will even already be tapped which is good because I don't see my co-bartender Natalie and I having a lot of success tapping a keg. Now wine bottles should present no problem: I could open a wine bottle in my sleep. I might even bring my own corkscrew because I love it so. It has a truly horrifying first date story that goes with it that I just may tell someday. Sunday morning Erica and I are knitting and watching stand up comedy DVDs and eating cinnamon buns because we feel that's the best way to spend a Sunday morning.
I really like what little I've heard of The National and as soon as I get that old cd unstuck from my car stereo, or a DVD player that works or my computer fixed or bring that stereo up from the basement (I have some technical difficulties and how!) I plan to Interlibrary Loan all the cds of theirs I can. In the meantime I am in love with this video: the song and the imagery and the light sixties/Don Draper feel of it (Or is that just me?)
Isn't that lovely? The only problem I have with it for a Happy Thursday post is that it's a little poignant for a happy Thursday. It's excellent, but it tugs on the emotions a bit (or at least it did for me). So to make sure you leave a Happy Thursday post, well, happy, here is this next video. Be warned, it's about...um, a kid visiting his grandma, which is nice. And, well...drugs, a little bit. But funny!
In reading an article about cat fur being made into jewelry (a concept so gross I couldn't resist reading about it) I came across this article which poses the eternal, burning question "Nude pantyhose, Great or Granny?" I clicked on the link because as a professional woman who wears a skirt and nude pantyhose almost every work day of my life I thought I should check it out.
Mistake.
You know why I don't read fashion articles? Because fashion is stupid. Until I read this article I didn't know who Pippa Middleton is, I had never heard of "junderpants" and I had no idea I had a obligation, nay, a responsibility to have perfectly shaped, perfectly colored, perfectly groomed legs. I was a better person for all of that ignorance. So sorry about the last 27 years of not worrying about my legs, you guys! I unwittingly exposed the world to my unprepared flesh on many an occasion. Thank goodness I usually (usually?! NOT EVERY DAY?!?!) put lotion on my legs. At least there is that!
The article does poke fun at the concept that wearing nude pantyhose could be a "sin" of any kind, but does seem to take seriously and without question the comment that that maybe Pippa wore them because she just didn't feel like exfoliating, shaving, bronzing and wearing other types of shapers when she could get all of that from her nude pantyhose. Maybe she didn't feel like doing all of that. Maybe. Because most days she does? Because anyone, anywhere does have the time and the desire to do that?
Maybe I'm the crazy one. It is well documented that I am no maven of fashion. And my nickname is Cockroach Legs (because I have short legs and apparently, I "scurry" when I walk). I think my legs look like Scottish man legs. Point being, what do I know about the proper care and keeping of legs? (But come on, I'm totally not the crazy one here.)
Anyway, look at these things instead of my legs:
If there is any rhubarb at the Farmer's market this weekend, I shall feast on these!
My current favorite dish washing song.
This might just be the thing to motivate me to sew!
Happy Thursday, one and all! To celebrate, here is one of my most favorite songs of all time!
How great is that? I cannot not dance to it (also, I don't not love a double negative for emphasis). How happy is that guy when he says he can live forever?! SO HAPPY!
Since I posted my last Happy Thursday post, a lot has changed. While it's mostly because I've been a terrible blogger, it's also because there has been a lot of change in my life. One change significant to Thursday-love is that I now work Sunday through Thursday, making Thursdays my Fridays (my ThurFridays according to my good friend Tanya) which only augments their "the whole weekend is ahead of me" appeal.
But this Thursday? Not so good, so far. Not awful, just rainy and would have rather stayed in bed, headache that will not be cured by mocha, mom out of cell phone contact when I need her for cooking and life advice, these types of struggles. So today I post not one but two videos for cheering up purposes and to get this Thursday correct!
So get to livin' and doing cat stuff (WHAT?!) like relaxing and stretching and eating and being bossy and nosy. And Happy ThurFriday to us all!
