Lyrical Thinking

November 2011 Myoosyk

2012-01-04T06:13:00.001-08:00

The last part of 2011 was FILLED with good tuneage. An iPhone photo retrospective:

1) Angie belting it blacklight style with Bacharach Attack (special guest Al Polk of Streight Angular - SA killed it later that night):

2) Somerville Symphony Orkestar + some Slutcracker burlesque @ Church

3) Also DECEMBER 1 - Viva Viva @ R.A.D.I.O.

4) Viva Viva, 5) The Wandas, 6) DJ Hustle Simmons (ha!) and 7) Moufy (sp?) at the BMA's. 8) Also my "red carpet" moment with Holly Roxanne

And that's not even including my December adventures...

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Scenes From An Autumn Sunday

2011-10-23T17:21:00.001-07:00

Head of the Charles & Yelp.com event @ Artists For Humanity in Southie...

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Moustachez Part Deux

2011-10-21T18:10:00.001-07:00

The moustache I drew did not rate with C and D...

Fail, Kristen ;-)

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Friday Fun with Moustachez

2011-10-21T18:04:00.001-07:00

Love my cousins.

They are so creative, fun, and smart! Look at what fun we had tonight with pizza, sharpies, and post-it notes. Not to mention the fun YouTube soundtrack we played.

Thanks CF and DF for a fun night!

xxoo

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30 Day Challenge: Day Three

2011-09-06T18:07:00.001-07:00

Well, I am baaaack after a longer than planned hiatus. Made it two days into regular daily blogging before I fell into the state of neglect - going for three days in a row this time! Just kidding, we'll go for no fewer than four! ;-)

I have been having a little self-reflection time (read: pity party) for myself over the past week or so. Some fresh air, sunshine, exercise, good music, good conversation, and good food (ok, maybe a little good wine too) has put the pep back in my step! It also didn't hurt to have a full three days away from the office...

Happy back to school time for all you teachers, school professionals, and students out there. Fall is nearly upon us!

Fall is undoubtedly my favorite season. I love the crispness of Fall air, the smells, the colors, the activities, the comfort food... You name it, I love it (save for horror movies and haunted houses, much to the great dismay of GDB). On the whole, I love the fall. Which brings me to today's posting topic;

Day 3: Your first love

Going to take some liberties with this one...

I know this post should likely focus on people, but why stop there? I am a pretty passionate person and when I like something I REALLY like it.

Chronicologically, my first love was plural - my first loves were my Mom and Dad. But that's a post for another challenge day (stay tuned for Day Four)!

Let's start out easy, with inanimate objects... I really, really loved my white satin trimmed blanket as a child.

Now I didn't carry it a la Linus from "Peanuts" - but I slept with it every night. Took it on sleepovers and vacations, too. I even took it with me when I weekended at the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference as an operations leader in 1995. "Blankie" got left behind in a pile of bedding in a dorm at Emmanuel College. That thing was pretty threadbare by that point. I was 16 then, after all. Mom, who rules the universe, went to Babies R Us or some similar store the following day to pick me up a replacement - aww, isn't she the (biggest enabler) best? Surprisingly similar (and to my delight, larger) models were still in production! Blankie v. 2.0 now resides under the pillow of my old twin bed in my childhood bedroom.

As for other "loves", love for family, friends, and my brother, Rich, pretty much dominated the first nineteen years of my life. Sure, there were (tons of) crushes. I can hardly remember a day spent without a boy on the brain...

I started my career of male admiration early, with crushes on two of my preschool classmates, EL and NP. Boys were never scary to me, never had "cooties". I always liked them (and wanted them to like me). Back to EL and NP - I thought they were so cool and every outdoor playtime the three of us would play in the schoolyard things like "obstacle course" and during indoor recess one of them would always make sure I got my favorite tricycle (purple, of course!) from the selection of wagons, bikes, trikes, and hot wheels to ride around the preschool gym / auditorium. My "love" for EL and NP wasn't exclusive, though... At the ripe old age of four, i had my one brief foray into same-sex love land whereas I told anyone who'd listen that I wanted to marry my preschool classmate, the very female, MR! You see, I formed the belief that I still hold fast to today - one should marry their best friend. MR was my best friend so I just felt this to be who I should marry. At age four.

Much to the dismay of several of the men (and maybe a few women, he he) in my life, all subsequent crushes and puppyloves have been boys. In Kindergarten, I started to crush on older guys - my neighbor DG for one. Our paperboy Tommy brought a daily dose of heart-pounding directly to our front door. At one point or another I had crushes on most of the boys in my elementary school class (one at a time, of course!). Notably EE as my cousin Denise will recall. I was super bummed when he moved away in 3rd grade!

And like any good girl in any given Massachusetts elementary school in the mid to late eighties, I loooved the New Kids On The Block. I never really had a favorite; loved 'em all. Mom would tape any appearances on the news and such for me, lest I miss them while at school to (daydream about boys) learn. What a champ! The grade ahead of me was also filled with crushable boys. So many crushes, so little time. I still remember their names to this day (as I am sure my family who had to endure me talking about them ad nauseum way back then can attest).

Soon enough 1988 came around, and I left the adorable boy buffet known as the Kiley School and moved on...

...to an adorable boy SMORGASBORD!

Middle School @ Higgins Middle brought along with it boys from all over town! South Peabody, West Peabody, Downtown Peabody, oh my! Add to the sheer overwhelming volume the preteen rite of passage known as the middle school dance and I had butterflies for miles! Don't even get me started on the introduction of co-Ed birthday parties and bar/bat mitzvahs! It's a wonder I managed to get good grades...

At this point I had never been kissed and being someone's "girlfriend" meant slow dancing at dances, talking on the phone, exchanging Christmas / birthday / Valentine's Day presents... But no real "dates". AZ, JF, RP, JB, RM, RL, and SM passed through my "dance card" these three years of Middle School and enjoyed the title "boyfriend". Of course there were SEVERAL mega-crushes that never manifested into "going out" so I will move on. Of the "boyfriends", four of those lucky fellows got nothin' but some puppylove notes, cards, trinkets from Filene's, and lots of phonecalls from me. Three got real lucky -

They got kisses! FULL.STOP.

God, life and "love" was so sweet and simple in those days! Here's where I resist the urge to go off on a tangent about how kids these days are overly socialized & sexualized. Another topic for another day.

High School involved some short-term boyfriends, a TON of close guy friends (who I had no interest in dating) and as per usual, a lot of crushes. Sports, clubs, plays, student government, and oh yeah - SCHOOLWORK - occupied most of my time and the boycraziness took a backseat until I met one special LC toward the end of my Sophomore year. He was special to many a lady. Not only that, but he lived about an hour away, was similarly busy with sports, clubs, student government, and oh yeah - SCHOOLWORK. Yet, if I had to pinpoint the loveyest of all my puppyloves, LC wins - hands down. We stayed close until the end of my Freshman year in college. A true unicorn... A sensitive, intelligent, not to mention tall and handsome --jock. Aaaaand were it not for him, I would never have segued into the world of "adult" relationships. To this point, the magnitude and import of all crushes were mere blips on my cute / charming boy radar. Thanks to LC, there have been three distinct "loves" in my life.

I am so grateful to have known (to have given and received) such love in my life. Some has been constant, some too quickly fleeting... but as Tennyson wrote and countless trite but true (pun intended) romantics have quoted:

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

From Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem In Memoriam:27, 1850

After writing this, I am experiencing this amazing feeling of gratitude for my life, the universe (and everything). Life is bittersweet much of the time but all the while, I am acutely aware that I am SO lucky. And loved.

Step One

2011-09-06T12:25:00.001-07:00

About to be called in for a pelvic MRI. Step one of the treatment / management of these dastardly fibroids. The doctors need these pictures so they know what they're working with.

Sleeping is still a challenge. I miss sleeping on my back; there's too much discomfort / pressure to do so at the moment.

I am doing a poor job on my 30 Day Challenge so will pick back up on that tonight! I am a bad occasional blogger!

As for some good news- I walked over 6 miles this weekend with no trouble. Score!

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30 Day Challenge: Day Two

2011-08-28T13:59:00.001-07:00

Nicknames...
Over the years I have had quite a few. Nicknames are a badge if affection with the Scioli family. My dad and his brood of first cousins hardly ever called each other by their first names. Instead, Pipeneck, Lamont, Kingfish, and Irving triumphed.

As a child, my dad called me "bubbaukies" (pronounced bubba-you-keys). Dad was "Daddy Cakes".

My cousin Mark called me "kikkin" and Aunt Mary turned that into "kikkie walkie".

Later on in childhood, Mark, cousin Denise, myself, and my brother Rich set up the "Mark, Den, Kris, Rich Connection" in Auntie Mary's backyard. My nickname for that time was "spice". Many years prior to the spice girls, might I add.

Middle school rolled around years later and I had a habit of usurping my mom's shoes and dad's jackets and sweatshirts. One such jacket was my dad's under 45 softball jacket with his nickname, "Skeets", on it. Thus, I became "Skeets".

College brought with it some other nicknames inspired by my last name- Sca-holey being one.

"Kri" is another nickname from my college friends. Not "Kris", "Kri". Love it.

I have been called "K" or "Ten" (to differentiate from folks named "Kristin").

Pooch (reference to "Poochie" from the Simpsons) is probably my favorite nickname of all.

What are your nicknames? Any favorites?

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30 Day Challenge: Day 1

2011-08-26T22:04:00.001-07:00

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts. Not so sure these facts are terribly interesting but here we go...

I am Kristen. How's that for an introduction? Not terribly descriptive or illuminating about who I am but I have a feeling that will follow over the upcoming weeks. I fully intend to offer TMI. ;-)

1. Above is a very recent photo - from last night, 8/25/2011. I am on the left pictured with one of my besties, Amy Folkard.

2. Speaking of 8/25/2011, that was my Mom's birthday. She's a Virgo. Both of my parents were Virgos.

3. I don't really believe in astrology but I have to admit that I do exhibit some characteristics of my sign - Libra.

4. I am writing this post in the car (don't worry, I'm not driving).

5. I have been in three (very minor) car accidents in my life while driving. My car, however, has been hit 2 times while parked. That car was retired in November 2010.

6. My first set of "wheels" was a pink Miss Piggy hot wheels tricycle.

7. My first set of "real" wheels was a black 2-door 1983 Mercury Cougar with red interior. It's nickname was the "Rav", short for "ravioli" which rhymed with my last name, Scioli.

8. I have lived in eight different cities on two different continents in my 32 years. I have attended seven different schools.

9. I only recently found out that my left foot is slightly larger than my right; supposedly this is not uncommon and is actually standard for right-handed people. Now I understand why I sometimes get tightness-related marks or blisters on my left foot but not my right. I wear a size 7 shoe; 6-1/2 in most sandals and flip flops. Aaand some detail for any foot fetishists out there, I love manicures but rarely get anything other than "lawyer pink" or bright red nail polish on my toes.

10. I regret never having learned to speak another language or to play an instrument, despite the fact that I took 5 years of public-school German instruction and a smidgen of Violin lessons (2 school years).

11. I have never had major surgery - to this day the only time I have been knocked out for a procedure was for the removal of my wisdom teeth in 2002.

12. My "no major surgery" track record will likely be broken this year due to 2 recently discovered fibroids that have been wreaking silent havoc in my abdomen for some time. For the past six week said havoc has not been so silent and I now know what it's like to walk around being 18-20 weeks pregnant because that's the size of my uterus. Just learned of all of this on Thursday so it has been on the front (and in the back) of my mind.

