I recently had to restore my iTunes, so my top bands/artists are more like guesses combined with what's on my most frequent playlist on my iPod and what I've been listening to a ton lately.
Name your top 10 most played bands on iTunes (Or Last.FM):
1. Regina Spektor
2. The Beatles
3. Interpol
4. The Decemberists
5. Eric Whitacre
6. Led Zeppelin
7. Ben Folds
8. Fiona Apple
9. The Ramones
10. Myrtille
What was the first song you ever heard by 6 (Led Zeppelin)?
I was going to say "Stairway to Heaven" because, obviously, but actually I think it was "Kashmir."
What is your favorite album of 2 (The Beatles)?
Tough! The White Album or Abbey Road...hmm...Today I'm going to go with Abbey Road. But they're pretty much tied for me, I listen to them constantly.
What is your favorite lyric that 5 (Eric Whitacre) has sung?
Again difficult - mainly because as a composer he sets lyrics to music, he doesn't write them. Anyway, although I swoon over his setting of James Joyce's "She Weeps Over Rahoon" I have to say his "Five Hebrew Love Songs" have my favorite lyric (words by his wife, the wonderful poet Hila Plitmann):
“Larov,” amar gag la’shama’im,
“Hamerchak shebeyneynu hu ad;
Ach lifney zman alu lechan shna’im,
Uveyneynu nishar sentimeter echad.”
Translation: "Mostly," said the roof to the sky,/"The distance between you and I is endlessness;/But a while ago two came up here,/and only one centimeter was left between us."
How many times have you seen 4 (The Decemberists) live?
Once. They put on a fantastically fun, energetic, and interesting show, particularly in the Mariner's Revenge.
What is your favorite song by 7 (Ben Folds)?
Oh my goodness, without a doubt "The Luckiest." If I ever get married that is so very much my wedding song. Someone once asked me what song I wish was written for me and I said that one. It's just so amazingly simple, sweet, straightforward, and touching.
What is a good memory you have involving the music of 10 (Myrtille)?
It's probably the best music ever to just wander around during the spring/summertime. I like to take walks around evening or nighttime at home and one summer I would just walk for hours listening to the album Murmures on repeat.
Is there a song of 3 (Interpol) that makes you sad?
"Pioneer to the Falls" makes me sort of sad but it probably shouldn't. Their lyrics can be so weird to try to figure out but this one comes across to me as pseudo hopeful, if that makes sense. I feel like despite the reassurances he'll fall anyway.
What is your favorite lyric that 2 (The Beatles) has sung?
Haha, seriously? I could pull one from about half of their songs, but I'll go with "Living is easy with eyes closed" from "Strawberry Fields."
How did you get into 3 (Interpol)?
My best friend sent me "Specialist" and "Evil" and I loved both.
What was the first song you heard by 1 (Regina Spektor)?
"Samson," the slow version. I promptly listened to it 800 more times to transcribe it so I could play it myself.
What is your favorite song by 4 (The Decemberists)?
"The Island - Come and See/The Landlord's Daughter/You'll Not Feel the Drowning" - an amazing set and gotta love The Tempest as inspiration. Masterful transitions between the sections, love the wordplay, love the opening. I also love "We Both Go Down Together," so that was kind of hard.
How many times have you seen 9 (The Ramones) live?
Never. Have they even toured within the last 20 years?
What is a good memory you have involving 2 (The Beatles)?
One of my first moments of truly appreciating both them and the beauty of music theory - my theory teacher in 9th grade had us analyze "Let It Be" to study chord progressions. He also mentioned "Chopin-like appoggiaturas" in the vocals. I loved the simplicity of the progression and how much the melody depended on it. Then we listened while following the score and I fell in love!
Is there a song of 8 (Fiona Apple) that makes you sad?
"Never is a Promise" can make me bawl in the right mood.
What is your favorite album of 5 (Eric Whitacre)?
Uh, he doesn't really have albums, per se. I suppose "The Music of Eric Whitacre" with U of Miami Chorale and Brigham Young U Singers. The recordings on that are great but it's missing some of his best pieces.
