It's been a strange couple of weeks. On a national level, hope abounds. On a personal level, it's been pretty much crap.
The good news? I think this phase might be coming to an end. It may be the Screamin' Jay Hawkins record I keep playing over and over, or it may be the Sailor Jerry Rum that keeps finding it's way to my beverages, but I am optimistic. Seriously....having a bad month that doesn't kill you is not that bad. I mean, we all have to take our turns, right? Plus, this always happens near the turn of the seasons, or the changing of the clocks.
In any case, I feel that it might be appropriate here to make a list. A list of the things, currently, that are lighting up my brain cells, are making me feel like it's all worth it. Aside, of course, from the people and animals that make every day tolerable. You know who you are....the three of you that read this blog, and the rest of you. You all rock the house of E-mile.
Here we go.....
READING IS GRATE
I am, and will always be, the type -o- gal to have about ten different books going at once. Here are the current selections next to the bed, on the kitchen table, etc.:
It's a debut novel. It's modeled after an English Literature syllabus, with more literary and cultural references than a ten foot high stack of New Yorkers. It is brilliant. It is maddening, because the author is the precise opposite of a "late bloomer". It is inspiring, because you know there is at least one person out there that is using a whole giant portion of their brain, as opposed to most of us that are using that piddly little five percent, or whatever the number is.
The characters are nauseating and fascinating all at once, kind of like an episode of Gossip Girl crossed with several Norton Anthologies. Good times.
For some reason, vampires have come a callin' lately, seemingly to feed on my general sense of fascination. I always love Nosferatu, which coincidentally was the first thing I wrote about in this 'ere blogerola. Also, up out of the coffin of cheesy HBO series pops True Blood, one of the most addicting
shows I have witnessed in recent days. It is so full of cheesy acting, sex, and actually some awesome music.....that is my achilles combination. More on that later....
Anyways, this book is a book about vampire culture, and is Choc(ula) full of all kinds of history and accounts and the like.
I have always toyed with becoming a music therapist, but I have the sense that I would like the schooling better then the practice. I wonder if in reality, it would mean a lifetime of playing Beatles songs to kids from the short bus. Actually, that sounds pretty damn fun....I just don't really love the Beatles that much.
Actually, I see how music has this power (duh) over folks and I wish I could help use that power for amazing things. Namely, to help people find their identity, their passion, their best best self.
This book looked so completely interesting and very on-topic. I bought it. It may be dry as hell, which I swear will piss me off. I think my sister has read it...(sister? care to comment?) and if memory serves, she named a book or two that were much better on the subject. Verdict is still out.
There are these two friends of mine, a couple, and they are people that somehow, I feel that I have known since I was small (f*cking long time ago, right?). If I believed in such things, I would venture to say that I knew them in some other life. They told me about Laurie Perry, a.k.a. Crazy Aunt Purl's blog and book....I related to the story they told me and without ever having read her blog, I bought the book. I love this woman to death. She got divorced, she learned to knit. She wrote a g-damn book. She has a bunch of cats, she is funny as hell. I look at her blog every day. Okay, so, I haven't yet delved into the book, but I am sure it will be awesome, because the author is someone I wish was in my posse of friends. One of my plans for the year is to learn to knit like a badass. My mom is an amazing knitter, she belongs to project Linus, and I figure, maybe her skill with the needles is hereditary?? I sure hope so. Maybe I can forgive her for the cellulite if that is the case.
MUSIC TIME
I got ten kinds of overwhelmed when I thought about writing about everyone I have been listening to lately, so I thought I would just post my favorite songs of late. Click on the links and enjoy....
I believe I will close out for now. Please stay tuned for Part II of what turns my crank, also known as Why I Have been Swearing so Goddamn Much.
Later, taters.
Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys: Stay a Little Longer
4 comments:
Oh, where to start, where to start.....I feel like I should post an answer blog like people post response videos on Youtube.
First of all - glad to see another installment....I was really missing OSW!
Your books look great. I have not read Musicophilia, though I have almost gotten it twice. I like what you said about music having the power to find their identity, passion and best self. In one sentence you summed up why I have given all my free time to work with the Circus. That's EXACTLY why. I see their music doing just that to people night after night, day after day.
Though I haven't read "Musicophilia," I have read a few others that I will mention. "This Is Your Brain On Music" by Daniel Levitin starts out great but just when you think he's going to really expand on why and how music touches our brain and soul he delves into the neuroscience big time and it gets all technical and boring. Probably really interesting for more scientific types. I lost interest.
"Music, The Brain and Ecstasy" by Robert Jourdain is the same idea but much more interesting.
One of my favorite books is "Free Play: Improvisation In Life and Art" by Stephen Nachmanovitch. It is about music but really about life.It is one of the only books I have read that really explains what creativity is. It has been a couple years since I read it - I need to read it again.
"The Musician's Soul" by James Jordan comes close to being as good as "Free Play." It touches on the spirituality of music and Art, but avoids being religious.I need to read this one again - very inspiring.
I am listening to your current songs now. I like Neko Case. I think a couple weeks ago I dreamed Nick Cave performed in West Newbury. Hahahahaha.
Hope OSW comes out again soon!
That Jelly Roll Kings song may just be the most Emilie song I've ever heard.
You've made the Calamity Physics book sound intriguing, and i shall now buy it (i've looked at it a couple times, but never thought seriously about getting it). AND NOW I SHALL.
Also, add to your list of things to read: "Things the Grandchildren Should Know" by Mark Oliver Everett. aka E, the main guy from the Eeels. It's an autobiography, and is great.
I just pulled out all of my Bob Wills records.
And all of my rum.
Thanks.
You feeling better now? I hope so - we can't have this sort of thing going on, this not-feeling-great thing.
I just bought "Team of Rivals" about Lincoln's brilliant political moves after he took office. I'm going to start it as soon as I'm done with this month's Oprah.
You cannot deny Oprah her due.
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