Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Does Not a Rebel Make

Winter came on with a vengeance, and I was forced once again to run the shall I buy an umbrella debate. I think this one had been going for well over 5 years. Could it be a factor in my perpetual winter cold that starts in mid december and carries through until february. I hate to place blame on something so mundane, but repeat trips to the doctor presenting with variations of the same set of symptoms and a mental printout of a few key definitions from the Mayo Clinic have not lead to diagnoses other than "you have a cold and need to get some rest". I feel that I make a convincing argument and yet am often denied the luxury and excitement of a much required blood test. At the end of the season I am most definitely greatful to not be special enough to have a rare disease, but the stress of possible misdiagnosis weighs heavy.

Back to the umbrella. I returned home one evening a wet rat and because I like to limit clothing changes to twice a day and don't have an inbetween outfit (post work pre bed), sat and shivered for several hours in my apartment. Thank goodness for the lap warming effects of my laptop, it provided a small comfort. But upon aawakening opted to venture forth and rid myself of a preconception that I stubbornly hold on to and buy myself two umbrellas. Pink, yellow, and then suddenly a gift of a black one. When it rains it pours.

Friday, January 13, 2006

belated best ofs

Well, I will sort of apologize to myself for putting these up so far into the new year, but I'm kind of proud of myself for having managed to do it. The list probably would have looked a little different if I hadn't managed to break my ipod. (Still purty on the outside, all busted up on the inside - goodbye fair child). It was kind of like losing my cell phone. It was my list and history for the year, and without it the struggle was great to remember many details, kind of like how I couldn't remember many of my friends after I lost my phone. Sigh. Easy come easy go.

I think I saw two movies last year and read three books.


Top 10 Albums
1. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois
2. Why?, Elephant Eyelash
3. Venetian Snares, Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett
4. M.I.A., Arular
5. The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema
6. Kano, Home Sweet Home
7. The Mountain Goats, The Sunset Tree
8. Broken Social Scene, You Forgot it in People (not 2005, but I just heard it this year).
9. 13 & GOD, s/t
10. Dangerdoom, The Mouse and the Mask


Top 5 Singles
1. Lady Sovereign, Random
2. Daddy Yankee, Gasolina
3. 13 & GOD, Perfect Speed
4. Medasyn feat. Lady Sovereign and Shystie, The Battle
5. LCD Soundsystem, Yeah (crass version)


Top 5 Musical Events
1. Diplo and DJ Marlboro at the Rickshaw Stop
2. Jamie Lidell at The Independent
3. V∞redoms, The Independent
4. El Circo tent in the early AM after the burn – don’t know was DJing
5. The Fucking Champs, at the Bottom of the Hill. Both times!!