What's spinning?

Modest Mouse, that's what! Their newest album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, is fun from the first track -- and, hello, who doesn't enjoy a good accordion piece kicking off an album? The group has picked up Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and you can immediately hear his contribution to their unique sound. Along with the punchy kick start there are tracks laden with quirky sounds, that I love, catchy refrains and, of course, the lyrical story telling that wraps it together. I went through a phase, playing 2004's Good News for People Who Like Bad News for weeks on end in the car. I'm pleased to hear their newest work is just as addictive to listen to.

After reading a review, I downloaded Life in Cartoon Motion from UK based artist Mika. I was immediately reminded of The Scissor Sisters, which can only mean a good time. I've decided that this album will make an upbeat and fresh addition to my playlist for Saturday's 10k. I'll need something to get me going at 8:00 in the morning. Argh.

Be Informed

I just caught an incredibly interesting documentary, as part of the PBS series Wide Angle, on Iran. The film followed a group of Shia pilgrims traveling to Karballah -- among the holiest places in Shia Islam -- across Iran's eastern border into Iraq. You are held in suspense throughout the film, anxious to see if the group of pilgrims, including men, women and children, on their charter buses, will make it Karballah safely. The glimpse into life in Tehran was much more modern and westernized than I expected.

I've been, as I assume most Americans are, perplexed by the differences between the Shia and the Sunni -- both Islamic, yet at war over their faiths. Today, I heard the differences between the two arms of Islam compared to Catholics and Protestants in Christianity -- though on a much different level. Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith however the schism between the two initially stemmed not from spiritual differences but from political ones. [I am not confident enough in what I know about either to comment much further here but I encourage you to read, as I am, the handbook on the program's website to learn more. ]

To truly understand the war our government has entangled us in and it's immense consequences on the Middle East we must also understand the Sunni-Shia conflict. As you watch the documentary you will learn, as I did, that the war in Iraq has, and will continue to effect, our unstable position in the Middle East not only with Iraq but also with the surrounding nations. The US, England and most especially Bush, are viewed as meddlers and are accused of behaving as if "above the law". Are they wrong?

Please seek out information. The evening news and 24-hour network programs that are so readily available do not paint the real picture or tell the truest story of our country's involvement. Be informed.

Easy Plateau

It was one of those spring weekends with the sweetest Virginia weather, blooming trees, and the perfect combination of events.

From Friday afternoon -- leaving work at 3:00 p.m. for Happy Hour to celebrate a co-workers birthday -- into the evening with drinks and sushi with the girls and a too short stopover at Sine to see our friend Erin who was in town from Brooklyn for a wedding.

Saturday was bagels with the girls, cleaning [yes, I'm serious -- oooh, deal of a vacuum how I love thee] with the windows open and spring pouring in. And, an all important third, let's-have-dinner-at-home date turning into breakfast Sunday morning with eggs over Ryan Adams. I even squeezed in a work function that afternoon followed by dinner with the family and ending with the best episode of Entourage ever -- I [heart] Johnny Drama!

I know this reads like a diary entry, and the cheerfulness pouring out of it may seem induced by post great date bliss. But to me, it's a way to make it all real. That, yes, weekends should be full of good friends . . . and good times. I lie down on Sunday night, preparing my mind for the week ahead, but find myself unable to clear away the last 48 hours and remembering why I love spring -- a time of renewal and great possibilities.

So, how was your weekend?

Worst Fears #1 & #2

Rinse, Repeat

Teen girl #1: Wait, so you just let him do you in the butt? You let him sodomize you?
Teen girl #2: It wasn't bad. I couldn't shit for a few days, though. So I took some laxatives, then I shit myself in the mall yesterday.

--Liberty Island

Overheard by: binja

via Overheard in New York, Mar 19, 2007

This post was in the purest spirit of No Filter people, I couldn't go against instinct!

