Archive for December, 2006

PostSecret & Me

{ December 30, 2006 @ 2:34 pm } · { Books, Life, Relationships, Dating, Love, & Such }
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I get a book for Christmas every year. This year, I asked for the second installation (My Secret) of one of my favorite books ever purchased … a book called PostSecret. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, it is a collection of postcards sent in to this guy (Frank Warren), who initially sent out something around 1000 postcards as an art project, asking people to write a secret on it, decorate it, do whatever to it, and send it back to him, anonymously. Well, the response was so overwhelming that he started a blog and published a book (two, now), each spotlighting selected postcards. I’m not sure, but something about so many people (real people!) sending in these truly genuine, sincere secrets really, really touches and inspires me.

Time said of the first … A fascinating public airing of private thougts – some dark, others funny, endearing or disturbing – written on homemade postcards … The range of efforts (meticulous, sloppy, artful, ponderous) will astound you.

I’m talking about it today because I always get a little reminiscent immediately before and for a little while after the start of a new year. I don’t know why. I guess it’s the general thought of, Wow, another year gone by … what did I do with it?

I always make a list of Resolutions … some I write not to keep, some I write hoping with all hope that I do keep, and some I write knowing without a shadow of a doubt that I will keep. Mine aren’t lofty … I gave those up a long time ago. You know … Win the lottery. … Shrink 5 inches to look like all the other girls. … Fit into a size 0 by February 1st. … the Blah blah blah resolutions, as I call them. Thankfully, I’ve wised up a bit and don’t make those foolish ones anymore. Mine are now more about things that I can control … that are feasible. Some are small and very silly … some are funny … some are sad … some are serious … I used to limit myself to 10, but I stopped that when I realized I can’t put a lid on that kind of thing. This year, I’ve decided I’m just going to write them all down, organize them, laminate them, and frame them right by my mirror in my room. Might as well, right? Right!

Back to PostSecret. (Sorry, I know I’m jumping around.) My favorite one in the new book is probably one that simply says, My heart is an idiot. It makes me laugh (belly laugh, at that) … because I relate so, so well to that statement. I’d just never heard it put quite like that: My … heart … is … an … idiot! Resolution: Make it smarter!

Gosh, I’m giggling now just thinking about all of the muck my heart has dragged me through.

My, my, my …

The cool thing is that hearts heal … and can be educated, in the good way! This, I have certainly learned in ‘06. The heart is an intrepid piece o’ work! Takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’, if you know what I’m sayin’.

Case & Point:

I was hurt a while back by someone who was very important to me, and I don’t think I ever really recovered from it. When I finally thought I had, and tried again … I fell in love (or something like it) again … and I was hurt … again. I would say that I was hurt worse the second time … because I felt like I should have known better, not given in so easily, not opened up, not believed so deeply … not after the first time. Both followed a pattern, and the only link between the two was me. Of course, I became really good at blaming myself for a long time … for the first especially, and then for a while after the second for that one as well. I then realized something … I’m better than blame, damnit! The only pattern that I really found is that I not only once, but twice, chose and fell in love (or something like it) with lying, philandering, selfish men who never had any intention of giving back what I gave. So, heck, what do you do? Well, you break the pattern … and you stop putting up with the ones who aren’t going to be good for you, right? Right! Damn, it seems so easy now. You can’t change people, and you can’t make someone treat you right, no matter how much you beg and plead. You can’t make someone love you, either … just like you can’t make yourself love someone. (Broken record, party of one!)

I haven’t thought about all of this in a long time … and, by a long time, I mean the better part of a year. That’s a big step for me. Recent events and a little bit of 2006 in review (which will probably be a whole new entry after the 1st of the year) has made me look at these things, albeit briefly, once again … I (finally and officially) lost not one, but two things this past year that I never thought I’d lose.

The part I never expected is that I’m better than ever because of it. It’s all in the past now, and I couldn’t be more excited, happy, joyous, stoked, thrilled, elated, giddy, pumped, jubilant, and celebratory about it.

L-I-V-I-N, baby!

There is a quote that one of my old friends shared a while back that was very poignant to me: We’re gonna rise from these ashes like a bird aflame … It’s from a David Gray song, called Shine. If there was one sentence I could choose for My 2006, that would be it. Rise above, I do feel I have.

Sorry … back to the PostSecret stuff. (This all ties in somehow, I promise.)

When I first found the book, I thought about sending one in, but then I realized that I had so many to choose from … I didn’t even know where to begin. So, what did I do? Well, I started a scrapbook, and put all of my PostSecrets in it. It’s almost full now. I guess that could’ve be my official PostSecret at the time … I have too many secrets to choose from.

The beauty … (in the breakdown) … it’s over. My life is different now, I’m different now. And, you know, it sounds cheesy … but I’m pretty much made of cheese, so it’s going to be okay … but discovering PostSecret kind of made me start looking at those things (as well as many others), writing them down, dealing with them, and filing them away … literally. I’m so much healthier now because of that. I guess you could say, in an off-base way, the book kind of made me a better person. I can’t give it too much credit, however … I’ll reserve that for mainly myself. (Ha!) It did start a certain process within myself, though. It would’ve happened eventually, but I’ll just happy I stumbled upon a catalyst sooner rather than later.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all do that? Be honest, be real, tell it, deal with it, and put it away.

