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Can’t Get the New My Chemical Romance Release Out of My Head

This is the “Official Lyric Video for My Chemical Romance’s first single, “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” from their upcoming album, Danger Days: True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys.” It won’t be available until November, but its very catchy (thanks to my friend Meadows for steering me to the video.

I’m developing a bad case of cello fingers, but I’m astonished at how quickly I am picking things up. Not that I can play yet, but sheet music is beginning to have meaning to me. I am remembering where my fingers go and can tell that my fingers are positioned properly by the sound the cello makes. I’m really pleased.

If anyone knows me IRL, you may have seen my daughter’s Facebook post about this being the one year anniversary of my falling asleep at the wheel. This was not as bad as it sounds, but it has provided my immediate family with mockery fodder for, well, a year now. This is what happened.

My daughter was scheduled for SATs at o’dark-thirty on Saturday morning. About 2am, my son woke me out of a sound sleep, requesting a spontaneous pickup from shall we say, the nightclub district. After much groggy swearing, I agreed to come get him. I got back to sleep, closing in on 4am, and got back up around 7 to take the girl for her test.

I didn’t know precisely when she would be finished and I didn’t want her standing around waiting since the test site was about 30 minutes away. So I brought a book and waited in the parking lot for her. It was warm, so I left the car running for the fan and the radio and promptly fell asleep. You have to understand that I never fall asleep by accident or in public, so this was completely out of character.

Half-hour/forty five minutes later, daughter comes rapping on the window and jolts me awake. After much laughter and mockery, we are ready to hit the road, so I turn the key.

-Click-

-Click-Click-

“What’s that sound,” my daughter asks.

“That, my dear, is the sound of a dead battery.”

My knight in shining armor (White Sante Fe) was summoned for rescue and all was well.

-The End-

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We Need to Talk About Zombies

I’m not sure why zombies are so fascinating, but they are. This picture was my first personal foray into zombiedom, but it seems like they just keep getting more popular. My daughter’s college even has a Zombie Corps on campus, which by her description, seems to be an updated version of Cowboys and Indians. But better to get some fresh air and take a break from playing D&D in your parent’s basement.

There are a few key movies and sources you won’t want to miss.

Best Zombie Movie Ever: Shaun of the Dead

 
 

I accidently clicked on Lesbian Vampire Killers when I looked for this. Needless to say I didn’t watch it and I didn’t include it. Google it yourself if you are so inclined.

FYI: Simon Pegg’s Twitter, simonpegg, is a lot of fun.

Another great zombie movie is Zombieland, which issues a list of rules for dealing with Zombies. Here are the top ten:

  1. Cardio
  2. The Double Tap
  3. Beware of Bathrooms
  4. Wear Seat Belts
  5. No Attachments
  6. Cast Iron Skillet
  7. Travel Light
  8. Get a Kick Ass Partner
  9. When in Doubt, Know the Way Out
  10. Check the Back Seat

There are about 30 or 40 rules all together and there is some controversy regarding the content and the order.

This Zombiepedia is a great source of additional zombie information.

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There’s Always Room for Cello

So today I had my first ever cello lesson. So fun. My teacher is a mom I knew from the high school. She comes with an impressive resume and the recommendation of the Director of Music for the school district. And this school district has an impressive music program. Anyway, I think she had fun too because she is used to working with kids. She kept giving me more challenging stuff to do.  I will have mucho to practice this week.

My dog is on steroids. They take her on and off. Really helps her skin, but not very good for her kidneys long term.

Every single Ill Scarlet song makes me happy. Here are a couple:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZSvI3650iY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flBuhsQ0Uuo

I just found out that the lead singer of The Bravery was in a college ska band with Ryan from CSI Miami.

The more I listen to The Gaslight Anthem the less I like them. They are a little Springsteeny.

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Wonky Wednesday

I’m even more disjointed than usual today. I don’t even have a title to start with.

Trying to work out the deets on a cool b’day present for my better half. More next week once I’ve given it to him.

Super happy about the Phils win – Halladay’s no-hitter. My husband teases me about being a bandwagon jumper. I told him that at least I can count on my teams having a post season to jump on 😛  It’s hard to really follow your hometown team when you don’t live there anymore though.

I’m sick about this poor kid that jumped off the GW bridge. Not sure how much I want to get into it, but I think that everyone who is blaming social media and lack of respect for privacy is missing the point. It’s like blaming the 9.11 terrorists’ plane tickets. The problem is the culture of hatred and lack of respect that we are engendering. Westboro, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Birthers, Anti-immigrants I can go on and on. They are spreading hatred and there are consequences.

Oh and countdown to iPhone. I have 6 days left!

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VooDoo Catholicism

VooDoo Catholicism. I’m not a big fan of things like burying a statue of St Joseph when you are trying to sell a house. It seems disrespectful and superstitious. I’m not sure of the Church’s official position on this, but my take on it is that it’s fine to pray to St Joseph for intervention if you are having trouble selling your home, but Saints are not rabbit’s feet.

