Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

Hotel baby

2012-01-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

Our trip to Idaho for Christmas started out a little crazy. Our plane was an hour late getting here, so everything got pushed back and we didn't arrive in Salt Lake until just before midnight. That was too late to start a three-hour drive to my parents' house (especially after the exhausting couple of hours we spent in the crowded, gross Las Vegas airport with a crying baby). My dad was really nice to get us a hotel room that night where we all slept the best sleep of our lives. The only things that got me out of that bed were Christmas Eve and continental breakfast.

Hey, how'd she get that mitten off?

2012-01-08T02:30:00.001-05:00

It's interesting when you realize that your whole life, day and night, especially night, revolves around trying to get an infant to fall asleep. Sometimes that's all you accomplish all day. And you're sitting on the edge of your bed, rocking a car seat on the floor at two in the morning, while a stuffed sheep plays ocean sounds (thanks Marcilyn), and it's fine. Pretty great, even.

A week old, or forever ago

2011-12-22T01:22:00.000-05:00

This is Cora at exactly a week old. The first time I watched this back I thought it was in slow motion, but no. Now she's seven weeks and time is already going by way too fast. Welcome to my sentimental mom blog.

What we're listening to today

2011-11-29T15:15:00.001-05:00

Never Let Me Go Florence + The Machine

Today was our first day by ourselves

2011-11-14T17:12:00.001-05:00

We had to venture out for my doctor's appointment, and we congratulated ourselves by driving through Chick-fil-A. Then the nice neighbor girl who had a baby girl a few months ago helped us carry ourselves and our french fries up the stairs to our door because we hadn't quite figured that part out yet. And then Kate called, and that car seat was still so cozy, and now the dad's almost home from work. We made it!

The only day she can't say she wasn't born yesterday

2011-11-02T16:15:00.001-04:00

This is Cora Violet. Born November 1, 2011 at 4:38pm. 7 lbs. and 20 inches. She's the best.

Camping when you're 36 weeks pregnant

2011-10-26T13:28:00.000-04:00

I don't think I've been camping in five years, but I kind of like camping, and our friends were going a few weeks ago, so we went camping. It seemed like a good time to go, the weather had cooled down plenty (we could see our breath that morning), and most of the 32,000 species of prehistoric bugs that live here weren't around. Plus we own a tent that I'd never even slept in and I just really wanted to for some reason. What's funny about that is that I didn't really sleep, but I don't really sleep in my soft, comfortable bed these days either so I might as well get s'mores out of it. If you're ever in the area, the Taylorsville Lake State Park campground bathrooms are very well maintained.

I just keep doing this

2011-10-12T09:55:00.001-04:00

I'm not sorry. And I loved all her dresses and her aerial acrobats.

Rainy fall-y Saturday

2011-09-24T15:56:00.000-04:00

This morning the fire department burned down an entire two-story house down the road as a training exercise. I thought that was kind of weird of them. But anyway, here's a nice song for today.

Beth/Rest (Solo Piano Version) Bon Iver

Happy Birthday Momra

2011-09-22T17:48:00.000-04:00

(It's like Mothra.)

Ye olde Reds game

2011-09-20T13:57:00.001-04:00

I talked Kyle into going to a Cincinnati Reds game this summer. We got to see them play the Giants. It was during the freakishly hot end of July but we had a fine time. But next time I'm taking the elevator.

2011-09-11T21:04:00.000-04:00

New York, New York Ryan Adams

See ya

2011-09-05T23:08:00.006-04:00

1957 Milo Greene
The Fire Lover Lover
Higher Love James Vincent McMorrow
The Park Secret Cities
Summer Skin Death Cab for Cutie
Curs in the Weeds Horse Feathers
Hunger Song The Middle East
Secrets Silver Swans
State of Our Affairs Mt. Desolation
Baleen Morning Balmorhea
What the Water Gave Me Florence + the Machine
Towers Bon Iver
Sunday Field
Live There The Lonely Forest
I Will Remain Matthew and the Atlas
Bermuda Highway My Morning Jacket
Gather the Feathers Madeline
Mile Marker Amy Seeley

ZIP

64 degrees and the best Labor Day of all time

2011-09-05T23:08:00.005-04:00

I've been wanting fall to come for a month now. I think I got so much out of summer early on that it was just a natural progression of things. Went to yard sales, swam at the pool, drank my weight in Route 44 strawberry limeades, went to baseball games and the state fair, took a road trip to the beach. See, plenty of summer. Then it got grossly hot and humid and ever harder for me to walk up the stairs to our apartment, and I just wanna wear my plaid pea coat, is that so much to ask? Well, I guess it's not because today was so chilly that I had to have a blanket and a cardigan to sit on the porch.

