a girl with a notebook

Off The Bookshelf

2010-06-19T02:20:00.001-07:00

When Izgard of Garizon put on the Coil and crowned himself King, he set in train a course of tumultuous events that would reverberate around the continent. For the Coil must have blood.

And the first blood to flow is that of Berick of Thorn, the legendary conqueror of Garizon. His son, Camron, wants revenge and knows that Izgard can only be stopped by force of arms. He seeks out the man who knows most about Izgard's murderous hordes - Lord Ravis, a ruthless mercenary with a dark and secret past.

And Tessa McCamfrey is about to become caught up in this dangerous and exotic world - with the piratical Ravis, a beautifully patterned gold ring and a role to play in the momentous events that unfold.

I had a sudden yen to read again this, one of my favorite fantasy novels by one of my favorite fantasy writers. With every leap the same, and every plot and turn known, I suppose it should seem rote to the point of boring, but this novel never loses its fire for me. I highly recommend this novel as well as others of hers. You won't be disappointed! If you click on the cover art or synopsis above, a link will lead you to Amazon's Quick Look Inside.

Meter Exercise

2010-06-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

A QUATORZAIN / IAMBIC / RHYMED / VARIED FEET

I took an angry walk today.
Not very far, but far enough away
to breed a distance from all I knew
-- and sat on the slant of a hill view,
on a lock of concrete overlooking a creek.
The late spring evening was a pleasant feel
against my livid cheek; that and the hustle
and leap of the stream relaxed me. Light shuffled
between the water and the trees,
gleaming like tinsel in a breeze.
If it were winter still,
the light would touch ice, not the rill;
and by this hour have come and gone, with the moon
already donned just like a cap on the sun.

Patience & An Eraser

2010-06-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

William Kentridge

With patience and an eraser as his primary tools this artist creates, deconstructs and reconstructs a simple drawing on a single page and smooths each transition using the magic of an animator. It is a beautiful expression of art. Here is an example of his work:

Fashionably Late to the Party?

2010-06-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Kid Cudi doesn't have the flow I prefer but his lyrical strength and charm more than make up for that tiny, tiny, tiny deficit. I like his flow, I do, it is just not my favorite type. However, I am (fashionably?) late to the party so there's a very good chance I am speaking out my ass. Knowing myself, it is a certainty. So what is the remedy for such fashionable tardiness? A thorough Kid Cudi musical gorging! Sure, gorging is impolite and indelicate to say the least but what else can one do to make up the difference? Tucking in, let the gorging begin... or, um, continue since it has already begun with 'Pursuit of Happiness'. Actually I guess it began with 'Poke Her Face' or whatever, however, I wasn't in love with that song; it didn't force me to take notice. Plus I had to work past my initial "So Annoying!" gut reaction. I also admit to being a bit turned off by The GaGa, although I will concede a few of her singles are quite catchy. Back to Kid Cudi: the next bon-mot is 'Soundtrack 2 My Life' (which, just a few bars in, I already love).

1. 'Pursuit of Happiness' linked from iLike
2. 'Soundtrack 2 My Life'
3. 'Lovestoned freestyle' linked from BigHouse
I am not in love with this song but it is
undeniably sweet.
4. 'Day n Nite' linked from Newborn Rodeo
At first I thought to file this under the same
heading as his 'Lovestoned freestyle' -- obviously
talented but not enough of a draw for me.
Instinct, however, tells me a few more listens
will take this strangely addictive beat and
fresh, imaginative lyrics from solid to f-ing
brilliant.
5. 'Sky Might Fall' linked from iLike
6. 'CudiZone' linked from iLike

Interrupting our current schedule of music to editorialize...

Shit. Seriously, so far, so good. Ooh, ooh, I love when I am given an opportunity to fall in love with an artist versus a song.

We will now continue our scheduled Cudi gorging... (at a later date)

7. Alive (Nightmare)
Eh.

Sigh, it is times like these I wish I listened to radio because maybe I wouldn't be so behind the bell-curve. Then again, radio makes me want to claw at furniture and my face in screaming frustration so... maybe not? Unlike Beyonce, I am not in love with my radio, once upon a time perhaps, but certainly no longer.

Just Started

2010-06-07T21:49:00.000-07:00

Kathe Kollwitz, self-portrait

Isn't that gorgeous? There is something so very vital about it.

I recently started the summer session at the local college. Divided into three terms, I am registered for the two most condensed terms (5 weeks each), and first up is 'Art Appreciation'. Originally I planned to take more than one class for my first summer session but had a few problems with registration and required texts, and so settled for one class, the aforementioned 'Art Appreciation'. The next session, which begins only a few days after the current one ends, will see me attending two classes, a math course and 'Photography I'. Should be fun, right? Well, it is only the first day but we covered much of the basics (the class is four hours long) and while uneventful, it wasn't boring. The teacher answered a few private questions I had about majors and the job market as it applies to a B.A. and her answers created for me a sense of freedom and opportunity just as I was feeling hemmed in. So, yeah, good day.

This Sunday Comes With Music

2010-05-30T01:56:00.000-07:00

Just some stuff I'm listening to these days, ^_^!

Emily Wells -- Symphony 1: In the Barrel of a Gun linked from YouTube
Brooke Fraser -- C.S. Lewis Song linked from iLike

Talib Kweli -- Ms. Hill linked from iLike
I miss Lauren Hill so much! I will swear to the day I die
that 'The Miseducation of...' is one of the most perfectly
crafted albums, of any genre, of all time. So whenever
I'm in the mood to mourn, and not to do so alone, I listen
to this song.
Big Scary -- At The Mercy Of The Elements linked from ArtistDirect
This song is purely instrumental and this particular
listen is only a 30 second click.

Regina Spektor -- No Surprises (Radiohead cover) linked from MusicVagabond
What a gorgeous cover! Apparently not many have gotten
on the Spektor train but I have. I find her voice and
instrumentation beautiful, and her approach to song very
different from the standard fare. She belongs to the
category of Tori Amos, so if you don't like the latter, you
may not care for Spektor. Plus she's Russian and
occasionally drops a Russian lyric in a song.
Nina Gordon -- Pure linked from iLike
The Heavy -- How You Like Me Now linked from YouTube
Yes, from the car commercial. Shut up. ;) This video
is so weird.

Pausing our regularly scheduled English language songs for a much needed foreign music injection...
Coffee House OST linked from YouTube
Its the soundtrack for the Korean television rom-com,
'Coffee House', and it's damn good. So, here's the
foreign portion of the list. Sorry but I can only share
the artist name since the Korean characters won't show
up on my post.
1. SG Wannabe, Ock Ju Hyun
2. Jo Sung Mo
3. So Yeon (of T-Ara) and Ock Ju Hyun

Now resuming our regularly scheduled English language songs...

Nas and Jay-Z -- Black Republicans linked from iLike
The Cardigans -- My Favourite Game linked from YouTube
Kid Cudi -- (Pursuit of) Happiness linked from iLike
and for good measure, here's the video. linked from VeVo
This song is such a damn good groove. Like a caramel's
warm sweetness on my tongue this song just makes me
want to sit back, nod my head, and relax.
Rihanna -- Te Amo linked from Clutch
Uh, Ri-Ri is much more progressive than I would have
initially assumed. That video is something different
from your standard Mistress of R&B/Hip-Hop fare.

Kanye West -- Power linked from Clutch
Oh, Kanye! Why can't I quit you, for you surely are an ass!
Then again most creative types are jerks so, okay, in that he's
just following the prescribed pattern.

Off The Bookshelf

2010-05-24T21:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I forget how amazing Google is; this feature is an oldie but a goodie. I'm not sure precisely how many pages of The RF Reader are revealed but I got to page 42 before I stopped checking. So I encourage you to "thumb" through as many pages as possible. Also Bartleby's offers an impressive selection of Frost poems done up by collections, in this case, four.

A jaunt to Half-Price Books unearthed this metrical delight, and working my way through the poetry (and soon, the prose) has deepened my appreciation for the melodies of meter and the deceptive ease of rhyme. I had read Robert Frost is 'America's Poet' but now I know it for fact. His subjects are as down to earth as snow and fields and picking apples at the height of harvest; his words typically stretch no further than the vernacular but there is elevation in every poem. Again I am amazed by the power and subtlety of words, all words. Of course I have my favorites, a handful of selections I'd like to draw your eye towards --

Into My Own, from 'A Boy's Will'
The Trial By Existence, from 'A Boy's Will'
After Apple-picking, from 'North of Boston'
A Star in a Stoneboat, from 'New Hampshire'

Funny story: the day I bought this book I stopped by a local CVS on the way home. I had carried the book with me (don't ask me why) and at the counter the cashier exclaimed at the sight, "Ugh! I don't envy you!" She thought I was in school, you see, bound by some English course to read the "dreaded" poetry! And honestly, her expression was all sympathy and pity... until I told her, with a laugh, I had bought the book for pleasure. She looked sheepish then and mumbled, "Oh... well, en... joy?" We all shared a laugh then.

Early Monday Spin

2010-05-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

It has been precisely one month since my last post, and what a month it has been! Like an eager little beaver I have been bustling to and fro all over my little corner of Texas trying to get my schooling/tuition together. If all goes well I should be taking classes in a month. Yay! Today's 'Early Monday Spin', however, has nothing to do with education and everything to do with music. For the past month I have obsessively listened to these singles falling ever deeper in love (for a time). In no particular order:

Holly Figueroa (O'Reilly) -- 'Everybody Knows' off the album, Gifts and Burdens
A folk/alt-country cover of a Leonard Cohen classic.
Holly's sparse arrangement and folkish twang allow
Cohen's lyrics to gleam against a dark backwoods
background.

REM -- 'Drive' off the album, Automatic for the People
Adele -- 'Hometown Glory' off the album, 19
Susie Suh -- 'Why' off the EP, The Bakman Tapes
I love this chick! She's Korean-American with a sultry
voice deep, smoky and blue. She has two other songs
I really like 'All I Want' and 'Seasons Change' but I've
had those for years. 'Why' is one of her newest songs.

Eddie Vedder -- 'Hard Sun' off the soundtrack, Into the Wild
Radiohead -- 'Reckoner' off the album, In Rainbows
Band of Skulls -- 'Light of the Morning' off the EP, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
Irene Cara -- 'Fame' off the soundtrack, Fame
It may be a bit of cheese but that doesn't dilute it's
overall awesomeness. Will only eighties babies like me
recall how wonderful was that movie? The iconic scene
of students pouring onto the NYC streets to dance and
strut their asses off, feeling for all the world like kings?

---
Here's a nugget of potential interest: EMusic (of emusic.com) is running several promotional offers -- variations on a large number of free audio downloads plus an audiobook. The deal I got came with a download of Winamp (a media player in the vein of Windows Media or Real Player) and included 50 free songs plus one audiobook for a span of two weeks. Offers on EMusic's site range from 35 to 45 free songs with or without a free audiobook. At the end of two weeks, or once all the free downloads are gone (whichever comes first), EMusic will activate the free account turning it into a paid one. If you have no interest in becoming a paying member be very mindful of the date and/or the number of downloads left in the purse.

What do I think of EMusic's site? Well, it gets high marks for a clean, uncluttered site that is very easy to use. The search function breaks down by general, artist, track, album, even label; however, funnily enough, it does not break down searches by genre which would have been more helpful than a label search, in my opinion. Under each artist is a gallery of comments either from established critics or current users of the site as well as relatively in-depth musical biographies. Although I managed to find 45 of 50 songs to download I did so with the help of my family. There were a number of songs which weren't available -- either because they could only be downloaded if paid for; or EMusic didn't have enough of an artist's discography; or didn't have the artist at all.

While EMusic has the bones of something good, currently it cannot compare to paying/streaming sites like Rhapsody, Pandora (internet radio), or iTunes for sheer access across a large cross-section of music and artists. In particular Rhapsody, which, for a reasonable monthly stipend, allows its users to stream all the music they like, even upload it to their mp3 players, on top of downloading. Pandora offers another unfair comparison since it, too, streams full songs (to EMusic's 30 second blurbs) and provides access to buying a liked song. The only system I know of which compares to EMusic's current setup is iTunes and that behemoth clearly mops the floor with EMusic. But if you are looking for an alternative to iTunes and its rabid protections, then certainly try EMusic -- you'll find just enough music to keep you relatively satisfied if not wholly so, just know you'll need to supplement with another music provider.

"Indeed."

2010-04-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

on FFFFound!
quoted from dilemma on Flickr_Photo Sharing!
( farm4.static.flickr.com )

Tuesday Morning Liqueur

2010-04-20T00:45:00.000-07:00

If it hasn't yet been made apparent, I am fascinated by a great many things, given to romantic stirrings over the classic and mundane. I am not a 'liqueur person'; for a good many reasons I limit my intake of alcoholic beverages. So it is with some incredulity that I recently found myself ensnared by articles enthusing the joys of homemade cordials & the like. Really. Like this fascinating little gem on 'milk liqueur' on Lottie + Doof, for example. Or this appealing piece of sunset in a glass courtesy of Gastronomer's Guide. Just glancing at it makes me ache to make it -- it's so simple (looking)! What stops me, however, is the question of who will consume my eager, eager efforts? Who?! Aside from a sip here and there, I will largely let it go to waste... unless I can successfully cook with it. That has been my thing for the last year or so; I cooked a lot of meats with some homemade Trini wines and they (the meat and the spirits) were much more delicious that way. We had Cane, Aloe, Ginger, Tomato (which was the best for drinking and for cooking) and something else I can't remember. So, if I can cook with any of the liqueur recipes that have been catching my eye, I may be able to talk myself into making a batch. I can also always send it away to friends, right?

In just writing this article I learned a little something, like the difference between liquor, liqueur and cordials. Well, I thought it fascinating.

Tuesday's Odds & Ends

2010-04-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

Items like this make me want to take a wood-shopping class... then I remember my fear of circular saws. Ah, there goes the urge like a box of Krispy Kreme donuts in a room full of Airmen! Oh, lovely chair, you're still lovely. Too bad it's mad expensive... and sold out. On the bright side, the website has so many pretty, pretty things. With every post and site I cruise I am reminded of how clever and in search of beauty people are, how they continually carve it from whatever object grabs their clever fancy. It makes me kind of proud of "us".

---
Idaho, but why???

This is a hotel. I kid you not. And it's for people. Again, I kid you not.

Would you like to learn more?
---
Oh, History.com, what would we do without you?
On April 20, 1980 (hey, by this time, I'd been gestating in my mother's womb for about a month -- fun fact), the Castro regime announces that all Cubans wishing to emigrate to the U.S. are free to board boats at the port of Mariel west of Havana, launching the Mariel Boatlift. The first of 125,000 Cuban refugees from Mariel reached Florida the next day.

Would you like to learn more?

Sunday Evening at the Trailers

2010-04-18T16:03:00.000-07:00

ONDINE
cast: Colin Farrell, Alicja Bachleda, Alison Barry, Derva Kirwan, Stephen Rea
in theaters, June 2010

iTunes synopsis: the story of Syracuse, a simple fisherman who catches a beautiful and mysterious woman in his trawler’s nets. The woman seems to be dead, but then she comes alive before Syracuse’s eyes and he thinks he may be seeing things. However, with the help of his ailing, yet irrepressible daughter, Annie, he comes to believe that the fantastical might be possible and that the woman (Ondine) might be a myth come true. Ondine and Syracuse fall passionately in love, but just as we think the fairytale might go on forever, the real world intercedes. Then, after a terrible car crash and the return of a dark and violent figure from Ondine’s past, hope eventually prevails and a new beginning is presented to Syracuse, Ondine and Annie.

personal note: I am a sucker for fantasy and romance and this particular offering comes with a healthy dose of Irish brogue, so yeah, I'm there. Also, the trailer is quite lovely, succeeding in striking the intended balance between fairytale and modernity, the melancholic and oft-times brutal romance of British Isle fae. If it fully succeeds it could just be a cinematic cousin for Emma Bull's 'War for the Oaks'.

Click here to see the trailer.

---
KILLERS
cast: Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Thomas Selleck, Catherine O'Hara, Rob Riggle, Martin Mull, Casey Wilson
in theaters, June 2010

iTunes synopsis: Trying to recover from a sudden break—up, Jen Kornfeldt (Katherine Heigl) believes she’ll never fall in love again. But when she reluctantly joins her parents on a trip to the French Riviera, Jen happens to meet the man of her dreams, the dashing, handsome Spencer Aimes (Ashton Kutcher). Three years later, her seemingly impossible wish has come true: she and Spencer are newlyweds living the ideal suburban life – that is, until the morning after Spencer’s 30th birthday when bullets start flying. Literally. It turns out Spencer never bothered to tell Jen he’s also an international super—spy, and now Jen's perfect world has been turned upside down. Faced with the fact that her husband is a hit man, Jen is determined to discover what other secrets Spencer might be keeping – all the while trying to dodge bullets, keep up neighborly appearances, manage the in—laws…and work out some major trust issues. And you thought suburban life was easy.

personal note: I very much dislike Katherine Heigl. Oh, not in the admittedly irrational way I once disliked Keira Knightley -- a hysteria of irrational female dislike shared the world over it seems since Keira herself once remarked on it. Getting back to it, my dislike of Heigl has a bit more basis, at least to me. I find her to be grossly ungrateful to the vehicles which brought her fame, fortune and opportunities. However, I will probably watch this movie because it looks somewhat humorous, charming and right 'up my alley' as it were. Plus check out Ashton's body in the trailer and take a deep breath, kiddies... Yum!

Click here to see the trailer.

---
COCO CHANEL & IGOR STRAVINSKY
cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Anna Mouglalis
in theaters, June 2010

iTunes synopsis: Paris 1913. At the Theatre Des Champs—Elysées, Igor Stravinsky premieres his The Rite Of Spring. Coco Chanel attends the premiere and is mesmerized…But the revolutionary work is too modern, too radical: the enraged audience boos and jeers. A near riot ensues. Stravinsky is inconsolable. Seven years later, now rich, respected and successful, Coco Chanel meets Stravinsky again — a penniless refugee living in exile in Paris after the Russian Revolution. The attraction between them is immediate and electric. Coco offers Stravinsky the use of her villa in Garches so that he will be able to work, and he moves in straight away, with his children and consumptive wife. And so a passionate, intense love affair between two creative giants begins...

personal note: As with 'Ondine', I find the visuals of this trailer stunning (as they are meant to be). I only wish I had some assurance that the movie itself will be entertaining. For me, French films can be so hit-and-miss, swinging wildly from charged, fantastical and wonderful to inaccessible.

Click here to see the trailer.

