top ten tuesday: beatles songs

Inspired in part by the movie High Fidelity and by a conversation Joel and I had recently… And again, as is my tendency, there are random groupings of songs because I am consistently unable to actually limit myself to just ten of anything. I’m very indecisive, you see. Maybe I should just get it over with and change the title to top twenty tuesday…

Anyhooooo, my top ten favorite Beatles’ songs:

10. I’m Looking Through You

9. Michelle (It has French in it — it’s fun to sing along in French!) and When I’m Sixty-Four

8. Eleanor Rigby and Blackbird — Apropos of nothing, these songs were both in the (very short) set list of the trio I sang with at a tiny club when I was in college, so they hold a special place in my heart. Yes, I realize we had two sort of sad, ballad-y type songs by the same band in our set list — just be grateful we weren’t performing Me & Bobby McGee, like everyone else, ok?

7. Come Together

6. Let It Be

5. Hey Jude

4. Helter Skelter — I also love the U2 version of this song.

3. Oh! Darling and Something

2. We Can Work It Out

1. Yesterday — It may be a corny #1 choice, but I don’t care, I love it anyway. It always reminds me of a road trip I once took — I swear I listened to The Beatles the entire way to and from Michigan. This song still has the power to make me feel heartbroken and nostalgic and hopeful all at the same time…

Now, I know you’re sitting there shrieking at the computer, “What about <insert song title here>?!” or “How can you not love <insert song title here>?!” So please, channel your rage into writing a calmly-worded comment about *your* favorite Beatles’ songs.

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miscellany monday

Judging by the titles of my last few posts, I am clearly all about the days of the week lately. Sheesh, you’d think I’d just learned them… Anyway, just wanted to offer a quick update on weekend activities and life in general:

The Simpsons movie: If you know Joel or me at all, you probably assumed we would be at the theatre on opening day to see the long-awaited Simspons movie. Well, you were right — we went Friday afternoon. (Believe me, we considered going to the midnight show the night before, but decided we’re too old for such shenanigans…) Anyhoo, we could tell the crowd (not too big since it was an afternoon showing) was pretty amped up and they responded to the movie accordingly — little chortles at inside jokes and big laughs at everything else. It wasn’t all fun and games, though — I actually teared up TWICE. At the Simpsons movie! Just goes to show I really am apt to cry at just about anything. All I have to say in my defense is Ned Flanders and Marge Simpson are both saints. (Since I just used the word apt and I’m already talking about The Simpsons, I’m going to go ahead and make the reference that is pinging around the inside of my head right now: “No, it’s not, it’s apt! AAAAAAPT!!” Extra points* for anyone — except Joel of course — who can tell me why Lisa was screaming that line in church at the top of her lungs).  UPDATE:  Joel wrote a great review of the movie on his blog if you want to check it out.

*Points are non-redeemable and expire immediately.

In other weekend news, I made my first-ever Key Lime Pie. Key Lime Pie. From scratch. No, really. Yes, my first ever — look, here’s proof:

It was super tart and so yummy — this recipe is definitely a keeper!

On a completely different subject, have I mentioned how much I love So You Think You Can Dance? I do. It’s on every Wednesday and Thursday night and I haven’t missed a show yet this summer. I really love it. I’m not usually a huge fan of (inappropriately named) reality television. Sometimes I’ll catch an episode or two of various shows (American Idol, Last Comic Standing), but I usually get bored or annoyed by all the “drama” (i.e. manufactured conflict) and tune out. That is not the case with SYTYCD — it’s so much fun to watch! The choreography is always interesting (even if not always quite my cup of tea) and innovative, the judging is rigorous and honest without being unnecessarily cruel, and the dancers are amazing! And by amazing I mean truly talented and skilled. Not that I’m an expert by any means, but having attended a performing arts college, I’ve certainly been lucky enough to watch my fair share of professional-level dancers. If you have the least bit of interest in dance, or even performance arts in general, you should definitely check it out — you won’t be sorry. And just for the record, I think my favorite dancer is Lacey — she’s cute as a button and seriously fierce on stage!

