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Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Four Emus
| So here's the thing: I know I haven't posted in a while. Like, a long while. And, in some respects, I am sorry for that. It pains me that I haven't written anything here in so long. But, I refuse to write drivel here. (Even though most of what I usually write could be considered drivel...) Ok, so here's what I have been thinking about lately (besides some REALLY neat-o blue eyes...). What is it that defines a friend? I mean, I have people in my life that I have known since 6th grade. I have people for whom I would have given up everything in the world. I have people (with gorgeous blue eyes) who have recently come back into my life after many years... But, I was still not sure that I knew what it is that makes someone a true friend. Because after all this time, I have someone who I have confided in, and who I ask for advice on a nearly DAILY basis, and who could possibly be the most genuinely GOOD and KIND person I have ever had the honor of knowing...and yet, I have never met this person. NEVER. Not even once. So, what makes a friend? I guess what I am getting at is the fact that proxemity is what most of us base our friendships on. Proxemity is what initially will bring us together. The people we are NEAR to, physically, are those we become closest to emotionally. It makes sense. But now...now, in this world of high-speed, interconnected, wireless, bluetooth, megapixeled, webcam, discussion forum technology, we don't have to be physically near people. We can be virtually near. So what if I'll probably never get the chance to visit Kuala Lumpur. With a few clicks, I'm there. And I am able to do things and talk with people I would never otherwise have the chance to meet and talk with. So, in a round-about way, I suppose that what I am saying here is that in this, the holiday season, one thing that I am incredibly grateful for is one strange--yet fateful--night, long, long, ago, that was spent in a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" chat room making fun of a whole lot of people who have very limited basic skills in grammar. Out of that, I was able to learn what friendship truly is. Muchas gracias. Con mucho carino. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:51:00 PM |
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Promises were MADE to be broken.
| I did not intentionally break my posting promise. Honestly. Ask Zam. She and I were chatting and I mentioned that, "I posted the other day." She became quite excited and said, "Really? I must have missed that...let me go read it." She quickly informed me that "the other day" was like 2 weeks ago. *sigh* I honestly don't know where all the time is going. This is craziness. I fully intended on posting once a week. But, now I can't even keep track of when the week begins and ends! I am going insane. Or senile. I'm not sure which. Anyway, I had to post this tonight in honor of several things.
¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 8:34:00 PM |
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Oh. My. God. An ACTUAL POST.
| Sorry. I have been gone for a long time. I know it. I don't know what has come over me. Well, actually, I do, but nothing I say will sound like anything less than a lame excuse. And, so, I shan't make any lame excuses. There's nothing worse than a pathetic story about being heartbroken (which I am). And there's no good excuse about how I have incredible amounts of work piling up (which I have). And it's not like I am the only one in the world who has a hard time mustering up the energy to post on her blog on a regular basis (because I'm not--look at Zam). I admit, I have reached new depths of low. Zam evacuated her home under threat of Rita, and was still able to post. I, on the other hand, sat here on my patoot many many miles to the north, under the clear blue skies, feeling sorry for myself, while at my favorite coffee shop, grading a mountain of papers--and not posting. So, hereby let it be declared that I resolve to try to post AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK on this blog, AND on the Smart Asses blog, even if for nothing else than to say I did it. Damn straight! ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 7:59:00 PM |
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
That's Gonna Leave a Mark...
