My Horn Can Pierce The Sky!
= I've been wanting to post for weeks and weeks and every time I start to type up some kind of update or random thought, I get distracted ("ohh, shiny!") and forget all about it. I'm trying my best to keep up with LJ, but skimming seems to have become the norm these days for me.
= My vision is getting blurry again, I need to head back to the eye doctor and update my prescription.
= I was very fortunate to receive a generous Christmas bonus from work. As I hugged my boss for it, she ordered me to buy the TV I've been wanting/needing for the last year and a half. Last year, she ordered me to do the same thing with THAT bonus, but instead, I paid bills. This year, I caved. Pops has finally been working the last couple of months, and he's not relying on me financially as much, so I feel safer splurging on myself. I've had my current 27" tube for about 15 years, and it's held up very well. It was the first big purchase I'd ever made by myself. sniff. But it's had a high pitch for the last 16 months that's been driving me insane, so it's time. I got a 32" HDTV LCD and I'm picking it up on Tuesday. And even though it felt strange buying something like that at a time like this, I'm still REALLY excited.
= I'm having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. And that's pretty difficult for me, to NOT be in the spirit. It's my favorite time of year. All of it. From the time Halloween ends to the start of the new year, I love the season. Well, mostly. I think, growing up, it was just such a magical time of my life. From yummy Thanksgiving with family, to Christmas decorations and songs on the radio, to looking forward to my birthday and finally Christmas itself with everyone around, usually in a good mood.
But this year, like last, has just been weird. Financially, I'm not wonderful, but I'm holding steady. I've had a bit of a breakthrough with my situation with my dad and his girlfriend, so that's okay. Work is still sucking every piece of kindness and graciousness I ever had, but that's been happening since day one, so that's nothing new. Things working against me:
#1) The family, due to the frightful economy, has decided not to exchange gifts this year. It makes sense and I understand the concern, but I hate that they took this away from me. For me, as an Agnostic, Christmas has nothing to do with religion. It's more about tradition, spending time with my family and YAY PRESENTS! When I was younger, it was about getting the presents, but nowadays I absolutely lovelovelove buying presents for people. I love brainstorming about what they could use, what they've told me they could want, what would be a practical yet fun gift, wrapping them up so delicately and beautifully in old-fashioned paper and bow, and watching their faces when they open them. It makes me so happy to do all of that. So, now that I can't, I'm actually kindof sad about it. It takes a huge bite out of my Christmas cookie.
#2) When I decided to paint my living room, I had no idea that I wouldn't have the time to finish it properly, so I've been living in a half-painted, moved-around living room for the last month, and it's still not done. Which means I haven't been able to even put up my pretty pink tree or anything. That's completely bummed me out, because I was so excited about it. My new goal is to finish it all by Christmas day. We'll see.
#3) With my family ever-dwindling, it's even more discouraging that we can't seem to get a hold of my brother. He was gone for Thanksgiving and I would love for him to be here for Christmas. But getting a hold of him is proving to be more difficult than we imagined, and so I'm worried that - yet again - the entire family will consist of me, my father, and my sister in law. I mostly just hope he's okay, though.
= As mentioned, work just makes me want to either cry or kill someone each and every day. I can't undersand how, after 4 1/2 years, and dealing with hundreds of different kinds of backgrounds and personalities and situations, it has somehow made me feel like I know even less about the human condition than I did before I got there. How is that possible? Maybe it's just that what I've learned has discouraged me greatly, so I can't find the joy that I once did in the diversity that my job brings into my life. I can't go into any detail without compromising the privacy of my tenants, and that just wouldn't be cool.
= Joy In My Life is Princess Unicorn T-Shirts and websites.
= As of today, I've officially finished hardlining all ten seasons of Friends. I got season 1 from Netflix on October 27th, so it only took me 2 months to get through all 240-ish episodes. Most of them I had only seen once, and there were whole chunks of seasons I'd never seen, so it was like seeing them all for the first time. And I couldn't care less if it's not cool to love that show, because I do. Even in the bad seasons! Because by then, you care because you're so emotionally invested in them, whether it's as funny as it was before or not.
I mean, the show was on from the time I was 22 until I was 32, which almost mirrored the ages the characters on the show were supposed to be (25-35ish), so I felt a certain connection with them. I remember buying those huge cappuccino mugs with the logo on the side even though I never drank out of them. Wow, memories.
