Dear Amanda,
Was that book and movie review blog post really from you? I don't believe it.
Sincerely,
It's About Damn Time
Dear Time,
Yes it was really me! I know it's been forever but hopefully you can forgive me. Work has been incredibly stressful and busy and I just needed to step away for a bit. This blog stopped being important. If I'm being completely honest, I thought about walking away. I felt like it didn't have a purpose or a coherent meaning or direction. Also I didn't have Internet in my apartment. But I do now! And I feel better about coming back to writing a little something every once in a while. So here I am.
Dear Amanda,
I thought I saw something about you getting a new TV. Does this mean you're going to have a grownup apartment now?
Sincerely,
Get It Together
Dear GIT,
That's true too! For my birthday earlier this month, my parents chipped in some money for me to put towards a TV even though my dad thinks it should go towards new tires. Yeah right dad. So yes I am on the quest for a new TV! All suggestions on brands, sizes, and best places to buy are welcomed and encouraged.
And yes, the TV is going to be a first step towards what I hope will be a new and improved apartment. I'm in makeover mode and I've been able to find some cheap, hopefully easy do-it-yourself projects that can help spruce things up a bit.
Dear Amanda,
Have you been looking at cooking websites too? I'm loving this new you!
From,
Work It Girl
Well thanks Work It! Yes I'm going to be trying to learn how to cook too. I'm recently obsessed with the crock pot/slow cooker and not gonna lie, I may ask for a newer one for Christmas. I've found some great websites with some really easy recipes that I feel like I can't even screw up. This is part of the whole makeover thing I'm going for. It's time people.
Dear Amanda,
So which direction is the blog going to be taking? Does this mean no more celeb gossip updates or rants about the bikers in Davis?
Sincerely,
Confused
Honestly Confused, I don't really know. I don't know how frequently I'll write or if there will be any kind of cohesive direction. I might give it a theme, I might keep doing what I'm doing. Maybe in a week or a month or six months from now I'm just over it. I honestly don't know. But I think that's what makes this blog my own. It'll be there for me to go back to when I need to and if it's time to move on, I'm sure it will understand. There's probably some big metaphor here for how the blog doesn't have a direction and neither do I in life or something. Well if that's the case, I'm doing just fine and so I bet this blog will do fine too.
10.25.2011
Reviews, Glorious Reviews
Let's ease back into things with some book and movie reviews shall we?
I read Loving Frank by Nancy Horan back in August and I loved it. The story is about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright - married with children - who takes on a job for the Cheney family, only to fall in love with Mamah Cheney - also married with children - and the two run off together. Despite the incredible scandal and headlines this created, the two remain together. The ending nearly brought me to tears.
There were two things I loved about this book (from what I remember). First, how the time period (the early 20th century) was all about thought, philosophy, art, painting... all of these beautiful intellectual things that I wish still existed today. And second is the independence Mamah showed throughout the entire book. She was on a path to find herself - sometimes that was with Frank, sometimes that wasn't. But she needed to travel, to write, to study, to do whatever it is she felt in her heart would help her discover who she really was. I truly admired her passion for life and for the world around her and found myself wondering if I could be like that someday.
I highly recommend this book which is based loosely on Frank and Mamah's real life affair and ensuing relationship.
Otherwise, I've filled my time with other books that haven't required much thinking, namely by the author Nora Roberts. She is a pretty standard romance novelist and her books Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily did the trick. A little romance, a little mystery, a ghost - they're not anything I'd recommend (and frankly I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I spent like three hours one Saturday completely engrossed in one of them) but, like I said, fit the "I really need something mindless that isn't TV right now" bill.
Nora Roberts also writes a series of mysteries under the pen name J.D. Robb and I read the first one of these and it was pretty good. My best friend has read pretty much all of them and swears by them so I'll keep going to see what keeps happening to Lieutenant Eve Dallas. The books are set in the future, but you can't really tell that right off the bat. This was the only gripe I had. I wish there had been more of a description of what had happened and how this futuristic world functioned, but instead it was just fragmented pieces here and there. Apparently though you get more of an idea of what happened (there was some kind of human uprising) and why as well as background of Dallas as the books continue.
Right now I'm starting The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and this book is fantastic so far. It's a young adult book which kind of surprises me because the premise is that each year the Capitol randomly selects teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete literally to the death in a live televised match. But I'm really hooked in to this one and will most likely finish it tonight.
I have internet again in my apartment - hooray! - so I've been streaming on Netflix a lot more and am working my way through 30 Rock which is hysterical. I've also been working through Gossip Girl and that show is pretty good too. I've had the DVD of The King's Speech for close to two months, but need to just return it. I can't bring myself to watch it on my terrible TV. Good thing my parents are kicking in some cash so I can go out and buy a new one! More on that later.
I swear I've been doing more than just reading and watching movies. But we'll hear all about that in my next post...