---
CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY
documentary
in theaters, May 2010

iTunes synopsis: This portrait of Washington super lobbyist Jack Abramoff—from his early years as a gung—ho member of the GOP political machine to his final reckoning as a disgraced, imprisoned pariah—confirms the adage that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. A tale of international intrigue with Indian casinos, Russian spies, Chinese sweatshops, and a mob—style killing in Miami, this is the story of the way money corrupts our political process. Oscar—winning filmmaker Alex Gibney once again wields the tools of his trade with the skill of a master. Following the ongoing indictments of federal officials and exposing favor trading in our nation's capital, Gibney illuminates the way our politicians' desperate need to get elected—and the millions of dollars it costs—may be undermining the basic principles of American democracy. Infuriating, yet undeniably fun to watch, CASINO JACK is a saga of greed and corruption with a cynical villain audiences will love to hate.

Click here to see the trailer.

---
THE HOUSEMAID
cast: Jeon Do Yeon, Seo Woo, Lee Jung Jae
in theaters, May 2010

javabeans synopsis: a housemaid moves in with a family of four and things take a dark turn. Seducing the husband is only the beginning of the trouble, as the maid’s bizarre behavior escalates and the wife tries to assert her place. Although its themes may seem familiar today — adultery, murder, twisted ambition — the provocative thriller was made in the “Golden Age” of Korean cinema, back before the censorship code descended upon the film industry.

personal note: I love the Korean entertainment industry, particularly their dramas. However I cut my teeth on their films and this one has me so excited (minds out of the gutter... okay, remain in the gutter). It is an erotic thriller after all!

Click here to see the trailer.

---
LIKE THE MOON ESCAPING FROM THE CLOUDS
cast: Cha Seung Won, Hwang Jun Min, Han Ji Hye, Baek Sung Hyun
in theaters, April 2010

javabeans synopsis: The historical action film pits main characters Chang Seung Won and Hwang Jung Min against each other; the former leads a rebellion to overturn the social order, while the latter is a blind swordsman who believes in protecting the world. Cha is of royal blood but was born illegitimate, and now vows to take the throne... As the preview opens, Cha Seung Won says, "I didn't dream this dream that we would all live together." Hwang Jung Min returns, "This is a dream that we all die together!"

Click here to see the trailer.

---
THE A-TEAM
cast: Liam Neeson, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Gerald McRaney
in theaters, June 2010

iTunes synop... Oh, who am I kidding? It's the friggin' A-Team!!! My childhood TV memories demand that I include this, especially since, despite my ample worries, it looks so good! B.A. Barracus... Face... Hannibal... and Murdock (my brother's childhood nickname, fun fact), oh how I've missed you! If you still don't have a clue as to who they are, I say it is time to bone-up on your eighties pop culture. Get thee to YouTube right quick!

Click here to see the trailer.

---

The Clever Girl Sings

2010-04-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

Sing along with me, if you will, and roll with my current WMP list...

Doves
Everybody's Free
Swing
Kettering
Florence + the Machine
Civil Twilight
Metal Heart
Cinematic Orchestra
Siren

Blogshare: Jamie's From Me to You

2010-04-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

her 'pears and the afternoon light'
Jamie's site, from me to you

Her blog is chiefly photography, with food and recipes thrown into the mix. So really, what's not to love? I especially enjoy her site's design -- a mixture of vintage brown paper, bits of string, gorgeous stationary, old typewriter fonts and old-fashioned scripts and pins. She has made a visit to her page such an experience I bookmarked it right away and had to share the very same day! So... Go visit!!

EDIT

2010-04-04T01:27:00.000-07:00

Only ageless quiet attends our altars
shrouds our days in motes and in shade, a half-life
lived in half-light. Even our fire can pale in
twilight and gray or
starve in empty temples though instinct never
Wavers, never dulls in the pitch - the God Who
Slumbers in the Waters still sleeps; the sun still
sets in our brother's
bloodless breast. We follow the endless arc to
guard the sun, descend to lustrate in gold-tipped
shrines where chanted litanies hailed the dawn. But
no one reveres us

now: a younger god has transfixed man's needy
eye. Unsung, we leave empyreal climes, slough the
night off (like a barnacle fastened to the
hip of the sun) to
pace abandoned Houses. In temple dusk we
wonder, will we ever again be met at
dawn? Be praised, our manifold Names half-sung? Will
anyone love us?

FOUND

2010-04-03T00:55:00.000-07:00

So, I found this written in a book I'm reading -- a little something I had jotted down and forgotten. This isn't the original. I'm too lazy right now to type it out, maybe later? You know (or maybe you don't) I'm on this metered poetry kick, right? So I decided to take a stab at turning this into a metered poem. I'm not sure as of yet where the subject of this poem is heading but the journey should be fun.

The sun set (as it does)
behind the thunderhead,
on a pathway that was
washed with pinks and with reds.
The sky shrank to a bruise.
And I saw this old wound
as something almost new...

{like pulling teeth, the line after this... actually, so were the lines after 'with pinks and with reds'... hm!}
{finally got it!}

The sun set (as it does)
behind a thunderhead,
on a pathway that was
washed with pinks and with reds.
The sky shrank to a bruise.
And I saw this old wound
as something almost new
under the argent moon...

{So I have a bit more to add, came up with that bit more tonight}

The sun set (as it does)
behind a thunderhead,
on a pathway that was
washed with pinks and with reds.
The sky shrank to a bruise.
And I saw this old wound
as something almost new
under the argent moon.
Fingers out, the stars, too,
gaped at the livid bloom
as if to ask, "But who...?"

Tuesday Singing

2010-03-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

Cyber-wandering YouTube to find Omiya stirred me up a bit and I'm currently playing my YT musical playlist. Quite a few gems housed there if I do write so myself. *wink* So I decided to share:

Well, I already wrote about (and shared) Omiya, next up -- Ghost, as covered by Greg Laswell.

I had never heard of the dude but I just about love his voice and love his version of the song. Indeed I searched out the original (sung, written? by Kristin Hersh) and while it is attractive in its own light it doesn't hold a candle to his cover.

Lahlumlenze is joy; I don't know how else to describe it.

When it plays I have to move, just dance. The singer, Thandiswa, has a gorgeous voice, I mean, don't you just love her style? And (shallow note) I absolutely love her hair!

Okay, now this song is just funny.

Every Dawn

2010-03-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

For me this is the sound of every dawn:
from 0:00 the first blush;
long, lean tendrils to wash the sky in blue.
And as her voice kicks in,
all things holy rise... all things corporeal rise...
to herald the dawning.

---
Omiya is off the track listing of the film soundtrack, Kama Sutra
I highly recommend the film and the soundtrack.
The film is an exercise in sensuality, petulance and passion.
The soundtrack is, to quote a YouTuber, simply blissful from start to finish.
It is what made me such a Mychael Danna (the OST composer) fan.

How F-ing Cool Is That?!

2010-03-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

pilfered from the blog, Elements of Style

Sometimes I see an object, hear a song or read a line somewhere and think,
"If only I were as cool as this [insert here]..." This is one of those times.
How f-ing cool is that piece of art?! It's acting as a headboard, a headboard, people!!!
It is SO gorgeously distressed, to steal a phrase from Rachel Zoe, I DIE.
I mean, your eye just goes, "Whaaaaaaat!!!!" in full soprano!

I Want

2010-03-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

... to live here:

pilfered from blog, Elements of Style
the hotel, La Mamounia

please?

pilfered from blog, Elements of Style
the hotel, La Mamounia

pilfered from blog, Elements of Style

pretty please?

pilfered from blog, Elements of Style
the hotel, La Mamounia

(I WANT)
... to bathe here:

pilfered from blog, Elements of Style
the hotel, Bellinter

Last Wednesday's Chicken

2010-03-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday I hungered for honey-sesame chicken. Armed with Google, pre-sliced chicken breast in the freezer, honey in the cupboard and sesame oil in the fridge, I decided to take a stab at recreating this Chinese take-out staple. I used the Nine Dragons version because 90% of the ingredients list was already in my kitchen. It was simple, quite delicious and nicely did the trick. Plus, the marinade (sans the rest) works on fish as well as poultry and bakes up great! I'm glad I didn't break and order take-out -- I would have missed out! I wish I had taken a picture before I devoured it. :(

Well, imagine the deliciousness!

Gonna Gonna Make You Mine!!

2010-03-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

My current music single addiction: Fefe Dobson - I Want You, presented by Lala.com
One free full song listen, 30 secs for subsequent tries.
It is highly addictive. You've been warned.
Oh, and if you want to see the video -- BONUS!
Includes vid for her other addictive single, Watch Me Move --
Click on the photo above!

Sunday Evening Pie

2010-03-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

I felt like pie so I made one from scratch, from the crust to the filling. I craved an apple pie, the mere phantom of its tart sweetness filled my mouth, turning me into Homer [insert drooling sound]. Unfortunately there were no apples in the house to be had and I was far too lazy to get my butt to the local Walmart to buy some, so I decided upon a Kentucky chess pie instead. The treat is also known as Jefferson Davis pie which is unpleasant, but it is delicious so I won't hold that against it. I need to take a photo of my efforts but for now, imagine a jpeg right... around... here.

The last time I found myself craving something sweet but had limited culinary options, I turned to my savior, Saveur, which is how I originally found this pie. Do not be dissuaded by it's ingredients list, it does not turn out at all as sweet as the listing may imply. It will satisfy a sweet tooth without crippling it. This go-around I used Crisco instead of butter to acquire the elusive flaky crust, only to encounter 'fail'. Well, now I know I prefer butter-based crust, at least when I'm the one making them. Also, either Crisco is coated in salt, or the recipe itself calls for too much salt, or I have grown sensitive but blech, the crust is salty! Not enough to make it terrible but enough for me to notice. Baking is such a science so I find it hard to believe it is the fault of the original recipe, particularly when I have used it before without such results. It has to be the Crisco. See what the pursuit of 'flake' has done? It has polluted my efforts. So, if attempting, do not make any substitutions! Just make it straight and be satisfied. :)

The recipe can be found here, on Saveur.com.

Saturday Morning Song, cont.

2010-03-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Hmm, what moved me to post the song? I'm not sure, Brandon. I was weeding my CDs and one Saturday, I came across the song in a mix. It's strange because I certainly wasn't in the mood for any song off the Gattaca soundtrack -- it just caught me up! Listening to it now as I type it sounds sort of sad but at the time, in my imagination, I saw a newly arisen sun and breaking white clouds on a damp day. It seemed very hopeful and lovely and I wanted to share it all of a sudden.

Saturday Morning Song

2010-02-27T07:47:00.000-08:00

A Winning Saturday

2010-01-16T22:19:00.000-08:00

The Saints thrashed the Cardinals which was an outcome I desired until the second half when it became clear this would be a blow-out and my heart was moved to pity. I didn't necessarily want the Cardinals to win but I wanted them to make it a game. Their defense was, is, anemic. I'm not a Saints fan and indeed fervently hoped all season they would fail to complete the perfect season (plus they beat my Giants as if they stole something and they were never right since). Once that became an actuality the fervency was gone and I sincerely dislike the Cardinals more, so... Who dat? Who dat? Who dat, Saints!!!

The Colts triumphed over the Ravens. Until the final two minutes of the first half this match had all the markings of a tightly contested barn-burner. Then the Ravens three-and-outed with about two minutes left on the clock and no team can give Peyton f*cking Manning two minutes (with two time-outs) and not expect to pay the man with a touchdown or field goal. The man is magic. The Colts scored ten points in approximately two minutes and the contest was lost from that moment onward. After one field goal, the Ravens never scored a single point thereafter, receiving not even a sniff at the endzone. I really like Peyton, and the Colts don't generally rub me the wrong way... though I call foul on cutting out on that Jets game, as well as the ones which followed! However, the way they won more than the win itself, as vital as it was, will subside the disgruntled whispers across the myriad fandom.

I am a fool but I am a fool with a good excuse. By the time I wrote my blurb on the Giants needing to fire their defensive coordinator, Bill Sheridan, the deed had already been done. A number of heads rolled by the time I wrote my post, in fact. My good excuse for not knowing this? I was so embarrassed by the Giants play I avoided all sports news outlets including my favorite Giants' site, the Big Blue View. I neither wished to read nor hear anything about the Giants. I knew if I waited long enough, with the start of the post season so close, I could avoid hearing my beloveds described as the losers they turned out to be this season. Cowardice. To quote Walter Bishop (of Fringe fame), I am learning to appreciate it.

Finally, the Australian Open starts today and I can't wait!!!! Plus the Cowboys vs. the Vikings, and the Chargers vs. the Jets. A very good sports day is a-comin.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2010-01-10T22:15:00.001-08:00

Boys and girls, it is tennis season!!!! Three cheers, hip-hip-hooray!!!! I'm not sure how dedicated a tennis fan I am though -- I only watch between the Slams, meaning from the start of the Australian Open to the end of the U.S. Open I am tennis mad and catch as many matches as I can. Everything outside that period gets an 'eh' from me. I'm sure I have mentioned once, twice, maybe three times my favorite players: Rafael Nadal, Venus and Serena Williams. I ride or die with these guys so how much I'm feeling a season depends at least 80% on how they are doing, lol. Still last year was pretty good in spite of Rafa's mid year drop off and Venus's loss at Wimbledon, Serena's, ahem, incident at the U.S. Open, etc. Some good tennis was played and new talents emerged and anticipated talents (well, at least one) delivered. The Australian Open is rearing its Aussie head once more so I'll probably haunt my favorite tennis sites until September: Craig Hickman's Tennis Blog at Blogger; Nadal News; Tennis.com; and Forty Deuce (because she's funny) over at Typepad. Honorable mentions to Down the Line at Blogger and Tennis Talk. Tennis season, yay!!!!

Since I'm on a sports kick I should mention another of my favorite spectator sports that has been neglected on this blog -- football... of the American variety. I love me some football and my favorite team is the NY Giants (I'm from Jersey and their stadium is in Jersey and they train in Jersey and most of them live in Jersey... they're ours! LOL). My Giants though, have sucked this year. All-caps SUCKED. Thank you, Bill Sheridan, for taking one of the fiercest defenses in the league and turning them into mush. The man needs to be fired. Fired!!! My family is in agreement. This is his first year on the job, however, so the Giants' owners and manager might decide to suffer through him for one more year much to my utter disagreement. Sigh. Still, I like football and so have watched a lot of non-Giant games for the sheer fun of it. Yesterday I watched the two teams I wished to have win -- the Bengals and the Eagles, lose. It was a bad Saturday. Today, one team I wanted to win (Ravens) won, while the other (Packers) lost in the most preposterous manner. It was a middling Sunday.

What else... what else... what else? Um. The Winter Olympics??? ... Yeah, I don't care either.

I hope to keep better blog track of tennis this year as well as the waning football post-season. Ta-ta for now!

I am Otaku: fresh favorites and finishes!

2010-01-03T23:15:00.000-08:00

*the mangaka is the artist

Update, update, update. Let's see:

Claymore has upped the ante yet again since last the last manga update. Abyss-eaters? Ha! As terrifying and disgusting as those horrifying beings were -- so much so as to make me weep for Easley, Destroyer of Towns & Claymores, they are nothing compared to what has come next. If twins weren't creepy enough in RL, Yagi (the mangaka) has found a way to make them creepier. Every chapter, which frustratingly only comes once a month, is so chockful of well-drawn plot and surprises, I cannot recommend this manga highly enough. Due to its limited release status I need other manga to fill the gap. As it turns out, I need a lot of manga to fill the gap ^^ and each one in different ways have stolen my heart away.

Midnight Secretary ended its run exactly the way I expected a smutty josei manga to end, happily. The girl got the guy; the guy got wise and thoughtful; and all the naysayers and get-in-the-way-ers were made to bow down before the glory of their love. Very satisfying. I'm not sure if this is truly the end for the characters of Kyouhei and Kaya. The mangaka, Ohmi, has a habit of returning to the scene, has done so with her last mega-manga hit so I half-way expect a return to Kyouhei's and Kaya's world. If not, that's okay too because it was all very satisfying.

And Bleach keeps on trucking... The pace has picked up and our hero has learned a new trick whether he likes it or not. Kubo (the mangaka) has turned the action to a semi-curious place and I'm interested in finding out what he plans. This manga is a weekly release and is a standard read for me. I don't think much about it but when a week is missed due to various RL reasons I fiend like a crack addict, so yeah, I think I like it. LOL

Deadman Wonderland is still alive and well but there is a glitch -- the scans on it have ground to a near-halt which is a damn shame. I'm not complaining... not really... Do I want the scans to continue? Hell, yeah! Do I understand that these guys are doing this out of the kindness of their manga-loving hearts and placing demands on them is unfair? Yes. Damn it. ^^ A new group picked up but I don't know what's going to happen from here on out. I have read rumors of an anime series in the works which would be kick-ass! Each time I read a chapter I think how wonderful it would be as anime. From the artwork to the f-ed up plot and scrawny hero granted unasked-for abominable powers, it just screams 'anime!'

Veritas is my number one manhwa. Yes, above Bleach, above the manga listed above and the ones to be listed below. I obsessively check for updates, spoilers, have been known to re-read chapters and have even read it again from beginning to temporary end. I heart this manga, manhwa really. The Koreans have it; S. Korea already owns my heart when it comes to television shows (except for Fringe, that is better than everything on TV so far), now they are dominating my manga with their manhwa. The protagonist is atypical in the freshest, most interesting and engaging way. He's a scrapper, a dog-fighter, and while he lacks the clearly-defined moral hang-ups and principles most manga/manhwa heroes have in spades, he is not without honor or a code. He's just pretty carefree and doesn't spend much time moping or many blocks pondering or looking determined... unless it is to fight. Boy does like to fight! Really, number one manhwa/manga and only one other comes close to threatening its crown. More on that later.

Cage of Eden is different from the others I tend to read because no one has any special powers and the only supernatural element involves the characters's plane crashing onto a 'Land of the Lost' type island. Actually this manga recalls some of my earliest loves as I child. I loved survival/rustic novels, some of my favorites being 'Island of the Blue Dolphin', 'My Side of the Mountain', Jean M. Auel's 'Earth's Children' series (Clan of the Cave Bear, etc.), Gary Jennings's 'The Journeyer', etc. Nothing thrilled me more than novels depicting people thriving on the land and their wits alone. I was such a city girl I guess it tickled me pink. Reading this manga recalls those precious times I sat on a cold bare floor, back to the bed, transported by the quick-witted hero or heroine as they caught abalone, trained a falcon to hunt or tanned deer-hide in a hollow stump. It's why I like Cage of Eden so much. Unfortunately, like Psycho Buster, its releases have stalled.

