September 26, 2009

a relocation...

NEW PAGE

a work in progress, mind you.

August 19, 2009

indecisive

I keep meaning to update this little piece of the internet that I-- daresay?-- own, but the motivation always seems to rise up and dissolve into nothingness. It seems that the file hosting service I was previously using (or perhaps my account) went kaput and I am far too lazy to re-upload the songs.. or the images. Etcetera. Perhaps I'll pick back up again when school starts? Maybe I'll start a whole new blog all together? Who knows. I sure don't! All I can say is summer has been the makeshift rehab I needed, though I could have done without the extra weight everyone seems to pick up once they've gone back home from college. Emphasize on 'everyone,' because I sure as hell hope that I'm not the only one. I already have a couple of tracks I believe you (yes, you) would quite fancy. Everything depends on whether or not I have a) motivation to find a new hosting site, b) motivation to post during the semester, c) motiviation to stop eating (indefinitely), and d) a need for [something, perhaps a synonym, along the likeness of motivation] I hope summer has been great, fantastic, epic, even! Loves.

June 9, 2009

this is not dead.

Looking to doing some revamping on the layout and going back to having a post (or two... or three) a day. School took the best of me for the past few months and I wasn't really able to update as often as I would have liked to. Shit happens. Things will change... for the better. I have a couple of songs I am absolutely enthralled by and plan on sharing those ASAP. I just need to get my hands on Photoshop for a makeover.

Catch you guys soon!

April 9, 2009

tUnE-YaRdS!!

Once in awhile we come across something so different that we can't help but become speechless when asked to talk about it.  tUnE-YaRdS has that exact effect.  I can't exactly decide on how to categorize Merrill Garbus' one-woman-band.  Experimental?  Oh, definitely something along those lines.  There's an intimacy and rawness in every song of her debut album BiRd-BrAiNs.  One of those creatives who just simply does not give a fuck and, because of this, manages to release something so strange and bizarre and beautiful.  Haunting almost.  These tracks aren't going to appeal to popular taste, but I find them to be worth a listen.  If we're on the same page, you won't be able to stop listening to some of these tracks.  And they will linger in the back of your head (especially when the track When You Tell the Lions), making you only want to listen to them again. Give it a go.  It's something different and it sure as hell is working.  All of these tracks were home-recorded... so all of you struggling musicians complaining about not having equipment have no excuses.  This is going to be an indie gem, you can already tell right from the get-go.  Catch her early on before she breaks into consciousness. 

tUnE-YaRdS:        when you tell the lions
     sunlight
       little tiger

on some bullshit

Nina Sky is back.  What?
I'm sure you remember them from "Move Ya Body" status.

nina sky: on some bullshit (dirty)

I must say, they are looking rather good.  
Single is def radio friendly, no?

I'm going to go ahead and say that I like it.  There's major potential for a fantastic remix from this song.  Hopefully that's something we'll see in the near future.  Going right before the chorus I can totally see it going into Danity Kane territory.  Someone should get in on that.  Maybe I'll go invest in a drum machine and some equipment or something.

April 6, 2009

colouring in

Michael Jackson meets Hercules and the Love Affair meets... you?


Soon to come...
Playlist dump composing of some kickin' tunes.

April 5, 2009

an instance of inspiration

... or rather 3 minutes and 59 seconds of it.

This song embodies a good portion of my high school years.  All the small things we used to think were so majestic.  And in many ways they were.  I wouldn't take a single moment back, and I'm glad there are so many bits and pieces to think back on and laugh about.  Summer used to be something that I dreaded for fear of a lack of enthusiasm, but now I realize that there is nothing more I'd like than to get to see those familiar faces all over again.  Former life, you've been fun, I'd like to meet up for coffee again sometime.

datarock meets weird tapes

So it has been just short of legitimately being 48 hours since I've landed back in Dallas and I'm already missing what New York had to offer.  I miss the faces.  I miss the places.  I miss the little things that filled the space in between the two.  To be honest, I don't really have anything much interesting to say or report (for the moment) but wanted to post a song.  Das all.