I read Loving Frank by Nancy Horan back in August and I loved it. The story is about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright - married with children - who takes on a job for the Cheney family, only to fall in love with Mamah Cheney - also married with children - and the two run off together. Despite the incredible scandal and headlines this created, the two remain together. The ending nearly brought me to tears.
There were two things I loved about this book (from what I remember). First, how the time period (the early 20th century) was all about thought, philosophy, art, painting... all of these beautiful intellectual things that I wish still existed today. And second is the independence Mamah showed throughout the entire book. She was on a path to find herself - sometimes that was with Frank, sometimes that wasn't. But she needed to travel, to write, to study, to do whatever it is she felt in her heart would help her discover who she really was. I truly admired her passion for life and for the world around her and found myself wondering if I could be like that someday.
I highly recommend this book which is based loosely on Frank and Mamah's real life affair and ensuing relationship.
Otherwise, I've filled my time with other books that haven't required much thinking, namely by the author Nora Roberts. She is a pretty standard romance novelist and her books Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily did the trick. A little romance, a little mystery, a ghost - they're not anything I'd recommend (and frankly I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I spent like three hours one Saturday completely engrossed in one of them) but, like I said, fit the "I really need something mindless that isn't TV right now" bill.
Nora Roberts also writes a series of mysteries under the pen name J.D. Robb and I read the first one of these and it was pretty good. My best friend has read pretty much all of them and swears by them so I'll keep going to see what keeps happening to Lieutenant Eve Dallas. The books are set in the future, but you can't really tell that right off the bat. This was the only gripe I had. I wish there had been more of a description of what had happened and how this futuristic world functioned, but instead it was just fragmented pieces here and there. Apparently though you get more of an idea of what happened (there was some kind of human uprising) and why as well as background of Dallas as the books continue.
Right now I'm starting The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and this book is fantastic so far. It's a young adult book which kind of surprises me because the premise is that each year the Capitol randomly selects teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete literally to the death in a live televised match. But I'm really hooked in to this one and will most likely finish it tonight.
I have internet again in my apartment - hooray! - so I've been streaming on Netflix a lot more and am working my way through 30 Rock which is hysterical. I've also been working through Gossip Girl and that show is pretty good too. I've had the DVD of The King's Speech for close to two months, but need to just return it. I can't bring myself to watch it on my terrible TV. Good thing my parents are kicking in some cash so I can go out and buy a new one! More on that later.
I swear I've been doing more than just reading and watching movies. But we'll hear all about that in my next post...
9.02.2011
Double Video of the Day 9/2/11 - These are Awesome Edition
TWO videos for today friends!
To promote the opening of a new mall in London, the mall people put together this video of 100 years of East London fashion in 100 seconds. It is super cute.
And now Tom Hanks in one of his most hilarious roles to date: a pageant dad on Toddlers and Tiaras:
8.30.2011
8.25.2011
Kindle Review: Bossypants by Tina Fey
Author: Tina Fey
In her autobiography, Tina Fey outlines her humble beginnings in Pennsylvania, her improv days in Chicago, moving up the ranks of SNL and the creation of 30 Rock.
I have no concept of page numbers when reading books on my Kindle but I definitely flew through this one and I think that's more due to the fact that this book is so witty, clever and genuine than the fact that it's short and sweet.
I had no idea just how amazingly talented and successful Tina Fey is and the part that impresses me the most is that she is so matter-of-fact about everything. There isn't some big bad secret to being a good boss or even to being a boss at all. Respect people, do good work and be a team player - that's kind of it. Her workplace life lessons also translate into life life lessons. It's all really very simple and her attitude towards everything is pretty refreshing.
The behind the scenes stories of people she worked with at SNL and 30 Rock are really neat as well. As someone who's an avid celeb gossip follower, reading about Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler's everyday antics on the set was really fun to read.
This book made me literally laugh out loud but it also made me think a lot and I very highly recommend this book.
Overall Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Coming Up Next: I'm not really sure.
Here's what I have on my Kindle:
- The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (my attempt to see if some of these classics are better now than they were in high school)
- World Without End by Ken Follett
- A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
8.10.2011
Video of the Day 8/10/11 - Fattest Dog Ever Edition
Seriously this is the fattest dog I've ever seen. How does he not tip backwards on the rocking horse simply because he is so giant? Enjoy anyways.
8.03.2011
Video of the Day 8/3/11 - Oh Em Gee Edition
The high school me and the mid-20s me are in heaven right now. JC sounds EXACTLY like he did during his *NSYNC days. Hey *NSYNC - he's ready for a reunion tour. Get it together.
8.02.2011
Kindle Review: Dragonfly in Amber
Author: Diana Gabaldon
So first and foremost, I've ditched the final Harry Potter book. I know, I know but hear me out. My intention was to read the whole thing before going to see the final movie. Well I didn't do that so now I've seen both 7.1 and 7.2 and I have zero interest in picking HP back up to finish reading it because I figure I already know how it all turns out. Maybe some day I'll finally do it, but I just have other books I'd rather read.
