If you like Postal Service...

you'll probably like this song.

Owl City - Fireflies
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Also, my body is pretty amazing isn't it? Even with swollen ankles...

Favorite Author Fridays - Neil Gaiman

Update: I seriously thought I had already done a Favorite Author Friday about Neil Gaiman!!! Now I feel awful I didn't list his other books I love and go more in-depth about how blasted cool he really is. I will try to rectify this soon.
This week I listened to Neil Gaiman read The Graveyard Book. It was magnificent. Not only was the story beautiful and different but his reading of it was amazing. He did it on his book tour, reading a chapter or so at a time to each different group. PS Isn't he hot!!! I read his blog regularly.
The basic story is that a toddler's family is killed but he ends up safe in a graveyard where its normal inhabitants raise him. It's a children/young adult book but is a little scary which I think kids like more than we often give them credit for. I defiantly recommend it- in fact, go listen right now!!!

This morning as I was thinking about writing this post I heard a song on the radio that had a small part about a graveyard. I thought, that's perfect- I'll include that in my post. Then I looked up the video on youtube and really listened to the words. It is so good and so sad. I already loved Death Cab for Cutie but this made me love them even more! Being from California wild fires are a huge issue every year. Enjoy.

Death Cab for Cutie - Grapevine Fires

Sweet Song for a Happy Mood

I've been listening to this song a lot again lately. I'd never seen the video before but I love it!!!

Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am

I don't know what to say about this...

I had a much more lighthearted post planned but I heard about this video yesterday and saw it today and couldn't ignore it.

The Killers - Goodnight, Travel Well


For more info you can check out:
Adland
ecorazzi
unicef

It's amazing to me that something like this, that is such a reality for children and young women (and young men) all over the world is so far removed from my life.

A letter...

Dear Gluteus Maximus,

We have had a good life together. You have provided a place for me to sit and I have tried not to embarrass you with daisy duke shorts. However, you have never been a part of my body I have had a desire to draw attention to. You are mostly flat and not shaped like J. Lo's bottom half in any way. This is ok. I have more than enough breast area to make up for this. But things have changed between us... I feel like we don't have much in common anymore and we are possibly moving in different directions, responding to different goals. I don't really understand you now...
First off, I have a serious question. What do you want to be called? I have not felt comfortable with a name for you since I was 5. I feel like we're missing out on part of our relationship because you don't have an appropriate nickname. 'A$$' seems a little vulgar for everyday use, 'butt' sounds stupid, 'bottom' reminds me of 3 year olds, 'back' is only used by rappers, 'tush' is an old lady word...what do you want????? I am open to suggestions.
Now onto our real issue. You are changing. I realize I am too. I now seem to have a basketball under my shirt and the extra weight has led me to waddling, which must be different and slightly uncomfortable for you. I can't do anything about this- Peanut needs room to grow. But other than that, I haven't changed much. I always had big boobs so even if they are getting bigger that seems like a small issue. My question is why are YOU getting bigger?
What has led you to growing in seemingly all directions? Why are you now farther out from my body and higher on my back? I have a short area between hips and boobs- if you continue to move up at the current pace I can only imagine you will reach my bra line in a matter of months. Is this necessary? Belly must grow to accommodate Peanut, boobs must grow to feed him (although I fully believe they were plenty large enough before and are just showing off now), hips must spread to eventually let him through, I even understand feet getting a little bigger to support his extra weight, but again I ask- why are YOU growing?
I don't need you to be big. In fact I was comfortable with our previous low-stress relationship. Nate was happy with you because he didn't know any better. You have raised his expectations and it's frustrating me.
Also I'm not sure what you are filling up all that space with. Amber smacked you the other day and nearly broke her hand- you are hard as steel. Why?
Please remember I still love you and want you around I just feel that not all change is good. Let's go back to how it used to be between us, with a minimum of fuss and tightening of pants.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
L

PS A video just for you (note: please don't forget how questionable this song is- not G rated!)

Sir mix a lot-baby got back
by ZICARLOS

Sexy Asian Man...

Not sure how many of you watched the pre-game show for the last Superbowl. I did and loved the new front man for Journey. He's a guy from the Philippines who was doing covers and Journey found him on YouTube. Crazy hunh??? I'm not sure why but I find him crazy sexy!

Journey (with Arnel Pineda) - Don't Stop Believing


Journey (with Arnel Pineda) - Separate Ways

Dancing in the car with Peanut...

Peanut loves this song so we listen to it on the way home from work a lot.

Jamiroquai - Canned Heat

Songs I'm in the Mood for:

Counting Crows - Round Here


For the Live version- very excellent but long go here.

I know I stole this from Juno but it's the song I sing to Peanut when we're driving home.

Cat Power - Sea of Love

For those of us feeling a little large...

Added for Whitney- I love it!!!

Books, Art and Music

This past weekend I read a great children's book, The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. I loved this book. It reminded me of the beginning books in the Series of Unfortunate Events series, before things got weird and started lacking direction. The children are not perfect but are extraordinary. The plot was fun and engaging. I really liked it.