Deal with, 
and give me some of your compassion while you're at it.


A personal update?  
I dyed my hair to a darker color, which looks quite lovely if I do say so myself, and plan on laying out in the sun to maybe get a tan at some point.  Perhaps cut my hair and buy some new clothes?  We'll see.  Most likely all of the above and then some.  
I hope spring break has been pleasant for all of us who were handed ours slightly later than everyone else.  Such awkward timing.  
I am beginning to find a lot of things amusingly awkward.  
Don't ask me why, but I'm rather enjoying it.

You know what's awkward?
... when this shit happens in front of people.

April 4, 2009

fagget fairys feed the horse

Danish duo Fagget Fairys deliver more raunchiness than most people can handle on a given night.  Unless you're part of that crowd that's experienced the debauchery of New York nightlife.. all those kids who I've shared a Cain Wednesday with know exactly what's up.  Anyway, I may have potentially found a new favorite.  Fagget Fairys is composed of 19-year-old avid badass partier (and model) Ena and equally talented/riot havoceur Sensimilla.  Yes, they are both girls.  Yes, they are with each other.  Yes, it's probably unexplainably envy worthy.

There's something about this song and video that absolutely hypnotizes.  
Give it a try... Watch it, listen to it.  
I'll even make it easy for you.


fagget fairys: feed the horse

And yes, the title probably is a play between the words horse and whores.  Did I mention they met on the dancefloor?

On a side note, I would kill for some of the outfits in this video.

kate moss, topshop, and new york.

Finally the invasion has arrived with the long awaited opening of Topshop in New York City's very own SoHo.  As soon as word spread about who would be doing the honors of cutting the ribbon-- need I say?  Moss, in all of her glory-- people were more than eager to line up from 7 in the morning until the official opening of the store's doors at 11.  Initially I planned on appearing at the Broadway and Broome location earlier on so I could catch a glimpse of gorgeous Kate, or even be within her proximity, but my roommate and I decided it would somehow be a good idea to stay up until 4am.  I was lucky enough to have even been able to wake up and be there by a half hour after its opening.  Oh god, if you could have only seen the line.  Literally it was so disorienting that I couldn't figure out where it began and where it ended.  Thank god for being chosen as a college ambassador for Topshop's campaign.. basically being that I send them e-mails about street trends, cause hype, and get free things in reward.  I was able to count on Jane from JellyNYC to escort me into the building without the hassle of the line.  Once inside, it was total chaos and amazement.  In the most cheesiest of fashions, I remembered the greatest perk of being a girl.  Shopping.  It was one of those moments of a natural and unexplainable (possibly unhealthy) high.  I stalled around and bought a few things and waited until my friend Emily arrived, who didn't have Jane's number so I had to leave the store to go get her.  We reunited, called Jane, and were led to a back entrance to the store where the line was ending (by this time of the day it was around 2pm and the line wasn't so horrible but still barely tolerable) and received many questionable and presumably not-so-nice looks.  Two hours later, and a few minutes before the Misshapes appeared to DJ, we left and picked up lunch composed of waaay too many calories to even recount.  My morning began disheveled, blurred towards ecstatic, and began crashing towards the realization that a nap was in order and no one should ever consume that amount of food.

Oh, I forgot to mention the cherry on top of it all.  The opening of Topshop New York was perfected with the launch of Kate Moss' S/S 2009 line.  Absolutely desirable!

To those wondering, yes, that picture above does say:
"Garments are limited to five per customer."

÷
Howabout some completely dance-worthy music?  You'll maybe want to download these before a night out or for that hour long subway ride to Coney Island.  
Really.

March 12, 2009

help, i'm alive.

