WHY THIS WEEK RULES.

1. Lost is back on tonight! I am stupidly excited.
2. Karaoke jams this week were Piano Man and Shout (Isley Bros version).
3. I got free tickets to Gogol Bordello in Portland on March 12, which is incidentally Danielle's birthday.
4. The bronchitis meds worked, I feel mostly back to normal.
5. Penelope has been strangely cuddly. I think that she senses a change coming.
6. I saw The Diving Bell and The Butterfly last night, which was amazing. I cried a lot, but I was ok with that - the tears were well warranted. Please, you all should see this movie.
7. I'm almost finished with What Is The What, and I absolutely love it.

I think there are more good things that I am forgetting, but in any case -- you get the point. Its been a good week. I am grateful.

SAMAMIDON

Samamidon - "Pretty Saro"
I already loved this song. The video made me love it more.

So come to find out, the plauge (or the "cloverfield") is really bronchitis, and there is a tornado watch in long beach, and we dont have weather stripping, and my super-powered cough syrup hasn't kicked in yet.

I would really like some sleep tonight.

THE "CLOVERFIELD"

Ug, I am SICK.

I realized today that I haven't left my apartment in 3 days.
I go to bed at night, wearing the same thing I woke up in.
I transfer from my bed to the couch and then back to my bed.

Honestly, this is the worst flu-virus thing I've had in ages. Its coughing, sneezing, fevers, chills, sore throat, and vomiting. NOT FUN. AT ALL.

In any case, I'm getting a little bit stir crazy. I've been couped up for 3 days and I feel like the walls of our stuffy apt are closing in on me. I actually left the house to go to Rite Aid and buy more cold remedies today, so that was crazy. I've watched more television than I should have: 30 rock, Project Runway, Big Love, etc.

In any case, I apologize to Mike and Erica, who I may have possibly infected with the plague. Or as Mike is dubbing it, the "cloverfield" (the three of us got violently ill shortly after seeing this film together). If you want to know what the monster is, its whatever is attacking my immune system. So there, I spoiled it for you.

So I'm attempting to go back to work tomorrow, we'll see how that goes. Currently I still can't speak without coughing and wheezing, so I'm sure it will be all kinds of fun. Oh, and I have a phone interview tomorrow for a job in Portland, so lets pray I can get my act (and/or voice) together before then.

Its been a busy week, I'm slacking on the BLOGGIN.

Two things:

1. When choosing a karaoke "jam" one should always take into consideration the length of the song. Total Eclipse of the Heart makes for an awkward 6 minute karaoke sesh, FYI.

2. I am moving to Portland. Officially. March 1st. I'll tell you more about it later, but I honestly couldn't be more excited.

HAPPY FRIDAY INDEED

Rock Plaza Central - "My Children, Be Joyful"





This makes me so incredibly happy.
Enjoy!

SPORTS!

So I have a LA Clippers hookup all of the sudden ?

I got 4 floor tickets for the game today (vs. The San Antonio Spurs) and it was SO MUCH FUN!

I don't know what is happening to me, I sort of enjoy sports?

But only sortof. Mostly I like the hot dogs and the nachos and the heckling and the glitz and glamor. The sports is only secondary.

So, uh, GO CLIPPERS ! ? !

BEST & WORST OF 07

Well, here we are in 2008.

I'm not going to lie, 2007 was a rough year; but it had its moments. So I will do my best to compile those moments for you right here...

Here is my random (and rough) list of the best and worst of 2007.

Top 10 albums of 2007.
1) M.I.A - Kala
2) Menomena - Friend and Foe
3) Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
4) Radiohead - In Rainbows
5) Feist - The Reminder
6) Kanye West - Graduation
7) Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
8) Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
9) Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where It Ends
10) Avett Brothers - Emotionalism

Very honorable mentions:
The National - Boxer
Andrew Bird - Heretics
The New Frontiers Tour EP (not counting because its not a full length)

Top 3 songs of 2007 that I'm ashamed to admit that I absolutely LOVE:
"Beautiful Girls" - Sean Kingston
"So Much Love" - The Rocket Summer
"Soulja Boy" - Soulja Boy Tellum


HIGHLIGHTS of 07.
*Started riding my bike to work
Bridge School (TOM WAITS!)
*Went to Uganda! Met Resty (my African daughter)!
*Threw an awesome 3 day party @ SXSW (with Mew and Sondre Lerche and Tilly and the Wall and more).
*All the lovely weddings I was lucky enough to be a part of: Becca and Darren, Myste and Phil, Danielle and Krispin...
*Lots and lots of free shows (thank you, booking agent friends): Beirut, Band of Horses, Arcade Fire, Jesus and Mary Chain, M.I.A., Morrissey.
*I read a lot more books (thank you, McSweeneys).
*I joined a small group, got more involved in the Long Beach community.
*Any and all things "LOL". Specifically, Lol Cats and my own creation and personal favorite, (along with Cameron, Amanda, Dan, and Myste) Lol Lost.

Best invention of 2007: KITTY WIGS!

Best YouTube video of 2007: The Phil Collins Gorilla

Great additions to my life in 2007:
Tim and Eric While I don't actually KNOW them, I feel like I do.
Vientos y Aguas. Best coffee in Long Beach.
Penelope. Best Cat in the world.
All the new people I met & befriended: Kelly, Jess, Will, Mike K., Craig, Yoori, Jackie, my Uganda Team, my small group, and so many more.

Disappointments:
*The new Wilco
*The new White Stripes
*People who steal bikes
*People who drive SUV's and almost run over people on bikes.
*My car getting hit while I was in Africa.
*The further dispersement of the "Triniti" (Becca moved to St. Louis, Linda moved to Portland), and having to say goodbye to Becca and Linda on the same day. I miss them terribly.
*Still broke. Still single.

I'm sure I'm missing a million things from this year, good and bad alike, but you get the idea.

Here's to 08.
Here's to change.
Here's to not having it all figured out at 26, and being strangely ok with that.

THE STRANNIGAN & MAYFIELD WEDDIN'

My sister's wedding was awesome.

We laughed, we danced, we cried, we threw a darn good party.

Honestly, it was so beautiful. Danielle was glowing, Krispin was terribly dapper, and I wasn't even stressed out.

Here's a photo for y'all. There's plenty more on my mom's blog.