| I was at the doctor yesterday. It must be time to go back to school. Seems like I make a pilgrimage to the doctor's office prior to the start of school more often than I would like. Remember the Carribbean Death Bug™? I had to make a trip to the doctor because I have somehow managed to contract a BLOCKBUSTER case of some sort of poison--be it ivy, oak, sumac, or judging by the looks of it, some unheard of mutant poison that kills its victims slowly, from the inside out while they help kill themselves by clawing their way in through their own skin--all over my arms. Well, mostly on my left forearm. And, well, I think it's poison. My doctor didn't look at it all that closely. He would have rather chit- chatted with me about work and why I am not coaching at all, and yada yada yada, and wow, your arm looks bad, and you really should get back into coaching, yada yada yada, and here's a shot and some pills, and it should clear right up. So, how bad is it, you ask? Oh, it's BAD. However, I am on the road to recovery. Prednisone has cleared up the swelling, the redness and itching are beginning to go away, and the large blistery areas have (eew gross) formed scab-like crusts. I have been asked several times if I burned my arm. One administrator at school asked if it was flesh-eating bacteria. Zam is on stand-by with sterilized hacksaw at the ready should I need an amputation. It's kind of fun to watch everyone recoil in horror when they see it. I do readily admit, it is not for the weak-stomached or the faint of heart. This shizzle is fo' grizzle. It's a grizly sight, indeed. Photographic evidence will be forthcoming. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:52:00 PM |
Monday, August 15, 2005
This One's For Gretchen...
| There's a post a-comin' tomorrow! I swear! I just don't have time to post it all tonight. I have to finish reading The Rule of Four--I'm only a hundred pages from finished, and I can't let Zam have the satisfaction of finishing first! :) ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:56:00 PM |
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Anyone can make it if they learn how to shake it.
 Gotta tell ya, if the movie Mad Hot Ballroom is playing in any theater near YOU, you really MUST go see it.What a wonderfully uplifting documentary. In case you haven't heard about this little film, the filmmakers chronicle a 10-week period in the lives of 5th graders in NYC who are participating in a program to learn ballroom dancing. The hope of these kids is to be selected to their school's team in order to represent their school in the city-wide ballroom dancing competition at the end of the 10-weeks. Each school sends a team of 6 couples to compete--5 couples who will each dance a different dance, and 1 couple that is the alternate, in case someone is unable to compete. The dances that the kids learn are the Merengue, the Rumba, the Foxtrot, the Tango, and the Swing. I absolutely loved the film. Those kids are amazing. Not because they are wonderful dancers--some are, some aren't. But because they have amazing spirit. I love little Wilson (who happens to be the beautiful little boy on the poster above), who steals your heart; he barely speaks any English, but can rumba like NO ONE'S business. And wee Cyrus, who is so adorable that I want to put him in my pocket and take him home, who says, "I felt like even though I did my best, I still could have done better." And all of the little Latinas who, even at 11 years old, ooze that Latin sensuality on the dance floor, and know how to use those hips. Just so wonderful. Maybe it was because these little 11-year-olds remind me so much of the kids I teach. Maybe it was because I absolutely knew how those teachers felt about those kids because I feel that way about my kids, too. I think it was because I didn't stop smiling at the screen from the moment the movie began until the credits rolled at the end. Literally. I had a silly grin on my face from beginning to end. I felt ridiculous. But I couldn't help it. And, really, when's the last time you saw a movie that made you grin like an idiot the whole way through? Can't remember, can you? That's what I thought. If you have the opportunity, I strongly suggest... Go. See. This. Film. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:10:00 PM |
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Addendum:
| Here is the "updated" reading list for the summer. Basically, all the books that are currently on my shelves that I have not yet read (or that I haven't read in YEARS). The ones that are crossed off are either from last summer, or the beginning of this summer. You can see I have a LONG way to go to reaching completion of this list. I guess winning $1000 worth of free books has a way of making this list MUCH longer... THE SUMMER OF 2005 OVERLY OPTIMISTIC AND COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC READING LIST
¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:15:00 AM |
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Back in the saddle...
| Ok. It's been a while. I realize this. A great deal has transpired in my life since school ended. Some good, some ok, some bad, and some devastatingly painful. Things I learned on my summer vacation so far, in no particular order:
I shall be attempting to "get back into the swing of things" around here now that I am officially on vacation. This week is the first week that I have had COMPLETE FREEDOM--no obligations whatsoever. Therefore, I shall post an updated version of my summer reading list from last year, with a few additions, as well as some more cross offs from the list. As far as books that I have already read so far this summer, here's the list for you...
