Jack the Ripper

Note: Ripping Christmas CDs in August can put you in a funky mood. A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra has the best Jingle Bells ever.

Note: Finding CDs you haven't listened to in years is fun. That Luscious Jackson CD I'd gotten so bored with is now refreshing and fun. Whoo!

Note: PowerBook dvd drives get pretty warm when they're ripping cds all morning.

Running System Updates:

I can't believe it's been since Saturday that I last blogged. For some reason, I thought I'd posted something on Tuesday, but apparently didn't. I didn't even save anything as a draft. Hmmm....funny.

So, since it's been a while, and I don't have much time now, I'll post a quick update:

♥ I did end up going to my 10-year reunion on Saturday. It was actually much better than I thought it would be. It was interesting to see some of those people after so long, but was kind of odd to discover that I live in the same town as a number of them, and haven't seen them for 10 years. It was also good catching up with friends, especially Courtney and Chris.

♥ I have to move out of my apartment this weekend. I'm all stressed out with all that I have to do, but can't seem to find any motivation to take care of things. It's going to be a long weekend.

♥ I got an email today from UP saying that they never received my housing application (that I sent in twice now) and that I'll have to get an off-campus apartment when I arrive. Great. I arrive in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. What the hell am I going to do? (Currently having major second thoughts about the whole England thing, since there seems to be a new extreme problem every week.)

♥ The iPod and I are getting along marvelously. I will hopefully rip the last of my CDs onto my PowerBook this morning at work. I don't necessarily want to do it at work, but there's internet here so I don't have to type in all of the album info.

♥ I'm currently sipping on an incredible Mexican Mocha from The College Market coffee shop. MMMMMMmmmmmmmm....it's so darn tasty! It was on special today too.

Reunion

Today's my 10 year high school reunion. I'd put it out of my mind. Much like puberty, high school was not kind to me. I don't really want to go back and relive all of the joys of that time.

My old pal just called me to see if I was going. I don't want to. Part of me does. Yuck. I haven't accomplished much with my life since then. No significant other, no kids, no home, no real job, no degree, no money. Wow...my life's really lame when I put it into terms like that.

Goodbye Money...

hello new iPod Photo!

So, I broke down and got an iPod last night. I know, I know...it's about time. I've been whining about wanting one since I started this blog.

I had full intentions of ordering my iPod off of apple.com on Monday, but I visited Best Buy last night. They had a 30GB 1st Gen iPod Photo on clearance for $330, so I was interested in it. They found out that the only model they had was the display model, and were missing all of the cords, paperwork, software, etc. So, the manager offered me 10% off of a new 2nd Gen iPod. Since that's the same discount I would have gotten online, I went for it. I missed out on laser engraving, but that's okay. Like the old addage says, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. At least, I hope that's the point of that old saying. It never really made sense to me.

Currently, I'm ripping all of my cds in a mad frenzy, so that I can get some serious tunage on my iPod this afternoon.

St. Teresa

It looks like I might be in St. Teresa hall this year at University of Plymouth. *keeping fingers crossed that I even get housing at UP*

Weird. How did they know St. Teresa is my favorite Joan Osbourne song?

St. Teresa hall is where most of the older students and international students live, and is closest to the activity center of the town. Sounds like a good fit for me.

Oh, and I thought I had a grasp on British English until I was applying for housing. There are all sorts of weird terms for housing contracts, so I got all confused. They also factor rent on a weekly basis, rather than a monthly one.

Husky Rescue

New Band of the Week: Husky Rescue

I just found these guys while I was goofing around with the RealPlayer. They're a "blissed out, swirling folk pop" act from Finland. They're kind of depressing, but uplifting at the same time. Kind of like the movie American Beauty, except that it's a purely aural experience.

I really like their song "Sweet Little Kitten," because it reminds me of MK.

Sunday Becomes Ecclectic

I'm in the process of ripping all of my CDs onto my laptop so that I have all of my music in England. It just isn't feasible to carry stacks of CDs around Europe with me, and I'm still in the consideration of an iPod.

While I've been ripping my CDs, I've realized I have fairly ecclectic taste. Here's a list of CDs I'm getting on the PowerBook today:

Beth Orton: Trailer Park
The Black Crowes: Greatest Hits 1990-1999
Radiohead: The Bends
Frank Sinatra: The Heart of the Matter (Love Songs Collection)
The Strokes: Is This It?
Frank Sinatra: His Great Performances
Starbucks Songs From the Open Road: Mile Marker 383
Lenny Kravitz: Circus
Avril Lavigne: Let Go (Gulp! I actually own this!)
Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles
Kenna: New Sacred Cow

Artist of the Day: Friday

In this last and final entry of "Artist of the Day", I'm giving public accolade to the creative mind of Sarina Brewer. Sarina is doing new work with taxidermy to create fantasy creatures.

