20 posts tagged “summer”
If you want to see some photos, definitely check out Parka81, who also set it up so that people can use his photos with the attribution license from Creative Commons. Ha! This is why I really love flickr. I also just did a search and found a guy dressed up like the Tick! I love the Tick! Anyway, I also just wanted to show a picture of the ever-changing San Diego downtown. I'll be there (well, SD) in a couple of days.
Listening habits, last week it was all Aretha Franklin and ladies of soul, this week, it's looks like it's the men plus a little bit of Billy Bragg. I guess, if you look at it, I was feeling a little low. Maybe I was...maybe I wasn't. Either way, it's good music. So here is my short list for this past week : 20 July to 26 July
- Maxwell - his new album is amazing! No wonder it was number 1. I saw him on GMA one morning and besides the fantastic music and being gone to live life for 8 years, he was so modest and humble. Chris Cuomo was practically salivating on him. It was all very cute.
- Billy Bragg & Billy Bragg and Wilco - I decided to put these together because they take slots 2 & 3 on my top 5. I just felt I needed to listen to Billy Bragg one 100 degree day. He's soothing even his "happy" tunes make you mellow. And something about his voice.
- Math and Physics Club - Mellemusic got me into them during out road trip along Route 66. Good stuff.
- Martha Reeves & the Vandellas - sometimes you need to go back and listen to the music that helped shape a bit of who you are. Yes, I did not officially grow-up listening to them, but I loved them. The harmonies, the love songs, the love aches, the dancing - nothing like listening to one of the best 1960s girl groups to get you in a good mood.
- Justin Timberlake - yes. I know! I love him! he was tied with Cal Tjader.
- live music at the California Plaza. I love summer for Grand Performances. Saw Curumin and Novalima and they were EXCELLENT
- hanging out for great DJ sets where ever they happen - The Bar for one. So fun! Doctor Who night, good friends, laughs and beers and other libations
- The Wire Season 1
- catching up on my YA reading
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- cold-brewed coffee - have you tried it? that's the way to brew. Potent but not as acidic or something. I don't know. I had a discussion with my friends in the Bay Area and I finally did it. It's especially fantastic during these long hot summer weeks in L.A. 100+ degrees, I'd rather drink ice coffee
- The Mighty Boosh - thanks natalie! They are coming to Amoeba tomorrow! Whoo-hoooo!!! I love them and their bizarreness. I love them more than I love the Flight of the Concords and have been waiting for their DVDs to not be in PAL format! YAY! Way to catch on America! LOL!
My friends are going to a far off place. I don't know the details but I will soon..maybe over fried chicken at Dinah's.
What else?
- Looking forward to birthday shenanigans with Blades and company.
- Going to hear about the AIDSwalk SF and updates on friends from Mellemusic
- more VBAS work and free lunches at DreamWorks Animation
- maybe I'll go take pictures of some of the puppies today who need homes
- staying cool in the Valley
- having a Poketo kind of morning with blueberry buttermilk pancakes and Hawaiian coffee (poketo kitcheware good stuff)
- writing book reviews
- watching Seven Seconds
Happy Tuesday folks!
So, I'm going to try to be diligent about see what my Top 5 Music is on Last.fm. I keep track but I have not really considered how what I listen to reflects my moods or whatever. Not that everything needs to be that deep but it is interesting to see what I am into since it has definitely changed over the years. From punk to ska to electronic to whatever. Also, it is great to see what my mainstays are in music and maybe from looking at it each week, it will allow me to branch out or discover something new.
Aside from that I also figured out that I need to get back into my Young Adult reading mode. I have not picked up a YA book in a while (ok, it's probably like a week maybe 2!) but there are a lot of things out there and I need to keep up!!! Currently on the shelf is Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth
as well as
The summer projects list is going well. I finally took my donations to Goodwill and also recycled electronics at the S.A.F.E. collection center. I am really happy that I can see some floor space but of course, when one pile disappears another one magically appears to take it's place!!! The bathroom is still in process as well as the decoupaging of the cheap cabinet but I did find a cabinet at IKEA and now I'm looking at old images of flowers to photocopy. My new challenge is trying to figure out what kind of varnish to use as a sealer. I liked a certain brand but I cannot find it any where and I kind of only know what it looks like. Everything else is in a spray can and I'm not too much a fan of the spray can in this small space.
