Transatlanticism

This album is pretty significant for me. It is my consistent January album, probably because that is when I first listened to it.

January 2004. Sophomore year of high school. I got it for my birthday.

I took art with Cronk that semester. It was probably the point in my life when I decided I was an artist. He taught me about the process of making art. That every decision is significant and meaningful. I made a shadowbox/sculpture piece that semester that I think everyone else finds hideous, but I love because I remember the process of creating it, and how much emotion and expression it holds for me.

I remember making a collage about the broken state of the world and the apathy of mainstream christianity. It involved Jim Bakker praying to a chocolate crucifix.

I also remember sketching and painting in my attic loft that winter. While Ben Gibbard sang to me, I painted bleeding hearts and silver stars.

I was thinking of posting photos of those things, but I think I'd rather you imagine them.

I almost came as a shark actually, but then I realized an eagle's slightly better

EAGLE VS. SHARK
Barnabas and I were trying out his free Netflix streaming trial this week. There wasn't a huge selection, but I had wanted to see this movie for a while. It was...awkward. But still pretty hilarious. I definitely laughed out loud. I would say a combination of Napoleon Dynamite and Strictly Ballroom (It's got a lot of New Zealand/Australian accents).
I'm not sure I would particularly recommend it, nor would I purchase it, but I would probably give it another view. I could try to convince you with quotes or something, but I don't think it would do it any sort of justice. So here's the trailer:

Ok. I guess after watching the trailer, I want to see it again. Definitely.
I also think I love it because Lily reminds me so much of Sara Rose Vruggink.

EXPELLED
We also watched this documentary featuring Ben Stein being belligerent to a bunch of scientists. I really hated the first half. The editing felt forced and manipulative. The music placement, use of cheesy video clips, and selective interview footage wasn't cool.
The second half, however, was super interesting. It left the intelligent design angle and focused more on the fact that Darwinism is incomplete and looked at the trend of eugenics in the 20th century.

WOLVERINE
I am so excited for this. The end.



WATCHMEN
I am in the process of reading this graphic novel. I started this week in Indiana with Nick's copy, and I just ordered it from amazon tonight with a gift certificate! So I am excited.
However, I hope that the movie is really good. The trailer looks amazing, but I have been fooled before. (ie: Sunshine)

like...oh em gee

so here's how fifteen years old I am right now...

I went to the mall today to return some American Eagle jeans. I actually tried to shop the mall and mostly felt very stupid and ugly and poor. Especially my hair and braces.

I got really angry and mostly just cried a lot when my parents wouldn't let me drive down to see my boyfriend. After explaining how much keys and locksmiths cost and hinting at my consistent absentmindedness and lack of judgment.

I have now shut myself in the only available room in the house to write it in my blog.

That's how fifteen years old I am right now.

And the thing is... I realize it's stupid. I realize they love me and I lock my keys in my car all the time and they just bought me a new car after I totaled the last one they bought me... 6 months ago. And it's dark outside and I've never driven the car before.

And I realize I am blessed and not poor at all and in very good health.

but my inner fifteen year old seems to have commandeered me for the time being.

Winter Song

I just tuned into The Tonight Show for the tail end tonight. I always forget that Conan doesn't actually start until 12:35.

But I am so glad I did. Sometimes I am just in a place where a song can reach straight through me to the core. This one was called Winter Song, sung by Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles. Now, I am as sick of "not gonna write you a love song..." as anyone else. But tonight, Winter Song was so beautiful to me.

Immediately after it was over, I opened my laptop and begged it for internet. Miraculously, a totally new network appeared and allowed me to get the album from itunes (it's called The Hotel Café). It was probably a Christmas miracle.

Some of my recent days have been rough. I'm trying to do and think all the right things. Trying to be healthy, etc. But nothing feels natural. I have no rhythm. Everything is forced or difficult.

I don't want to be that way. But then, what I do is try not to be that way.

I think some surrender is in order.

musical musings

My music collection has become somewhat stale as of late. I've been on the lookout for new things, but I also realized I'm not sure what I even like anymore. So, I've been listening around with a pretty open mind... and ears. I've found a couple of things that I am interested in.

1. La Dispute - Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair
While we were setting up for a shoot yesterday, Jake put their new album on. It was really good. I don't have it yet, but this is one that I want to buy from the source instead of pirate, because it's a local band and I want to support them.

2. Marc Broussard
Yeah, he's been around for a while, but I just saw him on Leno again recently. I think he's just good feel-good music. I really just want to collect any of his songs wherever I can find them, and not spend $45 to buy all of his albums.

3. Rosie Thomas- A Very Rosie Christmas
I am very excited about this album and will also be buying it soon. I am also hoping to go see her Christmas concert downtown in December. mmmmm....


Any other suggestions?

the race problem

So, I was warned of the following phenomenon last semester by my Sociology professor, and I find it particularly potent now.

The media last night and today have been going on and on about how significant it is that America has elected a president of mixed race.

and yes, it is amazing. Don't misunderstand me. This is huge. It gives hope to the oppressed all over the country and the world. It expands the imaginations of young black children, making anything possible to them. Last night will be written about as an enormous breakthrough in our country's history, 40 years after the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

However, I have heard more than one reporter talk about how this is the end to the race problem. Saying that we've beat it, it is no longer a part of us.

This is simply not true. The residues of our country's racial divisions still lurk in every corner. In every interracial interaction, the nuances of racism are there. In media coverage, the music industry, the grocery store, the judgements seep through.

And I'm not pulling for equality in the sense that everyone's culture is integrated and looks the same. But the goal is equal respect for every human being.

just sayin...