I'm a mess, I guess...

"i wanna be the best person i can be. i want to define myself instead of having others define me."

2009-01-08T11:23:00.037-05:00

Well, here is it. It isn't that far into 2009 just yet, so I won't consider myself too too late. I mean, in my defense, it was a pretty damn good year for music, so I wanted to make my decisions carefully.

A disclaimer to those of you reading. These choices are based on opinions of music I had available. Sure, Metallica's new album may have been rockin. And maybe the new Guns N Roses album was great - but I haven't heard. This list is just formulated from the discs I thought were entertaining and inspiring for the year. If nothing else, I can look back at this list this time next year, just to see what was hot (and what was not). Last year, I was knee-deep in the Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem. So let's see what 2008 had in store for me...

(if you make it all the way through, please feel free to share something I may have missed. I'm always open to new music or suggestions.)

xo

Carrie's Best of 2008 Lists

Movies of the Year (in alphabetical order)
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
The Dark Knight
Wall-E
Young @ Heart

Book (series) of the Year
Twilight

TV Shows of the Year
Friday Night Lights
Intervention

Lipstick Jungle

Weeds

Best "Maybe You've Never Heard of Them But You Should" Artist
1. Band of Annuals
2. Missy Higgins
3. Lykke Li
4. The Tallest Man on Earth
5. Justin Nozuka
6. Frightened Rabbit
7. Girl Talk
8. Jason Reeves
9. Rachael Brady
10. City & Colour

Best Live Shows of 2008
Celine Dion @ the Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)
Spice Girls @ the Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)
Band of Annuals @ Union Hall (Brooklyn, NY)
Ray LaMontagne and Leona Naess @ Radio City (New York, NY)

Songs of the Year (in alphabetical order)
Anouk - "Lost"
Augustana - "Hey Now"
Band of Annuals - "Lower"
Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"
City & Colour - "Sleeping Sickness"
Duffy - "Syrup and Honey"
Ernie Halter - "Pretty Girl"
Ha-Ash (ft. Brandi Carlile) - "Already Home"
Ingrid Michaelson - "The Chain" (live at Webster Hall)
Jason Mraz - "I'm Yours"
Jem - "You Will Make It"
Jon McLaughlin - "We All Need Saving"
Justin Nozuka - "Criminal"
Lisa Hannigan - "Ocean and a Rock"
Missy Higgins - "Sugarcane"
Pink - "Glitter in the Air"
Ray LaMontagne - "Let It Be Me"

Sara Barielles & Ingrid Michaleson - "Winter Song"
Sugarland - "It Happens"

Best Album
Honorable Mentions:
Rachael Yamagata - Elephants...Teeth Sinking into Heart, Jack Johnson - Sleep Through Static, Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes), Justin Nozuka - Holly

15. Adele - 19
She is compared to a sober Amy Winehouse, and I wouldn't disagree. But give her credit. I think that if she had broke prior to Amy and her shenanigans, she could be even bigger. She's got a great voice with a really rich quality and tone to it. I love this for a nice chill album. I also like that fact that she doesn't care what people have to say and she doesn't mold to the Hollywood norm. Amen sister.

Standout track: Make You Feel My Love

14. Jessie Baylin - Firesight
Until the Music Lounge this year, I had not heard of this Jersey girl (represent, what?!), but I sure am glad that changed. She has a very unique, soulful voice. When you see her, you don't expect the voice that comes out, and I kinda dig that. The album is solid, in my opinion, and is easy to play from beginning to end. Look for her music cameos in movies/television like The Women and Lipstick Jungle.

Standout track: Was I On Your Mind?

13. Kate Nash - Made of Bricks
It's common knowledge that if you have a British accent, you are just that much cooler. Granted, there are exceptions to this rule, but not in Kate Nash's case. The album is a gamut of emotions - love, heartbreak, loss, and rebellion. She's cute, but a little vulgar. I mean, if you can sing about birds shitting on your head and have it be a beautiful love song, well you've got my vote.

Standout track: Birds

12. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Live in Skowhegan
Yes. It is a live album. Yes - that probably shouldn't count for an album, because there really isn't any new material not found on other albums. Yes. It is beautiful. Yes, it's true I had tickets to go see them upstate this year, but couldn't make it because of a freak snowstorm and a beautiful baby shower - so this is the next best thing. My goal of 2009? See them live.

Standout track: Ragged Company (live)

11. Coldplay - Viva la Vida
Probably one of the most hyped albums of 2008, and for good reason, I was pleasantly surprised. Of course, I was rooting for them all along, but I was afraid of a flop. Silly me. I have to admit that there isn't much I can say about this album, I just enjoy it. Chris Martin and friends were up for the challenge, and it's safe to say they got it right.

Standout track: Lost!

10. Sugarland - Love on the Inside
Don't panic too much. I haven't jumped (completely) over to the country side of things. This year was about the music, and hey - I cannot deny good tunes. I have to thank Lindsay for sending me my first Sugarland song and that's where the love began. Jennifer Nettles has a unique voice and it just is catchy as hell. It's an album I can listen to at work all day and doesn't get old.

Standout tracks: It Happens, All I Want to Do

9. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
This is one of those cases where you see the name EVERYWHERE on music blogs and you end up giving in and checking them out to see what the big deal is. Then you hit yourself because you finally see what everyone is talking about. I really thought I wouldn't like something on a laptop, as we all know I prefer my acoustic guitars and such, but this album is probably the most fun of the bunch. I mean if you take Fergie and Kenny Loggins and throw them together? You sold me. Sign. Me. UP.

8. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Isn't it true that natural resources eventually will run out? I mean it's realistic, right? Is artistic talent like a natural resource? Because, honestly, I do not see a dry bottom to the Death Cab barrell. It's easy to make assumptions about songs sounding the same after a while, but this album was more than I could have expected from them. I recommend listening to the opening track at high decibels in your vehicle.

Standout tracks: Bixby Canyon Bridge, The Ice is Getting Thinner

7. Sia - Some People Have Real Problems
I almost forget that this album was released this year because it seems like I've been listening to it forever. The album itself is amazing, but when you see her live, it gives new meaning to all of the songs. She is an amazing performer, but the best part is her personality. She's super nice and very friendly, and just a goofball. All of that combined with that voice? Money.

Standout track: Soon We'll Be Found

6. Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain
There really isn't much else to say when it comes to describing his music - anything other than GENIUS that is. The man with the raspy voice, who looks like he could be a homeless man on the streets. I finally got to see him live this year at Radio City, and it was like a week before the album came out, so I heard him perform the new songs live, and what a way to introduce them. I picked up the album at the show and it hasn't come off my "most played" list since. One of my all time favorite musicians coming through with yet another solid body of work.

Standout tracks: Meg White, Let It Be Me

5. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
Another case of me seeing a name on many music blogs and finally just checking them out, and bam. Found me a gem. Lead singer Scott Hutchison's vocals bare a definite resemblance to Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody, which is a good thing of course. I would best describe this album as a lyrically and aesthetically pleasing piece of work. Considering that prior to about a month or two ago, I had never even heard the band, and they are number 5 on my list? I think that is worth you checking them out.

Standout track: Poke

4. Lady Antebellum - Lady Antebellum
I credit Band of Annuals with getting me back in tune with my country roots. Oh yes, back in the day, I was a country music fan. I had all of the Garth Brooks, Clay Walker, and Alan Jackson albums you could think of. Those days have come and gone, and while I venture in and out of musical genres, I found myself hanging out with an old friend again. Only the old friend lost the cowboy hat and ugly button-downs. I welcomed this friend in the form of Lady Antebellum. Seemingly coming out of nowhere and taking country (and pop) music by storm, the Nashville trio combines country, pop, and a little bit of rock and roll. The album is point blank a good time, from start to finish. My only complaint is that New York City doesn't have any kind of a country music life, so therefore I am unable to see them live. Guess this just puts one more check under the "go visit Lindsay in Nashville" column.

Standout tracks: One Day You Will, Home is Where the Heart Is

3. Lykke Li - Youth Novels
I am lucky enough to be a part (albeit a small part) of a really cool music blog - (see: Killer Lemonade). The brainchild and head-hauncho of this blog is none other than the one and only Burgermeister herself. All of the credit goes to her for this choice on the list. I had not heard of this songstress until Danielle posted a track and a video on the site, raving about her sound. I have all the faith in her taste, so I checked it out. Boom, next thing you know, Lykke Li is in my top plays, and constantly on repeat for my morning walks to work. The tracks on this album, no matter the lyrical content or tempo, all just exude fun. They have a playful, catchy undertone, and you can't help but find yourself tapping along. It always puts me in a good mood, which is why I play it on my way to work. Do yourself a favor, and pick this one up. It was a big year for Swedish indie/pop singers, and Lykke Li is no exception.

Standout track: Dance, Dance, Dance

2. Missy Higgins - On a Clear Night / The Sound of White
Last year, one of my top songs of 2007, was from an Australian girl I randomly happened to come across on the web. Eventually, "Where I Stood" appeared on Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, and the Hills. Little did I know that this song was only the tip of the iceberg. I hadn't even touched the brilliance that could be found in Missy Higgins. Brilliance seems like a pretty strong word, but understand that I am aware of this, and frankly don't care. I put both of these albums together, because I ended up getting them both at the same time, regardless of when they originally were released.

Missy just has a subtle, yet powerful voice. She comes across as sweet but powerful. My favorite part about these albums are the stories. The songs illustrate something different and allow the listener to visualize the image that is intended. When you combine the lyrical content with that smooth, soulful voice, you just can't go wrong. She is a big hit down under, but is finally getting her credit over on US soil. I can't wait until this March, when she comes to NYC with Justin Nozuka and Lenka, which is sure to be on my list of favorite concerts from 2009.

Standout tracks: Sugarcane, Going North, The Special Two

1. Band of Annuals - Let Me Live

If you have followed this blog at all over the last year, spoken to me about music at all, or received any of my mix cds, this choice should not be much of a surprise. It feels as if I have known these songs forever, even though it has been less than a year. I'm quoting myself from a previous blog post by saying, "I have found a band that makes me fall in love with music all over again. and if you know me one bit - if you have ever exchanged wonderful conversations with me - you know the value of this statement. I don't just use it willy nilly, something's gotta grab this little heart of mine and scream "this is why you do it. this is why you don't give up on the dream." Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you - Band of Annuals." If you have not heard them before, you can think of them in the same vein as Cowboy Junkies or even a bit of Ryan Adams. The selling point for me, the moment I heard them, is the harmonies. Vocalists Jay Henderson and Jeremi Hanson literally sound like they were made to sing together. The vulnerable and downright heartbreaking lyrics meshed with these two voices should be enough, but oh no - there's more. I have heard it before, but 2008 was the year that I will always remember falling in love with the instrument known as the pedal steel. It seals the deal for me. As if all of this wasn't plenty to write home about, the fact that this group is genuinely nice and appreciative of their fans, makes them all the more appealing. I do believe they are supposed to be recording a new album this Spring, and I for one could not be more excited. They not only claimed my choice for album of the year, but Band of Annuals has solidified a spot as one of my favorite bands of all time. But what do I know? Find out for yourself. Trust me.