I think so.

If you are interested in buying either book, here are some links:

PostSecret
My Secret

The Secret Lives of Men & Women (… one I didn’t know about until after I posted this …)

And, of course, the website: WWW.POSTSECRET.BLOGSPOT.COM.

Okay, now I’m off to go ring in this New Year of 2007 better everbefore … HAPPILY!! Oh yes … happily. Everyone out there be safe, have fun, and rock ‘07 out!!

P.S. This is the coolest cake I’ve ever seen!

‘07 is going to rule!

HP 7

{ December 21, 2006 @ 11:51 pm } · { Books }
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The official title for the 7th Harry Potter was released today!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Article)

(Total dork … yes, I get it.)

Holiday Cheer

{ December 21, 2006 @ 1:46 pm } · { Relationships, Dating, Love, & Such }
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Begin rant.

So, maybe I’m just a little grumpy because I’m out of school, working full-time, and hungover from taking too much cold medicine last night, but as I was checking my email this morning, I came across THIS … and it somehow managed to really irritate me in the midst of my Chai Tea bliss. 

For those of you who don’t click on the link and read the entire article, it’s basically about how “joyous” it is to be single over the holidays.  I mean, it’s called, Single this season?  Lucky you!, for crying out loud!  Now, maybe it wouldn’t bother me so much (or maybe it would, who knows?), but this is coming from a married woman, who is lamenting the loss of her singledom, complaining about having to spend extra money on new family members, talking about how hard it is to “please her man”, and fretting over the clash of their respective choices in trees.  I mean … seriously?!  That’s all you’ve got for why it’s “so, flippin’ awesome” to be single around Christmas?! 

I’m disturbed on so many levels, I don’t even know where to begin.

You know, here’s the truth … yes, it can be stressful to purchase gifts for a significant other … especially when they are the kind of person who seems to have everything they want already.  And, yes, it is much easier to buy for your girlfriends/guy friends, depending on your gender.  However (and this is a HUGE “however”), it can also be a whole heck of a lot of fun to buy for your love, if you let it be.  My idea?  Make a theme of it.  Do something like … Make It Yourself … or … Our First Month Together … or … What Would Look Good On Me? … I mean, cripes … get creative and have some fun with it!  That’s what the holidays should be about, right?  Right!  Sheesh, when did all of the cheer of giving get sucked out of this time of year?! 

It really, really bothers me.  (And it rhymes!)

Granted, I’ve never done anything like those ideas mentioned above when I’ve had someone special over the holidays … but you can bet your sweet bippy that I will the next time around.  The lack of inventiveness, or “lighthearted fun”, or whatever in my past has spawned from a number of things … mainly, me being young and not knowing any better.  In truth, I have either gone way overboard, or just not done much as far as holidays are concerned.  With me, the way overboard was when I was really, really young and thought that is what you were supposed to do … and the not doing much came from a lack of happiness in the relationship and general return of effort from the other person.  But, you know, it shouldn’t be like that.  There have been a few I have really, really thought out, and, for those, I am truly proud.  I’m still not claiming that I’ve always been Miss Funshine, and I admit that times like the holidays haven’t always been giggles and grandeur.  I’m just saying, well … they should be! 

I guess I’ve either been single long enough to forget all of the “real and true” problems that can come about, or I’ve just grown up a lot and let go of a lot of my silly b.s. that kept me from being happy in some of my past relationships (i.e. - insecurity, fear, idealism, naivete, not knowing what I want, staying too long with the wrong person, blah blah blah …).  For my sake (and a few others as well), I hope to Great Goodness that it’s more to do with the latter, and less to do with the former.

But, yeah, that article just really got under my skin and rubbed me the wrong way.  I have nothing against the girl who wrote it, I just don’t agree with her article.  I felt like it was … patronizing.  I can think of no better word.  Life isn’t Sex & the City (although I love the show), and being single is neither the best thing in the entire world, leaving you free to do whatever you want, spend your money however you want, have sex with whoever you want … nor is it the worst, end-of-the-world experience that some might feel like it is around the holidays. 

So, just for clarification … no, I’m not saying that I hate being single, or that I’m over here crying in my egg nog.  In fact, I’m perfectly happy being single.  Yes, I enjoy spending time with my girlfriends, getting to do whatever I want, whenever I want, and not having to stress out about certain “couple things” … like worrying my philandering boyfriend is doinking everyone else in the room (yeah, I’ve dated some real, truthworthy guys in my day!).  But, you know, at the very same time, it isn’t necessarily the most fun in the world to be completely single when everyone around you is spending time with boyfriends/girlfriends, having their first Christmas with their new family, engaged, happy, sunshine, daisies, and all of that good rot.  Still … you know … like I said before, it isn’t so bad, either.  It isn’t something that should be brooded over, that’s for darn sure.  What’s more, I (and I’m assuming most other singles “of a certain age” (mid-20’s-30’s) out there), don’t need some married person throwing any kind of patronizing crap about how shitty it is to be attached at them.  I know I don’t. 