What is your favorite lyric that 3 (Interpol) has sung?
"You make me lose my buttons"
What is your favorite song of 1 (Regina Spektor)?
Ah...I'm going to say "Samson" though I love "Aquarius."
What is your favorite song of 10 (Myrtille)?
Probably "L'ombre." The music is so deceptively upbeat for such introspective lyrics. But I love the tone of both and they actually mesh well for me.
How many times have you seen 8 (Fiona Apple) live?
Ergh...I wish!
What is your favorite album of 1 (Regina Spektor)?
Soviet Kitsch I think. It's just so innovative and overall awesome. This is despite the fact that I probably listen more to Begin to Hope.
What is a great memory you have considering 9 (The Ramones)?
Haha there are many. I had a great time playing Rockband with Nat's siblings to a bunch of Ramones songs. T and I have walked around campus on many days singing random songs, notably "Pet Sematary," "Sheena is a Punk Rocker," and "The KKK Took My Baby Away."
What was the first song you heard by 8 (Fiona Apple)?
I'm going to guess and say "Criminal."
What is your favorite cover by 2 (The Beatles)?
Ooo, by them. Once I heard a great live recording of them doing a Bob Dylan song, I don't remember what it was. Honestly I can't think of many covers they've done.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
woo cleaning!
Every so often I get urges to clean things really thoroughly, and I just spent the last two and a half hours scrubbing down the bathroom I share with my two male roommates (somehow I got stuck on the guys' floor!). It really, really needed cleaning - I hadn't done it since probably right after Halloween and I doubt the guys did much since then. I got super stressed and busy with finals and grad school, then I went home, and for the last week I've had a ton of stuff to do. It was really nasty.
I'm allergic to most cleaning products so I generally use combinations of vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice when I clean. It takes longer but is much better on my hands. Anyway I did the sink, mirror, toilet, floor, and shelves with vinegar and such and still wasn't happy. So I busted out my rubber gloves (which I'm also slightly allergic to, but not as badly) and then wiped everything down again with a bleach cleaner and another disinfectant. That bathroom has never been so clean! How long until the guys mess it up again?
I'm allergic to most cleaning products so I generally use combinations of vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice when I clean. It takes longer but is much better on my hands. Anyway I did the sink, mirror, toilet, floor, and shelves with vinegar and such and still wasn't happy. So I busted out my rubber gloves (which I'm also slightly allergic to, but not as badly) and then wiped everything down again with a bleach cleaner and another disinfectant. That bathroom has never been so clean! How long until the guys mess it up again?
Monday, January 26, 2009
As an update to the last post...
I just talked to John and things are better. He's decided he doesn't have to be an asshole if it means losing me, and promises that he overreacted out of surprise and defensiveness the other day. I don't know; I'm still wary, but at least I know what he's thinking now. So I've gone from terrible hurt to angry, and am now reaching the "whatever" stage in that it's possible right now he's more trouble than he's worth.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
self-pitying, whiny, very long rant ahead
It's always easy for me to see the problems in other people's relationships. That sounds pretty awful and judgmental but it's true - maybe having lived through an abusive relationship for four of the most formative years of my life did wind up teaching me something. Not to say that's always the problem; I don't even know if that's the reason but whatever it is, I'm really perceptive when it comes to that sort of thing.
I saw last night that two of my closest friends, T and N who have been dating about 6 months now, are beginning some issues. She is prone to starting arguments with him and then getting huffy and self-righteous when he (as has always been his nature) takes it to a higher, more conceptual intellectual level that she can't follow. She puts herself above him all the time. But he really only dates girls like that, it's what he's used to. Then he gets overwhelmed and wears away at them until they dump him. It's really too bad because they are great otherwise.
Um, why am I discussing this? Well, I see the problems in my own relationships just as clearly, but I can't tell how things will play out. Most of all I see myself falling back into old habits, I see the stupid excuses pouring forth, but I can't stop it happening. The other day John actually told me straight out that he likes making certain types of girls miserable - it makes him happy. He won't stop screwing with them because it's "part of who he is," even though in the process he's hurting me so much. And yet I am perfectly able to convince myself that making me miserable doesn't please him; it's not a goal, it's an unfortunate side effect. Although I have my doubts as to how exactly he feels about our pseudo-relationship, I am sure it's not for the fucking me over aspect he so enjoys with the others. (And yet another part of me says - how sad is it that I can actually believe that?)
