Terminally Chill

Things I do when I'm feeling blue:

1. Listen to music.

2. Buy music.

3. Read.

4. Write.

5. Smoke.

6. Toke.

7. Drink.

And to top it all off, I attempt to calibrate my record player and completely fuck it all up.

It's been awhile, but I've been here before.

Quote of the Century

"If deadliest catch is a show about getting crabs, they should rename it "itchiest catch from my whore ex-girlfriend."

Staged? Scary?

Muchos gracias to Rob over at Cheap Thrills - Boston for posting this wonderfully entertaining tantrum from a (semi) grown adult.

Straight Into A Storm

The new album "Born on Flag Day" by Deer Tick is so refreshing and different that it truly makes me believe in music once more. I'd (not-so) recently come to the conclusion that new music sucks. But here I am, admitting that I've been proven wrong.

I'm so incredibly bullshit at the fact that I missed the Boston show on June 10th at the House of Blues, that I'm thinking about heading down to NYC on July 24th just to check them out at the Bowery.

BUSY BUSY SUMMER!

HA!

The majority of New York City is filled with prudish freaks.

Non-Effulgent

Today was a sad day:

1. My beloved vintage turntable (record player, I prefer to call it) is officially a goner thanks to my very much adored nephew.

2. I spent 16 hours between yesterday and today sitting at a cramped table with coworkers, discussing ways to make our jobs (and lives) easier and still feel as if we came up far too short.

3. I feel like I've lost something. I don't understand why or how it happened, and I want to but I can't because I'm so caught up in that shitty, useless "pride" emotion that I won't even try.

I hate feeling sorry for myself. I'm going to sleep to dream of vacationing on white sandy beaches, with unlimited beverages and hot men.

Porked

Alright, so I haven't paid much attention to the Swine Flu Pandemic (or not pandemic?) since it began back in April, but today's news that a staff member at work has been porked by it has got me slightly worried.

I despise being sick, but I guess it's just a matter of time by now.

Weeds, Man

"You're a fucking downer! ...inquistor, ruiner of days, Child of the Apocolypse."

Kevin Nealon as Doug Wilson is a fucking riot and Weeds is, by far, the most genius show in the history of television.

(Yes, I am re-watching each and every episode.)

What's The Story, Morning Glory?

Did you know:

"If you eat one hundred Morning Glory seeds,

you will go to Morning Glory heaven?

Heavenly blues, pearly gates, and flying saucers

will do the trick."

Who ever knew that the seeds of these pretty little flowers which are sold in the florist department at Stop & Shop's worldwide was a psychadelic drug?

ADVENTURE's w. J and J!

Buddha Is My Om Boy

Just picked up "Why Lazarus Laughed: The Essential Doctrine" by Wei Wu Wei. One chapter/life lesson in and I'm hooked. I just may buy the super-saver pack on Amazon and read everything he's ever penned.

I have a tendency of doing that; clinging to one (or ten) authors for a significant period of time before getting B-O-R-E-D and moving on up the written ladder.

Happier Than...

Black Beach Boogie

Dude, that looks like fun.

The Faces / The Creeping Legs

All of my life I've harbored a love for traveling, and Austrailia has always been at the highest priority on my list of places to visit before I turn 30.

That was until today, when I read this article which briefly explains the appearance of the "bird-eating" spiders which have suddenly crawled out from their natural habitats located in the heart of the Austrailian outback, and into the realm of human society.

I think my ridiculous fear of arachnids has suddenly become less ridiculous, and after reading the Wikipedia article for arachnophobia, I feel almost proud to be in the "arachnophobe" cult.

Sick Shit

This is completely whack for real, yo!

Who could ever even enjoy sucking on someone else's toes? I mean, honestly, what is pleasurable in that? I am literally vomming in my mouth.

In other news, in case you haven't already heard, the world is seemingly on the verge of a swine flu pandemic. Partly terrifying, and partly (admit it!) exciting, but most likely just completely blown out of proportion. Now I could be wrong, kids, but I feel as if all this pork hype might be causing an undue panic in a world that's already panic'd enough?

So, bacon (or cytokine storm) anyone?

Yeehaw!

Oh.. yeah, I did.

LOVED 'EM / BOUGHT 'EM.

Wish I'd had 'em when I hit up Montana last year, and when I toured Tennessee this year. Guess I'll just have to take another drive down South sometime soon!

Who Stole The Soul?

This man is so amazing, and hot as all fuck; William Elliott Whitmore. I stumbled upon him completely by accident (thanks to that new Itunes Genius app) and am stoked about it. Finally, some darn good (and nowish) whiskey-soaked, soul-infused Delta blues.

