Okay, now I'm really depressed

Work. Life. School.

Sad. Sad. Sad. All sad.

It's pitiful really. I found out all in one day that my coworkers and supervisers don't appreciate me, at least not where it counts, and my part-time grad school gig is going nowhere fast. My life is going nowhere fast generally, but it's hard to come across this realization all at once.

Oh. and I'm sick.

Can I just go to bed now?

There's got to be a lesson here, a message of some sort that the big ol' universe is trying to impart, but I just don't see it. I think I do sort of, but I don't know what to do about it.

Book challenge 2006

One of the babes at bookish mentioned in passing that she kept a running tally of all the books she read one year. That year (2004) she passed the 100 mark.

I thought that was a great idea, since I read tons of books and am really curious as to how many I read each year.

Heere we go...

1. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
I read this because it was billed as a 'different' type of detective story. And it was, but not different enough, I'm afraid. Well-written, good characters, great story, it gives a window into the lives of people who have been derailed by unexplained loss. For me, the book's main/only weakness is that it stuck to the genre and I'm not really a fan of mysteries.

2. Lunar Park by Bret Easton Ellis
I've never read any of his earlier works but I really like this book. It's view of a father/son (really parent/child) relationship and the power it has on all involved is haunting. I find myself still thinking about it (but that could be because I finished it yesterday) and reviewing my unexamined relationship with my dad. And it's pretty scary, too.

In another homage to bookish, I'd like to take this time to mention the best book I read last year. It's kind of a cheat, since I didn't actually read it but listened to it (as a true purist, I don't consider audiobooks 'reading'). To show how good it was, though, I'm actually planning to buy the book so I can actually read it.

The best book I read in 2005 is...
(Drumroll)

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel by Susanna Clarke
Though the ending is just slightly unsatisfying, this book is just excellent. It's like reading a 19th-century novel with magic. I can't praise this book highly enough, though I imagine people who don't like 19th-century novels might think it's slow. It's not. It's perfect.

As an acknowledgement of the inferiority of the audiobook versus the 3D kind, I'll say the best book that I actually read last year is probably "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. It's weird and ambitious and, even though I'm not quite sure I understand it, I recognize that the writer accomplished something very impressive. Excellent.

I usually don't bother recalling the worst books I read, but this is a special case. Another audiobook, which is probably why it affected me so deeply. Usually if I don't like a book I'll just put it down (or hurl it with great force, depending), but the DH and I were listening to this during rush hours and he liked it better than I did. I was trapped.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
I hated, hated, hate this book. The characters are unappealing and barely tolerable the plotline is just too implausible and though it tried to be a literary sci fi, it was deep down, really just that most deplorable of genres, a romance. Oh, and it sucked. The end.

But this time I really am

I'm just this side of miserable, currently. I'm sick, which happens so rarely as to be a major occurance.

It's kind of a cold-type thing but all I have is this dry, hacking cough and a croaky voice. That's it. Nothing so flashy that I feel justified in missing work or staying in bed all day. But I feel bad enough so that all I want to do is JUST FEEL BETTER!

Boo.

The 'How Can Anyone Forget It's Friday' Friday Random 10

If I can do the FRT on Friday for two weeks in a row, I'll really be doing something...

1. Squeeze -- Pulling Mussels from a Shell
I'm a big Squeeze fan (not that there's anything wrong with that). I even saw them in concert when I was young and foolish (in Boston's Orpheum Theatre). This song however, reminds me of a cover band (whose name I can't remember) who was world famous on the BC campus many years ago. They always played this song and "Is She Really Going Out with Him" by Joe Jackson. And they always did a fine job.

2. Bonnie Tyler -- Total Eclipse of the Heart
Laugh all you want, there aren't many songs of the 1980s that come close to this one for sheer, operatic emotional impact. And the video was pretty creepy/cool too. A romantic "Village of the Damned."

3. The Strokes -- Red Light
From their latest. The CD is kind of growing on me, though the first half is much stronger than the second half of the disc. This song is okay, but it's really short so it's over soon.

4. Brandy -- Full Moon
I really like this song from 'Grown Up' Brandy. It's sexy but still classy. I'm glad she didn't feel the need to go straight-up hoochie with this one.

5. Aerosmith -- Angel's Eye
Though I desperately want to despise Aerosmith songs, they have a tendency to be very catchy, as is this one from the "Charlie's Angels" Soundtrack. I still wouldn't listen to it all the way through, if given the chance.