Like this one...
So this is book two in the Outlander series which outlines Claire Beauchamp, an army nurse who is transported back in time through a rock formation in Scotland and winds up in Scotland in the 1700s. While there she meets and falls in love with Jamie Fraser and in this book the two of them are trying to thwart a possible war against the Scottish Highlanders.
There's more to the story than that, but I don't feel like I can give much more away without revealing a lot of details and maybe someone actually wants to read this series.
Here's the thing. I'm pretty much reading this because I just need to know what's going to happen to Claire and Jamie. It's like The Bachelorette. I'm kind of underwhelmed by it all, but I still want to tune in.
A lot of this book revolves around this war that Claire and Jamie are trying to prevent - a war they know is going to happen because Claire is from the future. So a lot of it is strategy, inner monologue, Jamie and Claire plotting together and inferring. Sometimes things weren't exactly super clear. And there were a lot of characters so I had a hard time keeping track of certain people.
But I will say this. Ladies, Jamie Fraser is our Edward. Forget Twilight - Jamie Fraser makes Edward and Jacob look like even bigger tools than they already are. He's like the Scottish version of Ryan Gosling in The Notebook. I know.
The ending to this book was pretty incredible. And by ending I mean from 93% remaining on since it's on Kindle. I stayed up til 1 last night finishing this and I couldn't "next page" fast enough. I almost teared up at one part. Almost.
Overall rating: 3 out of 5 stars but I'm determined to finish this series out just to see what happens with Claire and hot Jamie.
Coming Up Next: Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
The story of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his illicit affair with Mamah Borthwick, the wife of one of his clients told from the point of view of Mamah.
Not sure where I heard about this one, but it sounded pretty interesting and I've been looking forward to it for a while.
7.27.2011
Video of the Day 7/27/11 - Coming to a Theatre Near You Edition
Lea Michele aka Rachel from Glee said on her Twitter this morning that the trailer for the movie New Year's Eve, which she is on, is out now. So of course I went to watch it:
A few observations about this upcoming feature film:
1. I saw "Valentine's Day" and hated it. This is pretty much the same movie, except on a different holiday.
2. Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele appear to fall in love in this movie. That in and of itself is a horrible storyline.
3. Lea Michele appears to sing at some point in this movie. That alone could salvage this film.
4. Of course Ryan Seacrest has a cameo.
A few observations about this upcoming feature film:
1. I saw "Valentine's Day" and hated it. This is pretty much the same movie, except on a different holiday.
2. Ashton Kutcher and Lea Michele appear to fall in love in this movie. That in and of itself is a horrible storyline.
3. Lea Michele appears to sing at some point in this movie. That alone could salvage this film.
4. Of course Ryan Seacrest has a cameo.
7.26.2011
It's Worse on a Bike
Think of all of the annoying things that people do while driving. I can think of a lot. Then again I think I have road rage so a lot of the time I'm angry when I drive. Now what do all of those things have in common besides the fact that people are idiots?
These things are worse when you're on a bike.
Yesterday while biking home (which I'm officially doing 5 days a week now... go me), I encountered probably three things that made me think "God this is just as bad as driving." Now I live at the most 1.8 miles from work. I just Google mapped it. So I don't have that far to go. But man was I ticked off by the end of that 1.8 miles.
(Disclaimer: I was really irritated in general all day yesterday. I dropped my iPhone and shattered the glass, work is challenging right now, it's hot - you get the idea.)
Tailgating Guy
There's nothing worse than when you feel you're driving at an adequate, sometimes even faster than usual, speed and yet there's still a guy that is just right on top of you. That won't go around, that won't slow down, that pretty much just sits in your mirror until you get out of his way. That guy sucks.
When that guy's on a bike, he sucks even more. This is because on a bike there is no rearview mirror. There is no way for you to know that he is RIGHT THERE. You don't have a single clue that somebody is three inches from your rear wheel because you can't see him. But he doesn't care. He's in straight Tour de France mode on the UC Davis bikepaths and is going to draft you like Tony Stewart trying to pass you on his way to the checkered flag. And yes that is a NASCAR reference that none of you will understand.
This guy then becomes...
Guy Who Passes You Going 80
So now the guy decides that he needs to get around you so here he comes, flying past you going 80 miles an hour. You know how Ricky Bobby and Cal do their patented slingshot move on the racecourse in Talladega Nights? This is like that except you have no choice but to be a participant. This is annoying on the highway mainly because it makes you roll your eyes and say "Ok dude, we get it." But on a bike? You instantly fear for your life. As I referenced in the point above, you can't see bikers behind you. You don't know that they're about to book it past you until they are 3 inches next to you flying by. What if I was about to move over so I could turn or something?
