Fun Creations

February 24th, 2010

Just picked up my crayons and started drawing again last night.   This is a work in progress, and no where near completion.

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My FAVS: Music

February 23rd, 2010

I sorta do this randomly though out the year, but I felt the need to update my favorite songs of all time, as its been a while.

1. Everyone – Van Morrison (Seriously may be my favorite of all time.  I can’t be in a bad mood while this song is playing)
2. With a Little Help from my Friends – Joe Crocker (AKA: Wonder Years Theme Song)
3. The Scientist – Coldplay (I use to play this song on repeat while I dominated people at Playstation.  This was back i college when I had the time to openly harass people into playing video games with me)
4. Just A Phase – Incubus (Grandpa Gates.  Also, one of the easiest songs for me to daydream to)
5. Times Like These – Foo Fighters
6. Hold You In My Arms – Ray LaMontagne
7. Soul Meets Body – Death Cab (Thanks, Tom)
8. I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab (Again, thanks Tom.)

Good for now.  Love these songs.  If you don’t have on your ipod, please go investigate and update.

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Running Mix Updated

February 23rd, 2010

Been running a lot more lately.  Time to shed the winter weight, right?  More or less just trying to feel better about myself and not think ‘UGH’ at every picture I see myself in.

So, I’ve updated my running mix to songs that actually help keep my legs moving:

1. Imma Be – Black Eyed Peas
2. Empire State of Mind – Jay Z
3. Poker Face – Lady Gaga
4. Bad Reputation – Joan Jett
5. Paper Planes – M.I.A.
6. Supermassive Black Hole – Muse
7. Hearing Damage – Thom Yorke

That’s in no particular order.  I shuffle my music to mix it up a bit.  I hate repetition during workouts.

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Wedding Diaries: Chapter 3

January 19th, 2010

5 short months to go until the big day.  The wedding nightmares have commenced and panicking has begun.  The past few weeks I have been waking up in the middle of the night, thinking of all the things I have left on my plate.  For starters, we haven’t even bought our wedding bands yet…or gone to look for them for that matter.  (anxiety)

Tom has yet to look for tuxes. (panic)

We still haven’t completely finalized our guest list (…why?)

Again, the guest list is the worst thing in the world to do.  And, I’ll admit, the reason its not complete is because I am hesitating.  ARG!

Now, on a more positive note, we have scheduled the bachelorette party, along with a few showers.  My April/May will be crammed full of wedding showers, weddings (Tom’s cousin) and baby showers (sis-in-law).  So, can I really complain?  No way.  We will be getting a new addition to the family before the wedding, and that is reason enough to celebrate.  It’s no surprise that I love having babies around.  Plus, the excitement I felt when Megs told us she was preggers was some of the most joy I’ve ever felt.  So, let’s just say I’m one lucky girl to have such amazing things happening all around me.

Ok, two more things to add and then I am done with this post.  First one – Having gifted friends makes the wedding process so much more unique.  So far I have friends designing my invitations AND my jewelry. Its nice to know that what you’re spending money on is hand-made by people you trust.  Also, its very helpful to have one  VERY organized maid of honor throughout the process.

Two – Just got my garter in the mail.  Yes, its a Mizzou garter.  Deal with it.  I’m rather excited that it looks as good as I’d hoped.

Well, that’s enough for today.  More news to come as it happens.

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Wedding Diaries: Chapter 2

January 4th, 2010

Happy New Year everyone.  Today is the first day back on the job, and its harder than ever to get back into the swing of things.  Today officially marks 159 days until our wedding, and I still feel like it can’t come soon enough.

This month is all about scheduling.  It’s time to start figuring out shower dates, bachelorette party info and numerous deadlines that are about to rock my world.  Now, normally these things would make me feel stressed out, but I’m astonishingly excited to figure out the logistics.

We will, hopefully, finish up our pre-marital wedding courses this month, along with any marriage prep (marriage license) that comes along with that stuff.

On top of that, I still don’t have a cake maker.  My appointment was replaced with the funeral of a very dear grandparent of mine.  Since the day was so chaotic, I neglected to call them and tell them I wouldn’t be there.  Not a very good bride, might I add.  Hopefully they will understand.