Ane Doki trucks on and, I suspect, is coming to its conclusion, although I could be wrong. I have enjoyed the ride. It's a light, easy read demanding nothing -- not overt excitement or profundity. It has its easy charm and that's enough for it and for me. Though it isn't listed on OneManga.com as harem, I consider it harem because at some point all girls in the manga aside from one has felt an attraction for the main hero. I tend to have a problem with harem. Harem situations quickly become ludicrous and annoying for me, the hero frequently stuck in some horn-dog state, the girls brainless in their need to be close to him. Plus the constant "comedic" situations and accompanying drawing affects are not funny and bother me to no end. So, that I enjoy this manga is something of a surprise. Then again, it isn't very harem about its harem. The girls are fairly charming and not brainless at all when it comes to the hero. The main guy isn't some helpless horn-dog but a pretty sweet kid just trying to get the gist of girls and to get the gumption to confess to a girl. It's fairly straightforward and as I stated, sweet. Charming.

Onto the new stuff:

In Psycho Buster a kid discovers a special little talent to affect time. He and a group of government test-subject runaways then work to stop a mad man and his special group of psychic crazies (also former government test-subjects) from, well, f-ing up the world. It's a lot of fun and was on the fast track to being one of my favorite manga due to the likable, if standard, protagonist and his cool ability. However the manga release has stalled out a bit, hopefully it will resume.

Psyren is a weekly and kick-ass! It releases in the same magazine as Bleach so the releases are as steady as clockwork, yes! It is also entertaining as hell with a well-realized world and great characters. I have a fondness for the supernatural (and shounen) so expect a lot of my manga recommendations to contain special powers and/or bishies, lol. This one is no different: in order to save a classmate, Ageha enters a savage world beyond his imagining, a future too terrible to allow to come to pass. He and others essentially spend the rest of the manga working hard to thwart the bastards who will bring the world and the human race specifically to its knees. I highly recommend this manga. In my opinion it is a standard read like Bleach and just as addictive.

Wolf Guy has crap artwork. Okay, scratch that. The artwork isn't crap, it's just not my cup of tea. Usually that's enough to turn me off but the characters are strong, so brashly drawn that it took me to a place where I didn't mind the artwork. If the title didn't give it away, it is about a werewolf. He's born one, not made, and apparently -- like in the song 'Woke Up This Morning' -- this kid was born under a real bad sign because a gypsy once told him violence and bad luck trails him like a shadow. The manga then bears this out. The characters are strong, even if the plot is a bit undetermined. Violence seems to be the prevalent theme and honestly I don't shy from it. If it's not your thing, I'd avoid this manga because it doesn't avoid that or other mature situations like attempted rape, nudity or sex. For all that it isn't sexual or sensual in spite of a few explicit scenes, those scenes simply are. This manga isn't for everyone but I suspect it is going somewhere worthwhile.

Here it is, the one which threatens the supremacy of Veritas; it's also a manhwa, go figure, and it is tight, tight, tight!!! This is a recent discovery and just as I did upon first discovering Veritas, I blew through all the available chapters of the one, the only, The Breaker. The protagonist is your basic manga/manhwa hero but what the mangakas excel at is placing a fresh twist on a standard point. The main hero, Shi Woon, is bullied to the point of brutality and we, the readers, are made to take that humiliating journey with him. Many manga would simply devote a chapter or two to something like this, but this isn't done in this manhwa. To understand the mettle this young man develops as the manhwa develops -- from cowardice and fear to courage and strength -- they can't, we can't afford to skip out on the painful journey that prepares and provokes Shi Woon for what comes next. I love this character almost as much as I love Gang Ryung, the main character of Veritas, yet the two heroes couldn't be more different. Both, in their own ways, are atypical and that excites me. As for the plot it is similar in its foundation to Veritas: young man meets future master/martial arts badass after having the crap beaten out of him; this meeting leads him into a hidden martial arts world that exists in tandem with normal society. Crazy fighting ensues. However, the two plots are really quite different and this is revealed from the first page of each manhwa. It sort of reminds me of YuYu Hakasho and Bleach. The first time Bleach was described to me, I dismissed it as a YuYu Hakasho wannabe. However, the first five minutes of the first Bleach episode wiped that idea right out of my mind. I highly, highly, highly recommend The Breaker. Seriously. Go read it. Go fall in love. It is insane!

Hair Kick, part 2: daily maintenance

2010-01-03T21:46:00.000-08:00

So, I just tried this hairstyle:

with so-so results but that's my fault -- my cornrows were sloppy and didn't have enough 'pop'; I tried a braid-out in the back rather than a bantu knot-out; and the bang in the front didn't have enough braids. Still, it is too cute to not try again, hopefully with better results.

Yikes, I forgot something in my Hair Kick, part 1 post! Combs and brushes! As with the apple cider vinegar (acv) rinse, I alternate the weeks I use a comb on my hair. In fact, I don't use a comb in my hair at all, if I can help it, instead I use Goody Styling Therapy Jojoba Paddle Brush and haven't looked back since. The bristles bend like rubber and massage knots out of the hair, there is no other way to describe it. Many naturals swear by the Denman and I have nothing negative to say since I have never used it but I'll swear by this paddle brush, I really will! Hair loss after use is minimized mostly to shed -- the healthy shedding of hair from the root which occurs naturally in the course of a month. Even with this wonderful brush in hand I only use it on my hair every other week coinciding with the acv rinse weeks and my deep conditioning (dc) day, and then only once so I'm judicious as to when I use it, pre-wash or post-wash. The rest of the time I untangle my hair with my fingers; the first few times the process seems to take forever but once you get it down, it's easy like Sunday morning. Again this method minimizes hair loss mostly to shed. If the latter seems too tedious (trust me, I initially blew it off as such as well), or you really love your comb or Denman, then just remember this: curly haired boys and girls, wide-tooth comb, wide-tooth comb, wide-tooth comb! If you must use a comb, invest in and always use a wide-tooth comb. It will not break your hair (much, or when used properly) and will allow for better manageability. Also, comb hair in sections and start from the ends and work your way up to the root/scalp -- this is also to prevent unnecessary breakage as well as a lot of scalp pain and frustration. Whew.

This post on daily maintenance (part deux) should be more concise than part one but you never know with me, lol. Where did I leave off? Ah, yes -- with my hair conditioned within an inch of its life, sealed and styled for the week. For two days I don't touch my hair; I figure it should take that long for the oil largely to rub off. Once the two day mark has been reached a light conditioner or conditioning oil should be applied to the ends of the hair at least. The end is the most vulnerable portion of the hair shaft since it is the oldest portion thus prone to split ends, dryness and breakage. This step is pretty new to me but I recognize its importance particularly in the winter months when the sapping cold wreaks havoc on the kinkiest strands. Personally I apply shea nut oil, again from Mountain Rose Herb, to my ends as a conditioning oil. Everything I have read touts the oil as carrying all the properties and benefits of shea butter -- another Natural hair girl favorite -- simply in oil form. Again, no more than a few dots do the trick when it comes to oil. I continue this every two days until the next wash day. If my hair feels in need of a little moisture I do have a spritz bottle set aside for such an occasion -- it holds an inch or so of water, a dash of oil and a few drops of Afroveda's Holy Basil conditoner. I spray that on the ends and the roots of my hair before rubbing on the oil. That's about it for daily maintenance.

Until part 3!!!

Hair Kick, part 1: rinses and conditioners

2009-12-23T11:21:00.000-08:00

I've been on a hair kick lately -- roaming YouTube for natural vlogs, hitting google for new hair blogs. It is endless fascinating to me, the variations and similarities in how naturals of all stripes approach their hair. I've learned new lessons and have had old ones reinforced. All this watching and reading has me itching to do another post on my hair so... here it is! LOL

Sister's first cornrow done all by herself!

All regimens need to be fine-tuned, especially when money is tight and the best bang for a buck is required. The current hair regimen scheme can be broken down into four parts -- weekly washes and conditioning; daily maintenance; monthly deep conditioning; and rest months. Let's start with the weekly washes which consist of rinses and conditioner washes (co-washes).

Baking soda (bs) rinse for cleanser, in lieu of shampoo (1 TB bs to 1 C water)
Apple cider vinegar (acv) rinse to clarify, soften and restore PH (1 TB acv plus 1 TB witch hazel to 1 C water)

This is something I have written about previously but there have been some tweaks to this area. For example, while the bs rinse is still used weekly, I now alternate weeks when it comes to the acv rinse. Essentially it shakes out to twice a month for the acv rinse, also coinciding with my monthly deep conditioning (dc) day. The order of usage during the weeks I use both rinses has also changed -- bs rinse first, then acv rinse versus acv rinse, then bs rinse. There has been a noticeable uptick in softness due to that change so, yay for change! LOL The last week or so I've added pure witch hazel (from From Nature With Love) to my acv rinse to a) finish it up and b) to fight off some minor dandruff. Plus the witch hazel kicks up the volume of my hair like you wouldn't believe! My hair just expands! The relative bargain of baking soda and apple cider vinegar coupled with their effectiveness make this combo a cheap no-brainer.

I always follow up rinses, no matter the week, with a conditioner. This is the co-wash portion of the weekly wash and here, Afroveda is my friend. I use their Holy Basil conditioner, $12 for 8 oz, which smells delicious and works like a dream on my thirsty locks. The consistency is creamy, it's very moisturizing and the 8 oz bottle has lasted... well, I ordered it the last week of August; it arrived the first week of September; although I use it weekly the bottle still isn't empty -- and it's the end of December!!! Best. Bang. For. A. Buck. Ever! There are cheaper natural conditioners which pack in more per fl oz, however, they aren't as all natural as Afroveda; and the thimbleful of artificial ingredients in Afroveda's conditioners are nowhere near as bad as the many artificial ingredients in the cheaper alternatives. Afroveda has turned out to be a real find and I've already bought my replacement bottle of Holy Basil since this one is on its last legs.

It's important for anyone (girl or boy) with length -- medium to long, straight or curly -- to wash the hair in sections. It cuts down on unnecessary breakage, makes the job easier (if you can believe it) and ensures your hair gets optimum effect from your products. With the rinses it is important to make sure it reaches the scalp, which is another reason why sectioning is helpful. I do pour my rinses along the hair shaft as well but the scalp is most important since that's where their effectiveness is most required. Always gently rub the scalp -- vigorous rubs are not helpful or required! Rinse out each rinse carefully before moving on to another product. Concentrate conditioners on the ends of the hair which is the oldest and most damage prone part, then work your way up. I try to leave on the conditioner for about 1-3 minutes before washing it out. Once I'm done with the rinse(s) and co-wash portion of my regimen I carefully "dry" my hair.

I write, "dry", because I deliberately leave my hair damp to moist. Hair shouldn't be toweled bone dry, or vigorously handled by a towel either. Worrying about towels and how to use them seems silly and trivial but cotton and other such materials absorb moisture -- that's what makes towels, well, towels. The last thing Black hair needs, however, is a loss of moisture; our hair is the most delicate around and puts a premium on moisture. Not to mention the materials from which towels are made snag, oh-so-easily on our curly, kinky tresses weakening the hair, if not outright breaking it. What I do is drop a towel on my head and press on the center of my head twice, then gently squeeze each hair section once, lift the towel and voila! Hair dry enough not to drip but damp enough for what comes next -- the leave-in conditioner. Conditioners, be they wash-out or leave-in, are better activated under damp to wet conditions. So, leaving my hair damp allows my leave-in to work better magic than dry hair would permit.

Always use a leave-in conditioner post-wash, it is too important a step for better hair health to skip. I use a hair butter by Afroveda called Totally Twisted Ginger Almond Butter ($9 for 8 oz, $15 for 16 oz) as a leave-in. By no means can I claim to have compared every available natural hair butter and/or conditioner on the market to this one. Of the many like products I have researched, though, the Ginger Almond is the cheapest and the most natural for the amount given. Add to this the fact that Afroveda fills every container to the brim and no more than a dab goes a long way and you have the best bang for a buck! Next, I seal in the moisture and conditioner with an oil. Sealing is a recent tip I picked up from the blogs and vlogs. As the word suggests, oils seal in moisture and conditioners by acting as a protective coating between the hair and the elements, allowing the moisture and conditioners to keep longer. It wasn't a hard step for me to pick up since my hair loves (most) oils. Right now the oil of choice is NOW Foods Refined Apricot Kernel Oil bought on Lucky Vitamin on the cheap ($7.99 for 16 oz). I think it can be bought for a few cents cheaper on Mountain Rose Herbs. I use no more than a dot for each twist so, like my Holy Basil, it has lasted a long time after purchase. As part of

I usually style my hair as I apply my leave-in conditioner. If it's too late or I'm too lazy I'll rub the conditioner into each section, retwist and leave as is until the next day. If I know it's going to take me a while to style my hair -- and the realization doesn't discourage me -- I keep a spray bottle of water handy to re-hydrate my locks as I work my way across the whole of my head. To give my scalp some love, I lightly spritz my scalp with a sandalwood hydrosol I bought on Mountain Rose Herbs. I really love the heavy scent of sandalwood -- I always associate it with something holy. Unfortunately hydrosols, by their nature, carry a very light scent but it is still lovely just the same. Plus sandalwood has been prized for centuries for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. To seal in the moisture I rub a dab of Qhemet Biologics's Olive and Honey Hydrating Balm along the part and voila! I've got a moisturized and conditioned scalp to go along with my moisturized and conditioned hair.

Whew! Seems like a lot... writes like a lot... but it's pretty simply and quick except for doing up the twists. That is several hours of endurance but I like to do it on a Sunday while watching football so that adds to the time. LOL

I'm on it enough so I thought I'd share...

2009-12-16T01:08:00.000-08:00

The wonderful Javabean's site, Dramabeans, deconstructing Korean dramas and pop culture one piece of media at a time! I check this site at least once a day, if not more -- it is wonderfully addicting even as it feeds that kdrama fix (I need it, :scratch, scratch:, I need it bad, man). Her site offers a wide range of streamed music and some real gems can be found there; her posts are insightful and informative; and if you were addicted to kdramas -- gone hallyu* as it were -- prior to reading her site, Javabeans sure will infect you with the hallyu bug!

*the term, hallyu, describes the entertainment phenomenon that has become Korean culture/media internationally. I'm not kidding: their stuff is HUGE worldwide; a large number of non-Korean Asians and non-Asians like myself flood the internet searching for their stuff. It's quite something.

We. Are. Beautiful.

2009-12-13T00:57:00.001-08:00

'yin yang'
matthew jordan smith

linked to le coil

Surprise Pick-up!

2009-12-12T23:30:00.000-08:00

'Kangpe'
Nneka

Cruising one of my many favorite natural hair blogs led me to Nu Kynk, now a new favorite hair blog, which in turn led me to Nneka's Kangpe. Nneka is Nigerian, and judging by this track, her sound is fresh. I hope Rhapsody has her full album(s) because I'd love to hear it in its entirety. I've heard good things, such as comparisons to Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of... High praise indeed since I consider L-boogie's debut one of the most complete and near-perfect albums of all time.

Click on the "hidden" link ---> artist name and song title, to hear the song in full.
Her album, No Longer At Ease, can be found on Amazon

Off the List

2009-12-11T03:39:00.000-08:00

Happiness!
Just writing this blog post has introduced me to a new music site, thesixtyone.
The content seems just left of mainstream therefore many opportunities for new aural adventures.
The site compiles a song list based on the song being listened to and auto-plays it for your enjoyment.
So far I am loving it!

*

'You Are Goodbye'
Holly Conlan

A gem of a song which has been in my possession for about a year now.
One of those iTunes's freebies picked up on the strength of the initial few bars
before promptly setting aside without a thorough listen.
(which reminds me to check iTunes freebies)
A recent computer purge brought this song to delightful light.
Sometimes a person can only open to a song when their mind is in a specific place.
This is my experience at least.

To hear the song in full click on the "hidden" link ---> artist name and song title
Available on Rhapsody, iTunes

*

'What Goes Around... Comes Around'
Justin Timberlake

This song popped full bore into my head with an incessant pound,
refusing to let up until it was placed in rotation.

To hear the full song click on the "hidden" link ---> the artist name and song title
Available on Rhapsody, iTunes, Amazon

*

'Addicted to me'
Anjulie

I happily recommend her album.
It's nothing serious: just danceable beats and caressing lyrics.
A very pretty listen.

To hear the song in full, click the "hidden" link ---> artist name and song title
Available on Rhapsody, iTunes and Amazon

What Should I Write Today?

2009-11-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

Hello, my baby! Hello, my honey! Hello, my ragtime gal!

Yeah, I've got nothing.

All Good Things Come In Threes...???

2009-11-16T02:12:00.000-08:00

Last post. I swear it. It occurred to me, as I moved to close this browser tab, that I never posted my finished sapphic verse poem (click here for more details). It won't win any awards but here it is:

*

Only ageless quiet attends our altars
Shrouds our days in motes and in shade - a half-life
Lived in half-light. Even our fire can pale in
....Twilight and gray or
Starve in empty temples. But instinct never
Wavers, never dulls in the pitch: the God Who
Slumbers in the Waters still sleeps; the sun still
....Sets in our brother's
Bloodless breast. We follow the endless arc to
Guard the sun. Descend to lustrate in gold-tipped
Shrines where chanted litanies hailed the dawn. But
....No one reveres us

Now: a younger god has transfixed man's needy
Eye. Unsung, we leave empyreal climes, slough the
Night off (like a barnacle fastened to the
....Hip of the sun) to
Pace abandoned Houses. In temple dusk we
Wonder - will we ever again be met at
Dawn? Be praised, our manifold Names half-sung? Will
....Anyone love us?

photo & poem copyright belongs to: Shanee Gbelawoe

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Shameless plug but do remember to check out the two posts following this one as they are new too! And about music!

"... Gold Hair & Lightning"

2009-11-16T00:53:00.000-08:00

All but one of these songs were taken from movie trailers for upcoming films I wish to see. Each are in heavy rotation on my sansa so it is with pleasure that I share them! These songs can be found on Rhapsody unless otherwise stated. To hear each song click on the song title/artist name under each picture.

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'The Lightning Strike'
Snow Patrol

The first 5 minutes and 16 seconds of this 16 minute opus are deliriously stirring, calling the listener to a brilliant peak. A '... Lightning Strike' indeed. Its opening bars remind me of the instrumental piece at the start of the film trailer for 'The Box' (starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden). I'm nearly certain these two songs are not one and the same and that the latter is a product of an independent music company such as DeWolfe. Unfortunately the trailer I'm referencing no longer appears to exist. Here's the trailer anway -- interesting, right?

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'Set Fire To The Third Bar'
Snow Patrol, feat Martha Wainwright

I found this song in the film trailer for 'Dear John', a Nicolas Sparks adaptation starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. Against my will I liked 'A Walk to Remember' but not even the hotness that is Ryan Gosling could tempt me to like the sentimental 'The Notebook'. That I am so drawn to 'Dear John' comes as a surprise but the mood of the trailer is right, the story seems uncomplicated and the starring actors are good, so I might have to give this a shot.