Cell Phone Guy
First although it can be done with only one hand (and sometimes no hands which I can't even believe people can do), bikes are made to be steered with two hands. When you're talking on the phone while riding your bike you don't steer correctly hence you don't ride in a straight line thereby turning me into either Tailgating Guy or Guy Who Passes You Going 80. And when it's just you two riding through a neighborhood in Davis, that's just awkward. Secondly, how are you pedaling your cruiser and having a coherent phone conversation? Aren't you huffing and puffing into the phone? Oh no? That's just me. Moving on then...
Sunday Driver Guy
The exact opposite of Tailgating Guy. No clue that anyone else exist out on the road, they're out for a lovely bike ride in the afternoon. Except it's Tuesday at lunch time, they're taking up the entire bike path, and they're riding at half the speed of a normal biker. I'm not saying you need to be sprinting down the path but come on. Just be aware of who's around you.
Is It My Turn? Guy
You approach a stop sign at the same time as another person. You stop, waiting for them to go. They wait for you to go. Now you're just staring at each other trying to telepathically get each other to make the first move. So you inch forward... but so does the other guy. Two minutes later, you floor it in the hopes that the guy won't floor it too and pass through the intersection. Infuriating? Yes. When you're on a bike? Confusing, slightly terrifying, and awkward. See, on a bike, you're not insulated in your automobile. So if you take the right of way away from someone, you then have to look at them and sometimes talk to them as you ride past. Also unlike cars, coming to a full and complete stop is a little more difficult when you're in full riding mode. So you're trying to roll through and balance but you can't figure out if the other person is going to go or not. The "approaching a stop sign at the same time as another bike" situation is now the most confusing thing to me.
Slowly but surely, though, I think I'm getting the hang of this whole bike riding thing. It's a little warm out right now but overall it's a good workout, gets me outside and is saving me a ton in gas money. I'll deal with what I have to to keep that streak going.
These things are worse when you're on a bike.
Yesterday while biking home (which I'm officially doing 5 days a week now... go me), I encountered probably three things that made me think "God this is just as bad as driving." Now I live at the most 1.8 miles from work. I just Google mapped it. So I don't have that far to go. But man was I ticked off by the end of that 1.8 miles.
(Disclaimer: I was really irritated in general all day yesterday. I dropped my iPhone and shattered the glass, work is challenging right now, it's hot - you get the idea.)
Tailgating Guy
There's nothing worse than when you feel you're driving at an adequate, sometimes even faster than usual, speed and yet there's still a guy that is just right on top of you. That won't go around, that won't slow down, that pretty much just sits in your mirror until you get out of his way. That guy sucks.
When that guy's on a bike, he sucks even more. This is because on a bike there is no rearview mirror. There is no way for you to know that he is RIGHT THERE. You don't have a single clue that somebody is three inches from your rear wheel because you can't see him. But he doesn't care. He's in straight Tour de France mode on the UC Davis bikepaths and is going to draft you like Tony Stewart trying to pass you on his way to the checkered flag. And yes that is a NASCAR reference that none of you will understand.
This guy then becomes...
Guy Who Passes You Going 80
So now the guy decides that he needs to get around you so here he comes, flying past you going 80 miles an hour. You know how Ricky Bobby and Cal do their patented slingshot move on the racecourse in Talladega Nights? This is like that except you have no choice but to be a participant. This is annoying on the highway mainly because it makes you roll your eyes and say "Ok dude, we get it." But on a bike? You instantly fear for your life. As I referenced in the point above, you can't see bikers behind you. You don't know that they're about to book it past you until they are 3 inches next to you flying by. What if I was about to move over so I could turn or something?
Cell Phone Guy
First although it can be done with only one hand (and sometimes no hands which I can't even believe people can do), bikes are made to be steered with two hands. When you're talking on the phone while riding your bike you don't steer correctly hence you don't ride in a straight line thereby turning me into either Tailgating Guy or Guy Who Passes You Going 80. And when it's just you two riding through a neighborhood in Davis, that's just awkward. Secondly, how are you pedaling your cruiser and having a coherent phone conversation? Aren't you huffing and puffing into the phone? Oh no? That's just me. Moving on then...
Sunday Driver Guy
The exact opposite of Tailgating Guy. No clue that anyone else exist out on the road, they're out for a lovely bike ride in the afternoon. Except it's Tuesday at lunch time, they're taking up the entire bike path, and they're riding at half the speed of a normal biker. I'm not saying you need to be sprinting down the path but come on. Just be aware of who's around you.
Is It My Turn? Guy
You approach a stop sign at the same time as another person. You stop, waiting for them to go. They wait for you to go. Now you're just staring at each other trying to telepathically get each other to make the first move. So you inch forward... but so does the other guy. Two minutes later, you floor it in the hopes that the guy won't floor it too and pass through the intersection. Infuriating? Yes. When you're on a bike? Confusing, slightly terrifying, and awkward. See, on a bike, you're not insulated in your automobile. So if you take the right of way away from someone, you then have to look at them and sometimes talk to them as you ride past. Also unlike cars, coming to a full and complete stop is a little more difficult when you're in full riding mode. So you're trying to roll through and balance but you can't figure out if the other person is going to go or not. The "approaching a stop sign at the same time as another bike" situation is now the most confusing thing to me.