Check out this live YouTube vid for proof. Notice how the background noise slowly fades a few moments after the first chords, a testament to the raw power that a talented musician can use to command and capture the attention of a restless crowd.

Somewhere, There's Music

- Jimmy Rushing

"baby, how long, baby how long

baaaaby how long, baby how long...?"

Listening to the blues mostly makes me happy.

Art Block

I'm seriously considering going back to school. Not "school" school where I would spend my nights sitting in a classroom or studying textbooks, but art school. More specifically, photography school.

I have always been drawn to photography, notably black and white, but not exclusively. There have been many color prints that have caught my fascination as well. A year ago, I bought myself a Canon Rebel XTi with the full intentions of teaching myself the tips and tricks of taking a good photograph, but I regret to say that my hopes have fallen by the wayside.

Now, I'm not a terrible photographer and I've gotten plenty of compliments on my skills (see my Flickr page if you'd like to judge for yourself and please don't feel the need to be cushy; I can handle constructive criticism) but I feel as if I still have a long road to travel, and I can feel the potential slipping away everytime I pick up my camera again.

I put it down for months, without a backwards glance, and then one day my fingers tingle and I snap away at nothing in particular until I feel as if I have something worth showing. It's not that my life is dull and I have no hobbies, or that I don't think that I could pick up a guidebook and learn myself, it's truly that I want to learn. I want to know how to take photographs that people will think about.

Food for thought, at least.

Writer's Block

I've fallen in love, for real, for the first time ever.

Please go here to see the object of my affections. This could be life changing. I'm just really feelin' it, despite the price tag.

(April) Fools

I have possibly been having the weirdest month ever. I can't even begin to describe any of it, but I can say that if it weren't for one person (who has spent a ridiculous number of hours letting me cry my frustrations out over the phone) then I may have plucked out my eyelashes by now.

Thanks, J.

EDIT (on 4/2/09): And thanks, to the creeper who is sending out the noodz via my cell phone number. Seriously appreciative of the sudden influx in my popularity status quo. How'd you get my new number again?

Vote!

For The Phoenix Best of Boston 2009!

Vote here for your favorite dive bar, Jewish deli, lobster roll and way more!

My new goal for the (semi)new year: visit each and every establishment that wins the Best of Boston 2009!

Want It, Need It (Pt. 1)

List of current neccessities:

1. This Vintage Coca-Cola Wooden Crate; perfect for my candle collection!

2. Octopussy.. HA! This is a want for no valid reason, whatsoever.

3. This pretty little Fawn In The Forest Necklace reminds me of childhood friendships; a little lame-o, but it's still adorable and easy to pair with a cute summer dress!

4. Vintage Stoneware Peacock Teapot for my new apartment and my old tea fetish.

5. Love men with beards; here's a Beard Full of Love!

All of the above; Etsy products from various sellers. Strange? I think not. That website has become my obsession (circa that 80's tune). I shop it at least once daily and I think all ya'll should too!

Want 'em, need 'em, gotta have 'em! So, uh, who's buying these desires for me? Birthday coming up in three weeks. HINT! HINT!

These Boots Were Made For Walkin'...

...and that's just what they'll do, one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!

Yet another amazing Etsy find; vintage sweetness!

It's Been Awhile...

...i know.

Superbusy, running around like a mad lady on a mission. My hard work has finally paid off, however; I have been offered a promotion! Bigger bucks, bigger responsibilities, and the prospect of traveling for work, on my company's dime!

Happy St. Paddy's Day and party to that tonight!

Need One, STAT:

Wonder if this so-called recovery beverage actually works? If so, the world is truly changing and the process of aging past one's boozing prime might just be at a standstill.

Artsy Etsy

I must say that I have finally stumbled across the best website yet; etsy.com.

I am so in love! If you enjoy browsing, and maybe purchasing, unique and handmade items (jewelry, clothing, art, housewares, furniture, etc.) then you simply MUST check it. I've already bought myself this and this, two real pretty pieces from a fellow Bostonian seller; check her out!

Whilst browsing my new favorite online mall, I also stumbled across this amazingly creative and original artist; Emma Hack.

She may look a bit fruity in that obtrusive photo, but do not miss her collaboration with the works of the late Florence Broadhurst entitled, Wallpaper Collection, which is a true mindf*ck and work of genius.

Check out the entire collection here.

[ via Apartment Therapy ]

Great Walls

I am dying to go see this exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.

I'm not really into the economics of China, but both past and contemporary Chinese art has always held my fancy. In the midst of my current apartment search, I have also been searching for some antique Chinese artifacts and art with which to decorate my new bedroom. Keep your eyes peeled for me, please.