It's been approximately a month since I've blogged about anything on here and I feel awfully obliged to get back to writing via the interweb.  For all you kids who care enough to be looking at these words on your screen: I apologize for being standoffish.  I apologize for being neglectful.  I apologize for being in any way awkward.  That's all.  My roommate and I have been sleeping at 6 every morning and waking up way into the afternoon and it's rather unhealthy.  Not advised at all.  We managed to talk about a lot of things in various states of mind and I can't say that I regret any minute of it.  One word of wisdom: don't talk too openly when you're on some kind of alcohol.. or drugs if you're into that aspect of college living.  ANYWAY.

The Tadashi Shoji show was wonderful.  It was nice to actually have been able to attend a runway show at the Bryant Park tents.  The friend I went with decided it would be a good idea to wear a fur coat, thus resulting in us getting ambushed by the paparazzi outside and whilst waiting in the standing room only line.  People kept asking for pictures, and on some level it was a nice self-esteem boost.  Who wouldn't think so?  Though it's kind of ironic considering if we were by any chance people of importance, we sure as hell wouldn't be standing in line waiting for the show.  I don't think I saw any celebrity faces on the front row, but I can't be too sure.  We did, however, manage to steal some of the pink apple decor (for souvenirs of course) and see Ray J.  Epic?  Not really, but it was a good experience.

On a personal level, I was given the hook up to be a style ambassador for Topshop New York and am attending a training meeting on March 22nd.  I'm not quite sure what it entails but I do know that we will be getting free clothing and are presumably going to sit around and talk about street fashion and trends, or something of the like.  Another friend of mine from school has offered me the chance to do a PR internship for Twinkle by Wenlan, which I am quite excited about.  I'm kind of apprehensive because I don't want to completely mess up my first chance at an internship.  I don't know if it will be substantial considering I'll only be in the city for maybe three more months for school.  Plans for the summer are still shaky, but hopefully I'll be able to get an apartment and stay here for some of June and July, or early August.  What else... oh, I also plan on getting a job at some point.  I feel bad for having my parents pay for everything just so I can be a bum college kid.  I think it's time to actually build things up for my resume this early on so I can advance into the industry later on.  Things are looking optimistic.  I just need to get past my mental rut.  Eventually.

Below are some pictures from the Tadashi Shoji show.  I used a point and shoot so the quality isn't all that fab, especially on the last one.  I just wanted to add that one in because I like it for some aesthetic reason.  It's pretty.

More on the Tadashi Shoji show?  Here.  

÷
Music choice for the evening?  A new song from one of my all-time favorites Metric, a.k.a one of the few soundtracks of my high school years.  Major girl crush on vocalist Emily Haines.  Seriously, though.  Look at her.  Easy.

February 17, 2009

welcome to the heartbreak

i realized lately that i need to start taking more advantage of my being in new york city.  what's the point of going to school here, if not for some networking?  if anything, crazy stories about adventures out in the city.  i'll start taking more pictures and putting them up on here in the future (that is when i actually take the time to update-- which i apologize for.)  classes have been going quite lovely and i've spent the last two weeks reconnecting with old friends and building stronger bonds with acquaintances, and then some. a good friend of mine who interns for allure was kind enough to give me three tickets to the tadashi shoji show, to which i am looking forward to. truth be told, i was not familiar with him prior to receiving the tickets so i did some research. apparently his goal is to design "classic inspired clothing at a democratic price point." his collection has been picked up by bergdorf goodman as well as saks fifth. i will be sure to give an update on this coming friday.


interesting (or not) enough, that same day at bryant park will be: the project runway finale show and ralph lauren.

÷

I don't think I need to write anything about Kanye West, do I?  
Enjoy the remix... if only his attitude was as solid.

February 10, 2009

apparently...

I am unable to adequately determine whether or not I'm allowed to post specific mp3s.  I think there have been a total of three notifications from the DMCA.  
Total pwnage, to say the least.
Anyway, here are some songs from the Black Ghosts.  
Or am I not allowed?  I guess we'll see together.

