Last night Cary took the kids to a St. Joseph's Day table at our friends' house. Our friends had hired a band - two musicians in their eighties- to play at the party. According to Cary, Henry plopped down in front on the band with a huge grin on his face. The mandolin player came up and handed his instrument to Henry, who started to play it, and the guitarist did his best to play along.
This morning at breakfast I said, "Henry, Daddy said you really liked the band last night." He replied, "You got the story a little bit wrong, Mom. I played with the band."
I skipped out on the event because I've had a terrible cold. It turned out to be a wise choice because Lucy woke up in the middle of the night with a fever, and I was up with her off and on all night.
Should be playing "100,000 Fireflies" by The Magnetic Fields, but I am posting from the laptop and it's not in iTunes on this machine.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Boy next door makes pants
I'm really excited to have a Staff Favorite on the Venus website today. Check it here.
What's fun about this piece is that I have known Matt, half of Swrve, since I was in first grade when we were about the only kids living in the same apt. complex. We used to get together and play with Matchbox cars.
I remember that he could always make me laugh. Somehow it doesn't surprise me at all that he went on to start his own DIY clothing company. They were even featured in the NYT last year.
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Now playing: The Breeders - Bang On
What's fun about this piece is that I have known Matt, half of Swrve, since I was in first grade when we were about the only kids living in the same apt. complex. We used to get together and play with Matchbox cars.
I remember that he could always make me laugh. Somehow it doesn't surprise me at all that he went on to start his own DIY clothing company. They were even featured in the NYT last year.
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Now playing: The Breeders - Bang On
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
What I learned on the streets
If you lock your keys in your car at your daughter's pre-school it will take AAA over an hour to arrive, but less than 45 seconds to unlock your car.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Client 9
I do not accept your apology, Gov. Spitzer. I voted for you.
If you haven't already heard, read what the NYT has to say here.
I will now resume my regular blog programming: I have a migraine, and I am searching the house for a three-dimensional rhombus and something that is "not a polygon" so that Henry can complete his homework.
If you haven't already heard, read what the NYT has to say here.
I will now resume my regular blog programming: I have a migraine, and I am searching the house for a three-dimensional rhombus and something that is "not a polygon" so that Henry can complete his homework.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Newer Dumb Things
1. I packed a sandwich for Cary in his lunch that contained two-week old deli turkey. This was in no way intentional -- and thankfully he did not get sick! I didn't even notice until I went to add the fresh turkey I had just purchased to the fridge that we actually had two packages from previous weeks that I had failed to throw out, and I had made his sandwich from the oldest one. Now, you might ask, "What if Cary made his own lunches?" The outcome would have, in all likelihood, been the same.
2. Last week I called the cable company and announced to them that I had failed to put a check in the envelope along with my payment coupon. OK, no problem. We did an e-check over the phone and I felt slightly silly until yesterday when the bill was returned to me. I had put the payment coupon in upside down and backwards, so the Postal Service couldn't read the address, BUT I had also included a check This lead me to panic and think that I had not sent the credit card company a check. After calling, hearing that we owed no money at this time I decided to do what I should have done in the first place -- scrutinize the check register. Actually I just skipped ahead and wrote down the number so it looked like a check was missing, but everything was fine all along. I'd like to point out that I also use Quicken to do all of the math for the bills, or we would never have a balanced check book.
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Now playing: LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator (Fk's Infiltrated Vocal)
2. Last week I called the cable company and announced to them that I had failed to put a check in the envelope along with my payment coupon. OK, no problem. We did an e-check over the phone and I felt slightly silly until yesterday when the bill was returned to me. I had put the payment coupon in upside down and backwards, so the Postal Service couldn't read the address, BUT I had also included a check This lead me to panic and think that I had not sent the credit card company a check. After calling, hearing that we owed no money at this time I decided to do what I should have done in the first place -- scrutinize the check register. Actually I just skipped ahead and wrote down the number so it looked like a check was missing, but everything was fine all along. I'd like to point out that I also use Quicken to do all of the math for the bills, or we would never have a balanced check book.