Also, if anyone knows of a good hair/make up stylist for the day of, please send their info my way.  They have to be able to travel to our local hotel where we will be getting ready.

On a more creative note, I am working with friend & amazing designer Jason Stoff on my wedding invites.  Hopefully we will have all of our ideas stamped out this month so we can get those together.

Meghan (sister-in-law) is working on our slide show for the rehearsal dinner…which means its time for me to scan in all of the embarrassing photos of my childhood and high school/college years.  Should be a good time, as we didn’t go digital until college.

That sums up my update so far.  Should be a fun month & fast month.

Meg

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Wedding Diaries: Chapter 1

December 16th, 2009

Christmas is a week away, and Christmas parties are in full force at the moment.  With those parties, I get asked the inevitable question that all brides-to-be get asked - “So, are you excited for your wedding day?  Do you have everything done?”  The answers are yes/no.

Excitement doesn’t even begin to explain my thoughts on getting married in June.  Excitement is compared to the feeling I get when I know I get to open presents on Christmas morning.  Elated would be the most appropriate word to use in this situation.  I’ve been waiting to marry Tom for some time now, and the thought of calling him “husband” instead of boyfriend or fiance is just more exciting than I can even describe. 

Now, as for the question of whether I’m all done preparing for the big day…………………………….NOT EVEN CLOSE.  I doubt any bride would have everything summed up 6 months ahead of time, though.  I feel like I started off ahead of the game and have now taken advantage of the fact.  I’m now struggling to make minor decisions that I could have made months ago. 

So here is the insight into the final 6 months of planning.  I’m hoping to update as much as my schedule allows, so that I can look back at this someday and laugh at how silly I was.  Just for the record, I’m taken the necessary steps to make sure I don’t indeed become a Bride-Zilla.  So far, so good.  I think I’m way too relaxed about everything to begin stressing out now.  However,  I do worry that it will change come January 1.  That’s when the official countdown begins. 

So here it goes.  Below is a running list of items that I am working on at the moment.  For those of you who read this, you should be updated frequently on how these items are coming.  If not, email me and ask why I haven’t worked on them lately.  I could always use some constructive pushing.

THE WEDDING LIST:

Main Items:

1. Guest List (high priority at the moment.  this is the worst part of planning a wedding)
2. Cake (missed my appointment due to a family issue, so I need to set up another one)
3. Flowers (already have my florist; need to figure out what I want them to look like)
4. Showers/Bachelorette Party Dates (date set to plan these already.  the advantages of having a well-organized maid of honor)
5. Honeymoon (have a few places in mind. need the parents to finish this deal, though)
6. Tuxes (THOMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!)
7. Day-of Ceremony Music (Tom’s aunt and uncle are very skilled musicians. they are going to play some stuff for our wedding)
8. Wedding bands (not sure if I want one or not. Still need to get Toms)
9. Rehearsal Dinner schedule
10. Wedding Day schedule (to be planned with the sis-in-laws)
11. Hair Dresser (need to find one that will come to our hotel in the morning)
12. Make Up Artist (same as hair dresser)
13. Decorations
14. Reception Gifts

This is just the beginning of what i have left to do.  So, before you ask me if I have everything completed…take a look at what I have left and you will clearly see that I won’t be done planning this wedding until I start walking down the aisle toward Tom.

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Mad Music – X-MAS EARLY

October 21st, 2009

A slew of new music has entered my trachea lately, with mixed reviews once it hit my head. First of all the much-anticipated (by me, at least) soundtrack to “One Fast Move or I’m Gone- Kerouac’s Big Sur”, a collaboration between Jay Farrar, Ben Gibbard and Jack Kerouac. While Jay and Ben did not work directly with Jack (not without some serious smelling salts and a heater – name that movie), they did use his prose and poetry to fill in the lyrics with some great results. I applauded their use of his language and how it came together to create a song- I just wish the words had a better backdrop. The album soars on its opening track, “California Zephyr”, immediately conjuring up images of the lionized version of Jack: jovially making his way across the country he so closely inspected, observed and loved. Jack was the very essence of an American writer; mainly because he mythologized that idea himself in Post-War America. In many ways, through his idealization of small town people and the towns themselves (mainly the names) he has Americana written all over him. Pun intended.