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'Running Up That Hill'
Placebo

I want to watch this film. I want to watch it. 'Daybreakers' starring Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill (my mom's old school crush), Willem Dafoe is about vampires, a world where every human is a vampire-turned. Well, not every human save those few hunted and sent to hematological banks to be farmed for their blood. It just looks so cool. As the trailer reaches its climax this song kicks in and it is brilliant!

"Everybody's Got The Way I Should Feel..."

2009-11-15T23:31:00.000-08:00

All for love of a Krumper named Russell (<-- click "hidden" link to see a j-peg), I have taken to watching the reality gem, So You Think You Can Dance? From it I received this selection of songs and a nascent fascination with dance. To hear each song just click the song title/artist name beneath each photo. Every song can be found on Rhapsody unless otherwise stated.

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'Be Be Your Love'
Rachael Yamagata

I sampled Rachael Yamagata a few years ago (upon the recommendation of Rhapsody) and was not impressed. So imagine my surprise upon hearing Yamagata's 'Be Be Your Love' and falling in love with it. The dance (<--- click "hidden" link to see it) which accompanied it was lovely as well.

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'Warrior, part II'
Lloyd Banks, feat Eminem, 50 Cent, Nate Dogg

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'2 Steps Away'
Patti LaBelle

I promised you pictures!

2009-11-11T21:26:00.000-08:00

I promised pictures and so here they are (I apologize in advance for the extreme close-ups):

Usually I do my twists smaller than this, however, the increased in length has caused a scraggly look I cannot abide. It's all 'eye of the beholder' stuff but by my eye, my current length looks better with thicker twists. With that first one (as I snapped the picture) I thought, only a bajillion more to go! Now that I think on it, it took me a full day less to "twistify" my whole head of hair which is fan-friggin'-tastic since the last few months has seen it take upwards to two days. Huh. Anyway, those are my pics. Of me. Terrifying. LOL

Oh, just so there are no illusions as to how far my happy nappy self has come, let me remind my gentle readers of my last length check <--- click cleverly "hidden" link. Brandon, you've seen my teeny-weeny, tiny-whiny 'fro so you really know.

This entire process has really opened me up to my sisters in the community. It made me so happy some nerd created and open sourced the internet so many decades ago. The amount of information and sharing that goes on about Black hair, its care, its meaning within and without the community has been affirming, eye-opening, confirming, bewildering, enraging and joyful. It's amazing the equal amounts of hatred and devotion our hair inspires. Like, take for instance the word 'nappy'; the connotations within the community are varied. In my household 'nappy' is simply another way of saying 'kinky' which is the state of our hair particularly the 4a/4b range; it is not derogatory. However that seems to be a cultural/West Indian (maybe also African) thing, though that varies place to place and by age groups. Among generationally American Blacks 'nappy' is tantamount to saying 'ugly'. I find that weird but it is this nation's inheritance to us and I was only inoculated from it by growing up in my immigrant household. For that I am grateful -- I cannot imagine hating my hair the way some Blacks do. The things some say if given enough rope to hang themselves are just staggering. It makes me cling to what I'm doing more and more. What I'm trying to write is this is not wholly vanity -- there is a lot of cultural, division, sadness and joy in our locks. This may also be true of other cultures but I'm not chronicling their journey, I'm chronicling my own. /preaching

August? Wow. August?!

2009-11-11T01:58:00.000-08:00

August. That was the last time I wrote a blog entry, or checked my blog. Sigh. I was trying to be so good about it too. Attempting to stay on top of it and come up with at least one thing a week.

On a separate yet related note: I am the laziest person ever. It must be said, I am. Lazy with a capital L. It's quite pathetic. Again, sigh. Hmm. Following this not-so-groundbreaking confession is:

I need to put up pictures... of my hair!!! Ha! So vain, I know. :smile: Where's my camera?! I think the battery needs to be recharged, then I can get to snapping!

In October, happy birthday me! Approaching that all important age of 30, closer and closer. The weird thing? I don't feel close to 30. I don't feel my age, whatever that is supposed to feel like. I worry if that is a good thing (we are all forever young) or if its the sign of some dangerous arrested development I need to clear away now. Food for thought.

A lot of music, new and old, to share. Reading has mostly been centered on poetry with a few romance novels thrown in, definitely some manga.

Hmm, what else? I can't think of anything right now off the top of my head. Sleepless night and I'm only just getting tired. Sigh.

I'll try not to go so long between posts again.

Hair!

2009-08-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

My current haircare routine: baking soda rinse (1x/week); apple cider vinegar/ACV rinse (every other week); Aubrey's Organics Honeysuckle & Rose conditioner (1x/month [DC]); combing hair every other week. These are my staples.

In need of a week-in/week-out conditioner (WI/WO) and a leave-in conditioner. I plan on adding an egg wash to my routine (for protein) on the same cycle as my ACV rinse. I created a new moisturizing spritz -- honey, apricot oil and water. I put too much honey in it so I get this gritty residue if I spray my hair liberally. But my hair is soft and moisturized, I just need to split the mixture by three and add more water to each.

My hair growth has been steady and I'm quite pleased. Pulling my kinky-curly hair from the hairline reaches my bottom lip. Straightened, my hair is approximately chin length, so yay! I recently flat-ironed my hair ... and swore never to do it again, lol! Every time I ran the flat-iron down a hank of hair I thought, "Damage." But I completed the job because I knew later I would wish I had. It was sort of fun to see it in a new way but it's not worth the hassle or the heat damage.

If you've been paying attention, then you know I am really into all-natural hair care for my all-natural hair. I'm not really a stickler for organic vs. natural but the former does tickle me pink (as pink as a Black girl can get). Aubrey's Organics makes an absolutely wonderful conditioner and I love its effect on my hair. I'm not so fond of the Honeysuckle & Rose "scent" (it's pretty minimal) so I recently purchased the Island Tropics version. Aubrey's has stuff for women and men and isn't hair exclusive. I'd recommend them heartily.

The baking soda and ACV act as a cleanser and clarifier; I'm a no (sham)poo girl. I prefer using my Aubrey's as my deep conditoner which I only do once a month, so I need a WI/WO conditioner -- 'cause that's what I do, condition once a week. My last conditioner, Honey Hemp by Oyin Handmade, is severely lacking. Many of the nat-girls I respect (Erin of Scandalous Beauty for example) swear by the stuff, and I dabbled in it several years ago to tepid results. However, that involved skincare products and I admit I wasn't diligent about it so I decided to give it another go. It doesn't moisturize or soften my hair for a comparative period of time (Aubrey's Organics being the comparison when used as a WI/WO). Not even in conjunction with my post-leave-in conditioner. After a few hours it was as if I hadn't conditioned my hair at all. Annoying.

So I've been on the hunt for a good WI/WO, checking prices and ingredients (plus a good leave-in) and have finally arrived at a relatively small list of vendors I am dying to try:

* Afroveda -- this is first up to bat. I bought the Holy Basil conditioner and Ginger Almond butter. I'm crossing my fingers, hoping it is as good as it reads.
* KynkCurls
* Ohm
* Chic Afrique -- this doesn't have much I want specifically for my hair but I like what I see for skincare.
* Max Green Alchemy -- the only thing I want here is the conditioner.
* Darcy's Botanicals
* Inky Loves Nature
* Treasured Locks

Sapphics

2009-08-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

Sappho by Charles Mengin [pic source: virgotex.wordpress.com]

I think I finally have my sapphic verse poem down... and still it is grossly inadequate. Sigh. The deeper I get into strengthening this poem, finding new and more detailed sources on the form, the more the poem seems wanting. A while back I found an example of sapphic verse written by (surprise!) Sappho which fulfilled the brief and is lovely to read. 'The Anactoria Poem' translated by Lattimore (an excerpt):

Some there are who say that the fairest thing seen
on the black earth is an array of horsemen;
some, men marching; some would say ships; but I say
.... she whom one loves best
[click on the stanza to read full poem]

Throughout this experience I have come upon various essays on craft and sapphics, each one opening my eyes to my flaws and, hopefully, influencing a better crafted poem in the end. In case someone else types 'sapphics' or 'Sappho' or 'sapphic verse' into a search engine looking for someone to shed a little light on the subject matter, I'll list (with links) the webpages and sites which are giving me a leg up, so to speak.

I started first with examples of sapphic verse and settled on three poets/poems --
* Sappho's 'The Anactoria Poem', trans. by Lattimore;

* Swinburne's 'Sapphics';
* Isaac Watts' 'The Day of Judgement';
These three helped me with the intangibles as it were -- the flow, the sense of the form. They also provided concrete help when my dactyls were kicking my butt. I didn't lift any from the poems it's just that seeing how others handled dactyls talked me "down from the ledge" whenever I over-thought my own.

* An audio track at least an 90 minutes in length, of Allen Ginsberg teaching Basic Poetics, specifically sapphic verse. You can download the track or simply listen to it; I highly recommend it. It is an invaluable listen. He presents the material in an approachable way. Here's his stab at sapphic verse (better than mere mortals) --

Red cheeked boyfriends tenderly kiss me sweet mouthed
under Boulder coverlets winter springtime
hug me naked laughing & telling girl friends
.... gossip til autumn

* I am currently rummaging through Eratosphere on AbleMuse.com for more insight on sapphics and meter in general. If you use the search function on the site and type in sapphics, as I did, you can find a wealth of information.

After I do some more clean-up; submit for critique and review my piece I'll probably post a draft of it on this blog soon.

A Girl's 4 Star Review

2009-08-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

[pic source: themusicslut.com]

I have mentioned Florence + The Machine on this blog before, specifically the song, 'Dog Days Are Over'. Her album, 'Lungs', has been hotly anticipated in Britain (from which she hails) and by those lucky enough to be in-the-know here in the States. If you have listened to any of the three singles ('Dog Days...', 'My Boy Builds Coffins' and 'Drumming Song') dropped since its release (July 6, 2009), then you understand why this is. Passionate and evocative her music grabs your guts by way of your ears and shakes you until you capitulate. To what I don't know. The beauty of a bashing female voice, perhaps? No trembling juvenile vocals here, ladies and gentlemen, oh no! Hers is a vocal expression ripened to fruition. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

For a mini-sampling of the album check out Florence + The Machine's MySpace page. For background information check out Florence + The Machine's wiki page. The album may be purchased on iTunes, Rhapsody and (I'm sure) Amazon.

Now, onto the song by song review! I'm keeping it simple, just stars --

* being crap
* * being 'eh'
* * * being 'good'
* * * * being 'hell yeah!'
* * * * * being fan-friggin'-tastic

-- to indicate which I like best and perhaps a word or two on the extra special ones. I'm also providing links to my favorite songs in case you don't wish to got to MySpace. Plus I also get to backdoor some pretty cool music blogs, ha! Here we go:

* * * * Dog Days Are Over pagan and gorgeous.
* * * * Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) pagan gorgeousness.
* * * I’m Not Calling You A Liar
** * * Howl I had to come back to this song and mark it up! Love it!
* * Kiss With A Fist
* * Girl With One Eye
* * * * Drumming Song gut-grabber!
* * * Between Two Lungs
* * * * Cosmic Love transportive!
* * My Boy Builds Coffins
* * * Hurricane Drunk
* * * Blinding
* * * * You’ve Got The Love a celebration of a song! Warning: link leads to a live version.

I just had to put the video of 'Drumming Song' on my blog, I just had to! Say, "Hello Florence!"

Florence + The Machine - Drumming Song

To Quote

2009-08-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

[source:.. http://www.skirtfulloffire.com]

"When I was a teenager, one of my favourite things was to go off with my tent, and just be alone for two weeks, and just walk and sing at the top of my lungs. There’s nothing better in the world; you can’t be any happier than that. It’s the best. I guess that’s sort of my temple. "

*
Listening to... Florence + The Machine, album 'Lungs'
~~review to come~~

A Girl's Been Gone Too Long

2009-08-11T02:33:00.000-07:00

Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Well, I'm in for an entire helping of love now, aren't I? I have been keeping busy with my writing pursuits. Lots of writing... one poem. Really, weeks upon weeks of intense communion with dictionary.com, thesaurus.com, my personal thesaurus and dictionaries, encyclopedic and pronunciation respectively. All this is supplemented with 'Blurbs of Wisdom' (Poetry Free-For-All on everypoet.com) and critiquing of other's poetry. It's been fun if exhausting. As I wrote in previous posts (I think) I'm making a concerted effort to work on meter and form, and I'm still "stuck" on sapphic. Every revision of the poem so far has ended up adding two more blank quatrains. Four... Six... Will eight' be next?

I really need to put some new hair pictures up. I've been lazy about my camera -- the battery is near-dead and I haven't bothered to recharge it.

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Listening to... Anjulie, song 'The Heat'
What a hot little summer number!

A Girl's Open Thread

2009-07-18T11:10:00.001-07:00

Post anything in the comments or on the blog's face to your heart's content.

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Saturday Morning Otaku
I recently added a couple of new manga to my reading list (when did I become such a manga-nerd?):

'Ane Doki' which is more ecchi-absurdity than I typically care for but the kid is so cutely horrified and there is a sure-handed warmth to his portrayal that is a notch above the typical manga horndog. Click the title/link and you'll find a summary and manga chapters. [pic source: onemanga.com]

'Cage of Eden' is much more up my alley what with the harrowing attempts at survival, bloody deaths and tight friendships. Click the title/link and you'll find a summary and manga chapters. [pic source: onemanga.com]

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Oh, Brandon your blog's address is so cute 'blondemixedblood', hee. Aw, I miss you too! Give me details on how you are doing, what you're doing -- let a girl live vicariously!

Thanks for the recommendation! I added Evelyn Duprai to my playlist of new music! You know you are a creeping f-er: your recommendations seem to work on a subconscious level, working their way up until kablooey full blown love. You are a dangerous person. LOL Speaking of music...

New Music Everyone Must Like Because I Said So!!! LOL, I kid! I don't even know if I like the music let alone if anyone else would, should... pay no attention to the girl with the notebook! Since Brandon dropped me a music suggestion I opened Rhapsody to find this talented artist (and she must be talented if Brandon likes her) and came across a raft of Rhapsody new music/album recommendations:

Shakira. Song, 'She Wolf', isn't half bad! It will probably be a song I love against my will as with that Ciara & Justin song.

Anjulie. Song, 'The Heat' -- ~~this song and I will have a short summer fling, then I'll disavow ever liking it, I can tell~~. I am an idiot -- I love this song! It's so sultry.

Jordin Sparks. Song, 'Battlefield', is just okay. I have never been mightily impressed by Miss Sparks but what can be done? Very few Idols can pull a 'Kelly Clarkson'.

Maxwell. If you love dulcet soul falsettos as I do, and a damn sexy man as I do, then listen to and drool over Maxwell. These songs off his new album are smooth. 'Stop the World' and 'Love You'. For 'Pretty Wings' I have provided the vid below --

One Republic feat Sara Bareilles. Song, 'Come Home' is a song I think you might really like Brandon; I'm not sure why I think that I just do. I am, of course, open to being wrong.

The Dead Weathers. Song, 'I Cut Like A Buffalo' is okay, very Jack White of White Stripes fame.

Evelyn Duprai. Songs, 'No Ordinary Day' and 'You Can Be Happy'. She's British?! There have been a number of British ingenue-imports flooding the market lately. I pulled a small sample (four songs) off her only available album on Rhapsody and these are the two I like most.

Thursday Rush Update

2009-07-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

I'm rushing to publish an update before putting up the A Girl's Open Thread post; and yes, I know technically it is already Friday -- the open thread start date -- but for me, a day starts with the first blush of dawn.

I have a couple of updates -- let me start with my hair: It's vain and admittedly shallow but I love my hair; I love the feel of it, the length; I love taking care of it. It is time-consuming yet oddly fun. I've been natural for a while but I have never embraced it in its totality until recently. Choosing all natural products has left my hair silky, strong and long-long-long!!! Not (Black girl) perm long but kinky curl long where the twists hang enough to pull into pony tails, create full bangs or stylish 'bumps'. It's strange to me now, the idea that our natural hair is considered "hard" to style or "limited". It's not! The hair styles are half the fun! Yesterday I cornrowed my twists and I'm looking mighty cute if I do write so myself, LOL. Initially I attempted to do a 'faux-hawk' by cornrowing the sides but, with twists, the middle falls too limply. I still want to blowout my hair to get an accurate measurement of length but I'm terrified of the heat, literally. As a small child I couldn't stand the hot comb or the blow dryer. I winced and whimpered so much under their use my mother thought I suffered from sensitive scalp (nope, it's as tough as the Rock of Gibralter). Now the fear is under control (somewhat) and my fear is based more on the damage heat can do to hair.

Next on the update list -- poetry. I've continued to write. I resumed reading 'The Book of Forms' by Lewis Turco(?), once more from the start, and it has made me feel bad about myself. LOL, I kid. No, really, Turco writes there is no such thing as "free verse" because verse requires meter, measurement, a foundational pattern of a kind which it either holds to or breaks but a pattern nonetheless. Yeah, I rarely... Never. I never do that. Sigh. Without that it's all just prose, pretty prose perhaps, but prose. It also explains why my rondeau, though it fits a basic, prescribed structure still sounds wrong. I dread the redo but it must be done. Currently I'm working on sapphic verse -- it's a Greek form relying on a strict format of (in this order) two trochees, a dactyl, and two trochees per line for three lines, then an adonic line, which is a dactyl and a trochee, for the fourth and final line of the stanza. It's a blank quatrain; blank means unrhymed. Dactyls and trochees are different units of paired stressed and unstressed syllables.

Let's say this little guy [ ' ] represents a stressed syllable and this little guy [ - ] an unstressed syllable, trochees and dactyls look as follows:

trochee ' -
dactyl ' - -

So, a sapphic line looks like this: ' -..... ' -..... ' - -..... ' -..... ' -
And an adonic line looks like this: ' - -..... ' -

My creative brain is still frustrating me; it took me three days to crack that first sapphic stanza, three damn days to finish the first two and a half lines! I just completed the third line's latter half and the adonic today! Then I lit through the other quatrains as if on fire! It's as if my brain needed time to click onto the syllabic pattern because suddenly the dactyls which had troubled me so much troubled me no longer. I have one last stanza (I hope) and then I will submit the poem for critical review on the site, The Critical Poet. It's an excellent board full of knowledgeable writers and poets. It's also partially the reason why writing this poem has been so difficult. You see, this is in answer to a ten word challenge, an exercise in which ten random words are provided and must be used, in one form or another, within a freshly created poem. So on top of trying to obey a metrical pattern I also had to factor in ten odd words. Maddening! I really, really, really wanted to give up; I nearly did. However I realized quitting would only further complicate my writing path since the next form I try will probably be just as difficult if not more so. So I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. Of course I'm pretty sure once I submit the thing those who post on The Critical Poet will 'red pen' it to death but I'm cool with that -- how else does one learn? How else does one get better?

That's all for now!

Yay! Success! Success!

