Friday, March 27, 2009

I Love the 90s Friday:SWV

I had a special request from Doc Brown to feature SWV, so that's what we're visiting today. Even though only 1.3 out of 3 members sang, everyone loved-did them some SWV. Coko and those fanga-nails...lawd. I picked a favorite song from each album:

Weak

Red lipstick, check. Camouflage, check. Industrial/elevator/shadowy setting, check. Velociraptor fingernails, check. I used to sing my little pre-pre-teen heart over this, lol. And I know many of y'all did too; don't front!

Use Your Heart

Apparently, this is a Neptunes production and Pharrell wrote the song! He was on so much 90s stuff that I had no clue! Anyhoo, I loved Taj's voice on this song. It was almost like hearing the Grim Reaper's voice because you would only hear Coko sing, so it was a surprise.

Someone

I still like this song even with P. Diddy douching up the song flying around in a helicopter for no reason. Motha****** are you even licensed?!

What were your favorite SWV songs?

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Male Readers Turn Away For A Second...

...Unless you are interested in dealing with the female blessing or curse (depending on how you look at it).

Ladies, the female monthly reminder is something that is so private, yet shared by all of us. We are often shamed into treating it as a dirty occurrence, and to hide every piece of evidence that it exists at all costs. Commercials show blue liquid cascading soothingly into whatever pad or tampon they happen to be advertising, as if we don't all have blood, RED BLOOD coursing around inside of us. We deny the natural in our society. Anyhoo, a year or two ago I discovered something that has made my cycle easier to manage. The menstrual cup.

Menstrual cups such as the DivaCup or the MoonCup make cycles easier in the following ways:
1. They are re-usable and last for a year or longer (DivaCup recommends replacing once a year). You can boil it between uses which cleans/disinfects it.
2. Because of the re-usable nature and long-lastingness (is that a word?), it saves you a lot of money (cost of a cup is about $30) compared to buying pads and tampons throughout the year.
3. Eco-friendly. Again because of the re-usable nature, you won't be contributing all the plastic and other materials to dumpsters and landfills via multiple pads and tampons.
4. Convenience/mess factor. The DivaCup can hold a lot. Most people can get away with only changing it once a day, depending on how heavy your cycle is. The easiest/non-messiest way to do it is to change it in the shower. This also eliminates odor as opposed to pads and tampons.
5. The DivaCup is made of natural rubber/silicone that does not irritate you or harm you inside while it is inserted. This is a welcome change from tampons which can scratch you, dry you out, and make you more susceptible to infections like Toxic Shock Syndrome.
6. You don't have to worry so much about leaks (especially if you know when approximately your cycle will arrive; you can insert the cup ahead of time). It even says you can go swimming, but I reeeeallly don't think I would do that.

Anyhoo, that is my female-friendly PSA for the day. Here is the DivaCup website. If you want/need more details, ask me in the comments or email me at bohemianbahamian@gmail.com. If you have used/are using a menstrual cup, share your experience in the comments as well.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Don't Waste Your Money

Recession or not (and I'm sick of people blaming the recession or the economy for everything. Bitch, you were broke before the recession! But I digress.), it's always good to have money-saving tips handy. I read this article on Yahoo about ways we waste money. I have highlighted excerpts that stood out as follows (words from the article are italicized, my thoughts are in bold):

1) Bottled Water
Getting your recommended eight glasses of water a day by bottle instead of tap is a huge waste of cash. That buck-a-bottle water you down on a regular basis can really add up. Potential Savings: Spend $37 to buy a 40-ounce Brita pitcher and filter ($13 at Bed, Bath and Beyond), plus a four-pack of replacement filters ($24), and you'll be able to filter 200 gallons of water. Buy that much water in 24-packs of 16.9-ounce Aquafina bottles at Shop Rite instead, and you’d spend $283.50. Your total savings: $246.50.