I’ve been to the circus, and I’ve seen all the strings.  I know about being attached, and I know about being single.  I’ve done both many times in my life, thank you very much.  I’ve learned a lot, and I’m sure I have much, much more to learn in the future.  I’m just saying that, either way, single or attached, there is no reason to want to be the other just because it is the holidays.  You shouldn’t be pissed about having to buy extra presents for your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife’s family, just as you shouldn’t be sad that you don’t have that boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife to take to Christmas parties and sit by the fire with. 

I mean, really, just make the most of what you’ve got and don’t freak out about the rest! 

The grass isn’t always greener, is what I’m trying to say.  I’m not sitting around trying to convince my attached friends that being me right now is super-rockin’-awesome-as-all-heck just because I’m single … just as I would hate it if they were sitting around trying to make me feel less because they have someone and I don’t … just as I don’t complain to them about them being with someone while I’m single … just as I don’t need any of them telling me how great my life is because I am.  Get it? 

The point I’m trying to make here is to be happy, whatever you are and whoever you are with (or aren’t with, for that matter).  Isn’t that the point?  Am I missing something?  I mean, seriously!

Oh, and I recant my first sentence.  I’m in a smashingly great mood.  I’m not at all grumpy, and it isn’t the working, or the cold medicine … it’s just the article.  Ha!         

I hope everyone is well.  Happy 4 Days Until Christmas!

End rant. 

Nonsense & 2006

{ December 18, 2006 @ 6:51 pm } · { Life, Random }
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I’m so happy that it is FINALLY feeling a little like wintery goodness outside!  It’s December, and it’s been in the 70’s for who knows how long.  I enjoy cold weather, so the warm in the winter was starting to wear on me.  (There’s a little alliteration for you, kids.)  Either way, that Global Warming stuff is a bugger, and I’m happy that I finally have cause to start a fire in the fireplace, eat a grilled cheese with tomato soup, and read a book.  Heck yes!

So … 2006 is rapidly approaching its end.  I haven’t ranted any of my nonsense in a while, and I figure there is no better time than now.  A slightly bum-fuddled recap of 2006, this shall certainly be!

Where to begin?  Oh!  Okay …

Well, it started out … uh … crud … how did it start out?  If there was anything wrong with this year in general, maybe that’s it … I can’t even remember how I welcomed it.  It appears I will be needing to go a different route.  I’ll just run down a list of my choosing, how about?  Sound good?  Yeah, sounds grand to me, too!  (What do they say about talking to yourself?  It’s okay, as long as you don’t answer?  Well, I answer all the time.  I don’t even want to know what that says about me!)  Yowza!

Life — In general, it’s been pretty good to me this year.  I’ve been healthy, I’ve had my great friends and family by my side, I’ve done really well in school … I can’t complain too much about life in an all-encompassing sense.  I am alive, after all!  That’s all we really need to know about that.

Projects — I started two large ones, and am currently considering taking on another.  The first?  My novel.  I’m still working on it, but I feel I’ve hit somewhat of a wall.  I can’t decide which direction I want it to take.  There are so many avenues I could puruse.  Which road to take, where to go?  I’m not sure just yet.  I’m thinking about it, but not rushing anything … just letting it work itself out in my head.  (Good plan, good plan.)  So, in the midst of taking a step back from the novel (while not completely stopping!), my friend, Mel, approached me about another idea.  We haven’t done much with it yet, but we intend to.  Busy times right now … busy, busy times.  But … it’s in the works, that’s for sure.  The project I’m thinking of beginning soon?  Selling some of my artwork.  I’ve been working on these ideas … that I can’t talk about just yet because some of my friends are getting them for Christmas.  They are simple, but I really like them.  As soon as the gifts have been given, and I actually decide to start selling more, I will put some pictures up and add them to my website.  Oh yeah!  Make that four projects!  The fourth?  My website.  It’s half-way done.  I had to stop it entirely to attend to the 18 hours of Senior classes I took this past semester.  Yikes!  You can’t do everything all at once.  I get it, I get it!  So, while none of the projects are finished, or anywhere near actual completion, really … I am working on them.  I guess what really matters are the ideas, and having persistence enough to hammer away at them.  Ideas … check!  Persistence … check, check!

