Jeff Magnum to return? Or a load of baloney? You decide.

Posted on June 29, 2006
Filed Under Blather, music | 4 Comments

http://pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/Jeff_Mangum_Returns#37148

(This was supposed to be “and another thing…,” but since that’s not functioning, JM gets top billing today.)

EDIT:  Turns out this was in the “load of baloney” category.  Alas…

Not just the books, but the place where I live with them

Posted on June 22, 2006
Filed Under Blather, Pennsylvania, me and my brain, the written word, this old house | 2 Comments

Some of my fondest memories from childhood–in fact, from adolescence, too–are of spending time at Schlow Memorial Library in State College.  As a kid, I loved going there and scanning through the rows and rows of butter yellow, blue, and dark green bound picture books.  The Lonely Doll, A is for Annabelle, and A Dolls’ Christmas were early favorites. Later I found The Finch’s Fabulous Furnace, and, later still, Chronicles of Avonlea.  But it isn’t just the books that I loved then or that I hold in my memory, but the place itself… It’s the reading tables and bean bag chairs from the old children’s room, the hard shiny floor at the entrance by the circulation desk, the old winding staircase up to the adult section, the record albums with their dog-eared sleeves (we practically wore out that Mary Poppins read-along record, and years later I taped XTC’s Skylarking from the Schlow copy), the recent periodicals in red-edged plastic sleeves.  It’s the hushed echo of the outer vestibule and the weird isolation in the narrow adult stacks. 

Schlow 2003 

The library has just been expanded–for the second time in my lifetime (and I’m only 31).  There’s both a lot to love and a lot to hate about State College.  That the public library is so busy and so valued in the community–now as it was when I was a kid–is one of the things to love and hang on to.

Camera Obscura-Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken

Posted on June 14, 2006
Filed Under Song of the Day, me and my brain, music | Leave a Comment

Oh my brain, my happy happy brain. I know now why it seems that Camera Obscura and their powers that be are pushing their new record with such enthusiasm. It’s damn good. This song alone is taking over my cells. Spring cleaning is in progress… a sparkly, sunny yellow happiness circa 1966 is blowing in through the open window of my Lloyd-soaked mind. It’s tasty. The rest of the record is good, too, on the first few goes around. I’m getting psyched for their show.

More upcoming show-age: X with Rollins Band

Posted on June 9, 2006
Filed Under Blather, music | Leave a Comment

A few of you reading this might remember that I missed X when they played Avalon back in December.  Well, they’re coming back to Avalon this August–wrapping up their tour here, in fact.  I think I’d like to go this time, though I may be on my own (Ez is not a fan). 

I’m not that big on Rollins Band, but it might be amusing.  Who knows?  Maybe old Henry will make a fan of me.  At the very least, I’m sure he’ll provide some sort of giggle.  Hey–when I was a little kid my imaginary husband was named Henry.  There may be some connection.  (Ezra, Rollins Band also reminds me of Marco for some reason… hm…?)

 

This guy hears the T. Rex, too!

Posted on June 9, 2006
Filed Under Blather, music | 4 Comments

Well, I guess it’s not that hard to tell what Belle and Sebastian have been listening to these days.  From Other Music:

It sucks living in someone’s shadow. No matter what your take on Belle and Sebastian’s last polarizing record was, I bet nobody was happier that those guys traded the Left Banke for T-Rex, than Camera Obscura. Now that B&S were off mining another decade for post-modern pop nuggets, maybe Camera could finally get all the attention and credit they deserved for making some of the finest unironic ’60s-cribbing fey pop music around. Let’s Get Out of This Country should do the job. With Country , Camera have delivered a minor, left-field classic among bands who fashion their artist bios in the style of one of Dickens’ novels. The record is overflowing with memorable hooks, and dazzling string-laden production that seems tailor-made for songs, with titles like “Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken” and “I Need All the Friends I Can Get.” Sure, the lovelorn subject matter can get slightly redundant if you were solely reading the well-designed lyric sheet; however, drowning your sorrows has never sounded this infectious. Here’s to a reverb-drenched tribute to vintage keyboards, fanfares, sexy librarians, handclaps, lovers who leave, vintage eyewear, moving on, dreamers, misanthropes, a girl named Margaret, and getting the hell out of this country. Somehow, I have a feeling Jens Lekman loves this album. So do I. [HG]

Camera Obscura album

I’ve been a bit of a fan of Camera Obscura, and I’m anxious to hear the new album.  I did hear one good track, “Hey Lloyd,” here.  They’re coming to Great Scott July 6th (hint!).