*I can attest to this. I bought a Pur water filter that attaches to the faucet from Target for about $30 and bought a glass water bottle. I fill up the water bottle every day with the filtered water. I have never been one to drink much water, but after seeing the tangible difference in my body from drinking soda and juice all the time (not to mention the soda stomach pooch you get), to increasing my water intake, I wanted to drink water every day if possible. I felt guilty about buying water bottles because, hello, it's water! So many countries are not able to drink their own water. In America you can. But I also couldn't ignore the stories about dirty tap water, etc. So now that I have the filter and a re-usable bottle, me and my hydration can't be stopped! I also love the money I'm saving from not buying 800-packs of Ozarka, and contributing more plastic to landfills.

2) Extended Warranties
Think twice before you shell out $10 a month for a two-year protection plan on your pricey new BlackBerry. New products tend to malfunction within the manufacturer’s initial warranty period, or well after any extended warranty has expired, says Michael Gartenberg, vice president of strategy and analysis for Interpret LLC, a market researcher. (Most extended warranties exclude accidental damage, too, so you’d still be out of luck if you drop that Blackberry and crack the screen.) To protect yourself, pay with the right credit card. Many credit cards -- including most American Express and MasterCard cards -- double the manufacturer’s warranty on purchases, adding up to another year of free protection.
Potential Savings: Someone buying a 40-inch Samsung flat panel high-def television at Best Buy for $800 has the option to add a four-year protection plan for another $150. Skip it, and pocket the cash instead. (The set already has a one-year manufacturer’s warranty.)

*I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had a Wild West style stare-down with a cashier trying to get me to buy an extended warranty for whatever-the-fuck. Like, do I really need an extended warranty on a dog bed? Seriously though, they try to get you with the, "Oh it's just $136 more." Eff you and your mama. Like the article says, most stuff breaks inside the regular warranty or way down the line after whatever extended warranty you bought expires.

3) Gym Memberships
The cost of a gym membership can really rack up over the course of a year (an average of $775, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association). So make sure you're tapping into all of the discounts available to you. Check with your employer, health insurer and other membership groups like your union or alma mater to see if they offer discounts on gym and fitness club memberships, says Bob Nelson, president of Nelson Motivation, a benefits consulting firm.
Potential Savings: On your own, you’d pay $54.99 per month, plus a $49 enrollment fee, for a national access plan at Bally’s Total Fitness. Through discounter
GlobalFit.com, which offers special rates for members of partner companies, you’d pay $37.80 per month plus a $29 enrollment fee for the same Bally’s membership. Over a yearlong membership, that’s $226.28 saved.
*Currently, my apartments have a little mini-gym, and I can use the #1 Stunna-style gym/recreation center at my university for no extra cost (unless you look at your student fee bill. Bitches.). But I would definitely recommend shopping around; you'd be surprised at the discounts you can find outside of the main gym chains.

Full article link above in my first paragraph. What money-wasting/saving tips do you have? I can think of at least one more, but it applies specifically to women. I will have a blog post on that tomorrow, probably.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Kreativ Blogger Award




The lovely ChocolateOrchid has named me as one of her 7 favorite creative bloggers! It really cheers me up to know that something I have said/typed has made someone laugh, think, or feel inspired. The rules in accepting this award are to name 7 things you love and to tag 7 creative bloggers. Without further ado:

7 Things I Love:

*Being curled up in a blanket with a book or journal as the sunlight filters in through the curtains.


*Game nights. Cards, Board games, trivia games, I love them all. Great way to bond and just chillax.


*Colors. Something about a vividly or multi-colored anything makes me feel comforted and inspired.


*Mother(bleep bleep) fried garlic tofu and rice!


*Traveling. I feel so exhilirated packing, going to an airport, boarding a plane, unboarding a plane, settlin in to the hotel, soaking in the new surroundings, (in a tropical location) seeing the ocean in glimpses from the taxi, even driving for a roadtrip, whatever; I live for it.


*When someone is genuinely happy to see me, or purposefully seeks me out for something (work doesn't count).