6. Tavares -- Heaven Must be Missing an Angel
Okay, I know I have a problem with my RNG, but here's yet another song from Charlie's Angels. What can you say? It's disco.

7. Revis -- Caught in the Rain
I think this is an excellent song. I don't know why it wasn't a much bigger hit.

8. Liz Phair -- Whip-Smart
This is the first LP song I ever heard. It holds a special place in my heart.

9. Bob Marley -- Jammin'
I'll hang my head in shame, but I can't really get into Bob Marley. He has some really good songs and they are all good and catchy and everything, but I almost always skip to the next song when they come on.

10. Bloc Party -- Banquet
I admit. I succumbed to the hype and bought this CD. I haven't really spent much time getting acquainted with it, but every song I've heard so far I've liked. Like this one. New Wave lives!

just testing

Hey, if I can really post via email, I'll never get any work done during the day! mwah ha ha!

The 'I Hate Allergies' Friday Random 10

1. Marilyn Manson -- The Beautiful People
The original is still the best. Plus this song has the best 'creepy' video ever.

2. Weezer -- El Scorcho
References to 'half-Japanese' girls who don't know Green Day aside, I like this song (seriously, what's the other half? and where the hell is this half person from that she doesn't know who Green Day is!?).

3. Liz Phair -- Extraordinary
This song from the 'Liz Phair Sells Out!' album isn't nearly as bad as "Why Can't I;" it's quite good, in fact. I have no opinion on whether she sold out or not, since I don't have the album. But hey, even indie rock darlings gotta eat!

4. Sum 41 -- Fat Lip
I probably like them, and this song, a little more than I should.

5. Radiohead -- Myxomatosis
I don't care what anyone says, I loved this album and I love this song. Radiohead rules!

6. Spoon -- The Infinite Pet
Not one of my fav songs on this album

7. The Beta Band -- Squares
Okay, I have serious doubts about the RNG in this thing. I have more than 1,700 songs on this thing, and this is the second time this song has been in the FTT. I mean, it's a fantastic song and all, but Criminy!

8. Youssou N'Dour -- Touba
I bought this CD 'cuz it had the Arabic word for 'Allah' on the cover (even tho the CD is named "Egypt"). It's all in N'Dour's native tongue and it's all about God and religion. I like this song.

9. Wild Cherry -- Play that Funky Music
I have no, repeat, no idea why I have this song. I like this song well enough, but not well enough to own it, believe me. Another DH special, I'm sure.

10. Basement Jaxx -- I Want U
This is one of better songs on this album, which isn't saying all that much, really.

Ah, the irony

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I have a strange relationship with "Apocolypse Now", so I guess it's fitting.

Here it is

It's Saturday morning, I'm in my robe and doing absolutely nothing. Not that I don't have things to do, mind you, I just don't feel like doing any of them. It's a vicious cycle...

The "Hey, I finally remembered it's Friday" Friday Random 10

Ah, here we are. The end of another work week.

That's all I got...

1. Cherry Poppin' Daddies -- Swingin' with Tiger Woods
I've noted before my feelings about CPD. They're the DH's favorite; definitely not mine...

2. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin -- Mack the Knife
We all love Ol' Blue Eyes and Dino, but Bobby Darrin will always own this song. Another DH pick.

3. The Clash -- Magnificent Seven
What can you say about The Clash that hasn't already been said? This is one of my favorite songs, but the sing-along value is pretty low 'cuz I can't understand what the hell he's saying.

4. Missy Elliot -- One Minute Man
The one with Trina not the one with (God love 'im) Jay-Z. I'm all about girl power. Though this version -- from my free music days -- has some annoying guy yelling in the background through the song. I guess you get what you pay for...

5. Green Day -- American Idiot
"Now everybody do the propoganda/and sing along to the age of paranoia"
The song that made think, 'hey, maybe it's *not* just me.'

6. Consonant -- Blissful
This is off the CMJ CD way back in August of '02. I really miss CMJ. It got really erratic the last time I subscribed and it's too expensive to wonder if I'm going to get my issue this month. Oh, well. This song is okay.

7. Marius Muller -- Es geht mir gut
Yes, it's in German. No, I don't know what he's talking about (tho the title means 'I'm fine' or 'It's going good for me'). This was the joy of what was the Wild West of Napster. I could find and download a hit German song that I heard once many years earlier on a visit to the country with absolutely no problem at all. Man, I miss Napster. We'll be telling our grandkids about it one day...