 ...this is what half the globe will be reading (myself included). ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:06:00 AM |
Thursday, June 23, 2005
*sigh*
| Sorry for the lack of postage. I know it's the summer. But let's just say my summer has started off pretty crappy. Where do you go, with your broken heart in tow?I liked this song so much more when I was completely unable to relate to it whatsoever. (Thank you for making me laugh when it was so hard to even want to, Hermanita. You will never know how much you helped.) ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:27:00 PM |
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Gig'em THIS.
For my friend Zam:Phillies Sweep 3-Game Series Vs. Rangers¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:37:00 PM |
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Exhibit B
 Note the upper-right corner. (I took the liberty of circling and pointing an arrow at the area in question.) Clearly, fingerprints and residual adhesive indicate that there was inital difficulty in peeling the sticker off. Bastards. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:10:00 PM |
WWSSD?
 Yesterday, my car was burgled.No, there was not a break-in involved. Rather, it was that someone removed something from THE OUTSIDE of my car. Yes, from the exterior. But wait. Let's go back in time. Back to the beginning. Create a timeline... It's what Sara Sidle would do. This past November, after the horror of the presidential election, I purchased a "I DID NOT VOTE 4 BUSH" bumper sticker as my futile, yet only means of retaliation. Said sticker has resided firmly upon the bumper of my vehicle since the post-election days. I live in a blue state. I thought that my sticker would be safe within the confines of a blue state.  I found out yesterday that this is not so.Silly me. I forgot that the only things that really made this state a blue one were Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Everything in between is decidedly of the red variety--necks and all. I guess in hindsight, I am surprised that it took this long to happen. Yesterday morning, when I left the house to head to work, the sticker was still attached to my car. I know this because I always throw my laptop bag in the trunk, and the sticker was affixed to the area just above the lock--I had violated the rules of bumper stickers by placing it in a non-bumper area, but I had decided that the space between the spoiler and the lock was the area of highest visibility. Hence, the sticker was stuck there, and hence, I saw the sticker every day when I placed the key in the lock to open the trunk. Flash forward to yesterday afternoon:  When I left the building and headed out to my car, as lifted my key to put it in the lock and open the trunk, I was stopped in my tracks. My blood ran cold for a moment, and I nearly screamed out loud. But, no sound escaped my lips. I was too dumbfounded to speak. I stood there in the parking lot staring at the spot where my bumper sticker used to be.That's right. Someone stole my bumper sticker. And, if there were any doubt before now that I have been watching WAY too much C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation lately, this should clear that doubt right up. My first thought: Don't touch the trunk. Maybe we can lift a print. Or at least a partial. *sigh*  So, after I gave myself a righteous *slap* for even thinking that thought, I did the only thing I could--the next logical thing. I looked around and made sure that my car was well within camera range, and, seeing that it was, I marched myself back inside the building and made the security guy scan through the video from the parking lot for the entire day. Yes, the entire day.For a bumper sticker. (Shut up. It's the principle of the thing.)  We sifted through an hour and a half of video, and didn't find anyone who even came close to going near my car. Unfortunately, the cameras in the parking lot do sweeps of the area, and for the camera to make a full circuit, it takes about a minute and a half. That's long enough to pick and peel the sticker off.Bastards. So, there I was, out one cool sticker, and a whole lot of luck. So, what else was there left to do? Consult with my partner in crime, of course. I picked up the phone and called it in. Zamsterson suggested that I go back to the scene and "canvas the area for witnesses. It's what Sara Sidle would do." I did not canvas anything. I instead went to my local Barnes & Noble. I still haven't touched the trunk at that spot yet. The small rectangular area of where the sticker used to be is clearly visible on the dark blue of my car, thanks to the incredible amount of yellow pollen that has been floating around in the air lately. Likewise, there is a clearly visible fingerprint area in the upper-right hand corner of what used to be the sticker, as well as adhesive residue where the perpetrator obviously had to use his or her fingernail to "pick and peel" up the edge of the sticker for removal.  I wonder if we can lift some epithelial cells for DNA analysis there...I will present photographic evidence of this tonight after I get home and snap a few shots with the digital camera. I don't think a cameraphone would do this justice. Stay tuned, people... More info and images to come. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 9:39:00 AM |
