(#33) Thinkin' Out Loud

File this under things I say way too often - I need to be a better blogger.

I got this list from Jessica's nifty blog and think it would be a good way to achieve this goal.

Day 1 - your favorite song

Day 2 - your favorite movie

Day 3 - your favorite television program

Day 4 - your favorite book

Day 5 - your favorite quote

Day 6 - 20 of your favorite things

Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy

Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 9 - a photo you took

Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you

Day 11 - a photo of you recently

Day 12 - something you are OCD about

Day 13 - a fictional book

Day 14 - a non-fictional book

Day 15 - your dream house

Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)

Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding

Day 19 - a talent of yours

Day 20 - a hobby of yours

Day 21 - a recipe

Day 22 - a website

Day 23 - a youtube video

Day 24 - where you live

Day 25 - your day, in great detail

Day 26 - your week, in great detail

Day 27 - your worst habit

Day 28 - what's in your handbag/purse

Day 29 - hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Day 30 - a dream for the future

So watch this space, kids.

(#30) Oh, you think I'm in control

On the search to discover good music made in the last two decades, I came across and have been subsequently obsessed with Ida Maria.

I love a girl who can write a funny song about cute boys.

The video for "Oh My God" isn't very interesting, but the song...sigh.

And...school is happening again. I should be studying for a statistics exam, but the way I see it, I'm going to do poorly anyway, so why waste my time being miserable and studying when nothing will come of it?

Awesome life philosophy, I know.

I finished The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy recently. It was a beautiful story about a set of twins from Kerala, India and how seemingly unrelated details in our lives add up to create something much more significant. I'm pretty sure I'm going to read it again soon, and I would recommend you to do the same thing!

Rambling over.

(#29) Hello Good Morning

I really really really really really really need to get back into blogging. I started a Tumblr, but I'm not so much of a fan. The system confuses me and I'm not hip enough to try to figure it out.

I think my problem with this blog was that I felt I always had to write witty interesting posts and I'm just not witty or interesting all the time.

I don't want to quit, though, and what better way to say hi again than with a big ol' picture of Jon Hamm?

It's good to be back.

(#27) I Want To Tell You...

...how awful I am at blogging. I have neglected this for so long, and I apologize to anyone who actually reads this. It's so easy to get out of a habit, and so hard to get into one. Ugh.

Some happy things:

- It's (almost) summer again! Florida was not going well these past few months, but today it was like 85 and perfect. Here comes the sun, indeed.

- I actually like a new-ish band! The album Wild Young Hearts by Noisettes is absolutely fabulous. I can't really explain it besides retro-flavored pop with soul and songwriting talent. So, yeah, not at all. Anyway, they're great and you should go listen to "Never Forget You" or "Wild Young Hearts." Or "Atticus." Or all of it. Also, Shingai Shoniwa's hair is always incredibly cool.

- Bill Bryson is one of my favorite writers. He's so good at being simultaneously hilarious and informative. Oh, and making me want to travel all over the place.

- "Rocks Off" by The Rolling Stones has been constantly on repeat for the past two weeks. To me, it kind of sums up everything about the Stones - the rough singing, dirty blues feel, and just plain good music. More please.

- It's Easter! Thank You, God.

- I want to go to there:

(#25) The Song is Over

I haven't done a music post in forever, (although I am working on one about The Band's second album, which is proving to be much more difficult than it should be) and this doesn't really count, but here are my top 20 most played songs as of June 2009:

1. Love Ain't For Keeping - The Who

2. Don't Do It - The Band

3. Long Tall Sally - The Beatles

4. Jumping Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones

5. The Weight - The Band

6. Ain't No More Cane - The Band

7. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Bob Dylan & The Band

8. Badge - Cream

9. Can You Tell - Ra Ra Riot

10. You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse

11. Across the Great Divide - The Band

12. King Harvest (Has Surely Come) - The Band

13. Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie

14. American Pie - Don McLean

15. Faded From the Winter - Iron & Wine

16. Guilty Cocker Spaniels - Modest Mouse

17. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones

18. Baba O'Riley - The Who

19. The Real Me - The Who

20. Smash the Mirror - The Who

Notice that only five of these songs were written after the 1970s. You should probably fill me in on any nowadays-bands/artists you like. I'd be a big fan of you if you did.

(#1) Blast-off

I am starting this after a conversation from my father, who usually has good advice. Now that I've set this whole thing up, however, I have nothing to write about. Well, that's not true. I have tons to write about. I just don't know where to begin or anything blog etiquette. For example, I was going to name this blog "Your Music Sucks" but that would be neither polite nor (necessarily) true. What kind of person with an idea of what is proper in the internet world would consider that name?

Me, that's who.

Anyway, the case remains that I don't have any particular subject to write about at the moment, but if I don't start this now, I will forget to and then another empty blog will be sitting in cyberspace, using up obscure Band lyrics for no good reason (I'm looking at you, treewithroots.blogspot.com). In the interest of being somewhat related to my title, I'll do my best to do a three-point deal every time I post. We will see how this goes.

As of August 24, 2009:

Life: is going okay. College is happening, and as far as I know it seems like it'll be okay. More on this later, surely.

Love: is alliterative and sounded okay next to "life." Also, I like it.

Classic rock: is undoubtedly my favorite music and should be yours, too. I'm not talking about the label that radio stations give music made before 1990 and, God forbid, Journey. I mean genuine classics that still have their appeal and meaning after forty years. Anyway, at the moment I am listening to "Tears of Rage" by The Band. This is the kind of classic I'm talking about. Also, my dad is trying to get me into Ronnie Lane. It is going well so far.