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Now playing: LCD Soundsystem - Disco Infiltrator (Fk's Infiltrated Vocal)
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Jeff Tweedy's Migraines
The New York Times continues its valiant effort to offer up comments from more famous and interesting migraine sufferers. So considering migraines and music are two of my favorite non-kid topics, I would be remiss if I didn't link to what Jeff Tweedy has to say.
After reading it myself I have two comments. No one has ever offered me Vicodin for my headaches - as he says it worked no better than Imitrex. It completely amazes me that most of his headaches are now treatable with Advil. One thing I have learned by reading these accounts is that we migraineurs are a heterogeneous bunch. Also, I have had headaches two out of the last three days.
Obligatory Henry update: Things seem to be going better. Nowhere to go but up, right? The school psychologist, who appears to be competent and helpful, and somewhat contrite, has gotten involved working with his teacher more directly. We shall see. I am not going to pat anyone on the back just yet.
My favorite Wilco song: Jesus, etc. from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which preceded Tweedy's detox.
Interesting side note - it is now easier for me to post songs than to link to what I am listening to because I can no longer open iTunes without crashing the computer after installing our router and linking to TiVo. Ironically, I can listen to all my music through my TV.
After reading it myself I have two comments. No one has ever offered me Vicodin for my headaches - as he says it worked no better than Imitrex. It completely amazes me that most of his headaches are now treatable with Advil. One thing I have learned by reading these accounts is that we migraineurs are a heterogeneous bunch. Also, I have had headaches two out of the last three days.
Obligatory Henry update: Things seem to be going better. Nowhere to go but up, right? The school psychologist, who appears to be competent and helpful, and somewhat contrite, has gotten involved working with his teacher more directly. We shall see. I am not going to pat anyone on the back just yet.
My favorite Wilco song: Jesus, etc. from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which preceded Tweedy's detox.
Interesting side note - it is now easier for me to post songs than to link to what I am listening to because I can no longer open iTunes without crashing the computer after installing our router and linking to TiVo. Ironically, I can listen to all my music through my TV.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Digging Out
A few good things have happened that have helped take my mind off of how upset I have been.
1. I realized that I may be willing to consider selling our house and moving to a different school district, or taking a menial job to fund a private school education for Henry, but I draw the line at home schooling him. That's kind of funny on some level.
2. At swimming Henry's teacher (and sometimes babysitter) was absent. He got put in a random group that included Lucy and about 8 other kids (too big!). He perceived this as a slight. He climbed out of the pool, found the buffoon in charge, explained the situation -- we could see a couple of tears while he was talking but there was no tantrum-- and got himself put in a new, smaller group. He had a fantastic lesson. Six months ago he never could have done that.
3. If anyone is curious about my first printed review in Venus you can read it here. They didn't put every single review up on the web from the last issue, but they chose mine. While this may be the tiniest indication of praise, I'm clinging to it.
4. I spent a good part of yesterday getting ready to work on what the school laughingly refers to as "a family project." We were supposed to create a time line of our child's life, which they claim somehow ties in with their Math curriculum. Hurray! My first idea was to do a version of Chutes and Ladders, but I rejected that because I can't draw very well and because I didn't think the school would appreciate how I placed a gigantic chute at the beginning of every school year. I settled on doing a clock because I could leave the "hours" from 7 on empty, and we could look to the future.
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Now playing: The Books - The Future, Wouldn't That Be Nice?
1. I realized that I may be willing to consider selling our house and moving to a different school district, or taking a menial job to fund a private school education for Henry, but I draw the line at home schooling him. That's kind of funny on some level.
2. At swimming Henry's teacher (and sometimes babysitter) was absent. He got put in a random group that included Lucy and about 8 other kids (too big!). He perceived this as a slight. He climbed out of the pool, found the buffoon in charge, explained the situation -- we could see a couple of tears while he was talking but there was no tantrum-- and got himself put in a new, smaller group. He had a fantastic lesson. Six months ago he never could have done that.
3. If anyone is curious about my first printed review in Venus you can read it here. They didn't put every single review up on the web from the last issue, but they chose mine. While this may be the tiniest indication of praise, I'm clinging to it.