While I wouldn't mind one last swim in the pool, I'll be all right if this is the end of summer. Fare thee well.

Somebody make this stop

2011-09-02T19:45:00.000-04:00

Okay okay

2011-08-17T23:57:00.002-04:00

Here I am being pregnant again. Sometimes after church I make Kyle take a picture to document the progress. I usually end up getting mad at him because the lighting isn't flattering or something dumb like that, sorry about that, Kyle. These are at 24 and 26 weeks and now I am 29. I had to sit down and figure that out because to be honest I lost count. I guess I could've looked at my trusty pregnancy app. Anyway, one trick I've been able to do for a while now is voluntary toe cramping. I just bend it and there it stays. And also, we got a crib this week. Kyle set it up tonight and it's pretty cute. My wardrobe is quickly shrinking. The other night I had to separate out all the dresses I can't fit into so I wouldn't try to put them on and get all frustrated. But naturally those are the ones I want to wear most. Just like how everyone around me seems to be eating tuna lately and I've never wanted it more. Well, okay, technically I'm allowed to eat six ounces per week but I choose to abstain. Which reminds me, today I read a news article about brain-eating amoebas, so please be sure to plug your nose when you swim in warm fresh waters.

The tenth anniversary of the worst day of our lives

2011-08-02T13:36:00.002-04:00

I meant to (tried to) post this back in May on the 10 year anniversary of my participation Junior Miss but it was one of those days Blogger was down, so, anyway. The theme of the night was something to do with flying so we all had to wear costumes relating to that for the "opening number." My good friend Laura was a very respectable airman, while I was the tooth fairy. In case you're wondering, we didn't win, but our cheeks did get awfully red when we had to play the violin immediately after a fitness routine involving lots of push-ups and Ricky Martin. Here's to the only month of my life I frequented a tanning salon.

The greatest gift

2011-07-27T23:51:00.003-04:00

I arrived home today to some surprise peachy sweat pants. It's amazing how fine loungewear can improve your quality of life.

If anyone wants to tell me what crib/carseat/stroller/everything to buy, here's your big chance

2011-07-12T14:44:00.001-04:00

Tell me all the baby things you like! I'm drowning in a sea of Babies-R-Us backwards Rs.

That's the fourth

2011-07-05T18:59:00.001-04:00

Here's what our Fourth of July looked like. Watched a lot of fireworks, ate gelato, drove through scenic Oldham County, stuff like that. I'll try to forget about the part where our swimming got rained out.

We're off

2011-06-17T08:00:00.008-04:00

Today we're on our way with Kyle's family to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I'm so excited I'm like dying. This is a pretty time lapse video Kyle found, to give you a bit of a visual. (The music is kind of more sci-fi than it needs to be so if you want to mute it and put on a nice lullaby or something, that might be good.) And these are the other two times I've been, the first was the very first time I met Kyle's family, and the second was after I was a full-fledged in-law and had cut all my hair off. I really love it there.

You asked for it

2011-06-15T19:19:00.003-04:00

Hey. We're having a baby! And today we found out it's a girl! So, cool!

It's pretty weird being pregnant. I'm glad we know she's a girl now so it feels like there's a real human in there. I also bought a body pillow today. I've learned lots of things about being pregnant that I'd never think of, like the fact that if you lie on your back the weight of your...womb...will smash the inferior vena cava so you have to sleep on your side. What? That's why I bought the body pillow.

That picture up there is from a couple weeks ago, but I don't look much different now. I'm due at the very end of October but I'm gonna try and hold out for 11/11/11, because I can't waste a birthday like that. Plus it's Veteran's Day, and I'm very patriotic.

Sorry about this blog

2011-06-08T22:33:00.003-04:00

I'll try to do better, I swear. Blogger's block I guess. I'll start by telling you that to make up for accidentally buying skim milk last time, this time I bought 2%, and boy is it a treat.

trrolllllllllllllll

2011-06-02T22:31:00.000-04:00

I would have never watched this movie if I'd seen the trailer first. I don't think I would call it the most important documentary of my time, but I definitely liked watching it.

new rule: buying dishes in sets of 5

2011-05-03T14:36:00.002-04:00

I've broken two drinking vessels in the last week or so. By the second one it was so natural to me that I didn't hardly notice. Plus it was from Ikea so who cares. Well, I do because the nearest Ikea is 90 minutes away. I would like to be a person who doesn't almost cry about breaking a glass, but sorry, it was a really cute glass. This is what I blog about now?