February 9, 2009

the bird and the bee

I started to miss listening to cutesy indie pop goodness, so I was happily surprised to learn of a new release from the lovely Bird and the Bee duo.  The jazz-inspired electro-pop (how's that for genre defining?) team is made up of Inara George ("bird") and Greg Kurstin ("bee").  Cute, I know.  And that's exactly what their music sounds like too.  Foot tapping, catchy tunes that make you feel like skipping down the street or something of that nature.  Give it a listen.

the bird and the bee: my love
...off their new album released on January 27th called
"Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future"

÷
P.S- Does anyone else have that huge desire to change words like "are" and "the" to lowercase form when typing titles, etc.?  It's so frustrating.  Especially when it makes the title look so awkward and uncomfortable, even when you know it's more proper.  Or am I wrong?  I don't know.  I'm sure someone out there understands what I'm trying to convey.  In any case, I decided  to leave the above album title in it's capitalized form because "Ray Guns are Not Just the Future" looks strangely improper.

February 5, 2009

spring semester and a japanese bear

I apologize for the lack of updates on my part, but I seem to have found myself in an intense school-oriented setting.  No explanations as to why I suddenly decided to get my act together, but I'm quite happy with the results.  I really do adore the classes I'm taking this year, save one or two (I'm talking about you Macroeconomics.)  Finally, it feels like I actually am taking courses at the FIT and not just a school masquerading under the name.  I have the pleasure and humbling opportunity of having Elaine Stone as one of my professors, who is just absolutely captivating and incredibly knowledgeable.  I also realized that having night classes is in my best interests considering that all the FMM girls have decided to change out of their Juicy sweatpants after 6PM.  It's lovely.  I have some doctors and business owners in my night classes who are more than willing to share their experiences in relation to whatever we're studying in class.  Completely beneficial for us young'ns, yeah?

In about an hour I have Fashion Art and Design with some entertaining kids so I'm looking forward to that.  I think it may be my favorite class next to Professor Stone's.  Things are looking up this semester.  Everything is in check for once.

Teddy bear.
I don't have time right now to upload a song but I will do so soon.  Swear.

January 30, 2009

runways, models, and treacherous heels



How does Katie Fogarty manage to maintain her perfection even when she's messing up so bad? Even with the deer in headlights look.  I don't get it.

From this...
To this...
No, but seriously though.  
Just the fact that these models are willing to walk in these shoes is totally respectable.

January 29, 2009

retrospective

I finally dragged myself out of bed to make the ten minute trip to Midtown Comics. I must say, I've been feeling rather productive and leaning towards good clean fun. I'm not really sure what it is that's keeping me from acting up as prior- that being the past semester. A week of declining offers to go out to God knows where, and honestly I am perfectly fine with these decisions.  I kind of enjoy just staying in, drinking tea, and reading.  Perhaps it's just a realization that I need to concentrate better on my school work. My best guess is that being home during winter break during the economic distress is the reason. To see, actually see, the economic tension in personal settings complete with familiar faces and names resulted in a lot of thinking. I don't know exactly what I'm trying to say, but I know that I have a strong sense of hope for what's next. Whatever that entails.

tv on the radio: staring at the sun (in digital time remix)

January 28, 2009

well...

I am beginning to dislike night classes especially when they're accompanied by bad weather.

January 27, 2009

musicians in elevators

I stumbled across this video a long time ago and I've never gotten tired of watching it.  Arcade Fire has obviously maintained it's level of influence since they broke into mainstream attention with the release of their album "Funeral" in 2004.  The intimacy of the video is simply astounding and will cause at least some shift of emotions.  Something.  
And really, isn't that what matters in the end?

Watch it and you won't need a reminder of why they're just so damn fantastic.