13. My stomach is growling at the moment and wants to be fed but I am going to forego further calorie consumption for today. I love to cook, though I am not a skilled baker (far less practice baking).

14. If I could choose a five-course "last meal" to be procured from anywhere in the world it would include: an animal style cheeseburger from In N Out Burger; the smoked salmon taco from Center Street Bistro in Nantucket, MA; Lobster from the Roy Moore Lobster Company in Rockport, MA; and steak frites from Les Halles in New York City. I have never had the LH steak frites but I adore Anthony Bourdain and wanted to throw in a carnivorous entree into this list. Lastly, for dessert, the Gran Marnier souffle duo (one frozen, one hot) from Bistro de Paris @ EPCOT.

15. If I could choose to have one meal from a restaurant past, it would be the tasting menu at Ferran Adria's famed (but now closed) El Bulli in Barcelona, Spain. Thanks to Anthony Bourdain and the Travel Channel, I almost feel like I did dine there.

Going to sign off now. It is past midnight so technically I missed posting on "Day One" of this 30 Day Challenge but after a multi-month blogging absence, you'll forgive me, right?

Until tomorrow...

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Rededicating to Blogging: 30 Day Challenge

2011-08-25T12:02:00.001-07:00

I have been poor about keeping up with this blog for a good 8 months now. Ready to step out of the shadows and the way I've decided to do it is with this 30 Day Challenge.

I came across this idea via http://misstaylorcast.com/ Miss Taylor Cast; a very sassy, smarmy blogger on my Google Reader feed.

How it works is this:
I post every day for 30 days. Each day I will be prompted by the topic list below.

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts.
Day 2: Nicknames.
Day 3: Your first love.
Day 4: Your parents.
Day 5: What song inspires you.
Day 6: Pet peeves.
Day 7: What makes you happy.
Day 8: A place you’ve traveled to and where else you want to travel.
Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend.
Day 10: Something you’re afraid of.
Day 11: A quote you love.
Day 12: Something you don’t leave the house without.
Day 13: Goals.
Day 14: A picture of you last year – how have you changed?
Day 15: Death row meal.
Day 16: Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it.
Day 17: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs.
Day 18: Something you miss.
Day 19: Things you want to say to an ex.
Day 20: Something you wonder “What if…?” about.
Day 21: Something you’re proud of.
Day 22: What do you want your future to be like?
Day 23: Favorite Movies and TV Show.
Day 24: Something you’ve learned.
Day 25: Something you are looking forward to.
Day 26: Your Dream Wedding.
Day 27: Photo of your city .
Day 28: What stresses you out?
Day 29: Who is you hero?
Day 30: A picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge.

I am looking forward to getting into the sunshine of posting my musings again (and daily for 30 days!)! No more shadows; back to illuminating the internets with my inane thoughts and doings.

Anyone else want to join me in this challenge?

xo
Kristen

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I Love Bawstin Accents

2011-02-16T19:44:00.001-08:00

Made a fun stop tonight while on my way home from having drinks at the Russell House Tavern (that's "ta-vihn" to us Mass folk) and Noir in Harvard Square (that's "Hah-vid Squayah").

I went to the North Shore establishment of the well-known East Bawstin institution - none other than SANTARPIO'S - Peabody.

Enjoyed a lovely 1/2 garlic and 1/2 cheese - all mine (but for the 3 pieces I wussed out on finishing. Hey, even this 1/2 Italian girl reaches her garlic limit from time to time)!

The highlight of the night was the bartender - even outshone the pizza pie...

She was a 40-something single mom (deduced from overhearing conversation) and was chatting up 3 50-something male patrons who were all buying what she was selling...

She was telling them all that she is a fitness coach at Lattitude, the nearby gym - and teaches Pilates.

These guys have no idea what Pilates is so they ask - what's Pilates?

She says:

Wait for it...

Wait for it.........

It's like........................

"Yoger".

Yep. Massh--e sighting!

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Merry Christmas to All

2010-12-24T09:27:00.001-08:00

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California Here We Come...

2010-12-12T14:07:00.001-08:00

California Here We Come...
Right Back Where We Started From...
Californiaaaaaaa...
Here We Coooooommmmmeeeee.

Below is a recap of a couple of days spent in the O.C.

My December 2010 trip to the left coast started with a 4:00AM wake up on Thursday, December 9th to head to Logan Airport for a 6:00AM flight. Painfully early but was so I could arrive in Irvine, CA in time to catch most of a sales meeting for my company's West territory.

Checked into the Irvine Marriott after work and got ready for dinner with our West area team members.

Dinner Thursday night was in Newport Harbor at "The Cannery". Fabulous food and conversation with my fun and bright cross-country co-workers. Loved this Steinbeck quote on the outdoor entry wall.

Friday we awoke to some heavy fog, which I hear is customary for the OC this time of year.

By noon, the fog had burned off and we were left with a sunny 70+ degree day, which I enjoyed... though substantially from a conference room. After getting a surprising amount of work done, my co-workers and I headed out to get in a few hours of oceanside frolicing before sunset.

We headed to Newport Beach and while the guys played football...

The girls (me and Julie) hit a few beach / surf shops. And took obligatory "beach in December" photos like these:

Capped off the afternoon with sunset bevvies at Mutt Lynch's, a divine dive on the beach where champagne concoctions are available in 16 and 32 oz sizes.

Served.
In.
Icy.
Cold.
Mugs.

Treated myself to this framboise-champagne combo. Perfect for sunset sipping.

In my excited state over this large and in charge cocktail I already shared this photo with almost anyone who might read this post. So, my apologies for the redundancy.

Friday's dinner is photo-less. We headed out as a group to the Irvine Spectrum (killer mall and entertainment complex) and ate at the Yard House. Jet lag set in and we skipped nightcaps as our super-comfy beds were calling (loudly).

On Saturday I woke up bright and early (6:00AM PST) and tried to force myself to sleep a bit more.

I was unsuccessful in my attempt to get more sleep so once the ridiculously thick fog started to lift around 9, I headed out to Temecula - a good hour early than planned. My destination was to visit the lovely Catelli family: Michelle, Brian, and 23 month old Casanova, Branden.

But before I got too far out East, I picked up my favorite West Coast eats, In N Out Burger.

For breakfast.

Yup.

Thank goodness many miles of walks are on schedule in the rolling hills of Temecula and later on Monday, in San Diego.

Now to wander through Brian and Michelle's giant house to find enough 3G signal to upload this post!

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Turkey For You And Turkey For Me

2010-11-25T10:48:00.001-08:00

...I can't believe the Mets traded Darryl Strawberry.

I just love Adam Sandler's Thanksgiving Song. Thanksgiving is simply incomplete without it.

Happy Turkey Day to you and yours. I will be spending Thanksgiving at my cousins' place - Denise and Dean in Milton. This is the first year "my" generation is taking over the hosting duties. Can't wait!

Enjoy!

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Pages Aplenty

2010-11-15T20:15:00.001-08:00

"He that loves a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently divert and pleasantly entertain himself, as in all weathers, as in all fortunes." - R.H. Barrow

I've neglected my reading pile for the past month or so. Revisited my (getting) old in-progress pile of reads / friends - Shirley Jackson's "we Have Always Lived In The Castle", Neil Gaiman's "Anansi Boys", and Elizabeth Gilbert's "Committed". It was good to polish off a few chapters before bedtime tonight.

...Especially since I was in need of a diversion from this misfortune:

Some considerate person sheared off the driver's side front end of my car over the weekend. Hit and Run. Fabu. They clipped me "nice":

This 1999 Toyota Camry LE has served my family well since 1998, when she was bought new by my Mom and Dad. I inherited her and have proceeded to quite literally run the poor girl into the ground (163,000 miles plus, thankyouverymuch!).

I am starting what I hope will not be a long and arduous process of shopping for a new, modest, car. Possibly a slightly larger / nicer pre-owned one ("used" seems to be a dirty word amongst car dealerships).

Embarrassing but true -this will be my very first new car / car purchased solely by me. My first car, inherited by me when I turned 16, was my Mom & Dad's 1983 Mercury Cougar. They sold that when I went away to college and 2 years later my Nana Bella, Mom & Dad, and myself pooled fundage to buy me a 1994 Ford Tempo. That car served me well until I inherited my Mom's 1999 Camry in 2002.

So yeah, when it comes to car shopping, test driving, and financing I am clueless. All I know is how much I want to spend each month. That's about it...

If you have any tips about getting a good price on a new car shoot me an email. Also, if you have recommendations for favorite dealerships / salespeople in the area, please let me know.

Thanks!

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Wicked Northshore

2010-11-11T20:05:00.001-08:00

Massages, Martinis, and Swag, oh my!

Mom and I attended Northshore Magazine's "Lifestyle Blitz" for women on Thursday, November 11th. The event was held at Burton's Grille, North Shore Mall.

Exhibitors included Mason & Madison (custom- made jewelry and fabric gifts) and BeeCustom Designs (adorable paper products, invitations, and stationery), Elizabeth Grady Salon Danvers (chair massages - yay), and Burtons Grille (duh).

The event started at 7pm and goodie (swag) bags were only guaranteed to the first 125 people. So Mom and I headed over at about 7:30, after I tried on about 6 pair of brown leather knee-high boots at Nordstrom (still searching for that elusive perfect pair). When we arrived, Burton's was a madhouse! Filled to the brim with 30 & 40-something women, all armed with swag bags and 2 tickets each for free seasonal drinkies. One. Could. Not. Move.

We deftly maneuvered around coat-wielding women (no coat check) to check in. Mom and I smartly decided to pick up our swag bags (complete with adorable Vera Bradley card cases- score!), and head back to the large, u-shaped bar for some crowd-free dinner and drinks. Mom enjoyed a cheezburger and I, a roasted red pepper, prosciutto, carmelized onion and balsamic flatbread (the Tuscan Flatbread Pizza per Burtons' menu). Just what we needed after a loooong, stressful, and somewhat emotional week.

We had a great time eating and chatting at the bar. The fact that Burtons was playing a killer satellite station did not hurt. Not. One. Bit. Damien Rice "The Blower's Daughter", Guster's "Do You Love Me?", and Jeff Buckley's "Last Goodbye" are just a few of the really good tunes I recall from our hour or so spent in relatively uncrowded comfort at the bar...

Once we were fed and the crowd died down a bit, we headed back to the event space and used our free drink tickets for 2 Stoli Harvest martinis (cider, stoli applik and some unknown apple liquer). They made for a good liquid dessert!

The next such event will be Thursday, November 16th. If you want in on the invites, shoot me an email and I will forward you the details that you'll need to make a reservation.

BSO Overdue

2010-11-11T11:49:00.001-08:00

Since attending opening night of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's 2010-2011 Season, I have been lucky enough to enjoy three more performances. Details / insights / oponions / observations will be forthcoming.

As of late, days have been full, nights have been dark (and darker still more recently given the onset of "Fall Back" -- my favorite non-holiday holiday!) and cozy, but also full. I fully intend to carve out some time to write up these unforgettable shows VERY soon!

These Woods Are Lovely...

2010-11-11T11:39:00.001-08:00

In the months of October and now, into November, I've spent some time walking the trails of the Medford Fells (or Middlesex Fells, depending on your preferences). These photos are from my jaunts there.

On another woods-related matter, Greg and I made a late night Halloween visit to Walden Pond. There are no photos from that dark (though moonlit) and mysterious (though thoroughly enjoyable) evening, however.

These 2 distinct sets of woods made me think of a phrase from one of my favorite (and almost seasonally appropriate) Frost poems:

These woods are lovely, dark, and deep...

They were.
They are...