4. I spent a good part of yesterday getting ready to work on what the school laughingly refers to as "a family project." We were supposed to create a time line of our child's life, which they claim somehow ties in with their Math curriculum. Hurray! My first idea was to do a version of Chutes and Ladders, but I rejected that because I can't draw very well and because I didn't think the school would appreciate how I placed a gigantic chute at the beginning of every school year. I settled on doing a clock because I could leave the "hours" from 7 on empty, and we could look to the future.
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Now playing: The Books - The Future, Wouldn't That Be Nice?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Low Point
Yesterday was one of the worst days that I can remember. When I think about how good I felt holding Henry in my arms when we left the hospital with him, how wholly excited and positive the experience was, and where we are now, it breaks my heart.
The teacher told the principal that she has no idea why he would suddenly attack her like that, and that there is no explanation. I have an explanation, but no one wants to listen. The teacher, while very kind and well-meaning, is inexperienced and Henry walks all over her. He also adores her, but he knows if he refuses to do work she just sends it home with him. She is so afraid that he will get upset in her classroom (and make her look bad) that she just squelches any problem before it starts, so Henry never learns to deal with things. Cary has given her very specific instructions about what to do in these situations, but she chooses not to use his advice.
The work that made him so angry was a coloring book. He told me, "I feel like I color every piece of work I do." And it isn't far from the truth. He is sick of coloring and I don't blame him. He is bored. Obviously that is no excuse for injuring your teacher, but no one at the school picked up on the significance of this and to me and Cary it was so obvious. The principal said, "We don't understand, she's asked him to do much more challenging things before." Now I don't understand what it is in Henry that makes it so hard to push past the thought that he doesn't want to do something, but it troubles me that no one recognizes that it is ridiculous how much these kids color, yet they never get a true break. His teacher prides herself on making them work through snack. She's taking them sledding today so they can use the material for a "non-fiction writing experience." (Henry can't go sledding because of yesterday. How much do you want to bet it is going to be a problem when it comes time for the writing piece to be done too).
And I don't just think the teacher's inexperience is to blame. The school knew that Henry was difficult even before he was enrolled and they insist on placing him with inappropriate teachers, and then take NO responsibility for this. Why they would give a kid who struggled behaviorally last year to the brand new teacher, and give her all of the ESL kids (most of whom are very bright - but that doesn't make them easy) is beyond me.
Could it be that the more experienced teachers and the parents who are very involved in the school have the clout to demand each other? Sadly, that will never be me.
I am left feeling like we have made choices as a family like buying a house in a school district with very high taxes that was supposed to be excellent, and now I don't know whether to yank my kid out, or move, or what.
The teacher told the principal that she has no idea why he would suddenly attack her like that, and that there is no explanation. I have an explanation, but no one wants to listen. The teacher, while very kind and well-meaning, is inexperienced and Henry walks all over her. He also adores her, but he knows if he refuses to do work she just sends it home with him. She is so afraid that he will get upset in her classroom (and make her look bad) that she just squelches any problem before it starts, so Henry never learns to deal with things. Cary has given her very specific instructions about what to do in these situations, but she chooses not to use his advice.
The work that made him so angry was a coloring book. He told me, "I feel like I color every piece of work I do." And it isn't far from the truth. He is sick of coloring and I don't blame him. He is bored. Obviously that is no excuse for injuring your teacher, but no one at the school picked up on the significance of this and to me and Cary it was so obvious. The principal said, "We don't understand, she's asked him to do much more challenging things before." Now I don't understand what it is in Henry that makes it so hard to push past the thought that he doesn't want to do something, but it troubles me that no one recognizes that it is ridiculous how much these kids color, yet they never get a true break. His teacher prides herself on making them work through snack. She's taking them sledding today so they can use the material for a "non-fiction writing experience." (Henry can't go sledding because of yesterday. How much do you want to bet it is going to be a problem when it comes time for the writing piece to be done too).
And I don't just think the teacher's inexperience is to blame. The school knew that Henry was difficult even before he was enrolled and they insist on placing him with inappropriate teachers, and then take NO responsibility for this. Why they would give a kid who struggled behaviorally last year to the brand new teacher, and give her all of the ESL kids (most of whom are very bright - but that doesn't make them easy) is beyond me.