Standout tracks: Lower, Thought I'd Have Learned

2008 was a great year for the tunes, but I have a feeling that 2009 holds many surprises in store, and not just in music. So raise your glass and toast with me - to one more year down, and to all the ones to come.

Please post your comments or your own personal suggestions in the comments. :)

a love like yours will surely come my way

2008-10-11T12:49:00.004-04:00

haven't done this in a while. yes, this i know. not that i've been too busy. maybe i have. maybe i haven't. i just haven't blogged. that's all. no worries though, i'm here now. all is right with the world. and i have a few things to share.

i love movies. i mean, i work in the film industry, so it's pretty much a requirement. though, i'm in no way a film expert. i just love a good story. and folks - i found one. i make it a point to check out, on a regular basis, the trailers on the apple website. some of them are ones i've never heard of before, but it's nice to see what's out there. i did this a few months back, and i saw a trailer for a movie called 'rachel getting married.' at that point, i had not heard anything about the film. the only thing i knew is that anne hathaway was in it, and she was doing one of those "departure roles" - you know, where she plays anything other than a princess-like character. so after i watched the trailer, i was excited. i sent the link to people to watch it, and they seemed to agree that it looked like a good movie.

sidenote: living in the greater new york area has it's benefits - such as limited release movies. so this past thursday, the wonderful jackie and i went to see it. ladies and gentlemen - if you never ever listen to anything else that i say ever again, listen up. GO SEE THIS MOVIE. i become speechless - more like a rambling idiot - when i try to explain what it is about this movie that is driving me crazy. director jonathan demme, best known for films like silence of the lambs, married to the mob, and philadelphia, nails this one. it's being reviewed as his best film to date - and if you look at his track record, if people are saying that THIS movie is his best - shouldn't that at least peak your interest? if not, listen up.

the root of this movie is family. it's about conflict, struggle, addiction, death, siblings, divorce. it's about family. the film is shot in handheld, which may make you nauseous - make sure to get there so you're not smack in the front. even with this warning, i have to be honest, after the opening credits, i didn't even notice the shakiness. the benefit of this style is the fact that you honestly feel like you are there. you are with them in these intimate moments. you are part of their family. i think this is the root of these passionate reactions, b/c you not only are watching a brilliant story, but you are smack dab in the middle of it. there are some scenes where it is so painfully honest (i.e. kym's speech at the rehearsal dinner, the addiction meeting) where you feel uncomfortable to be in the room.

it's relatable. it's raw. it's passionate. it's even brutal. there is a scene between anne hathaway and her mother (played by the amazing debra winger), that absolutely breaks your heart. the acting is phenomenal. anne does a great job, and will probably be up for an oscar nomination, but this film is really about the ensemble cast. rosemarie dewitt's portrayal of rachel, i think, is the staple of the film. but with veterans like bill irwin, debra winger, and anna deavare smith - coupled with hathaway, dewitt, and even musician/frontman of TV on the Radio, tunde adebimpe - this film is brilliant.

you walk out of the theater with your jaw dropped, your heart opened, and a new appreciation of your family and loved ones. and at least in my case, a handful of tissues.

the film was released in limited theaters on october 3rd, but i suggest you keep an eye out for when it's near your town. if you see it based on this blog, and you don't like it - let me know. i'll refund your money. but if you see it, and it touches you - if it moves you like it did for me - please, come back and leave a comment about it. i'm looking for anyone to talk about it with. :)

i'll leave you with the trailer to check out. and even though the trailer is good, it doesn't do the film justice. give it a try.

"this is not your family,

but this is your family."

weeds.

2008-07-07T21:24:00.002-04:00

i never thought that i, of all people, would even remotely enjoy a tv show named after an illegal drug. however, i stand corrected. weeds is one of the best shows on tv! drugs, adultery, underage sexual activity, gunshots, and plain old PTA sheninanigans = quality tv. haha, it's good stuff man. i finished season one and i have to go buy season two.

thank you stan and ashley!

killer lemonade.

2008-06-28T19:39:00.001-04:00

wireless keyboards are amazing. even though i'm bout 5 feet from the computer and can't really see what i'm typing, i'm comfortably lounged in my bed watching seinfeld.

i have a big old crush on jason bateman, and i'm not afraid to say so. seriously, arrested development is one of the best shows ever created. if you haven't seen it, stop what you are doing right now - go to target, buy season one for 20 bucks, and enjoy. i haven't laughed out loud at a show like this before in a LONG time. that will be my preaching for the blog.

you know, there are some things that people wit short hair will never know. (see: men) this is the case of the "phantom hair" before you go thinking i've gone nuts, hear me out. ladies - how many times a day do you feel a tickle on your arm, but you just can't find the source of this annoyance? you search and search, but no avail. such is the "phantom hair." it makes you look crazy as you struggle to find out where the loose strand is. anyways, i wanted to share.

i want to go camping. at first i thought i wanted to go to bonnaroo, but then i thought that may be a little too dirty for my taste, so camping with my ipod will be just fine. i'd like to really spend some more quality time outdoors. not that i have an overwhelming amount of free time as it is, but i'd like to make an attempt to do so when possible.

i saw blondie on sunday evening. it was nothing short of amazing - both the performance and the people taking in said performance. it felt like i was at an all night dance party at a gay club. the median age, i would have guessed, may have been about 38, give or take a few years. but it was so fun. and for the love of pete and pete, debby harry is an icon. she is 62 years of age and still rocks the house. i can only hope i have the energy, spunk, and pizzazz that this woman does. highlight of the evening: debbie takes off her shoes, and throws them one by one throws them into the audience. i thought i was seeing a gay riot, i tell ya. they were climbing and clawing each other to get that shoe. what a diva. i love it.

don't know if you are aware of it or not, but i'm a regular at the pig and whistle in tribeca. chew on that. me and fitz are TIGHT.

connie britton is amazing. if you watch friday night lights, you know this already. if you don't, you should. (ok, that's really all te preaching for this blog. just watch it, and we'll discuss.)

i am reading: 'the next thing on my list' by jill smolinski
i am listening to: sharon jones & the dap kings
i am watching: weeds, season 1.
i am surfing: http://killerlemonadekid.blogspot.com/

i heard about forgiveness and i hope it ain't too late...

2008-05-27T22:05:00.010-04:00

i know i've blogged several times recently, and while they are all equally as important, this one is a keeper folks. sometimes you just hear a band that clicks with you. someone who you've never heard a note from in your entire life, and then bam. sometimes i'm pretty difficult in trying out new things, especially when i've been a groove lately with my tunes (see previous posts). but let me tell you...this one is definitely a keeper.

i have found a band that makes me fall in love with music all over again. and if you know me one bit - if you have ever exchanged wonderful conversations with me - you know the value of this statement. i don't just use it willy nilly, something's gotta grab this little heart of mine and scream "this is why you do it. this is why you don't give up on the dream." ladies and gentlemen, i present to you (and i hope, just HOPE that someone already knows them - i welcome the "old news, saw them play last year at so-and-so's house", blah blah comments)...

band of annuals.

at first listen, some of you may say ryan adams immediately. i agree. i hear hints of the rocky votolato, a dash of the decemberists and some deeper voiced elliot smith. in a nutshell, if you must have a genre attached, it's most definitely alt-country. but more than that it's beautiful. the lyrics really reach out of the song and grab your attention, all the while, not diverting your focus on the flowing melodies. it's just the combination of finger plucking and harmonica. previously know as just "the annuals," they're a 6-piece beauty hailing from salt lake city, utah. good things do come from out west, you know. it's not all bout the east or west coast, let's look towards to the meat of the country. it reminds me of road trips in the astrovan growing up. i guarantee you (put my money on it) that they will show up in a background of an emotional scene in a primetime television show in the near future. it's raw. it's beautiful. it's lovely. please, don't take my word for it. take a listen. (let me recommend to you "part III") you never know who will be the next artist or band to remind you why you love what you love...

and while i'm on the subject of loving things, let's talk for a second (again) about the new craze that is burgermeister. i finally made it to one of her shows and copped me my first piece of history in the sh-sh-sh-shaaaaark attack. i love it, and i wear it proudly. ohio will get a nice taste of it this weekend.

and i'm ending on this. while i'll admit watching a shot at love with tila tequila is addicting, and somewhat convenient to pass the time while exercising, i have to say that when she attempts to cry, i want to throw something at the television. that girl is the most annoying thing on the face of this planet. if it weren't for the fact that people with a few bricks short of a load thing they're in love with her and go nuts and do stupid stuff, i wouldn't watch. oh viacom, i want my mtv (back).

nuggets for your ears:

(these five have to be pieced together in this order for full experience)
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water I"

grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water II"
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water (drum solo)"
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water II (reprise)"
grace potter & the nocturnals - "nothing but the water I (reprise)"

turn it up and rock it out, folks.
good. night.

new trend

2008-05-25T21:25:00.002-04:00

i'm going to start a "sunday flashback to carrie's musical past youtube video" thing. what a fine day to start. enjoy.

http://www.thingsididlastnight.com/

2008-05-21T22:34:00.010-04:00

I will never love you more than the drummer of Flaming Lips.

I will never love you more than Woody Allen movies.
I will never love you more than the White Album of the Beatles.
I will never love you more than DVD nights with my girlfriends.
I will never love you more than my boyfriend when I was 14.
I will never love you more than meeting Paul McCartney.
I will never love you more than Scandinavian Tour.
I will never love you more than dancing to Phil Spektor.
I will never love you more than my Casiotone keyboard.
I will never love you more than Daniel Johnston himself.
I will never love you more than singing in the shower.
I will never love you more than my Mac computer.
I will never love you more than having a daughter.
I will never love you more than peanut butter.
- taken from SoKo's "I Will Never Love You More"

i came across this website tonight. you know how you find something and you sort of kick yourself and say WHY didn't i know this was out there before? but really, when you think about it, that's exactly WHY you found it in the first place - because you didn't know it was there. confusing yet? i'll let it explain itself. i don't like to come out and say it, i like to hide links. it's for the ones who actually care to read and click through, and want to hear about the random swirlings inside this head of mine. (however, i suggest peeping death cab, the kooks, and britt daniel) peruse at your own risk.

while i'm speaking of fun things, i think this picture made my day today:

it's the band mates of state, and it just makes me laugh.

have you ever been on the verge of something big? like "you can't sleep at night" big. it may or may not happen, but something feels right about now. about everything sort of falling into place at this very moment. we're jumping in. the only failure is not to try, folks, and i intend to prove that. or get it tattooed on my forearm. whichever comes first. (um, former, please) props to lindsay on this one...