Remember this poem? I love it. Perfect segue from Fall into what soon enough will be snowy Winter weather.

"Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening"
Robert Frost, 1923

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Happy Fall!

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Phoenix - 10.18.10 @ Agganis Arena

2010-10-21T11:39:00.001-07:00

Had floor / standing room only seats for Phoenix @ Boston University's Agganis Arena. Young Hipsters / wannabe Francophiles rejoiced. Caught a glimpse of a troubling new coiffure phenomenon amongst said hipster set...

R. Patz Hair
(R. Patz is none other than Robert Pattinson from the teenage phenom "Twilight" films - for those of you not familiar with this silly but strangely entertaining / compelling teen idol)

This unfortunately coiffed fellow above gave my Mom and I quite a good chuckle. There were other offenders who escaped my camera... Interesting.

The show itself was great - high energy, clear, staged and lit well. Can't imagine a band like Phoenix being able to convey the full impact of their music in a venue much smaller than Agganis, but apparently their last visit to Boston they were at the Paradise. Blasphemy. Their show deserves a larger venue and their growing fandom will likely continue to demand that they sell out larger and larger shows in the years to come. I can see Phoenix putting on U. S. shows as large as Muse, The Fray, and Snow Patrol in the near future.

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Launch of Year 32

2010-10-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

17 - October - 2010

Ushered in my 32nd year on the planet in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Newport Bay Club & Hotel served as the base of operations for the weekend. we had a lovely one bedroom townhouse-style suite, complete with HUGE decks on each floor...

Such a shame it was not summertime - Newport is no joke come summer...

Having gone to college in Providence, I have spent many a weekend in and around Newport - but my familiarity with the town was absolutely NO MATCH to that of our virtual tour guide for the weekend, the incomparable Greg. He not only lived in Newport for several summers, but seems to have been one of Newport's favorite sons -- spending said summers boating, shopping, gaining entre to places like Bailey's Beach (a lovely private beach club), the Clambake Club, playing tennis on grass at the Tennis Hall of Fame, and calling oceanfront condominiums home base. Greg's recommendations, transmitted virtually and with dispatch, served us VERY well (and if we'd had more time or energy, would have thinned our wallets VERY well) ---but we weren't in town to par-tay and were therefore unable to take advantage of the shopping and live music venue tips he so helpfully offered up. No, we were in town to fuel up, rest, and RUN!

The main purpose of this long-planned weekend trip was to run the 2010 Newport Amica Marathon - relay style.

On Saturday night, we walked around the wharves, then fueled at the Black Pearl and Fluke. Then it was off to rest up for our 6AM wake up call!

Our team # 3931 consisted of 4 ladies, Annelei, Elizabeth, Holly, and myself. If I do say so myself, Team Mothership put in a respectable showing. It took us less than 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete the 26.2 mile course.

Though the morning was FRIGID,

We made the best of it! That's Annelei and I above, and Holly and I below...

Our team learned pretty quickly that the relay support was not well-organized at all (shuttle service between relay legs was practically nonexistent). However, the encouraging and enthusiastic spirits of my lovely teammates and the UTTER BEAUTY of the views along the race course made up for the logistical nightmares.

The lack of this simple transportation infrastructure adversely impacted our experience! It was sheer luck that there was an Amica Employee / Volunteer who was leaving Brenton Point Park in his personal vehicle shortly after I finished my leg of the race. Otherwise I would have been stranded. After running her leg, Annelei had to WALK the entire way back to the start / finish @ Easton's Beach. Elizabeth was smart and had her wonderful husband, Matthew, drop her at her start & meet her at her finish since the shuttle to get her to her start would have gotten her there a good 3 hours too early for her to get running! You'll never guess what Holly had to do to get to the start of the last leg - WALK THERE. Yup - after having run 6.85miles, she walked to her starting post about 3.5 miles from the finish...

A suggestion for next year - have a volunteer or small van available to drive loops between the start / finish and relay handoff points! See, they don't call me a Project Manager for nothing...

A suggestion for next year - have a volunteer or small van available to drive loops between the start / finish and relay handoff points.

Here's a breakdown of this year's course:

KRISTEN: Leg #1: 6.25 miles / Start to Brenton Point State Park:

The first relay leg is 6.25 miles and starts on Memorial Boulevard at Easton's Beach. The mostly flat leg runs up Memorial before turning left on Annandale and right on Narragansett. Next runners will head down Wellington Avenue where runners get a southerly view of Newport Harbor. At 3.5 miles, the course heads into Fort Adams for a brief loop along the water museum fortress. The last few miles of leg one traverse rural Ridge road and scenic Ocean Drive before the 1st handoff at Brenton Point State Park.

Here's me trying to get warmed up in the sun after finishing my 6.25 mi!

HOLLY - Leg #2: 6.85 miles - Brenton Point State Park to Easton's Beach

The second leg starts at Brenton Point State Park overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay. The relay legs covers the gently rolling hills of Ocean Drive as it follow the coastline to Bellevue Avenue. Runners pass by the world famous Newport Mansions on Bellevue Avenue before turning into Salve Regina University adjacent to the Cliff Walk and the Breakers Mansion. After a final turn onto Memorial Boulevard, runners are rewarded to a long downhill before the handoff at Easton’s Beach.

ANNELEI - Leg #3: 4.25 miles Easton’s Beach to corner of Sachuest Point Rd and Hanging Rock Rd.

The third relay leg is 4.25 miles and begins at bustling Easton’s Beach, where the City of Newport meets the seaside burgh of Middletown. A turn onto Tuckerman Avenue leads to a gradual rise before feeding back onto Purgatory Road and a sharp downhill to Sachuest Beach. The remaining portion of this leg are all flat and run along the Sachuest Beach and the Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge before the exchange point at the Hanging Rock Road gazebo.

ELIZABETH: Leg #4: 5.25 miles Corner of Sachuest and Hanging Rock to Vaucluse/Indian Ave Intersection

The fourth leg is 5.25 miles and runs along the Norman Bird Sanctuary and the Sakonnet River. This leg runs mostly on Indian Avenue where you will briefly get to run in the Town of Portsmouth and then be able to declare that you’ve run the entire Aquidneck Island. As you make your way back down Indian Avenue, your last handoff will be next to St. Columbus Church on the corners of Vaucluse Avenue and Indian Avenue.

HOLLY (AGAIN! YOU RULED!): Leg #5: 3.6 miles Vaucluse/Indian Ave Intersection to Finish line

The fifth and final leg will be a sprint to the finish. With a little more than 5k to go to the finish, the last runner will be faced with a challenging hill to start their leg and end with a sprint down Tuckerman Avenue to the beachside finish back at Easton’s Beach.

Here's a shot of Holly crossing the finish line!

After that, it was time to hit the Harpoon Beer Garden!

After re-fueling with some carbonated carbs (Mmmm, Harpoon IPA is great after a run), we headed back to MA. No down time for me - I happily gallivanted around Arlington, Burlington, and Woburn. My car got washed and re-fueled (again - like the Newport tips - thanks to Greg) and the night was capped with espresso, sambuca, and PERFECT tiramisu at Caffe Paradiso.

fin.

Stood Beneath An Orange Sky

2010-10-20T18:31:00.001-07:00

20 -October - 2010

Today's glowing orange -pink sunset was magnificent. Its fiery colors kept me company all the way to Salem. A lovely Fall evening - temperate, still, and clear.

I was taken aback by its beauty and instinctively snapped this photo to bear witness. Admittedly, the setting of my ofice parking lot does the beauty of this sunset little justice, but it's the best I could do with the time / tools allotted.

As is often the case, a beautiful sight called to mind a beautiful song. In this instance, said song was "Orange Sky" which you might recognize from the soundtrack to the movie "Garden State"

Well I had a dream I...
Stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream I...
Stood beneath an orange sky With my brother standing by
With my brother standing by
I said brother, you know you know
It's a long road we've been walking on
Brother you know it is,
you know it is Such a long road we've been walking on

And I had a dream I...
Stood beneath an orange sky
With my sister standing by
With my sister standing by
I said sister, here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love

But sister you know I'm so weary
And you know sister
My hearts been broken
Sometimes, sometimes
My mind is too strong to carry on
Too strong to carry on
When I am alone
When I've thrown off the weight of this crazy stone
When I've lost all care for the things I own
That's when I miss you, that's when I miss you, that's when I miss you
You who are my home
You who are my home
And here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this

In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, in your love, in your love

Well I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
Yes I had a dream I stood beneath an orange sky
With my brother and my sister standing by

"Nice" Things On A Saturday

2010-10-09T09:51:00.001-07:00

It is a nice Saturday in Medford / Somerville.

All this spending time in Somerville / Medford this Summer and Fall has me feeling like I am channeling my Italian Nana (Nana Bella) a bit. She lived the vast majority of her adult life on Fremont Street in Somerville. She described good things / things she enjoyed or wanted others to enjoy as "nice". For example: "Kristen, let me make you a 'nice' pizza or chicken parm." Or, "Kristen, I just ate a 'nice' cold cut sangwich."

My "nice" Saturday started with some nice post-midnight French Press Coffee (to fuel awakedness for several episodes of True Blood). A (very) nice night's sleep followed. Now I am enjoying a nice hot hot pre-pedi foot bath and manicure at Princess Nails on Broadway in Somerville, MA.

O.P.I. color going on my toes: "I've Got The Blues For Red" (on the left, below)

On my hands: "William Tell Me About" (on the right, below)

Sitting back in a "nice" massage chair for my pedi and sipping on a "nice" dirty chai latte from True Grounds in Ball Square. Going to have a "nice" coffee roll from Lyndell's later on.

Nana Bella would have enjoyed this "nice" Saturday morning!

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Sun Valley Sweetheart

2010-10-08T13:58:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to my girl, Jenna, on her newest gig - blogging for Sun Valley (Idaho) Magazine!

As if she were not busy enough with a full time+ job, running a successful pet-sitting company, Antelope Drive (her personal blog), caring for one adorable & sweet husband, two pooches, and four (I think) hens.

Sorry, dear reader(s), I still haven't figured out how to make links "work" via Blogpress for my iPhone... So y'all just cut & paste, mmmkay?

http://www.sunvalleymag.com/Blogs/Fetch/Summer-2010/Leaf-Peeping/

Jenna's personal blog can be found at:

http://jresko.wordpress.com/

Look forward to reading your musings, Mrs. Resko! xxoo - Kri

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Song Obsession For A Rainy Day

2010-10-06T06:09:00.001-07:00

Yep. I've done it again.

Found a new tune that I will most likely play incessantly over the next few days... Until I get super busy and forget all about it or something superior comes along (like another series of Jose Carreras YouTube links) to distract me.

This week's obsession is Great Northern's "Driveway" (from their album Remind Me Where The Light Is).

As has been the case with me and my musical obsessions / recommendations lately, this is not a cutting edge "new" release. I am no longer on the frontlines of discovering off-label, brand spankin new music (after some brief research I have learned this song was featured on Grey's Anatomy at some point and I beleive even made it onto an end-of-season compilation album - yeah, so the masses have already been exposed to it). But wanted to share nonetheless.

This song, and the whole album, really, is perfect for listening to on a rainy fall day such as we have been having lately. It is filled with dark tones, multilayered instrumentation, mesmerizing vocals, and crystal clear melodies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oirT62lM1Hw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Enjoy!

And to those of you who are only happy when it rains, rejoice!