Could it be that the more experienced teachers and the parents who are very involved in the school have the clout to demand each other? Sadly, that will never be me.
I am left feeling like we have made choices as a family like buying a house in a school district with very high taxes that was supposed to be excellent, and now I don't know whether to yank my kid out, or move, or what.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Of course he won't, no not until the next time...
1. I filled up the gas tank to the sounds of Lucy's screams because I wouldn't let her come out of the car and join me. It is 10 degrees outside! When I got back in the car she said, "I can taste my tears, Mama."
2. I brought in the mail and discovered that my mother-in-law had mailed my birthday card three days late and failed to put enough postage on it, so I got it today and my mail carrier requested that I put $0.17 in an envelope. Happy Birthday to me!
3. But the kicker is that I got a phone call from the Administrative Assistant (i.e. Vice Principal) at Henry's school this morning. He was in her office because apparently he refused to do work (AGAIN), this time it was a coloring book about hippos. She told me that he was pretending to cut his arm with the scissors, so the teacher needed to take the scissors from him and when she tried to do this he poked the teacher in the stomach with the scissors.
We have been working so hard with him at home to improve his behavior and he has been doing really well, but obviously we pushed him too hard. I haven't really talked to Henry yet, so I am not assuming that he meant to hurt the teacher, whom he adores, but I wish I understood why he had such a hard time doing the work they give him. Admittedly it is mind-numbing, but it isn't like he can't do it. I am at a total loss.
4. All of which makes the arrival of the newest VenusZine with another printed contribution by me feel pretty meaningless.
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Now playing: The Smiths - Sweet and Tender Hooligan
2. I brought in the mail and discovered that my mother-in-law had mailed my birthday card three days late and failed to put enough postage on it, so I got it today and my mail carrier requested that I put $0.17 in an envelope. Happy Birthday to me!
3. But the kicker is that I got a phone call from the Administrative Assistant (i.e. Vice Principal) at Henry's school this morning. He was in her office because apparently he refused to do work (AGAIN), this time it was a coloring book about hippos. She told me that he was pretending to cut his arm with the scissors, so the teacher needed to take the scissors from him and when she tried to do this he poked the teacher in the stomach with the scissors.
We have been working so hard with him at home to improve his behavior and he has been doing really well, but obviously we pushed him too hard. I haven't really talked to Henry yet, so I am not assuming that he meant to hurt the teacher, whom he adores, but I wish I understood why he had such a hard time doing the work they give him. Admittedly it is mind-numbing, but it isn't like he can't do it. I am at a total loss.
4. All of which makes the arrival of the newest VenusZine with another printed contribution by me feel pretty meaningless.
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Now playing: The Smiths - Sweet and Tender Hooligan
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A mix of the wrong and right
but hopefully all is at least mildly amusing:
1. Yesterday I stood in our driveway just in time to see Henry's afternoon bus drive right by the house without stopping to let off any kids! It turned out that the (substitute) driver didn't know where to stop and actually yelled at the kids (a third-grader and two first-graders) for not telling her where to let them off. My neighbor had to call the school, who called the bus garage, who radioed the driver, who said "she realized she still had some extra kids and would be turning around."
2. Lucy had her two stuffed ponies inform me that there was going to be "a pony contest in Lucy's room." I sat on Lucy's bed while she threw each pony into the air. Then she announced they had both won a ribbon.
3. We seem to have accidentally cured Henry of his addiction to playing the Flash version of Nintendo games (on the internet) by purchasing a router and hooking our TiVo to the computer. Now he is fascinated with what he calls "this new TiVo." And he asks if he can listen to podcasts when he finishes his homework. He doesn't know that podcasts are available on the computer, so please, don't tell him.
4. Henry was eating a Popsicle for desert tonight. Lucy wanted one too, but Cary said basically dared her to eat a bite of sweet potato first. She did it! Then she got her Popsicle but soon gave up eating it because it was too cold. She asked me for a warmer Popsicle.
5. I'd like to be listening to music as I post, like maybe the new Los Campesinos, or the new Duke Spirit, but I can't get iTunes to open.
