Monthly Archives

December 2006

About a holiday break…

ARoB, Movies, Reviews by

First off: I need to stop eating *burps* because I’m going to be rockin’ an Ethiopian-stylee pot belly in about five seconds if I don’t. Seriously. *looks disdainfully at empty leftover macaroni and cheese bowl*

I’ve had a very good break thus far. It’s been a lot of doing nothing bolstered by knitting and playing with Clyde/Nintendo. Tonight, I actually got myself out of the house. Twice, really…I went for pizza with Hoover this afternoon and then to Dusty’s for wine…er, film night. Keith had us watching M by Fritz Lang. I don’t like old movies all that much, but this one was okay. Definitely made the most of what limited post-production technologies were available. I’m an editor, what can I say? It was a bit preachy at times and full of silent film “acting,” so you had to weed through that to get to the underlying human drama. Bonus points for gorgeous restoration in black and white.

Tomorrow I depart for shopping in Erie with my mom, sister and Flora and then I return home for an early birthday dinner. 23! I’m old. Then, on Friday, I’m heading back to Bellefonte to drop off Catface Meowmers before heading to Philadelphia to visit the always-phenomenal Lindsie. That will be ridiculously fun…galleries, shopping and fine dining smothered in a creamy booze sauce. MMMmmm…

Yeah, I’m tipsy. Yes, I should go to bed. Must remember to call Beth tomorrow…

After the pop culture orgy, I can die happy…

ARoB, Art, Music by

I went to see Sean Lennon last night at the newly (finally, expensively) renovated State Theatre. He was opened for by some guy named Charles Ramsey who was mediocre and an AMAZING English singer by the name of Kamila Thompson. She doesn’t have an album finished just yet, but you can listen to the tracks in her setlist on her MySpace. She may even add you as a friend. Listen to “Cars” first becuase it’s my favourite…and all the rest are good to, so choose a second track to sample on your own. Imagine her chugging wine from a plastic cup, slurring in her high London accent and being snarky. I’ll wait.

Right…on to the main show. Sean Lennon is kinda like watching Suri Cruise front a band in 20 years…except his parents were actually cool. Or like watching Shiloh Pitt perform…except Sean’s parents weren’t actors. Really, there is no comparison because he’s a pop culture demigod. On top of that, he sounds great live. I’ve been listening to his album, Friendly Fire for the last few days and I’m happy to report that he’s not a studio-only kind of artist. “Dead Meat” and “Parachute” both sounded just as polished live as on the recordings. And the sound: his dad. Basically, he is John Lennon if he would have been alive for the last twenty five years and making music in the same vein as Double Fantasy. What’s even more amazing was that – with the help of clothing, posturing and stage dressing – the late 70s/early 80s reel-to-reel vibe translated into the performance. To completely smother this cake in delicious, delicious icing, Yuka (Freakin’) Honda of Cibo Matto fame was ON KEYBOARDS. *dies as confetti*

I do have to deduct half a point for his occasional meanderings into guitar solos that require amounts of pot adequate for arrest as a dealer. In fairness, I’m sure he’s still contact-stoned from when his dad was alive…

Self Portrait, Reflection 2007

ARoB, Art by
  • Comments Off on Self Portrait, Reflection 2007

I never paint self portraits, so this is entirely new for me. In fact, the figure started out life in my head as a 1950s French model with a long cigarette. However, I saw myself staring out of the emotion I was trying to convey so I guessed it would be easiest to just put me in the piece. My inspiration: those great 50s-60s advertisements done in watercolor. Usually they were for something mundane, but always beautiful and fluid.

Tonight is definitely a good night to mess with my hair…

ARoB, Cars, Food/Drink by

It’s only been a few months, but I think I’m over this haircut. Expect something new when I come home. We shall see what the stylist is able to come up with if I bring her a few photos. :/

Last night I went to Hannah’s after work to help make some cookies for our office “holiday” party, drink some wine and prep for a knitting class. The outcome? The cookies are amazing, the wine had me slurring my speech and we never found the place where we were to go for our lessons. I think the hooch probably had nothing to do with that.

When I returned home, I was greeted by not another Xmas card from friends and family (thanks, all…they are lovely.) No, this card was from Volkswagen. And I will share it with you now, because it was perhaps the funniest thing I’ve gotten in the mail recently.

VW Card (292 K PDF)

I know it’s really gimmicky and total fluff, but I absolutely eat this stuff up. I’m pretty sure they know their demographic like crazy.

To the salon!

Tonight, on the table of steal-able things…

ARoB, Cars by

So, I curbed my front passenger wheel cover last week. Replaced it and what else was I going to do with the old one? Presenting, the silliest wreath you’ve seen today.

I’m tired and it’s only Tuesday night. Apparently I did not sleep enough over the weekend. Well, I know this for a fact since I was up by 8 both days. I’m also hopelessly confused about what I’m going to do with my job/moving situation. I wish I could make up my mind. Someone do it for me, ‘kay?

Thanks.