During the first run, I wasn't as rabid a Ross/Rachel fan as the rest of the country seemed to be. But upon the rewatching, I think I finally see why people loved them so much. And a lot of that was found in the episodes I had missed before. I still adored Joey to pieces, still got squicked out when he and Rachel hooked up, and still cried when Monica and Chandler got engaged. Oh, and Paul Rudd in seasons 9 and 10 was just as adorable this time around as he was before. I'll tell ya, the only way to watch an entire series for the first time is to just slam it down as quickly as possible. You remember more about the backstory, it creates a more clear narrative and everything makes more sense when you view it within an entire series arc, and can put everything in perspective.
I'm a sucker for casts / sports teams / anyone sticking TOGETHER for long periods of time. I like the stability, I like the loyalty, and I like how it breeds this connection, this comfort, this feeling of home. It's one reason I think I've enjoyed soap operas over my lifetime, because I can stop watching for years at a time and come back to a show and still recognize half the faces. It's comforting. So yeah, 10 years together on a sitcom, it's kindof inspiring and kindof moving when it all ends. Of course I bawled like a child through it all.
= I absolutely love my Emo!Rudolph icon. I've decided to keep him all year long.
= Because I've been so busy and because I've been kindof bahumbuggy, I decided not to do Holiday Cards this year. I really did enjoy doing them the last two years for everyone, but I just couldn't get the time or energy this time around. Which makes me even more grateful for those that I've received this year, so thank you to dine. truekat, roseincognitus, and kellicb. Your cards were bright spots in my days.
= Also, thank you to soul4poetry for the Obama papers! What a great surprise! I'm so thankful that you thought of sending them to me. <3
= In my brain, I'm writing up mid-season thoughts on every single TV show I watch. It's epic. In my head.
= The Dr Horrible DVD is released today (Friday)!! Who's getting it? Me! Me! Oh, and did anyone else catch that amazing Amazon deal about a week ago where they were selling the Angel box set for 50 bucks? I've been wanting to buy it for so long, but could never pull the trigger at 100. But for 50? Sold! It arrived today, and I love that it's the same type of packaging as The Chosen Collection. It's a nice complement.
= SO excited, SO excited, SO excited!
Pearl Jam Raids Vaults For 'Ten' Reissue
December 10, 2008 09:59 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Pearl Jam has unearthed a host of unreleased tracks and special surprises from its vaults for a deluxe reissue of its fabled 1991 debut album, "Ten." Four different editions will be available March 24 from Epic; pre-orders begin today (Dec. 10) at PearlJam.com.
Each version includes a digitally remastered version of the original album as well as a completely new remix of the set by longtime producer Brendan O'Brien, who did not work on "Ten" but produced Pearl Jam's subsequent four albums. Bassist Jeff Ament and designer Andy Fischer teamed to revamp the artwork.
The O'Brien disc also includes six previously unreleased songs from the era: early versions of "Breath" and "State of Love and Trust," "Brother" (with vocals, not the instrumental version from the 2003 rarities collection "Lost Dogs"), "Just a Girl," "Evil Little Goat" and "2,000 Mile Blues," a Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired jam with improvised vocals from frontman Eddie Vedder.
Band members have been asking O'Brien to take a crack at a complete remix for years, and he gave the idea a trial run when he remixed the "Ten" tracks "Once," "Black" and "Alive" for Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album "Rearviewmirror."
"The original 'Ten' sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that," says O'Brien of the album, which has sold 9.58 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and vaulted Pearl Jam to global superstardom. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified it for U.S. shipments of 12 million copies. "After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original -- giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound."
The "Legacy" edition of "Ten" adds a DVD of Pearl Jam's previously unreleased 1992 performance on "MTV Unplugged," including a never-aired version of "Oceans." The audio has been remixed in 5.1 surround sound. Fans can also opt for a double-vinyl version featuring the original "Ten" on one LP and O'Brien's remix on the other.
But the package sure to send hardcore fans into a tizzy is the "Super Deluxe Edition," which features two CDs, a DVD and four vinyl records. It is housed in a linen-covered, slip-cased clamshell box with a replica of an item second to none in Pearl Jam lore.
In 1990, when bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard and Mike McCready were getting the nascent Pearl Jam going in Seattle, they recorded three instrumentals to send to the then-unknown Eddie Vedder, who'd been recommended by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons.
