another guilty pleasure
I don't watch that much tv, compared to some/most people. There's shows that I'll watch if I happen to be around and find on, but there are only 5 shows that I really follow and always make sure to catch (or watch online after the fact, more often than not): Mad Men, Gossip Girl, 30 Rock and the Office. And Lipstick Jungle.
It's a little bit embarrassing to admit, even to myself, how much I LOVE Lipstick Jungle. I was soooo disappointed last week when I heard it had been cancelled, but so glad and relieved when I found out tonight that the cancellation was only a rumor (for now). I've never heard anyone I know talk about that show or admit to watching it, and I'm not sure if anyone else reading this is a fan, but it sure is nice to be out in the open with my love and support for it.
still holds up
I listen to my ipod everyday, like virtually everyone else, but I rarely listen to music. I would estimate that maybe 5% of what I listen to, either on my ipod or through my computer at my apartment, is actual music. The rest is podcasts, news, symposiums, lectures, science shows, and the like. I'm certainly not against music, and I actually really like it. I don't feel like I have a lack of music in my life, and now that I think about it, I think it's because I go to a decent amount of live shows, which I suppose is a perk of where I live. Anyway, when it comes to what I listen to on my own, I just normally prefer to be fed a constant diet of information.
That said, last night it took me almost 3 hours to get home from Tribeca, courtesy of some ill-time flightiness on my own part and some scheduled train delays/track work. It was awful. But, I listened to music the entire time. I decided to go with an old fave, Caedmon's Call, and I listened to a ton of their stuff. I was both delighted and comforted to discover that, after all these years, they still totally hold up. I listen to a song or two of theirs in isolation every so often, but I just really enjoyed going back through their whole body of work. I'm curious to know what I might think of them if I were exposed to them now for the first time. Would I like them so much? I suppose that doesn't really matter. I find them incredibly talented, and their lyrics refreshingly honest and challenging.
So, last night I compiled a "Best of Caedmon's" list. That's not easy, because they've got so much out there. I gave myself a limit of no more than 3 songs from each cd. I've listed the song first, followed by the cd it's from.
1. What You Want, Long Line of Leavers
2. The Rich Song, Intimate Portrait
3. I Boast No More, In the Company of Angels
4. The Truth, Intimate Portrait
5. Wings of the Morning, Share the Well
6. Somewhere North, 40 Acres
7. Mystery of Mercy, Back Home
8. You Created, Back Home
9. Dance, Long Line of Leavers**
10. International Love Song, Share the Well
11. Bus Driver, Caedmon's Call
12. Prove Me Wrong, Long Line of Leavers
13. There's Only One (Holy One), Share the Well
14. Awake My Soul, Back Home
15. Center Aisle, Caedmon's Call
16. Table for Two, 40 Acres
**this song is not be confused with "The Danse," from In the Company of Angels
Honorable Mention, in no particular order:
Mistake of My Life, Long Line of Leavers
The Innocent's Corner, Share the Well
Where I Began, 40 Acres
Manner and Means, Back Home
Beautiful Mystery, Back Home
This World, Caedmon's Call
Before There Was Time, In the Company of Angels
Never Gonna Let Go, Back Home
April Showers, Intimate Portrait
good times
So Fall 2008 is turning out to be really great. Here's some highlights.
Halloween - I went to a kickin' Halloween party and had a really great time. My idea was to go with a friend of mine as D.J. Tanner and Kimmie Gibler, but by the time I mentioned it to her she had already bought and tailored a costume of her own. So my friend Matt and I went tag-team as a Metrocard and a turnstile. My brothers didn't seem to find that all that funny, so I think maybe it's more funny if you live here and use those things several times a day. So he made an impressively accurate Metrocard costume (complete w/ emergency info on the back) and I engineered a costume with a functioning turnstile. It went over really well, but I think that, on the whole, I find it more amusing to go as a person than as an inanimate object. Good to know for the future, I guess.
last Monday - I went to see the documentary "Dear Zachary." It was devastating, but in a hopeful, haunting way. The filmmaker demands a lot of the viewer, but it's one of the best things I've ever seen. Don't research it a lot, because it's better if you go into it with fewer details. But, if you find yourself in NYC, LA, Chicago, Portland, Nashville, San Jose or Sante Fe anytime soon, DEFINITELY check it out. It's so moving.
last Tuesday - Obama was elected!!! The election night party that I went to was a blast! Although I kinda wish I would've went to a party in Harlem and been a part of the celebrating there. But, I really did enjoy spending the night with the people I was with! The feeling of electricity here on Wednesday was palpable, like on New Year's Eve or the day after the Giants won the Super Bowl. So we'll see what happens in the coming months/years.
last Thursday - My friend Caleb made the top 5 (out of 4,000!) in The Bitter End's Songwriter's Circle (songwriting contest). I was on "the list" for the final night so I got in free and managed to get good seats. In addition to the top 5 playing, Marc Cohn and Dave Barnes were the guest performers. That was kinda strange, b/c they are two very different musicians and are in two very different places in their careers, but it worked out ok. FYI... If it's not immediately familiar, Marc Cohn is the guy who did "Walking in Memphis." I thought it might be a little bit cheesy, but actually it was amazing. Hearing him do that song on the piano live, and in a dark venue with great seats, was an unexpectedly moving experience.
yesterday - My friend hosted a beer tasting party, and it was soooo fun. I think we ended up having more than 20 different types of beer. My favorite... drum roll please... Delerium Tremens.
today - Great conversation with a friend this morning; the Bears lost but it was to the last undefeated team, and they don't really suck so bad this year; I was able to get both a great nap and some quality violin practice in earlier this afternoon. I also figured out the perfect Christmas gift for my younger brother, so I can cross that one off the list.
Wednesday- I am hanging out with a really fun group of people among whom good conversation always seems to materialize.
Thursday - My good friend and HFM (hopefully future me) will be in town and I am so excited to hang out with her!
Friday - Two of the BCG's, Faith and Laura Ashely, will be in town, and we are going to one of my fave restaurants in the city. I haven't seen Laura Ashely since her wedding in 2005, and since Faith moved to Boston I don't see her all that often either. There is NOTHING like hanging out with old friends!
Plus:
*The Giants are winning. Hopefully they can hold on.
*The city is starting to get holiday-ized. It's a little bit annoying b/c it's happening before Thanksgiving. But, it's not happening to an overwhelming degree, and when I encounter it, it's sort of like a little glimpse of the wonderment to come.
*The weather continues to hover in the mid to high 50's and sometimes ventures into the low 60's. I haven't even had to bust out any scarves yet!
I'm just really enjoying life these days!