Love Life — What?!  “Love life …”  Huh?  “You heard me!”  Oh yeah … that … got it.  Truth?  I don’t give a damn about time and when and where and how and why anymore.  I don’t even think about “It” too much these days.  It’s amounted to a grand amount of phooey.  Any hint of romance, or a love life this year (for the most part) has been overshadowed by a blinding/cripling fear of being vulnerable … mixed with the apprehension that love, real love, is a sham created by television, music, and the movies to make us all miserable in our pursuits … something known about, but never actually witnessed.  Ha!  No, no, I really don’t think that way.  I know love exists.  Hell, I’ve been in love before.  It seems like eons ago, but I have been.  I’m sure I will be again.  2006 has been an exploration in myself more than anything … learning to love myself before I love someone else, and buillding a solid, stable relationship with myself before I even attempt another with someone new.  It’s beyond important, I know this now.  “We must be our own before we can be another’s.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Dude knows what he’s talking about!  And, you know, I could wax all-knowing and wise until I turn purple and pass out, but the truth is that I’m just as clueless as the next person on this stuff.  I don’t know what it all means, and I don’t know if I ever even want to know.  Because, really, I have no, freaking clue most of the time what I want, much less how it should be.  So, there’s that. 

Theme Song — I finally found mine!  What’s yours?!  Mine is I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by The Four Tops, baby!  I think you can instantly know a lot about a person by asking what their theme song in life is … also by the music they listen to regularly … but, you know, that’s a little off-topic.  There’s a lot to be discovered about me in my selection.  Uh-lot!  Not just in the words, either … in the music.  Lovin’ it!

New Things — I’ve become interested in things like knitting and sewing.  I realized that it doesn’t matter if it makes me sound old and boring, it makes me feel even more creative than before, and it’s actually fun!  In fact, the new artwork I’m working on in a mesh of these new skills I’m picking up … in a strange way. 

Music — I have officially fallen back in love with music this year.  Seeing who was actually behind the songs soured me for a while, but I have put that away and re-opened that door.  In short, the affair is back on and more intimate than ever!  With music, that is.  There’s this cheesy avatar that says something like “Music is my boyfriend!”  That’s a little like how I feel.  I can’t play an instrument, save a little dabbling in piano these days, but I sure do love me some music!  It’s almost transcendent for me … spiritual.  I’ve discovered a lot of great, great music this year, but I have to say that my favorites of the year are still Speak For Yourself by Imogen Heap, We Were Here by Joshua Radin, and 9 by Damien Rice.  Those are just the new CD’s, mind you.  Don’t even get me started on everything that didn’t come out this year!  I’d be here all week, and then I’d miss my family coming into town for Christmas … which would be sad.  But, yeah, I’ve been all about the music this year … again! 

Random:

– I started eating meat again, after being a vegetarian for 3 years.  It was a personal decision, just as stopping in the first place was a personal decision. 

– Uh … oh, I stopped wearing panties, then started wearing them again.  It’s true; hence, the line that almost made Melissa fall out of the car one night while driving … “He fell in love with someone else, so I stopped wearing panties.”  It was my headline on MySpace for a long time … and it will probably be again someday.   It’s just so … telling … so … me.  Besides, it makes me chuckle every time I say it/think of it/read it.  Classic!

– I started watching Scrubs re-runs and am hooked … likewise, I have a total schoolgirl crush on Zach Braff and have no shame whatsoever in admitting it. 

– Hmmm … OH! … I’m more blunt than ever.  I stopped caring about what other people want me to be and have genuinely embraced who I am.  No bullshit, you know?  If I exercise, it’s for me … just like if I shove my face into a pint of Homemade Vanilla With Strawberries, it’s for me.  I mean, that is, if I ate ice cream … I’m off it for now.  You get the idea, though.

– I’m inching ever-so-closely to graduation (Lord and everyone else knows it’s far past time).  In some unexpectedly weird twist of fate, I have started to truly enjoy my classes.  Strange how that works.  Nice, huh? 

– Oh, oh, oh!  I’ve decided to adopt a few British words and use them in my own, everyday speech.  Words like “wanker,” “bugger,” “shag,” “fancy,” “bits,” ”bollocks,” and “knickers” are used more often than ever.  I do believe “knickers” is my favorite, though.  As in, “No you may not take a peek at my knickers!”  It’s just great! 

– I also have a new catch phrase that I have mentioned once already … “Such-and-such is the junk!”  It suppose the best way to explain it is to say that it replaces “the shit” in sentences.  Like … “Happenstance by Rachael Yamagata is the junk!” 

– What else, what else?  Oh!  I started cooking more often, and I’m not too bad.  Viva La Chicken! was my most recent exploration.  A little bit spicy, but so yum-my!  I plan on getting superly-rockin’-uber-good at cooking within the next year.  In fact, I’m going to make it a New Year’s Resolution.  (More on those later, much later.) 

With that, I’m done with my nostalgic/narcissitic rant for the day.  If you are still awake/breathing/alive, you deserve some sort of medal!  I’ll conclude with a suggestion, or two …

Song – I Don’t Care What You Call Me by David Ford (Lyrics) (MySpace/Listen)
An old friend turned me onto it a while back, but I forgot about it after a while.  I heard it randomly yesterday and can’t stop listening to it (again).  It’s sad, yes … but it’s sad in that good way. 

“Rain it on down
What else can you throw at me?
I haven’t heard before

And tear me on down
I am unforgivable
So why don’t you just tell me what you really think again

Scream me on down
I am so forgettable
Yes, I know …”

Poem — The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot (Read it!)
It is one of my favorites.  I don’t know why, but it always makes more sense at this time of year.  Maybe it’s because of the air, or the weather … but it just does. 