2009-07-08T21:29:00.000-07:00

I have completed my rondeau, and quite a run-around the exercise gave me! To remind those kind of enough to read this blog, a rondeau is a French form of poetry which was set to music long ago. It is 15 lines consisting of this specific structure:

a
a
b
b
a

a
a
b
R

a
a
b
b
a
R

The 'R' stands for refrain which is taken from the first half of the first line of the poem. Each line, excepting for the refrain or half line, is eight syllables long; the refrain/half line is only four. When it came to rhyming I used both blatant, internal and/or off-rhymes.

A few things I will admit upfront: the needle of my creative juices is quivering near to nil; I do not write enough and so do not exercise the necessary muscles for poetry and creative writing. That's my own fault. My solution to a case of writer's, or rather, poet's block has always been to read my old poems and commence an editing frenzy. Inevitably this activity stirred my writing brain to produce something even if no more than a phrase. In this instance, I tweaked my customary writing prod and reworked an old poem into the rondeau's construction. The creative prod within this tweak is not all in the original may remain, in fact, the original's driving point may need to be forgotten all together in order to satisfy the rondeau's demands. While the original subject of my poem remains, the overall thrust is different and not simply due to the rhymes and beat count.

The original poem is named 'Ave Maria' and centers wholly on myself and my experience in the Catholic church, how Mary (and the song titled 'Ave Maria') moved my soul. It is a (clumsy) interpretation of my past feelings. This new poem still has the church as a theme but it specifies no one aspect nor focuses on 'I', instead it concentrates on a collective 'we' and how this body is the essence and the light of said church. Or at least that is what my latest clumsy attempt is about.

A Girl's Open Thread

2009-07-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

Again?! Yes, again. It's meant to mark the weekend, and it's the weekend. I hadn't much to write in the interim days so two open threads in a row.

What has happened this week? Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett died. The latter was sadly expected while the former was a shock. If only, in the wake of his death, the only memories we embraced of him were positive, his music for one. Yet the media appears determined to make a circus of his funeral, the welfare of his estate and his children. He did not always make the wisest choices -- who among us does? However he deserves a funeral free of the malicious gawking and self-righteous judgments which marked the later years of his life. Let the man rest in peace. My first real experience with Farrah Fawcett was in a telefilm about a woman who was raped; when her rapist comes for her again, she traps him in her fireplace. It is a crazy movie but her intensity, the rawness of her situation grabbed my attention as a child. She acted the hell out of that role; I believed in her pressure, her overwhelming fear and unbridled rage. For many Farrah is Charlie's Angel; for others she is the woman from 'The Burning Bed'; for me she will always be that broken yet fierce woman wielding a poker demanding justice for herself. /passings

Moving briefly to politics: Sarah Palin announced the resignation of her governorship. O-kay. I am not big on her; I don't like her, but I'm dyed blue and her message is not for me. I can say she did herself no favors neither with her resignation nor with the rambling press conference marking the announcement. /politics

If you are a fan of Moby, his new album 'Wait For Me' just dropped. It's very Moby and a pretty listen. /music

I haven't written about it since it is depressing but my boy, my favorite of faves, Nadal, has been sidelined with tendonitis in his knee. I really miss watching him play especially at Wimbledon which is currently ongoing. However, the tournament is drawing to its close and most of the usual suspects are in the final but there is one welcome surprise. Andy Roddick. He's in the Wimbledon final!!! Congratulations Andy, it's been a long slog! Juan Carlos Ferrero was my first tennis crush but Andy was the first male tennis player I ever rooted for with obsessive zeal (kind of like the way I am with Nadal now). So, he's still in my "stable" and I do a little mental happy dance when he does well. He appears to have found the next level, now he needs to bring it against Roger. Come on, Andy! My girls, Venus and Serena Williams, are in the women's final for the second year in a row. Suck it on it, haters! For me choosing between them is no longer like choosing between children, for the longest time now it has been Venus all the way. Tomorrow is no different! Bring the pain, Venus -- take that title! My girls are also in the doubles final for the second year in the row, defending champions. That's right, they carried twice the hardware out of England last year and I'm crossing my fingers they'll do so again. As it is, they are guaranteed first and second place finishes, as it were, in the single's match. I admit I skipped the first week at Wimbledon due to the lack of Nadal but the second week is typically where all the fire is anyhow. Some of those matches were really sweet! Ooh, good luck to my favorites! Just bring a good fight, the best fight and (hopefully) the rest will follow. /sports fanaticism

Oh, I picked out a new manga to read. Actually it's a manwha (the Korean version of the Japanese manga) called 'Psyren'. I was randomly searching for 'Veritas' raws and came across a board on which someone stated (paraphrase), 'Veritas' is so good I like it better than 'Psyren' now. I decided to check out 'Psyren' based on that alone since the writer and I shared a love of 'Veritas'; I figured it meant we had similar taste in manwha. Turns out we do! 'Psyren' is great though I also understand why 'Veritas' blows it out of the water -- better artwork, tighter plotting, in most categories this manwha loses to 'Veritas'. It's still wonderful with a compelling the story that seems to have picked up its pacing as the tale progresses. /otaku

I will write a rondeau. It is a poetry form requiring the repetition of the first part of the first line (a refrain) and a rhyming scheme of:
a
a
b
b
a

a
a
b
R(efrain)

a
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R(efrain)

Not in this post, silly! I haven't started yet but I want to declare my intention. /Friday

A Girl's Open Thread

2009-06-26T22:13:00.000-07:00

You know what to do. Comment on stuff. Whatever you like.

Me? Today I made a cherry clafouti and a Mexican chocolate cake with butter-cream icing. I guess I was in a baking mood. Clafouti is a French dessert and it turned out okay. Someone on Saveur -- where I got the recipe -- described it as a cross between custard and cake. I'd go more with custard, like a bread pudding type custard. It's a tea-time snack so I enjoyed a slice with a scalding hot cup of tea which I forgot was scalding hence my now scalded tongue. I am an idiot, ha!

The Mexican chocolate cake (from Real Simple) is quite delicious. It has cayenne pepper in it which, to be honest, is the driving reason behind why I made the cake in the first place. The recipe called for a chocolate glaze but knowing myself and family not to be chocolate people, I decided to avoid a chocolate-on-chocolate disaster and instead pilfered an icing from another Saveur recipe. I now know how to make a passable butter-cream icing. Huh. While I don't feel precisely accomplished, I don't feel precisely unaccomplished, so yeah, I'm good heading into this weekend.

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'allo! Today a few new recommendations:
Regina Spektor, a Russian-born singer of pretty talent. When sampling her work might I recommend skipping her album, 'Soviet Kitsch', and beginning with 'Begin To Hope' -- it has a better flavor of songs in my humble opinion. She recently released another CD, 'Far', and her musical maturity really shines through every song. I'm currently listening to it (via Rhapsody) and so far 'Far' is fantastic! My favorites off the album as of now: 'Blue Lips' and 'Human of the Year' and 'Laughing With' and 'Dance Anthem of the '80s' is a fun little diddy.

*

Going through the site, Ffffound, and came across this JPEG; the Rilke quote reminded me of the feeling the pic evokes. "My eyes already touch the sunny hill. / going far ahead of the road I have begun." (Rilke); click on the quote to see the pic. Speaking of evoking feelings, I'd love to have this piece. Isn't it gorgeous?

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"The lover whose soul shaken is
In some decuman billow of bliss."
~ Francis Thompson; The Way of a Maid; c. 1890.

Courtesy of A Word A Day, a mailing group dedicated to expanding the vocabulary of the masses by sharing the wonder and eccentricities of words. The italicized word within the quote, decuman, is A Word A Day fare. Do not be fooled by its noun like appearance -- it is an adjective; its meaning? 'Very large'. What I find so interesting about it is A) it is an adjective and B) its etymology. Rooted in the Latin decumanus, itself rooted in decimanus... decimus... and finally decem... each a variation on the theme of 'ten'. Decumanus was used many times by the Romans in conjunction with waves because they held to a belief that every tenth wave was the strongest. It also referred to the main gate of a military camp; the tenth cohort of the legion was stationed at that gate. Since it shares a root, decimate is also a relation and the word, dean, literally means 'a chief of ten'. Isn't that last part just fascinating?

Did you know atone is nothing more than a contraction of 'at one'? Is that not weird?! At least according to A Word A Day. I have my doubts.

--
currently running through my mind: Bertie Blackman's 'Heart'
open in a new tab

Man, you are singing my song.

2009-06-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

David Bromige, 1933-2009
Published poet & teacher

I never knew the man, never saw him or heard him before. I have not read a lick of him until tonight and even that not poetry but an answer to a question in a Review. However, the following quoted passage produced a movement in my chest, my mind, a lump in the throat. I feel as if I am at the start of what he describes. He's singing my song, man. He's singing my song.

courtesy of Bob & Margery's Poetry Blog on About.com:
Bromige described the place of poetry in his life in a long interview published by Electronic Poetry Review in 2001: “It’s given me my life. It’s given me being. It was my entry to being. I didn’t know what else to do with my life. I had no idea what to do with my life. It seemed like there wasn't anything to do, with a life, and that in itself is a poetic recognition, I think. I didn’t get there as soon as I might have, but I had a very strong "get a job" ethic instilled into me, so I guess I felt the purpose of life was to find a job, and do it as well as you could, and then have all the fun you could fit in, around the edges of it. But when I started to write, then I realized that there was something else that I could do that filled me and was a space I could keep filling with myself. And also that it was something to be obedient to. It was a reason to have conscience, for me, because I really didn’t have much reason to have a conscience. I believe this is often an affliction of the young. So that I wouldn’t consider other people’s feelings. But as a poet, I felt like I had to. Now I’m sure you can meet plenty of people who will tell you I didn’t consider their feelings, thanks very much, but at least I was trying. It’s an incentive to consciousness. It’s an incentive to be conscious, because if you can notice things, you never know when the next thing that you can join with is going to appear. So it was an instigation of consciousness.”

*

E.B. White's Advice to a Young Writer, courtesy of About.com Grammar & Composition:
Dear Miss R---:

At seventeen, the future is apt to seem formidable, even depressing. You should see the pages of my journal circa 1916.

You asked me about writing--how I did it. There is no trick to it. If you like to write and want to write, you write, no matter where you are or what else you are doing or whether anyone pays any heed. I must have written half a million words (mostly in my journal) before I had anything published, save for a couple of short items in St. Nicholas. If you want to write about feelings, about the end of summer, about growing, write about it. A great deal of writing is not "plotted"--most of my essays have no plot structure, they are a ramble in the woods, or a ramble in the basement of my mind. You ask, "Who cares?" Everybody cares. You say, "It's been written before." Everything has been written before.

I went to college but not direct from high school; there was an interval of six or eight months. Sometimes it works out well to take a short vacation from the academic world--I have a grandson who took a year off and got a job in Aspen, Colorado. After a year of skiing and working, he is now settled into Colby College as a freshman. But I can't advise you, or won't advise you, on any such decision. If you have a counselor at school, I'd seek the counselor's advice. In college (Cornell), I got on the daily newspaper and ended up as editor of it. It enabled me to do a lot of writing and gave me a good journalistic experience. You are right that a person's real duty in life is to save his dream, but don't worry about it and don't let them scare you. Henry Thoreau, who wrote Walden, said, "I learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." The sentence, after more than a hundred years, is still alive. So, advance confidently. And when you write something, send it (neatly typed) to a magazine or a publishing house. Not all magazines read unsolicited contributions, but some do. The New Yorker is always looking for new talent. Write a short piece for them, send it to The Editor. That's what I did forty-some years ago. Good luck.

a long silence precedes the explosion, part two

2009-06-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

Ag'smg post continued!!! Don't worry. This is only a two part installment, only the handful of songs which have captured my ear more often than others. Note: some, if not all, of the songs listed here should be opened in a new tab or window so as not to lose my awesome, wonderful blogger page, lol.

...................................................................................................................*....*....*

The Stars of My Song List

[PLAY] 'Runaway' by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, album 'It's Blitz' (youtube). I'm a sucker for a piano; for the full-blooded darkness of cellos; are those violins I hear? Add Karen O's compelling voice to the mix and I'm there! First heard on the television series, 'Gossip Girl'... yeah, I know, you're sensing a pattern aren't you? Look, I disdain the radio and so my new music needs are satisfied by scavenging other media -- TV, film, Rhapsody (tm), the internet.

[PLAY1] 'To Build A Home' & [PLAY2] 'That Home' by Cinematic Orchestra, album 'Ma Fleur' (youtube). Don't mind PLAY1's weird video; it's the only one I could find which played the full album version. 'That Home' is a corollary to 'To Build A Home'; it is firmer and a brief introduction to the theme gently and more fully explored in 'To Build A Home'. The latter is another TV-found song, this time from 'Criminal Minds'. I went on a crazy 'Criminal Minds' binge for, like, two months. I inhaled four seasons of the stuff and came away with an appreciation for the procedural and a couple of kick-*ss songs. This one wistfully builds itself across the melodyscape, all bruising longing and homecomings. Guess what I just found out? Patrick Watson is singing this song! I love him! His album, 'Close to Paradise' is a quiet little treasure. Also, PLAY2? Pure poetry: "Where the doors are moaning all day long / Where the stairs are leaning dusk 'till dawn / Where the windows are breathing in the light / Where the rooms are a collection of our lives / This is a place where I don't feel alone / This is a place that I call my home."

[PLAY] 'That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be' by Carly Simon, album 'The Best of Carly Simon'. No link here I'm afraid. I can only find amateur covers and lyrics. It is a beautiful song.

[PLAY] 'The Fear' by Lily Allen, album 'It's Not Me, It's You' (youtube). I'm surprised I like this song, really I am. I am not a Lily Allen fan, not by a long shot. However, this single is just good flirty fun and sometimes you just need a well-crafted pop confection.

[PLAY] 'The Moment I Said It' by Imogen Heap, album 'Speak for Yourself' (youtube). Recall my 'Criminal Minds' binge? Well, this is another one of those kick-*ss songs I mentioned collecting. This is not my first time hearing Imogen Heap -- I have bookmarked a couple of her songs as favorites before. However I find her a bit hit-and-miss so I'm not too aggressive about exploring her discography. Her voice though, is right in my wheelhouse.

'Walk Into River' by Mychael Danna, soundtrack 'Water' (archive.org). Whenever I'm down for a good cry or the resonant call of Indian instrumentations tugs on my heart strings, I play this baby. You have to watch the movie, 'Water' -- excellent by the way -- to fully appreciate the song's effort. It is sweeping, deep and gorgeous. The entire soundtrack is a feast for the ears, the film a feast for the eyes and Mychael Danna a blessing to any cinematic score.

a long silence precedes the explosion, part one

2009-06-10T20:04:00.000-07:00

An (ag'smg) post.

Well, that didn't last long. "Bored, bored, bored," is what I wrote in my last post. So apathetic I could not find a song to post or sing. That's weird for me, a girl who loves my sansa so much I biked to Wal-Mart to buy a new player when my old one broke. As frustrating as the situation had been, it actually provided an opportunity to clean up my song list, to separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. It's sort of disconcerting playing my randomized playlist and not run into a skippable song; even when I'm not in the mood for a song, I still heart hearing it.

The apathy has lifted -- it couldn't last forever (thank god)! So, with which song should I begin? Note: some, if not all, of the songs listed here should be opened in a new tab or window so as not to lose my awesome, wonderful blogger page, lol.

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The Stars of My Song List

[PLAY] '15 Steps' by Radiohead, album 'In Rainbows' (stream sourced to www.minneapolisfuckingrocks.com). I briefly ducked in and out of Radiohead's 'In Rainbows', and because I beat a hasty path through this audible treat I missed/dismissed a lot of good songs, '15 Steps' being one of them. I first took note of the song after watching 'Twilight'. As the credits rolled the song struck: the tin and the drum of the opening bars and the signature silk of Thom Yorke's voice riveted me. It was a poorly done film with an awesomely done-up credit roll containing all the froth and mystery, sensuality and danger the movie was too meek to deliver. I will say though, Robert Pattinson is deliciousness on legs. *ahem* Apart from the start of the song, my other fave portion is the child chorus crying "Yay!"; there is something so playful about it which I love.

[PLAY] 'Answer' by Sarah McLachlan, album 'Afterglow' (youtube). It took me a long minute to really feel this album and even longer to like this song, but the album's mellow flow at last worked its magic. Perhaps I needed a mellow moment of my own to appreciate what Sarah was offering? "Cast me gently into morning / For the night has been unkind / Take me to a place so holy / That I can wash this from my mind / The memory of choosing not to fight..." The lady can turn a lovely phrase and her voice, as always, is a dream!

[PLAY] 'God of Wine' by Third Eye Blind, album 'Third Eye Blind' (youtube). One of my first adolescent CD purchases, I highly recommend the entire album. This song in particular crept into the top spot after repeated album listens -- but really, the entire album is good.

[PLAY] 'I've Seen It All' by Bjork feat. Thom Yorke, soundtrack 'Selmasongs' (youtube). I love Bjork, and one of my favorite albums by her is the 'Selmasongs' soundtrack. Again, Thom Yorke makes a wonderful vocal appearance (I didn't know that until just now!) but Bjork is the power and the presence of the song. Her wail as the song rises to its conclusion gets me every time.

[PLAY] 'Kingdom of Rust' by Doves, album 'Kingdom of Rust' (youtube). No real story here -- was introduced to the single by Rhapsody (tm) and fell in love with its easy melodic drama.

[PLAY] 'List of Demands (Reparations)' by Saul Williams, album 'The Inevitable Rise of Niggy Tardust' (youtube). Again. Again, a song's opening draws me in and holds me fast. I never saw the infamous Nike (tm) commercial which used this song... not until after I had perused the music blog, The Stranger Dance, and had come across their music-in-commercials series. I can't even begin to describe that opening! A brutal assault full of pepper and strength; the rap which follows is just as ruthless and demanding -- it's great!!!

[PLAY] 'Live Your Life' by T.I. feat Rihanna, album 'Paper Trail' (youtube). Really I only like the hook and beat, the rap is kind of weak.

[PLAY] 'Lonely Ghosts' by O+S, album 'O+S' (jrk.posterous.com). I heard this song during the first brilliant episode of Whedon's television series, 'Dollhouse'. It framed the action so well, amplifying the scenes and bringing tears to my eyes. Love that deep bass voice laying ground beneath the ethereality.

[PLAY] 'Metal Heart' by Cat Power, album 'Jukebox' (youtube). Cat Power is fast becoming my darkhorse artist. This song breaks my heart! Heard it on the now cancelled (boo) television series, 'The Unusuals'. On the smoky strength of the lyric, "I once was lost but now I'm found / Was blind but now I see you..." I sought out the title and artist. The lyric contained therein which now cuts me to the quick? "Sew your fortunes on a string / Blue smoke will take / A very violent flight / And you will be changed..."

