queso loco!!

Queso Loco is a chunk of cheese who performs with a string cheese mariachi band. Basically, he asks "What is your deal" in Spanish but the "Que es" is changed to "Queso." God I am so punbelieveable it's nauseating.

We asked our friend Sam to draw it because we knew he could do an awesome job. WHICH HE TOTALLY DID! check it out:

[holiday] time is here

Cheesy holiday photos with Rosebud by this year's Christmas tree. In spite of the nasty window glare, the third photo is my favorite because of Rosie's smush-face.

I got a tool kit from Drew! I am pretty excited about it, actually, because now I can repair my bike without asking Nick for help-mostly, at least. The kit also includes a tape measure (something I can definitely use concerning alterations) and tools that will help with jewelry repairs. Regardless that it is a very last-minute gift (we talked about it, but no worries), I can definitely see myself getting a lot of use from it. The thought behind presents always trumps whatever the actual gift is, anyway.

ze liszt

I used to make Winter Solstice/Holiday mixes for friends in high school. Obviously, I no longer do this and since many of my friends are DJs, I see no real need to continue this tradition as we all share most of the same music. That...and I am incredibly intimidated by their already impeccable tastes. With this brought to surface, the end of a year often brings forth an onslaught of "BEST OF" lists from anyone willing to press their opinion into frontal lobes everywhere. Here I am, typin' on my blog (it's the wave of the future, donchaknow), trying to achieve both. Hell, I could kill two cyber birds with a single stone and attach some sort of MP3 to the list, but alas, I am not that skilled. Not to mention that most-if not all-of these bands have MySpace pages. However, If you would like a mix cd full of love, I would be more than happy to do make you one! I also have Holiday cards without a loving refrigerator or bulletin board to call their own.

These are the 2009 songs I listened to death this year, in no particular order. For the most part, I have a pretty equal love for all songs. If your interest has been peaked:

Abe Vigoda, Don't Lie: I do not have much of an opinion for this song except that it is just really, really good. When this album went MIA from the WUSC library a few months ago, it felt like a tiny piece of me also went missing. I have a weird emotional attachment to this song and that is all I am going to say about that.

The Horrors, Sea Within a Sea and Who Can Say: I used to be so ashamed to like this band but, really, their new album is fucking amazing and uhhhh have you seen their cameo in the January 2010 Vogue? Aren't they just the cutest and make you wish you had been less cruel to the Hot Topic boys at your high school? Yeah, me neither.

Vivian Girls, Can't Get Over You: Everything about this song is just spot-on and perfect.

Animal Collective, Brother Sport: I thought my list was going to be the only 2009 music list sans AnCo, and then I heard this song.

Hornet Leg, Wait
Penelope, Licked By Love
Bishop Allen, Shanghaied

King Khan & BBQ Show, Tastebuds: this song is pretty raunchy (about as catchy as the STI's it evokes...), but still pretty awesome. Invisible Girl, for when I don't want to admit that Tastebuds was really my favorite from the album.

LeLoup, Sherpa: the introduction is incredible and will have you setting choreography in your mind.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: the entire album all the time.
Crystal Stilts, Crystal Stilts
Bird Names: People Should Get More Aware and Nature's Over

The Dutchess & The Duke, Hands : Folksy male/female duo from Portland. My friend Brittany suggested Dutchess/Duke and when I saw them in rotation at the station I immediately listened. You should, too.

Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros: 40 Day Dream and Home: they look and sound like something my mother would like. This must mean I should peruse her music more often and get over that she likes Garth Brooks.

Dreamdate, Tables, 8 Sleeves, Best Friends: really the entire album is very good.

Darlings, Gorilla: The chorus is one of the sing-along-iest I have heard all year, not to mention their 'zine-style CD case instantly had me hooked.

I anxiously await 2010's arrival. Things are going to be different, better.

Holiday Cocktail

All the "cool" kids were there (har har). Even Franny.
Also, I miss her

ginger-haired maven

I didn't make that title up, my friend Luke did-two years ago when I colored my hair red for the first time ever. Since June 2007, my hair has been red a few times, the only difference is that the June henna experiment was intentional. Today was not unlike the many other times when I colored my hair and it has come out more auburn than I wished. Yet, somehow I always like the red results and in spite of my brown eyes and nary a freckle in my complexion, I think it works?

I know the photos are pretty cheeseball, but hey.

Finally, squirelfacedana: this is a white-haired squirrel that has taken a liking to my mom's backyard. Before seeing him up-close, we thought that was skin and not fur. Skinned alive! Wouldn't that be sad...

a very malkmus christmas

Check out this holiday card from Stephen Malkmus* I got in the mail today! I am so glad he remembered me this year (har har).