“And indeed there will be time 
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street, 
Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;         
There will be time, there will be time 
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet; 
There will be time to murder and create, 
And time for all the works and days of hands 
That lift and drop a question on your plate;        
Time for you and time for me, 
And time yet for a hundred indecisions, 
And for a hundred visions and revisions, 
Before the taking of a toast and tea. 
 
In the room the women come and go        
Talking of Michelangelo. 
 
And indeed there will be time 
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?” 
Time to turn back and descend the stair, 
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—        
[They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”] 
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin, 
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin— 
[They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”] 
Do I dare         
Disturb the universe? 
In a minute there is time 
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse. 
 
For I have known them all already, known them all:— 
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,         
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons …”

Oh, yeah … one more thing … Little Miss Sunshine comes out on DVD tomorrow.  Rent it, buy it, watch it! 

That’s all for now.  Good evening, friends!  Hope all is well, wherever you are.  :)

But No One

{ December 16, 2006 @ 11:15 am } · { Writing/Poetry }
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(I don’t even remember when I started this one (it isn’t exceptionally recent), but I do know that it isn’t completely finished just yet.  I initially wrote it for myself, but I’m posting it now for a friend (you know who you are), as per our conversation yesterday.) 

But No One

Love, our love
was a little dirty
leaving not much left
to be kept clean
There hasn’t been anybody
to ignite me
in all of the simple ways
you seem to do
But no one,
not even masking tape,
silly putty,
and glue
could erase all of
the distances,
the great canyons of infidelities
placed between me and you

so I started to learn piano,
and I put my photographs away
I started singing into the silence,
telling it, not you, all I have left to say

Now you tell me
I was never,
not even for a second
worth your precious,
precious time
I don’t believe you,
I look closely
and see straight through
But no one,
not even masking tape,
silly putty,
and glue
could repair all of
the damages,
the hysterical need for forgiveness,
when I found out about you

so I started to learn indifference,
and I threw my memories away
I started screaming into the silence,
telling it, not you, I never wanted it this way

Just as you had a flare
for excuses,
I had a flare for
hanging on
So you ran around
and in three days
erased me
with someone new
But no one,
not even masking tape,
silly putty,
and glue
could turn her
into me,
the girl who cleaned your blood,
when life got the best of you

so I started to write these letters,
and I locked my heart away
I started speaking to the silence,
telling it, not you, until I have nothing left to say …

© – SKK

…

(Take with you what you must, don’t dwell too long, and keep that chin up, babe.  Life’s too short for unhappiness, and it’ll keep getting better and better and better soon.  That’s a promise!) 

Soundtracks, y’all!

{ December 14, 2006 @ 5:01 pm } · { Movies, Music }
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Hey, hey!  I’m on a soundtrack kick lately.  Can’t say why, exactly.  So … since I am done with finals (OH YEAH!), and I have more time on my hands, I thought I’d make a list of a few yummy compilations worth owning.  And, yikes, it’s a tad long.  Ah, well …

1. The Last Kiss –  I’ve talked about it until I am blue in the face, but I will say it one more time … Buy this soundtrack if you don’t already have it!  I mean, really, how can you not love something that has Imogen Heap, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, Cary Brothers, Rufus Wainwright, AND Rachael Yamagata on it?!  Sheesh, folks, it’s a doozy!  Listen/buy HERE, check out the MySpace, and check out the track listing below …

1. Chocolate – Snow Patrol
2. Star Mile – Joshua Radin
3. Pain Killer – Turin Brakes
4. Warning Sign – Coldplay
5. Ride – Cary Brothers
6. El Salvador – Athlete
7. Hide And Seek – Imogen Heap
8. Reason Why – Rachael Yamagata
9. Hold You In My Arms – Ray LaMontagne
10. Prophecy – Remy Zero
11. Paper Bag – Fiona Apple
12. Today’s The Day – Aimee Mann
13. Arms of a Woman – Amos Lee
14. Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk – Rufus Wainwright
15. Paperweight – Joshua Radin & Schuyler Fisk

2. Little Miss Sunshine –  It’s grand, and just got nominated for a Grammy.  So … you know the buzz has got to be somewhat true, right?  Right.  Plus, it has Chicago by Sufjan Stevens, which is probably one of my favorites right now.  Listen/buy HERE, check out the MySpace, and check out the track listing below …

1. The Winner Is – Mychael Danna/DeVotchKa
2. Till The End Of Time – DeVotchKa
3. You Love Me (Remix) – DeVotchKa
4. First Push – Mychael Danna/DeVotchKa
5. No Man’s Land – Sufjan Stevens
6. Let’s Go – DeVotchKa
7. No One Gets Left Behind – Danna/DeVotchKa
8. Chicago – Sufjan Stevens
9. We’re Gonna Make It – Danna/DeVotchKa
10. Do You Think There’s a Heaven -Danna/DeVotchKa
11. Catwalkin’ – Tony Tisdale
12. Superfreak (Rocca Sound Remix) – Rick James
13. La Llorona – DeVotchKa
14. How It Ends – DeVotchKa

