Go-To-Records

Based on the nature of my work lately, I’ve been listening to alot of new music.  Some good, some bad, most of it somewhere in the middle.   Due to this, I havn’t felt like listening to new music unless I have to.   So, during my 2 hour commute to school and work, I’d rather listen to something I’m familiar with.  I find myself listening to the albums that I know like the back of my hand.  I know every word to every song, and I know when to skip over a track and what kind of mood I’ll be in after I listen to it.   When I get a new album from an artist I know I like, I like to listen to it while I’m at home doing something, so I can “absorb it,”  so I rarely listen to new music when I’m driving.

I stick to my go-to-records.  Of course, among these are my Beatles albums.  Anybody who knows me knows I don’t even need to clarify this, but I will never not want to listen to the Beatles.  So, here’s a list of my go-to-records (not including the Beatles) over the past month or so.

• What’s the Story, Morning Glory – Oasis.  This was the first album I ever owned, and it’s still as great to me now as it was then.  Wonderwall.  Champagne Supernova.  Don’t Look Back in Anger.  She’s Electric…all on ONE album.  Insanely brilliant.
• More Adventerous / Under The Blacklight – Rilo Kiley.  These two albums are both great from start to finish.  Between the two I probably listen to Under The Blacklight more, but that’s just because it’s a newer release.   They’re also two albums that I know my friends won’t mind listening to if I’m driving us somewhere. 
• O  – Damien Rice.  This is just the prettiest damn thing.  Lyrically, musically it’s really breathtakingly beautiful.  One of my favorite albums to listen to at night time or on a rainy day and i’m stuck in traffic downtown…
• Run, Devil Run – Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins.  Yes, I realize this now makes three albums on my go-to-list that involve Jenny Lewis (she’s in Rilo Kiley for those playing at home.)  I just really love her intelligent, yet accesible lyrics.  And musically,  there’s so much variation – so between the three albums I’m sure to find one to fit my mood.
• Elevator – Hot Hot Heat.  This album has been on my go-to-list for years.  It’s my favorite by the band, and maybe it’s more of an emotional connection to the album at this point than it is a music one, but none the less I don’t like to not have it in my car. 

 Of course there are a few other albums that are on constant rotatation, but these are the ones that i’ve been listening to lately.  What are yours and why do you think this is?  I also can’t decide if I think the weather has an influence on my go-to-listening habits. I think i’d be more likely to listen to upbeat music over the summer, but I never paid close enough attention to it.  What are your thoughts?  And if you do find yourself in my car often, what are your thoughts on my music selection?  I’ll usually change the CD if I think what i’m listening to is un-listenable for my passenger…unless of course I’m listening to Michael Jackson.  That’s staying on.  Don’t hate.  I love me some MJ. 

I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils…

I start what would have been my final semester of classes on Tuesday.  I say “would have been” because major switching, timing and internships got in the way, so I’ll need another semester to complete my B.A. which is annoying really but it’s not that a big deal because…

I’m getting off topic,

 I wanted to write about school supplies.  School supplies and my love for them.  To me, the best part of starting new classes is all the new gear you get the few days before they start.  Or in my case, the few weeks before they start.  I’ve talked about this with several friends, and some share my passion for fresh notebooks, folders and boxes of pens, others think I’m crazy.  To these people I say, use your notebooks from last year.  And may you never lose a page of them. 

Personally, I use a three ring binder, with separators and lined paper – all from the same source, no mismatched sizes or colours.   I also use a few pocket folders to keep important hand outs in, handouts that will one day make their way into my three ring binder. 

It makes me feel organized.  Or at least, keeps up the illusion that i’m an organized individual.

My preferred writing utensil is a Bic ultra round, with grip.  Not the clicky kind.  I write in blue.  Interestingly, I have a lot of fancy pens; you know, the kind of pen that you change the ink barrel of?  But I never use them.  I like my plastic Bic pens that I’m almost certainly going to lose the lids to.  I’ve also known the Bic Crystal pens to have it’s fair share of fans. 

On the subject of keeping dates and assignments and meetings in order, I stray from the majority.  I don’t use an agenda pad.  I previously have, but I’ve found them to be very inflexible.  Let’s say I have lots to do on Monday and relatively little planned for Thursday, and I have been given the same 2″ box for both.  What’s a girl to do?  In keeping up with this newfangled technology I’m always on about, a couple of years ago I bought a PDA.  However, I never used it.  (Do you want it?)  I found that syncing it with my computer was relatively pointless, it took me ages to write things down with the stupid stylus, and I had to deal with the whole battery situation.  Not to mention the pretentiousness of being 19 year old kid with a PDA.    Absurd. 