Slowly but surely, though, I think I'm getting the hang of this whole bike riding thing. It's a little warm out right now but overall it's a good workout, gets me outside and is saving me a ton in gas money. I'll deal with what I have to to keep that streak going.
7.22.2011
Video of the Day 7/22/11 - JT Edition
Not sure how much this has circulated but here's a second edition of Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake's "History of Rap". Enjoy.
Can JT please drop a new album now?
Can JT please drop a new album now?
7.21.2011
Video of the Day 7/21/11 - Rainbow Sponge Edition
This may or may not be what happens when someone puts a cheeseburger in front of me.
7.19.2011
Video of the Day 7/19/11 - This is Amazing Edition
Shoutout to my buddy Chris who had this posted on his Facebook page today.
This is amazing. That is all.
This is amazing. That is all.
7.15.2011
BREAKING News: J Lo and Marc Anthony Split Up
It's Friday afternoon, all I can think about is the weekend, I've got a comedy station on Pandora going to keep me entertained while I write men's soccer bios and so I decide I'm going to check in on Facebook for a quick second.
And then I see this:
Of course, this confuses me. So I keep scrolling and I see THIS:
And I literally yell out to my coworkers "Oh my God, J Lo and Marc Anthony split up."
I mean, what was I expecting? For an actual Hollywood marriage to last? That two people who got married within months of starting up their romance would love, honor and cherish each other til death did them part? That Sean Combs'/Puff Daddy's/P. Diddy's/Diddy Dirty Money's ex and someone who was married to a former Miss Universe would be in it for the long haul?
Guys, I did. I really did. Because for the last seven years (and most specifically in the last few months while watching Judge J Lo on American Idol), all you saw and read about was how blissfully happy they were and how, despite them being all fabulous, they just had a real normal, down-to-earth family life. Interview after interview, magazine spread after magazine spread - he even made like 3 guest appearances on Idol - they gushed over how awesomely amazing their perfect little life was. I really believed this stuff.
And now it's over.
I'm sure we'll never ever know the real reasons behind the split. Sometimes things just kind of come to an end. It's no one's fault; it just happens and so far that's the statement they've given. It's amicable, it's a mutual decision, it is what it is.
But secretly? You know it's because J Lo is en fuego right now.
Think about it. Or rather, let me tell you what Wikipedia just told me:
Seven years ago, she releases an album that goes nowhere, then puts out a Spanish-language album which did well on the Latin Pop charts but until I looked it up on Wikipedia, I had no idea she had done this and you probably didn't either. From there her music just kind of stops happening. Movie-wise, box office gems such as Monster-in-Law, Gigli, and El Cantante had, well, bombed. So she basically stops making movies too.
Now she's a family woman. She gets married, she has her twins, she occasionally dabbles here or there in fashion, etc. But otherwise, she's started to settle down and fade into a relative obscurity, wouldn't you say?
Then things start ramping up a little. In September 2010, it's announced that she is going to replace Ellen as the new judge on American Idol. Rumors start going around that she was going to have a cameo appearance on Glee, which, like it or not, is now one of the biggest shows on TV. She signs a new record deal with Def Jam and conveniently puts out a new single that coincides with the season premier of American Idol. I can't get away from this stupid song and it becomes her first top ten since 2003. Oh and People Magazine names her the Most Beautiful Woman in the World.
So on the finale of American Idol, Marc Anthony performs some song. Great. It's a pretty standard performance until about the 2 minute mark of this performance:
(Sorry I couldn't find any clips of just her that were any shorter.)
Now to those of you who watched the American Idol finale, I pose a question:
The next day, as you were recapping the results and how Scotty is the worst Idol winner ever except maybe for the gray haired guy, did you a) mention what a powerful vocal performance Marc Anthony gave or b) comment on how you can't believe Jennifer Lopez can still shake that thang?
My answer is B. Once she came out, pretty sure Marc Anthony faded back into the "oh that's J Lo's husband right?" category that he had come to know and tolerate. It took me like three rewinds before I was finally convinced that it was her moving like that on the stage. She stole the show completely.
So guys, I think it's safe to say that J Lo is back - in really every way. She probably has a very long career ahead of her as an Idol judge, her music is relevant again, and she got to meet Prince William and Kate Middleton. She means something again and that could be the catalyst for these marriage woes.
Sidenote: Idol's finale aired at the end of May. TWO MONTHS LATER they are announcing their split. This is weird isn't it? Just sayin.
So while I'm still shocked that it actually happen, I can't help but think that it really does make a lot of sense. Jenny's spotlight is starting to shine a little brighter and she's ready to relive her glory days. I mean she was Selena for Pete's sake.