hey american idol

2011-04-14T21:14:00.002-04:00

Thanks for sucking so bad. Man I hate this show!

a song i've been listening to A LOT lately

2011-04-12T15:42:00.004-04:00

The Devil's Tears Angus and Julia Stone

P.S. Keep giving Fictionist five stars here—round 2 of the Rolling Stone contest is almost over.

i'm okay with this

2011-04-07T17:33:00.000-04:00

I feel the same way about this as I felt when I heard Ryan Adams married Mandy Moore. (But, honestly, I'd rather listen to it than watch it.)

goodbye march

2011-03-31T16:23:00.000-04:00

In like a lion, out like a slightly lesser lion. It snowed yesterday, and I hope it never snows again until Christmas, and I feel optimistic about it. Went to the dentist again yesterday also. I try to go at least weekly.

All the Elton John songs on American Idol last night made me kinda mad I didn't buy $19 Elton John tickets a couple weeks ago when I had the chance. Maybe I should buy a $30 one? Should I? Who cares? Anyone?

Anyway, on a positive note, I ate a bunch of cookies today, and I also asked The Submarines on Twitter what their favorite colors are and they answered. This is what I do on my days off, try to talk to famous people on the internet.

hello march!

2011-03-01T18:17:00.000-05:00

Today I welcome you by going to the doctor and the dentist! And by wearing Grandma Park's old coat indoors, and also not having a tornado.

Looks like I successfully completed my month of not buying clothes. In honor of the occasion I spent two hours in the humongous new Forever 21 labyrinth in one of our two malls that are next door to each other. I've never seen so many middle-aged women at a store for teenagers.

go ahead and find a more triumphant song

2011-02-24T20:42:00.000-05:00

I Knew You Were Waiting For Me George Michael & Aretha Franklin

redbox's default map location obviously

2011-02-24T11:52:00.004-05:00

do this

2011-02-20T23:06:00.000-05:00

If you have Netflix. Or if you don't.

fifty islands i have never set foot on and never will

2011-02-19T16:49:00.000-05:00

Kyle gave me this for Valentine's Day. I really like it.

rolling stone and stuff

2011-02-16T18:28:00.002-05:00

First, sorry all I do on here is try to help my friends win contests, but my friends are nice. Plus I love a good contest. It's in my blood, my mom once won a bike from a Whatchamacallit.

So, my friend Jacob's band Fictionist is one of 16 bands in the nation competing to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, get a recording contract from Atlantic Records, and play on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. No big deal.

Here's how you can help them out:

Rate them with five stars down below or on Rolling Stone's site
Like them on Facebook
Spread the word if you want

You can listen to songs below or see a video on Rolling Stone if you need some convincing, which I doubt you do, right? Okay, that's all, thanks for your help!

lia ices

2011-02-13T23:08:00.000-05:00

.

I found this on this website which has some other kinda cool videos I think.

barf this way

2011-02-13T21:48:00.002-05:00

Well, I just heard freaking Gaga's new song "Born This Way" on the TV, and it's a total ripoff of "Express Yourself" by Madonna, and the internet agrees. I'll be honest, I've liked some of Lady Gaga's songs in the past, and never thought I'd be in a position of defending Madonna, but listen, she never had to crawl out of a giant egg to get attention.

i hate clothes, then i love them

2011-02-05T22:14:00.000-05:00

After buying four different colors of the same shirt the other day (they were only $3.80!), I decided I need to not buy any clothes for the whole month. I know, what a dumb goal, cause who has to buy clothes that often? I guess me. They're always on sale at Target or something, but that doesn't make it right. I just get bored when Kyle's at class, and there are two Targets, a J.Crew, and a Gap within five miles of my house. This doesn't discount how much I like the (purple?) cords I just got from Land's End Canvas for $11.99 though. Speaking of, they sent me a hand-written thank you card for doing that, which was weird of them.

i cry the day i mail the charlie st. cloud back to netflix

2011-01-31T20:42:00.003-05:00

If you're looking for a good deed to do today, you could go over here and vote for my friend Kate and her fiancé Regan. They're getting married in March and I couldn't be happier for them, well I could be actually, if they won free wedding photography. Wouldn't that be great?

Click to enlarge, you know

put a bird on it

2011-01-29T01:50:00.002-05:00

the music i liked in 2010

2011-01-22T23:28:00.002-05:00

As usual, I liked a lot of music last year. You could consider it my most successful hobby, liking music. These are my favorite albums of 2010, in no particular order, but kind of in order in that The Suburbs, The Five Ghosts, and High Violet are probably my top three.

I like knowing what music other people like so if you wanted to tell me yours, you could.