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
- Thoreau

exciting few days in the future here. the big "mudville 9" trip on friday. well deserved and well earned. that's all i'll say. then possibly a trip to the infamous isle on saturday to soak in some of the DL creative vibes. with a sixty percent chance of cruising along the montauk highway until i run out of room to do so. monday, we have a show lined up - finally taking advantage of the resident stay of pete and j at the living room - special guest bess rogers. should be pretty cool.

lately, you make me weaker in the knees. oh, did i say that out loud?

i will leave you now with this musical treat. just so happens to be at my second home, the lovely canal room. i'm telling you, it's the hotspot. enjoy and keep outta trouble, you.

listening to:

looking at:

there are no lies in this world we call sleep

2008-05-07T20:47:00.007-04:00

i'm working on a big ol' recap post - talking about the best damn week ever, the 2008 Tribeca/ASCAP Music Lounge, folks. stay tuned.

in the meantime, let's talk the basics.

downer of the week NAY month? pollen. go away pollen. you are clogging up my insides and making me itchy and sniffly and ugh. i'm tired because you are wearing me out. i'm also not appreciative of the fact that i washed my car, and you continue to blanket yourself over that. (note: this also includes the massive amt of bird crap that i'm gathering during the week, too) but seriously, my poor eyes can't take any more itching, so please go away. however, nice weather - please stay. if i have to sacrifice the sun for the sanity - so be it. boo to you pollen.

let's talk about some other things on my mind. ants. damn ants in the house. not in my pants, but in the house. i'm spraying outside, inside, all around. putting out the little pieces of cardboard with the sweet sweet poison. spraying them with bleach and watching them drowned, etc. but those effers are not going down without a fight. i think i'm going to call an exterminator this weekend. we get them every year once the weather gets better, but like no matter what i do, they're still here. it's disheartening.

whoever designs cd packaging methods, i'm giving mad props to the person who utilizes the red strip on the outside plastic encasing the CD. in fact, i tend to have a more positive feeling about those discs possessing this lovely treat, thus leading to a more enjoyable experience. HENCE, musicians - if you want me to love you stuff, or at least be happier when listening to it, use the strip. case in point - the new death cab album. although i do not need any more selling points to love such a dcfc album, the "easy-open" strip is quite helpful. i'm able to quickly open my product and have much less trash to throw in the side pocket of my car door. yes, i'm one of those "as soon as i get to my car open the cd" people. which leads me to....the opening track on death cab's new album. what a treat. i'm still delving, but so far so good pple. mr. gibbard et al, you do not disappoint.

i also picked up duffy's album. it's chill. i like it.

so listen. if you want to watch a touching, slightly depressing, but i-can-oh-so-relate movie, i recommend to you, one true thing. it's about 10 years old, but wow. i'm surprised i haven't discovered it already. it's one of those i always heard pple talk about, or i saw the name places, but never checked out. those are the hidden gems, folks. yeah. it's tough to watch, but the characters are really great, and if nothing else, lauren graham has a cameo, and that's a-ok in my book. (see: future plans for a talk show with my twin, and lauren being our first guest)

i'm going to see a show next week at the canal room, which by the way, just happens to be the coolest venue in the city, if you ask me. not just for atmosphere, but uh duh - the staff is amazing. i had so much fun working with everyone (ps: don't worry, i'm still piecing together the big wonderful music recap post. hold tight. it will be worth the wait, trust me - because the one and only burgermeister hooked me up with some sweet tagged photos. props)

alright. laundry is finished, i need to shower and get to bed. it's already wednesday morning which means two things - i suck for not getting to bed sooner, and will pay for that in the morning. and two - that means one more day til lindsay frail's birthday. which, of course, is a national holiday. we should all celebrate the day that we were blessed with her presence. :)

shoes by jensen - haha

2008-04-07T22:43:00.004-04:00

bob dylan won a pulitzer.
project runway moved.
hova is hitched!

and my mom is proud.

and aggie is doing great.

what a day.

i kept it secret this long!

2008-04-02T21:46:00.004-04:00

oh. i'm proud. i've kept my mouth shut this long. we have our official opening and closing films - that were announced last week and today. baby mama (tina fey's new comedy) is opening the festival, and SPEEEEEEEED RACER is closing the festival. i love it.

and stay tuned, b/c the press release goes out tomorrow for the ASCAP music lounge and the Breaking the Band concert...and folks, you can't imagine how pumped i am to have my hand in this one!

thanks for all the comments, calls, emails, texts about aggie. i really appreciate. she's doing ok right now, thank you.

count your blessings.

2008-03-29T23:45:00.003-04:00

this is an intense part of my life right now. i have so much going on, good and bad - to the point where i don't know how it's all happening. this is a test. and i'm going to need you. thank you for being there.

keep aggie in your prayers. she's the toughest cookie i know, but she'll need 'em this week. i cannot focus on anything but getting her through this.

you know where to find me.
<3

digging up the past.

2008-03-22T21:55:00.003-04:00

i found this in an old myspace blog of mine...think it sums me up pretty wonderfully. it's from november of 2006, but pretty much the same.

i laugh when people trip on the streets - but not until after i pass them. im not horrible, c'mon now. rice krispies for brekky, thanks. i take two spoons worth of sugar in my tea. tea, not coffee. closest i get to coffee is iced coffee - with a crapload of creamer and sugar. so it's basically tea. (this has since changed, haha, thank you tribeca) i help old ladies in the supermarket, who are too short to reach the butter, and trying to climb the refrigerated case like it's mt everest. (true story) i listen to music really loud in my car, and sing along as loud as i can. and even as i drive by pple on the highway, i dont stop. i rock billy ocean ringtones. i live for thursday nights (ugly betty, the office, grey's anatomy, the OC, six degrees, and ER). making mix cds for pple makes me happy, especially if they hear something new that they like. i felt sad when i heard the fruitcake lady from jay leno passed away - she was hilarious. i still care, no matter how much i try to pretend i dont. i collect band/record label stickers. but i dont stick them anywhere. i just like to have them. i drive fast, but cautious. i'm a new hockey fan, like for real - intense, screaming hockey fan. i have horrible timing. i'm a cupcake master, and i can write whatever you want on a cake. sappy movies leave me hopeful there's a prince charming out there - (mostly in part, thanks to disney movies, right fallsy?). i live miles and miles (and in most cases, hours) away from my best friends, and yet i never feel like i'm alone. probably one of the best things to feel. i remember seeing simple plan and liking them. sell outs. haha. music junkie. i have several marriages on going at this time, all of which do not know about each other. i'm good like that. i like seeing my cousins grow up. i shake my leg. you know what i mean, not as a nervous habit, just happens. 1st place in decimals in the 5th grade math tournament. got the red ribbon to prove it. i'm a coupon snipper now. i know, i know. i have a bladder of steel. bet you're glad i threw that one in there, aren't ya. i write messages on my hands in sharpie for kicks (specifically for camera ops). i get my humor from my dad. he's a good guy, pops. i like the homemade, chunky applesauce - especially that found at the amish door in amish country in ohio. i start books, and don't finish them - i'm working on that. i take a tremendous pride in my cd collection, if only for the fact that it's literally a timeline of my life. i can associate many different situations with different albums. one time for halloween, i dressed up as an army woman, because i had my dad's camo and it was snowing really hard. my friends and i went out and then they ditched me. it was a long, cold, sad walk home. but i'm over it, obviously. BITCHES! haha, just playin. funnel cakes, altho horrible for you, are tasty treats. i rip the bag of cereal down the side, no matter how careful i am. drives me nuts. did i mention i love hockey? 12 days until my favorite band puts out their third full-length album, and it's highly anticipated....by me, and half the world. oh, and 12 days til i leave for wisconsin. double whammy. we had a cat named tom once. he died while we were on vacation. never got another cat. dogs rule. no offense, cat lovers - it's just the truth. i fall asleep with the tv on - sleep timers are great. i used to be a hardcore sonny and brenda fan, back in the day. holler if you hear me, folks. i love the mac commercials. the leaves are falling and the sky is clear, and rooftops are the best place to see both of these. kevin devine's song "billion bees" is beautiful. just thought i'd throw that in there. i bought christmas cards, and i'm gonna start early this year - so if you dont think i have your address and you want one, msg me with it. that is, if you read this all and still want one. music mends broken hearts. i type faster than you read. if you read really slow. no, but i do type fast. wanna race? stone fox - my favorite book as a child. i wanna visit alaska and pet sled dogs. scratch that, i wanna run the iditarod. sometimes when i'm browsing, i feel like pple think i'm stealing. paranoia. LOST isn't on til february? that's whacker than whack, whitney. the part in pretty woman where he closes the jewelry box on her hand - that's a classic, folks. so are the hooker boots. and the fire escape climb. that movie is a must. someday i'll follow a trail of rose petals and candles to a handsome man. or i'll dream of it. my sister and i rode an elephant once when we were little. then she passed out of heat stroke. not on the elephant, but on the peddle boats in the hot texas summer. jerk. autumn in new york is a movie, but more importantly a song. and a beautiful one at that. aggie should sing it for you someday, if you're lucky. let's have a pun-off. i'll win. remember that time i was teabagged by the foxy guitarist of story of the year on stage? that was fun. thinking about lindsay frail face planting into my door in the dark makes me laugh everytime. "all you need to know is there's a bunch of jews with a sidekick behind us." i want to slip on an actual banana peel someday. mark it up on my life list.

just in case you wanted a closer look into that head of mine. and it also gives me a blog to put a few more music links in. expect a nice review of this lady in the near future.

here's to music. and here's to winning giant easter baskets from a chocolate shop down the street. and most of all, here's to lindsay being the proud godmother of her unborn niece or nephew. you can't beat that.

hoppy easter everybunny.

i've finally realized why you changed.