*Hearing other people's stories. I am a Sociology student which is often called professional voyeurism. I was attracted to this field mainly because of my interest in other people. I LOVE hearing people's biographies; what has shaped them into the person they have become. If you would let me, I would pepper you with questions to my heart's content. People who like me like that especially about me because let's face it; it makes most people feel good when someone is interested in them (see previous point).



7 Creative Bloggers


Vesper. She is my Canada-dwelling soul-mate, y'all. She has a way of combining words and images that is beautiful, haunting at times, piercing, clear, elegant, I could go on. She really gives you a sense of who she is by what she posts on. She posts on literature, philosophy, pop culture, photography, her son, her hair, whatever.


Marlo. He displays some of his wonderful and creative photos often mixed with short stories, or captions explaining what was occuring when the photo was taken. His presentation is so fresh.


Karrieb. She is a liberated thinker, and just the way she words her rants and observations is pure life creativity. Spend a day with her on Twitter; see if you don't fall out laughing at least once. She is my cunty NYC-via-TX soulmate.


Muze. One of the first bloggers to regularly drop in on my blog; Muze is a fierce poetess and natural hair enthusiast. When she blogs a poem, she leaves you wondering how much is true and wanting to know more.


Jaded. She is creative as a writer, and also because of the way she makes everyday rants and life events so coherent and relateable. You never know quite what you're going to get with her blog. Family stories, movie quotes, book giveaways, song lyrics, big-upping her Dominican background, FML moments, chat show hosting, etc. But I would expect nothing less from a fellow Gemini.

MrsMaryMack. This is my Dallas soul mate and hair cousin, lol. Some of the life experiences we have parallel each other in that funny way that happens sometimes. She is blunt, and doesn't hide the ugliness that life can take on. She is also very open and will share stories that are very adaptable and relatable. To me, having a certain openness coupled with bluntness is creative.


All'o'yall. Yeah that's cheating. But honestly even if I don't comment, if you have made yourself visible to me and those who may not even know about my blog; I love reading your blogs and seeing how you present your world; your perspective. This is one of the beautiful things about current technology how it can link people across states, countries, and continents all over one small thing you may have in common with someone else. Finding out you can relate to others or seeing a brand new experience (to you) that someone else went through is amazing. We are not alone.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Suggest A Song Monday-Careful Where You Stand

So, I pretty much said 'eff' blogging last week. It was Spring Break for me and I was off work Thursday and Friday. But I'm back! I see some new followers have climbed aboard; what better way to introduce yourselves than in today's post?

Welcome back to Suggest A Song Monday. First, I want to give shout-outs to all who participated last week. I responded to all of you in the comments so check it out if you haven't already. Much love to JamaicanBellaDonna, Lina, Mrsmarymack, Vesper, Mista Jaycee, and Chanel!

Here are the rules: I suggest a song that I love and that I think you would love. You listen to it. Tell me what you think in the comments. Then, you also recommend one song to me and I will listen to it and tell you what I think. You don't have to limit yourself to a particular genre, just any one song that you love.

Today we have Careful Where You Stand by Coldplay. This song is special to me because it reminds me of when my husband and I were courting. Yes, courting. Anyhoo, even if you have pre-conceived notions of Coldplay, give this song a whirl. It's very mellow, and a little somber while still being sweet.


Careful Where You Stand - Coldplay

I feel safe/I feel warm/When you're here/Then I do no harm/I am cured/When I'm by your side/I'm alright...I'm alright/I am safe/When I am with you/And I feel warm/If you want me too/I am cured when I'm by your side/I'm alright/(Chorus) Careful where you stand, my love/Careful where you lay your head/It's true/We're always looking out for one another//I feel safe/When I am with you/And I feel warm/If you want me to/I am cured when you are around/I'm alright/(Chorus)/So I'd like a quiet time, please/Yeah I'd like a quiet time/(Music break)/Careful where you stand/Careful where you stand

Monday, March 16, 2009

Suggest A Song Monday-Four Women

Good morning! Welcome back to Suggest A Song Monday. First, I want to give shout-outs to all who participated last week; there were some nice songs in there! I responded to all of you in the comments so check it out if you haven't already. Much love to Lina, MrsMaryMack, JamaicanBellaDonna, karrieb, TKB, and Vesper!