Volunteering is going well. This week I am hanging out at DreamWorks Animation manning the table there. Free lunch! that's always good.
Anyway, here's a song for you for a Monday afternoon:
Since I have not been baking in awhile and I'm home trying to not spend money, I decided to back some blueberry muffins. I have never made them from scratch and I always feel a little sad because I don't have a mixer but I did not need a mixer for these. I was looking around for recipes and I found one on The Bitten Word - a blog cooking using these people's subscriptions to various cooking magazines. It's actually a pretty interesting blog and they must be subscribed to every cooking magazine out there! They also have really great food pictures.
Anyway, so I used the recipe on the link and that's how they turned out. I don't trust myself to not use paper muffing cups so that's why they have the little muffin cup ridges.
They are really amazing! Not too sweet and packed with blueberries. I used 2 cups! 1 cup I had to cook down and the second I just folded into the batter. Another added bonus was the lemon sugar topping. Sugar and some lemon rind - viola! lemon sugar. But now I have a small bowl of lemon sugar and no idea what to use it for. I guess, tea?!? Also I have buttermilk...no idea what else to use that for...
Today, I also ended up getting some stuff done on my beginning of summer list - brought donations to the Goodwill! Worked on some budget stuff seeing where I can save money and found a much cheaper car insurance quote but I have to wait til my current policy expires. Researched some e-recycling spots and found one in my new favorite part of L.A.. -Atwater Village. And discovered this stairway walk event called the Big Parade. Not sure if I will do it because it's about 110 degrees outside and going to be hotter tomorrow. I already feel like my contacts have permanently melted onto my eyeballs so I might pass.
I saw "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and reread books 6 and 7. I feel a little obsessed and then I found these videos on youTube. Wizard Rock or...WROCK! (silent W) Yeah, I need to calm down!
Well, aside from my wizard obsession...here's a song for you! Happy Friday!
Really enjoying this Fiery Furnaces album :) Have a great weekend!
This past week was pretty fantastic. I went and saw my friend, Andres' band play, Blank Blue. Carolline came out and it was great seeing Andres rock out like that. I never knew he played that kind of music so it was a great surprise.
Then I learned about a good DJ night at The Bar called "Doctor Who" and had my fantastic star-sighting.
Had a super fun time at Poketo's Karaoke Dance Party. MisterJT and I even sang! Duran Duran's Rio. Oy. Why did I get up there? I swear, I was having heart palpitations and my voice was all quivery. But hey it was fun and that is all that matters! (oh yeah, that's Jason and Melle in a Porta-Party! LOL!)
Today, I ate at the most amazing restaurant in Atwater Village called Canele. While we were sitting there, they were walking across the street to the farmers' market to get some ingredients. It was so fresh and good. The waitress was really nice and friendly and was on top of it even though the other wait staff person didn't show up. The smells in that restaurant were so good you just could not wait to get your food.
I had the french toast. Yeah, it's bigger than my head! It was so delicious! You would think that a piece of french toast that thick would have something wrong with it but it was perfect! And the plum sauce. Yum! They serve it with fruit and it's seasonal. I tasted some of Geekandahalf's and MisterJT's dishes and they were so delectable! I definitely have to go there for dinner one day.
Now I'm home trying to motivate to take a walk...I made this for dinner though and maybe that's why I'm sleepy now.
It's a recipe from Real Simple's August 2009 issue. Vegetarian. It only takes 20 minutes and it is yummy. I even used crushed red pepper flakes and I don't even like spicy food. It adds the perfect amount of kick but I guess, if you like spicy you would want to add more than the 1/4 teaspoon that's part of the recipe. I think it will be much more favorful tomorrow. However, now I have a big giant bowl of pasta. Maybe I should offer it to friends.
Anyway, happy Sunday. Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Good morning! So, let's see yesterday's list:
- decoupage my bathroom cabinet
- watch "Away We Go"
- send care packages out
- wrap up my nephews birthday presents
- finish up Road Trip mix cd
- make mix cd cover (thank goodness I have photoshop on my work computer that I can use)
- finish grant application
- clean the kitchen
- find recipes for the figs I bought at the farmer's market
I made this delicious pizza with figs, prosciutto and brie. My friend, tiffanybbrown, mentioned gorgonzola and making it a "white" pizza so I will have to try that one soon before figs go out of season. I have to say, it was delicious. I saw the recipe online somewhere after sifting through pages and pages of fig recipes. There were not that many savory dishes except for some appetizers.
