Top CDs via Paste

So I don't own the National's Boxer yet, but I am proud to say I own several of the CDs on Paste's top CDs of 2007 list.

100. Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War
95. The Good, The Bad & The Queen - The Good, The Bad & The Queen
91. The Fratellis - Costello Music
44. Norah Jones - Not Too Late
41. Brandi Carlile - The Story
29. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
17. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
13. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
09. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
05. Feist - The Reminder

Several others of these, I've got songs on the ipod b/c of Paste. I may need to look into buying a few others:

94. Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime
93. Lori McKenna - Unglamorous
78. The New Pornographers - Challengers
77. Jeremy Fisher - Goodbye Blue Monday
76. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
74. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
68. Office - A Night At The Ritz
56. Kate Nash - Made of Bricks
51. The Frames - The Cost
34. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
27. Derek Webb - The Ringing Bell
21. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
11. Radiohead - In Rainbows
10. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
09. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
08. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
06. M.I.A. - Kala
02. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
01. The National - Boxer

Thanksgiving round-up

Ten things to remember from Thanksgiving, 2007

1) Seeing Cindy's little baby bump
2) Dinner with the family at Buddy's pizza, and watching LSU go down with in 3OT to Arkansas to further screw with the BCS system. And church & Applebee's with mom & dad.
3) "Euthanasia" instead of "Anesthesia." And voting for Hillary Clinton "because she's a woman." Playing scattegories and catch phrase.
4) Shopping at Lakeside with mom and having her spend more $ than me.
5) A very generous check from mom and dad.
6) Tripling my score at bowling.
7) Mid-afternoon naps.
8) Showing mom my ring and going through a bridal magazine with her.
9) Playing Scene It with Kevin & Cindy.
10) Last but not least, dinner with my family on Thanksgiving Day. Turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pies and key lime pie, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, roles, and lots of munchies. Yummy.

Convention Stuff, Wedding Stuff

Well, my 9th convention is over and out. Ugh. As much as I like to catch up with friends as these things, I am so so so glad it is over. And I'm certainly irked by things that didn't go smoothly here. 1) lack of contingency plan for someone who has been ill quite often. 2) stepping in, ditching assigned responsibilities, and bossiness. 3) not being sufficiently grateful for everyone who did step in.

Well, enough about that. Giuliani gave a good speech, though I really wish the words "freedom to choose" never left his lips. I guess whomever I vote for will be a compromise candidate. At least he, Mitt, and Fred all acknowledge the importance of the judges issue.

We're going to look at the dream site tonight, the Reagan Building. It will be so, so expensive, but at least we will see that option. I am really anxious to get some details settled on soon. There is so much to do.

We leave tomorrow p.m. for Detroit!!!

Weekend

Chris & Beth are visiting. I left them at the Edward Hopper exhibit to come home and watch the Boys with Stevie. He is happy right now; Lions are getting their arses kicked.

So the big convention is this week. Of course, I am far more involved than I would like to be. Ugh. Well, I hope all of my hard work will pay off come December. I need that money for next year. I just hope the big gala goes off OK.

We also had a fun night last night at Moira's party. Peter and Sonia are expecting their first in April. Good stuff all around.

Oh, and OH State went down to the Illini. The year of the upset continues.

More special Dublin places

Ely Wine Bar & Cafe Dublin
Celtic Whiskey Shop
Woolshed Bar & Grill Dublin
Eliza Blues

Weekend round-up

Steve was back in town, so we took it easy for much of the weekend. Watched some college games on Saturday--I'm back in a three-way tie for first in the pool--and the much anticipated NE-Indy game yesterday. Oh yeah, and that Cowboys-Eagles game. Go Boys! And even the Lions won.

We went to G&S's for Nina's baptism party yesterday. It took up a huge chunk of the day, and I never really enjoy myself while I'm over there. And talking wedding planning with Becky was awkward. Seriously--who spends that much on flowers at the expense of not inviting folks to their wedding? I'd rather walk down the aisle into an empty church!!

I did get a gala dress at Macy's. It's long, red and satiny. I have to get it pressed, but I really like the silhouette, and I think I could work with that on another gown :) And hey, it's a size 6 so I look nice and slim (even with the belly!)

I have to say, I'm really liking the latest Paste sampler. The Dan Wilson song Breathless is a new favorite, and my fave Stars leads things off. Lots of good music on there. And Paste's pay-what-you-want subscription dealy is too good to pass up (or I should say renew).

Seventies-Something nostalgia

This NYT column commented on the Daring Book For Girls, a cousin to the Dangerous Book for Boys that came out last year or so. How neat--I want to buy it for myself! Thirty years have gone by, which is about the time nostalgia really sets in. The 80s are still present of a cultural reference to have gotten to that point yet, though. But maybe there's a lot for my generation to relate to, too:

“The Daring Book for Girls” teaches the art of playing jacks and handclap games, roller skating, darts, jump rope, gin rummy and daisy chains.

It does take me back to the days of coming up with roller skating routines to Madonna songs, playing War, elaborate games of tag and neighborhood hide and seek and SPUD, jumping rope, the handclap games, dollhouses and cabbage patch kids and barbies, friendship pins and friendship bracelets, Saturday morning cartoons, Saturday afternoons at the library, playing garden, and whatever else we did. And getting our Commodore 64 was a HUGE deal. Now, every kid probably has an email account before they can write.

Kids just don't know what they're missing out on!!! But maybe now young girls will get an idea.

Post-Halloween

While I was good yesterday, the leftover Halloween candy is a huge temptation here. I think I'm going to resort to the brushing of the teeth trick.

So I am meeting JW tonight for dinner. Dinner at at Circa was fun with the girls on Tuesday, though I have to say, the service was not great. My pizza was good, the sparkling shiraz tasty (even better after the bubbles died down a bit), and my salad was a nice touch. The place was packed. I'm going to hold for now in giving it a second chance; it was also pricey.

I have to say I'm a bit disappointed in a couple of folks' reactions to my news. I feel self-conscious enough broadcasting it already, but I did expected a returned email or phone message from certain people. I am trying not to let it bother me. Others like Donna have been awesome.