[PLAY] 'One Word' by Kelly Osbourne, album 'Sleeping in the Nothing' (youtube). 'One Word'. Kelly Osbourne. Oh god, don't ask me why I like this song so much. It's been forever since I last listened to it and suddenly a craving came upon me: Must. Listen. To. Kelly. Well, Kelly's single. I never ventured beyond this song since outside this instance, her voice doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. There's just something about the sexy, electronic, psuedo-French noir of this song! Don't you judge me!!!

Nothing New / A Girl's Open Thread

2009-06-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

I have nothing new to report. No music. No TV. No poetry. No reading. Nothing. All is barren in sGland which is sad, but true. I thought I'd write a post though to let Brandon and anyone else curious enough to read this blog know I'm alive and well.

Oh, I'm having some yummy fried chicken! That's new. LOL Sigh, at some point I'll have to stop being so bored. Post any comments here you want, I'll be checking back throughout the weekend. Oh, and Brandon: I haven't received an e-mail from you. The search function turned up nada. Also, any e-mails I send you are being rejected as a wrong address thing. I thought I had corrected that but perhaps I haven't. Let me know what I'm doing wrong.

a girl's purple tub

2009-05-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

When I am old, I am shall bathe in purple...

...............................................................Isn't this just delicious???

Now I dream of a violet footed bathtub and golden roman shades for my windows.
I am such a style whore, ^_^! Thank you, Tha Hotness blog, for sharing your 'bathroom porn'
with the interweb at large.

(ag'smg) reminds me of winter

2009-04-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

.......................................................... . Vespertine .

From the opening song's first note to the lingering strain of the last this album reminds me of
winter. Not frigid air but warm woolly mittens; not storm and hail but the gentle fall of snow one
early morning, myself safely tucked behind a window. Its silent blanket, its frank wind tossing
flakes or rap-rap-rapping against the pane. Quiet. Mysterious. Living under flesh; slipping into
bones -- Bjork's Vespertine sings like this to me. It is her quietest album but one of her best; it
solidified me as a fan. Click on the album title located under the picture to hear the album in its
entirety.

"Happiness hit her like a bullet in the head." (ag'smg)

2009-04-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

Florence & The Machine
song: Dog Days Are Over

So they want Napolitano to resign...

2009-04-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

Are these people stupid?! So, when the next such report comes out warning about KKK members and Neo-Nazis should they call for the resignation of a state official??? Plus you can only be insulted if you consider yourself an extremist or a terrorist bent on a radicalized or terrorizing action. Are these House members really admitting en masse that they are part and parcel of a violent threat to these United States? Really?

I hate how they are politicizing a report that is for serious nationwide law enforcement consumption. Such reports provide an important heads-up for law enforcement, keeping them abreast of trends to watch out for. It's this kind of stuff that helps to prevent a Timothy McVeigh or, god help us all, a 9-11. If someone is stockpiling weapons and ammo you can bet it is not because they want to throw the neighborhood a party! To trivialize something like that is ridiculous and dangerous and wrong. Besides I can recall instances over the years of radical environmentalist or animal rights groups on such reports. Where was their hue and cry then? It's just sickening.

Okay, If This Isn't Creepy and Disturbing

2009-04-21T22:36:00.001-07:00

'The Tea Party'
artist: Ronit Baranga

Still. It has a disconcerting loveliness to it: the plaster skin, placid smiles and
vacant eyes, bending over cups of tea. It's interesting. Disturbing, but interesting.
Click on the artist's name (under the pic) to check out his (her?) website and
other artwork.

Unfettered Melancholy & Rage; 808s & Heartbreak (ag'smg)

2009-04-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

'_' .....Say You Will *

'_' .....Welcome To Heartbreak

'_' .....Heartless

'_' .....Amazing *

'_' .....Love Lockdown *

'_' .....Paranoid

'_' .....Robocop

'_' .....Streetlights *

'_' .....Bad News *

'_' .....See You In My Nightmares

'_' .....Coldest Winter *

The *'s are my favorites of the album
Click on the emoticons to hear the songs

There is a sadness, a restless anger pounding throughout the album's synthesized beats. When I heard the lead single, Love Lockdown, I was unsure as to whether I liked Kanye's latest effort. After listening to the album, however, I found myself absorbed by the false (synthesizers and voice-thing-a-ma-gigs) and the natural (drums) ways in which he tried to introduce us to his grief. This album dropped last November but I was listening to a track just now and had to add my two cents about this interesting effort. One thing you can say about Kanye: he knows how to grow musically.

ag'smg: I Tuoi Fiori

2009-04-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

Etta Scollo
song: I Tuoi Fiori

observation

2009-04-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

From my fortress home I see
our neighbor's tree,
its thousand palms clapping in the breeze.

He's So F**king Hot

2009-04-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

Don't mind me, y'all, just another Asian crush!
:claps excitedly:
You just don't know what these Asian men do to me!

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to:
Ananda Everingham,
a delicious Thai chap of Lao-Australian descent,
and he is all amounts of yum.

Oh, don't let me near him! I'm thisclose to pulling a "Takeshi!" on him;
those in the know know of what I speak! So, let's all admire The Pretty:

.....I have never in my life wanted to be milk...
........................Until now.
..........................(orgasm)

......Aw! He looks so super sweet and cute wearing
.....that soft expression and long hair... super sweet
.......and still oh-so super sexy...! Let me at him: I'll
.................drrty his pretty up right quick.

..........Ignore the woman! Worship The Pretty!
Seriously, how does a man contrive to look that hot?!
........Is it a global conspiracy?! Of Asian men?!
How else does one explain Takeshi Kaneshiro and now
............Ananda? There is no other explanation
.........................for such hotness.

This is not a natural hair blog!

2009-04-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

But...

I tend to write about things I am into very intensely, and right now hair, as Brandon so astutely put it, is my project. There is sad news in the kingdom of Shanee: I am being a poor steward for my hair! Not enough moisture in my burgeoning all-natural hair process. I won't bore you with the details (this time) but it's all a learning curve. Sigh.

'_'

Obama, I already love you

2009-04-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

"During Obama's recent visit to Fort Myers, Fla., to promote his economic stimulus plan, a black Baptist preacher delivered a prayer that carefully avoided mentioning Jesus, lest he offend anyone in the audience. And at Obama's appearance last week near Phoenix to unveil his mortgage bailout plan, an administrator for the Tohono O'odham Nation delivered the prayer, taking the unusual step of writing it down so he could E-mail it to the White House for vetting. American Indian prayers are typically improvised.

Though invocations have long been commonplace at presidential inaugurations and certain events like graduations or religious services at which presidents are guests, the practice of commissioning and vetting prayers for presidential rallies is unprecedented in modern history, according to religion and politics experts."

blog byline: Dan Gilgoff

full article here.

Oh My God! That Is The Most Terrible Song I've Ever Had The Misfortune Of Hearing!

2009-04-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

.
.
Walter Egan
"Magnet & Steel"

Seriously folks, it's pretty damn bad.

---
So check it: speaking of crazy songs -- there's this song called MacArthur Park, awesome melody but the lyrics... It's about cake; it's supposed to be a metaphor but all I'm getting is cake so, metaphor-fail. Cake which is melting in a park with a little love mixed in. So yeah, I'm listening to it right now because I wanted to and well, I needed a little mind rinse after the Walter Egan's OMGWTF. And so as I listen it occurs to me that everyone, and I mean everyone from the songwriter to the producer on down, must have been seriously stoned during the making and recording of this song. A cake recipe... yeah, really stoned. Sh*t like this only makes sense when you're stoned.

"You've already lost."

2009-04-07T13:56:00.001-07:00

Remember what I told you about Iowa last year, Brandon?

Vermont also struck down a similar amendment introduced by its governor.

Happy Nappy Length ^^

2009-04-04T17:04:00.000-07:00

all photos are pre-wash

Yeah, sorry about the crooked glasses. Time for a new pair. ^^

not exactly (ag'smg) but an observation

2009-04-03T01:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know how late I am to this but I just watched Ciara's "Love Sex Magic" video, featuring Justin Timberlake. I consider it one of her better songs since I could hardly stand her previous undertakings and this one... well, I don't precisely like it but I don't hate it either. I can see how it could grow on me if it were ever on heavy rotation and I was unable to shut the audio device off. Do I damn with faint praise? ^^

The Ciara I remember (I haven't followed her career) has always been a super-sexed up, synthesized version of hip-hop R&B; I think that version is epic-fail, however, that's just me. What I hear in "Love Sex Magic" is still super-sexed and synthesized but it's closer to R&B-inflected pop than hip-hop. That may be a good thing, the best thing for her. Then it struck me: she's a modern-day upgrade of Janet Jackson at her most Miss Nasty-est! Except without half the charisma or charm. I swear it wasn't just the Justin Timberlake sighting! She really seems to represent -- purposefully? -- a 21st Century Janet. Thinking back on it, her earlier work might have had a bit of that vibe in its undercurrent -- again without half the charm.

I'm probably really behind the times in recognizing this, or really off-my-rocker for writing it. Either/or those are my cents for what they're worth!

Go Home, Rafa.

2009-04-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

Go home.

Relax.

Eat some pasta tonight. Maybe treat yourself to a cookie or three. Then hop on a plane and wing your way back to Mallorca.

Relax on a beach or at home. Just relax. If there are personal (non-career/health related) problems deal with them quickly, quietly, then let 'em slide.

Remember: you have a wealth of people who believe you in you, within your family and without.

I'm sure you know this, are looking to do most of this already but sometimes it helps to get this stuff out into the ether. Everyone loses the thread once in a while and it's not like a quarterfinal result is chopped liver. You've done amazing things so far this season and for that you should be very proud. All the best for the future.

Feel better, come back strong.

SN: We Can't Be Winners All The Time

2009-04-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

Rafa lost :(! It's one of the few times I've ever seen Rafa snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I'm writing specifically of the three breaks up he had in the final set. Still, can't take anything away from Juan Martin Del Potro. He played extremely well! He corrected a lot of bad behaviors which had put him in poor spots in previous matches. When I read the scoreline of his David Ferrer match I knew he hadn't come into this tournament to be any man's pigeon.

All credit to Sean Randall over at Xtreme Tennis for predicting before the tournament a quarterfinal bow for Nadal. I thought he'd at least make the semis. Now I'm curious as to how many points he's lost since I believe he made the finals last year. I think his improved record in the tournaments he's played so far (wins at the Australian Open, Indian Wells) even the one he lost (Rotterdam final) will offset the loss but I'm a bit fuzzy on the mathematical particulars. Then there's the whole Dubai 'goose egg' from pulling out; can he still drop that? (lowest score can be dropped)

Well, onto the other matches! You know, it used to be that if my favorite lost I stopped watching the tournament. At least it was that way with the WTA. I, however, plan on watching the rest of the quarterfinal matches (at least) on the men's side. It's the match-ups -- they are mouthwatering! Murray vs. Verdasco!!! Federer vs. Djokovic!!! Talk about another man whose on the path of proving he's nobody's pigeon! Djokovic seems to have regained his form. Then there's the Williamses. The sisters are playing today and their matches are always an exercise in the fascinating. I'm rooting hard for Venus in spite of what will occur should she win and Serena lose. You see, the WTA's ranking system is for shit and right now Dinara Safina, who currently can't find a serve or a shot to save her life, is poised to overtake Serena as #1 should she lose. That? Blows. Should this happen it will only underscore, as Jelena Jankovic did before her, all that is terribly, terribly wrong with the WTA. No one should achieve the number one ranking through anything less than winning. I mean a relatively sustained campaign of wins. So to get number one because everyone around -- to include yourself -- is doing too much losing is a travesty. An absolute travesty. Look, I love me some Dinara but no way should she be #1. Although I will concede that on paper she's in a better position than Jankovic when she became #1 (been to two Slam finals vs. JJ's none). Even knowing what is at stake, the WTA's credibility, I still can't make myself do it. I love them both but love Venus a little harder :). It's been that way from the start.

So, yeah, if all goes as I wish (not much luck so far), Venus for the win. I predict Dinara's head will explode if that should happen. Literally explode. Either that or she'll commit seppuku just to avoid the pressure.

Happy Nappy Hair Essentials

2009-03-26T02:14:00.000-07:00

This blog isn't meant to be a 'hair diary'. Its purpose is just as its address states: a spot of everything. As I previously posted, however, I am increasingly interested in attaining some hair goals about which I have only been lazily dreaming. I need to take and post a few pictures of my hair but the few times I remember to I don't feel like it. So lazy! Anywho, the first step in healthy growth is maintenance and products. I've been surfing a lot of natural hair blogs recently and can recall a few from way back in the day when I dabbled in promoting growth. I judge the advice of other natural beauties by 1) the tone of their blogs and 2) the growth / thickness of their hair. Plus, is their routine doable? Can I reasonably see myself on the maintenance path upon which they set themselves? Once I answer those questions to my personal satisfaction I go about trying to emulate, then divine how well it works for my particular locks.

Most fashion a weekly maintenance routine involving conditioner or co-wash (though some still stick by shampoo, usually a trusted brand); moisturizer; and twists for gentle styling purposes. Also, monthly deep conditioning to provide thorough tress nourishment. The latter dovetails nicely with advice my mother has given to me: condition, condition, condition! It really is important. I worry sometimes about not keeping to a weekly routine but for me, the problems come when too much time passes between hair treatments. That's when I'm liable to forget or put it off once I do remember. Besides I love playing with my hair -- more so than when it was relaxed. Back then I admired length but didn't touch; now I fondle my curls (ew! dirty!) all the time!

Doable routine? Check. Now it's time for the product. Qhemet Biologics is bandied about natural circles much to my delight. I discovered them several years ago making the various good notations a 'squee' moment. I won't lie -- initally I was attracted by their Ancient Egyptian bent (its my faith); even the company's name 'Qhemet' is a translit. variation on Egypt's ancient name. Back then I bought one product, their rosemary and mint clarifying shampoo. I very much liked the effect of the product on my hair which felt very clean after use and the mint invigorated my scalp. I looked forward to washing my hair just because the product was so awesome. It was the first thing I looked for as I scoured their site again. Discontinued. Bummer. Somehow I found something else to buy (like that's hard), three somethings.

Castor & Moringa Softening Serum
Indian Macassar Conditioning Oil
Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade

From my readings castor oil (which is contained in the serum) is hella good for Black hair, as is Amla Oil. Nowhere had I read much positive or negative about Macassar oil but I liked what the site had to say about it so I gave it a whirl.

March 7: I decide to twist my hair and start a winning routine. The past year of once-monthly deep conditoning had repaired my damage hair but I'm ready to get aggressive. I wash my hair with the original Mane 'n Tail shampoo. It's got all the not-so-good stuff in it my nappy head is supposed to avoid, like sulphates, but I have no alternatives and need a guaranteed clean. I follow that with the Castor & Moringa Softening Serum. Its uses are varied -- it can be a leave-in, a hot oil treatment or an oil rinse (moringa has cleansing properties); I use it for the latter. Lastly, the Cream of Nature Conditioning Reconstructor which I leave in while I shower before rinsing. My mother and I have sworn by the brand, Cream of Nature, most of my life. Out of the shower I gently comb through my damp hair. Working in sections, I apply the Indian Macassar Conditioning Hair Oil, twisting as I go. Afterwards I take dabs of Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade and run it along the exposed scalp and hairline.

One week later: my hair has been soft for a week now, not just for a day or two. I'm quite pleased with that result if not with the heavy oil residue. I resolve to skip the oil rinse, leave it for the deep conditioning phase. Also, I have apple cider vinegar or ACV. It works as a clarifier, de-gunking hair and scalp of product. Every natural blog swears by it. It doesn't leave the same pleasant feeling QB's mint shampoo did but as long as it does its job I can live with it. ACV is a pre-wash step. No shampoo this week (or ever if I can help it)! Just the reconstructor. Post shower I follow the same routine as the week before -- gently comb, macassar oil and pomade for scalp. My hair isn't as soft as it was previously. It's still hella softer but not as soft. The ends especially feel dry. Hmm.

This week: ACV, then the conditioning reconstructor. I leave it for longer this time before rinsing. Back to the castor & moringa! I rub it through my hair, then rinse. The same post-shower routine applies. I've gotten better about the amount of the macassar oil I use. No heavy oil residue so far ^^. My hair is back to being super-soft but the ends seem drier by comparison. Not dry-dry, just relatively. Enter the pomade. I bought if for scalp use but it's also meant for styling and softening dry ends. It does the trick. Oh, another thing -- the pomade instructs usage 2-3 times a week which I have been doing to keep that scalp moisturized.

I'm not sure I'm wedded to these products. I suppose that means I'm not in love with them. So far they've performed as expected. There's been minimum breakage, so yay! I'm eager to try it a few other products but it's good to know I have sure-fire fallbacks.

Dancin'! Like A Freak In The Bedroom (ag'smg)

2009-03-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

*click the photo to access video, "When I Grow Up"

I'm really not one for the Pussycat Dolls. Something about them just bugs. Though I was a fan of the ubiquitous "Buttons" I was relieved to think I could never again be shoved into liking something of theirs. I was wrong. Very wrong. I dance to this song, "When I Grow Up", all the time now! Gyrating like a woman possessed in the privacy of my room. I'm a heavyset girl so I'm sure it is not too pretty a sight. ^^ My musical tastes do lean toward somber rock, pretty-poison pop and lusty soul but every once and a while a pure dance number bursts through. Chemical Brothers "The Test", for example -- years old but still excellent to bounce to, especially in a darkened room. The video is compelling, trippy. Oh, what the hell! Here's "The Test":

*click the photo to access video, "The Test"

My Heart and My Soul
They are Free!!!
My Heart and My Soul
They are Free!!!

The Grand Galactic Inquisitor says...

2009-03-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

IGNORE ME! BUT FIRST...

I HAVE TRAVELED FROM AN INCREDIBLY DISTANT STAR TO VIEW THE TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF YOUR PLANET. YOU HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING YOUR ENTIRE RACE AS RECIPIENTS OF MY VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS. THE GRAND GALACTIC INQUISITOR HEARS ALL! SEES ALL! NOW WATCH THESE PROGRAMS:

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Fox, Friday 8/7 p.m. Eastern

Dollhouse
Fox, Friday 9/8 p.m. Eastern

AND TODAY SET YOUR HOME RECORDING DEVICES FOR THE SERIES FINALE OF

Battlestar Galactica
SciFi, Friday 10/9 p.m. Eastern

IT IS A TWO HOUR FINALE: YOU HAVE BEEN FOREWARNED! REFUSAL IS FUTILE! YOU KNOW NOT THE ELABORATE CRITERIA BY WHICH THESE PROGRAMS ARE TO BE JUDGED. NOW IGNORE MY PRESENCE AND GO ABOUT YOUR EARTHLY BUSINESS.