Stars | The Five Ghosts
Dead Hearts

Arcade Fire | The Suburbs
Half Light II (No Celebration)

Mumford and Sons | Sigh No More
Sigh No More

Taylor Swift | Speak Now
Mean

The National | High Violet
Lemonworld

Azure Ray | Drawing Down the Moon
Shouldn't Have Loved

The Weepies | Be My Thrill
Please Speak Well of Me

Sara Bareilles | Kaleidoscope Heart
The Light

Francis and the Lights | It'll Be Better
Darling, It's Alright

Jakob Dylan | Women and Country
Holy Rollers for Love

Basia Bulat | Heart of My Own
Heart of My Own

Dawes | North Hills
When My Time Comes

this was christmas

2011-01-19T01:59:00.000-05:00

i'm freezing

2011-01-09T13:00:00.013-05:00

January Hymn The Decemberists

prepare yourself for my network tv debut

2011-01-08T22:32:00.006-05:00

Well, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came here a few months ago, and the episode is airing tomorrow. I haven't really watched this show in a few years, but I signed up on the local construction company's website to volunteer. Before you think I'm some sort of philanthropist or something, you should know that I really just wanted to meet Jillian Harris from The Bachelorette who's a designer on the show.

A few weeks later I got an URGENT email from a volunteer coordinator asking people to come paint the next day. I'd found out that Jillian wasn't even on the episode, but I didn't have a job, so it was a good excuse to get dressed for the day.

I showed up the next night, got my XXL t-shirt, and it was really hot inside the house and really drywall-powdery. There were hundreds of people there. I met some nice people like a lady named Cathy who was very excited to be there and an old painter guy who was funny. I had to/got to wear a hard hat, and with that hat I was able to go anywhere I wanted. I probably could've driven off with a backhoe. I watched them put up huge beams for the front porch and start building a $30,000 tree house. I helped paint the littlest girl's room sky blue, and after that there wasn't a lot I could do because I'm not skilled at installing cement fiber siding, so I left so Kyle wouldn't worry about me being alone with a bunch of construction workers in Fairdale, Kentucky past 11:00pm.

Anyway, I went back a few days later for the moving of the bus, which coincidentally involved riding a bus to the house from a Kmart 10 miles away. If you watch the show, look for me in the lightweight coral cardigan that was way too cold to stand around in for four hours in late October with a bunch of reality TV fanatics. About four rows from the front.

christmas lights

2011-01-02T14:22:00.000-05:00

Obviously one of the best parts of Christmas. This is the first year we've had a porch to decorate, and I turned out to be one of those people who sometimes/usually leaves them on all day and all night. But who cares, because LED lights use .03% of the energy of incandescent lights, or something. I guess I have to take them down now that it's January 2. Maybe not.

happy new year

2011-01-01T23:11:00.000-05:00

just helping you learn your times tables

2011-01-01T00:50:00.008-05:00

Sorry but this game never gets old.

happy new year's eve

2010-12-31T16:23:00.001-05:00

It's 64 degrees outside and I have the window open. I have a good feeling about 2011.

My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year) Regina Spektor
This Will Be Our Year The Zombies
New Year's Resolution Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
Happy New Year ABBA
You Send Me Aretha Franklin

(That last one just always reminds me of New Year's Eve thanks to The Holiday.)

2010-12-25T18:16:00.003-05:00

a midnight clear

2010-12-25T02:25:00.001-05:00

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

For lo!, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years
Comes round the age of gold
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

—Edmund Sears

one day i'll have a whole village

2010-12-22T23:40:00.000-05:00

My mom gave me this little house for Christmas a couple months after we got married. Because it's Veronica's Bridal Boutique! My grandma had an awesome village with little ice skating people that really moved around. I really am going to have more some day. I just love miniature things, especially miniature light-up things that have my name on them.

nearly four millions of dollars

2010-12-21T01:02:00.001-05:00

Almost the only good that came of the freaking Kentucky Flea Market was a bunch of old postcards I found. They were organized by state and there were some from Utah and Idaho, and they kind of made paying $8 for parking to wander around booths selling boxes of cereal in the livestock building at the fairgrounds worth it. This was one of my favorites. This time of the year makes me miss the Intermountan West, and this will be the first Christmas...wow, ever, that I won't be in Idaho or Utah. Luckily Kentucky has been unusually snowy already which softens the blow. But I miss my family, and I miss my friends, and I wouldn't be a human if I didn't wish I was there. Just read the back of this postcard, that might make this thing less depressing.