I recently realized the melatonin effect television has on me. I started Tuesday off right by watching Law & Order: SVU for an uninterrupted eight hours. Which was awesome. Regardless that I had already seen three of the episodes aired, I remained glued to the sofa. My marathon was briefly disrupted around nine p.m. by Elf. This was nice because it gave me a chance to nap (all that rape and molestation can exhaust a person) but not until about halfway into the film, the beginning is hilarious!

I do not know if any of you have heard of this movie, but basically it involves Will Ferrell (keep an eye on this guy, I think he's going to be big some day) playing an elf who discovers his human roots and heads to New York City in hopes of finding his biological father, played by the James Caan. I was a little disappointed when I remembered that this movie was not the Caan film I love most, but it has its moments.

As predicted, I fell asleep during Elf (again, television makes me sleepy, never mind that I did nothing but watch it. all. day. long) but awoke to a real Christmas miracle: another episode of Law& Order: SVU!! Seriously, is this all the USA network ever airs? Do they know there are 37 other Law & Order spin offs (Law & Order fun fact: did you know that Detective/Sgt. Munch, played by Richard Belzer, has appeared in all Law & Orders of the L&O franchise? He even appears as his Law & Order character on The X Files)? I really should not complain because I do not even watch the other Law & Orders, except sometimes Criminal Intent because Eric Bogosian has a role and I think Suburbia is the bee's knees.

Law & Order: SVU had about three hours air time on the USA network again this afternoon. It is comforting to know there are stations that share the same love I have for Benson and Stabler**.


* Kendal
** Ripped-from-the-headlines rape and murder stories.

fwiends f'wever

Tits McGee is back!

found

I found this pendant/charm thing while walking home tonight-one minute before almost getting hit by a car (I was two centimeters away from paid tuition. shucks.). Maybe this is a good thing?

I saw The Nutcracker last night. Kudos, City Ballet, but no one does it like the Russians

saturday crafternoon

Marcie, Ivory and I went to Craftyfeast today and bought handmade hats and scarves from the wonderful Softspoken. I wont show you my purchase just yet because it is a gift.

semester's end

tiny stove for kitchen-savvy children (or little persons)


I feeneeshed! I went to His House, the $1/lb Goodwill and made some more holiday cards because exams and papers of the Fall 2009 sort no longer apply to me.

manohmanohmanohmanohman

If all goes well, I should be finished with this semester in a little less than 24 hours!

black christmas

I'm making Edward Gorey-themed holiday cards for friends this year. These two are my favorites so far. Needs more glitter. Apparently The Doubtful Guest is soon to be adapted into a film?

antiques

ahh...racism


Ryan and I spent Saturday morning wandering the wonderful antique malls of Columbia-really only two, but they are pretty amazing. We had intended to spend the morning at the flea market but altered plans due to early morning drizzle. This proved for the better as I managed to find some non-denominational holiday gifts and purchased a really neat (but slightly questionable in content) WWII-era children's book for myself.

not an enterance

Brittany and I ate lunch, followed by an impromptu photo shoot where we discovered that alleys are like Easter-egg hunts for beer drinkers.

[citytown] femme

I have a very exciting opportunity in my cards these days. My friend (who is also the older sister of a very good friend I have known since Hand Middle) Katie is publishing a 'zine here in soda city and has asked me to help. She previously ran a pretty badass 'zine while living in Nashville (Nashville Femme: see above photos) and would like to produce something similar, but not identical, right here in Columbia.

I published my own 'zine from fifth through sixth grade, Bubblegum Monthly. Great name, right? While I either cringe or laugh hysterically-mostly the former-at how "cool" I thought I was (not that I have reached said status quite yet, either...), how many 11-year olds did you know with their own publication? Once I scrounge up all copies I can (of course, how many 11-year olds do you know wise enough to save what really matters?), I will post them. I have the skeletons prior to publications, and somewhere a floppy disk with all original issues is floating around my mom's house. Somewhere a computer which still reads floppy disks, too, is floating around. Each will be near-impossible to navigate.

I AM SO EXICTED!!!!!!!!1

Also:
Miss Kennedy better like her cool gifts she is getting for Secret Santa. Miss Kennedy also better not be Jewish or read my blog.

armless wonders

I accidentally cut off this tiny dancer's arm while getting exacto knife-happy ...which reminded me of another ballerina I accidentally dismembered. whoops. Good thing I gave up my Kirov (pft) dreams in high school.

red friday

I went swimming in a sea of leaves today. All ticks and mites aside, it was pretty fun.