However, most of this album uses that musical genre to bring his words to life, and musically speaking, it does quite the opposite of that. Jay Farrar’s steel guitar-infused Alt-Country can fit at certain points of the album, but the size and scope of its influence seems forced at times. At the outset of the cd itself, almost as a disclaimer, explains that Jack had an appreciation of folk music. Known as a jazz/bop fanatic, Jack’s image conveys a fast-paced, head-bobbing street walker with a great ear for music. However, Big Sur is the let down of that lifestyle, his breakdown from that fast pace that he simply could not keep up with. So yes, most of the album will (and does) convey a lamentful, nostalgic tone in general. Still, in my opinion, I would have loved to hear some horns or a little pace in the music here. All the songs seem to follow a familiar pattern, with some using steel guitar and some not. I will point out, in Kerouacian fashion, the album was recorded in 5 days with very little change to the original lay-downs. This, however, does not excuse the lack of preparation and insight into what the music should be beforehand. While Jack’s reputation is for spontaneity in his prose, he was meticulous in his approach, planning and spent countless hours writing and character sketching in his everyday life.

This album was put in the ultimate expectation section of my brain for some time, so it didn’t have a realistic shot at reaching it. My own insights and criticisms aside, it is a great album dedicated to a great writer. It’s somber nature reflects that of the desolate and gritty tone of the book itself, where Jack battles alcohol binges and hallucinations from the depths of his being. His spry nature does peek its head out occasionally throughout the course of the novel, and there is some of that in the album as well. Just because I am not an ambassador of twang does not mean this album did not accomplish what it set out to accomplish. It just leaves me clinging to certain songs more than others. Regardless, the prose and poetry of a great American writer was put to song, something that his fans will find is not only fitting, but overdue.

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Tom Edited

October 21st, 2009

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Tom: B&W

October 19th, 2009

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Fall TV Lineup 2009

September 18th, 2009

I’ve resignation to the fact that I watch some very questionable shows now-a-days.  I’ll be the first to admit that reality TV is sort of a new addiction, but I love it.  Below is the fall lineup that I will be glued to for a majority of the week.

One Tree Hill

With the loss of two of their main characters, One Tree has the new task of back-building a story.  Honestly, I felt like the story dried up a few seasons ago, but I still like to watch them try.

The fall preview made it evident that something was going to come between Haley & Nathan, AGAIN.  As much as I dislike this, I do believe it’s their turn.  They have a dependable way of rotating disasters throughout the cast.  I like to call this – stability.

Brooke and Julian have definitely stepped it up in the romance department.  With both of them being in industries that don’t allow for a social life, I find it hard to believe that they even have time to see each other.  But, alas, they have time to make out on the beach.  The world makes sense, yet again.

Everything else is rather boring as of right now.  This new bitchy character that they brought in to dissolve the studio is such a snooze-fest.  We’ll see where that one goes.  My question is this – did Peyton sell her label?  They didn’t explain this, did they?  And, they hardly explained the departure of Lucus and Peyton to begin with, so are they just going to let that story line go and back-fill info to the audience?  We’ll see.  I can critique this show for days, but the truth is I really do love it.  Obviously.

The Hills

Ohhhh!  The bitch is back.  Or so says the preview of the show.  I’ll agree.  It should be no shock to any of The Hills followers that the return of Kristen will bring on WAY more drama than L.C.  I love L.C., but the show was beginning to bore me.  In fact, I don’t think I watched the season finale last year.  I completely forgot.

This season, however, I will make sure the DVR is set to record.  L.C. was good at mediating the drama and spinning it in an adult way, but with her gone who will do it?  I can tell you who WON’T be trying to smooth the waters – Stephanie.  In the past there have been times where I’ve felt bad for the blond, but after reading some of her blogs and seeing interviews about her “eating issues” I think I’ll save my pity for someone who actually has a brain (and an original thought).