I bitched him out about it the other day and realized how much he is really willing to sacrifice to keep being an asshole. I said things that upset him (but were true, just said harshly, I think) and made him worry that I'm trying to control his life (when in reality I don't care what he does with his life, I'm trying to take control of my own life). So, now he's not speaking to me - he needs "time."
Through the wonders of Facebook I realized he was having a conversation with one of his music skanks while we were talking about this serious issue, and while I was sobbing to him about being an awful friend. Now I see that he's used this fight with me to continue his awful manipulations of this other music skank - "don't defriend her...remember, 'really good friends' don't get mad at each other :)" she wrote on his wall. I can't even explain the levels of bullshit here. He's playing innocent, making her feel bad for him, and I'm sure making me out to be horrible. All so that when she really falls for him hard he can fuck her and reject her. That's not even hyperbole - it's literally his pre-thought-out plan.
Just the thought that he's discussing our situation with his music skanks (while he won't talk to me) makes me feel sick, and more so because I know he's playing it to his advantage. When is time going to be up? How ridiculous is it that I'm still thinking, "well...I know him apart from his bitterness, I know the real John, and I know when he's done amusing himself he will come back to me." Hell, I don't even want to date him, so why am I so concerned? Well, I know that too but I won't go into it as it turns out to be a much deeper problem I have. I just don't get how I can see all of this from a disgusted outsider's perspective and the kind of beaten girlfriend thing I have going on.
T could help me out of this if he weren't so afraid of me at this point - he's the only person in the world who believes I can be strong (or "empowered" as he likes to say but that word squicks me out) and get past of all the issues M left me with. Little wonder I wound up falling for him so long ago. Even though that's been over he's too afraid of what will happen if we see each other in a non-public place on our own. He's not sure whether my crazy will beat out my love and friendship for N...and with their relationship the way it is now I guess I don't blame him.
Whenever I come back to this goddamn place the drama starts again. I can't get away from it. If I were there with John things would be different; if I didn't see T and N so much I wouldn't be so worried about T's well being and would actually ask him for help. And this is not even mentioning the roommate drama of kittens! crazy boyfriends! and lease breaking!
I saw last night that two of my closest friends, T and N who have been dating about 6 months now, are beginning some issues. She is prone to starting arguments with him and then getting huffy and self-righteous when he (as has always been his nature) takes it to a higher, more conceptual intellectual level that she can't follow. She puts herself above him all the time. But he really only dates girls like that, it's what he's used to. Then he gets overwhelmed and wears away at them until they dump him. It's really too bad because they are great otherwise.
Um, why am I discussing this? Well, I see the problems in my own relationships just as clearly, but I can't tell how things will play out. Most of all I see myself falling back into old habits, I see the stupid excuses pouring forth, but I can't stop it happening. The other day John actually told me straight out that he likes making certain types of girls miserable - it makes him happy. He won't stop screwing with them because it's "part of who he is," even though in the process he's hurting me so much. And yet I am perfectly able to convince myself that making me miserable doesn't please him; it's not a goal, it's an unfortunate side effect. Although I have my doubts as to how exactly he feels about our pseudo-relationship, I am sure it's not for the fucking me over aspect he so enjoys with the others. (And yet another part of me says - how sad is it that I can actually believe that?)
I bitched him out about it the other day and realized how much he is really willing to sacrifice to keep being an asshole. I said things that upset him (but were true, just said harshly, I think) and made him worry that I'm trying to control his life (when in reality I don't care what he does with his life, I'm trying to take control of my own life). So, now he's not speaking to me - he needs "time."