8. Heart -- Barracuda
I first heard of Heart in the '80s with the schmaltzy "These Dreams." I had no idea then how hard they used to rock. If I was a rock star, I'd sing this song.

9. The Offspring -- Original Prankster
Except for their first couple of *big* songs -- I'm thinking "Keep 'em separated" -- all of The Offspring's songs have an expiration date, about 6 weeks after you first hear it. I remember pegging them as a total one-hit wonder all those years ago. Shows you what I know, Ha!

10. -M- -- Belleville Rendez-Vous (French)
Yes, I bought the soundtrack to "The Triplets of Belleville." Once you hear this damn song, you can't help it. It's got that fun, jazzy '20s speakeasy vibe. I dare you to listen to it and not want to dance. I like the "English" version much better, though you can understand the English lyrics about as well as you can the French ones. The English version sounds a little -- I don't know -- rougher, somehow.

I bought the new Strokes'CD, BTW. The verdict so far: not as good as "Is This It" but better than "Room on Fire."

So there.

hee, hee

You are Franklin!


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Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well*

I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with my life.

There's nothing *really* wrong with my life, of course. I'm just feeling a little bit melancholy. I'm not content, but I don't know why or what it would take to make me content. Not just now at this moment, but in general.

I don't really have any close friends. I don't really have any hobbies. I don't really have any pastimes. My life is pretty boring, really. Sad, miserable boring, not just uneventful. If I were a stranger telling me my problmes, I'd think I was a pretty sad case. I would probably tell me to get *out* there, just *do* something, for crying out loud. That's the only cure, really. Even *I* know that...

But then I think that my life is the way it is because that's the way I want it, whether it's good or bad. I'm generally pretty content to sit around the house, watching TV or goofing around on the Internet. I *like* my life uncomplicated, I think. But I do miss some of the more fun diversions. Other people can be hell, just like Sartre says, but, let's face it life gets pretty lonely without them.

*I got the title of this post, BTW from a cool new song from the lead singer of Soul Coughing. Apparently they broke up a while ago and he's on his own. This song is extremely catchy. Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming it without realizing it...

Ciao

It's that time again

You know, I just realized I didn't do a Friday Random 10 this week. I guess I'll do one now...

1. The Beatles -- Tomorrow Never Knows
One of my favorite psychedelic Beatles songs

2.Bassment Jaxx -- SFM
I really don't know why Bassment Jaxx comes up so often. I only have the one album, I swear. I don't really like this song much at all.

3. Cherry Poppin' Daddies -- Equus
This is one of the dear hubby's picks. I think CPD only had one good song, and it ain't this one (Hint: it's called "Zoot Suit Riot").

4. The Streets -- Let's Push Things Forward
I first heard this song on MTV2 when it still played obscure music videos. Then I went out and bought the CD.

5. Modest Mouse -- The Devil's Workday
I could buy myself a reason/I could sell myself a job/I could hang myself on treason/Oh, I am my own damn god -- for some reason that line just gets to me.

6. Modest Mouse -- Bukowski
Maybe the RNG on my MP3 player isn't so random. This is also one of the best songs on the disc (Good News for People who Love Bad News, in case you didn't know).

7.Jimmy Eat World -- Cautioners
I was somewhat disappointed with this album. On the one hand, "Bleed American" is an awesome song. But then there are too many namby-pamby songs like this one...

8. Pizzicato Five -- Baby Love Child
It was Pizzicato Five's "Twiggy" that made me realize Japanese people made cool pop songs. I think the album "Made in USA" is pretty uneven, but I really like this song, esp. the 'Attention Adults' sample.

9. Las Cassas -- Mi Barrio
From the soundtrack to the movie "Blue in the Face." A pretty good soundtrack, but this song doesn't really do much for me.

10. Smith -- Baby It's You
This is one of those blues-y '60s songs -- a remake, I think. I know the Beatles did it on one of their early albums and I think it was a remake then, too. I really have no idea why you don't still hear this one on the radio. It's a great song.

'So this is the new year...

And I don't feel any different'
-- Death Cab for Cutie, "The New Year"

This lyric has now officially supplanted U2's 'Nothing changes on New Year's Day,' from "New Year's Day" (of course) as the feel good lyric of this, or any other, new year.

Does anyone still get excited about New Year's anymore? Does anybody really think a new year is going to make much difference?

This could be another one of those this-holiday-was-a-lot-cooler-when-I-was-a-kid posts, but I have neither the energy nor the motivation. So I guess I'll just have to let DCfC and U2 speak for me.