Book List

With all the countless hours I spent reading in college (some of which included interesting music history textbooks and 19th century novels that made me want to rip out my eyeballs), I barely had time to read for pleasure. Now that I have all this free time being an intern and working for resume cred, I FINALLY get to pick up books I’ve been wanting to read for a long time now. So far this year, I’ve read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, (part of) The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and (in the process of) Born Standing Up by Steve Martin. All have been really great, but I needed more of a list. So I complied a list of what I’ve been wanting to read/books I should have read a while ago (kind of embarrassed to admit some of these). I hope to complete it soon:

Galapagos-Vonnegut

The Great Gatsby-Fitzgerald (clam down, I’ve read this before. I just didn’t enjoy it when I was 16. I hope to have my mind changed)

Confederacy of Dunces- Kennedy Toole

Infinite Jest-Foster Wallace

The Diary of a Madman- Gogol

The Devil and Miss Prym- Coelho

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union-Chabon

Catch 22-Heller

I’m sure this list will expand, given more time to think about it.

First World Problems

You know those days where every little thing that happens (dropping a shampoo bottle numerous times, for example) bothers the shit out of you??? Right. Well, that was my life today. From attempting to enjoy a sunny October day in Wicker Park with the boyfriend to giving my self a late night pedicure, all of it seemed like a disaster. Nothing went right, then when I complained about it, I felt like a spoiled fucking brat. Which brings me to my conclusion for the day: I have first world problems. Yeah. Like the coffee dude gives you a latte when you asked for a chai. Like fucking bullshit shitty shit shit. There are people out there with serious problems: homelessness, drug addiction, starvation, no healthcare, just to name a few.  And I have the audacity to complain under the beautiful weather God (or science) gave Chicago today.  I only wish I could rewind the past 12 hours and start with a grateful, happy attitude.

So, with that, I am going to drink the rest of my tea, maybe have a beer, and pretend Prince wrote a song about me.

People Fucking Do This

The AV Club is doing this feature about hilariously bad found footage. This week is cat appreciation week.

This takes the term “Cat Lady” to a whole different level.

1,095 and 365 and also 182 days

One year. It’s an odd thing. Well, it’s really not. It passes. Exactly 365 since the last one (not if you’re in a leap year, but whatever). Today, September 21st, is a particularly strange date for me. Three years ago on this day, I stumbled into a Tennessee restaurant/bar with some friends after a movie. The friends invited other friends who invited other friends. It’s how it goes. Well, one of my friend’s friend’s friend’s OTHER friend (4 times removed. We got that all?) sat next to me while I was eating some delicious fried pickles. Mmmmmm……that’s beside the point. Anyway, that friend’s friend’s friend person guy is now sitting in my livingroom. In Chicago. Watching TV. Eating peanut butter. You get the idea. We are very happy.

Not only have the boyfriend and I been together for three years, it has also been 6 months  TO THE DAY in which we packed up our old apartment in Tennessee and moved to the Windy City.  No one here calls it that, but I do ’cause it’s neat. We enjoy the food, the places, the culture (which sometimes includes dudes peeing on the side of a building), the atmosphere, the people. We have come a long way in these 6 months. And we are pretty satisfied with our decision thus far.

Last September 21st was a whirlwind for me. I lost my nonna. She passed away on the last full day of summer. A teacher at heart and in profession, she used to make me read before I went outside, even if all I wanted to do as a kid was go play in the Philadelphia sun. She never let me chew gum in her house, or eat ice cream before dinner, or do a lot of things which kids generally consider to be awesome. Yet, in all her strict ways, she made me a better person. I love reading and writing. I love healthy food. I loved college. I love learning. And yeah, I love ice cream and lots of unhealthy things. Like chocolate. And soda. And booze. But as a kid, you never think you’ll love those things you once thought were dumb. You never think it’s important. It so is.  My nonna paid for my college education. She bought me a car for high school graduation. A CAR. ON A TEACHER SALARY. She loved me and everyone else in my family, even if she had a hard time saying it.

And I am more thankful than anyone could know.

Ronnie James Dio (1942-2010)

First it was a hoax. Then it was true.

Metal has officially died.

It’s the new Sharon (one horn shout) Jones (two horns shouts) and the Dap-Kings (extended cadence)

Welcome to another segment of: Music You Should be Listening to Right Now

This time: I Learned the Hard Way, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Since when: April 6, 2010

Why you should listen: If you want to hear a good band put on a great live show, look no further than these guys. That being said, I had high expectations after seeing Ms. Jones and her boys perform at Lollapalooza in’08, doing renditions of James Brown and Otis Redding songs that would take you though a time warp. But when I bought their 100 Days, 100 Nights album, my enthusiasm fell a little, well……….flat. I realized a good, recorded R&B band doesn’t always pump you up the same way a live show does. However, that can be said for any number of soul artists. So I decided to give the hardest working lady in show business another shot. After listening to I Learned the Hard Way, I’m so glad I did.

Opener “The Game Gets Old” has a jazzy, soulful feel and gives this album the introduction it needs: Seduction and Power. Jones’ voice has the smoothness of a 1960′s Darlene Love or Diana Ross, but the grittiness of Tina Turner. The title track “I Learned the Hard Way” takes the smoothness to another level with punctuating melodies and a catchy chorus, followed by impeccable horn snaps by the  Dap-Kings, probably the best backing band in the last decade. Nothing in this day really compares to the Dap-Kings. That is, besides Bootsy Collins and the J.B.’s.  Both Jones and the Kings really shine on “She Ain’t a Child No More,” which is the grooviest track on the album. It flows the best, plays to performers strong points and could be inserted into a Tarantino shoot ‘em up movie without the audience even batting an eye.

If you want a soulful throwback band to blast at your next cookout, make it this one. I know I said that they don’t sound as good on your iPod, but think of it this way: Would you still listen to James Brown on record?

Yeah, I thought so.

Dear Hollywood: You have got to be kidding me

OK, I’m a girl. A girl that loves clothes and shoes and all that nonsense. Also, I adored Sex and the City when it was on HBO. Really. I know it made women look like aggressive, needy fashionistas, but as a brainless TV show? Not the worst. So naturally, when the first movie came out, I was not happy. I felt that it was all the audience needed to know about Carrie Bradshaw and her other lady pals, and that was that. Done and done. But no. No, you can’t say NO to Hollywood.

Yes, I saw the movie, but that’s beside the point. It ended fine. Carrie gets married. Charlotte has a baby. Whatever. End of story. Well, apparently not.

You know, ’cause every time *I* go to Saudi Arabia, I see my ex-boyfriend. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

I’m going to hate this movie. HATE.

But I’m not against Netflix-ing it.