Betcha Can't Read Just One

Been a while, but I'm back for you full time.

I finally started a new job today. I lived the life of a struggling couch potato for far too long. I must have watched fifty movies, make that 75 movies during my hiatus. It was great for my Netflix Q. I can't remember how to spell queue..that might be right.

Anyway I've since watched a few television series front to back and short of 100 movies. I read four books, had hernia surgery, went on five or so interviews, saw five college basketball games, ate about 4 jars of peanut butter, and moved back to Charleston. Not bad for a quarter of a year. I'm sure I'm forgetting some cool stuff.

I'll tell you this much it sucks having no income. I recommend that everyone considering leaving a job, look for another one first. I on the other hand, didn't go this route. I thought I'd need a bunch of time to devot to the search. I was wrong. I got a job within the industry I was in. I could have easily left my grocery store for the one interview a week I was on to meet with the folks with the chip company.

Anyway this is week one in the new house, and week one at the new home, of Frito Lay. Excited and ready to get to work, on both the house and a new career. For those wondering, yeah still renting, hoping to buy in one year, but this is going to hopefully work into a fun house...its summer in Charleston. I cannot think of better.

Listening to the new Wilco a bunch...its really laid back and compared to the last two records its stripped down and unaffected. On the other pole, the new Kings of Leon seems strange and uncharted. Looks as if the boys are testing new waters and getting a little more experimental. Haven't heard the whole album, but will tomorrow.

Not much else. I'll throw some tunes and comeback for you soon.

Jeffery Gaines...Hero in Me
Semisonic...FNT
Tom Petty...Room at the Top
Steely Dan...Night by Night

Warming Warm Glow

Not much to write about, but I will mention a couple of things:

Why is it that I read gossip about Bruce Willis, and a 10 year old suicide attempt story about Halle Barry? Oh they have a movie coming out. Neat.

Listen, I don't know how else to say this, but I truly feel there is only one good show on the main four television stations. 30 Rock is the only good show on tv, at least this year. Currently in second place is My Name is Earl. I like The Office, but it has sucked royally this year. I was holding that back. It feels good to let it out. Last night and many too many other nights I sit there and wonder what in the world do I watch on TV.

Here is your answer:
Monday-Nothing=Food Network, Discovery..is the Hills on?
Tuesday-Nothing=Food Network, National Geographic..is the Hills on?
Wednesday-Nothing=Food Network, History Channel...is the Hills on?
Thursday-My Name is Earl, The Oraffice (you're welcome M.Scott), 30 Rock
Friday-Doesn't Bear Grylls show come on tonight? Not anymore. Nothing what's on Turner Classic Movies
Saturday-Sports
Sunday-Sports, 60 Minutes

I watch a bunch of TV, but I really don't either. If someone asks, Did you see (24, Lost, The Soprano's, Veronica Mars, Batlle Star Galactica, American Idol (okay I watch Idol, I forgot, tells you how much I care for it) etc.) I usually say nope, don't watch it. Don't care.

I will however submit that there are some shows I love when they are on. Besides the aforementioned 30 Rock, I heart Top Chef (probably like discovering gold to me) Laguna Beach, and Dinner for Five. I will drop everything I'm doing, or schedule around these shows.

Anyway enough about TV, its always sucked, but this time I'm taking action. Instead of watching I don't. Used to be I'd sit there glazed. Not anymore. I value the power of the internet, and the dozen or so books I've purchased but haven't cracked. So I read more, both online and in print. I have completed 3 books this year, and have promised I will read a book a month. That's fair for a borderline lip reader.

I also need to admit that I have recently, and on the advice of a close music buddy, started to jam with Built to Spill. Totally excellent. Loving it.

Where is Ann Curry been?

Some Modern Jazz Quartet:

Django, Bag's Groove, Newk's Fadeaway-with Sonny Rollins

Moving

Today I am continuing the moving process, I hate moving. It's terrible. You have to box up all of your crap and carry it to another place to inevitably do it all over again. Today, yesterday, tomorrow and the day after that, moving or boxing, or throwing it all away.

My favorite part...driving it from here to there, and spending time unloading all that garbage you just packed only to unload it again.

There are two reasons I would want to be filthy rich. I want to own a beach house, and I want to either never move, pay some one to do the move, or abandon all my stuff and buy new stuff whenever I would feel like moving. Oh and of course peace on earth.

The Most Trusted Name in News

CNN did a solid good job in hiring Brianna Keilar. Its nice to see someone of her age do so well for herself so soon. At, I believe 27, she might rank as the youngest anchor on any of the cable or network news stations. I've been a fan, for about two years when she began with CBS. Of course CBS didn't really use her enough, and when opportunity called she moved to Atlanta.

I figured they may have only reporter plans, but much better than expected she's behind the desk and it she wears it well. I really keep a close eye on stuff like this, and to be honest CNN needed some young good looking women. If guys like me need to watch Fox news to enjoy our news, we've got problems. Don't get me wrong, I love most of the previous CNN anchors, but our profile wasn't complete. Now were good.

Enough of my disgusting problems.