Vedder, then living in San Diego, overdubbed vocals onto the tape, in the process creating the songs "Alive," "Once" and "Footsteps" (he was invited to join the band within weeks). Poor quality bootlegs of the demo, dubbed "Momma-Son," have circulated for years, but the "Super Deluxe Edition" will include a crystal-clear dub of the tape on a replica cassette.
In addition, fans will receive Pearl Jam's previously unreleased Sept. 20, 1992, concert at Seattle's Magnuson Park (dubbed Drop in the Park) on two vinyl LPs and a replica of Vedder's composition notebook packed with notes, photos and memorabilia from the "Ten" era. This version will sell for $140.
The "Ten" reissue is the first piece of a two-year campaign culminating with the band's 20th anniversary in 2011. Additional details have yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, Pearl Jam is recording its ninth studio album (its first with O'Brien producing since 1998's "Yield"), which is expected for release next year.
I WANT IT ALLLLLLL.
= General Hospital can suck my balls. I told myself that I would be prepared for the time when they would rip my couple apart. I told myself this time and time again, because that's just what GH does. They never allow you to be happy with your couple for any length of time, EVER. But silly me, I expected a little more than 30 seconds of happiness, seriously. WTF. At least they kicked my ass one last time, with lots of tears and angst when they broke up. You know, all five minutes of it. Sheesh. At this point, I hope Steve and Becky leave next year. Maybe that's the only way I'll get a happy ending for Liason.
= And now.. fun with YouTube!
> I've heard a lot of renditions of Jingle Bells. But this one? Done with microwaves? Totally takes the cake.
> If you're EVER sad or down or blue in any way. Just watch this video. It makes me giggle and smile for absolutely no reason.
> One of my favorite Supernatural songvids - done to "Permanent" by David Cook.
> I'm not sure there's anyone left who hasn't seen it, but catch the Justin cameo in SNL's Jizz In My Pants!
AHAHAHAHAHA!
> You know that great "Yes We Can" song by will.i.am., which is really just cut-up Obama speeches put to a beat/music? An a capella group in Portland, Oregon, put together a performance of that very song. It's quite impressive.
> The night of the election, or should I say the next morning... Joseph Gordon-Levitt borrowed someone's guitar and sang "The Times They Are A-Changin'" on a street corner. GAH, as if he wasn't hot enough.
= I think my New Year's Resolution will have to be making sure I simply update more often.. this whole once a month crap is no fun.
= I'm gonna finish my tea and head to bed. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. Night everyone!
= My vision is getting blurry again, I need to head back to the eye doctor and update my prescription.
= I was very fortunate to receive a generous Christmas bonus from work. As I hugged my boss for it, she ordered me to buy the TV I've been wanting/needing for the last year and a half. Last year, she ordered me to do the same thing with THAT bonus, but instead, I paid bills. This year, I caved. Pops has finally been working the last couple of months, and he's not relying on me financially as much, so I feel safer splurging on myself. I've had my current 27" tube for about 15 years, and it's held up very well. It was the first big purchase I'd ever made by myself. sniff. But it's had a high pitch for the last 16 months that's been driving me insane, so it's time. I got a 32" HDTV LCD and I'm picking it up on Tuesday. And even though it felt strange buying something like that at a time like this, I'm still REALLY excited.
= I'm having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit. And that's pretty difficult for me, to NOT be in the spirit. It's my favorite time of year. All of it. From the time Halloween ends to the start of the new year, I love the season. Well, mostly. I think, growing up, it was just such a magical time of my life. From yummy Thanksgiving with family, to Christmas decorations and songs on the radio, to looking forward to my birthday and finally Christmas itself with everyone around, usually in a good mood.
But this year, like last, has just been weird. Financially, I'm not wonderful, but I'm holding steady. I've had a bit of a breakthrough with my situation with my dad and his girlfriend, so that's okay. Work is still sucking every piece of kindness and graciousness I ever had, but that's been happening since day one, so that's nothing new. Things working against me:
#1) The family, due to the frightful economy, has decided not to exchange gifts this year. It makes sense and I understand the concern, but I hate that they took this away from me. For me, as an Agnostic, Christmas has nothing to do with religion. It's more about tradition, spending time with my family and YAY PRESENTS! When I was younger, it was about getting the presents, but nowadays I absolutely lovelovelove buying presents for people. I love brainstorming about what they could use, what they've told me they could want, what would be a practical yet fun gift, wrapping them up so delicately and beautifully in old-fashioned paper and bow, and watching their faces when they open them. It makes me so happy to do all of that. So, now that I can't, I'm actually kindof sad about it. It takes a huge bite out of my Christmas cookie.