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Wicked Awkward
 I think tonight I actually have something to write about, although it is something that happened to me a while ago that I have sort of been sitting on for a variety of reasons. Primarily, it is because I just have not had time to post as much as I (and some people) might like. But, seeing as how I have some free time on my hands, I will use it to tap out a little something on this keyboard for your reading pleasure.Ok, so, a few months ago, I was at my local Barnes & Noble, purchasing a refreshing beverage of the caffeinated variety. As I stood at the end of the counter awaiting the arrival of my coffee, the older gentleman (and by "older," I mean early 60's) who had been behind me in line came and stood next to me after ordering as he waited for his drink, as well. Out of the corner of my eye, I kind of thought it looked like the man was staring at me. Naturally, when someone stares, it is hard NOT to wonder what the hell they are staring at. Unfortunately for me, there is a plethora of possibilities to answer that question. At this point, I am beginning to get angry--but I still have not made eye contact. I can see that he is starting to get fidgety. Looking away, looking back; away, back, away, back. Finally, I look over at him, and he looks at me and says, "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" In the split second that I have to answer that question, about a jillion possibilities for what this dude could possibly have to ask me go flying through my brain. "Sure," I replied, thinking that I had heard every imaginable question before at some point in my life--this couldn't be anything I had not already dealt with before. But, it turned out, it could be. The man pointed to my head, and in a decidedly grumpy and antagonistic tone, he said, "What made you buy that hat? Why are you wearing it?" I had to stop to think. Hmmm... First I had to remember, Which hat am I wearing today? For me, baseball hats are vital accessories. I have an excess of baseball caps, and on any given day, I could be wearing any one of the 25+ hats in my collection. Then it hit me. I had on my Boston Red Sox hat. And this guy was (likely) a lifelong Red Sox fan, disgruntled by the suddenly cramped feeling on his bandwagon, what with all the people jumping on since the Sox won the World Series and broke the curse of the Bambino. That's understandable. I get that. I do. But the look of utter disgust on his face, as he stood there awaiting my answer, certain that I was one of those new fairweather fans was unfair. And, it made me angry. So, I answered his question with another question, "Do you honestly want to know why I bought and wear this hat?" And he replied, "Yes." I answered his question with this explanation: "Ok. I haven't ever really told anyone this before, but, my grandfather died when I was 12, and one of the things that I remember about him--and it really only recently just kind of popped into my memory again--the thing that I remember about him is that whenever he would go anywhere, unless it was winter, he would wear his Red Sox hat. I remember him always having a Red Sox hat. And, so, I went out and bought this one. Because he had one." And in the 15 seconds that it took for me to tell this man, a complete stranger, something that to me, was so personal, I watched his face and the expression of disgust that was on it change to one of complete embarrassment, mortification, and I think, perhaps sympathy. I kept my eyes fixed on his, but he had to look away as he said, "Oh....ok....so, there's a reason why you...ok....that's good..." and his voice trailed off. He didn't look at me again. And, honestly, I get where he was coming from. But, man, don't assume. He obviously knew he made a faux pas, which I'm sure is why he averted his eyes from mine. But, I held my gaze on him. And then I heard the barista say my drink was ready. But I continued to stare. To watch him squirm. To make him uncomfortable. Just for a little bit longer. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:35:00 PM |
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Grave Danger -- Vols. 1 & 2
| All I have to say about the 2-hour Tarantino-riffic season finale of C.S.I is ... WOW. That was an AMAZING episode! I absolutely loved it. Fan-freakin-tastic. Makes me wish I had taped it. If you didn't see it, find someone who recorded it, because it was sooooo worth watching. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:15:00 PM |
Friday, May 13, 2005
Sunday, April 17, 2005
A Slightly Drunken Post?!?