I was really surprised by how delicious it turned out. Yum!
Also, I went to this deli down the street called Monte Carlo/Pinnochio's. It's an Italian deli that specializes in imported products. I have tried their restaurant and it is good but I've never bought anything in the store part. The deli guy was super helpful. Poor guy though I could not hear a word he was saying. He was really soft spoken and the place was busting. I even did that thing where you cup your ear so you can hear the person better. Yeah! I'm OLD! OLD! After I did it, I thought, "Oh gawd. Did I just do that? Dang it!" It was sad...but what can you do? I went to a lot of shows, I live under a flight path, things are loud! *shakes cane* LOL!
Today :
- email Hill about Elvis Costello (free show!)
- make breakfast
- go on a run
- blob (doing that right now)
- go to the shelter and help with the show
- drink my lemon water concoction (doing that right now too)
- decoupage my bathroom cabinet
- watch "Away We Go"
- send care packages out
- wrap up my nephews birthday presents
- finish up Road Trip mix cd
- make mix cd cover (thank goodness I have photoshop on my work computer that I can use)
- finish grant application and go to campus
- read some of the Roald Dahl Treasury I just checked out. Reading it again I am struck by how creepy his stories are - Enormous Crocodile trying to eat children with cheap trips. Yeah...CREEPY! But I love it! They also are great for reading out loud!
ok, NOT at all. It's just drizzling but you know, in L.A. this equals a shower. Stay off the roads!!! Everyone will drive like they forgot how to drive and it will be awesome!
I ended up not being all that lazy yesterday despite the stupid migraine problem I had all day. I swear, now that I'm older I keep getting migraines. I've never had them and now, it's like clockwork. The weird things was that on TV on the LiveWell channel they had a special on migraines! How fitting and synchronous that was! So, I take vitamins, I exercise, but I think I might need drugs for it. DRUGS! I don't want to do it. But Jan did suggest something so I will have to see my doctor and talk to him about it. Though, he's not much for prescribing things.
But because I didn't get started until super late I ended up walking up at 5 am today. So, I went on a hike around the Griffith Observatory and Mt. Hollywood. That hike is only good in the early morning and the early evening because there is absolutely zero cover. I remember I did it once during the day and it was hell hot. I thought I was early getting there at about 5:45 am but those groups of Korean and Japanese ladies and men always beat me! Always! No matter where I go hike, here in the Valley or the West Side, there are always these way more energetic and super fit Korean and Japanese groups. They make me feel lazy! I swear, they pretty much smoke me as I struggle up the hill. They are laughing and talking and I'm all winded and tired. It's awesome! :) Super nice people and after awhile you end up seeing them every time you do the hike. But hello, they must get there at 4:30 or 5 in the morning!!! I'm amazed and then today, I noticed group doing the same trek up the hill for the 2nd time! I did it once and I was done. But now that I think about it..it might have been round 4 or something. CRAZY!!!
Then I went to the farmer's market. I think I'm going to go to the farmer's market and buy something "new" and figure out what to do with it. This time I bought some figs
I've never "cooked" with figs so that's my project for today.
Also finished my Mix CD inspired by the road trip. I'm listening to it today and Headphonerecord introduced me to this new-to-me group, "The Equals." I never heard of a slipper tree but this is what I saw on the road
And here's the song by the Equals...
Happy Saturday!
Drove part of Route 66 with Melle Music. It was fun! I was going to write more about it but I'm lazy. Honestly, all I want to do today is sleep and watch TV. I mean, I can do that but I have to do stuff like laundry and chores. I posted some pictures on Flickr in my Getting My Kicks set.
There were some funky sights..I made up a band name "Beautiful Sadness." The worst name ever but it cracked us up for a good stretch of the drive. Every thing can be described as "Beautiful Sadness." Actually, let me see if there is a band with that name...ok, i joked that it would be a metal band...Let's see...here it is! Goth and Industrial!