Anyone wanna tag along for a day of art fagging next weekend?

Troutville, VA

No joke; watching infomercials and surfing the 'net on my laptop thanks to insomnia. Seriously though, after driving nine hours on four hours of sleep, you'd a thunk I'd be facedown right now. But no, sweet, no sleep and I've got one last party hard night in New York.

On another train of thought entirely, I was given one real good piece of advice this past week (from a toothless redneck wearing a confederate flag hat who just so happened to be one of the nicest, and wisest individuals I have met in a long time) and that was to find yourself a best friend and stick with them for the rest of your life.

Simple. But true.

EDIT (on 4/2/09): That redneck's advice was a load of bullshit. Some friends are never really even friends to begin with, so how is one to know who to stick with? Guess we'll never know...

Midway

We are halfway through our Tour de Tennesse, already having hit up both Knoxville and Nashville, and arriving in Memphis just an hour ago. Here are a few things I have learned along the way:

- There's more to fast food than McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's and Taco Bell. Heck, even the Hooter's have drive-thru's in the South; fast wing's!

- A Yankee is any person living north of the Mason-Dixon Line, not just a delusioned New York baseball fan. By the by, Southerners seem to loathe the Yankee's just as much as us Bostoners.

- Virginia is quite possibly the longest, most boring, and worst state in the United States as a whole. I sort of wish it would un-unite itself, and therefore just disappear from the map.

- Nashville, or Nash-Vegas as some so lovingly call it, is nothing but a tourist trap. The "strip" of 2nd Avenue is less than a mile long and filled with bars that reminded me of Cancun. (I will, however, post later on the amazing, off-the-beaten-path watering-hole that we did happen across last night.)

- Knoxville is clean, but smaller than Providence and other than the Sunsphere, and a pretty alright water fountain garden, it's a virtual bore.

- Southerners seem live on Waffle House, Sonic and fake Italian food.

...to be continued.

And Everything Is Going...

...to the beat.

So totally groovin' on this vid/song:

Tomorrow at noon kicks off Tour de Tennessee! I shall return in ten days with a photo essay for all ya'll's viewing pleaure; or maybe just a link to my Flickr page.

Happy Darwin Day!

Natural selection, anyone?

In celebration of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday today, the Harvard Humanists were providing young naturalists with free drinks and cake, and the tunes of local geek rock bands right on the Harvard main campus. TOTES NERD-COOL!

Today's fun-fact: per Wikipedia, as a humorous celebration of evolution, the annual Darwin Award is bestowed on individual's who "improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it."

Tu Es Jolie

The "Inspirational" section of Smashing Magazine holds a number of the most beautifully artistic black and white photographs I have come across in awhile, such as the one displayed above, also my personal favorite.

On a completely unrelated side note, I think I want to learn to speak French. Hence the French subtitles all over my cultured blog.

Barroom Jams

These guys, The Felice Brothers, are so incredibly, and undeniably talented. You can read a short, yet praising, review of their live show here.

I can't wait to see them April 9th at the Paradise! Despite the fact that the show is the night immediately following my birthday, I still think that it's an amazing way to kick off my 26th year of life!

Funeral of The Heart

In the wise words of Matthew Houck, "There ain't nothing worth saving, except one another."

Joyeux Anniversaire!

To my homegirl, Corin Barnes!

I'll be sure to buy you lots of .25 Jello Shots at the bar in the mountain when we finally reach Whitwell on Friday, February 20th!

Creeptastic

And the number one reason that I (and everyone else in the world) should delete their current Myspace profile(s); SEX OFFENDERS.

What, you must be joking, sex offenders on the internet? No way!

The Next Martha?

I love Japanese food, more than any other culinary type in the whole world. Unfortunately, there aren't many choices here in Boston, and what few choices there are, they are typically overpriced. Therefore, in order to dine on it regularly (more than once every two months), preparing it at home is the best way to go. 

When I saw this recipe for Miso Soup, it forced me to make the final decision to register for a cooking class; sooner, rather than later.

Be proud when it finally occurs, I know I will.

Yeehaw!

My roadtripping plans have changed.

Rather than only seeing Memphis, and only dining on Memphis-style BBQ, we're going to head on down to Nashville first for two nights; our detailed itinerary is forthcoming!

Helloooooooo, cowboys!

And I Feel Fine..?

Google Reader, which I have become obsessed with as I flat out refuse to watch the news on the tele and/or read a newspaper (because they make my fingers dirty), passed along this interesting little tidbit regarding Cern's Large Hadron Collider to my inbox this morning.