2008-03-18T23:54:00.005-04:00

there's a new sheriff in town...

stay tuned.

but in the meantime, take advantage of this little musical tidbit i will share here with you right now.

grace potter and the nocturnals.
this is hot stuff.
don't miss out. (ps: click on 'out' to hear a WICKED 4 person drum solo.)

get yoself some love in this world

2008-03-16T21:46:00.006-04:00

it could be the fact that i've had two intense days of family rock band jam sessions and, being the drummer, my "kick pedal" foot is on overdrive (hence the amount of toe tapping and head bopping)...or it could be that she's just that groovy.

let me preface with the fact that i love emusic. (props to one chris march, who even though he used me for 50 free downloads, did introduce me to the wonders of the site) it's a chance to discover new people, quite possibly before the rest of the blogosphere. i ran into one of those people today. rachael brady is a musical equivalent of a breath of fresh air. you could compare her to a female jack johnson, just minus the sand. not as much beachy as there is bluesy. more folky than poppy. but smooth and groovy riffs on the acoustic. and folks, in my book, that's all ya need. inspiring, smart lyrics blended with her voice - which has moments of joan baez, a little carly simon, and even i think a little nelly furtado (old school, not her hip hop stuff as of late) i know, i know. i just used joan, carly and NELLY in the same sentence. forgive me, but give her a listen, just the same. if you need more convincing - she's australian. so she has an accent when she talks - and that's always fun.

and by all means, take advantage of this wonderful site, and check out rachael on emusic.

we've forgotten what we're here for, or maybe we never knew...

2008-03-12T23:03:00.004-04:00

i pretty much experienced one of the best moments of my life today. and it's not a guarantee, but you know what - that moment was worth it, either way. it's such a blessing to have the opportunity to do what you want slash LOVE for a living. i just want to reiterate that over and over. it's premature for any announcement, but trust me when i say, it's a jaw dropper, at least for me. we'll see how it plays out. but i, for one, have the glimmer in these eyes. watch out world.

so, guess what? i'm a year older. eat that. birthday was good. nothing too special, just a small gathering at the pig & whistle - tribeca's finest establishment if you're asking me. we're having a rain check sort of though, as some people were not able to make it. i'm down. also, i think monday nights are not necessarily big "hey lets go have drinks" nights. at least, that's what jackie tells me. anywho, i had fun. and i had amazingly yummy peanut butter cupcakes (no chocolate!) that bonnie and the gang surprised me with. always a good time. thank you for the well wishes, everyone. and mom - thank you for the adult footied pajamas.
yeah, i said it. and thank you to aggie, who was so very sneaky and sang to me with cupcakes on tuesday night, as i was out late monday night. she's swell.

i watched leonard cohen's: i'm your man the other night. it was very interesting. i like hearing back story, and the man is a brilliant artist. the performances were stellar - low key, but moving. the wainwrights can belt. and i just finished rendition. it was good, but it's disturbing in the fact that i'm sure this goes on all the time. it's scary sometimes how this world works. all in all, the film was good - and i love when meryl streep is an evil bitch. haha

other than that, i'm just getting by. i've been told i make a killer mix (no shock, i've been saying it all along, haha) lake placid was fun, though skiing didn't happen. but i will tell you what did happen - and that's riding on a dogsled. and sliding down a huge ice covered hill on my rear. and stepping foot in the arena where the greatest sports memory in history took place. very cool.

i've got a nasty sudoku with my name on it. and some tivo to catch up on.

you're being stupid. that's all. i'm out.

ps: best "almost ny post headline" - spitzer swallow. hahaha, read it slowwww

a precaution...

2008-03-05T22:36:00.003-05:00

just in case i perish in the depths of a crevasse in the side of a mountain this weekend, or should i pull a sonny bono, i just wanted to say that i love you all (almost all of you), and that in my honor, caleb should make "that's what she said" jokes and my twin can have my friday night lights dvds and various memorabilia.

and send all my music to my sister - she needs a good education.

lake placid - and all of your alligators - here i come. get the lifts ready, i'm heading to the 3,000 ft mark.

here's to finding a cute canadian hockey player!

EDIT: i am on a full-out crusade to make you realize how great these two bands are:

operation: stabilo - commence.
operation: the perishers - commence.

life is a single skip for joy.

2008-02-24T13:00:00.017-05:00

what are YOU doing?

i am indeed channeling the budweiser commerical on that one. but seriously. what's up? it's been a little while since my last blog, and things of little importance have been keeping me busy. i have some music to talk about, some movies, smelly people on the subway, new phones, and snowfall. so sit back, relax, pop in a toaster strudel and enjoy.

first up on the agenda, movies. i caught up on some this weekend. i get the blockbuster total access thing, and since i get home late during the week, i never get to watch the movies i get. aggie watches 'em and sends 'em back. and the last couple weekends have been busyyyy, so this weekend, i caught up. la vie en rose. film about french songstress edith piaf. i had randomly seen this in blockbuster one day a while back, and thought it looked interesting. then marion cotillard was nominated for best actress for the oscars, so i took advantage of it. and wow. usually, i'm not a big subtitle person. i like to watch what's happening AS it's happening, and the subtitles distract me a bit. however, being that i did take four years of french, i was surprised to understand a bit. random things, of course. with that being said, the subtitles hardly distracted me from this emotional film. you just feel for this lady who went through more in her short life than some of us ever will. it's amazing, really to see how she persevered. great film. i highly recommend it. and while marion's performance is truly exceptional, i feel that she will not take home the oscar, with stiff competition among her in the category. dedication. cue the artsy, indie film with an underlying love story. (it should be known that if you click on the link above here, when justin theroux introduces the trailer, that is on the roof of the tribeca film center AND i'm sitting right to the right of him as he's doing this. i think that is grounds enough to like the film, haha) but i do give billy crudup massive props, b/c the first half of the movie, i HATED his character. and that means that he did his job. bordering on schizophrenia or tourette's at times, with a generous helping of OCD - just my guess - he was sharp-tounged and downright rude. then comes mandy moore, who despite critic's opinions, i happen to enjoy as an actress. there are some moments when i'm like, "ok, maybe she should stick to singing" - but overall, she is convincing to me, especially in this role. i can't say that i whole-heartedly loved this film, but i appreciated it for what it was. somewhat entertaining with a killer soundtrack. see: deerhoof. margot at the wedding. cue another indie-type film, sprinkled with dysfunctional families and people, toss in some jack black, and again - a crafty soundtrack. i read the synopsis for this and it sold me. it pretty much described it as a messed up film about siblings - to which i'm like, well heck, that will be interesting! nicole kidman in a role that most people wouldn't guess her to be in. i prefer those roles. the ones where people are like "WOW" - those are the good ones. jennifer jason leigh, too. i liked the chemistry between the characters. although some parts you're like, wtf - it has heart. very reminiscent of the squid and the whale, which is another film that makes you happy if your life isn't that effed up. ironically by the same director. here's to not taking your complicated familes for granted. cheers! ;) i could never be your woman. ok, so i saw a preview for this one at the beginning of one of these other films. and it looked cute. and it was. there was a dull part, but any dullness was more than made up for by paul rudd's adorableness. i don't know if that is a word, nor do i care. you, female readers, watch this film, and tell me he does NOT emit adorableness. he's fun. i hope if i'm in my 40+ years that i can find a cutey patooty like him. it's fun. nothing to write home about, but it's a romantic comedy (which can technically describe approximately 84 percent of all films). there were laugh out loud parts. but i wasn't sure if that's because aggie was on her mark with her witty comments tonight, or if it was really michelle pfeiffer swooning over mr. rudd. very cute. (especially michelle's character's daughter, who has a knack for changing the words to pop songs - very clever) also, several blink 182 moments. always a classic.

ok ok. enough movie talk. oh wait. i almost forgot. last week i had a cool little experience. i was working for the premiere of be kind, rewind event at the cinemas, and i got to see a few people worth sharing. elijah wood - who is massively shorter than you could ever imagine in person. oh hobbitman. rachel dratch - who attends every tribeca event ever, but she is still so cute. very nice. blondie. um, i said BLONDIE. mia farrow. gideon yago. and my personal highlight of the evening - regina spektor. especially because i smiled and said hi when she went by, not really noticing at first who she was - and then it hit me and i almost let out this scream in her face. she was very sweet, and she, too, is little!

ok, for real. let's move on to music. this one won't be too lengthy, i promise. just a few new cats and doggs (TWO g's folks) that i've tapped into lately. let's start off with air traffic. not sure how i came across them. i think in an old issue of a music magazine. or maybe one of the many wonderful discoveries of the hype machine. either or, it's poppy, catchy rock. described as a bit of coldplay, a dash of muse, a bit of u2 and called the "UK's version of the fray." you can't go too wrong with that. the melodic tragedy in "empty space" which was written for lead singer chris wall's friend who was killed in a car accident in canada is breathtaking. in the end it doesn't matter what other people have to say, listen to and enjoy what makes you feel good. hence, air traffic. try it on for size. she and him. the power duo of m. ward and zooey deschanel - who shows off her pipes since ELF - is simply beautiful. it's folky, it's raspy, and it's great. and if nothing else, their cover of "bring it on home to me" is worth a listen. it's such an innocent sound. very relaxing.

let me just take a moment to say WOO freaking HOO for the win for glen hansard and marketa irglova for best original song for "falling slowly" from the movie once. what a beautiful film, what a beautiful soundtrack, and what a beautiful story. i'm so glad to have seen this live last year at the festival. and also, well wishes to diablo cody for juno's screenplay, only one question. couldn't you have left your stripper dress at home? ;)

i'm off to read my spanish for dummies and drink some warm apple cider. it's how i roll.

good night. and don't give up on those dreams. even strippers can win oscars. :)

something about the midwest honey, always makes miss you more than life...