| Dude, Monday is my birfday. I went out tonight for dinner and drinks wit my peeps. A good time was had by all. Much hilarity ensued. Especially when Greenie asked the bartender if this one guy who had left the bar would be back (because she was obviously checking the guy out), and the bartender replied, "Who? The guy that was in THAT seat? That was my boyfriend." She said she has never been so humiliated in her life. Consequently, she left the chick a HUGE tip to make up for the faux pas. Word. And for all my Spanish-speaking readers out there, that's "Palabra," to you. Paz out, y'all. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 12:50:00 AM |
Saturday, March 26, 2005
I had to get this one in before March is over...
| ...just so Zam can't say it has been over a month since I posted. So, the goings-on around here? Not many. I changed up my "tagline" a la Zam, and chose a song lyric that I dig. And, since she stole my first choice from The Killers, I went with something from the delicious Scissor Sisters. I love them. What else has been going on? Well, finally we have somewhat warmer weather. I guess if you consider the 40's and 50's to be "warm." Anyway, it's certainly better than teens and 20's. Musically, I am totally diggin' this Sarah Bettens album that a good friend sent me. You wanna talk about a SEXY voice? This chick has it. For those of you unfamiliar with Sarah Bettens, she was/is the lead singer for this Belgian band called K's Choice. She has the most amazing voice. I love it. *Aahhhhhh* Happy Easter, all. Lay off the ham. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 10:40:00 PM |
Monday, February 28, 2005
9+: And if Angel's dad says so, it must be true.
| That's the forecast for our region. 9+ inches of snow by (probably) midnight. I think it's safe to say we will probably have a day off from work tomorrow. I am not happy about that. That means we lose a day at Easter. Hmmph. I am still keeping fingers crossed for the ever-popular 2-hour delay. That's the BEST. Go to work 2 hours late--and NOT get in trouble for it. And, it still counts as a full day. Excellent. So, this evening, I am working under the assumption that I won't have to work (at least not very hard) tomorrow. Hence, I am writing here, in this blog. And, truthfully, what could be better than sitting in front of a laptop, drinking a beer as a thick blanket of snow covers the ground outside? Lots of things. I know. You're right. Anyway, I suppose that many of you (and by "many," I mean the 3 of you who still read here) have noticed that the so-called "flurry" of activity on this weblog has subsided somewhat. It was short-lived. But, what else would you expect from me? Seriously. So, since my last post, there are a few things that have popped up that I need to talk about. 1) I am such a schmuck for being FIVE years behind the times. But, dude, I don't have HBO. And I don't have Showtime. Anyway, with my recent joining of the Blockbuster Online video rental jawn, I have basically filled my virtual queue with enough discs to last me until I am ready to retire. And, about 98% of the discs in my queue are DVD sets of television shows. The first show I put in my queue (can you tell I just like using the word "queue"? It's so damn British....): Six Feet Under: The Complete First Season. My question to you, internet, is this: WHY HAD NO ONE TOLD ME OF THE WONDER THAT IS THIS SHOW BEFORE??? Oh. My. GAWD. I freakin' LURVE this show. And, now, as I am for the first time experiencing what everyone else on the planet did 5 years ago, I find out that HBO has announced that this current season of 6FU will be its last. WHY??!??!? WHY, HBO, WHY??!?? *sigh* Oh, David, I hardly knew ye... 2) I also rented The L Word: Season One. Um.... Holy crap. That's one sexxxxxxy show. But, at the same time, deep, and hilarious, and really great. I will continue watching, fo' sho'.  3) My latest musical acquisition: Tori Amos's The Beekeeper.What a great album! I guess that Tori could sing basically anything, and I would probably like it. Except for when she sang "The Wheels on the Bus" at the last live show I attended. That I didn't like. But seriously, I really like this album. And, it has a whopping 19 songs on it! It's HUGE. However, after watching the DVD of interviews with Tori that came along with the "deluxe" version of the cd, I am quite certain of her complete nuttiness. She's a unique one, but that is why we love her. And, in related news, we got tickets for Tori's show at the Kimmel Center in April. It's her Original Sinsuality Tour. Oh yeah. I can't wait! 4) (Yes, I am still rambling.) Tonight is the finale of The Bachelorette. I am almost too disgusted to watch. Last time, Meredith let THE nicest guy, Matthew Hiccup (or whatever his last name was), walk away. Now, this time around, Jen has done the same thing--only one round earlier. She gave Ryan, the teacher to whom she SWORE money was no issue, his walking papers last week. I just have this feeling that she will pick creepy John Paul and his freakish upper lip because he has the cash... 5) Don't forget: tomorrow night is the premire of the next The Amazing Race! *whew* That's enough now... I wonder if 9+ really refers to the amount of snow, or the length of this post... ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 6:07:00 PM |
Monday, February 21, 2005
I cannot tell a lie...