It looks like my move back to Charleston will happen as scheduled, circa the first week in April. I cannot think of a better time. Just before the summer, while spring is in full bloom. I love the Holy City and have missed it dearly over the last 16 months. Better still I'll be spliting a house in a neighborhood, rather than slumming it in a complex like I've had to do the last six years....six years. Ugh.

All Alone and an Easy Target....Fighters of Foo
Stereo...Pavement
No Surprises...Radiohead
Lua...Bright Eyes
Put Your Hands on Me Baby...Joss Stone (I like this one, but the rest of the album, I don't know)

Goo

Do I lose credibility if I don't love the Arcade Fire? Is that like saying Sonic Youth sucks...cause they do. I'm sorry I just don't get your indie band. Some of them, I like Ambulance LTD. I like the New Pornographers, and Calexico. I just cannot get into any of the Arcade Fire's albums. Certain songs are good, but for the most part, I don't mope around all day.

It's probably worse though that I like some seriously horrid pop like Abba, or The Association...

If Sanjayah doesn't get kicked off of American Idol tonight will that girl cry? Or will she cry if he does get kicked off? Women, their emotions are so complex and difficult to define. I guess I'd cry if I could see the Clash....matter of fact, I'm crying now because I can't.

MySpace

This is the bicentennial post. Oooh Ahhhh Ohhhhh...

Listen, I don't mind admitting that I enjoy the occasional browse of Single White Females on MySpace. I'm only slightly embarrassed by this. I'm no chicken hawk and I'm certainly no tranny, so I figure I'm a minority on the site, I'm there to help the demographics.

Actually to be honest, I like looking for people I know, while looking at pictures of hot chicks from my neighborhood..sue me. While were being honest I like looking at photos on Flickr of bands, and cities I've visited. I'm sick, I know I'm me.

But what really is this message about. It's about the crappy things people do on myspace. Actually its more like the criteria I use to eliminate pages to look at.

First of course I put in my physical specs, and then its about gut feeling based on that little photo. That photo, girls, is crucial. Do not post one of your dog. Put that sexy one like all the other girls. We all know its your best one. That accidental web cam shot, or that late night pic at the bar. Of course others live by a completely different mantra. They have the specially designed myspace photo. The one by the fireplace, or in the yard next to the weeping willow. My personal favorite are the stripper shots. Hootchie dress and red lipstick...hair all akimbo...

Once I've navigated the hot from the wannabe's its all about page design and music choice. I've landed on numerous sites that girls have with black backgrounds, spiderwebs, unicorns, pegasus, pentagrams, Gandolf, and you play some of the best AFI garbage. Immediately hit the back button. Or there are the girls, with the boring plain layout and the gawd awful hipity hop beat crushing my speakers. I love the lithe little girls in the bikini with a big ol' drink in her hand and Chingy on her page. UGH. Nothing makes me hit the back button quicker than that....the goth chick has a better chance. Your myspace page ain't the club.

The coup de gras though is the line where the girl lists income. So often I see $150,000 +. Yeah. First this is a line that should never be answered. Second you should give your income, not a desired income from the Mat Kearney fans out there. Third, don't list your real income. I know what a kindergarten teacher makes, and sorry Charlie it is nowhere near $50,000.

I love the girls that put $150,000+. Most are unemployed and have six damn kids photo'ed with them....it kills me that they don't do something about that.

I'll tell you what else bothers me. That Tom guy.


Posters...Jack Johnson
Little Martha...The Allman Brothers Band

Green Grow the Rushes

Happy St. Patrick's Day...etc.


I typically stop by here to rant and rave. Today is no exception, but rather an explanation. I think I've grown up.

Yesterday I couldn't wait to see the news. Not unusual, I follow the news closely and daily. I wanted however to see Valerie Plame Wilson's testimony. I think she is about as hot anything I've seen lately. I don't think of her as a MILF fantasy, I think she's hot. I used to categorize women ten years older than me as old or milf's or what have you. Plame is just hot, but it made me realize I don't do that category thing anymore...at least not in that direction.

I'm getting a little scared as I work this out, but girls 18-22 don't do it for me like a woman of say 34. I never thought I'd say that...wow...something must be amiss. Weird...

Right now I am crushing on Norah Jones, Heather Graham, Valerie Plame, etc. This might find some as bizarre, but for me its kinda par for the course. I love who Norah Jones and Heather Graham are, simply not type cast, or commercial. Although we can argue Norah Jones being commercial, she is, but its more of how she handles it. She's sold nearly as many albums as Britney Spears...did you know that? And you wouldn't by the way she handles it would you? That's what I'm talking about.

Plame on the other hand is like Agent Dana Scully. If I saw her in the local farmers market with jeans and a t-shirt she'd be hot, but it gets juiced knowing she was a CIA agent. It's just cooler.

I mentioned to my buddies that I dream of her busting into my bunker as I sell secrets to the Russkies...

Let me do some music for you and go.

Days of the Week, Stone Temple Pilots

Company in my Back, Wilco

Fine Line, Radney Foster

Down By the River, Neil Young, but find the live version from his new record at Massey Hall

Wultizer Prize, Norah Jones..tribute to Waylon Jennings

Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room, Dwight Yoakum

that ought to carry you until next time.