Currently hailing from the best music capital of the United States (or so I like to think....), I feel that this blog will be my opportunity to share some bands that I am in love with right now that other people may like. Now be mindful that I do like bands of the indie rock persuasion, but I really just enjoy music that gets to me. That can be hard to explain, but I believe that your gut tells you a lot about bands and their music.
One band that I've been loving for awhile and we recently got the cd is Horse Feathers (http://www.myspace.com/horsefeathersmusic). The music is filled with strings and acoustic guitars and haunting voices and it's the perfect accompaniment to a quiet night. They're playing at Holocene on October 19th and if you can make it, go. Just beautiful music. That's all I can say, beautiful.
Another band that rocks is Viva Voce (http://www.vivavoce.com), a husband/wife duo that just freakin' rock. Their new cd definitely rocks, but it's still in that "growing on me" stage. I suggest that you get their second album, The Heat Can Melt You Brain, to begin. It rocks the first song and just keeps you interested.....plus, they kick ass live and I totally want to take Kevin and Anita home with me to just hang out and take out when I need to rock. That's my test for a band - if I want to take them home, store them in my closet, and bring them out during various points in my day, then they're keepers. And believe me, I have a long list of bands who I want to take home with me in both non-sexual and sexual ways ;).
So there are two bands to start. Email me for more if you want......or I can tailor my bands likes to your music taste if these bands don't do anything for you. I was GM at my college's radio station, so I know a thing or two. And thus ends my pompous ode to Portland music.

the allergies! the kiddos! the horror!

Ah, fall. We have such a love/hate relationship. You bring me such sweet things like leaf changes, good smells, the prospect of baking every single pumpkin recipe I can find, the running mantra of "holidays are comin', holidays are coming", long sleeves, and the need to indulge my stay-at-home tendencies with a little movie watching. I get so excited when fall starts to appear I almost feel giddy (and for a girl who is hard to giddy-fy, that's impressive).
And then tragedy strikes. Not only does school begin to get too taxing for my summer drenched mind (thesis statement - how the hell do I know what that is? and grammar rules? look it up yourselves, you lazy sons of....), but the falling leaves, last blooms, and smell in the air all lead to the dreaded allergies. One minute, I'm okay, ready to face the world and willing to help others learn. The next, a snotty (excuse me if that's gross, but it's true) plugged mess who can barely walk straight, let alone drive and function. All combined with the inevitable first cold of the year that plagues everyone and the general feeling of tiredness that accompanies the first month back to teaching leaves me a tad tired and ready to give it all up, join the circus, quit that, and become a professional soap watcher. Or even professional housewife? [on a side note - I did offer a certain husband the prospect of me staying home forever only to be the best housewife ever in aprons, thigh-highs and the occasional french maid outfit......jury's still out on that one......;)]
But alas, I must toil my days with the kiddos and toil until the allergies/first colds cease. At least when I'm all healed, I can bake some kick-ass pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and break out the spiced apple cider! Ah fall, at least I still have you.......

I hail from a fair city right next to the San Fernando Valley called Simi Valley. Like most relationships with the town you grew up in and no longer inhabitate, I both love it and despise it. It's suburbia to a tee and everything that Portland is not, right down to its "downtown" that consists of a barrage of stores ranging from Ross to Target to , but it's my suburbia and don't nobody disses on my digs, yo. So on a recent trip down to Simi, I spotted this newspaper stand and just had to take a picture with my Simi partner in crime, Kimberly. Perhaps it is an inside joke, but everyone gets it inside of his/her heart because hometowns have that quiet allure that is both hypnotic and retch inducing. You crave the comfort of knowing the best way to get to the Blockbuster video and who will serve you at the local Denny's you ALWAYS went to in high school, but when you're there you cannot wait to get back to "civilization" aka your super sophisticated adult life. I'm guilty as charged.
But Simi does have beauty in its hills, hiking trails, [some] open spaces and laid back attitude. There are still some independently owned stores and restaurants, especially those that my parents still frequent (although the opening of the new Town Center has thrown the 'rents into a whole new world of chain excitement!). However, one store that was a fundamental part of my childhood closed its doors forever and I had to find out the hard way - an apologetic sign on the door. Tragic huh? Read on....
So Jason, Kimberly and I were walking in our shiny "downtown" (and this so-called walking was an anomaly to people in Simi because we were, wait for it, walking across the busy streets!) and we were eagerly awaiting the lunch hour because K and I had been talking up Hudson's Grill to J for ages, reminiscing about its many wonders, good food and happy memories. As we were walking up to Hudson's, the parking lot looks a little scarce but I shrug it off to, maybe they're just not open yet. Or ever again.....as the simple sign would tell us because they decided to shut their doors after 20 years of great service! We almost pass out with disbelief and ache to break down the door and put our quarters in the jukebox just to hear it play "Pretty Woman" one last time. And order a milkshake that would come with extra in the metal cup.......which was like Christmas Day when I was a kid (and damn straight I slurped up every last bit).
Dejected, we walk aimlessly in the store area trying desperately to 1) find a place to eat because we were hungry and 2) ponder the destruction of our civilization especially of those places that provide you with the comfort you crave from your hometown. Dramatic, yes, but very necessary.