Finally, a question: have you ever read The Dive from Clausen’s Pier by Ann Packer? I just finished it over the weekend and I’m curious to hear what other people thought of it, specifically what you thought about the main character, Carrie.

Ok, that’s all the miscellany for today. Have a good week everyone!

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flickr friday

This coming Sunday has been lingering in the back of my mind for weeks now, filling me with dread, as it does each year.

lonely

hear my voice

if only

stand by me

remembrance

where I am

but when?

Any good thoughts you can send my way this weekend will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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quickie: wedding pix

Just a quick update for interested parties:  I finished cropping/editing all the pictures I took at my sister-in-law’s 07.07.07 wedding.  There’s a series of 48 shots posted on my Flickr page if you want to take a look…which you should because Joy was the most adorable bride EVER; her new (lucky) husband Seth was looking pretty hip and happy that day, too.  And the reception was a blast — Joy and Seth sure know how to celebrate!

Congratulations, again, you crazy kids!!

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top ten tuesday: blogs

Just to be clear, I am not, NOT trying to encourage you to stop reading my blog and go read a bunch of other blogs instead — please, please don’t do that. If you’re here, chances are I know you (if not, introduce yourself, for crying out loud!), like you and I want you to stick around. However, I do a lot of online reading and thought I’d share some of my favorites with you…but ya’ll come back now, y’hear? (That’s the 5% Dixie in me talking.)

10. Making It Lovely — Chicago graphic designer who is renovating and decorating her first home.

9. Go Fug Yourself — Wickedly, scathingly funny! You know, just because they’re famous doesn’t mean “celebrities” should get a free pass in the wardrobe department…kind of a guilty pleasure, except I don’t feel that guilty about it.

8. Paperclips — The wise, witty and talented H. and her adventures in knitting, quilting, sewing, and grad school.

7. This New House — Written by J., the husband of H. (above). They’re building their dream home…by sheer force of will. I think it’s almost finished; I wonder what they’ll do then…

6. Orangette — New gastronomic delights every Tuesday — the way this woman writes about food is poetry. Oh, the yumminess.

5. All & Sundry & Mamalogues — Two different blogs with similar (in my mind) styles; both bloggers are writers elsewhere, too. Sundry swears like a sailor, but she’s hilarious; also writes for SundryBuzz and Club Mom. Mamalogue’s Dana, *used* to swear like a sailor and is still irreverently hilarious; also writes for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Club Mom.

4. Pixiegenné & Soulemama & Swallowfield — Ok, fine, smartypants — this is actually three different blogs, but they’re lumped together in my mind because all three are wicked talented, artsy, crafty girls and they all live here in Maine.

3. Angry Chicken & HELLOmynameisHeather & Posie Gets Cozy — Three more super-talented, artsy, crafty ladies; lumped together because none of them live in Maine.

2. Casapinka & Pink Mohair –Again, two different blogs (can’t sneak anything past you, can I?!) but I put them together because they’re written by the same person. On Casapinka, “Pink” writes about renovating/redecorating her home in her very funky and eclectic style — as you might guess, there’s lots of pink involved. On Pink Mohair, she writes about affordable art and design and creative living.

1. Flickr — Alright already, I realize it’s not a blog, but I can still waste many an hour looking at all the fabulous photography contained therein. I think I’m officially a Flickr Addict… (BTW, you *do not* have to be a member to view/browse the photographs, but you’ll have to create an account if you want to comment.)

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it IS clamtastic, dammit!

I’m still mad about the theft of Joel’s creative and intellectual property, but I will grudgingly admit that I’m wicked excited about this weekend’s Yarmouth Clam Festival!