Through the wonders of Facebook I realized he was having a conversation with one of his music skanks while we were talking about this serious issue, and while I was sobbing to him about being an awful friend. Now I see that he's used this fight with me to continue his awful manipulations of this other music skank - "don't defriend her...remember, 'really good friends' don't get mad at each other :)" she wrote on his wall. I can't even explain the levels of bullshit here. He's playing innocent, making her feel bad for him, and I'm sure making me out to be horrible. All so that when she really falls for him hard he can fuck her and reject her. That's not even hyperbole - it's literally his pre-thought-out plan.
Just the thought that he's discussing our situation with his music skanks (while he won't talk to me) makes me feel sick, and more so because I know he's playing it to his advantage. When is time going to be up? How ridiculous is it that I'm still thinking, "well...I know him apart from his bitterness, I know the real John, and I know when he's done amusing himself he will come back to me." Hell, I don't even want to date him, so why am I so concerned? Well, I know that too but I won't go into it as it turns out to be a much deeper problem I have. I just don't get how I can see all of this from a disgusted outsider's perspective and the kind of beaten girlfriend thing I have going on.
T could help me out of this if he weren't so afraid of me at this point - he's the only person in the world who believes I can be strong (or "empowered" as he likes to say but that word squicks me out) and get past of all the issues M left me with. Little wonder I wound up falling for him so long ago. Even though that's been over he's too afraid of what will happen if we see each other in a non-public place on our own. He's not sure whether my crazy will beat out my love and friendship for N...and with their relationship the way it is now I guess I don't blame him.
Whenever I come back to this goddamn place the drama starts again. I can't get away from it. If I were there with John things would be different; if I didn't see T and N so much I wouldn't be so worried about T's well being and would actually ask him for help. And this is not even mentioning the roommate drama of kittens! crazy boyfriends! and lease breaking!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Food list
I've been browsing some foodie blogs and came across this fun list from http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/. It's about traditional Christmas meals, but that's okay! I am, as my mother says, a "baby cook" so don't be surprised that I've hardly made any of these things.
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve tasted.
3) Place an asterisk after all the items you’ve cooked/prepared.
4) Optional: Cross out anything you never want to try, or add an exclamation mark after anything your really want to try. [I italicized things I don't want to try]
1. Crystallised or candied fruits
2. Egg nog
3. Bûche de Noël, or Yule log*
4. Rum balls
5. Bebinca!
6. Roasted chestnuts
7. Cavallucci!
8. Tourtière
9. Uszka(Not a fan of borscht, blech)
10. Port & Stilton
11. Hallaca!
12. Roast goose!
13. Lefse
14. Sugar plums!
15. Romeritos!
16. Pinnekjøtt
17. Hot toddy
18. Christmas cake
19. Tamales
20. Sorpotel
21. Panettone!
22. Candy canes
23. Pasteles
24. Speculaas
25. Makowiec!
26. Christmas pudding
27. Stollen!
28. Figgy pudding
29. Lebkuchen!
30. Turrón!
31. Mince pies*
32. Wassail bowls
33. Buñuelos!
34. Pio Quinto!
35. Marzipan fruits
36. Mulled wine*
37. King cake
38. Christmas beach barbecue (not really sure what this means?)
39. Cola de mono!
40. Lutefisk
41. Kutia!
42. Pizzelle
43. Dominostein!
44. Cranberry sauce* (My brothers and I used to work for a family friend's company that made gourmet cranberry sauce - it was delicious! I don't remember the recipe but my oldest brother does and I keep meaning to get him to write it down.)
45. Pfeffernüsse
46. Satsumas or clementines
47. Pumpkin pie*
48. Smalahove
49. Nut roast
50. Brandy butter!
It seems I am woefully unworldly in terms of holiday foods.
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve tasted.
3) Place an asterisk after all the items you’ve cooked/prepared.