7.14.2011
A Case for Country Music
I probably just steered away 3 of my 4 readers with that title, so to those of you who are left, thanks for sticking around.
First and foremost, Blogger has completely changed its interface. Completely. I have no idea where anything is right now so bear with me. Is this because of Google+?
Now onto the matter at hand. I listen to some pretty terrible music. I'm the first to admit it. My iTunes library revolves around the Glee soundtrack (yes as in songs that they sing on the show), top 40, and yes country music.
I've heard everything under the sun when it comes to people hating country music, namely things they'd rather do instead of listening to country music and several redneck/Nascar analogies. And for the record, I do occasionally watch Nascar.
So today, ladies and gentlemen of LTD, I present to you my case for why country music deserves a chance.
I write for a living so words are a pretty big deal to me. When someone puts together a string of words that so perfectly depicts feelings, emotions, or the world around us - well it just doesn't get much better than that. Words can lift you up, tear you down, get you ready to party, or mellow you out after a long day at the office. Words are extremely powerful and, in my opinion, country music, for the most part, uses words very, very well.
There are of course instances where the words to a country song are horrible. "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"? Um no. No I do not. That is terrible. Sweaty, possibly shirtless cowboy sitting on top of the tractor? Yes. Actual John Deere green-colored machine? Nope. I get the idea behind it - I'm sure the girl doesn't literally think his tractor is sexy but come on.
But when country music gets its words right, oh it's gold. Observe the following two examples from one of country's greatest Tim McGraw who I was lucky enough to see live a few weeks ago with some of my best friends.
The first from his song "Just to See You Smile":
When you said time was all you really needed
I walked away and let you have your space
Cuz leavin' didn't hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rollin' down your face
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkin' up to me with him
So I told you that I was happy for you
And given the chance I'd lie again
Come on! That is brilliant. "And given the chance I'd lie again"? That is a fantastic lyric. Absolutely nails the way the guy feels about this girl just perfectly. It's simple, it makes its point. Genius.
And now, one of my all-time favorite country lines from my all-time favorite country song, also from Tim McGraw. I give you "Something Like That":
It was five years later on a south-bound plan
I was headed down to New Orleans
To meet some friends of mine for the Mardi Gras
When I heard a voice from the past
Coming from a few rows back
When I looked I couldn't believe just what I saw
She said I bet you don't remember me
And I said only every other memory
Come on again! Here comes this girl that he had a summer romance with years ago on the same plane he's on. She asks if he remembers her. He could say so many things in this instance. "Of course I do!" "I can't believe it's you!" "Oh my gosh. How have you been?" Boring. Hands down one of the greatest lines of a song. Brilliant again.
Yes sometimes the lyrics are corny and sappy and you can interchange most of the lyrics about a woman to say that it's about the guy's dog ("You're my best friend"? Come on. It's a little obvious isn't it?) But I'd rather listen to corny and sappy than hear bitches and hoes (hos?) 48 times in a song... when I can actually catch the words.
So not only are the words awesome, but country music evokes a lot of memories of some really great times in the lives of its fans. James made a video of a camping trip we went on with some friends back in the day in SD and set it to Rodney Atkins' "These are My People" and to this day, whenever I hear that song, I think of that trip and trying to light a fire with no wood and me being super paranoid that the rangers were going to get angry because you weren't really allowed to light camp fires. My friend Tyler wrote a really awesome piece about his high school football days - inspired by the music video for "Boys of Fall" by Kenny Chesney.
Country music talks about life and the simplicity of it: family, friends, great loves found and great loves lost, going to the bar, growing up, looking back on the good ole days. It's good ole fashioned fun wrapped up in three and a half minutes for you.
Are there some really awful country songs out there? Yes. But in general, it's kinda fun. It puts a smile on my face and is pretty easy to sing along to. So give it a chance is all I'm saying. Then again, what do I know? I do watch Glee after all.
First and foremost, Blogger has completely changed its interface. Completely. I have no idea where anything is right now so bear with me. Is this because of Google+?
Now onto the matter at hand. I listen to some pretty terrible music. I'm the first to admit it. My iTunes library revolves around the Glee soundtrack (yes as in songs that they sing on the show), top 40, and yes country music.
I've heard everything under the sun when it comes to people hating country music, namely things they'd rather do instead of listening to country music and several redneck/Nascar analogies. And for the record, I do occasionally watch Nascar.
So today, ladies and gentlemen of LTD, I present to you my case for why country music deserves a chance.
I write for a living so words are a pretty big deal to me. When someone puts together a string of words that so perfectly depicts feelings, emotions, or the world around us - well it just doesn't get much better than that. Words can lift you up, tear you down, get you ready to party, or mellow you out after a long day at the office. Words are extremely powerful and, in my opinion, country music, for the most part, uses words very, very well.