Watching the rides (notice I didn’t say riding the rides…), browsing the craft show and the flea market, the firemen’s muster, the clam shucking contest (yes, there’s a clam shucking contest), and the FOOD!  Although, ironically, I don’t eat clams — it’s all about the french fries and caramel apples for me…  Yeah, yeah, I know — I’m a freak because I’m from Maine and I don’t like clams or lobsters, like I haven’t heard that one before.  Seriously though, I ask you:  how can you go wrong with a caramel apple?  They’re shiny and pretty, and sweet, and gooey, and crunchy, and…damn, I drooled on my keyboard again…

And you?  Are your weekend plans as gastronomically-focused as mine?  Hope they’re fun — have a good one!

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top ten tuesday: actors

Yeah, yeah, I couldn’t narrow it down to 10, so I categorized a little. Please don’t sprain your brain trying to make sense of these categorizations — I made them up on the spot based on nothing other than my own weird logic. It’s my blog, I can do that. Anyway, here are some actors that I think are pretty cool. The weather is supposed to be somewhat crappy the rest of the week — maybe some movies are in order???

10. Djimon Hounsou: He’s just very compelling and believable on screen — Amistad, Gladiator, Blood Diamond, and In America in particular, which is a beautiful movie.

Hugh Jackman: I know this is going to sound crazy, but bear with me here — I loved him in Kate and Leopold. It really wasn’t a very good movie — typical schlocky romantic comedy — but he was *so* charming in it. Plus, he’s the Wolverine.

9. John Cusack: I heart him so much, especially in High Fidelity (Any similarities between his character and my husband are purely coincidental. What? They are!) and Grosse Pointe Blank.

Matt Damon: I would have to include him even if he wasn’t as dreamy as the day is long. (damn, I drooled on my keyboard…) He was surprisingly hilarious in Stuck On You. I also loved him in Good Will Hunting, Ocean’s 11 and 12 (haven’t seen 13 yet…) and in The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy. I’m practically counting down the days (17!  Oh, did I say practically?  Because I meant literally.) until The Bourne Ultimatum is released!

8. Ewan Mcgregor: Um, Scottish accent. Need I say more? He was incredible in Trainspotting, but that movie makes me very uncomfortable. I loved him in Down With Love.

7. Johnny Depp: He is incredibly versatile, with roles as varied as Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie and Captain Jack Sparrow. And I. Can’t. Wait. to see him as Sweeney Todd — I seriously can’t think of a better actor for that role.

6. Leonardo DiCaprio: He’s kind of a tool, what with all the environmental sermonizing, but dude can act. If you don’t believe me, see What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and then we’ll talk. I loved him in The Departed. And he’s pretty cute in Catch Me If You Can, you know, for a criminal.

5. Liam Neeson: Rob Roy, Ethan Frome, Schindler’s List, Les Misérables, and the voice of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — how’s that for range?

Daniel Day-Lewis: He was excellent in Gangs of New York and The Crucible, but I loved him in In the Name of the Father — that fierce family love gets me every time.

4. William H. Macy: We all know he was amazing in Fargo; there was also Boogie Nights, Pleasantville (“Where’s my dinner?”), Sports Night (TV), and Thank You For Smoking. But if you haven’t seen him in The Wool Cap, get on Netflix (or go to a movie store) right now. It’s such a sweet movie — you won’t regret it.

3. Kevin Spacey: He was Keyser Soze and even the other characters didn’t know it — he’s that good. His body of work speaks for itself: Glengarry Glen Ross, The Usual Suspects, Seven, L.A. Confidential, American Beauty (“I Rule!”), Pay It Forward (I don’t care what anyone says — I loved that movie) Beyond the Sea. He has also done some award-winning stage work in Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh and Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

2. Gregory Peck: To Kill A Mockingbird and Roman Holiday – both completely different roles and yet he is brilliant in both.

1. Jimmy Stewart: It’s A Wonderful Life — no matter how many times I watch this movie, it makes me cry like a baby every time. Jimmy Stewart inhabited the character of George Bailey so thoroughly — his hopefulness, his discouragement and disappointment, and finally his enthusiasm and gratitude for love — and I believe that is the reason this movie, and Stewart’s performance in particular, speaks to generation after generation.