Mutual Smeared_Mascara Makeouts: Divertimento

ARoB, Music by
  • Comments Off on Mutual Smeared_Mascara Makeouts: Divertimento

div•er•ti•men•to-noun Music. an instrumental composition in several movements, light and diverting in character, similar to a serenade

This time, Dusty and I decided that it would be a lot more fun to take MS_MM in a cheerier direction. Thusly, Part 2 of our “celebrity” playlist is dancier and poppier. Generally, I really like it and I think you will, too.

    The tracklist:

  1. “President” – I Am X
  2. “Ramalama” – Roísin Murphy
  3. “The Prayer” – Bloc Party
  4. “Alala” – CSS
  5. “Map of the Problematique” – Muse
  6. “We Are Rockstars” – Does It Offend You, Yeah?
  7. “Your Body Is My Body” – Ellen Alien
  8. “55566688833” – James Figurine
  9. “A Match Made In Texas” – Her Space Holiday
  10. “Stuck To You” – Hellogoodbye
  11. “Pieces Of The People We Love” – The Rapture
  12. “Close To Me” – The Cure
  13. “New Round” – Beck
  14. “Satin Chic (Bombay Mix by The Shortwave Set)” – Goldfrapp

You can download the tracks for a limited time by clicking right about here. (~67 MB, m4a)

The disc cover can be downloaded in PDF format, too!

Honestly, squirrel, why are you looking so smug?

ARoB, Internet, Music, Technology, Television by

An item I forgot to mention!: The name of this design shall henceforth be known as Florence: End of Days, Sunrise. That is all.

Have you ever found yourself sitting on the couch, holding the remote for your televiewer, absent-mindedly flipping through the channels when the thought “see what’s on MySpace” pops into your head? Do your fingers frantically stab at numbers on the keypad before your brain makes the connection that you can’t, in fact, google “Chinese nuclear power” on this device? I’m not sure if this makes me strange, marks me as an interwebs addict or is a sign of what technology should become. Hopefully all three.

In music: Yeah, I’m listening to Ghostface Killah with my over-40 coworker, Brett, in the room. What are you going to do about it? I mean, really.

I wake up
And the day feels
Broken
I tilt my head
I’m trying to get an angle
‘Cause the evening
I’ve always longed for
It could still happen

How do I master
The perfect day
Six glasses of water
Seven phonecalls

If you leave it alone
It might just happen
Anyway

“It’s Not Up to You” by Björk

I think these lyrics are telling me something pretty important. What it is, I’m not sure, but I do honestly believe there is a lesson there and dammit all – I’m fixin’ to learn it! Actually, that’s an interesting statement. I’m also trying to figure out some fundamental things about Nick right now. Chief among these is why I don’t feel like I deserve for anyone to be nice to me. Why don’t I want gifts or help and why can’t I take a compliment? Socially, too, why is refusing a compliment rude if you honestly don’t feel as though you’ve earned it?

Danger: much pondering ahead.

Talked to Lindsie last night and I’m happy to report that she’s doing really well in her new city. I knew there was a cosmopolitan girl in there (probably a Cosmopolitan and a rum & coke, too.) Now, if I could come up with a justification for being her butler in a one bedroom apartment…

Hey, remember that time when I forgot to title my post? Dude…

ARoB, Music by
  • Comments Off on Hey, remember that time when I forgot to title my post? Dude…

What will grow quickly, that you can’t make straight
It’s the price you gotta pay
Do yourself a favour and pack you bags
Buy a ticket and get on the train
Buy a ticket and get on the train

Cause this is fucked up, fucked up
Cause this is fucked up, fucked up

People get crushed like biscuit crumbs
And laid down in the bed you made
You have tried your best to please everyone
But it just isn’t happening
No, it just isn’t happening

And it’s fucked up, fucked up
And this is fucked up, fucked up
This your blind spot, blind spot
It should be obvious, but it’s not.
But it isn’t, but it isn’t

You cannot kickstart a dead horse
You just crush yourself and walk away
I don’t care what the future holds
Cause I’m right here and I’m today
With your fingers you can touch me

I’m your black swan, black swan
But I made it to the top, made it to the top
This is fucked up, fucked up

You are fucked up, fucked up
This is fucked up, fucked up

Be your black swan, black swan
I’m for spare parts, broken up

“Black Swan” by Thom Yorke

Not necessarily my mood, but I still really like this song.

Yay, yay and, also, yay!

ARoB, General Entertainment by
  • Comments Off on Yay, yay and, also, yay!

The design is all up in this piece! Hooray! Hooray! Thanks be to Dusty. The only issues I’m seeing that will need rectification thus far are:

  1. The color of the dividing lines between posts.
  2. The color of the stupid box that appears under the ARoB script text in the banner. Maybe magenta?

Update: Dusty fixes everything. He’s like a kiss on your boo boo by mom…but better, and less creepy-sounding!

Anything else, folks?

In other news, the weekend is over. Screw that noise. I had a pretty good one: went to Harrisburg to shop and have lunch with the always lovely Marie Sloan on Saturday, did much of nothing yesterday. Lots of Starbucks and coffee products in general which is always the mark of a successful time of relaxation. I’m kicking ass at WindWaker (thanks, in part, to 1-800-4-HOOVER…my private advice line.) Uh, and that’s really the whole story.

Anybody want to see The Fountain with me this week?