3. Garden State –  This one is a no-brainer.  Speaking of Grammy’s, Zach Braff (blog) actually got one for compiling this rockin’ (and rollin’) list of super-songs.  That boy has some great taste in music, I must say.  Kudos (and maybe a little pinch on the butt) to him!  Listen/buy HERE, check out the MySpace, and check out the track list below …

1. Don’t Panic – Coldplay   
2. Caring Is Creepy – The Shins  
3. In The Waiting Line – Zero 7    
4. New Slang – The Shins 
5. I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You – Colin Hay 
6. Blue Eyes – Cary Brothers   
7. Fair – Remy Zero 
8. One Of These Things First – Nick Drake 
9. Lebanese Blonde – Thievery Corporation 
10. The Only Living Boy In New York – Simon & Garfunkel 
11. Such Great Heights – Iron and Wine 
12. Let Go – Frou Frou 
13. Winding Road – Bonnie Somerville

4.  Forrest Gump –  It is chalk-full of good, old-fashioned, freakin’ fantastical tracks.  In fact, it happens to contain my theme song in life … I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) by The Four Tops.  (Don’t ask … but for more on theme songs, feel free check into Ally McBeal.  Ha ha!)  Anyhow, if you don’t own this one, it is a definite must-have.  Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

Disc 1
1. Hound Dog – Elivis Presley
2. Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy
3. (I Don’t Know Why) But I Do – Clarence “Frogman” Henry
4. Walk Right In – The Rooftop Singers
5. Land Of 1000 Dances – Wilson PIckett
6. Blowin’ In The Wind – Joan Baez
7. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
8. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops
9. Respect – Aretha Frankline
10. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – Bob Dylan
11. Sloop John B – The Beach Boys
12. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas And The Papas
13. For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
14. What The World Needs Now Is Love – Jackie DeShannon
15. Break On Through (To The Other Side) – The Doors
16. Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel

Disc 2
1. Volunteers – Jefferson Airplane
2. Let’s Get Together – The Youngbloods
3. San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) – Scott McKenzie
4. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
5. Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In - The Fifth Dimension  
6. Everybody’s Talkin’ – Harry Nilsson
7. Joy To The World – Three Dog Night
8. Stoned Love – The Supremes
9. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head – B.J. Thomas
10. Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man) – Randy Newman
11. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynyrd
12. Running On Empty – Jackson Browne
13. It Keeps You Runnin’ – The Doobie Brothers
14. I’ve Got To Use My Imagination – Gladys Knight & The Pips
15. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
16. On The Road Again – Willie Nelson
17. Against The Wind – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
18. Forrest Gump Suite – Alan Silvestri

5. One Tree Hill –  No judgement!  Zip it and just check it out.  Listen/buy HERE, check out the MySpace, buy the 2nd Volume that benefits the National Breast Cancer Association HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. I Don’t Want To Be – Gavin DeGraw 
2. Kill – Jimmy Eat World 
3. Re-Offender – Travis 
4. The Good Kind – The Wreckers (Michelle Branch & Jessica Harp) 
5. Overdue – Get Up Kids 
6. Funny Little Feeling – Rock-N-Roll Soldiers 
7. Glad (Acoustic) – Tyler Hilton 
8. Shoot Your Gun – 22-20s 
9. Sidewalks – Story of the Year 
10. When the Stars Go Blue – Tyler Hilton / Bethany Joy Lenz 
11. Everybody’s Changing – Keane 
12. Mix-tape – Butch Walker 
13. The First Cut Is the Deepest (Acoustic) – Sheryl Crow 
14. Lie in the Sound – Trespassers William 

6. Wicker Park — It’s just good.  Nice and moody.  And, I don’t know about anybody else, but I find Lover’s Spit to be some prime baby-makin’ music, if you know what I mean (and I think you do).  Oh, and not to even mention that The Postal Service covers Phil Collins!  What?!  Yeah, it’s, “Wow!”  Listen/buy HERE, check out the MySpace, and check out the track listing below …

1. Maybe Tomorrow – Stereophonics 
2. Everybody Is Someone – Lifehouse (exclusive) 
3. A Movie Script Ending – Death Cab for Cutie (acoustic version) 
4. How to Be Dead – Snow Patrol 
5. Lover’s Spit – Broken Social Scene 
6. Retour A Vega – The Stills  Listen  
7. Flowers in December – Mazzy Star 
8. When the Day is Gone - The Legends 
9. When I Goosestep – The Shins (rare non-album track) 
10. Light Switch – Jaime Wyatt 
11. These Days – Mates of State 
12. All I Do – +/- 
13. We All Have a Map of the Piano – Mum 
14. Against All Odds – Postal Service (rare non album track) 
15. Strange and Beautiful – Aqualung 
16. I Know You Are But What Am I? – Mogwai 
17. The Scientist – Johnette Napolitano & Danny Lohner (exclusive)