2008-02-04T22:10:00.001-05:00

i came with full intentions of talking about something upbeat. you know, to counteract the deep, serious blogs i've been strewing about. and then, i read some bad news. not quite bad news on a global level, but on a personal level. the kind of news a music fan does not want to hear. a breakup. or more like a hiatus, which we all know still means breakup.

oh, the format. i remember it vividly. i was a newbie at WZIP, let loose in the cabinet full of cds. most of which were local bands with attempts to make it big. some household names here and there, most of which were of the urban genre. and there it was. a bright red cover. with a spikey haired dude, and the big E-P letters.

five songs. nothing that absolutely blew my face off, but the first track (ironically called "the first single") is catchy as hell. if you can listen to this song and NOT clap your hands, i will give you one US dollar.

so another afternoon came, and i continued digging through the mounds of cds - and what do you know, i came across their first full length cd, interventions & lullabies. there it began. afternoons full of catchy, pop-infested tunes. but something was different. while the actual sound of the music may have been a familiar taste, for me, it was the voice. nate ruess. he's a unique fella. at first glance, he looks like your typical skinny indie singer. hair in the eyes, hipbones sticking out. and then he opens his mouth. he opens his mouth and out comes a folky, and at times country-twanged voice, that flows over the song as if there was no effort at all.

after what was quite the rollercoaster ride in 2005, topped by Atlantic's choice to drop them from the label, it looked like there may not be another album. that is, until nate and sam took it upon themselves to make an album THEY wanted to make, without the strings attached. and what resulted was one of my top albums of 2006.

dog problems. without a doubt, the best packaging of a cd that i own. it was july of 2006, and i was working at no milk records in red bank, new jersey. the first spin was thanks to kyle, who was in love with it. i went out and bought it after i was done working and the love hasn't stopped since then. it is a beautifully constructed piece of art. visually and musically. it has horns, and lots of 'em. jazz flavor, pop flavor, you name it. and the lyrics tie it all together.

throw in a live cd/dvd, another EP, and the infamous b-sides/rarities album. there you have it. the trail that was left behind by one of the best duos in music.

sometimes i get in a mood, and i don't know what i want to listen to. the format is just always something i can play, no matter how i'm feeling - it works. so it is with this that i say thank you. nate and sam - thank YOU for making music that matters and not selling your soul to do it.

http://www.theformat.com/
http://www.myspace.com/theformat

stay tuned. i'll share what female singer/songwriters are spinning in this ol' head of mine. and come on, when have i let you down before?

makeover!

2008-02-02T12:12:00.001-05:00

yo. danielle is helping me make a HAWT blog.

stay tuned...

and enjoy this:

I know we're lost, but soon we'll be found...

2008-01-28T21:25:00.000-05:00

i feel like i have a lot to talk about. i do, kind of, but maybe not blog worthy. this has been an eventful week. sad, happy, a little of everything. when it comes down to it, those are the best kinds of weeks. not that the events occurring during that week are necessarily ones that you'd want to experience again, but those days - they do something to you. the good ones make ya feel good. the bad ones make ya feel bad. but you feel something. and that's more than you could say for some people. it reminds you that we are people, for better or worse. it reminds you that things happen. things that may remind you to take a look at your own life. and for some people, myself included, these glimpses are helpful. and very important.

we all got a gut check, this past week, with the passing of heath ledger. i have to say, during the SAG awards, when they do the "in memorium" part - it really is creepy to see him amongst the other great actors, most of which were well into the prime of their life, if not way past. the all lived their lives, shared their time with families, and had successful careers. heath was robbed of that. and yes, i say robbed. i don't mean that in a negative way. when it's your time, it's your time. i'm a believer of that. it may be hard to understand, especially when someone so young passes. trust me, this i know. but you know what? you can't stop it. you can't stop that train. you just need to enjoy the ride. and it sounds cliche, but sit down and think about it. just imagine it all like a train. it isn't about the destination, because you'll get there (whereever it may be) eventually. you're going somewhere, it's inevitable. it's how you get there, and what you do on the way there. that's what is important. with everything that has been said over the last week, both good and the bad, let's just remember that no matter what the circumstances, this guy was someone's son. someone's brother. someone's dad. he was someone to many people. and we all lost a great flame in this fire of life. my thoughts and prayers are with his family, and with that beautiful little girl who will hopefully come to know her father in the most positive light.

there are moments in life where you know your life will never be the same. this can be in a good way or in a bad. it can mean something positive or something not. sometimes when you're in the moment, you don't know it. you don't realize it was life-changing until afterwards. and that's ok. sometimes it takes time for things to simmer. but then there are the moments when you are in them - and you step outside of yourself for a moment, and just know...you just know that you won't be the same.

i'd say the beginning of this moment, which has spanned a couple of weeks for me, began with a phone call. one that wasn't positive in nature really. it brought a new group of people into our lives. people we had never met before, but were considered family of family - and family is family in my eyes. whether or not you've met them. it was a girls night in. aggie and i hosted jenna and her mother, tina for dinner. megan and jo-jo were here too. we had a big dinner, we had big laughs. and i knew. i knew that i wasn't going to the be the same. their reason for coming to new york was for a chance. a chance at life, when it comes down to it. jenna was diagnosed with cancer not too long before then. she had a tumor on the back of her left eye, and she flew in with her mom from colorado, to have surgery. she was at the house a few days before the first surgery. i just kept looking at this girl, who is only 21 years old, a blushing bride to be and full of witty jokes (like me!). you would never be able to tell anything was wrong. when i was 21, i surely wasn't worrying about planning a wedding. and i surely wasn't fighting cancer. but jenna was doing both of these things, and for one night in clifton, new jersey, that didn't matter. what did matter is her love of the fray. and telling me funny stories about her sister. and the incident which left megan hating me for the rest of the night, but which gathered the most laughs all night. and then as soon as she came, they left. i drove them back into the city. along with a celine dion cd, and a bag full of DVDs for her to watch while she was recovering. and that was it. the drive back from nyc to the house was a quiet one. i didn't listen to music. i just thought. i thought about what i would do in that situation - which is stupid, because i couldn't imagine. i couldn't imagine for a second. i thought about how this girl is younger than me, had no symptoms whatosever, and just happened to go get an eye exam before her insurance wrapped up for the end of the year, and she came out with a diagnosis for cancer.

i kept in touch with jenna with texts. sending her all the prayers and well wishes. i told my friends about my weekend. how i couldn't stop thinking about it, about how amazingly strong this girl is. it really affected me, and i couldn't understand why. aggie talked about it. she told her friends. they prayed. they sent their love. i started work on a tremendous mix cd project. i had 10 cds going at one point. then i narrowed down, thinking i didn't want her to think i was crazy. :) she let me know when the surgery was over. that she was sore and tired, but doing well. it was a sense of relief. you never know. any surgery is a scary thing. she will certainly lose vision in her left eye, but she kept it. that was her goal - to keep her eye. can you imagine?! it broke my heart, for good reason and bad, when i heard her say that. i am a very lucky person. we all are.

and then it happened. wednesday night. i get a text from jenna - saying the cancer is gone. i remember exactly where i was standing when i read it. just around the corner from work. and i yelled. i yelled out loud - a relieving YES! it was a moment that i cannot explain. this person, whom i hadn't even known 2 and some odd weeks before, had literally changed my life. she is a miracle, and i was a witness. i was a witness to something i had never had the opportunity to see before, first-hand. i feel so blessed. i'm so incredibly happy for her and her family. we all went out to dinner saturday night, and i couldn't stop smiling. and she couldn't stop smiling. we all had permanent smiles on our faces. she fought cancer and won.

if that isn't motivation for me to get my ass in gear, then i don't know what is.

it's time for me to grow up. it's time for me to not take things for granted. time to let the people who you love know you love them. it doesn't hurt to say it once in a while. cherish every moment. and appreciate the little things in life. appreciate that sunset when you're driving home. or that snowfall.

jenna. whether you know it or not, you are an inspiration and a miracle. i thank you for reminding me what is important and to never take that for granted. thank you for opening my eyes.

much love,
<3>

And I remember your eyes, how they saw right through me...

2008-01-17T21:17:00.000-05:00

i would love to live in a tv sitcom. if only for the music that cues up at the inspirational moment in the story. this is evident in almost every single episode of full house. and all these fun random moments that happen in the show - take this moment for example: an episode of the beloved full house, featuring the musical genius of the beach boys. in this episode, the beach boys came to the house (which was full, of course) to award stephanie a prize, which included two tickets to their concert that night in san fransisco. only stephanie had a really touch decision to make - who to bring to the concert? how could she choose such a thing? flash forward to an impromptu chorus of kokomo in the tanner family living room - not once, but TWICE. of course everyone sings along. cut to a football stadium, with the beach boys and the tanner family on stage singing in front of the entire crowd. oh barbara ann.

in fact. just enjoy for yourself:

who knew those boys were so witty? and how about those parachute pants?!

oh, and speaking of uncle jesse's nuts:"how to uncle jesse's nuts taste, honey?" haha

folks. listen to the perishers. on a good day, on a bad day. listen to the perishers. and kate nash. that's all i've got for you. i'm off to watch two episodes of friday night lights. because between the perishers, kate nash, and coach taylor - i'm SET.

and cutie mccuterson doesn't hurt either. ;)

but. i will leave you with this....

When you look at them, and you see that they're beautiful - that's how I feel about you...

2008-01-11T22:09:00.000-05:00

inspire.
1 a: to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration
b: to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on

what inspires you? what things - be they daily, weekly, or on random occasions - influence who you are as a person? i'm a strong believer that someone can be inspired by anyone. by their actions, by their words, or by their spirits. some inspirations are intentional. some are not. some are positive. some are not. it's not black and white. but is anything, really? i think it's easy to assume so, but when you really think about it, not many things are so cut and dry.

i think of things while i'm walking to work in the morning. or when i'm walking home from the bus stop. or on the train. you know, just like everyone else. but sometimes, depending on what track appears next on my iPod's shuffle, i get waves of nostalgia. waves of inspiration. i started carrying around a notebook to just jot these things down when i think of them. and hence, the blog will be based on some of these things.

do you ever pick up the smell of something (good or bad) and it sends you to a specific moment in your life? something that you may have otherwise forgotten all about. something you haven't thought about in years - and never imagined that you'd be thinking of again. there is construction all over new york city. that's just how it is. it's not uncommon to walk past three or four construction sites on my morning walk. but today, i caught a whiff of sawdust. sure, it sounds pretty simple, right? it's just the by-product of a building material. nothing special. but i have to say, i literally stopped in my tracks. only for a moment, let's not get carried away, but everything in my mind went immediately to my dad. my dad has little workshop in the basement. he is a handyman - a super dad. he can fix anything, and in most cases does. he has always built trinkets and such, you know - things that make the everyday life a little easier. but it always smelled of sawdust. at the time, when i was living at home, it may have been annoying. every time you would do laundry, you'd have the odor of hard work. you know how it is. when you leave home, you miss the littlest of things. and i miss sawdust. i miss my dad's hands, rough and cracked, but full of character. i took woodshop in high school, for the sawdust. not literally, but to experience that. to understand what it feels like to complete a project with your bare hands. to shape something, whether it be a clock shaped like a bowling pin and a bowling ball, or whether it be a plaque with half of a pittsburgh steelers football helmet and a display for a jerome bettis rookie card (both of which i did make, haha). but to see that it's something YOU made. i got a glimpse in my dad's hobby by taking a class. and all of that came from a whiff of sawdust. i am inspired by sawdust.