Here are the rules: I suggest a song that I love and that I think you would love. You listen to it. Tell me what you think in the comments. Then, you also recommend one song to me and I will listen to it and tell you what I think. You don't have to limit yourself to a particular genre, just any one song that you love.

Today we have Four Women by Nina Simone. Accompanied by a somber piano, Nina gives us a brief glimpse into the open doors of four black women's life stories. I wish like anything I could have had the chance to see her perform live; she is a definite musical force. I love the crescendo near the end of the song after the piano break; with the last woman's story. Let me know what you think!


Four Women - Nina Simone

My skin is black/My arms are strong/My hair is wooly/My back is strong/Strong enough to take the pain/Inflicted again and again/What do they call me?/My name is Aunt Sarah//My skin is yellow/My hair is long/Between two worlds/I do belong/My father was rich and white/He forced my mother late one night/What do they call me?/My name is Saffronia//My skin is tan/My hair is fine/My hips invite you/My mouth, like wine/Who's little girl am I?/Anyone who has money to buy/What do they call me?/My name is Sweet Thing//(piano break)/My skin is brown/My manner is tough/I'll kill the first mother I see!/My life has been rough/I'm awfully bitter these days/Because my parents were slaves/What do they call me?/My name is PEACHES!

Friday, March 13, 2009

I Love the 90s Friday: Immature

My husband is going to side-eye me so hard for this, but I DON'T CARE! I know I am not the only one who was jamming Immature as a pre-teenybopper...sheeit I know there were grown ass women jamming to them, DON'T HATE! Of course looking back now at Batman, Romeo, and LDB (lol, there was never any love for LDB)...and their hair...and that high, soft voice...and those clothes...I just can't. Journey back with me, won't you?

Never Lie

This was their debut single. Jesus H. Christ, where do I begin? The ocean, the hair sleekly pulled back into buns, the eye-patch, the silver jewelry, the hoop earrings, the Different World sunglasses, and where the hell are their parents? Does this just happen in everyday life where 12 year old boys congregate at the beach to share some raw emotion over a girl? Get you some of that zest at the 1:15 mark...so dead at the serious looks they are giving...Of course we can't forget the cuntiest part of the song toward the 3:40 mark: "Lie-ee-i-ee-i, lie-ee-i-ee-i...excuse me while I go resuscitate my soul.

Feel The Funk

Sofa king destroyed at Batman's "Rihanna" bob and Romeo's "trip to Cancun" micro-braids. Oh, 90s. So much was allowed back then. I'm not gonna sit here and pretend I didn't use to groove to this though.

Please Don't Go

Um, this video was kind of heavy for pre-teens...my little sensitive 11-year old ass used to cry when I watched it...this has to be a top contender for the Raw Emotion of the 90s award. I read a long time ago that the song was written for Marques Houston's mother who died of cancer. I imagine that was a bit awkward to translate this into a love story for the video. There were bedside chats (again, who's parents allowed this shit?), graphic pre-teen makeout sessions, realization of death (she keeps holding her stomach but the viewers never know why she died...ultimate crazy gas?), tearing shirts off to reveal teenage pecs in the rain, cemetaries and tombstones, dressed in all black...I think this video actually traumatized me, like watching Bambi's mother get gunned down in the Disney movie.

We Got It

Aw, what happened to the innocent, fun songs? Can't come out with anything like this now and expect to sell...one thing about Immature is they never tried to sex things up (except when they later became IMX, but I refuse to acknowledge that tragedy any further).

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Camouflage Art

I stumbled across some cool art via Cracked a while ago, which took me to this website showing artists who paint people to match various backgrounds, giving an invisibility effect. Have a looksie:








Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Dog Tells Owner She Has Breast Cancer



Look at the expression on the dog's face. He's like, Yeah that's right bitches. I smell cancer. Tell all yo' homies bout me.