feist + little wings

2010-12-20T23:31:00.000-05:00

ice capades

2010-12-18T01:43:00.001-05:00

We had a bit of an ice storm the other night. My first, as far as I know. Our cars were frozen solid so Kyle had to stay home from work. Once it warmed up a little that afternoon we (he) chiseled away and freed them. It was all pretty weird and kinda sci-fi with the ground covered in ice shards. It was also a lot like the time I left my bike on Hannah's porch and a couple weeks later it was covered in ice, just on a slightly grander scale but equally as debilitating. I totally get carports now.

chrome for a cause

2010-12-15T21:11:00.000-05:00

Through Sunday Google is donating money for every Google Chrome browser tab that's opened, which means that maybe for the next four days someone in this apartment will get off my back about having 33-ish tabs open at a time.

the tables have turned

2010-12-14T14:30:00.002-05:00

i would always rather be sitting next to a toddler than a teenager at the movies

2010-12-11T23:10:00.002-05:00

I saw Tangled today and I can't express how much I loved it. I'm listening to the soundtrack right now, that should help express it. And a few days ago I didn't even care if I ever saw it, but Kyle heard good reviews and said we should go. The crowd at noon on a Saturday was a lot more fun than all the "rebellious" high schoolers dressed up as Slytherin at Harry Potter a few weeks ago. I saw all these groups of little kids coming in with their grandmas and I had a flashback to when Aunt Peggy took us to see The Little Mermaid. And then I wept steadily through the whole movie but that may be more a reflection of me than the movie. (But did anyone else cry?) (Also one funny part was when a little girl in the theater was screaming "I want to go to the zoo" over and over for a few minutes. Normally I'd be bugged, but apparently I was on some Alan Menken high.)

the bangs are back in town

2010-12-08T15:29:00.000-05:00

merry mixmas

2010-12-07T08:07:00.006-05:00

I couldn't narrow it down to fewer than 28 songs. So sue me! Merry Christmas!

You can get all of them at once right here.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas The Drifters
Just Like Christmas Low
Christmas in New Orleans Louis Armstrong
The First Snowflake The Boy Least Likely To
All I Want is Truth (for Christmas) The Mynabirds
Christmas Lights Coldplay
Snow Day Matt Pond PA
I Believe in Father Christmas Emerson, Lake & Palmer
The Christmas Song The Raveonettes
Go Tell It On the Mountain Desert Noises
Winter in Canada Elisa Gabbai
Christmas in the Room Sufjan Stevens
Perfect Gift Natalie Hemby
Gift X-Change Calexico
Snowflake Music Mark Mothersbaugh
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Doris Day
Please Come Home For Christmas Willie Nelson
Christmas On My Mind The Hep Stars
Christmas Island Leon Redbone
The Christmas Song Adam Arcuragi
Christmas Must Be Tonight The Band
O Come, O Come Emmanuel Belle & Sebastian
Song For a Winter's Night Gordon Lightfoot
Wintersong Sarah McLachlan
Christmas in London Krista Detor
Red Ribbon Foxes A Fine Frenzy
Star of Wonder Sufjan Stevens
Silent Night My Morning Jacket

(Here are some from last year.)

ideas both good and bad

2010-11-30T17:51:00.001-05:00

Good idea
Rain boots

Bad idea
Really stupid Walmart canvas shoes with cracked soles that you wear for the first time in a year on a night you don't know there's a flash flood outside

Good idea
Playing Ilomilo with Kyle for Family Home Evening (he's Ilo, I'm Milo)

Bad idea
Getting tricked into the world of 3D gaming (makes me carsick)

thanksgiving

2010-11-25T22:47:00.003-05:00

Today I'm thankful for lots of things, including but not limited to my family, my friends, a warm apartment, turkey, donuts, candles, sweaters, sweats, Stila lip stain in mango crush, flowers, rain boots, sleep, my hair, my haircut, and rain all day.

Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) Rosemary Clooney

happy birthday to kyle

2010-11-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

Thank goodness we're the same age again.

wild and crazy saturday night

2010-11-20T22:04:00.001-05:00

I organized my shoes. (They've never been so organized thanks to the little shoe shelves I saved from being loaded onto a pallet of dusty boxes about to be sold back to whence they came. Note that bowling shoes are more accessible than "athletic" shoes.)

Now I'm taking a survey of 480 country songs and whether or not I like them.