music. we all know this one. unless you've been living under a rock and have never spoken to me a day in my life, then you should know this one was coming. i'll be the first to admit, i haven't an ounce of musical talent. (unless you include guitar hero, which is a whole different story). i like to say, "i couldn't carry a tune if it had a handle." that's kind of it. i realize this at an early age, and take full advantage of my ability to appreciate others for THEIR musical talents. my earliest memories of music consist of books on tape. and lots of hair bands. and wizard of oz soundtracks. and roadtrips consisting of: chicago, bruce springsteen, whitney houston, and alabama. i think that music is very personal. people relate songs or artists to themselves or to times in their lives. and in that action, the song is theirs. from that point on, when they hear said artist/song, they will forever remember a moment. or a relationship. a person. or an emotion. i'm no stranger to this phenomenon. in fact, i'm very familiar with such. i think it's one of my biggest arguing points for my vast musical tastes. not that i need to defend anything. but when you flip through one of my 6 or 7 cd binders, you may notice that you'll be flipping through a classy selection of celine dion cds and then see a few DMX albums. followed by some fleetwood mac or chris brown. throw in some disturbed and a kermit the frog unplugged cd, and you've got me. it is not applicable in every case, but i feel like you can tell a lot about a person through their musical tastes. not specifically genres, but the way that they embrace whatever their tastes may be. so back to inspiration. and artists that inspire you. or songs that inspire you. songs may be political, and inspire you to learn more about a candidate or issue. songs may be emotional, and inspire you to confess your feelings or to conceal them forever. songs can be down right funky, and inspire you to learn new dance crazes. (insert soulja boy reference) you could be on your darkest of days, down in the dumpiest of dumps, when you hear a song. maybe it's by someone you've never heard of before. and in that span of 3 or 4 minutes, you can feel like music can literally save a life. i believe it. why not? what's the harm in believing? so i say to you, no matter what your tastes, when you find something that inspires you - in your career, in your relationships, or inside your own self - go with it. embrace it. let it fill you with the happiness or joy that you are looking for. and don't stop looking. keep searching, tasting new music. there are so many artists making music that will blow your mind, hiding out in the music blogs in cyberspace. find what inspires you, and don't let go.

and now onto the people. the main reason, what got me thinking about all this inspiration stuff, is the inspiration that you can receive from those around you. family and friends. people who make you aim to be a better person. people who influence your decisions. people who support you and push you to achieve your dreams or goals. why not surround yourself with people who are rooting for you? i mean, you have the choice. you DO have that choice. it's human nature to group together. it's inevitable. why not make the best of it? it is in this department that i am very lucky. my parents, no matter what my crazy ideas were, never discouraged me. when i said i wanted to move to new jersey so that i could do an internship with a morning show on the most popular adult contemporary radio station in new york city, did they talk me out of it? (ok, well my mom tried, but that's because she would miss me. it was temporary, now she enjoys it. just kidding!) when i wanted to play tennis and work 40 hours a week during high school, they didn't stop me. they made sure that i understood my priorities, and that if things were too difficult, i would have to cut back. but it is through this that i have learned to manage different aspects of my life. i often hear of people who, when sharing their dreams, would have them shattered. someone would shoot them down. whether it be verbally or just in their actions. i feel for them. i really do. because if you have supportive people around you, consider yourself lucky. and pay it forward. if you have someone in your life that inspires you, tell them. or make it a point to act in a way that would inspire someone else. sometimes people don't even realize when they impact another person's life. tell them. life is too short. and plus, you never know - sometimes you can make their day by telling them.

granted. if they inspire you to jump out of a window, i might hold that back. ;)

the goal of this blog is to encourage you to take a moment. think about things that are important to you in your life. think of who is important in your life. embrace it. we never know when our time will be up, all we can do is make the best of each day we have. one day at a time. one hour at a time. one minute. live for today, not tomorrow. appreciate the little things in life. like sawdust.

and while you're at it, download and enjoy some kate nash. the most interesting music i've heard as of late. poppy, upbeat, and vulgar. all done with a british accent, so that makes it ok.

kate nash - "birds"
(the sweetest song about two people that i've ever heard.)

<3>

2008-01-01T11:47:00.001-05:00

update:

if you want a cd with the "standout tracks" or my "singles/tracks of the year" leave a comment with your address, please. :)

Another year has gone by...

2007-12-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

I'd like to think that 2007 was a year of change. Granted, that could be easily said about many years. And it's probably true. In this case, however, I learned from (and still am learning from) said changes. I began the year in bed, sick. Boring, I know, but alas - true. I was jobless. I was down in the whole "not feeling confident about my future" department, and sick. I figured the year could only get better from there, right? Yes. And no. Highs and lows. Career highs, career lows. Family tragedies and family triumphs. Personal accomplishments and the ever popular heartbreak. That is what life is all about though. The ebbs and flows. You can't have the highest of highs without having the lowest of lows to compare them to.

There are two things that get me through the rollercoaster called life. The first is people. Ah, people. Some are great, some are not. But alas, people get me through. My family and friends are the oil to my engine. Yes, I just made a mechanical reference in this here blog. It's true though. You can make it by with no oil, but not for long. Soon your engine will blow up, or something awful like that, and you'll be SOL. So I hear. (Also, I'll take this moment to remind you to get your oil changed every 3 months. Unlike me, who accidentally waited almost 5, but I FIXED IT TODAY, OK?! haha) Anyways. You get my point though, right? I'm very lucky. I have some phenomenal people in my life. I mean that with every ounce of sincerity, too. I have a had a record number of late-night phone conversations this year. I have listened to my friends' high moments and I've shared in my family's tears. People are what get you through this thing called life. It's not money. It's not fame. It's people. You should know who you are, and if you don't, then that's my fault for not telling you so. For all of this, I thank you.

The second thing accompanying me on this rollercoaster ride is, well - you guessed it - music. Did you see that one coming? If you know me AT ALL, the answer is yes. Yes, Carrie. We guessed it. I have gotten to the point where I can't find the words anymore. I hope that my sheer obsession - whether it be concerts or my fantastic devotion to the art of the mix cd - says it all. So it is with this love and care that I present to you - lovely blog readers....

Carrie's "Best Albums of 2007"

Music. What a year for music! The albums/tracks/artists mentioned below do not in any way reflect popular choice, but instead, my own. If you see something new, by all means, take a listen. Let me know what you think. And if you see something familiar, then - well - I knew we were friends for a reason. :)

Honorable Mentions: Joe Purdy - Canyon Joe; Sara Barielles - Little Voice; Colbie Caillat - Coco; Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This; Kittie - Funeral for Yesterday (I only say them, b/c I was accredited in the DVD that came along with the CD, haha)

20. Jon McLaughlin - Indiana

YES, he opened for Kelly Clarkson. YES, he's a piano rocker. And YES this album is a good one. I actually didn't know anything except one song when I saw him open for Kelly. He has a great sound to his voice - and hot damn, the boy can tickle the ivories. A great pop record release this year.

Standout track: "Human"

19. Feist - The Reminder

I know, I know. The whole world agrees with me on this one. And you have to ask yourself, if ALL OF THESE PEOPLE talk about this lady, something has to be right. And it is. She's responsible for one of the catchiest tracks this year. The album is great to throw right smack in the middle of a long car ride.

Standout track: "The Park"

18. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin

I think BOH is one of the most underrated bands out there. I felt like last year's release of Everything All the Time was a blessing for my ears, and the fellas did not disappoint me with this sophomore attempt. They have a sound that is all their own, and the vocals are unique and very polished.

Standout track: "Is There a Ghost?"

17. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

It is a shame that with all of her personal situations going on this year, the things people may remember Ms. Winehouse in 2007 may not be related to her music at all. It's sad because this record has brought some soul back to the airwaves. Anyone who says they don't singalong to "Rehab" is a dirty liar.

Standout track: "You Know I'm No Good"

16. Paramore - Riot!

How funny is it sometimes that certain bands just blow up? It seems like just yesterday I was at the little Agora Ballroom, screaming at the top of my lungs to "My Heart" with 100 or so kids. Haley has an amazing voice, and this record deserves to be on this list if not for that sole reason.

Standout track: "When It Rains"

15. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

I just recently, within the last year or so, got into Wilco. I was excite for this new release, b/c I wanted to see what they would do next. I know critics weren't too fond of Jeff Tweedy's newest work, but I don't care - I was. Definitely good chill music, with lyrics that mean something.

Standout track: "Impossible Germany"

14. Kanye West - Graduation

What more can you say? The man is a true talent. If he continues this streak, he'll have an album in every year's top lists. Well done Kanye - keep making those phat beatz. (Oh I did say it...)

Standout track: "The Good Life"

13. Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home

Raspy like Cash. Folky like Dylan. Dustin is the man, and that's all I have to say. It's lower on the list because of other great albums, but this is definitely a favorite of mine for sure.

Standout track: "Blanket of Ghosts"

12. The White Stripes - Icky Thump

I was never a White Stripes fan. Not until the Raconteurs came along, that is. And what a better way to slide me into their funky ways. Probably one of my favorite "driving" records this year. Jack and Meg - well done.

Standout track: "Effect & Cause"

11. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Thank you eMusic. I didn't even know Spoon had a new album coming out, until I decided to go with the "recommendations" on your website. Well deserving of all the critical acclaim.

Standout track: "Don't Make Me a Target"

10. Radiohead - In Rainbows

One of the most talked about albums - musically and promotionally - of 2007, that's for sure. I happen to be a fan of the whole "pay what you want" thing. If this is what record is a result of this idea, then BRING IT ON. A plus.

Standout track: "15 Step"

9. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Sank

I have been hit or miss with the Mouse. Some songs clicked, some didn't. But for the sheer fact that Isaac Brock sounds like the chef from the Little Mermaid on the opening track - BRILLIANT. This is a great record for the walk to work in the morning.

Standout track: "March to the Sea"

8. The Perishers - Victorious

I discovered these Swedish fellas in the later part of 2007, but they are probably my favorite "oh my gosh I can't believe I didn't know of them sooner" bands. I really cannot say enough about this release. The closing track takes my breath away.