See, I was not too far off!
Ended up detouring and hanging out at the Grand Canyon. Words really cannot describe it. Majestic. Breath-taking. It was raining while we were there so we saw this pretty wonderful rainbow in the canyon. Amazing!
I still need to do the drive. No one really heads up to Chicago, most of the people we saw were heading towards LA.
I will write more later but here's a little preview. Time to take a nap :)
(geez, what happened to my list..i was doing so well this summer) Ok..mini list
- might watch Away We Go
- nap
- go on a run (I told my sister-in-law that I'd run a 1/2 marathon with her.)
- clean the bathroom and kitchen
- make a mix cd inspired by the roadtrip
- get some mod podge (i need to get on that project)
- finish Carl Hiassen's Scat
- hit a farmer's market. Not sure where it is on Friday...i think it's in Echo Park or Silverlake
- laundry (gah..this will be put off as long as possible)
- nap
- finish my application for Israel (that's on the top. I have to finish it today!)
hum...happy Friday folks! Have a good one! Here's some Estelle to get you in a good mood :)
I don't know why? I couldn't change the channel. Plus, Denzel Washington (hubba!) was on. I was eating my delicious oatmeal with dried apricots. I had a hot cup of lemon water in my hand. I secretly kind of like a couple of their songs. It's like supporting one of my students. I don't know!!!!!
It's like you can't stop them from getting under your skin ok, into your head! But that makes it pop music right? Like that awful song "More than Words" by that band Extreme. That song makes me want to drive off a cliff. Anyway, the Jonas Brothers don't make me want to do that so that's good!
Ok, yesterday, ended up monopolizing Ambookgeek's day! It was fun! We figured out how many Nia Vardalos movies you can watch in a day. Apparently, it's TWO!!! We watched "My Life in Ruins" and then when we got to his house watched "Connie and Carla." Yup! It was chic flicks day! And also hit up Costco, which every time I go into one of those places, I'm just amazed. You figure I would get over it but I don't have a membership so when I'm in there my eyeballs pop out of my head.
"My Life In Ruins" was ok. Predictable but sweet. Ambookgeek described it as a Lifetime movie. Spot on! But what was up with the Greek mullets? I mean, that man was very handsome except for the mullet! It was like, "cut the hair already!" But now I want to watch Anthony Quinn in "Zorba The Greek."
They were obsessed with this scene and the other dance scenes from this movie.
So, the list for today:
- morning exercises
- breakfast
- take my vitamins (I forgot yesterday)
- finish Food Matters by Mark Bittman
- write my booktalk for Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher
- write my booktalk for Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
- read some of Out of Our Minds by Sir Ken Robinson
- try to look for paper with Lex (this all depends on how much my car costs me today)
- get an oil change (so late on this!)
- drink my lemon water
- watch "The Hangover" with the Lymans (whoo-hooo!!)
- go on a bike ride (i need to get a ride in today....)
- call my brother and sister in law because their birthdays were this week! I found a present for one so now I need to find one for my brother but I'm going to wait and find something during the road trip!
I'm so excited! Going on a road trip next week with Melle! Here we come Mother Road!
So, in honor of the drive, here's a surf rock standard and something from the Young Disciples comp I got the other day! Enjoy!
I don't know about you...but I love the Numero Group's album covers for the Eccentric Soul series. Also! did you know they come with collector cards? yeah! pretty sweet! I need to stick those somewhere...
It's almost been a week for this vacation and so far...so good!
Let's see yesterday's goals:
- decoupage project
- watching "Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations"
- Pasadena mini tour
- Euro Pane Bakery
- photograph
- no driving
- volunteer at the shelter
- watch Brothers Bloom
Here are some tracks from a pretty cool Surf compilations I got a Canterbury Record Shop in Pasadena. I cannot help it...I walk into a small indie record shop and I want to support them and I buy stuff! I bought "The Birth of Surf" off of Ace Records and another one from Eccentric Soul: The Young Disciples no.23. If you haven't checked out the compilations from Numero Group..well, you really should! Especially if you love soul music. They have collected some smaller labels and made the most interesting collections. SO GOOD!
I have goals for today but I gotta get out of here and meet Blades for breakfast :)
Have a great day folks!