Driveway:

If you're looking out your window
And you say you're gone
And you're staring at the ceiling
And where we're from

Remember when you wake up
Don't forget, turn out the light
'Cause I'm looking out my window
For you every night, oh

Did you have a thought
Did you remember what
And if we go sailing
Down the old oh front

If you're looking out your window
When you ride away
And you're staring at the ceiling

To try and get away
You told us to decide
What we want today
But I don't know, oh

Did you have a thought, oh
Did you remember what
And if we go sailing
Down the old, oh front, ooh

Did you have a thought oh
Did you remember what
And if we go sailing
Down the old, oh front

Did you have a thought
Did you remember what
Did you write a letter
Did you not forget her

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Do It Anyway

2010-10-06T05:29:00.001-07:00

DO IT ANYWAY
by Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may cheat you;
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, someone could destroy overnight;
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it will never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Discovery of the prose above thanks to Marta of http://www.martawrites.com

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Opening Night @ The Boston Symphony Orchestra

2010-10-04T08:19:00.001-07:00

Following a harrowing, nearly-late arrival, musical wonderment ensued:

Forgive the shoddy iPhone shot (taken stealthily while the usher posted near us was seating some latecomers).

Thanks to Greg for the delightful evening entertainment; both at Symphony Hall and later, at dinner in Medford. From the sublime performance to the unhinged but amusing dinner conversation, the evening was unique and memorable. As has been every evening spent in your company.

Gavin Castleton @ The Middle East, 9.30.10

2010-09-30T23:55:00.001-07:00

Waaay back in the day (1994-1996) the Middle East in Cambridge - Mostly Downstairs - was a bit of a regular hang out spot for Rebecca G. Kevin D. and I.

I remember going to check out The Push Kings every chance we got. Also The Dambuilders, Morphine, the Gravel Pit, and Resolve.

'Twas a good couple of years of music.

Tonight I went to see Gavin Castleton and am happy to report that he and his crew (as well as openers Happy Body Slow Brain - strange name but they ruled) upheld the legacy of original, talented performances that have put The Middle East on the map.

Gavin was fabulous. It was his CD release for the new album,"Won Over Frequency".

I hope to see him again. Am definitely grabbing a copy of his new album, Won Over Frequency. And if you dig that, you must check out "Home". Pure musical perfection!

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Searching For A Heart Of Gold

2010-09-30T07:57:00.001-07:00

Just listened to one of my all-time favorite songs from the much-beloved-by-me singer/songwriter genre.

"Heart of Gold" by Neil Young.

Since hearing a lovely tune by Mr. Young in the soundtrack to a documentary about (crazy talented / critically lauded / emotionally and socially complex) architecht, Louis Khan, I have been pondering the greatness of Young's seasonally appropriate "Harvest" album.

"Heart of Gold" and "Harvest Moon" are two timeless tunes that I remember playing repeatedly on my parents' 45" player throughout my elementary / middle school days. Also in heavy rotation by DJ Kristen Scioli were the Beatles' "Love Songs" album, "Everything I Own" by Bread (swoon), and several Beach Boys albums.

Here's a link for those interested in learning a bit about the aforementioned Louis Khan. Blogpress does not want to let me use HTML to imbed links... Must fix that soon.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Kahn?wasRedirected=true

And that awesome Anatomical Heart (of gold) Bauble pictured above is available from Etsy Seller billyblue22 -
http://tiny.cc/9v4so

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On Beauty by Audrey

2010-09-29T19:57:00.001-07:00

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

- Audrey Hepburn

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Deadly Ex's

2010-09-14T19:26:00.001-07:00

Worry not, two loyal readers...

I am not speaking of any of "my" ex's being deadly. Rather, a certain Ms. Ramona Flowers' ex's were pretty badass...

Tonight I went to see...

The movie was clever, escapist, sweet, and visually interesting. I liked it a lot. The music in it was pretty good. Casting was spot on.

The band Michael Cera's character is bassist of is called Sex Bob-omb. I loved that. Nothing like a good Mario Bros. reference to make one feel nostalgic. There's some great useage of other videogame music, sounds, and graphics (Legend of Zelda, Mortal Kombat, and some that are too obscure for this gal who never really scratched beneath the surface of mainstream 80s Nintendo games).

So I give "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" 2 bums up. I mean thumbs. Have bums on the brain today, apparently.

Now I need to go get me the graphic novels (or are these legit comics? I was absent from nerd school the day the distinction was taught).

Enjoy!

Happiness Is(n't) Overrated

2010-09-10T04:46:00.000-07:00

The Airborne Toxic Event @ The Somerville Theater. 9.8.10

Made me happy...

Kite Runner

2010-08-21T10:56:00.001-07:00

Mr. Lorenzo Eggleston indulging in his favorite beach-based pastrime, kite flying. Boy gets that Spiderman kite quite high!

He's getting new recruits!

Ahh, beach day...

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New Sounds from Keane

2010-08-17T03:19:00.000-07:00

Have you heard any of the new Keane album "Night Train" yet?

Just downloaded it for only $6.99 via iTunes after listening to the first single, "Stop for A Minute". Sounds like a bargain, but the entire album is only a whopping 31 minutes. Not exactly opus-length.

I have to share with you that I really like "Stop for A Minute". I like it most right up to featured artist K'Naan's rap segment in the middle of the song that features the cheesy-ass line, "Baby, you are just beautiful from your crown to your cuticles", and some other grating, semi-autotuned rapping. Thanks, K'Naan for taking me out of my love groove for this song. But corny rap aside, it is still real good and really, really catchy.

"Night Train" doesn't really sound like what you would expect, given the old Keane stuff. Remember the signature piano accompaniment sound coupled with Tom Chaplin's /smooth vocals on "This Is The Last Time" and "Everything Is Changing..."? The 8 tracks on "Night Train" no longer give us a Keane focused on vocals or classical accompaniment. Rather, the vocals and traditional instrumentation are used only as melody... with the melody competing with lots of electronicized back beat. Reminds me of the Broken Bells (think hand claps) but the digital arrangements aren't as multi-layered and complex as BB's offerings.

Not sure how long it will be $6.99 given the short length of the album, this may always be the iTunes price, and it did come with a video of "Stop for A Minute", which I enjoyed. The stop motion is a cool effect.

Have a look & listen & see what you think:

Ray Lamontagne's New Album Streaming on NPR.org

2010-08-10T06:51:00.001-07:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128986999&utm_medium=rca-email&utm_source=raylamontagne&utm_campaign=rca-email%7Craylamontagne%7C20100810

Hopefully that link will work for y'all as I am using my iPhone Blogpress sans snazzy HTML editor... If not just go to NPR.org and link through to Ray goodliness.

God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise is Ray's newest album as well as his first recording with his backing band, "Pariah Dogs" featuring Jay Bellarose on drums, Jennifer Condos on bass, Patrick Warren on keys, Eric Heywood on guitar and Greg Leisz on steel guitar.

Tour starts Sunday (with my beloved David Gray), I am going to see the Tuesday, August 17th show at the Bank of America Pavillion in Boston (formerly Harborlights). Really looking forward to the show. Even though Ray often seems uncomfortable on stage and his audience banter is close to nil, his music never fails to sound amazing live.

And of course there's David Gray to look forward to. Can't wait to hear his smooth, beautiful music live again. This will be my 5th DG show, been seeing him whenever he is in/around town since 2001. Of course seeing him at Rathfarnum in the outskirts of Dublin in 2001 is my most fondly remembered David Gray experience... Despite having to watch the show in the rain under my gore-tex and umbrella. Amaaaazing venue, superb show.

So off to the Bank of America / Harborlights Pavillion I will go with my live music loving date for the night - Moms (thanks for the early, early bday present, Justin)!

On to a semi-unrelated topic, why do they always re-name these concert venues? Prime example - the Comcast Center in Foxboro will always be "Great Woods" to me - damn corporate sponsorships wanting their name plastered on everything under the sun...

What's your favorite place to see a show? Favorite concert experiences to share?

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Phoenix sounds like a male Teagan & Sara

2010-08-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

Listening to "Girlfriend" by Phoenix and it is really reminding me of "I know, I know, I know" & "Back in Your Head" by Teagan & Sara.

Take a listen if you have time and tell me if you glean the similarities also...

I give you Phoenix:

...and I give you Teagan & Sara:

I think I feel a new playlist coming on!

A Happy Catchy playlist...

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Absinthe Makes The Heart Grow Fonder (Californication)

2010-08-07T18:49:00.001-07:00

I am finally getting around to watching Californication. Netflix instant gratification means I have been able to watch Season One via the Wii. It is a little more than moderately entertaining. Just a fun romp through Cali featuring clever banter and David Duchovny having lots of sex. Good escapist television.

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Stuff My Mom Says

2010-08-07T08:14:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I think I should start my own "Stuff My Mom Says" blog. Was watching season 4 of How I Met Your Mother on demand and said to her, "I love this show, I never watched it regularly but now I'm obsessed."

She says, "It's not good to be obsessed with anything, Kristen."

Oooooh-kay.

Have you seen Shit My Dad Says?

Methinks I may have some gems on my hands pretty soon courtesy of one Mrs. Kathleen P. Scioli.

Love you, Mom!

Photo from Mother's Day 2009 Dinner @ Mission Oak Grill

Lake Sunapee - July 2010

2010-08-04T15:31:00.001-07:00

Was lucky enough to spend time at this loverly abode:

With this loverly lady:

My pal Rebecca & her loverly husband, David, and their equally loverly dog, Wyatt:

We took full advantage of the sun, water, and peacefulness of Lake Sunapee.

Blissfullness.

Only Cousins / Only You

2010-07-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

I have a fantastic family. They have supported me, shaped and influenced me, and encouraged me to continually improve upon myself by sharing their own trials and successes with me. Denise is my mother’s sister’s daughter, ie. my first cousin.

Over the course of our 31 and 33 years respectively, she and I have bonded over everything: baby dolls, barbies, my little ponies, easter egg coloring, boys, singing along to 80s pop music, perms, bangs, school plays, school music (band for Den, chorus for me), boys, school dances, sweet sixteens, proms, college, boys, marriages, and life in general.

Last night, thanks to her, I enjoyed one of those effortless times that only seem to happen in the company of those who know and love you best – one’s family...

Denise is an amazingly strong, loving, and brilliant person. It was not entirely fair of me to unload all of my current thoughts, worries, and excitements on her shoulders the way I did… But as always, Denise listened, digested what I had to say, and asked probing questions that left no doubt in my mind that she had not only heard everything I had to say but truly UNDERSTOOD me. It made me so thankful for having such a thoughtful cousin.

From restaurant to bar (and bar), she welcomed all of my stories and listened with the kind concern of a sister.

Getting to the point of the "Only You" title of this post...
Music has always been something we appreciate. Since performing outside of the purview of our grandfather’s VHS camcorder was not in the cards for us (we are known in the greater Wallace family circle for our rendition of Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All”), we instead developed into connoisseurs of good music.

Last night on our journey through a few of Boston’s finer dining establishments, we discussed and listened to lots of good tunes/bands. I heard this song at Pigalle that I have always loved but could never place. Originally an 80’s tune (written by Vince Clark of Depeche Mode) it was first recorded by the obscure band, Yazoo.

The version we heard at Pigalle was by Joshua Radin.

A few incarnations of his recording of "Only You" exist out there on the interwebs (mostly via YouTube) but my two favorites are this version from “We Were Here”

And this one (featuring Imogean Heap) from Joshua Radin’s Live Session (iTunes Exclusive) – EP. Anyone who knows me well, doesn’t need me to tell you this - I have been listening to these two songs on repeat all day.

Looking forward to discovering great music and venues via Denise (and her amazingly talented percussionist husband, the Dux) this year.

Review: Othello On The Common

2010-07-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

It was a great treat to see Othello on Boston Common last night.