1. Yesterday I stood in our driveway just in time to see Henry's afternoon bus drive right by the house without stopping to let off any kids! It turned out that the (substitute) driver didn't know where to stop and actually yelled at the kids (a third-grader and two first-graders) for not telling her where to let them off. My neighbor had to call the school, who called the bus garage, who radioed the driver, who said "she realized she still had some extra kids and would be turning around."
2. Lucy had her two stuffed ponies inform me that there was going to be "a pony contest in Lucy's room." I sat on Lucy's bed while she threw each pony into the air. Then she announced they had both won a ribbon.
3. We seem to have accidentally cured Henry of his addiction to playing the Flash version of Nintendo games (on the internet) by purchasing a router and hooking our TiVo to the computer. Now he is fascinated with what he calls "this new TiVo." And he asks if he can listen to podcasts when he finishes his homework. He doesn't know that podcasts are available on the computer, so please, don't tell him.
4. Henry was eating a Popsicle for desert tonight. Lucy wanted one too, but Cary said basically dared her to eat a bite of sweet potato first. She did it! Then she got her Popsicle but soon gave up eating it because it was too cold. She asked me for a warmer Popsicle.
5. I'd like to be listening to music as I post, like maybe the new Los Campesinos, or the new Duke Spirit, but I can't get iTunes to open.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
More of the same
What I did today:
1. Cleaned up dried vomit from Henry's rug, sheets, pillow, and comforter again.
2. A lot of vacuuming, starting in Henry's room.
3. Actually showered without interference or assistance of any kind from Lucy.
What I did not do:
1. Sleep past 5:20 a.m. (Thanks to Lucy, who is now asleep on a chair in front of the TV).
2. Get out of my pajamas before 11:00 a.m.
3. Leave the house.
Henry has all of next week off from school. My house is going to be really, really clean.
1. Cleaned up dried vomit from Henry's rug, sheets, pillow, and comforter again.
2. A lot of vacuuming, starting in Henry's room.
3. Actually showered without interference or assistance of any kind from Lucy.
What I did not do:
1. Sleep past 5:20 a.m. (Thanks to Lucy, who is now asleep on a chair in front of the TV).
2. Get out of my pajamas before 11:00 a.m.
3. Leave the house.
Henry has all of next week off from school. My house is going to be really, really clean.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Wrong Kind of Work
So I'm fresh out of writing assignments today. Plus Henry caught Lucy's cold and has been home for two days, so I have only left the house to deposit the Valentine's day party supplies at his classroom today. I have actually found myself cleaning out of boredom, and this frightens me.
There are a lot of other things I could be doing, like reading one of the three engrossing articles the NYT has printed recently on migraine, only I have discovered that the children do a better job of entertaining themselves if I appear to be busy and sitting at the computer quietly does not meet that definition. Maybe my neurologist is reading them. Hmm, prolly no. The comments alone are amazing. I highly recommend them to anyone else with chronic headaches.
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Now playing: Field Music - Working To Work
There are a lot of other things I could be doing, like reading one of the three engrossing articles the NYT has printed recently on migraine, only I have discovered that the children do a better job of entertaining themselves if I appear to be busy and sitting at the computer quietly does not meet that definition. Maybe my neurologist is reading them. Hmm, prolly no. The comments alone are amazing. I highly recommend them to anyone else with chronic headaches.
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Now playing: Field Music - Working To Work
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
I might have to hire a sitter in 22 to 30 months
I was considering another post where I lament the constant presence in my life of seemingly endless games of Chutes and Ladders, No Child Left Behind-inspired math homework, and bitterly cold temperatures.
Instead, I have some good news for a change. Amazing how it has nothing to do with my daily life, except that it might get me out of the house when it hits the big screen.
This is from the PowellBooks blog:
Even the staunchest critics of book to film adaptation have to admit — this is something to look forward to.
Instead, I have some good news for a change. Amazing how it has nothing to do with my daily life, except that it might get me out of the house when it hits the big screen.
This is from the PowellBooks blog:
Even the staunchest critics of book to film adaptation have to admit — this is something to look forward to.
With the upcoming film version of The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Michael Chabon will be the next Pulitzer Prize-winning author to have his work adapted by the filmmaking wonder-twins, Joel and Ethan Coen.