Standout track: "Get Well Soon"

7. Okkervil River - The Stage Names

One of those cases where you see the band's name EVERYWHERE, but don't listen to them until one boring night where you want a taste of something new. This is where you kick yourself. Reminds me of a more folky, more country Arcade Fire. And you can't go wrong with that! Bands like this make me love music more and more.

Standout track: "A Girl in Port"

6. Celine Dion - Taking Chances

Celine could sing the phone book, and it would make my top album list. Every person has the one artist that they latch onto at a young age, and follow them as they grow - Celine is that for me. I could do a whole blog (and plan on doing so) about her. In her defense, (and to counter my biased opinion) this album is fresh. It's her ballad voice with some up-to-date pop tracks. She has got some pipes, people.

Standout track: "Surprise, Surprise"

5. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - The Swell Season

Thank you Tribeca Film Festival. I saw these two perform at the ASCAP Music Lounge this past April, and I was introduced to one of the best harmonizing duos I've ever heard. If you've seen the movie 'Once' - you will understand. Glen took a step away from his post as lead for his band the Frames and teamed up with the sweet, innocent voice in Marketa, and the result is this haunting, beautiful album. If you can't relate to at least one of the songs on this album, I will give you a dollar.

Standout track: "Falling Slowly"

4. Brandi Carlile - The Story

If you are smart, you would have ran to your iTunes and downloaded "The Story" after the video premiered after Grey's Anatomy this past season. If you were smarter, you would have discovered the rest of this album. Brandi has raw emotion when she sings. I know, that's cliche sounding, but she makes you feel EVERY single note. My favorite female release of the year.

Standout track: "Josephine"

3. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

With someone who puts out as many albums as Ryan Adams does, you would expect them to be average, if not less than. I mean, it's only right to assume that someone putting out all this material will at least miss on some of the attempts. Here stands the exception to this rule. Although it's not my favorite of Ryan's albums, this one is consistent to his quality work. Genius at work, and he's not stopping anytime soon, folks.

Standout track: "I Taught Myself to Grow Old"

2. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver

I am not a dance fan. Head Automatica is about as "dance rock" as I would go. This is why I was shocked when I found myself actually LIKING this album. I had heard a song here and there, mostly interested by one of the best tracks of the year, "All of My Friends." But the straw that broke the camel's back - well that took place on October 6th, at Randall's Island, when I saw these fellas perform (sharing the stage with the band filling the number one spot). I now reconsider my stance on dance-rock.

Standout track: "North American Scum"

1. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

The Arcade Fire are in a whole different league. I say that with all due respect to other bands on this list. I just can't describe it. The music is something that is, attempted to, but not replicated anywhere else in popular music now. The album itself is phenomenal. However, the live performance of the songs on this record is absolutely mesmerizing. This band is one that you just must see for yourself to truly understand the talent that stands before you on the stage. A tremendous follow-up after the indie hit "Funeral." There were many great albums put out this year, but this one is a landslide win, if you ask me.

Standout track: "The Well and the Lighthouse"

Carrie's favorite Singles/Tracks of 2007
(in no particular order)

Mark Ronson ft. Rivers Cuomo - "I Suck"
Lil Mama - "Lipgloss"
Daughtry - "Home"
Kate Nash - "Nicest Thing"
The Broken West - "Down in the Valley"
Missy Higgins - "Where I Stood"
Kelly Clarkson - "Chivas"
He Say She Say - "Modesty is Key"
Flo Rida - "Get Low"
Jimmy Eat World - "Big Casino"
Cloud Cult - "Chain Reaction"
Timbaland - "Give It to Me"
Against Me - "Thrash Unreal"
John Mayer - "Say"
Mika - "Lollipop"
Patty Griffin - "Trapeze"
Will Hoge - "When I Can Afford to Lose"

Carrie's favorite Cover Songs of 2007
(in no particular order)

Franz Ferdinand - "All of My Friends" (LCD Soundsystem cover)
KT Tunstall - "I Want You Back" (Jackson 5 cover)
Brandi Carlile - "Raining in Baltimore" (Counting Crows cover)
the Guillemots - "Take Me Out" (Modest Mouse cover)
Kelly Clarkson - "Up to the Mountain" (Patty Griffin cover)
Wakey!Wakey! - "Say It Ain't So" (Weezer cover)
the Arctic Monkeys - "You Know I'm No Good" (Amy Winehouse cover)
Glen Hansard - "Hungry For Your Love" (Van Morrison cover)

Carrie's Favorite Concerts of 2007

Damien Rice at Radio City Music Hall
Arcade Fire/LCD Soundsystem/Blonde Redhead at Randall's Island
Jesse Lacey/Kevin Devine acoustic show at Maxwell's

Carrie's Favorite "Discoveries" of 2007
(in no particular order)

Burgermeister
The Kooks
Stabilo
Wakey!Wakey!
Cloud Cult
Kate Nash
The Perishers

Carrie's favorite Movies of 2007
(in no particular order)

Sweeney Todd
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
In the Land of Women
I'm Not There
Once (my favorite of the year)

Carrie's Television picks of 2007

Best new show: Chuck
Excited for in '08: Lost, The Terminator Chronicles
Embarrassed to admit my love for: The Hills, Tila Tequila
Sad to see you go: Gilmore Girls
You make me yell at the TV!: The Amazing Race, Wheel of Fortune

If you made it through this whole blog, then applause for you. Please throw in your comments and tell me about something that I missed in 2007.

To everyone - have a safe and Happy New Year!

sharing is caring.

2007-12-14T22:45:00.000-05:00

i'm currently working on a "best of 2007" list/blog for you fine people. that's the thing to do when it hits december, am i right? i appreciate if you worked on a little list of your own, and when i post mine, share yours. this is a give and take relationship, you know what i mean? :)

but.

before i get to that point, i just can't stand it anymore. i have to share these bands with you before i burst with excitement.

cloud cult.

i'll have to tell you. if you read up on the history of the band, and the times of their releases (timing as far as personal tragedies), you may be depressed. you may get the set of chills that start in your fingers and end up in your toes. you may shed a tear. and yes, while certain songs, reflective and sad, are beautiful - this is just the tip of the iceberg. cloud cult are funky beats. i'm not usually one for experimental rock. i'd like to think that late night chats with danielle have changed this in some ways. and i find myself addicted to the freshness of this band. they've been around since the mid 90's. they're not the new kid on the block, but they're the ones that i want on my team for kickball. i have read up on these folks, and they are drawing comparisons on their latest work to be "the American Arcade Fire" - if that doesn't peak your interest a bit, well i have wasted precious blog space. try it. and you can shun me or thank me. but my money is on the gratitude. :)

track to taste: "chain reaction"

okkervil river.

there is always a handful of band names that i will see ALL over the blogosphere. some names i'll see, and pass by. not really for any particular reason. certain times i'm in certain moods. well, at this point, i wish i could physically kick myself in the back of the head. why oh why! how could i pass up such a band. it's ok though, i've used the rest of my monthly emusic credits on making up for this mistake. i don't really have a good description about the band. at times i think bruce springsteen. at times i think arcade fire. at times i think the sound is a mesh of americana rock. the arcade fire comparision, which i know is really easy to do, is because of the sound. there is something about the sound of the arcade fire. there is a wholeness to it. i hear that in okkervil river. it represents hopeful music to me. if you need more convincing, download their free holiday EP available on their website - http://www.okkervilriver.com/index.php. what do you have to lose? except time, b/c you'll keep these guys on repeat.

track to taste: "listening to otis redding at home during christmas"

bürgermeister.

first of all. i give props to myself for successfully finding the U with the dots over it. that counts for a lot in my book. secondly, i'm totally pimping out a friend here. but for good reason. if she sucked, i wouldn't put that shit on here! i gotta rep to keep! hehe danielle. oh danielle. she has churned out like 24 songs in the last couple days. and she shares them with me, and i think HOT DAMN do have some talented friends. ok, maybe i'm exaggerating a little bit. maybe only 17 songs in the last few days. in either case, i think that i'm happy happy happy (did i say happy?) that she is letting me hear these phat beatz when she churns 'em out, b/c i'm becoming a bigger and bigger fan as she goes on. let's give her some love, shall we?

ok. back to the mound of christmas cards awaiting me. i may actually send them before christmas, which is a goal i've had for a few years, and have yet to accomplish it. here's to apple cider and electric blankets.

<3>

in memory...

2007-12-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

always the first ones to arrive to the family reunions, and the last ones to leave. complete with dunkin donuts, coffee, and a jug of the peach tea that my dad so loves. aunt catherine and uncle artie. the names go together. like water and wine. it's going to be hard to not say them together. uncle artie will hold down the fort from now on. and we all have some big shoes to fill.

my grandparents on my mom's side both passed before i was born. and my grandmother on my dad's side too. i knew my grandfather, but not really that well. my dad's side of the family - we aren't close with them at all really. but my mom's side, that's a different story. my mom's mom was one of 9 children - aunt catherine being one of those siblings. i was blessed with many "great aunts and uncles" who, although i didn't see them all the time, were just like grandparents to me anyways. stretching all over the country, from texas to new york. i remember the summer in texas, when we went to see aunt sally and uncle rosie. i was a huge nolan ryan fan at the time, and they took us to a texas rangers game. (of course nolan was on the disabled list, go figure) but i bought this oversized nolan ryan tshirt (which i still own) and i wore that thing out. we went on a safari and rode an elephant. and we swam in the kidney shaped pool in their backyard. uncle rosie passed a little while ago. i remember him in pieces. he was ornery as ever, and he was a big kid, that's for sure. and his cheeks were rosie. :) and aunt sally passed 2 years ago. we flew to texas for that, and a lot of the family was there. it was hard, saying goodbye. and that brings us to aggie. most of you know her, as she's the coolest thing in my life (and maybe even in yours too, she's THAT cool). her husband was donald - one of the siblings, and in fact, i think he was the youngest. he passed away about 6 years ago. i remember, because it was shortly after rhiannon passed. that was a rough few months for me. i really remember uncle donald, b/c he too was ornery. my favorite memory would be when we would walk behind him as he was sitting down and he'd pinch the back of our legs somehow, without ever moving. it was always one of those cases where you turn around and you're like "where did that come from?" he was a big man, standing close to (if not taller than) 6 foot. and he could be stern. but he was a big teddy bear. and aggie loved him so much.