Seth Gilliam did not disappoint as Othello. He played his role powerfully yet measured, and highlighted the uneasy romantic nature of Othello. While Othello is the titular character, I view / read Othello as being more about "Honest" Iago. The despicable Iago is the puppeteer of this play and the pace of the performance really hinges on Iago. Were it not for Iago's manipulation of Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello all due to his bruised ego, sullen at being glanced over for a promotion, we would be left with a little but a boring wartime love story.

James Waterston was not the most compelling Iago I have seen, mostly because he made the choice to play Iago in a way that failed to give the audience a good glimpse at Iago's sinister nature. Waterston, though a technically proficient actor in this role, gave little to no effort to spotlight the underlying evil that compels Iago's actions. Given that the setting was an outdoor park venue, I suppose it was a stylistic choice to avoid making an already heavy tragedy even heavier by having Waterston play Iago too darkly.

The actors who have created a lasting impression in the role of Iago (in my mind) truly vamp it up as a villainous role. This may seem too campy to some thespians but in my opinion, the most successful Iago's play him in such a way that highlight his amorality and bitterness during his many monologues. Yet, by also showcasing Iago's ability to hide his true nature during scenes in which Iago is planting suggestions in the minds of Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello - the contrast is what is key. What makes Iago work is the actor's ability to demonstrate the effortless duplicity that the dialogue suggests.

On to the women - Marianna Bassham truly lit up the stage as Desdemona with her talent and beauty (whoever styled her hair for this performance has some amazing skills). While Desdemona's scenes are limited in earlier acts to establish her as a proper noblewoman and loving wife, Bassham shone in the final acts.

Adrianne Krstansky also stood out as Emilia, Desdemona's lady-in-waiting / maid. Emilia, Iago's wife is one of my favorite Shakespearean characters; cunning, loyal, moral, and wanton. Krstansky was perfect. Emilia delivers my favorite quote from Othello:

"Certainly Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
They eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
They belch us."

Oh Shakespeare, you have captured the plight of an unappreciated woman perfectly.

And Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, you have done it again with a fantastic production on Boston Common.

I intend to be a repeat attender so loyal reader(s), let me know if you want to join me sometime before August 15th.

Othello On The Common

2010-07-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's Othello opens tonight on Boston Common.

This dreamy man, Seth Gilliam, will be playing "The Moor", Othello. You may recognize him from HBO's amazing crime drama series, "The Wire". He won many fans (myself included) with his portrayal of Sgt./Det. Ellis Carver. Though not as compelling as the always-entertaining thug, Omar, or the rise fall of McNulty -Carver's transition from apathetic rookie to seasoned veteran was a well thought out secondary storyline that gathered momentum as each incredible season went on. (image above from buddytv.com)

Can't wait to enjoy this FREE alfresco summer treat. Who says NYC'ers should have all the free outdoor Shakespeare fun?

Playing through August 15th. You must go.

Visit http://commshakes.org/ for more details and show times.

Enjoy!

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Eat, Drink, And Be Married

2010-07-22T18:55:00.001-07:00

Congratulations, Blake and Meredith!

7.17.10
East Providence, RI
Squantum Association

A beautiful day for an equally beautiful couple.

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Bizarre Blueberries

2010-07-16T05:12:00.001-07:00

Went to make a blueberry - mango smoothie this morning from some frozen fruits. As I went to add the bloobs, I noticed that the contents of the bag had fused into one solid clump. While I took the butt end of a butter knife to the frozen mass of "Wild Maine Blueberries"; emphasis on MAINE, I saw this:

Wild Maine Blueberries... A product of Canada, apparently.

Resolution # 1,003

2010-07-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

While searching in vain for some of my favorite poetry by June Jordan, I did not come across exactly what I was looking for but found some other beautifully crafted strings of prose / thoughts to be mindful of.

Among the words that stuck a chord with me tonight was this feisty offering - June Jordan's Resolution #1,003.

Resolution # 1,003 by June Jordan

I will love who loves me
I will love as much as I am loved
I will hate who hates me
I will feel nothing for everyone oblivious to me
I will stay indifferent to indifference
I will live hostile to hostility
I will make myself a passionate and eager lover
In response to passionate and eager love
I will be nobody's fool

How I adore the voice of the late Ms. Jordan. It is SO fierce and independent - so honest about her feeling about where she fits in the world in relation to others. Her poetry is strong, yet soft. It practically screams out her desire to love, to be loved, and to be cherished for who she is, body and mind.

Isn't it the dream of all starry eyed contemplative lovers to continually refine our character and stay true to that image, while finding someone in the universe who appreciates, honors, and craves you - and whom you appreciate honor, and crave back?

Poetry on A Whim - "Things to Be Desired"

2010-07-13T18:39:00.000-07:00

Brain Print by Ork! Posters

I have been living a lot in my head as of late. Been doing a lot of thinking about the future. About life, the universe, and everything - and this had me feeling nostalgic for some old favorite poems.

So tonight, on a whim and with some time to myself to spare, I searched the interwebs (unsuccessfully) for one of my favorite poems by June Jordan from her collection, Haruko/Love Poems. I recall most snippets of it from memory but the entire passage evades me. And since I couldn't find it reproduced anywhere online, will continue to do so until I pick up a copy of this book.

Rather than finding what I was looking for specifically, I did come across another old favorite piece of prose. It is one that may be familiar as is sort of one of those poems you've heard bits and pieces of here and there. One you'd expect to be included on some motivational poster somewhere or inscribed on the cover of a "Congratulations, Graduate!" Hallmark card.

It speaks strongly to me and what I needed to have articulated for me this evening. The author is Max Ehrmann, a poet and lawyer from Terre Haute, Indiana, who lived from 1872 to 1945. Desiderata is Latin, translated loosley as "things to be desired"

Desiderata

By Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs.

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

It is said that Desiderata was inspired by an urge that Ehrmann wrote about in his diary: "I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift -- a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods."1 Such a beautiful sentiment. Isn't that all we can hope for, that one day we leave a humble gift to the world through our own skill or creation? I wonder what my humble gift to the world will be.

Though it sounds cliched, only time will tell. All I know right now is that I do intend to leave one.

1 - From http://www.fleurdelis.com

Turning Over A New Leaf

2010-07-11T19:51:00.001-07:00

Did you know Nissan will soon be offering the first widely available electric vehicle?

Yay, Nissan Leaf!

The overall cost is just under $27,000 (after tax credits) for the souped-up SL. The costs include home installation of a handy dandy charging station.

Seeing as my automobile costs are currently pretty low (gas, registration, & insurance), the Leaf is a bit rich for my blood. Even the lease price is close to $400/month.

I wonder how the energy savings will offset the initial costs (financial and environmental). Some critics of "green" technology will surely be examining how much energy is being expended to manufacture the vehicle itself and making an assessment as to whether or not the savings to the environment are measurable.

Come December, when the Leaf is expected to be released here in the US, we shall find out.

I totally take back...

2010-07-10T12:36:00.001-07:00

All those times my I refused guacamole as a kid. I could practically live on this stuff.

This photo just taken @ Agave.

I also take back all those times I did NOT want to nap.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Rain, Rain, Go Away. Evan Dando Wants to Play

2010-07-10T08:15:00.001-07:00

The heatwave that has been pounding Northeastern Massachusetts for the past week is due to be broken to tonight by some showers and maybe a thunderstorm or two. Not ideal conditions for an outdoor concert, but the Lemonheads are playing rain or shine at Newburyport's Waterfront Park tonight at 5.

I will be there rain or shine, happy to take an auditory trip back to 1995, when the album "Come on Feel The Lemonheads" was in heavy rotation on my Sony Discman. I had it rigged up to play through the tape deck of my 1983 Mercury Cougar, aka "The Rav" (short for ravioli). Rememer the way those things skipped like crazy? Well, it was only worse in my car. But those were some low tech days, sans cell phones, iPods, gps devices, etc.

I am excited to find out what tunes they pull out of their catalogue. I am sure we'll hear "Into Your Arms", "It's A Shame About Ray" and their most well-known song, Beatles cover, "Mrs. Robinson".

I am also hoping to hear "If I Could Talk I'd Tell You" and a song that will always remind me of high school and driving around with my pal Jenny, "Dawn Can't Decide". Juliana Hatfield may not be around to provide the female backing vocals for "Dawn Can't Decide", but I'm available! And if Alissa lets me borrow her hot D&G sunglasses again like she did last summer, I'm all set!
See?

Bah bah bah baaaah,
Bah bah bah bah bahba bahbaba bah bah bah bahbaaah, Whoo!

Juliana, eat your heart out.

I'm Looking at Three Man in The Mirror

2010-07-09T19:43:00.001-07:00

Three Man.

A fun dice / drinking game that often gets played amongst my work friends. Everyone gets to know one another pretty quickly playing this game. And it is not anywhere near as messy as the famed Providence College pastime, FLIP CUP.

All you need are 2 dice, some beverages, and good friends. Everyone sits in a circle. The first order of business is to determine the Three Man. The first person to roll a three becomes the "Three Man".

The player to the left of the Three Man goes first, and play continues in a clockwise direction. The player then rolls both dice and acts according to the following combinations, painstakingly laid out by http://www.webtender.com :

Rather than drinking "numbers" we just make the offender take a sip each time a drinking event comes up. Drinking for counts would make for a very short game as our bodies are no longer suited for hardcore drinking games. In fact, I have never played this one until meeting one Mr. Lorenzo Eggleston. Here's a photo of me & Lo:

Back to the rules. Like any good drinking game there are many variations. My personal favorite is that if any player throws (3) threes, they can make a rule.

1:1 Doubles - see below
1:2 Three man drinks (sum to 3)
1:3 Three man drinks (three on die)
1:4 Thumb to table or floor (playing surface)
1:5 Index finger to side of nose.
1:6 Player to left of roller drinks (7 left/11 right)
2:2 Doubles - see below
2:3 Three man drinks (three on die)
2:4 Pass turn
2:5 Player to left of roller drinks (7 left/11 right)
2:6 Pass turn
3:3 Doubles - see below; three drinks twice
3:4 Three man drinks; player to left of roller drinks
3:5 Three man drinks
3:6 Three man drinks; Social
4:4 Doubles - see below
4:5 Social
4:6 Pass turn
5:5 Doubles - see below
5:6 Player to right of roller drinks (7 left/11 right)
6:6 Doubles - see below

If on the Three Man's turn, s/he rolls a three or combination thereof, s/he is no longer the Three Man and then can designate any other player as the new Three Man. (This also includes if the Three Man rolls during a doubles give; see below)

Social: Everybody drinks

Doubles: The roller has the option of giving both dice to one player or one dice to two players. Whatever the case, the dice are rolled and the number on the dice is what that person(s) have to drink. (ie. roller gives the dice to Y and Z. Y rolls a 3 and Z rolls a five, Y drinks 3, Z drinks 5. Or Y gets both both dice and rolls a 3:5, Y then drinks 8.) However, if the given dice roll to doubles, the original roller has to drink that amount. But the original roller also keeps the turn.

To condense everything:
Total of 7 player to right of roller drinks
Total of 11 player to left of roller drinks
Total of 9 Social
Any 3 or sum to 3 Three man drinks
1 and 4 thumb on floor
1 and 5 finger on nose
Doubles give 'em away

Work hard, play hard.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dazed and Infused

2010-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend I bought a bottle of strawberry-basil balsamic vinegar. Splashed on top of a fresh caprese salad, it was cool heaven on a plate. The strawberry did not add sweetness, rather milded out the tartness of the vinegar. The basil added a delicious earthiness to the bright tomatoes and fresh mozzerella. I was out of fresh basil so the vinegar pulled double duty and did not disappoint.