Here is Brewer's beautiful Capricorn creation. I know that I've blogged about Brewer's work before, but it's just so good that I have to give it another plug. If any reader feels inclined, I'm still accepting gifts of either the capricorn or the griffin.

Wanted Poster

I went out with the boys last night, and while it was a lot of fun, there was definitely something missing. These three were missing. So, I've decided to put out a wanted poster. These three are wanted alive, and the reward for their capture is a life-long friendship.

Artist(s) O' the Day: Thursday

Today's featured artist is a collective of artists known as Digital Kitchen. Digital Kitchen has done some incredible work in television and film lately. I first discovered DK when I watched the intro to "Six Feet Under." DK created one of the most memorable intros to a television show I've ever seen. Then, as if to one up themselves, they created just as incredibly well thought out intros for "Kingdom Hospital" (yes, the show was horrible, but the intro is still amazing) and the intro for Fox's "House." DK has also done a number of creative commercials and other work. Recently, they created the incredible intro for the Tour de France coverage in the US.

I'm glad to see that DK as been nominated for two Emmys this year for their hard work. Congratulations!

To see the creative works of DK, please visit their website, and go to the section labeled "Work." It's all flash based, so I couldn't get pictures.

Artist of the Day: Wednesday

Today's featured artist is the talented Kristen Ulve. I first learned about Ulve last spring, when I saw one of her illustrations in Entertainment Weekly.

I'm assuming that Ulve uses Illustrator or another piece of graphic software to design her work. I love Ulve's hands that she gives her people, and the big eyes. It's been interesting, because I've seen copycats of her work springing up a lot lately.

So, congrats Kristen, for being artist of the day.

Artist O' the Day: Tuesday

Today's artist is someone I should have known about a few years ago, but just discovered recently, thanks to S. Matthew Barney, creator of the Cremaster Cycle movies, is a visionary genius/nutjob that's making some incredible movies.

Admittedly, I've only seen a 30 minute segment of Cremaster 3, but I'm amazed at his artistic filmwork. Also, I'm impressed that he shot Cremaster 3 on 24p DV three years ago, using the Sony CineAlta cameras *drool drool*. This was before Lucas and Rodriguez pushed the envelope by using 24p DV.

I must say that I'm incredibly disappointed with the Mass Communications department. How come none of the professors told me about Matthew Barney, especially since he was raised in Idaho? They didn't need to encourage me to create video as odd as Barney's, but a little nudge in that direction could have opened new worlds to me. Instead, I'm making comedies about men in kilts, while Barney is making escapist-fantasy works of art featuring guys in kilts.

"But wait!" you say. "Isn't this Blandella? Isn't it a celebration of mediocrity and banality in your life?" True, true. I just wish that the celebration wasn't quite so powerful at times.

Artist O' the Day

Banksy

British "art terrorist" known for his intricate graffiti-stencil work, and for hanging up false works of art in major museums.

Logan

I met this young man last night, when I was having frozen yogurt with his parents. Logan's daddy and I are good friends, and former roommates. It was nice meeting Logan, even though he could use some work on his conversational skills. Time should help with that though.

Why Do They Leave?

Oh, why do they leave?
Oh, why do they leave?
On the day that you needed them the most
Simple cards and things
Rose-colored sunsets, no flowers for me
Simple cards and things
Rose-colored sunsets, no flowers for me

Lover, why do you leave
Lover, why do you leave
On the day I want you for me?

Say, say it ain't so
That he will take you tomorrow
And I will sit here today (The worst)
Simple cards and things
Rose-colored sunsets, no flowers for me
Simple cards and things
Rose-colored sunsets, Curtains for me

Lover, why do you leave
Lover, why do you leave
On the day I want you to be
The one

"Why Do They Leave?" by Ryan Adams

T., M., and MK all left this morning to go back to California. It's incredible to me that I really only knew the three of them for a little over a month, but I feel like they occupy a huge place in my heart. They made me laugh, smile, dance, sing, and feel alive this summer. I can't thank them enough for all that they gave to me over the time I knew them...especially the love they showed me. They're all special people, and I care deeply for them.

It'll be weird this week, not having them around. No goodnight kisses from M and MK. No goodnight hug from T. Man, I miss them so much already. I'm sitting here in the coffee shop trying not to cry. It doesn't help that I'm listening to the "MK's Cry Time" disc of sad songs that I made for MK. It was supposed to help her cry, if she ever needed a good release of tears.

And suddenly, next June can't come fast enough.