because of the 9 siblings, there are tons of cousins/aunts/uncles/etc. and most of them are in the new york area, so that's wonderful. but no matter what we did - family reunions, weddings, etc. - aunt catherine was the matriarch. she was the oldest of the 9 flood siblings, and she became the head of the family when her parents passed. i have seen so many pictures of her with her younger siblings, raising them as if they were her own. she was never married or had her own children, but she had plenty of "children." growing up, i wouldn't get to see aunt catherine too too much, unless we came to new york for something, but everytime i saw her, she made sure to sit down with me and see how things were. i often wondered how she kept all the info for all of these people - she knew everything. she was very on top of things.

she lived in flushing queens. it was the house that they all grew up in. she raised her siblings and sent them off into the world. i remember the drives there when we were young - getting stuck on the cross bronx in traffic. the drives across the george washington bridge. and of course, the steep stairs. and the kitchen. and the garden, and the front stoop. there were so many memories in that house. the attic was so hot all the time, and you literally had to scale the steps like a mountain. my sister and i would climb up and down them so much.

over the last year and a half or so, maybe two years, her health had gotten worse. it wasn't horrible at first, but you could see that her mind was starting to go a little. within this last year, it got bad, physically and mentally. aggie and i went to see her a few times while she was in the rehabilitation center. it seems like things would get really bad, and then she'd make a turn and recover, get out of the hospital and back to rehab. this happened a few times. we were commenting on her 9+ lives. visiting her was hard in a way, b/c she wasn't the normal aunt catherine, but in ways, she was. and it would tug at your heartstrings, as she talked to you as if you were one of her siblings, all of which had passed by this time. she would call me my grandmother sometimes, and ask me to give her the change from the store. it's bittersweet to hear that kind of stuff, because you truly wonder if they can see them. if they, at that stage in their mental capacity, can have some sort of spiritual contact with the ones who have passed. i have hope for it, i absolutely do. i have faith that in those moments, people aren't necessarily crazy, but maybe a little enlightened. and who are we to tell them otherwise?

one visit to the rehab - it was probably my favorite memory of aunt catherine to date. there is a little "tv communal" area where the patients will hang out and watch tv. most of the time they sleep or just kind of sit there. so aggie and i went to visit her, and she was already in this area, so we pulled up chairs and would chat with her. meanwhile, there is a woman in a little bed type piece of furniture next to her, who - every few minutes or so - would wake up, open her eyes and make this AWFUL noise. her mouth would flap open and shut, and she sounded like a goblin. it was the creepiest thing ever (i tell this story best in person), but i felt really bad for her. and then she would shut her eyes and drift away for a few until the next spooking. so aunt catherine as telling us something, and this lady did her thing, and aunt catherine just looked over at her, and looked back at us. she looked back a the woman and she was like "hey, cut that out!" the lady just went on, not knowing what she was doing. so we giggled. moving on, the same thing happens. catty peeks over at this woman and looks back at us. then she leans into us and she goes "can't they shove her in a closet somewhere?!" aggie and i lost it. we laughed for like 10 minutes straight. and so did aunt catherine. she giggled. but it was so funny. i can't even tell you via this here blog. it was moments like that, where the old catty poked through. one of the many reasons to love a phenomenal woman.

aunt catherine passed away on wednesday, november 28th. i was in the city that night. my mom called me at work to see if everything was ok, because she had a voicemail on her phone, but couldn't check it. so i called aggie. and she told me. in some ways it was expected, but in some ways not. she had turned for the better recently. after teetering on the edge in the hospital, with congestive heart failure and things like that. she had gotten better. i wanted to run home, but i couldn't. then i had to call my mom to tell her. can i just tell you that it was the hardest thing i've ever done. i think she knew, or had it in the back of her mind when she initially called me. but it was hard.

the funeral and the services were great. for as much as i thought i knew about aunt catherine and how wonderful of a person she was, i learned so much more. i learned about her faith, her dedication to the church. i learned about how much she meant to each one of us, so much more than i could have imagined. and i learned that she tied this family together, and how it's our job to keep that tie, if for no other reason than to do it for her. but she is with her family. her parents, her siblings, her friends. and we couldn't be happier for her. she lived 90+ years on this earth. she saw so many things, experienced the joys and sorrows of life. and in the end, she went home. we couldn't ask for more.

we miss you, and we love you aunt catherine.
you will forever be in our hearts.

<3>

for as much as i love autumn...

2007-11-18T20:19:00.001-05:00

information i would want included, should i leave this world tomorrow and a biography was written about my obsession and love of the tunes
(embarassing or not...)

waiting is my favorite green day album.
twisted sister's album cover art for stay hungry gave me nightmares as a child.
on roadtrips growing up, we had singalongs to whitney houston's self-titled album.
my celine dion collection is up to 16 cds at this point.
NKOTB was my first concert. kelly clarkson was my last (as of press time).
i was pushed on stage and sat on by the guitarist from story of the year. he finished out the song on top of me (dirty!)
out of all the interviews with bands that i've done, chris from underoath was the coolest.
my sister and i used to dance around the dining room table to a 'wizard of oz' vinyl.
kt raps introduced me to NFG with the from the screen to your stereo album.
at a nelly furtado show, i sang in her mic for part of "shit on the radio".
i took french in high school so i could understand the lyrics on celine's french albums.
i am addicted to cover songs. the weirder, the better.
i have a playlist on my iPod called "booty shakin"
i don't hate them, but i would not intentionally listen to the smiths.
i have a word document with every album i own in it. it needs to be updated, but it's pretttttty large.
sometimes i don't even pay attention to the tv, but instead the tunes in the background.
left-eye was my favorite.
no matter how much you turn the stereo up, i will not sound like queen.
a rush of blood to the head is my favorite coldplay album.
i hate pink floyd. no, i will not tell you why.
three people i want to see in concert before i go: ray lamontagne, the eagles, and john mayer.
i had an intense screamo phase.
dookie. happy nowhere. as good as dead. all albums i stole from my sister, growing up.
i am indeed a claymate. and proud of it.
i will be seeing the spice girls in february with my twin. and that's FANtastic.
joe purdy is the most underrated artist out there.
i can't listen to "konstantine" in the same way anymore.
finch's "what it is to burn" is the song that chris and i would jump off of cars to.
i'm undecided as to if ohio is for lovers.
if i was to physically assault someone, it would be done to a rage against the machine song.
i also went through a phase where i really really loved disturbed.
i once stood in line for hours to get something signed by sully from godsmack. and the ass didn't show, so we got taproot instead. but that was cool, because those guys were really nice.
i'm sorry i made fun of you for your metallica obsession.
i got pulled over while driving on the highway to linkin park's "nobody's listening" - now when i hear it in the car, i panic.
i do own a copy of nick lachey's what's left of me. but it was burned for me by patty, i swear.
i accidentally bought an eminem cd from walmart one time. bad idea. they're edited. darn.
i used to get out of the car at red lights to dance to the starting line's "best of me."
from autumn to ashes' song "short stories with tragic endings" on their album too bad you're beautiful is one of my favorite album-ending tracks.
i love garth brooks.
i'm quite impressed with lil mama's lyrical ability

and i suggest you watch the movie "in the land of women" because, while i did rent it initially because of my fondness for one adam brody, it turned out to be a really great movie. i loved it.

back to packing. and the amazing race. <3

a mix of emotions.

2007-11-16T09:13:00.000-05:00

i dig new music. i dig finding new music. and most of all, i dig sharing that new music with people who appreciate it. not necessarily people who appreciate the song, but people who appreciate the sharing and experiencing of new music. majority of the sharing process, at least in my case, comes through the art of the mix cd. i, in no way, will say i am an expert. i feel at times, my positioning of songs may be off, but i chalk that to sheer excitement to get the cd out and to the recipient. excuses, excuses, i know, right?

what i may lack in track positioning, i make up for in content. these cds will not save the world. they will not win grammy's for best arrangement. they will not have articles written about them (blogs, however - yes). but to me, they are a polaroid picture of me at a moment in my life. the moment were i decided these songs need to be a family, and listened to together. and shared. and most of the time, it involves a "OMG, you have GOT to hear this song" and you know what, it amazes me that no matter how many mixes i've made for various people, i always think "oh, i can't top that one, it's pretty high class" - and then it happens. i stumble (and i say stumble, b/c i'm a clumsy girl) onto a song. one song, three minutes and some odd seconds of beauty, that inspires me to throw a whole mix together. if only to share this one song.

seriously, the art of the mix cd is very complicated. and personal. oh my gosh is it personal. it is very personal. and in some cases, it's like saying to someone - "hey. here's what i'm feeling at this very moment. my heart's broken? yeah, it is, and here's a slice of it, just for you to enjoy." and that's ok with me, ya know? because it's a helluva lot easier to do that in some cases, than to actually speak the words. and what better way to express yourself and your emotions than through a track list of some sweet ass tunes. there isn't a better way, if you ask me.

music is universal. music mends broken hearts. music in our hearts. cliches? yes. true? yes. there have been many books, films, etc on this topic. my personal favorite being penned by one rob sheffield. look it up and enjoy.

on that note (get it, music note....sometimes i am too much) - hope you all in the blogosphere have a good weekend. until next time...

thank goodness for the rain.

2007-11-11T22:04:00.000-05:00

sometimes when things are hyped, i try my best not to listen to it, but ultimately do. and in some cases, i'm pleased. and some cases i'm not. this one, folks. this one is amazing.

i will be the first to admit that i do not know every detail about the life and times of one mr. bob dylan. but all i know is that i was so intrigued by this movie. it was confusing a little bit at the beginning, because i missed the first 15 minutes or so because i was still checking people in for the screening. but there were empty seats, and i made my way in the back and sat down. the music, OBVIOUSLY was great. i found myself tapping my toes throughout most of the film. but people.....people, people, people.

cate blanchett. i know she's getting hype for playing dylan. i know people are talking about it. but damn it, they have a right to. i found myself at times wanting to watch a whole movie of just her. it was convincing, and it was incredible. i can go on and on about it here, but i just suggest that if you have any interest in seeing the movie at all, do it. and make sure you don't miss the beginning, and you can fill me in on what happens. haha.... it comes out for a limited release nationwide on november 21st. and i may just join you to see it again.

some of the themes are cold. but it's full of inside jokes and funny antecdotes that brought out some laughs. (including a quick scene with the fab four and cate's "bob" rolling down a hill, haha)

my favorite scene not involving cate blanchett would have to be the performance of "goin' to acapulco" by jim jones & calexico. the scene is just great, and jim jones' voice hits the spot.

other highlights of the evening include: checking in mark ecko (of ecko unlimited fame), kimberley pierce, joseph gordon-levitt, josh lucas, a boatload of yahoo people, and my personal favorite of the evening - sufjan stevens.

not too bad for a rainy friday night in manhattan.