4) Optional: Cross out anything you never want to try, or add an exclamation mark after anything your really want to try. [I italicized things I don't want to try]
1. Crystallised or candied fruits
2. Egg nog
3. Bûche de Noël, or Yule log*
4. Rum balls
5. Bebinca!
6. Roasted chestnuts
7. Cavallucci!
8. Tourtière
9. Uszka(Not a fan of borscht, blech)
10. Port & Stilton
11. Hallaca!
12. Roast goose!
13. Lefse
14. Sugar plums!
15. Romeritos!
16. Pinnekjøtt
17. Hot toddy
18. Christmas cake
19. Tamales
20. Sorpotel
21. Panettone!
22. Candy canes
23. Pasteles
24. Speculaas
25. Makowiec!
26. Christmas pudding
27. Stollen!
28. Figgy pudding
29. Lebkuchen!
30. Turrón!
31. Mince pies*
32. Wassail bowls
33. Buñuelos!
34. Pio Quinto!
35. Marzipan fruits
36. Mulled wine*
37. King cake
38. Christmas beach barbecue (not really sure what this means?)
39. Cola de mono!
40. Lutefisk
41. Kutia!
42. Pizzelle
43. Dominostein!
44. Cranberry sauce* (My brothers and I used to work for a family friend's company that made gourmet cranberry sauce - it was delicious! I don't remember the recipe but my oldest brother does and I keep meaning to get him to write it down.)
45. Pfeffernüsse
46. Satsumas or clementines
47. Pumpkin pie*
48. Smalahove
49. Nut roast
50. Brandy butter!
It seems I am woefully unworldly in terms of holiday foods.
Monday, January 19, 2009
back to school
It's a really strange feeling to know this is the last time I will come back here for a new semester. I won't wander around the buildings looking for my new classes or have the delight of finding my friends there when I sit down. Don't get me wrong; I'm glad to be getting out of this place. I am no small town girl and 4 years here, even if it is extremely liberal and cosmopolitan for an upstate NY town, had made me really antsy and claustrophobic. I won't miss our rather nice crack dealers next door (at least in NYC you might expect that, living in one of the poorer areas as I do here) nor will I miss the ridiculous parking laws. In fact, I will not miss driving at all one bit. I just can't wait to graduate and move on to the next part of my life, though grad school will be pretty much the same thing.
I'm already behind on my reading, as per usual, and I haven't even had a class yet! After some consideration I've decided to drop any class not necessary to graduate and/or complete my thesis, in an effort to cut down on my huge stress level. So that leaves the senior honors seminar (a BS "human nature" class that makes me rather stabby), Intro to Poetry (ha! to finish my English minor), a Biological Anthro (I need another science requirement) and my independent study to finish the thesis. I'm hoping this means I'll have more time to chill out, spend time with the roommates, see other friends, and cook for myself. I'm pretty confident I can lose those 5-10 pounds this semester as long as I have time to prepare decent food - I'm already messing that up though as this morning I had yogurt, granola, and a brownie for breakfast. Sigh, that's what happens when my roommate brings back a bag full of them!
I am terrified of seeing Jason again as he must be so disappointed in me. I can't believe I failed that class because of the fucking final paper. I told him so many times I needed an easier topic but he had so much confidence in me...then I just froze up. I couldn't do it, I just didn't have the breadth of knowledge required. He knows I worked harder than anyone else in that class and we are pretty close anyway. I'm so ashamed of that I don't even want to see him.
I'm already behind on my reading, as per usual, and I haven't even had a class yet! After some consideration I've decided to drop any class not necessary to graduate and/or complete my thesis, in an effort to cut down on my huge stress level. So that leaves the senior honors seminar (a BS "human nature" class that makes me rather stabby), Intro to Poetry (ha! to finish my English minor), a Biological Anthro (I need another science requirement) and my independent study to finish the thesis. I'm hoping this means I'll have more time to chill out, spend time with the roommates, see other friends, and cook for myself. I'm pretty confident I can lose those 5-10 pounds this semester as long as I have time to prepare decent food - I'm already messing that up though as this morning I had yogurt, granola, and a brownie for breakfast. Sigh, that's what happens when my roommate brings back a bag full of them!
I am terrified of seeing Jason again as he must be so disappointed in me. I can't believe I failed that class because of the fucking final paper. I told him so many times I needed an easier topic but he had so much confidence in me...then I just froze up. I couldn't do it, I just didn't have the breadth of knowledge required. He knows I worked harder than anyone else in that class and we are pretty close anyway. I'm so ashamed of that I don't even want to see him.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Et in Arcadia ego
I find "Arcadia" such a nice word. The sound is so twisty and pleasing and I love the mythology and other connections.