The elevator magic happens around 3:53, so feel free to skip to that part.. but the quite little quirks and interactions between the band makes a smile or some shade of respect inevitable.



The website that makes these videos is La Blogotheque, which hosts a good amount of musicians in the indie/folk genre. Check it out. 
It's in French, but navigation isn't quite that hard.  
Just play around with the links and I'm sure you could make something of it.

If you need help, just click "Concerts a Emporter" on the top of the site.

empire of the sun

Spring semester 2009.  Here we go all over again.  

This past week has been really nerve wrecking in so many personal and generic ways, but I've managed to get my head wrapped around most of the situations and feel like I am ready for whichever direction things take.  I have had the worst luck with electronics since I came back to campus... my roommate tells me it's something called Mercury Retrograde, which I looked up and actually found to be an interesting phenomenon.  I'm not quite convinced that it's the cause of past technical difficulties, but I do find it entertaining that it is apparently relevant time-wise.  ANYWAY.  Classes so far have been good to me and I am okay with the ones I've been to thus far.  Three more to go, so perhaps I shouldn't speak so soon.

It's really nice seeing everyone again.

÷
empire of the sun: 

Empire of the Sun is an electronic duo consisting of Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore.  Their single "Walking On a Dream" received recognizable success in their base of Australia and reached the iTunes top 10.  Dorkatronique's remix seals the single's catchy-ness and will most likely result in repeating itself in yo mind.  It's a good song in that it makes you want to dance or at least bob your head to the ascending and descending synth backdrop.  Download that.

January 24, 2009

January 22, 2009

on a side note...SS09


1. headman: catch me if u can
2. ting tings: we started nothing
2. css: believe achieve
{repeat 1}
{repeat 2}
4. css: jager yoga
{repeat 1}

January 21, 2009

emiliana torrini


emiliana torrini: jungle drum
 SS09: Christian Lacroix, Paul Smith,Vera Wang

ev'ry day i'm hustlin'

Half a week prior to the Spring semester equals back to school shopping.  The last few moments we have before our parents stop paying for everything.  
I seriously need to get a job or something, right?



Rick Ross don't need no explainin.

you lookin kinda cute

lmfao: i'm in miami bitch

January 20, 2009

everyday i'm hustling


Lykke Li @ NTBR Part 4 - "Hustlin'" from Drew Innis on Vimeo.

I stumbled across this earlier and it made me intensely happy.  So I decided to share!

On a side note:
I'm working on changing my layout and banner.  It's not striking me as appealing in any sense so I plan on changing things up.  If my page happens to look like poo when you're on it, I'm probably trying to figure something out and playing with the template.  Sanks.

one of us is not like the other

The past two nights I've had dreams about a former fling, and it hasn't passed my attention that almost everyone I hold close is experiencing some kind of ex-something drama.  Oh, new year.
How about a catchy break up song?

Madi Diaz spent her childhood in Amish county Pennsylvania.  Swell!  Her parents were liberal musicians and she was encouraged to be creative at a young age.  At 16, she began writing her own songs and achieved minor celebrity status when she was highlighted in the 2005 documentary "Rock School."  
Since then, she joined a band called Talk Radio and has been pursuing a solo career starting in 2006.

÷

madi diaz: nothing at all

I can see this being the backtrack for an Apple commercial or something of the like.  Seriously, though.  Can't you?

January 19, 2009

pink, black, and blue


Flosstradamus equals two DJs hailing from the city of Chicago.  Josh Young (J2K) and Curt Cameruci (Autobot) have remixed songs by artists like Matt & Kim, Bloc Party, and Kid Sister.  Sounds good right?  Well, the point is.. they like to make people dance.

Side note: Caroline Polachek is from Brooklyn based (sweeet) three person band Chairlift.  The band started out as a side project in California between Caroline and band member Aaron Pfenning.  

chairlift: bruises

What was first intended by the two to result in background music for haunted houses evolved into an ambitious band who resettled and formed their identity in Brooklyn.  
We'll label them indie pop.