friday gone wack

Yesterday I kept thinking that it was Friday, when it was Thursday. Maybe because I was excited to have company over (hooray for wonderful company - I had a blast making burgers and pie!) and because it was my first 5 day week (don't laugh). Or maybe because I truly feel that the 4 day week is the most viable option for survival. Can you imagine? Three day weekends ALL THE TIME? I think it would be heaven AND I would probably get more work done because I would be rested and happy. C'mon America, let's get our act together and revamp the "working week" and make it Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday. You would have so many people backing you up and not because we don't want to work as much (well.....), but because it's about life quality people. If you're so Fffing tired on Friday, you don't want to as much open your refrigerator so you have to order pizza, that doesn't make any sense at all. In fact, not to step further on the soap box or anything, but these 5 day work weeks are probably contributing to obesity and poor health in this nation. Okay, stepping off soap box now.
However, 4 day weeks are not what I'm going to get right now, so I must make the best of it and try to enjoy these precious two days each week. Although ordering pizza is sounding better and better over the grumble of my stomach.

i think i can, i think i can

Another photo to spice up the 'ol page - here we are on the day of the Providence Bridge Pedal on top of the Fremont Bridge. The ride was so beautiful - a crisp morning, gorgeous sites, and what an accomplishment. All part of my "let's try new things and see what I can do" attitude. Sadly, this is probably one of the last things I have done lately in this vein. Definitely a huge accomplishment on my part because I have a) never participated in any sort of race and b) that was the longest I've ever ridden my bike in my life and c) it was even on my 26th birthday! I am really looking forward to it next year though and am ready to make that 10 bridge ride my bee-yotch!
I'm still looking for my next, look out world activity though. I think voice lessons or even just getting off my ass and exercising would be a start. But at least I can look back to that picture, remember the pain and enjoyment, and try to find small accomplishments in my own daily life.

the next ramble

I don't know where the time goes after work. I slip into a deep lethargy, or as a friend lovingly calls a disco nap, and then awake at about 5pm absolutely devoid of energy. Teaching the kiddos (big kiddos, but kiddos nonetheless) just takes it out of me, which scares me because if I'm this tired now, what will happen as I get older and supposedly get more responsibilities in life? I know a lot of this has to do with me not falling asleep when I get home and actually exercising (!) but I fall prey to the couch and monotony of the tv just so easily, I don't know what to do. I keep telling myself, you'll get used to it, etc. But I know the truth. I'll be just as tired now as I will be in June.
And now is the time of year when I feel super duper overwhelmed with planning and grading and just plain being a teacher. When I get home, I want to get on with my regular life instead of feeling guilty for doing something other than grading, planning, or reading for tomorrow. Geez, there's enough guilt (mostly the catholic kind, but also familial and personal) in my mixed-up brain that I really do not need to stuff more in there. So there.

I fear this will be more of a rant than ramble, but hey, that's what happens sometimes. At least it's Tuesday. That's my one good thing for today. And I'm going to dinner with my boy and a friend from out of town tonight, so that's pretty nifty. Nifty. Hmmm, I must be tired!

Churches and cacti?

This is me in the most idyllic locale you can think of - a church in Thousand Oaks, California the day before my brother was about to tie the knot. Isn't that tree just too perfectly placed among all of the other idyllic mountains and lush green lawns? My photographer husband took this picture - you'll probably hear a lot about him - as he was scoping out the joint for some good photo spots for the pending nuptials.
Back to this locale....we spent the week in Southern California before said wedding in August and boy, was it beeyooteeful. 80 degrees, blue sky, low smog (notice I say low as beautiful), and wonderful scenery like this. The hours before this picture was so lovingly shot, we (meaning the boy, me, and my bestest friend kimberly) walked around the astounding Getty Center soaking in the rays and some art with thousands of our closest friends. My favorite part of the museum was the Cactus Garden primarily because of the view of the slightly hazy/smoggy city, but also because it was warm and I was with two of my favorite people. Awww. Commence tears......Seriously, it was fabulous - I suggest it to anyone traveling in the LA area.
The events after this picture aren't too terribly interesting. Rehearsal, dinner, then a quick drive home in my sister's new convertible MINI cooper. Now that's what I call an idyllic California day.