There are of course instances where the words to a country song are horrible. "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"? Um no. No I do not. That is terrible. Sweaty, possibly shirtless cowboy sitting on top of the tractor? Yes. Actual John Deere green-colored machine? Nope. I get the idea behind it - I'm sure the girl doesn't literally think his tractor is sexy but come on.
But when country music gets its words right, oh it's gold. Observe the following two examples from one of country's greatest Tim McGraw who I was lucky enough to see live a few weeks ago with some of my best friends.
The first from his song "Just to See You Smile":
When you said time was all you really needed
I walked away and let you have your space
Cuz leavin' didn't hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rollin' down your face
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkin' up to me with him
So I told you that I was happy for you
And given the chance I'd lie again
Come on! That is brilliant. "And given the chance I'd lie again"? That is a fantastic lyric. Absolutely nails the way the guy feels about this girl just perfectly. It's simple, it makes its point. Genius.
And now, one of my all-time favorite country lines from my all-time favorite country song, also from Tim McGraw. I give you "Something Like That":
It was five years later on a south-bound plan
I was headed down to New Orleans
To meet some friends of mine for the Mardi Gras
When I heard a voice from the past
Coming from a few rows back
When I looked I couldn't believe just what I saw
She said I bet you don't remember me
And I said only every other memory
Come on again! Here comes this girl that he had a summer romance with years ago on the same plane he's on. She asks if he remembers her. He could say so many things in this instance. "Of course I do!" "I can't believe it's you!" "Oh my gosh. How have you been?" Boring. Hands down one of the greatest lines of a song. Brilliant again.
Yes sometimes the lyrics are corny and sappy and you can interchange most of the lyrics about a woman to say that it's about the guy's dog ("You're my best friend"? Come on. It's a little obvious isn't it?) But I'd rather listen to corny and sappy than hear bitches and hoes (hos?) 48 times in a song... when I can actually catch the words.
So not only are the words awesome, but country music evokes a lot of memories of some really great times in the lives of its fans. James made a video of a camping trip we went on with some friends back in the day in SD and set it to Rodney Atkins' "These are My People" and to this day, whenever I hear that song, I think of that trip and trying to light a fire with no wood and me being super paranoid that the rangers were going to get angry because you weren't really allowed to light camp fires. My friend Tyler wrote a really awesome piece about his high school football days - inspired by the music video for "Boys of Fall" by Kenny Chesney.
Country music talks about life and the simplicity of it: family, friends, great loves found and great loves lost, going to the bar, growing up, looking back on the good ole days. It's good ole fashioned fun wrapped up in three and a half minutes for you.
Are there some really awful country songs out there? Yes. But in general, it's kinda fun. It puts a smile on my face and is pretty easy to sing along to. So give it a chance is all I'm saying. Then again, what do I know? I do watch Glee after all.
Video of the Day 7/14/11 - NBA Lockout Edition
If videos like this are what's going to come out of the NBA Lockout, then I am all about it:
6.29.2011
Book Review: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 464
Where I Got It: A friend got it for me
First line: "Mae Mobley was born on a early Sunday morning in August, 1960."
Told from the point of view of three different women, Kathryn Stockett's NY Times bestseller is an absolutely captivating story.
Set during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Minny and Aibileen are two African-American women who work as maids in the homes for two wealthy white families for women who have no problem letting them raise their children, yet can't fathom the idea of sharing even a bathroom with them. Meanwhile, Skeeter (real name Eugenia and shoot I'd go by Skeeter too if that was my name) is recently graduated from college and is ready to do some really big things, which is tough to do when you're stuck in a town where all the women are in a hurry to just settle down and start having kids.
I know I just did this with my review of Columbine (which got a comment from the actual author!!), so here we go again. Go out and buy and read this book immediately if you haven't yet.
I couldn't get through this one fast enough and will be adding this to both my list of all-time faves and my list of books I will most likely re-read sometime in the future.
The narration shifts throughout the story between Minny's voice, Aibileen's voice and Skeeter's voice and it worked perfectly. Speaking through their different voices, Stockett really captured the fear, pride, love, frustration and every other feeling these women experienced throughout the story. I found myself smiling, close to tears, and with a racing heart at all of the appropriate times which I think speaks highly to how well-written this book is.
I really loved this book and can't recommend it highly enough.
Apparently they are turning it into a movie with Emma Stone (Superbad, Easy A) starring as Skeeter. I am not happy with that decision mainly because in the book, Skeeter is described as being super tall and gangly with unruly frizzy hair - overall she's awkward. Emma Stone is not. I'm very hesitant to see this movie after how much I loved/gushed over this book.
Carry on.
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars (duh)
Coming Up Next: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (aka HP7)
Do I really need to put a synopsis here? It's the last book of the Harry Potter series.
Five years after it was originally published, I am finally reading the last HP book. NOTE TO READERS: Do not get cute and tell me what happens in the book. I have gone five years without any idea as to how it all ends and if you ruin this for me, I will probably end our friendship. Real talk. I have to read this now because the movie comes out on the 16th and all of my best friends in Sac are having a movie marathon leading up to going to see the last movie.