Don't worry, both of these things bring me great joy, and one of them brings me $25.00 in e-Rewards currency.

i wish we could go back to the days when robert pattinson was just cedric diggory

2010-11-14T23:18:00.008-05:00

I've been immersed in Harry Potter the last couple of weeks. Well, you saw the pumpkin. We're trying to watch the first six movies by the time we see the next one on Friday, and among all that I've been listening to an audio book of The Sorcerer's Stone each night when I go to bed. (I confess, I've never read the books. I will sometime.) That got a little confusing sometimes, mixing up plots and years and stuff. We just finished watching The Goblet of Fire and it was so sad and scary. I wonder if Ralph Fiennes gives himself nightmares.

On a related note, this is when Marcilyn, Marisa, and I (and Hagrid, apparently) went to the midnight premiere of the sixth movie. Doug was there too but not three hours early like us, which was not even early enough to be part of the first 100 people in line, but we magically got perfect seats.

When I'm not having dreams referencing Nearly Headless Nick, I've had several browser tabs at a time open on Ikea's website. We made our maiden voyage as Kentucky apartment dwellers yesterday to our closest one, which is two hours away in Cincinnati. I tried to have a plan and even printed out a shopping list, but let's get real, there's no way for me to stick to a list in there. Cheap stuff is even more appealing when you can only get it once or twice a year. Fortunately Kyle is a better decision maker than I, or we'd still be standing there looking at tabletops.

veterans day

2010-11-11T23:37:00.008-05:00

I'm glad we have this day.

later october

2010-11-02T18:18:00.002-04:00

Carving this pumpkin is as Halloween as things got around here, aside from when I cut myself shaving my legs. I guess now is a good time to announce that we bought our tickets for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One. Here's a nice song for today:

If I Had a Boat James Vincent McMorrow

'tis the season

2010-10-29T18:19:00.000-04:00

Of all the zombie dances out there, this is my favorite. Season 2 of this show was such a good season.

stars. starsstarsstarsstars!

2010-10-25T00:25:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago we drove a couple hours to Bloomingon, Indiana to see Stars. Kind of a nice drive, kind of weirdly remote also. It made for a late night, but that's okay, because 1) I like late-night driving, and 2) the concert was really really good. There were like 150 people there at the very most, or maybe even 100. Well all I know for sure is that the band remarked that it was the smallest crowd they'd had in five years. We got to be right up next to the stage, in the middle even, which never happens, especially not for one of my top five favorite bands of my life.

Anyway, it was so good. They played songs from all of their albums. They were all very energetic and passionate which was a relief. Some bands get away with acting like they don't care, but it wouldn't have seemed right for them. The guy singer (I am Torq, this is my heart) was especially dramatic. We were so close to the stage that sometimes I felt awkward looking at him because I was afraid he'd stare into my soul, so that added an element of excitement. He reminded me of someone all night, and afterward I realized it was Ben Linus from Lost. He kept telling us, "Don't forget your ghosts, never forget your ghosts. They need you." Whatever that means, I agreed to it.

So, here's a bunch of pictures.

behold the butter bell

2010-10-20T23:29:00.000-04:00

Does anyone out there use a butter bell? Cause I do. I'm very picky about my butter and I don't like it tasting old, but it's no good rock solid from the fridge either. Kyle couldn't care less about his own butter I think, but he gave me this butter bell for Christmas last year. You just put your butter in the bell part, and some water in the big part, and then when you're not using it you put the bell upside down in the container and just leave it out on the counter. The water makes a seal so it stays fresh but also soft, and that seal revolutionized my life. I for sure consume more butter now, but really I'm just more on track with my eating-butter-for-money days.

today we have been married two years

2010-10-18T15:32:00.000-04:00

Here's to at least two more. Just kidding, more like a million, obviously.

he hates to say he told me so

2010-10-16T02:09:00.001-04:00

Well, we got rid of our cable after a whole two weeks of living in our new place. Not for anything noble like reading more books or spending our time more wisely, but because we're kind of elitists. Our baby digital cable was not much compared to Kyle's parents' satellite TV, and the DVR didn't work anyway (what's the point!), so we decided we'd rather spend the money on a new chair every month, or a dozen Little Caesar's pizzas. Part of it will go toward a Netflix account which, tonight alone, has afforded me Dear John, Serendipity, and two episodes of Friday Night Lights, and I didn't even have to watch five hours of Rand Paul ads, and I'm not tired yet.

10/10/10

2010-10-10T20:24:00.003-04:00

In honor of this great date, I present to you a 10/10/10 mix. Here are 10 songs that feel like October to me, unlike today's 91-degree weather, just come on, weather.

England The National
In the Stream S. Carey
Don't Leave My Mind Azure Ray
Changes Stars
Set Free Katie Gray
Blackberry Stone Laura Marling
That Moon Song Gregory Alan Isakov featuring Brandi Carlile
Yellow Brick Road Angus and Julia Stone
That Western Skyline Dawes
Transformation David Gray

some things

2010-10-03T23:44:00.000-04:00

Grey's Anatomy has a way of scarring me for life over and over and over. Funny cause it's a show about surgeons.