Arcadia was a Utopian, pastoral land of antiquity, generally equated with natural styles of living and coexisting with the environment. I find the many traditional paintings of it so soothing, if sometimes a bit boring with all that pastoralism.
I love "Et in Arcadia ego," [even in Arcadia I exist] spoken by Death to remind us of that possibility in even the most idyllic places and situations.
I love Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia for a lot of reasons - it examines the nature of history, explores how much we can really understand the past, is interesting and really funny. Sad, but ultimately very thought-provoking and entertaining. A quote:
I love Arcadia as a name. Recently, that is. Sure, it's technically a place name, and I generally loathe place names, but it has so much history and so many connections, along with a lovely sound and look, how could I pass it up? The French version, Arcadie, is so sweet. Right now I'm definitely in love with this and the similar Acacia.
Arcadia was a Utopian, pastoral land of antiquity, generally equated with natural styles of living and coexisting with the environment. I find the many traditional paintings of it so soothing, if sometimes a bit boring with all that pastoralism.
I love "Et in Arcadia ego," [even in Arcadia I exist] spoken by Death to remind us of that possibility in even the most idyllic places and situations.
I love Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia for a lot of reasons - it examines the nature of history, explores how much we can really understand the past, is interesting and really funny. Sad, but ultimately very thought-provoking and entertaining. A quote:
Mrs Chater is charming and spirited, with a pleasing voice and a dainty step, she is the epitome of all the qualities society applauds in her sex – and yet her chief renown is for a readiness that keeps her in a state of tropical humidity as would grow orchids in her drawers in January. -Septimus
I love Arcadia as a name. Recently, that is. Sure, it's technically a place name, and I generally loathe place names, but it has so much history and so many connections, along with a lovely sound and look, how could I pass it up? The French version, Arcadie, is so sweet. Right now I'm definitely in love with this and the similar Acacia.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Okay, I'm not walking home at 3:30am when it's 0 degrees out. It's just not going to happen, sorry. So if you, Boy, want me to come over and offer to pick me up you'll also have to drive me home - which means getting your lazy ass out of bed, putting clothes on, and going outside. Yes, it's only a couple of blocks but it's freaking cold out!
Oh, and no, I can't stay over when I have to be up in the morning to meet one of the many people I didn't get to see over break because I was hanging out with you so much. Sometimes I have other friends, imagine that!
Ergh, I love him dearly but The Boy can be so dense. And he didn't play the cello for me this break. :(
Oh, and no, I can't stay over when I have to be up in the morning to meet one of the many people I didn't get to see over break because I was hanging out with you so much. Sometimes I have other friends, imagine that!
Ergh, I love him dearly but The Boy can be so dense. And he didn't play the cello for me this break. :(
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Again I say WTF to TWoP
Fall in love with a boy who would deface the moon, who would turn nature's face upon itself if he could, just to find new ways to blaspheme, and back him into a corner. He will go after what he loves most. This is the truth about saving the Bad Boy: we trade on the worst thing we can think of, and loving you means hurting you becomes the worst thing we can think of. And that's your grand prize for loving him: the privilege of being hurt on a level you can't imagine until the knife lands, just so, just right, just perfectly balanced on the steel of your life and this story: "Or were you going to tell me you love me again?" is nothing less -- and nothing more -- than a suicide note, sealed with a kiss. "Why did you even come back?" she asks, and looks into his eyes, and finds an answer so filthy and terrifying she spits it out, and leaves. And they keep dancing.
Wow Jacob, recapper of TWoP. Gossip Girl would be just a wonderfully amusing/trashy fashion show if it weren't for him. He sees things that I truly think are not there from the writers' point of view (though this point I quoted is valid) but my goodness does it make the show fascinating on so many levels. What he said just blew me away with how true it is, and how bluntly he can lay it out. As someone who is constantly on and off with a "bad boy" in the vein of Chuck Bass this paragraph just kind of knocked with wind out of me.