SN: A Sort of Tirade

2009-03-20T01:06:00.000-07:00

Tell me, what is the point of buying the licensing rights or whatever to broadcast a sporting event (say, tennis) only to not broadcast any matches during the appointed times? Or preempt a portion of a match to play high school basketball highlights? High school basketball?! Highlights?!?!?! Or, you know, bass fishing. Look, I know there are people in the world who live and die by fishing but come on, FSN (or in some areas, FS-SW)! Don't buy the rights to the programming if showing 45 minutes more of water, fish and/or amateur highlights is a higher priority than live QUARTERFINAL tennis! It's ridiculous!

True story:

Live tennis is scheduled for 9 p.m. central on FSN and some bright son-of-a-b*tch decides to allow bass fishing to overrun their timeslot. The live tennis is a quarterfinal match. The quarters, damn it! Featuring Federer and Verdasco (he of Australian Open semi-final fame). Point of mention: the match turned out to be rather anticlimatic and boring but that's beside the point, FSN couldn't have known that. Getting back to it: I'm pissed, tired of waiting, and so take to the internet for a streaming feed. Having found one, I enjoy the match on my awesome, new widescreen computer screen. Sometime around 10:30 I notice FSN has finally broadcasted the match but do I switch off my computer? Hell to the NO. See, this is how viewership dies and fans disappear, crap scheduling like this.

Don't even get me started on how they voided Nadal's match entirely last night. Nadal, the No. 1 tennis player in the world!!! They could play the rare women's match that night -- Azarenka vs Safina, but not Nadal's highly anticipated match. Like, what the f**k?! As a serious Nadal fan my gasket, she was a-blown! Instead, guess what FSN graced their viewing audience with? A doc on a former hockey player. O-kaaaaay. I don't have problems with documentaries on players, not even when its based on sports I couldn't care a whiff about. What does light my fuse is live tennis being ignored in favor of a doc the channel has probably been running for the last year! This whole situation wouldn't suck so much if FSN weren't the only channel licensed to broadcast tennis for at least this week. There's no alternative but sreaming feeds; thank god for streaming feeds! That's how I was able to watch my Nadal survive a fourth round scare and write this awesome post.

Also, what the hell is up with the television scheduling of women's tennis in general? It's rare to catch a WTA match and they killed any early round viewings all together. It's got my mom, a big tennis fan, fit to be tied. I charge sexism. Sure, the women's game sucks right now but there was a time in the '90's when the men's game wasn't so hot either and no one was dodging their matches... or saying they don't deserve their pay for that matter. It's something else that when the men's game has a dip everyone freaks but cautions that highs and lows are normal. However, let the women's game suffer for a stretch and not only does everyone freak out but the real misogynist-*ssholes come out to play.

"The women's game has always been poor," they chortle. "This is why they don't deserve equal prize money."

Blah, blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-f**k you!

There's a power vacuum in the WTA, it happens, suck it! Trust me, the men's game was no fun for some people (namely me) when Federer was dominating and every other player was too crap or too puss to be anything more than bone-meal in his trough. I'm not particularly pleased with what's happening at the very top of women's tennis but I know they'll pull it out because that's what happens in tennis and in sports.

That's all I got.
/tirade

VAMOS!

2009-03-19T02:42:00.000-07:00

Reuters / Michael Fiala
retrieved from Nadal News

Rafael Nadal d. David Nalbandian 3-6 7-6 6-0

This is Rafa's very first victory over the man I affectionately call 'The Shark'. Nalbandian is the destroyer of seeds -- no player is safe. When he was fitter and I was still a tennis neophyte I wondered why he had not yet been to a Grand Slam final let alone won one. The answer: ultimately he is too lazy, too content to display only every so often flashes of brilliance. This makes him dangerous, his unpredictability; it's what makes him a waste of god-given talent. In the last year or so he has allowed himself to go to seed showing a shocking lack of concern for the state of his game. Increasingly seeming more content to get off the court as fast as possible than to scratch out the win. The question every knowledgeable fan asked once the Indian Wells draw was released: which Dave are we getting? 'The Shark'? Or 'Fat Dave'? He wasn't anywhere near the best of shape but it was soon clear that 'The Shark', not 'Fat Dave', had come out to play. He handled every comer in each successive round with skill and arrived in the fourth round on the wings of strong matchplay.

Only twice before in his professional career had Nadal stood across the net from him. Both were three set matches in 2007 (Paris and Madrid). Both times Nadal lost in straight sets. There is no shame in losing to 'The Shark'; many equally good players have lost to him. Federer, Djokovic, Murray; currently ranked No. 2, 3 and 4 respectively (Nadal is No. 1) and were at or near those ranks when they lost to him. He is Cheron and Styx rolled into one: he must be crossed and the one to whom a toll must be paid.

The match was a nail-biter. Nadal was clearly not at his best and Nalbandian was aggressive from word 'go'. He took it to Rafa again and again and again. I would have screamed aloud from the frustration but it was 1 a.m. central and it wouldn't do to wake the household. I finally did let loose with many a "Come on!" and "Vamos!" as the match wore on. Rafa was frustratingly passive with his returns in that first set. The situation was made worse by a slew of unforced errors on shots he almost never misses. The first half of the second set wasn't a picnic either. He had breakpoint chances on Nalby's serve, lost them, then surrendered his own serve the following game. 'The Shark' played lights out, aggressive tennis and though Nadal started to find his serve in the second set, his unforced errors were still a problem.

The turn-around happened during Rafa's serve at 3-5 which, if lost, would have given Nalbandian the set and the match. Nadal clawed his way through four matchpoints (!), cleaning up and gritting out his service game. Now it's 4-5 and Nalbandian's on serve for the set and the match; he tightened as Nadal's level continued to rise. One matchpoint. He faced one matchpoint on 'The Shark's' serve, fought passed it, broke him and went on to win the tiebreak -- yet another nail-biter in which Nadal quickly went up 5-1 only to see Nalby storm back, but not to worry! Rafa won the tiebreak in the end, 7-5. Already Rafa was in new territory: it was the first time in all their meetings he had ever taken a set off of Nalbandian.

Third set. Here is where the stuff outside of skill comes strongly into play, like fitness. Would Nalby's lackluster fitness be an issue in the deciding set? Playing Nadal is as much a tremendous physical feat as it is a technical one. He hits the ball with so much spin and from impossible angles while making impossible gets. It can be a demoralizing exercise, particularly when it appears one has him by the short hairs only to find he's slipped the grip. And so enters some more of the other stuff it takes to win -- the psychological component. Mental fortitude is a part of every athletic competition but it is an incredibly vital portion of tennis. I've seen greatly talented players turned into near journeymen due to a lack in confidence, a crack in their mental strength. One must have a mind like a steeltrap and an unshakeable self-belief to carry one not only through wins but also through disappointing moments. The natural dips and yips and how a player handles them are what winners are made of, the mental stuff is the stuff from which champions are forged.

That mental stuff is something Nadal has in spades. If not, he would have buckled under his own frustration and self-remonstrations in that first set and a half. There is something to be said for gritting out a match, for clawing and spitting out a win. Sometimes it tires a player out, the effort; other times it invigorates. It was the latter for Nadal. He had found the rhythm on his serve; he had found the rhythm in his shots; he had shown himself, his opponent and everyone watching that he can fight his way back even with the odds stacked against him. I won't lie. I was nervous. But the mental stuff, ah, that mental stuff is one of the reasons why I love him so. It is why I am a fan.

I can't remember what year it was but I watched his American hardcourt coming-out. At least that's how all the commentators labeled it at the time. I was in Texas visiting family and that was where they were playing. The headliner? Andy Roddick. He was in his prime, his game at its height. Federer was a problem that still had an answer then, one Andy was confident he would find. This was, of course, before the cumulative losses to The Fed crushed his game and psyche. At the time, Andy was my favorite male tennis player by far, I think my only one (I've always been more of a WTA girl). The tournament showed Andy off but also played out as a showcase for the rising talent on tour -- those wet, new shining stars glistening on the horizon. Amongst them was Rafa. I recall thinking that Rafa's game seemed very well-suited for hardcourts -- a rarity amongst Spanish and/or Spanish-speaking players.

The commentators were trying to decide which of them would rise to the top, ala cream. I picked Rafa. I had a sense that Rafa would eventually prove to be the better of them. So, I tucked the name 'Rafael Nadal' into my "stable" -- players I didn't actively follow but whom I wished well when I saw their names in the draws. As predicted, Nadal rose and rose and rose and rose. His wins didn't make him my favorite; no, that was still Andy going into 2007. It was his loss at Wimbledon that year which made me into an ardent fan.

He pushed it to a fifth. Prior to the final he had played seven straight days of matchplay due to inclement weather and crap scheduling. His opponent in the final (the eventual winner) had nearly that many days off in a row coming into the same match. So he was exhausted and near-broken (his knees, my poor Rafa's knees!). He pushed it to a fifth. Did I mention he was facing the best grass-court player on tour, if not history? And not just the best grass-courter but someone who was hailed (and still is) as The GOAT -- The Greatest Of All Time? AKA Roger Federer, a man who until that bright day in Wimbledon, England 2007, had never faced even a whiff of a fifth set on grass. Rafa pushed him to a fifth. Prior to that fifth and deciding set, Nadal lost his serve but once in a set he ended up winning. It was the gutsiest, most mental performance I had witnessed in tennis in too long a time. Even as he lost that fifth set, Rafa went down snarling and fighting. The loss hurt him deeply (he cried in the shower for 30 mins post-match) but he had won my admiring, unyielding fandom.

There is a certain safety to being his fan. He leaves everything out there so neither the victories nor the losses are ever hollow. One knows he musters his best for every point of every game of every match, that and then some. It's not that losses are easier just that there is a sense of peace there amidst the disappointment. Everything is left out there which is why he wins more often than not. Which is why I didn't give up on him in the face of four matchpoints on his serve, one on Nalby's. Yes, I groaned and yelped but I didn't surrender to the sensation of defeat because I knew he wouldn't. And he didn't. 6-0 in the third and final set. Everything was clicking by then: first serves in, shots cutting angles and kissing lines. Not one game lost by Rafa, not one game won by Nalbandian. Rafa was visibly relieved to have won; it was not his best tennis but it was winning tennis. That is so often the difference between losers and winners on tour, between the Nos. 1, 2, 3, now 4 and the rest of the tour.

Vamos, Rafa! Onto the quarterfinals! Onto Del Potro!

--
listening to the sounds of birds
hello early morning

The Grand Galactic Inquisitor says...

2009-03-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

I HAVE TRAVELED FROM AN INCREDIBLY DISTANT STAR TO VIEW THE TELEVISION PROGRAMS OF YOUR PLANET. YOU HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING YOUR ENTIRE RACE AS RECIPIENTS OF MY VIEWING RECOMMENDATIONS. THE GRAND GALACTIC INQUISITOR HEARS ALL! SEES ALL! NOW WATCH THIS PROGRAM:

Kings
NBC, Sunday 8/7 p.m. Eastern

REFUSAL IS FUTILE!

YOU KNOW NOT THE ELABORATE CRITERIA BY WHICH THESE PROGRAMS ARE TO BE JUDGED. NOW IGNORE MY PRESENCE AND GO ABOUT YOUR EARTHLY BUSINESS.

the hurried pretense of their expressionless faces

2009-03-15T16:15:00.000-07:00

blog title quoted from jinyoung yu
as translated by stella im hultberg

I look at the work of Jinyoung Yu and I am given over to an overwhelming need to weep. Once more one of my favorite artists, Stella Im Hultberg -- per her { lovely distractions } blog -- has opened my eyes to art and artists that would otherwise have escaped my notice. When I first gazed upon these naked pieces my mind conjured up Miyazaki's Spirited Away which contained a shadow character of a similar construct. It had an amorphous shape (initially) as dense and dark as shadow and a pale, expressionless face/mask that nevertheless encompassed a deep sadness. Those who have had the pleasure of watching the film know that this creature devoured everything in sight in an attempt to fill the hollowness within. But no meal can satisfy an ache like that, no coin can tempt it close. As wonderful as the film is it drops the ball here a bit; I am left with an itching curiousity about that hungry shade; what was his story? I want his story. That's my problem, however: Spirited Away is not his story or the story of anyone else but Chihiro, and that was gorgeous enough. Anywho. I am reminded of that character when I look at the work pictured above and directly below.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

*

This is by an artist named Monica Subide. Entitled "Ballerina", it can be found on { lovely distractions } as well, and I love it to death! Stella comments that she loves the "emotion in the brushwork" and I concur. My eye is compulsively drawn to the black strokes flowering madly from the subject's torso. The peeking toes at the fraying edge, the pale innocence stirs an empathy in my soul. As with Jinyoung Yu's work (currently selling at Union's for $30,000-$50,000 a pop) I'm sure her art is too rich for my blood, which is a shame, because I would love to own one.

--
listening to an amalgam of soundtracks:
Amelie
1st Shop of Coffee Prince

(ag'smg)The Aussies Are Comin'

2009-03-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

.Bertie Blackman

I've been music blog surfing and as a result, Sia's Single is about to be joined by a number of her countrymen and women. Who The Bloody Hell Are They? is a wicked good music site (re)introducing the masses to Aussie singers and songstresses. I've barely scratched the site's surface and already I like what I'm hearing. Here are a few of what I call 'gems':

The lady pic'd above, Miss Bertie Blackman and her song, "Heart". It contains an addictive electronic bass line warmed by her vocals, clapping and something I can only describe as doo-wop. The effect is not as mishmash as it reads; it's quite delightful! Plus, as the song winds toward its conclusion Bertie breaks its cresendo's tension acapello style!!! Every time I get to that part I start beating the air like a drum (or a madwoman, you decide), shaking my head while mouthing the lyrics. I can't help myself. You know, the first time I heard "Heart" I wasn't entirely sure I liked it; the next day I found myself listening obsessively to the song. Go figure.

Next is a band named An Horse. Do you know how difficult to find a jpeg for a band called An Horse? Very. At least more difficult than my lazy-ass has patience for, so no pic for these guys but the song, "Little Lungs" is tight. Apparently their music is all over the Aussie TV Machine. Good on 'em.

.Snob Scrilla

And who's this handsome fella, huh? He's a happy fella, isn't he? Well, that's Snob Scrilla. Snob Who? Snob Scrilla. He's a HipHop artist and his song, "Houston", is loud and social with a capital 'S'. In this particular song he lays his rap over a rock riffs and rage and it is most effective. Enjoy!

The Australians, they have invaded!

a westerly wind and a backyard shrub dreaming love

2009-03-11T22:31:00.001-07:00

I am as far from that girl
as I have ever been.

ag'smg: The video's half the fun...

2009-03-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

............................................. Ida Maria

Find a cure
A cure for my life
Find a cure

OMG

(ag'smg) A Sia Single

2009-03-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

........................................ i go to sleep *

*click on link to hear lovely song

Happy Nappy

2009-03-10T00:06:00.000-07:00

I've taken real pride in my hair lately. My hair, my crown, I have abused and ignored it for many years only occasionally raising a hand to my tender 'fro to braid it. After an abbreviated flirtation with a wig (blame my mother) it has been nothing but conditioning and cornrows for this girl. Releasing my hair once a month for a thorough shampooing and deep conditioning -- in conjunction with the light condition and rinse week-in and week-out. Each month of strong growth and minimal breakage had me sit up and take notice: if I'm good I can get the rocking 'fro I've always wanted! It's a 'duh' moment to be sure but there is a persistent myth in the Black girl community which says natural hair can naturally take care of itself. No one actually says that out loud; in fact, if asked we'll give the opposite answer but its a whisper in our heads that won't die an ugly death. I blame relaxers for the ugly rumor; they know after we see the mess we make out of our hair we'll run scared to the perm.

For full disclosure: there's nothing I won't blame on perm, nothing! It broke my hair from the first moment my mama tried it on me and since my mom was (is) a great believer in the perm, she never laid the blame at its door. Rather, it fed a deep-seated paranoia about the fragility of Black hair in general and the fear I (and she) would never reach her goal of shoulder blade-length hair; her dream, not mine -- from five through sixteen I was just along for the ride. Look, Black hair is fragile, at least more than most but not so much that it easily breaks when it's growing like weeds from one's skull! I stopped relaxing at sixteen and never looked back. So yeah, I hate relaxers. Besides I'm really suspicious of the origins of it all. I asked myself, why would I / should I relax my hair? Do I really like it, and if so, why? How do I want to wear my hair? Which styles do I like? Those questions led me to my 'fro which, at the time, was no more than a long restful pause between perms.

I'd do extensions -- love me some extensions -- in-between but here in Texas, on the outer outskirts of a major city, there's an awful lot of price gouging going on! I'm used to it now, my military tour having taken me to Alaska and it's dearth of skilled, reasonably priced braiders. I'm originally a Jersey girl and am too used to relatively cheap, fast, professional and good; there was too much available competition per square mile and so no price gouging. When I'm older the plan is to lock my hair and my anticipation of that day is so eager I may not wait.

For the most part I want my hair thick and wild, a carefully constructed unruliness. To that aim I'm taking my hair with a much firmer hand. I bought some stuff from Qhemet Biologics: hair oil rinse; leave-in conditioner; a moisturizing pomade for the scalp and general styling. I like mom-and-pop, particular stuff meant specifically for Black hair. I am well aware that a lot of off-the-shelf product is very good for Black hair. Suave, for example, is a great and very cheap shampoo and conditioner. A few years back Pantene came out with a hair-care line targeted for Black hair, for which a cry of "YES!" was let out. But I like to patronize when I can (or remember) these brave, home-made souls. Do your research, of course, but for the most part the owners and product-makers test out their stuff on their own kinky tresses before imparting it to the world.

Back to my hair! I did my hair in twists for the second time in my life, only this time without the extensions! I used my Qhemet Biologics for the first time and my hair feels baby soft. I'm pretty happy and pleased with the results. Ah, I can feel the new growth already! Cross your fingers for this nappy head!

I am Otaku: "Aahn-nyong Ha-say-oh, B*tches!"

2009-02-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

Several posts back I introduced a wide-range of manga I previously, currently enjoy. It occurs to me I might not have been explicit enough in mentioning that all the 'reads' lead to the manga itself, as well as the '*credits' lead to a general manga source. Or maybe no one cares; I've considered that option, I just don't like it. ^^ Well, my "I am Otaku" series is back! Korean style!! Manhwa vs Manga!!! Actually those are two different words for really just the same thing. I'm coming around a bit on manhwa (previously I thought they were lacking in execution) but I still give a hearty edge to Japanese manga. But let's all give a warm, manic applause for manhwa:

Veritas
It's about fighting... and more fighting... Hmm, what else?
Oh, and the hero just might be a sneering idiot...
who rumbles using lightning!!!
Really, how much more awesome do you need?!