From the article:

When her normally boisterous dog Max began moping around the house, Maureen Burns wondered if he was coming down with something.
But it turned out she was the one who was sick - and she believes the nine-year-old collie cross was deliberately acting out of character to alert her.
After Max began sniffing Mrs Burns's breath and then gently nudging her right breast, the 64-year-old examined herself and discovered a small lump in the same breast.

Mrs Burns said: 'When the nurse told me I had breast cancer my first response was, 'I know, my dog told me!'. I expected her to laugh but instead she told me she had heard of similar cases.
'Max is usually such an excitable, loving animal but he became very sad and had stopped doing all the things he used to - such as sharing our bed or jumping on my lap for cuddles. Instead he would touch my breast and back off unhappily.'

She said she finally realised there was something wrong last May when Max watched as she examined herself in the mirror.

'As I felt it I just happened to look over at Max, who was lying on my bed. Our eyes met and I just remember he looked so sad.
'I knew in that instant that something was badly wrong.'

She had an operation to remove the cancer, and is now in remission. When she got home after the operation, her dog was happy and jumping around like a puppy. Crazy, huh? Scientists believe dogs might be able to be trained to sniff out cancer; with their highly sensitive sense of smell.

Full article here. Originally peeped at Jezebel.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Suggest A Song Monday-Wake Up Alone

Good morning! Welcome back to Suggest A Song Monday. Here are the rules: I suggest a song that I love and that I think you would love. You listen to it. Tell me what you think in the comments. Then, you also recommend one song to me and I will listen to it and tell you what I think. You don't have to limit yourself to a particular genre, just any one song that you love.

Today we have Wake Up Alone by Amy Winehouse. The lyrics deal with a relationship that seems to be spiraling down quickly. The lyrics convey that feeling of having the heaviness of ongoing hearbreak and trying to do all you can not to think about it during the day; but at night the loneliness and emptiness wash over you; the lyrics are very creative and moving. The music and melody has that kind of 50's lounge, diner-esque feel.


Wake Up Alone - Amy Winehouse

It's ok in the day, I'm stayin' busy/Tied up enough so I don't have to wonder where is he/Got so sick of cryin'/So just lately/When I catch myself, I do a 180/I stay up, clean the house/At least I'm not drinkin'/Run around just so I don't have to think about thinkin'/That silent sense of content/That everyone gets/Just disappears, soon as the sun sets/(chorus) His face in my dreams seizes my guts/He floods me with dread/Soaked to the soul/He swims in my eyes by the bed/Pour myself over him/Moon spillin' in/And I wake up alone//If I was my heart, I'd rather be restless/Second I stop, the sleep catches up and I'm breathless/Cause this ache in my chest/Cause my day is done now/The dark covers me, and I can't run now/My blood runnin' cold, I stand before him/It's all I can do to assure him/When he comes to me, I drip for him tonight/Drowned in me, we bathe under blue light/Chorus

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Erykah Badu Concert

I give the concert 1 and 1/2 thumbs up. The only negative was that it was a little too short for my liking. Erykah kept saying they were going to kick her out; so I wonder if the concert had begun at 8pm as scheduled instead of 10pm, if we would have heard more songs. Nevertheless, WOW. As my husband said last night, she has great stage presence. She is a natural performer and entertainer, funny, sassy, country, and so down-to-earth. The Arena Theater in Houston is semi-intimate; there really aren't any bad seats. The stage rotates so everyone can see the performer(s). She walked slowly out, like a bad-ass, down one of the audience aisles with a smoking incense stick hanging out her mouth. Here are the songs she performed that I remember, in no particular order:

1. The first song was The Healer
2. On and On (now that I'm thinking about this, I think I might be making this up. I can't remember if she performed this now : - l)
3. Apple Tree
4. Bag Lady
5. Didn't Cha Know (I was hoping she would sing this! Video below)
6. Otherside of the Game
7. Danger (Then she chopped and screwed it toward the end! Total awesomeness. For those unfamiliar, screw music originated in Houston and just imagine slowing down the music as much as you can...that's screw. Chop is...well, chopping up the music. For examples from Erykah Badu, look up the Love of My Life video, second verse or listen to the very end of her song I Want You) 8. I Want You
9. Love of My Life
10. Me
11. Black in the Day (Puff)
12. ...And On
12. Tyrone
13. Soldier

Maybe I'm greedy, but I needed at LEAST another hour, lol. I like to milk concerts for all they're worth (even though this is my first real concert).