(And in another way I hope I don't do anything similar, as I have been described somewhat as a female equivalent of this breed.)
Already editing because one page later Jacob has broken into my life yet again:
I have not gotten this far in life by paying a single gram of attention to my own personal dark shit. I firmly believe in pushing those feelings down, down, down, to a place they can never get between me and success. In this way, feelings are just like carbohydrates, and I like them that way, and I will write about them until I am blue in the face, but never mistake that for enjoyment. Feelings never got you anywhere except the Land of More Fucking Feelings, and much like crack cocaine or Dave Matthews Band or Scientology or any other cult, that's a journey of a thousand miles that starts with a single step. No thank you, sir or madam, I prefer life here on this side of the line.
Monday, January 12, 2009
names at work today
The names I read at work all day crack me up. Here are some of the most interesting, just from today:
Sunshine - Imagine calling this person from a distance - "Sunshine!!"
Desdemona - It's odd how Juliet, Miranda, Ophelia, Olivia, etc, don't seem odd at all (Ophelia doesn't to me, anyway!) but Desdemona just strikes me as over the top. I can't put my finger on why. Maybe it's all the frilliness around the "moan" sound.
Sparkle - Uh. No comment.
Cinnamon - I think the middle initial was H? Any guesses here?
Cinnamon Heloïse
Cinnamon Henrietta
Cinnamon Hero *hee*
Edwidge - Not unheard of but it's one of those names that just makes me giggle with its oddness. It's so clunky and unfeminine, an awkward sound. I want to say ehd-WEEDJ but my mother says it's ED-widj. I'm guessing it's related to Hedwig?
I saw a combo I liked: Rosamond Nicole. Nicole is generally horribly boring to me (I counted 16 at work in just 2 days alone) but I think it's sweet here.
Sunshine - Imagine calling this person from a distance - "Sunshine!!"
Desdemona - It's odd how Juliet, Miranda, Ophelia, Olivia, etc, don't seem odd at all (Ophelia doesn't to me, anyway!) but Desdemona just strikes me as over the top. I can't put my finger on why. Maybe it's all the frilliness around the "moan" sound.
Sparkle - Uh. No comment.
Cinnamon - I think the middle initial was H? Any guesses here?
Cinnamon Heloïse
Cinnamon Henrietta
Cinnamon Hero *hee*
Edwidge - Not unheard of but it's one of those names that just makes me giggle with its oddness. It's so clunky and unfeminine, an awkward sound. I want to say ehd-WEEDJ but my mother says it's ED-widj. I'm guessing it's related to Hedwig?
I saw a combo I liked: Rosamond Nicole. Nicole is generally horribly boring to me (I counted 16 at work in just 2 days alone) but I think it's sweet here.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
adventures in teenager-sitting
Last night I "babysat" Nat's siblings which was a bit strange considering the oldest is 14 years old. They were no problem, of course; they're good kids and they like me. But it got me wondering about various children-related issues.
Taneshka is 7. When I put her to bed I read her three books - not so unusual for a 7 year old, I suppose, but the books seemed really young for her age. They were pleasant enough so perhaps it's a comforting bedtime thing, I don't know. But I know she can read at a much higher level.
She also falls asleep with a pacifier, which really surprised me. A pacifier at 7 years old? I remember thinking it odd when she carried it around at 4 and 5. I haven't seen her with it recently so it must just be another bedtime thing. Unless I am too harsh? I really have no idea about these things.
She's the youngest and definitely babied a lot. I understand that, being the youngest myself, but she seems awfully immature. When her mother checked in she asked, "Did the baby get to bed all right?" An affectionate title I'm sure...but I find the whole business bizarre.
Misha is 14, he's a great kid. I worry for him in the opposite direction; he's a little old for his grade and many of Nat's college-aged idiosyncrasies have rubbed off on him. He has a premature love for irony and hipster-like photos of himself, and he seems to be one of the most popular kids in his class. According to him he has 8 ex-girlfriends (in 8th grade!) and has kissed 12 girls. I told him not to be a player and today I discovered he ended his Facebook "marriage" with a girl who thought she was his girlfriend (although he disagreed). He asked me to tell him what high school was like and admitted he was worried about the amount of drugs that would be there. In some ways he's ahead of himself yet he still has very middle school-type attitudes towards a lot of things. We had a heart to heart that I think helped him out - he feels better about going to high school next year and perhaps understood a new perspective on the ways he gets attention from his classmates.