I also love infused oils, vinegars, and sugars. And of course, more adult infusions. Get your mind out tha gutter, I am talking about infused spirits!

This past winter I infused vodka (Tahitian Vanilla and Grapefruit were the flavors I chose) and this Christmas, I plan to launch my spirits infusing operation on a larger scale. I am thinking ginger, cranberry and raspberry are in order. I am also planning to make a switch of the grapefruit to infuse some gin along with elderflower (inspired by Absolut Boston's black tea and elderflower flavor). Anyone for some taste testing?

Tonight I sampled some habanero infused hornitos resposado tequilla this in the form of Masa's signature Watermelon Habanero Margarita. Definitely a drink to be sipped and savored as the sweet spicy combo has bite! Delicious, fiery, heat. Love this stuff:

Masa also features a sweet hibiscus caiparinha. To me, regular caiparinhas are just dandy (especially at Orleans in Davis Square or Evenfall just up the road in Bradford), but if they are too strong or sweet for your liking, do try this:

That's an edible hisbiscus blossom on top. Tasted like a combo lychee-pear- grape.

On Thursdays, Masa has an unbelievable tapas platter deal. Just $5 gets you an individual ortion of all 10 of their tapas offerings. Yep, that's 50 CENTS each! Mom and I each enjoyed one platter. The bacon-wrapped almond dates were our favorite so of course we ordered a couple extras of those as "dessert". Such a great mother-daughter outing!

Have a great Thursday! Work week is nearly over!

My Kind of Summer Blockbusters

2010-07-07T19:29:00.001-07:00

When I think of Summer Movies, I don't think of hyped-up big budget studio offerings like the Transformers, Terminator, or Indiana Jones blockbusters that are pumped out to drive the masses to the theaters.

No - I think of those beautiful, epic films that swept me off to exotic (and hot) locations.

The heat (both literal heat and figurative "heat" between the amazing characters) in these films is what comes to mind when I think of a summer movie.

1) The Painted Veil

If you haven't seen The Painted Veil yet, add it to your Netflix / DVR as soon as possible and watch it one evening when you have a good 2 hours or so to really commit to this British-paced (read: slowly paced) drama. Aesthetically one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. The story follows Edward Norton, a doctor, who journeys to rural China with his unfaithful wife (played by Naomi Watts) during a severe cholera outbreak. The tension between Naomi Watts' & Edward Nortons' characters is haunting. Be patient with this one - the plot gathers steam & speed as it progresses. Just enjoy the amazing cinematography while the plot is lumbering, before you know it you will be wrapped up in each scene. "Sometimes the greatest journey is the distance between two people."

2) Love in the Time of Cholera

While we're on the topic of cholera (har de har har), this devestatingly romantic novel by Gabriel García Márquez was recently turned into a film. I recall being unimpressed by the portrayal of the female lead, Fermina, in the movie - the character comes off very unsympathetically. Also, John Leguizamo, who I normally adore, is not quite the best fit as Fermina's father. Nonethless, I enjoyed this movie. Maybe it was me projecting the romaticism that pervades the novel onto the film, maybe it was my adoration for Javier Bardem, or the beautiful depiction of 19th century life in Cartagena, Colombia, but I definitely think this movie is a good summer flick. Spanning several decades, Love in the Time of Cholera follows its characters as their lives and loves weave in and out of post-colonial societal norms. The novel far surpasses the film adaptation but the movie is still worth watching for some summer heat.

3) Out of Africa

Meryl Streep. Robert Redford. 7 Oscars. Need I say more? An American film classic, yet still very watchable today. If Out of Africa has not yet made its way into your life, bring it on.

4) Like Water For Chocolate

Like Love in the Time of Cholera, Like Water for Chocolate is adapted from a superior novel, but the film is still worth a viewing or two. Set in Mexico in the early 1900's, Like Water for Chocolate features delectable scenes, both focused on cooking (the main female character, Tita, is the youngest daughter of a traditional Mexican mother and as such, cannot marry before her relatively disgusting older sister - and even then, perhaps not at all because Tita's mother insists that Tita's duty be to take care of the family - ie. the mother). Pedro, desparately in love with Tita, marries her sister as the only way he can hope to stay close by her. Again, the shine of the film may glean something from the beautifully written novel, but overall, Like Water for Chocolate is well done & an entertaining (and at times, hot) movie.

Some more hot summer movies that come to mind:

HOT as in the chemistry in this movie is HOT HOT HOT, just hot:
Mississippi Masala

HOT as in set mostly on a train in damn HOT India with HOT actors:
The Darjeeling Limited

HOT as in filled with HOT actors, comedians, and funny as hell. Also has "HOT" in the title:
Wet Hot American Summer

I'm going to bed now, it is HOT.

What are your favorite summer / hot movies?

Mad Hectic Breakfasts

2010-07-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

A staple of my morning routine all Fall and Winter was old-fashioned oatmeal.

Anyone sitting in a cube nearby me would either get a whiff of my pumpkin oats or banana oats each & every morning.

I alternated adding things like chia seeds, ground flax, and on occasion, protien powder or (don't knock it) acouple of tablespoons of liquid egg whites. It made for a pretty cluttered countertop dueing oatmeal prep: container of oats, flax, chia, whatever fruit I was adding, usually a tablespoon or two of agave nectar, and spices.

Nonetheless, I loved making oatmeal for breakfast every morning because it was easy to pack up in some BPA-free plasticware and bring with me to work. Once at the office, I would add water & zap it in the microwave. Easy.

My desire to eat a hot breakfast has understandably dwindled since the weather has turned from mild New England bluster to full blown summer. I have been breaking out the trusty blender and making smoothies for my morning meal. To get a little extra protien I have been adding plain oikos organic greek yogurt, 2 cups of mixed frozen fruit (fave combo is peach & raspberry), and the smooth operator that blends the lusciousness all together is this beauty:

Trader Joe's Green Plant Juice - looks can be decieving as this juice is DELICIOUS. Tastes like a healthy / tropical blend of pineapply mango (to me). There is spinach, kale, broccoli, and spirulina in there. So good for you.

I have a handy covered 18 oz shaker cup that I dump the smoothieness into and bring with me in my car as a "go cup". Smoothies make traffic more bearable.

So far this summer, drinking my breakfast on my way to work works for me but there is way more clean-up (I have to rinse & dry the blender before I leave for work because I am a useless mess by 7:30-8PM when I finally drag my butt in from work), and I am apt to spill the damn thing on myself, despite my best efforts and a pretty tight seal on my go cup. Grace is not my middle name.

Also, I am noticing I have been getting hungry for lunch at like 11:00ish rather than noonish. I chalk this up to the fact that I am drinking this about 1/2 hour -45 minutes earlier than I would eat my oatmealy breakfast and the smoothies, though they win vs. the oatmeal in the protein department, just don't cut it when it comes to providing me with the belly-satiating fiber that I need to feel full.

I am thinking of mixing it up 1-2 days a week to bring my beloved oatmeal back. As I mentioned, summer is here with a vengance and has taken my appetite for hot foods with it.

Enter - Overnight oats.

(Photo from one of my must-read blog faves, Kailey @ Snackface)

Overnight oats take the same ratio one would use to prepare their normal old-fashioned / steel-cut oats (roughly 1:1, I like slightly more oatmeal to milk / water) but rather than heat to cook, one mixes the batch up, covers it, and refrigerates overnight. Voila, in the morning there is a healthy bowl of filling oats waiting for you in the fridge, ready for you to doctor up with whatever fixings you desire (strawberries, bananas and flax sounding particularly good to me right now).

Getting some protein into the oatmeal without also eating a side of eggs or yogurt is a bit of a challenge but I remembered seeing this product, Mad Hectic Oatmeal, featured by Tina @ Carrots N' Cake.

Mad Hectic Oatmeal is a great-tasting, high-protein hot oatmeal cereal mix created to be an easy way to get important nutrients into your daily routine. It is oatmeal with whey protien, ground flax, and other goodies already in the mix! No need to measure out add-ins or bust out many different jars & containers to make your perfect oatmeal meal. Love. It.

Flavor options are yummy too: Almond Pecan, Raspberry Almond, Red Raspberry and Strawberry Pecan plus two flavors for chocoholics - Chocolate Raspberry and French Chocolate. I just ordered some Red Raspberry & I can't wait to try it out using the overnight oats method.

All this writing about food is making me hungry - time for some banana soft-serve.

I (used to) Listen to Bands That Don't Even Exist Yet

2010-07-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I must say I am really falling behind in my misogynistic music snobbery.

The last two bands that I have been really impressed (obsessed) with: Broken Bells and Mumford & Sons came to my attention via my younger and much hipper brother. The studyent has become the master. I remember days when he would besmirch my Push Kings / Mary Lou Lord ? mighty MIghty Bosstone / Buffalo Tom / Lemonheads / Juliana Hatfield / Morphine mixes while I, the tres indie high school Senior drove his wise-ass Freshman self to school.

Hmmm.

The type pasted above is from a Type Tees t-shirt I actually own, but no longer deserve. It used to ironically speak to what was once a big part of my identity. I once read up on music, I listened with a critical ear, I giddily introduced my friends and family to the latest soon-to-be-great bands and singer/songwriters. But alas, I feel that part of me has been taking a bit of a snoozer.

I have devised a plan of attack to re-awaken my new music radar:

1) More Pandora and Last FM, less NPR. Who needs to know what is going on in the world when a hige part of my music credibility is in danger of being lost forever?

2) Re-subscribe to KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. I stopped subscribing to this podcast because it seemed to bend more to establish artists than breaking new ones over the past few years but a new look at some recent guests was humbling as I knew few of them. If you are into music interviews sprinkled with some live performances, I highly recommend Morning Becomes Eclectic

3) Cut some of the design / craft / foodie blogs from my Reader and replace them with some good music blogs. Though I should really be trimming the fat from the many blogs I read and leave them trimmed, I have a relatively carefully curated listing of blogs that teach me stuff, blogs that include pretty things to look at or eat, and blogs that I read because they are downright well written or funny. But you know, I don't really need to be on the cutting edge of typography or veganism when I can be bolstering my persona as one in the know about adorable male-fronted bands and sensitive bearded troubadours (also male) like Iron and Wine's Sam Beam & William Fitzsimmons.

4) During my 10k training, need to take at least one day / week to listen to new music on my jogs. My old standbys are pumpin music interspersed with "This American Life", "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" and old episodes of Jilliam Michaels' KFI radio show. I think I can bear at least 1 session / week without blowing out my eardrums with tumpin bass in the name of new, good music.

5) Hang out with my Mom and Brother more (while listening to Boston's WFNX, apparently)

So, more on my "discovery" of these two bands, Broken Bells and Mumford & Sons, my delayed adoration of their tunes was even more delayed than even I knew.

First, it was Broken Bells, who my brother kindly introduced me to The High Road at 3PM one afternoon at work thereby destroying my abiliity to focus on anything else until I downloaded the entire album. Thank goodness for mobile itunes. So good for instant gratification of being able to buy & play almost immediately. SWOON.

On my way home that night, called my music-loving mother to tell her about the new tunes I had acquired, so sure the Broken Bells were on the cutting edge - after all the main project of the frontman, James Mercer, is the Shins. As I excitedly tell my mom about them, she's like, "Yeah, I know them, Broken Bells, they are on FNX all the time, you know that song.. with the unintelligible lyrics". Humbling, yes. But my Mother is the audiophile I learned from - were it not for her love of Led Zeppelin, The Who, U2, INXS, and now Audioslave, my music-loving pedigree would bear no crest. Plus it was fun to fill her in on the actual lyrics, which are a bit unintelligible but not impossible to discern.