6.27.2011
Some Very Blah Movies to Review
I'm back from an awesome, relaxing week off in So Cal. My mom kept asking why I would use vacation days to just come home. My answer is threefold really: 1. homecooked, sometimes Cuban, meals; 2. the beach is three miles away; 3. my grandma takes me shopping. It's like a four-star vacation but I don't have to pay for anything.
Let's ease back into things with some movie reviews shall we?
The Hangover 2 - It had its moments but overall, I wasn't that impressed. It's just too hard to follow up the first one with anything as funny or creative. You could trace everything back to the first movie. For example (minor spoiler alert), they find a baby in the first movie that they carry around but in the second one it's a monkey. It had some laugh-out-loud moments, but overall it was just okay. One thumb down, one thumb sideways
Super 8 - A group of kids in a small town in Ohio in the 1970s witness an insane train crash which releases an alien into their town. Yeah. I summed this up to my dad in three words: E.T. on steroids. This one also was not that good, despite any rave reviews you may have seen. You can't just park an alien in the middle of 70s suburbia Ohio and expect things to work. The kids that star in this movie, however, were awesome and were the only thing that kept it all together. One thumb down, one thumb sideways
Due Date - A series of unfortunate events land Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifinakis on the no-fly list and they end up driving cross country together so RDJ can get home to his super-preggo wife. Zach G. was hysterical in this movie but RDJ was just okay as he went back and forth from crazy angry to super nice way too much for me. Two thumbs sideways
And finally a movie that didn't suck...
Despicable Me - I am probably the last person on the planet to see this movie but oh em gee this was the cutest movie everrrrr and will very soon become a permanent addition to Amanda's Collection of Super Girly Movies. Seriously I have the worst DVD collection ever if you're a dude. I LOVED this movie from start to finish. I even cried. Oh it was so so cute so if you haven't seen it yet, well you're worse than I am when it comes to watching movies. Go now!
And now, a random TV plug...
A new TV show was brought to my attention on Friday night and oh boy this is a good one. Brought to you by Ricky Gervais, I present "An Idiot Abroad".
Basically Ricky Gervais and his friend send their other friend to go see the 7 Wonders of the World and this guy's observations about what he sees are priceless. Apparently it airs on the Science channel so hopefully you get that.
Let's ease back into things with some movie reviews shall we?
The Hangover 2 - It had its moments but overall, I wasn't that impressed. It's just too hard to follow up the first one with anything as funny or creative. You could trace everything back to the first movie. For example (minor spoiler alert), they find a baby in the first movie that they carry around but in the second one it's a monkey. It had some laugh-out-loud moments, but overall it was just okay. One thumb down, one thumb sideways
Super 8 - A group of kids in a small town in Ohio in the 1970s witness an insane train crash which releases an alien into their town. Yeah. I summed this up to my dad in three words: E.T. on steroids. This one also was not that good, despite any rave reviews you may have seen. You can't just park an alien in the middle of 70s suburbia Ohio and expect things to work. The kids that star in this movie, however, were awesome and were the only thing that kept it all together. One thumb down, one thumb sideways
Due Date - A series of unfortunate events land Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifinakis on the no-fly list and they end up driving cross country together so RDJ can get home to his super-preggo wife. Zach G. was hysterical in this movie but RDJ was just okay as he went back and forth from crazy angry to super nice way too much for me. Two thumbs sideways
And finally a movie that didn't suck...
Despicable Me - I am probably the last person on the planet to see this movie but oh em gee this was the cutest movie everrrrr and will very soon become a permanent addition to Amanda's Collection of Super Girly Movies. Seriously I have the worst DVD collection ever if you're a dude. I LOVED this movie from start to finish. I even cried. Oh it was so so cute so if you haven't seen it yet, well you're worse than I am when it comes to watching movies. Go now!
And now, a random TV plug...
A new TV show was brought to my attention on Friday night and oh boy this is a good one. Brought to you by Ricky Gervais, I present "An Idiot Abroad".
Basically Ricky Gervais and his friend send their other friend to go see the 7 Wonders of the World and this guy's observations about what he sees are priceless. Apparently it airs on the Science channel so hopefully you get that.
6.15.2011
New Amazing Link
I just happened to stumble upon this new blog and it's taking me all the self-control I possess not to burst out in a guffaw at my desk.
This one is mainly for the ladies, but guys the writing's funny enough to probably get a laugh out of you as well.
I present Go Fug Yourself.
For everything you've always thought about the terrible outfits celebrities come up with, yet couldn't really find the words for.
Enjoy!
This one is mainly for the ladies, but guys the writing's funny enough to probably get a laugh out of you as well.
I present Go Fug Yourself.
For everything you've always thought about the terrible outfits celebrities come up with, yet couldn't really find the words for.
Enjoy!
6.13.2011
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