Now, prior to settling my butt on the couch for one entire Sunday afternoon spent dutifully watching the entire Apocolypse Special on the History Channel, I truly had no idea what a black hole was. Nor was I aware that Nostradamus, and countless other prophets and ancient civilizations, had predicted the coming "End of Days" which is supposedly set to occur in December of 2012. Coincidence? I think not.

I think it's safe to say that we, as a civilization of people who absolutely need this world as it is to survive, should be a wee bit nervous when this thing gets turned on. On a personal level, I am not ready to be sucked into a giant black hole, nor am I prepared to watch the rest of the planet get sucked into said black hole.

Some people just like to push the envelope as far as possible, I suppose. But, hey, they'll be the first to go, right? Standing there with their protective goggles and scientist suits on. At least the smart will die first. HA. Seriously though, if you're not sure that the world won't end when you flip the little green button (ready, set, GO!), why would you even flip it in the first place?

On a slight side note, see this for five other possible ways that the world could end, and then please procede to have a HAPPY TUESDAY!

Beefy Heaven

I am literally drooling over this.

If I don't gain twenty pounds eating lamb riblets, pulled pork sandwiches, and slabs of beef ribs smothered in BBQ sauce while in Memphis, it will be an utter miracle.

Retrosexual?

Interesting, humorous article in this week's Phoenix.

Honestly though, where else could a world obsessed with social networking ever go but backwards, reverting to the mistakes of our adolescence?

Here Comes Your Man

Let's here it for the only man I can always count on, the one man who never lets me down, and the one man who keeps me smiling regardless of how shitty my day and/or week has been:

He may be small, he may not speak very much English, he may make a mess wherever he goes and he may shit his pants on occasion, but he's still the best dude in the whole world.

Animal Collective

One of the strangest and little-known (at least in my hometown) bands of all time, but also one of the most epic, the most polarizing, a sound that will quite literally knock your breath away. You'll either love them, or you'll hate them, but I truly believe that if you do not give their new album, "Merriweather Post Pavilion" at least one listen, you are missing out on what is sure to be one of the best albums of 2009.

Now, I know you'll say "Hey, Jenna, isn't that a bit premature, considering we're only 24 day into this year?" My response, "Shut the f*ck up and listen."

The clashing synth's, bassy and beat-driven, may nearly drown out the lyrics on almost all of their tunes, but once you catch just one wisp of those sung tongs (get it?) you'll be feverishly Googling their lyrics to read it for yourself. "What the f*ck did he just say!?"

Okay, I'll stop sounding so pushy and end with this: pick this album up, get it on vinyl, DL it on Itunes, whatever your M.O. may be. JUST DO IT. And if, for some odd reason (like, oh, maybe the recession or something) you can't afford it, shoot me an e-mail and I'd be happy to illegally burn you a copy.

Just feel it, man.

Southern Ideals

Got a big vacation coming up; Feb. 14th thru the 22nd I will be roadtrippin' through the south! I've got a friend living in Whitwell, Tennessee aka. Bumblefuck City, Tennessee. Rather than pay $400 for 10 hours of traveling via airports, we have decided to rent a car and experience the 17 hour drive. After a day or two in Bumblefuck, we shall be making our way down to Memphis, the home of the Delta Blues!

I'm totally stoked for the adventure, it's the sort of thing I live for; traveling, seeing the world and having nothing at all to do, no deadlines, no projects, nothing! This is why I need a super-cush job, making lots of dough; so I can travel, travel, travel!

So long work, so long Boston, so long normal life.. I'm headed to the dirrrrty south for a week of BBQ and homegrown beers!

Paradise Island?

So, basically, the only reason that I maintain Yahoo! as my current homepage at work, is the daily onslaught of often trivial, and often ridiculous, news articles. Mostly everything they shove in your face is ultimately worthless, until this little gem popped up:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/od_afp/lifestyleaustraliatourismoffbeat_20090113032028

I'm absolutely DYING to apply, but everytime I click on the link which supposedly refers you to their application, I get an error message. now I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that Yahoo! is advertising this thing more than the coming of the 2012 apocolypse (sp?).

In short, thank you Yahoo! for ruining my chances at a happy, and restful, life.

EDIT/UPDATE: I've been informed that the tele news ran this article as well. Clearly, I have not a shot in hell.

Nine to Five

And bored already.

Honestly, having nearly two weeks off of work (and spending much of it in a drunken alternative reality) is not exactly a good thing.

I just feel particularly resentful towards my boss today, and it's most likely due to the fact that I haven't had to see his face in two whole, glorious weeks. Not that's he so bad or anything, but I'm just sayin'.