Your turn!! Who do you love? or hate? I dying to know…

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who’s that girl?

You are a Rocker Girl!

If you don’t have musical talent, you’ve got a talent for picking out great CD’s. Music rules your life – and you’ve got the best MP3 collection of anyone you know. Many guys find you intimidating, but a select few think you’re the catch of a lifetime. Start hanging out in more used record stores, and you’ll find love with a fellow rocker!

What Kind of Girl Are You?

Aw, yeah, baby! It’s Friday and I’m a Rocker Girl!! I’ll refrain from describing my weekend plans, which are decidedly un-rocker-like. Something tells me rockers don’t typically spend much time at yard sales or high school reunions… Have a rockin’ weekend everyone!

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whirlwind wedding weekend

7/13 Update: I’m having a little trouble editing my pictures these days, but here’s one shot to hold you over until I can get the group loaded onto Flickr:

Joel’s little sister Joy got married in Boston over the weekend, which made for a whirlwind of activities — it was busy, but such a blast! I took about 300 pictures, so it will take me a while to get through those. I’ll post some pictures as soon as I can, but in the meantime, here’s a description of how the weekend went for us:

Friday
7:30 a.m. – drove to Joy and Seth’s house and met up with the rest of the family
11:30 a.m. – attended the civil wedding ceremony at City Hall followed by the taking of about eleventy-jillion photographs (The whole thing was very typically “them” — Joy looked adorable, Seth looked hip, and they both looked sweetly, shyly thrilled).
1:30 p.m. – lunch at Cambridge Brewing Company (how can you go wrong with a meal that features a tower of beer?!)
afternoon – checked into our home for the weekend, Encore Bed and Breakfast
7:00 p.m. – dinner with family and close friends of the bride and groom at The Elephant Walk — so much fun and laughing that my cheeks hurt at the end of it all!

Saturday
Here’s where I hit a bit of a snag — I spent all of Saturday morning in bed with a migraine while Joel went off with the guys to move wine, beer, and other beverages into the reception location. He came back to our room around Noon with Excedrin in hand (yay, Joel!) and we were able to have a relaxed lunch with his Mom and Dad at Picco Restaurant (which was excellent, by the way! They make their own ice cream, so we had to have dessert — I ordered the mind-bendingly yummy Crack Espresso Fudge Sundae. Next time you’re in Boston, run, don’t walk, to Picco to get that sundae).

And finally, the main event at 4:00 p.m. – Joy and Seth’s wedding celebration at The Cyclorama — what an amazing party!

• Two open bars — Harpoon on tap, of course, since Seth works there;
• Delicious all vegetarian and vegan buffet, prepared of course by Chef Andy Husbands of Tremont 647, where Joy works;
• So. many. people. (around 250 or so, I think) — family members we rarely see and some I had never even met; Joel and Joy’s high school friends in from CA, various parts of MA, and everywhere in between; college and post-college friends in town from CA, Philly, and elsewhere; Seth’s family, friends of the family, and a bunch of his old high school pals; and of course the entire population of Boston their current community of Boston friends;
• Instead of a cake, a dessert table with two kinds of cupcakes and tons of candy – lemonheads, red hots, swedish fish, candy necklaces, and so on;
• A DJ played actual records (vinyl + turntable = happy Joel) during the cocktails and dinner and then…
• …a band took over for the rest of the evening — we partied and danced until after well after 10!

On Sunday morning, a mellow brunch at Tremont 647 brought the weekend to a close. We hugged everyone good-bye, headed back to Maine around Noon, and spent the rest of the day trying to rest up for Monday. How is it Monday already?

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land of the free

Oh, say! Can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, o’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave o’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
(The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key)

Please say a prayer today for the safety of all American military personnel who are working and living far from their families on this holiday.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

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