#2) When I decided to paint my living room, I had no idea that I wouldn't have the time to finish it properly, so I've been living in a half-painted, moved-around living room for the last month, and it's still not done. Which means I haven't been able to even put up my pretty pink tree or anything. That's completely bummed me out, because I was so excited about it. My new goal is to finish it all by Christmas day. We'll see.
#3) With my family ever-dwindling, it's even more discouraging that we can't seem to get a hold of my brother. He was gone for Thanksgiving and I would love for him to be here for Christmas. But getting a hold of him is proving to be more difficult than we imagined, and so I'm worried that - yet again - the entire family will consist of me, my father, and my sister in law. I mostly just hope he's okay, though.
= As mentioned, work just makes me want to either cry or kill someone each and every day. I can't undersand how, after 4 1/2 years, and dealing with hundreds of different kinds of backgrounds and personalities and situations, it has somehow made me feel like I know even less about the human condition than I did before I got there. How is that possible? Maybe it's just that what I've learned has discouraged me greatly, so I can't find the joy that I once did in the diversity that my job brings into my life. I can't go into any detail without compromising the privacy of my tenants, and that just wouldn't be cool.
= Joy In My Life is Princess Unicorn T-Shirts and websites.
= As of today, I've officially finished hardlining all ten seasons of Friends. I got season 1 from Netflix on October 27th, so it only took me 2 months to get through all 240-ish episodes. Most of them I had only seen once, and there were whole chunks of seasons I'd never seen, so it was like seeing them all for the first time. And I couldn't care less if it's not cool to love that show, because I do. Even in the bad seasons! Because by then, you care because you're so emotionally invested in them, whether it's as funny as it was before or not.
I mean, the show was on from the time I was 22 until I was 32, which almost mirrored the ages the characters on the show were supposed to be (25-35ish), so I felt a certain connection with them. I remember buying those huge cappuccino mugs with the logo on the side even though I never drank out of them. Wow, memories.
During the first run, I wasn't as rabid a Ross/Rachel fan as the rest of the country seemed to be. But upon the rewatching, I think I finally see why people loved them so much. And a lot of that was found in the episodes I had missed before. I still adored Joey to pieces, still got squicked out when he and Rachel hooked up, and still cried when Monica and Chandler got engaged. Oh, and Paul Rudd in seasons 9 and 10 was just as adorable this time around as he was before. I'll tell ya, the only way to watch an entire series for the first time is to just slam it down as quickly as possible. You remember more about the backstory, it creates a more clear narrative and everything makes more sense when you view it within an entire series arc, and can put everything in perspective.
I'm a sucker for casts / sports teams / anyone sticking TOGETHER for long periods of time. I like the stability, I like the loyalty, and I like how it breeds this connection, this comfort, this feeling of home. It's one reason I think I've enjoyed soap operas over my lifetime, because I can stop watching for years at a time and come back to a show and still recognize half the faces. It's comforting. So yeah, 10 years together on a sitcom, it's kindof inspiring and kindof moving when it all ends. Of course I bawled like a child through it all.
= I absolutely love my Emo!Rudolph icon. I've decided to keep him all year long.
= Because I've been so busy and because I've been kindof bahumbuggy, I decided not to do Holiday Cards this year. I really did enjoy doing them the last two years for everyone, but I just couldn't get the time or energy this time around. Which makes me even more grateful for those that I've received this year, so thank you to dine. truekat, roseincognitus, and kellicb. Your cards were bright spots in my days.
= Also, thank you to soul4poetry for the Obama papers! What a great surprise! I'm so thankful that you thought of sending them to me. <3
= In my brain, I'm writing up mid-season thoughts on every single TV show I watch. It's epic. In my head.
= The Dr Horrible DVD is released today (Friday)!! Who's getting it? Me! Me! Oh, and did anyone else catch that amazing Amazon deal about a week ago where they were selling the Angel box set for 50 bucks? I've been wanting to buy it for so long, but could never pull the trigger at 100. But for 50? Sold! It arrived today, and I love that it's the same type of packaging as The Chosen Collection. It's a nice complement.
= SO excited, SO excited, SO excited!
Pearl Jam Raids Vaults For 'Ten' Reissue
December 10, 2008 09:59 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Pearl Jam has unearthed a host of unreleased tracks and special surprises from its vaults for a deluxe reissue of its fabled 1991 debut album, "Ten." Four different editions will be available March 24 from Epic; pre-orders begin today (Dec. 10) at PearlJam.com.