Here's a synopsis from Books and Movies:

"Reynie Muldoon is an extremely bright orphan. He has been bored at his boarding school, and only the specialized education given to him by his tutor, Miss Perumal, has kept him challenged. When she sees an ad in the newspaper that reads, “ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?” she encourages him to attend the test. Reynie is chosen, along with three other students, for the special opportunity - but he has no idea what it is."

While reading about the author in the back of the book (and taking the test to see if I, too, was extraordinary) I came across the information about the illustrator. It was Carson Ellis who also does the illustrations for one of my favorite bands, The Decemberists. What a small world!!!

So in celebration of this I will post one of my favorite Decemberist songs and urge you to listen to it while reading The Mysterious Benedict Society.



PS The second book in the series is on its way out so watch for it!!!

Mad World

Ok so I've been hearing this song everywhere lately- on my Pandora, at Pilates, the radio etc. I like it A LOT! So what version is your favorite???

the original...

Tears for Fears - Mad World


the newer 'moody' version (from donnie darko)...

Gary Jules - Mad World


the British girl (from Fame Academy)...

Alex Parks - Mad World


Try to pay attention to the song not just the awesome videos. That Kiwi is so blasted cute.

You're so beautiful you could be a part-time model

So this is another Flight of the Conchords song. Apparently the only one Hilly's ever heard (obviously because she's lame and doesn't read my blog). She said boys at her school used to play the guitar and sing this. I'm sure they were covered in girls...

Flight of the Conchords - You're So Beautiful

I'm not embarassed...

It's true. I really like Twilight. I loved the books, I like the teenage girl focused movie. I like the soundtrack. Overall it's all (as my sister-in-law Josie said) Mormon Porn. There's something very compelling in the story although it's not really a stretch from the average romance. It's just good. It speaks to you. I'll wait to write about Stephanie Meyer until I've read The Host so I know if I like her style no matter what the genre but I'd recommend the books and movie to anyone. I loved the characters in the movie, especially all the minor ones. The background people were way fun in the movie.

So...what are you waiting for??? Go read them or see the movie. Don't take it all too seriously. Just have fun.

And to get you in the mood here's my favorite song from the soundtrack:

Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth

Flight of the Conchords

Ok so our friend Loren (husband of Okie Dean) showed us "If That's What You're Into". I thought it was hilarious. Well little did I know it was a clip from an HBO show about two guys from New Zealand who are trying to make it as a band in New York. So Nate and I Netflixed the series. So blasted funny!!!! So here are a few of my favorites:

*Slightly Questionable*

The song NOT to write to the new girl you're dating...

Flight of the Conchords - If You're Into It


Oh the romance of the long term/marriage relationship...

Flight of the Conchords - Business Time


Here's where Germaine (sp?) is trying to cheer up Bret by giving him complements and writing him a song...

Flight of the Conchords - Bret You Got it Going On


I ask you, "Why can't a heterosexual guy tell a heterosexual guy that he thinks that his booty is fly?".

For more funny songs, either rent the series or look them up on YouTube. These were my favorites that didn't seem to questionable.

For Hilly

Odds and Ends

Ok just a few updates...

First, last weekend Wendy and made pumpkin chocolate chip bread. It was delicious!!! The funny thing was since their was so much oil in them the loaves came out really easy from the pan, except for the chocolate chips. I mean, I know it makes sense that way but for some reason Wendy and I thought it was hilarious that there were all these little holes in the bottom of the loaf. Here are the pics:


Next, today I got flowers. From my husband, you ask??? No. I got them from a Department on campus who has been a royal pain in my ...butt... for the past week. They've been unorganized and needed help with very basic things and overall taken up a lot of time I really needed to be spending elsewhere since enrollment begins on Wednesday. But... I walked them through it and was as patient as possible (that doesn't mean patient exactly but the closest I was going to get in such a busy week) and we got it all done correctly with a full day to go. It was amazing. So they realized they were impossible to work with and sent flowers to Chris and I. It was very nice of them.


Lastly, I was in the mood for Alicia Keys so here you go:

Alicia Keys - No One

imeem

So I don't know if I've mentioned how I love imeem. I think I just started using them. Their videos are clearer and better quality than YouTube and don't have their embed codes erased. They have lots of way fun stuff but less videos of people pretending to be the band. They have a smaller selestion but I bet they'll expand quite a bit in the next few years.

Tegan and Sara - Call It Off

Weekend Music

Postal Service - Clark Gable

Thursday Night Music

Sia - Breathe Me

Katy Perry I love you!!!!!

OK another Katy Perry video. Oh how I love her!!! I could possibly kiss her and like it (Ox doesn't mind). I got this from Pink Sheep. This video kind of reminds me of Jr. High- I'm not sure why but it could be the bike chase. :)

Hot N Cold


Also can she please come live in my closet and dress me everyday. Sad that by the time she get s a clothing line up I'll be too old to wear most of it.