7. The Sound of Music — Again, shut it!  This is a pick of nostalgia for me.  I can’t help it, and certainly won’t try.  My grandma and I flitted about to some Julie Andrews when I was just a wee one.  I have very fond memories of this soundtrack, so just … turn your head, if need be.   Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. Prelude And The Sound Of Music 
2. Overture And Preludium (Dixit Dominus) 
3. Morning Hymn And Alleluia 
4. Maria 
5. I Have Confidence 
6. Sixteen Going On Seventeen 
7. My Favorite Things 
8. Do-Re-Mi 
9. The Sound Of Music 
10. The Lonely Goatherd 
11. Edelweiss 
12. Laendler 
13. So Long, Farewell 
14. Ent’acte 
15. Climb Ev’ry Mountain 
16. My Favorite Things 
17. Something Good 
18. Processional And Maria (The Wedding) 
19. Sixteen Going On Seventeen (Reprise) 
20. Do-Re-Mi (Reprise) 

8. Grease — C’mon!  It’s … well … Grease!  No matter who you are, where you live, or what you consider to be good music, you know you can throw down the jam to Summer Lovin’.  It’s okay, there’s no need to be ashamed.  We’re all right there with you.  Have “a blast” with this one!  (Ha!)  Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. Grease – Frankie Valli 
2. Summer Nights – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John 
3. Hopelessly Devoted To You – Olivia Newton-John 
4. You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John  
5. Sandy – John Travolta 
6. Beauty School Dropout – Frankie Avalon 
7. Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee – Stockard Channing 
8. Greased Lightning – John Travolta 
9. It’s Raining On Prom Night – Cindy Bullens 
10. Alone At The Drive-In Movie (Instrumental) – Jim Jacobs/Warren Casey 
11. Blue Moon – Sha-Na-Na 
12. Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Here To Stay – Sha-Na-Na 
13. Those Magic Changes – Sha-Na-Na 
14. Hound Dog – Sha-Na-Na 
15. Born To Hand Jive – Sha-Na-Na 
16. Tears On My Pillow – Sha-Na-Na 
17. Mooning – Louis St. Louis & Cindy Bullens 
18. Freddy My Love – Cindy Bullens 
19. Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Queen – Louis St. Louis 
20. There Are Worse Things I Could Do – Stockard Channing 

9.  Legends of the Fall – There is some beautiful, beautiful music going on in this movie.  Seriously, beautiful!  Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. Legends Of The Fall 
2. The Ludlows 
3. Off To War 
4. To The Boys… 
5. Samuel’s Death 
6. Alfred Moves To Helena 
7. Farewell/Descent Into Madness 
8. The Changing Seasons, Wild Horses, Tristan’s… 
9. The Wedding 
10. Isabel’s Murder, Recollections Of Samuel 
11. Revenge 
12. Goodbyes 
13. Alfred, Tristan, The Colonel, The Legend… 

10. Saturday Night Fever — “C’mon and put on my, my, my, my boogie shoes, and boogie with you …”  Mmmm-hmmmm … 70’s … yeah, baby!  Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. Stayin’ Alive – The Bee Gees 
2. How Deep Is Your Love – The Bee Gees 
3. Night Fever – The Bee Gees 
4. More Than a Woman – The Bee Gees 
5. If I Can’t Have You – Yvonne Elliman 
6. Fifth of Beethoven – Walter Murphy 
7. More Than a Woman – Tavares 
8. Manhattan Skyline – David Shire 
9. Calypso Breakdown – Ralph MacDonald 
10. Night on Disco Mountain – David Shire 
11. Open Sesame – Kool & the Gang 
12. Jive Talkin’ – The Bee Gees 
13. You Should Be Dancing – The Bee Gees 
14. Boogie Shoes – KC & the Sunshine Band 
15. Salsation – David Shire 
16. K-Jee – MFSB 
17. Disco Inferno – The Trammps

11. Dirty Dancing — Yes, I am a total girl.  Deal with it!  Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life – Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley
2. Be My Baby – The Ronettes 
3. She’s Like the Wind – Patrick Swayze 
4. Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen 
5. Stay – Maurice Williams And The Zodiacs 
6. Yes – Merry Clayton 
7. You Don’t Own Me – The Blow Monkeys 
8. Hey Baby – Bruce Channel 
9. Overload – Zappacosta 
10. Love Is Strange - Mickey And Sylvia 
11. Where Are You Tonight? – Tom Johnston 
12. In The Still Of The Night – The Five Satins

12. Elizabethtown — I read somewhere that Cameron Crowe made this movie around the music he chose.  I know he got a bit of bad reviews for this one, but I really loved it.  So, “Come pick me up, take me out, fuck me up, and steal my records,” as Ryan Adams would say.   Listen/buy HERE, check out the MySpace, and check out the track listing below …