| I like not having to go to work today. I am writing this post in my pajamas. Yay! President's Day! At the same time, though, it snowed last night. Probably a good 3 inches. That would have been good for at least a 2 hour delay this morning. Gosh darn Mother Nature. Couldn't she plan that storm a tad better? It's not supposed to snow on days that we ALREADY have off from school. Oh well. Happy birthday, General George. And Happy President's Day to all of you who are at work right now. ;) ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 11:43:00 AM |
Friday, February 18, 2005
She's a Maniac, MAAAA-niac on the Floor...
| I now have a newfound love for Jennifer Beals. From CNN.com: "I'm always shocked that gay marriage is such a big deal," says Beals over coffee in a Lower East Side patisserie she loves visiting when she's in town. "You have to realize how precious human life is, when there are tsunamis and mudslides, when there are armies and terrorists -- at any moment, you could be gone, and potentially in the most brutal fashion.Read the full article here. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 1:14:00 PM |
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Harbinger of Doom?
| You know, my mp3 player is somewhat psychic. It usually forecasts my day with its musical selections, so if today's tunes were any kind of indication, it could be a strange day... Especially since my heiney is dragging from being at the Royals game last night. 1) Tori Amos -- "Martha's Foolish Ginger" (from her new album The Beekeeper) 2) Tori Amos -- "Black Dove" 3) Melissa Etheridge -- "I Will Never Be the Same" 4) Radiohead -- "Creep" 5) Tracy Bonham -- "Every Breath" 6) Tori Amos -- "In the Springtime of His Voodoo" I mean, come on. It's gonna be a weird day. THREE Tori Amos songs. Cause she's so normal... ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 9:18:00 AM |
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
You're team number one!
| Exactly 2 weeks, people. Two weeks from today, the premiere of The Amazing Race 7 will air. This is good. I am still feeling betrayed and bewildered (Oh, Albert! Take a Pirin tablet!) from the results of TAR6. So, I give you my solemn oath that I will try to post my commentary on a regular basis for this upcoming season. It's the least I can do. And, hey, there are THREE gay people on the show this time! An all-time high, I think! Anyway, go check out the profiles for the teams. They are up. I am kind of already anti-Amber and Rob, just because doing ONE reality series in a lifetime should be enough; they have exceeded that by TWO now. TAR7 will be their 3rd show (they were each on a separate season of Survivor AND came in 1st and 2nd on Survivor: All-Stars). Do they really NEED another million dollars? Let's not be greedy, people. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 2:55:00 PM |
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Fas-WHAT?
| Today is one of my favorite days of the year.