I also just realized how strange and violating the word "bruises" is.  Awkward aesthetics.

conversations with myself

     It's funny how one month of being at home brings back all those uncomfortable feelings you've forgotten about.  How long as it been since I cared about such simple things?  I feel oddly pretentious being at home as compared to when I'm living my second life in New York... as if that is what's normal now.  

     The funny thing is that I am having difficulty coming to terms with that.  I always think of Dallas as my home but strangely it feels as if everything has subtly shifted.  When did I begin to lose focus?  The closest I can come to describing the feeling is comparing it to losing something you've taken for granted-- which is exactly what has happened in this case.  I suppose.

     Say your parents moved your old belongings from your room and you've found yourself in a bed that has suddenly become foreign.  It's the same room and you can point out the places where you used to live and breathe and move, but your things are gone and replaced with decorations marking what was formerly yours as a guest room.  Suddenly, you find yourself always looking.  You find yourself wishing that if only the shadows against your walls or the angle of your blinds were organized in a way you remember, then everything will return to how you once saw... That simply seeing something familiar will take away any uncertainty.  But that won't happen because things change.  People change.  More importantly, you realize that you have changed.  And this is how you got to feeling how you do now... leaving you to the question of where do you belong?  Where is home?  I guess that's something I'll have to figure out in time.

÷
     
     Telekinesis, on simpler terms just Michael Benjamin Lerner, hasn't been generating as much buzz as he rightfully deserves.  As with most one man bands, Michael wrote/sang all of his songs on upcoming album Telekinesis! and plays practically all of the instruments included.  It may be interesting to know that Chris Walla is behind the production of this album... Walla of the famed Death Cab for Cutie and who has produced bands along the lines of The Decemberists and Tegan and Sara.  

Retro pop?  Check.  
Michael gives credit to early pop of the 60s and 70s as a major influence in his songwriting.

telekinesis: coast of carolina

January 18, 2009

someday you'll die with the only woman you loved

Climactic Australian folk music, accompanied with trumpets and xylophones.
'NUFF SAID.

To be honest, there's nothing particularly innovative that sets The Middle East apart from other folk outfits, but what the genre calls for... they provide for quite well.  And the results are rather pleasing.  Save for a rainy day when you're feeling mellow.

÷
the middle east: blood
                                                 the darkest side

January 17, 2009

who boasts of birds they stole from


Mandolins, banjos, cellos, pianos, tigers, and bears, OH MY!  Or rather, Ohbijou.  The six-piece band is made up of the two Mecija sisters and their friends, who manage to convey frailty and vulnerability in a way that is inspiring and captivating.  Intricate melodies layered with harmonies provide rather an appetizing feast for the sentimental and nostalgic.  In some moments, Ohbijou's vocal styling is reminiscent of the DuPree sisters from Tyler, Texas' power force Eisley-- especially on "Black Ice," available on their Myspace page.  In others, you can see a hint of Múm's whispery vocals.  Definitely worth a listen and I can almost guarantee a desire to repeat what you hear.  

The band's latest release is a split 12" record with fellow Canadian's The Acorn.

÷
ohbijou: tender bones
           st. francis
                   black ice (live)



in the room where you sleep


What if Superman landed in Russia instead of good ol' Kansas?

÷
dead man's bones: in the room where you sleep

     Dead Man's Bones is a band composed of actor Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields.  Hailing from Los Angeles, the band describes themselves as a mix of the gothic and gospel genres.  Quite on the extremity of things, don't you think?  Unless of course they're referring to architecture in the former, then I can see how it ties in with the latter.  I highly doubt that they are though.  I personally find it to be quite surprising that Gosling has musical talent... talent that is pretty admirable.  Something about the children's choir in the background and Ryan, not to mention his borderline bass voice, taking up the foreground is haunting.  And mesmerizing all at the same time.  I'm interested in seeing the direction this band ends up taking.  Now that I think about it, it's kind of reminiscent of Arcade Fire's sounds in Funeral.  Keep in mind the recording is quite choppy and there are evident mistakes but if you're able to look past that, you'll find yourself as interested as I am in what the future holds for this project.  