The entire time I was reading this book I kept picturing it as a movie. They'd better not screw up the casting or I might just have to write a cranky post about it.Friday, February 08, 2008
Mixed Bag
What I did yesterday:
1. Got up with Lucy three times before 6 a.m.
2. Washed and dried and folded five loads of laundry.
3. Nodded off during Ni Hao, Kai-Lan.
4. Turned in a review.
5. Took Henry back to school to pick up his homework folder.
a. I discovered that he has been put at a table with the two worst behaved boys in the class. This infuriates me because it does nothing to help him concentrate (his teacher's main complaint about him and these two boys are loud) or make friends. Plus it makes me feel like she just lumped him in with her other two problems.
b. On the way back to the van Henry intentionally stepped in an inch of mud, then slipped when he was trying to clean his boots off in the snow, then when I said, "GET IN THE CAR" he decided to try and climb in on Lucy's side, planning to spread mud across her and the entire back seat.
What I did not do yesterday:
1. Shower
2. Make it to the gym (Lucy was up because she has a cold).
3. Take Henry back to school to hear some random story teller at his school from 6:45-9:00 tonight.
4. Manage to post this sorry list on the day it actually happened.
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Now playing: LCDremixed.com - Time To Get Away (ATOM's Exit Stage Left Mix)
1. Got up with Lucy three times before 6 a.m.
2. Washed and dried and folded five loads of laundry.
3. Nodded off during Ni Hao, Kai-Lan.
4. Turned in a review.
5. Took Henry back to school to pick up his homework folder.
a. I discovered that he has been put at a table with the two worst behaved boys in the class. This infuriates me because it does nothing to help him concentrate (his teacher's main complaint about him and these two boys are loud) or make friends. Plus it makes me feel like she just lumped him in with her other two problems.
b. On the way back to the van Henry intentionally stepped in an inch of mud, then slipped when he was trying to clean his boots off in the snow, then when I said, "GET IN THE CAR" he decided to try and climb in on Lucy's side, planning to spread mud across her and the entire back seat.
What I did not do yesterday:
1. Shower
2. Make it to the gym (Lucy was up because she has a cold).
3. Take Henry back to school to hear some random story teller at his school from 6:45-9:00 tonight.
4. Manage to post this sorry list on the day it actually happened.
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Now playing: LCDremixed.com - Time To Get Away (ATOM's Exit Stage Left Mix)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Pulling the Lever
Lucy and I just got back from voting. Hurrah!
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Now playing: Urban Legends - 01. Beneath Emotions And Politic
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Now playing: Urban Legends - 01. Beneath Emotions And Politic
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
I need to sleep for a week
1. Yesterday Lucy demanded her first manicure. Actually she asked for "nail goulash," but I think we both knew she meant polish. I think I might have finally figured out a way to keep her from moving.
2. Henry came home from school today and he had apparently refused to finish (or even start) all of his math class work, a small coloring book, and his Weekly Reader activities. So we spent an hour and 45 minutes on homework today. Every time Lucy made the slightest noise while she played with her toys, he plugged his ears and said, "I can't take all this noise!" (Usually when he does homework she gets right in our faces and demands things like juice and lollipops, so today she was actually being really, really good.)
3. He goes to see the Buffalo Philharmonic with the entire first grade in Thursday (what could go wrong there, right?), so if I don't post for awhile just assume I've finally taken the plunge and gotten myself a sensory deprivation chamber.
4. I've got a new review up at Venus. Check it.
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Now playing: The Helio Sequence - broken_afternoon
2. Henry came home from school today and he had apparently refused to finish (or even start) all of his math class work, a small coloring book, and his Weekly Reader activities. So we spent an hour and 45 minutes on homework today. Every time Lucy made the slightest noise while she played with her toys, he plugged his ears and said, "I can't take all this noise!" (Usually when he does homework she gets right in our faces and demands things like juice and lollipops, so today she was actually being really, really good.)
3. He goes to see the Buffalo Philharmonic with the entire first grade in Thursday (what could go wrong there, right?), so if I don't post for awhile just assume I've finally taken the plunge and gotten myself a sensory deprivation chamber.