You know how I'm always trying to win concert tickets on the radio? Well I did the other day. For Stars! But I couldn't go that night, but I already have tickets to another night. So, oops. I was just so excited.

Also, we moved. It was nice not paying rent at the in-laws', but it's also nice being a grown-up. And owning a bomb washer and dryer.

Also, the other day I heard "The Real Slim Shady" and "Lose Yourself" on the radio within the span of an hour. What a lucky day.

I was listening to a bunch of instrumental music today and Pandora found me Music From The Motion Picture The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. Long name, but a good soundtrack. FYI.

Lastly, I about dropped dead when I saw this dresser just now. That's a use of vinyl I can get behind.

mondo: what's not to like?

2010-09-19T00:04:00.004-04:00

If you haven't been watching Project Runway, maybe this will convince you to start.

(Kyle made this for me. That's true love.)

sometimes life takes you in a different direction than you planned

2010-09-07T18:15:00.025-04:00

.
Sometimes that direction is a free MC Hammer concert at the state fair.

You may want to full-screen this.

this is messed up.

2010-08-25T23:10:00.009-04:00

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Feel better soon, Catey.

i haven't found the strength to sort through 900 photos of DC

2010-08-17T01:05:00.000-04:00

In the meantime, look, Kyle and his pals hiked 63 miles of the Appalachian Trail, with wild ponies.

what you do when you run out of honey

2010-08-03T23:56:00.001-04:00

You just drive out to Old Joe Willard's honey stand. It's just far enough to feel like a drive, and the best honey you ever had.

the day that all my hopes and dreams were crushed

2010-08-02T20:36:00.006-04:00

Hanson, as in the Hanson, played at a local record store just two hours ago and I'm finding out right now? Think what you will, but I totally would've gone, because I was a 13-year-old girl in 1997.

And as if that weren't cruel enough, I subsequently just right now found out that Stars is/are playing HERE IN THE PLACE WHERE I LIVE in October, but on a Sunday! A Sunday!!!! Of all the seven days of the week! This is a band I almost went 880 miles to Seattle to see because it was the closest they ever came to where I lived. And a few days ago Kyle and I decided we should end up Portland just because we'd be guaranteed they would come there. Talk about Dead Hearts.

I literally just got tears in my eyes. Maybe I can make an exception like I did for Celine? Maybe this Hanson video will make me feel better. Not. But seriously, I like it.

let's talk about tonight

2010-07-28T23:50:00.002-04:00

I'm not going to talk about how I, Louisville's sole turn signal user, got my first ever ticket for "disregarding a stop sign" (which is not true, I totally regarded it) and owe the county $163 for it for some reason, $20 for the infraction and $143 for the "court cost," whatever the heck that means, I didn't know it costs $143 for them to cash my check.

What I am going to talk about are the nice times I had before and after Officer Sarah King of the second shift robbed me of a week's worth of pay.

I went to this free concert by the river and heard these people:

Robert Francis
Junebug
Mescaline

Dawes
When My Time Comes
Bedside Manner

And then I went to my house and video chatted with these people, and why didn't I take a screen shot? This vampire teeth photo will have to do.

2010-07-16T08:54:00.001-04:00

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we're growing up so fast

2010-07-11T22:56:00.001-04:00

We got this car the other day. My favorite part is the headlights' tiny wipers.

i have too much experience hauling pallets around the back of home depot in the august heat

2010-07-07T18:32:00.001-04:00

It's creative and all, but the only way I'd let my child sleep in this is if they were homeless.

vampires are much better in 8-bit

2010-07-02T00:25:00.000-04:00

can you tell i'm catching up on 184 unread google reader items?

2010-06-26T23:58:00.000-04:00

This is a really good post by my friend Megan.

good things to come

2010-06-26T01:50:00.001-04:00

sometimes i familiarize myself with music and trivia i don't care one bit about

2010-06-21T08:26:00.000-04:00

Just in case I'm ever on a game show. You never know!

for your summer entertainment

2010-06-16T23:54:00.000-04:00

I spent an embarrassing amount of time on this so you'd better enjoy it.