You can tell she’s just in it for the limelight, which her thought-less (turned Christian) brother & his wifey love to steal from everyone.  I’m not going to even go on a Spencer-Heidi rant.  It’s not worth the effort to push down each key.

Then there’s Audrina.  Poor girl.  I’m not sure whether to feel sorry for her or not.  She’s basically been hated on by everyone in the show, in one way or another, AND dissed by a sought out movie star in the public eye.  But that’s what you get for chasing after a slob like Justin Bobby, watching him publicly humiliate you in front of your friends, then accuse your BF of sleeping with him when you know she wouldn’t touch him with a 10 foot poll, THEN YOU TAKE HIM BACK!  Opps, common girl mistake.  But you made it on TV, which makes you look preeeetttttty bad A.P.

As for the rest of the cast, well, they will play nicely into Kristen’s devious plans.  Can’t wait to see what sh*t she stirs up.

The Vampire Diaries

Edward who?  Ok, so I’m basically committing a Twilight sin by saying that, but this Stefan guy is rather good at the brooding vampire thing that Robert Pattinson defined.  And, might I add, he’s my age.

I started watching this show hoping that it would be a filler for my Twilight addiction until New Moon came out.  (Yes, I do realize how lame I am) The first episode was sort of slow moving, but I can’t expect much from the CW.  They can’t get graphic, like True Blood, or replicate the chemistry between characters that Twilight has.  I guess it would help if I read the books that inspired the show, but I’m too busy reading other things at the moment (cough – Dan Brown- cough)

Anyway, the show is OK.  Not AMAZING, but not boring enough to stop watching.  I need something else to do while Tom plays video games.  They’ve finally starting moving the story along at a more interesting pace, and the relationship between the main characters is FINALLY coming along.  I don’t know why I’m so impatient.  I look forward to the rest of the season and seeing where they take it.  One thing that is different from True Blood and Twilight is the more human blood the vamp feeds on, the more their mystical powers work on humans, thus creating the first real issue in the storyline.  Interesting.  And, the vampires don’t sparkle in the sunlight or need to hibernate during the daylight hours.  Also, curious is Stefan sleeps at all.

The Office (*SPOILER ALERT)

OMG! PAM IS PREGNANT!  I was so excited to hear this news.  I love this show.  I think anyone who’s ever worked in an smaller office can relate to this show in one way or another.

I don’t have much else to say about this right now, so I will stop there.

Below is the list of recently canceled/renewed shows courtesy of TV Guide:

RECENT RENEWALS/CANCELLATIONS
CW’s Reaper canceled (5/21)
CW’s The Game canceled (5/21)
CW’s Everybody Hates Chris canceled (5/21)
CBS’ Eleventh Hour canceled(5/20)
CBS’ Worst Week canceled (5/20)
CBS’ Without a Trace canceled (5/20)
CBS’ New Adventures of Old Christine renewed (5/20)
CBS picks up Medium after NBC passed (5/20)
CW’s Privileged canceled (5/19)
CBS’ The Unit canceled (5/19)
NBC’s Chuck renewed (5/19)
NBC’s Law & Order renewed (5/19)
NBC’s My Name Is Earl canceled (5/19)
ABC’s True Beauty renewed (5/19)
ABC’s Better Off Ted renewed (5/19)
ABC’s Samantha Who? canceled (5/19)
ABC’s Cupid canceled (5/19)
FOX’s Dollhouse renewed (5/18)
FOX’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles canceled (5/18)
FOX’s Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? canceled (5/18)
FOX’s Don’t Forget the Lyrics! canceled (5/18)
ABC’s The Unusuals canceled (5/17)
FOX’s Bones renewed (for two seasons, 5/16)
ABC’s Castle renewed (5/16)
ABC’s Scrubs renewed (5/16)
FOX’s Lie to Me renewed (5/12)
NBC’s Life canceled (5/4)
FOX’s Fringe renewed (5/4)
NBC’s Heroes renewed (5/4)
NBC’s Parks and Recreation renewed (5/4)
NBC’s Southland renewed (5/2)

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