It's Fastnacht Day. Basically, that means that it is the PA Dutch equivalent of Fat Tuesday. Every year, on Fastnacht Day, my grandmother (who is now 90 years old, by the way) makes a HUGE batch of Fastnachts for the family. Ooohhh, man. Deeeeelicious. What the hell is a fastnacht, you ask? Well, it's a traditional PA Dutch donut--plain, and only slightly sweet. Usually, the way one eats a fastnacht depends on the way one was raised. In our house, the fastnachts were always sliced in half (the flat way--like a bagel) and then, opened up and table syrup (only the Mrs. Schlorer's Turkey Syrup is acceptable in my book) is poured on each half. It's so unbelievably good, it's not funny. They are even good when eaten plain. When I was in college and still playing hoops, my grandmother would always send several big bags of fastnachts up to Connecticut for me to share with my teammates. I can vividly remember one bus trip when our schedule brought us down to Drexel, and my parents and grandmother came to the game in Philadelphia with fastnachts in tow. We dove into those donuts before the bus was even out of the city, and by the time we reached Hartford, that night, they were almost completely gone. People were on the verge of fighting over them. Hence, I shall always love Fastnacht Day. I guess it is one of those quirky PA Dutch things that makes it (kind of) neat to live here and have this be a part of my heritage. Happy Donut Day, everyone. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 7:40:00 PM |
Friday, February 04, 2005
What the F?!?
| So.... people like this who live in Florida--because they are a married man and woman--are allowed to adopt 7 kids and torture 5 of them.
But because gay people are SO hideous, morally bankrupt, and horrible, a gay couple who want to adopt can't legally do so in that same state. There is something so wrong with this country, it reeks. ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 9:05:00 PM |
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
The Big "O"
| Ok, so the suggestion was made by my Home Chica that perhaps I should start posting more here...
So, my friends, I give you: a post. I tend to like to offer up the new tunage to others--I like trying to find fresh, new musicians who ACTUALLY PLAY AND SING REAL MUSIC (tough to do nowadays). When I do find music that I like, I tend to want to share it with people. I like the music, and so, I think everyone should. Because I want the artists to become successful and make lots more records for my listening enjoyment. (See? Selfish motives, deep down.) Anyway, the point of this is THIS:  Allow me to introduce you all to Damien Rice. My new musical love.
Damien Rice is a young Irishman with an absolutely GORGEOUS voice. He is soulful and melancholy, and I love it. The album is primarily strings--of all sorts. Acoustic guitar, violins, cellos. There's also some clarinet and even (I think) a wine glass. Anyway, I am totally diggin' this guy, and I think YOU should, too. If you are looking for something to put a little boogie in your step, well, don't pick this. But, this is some great music for an evening with some candles, and a nice bottle of wine--perhaps alone, perhaps with a kindred spirit. What's that? You're thinking, "But how will I know if I really like this guy, 'Dawg? I mean, I trust you and all, but...I don't want to buy the whole album and then find out I hate it..." Fear not, gentle reader. The 'Dawg shall provide. I am giving you what I have decided are my three favorite tracks from the album O. I totally thought that "Volcano" was going to be my favorite, but after a couple of listens, I think that "Cannonball" has claimed that title. It has a similar effect on me as that of Rufus's "The Art Teacher." Maybe it is just the English teacher in me, but I love the lyrics. I think ultimately, the chorus--in all of its paradoxical irony--is what hooked me. stones taught me to fly love taught me to lie life, it taught me to die so it's not hard to fall when you float like a cannonball I just cannot stop listening to it, and its sparse acoustic guitar melody has a haunting kind of poigniancy... Anyway, here they are, so have at it for a few days. [Sorry. Links go 'bye-bye'.] Damien Rice - Volcano Damien Rice - Cannonball Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter P.S. "The Blower's Daughter" is apparently about a crush he had on his clarinet (or trumpet--I have seen both) teacher's daughter. Get your mind out of the gutter. UPDATE: I was just poking around on Amazon, and I noticed that the new Tori Amos disc "The Beekeeper" will feature a song that Tori did with...DAMIEN RICE! I can't think of a better collaboration! I am a HUGE Tori freak, and I can't believe the irony of this. I honestly had no clue they worked on this song together. Anyway, it's called "The Power of Orange Knickers." So very Tori! I love it already! ¶ Ξ PDawg Composed at 5:24:00 PM |
Thursday, January 06, 2005