1. 60B (Etown Theme) – Nancy Wilson 
2. It’ll All Work Out – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 
3. My Father’s Gun – Elton John 
4. io (This Time Around) – Helen Stellar 
5. Come Pick Me Up – Ryan Adams 
6. Where to Begin – My Morning Jacket 
7. Long Ride Home – Patty Griffin 
8. Sugar Blue – Jeff Finlin 
9. Don’t I Hold You – Wheat 
10. Shut Us Down – Lindsey Buckingham 
11. Let It Out (Let it All Hang Out) – The Hombres 
12. Hard Times – eastmountainsouth 
13. Jesus Was a Crossmaker – The Hollies 
14. Square One – Tom Petty 
15. Same in Any Language – I Nine

13. Almost Famous — While we’re on Cameron Crowe, might as well, right?!  Yep, yep, yep.  You put Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel, and Cat Stevens on a CD together, and you’ve got yourself a winner.  End.Of.Story.  Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. America – Simon and Garfunkel 
2. Sparks – The Who 
3. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference – Todd Rundgren 
4. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move – Yes 
5. Feel Flows – The Beach Boys 
6. Fever Dog – Stillwater 
7. Every Picture Tells A Story – Rod Stewart 
8. Mr. Farmer – The Seeds 
9. One Way Out – The Allman Brothers Band 
10. Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd 
11. That’s The Way – Led Zeppelin 
12. Tiny Dancer – Elton John 
13. Lucky Trumble – Nancy Wilson 
14. I’m Waiting For The Man – David Bowie 
15. The Wind – Cat Stevens 
16. Slip Away – Clarence Carter 
17. Something In The Air – Thunderclap Newman 

14. Titanic — Minus the whole Celine Dion thing, the composing is truly mesmerizing.  It puts me in some sort of trance every time I listen to it … a good, relaxing trance, that is.   Listen/buy HERE, and check out the track listing below …

1. Never An Absolution 
2. Distant Memories 
3. Southampton 
4. Rose 
5. Leaving Port 
6. ‘Take Her To Sea, Mr. Murdoch’ 
7. ‘Hard To Starboard’ 
8. Unable To Stay, Unwilling To Leave 
9. The Sinking 
10. Death Of Titanic 
11. A Promise Kept 
12. A Life So Changed 
13. An Ocean Of Memories 
14. My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From ‘Titanic’) 
15. Hymn to the Sea 

15.  Grey’s Anatomy, Vol. 2 — It has an acoustic version of Chasing Cars, for crying out loud!  When he says, “All that I am, all that I ever was, is here in your perfect eyes, they’re all I can see …” it’s enough to make me do something truly stupid … like dissolve into a puddle of melty nothingness.   And, no, I have no excuse.   Listen/buy HERE, check out the MySpace, and check out the track listing below …

1. How to Save a Life – The Fray 
2. War on Sound – Moonbabies 
3. I Me You – Jim Noir 
4. Kaboom! – Ursula 1000 
5. Miss Halfway – Anya Marina 
6. Multiply – Jamie Lidell 
7. Universe & U – KT Tunstall 
8. Monster Hospital – Metric 
9. How We Operate [Radio Edit] – Gomez 
10. Grace Master – Kate Havnevik 
11. Sexy Mistake – The Chalets 
12. Bound by Love – Gran Bel Fisher 
13. I Hate Everyone [Clean] – Get Set Go 
14. Homebird – Foy Vance 
15. Chasing Cars [Acoustic] – Snow Patrol

Happy December!  ‘Tis the season, m’loves!

Harry Potter 5

{ December 5, 2006 @ 5:50 pm } · { Movies }
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Awwwww, yeah!  July 13, 2007, baby!  Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix will hit theaters.  IT.IS.ON!

(Extra Information)

YAY!  Am I the only one quite literally jumping for joy about this?!  They just keep getting better and better, no?  Cannot wait …

Yep, I’m a total dork for this Harry Potter stuff.  I can’t even help myself.  The books are just really, dang good.  If you have not read them, perhaps because you have been trapped under some sort of massive rock for the last 8 years, you should check them out right this second!  Love, love, love ‘em, I do. 

Speaking of, am I the only one who is chomping at the bit, ready as ready can be for the 7th book?!  Sheesh, that one is taking forever.  I know it’s going to be fantastic, though, so I suppose it’s pretty well worth the wait.  Still, I’m impatient!  I want my HP 7, and I want it now!   

A happy Tuesday, it certainly is!

Accidental Babies

{ December 2, 2006 @ 2:23 pm } · { Music, Writing/Poetry }
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For many reasons, but mainly because it is so beautiful …

“Well, I know I make you cry
And I know sometimes you wanna die
But do you really feel alive without me?
If so, be free
If not, leave him for me
Before one of us has accidental babies
For we are in love

Do you come
Together ever with him?
Is he dark enough?
Enough to see your light?
Do you brush your teeth before you kiss?
Do you miss my smell?
And is he bold enough to take you on?
Do you feel like you belong?
And does he drive you wild?
Or just mildly free?

What about me?
What about me?”

- Damien Rice (from Accidental Babies on his new CD, 9)

(Makes me wish I would’ve written these exact words at one point in time, only replaced “him” with “her”. )

“Everything for a reason …”  And, with that, a Very Merry Saturday, m’loves!