I strongly recommend clicking this link to the YouTube page and watching the video in HD as the title suggests.  Definitely worth doing it simply for the children's costumes.

January 16, 2009

you love my style cause i'm not what you're used to

     Stating my complete legal name usually results in half raised eyebrows and a suspended exhale.  I, personally, don't find it to be particularly lengthy but I suppose I can understand why the action results in an expected reaction... mostly from those with names consisting of two first names.  You know which ones I'm talking about.  I guess I don't really have the authority to poke fun considering that I have been victim to the makeshift party trick of predictable reactions, so you can imagine my delight when I was informed of a body of water located in the United States called....

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.

Want proof?
     I know exactly what you're thinking right now... siiick.  
     This pronunciation monster is located in Massachusetts and translates to "fishing place at the boundary," though I find Larry Daly's alternative translation to be much more fun: "I fish on my side, you fish on your side, nobody fishes in the middle."  It seems much more of a rewarding explanation once you've "Jedi Master"-ed (yes, I verb-ed it) your way up to reciting the name flawlessly without effort.

As an added bit of information, I thought it might also be interesting to include the place with the longest name in the world, located in New Zealand and goes by the name of...

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

     I'll be honest.  I tried to pronounce it, but decided to stop after I saw myself looking at 6 vowels shoved together like an automobile accident... which is similar to the sound that came out of my mouth when I tried.

Incase you were wondering, I stumbled after Taumatawhakatangihangak and before tamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokai.... 
somewhere along those lines

I recommend the latter as an excellent hideout because anyone trying to find you will surely give up after acquiring a massive migraine, which I'm sure is inevitable.

÷
black milk: overdose
                        the matrix

Good old rap.  Legitimately one of the best albums I have listened to in the latter half of last year.  Black Milk crafts his songs with eloquence and supreme delivery... much more than I can say for most of the rappers featured on mainstream radio stations.  I'm surprised of the lack of attention he's been subject to.  Hear it out.  I'm sure you'll appreciate it on some level.

Did I mention that his beats are sick?

January 15, 2009

we've got obsessions

     Where did all the grace and redemption go?  I miss the amiable portrayals of living life recklessly through pages of novels like Anna Karenina and This Side of Paradise... of giving everything you have for happiness-- though it's not advisable.  I'm not the biggest fan of these 'A List' books and that 'Gossip Girl' show.  I find no entertainment value in watching self suffocated arrogance and, therefore, vote amscray modern representations of the noveau riche!  Replace these spoiled brats with paupers seeking vengeance against society with elegance, subtle disapproval, and lots of caviar.  Old school style with monocles and all.  Can somebody hand me a copy of Great Expectations?

What exactly is my point?  Nothing, actually.  
I just need to take a shower and go to Barnes and Noble to buy some good ol' Fitzgerald.  
Perhaps get better sleeping patterns while I'm at it.

÷
marina & the diamonds: obsessions
                                                mowgli's road

how you move from A to B

I just realized that I accidentally posted the wrong remix on my earlier post.  So, I'll leave that one up and just add the proper one.  
The one that actually has graduated vocals.
Here...

seemed like a dream... no, better.

Before you read this, you should probably know that this all happened in 2006.  Not recently.  I just stumbled across the pictures and felt compelled to put them up somewhere a.k.a here.

     When I was younger, I looked forward to the day my size 5 shoes would become introduced to European soil/gravel/horse dung.  It was never a possibility that I was being frivolous.  I knew that it was only an issue of time for my dream to become a reality.  My plan was to fit in as convincingly possible amongst the locals.  Language barrier?  No problem.  I would pretend as if i were a deaf local if I needed to.  If I was ever confronted or asked a question, I'd simply justshake my head and look around alarmingly as if I were waiting for Chris Hansen to save me.  Eaaaasy.