Toward the end of the concert, her and her back-up singers took a break to take off their shoes. The band played some fake gospel/church music and Erykah sang, "Do you wanna go to hell? Hell no!" Her back-up singers helped her take her shoes off, after which she exclaimed, "Throw them mugs in the trash!" She made comments about her figure, namely her ass (she has mad junk-in-the-trunk now), saying "That's that baby weight!" She stopped one of the songs in the middle because the ushers were trying to get people out of the aisles who were trying to take pictures saying "They ain't tryna hurt nobody! Give my people free! Come on police!"

In conclusion, I would definitely see her again. This concert was to benefit the 20th anniversary of the Imani School (her kids attended the sister school in Dallas) which is a black-owned/headed charter school, so that could also be why it felt short. I leave you with some pictures--OH! OH! THAT REMINDS ME! MY CAMERA WAS A PUNK ASS BITCH! What the eff is the point of having a flash on the camera if it doesn't capture what you need it to capture in the dark? My husband was laughing at me because I was looking at the people around me capturing all these National Geographic quality ass pictures and I had THE saltiest look on my face. A couple of peeps on Twitter recommended Canon Powershoot so I will research it. Anyhoo, here are some pictures that I was able to get, and a video of Didn't Cha Know. The tone-deaf singing you hear in the background is TOTALLY not me. : - l








P.S. The opening act was a Houston group named Neon Collars...they were jamming!

Friday, March 6, 2009

I Love the 90s Friday: Erykah Badu

In honor of the Erykah Badu concert I'm going to tonight, I am posting my favorite Badu 90s videos.

Next Lifetime

One thing I have always loved about her as an artist has been her creative videos. The scenes and time periods are striking and pleasing to the eye. I loved the concept and how she took it beyond the normal meaning of the lyrics to a quite literal interpretation. If you have not seen this video, try it out!

Tyrone

This song and video are so fun. Apparently, she made this song up onstage (not this video) when she was touring somewhere.

What are your favorite Erykah Badu songs/videos? What do you think of her?

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Goats!

In case you didn't know, I looooooove the Morocco aesthetic. I fantasize of turning my home into some sort of Moroccan lounge. In the book I have below, I saw the following picture:



Yes. There are goats in the tree. They are straight up having a goat festival in the tree. Apparently, this happens throughout Morocco. The goats say eff the grass and climb the trees to eat the leaves and stuff.
Fainting Goats

These goats have a genetic condition that causes their muscles to freeze up when they're startled. As they get older, they learn how to control it a bit.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Color My World

I want to share some photos of items from my home that illustrate my love of vibrant color and patterns.


Enamel jewelry box


Asian/chinoiserie style slippers
Mexican blanket I got on my honeymoon

Patina-tile mirror

Tiffany-style table lamp (I have 2 of these and 1 floor lamp)

Indian-sari table runner

Bohemian-graphic kitchen towels

Indian throw pillows

Dining room wall panel-My favorite is the second to last one on the right; the orange-brown panel where if you look closely, you will see a peacock.

Seeing all of these items with the colors/patterns grouped together is inspiring to me. I am a visual person and just the presence of multi-colored items comforts me and enables me to dream and do good work. What do you have in your home that inspires you?




Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Beefin' With My Pops and Granny

First, a little backstory. My parents were never married. My mother had me, my father was not in my life. He married my stepmother (long divorced now) and I have 3 half-brothers and a half-sister. I have nothing but contempt and pity for my father for various reasons, but to sum it up I just think he is a waste of space.