Last week, on June 30th to be exact, my Mother's musical prowess trumped mine yet a second time as I learned that the first single "Little Lion Man" by my newest love, Mumford & Sons had been playing on WFNX. "Oh yeeaaaa,I know them, they have been on FNX for weeeeeks now" acording to my Mom. Crushed. Crushed even further to learn that they were in Boston in February on what seems to be like their only North American Tour for what I am sure will be many years. So yea, not only did my Mom know them sooner than I, but I missed my one possible chance at seeing them perform live for the forseeable future.

Oh well - as Mumford & Sons say in my new fave tune, The Cave:

I will hold on hope and I won't let (myself) choke upon the noose around (my) neck. I'll find strength in pain, and I will change my ways - I'll know my name as it's called again.

So if anyone is calling for Mothership, she needs a few weeks but will be spending the remainder of the summer honing her music snobbery.

For (Un)Happy Hipsters Only

2010-07-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

Meet the iRetrofone from Freeland Studios (available via Etsy).

To me, this seems like an overpriced electronics caddy, only slightly better than the felt-lined wooden options one can find at TJMaxx and Costco in that it is handmade (at least the resin base is, one doubts the seller is hand-wiring the electronic components) and customizable. While I am sure this caddy snugly holds one's iPhone and also allows its user to utilize the caddy/phone's handset to receive / transmit audio - that's pretty much it. For the low, low bargain price of $195.00. There are some pretty sweet looking versions in the seller's shop - some clear and one with drag racing flames that I have to admit are cool... but not $195.00+ shipping worth of cool.

This item looks hip and swank and is meticulously hand-casted from resin but I have to say, isn't part of the appeal of having an iPhone or any cellular phone at that, the mobility? Sure, though one can functionally use this "phone" to make calls, one would have to hover over the phone base. To me, one of the things I am distinctly trying to avoid when making calls at home - via land line or cell phone. Who even has a corded phone anymore, except for maybe in the kitchen? I only have cordless phones @ home (Merry Christmas, Justin!).

I mean, sure this would look fabulously techno-kitsch on some trust fund baby's vintage Louis Vuitton steamer trunk that houses a vinyl collection worth more than my law school education and doubles as a living-room sideboard- alongside some Eames rockers and ironic Ikea sculptured pendant lamp. Don't forget how the custom espresso colored resin option would complement the wood flooring salvaged from some dairy barn in the Catskills.

The fact that this product does not feature a built-in USB port / charger puts at risk the appeal to the design this design cautious demographic of customer to whom this phone appeals be downright outraged that the USB charger is not intrinsic to the device? Well, it's not so Mr. Former Domino Magazine editor, you will have a white iPod cord interrupting the visual flow of your sleek black show-off piece. Neener Neener Neeeeener.

This leads me to share one of my favorite blogs with you: Unhappy Hipsters, so brilliant.

"You can come out when you can properly explain the differences between Modernist architecture and postmodern ornamentation."

I'll leave you with that - happy browsing, there are so many gems to be appreciated @ Unhappy Hipsters, sardonic humor coupled with the gorgeous design, architecture and style of those eye-candy publications like Dwell, Architechtural Digest, and the sadly-no-more Domino. Perfect for mid-day or late-night blog reading.

...And if you are like me, equal parts jealous and enamored of the beautiful spaces designed and enjoyed by the young elite - you will add Unhappy Hipsters to your Google Reader.

Santas Be Sketchy

2009-12-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

I am a little embarrassed to admit that as a child, the thought of Santa Claus was scary. In fact, the thought of a red suited adult male coming into my house at night while everybody was asleep pretty much terrified me. Rather than being that kid in whose head visions of sugar plums danced, my christmastime dreams were more like nightmares directed by Tim Burton. No dreams of what wonderful gifts Santa would bring, rather, I would struggle against sleep and keep one eye open... After all, sometime on Christmas Eve, a fat bearded dude would be shimmying down my chimney and doing lord knows what in my living room. Sure, Santa was bringing me "presents", which was cool and all but I never liked the idea of a stranger busting into my home while my Mom and Dad were fast asleep. Seriously yo. Scared the bejeezus out of me.

Of course I eventually outgrew this irrational fear and by the time I was 7 or so I no longer screamed bloody murder when my parents took me to see Santa. As an adult, I feel a sense of sympathy for the kicking, screaming, and crying kids who are unwillingly plopped on the laps of random mall Santas everywhere. The custom of the dreaded mall Santa photoshoot is still something that creeps many kiddos (read: me) out. And of course, thanks to the magic of the internets, there is a sinfully good blog that gleefully posts those creepy, awkward, and in many cases just plain wrong Santa photos.

Blogfriends, I give you Sketchy Santas.

Sketchy Santas is time of year's answer to Awkward Family Photos another brilliant blog that displays evidence of travesties of fashion, family, and photography. I highly recommend adding these sites to your blog-reading repertoire.

Happy Holidays from The Whites!

2009-12-20T18:52:00.000-08:00

Justin and I have gone green and have decided to send digital holiday cards to our friends and family this year. The reason isn't entirely due to an effort to "go green". Part of the rationale is cutting down on waste, sure... Another reason is that we don't have any kiddos to create a holiday masterpiece at the moment so I doubt this message would get a place on the coveted holiday card display anyway (I am loving our holiday card wall by the way - we have a wall dedicated to photos of beautiful kiddos - Ronnie, Branden, Cassidy, Dakota, Natalie, Cam, Molly (x2), Grace, Emma, Alina, and more to come)...

Yet another reason to create and send this digital card rather than a paper one is that it is ALREADY December 20th (how did that happen???) and if I popped these in the mail now they would not arrive until after the holidays...

BUT...

I have to admit the main reason for this digital card is that it was designed especially for our family and friends by moi, thereby combining my love for whipping up digital design elements and music (holiday music this time of year, of course)!

Rudimentary as my graphic design skills are (on the agenda for 2010 are some real graphic design training courses and professional software) I really enjoy spending an afternoon lining up text and graphics in Microsoft Publisher, but it is far from an efficient design tool. It just happens to be all I have at my disposal these days. I can't wait to start learning to use the Corel Suite of design programs next year (In Design, Photoshop & ILLUSTRATOR)!

That said, I hope to make this an annual tradition - maybe next year add some flash coding, music or animation.

So my dear ones, for now... for this year, I will leave you with the childless (but nonetheless lovingly created) image above that I toiled on all Sunday long. And below I have included a little something that doesn't require fancy software, syntax or coding - a quote that wraps up our little family's holiday wishes for you:

"This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!"--D.M. Dellinger

Have a beautiful, safe, healthy and happy holiday - to be followed by an even better New Year!

Love,

Kristen

Lurker

2009-12-05T04:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been so neglectful of this blog because frankly, I find all of the blogs I subscribe to via Google Reader so compelling!

(Google Reader is the best freeware google creation ever, IMHO)

I am so busy reading, aborbing, and bookmarking their offerings that I rarely am let with time for putting forth my own! How selfish of me to take take take and (hardly) never GIVE.

Anyway, here's a quick journey through how I found myself with 60 blogs I follow (and counting).

1) The media reports of the Nielsen Family plane crash introduced me to the The NieNie Dialogues (Stephanie Nielsen's amazing musings on life, faith, and motherhood (posts both before and after triumphing over her near-fatal accident).

2) Reading articles about the amazing friends and family of this woman led me to follow over 15 0f what I now refer to (in my google reader folder and inconversations with friends) as my Mormon Bloggers. I hope they would not be offended by my categorization. I don't like to compartementalize things - especially not people but that's just an easy way for me to sift through the other 45 or so blogs I read and get right to the bloggers who I find share the most honest, lovely, and thoughtful posts (even if the grammar is pretty bad at times).

3) Once I had the "Mormon Bloggers" carefully loaded in Google Reader, I started adding friends of Mormon Bloggers - these folks mostly blog for their bread and butter, are fab photographers (love me some photog blogs) or are designers who have blogs to share the latest on their crafts / trends. Stay tuned for another reading list!

4) Launching myself into the depths of the blogosphere I also found myself drawn to other stories of bloggers rallying around fellow blogger whose lives had been marred by adversity. This led me to read Matt, Liz, and Madeline. When I say read, I mean compulsively read every post since this blog began. Matt's writing has introduced me to the full range of human emotion and also led me to discover some damn fine music.

5) Where blog life meets real life - one of my fantastic Providence College Besties pictured above- is Jenna. Jenna has a blog that was the first I ever subscribed to via RSS Feed - Antelope Drive. Jenna's blog not only introduced me to YET ANOTHER inspiring blog, The Journey - Kisses from Katie but via her own blog, wittily chronicles her (compared to mine and the lives of most people I know personally) adventurous life with her hillarious and fun husband Willie and 2 adorable pooches in the Sun Valley region of Idaho.

That photo above features, (top row, left to right) Jenna, Amy G (now F), Erin, Sam and (bottom row, left to right - me, Meg, and Amy D (now M).

5) I now subscribe to no fewer than 65 blogs - more lists / descriptions of my favorites to come.

Take a visit and get to know these folks and how they are sharing their life experiences and shaping the lives of others.

Etsy Love

2009-11-22T13:18:00.000-08:00

I love Etsy.
Etsy is a bastion for all things lovingly homemade, artisan-designed, and delectably vintage.

My experience this past week is proof that custom products can be procured on a wallet-friendly budget.

Just this week, I had this charming wool hat made just for me in Rich Red for less than $25 with shipping. Wow.

Check out other beautiful hand-knit items by Diane @ McKelveyDalton USA.

Etsy is like a virtual boutique for crafty folks everywhere to showcase their talents and wares. I love it.

Here's just a sampling of some other Etsy items I am currently mooning over that are under $25:

1) Gunmetal and ribbon multichain bib necklace by seller A Common Thread

2) Set of Five Snow Angel Letterpress Cards by seller Campbell Raw Press / brooklynbookbinder

3) Sarabeth Fabric-covered beaded bracelet by seller Annie and Olive

4) Fabric Flower Brooch by seller Quotes and Notes

5) Whimsical Photography by seller Simply Hue

6) The Elizabeth Hostess Apron featuring Jennifer Paganelli Casey Scroll Fabric by seller My Silly Monkey and Me

7) Retro Apple Oven Mitt (and the devil /vampire oven mitts are super cute, too) by seller Collisionware

8) Red Balloon Print by seller Jellybeans (aka artist Angela Vandenbogaard)

I have resolved to have an entirely homemade / Etsy-purchased Christmas this year, with about 3 exceptions (gifts purchased long ago), have you done any shopping on Etsy recently?

Who are your favorite sellers?

Putting the Cart before the Wheel and the Man

2009-11-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have been more than full:

Ran my first official 5k...
Still trying to figure out what to do with / in what order we need to manage the refurbishment of our guest bathroom...
Had a sore throat for 5 days...
Had a cold that for the first time in 3 years that did not go away with one or two nights of going to bed early after a nice shot of NyQuil...
Had/Have more projects going on simultaneously at work than I have in 3 years...

There have been two things that have made the past few weeks bearable and made me laugh out loud and they just so happen to both hve someting to do with Carts.

Thanks to Pardon The Interruption (PTI), a show my husband watches religiously and I watch in fits and spurts, this gem passed my weary eyes and made them light up with GLEE

Cartwheel Showdown via YouTube

You can just imagine what was going through that player's mind - "In your faaaaaace!"

It has been an odd week for soccer in the news. The item above being quite the laughing matter, but this- not at all.