[ read ]
*credit

Additional manga updates include (colored links provided):

Claymore is still ongoing and getting better and better. The mangaka introduced in the last chapter 'abyss eaters' and they are unbelievably creepy.

Midnight Secretary is also chugging along nicely. Kyouhei has since given up fighting his love for his mortal beloved, and when dude embraces love, he embraces love. I'm very proud of him, sniff-sniff. Well, as proud as one can be of a drawing... I am Otaku!!!

Bleach is still wonderful though I do think the mangaka is walking a fine line on which the hero of the piece's relevancy may come into question. I understand that he has the overall plot already mapped out and so he cannot afford to have Ichigo (said hero) peak too early, but he is dangerously close to losing the belief of the reading masses in Ichigo. It has begun...

Bitter Virgin has completed its tragic journey and found itself on this side of a happy ending. The mangaka sobered it up a bit but one can dream that Daisuke's and Hinako's undrawn future is as bright, is as full of love and renewed hope as the story's end has gifted.

Deadman Wonderland is still f-ed up, still glorious and hero, Ganta? Might have earned himself a backbone. Awse.

Spoon River Anthology

2009-02-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

.
Serepta Mason
of Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
My life's blossom might have bloomed on all sides
Save for a bitter wind which stunted my petals
On the side of me which you in the village could see.
From the dust I lift a voice of protest:
My flowering side you never saw!
Ye living ones, ye are fools indeed
Who do not know the ways of the wind
And the unseen forces
That govern the processes of life.

----
humming one bar of 'Moon River'

-...........

The Headcase, The Finger and The Way It Is

2009-02-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

I love tennis, and have been happily spectating for years. My love's pendulum has swung from the WTA to the ATP and back again as I have enjoyed the tennis stylings of Agassi, Venus and Nadal. For a person who spends most matches cheering or yelling at the television I do not write enough about the sport (I do not write enough about many things).

So, here I go: I write about an incident which caught my eye during my daily review of favored tennis blogs. It happened during France and Italy's Fed Cup matches. Fed Cup, for those not in the know, is what happens when tennis players team up by nation and play at various times throughout the tennis season in order to determine the best tennis nation ever (for that year)!!! The competition is further divided by gender, with Fed Cup being for girls and Davis Cup being for boys.

What happened involved Amelie Mauresmo. Ah, Amelie! Headcase extraordinaire! Well, let me not be mean: she did "unclog" long enough to win two Slam titles and attain the number one ranking, if I'm not mistaken. Such results can never be dismissed; 2006 was a very good year. Still, she has a history of being mentally vulnerable and that is a trait which is very hard to entirely defeat.

So, the French Amelie played against the Italian Flavia Pennetta (How awesome is that name?) in her rubber, as it is called. Amelie had won the first set and was serving out the second. A win here would tie France with Italy in the Fed Cup overall and keep French hopes alive. During a rally, Flavia hit a backhand long -- at least that's what the chair ump decided and ruled it so -- this gave Amelie matchpoint. Flavia, as one might imagine, was not pleased. She abused the chair ump with some rough, presumably Italian words and finished it off with The Finger. I guess that's the kind of stuff that gets one thrown out of matches, but the chair ump might have been new to the job because he only gave out a warning.

Even for the mentally toughest competitors that kind of disturbance can effect the rhythm of one's game. Amelie, as I have written above, is not the mentally toughest of gals. With matchpoint in the second set on her racket she double-faulted, gifting Flavia the chance she needed to force the match to a third and deciding set. Here is where it gets sad for Amelie: in the third set she goes up 4 games to 1, obviously having regained her match rhythm. Yet, she still loses the match! Don't ask me how! One could only choke such a commanding lead away because as tricky (in a tough sense) a tennis player as Flavia is, she's not better than Amelie except for maybe one area: her head's screwed on a bit tighter.

Amelie, as one might imagine, was far from pleased by her loss and placed the blame for her game's inexplicable meltdown on one... chair ump. Oh, if only the chair ump had ejected Flavia, then she'd have been gifted the win rather than having to earn it by not having a mental lapse. She was so pissed she flipped him the bird on her way off the court. Nice. The entire French team was seriously incensed for that matter, vowing to file a protest.

In the next match -- featuring one Alize Cornet (French) who is just. not. ready. to. win. -- they lost their last chance to stay in the Fed Cup running when Alize got beaten pretty handily. Of course, the French team lost their collective *ahem* after that. As they ranted about the chair ump, one among their number dropped the name Zidane which surprised me. The 'Zidane ejection controversy' happened, I think, three years ago. It did happen against Italy so it is not entirely without reference. It is an indication of how angry they must feel if they are cross-referencing sports and other bitter losses.

Perhaps the chair ump did circumvent protocol in this instance but it wasn't as if Flavia spit in Amelie's water or broke her rackets or even benefited from bad line calls. There was nothing keeping Amelie from winning that third set, up 4-1. Hell, there was nothing keeping Amelie from winning the second set! Distractions happen in tennis, shake it off. Amelie has been on the tour long enough to know that and to know better.

Apples and Onions

2009-01-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I made an Apple-Cheese tart, of which I am quite proud. It was delicious, better than I expected. The combination of apple and cheese (among other things) to my tastebud's delight yielded a 'squee'. I normally don't flex my culinary muscles; I love collecting recipes or admiring a chef's style and creation but rarely do I dabble. But I had two green apples (too soft for me to enjoyably eat) and a sudden desire for a sweet treat. I have never made a tart before and am glad I took the opportunity to make one.

One of the reasons for my delight was my use of bookmarked sites as handy-dandy references and guides. I made a modified version of an Apple Onion Cheese tart I found on Design*Sponge's In The Kitchen; then I used a glaze mentioned on Orangette. I eliminated the sweet onion from the recipe because I didn't have any and it was too late at night, and I too eager, to run out to buy some.

I did make some mistakes along the way, somehow managing to misjudge the necessary amounts of flour and butter even with the recipe written down, in front of me. Thankfully none of my errors were insurmountable or uncorrectable. It's strange but the tart tasted better warm than piping hot. It tasted even better the next day as opposed to the first day. *shrugs*

I can't wait to try the recipe with sweet onions! It would make for a more savory dish. The glaze itself was nice because it utilizes the discarded apple cores: throw aforementioned cores and sugar in a lot of water and reduce to a tasty apple syrup. It's really good and has some great uses outside of glazing crusts. I recently used it as an impromptu dipping sauce for a few pork slices I had cooked up and pork and apples are always 'yum'!

I'm already planning on making a chocolate tart from unused chocolate chips in the pantry. Hee. Should be fun and, hopefully, tasty!

a girl's gold

2008-12-13T03:09:00.000-08:00

Don't tell me this isn't gorgeous?
The Dauphine collection from Mokum Textiles

--
listening to Alessandro Scarlatti's Concerto Grosso No. 3
in F major - Largo, as well as Scarlatti's Son Tutto Duolo

a girl with a notebook

2008-12-09T00:22:00.000-08:00

The sun at nine
I forgot how cool its yellow light is
here in winter
It barely damages the snow -- unlike me
my cloddish boots are like wallops from a fist
and naked snow breaks like bone
a pinched old crow winks and winks and winks again
at the bruising sound

*
Bleh.

--
currently listening to Jean-Baptiste Lully's La Bourgeois Gentihomme
-- Chaconne des Scaramouches Frivelins et Arlequins

a girl's musical gems

2008-12-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

.................................Jazmine Sullivan

Now this girl is the *ahem*!!! Please, please, please give her freshman
album a try; it's a soulful effort that sounds fresh and not at all like
a throwback to a bygone era. Some have compared her voice to
Lauren Hill's and there are certain similarities: they share a raspy
richness which vibrates with emotion, turning songs into vibrant
tales featuring all the usual suspects -- love, loss, strength, fun. I
will say, Jazmine's album lacks the completeness of Lauren's classic,
The Miseducation..., but that's to be expected of a newbie effort.
Still, like our Lauren Hill, her album has more winners than losers
making her a singer to look forward to!

...........................One Night Stand
...........................Lions, Tigers & Bears

2 songs I love from the album 'Fearless'.

...............................................*

...............................Beyonce (or is it Sasha?)

Hello, Sasha! I am actually pretty impressed with this effort by
the former front of Destiny's Child. There is a power to her vocals
here that I never really felt in her previous solo albums. Don't get me
wrong! There were a number of aural gems on her last two records
but there is a balladry here which really serves to (better) showcase
the style and strength of her voice. Her alter-ego, Sasha Fierce also
makes an appearance with sassy, beat-stomping authority. It is an
enjoyable romp, the tour through Sasha's half of the CD, but buy it
for Beyonce's!

I admit it took me a minute to like -- the first? I think it's the first --
single, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It). It didn't instantly 'wow' me
the way her previous fast tempo songs have, but I eventually got there.
I hate 'If I Were A Boy', it's awkward; so yeah, no. The songs I really
love on her album are (click links to sample):

................................Hello
................................Halo
................................Disappear

There's a lot to like but those are my favorites so far. ^_^

a girl's inspiration: the starting line

2008-12-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

Years and years ago...

One fine Spring day, my highschool Lit teacher, Mr. L invited a guest speaker into our classroom. She was a former student of his, currently enrolled in university and majoring in English Literature. Our class had spent the last month discussing and trying our hand at poetry, and she was there to further our appreciation for it. I'll never forget the sharp way in which she rebuked us for attempting poetry without having read poetry. To roughly paraphrase her, our awkward attempts would not be, could not be, what they should be without knowledge of what poetry had been. I recall being quite put off by her assertion. My adolescent thought process was, what did she know, really? I had to put a good five years of distance between myself and that dressing down before I could recognize the veracity of her statement.

It happened in the bedroom of Michael Hobson after a night of videogames and laughter -- an unexpected moment of unprompted poetry. As we sat on the edge of his bed, he rattled off a poem. His nasal voice took on an odd purity as his mouth shaped the words. And they struck me, they lit a fire within me, one which seemed to pour into my four limbs, into my soul. What a strange time, a strange place to have a 'come to poetry' moment! On the bed of a cute boy, in the middle of a nameless night.

I scoured the local Barnes and Noble's for 'Spoon River Anthology' by Edgar Lee Masters. Copy in hand, I spent subsequent nights reading this American classic. I love to read, typically burning through a book in a few short hours. But with this, I limited myself to 2-3 poems a night just before bed. I lingered over them, lingered over the many voices and stories and histories of a fictional town and its fictional souls. I carried Minerva, Emily Sparks and The Village Atheist into sleep, into dreams. They spoke of poetry and of fire, and then I knew it too.

That all the clay of you, all of the dross of you,
May yield to the fire of you,
Till the fire is nothing but light! . . .
Nothing but light!

A door was blown open that night, in that room, but each poem read drew me across the threshold. My opened mind sought other masterworks: Cummings, Plath, Kerouac, Rilke. With each one came a deepening appreciation for the craft as well as a recognition of Masters's flaws. Still, his work was my gateway poetry-drug and nothing can dim that fact. So, here's to the one that started it all, The Village Atheist:

Ye young debater over the doctrine
Of the soul's immortality,
I who lie here was the village atheist,
Talkative, contentious, versed in the arguments
Of the infidels.
But through a long sickness
Coughing myself to death
I read the Upanishads and the poetry of Jesus.
And they lighted a torch of hope and intuition
And desire which the Shadow,
Leading me swiftly through the caverns of darkness,
Could not extinguish.
Listen to me, ye who live in the senses
And think through the senses only:
Immortality is not a gift,
Immortality is an achievement;
And only those who strive mightily
Shall possess it.

--
currently working my way through Rhapsody's classical music section
much to the delight of my ears ^_^

President-elect Barack Obama

2008-11-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to write it. That's all. Last night, I only
wanted to hear various news stations say it, see it in
their show bumpers and floating flat screens over and
over again. Now, I wish to write it.

The work begins anews...
And the dream lives again...

I don't get it.

2008-10-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

Let's talk BS, shall we? Let's talk about the insane woman who allegedly had the letter 'B' carved into her cheek during a robbery at an ATM. Hey, guess what, America! Turns out SHE MADE IT UP!!! She made the whole g-damn thing up! Thank goodness, the Pittsburgh police got the truth out of her after several story inconsistencies/changes and a lie detector test.

When I first heard the original tall tale (as it turns out), I was horrified. I wondered aloud, who would do something that sick? That counter-productive? Rob, then beat a woman because her political viewpoints don't coincide with your own? What a jackass, I thought, what a disgrace; I hope they find him, I said. I also remember thinking the only thing that would make that story even more crazy and disgusting was if she had made it up. But no one would do that, no one would CARVE THEIR OWN FACE UP to cast aspersions on the opposing political party. That's nuts! And unfair -- just because these are heated political times in America does not give me the right to doubt her story. I even felt ashamed the thought had crossed my mind. Unbelievable.

That's some real psycho sh*t, some real 'Single White Female' sh*t (check out the movie of the same title sometime). I mean... WTF! Just WTF! What if some poor Black kid who happened to fit her oh-so vague dark-skinned man description (where have I heard that before?) had been assaulted in some sort of revenge scheme for her "attack"?! What the hell was she thinking?! Crazy McCain Supporter! In some ways I feel bad for McCain -- although she is a local campaign volunteer, she in no way speaks for him, but that is still a whole helping of 'crazy' he didn't need.

I'm just so mad, I can't even think straight.

--
No music today, just rage.

Sports News (run and hide!)

2008-10-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

BAD NEWS: Rafa Nadal lost in the semifinals of the Madrid Open to young gun, Gilles Simon. (Boo-urns!!!)

GOOD NEWS: By reaching the semifinals, Rafa officially secured year-end number one!!!!!! He is the first Spaniard to do so, if I am not mistaken. Hee! Absolutely lovely! Also, my girl, Venus, won the Zurich Open thereby clinching her place at Doha, the WTA's end-of-year Battle Royale -- eight women enter, only one will survive! The men, too, have an year-end Battle Royale in which my boy, Rafa, and eight others will be participating. I'm hoping Venus and Rafa are the last woman and man standing (just like at Wimbledon) but the competition is stiff. Fun tennis times ahead!

In OKAY NEWS: Andy Murray (of Great Britain) ultimately won the prize, the Madrid Open championship. If one knows anything about tennis, then one knows Great Britain hasn't had a real Grand Slam contender in ages. There have been pretenders in recent years -- Rusedki (a transplant but whatever, he's a Brit citizen) and Henman, both damn good ones at their height. However I don't think they had the spark young Murray has, the pure talent and "tennis brain" which makes him lethal at present and lethal in the future. His attitude is a problem though. I admired Murray first out the gate but it was this which cooled any burgeoning fan-dom for him in my heart. I still like his game, even admire it. He is one of those players I'll rarely if ever root against unless, of course, he faces any of my boys. ^^

Well, congrats Andy, Rafa, for a year well done.

In EVEN BETTER NEWS: The Giants won their football game on Sunday. I didn't have the pleasure of watching it, although I did enjoy myself some football that day. I heard they didn't play their A-game, which isn't good, but the score differential (respectable) makes up for that in my opinion. They are still leading their division which is good, so I'm crossing my fingers for their continued success this year. One game at a time, baby!

Sports News (Rafa Forever!)

2008-10-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

A big HUZZAH for Rafa Nadal!!! He beat a difficult opponent in rising star, Ernest Gulbis -- watch out for him and others in 2009 -- in the second round of the Madrid Open.

After winning the first set (7-5), Nadal dropped the second (3-6) yet won the third and deciding set (6-3). Good job, Rafa! Just keep doing what you do best out there, son.

Here's a big RAZ for the NY Football Giants for Monday Night's game against the Cleveland Browns. Now, I have no beef with the Browns, nor do I care about them one way or the other. I

just care about my beloved Giants -- and they did not show up to play the game of which they are capable, while Cleveland did (hats off to them).

I was so thoroughly disappointed in what I perceived as Eli's befuddled leadership on the field, a discombobulated mess which seemed to trickle down throughout the offensive line; in the defense, who stopped the hard-charging, high-scoring Patriot offense on a dime yet somehow couldn't stifle the Browns offense's inexorable movement of the chains; and with the coaching staff on the sidelines who seemingly were unable to come up with a counter to the heat the Browns were bringing that I walked away early in the 4th quarter (post another Eli interception).

Only one team in NFL history has achieved perfection -- say hello, 1972 Dolphins -- and the Giants wouldn't be my Giants if they didn't f-up every now and again. However. Let's make this an infrequent occurence, okay, Giants?

Also, stop trying to force the pass to Plax!!!! For three-quarters of the game I watched them do this and I was like, what? Is he T.O. now? Must we make him feel included after the suspension, must we utilize him by giving him the ball even when play after play shows that boat won't float?!?! Look. I know Burress is great, and great for us, but it does neither him nor the team any good to give him the ball when clearly it isn't working (at least not this game)! What I found masterful about the Seahawks game last week was the Giants willingness and effectiveness at finding other receivers to fill the Plaxico-shaped hole on their side of the line of scrimage. It showcased our range and depth. Let's remember the lessons of the Seahawks at Giants stadium and keep to that, shall we?

What I saw Monday was the old, sloppy, pre-2007 post season Giants -- that is no longer allowed!!! To cut the Giants a little slack, I will say something must have been in the air week 6 because a lot of dominant teams racked up losses in games they were expected to win. So there's

your slack, now KNOCK IT OFF!!!!

--
Not listening to anything right now. But I guess we can go with a little
*Tilly and The Wall's Pot Kettle Black -- awse!

*tap the bold link for a free listen, no download :(

Supposed Former Infatuated Food Blog Junkie

2008-10-10T08:41:00.001-07:00

Blog: Cannelle et Vanille
Recommended: Highly

I admit it: I'm a food blog junkie. It is strictly in the look (longingly) but don't touch (can't afford it, and my thighs are "rich" enough) category. Still... Look at what is being created in everyday kitchens at any given time...

Sweet mousses of white and dark chocolate layered in shot glasses, or frozen and rolled through patches of pistachio or semi-sweet chocolate. Tarts with mounds upon mounds of fruit, an embarrassment of succulent riches which tempts even my berry-hating heart (sacrilege, I know). So far, Cannelle et Vanille offers one scrumptious recipe after another ranging from gluten-free to traditional. Their common denominator is decadence, and really, what more could one want from a dessert? ^^

Perhaps the more enterprising among us can get up the culinary fortitude to try a recipe or two and let me know if the taste is as good as the look?

--
The only music is in my head and it goes like this --
*Citizen Cope's Let the Drummer Kick
and a cool video of the song for your viewing pleasure!

*download - song link in bold

all the lovely things... Like a Butterfly

2008-10-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

lovely and cheap ($8)
just the sort of thing I love!

--
A song currently rattling 'round my head,
a hum on my lips? Dolly Parton's
Love is Like a Butterfly,
a delicate melody and lyric.

a girl's inspiration: I love the silence

2008-10-09T12:51:00.000-07:00