Running Wild Matt Pond PA
Oh, Hark Lisa Mitchell
Relator Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
Walk of Life Dire Straits
Swim Until You Can't See Land Frightened Rabbit
Ambling Alp Yeasayer
Dirty Water The Standells
Manhattan Kings of Leon
Radio Radio Brooke White
Atlas Fanfarlo
Darling, It's Alright Francis & the Lights
Young Hearts Run Free The Swell Season
Coney Island Good Old War
Second Hand News Fleetwood Mac
Abandon French Kicks
Fingertip Aqualung
American Honey Lady Antebellum
Spirit in the Sky Norman Greenbaum
Nothing But Time Opus Orange
The Green Fields of Summer Peter Wolf & Neko Case

do yourself a favor

2010-06-14T02:18:00.000-04:00

Listen to this.

'tis the season

2010-06-12T14:05:00.001-04:00

I like watching soccer. I blame Real Salt Lake and my brother Thomas. I'll never get over how much the poor fellows have to run though. That's why my soccer career never really took off.

peonies deserve every good word anyone says about them

2010-06-08T01:32:00.001-04:00

happy memorial day

2010-05-31T23:05:00.001-04:00

fireflies!

2010-05-25T23:29:00.006-04:00

I saw fireflies for the first time tonight. I have Hannah and the subtropical climate to thank. I thought there was some trick to finding them, but all I had to do was walk outside, and there they were, tons of them in the trees. I nearly leapt off the back deck at the sight. I felt like I was in this music video, which doesn't actually feature fireflies but I think conveys the essence of the firefly spirit:

I'll probably do this every night for the whole summer.

serendipity, like the movie kind of

2010-05-19T02:07:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago I was minding my own business at my sister Marisa's graduation, when what to my wondering eyes should appear these two Cougars, Hallie and Katherine. Boy were they a sight for sore eyes. Miss you guys, and you're welcome for coordinating my outfit to yours.

token post about how bad american idol sucks

2010-05-18T21:20:00.004-04:00

Okay, I've liked Lee DeWyze (DeWyze????) all season, blah blah blah, but mostly for his personality and not his super predictable "rock front man" voice, and certainly not for his goatee. But I think we can see who 19 Entertainment would like to sign next based on the fact that tonight they gave him a full orchestra and gospel choir and a song that could get even Tim Urban into the top 12 (America's Favorite Song, "Hallelujah," which Simon incidentally OWNS THE RIGHTS TO), while Casey James got like two guys sitting on some steps. Plus remember when Kara said Casey's vibrato sounded like a lamb? What an idiot. Go write more Theory of a Deadman songs.

probably a lot of people's grandmas are in this picture

2010-05-17T23:54:00.002-04:00

Glendale School, grades 5–8, c. 1939, Teacher Norman Nels Nelson, Glendale, Idaho

My grandma is second from the left in the middle row and in fifth grade. I must get that expression from her. Her older sister Coleen is second from right in the middle, and their teacher is my great-grandpa. I love this picture.

i have a hard time relating to people who get sad when it rains

2010-05-17T21:53:00.001-04:00

I wouldn't mind if it rained every day. Maybe because I grew up in a desert.
Either way, I shop for umbrellas and rain apparel every day.

2010-05-13T23:46:00.000-04:00

Somewhere between Georgia and Kentucky

today i listened only to country

2010-05-05T22:03:00.000-04:00

kentucky derby fever

2010-04-30T19:17:00.001-04:00

Well so tomorrow is the biggest day that exists here in Louisville, the 136th Kentucky Derby. It's bigger than the Fourth of July. There's a festival for the two weeks leading up to it starting with a big fireworks show, and there are steamboat races, hot air balloon races, concerts, and a Pegasus Parade that I would've gone to if I'd known Diane Lane was the grand marshal. There are also lots of fancy celebrity parties, the most famous one hosted by the Doublemint Twins. I totally know where the house is so I may do a drive-by tonight. So far the people I know are here are as follows: Salt 'n Pepa, Isaac Mizrahi, Johnny Weir, Rascal Flatts, Ashlee Simpson, Tito, Marlon, and Jackie Jackson, and some Real Housewives of New Jersey.

During the week of the Derby you can go to Churchill Downs and watch the horses train in the mornings. We went yesterday and it was cool. And surely the closest I'll ever get to those horses since race tickets cost a billion dollars and you have to buy a box of six.

Anyway, here are some songs to get you in the Kentucky Derby mood, wherever you may be.

Bus Fare To Kentucky Skeeter Davis
Kentucky Pill Johnny Flynn
Horses On The Range Timmy Curran
Blue Moon Of Kentucky Patsy Cline
Run For The Roses Dan Fogelberg
East Kentucky Home The Steeldrivers
Kentucky Waltz Manson Family Picnic
Wild Horses Iron and Wine with Calexico

and one for tomorrow's forecast:
Kentucky Rain Elvis Presley