The UPS Man Cometh

I've done it again. I've fallen to the temptation of the Home Shopping Network and have purchased . . . a vacuum. A Hoover Fusion Plus Cyclonic Filtration Upright Vacuum. I validate this, yet another home shopping purchase, through . . . free shipping! And, frankly, it's a pretty sweet deal. This thing has attachments out of the wazoo. And, when it arrives, I plan to test each of them, cleaning every nook and/or cranny of my tiny apartment. Cat, watch out, Mama's new toy will be no match for your stubborn hair. I once got so carried away with a vacuum, I sucked all of the dirt out of a potted plant. In my defense, it was really dusty dirt . . .

Did I mention the patented cyclonic system that never loses suction? And the 10 foot extendable wand? Or the foot wide floor attachment? Oh, the possibilities! If I could only figure out a way to run an extension cord from my apartment down to the street and clean my car!

Does anyone else get as excited over new cleaning appliances as I do? Fess up!

Down for the count

I'm sure anyone following March Madness knows by now that VCU lost their chances at advancing in the NCAA Tourney to Pitt last night. Anthony Grant and his 11th ranked team put up a valiant effort against #5 Pittsburgh, taking the game into OT. Once in OT, VCU lost their steam and Pitt rolled by for an 84-79 finish.

Though this loss was a disappointment for Richmond, my bracket is safe for awhile longer. Though I have no way to explain my logic, I have Pitt taking the Championship. We'll see in two weeks how well that decision pays off. Mama's hoping for a nice wad of no-guilt cash to take to NYC in April. COME ON PITTSBURGH! I really do need a new pair of shoes . . .

VCU Survives Round 1

I just watched VCU (#11) win a 79-77 nailbiter against Duke (#6) in a first round game in Buffalo. VCU was down most of the first half but came back from a 13 point deficit to tie it up right before the buzzer. I was already on the edge of my seat.

The second half was just as eventful with several ties, 4 bloody players and a near spat between Duke's Greg Paulaus and VCU's Eric Maynor. VCU's defense was stellar. First year head coach Anthony Grant kept his cool through the entire game. When his team, with under a minute left to play, began celebrating their impending win, he brought them all back down reminding them the game was not theirs yet.

I was clapping for every VCU point scored in the last 10 minutes of the game -- exclaiming in disappointment when they lost the ball or missed a goal. I'm certain everyone in my building could hear my squeals of delight when the game was over. And this is just the first round!

The frazzled nerves. The emotional roller-coaster. Clapping when only your cat can hear you. THIS is what it feels like to be fan! My Grandmother would be so proud.

Prom a la MMJ

Oh, how I wish I could have been in Athens, GA last week for this.

I'd rather have shit on my feet than tar on my heels

I am a sportsfan for exactly one month each year. I hold on to all of my passion as fan and let it out wholeheartedly in March. I've learned to greedily await the NCAA tournament announcements so that I can hover over my bracket, pencil in hand, making my picks. My strategy is a simple one: I don't have one. I give my home team, in this case VCU, a little hope and push them forward. I'm also holding out hope for Virginia Tech, which is shocking news in my ACC family.

I admitedly know very little about college basketball. A travesty considering I was raised a University of Virginia Cavs fan, thanks to my grandmother, who loved college basketball. She'd watch the games while going about her day, oftentimes shaking whatever cooking utensil she had in hand at the television, urging her team to "use your defense!"

I remember waiting in line on a rainy day at the McDonald's on Barrack's Road in Charlottesville in the early 80's for a life-size Ralph Sampson poster. All I wanted were chicken nuggets, but I left with a 7'4" image of, in her opinion, THE greatest basketball player to lace up his shoes at University Hall. As a seamstress for a local dry cleaner, she had the honor of mending the jerseys of every sweaty athlete to play for UVA over several decades. I'm sure it was quite a treat when Sampson's #50 fell out of the laundry bag.

As loyal Cavalier fans, we despised UNC. I still have a distaste for them (though I have them making it to the elite eight in this year's tourney and UVA going home in the second round). The slogan uttered every spring at her house? "I'd rather have shit on my feet than tar on my heels!"

Always the Last One on the Train

If you've not yet heard about, read or laughed so hard you spit a little on your computer screen while reading Overheard In New York then you are missing out on hundreds of hours of lost production time at the office. I warn you, this site is addictive!