His mother, my paternal grandmother has always been a Grade-A bitch to me. She never accepted me as "her" granddaughter because my parents were not married when I was born. Yes, of course that's my fault you bitter old hag. But I digress. I started visiting Detroit (where that part of the family lived) when I was 12 every summer to mainly spend time with my brothers and sister. During that time, my stepmother was in college. I remember having to go to class with her, and I thought nothing of it at the time because I was 12. Years later, I find out that the reason I had to go to college with her is because my grandmother refused to babysit me.

Over the years, she has gotten more cordial with me, sending me money every now and then out of the blue, telling me I have grown into a wonderful young woman, giving me fake-ass hugs when I see her, etc. But I resent her heavily for treating me differently than my brothers and sister, and I resent my father heavily for allowing this bullshit to go on (and a bunch of other things). My brothers and sister have a love/hate relationship with her for other reasons and a hate/hate relationship with our father, just like their big sis.

Anyhoo, so I have no idea when the last time is that I actually spoke to my father because he sends text messages to communicate with his offspring. He sent me a text this morning saying "On this date in 1927, your Grandmother was born! Don't forget to send well wishes..."

Normally I brush off his text messages. I am past the point of being angry that I grew up fatherless. I am past the point of trying to make things right between us. I have no desire to. I just tolerate him when I have to. But this text is getting under my skin today. My first knee-jerk reaction was to respond that when she can remember to contact me on my birthday then I will remember to contact her on her birthday (that was the nice version). My next knee-jerk reaction was the ever-poignant "Fuck both of ya'll" while throwin' up gang signs.

Now I'm pondering if I should e-mail Grandma Dearest and let her know how I feel (respectfully, of course). She e-mails stuff all day (chain letters, Jesus loves you shit, Barack Obama shit, etc.) so I'd be speaking in her language. After all she is 82, and pretty damn healthy and fit for an 82-year old but nevertheless you never know how long someone has. And I have a lot of anger pent up inside at her. So maybe today's the day that I let it out.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Today's Colors: Red, Navy, Black


Inspiration for the palette (palate?): Red scarf with blue/black leopard print. Please ignore my thirsty hair. I was supposed to wash it yesterday but I had to go to a gathering.

Red necklace

Navy sweater, black pants, red socks, black flats. Please disregard my radioactive-looking hand.

red, black, navy
red, black, navy - by Bohemian Bookworm on Polyvore.com

Suggest A Song Monday-Gills and Tails

I am beginning a new feature on this here blog; Suggest A Song Monday. I suggest a song that I love and that I think you would love. You listen to it. Tell me what you think in the comments. Then, you also recommend one song to me and I will listen to it and tell you what I think. I think this is a wonderful way for us to spread our musical horizons.

First up is Gills and Tails by Amel Larrieux. This song is one of those universal songs that I honestly cannot imagine anyone disliking. The lyrics (below) deal with being in a world you thought would be one way but it turned out very differently. You feel trapped, imprisoned, and you want out. The music and the way she uses her voice almost as an instrument are intoxicating. I love the breakdown at the end where it sounds like she's gasping for air but in this beautiful way...the song has a distorted mermaid feel but also feels grounded on land. So give it a spin, no matter what genre(s) you prefer. This is one of my favorite all-time songs. I hope you will participate!


Gills And Tails - Amel Larrieux

I looked at my reflection in the water/Thought what an unlikely pair/Closed my eyes, held my breath, plummeted down, down, down/And anchored myself there/(Bridge) Can't tell how long I've been...in the company of gills and tails/I think I feel my skin...growing scales/(Chorus) Can I come up for air? Can I come up? Can I come up? (Repeat 3 times)/I'm gettin' eaten up down here/I'm just not built like that/The big fish have a monopoly/The little fish get buried in the sand/(Bridge) This sea world I'm in...sucks your life out, leaves you comatose/Take back your salt and fins...send me a lifeboat/Chorus/I look up with longing at the surface/Hypnotized by the way the sunlight seems to ride each ripple/And they do a dance/Every ray becomes a beckoning hand/I miss the sweetness of oxygen/I mistook this for the promised land

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