Now days, I use one of these.  Moleskine Notebook.  Swear by it.  Mine is the ruled reporter notebook.  Although, yes, it is technically just a plain ruled notebook…it is so much more.  It’s the perfect size for both your Mondays and Thursdays – because there’s no limits.  Looking through mine, I have phone numbers, websites, assignments, reminders, a seating plan, a list of songs…a grocery list (I go grocery shopping?)  It’s a bit pricey considering it is a notebook, but it’s exceptional craftsmanship makes it worth it.  Incredibly durable, nay…rugged, it can handle a beating.  High quality paper (stitched together- not glued), an elastic strap to keep things together and the pages protected, and a little pocket in the back for important things (I keep a copy of important phone numbers, and a dollar bill… ’cause you never know).  I’ve had my current one for over a year and it’s still in perfect condition and I won’t leave the house without it. 

Or without a blue Bic ultra round. 

Yes, I know that writing about this has solidified the fact that I’m probably the biggest nerd you know, but I’m OK with it.  I own it.  

Do you have a favorite writing utensil?  How do you stay organized?  Will you still say “Hi” to me in public after this post?

what’s your anti-drug?

I’m on my winter break, my last day of work was on Friday, and my internship doesn’t start until the 21st…

So, in light of this, i’ve been watching alot of TV recently.  I watched a new show on vh1, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.  As the name suggests,the premise of the show is that you take a bunch of (relatively washed up) celebrities, and put them through rehab with Dr. Drew, and film it all.  Interesting stuff, right? 

I turned it off about half way through the first episode. 

It frightened me.   Frightened me profoundly. Watching Jeff Conaway go through detox and seeing his struggle with every day things, was absolutely heart breaking. I remember him in Grease and a few other movies, and seeing what’s happened to him is really tragic.  If that’s not enough to keep someone off of drugs, I don’t know what is.

 Although, not too long ago I found out that Amy Winehouse is only 24 years old.   And well, she looks like she does. 

Celebrities are my anti-drug. 

a small remembrance of something more solid

I spent some time today looking at old family photos and pictures from way back when.  In particular, I’ve been going through some old pictures of my mother and her friends from when she was about my age.  While looking, I had a thought…

There are upwards of 300 pictures of me with my friends on facebook alone, but in terms of actual hard copies I have very, very few.  Back before every one started using digital cameras you had to print out the roll of film to see the pictures, but now days you can just upload them onto the internet, tag and share them with your friends, and it’s free.  Awesome!  But, what if 20 years from now all this technology is obsolete, or something happens that essentially deletes all these pictures? Although I know that day won’t be soon, I like the security of having hard copies of things.  I want to have these pictures compiled for when, one day, Mindy Jr. wants to know what I was like way back in the 2000-something’s.

Do you have hard copies of all your pictures?  What would you suggest I do in terms of backing up these pictures? Print them out? If that’s the case, how can I get them all printed without it costing me a billion dollars? 

And people should take more pictures in general.  I see my friends all the time but rarely does anyone have a camera and it’s a shame (exception/plug: Steph Bell – photographer/ social paparazzi extraordinaire…check out stephbell.com)

bye, year

It’s kind of cliche to write the “end of the year” post I guess.  But, who cares.  2007 was a reallygood year.   I was going back through my old blog and some pictures and what not and it really was just absolutely wonderful.  I did some traveling, school was great (nerd), and I made some really amazing friends.  Strengthened some relationships, and although some are worse off or don’t exist anymore -you’ve gotta count your losses, learn from your mistakes and move on.  I wouldn’t dare complain. 

So, this is more for my friends and myself than anyone else, but here’s a list of my favorite things about 2007.

 -Tuesday nights over the Summer.

-Slip & Slide / Slip & Die BBQ.

-Seeing Rilo Kiley in Boston w/ Kara.

-06/09/07- five friends.  four hours.  one thunderstorm. under one $6 canopy from walmart.

-July.  Australia. ’nuff said.

-August. California. And coming home early for Jenn’s birthday party.  Great sneak attack of ‘07. 

-Flag Day Weekend in the Berkshires of Massachusetts.

-Going to NYC to see Across The Universe in Greenwich Village and having it turn into an uproarious night in Queens. 

-Dinner & Drinks at the Rooftop Grill & Bar in Bryant Park, Manhattan.

-Ice Moment ‘07.  (This one actually wasn’t that good a time, with the whole breaking my elbow thing.  It’s just a funny story and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.)

-Post Road in Milford.  It’s always been hilarious and will continue to be.

-Memorial day BBQ at Holly’s.

-The miscellaneous adventures of Jenndy Henri.  (*John Lennon’s birthday celebration in Central Park)

There’s probably alot of other things that I just can’t remember right now.  Feel free to remind me of fun things that happened this year.  I’m glad to have made it through with a smile. 

Here’s to two thousand and seven more!