New Order-”The Perfect Kiss”

Posted on June 9, 2006
Filed Under Song of the Day, music | Leave a Comment

Why this might get pretty boring sometimes

Posted on June 9, 2006
Filed Under Blather, me and my brain, the written word | Leave a Comment

Though I like to write and want to have contact with friends and “the world,” I am actually a pretty private person.  I’ve seen people blog about sex, the details of their family relationships, their personal aspirations, and the like.  I know I rant on here at times, but whether because I have been burned or because I am just a shy turnip, I don’t see myself exposing any inner secrets (if I have any) here. 

I hope that’s not too disappointing.  I guess it gets back to the whole purpose of a blog–not that there is a right or wrong purpose.  It’s weird, though.  I mean, I don’t have one set way of communicating with all the people I know.  My relationships with people differ, so it’s weird to try to communicate via the blog (especially if it’s just me blabbing into the vortex, with little back and forth) when I’m most comfortable in a particular, unique relationsihp–one on one or at least in a small group.

I think I have always been like this.  I’ve never been one to gather together huge groups of people (my wedding would I suppose be the one exception), and I tend to disappear in such groups unless I have a sort of advocate there pulling me in.  Some of my best friends in life, incidentally, have been the people who have played the advocate for me in those situations.  I don’t know if any of them would be reading this, but if so–maybe you know who you are.

Is that self-deprecating?  I don’t really see it that way and I hope I haven’t leaned too heavily or been too much of a burden.  I hope I can give enough in small groups or one on one to make up for it.

reunion

Posted on June 6, 2006
Filed Under Blather, friends, me and my brain | 2 Comments

So I went to my 10-year college reunion last weekend.  I didn’t know a lot of the people there, but I did see some old friends and acquaintances.  It was all worth it just to see Brian, and it was nice to be back on campus with him.  The two of us hadn’t been there together since senior year.  We reminisced–probably even more than I thought we would, but it was nice.  Ezra was very patient, and Brian’s wife Grainne seemed to be as well.  Who knows?  Maybe it was all entertaining for them, too. 

The place has changed a bit.  There are a few new buildings on campus and there are a lot of different stores in town.  In some ways, though, it seems the same as ever. 

We didn’t participate in that many of the reunion-specific activities, though we did sit in on a mini-college class and stood for the class picture.  We also had drinks and chuckled a bit at the silly (but highly energetic) cover band they hired to entertain us.  The Tina Turner impersonation was pretty good–as far as these things go.

Brian asked if I had any pictures from back in the day, and this prompted me to go digging through a few old photo albums.  I looked at the pictures for the first time in years with a new appreciation. 

Me, Brian, Adam, and Alex

Me, Brian, Adam, and Alex, May 1993 

Kids today are lucky to have digital cameras.  As I was going through my album Ez and I both had this kind of disappointed feeling– “that’s all of them?”

Song of the Day

Devo-It’s Not Right 

Photos

My Photos on Flickr


The Knitting Turnip

On My Needles

Rhapsody in Tweed cabled pullover for Ezra! using Tahki Donegal Tweed in Forest, from Fall 2004 Interweave Knits. I've just picked this one up again, so it's moving up in the queue!

Sweater with Cable Patterns pullover using Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in Mauve, from Rebecca Magazine Number 28

Heather Pullover using Classic Elite Wings in Larkspur, from Rowan’s A Season’s Tale... This needs the knit doctor. I'm going to have to frog back a little bit and redo the shoulder area. Long story.

Hush Pullover using Jo Sharp DK wool in Wine, from Rowan’s Calmer Collection

Recently Finished Projects

In the Groove boatneck pullover using Manos del Uruguay in Black and Cheek (pale pink), from Fall 2006 issue of knitscene. SWEATER IS DONE!

Stash Stealer Scarf for me, using delicious yarn that darling Amy let me raid from her stash. I made up the pattern--a couple of wide ribs rimmed in moss stitch. It's soft and fuzzy and DONE!

Moss Stitch Jacket with Collar for Hope using Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo in Ivy, from Quick Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss. JACKET IS DONE!

Next in line

Brompton cardigan using Noro Cash Iroha in Jewel Green (my name for shade #100)

Eyelet Yoke Pullover using Debbie Bliss Merino Aran

Under consideration

Loads!

More scoop on my knitting endeavors can be found at my home on Ravelry (clicky here).

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