Image from CBS News, under Fair Use

University of New Mexico's Elizabeth Lambert (link takes you to a "highlight" video and article by the Huffington Post)

So back to my original point / theme -

Carts...

Another blissfully funny piece of humor that has been keeping me afloat these days is yet another interpretation of the Lady Gaga "hit" Poker Face.

No, I am not going to re-post a link to the Christopher Walken stone-faced reading from the BBC. While I admit it was funny and I LOVE me some Christopher Walken, William Shatner already carved out that niche in my heart.

No, no, folks. Neither Christopher Walken, nor Lady Gaga could have ever imagined the brilliant hilarity that was put forth by none other than...

Mr. Eric Cartman.

After one listen, the original and all other covers are surpassed.

link via YouTube: Cartman Sings Poker Face

I started watching South Park in 1997. I still enjoy the skewed take that Matt Stone and Trey Parker have on popular culture, politics, and the common American.

From time to time the sketches can push the envelope or stray into the overly juvenile, but Stan, Kyle, Cartman Kenny, and their entourage appeal to the small part of me that just wants to laugh out loud at the absurd.

Cartman's voice alone is reason to laugh. And hearing him sing along to Lady Gaga just put me in a better mood this week so I wanted to overcome my blogging lethargy to share it.

And who hasn't mimicked a classic Cartman line like, "Whatever, I Do What I Want" or "Respect My Authori-tay"? Even the less often used, "Maaam, I want my Cheesy Poofs"

What's your favorite Cartman / South Park line?

Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home (for some Fish Sticks)...

Dear Diary Week 2 (July 27 - August 2, 2009)

2009-08-16T07:10:00.000-07:00

Illustration by Jeffrey Bowman, in collaboration with Eric Smith

This week I...

Got substantially caught up at work only to get wind that once again I would be moving onto a new territory - this time one with time zone challenges! Woo hoo. Pacific Northwest and Rockies here I come. Since there is no one to take over for me in the New England-New York market, hold onto your hats. And I must hold onto my marbles.

The week at work was a difficult one due to the impending transition. Had a lovely weekend in the sunshine with friends at Amy's house in Marshfield. Spent time with the children of Erin, Gina, Kelly, Kerri, Robin and in utero, Amy.

Traffic was a challenge but in all, a good weekend.

Noticed that there is a leak somewhere in our house due to a water spot that emerged on the ceiling of our garage. More to come on that later - oh lordy, much more to come on that...

Dear Diary - Week 1

2009-07-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

This week I started this blog! So many ideas have been swimming around in my head to take up space in the blogosphere... The blogs I subscribe to in my Google Reader are so inspiring.

Photo from Happy Posts.

This week I had lunch outside of the office on 2 occasions (wow, possibly a record for me) once with Christina and once on my own.

This week I went to the gym dutifully (2x during the week and planning one more this weekend).

This week we ate dinner in the dining room and ate rather healthful dinners.

This week there was no company softball due to rain.

This week I had a dinner filled with lots of belly laughs and great conversation with Jenny & Jason (and of course, Husband).

This weekend I went to the Renaissance Smackdown, aka Titian, Titoretto, and Veronese exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with Elizabeth followed by Ethiopian food at Addis Red Sea, great shopping at Anthropologie, and Starbucks! We must hang more often and share collective wisdom more frequently. One of the best weekend days in a VERY long time!

This Saturday night... er Sunday morning, I didn't get home from Mike and Erica's until 2:50AM. Watched beer table games featuring Lorenzo, Rich, Oatis, Puleo, Scott, Mario, Crystal plus the Dexters and their crew... Made a late run to shop for forgotten swimsuits with Jessie... swam in and took a flying leap into the pool, watched a sweet, lovely dance, I mean, wedding, video and took some great photos I will share tomorrow.

This weekend was a long time coming.

This weekend - much enjoyed.

;-)

The State of Laughter

2009-07-23T18:26:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness my parents started letting me watch MTV sitcoms by 1993.*

Otherwise, I would have missed out on some of the most brilliant sketch comedy of the 20th century - The State. If your parents didn't let you watch MTV in 1993, you are in great luck as MTV is finally releasing the State on DVD. The State DVD boxed set was released on July 14th to the collective relief of fans who have been too-long deprived of the pleasure of re-watching such gems like Amish Gang Fight, Adventures Of Young God, Pre-school Narc, and Eating Muppets. I for one missed characters like Barry, Levon and Doug, as I have longed to bring their catchphrases back to mainstream useage.

Barry and Levon are calling you to go pick up this Puddin'

Even if it has been more than 14 years since The State's last hurrah on MTV, the original 11 performers have been making appearances in smaller groupings in movies like Wet Hot American Summer and on such TV shows as:

Viva Variety - In which Michael Ian Black featured prominently and hilariously as "Johnny Blue Jeans", a Ms. Pac-Man loving eastern european immigrant.

Stella - Short lived, though inanely funny, Stella also featured Michael Ian Black along with Michael Showalter and David Wain.

Michael and Michael Have Issues - My husband, Justin, and I never miss an episode (Comedy Central Wednesday, 10:30PM EST). This is the newest of the shows that feature Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter prominently. Part sketch show about making a sketch show and part stand up comedy in which the pair address the audience, this show reminds me of David Cross and Bob Odenkirk's Mr. Show.Seriously fun and funny stuff.

Reno 911 - Probably the most successful and most certainly the longest-running of the television undertakings of The State alums. Lt. Jim Dangle (played by Thomas Lennon) and his crew of deputies are deadpan funny. Kerri Kenney-Silver and Robert Ben Garant round out the cast of State-ies. Other alums are featured in recurring roles as perps or other random characters who cross the deputies' paths. Each episode is good for at least one solid belly laugh - usually many more.

I'll leave you now, with this link to what is one of my favorite State sketches of all time, no doubt thanks to Ken Marino, the guido** genius who is the Italian in another of my favorite sketches, "The Pope's Visit". This one involves some funny humor at the expense of the Italians.

I give you...
Watch The Monkeys Do It.

;-)

What's with the asterisks?

* The Real World was strictly off limits during its inaugural NYC season in '91, though sorry Mom, I sneaked many peeks but don't worry, it was nowhere near as racy as most Nickelodeon programming is today.

** I can say "guido" because I am reclaiming it for my people. My 1/2 Italian-American brethren. Perez Hilton said it was ok to reclaim a much more offensive word, so it has to be ok for me to reclaim guido...

Musical Misogyny

2009-07-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

Though I consider myself to be a thoroughly modern woman given my pro-women feelings about equality between the sexes, I have realized that I am something of a musical misogynist. It is plainly obvious that most of the current/modern music that I choose to listen to and adore tends to be created and performed by guys.

Unlike most of my generation who attended high school in the early to mid 90’s, My Tori Amos phase only lasted a month or so. I can’t stand (and could never stomach) Alanis Morisette* and while I listened to Jewel when driving around with pals, I was never enthusiastically taken with the yodeling blonde (and certainly did not spend any of my hard-earned babysitting money on the her book of poetry, though I *may* have read it one night at my pal Bonnie’s house back in the day).

Some of the male artists currently on my permanent playlist rotation: Iron & Wine, Ray Lamontagne, William Fitzsimmons, Andrew Bird, M. Ward, Albert Hammond, Jr., David Gray
Franz Ferdinand, Beirut, Elvis Costello, Stephen Malkmus (both with and without The Jinks) (more about these folks in posts to come).

So I was feeling a little guilty that so many of my favorite songs are sung by guys - from James' Laid for when I am feeling like a dance party - to Iron & Wine's "Trapeze Swinger" for when I am feeling a bit more mellow. Where all the ladies at?

In reflecting on this musical misogyny of mine, I noticed this is not a recent occurrence in my musical tastes. Of course I have much love for a good number of “classic rock” bands with strong female singers - like Heart, Blondie, and Fleetwood Mac (though the Lindsey Buckingham-fronted tunes like “Bleed to Love Her” and “Tusk” are my faves).

But in all honesty, given the choice, I am much more of a sucker for tunes by artists who just happen to have X&Y chromosomes - like Van Morisson, the Allman Brothers, Bill Withers, or the Kinks.

Now, moving away from the classics onto the modern-ish manifestation of my musical misogyny...

There was a good stretch of time in the early to mid 90’s when women RULED the then-fledgling alt-pop genre. Back when Natalie Merchant was fronting 10,000 Maniacs (that Unplugged album – greatness!), when Liz Phair & Juliana Hatfield were cranking out sweet melodies paired with cutting lyrics, when Belly Fed the Tree, and the Breeders released one of the most recognizable songs of my adolescence – Cannonball .

Ah – those were the days, days when the Lemonheads, Violent Femmes and Phish shared the tapedeck in my Mercury Cougar with a bevy of strong female artists. A short time later - the “era” of Alanis and Jewel brought increased commercial exposure (due to their attractiveness and tabloid-worthiness?) and with it a new focus on singer-songwriters (Wow they are cute and even play an instrument or two? No way!).

Alanis and Jewel gave rise to a younger and more mainstream friendly set filled with the squeaky-clean and media polished likes of Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, and whoever wrote that omnipresent “Breathe” song (I only know it was Anna Nalick because I just googled it). These kiddos were as label-produced as
Menudo .

...And it seems this trend has continued from there...

Image of Miley Cyrus from The Insider

While divas like Beyonce, Rhianna and Jennifer Hudson rip up the R&B / hip hop world (as well as the tabloids), the genre of music to which I generally subscribe, the alt-pop genre, seems to be pretty stifled for strong and successful females as of late.

But there is a modern underground where some female artists are thriving – pretty far away from real mainstream success (albeit they are pretty prominent in indie film soundracks) in the US. This sub-group seems to have splintered off from the mid-90’s Bjork phenomenon. I’ll be the first to admit that the irreverent pop stylings of Bjork were oh-so-fresh back in 1996-1999. I feel though that now every female performer that is outside of the country/mainstream/hiphop genre is trying to channel the Icelandic wonder with off-key squeals and tempo changes in their artsy fartsy tunes.

Image of the Queen of all Shriekers from Vogue

Of those I affectionately categorize as Bjork-channelers, there are some performers who truly deserve the indie cred they have attained – like Sia, Feist (with some exceptions) and Regina Spektor (who has some ethereal melodic offerings when she doesn’t stray too far into Bjork-land). But there were some misses – case in point - Paula Cole (yippee yo yippee yay Cowboy)

One segment of the alt-pop genre where women artists have figured prominently is one that I call Retro-Country. Bands like Zooey Daschanel’s She & Him and Jenny Lewis’ Rabbit Fur Coat earned points with industry critics for their originality, but I find that the pretty melodies and spunky lyrics lack edge. I listen but I’m really not blown away by these performers.

I am now realizing that this post is regressing from what I intended it to be - an observation about my current personal musical preferences - into a preachy analysis / critique of modern female alt-pop artists so I will stop here (on that topic) and move onto what I hoped to get at.
In reflecting on this musical misogyny of mine and trying to put my finger on why music by women doesn’t speak to me as much as that by men - I want to know who your current favorite female artists are.

Are they modern performers or artists from your childhood /adolescence? Maybe your parents’ childhood or adolescence?

Don’t be shy, leave me a comment so I can broaden my musical horizons – suggest some fabulous females or female-fronted bands for me to take a listen to.

I thank you, my feminist sensibilities thank you, and itunes thanks you for your suggestions!

;-)

"What's with the asterisk?"

*Loved Alanis’s turn as “God” in Kevin Smith’s Dogma. Also I hear she is in Weeds this season and is pretty darn good on that show.