4. I've got a new review up at Venus. Check it.
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Now playing: The Helio Sequence - broken_afternoon
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thoughts About Vampire Weekend.
Required reading: The VenusZine review (not mine)Required prereq listening: Graceland -- one of my favorite records of all time. (Christ, it just occurred to me that there are people who will think of Elvis' home before they think of Paul Simon's record).
1. Their name is about the worst mismatch for their sound that I have ever encountered.
2. They confirm that I chose to attend the wrong Ivy League School. But I have that thought about five times a day. I sincerely hope that it is not the last thing I think when I die.
3. Their music conjures up what I thought college would be like, but wasn't, straight out of The Preppy Handbook . If this is khaki-core (Matt Siblo, did you coin this term? Google seems to think so), then I say bring me more, and get me a Bloody Mary while you are at it. The music is so upbeat without being vapid and the band generates this feeling of happiness. It kind of makes me ache inside.
4. My current favorite track is "Oxford Comma" -- I feel like a giddy school girl, "who gives a fuck about an Oxford Comma?" It's like they are singing to me. Would that I were 15 years younger...
5. This is a record that sounds pretty good to me now, but I suspect that in two months I will be completely unable to listen to it, which is right around the time Cary will start to think it's great.
Vampire Weekend - "Oxford Comma"
P.S. This is my 200th post.
P.P.S.
According to Stereogum, they also played at Other Music today:
Sadly my day did not include running out to any in-store performances of up-and-coming indie rockers, but I did go out and buy some eggs.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Yet another long weekend in more ways than one...
1. Lucy has had a cold for the last several days, complaining that her throat and her stomach hurt. She spent most of yesterday on the couch staring at episodes of Sponge Bob with glassy eyes.
2. Cary also spent the latter half of the day in bed because he injured himself moving all his furniture to his new office last weekend. He went to urgent care because he was so uncomfortable, and the doctor there told him that he essentially has an abdominal hernia, though it is not large enough to "concern a surgeon." Cary seems a little better though, because he just left for work.
3. When I woke up the morning I thought the house seemed freezing, and guess what, it was! Our thermostat's batteries had given out during the night, a night where I think it got down to about 3 degrees. When I put in fresh batteries I learned that it was only 52 degrees in the house. But I am really grateful that it was a simple fix like that, and the heat is currently cranked, so we should warm up in no time.
4. I've got a new Trouser Press entry up for Feist. I think this was the first time I have ever written about anyone whose popularity was skyrocketing (iPod commercial, Grammy nominations, numerous mainstream TV appearances) while I wrote.
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Now playing: Feist - When I Was A Young Girl (Live)
2. Cary also spent the latter half of the day in bed because he injured himself moving all his furniture to his new office last weekend. He went to urgent care because he was so uncomfortable, and the doctor there told him that he essentially has an abdominal hernia, though it is not large enough to "concern a surgeon." Cary seems a little better though, because he just left for work.
3. When I woke up the morning I thought the house seemed freezing, and guess what, it was! Our thermostat's batteries had given out during the night, a night where I think it got down to about 3 degrees. When I put in fresh batteries I learned that it was only 52 degrees in the house. But I am really grateful that it was a simple fix like that, and the heat is currently cranked, so we should warm up in no time.
4. I've got a new Trouser Press entry up for Feist. I think this was the first time I have ever written about anyone whose popularity was skyrocketing (iPod commercial, Grammy nominations, numerous mainstream TV appearances) while I wrote.
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Now playing: Feist - When I Was A Young Girl (Live)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
And now for 2008 ...
I just remembered that Head Like a Kite, the Seattle-based duo that released my second favorite record of 2006 (and the best random promo I have ever received), is releasing a new record this April. I don't foresee ever removing this record from my iPod because I don't think I could ever get tired of listening to it.The new Sons and Daughters, This Gift, sounds promising if the KEXP podcast is any indication. I'm also pretty curious about the next Man Man album, also arriving in April. And then there's that Breeders record which I face with say 80% dread (Bam Thwok?) and 20% hope.
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Now playing: Head Like A Kite - Pour Me A Drink!
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