Eventually, I did get my wish... albeit not under the circumstances I imagined.

     Filipinos-- you know, those tricky ones who look like they might be Spanish, but then again not.. or maybe like a little bit but with a tad of (ethnicity here)-- tend to be very tightknit.  If you don't believe me, take a trip down to Dallas and I'll introduce you to at least 50 people who I am not related to in any way, shape, or form, but have known for practically the entirety of my childhood.  I've seen these same faces through parties, birthdays, dinners, banquets, performances, etc.  Actually, I went to go play laser tag with my favorites the other day.

ANYWAY.

    Two of our family friends' families children were getting married..waaait, that is so difficult to understand.  I'll make it easier.  Family A has a daughter who is in love with Family B's son, so they are getting married.  Capiche?  Lovey dovies decide to get married in Italy and BAM, dream becomes reality in motion.  We, my family, buy our tickets to go to Italy and figure, "Hey, we're already there... why don't we just go ahead and visit some neighboring countries during?"  I was estatic.

   I forget exactly how much a pain in the ass the flight was to get there... and whether or not I had difficulty in figuring how to pack my belongings but I do know for a fact that I brought practically all my clothes.  God forbid I look tacky in Europe, right?  Most likely I sleep throughout our flight and we land in Chicago for a plane transfer.  Resume.  Eventually, after hours and hours of derriére numbing, we land at La Guardia airport and proceed to claim our baggage.  Waiting... waiting... wait, seriously?... wait.. pacing... Oh, what the fuck, could it be?  
They've lost our luggage.

     At this point I am livid.  As a girl, you have to understand that I have lost, a) practically all my clothing, b) all my good makeup, and c) any hope of retaining dignity while I am in Europe.  We get the airport to check on our baggage and turns out it's hanging out somewhere in Chicago.  'Maybe.'  There's no guarantee we'll ever get our stuff back but, hey, they could compensate us for a monetary fraction of our belongings.

   I manage to pull together my composure and come to the realization that there's really nothing I can do at this point, and so my family and I just get on with our trip-- deciding not to worry about our troubles until we had to.  Which would be soon.  Did I mention we were going to a wedding?  Oh, I also forgot to say earlier that my parents were chosen as the couple's sponsors, meaning they'd have to somehow manage without their belongings.  My parents at least had their formal attire with them, sans shoes and embellishments.  Thankfully we were in the company of our good ol' crew and people were more than willing to offer their help towards our finding temporary replacements and the wedding went through perfectly.

     The wedding took place in perhaps the most gorgeous place I have ever visited: Assissi, Italy.  Assissi appears as a heavenly city resting on top of a hilltop, with its secrets hiding somewhere along each sequentially rising alley, fountainhead, and home.  Around midday, children are out playing soccer nearby churches and fountains as their elders rest against buildings and structures, looking out towards the grapevines and greenery.  AND!  That was a horrendous sentence so I will appease by giving you pretty things to look at.



     Throughout our duration, my family was able to go around both Italy and France.  Needless to say, we were without our familiar belongings and had to rely on purchasing replacements until the issue was settled.  In the end, we managed to eventually get our belongings back a week or so after we had given up all hope on ever seeing them again.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself, even though I lacked the image I preferred to present.  It was everything I had imagined it to be, minus having to pretend to be the local mute.  
Did I mention I also got my iPod stolen during this vacation?  
I suspect the nuns who fed us.



I plan on returning sometime in the near future.  
When it happens &there will be more pictures to share.

And, yes, I know... I am not a photographer.  Not even an amateur at that.

÷
alaska in winter: berlin

Artists all beginning with the letter "A' and referencing some element of Europe.  Touché.