Ah, Fr. Vincent Serpa at Catholic Answers confirms:

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but such behavior is not supported by the Catholic Church because it is superstition. Everything we do, we do according to a rational a context. There is no rhyme nor reason to burying a statue so that one will sell one’s house. This has nothing to do with anything. There is no rational context here. Acting from superstition is opposed to trusting in God and is therefore sinful.”

Politics just keeps getting weirder and I grew up during the Nixon Era.

I always say that I don’t like cover bands, but I frequently like re-makes of songs (Rio by Goldfinger, Beat It by Fall Out Boy, The First Cut is the Deepest by Sheryl Crowe). I think that maybe I like when bands put their own spins on songs rather than impersonating the original.

Today’s guilty pleasure song: That’s Not My Name by The Ting Tings. Lame but catchy.

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Looks Like Someone has a Case of the Mondays!

Got some new sneaks and earbuds for the gym this week. Mmmm…orangey. I decided I had better haul my butt back to the gym (and I did at 7am). My job involves sitting all day.  All my hobbies– reading, writing,  cello and even kayaking– all sitting.

I hesitate to admit just how much l like “Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi.

I think I need fingerless gloves. It’s freaking cold in my office.

Listening to my new music this morning and twice I heard something and thought, ooh, I like this, what is it? And it was my daughter’s boyfriend’s band.

I bought some Skull Candy earphones. They dramatically increase sound quality over the stock ipod earbuds and they were only 10 bucks.

The Gaslight Anthem sometimes reminds me of what Bruce Springsteen’s band would sound like if he could sing.

The guitar in Velvet Revolver’s Slither is just crazy. If I was 30 years younger, I would likely say it was sick.

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Busy Busy Busy

Hey, the lead singer of Bad Religion is on Morning Joe talking about 30 years of Punk Rock.

My youngest is home from college for a few days so we are living in delicious craziness. Always fun to have her her. Tons of laughing, singing and pizza. Much shopping is planned for the next couple of days.

The one good thing about Paladino is that I think everyone is going to stop thinking about Buffalo as a snowbelt city and just think of it as the home of Crazy Carl. Sorry again, State of New York.

I’m jealous of those women who always remember to put safety pins and tissue packets in their purses. My bag is mostly consumer electronics and lipstick.

Yoplait Boston Creme Pie Yogurt tastes like cake frosting. No, seriously.

A falcon flew right by my office window. Supercool.
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Pinball Brain Tuesday

It’s pouring rain this morning, which I really like, but it makes me want to stay home with a book and a cup of tea. The Pacific Northwest is probably the only area of the US that could tempt me away from Buffalo.

Sliced Bananas on toast this morning. I almost typed Taoist by mistake. I never noticed how close they were before. No wonder toast is the ultimate food of well-being.

Bill O’Reilly was on The Daily Show last night and he behaved with decorum and dignity. He is clearly capable of behaving like a decent human being, why does he choose not to do it? Why does his entire network treat its audience with such condescension? They speak like they are trying to talk small children into taking a foul-tasting medicine.

How do the Jersey Shore guys get so many young women to have sex with them? I wouldn’t shake hands with any of them unless they had been boiled in bleach.

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Monday Bible Study

For the past three years Monday night has meant for me St. Greg’s Bible Study. I should say fall and spring Monday nights, because the snowbirds are gone over the winter. Yes, I am one of the youngsters of this Bible Study. It doesn’t matter though, because 70 and 80 year olds who are still interested in studying and discussing their faith are a pretty fun bunch. We take a different book of the Bible every semester. We are currently working on the Gospel of Matthew. There are tons of applications to current life and my fellow students are a thoughtful and lively bunch. We also have facilitators who help with historical and geographical perspectives.

Whenever I hear of some group that wants to nail the Ten Commandments up somewhere, I think that we might be better off posting the Beatitudes.

Just watched a “Girl Fight” on Hawaii Five-O that was most decidedly not a girl fight.

Two days until the youngest comes home from college for a couple of days. The big guy is rocking the free world in San Diego.

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Sunday in Buffalo and That Means Football

This is Trent Edwards. Don’t ask me if he is the current quarterback. I have no idea. Anyway. Everyone is terribly excited leading up to the game. People who go to the game sit in the parking lots hours (days?) ahead of time and drink beer out of their trunks (tailgating). This is all good fun UNLESS the Bills aren’t winning. Then it’s over. Facebook explodes with Bills Suck, etc, etc and any other example you can think of. Whiny. Apparently there IS crying in football.

Where I’m from you’re loyal to your team win or lose. A loss means, “we’ll get ’em next time.” Maybe today will be a good day.

Huh…while I was looking a Bills pic I found this : “Website encouraging infidelity buffaloed by Bills’ decision to pull ad” (btw, when did headers stop using caps?) Tagline: “Life is short. Have an affair” Nice. Good for you Bills, but what were you thinking in the first place?

Update: The Bills lost, but made a respectable showing. Thankfully, the only complaining I saw yesterday was from people who didn’t play CJ Spiller in their fantasy leagues.