And the middle kid is pleasantly normal for a 12 year old boy, if a little eccentric. I had to send him away so I could have a stern talk with Misha when he declared himself a "swinger."
Taneshka is 7. When I put her to bed I read her three books - not so unusual for a 7 year old, I suppose, but the books seemed really young for her age. They were pleasant enough so perhaps it's a comforting bedtime thing, I don't know. But I know she can read at a much higher level.
She also falls asleep with a pacifier, which really surprised me. A pacifier at 7 years old? I remember thinking it odd when she carried it around at 4 and 5. I haven't seen her with it recently so it must just be another bedtime thing. Unless I am too harsh? I really have no idea about these things.
She's the youngest and definitely babied a lot. I understand that, being the youngest myself, but she seems awfully immature. When her mother checked in she asked, "Did the baby get to bed all right?" An affectionate title I'm sure...but I find the whole business bizarre.
Misha is 14, he's a great kid. I worry for him in the opposite direction; he's a little old for his grade and many of Nat's college-aged idiosyncrasies have rubbed off on him. He has a premature love for irony and hipster-like photos of himself, and he seems to be one of the most popular kids in his class. According to him he has 8 ex-girlfriends (in 8th grade!) and has kissed 12 girls. I told him not to be a player and today I discovered he ended his Facebook "marriage" with a girl who thought she was his girlfriend (although he disagreed). He asked me to tell him what high school was like and admitted he was worried about the amount of drugs that would be there. In some ways he's ahead of himself yet he still has very middle school-type attitudes towards a lot of things. We had a heart to heart that I think helped him out - he feels better about going to high school next year and perhaps understood a new perspective on the ways he gets attention from his classmates.
And the middle kid is pleasantly normal for a 12 year old boy, if a little eccentric. I had to send him away so I could have a stern talk with Misha when he declared himself a "swinger."
Followers?!
Woo, 2 followers already! I guess that's what happens when I link it on a forum. I'll email the Tumblr address to anyone who wants it also, but I'm not sure how often I'll update it.
Why did I make a new blog?
Why, that's a very good question! Since Nat made me get a Tumblr this week I've decided I like blogging again. My problem is that the Tumblr format is a bit disjointed/short for my ramblings. Also there's pressure on that one to be deep and clever, and I'd rather just write, rather than trying to find interesting pictures and whatnot.
I've decided I'm not going to advertise this one to people I know in real life, so whoever is out there on the interwebs that wants to follow me, be my guest. Otherwise I'll just cheerfully ramble to myself in cyberspace, that's okay too!
I've decided I'm not going to advertise this one to people I know in real life, so whoever is out there on the interwebs that wants to follow me, be my guest. Otherwise I'll just cheerfully ramble to myself in cyberspace, that's okay too!
Inaugural rant!
It was very difficult to choose a url for this blog. I wanted to find something clever, something that had a bit of meaning to me, but not something pretentious or emo-y. So I settled first on "Recordare", meaning "remember" in Latin, and a nice movement of the Mozart Requiem, then when that was taken I switched to "Lux Aeterna," meaning "eternal light," a bit religious but a fantastic movement of the Duruflé. Then finally I cast upon "In Paradisum," another great movement from the Duruflé but with even more religious connotations (blah). They were all taken.
Recordare - apparently a private blog
Luxaeterna - hasn't been updated since May 2004
Lux-aeterna - one post? not updated since March 2002
Inparadisum - hasn't been updated since February 2004
In-paradisum - a particularly emo blog that hasn't been updated since October 2003.
Grrr.
Finally I decided upon a line from Hila Plitman's poems used in Whitacre's "Five Hebrew Love Songs," figuring only a small number of people know that piece. I won. "Hachi rach" translates to "the softest place" and is the ending line of the set of poems.
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