Things I Love Thursday

© ms. stephanie brown
So, I was checking out Meli's blog a bit earlier this afternoon, and got simultaneously sucked into Spinner.com's music video overload/Interface. Needless to say, I'm obsessed (already subscribed to the podcast!). There are a whole bunch of goodies on the site (Noisettes, Alice Smith, Neko Case, Mastodon, and Grizzly Bear, to name just a few...), but Surfer Blood definitely caught my eye. At least two of the kids in the band went to my high school, the lead singer being from my graduating class. I heard they're already kicking major ass live, so I'll definitely be going to check them out at The Engine Room (coughcough formerly known as The Beta Bar coughcough) on the 18th. Check out the video here for some Floridian garage rock (West Palm Beach, represent!):

• Passing the Graduate Exam! I took the G.R.E. this morning, and I kicked its ass! Well...just barely. But somehow or other, I guessed to my little heart's content (and somehow scored higher on the math portion than the reading) and passed the minimum score requirement to make it into grad school. Now all I have to do is actually get into grad school...
• Patti Smith's Land. Completely marvelous!
  
• Daydreaming about spring in Philadelphia (and furthermore, having your dreams narrated).
  
• Gala Darling's article on How To Put The Light Back In Your Heart. By the way, a little bit of Gala everyday puts the light back into my heart. It's my internet equivalent of "an apple a day..."
  
• By the way, today is my dad's 55th birthday! I'm thankful everyday that he is such a prominent driving force in my life, but I am especially joyous today, and only wish I could celebrate with him/take him to dinner. I'm glad he at least has loved ones nearby!
  

Enjoy your Thursdays! ♥

The World's Smallest Library

"As both books and classic red phone booths are becoming a thing of the past, a village in Somerset, England has merged the two rare commodities.

The bright red old phone booth was purchased for just 1 pound and remodeled as the smallest library in the world. Residents line up to swap their already read books for new ones left by other patrons. Over 100 books and a variety of movies and music CDs are available at this tiny library."

This is too brilliant for words.

via Offbeat Earth

"I never meet anyone who admits to having had a happy childhood," said writer Jessamyn West. "Everyone appears to think happiness betokens a lack of sensitivity." I agree, and go further. Many creative people I know actually brag about how messed up their early life was, as if that was a crucial ingredient in turning them into the geniuses they are today. Well, excuse me for breaking the taboo, but I, Rob Brezsny, had a happy childhood, and it did not prevent me from becoming a sensitive artist. In fact, it helped. Now I ask you, my fellow Cancerian, whether you're brave enough to go against the grain and confess that your early years had some wonderful moments? You're in a phase of your cycle when recalling the beauty and joy of the past could be profoundly invigorating.

The thing is, my childhood was completely wonderful. I remember enjoying it immensely, and being the least judgmental kid alive. So much has changed! Now, I constantly judge the stupidest situations prematurely and stress about my minor financial troubles 24/7. Thus is life! And I feel as if I'm not living it! Here's to life and living it!

Things I Love Thursday

The main thing I am loving on this particularly gloomy, flooded streets, rainy Thursday evening, is the fact that my little gray man, Lupin the adorable is home with me! Last Friday, I woke up bright and early (minus the bright, because the sun was still asleep) to take him to the clinic to get neutered. He's about six months old now so it seemed a better time than any. Unfortunately, two days after the surgery, he stopped eating, so I had to take him back in for observation/force feeding (syringe). Needless to say, I got the little booger back this afternoon (I did a happy dance at work when I got the message) and he purred like there was no tomorrow when I got him in the car. He's currently napping in my lap, forcing my legs into a temporary coma, but I'll let it slide. & as far as music goes, I'm still loving and listening hardcore to Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest (no, seriously, check it out), as well as this wonderful mash-up mixtape.

Other things:

• spontaneous human combustion
  
• the selby
• this picture
• and finally, getting sleep tonight! & with that, i bid you---...zzzzzzzz...
  

According to a poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, there are as many people who give credence to astrology as call themselves Catholic. Believers in reincarnation are another sizable minority; their numbers equal those who put their faith in the Pope and in the planetary omens. Based on this evidence, we can safely conclude that at least some supposedly woo-woo notions are no longer just for woo-woo-ers. You can't be considered a New Age weirdo or pagan infidel if you're receptive to the possibility that the world is exceedingly mysterious and a long way from being all figured out. That's good news for you Cancerians. According to my analysis, your belief system is ready to crack open and allow a surge -- maybe even a flood -- of new data to rush in.

Let's hope that Rob Brezny knows what he's talking about this week, and that my mind becomes more pliable to new belief systems this year. I'd be lying if I said I knew what I believed in, or for that matter...who I believe in.

Today was pretty uneventful...pretty. Except for the fact that Lupin lost the will to eat, or just his appetite entirely. Seeing as how he got neutered on Friday, I am chalking it up to stress and sadness of no longer being able to be a kitty sperm donor. Unfortunately, they had to keep him overnight for observation and to give him fluids/make sure he's alright, so I have no snuggle buddy tonight. Hopefully my little gray man is alright.

After I got off work, I drove a co-worker home and noticed that my favorite record store is closing! What the EFF Vinyl Fever!? Anyway, I decided to snoop a bit and ended up finally buying Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest (which by the way is as beautiful as everyone keeps saying it is, and I might consider it one of the best albums of the past year (along with Mastodon's Crack The Skye). Needless to say, I've already played the c.d. nearly four times through. Luckily, I've been productive in that span of time, going on a mini/major cleaning spree of the entire house (not done yet!), as well as finishing the finale of Dexter, Season 4 (Holy Bananas, cliffhanger!).

I'm jumping into this week with two feet planted firmly on solid ground, trying to keep an upbeat attitude for my clientele because the money train is running low and slow, due to life's silly complications. I am seriously contemplating the thought of going to see Melissa in Philadelphia as soon as financially possible. Although, I think flying is cheaper than a train and shoots that whole fantasy out the window. Oh well! Here's to a good week!

Trains

I'm really getting inspired by the idea of hopping on a train to see Melissa in Philly sometime soon. The trip would only be a day and would only cost me under $200 round trip. And besides, plenty of reading and meditation time.

Things I Love Thursday

Happy New Years! I've been trying to focus on myself (how selfish!) this month thus far, and stray from the nagging guilt and regret that seems to trail my heels incessantly. Therefore, a Things I Love Thursday post seems perfectly timed to keep on veering my thoughts in the right direction. I will keep it short however, because I have to be back at work in less than an hour for the second half of my double shift (which will hopefully provide me with smiling faces, and big tippers).

• The cold front (that is now ending for us Floridians). I really loved it! As freezing as my toes were every morning on the bathroom tile, it's rare that I actually get to experience a winter. Trust me, I'm glad I am a Floridian (most of the time), but every once in awhile it's nice to experience real seasonal changes.
  
• Brian being back in the states! Seven months without my favorite It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia buddy was starting to get to me.
  
• Losing (and somehow winning) at billiards.
  
• Red wine.
• White wine.
• Beers.
• Being a faux alcoholic.
• Tervis tumbler lids for coffee! Greatest invention/christmas gift ever!
• Waking up with a purring kitty scarf.
• Flannel sheets!
  
• Trying to dance along to Beyonce's Single Ladies at two in the morning with your roommate and laughing so hard you fall over.

In addition to this post, if you haven't already visited one of the numerous donation sites for the ongoing crisis in Haiti, please do so (and donate if possible). I donated $10 to the American Red Cross. Every bit helps!

Have a wonderful weekend and stay happy!

top image © .ultraviolett