Each version includes a digitally remastered version of the original album as well as a completely new remix of the set by longtime producer Brendan O'Brien, who did not work on "Ten" but produced Pearl Jam's subsequent four albums. Bassist Jeff Ament and designer Andy Fischer teamed to revamp the artwork.
The O'Brien disc also includes six previously unreleased songs from the era: early versions of "Breath" and "State of Love and Trust," "Brother" (with vocals, not the instrumental version from the 2003 rarities collection "Lost Dogs"), "Just a Girl," "Evil Little Goat" and "2,000 Mile Blues," a Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired jam with improvised vocals from frontman Eddie Vedder.
Band members have been asking O'Brien to take a crack at a complete remix for years, and he gave the idea a trial run when he remixed the "Ten" tracks "Once," "Black" and "Alive" for Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album "Rearviewmirror."
"The original 'Ten' sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that," says O'Brien of the album, which has sold 9.58 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and vaulted Pearl Jam to global superstardom. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified it for U.S. shipments of 12 million copies. "After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original -- giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound."
The "Legacy" edition of "Ten" adds a DVD of Pearl Jam's previously unreleased 1992 performance on "MTV Unplugged," including a never-aired version of "Oceans." The audio has been remixed in 5.1 surround sound. Fans can also opt for a double-vinyl version featuring the original "Ten" on one LP and O'Brien's remix on the other.
But the package sure to send hardcore fans into a tizzy is the "Super Deluxe Edition," which features two CDs, a DVD and four vinyl records. It is housed in a linen-covered, slip-cased clamshell box with a replica of an item second to none in Pearl Jam lore.
In 1990, when bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard and Mike McCready were getting the nascent Pearl Jam going in Seattle, they recorded three instrumentals to send to the then-unknown Eddie Vedder, who'd been recommended by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons.
Vedder, then living in San Diego, overdubbed vocals onto the tape, in the process creating the songs "Alive," "Once" and "Footsteps" (he was invited to join the band within weeks). Poor quality bootlegs of the demo, dubbed "Momma-Son," have circulated for years, but the "Super Deluxe Edition" will include a crystal-clear dub of the tape on a replica cassette.
In addition, fans will receive Pearl Jam's previously unreleased Sept. 20, 1992, concert at Seattle's Magnuson Park (dubbed Drop in the Park) on two vinyl LPs and a replica of Vedder's composition notebook packed with notes, photos and memorabilia from the "Ten" era. This version will sell for $140.
The "Ten" reissue is the first piece of a two-year campaign culminating with the band's 20th anniversary in 2011. Additional details have yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, Pearl Jam is recording its ninth studio album (its first with O'Brien producing since 1998's "Yield"), which is expected for release next year.
I WANT IT ALLLLLLL.
= General Hospital can suck my balls. I told myself that I would be prepared for the time when they would rip my couple apart. I told myself this time and time again, because that's just what GH does. They never allow you to be happy with your couple for any length of time, EVER. But silly me, I expected a little more than 30 seconds of happiness, seriously. WTF. At least they kicked my ass one last time, with lots of tears and angst when they broke up. You know, all five minutes of it. Sheesh. At this point, I hope Steve and Becky leave next year. Maybe that's the only way I'll get a happy ending for Liason.
= And now.. fun with YouTube!
> I've heard a lot of renditions of Jingle Bells. But this one? Done with microwaves? Totally takes the cake.
Click to view> If you're EVER sad or down or blue in any way. Just watch this video. It makes me giggle and smile for absolutely no reason.
> One of my favorite Supernatural songvids - done to "Permanent" by David Cook.
> I'm not sure there's anyone left who hasn't seen it, but catch the Justin cameo in SNL's Jizz In My Pants!
AHAHAHAHAHA!
> You know that great "Yes We Can" song by will.i.am., which is really just cut-up Obama speeches put to a beat/music? An a capella group in Portland, Oregon, put together a performance of that very song. It's quite impressive.
> The night of the election, or should I say the next morning... Joseph Gordon-Levitt borrowed someone's guitar and sang "The Times They Are A-Changin'" on a street corner. GAH, as if he wasn't hot enough.
= I think my New Year's Resolution will have to be making sure I simply update more often.. this whole once a month crap is no fun.
= I'm gonna finish my tea and head to bed. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. Night everyone!