When Kyle first moved to New York he'd IM me quotes from this site when I begged him for interesting stories from the streets of the big city (apparently subletting a room from an eccentric lady named Queen with five "wives" wasn't fodder enough to satisfy me). I was reintroduced to it today through another blog, and forgot how laugh out loud funny other people's private, yet public, conversations can be!

Read. Laugh. And return to the site again tomorrow to read and laugh some more. And, if you ever read a conversation that involves, "box -- hehehe" you'll know I've been in town.

Neon Bible

I'm a little slow in picking up the newest Arcade Fire release, Neon Bible, but I'm quite pleased to finally have it on rotation. Kyle's been raving over them for awhile now but I've been slow to catch on. It was their SNL appearance that finally clued me in to how unique and lovely they are -- and when I say they, I mean all eight band members. They practically spilled off the SNL stage there are so many of them.

I'd recommend downloading the album in it's entirety but for a taste of their lyrical goodness, grab "Intervention" and "Keep the Car Running".

In other fan news, I am very excited to report that I bowed down to TicketMaster again today and bought tickets to see the Decemberists at the Norva on April 1. O Valencia I'm excited!

Homebody

Since childhood, I've been a homebody. Every year, though, toward the end of winter this habit completely takes over and I slip into a sad state where I choose to stay close to home for weeks on end, bemoaning over things in my life I wish were different. I totally bring myself down and wallow in self contempt. Then, suddenly, without much reasoning, it's over. The fog lifts, I throw back the curtains, open the windows and make my way outside again. Last weekend, the weather cleared -- figuratively and literally. Saturday was a gorgeous, sunny, 60 degree, pre-Spring day. The perfect therapy.

Each time one of these dreadful moods lifts and I return to normal society, I question why I allowed it to go on so long. I love taking walks through the Fan -- yet, I don't take them as often as I should. And, I love meeting new people -- yet, I sit at home, where the only person to talk to is my cat. What IS my problem? I have fantastic friends who beg me to go out with them and when I do, we have a great time. Last night for example.

The girls and I were out for our dear friend Anne's birthday. As we were throwing around options for our post dinner drink, I was thinking to myself how lovely it would be to go home and go to bed, but as it was a birthday, I sucked it up and drove us to 3 Monkey's. The four of us were looking sassy in our festive attire anyway and to go straight home would have been such a waste of mascara and shaved legs. We downed our drinks, including Anne's birthday tuaca shot, and as we were leaving, a very nice, and very southern, man bought me a drink, which led to conversation and he went home with my number, leading to two drunk dials and an email, but I digress . . .

I am slowly learning that you never know who you'll run into on any given day and I've resigned myself to put more effort into things -- into life. A very good friend once told me that he felt I lived my life like the Zero 7 song, In the Waiting Line.

" . . . wasting my time, in the waiting line . . . motionless wheel . . . nothing is real, wasting my time".

I have no idea what I've been waiting for. No one is going to come knocking on my door and hand me what I want in life. So, today, I end the wait for nothing. I've never had much patience for waiting lines anyway.

Mexican Mourning

My tastebuds received some devastating news today. The Uncle Julio's El Rio Grande Cafe at Stony Point Fashion Park is CLOSED -- apparently, forever. Adios tasty, homemade tortillas. So long Guadalajara plate with your sizzling, bacon wrapped, cheese and jalapeno stuffed shrimp.

I will mourn Richmond's culinary loss by heading down to Mulligan's in the Fan to cheer on my co-worker/neighbor competing in an "I Want to be a Guitar Hero" contest tonight. It should be hilarious watching grown men and women wail on video game guitars -- in costume! I hope someone gets to the secret level unlocking the song list that includes the single Even Rats from The SLIP so I can geek out (just in case hoping for someone else to reach the secret level wasn't enough) and sing along.

This is the most you will ever hear me talk about a video game -- unless of course there is a conversation about the Original Mario Brothers -- oh how I loved thee Luigi with your sassy 'stache, overalls and kelly green monogram hat.