Car Tunes
02 May 2012 Leave a Comment
Since moving further south of the city, my commute time has grown to approximately 45 minutes each way. While I once abhorred commuting in Los Angeles, I find that commuting in Kansas City is quite different. For one thing my commute covers 23 miles, so in that 45 minutes I’m always moving, as opposed to Los Angeles where I would travel 3 miles in traffic and have it take just as long. I’m also not running between work and school any more so I’m happy to have a little time in the car to unwind from my day before I reach home.
I find my radio habits move in phases. Sometimes I just want news, so I turn on my local NPR station – KCUR. You’ll know I’m in an NPR phase when all of my stories start, “hey I heard this GREAT story on NPR this morning…”
Other times I’m ready to hear the local and Hollywood gossip, and happy to listen to a variety of stations.
And then other times I’m in music mode. Lately I’ve been VERY music oriented. As in, I switch the station as soon as the one I’m listening to breaks for commercials, or a DJ cuts in. In the last few weeks I’ve found a few songs that just make me happy. Especially with the warm weather, I’ve had fun rolling down the windows, turning up the radio and just enjoying my ride home.
Last week I got in the car and came in on the middle of a song. Most of the music I listen to is current, so I was surprised to hear what I would have sworn was the Police or a Police-cover band. When I heard the tune again, I realized that the singer wasn’t Sting, but that the song certainly reminded me of some of the Police’s hits. I finally gave in to curiosity when I got home one night and googled the song. Turns out I’m not the only one who did a double take. The video is a little odd, but give the music a listen and see what you think.
Spinning my wheel(s).
11 Oct 2010 3 Comments
in Groovin' to Tunes, Spinning a Yarn, Weekend Update
This was a fabulous weekend! On Saturday Wes and I went up to the Weston Irish Fest. Weston is a cute little town outside of Kansas City, known for its antique shops, it’s street market and of course it’s Irish Festival. Every year at O’Malley’s pub, Weston stages a 3 day Irish festival replete with bands on three stages, Irish fare and, of course, beer! It was quite warm during the day (almost 84), but we sat in the shade and enjoyed corned beef sandwiches and beer (just ask Wes about the Guinness) and listened to fabulous music. We arrived about 1pm and left about 10pm and I’ll definitely be going back next year.
On Sunday, a friend and I drove out to Harveyville, Kansas to visit the Harveyville Project and pick up some spinning wheels. I rented an Ashford Joy and will be practicing on that and maybe owning it at Christmas! Nikol, who runs the project with her husband, is super sweet. She spent a few hours with us letting us try out spinning wheels and offering reasonable prices and a fabulous rental program (half your rental fees go towards your purchase price if you buy the wheel you’re renting!) Of course this means I’d rather be spinning than working, but we won’t talk about that too much!
Now I’m sure everyone needs a little Monday pick-me-up. This one tickled my funny bone:
Who the fuck is Alice?
30 Apr 2010 1 Comment
in Adventures in Travel, Groovin' to Tunes
Back in the summer of 1996, I had just graduated high school, and I was lucky enough to go on a “European Dream” – a thirty-day Europe trip led by my favorite English teacher. We spent exactly one night in Rothenburg, a small town on the German-France border. That night we went into town, and into one of the beer gardens. The place was full of happy Germans, who enjoyed the fact that 25-30 young American girls were joining in their evening. They plied us as best they could with liters of beer and apple shots. All the while a live band played German songs. So the Americans were amused when all of a sudden we heard everyone in the tent chanting an English refrain to an otherwise German song: “Alice, Alice, who the fuck is Alice?”
Well lookee what I found… (this appears to be a version in English, but it still brings back great memories!)
Da Christmas Music
23 Dec 2009 1 Comment
I resisted it until late last week, but then I turned my trusty friend Pandora to the Holiday Music station and grooved to Christmas tunes. In the last few years I’ve tried to highlight what I consider to be great remakes of carols. In some cases these remakes inspire a newfound love for carols I really disliked previously. We’ll just call this:
“Not your grandmother’s Christmas carols.”
1. Jars of Clay, “The Little Drummer Boy”
2. Ottmar Liebert, “Poets & Angels” album
3. Rockapella, “This Christmas Day”
4. Big Daddy Weave, “Go Tell it on the Mountain”
5. Glee Cast, “Last Christmas”
What are your favorite tunes? (and please, please, please don’t say Bob Dylan’s new album!)
That’s Entertainment!
01 May 2009 4 Comments
in A Book is a Woman's Best Friend, Groovin' to Tunes, Knitting Content Ahead
So I actually have finished not one, but TWO projects this week. The gloomy skies and occasional torrential rain have made photographs impossible, however, so you’ll have to content yourself with your imaginations today. Instead I’ll write about a few entertaining things I’ve been into lately.
First off, I’m VERY VERY late to the podcast-listening party, but I have arrived. In the last few weeks I’ve discovered podcasts with a vengeance. Consequently I’ve spent most of my days listening to the following podcasts:
1. Cast On by Brenda Dane – The quirky and fun knitting tales of an American living in Wales. This podcast features some of the most interesting tidbits of music I’ve heard and some wonderful stories of knitting mishaps. All of her podcasts are accessible from her website.
2. Lime n Violet – I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this podcast. It’s a little less polished than Cast On but I think it might actually be my favorite knitting podcast so far. From listening to the show, and following the show notes and links I’ve found some great fiber artists! And I love hearing about what the girls are knitting. You can find this podcast on iTunes and subscribe!
3. Stash and Burn – This is the podcast of two girls desperately fighting to conquer and knit from their stashes. I aspire to knit from my stash… I think I could learn a few things listening to them. You can listen to this podcast on the site linked above!
4. Sticks & String by David Reidy – David is an “Australian bloke” who chats about what it’s like to be a male knitter in Australia. His charming accent is a boon to his amusing anecdotes and discussions of knitting.
Now I know the ones I listed above were a little knitting centric (who me?). However, I’ve also found that I can follow my favorite NPR shows on iTunes as well. Never more do I have to miss Car Talk and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me again.
Finally I’ve been trying to get back into reading. Currently in progress: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and The Know it All by A.J. Jacobs, gifted to me by the l’il sis’ man this past Christmas. Stay tuned for book reports!
Things that make me happy:
09 Jul 2008 1 Comment
in Groovin' to Tunes, Here Comes the Bride, Knitting Content Ahead
- Listening to this song on repeat.
- Wearing my new work appropriate Madden Girl shoes to work and being able to wear handknit socks with them. (And the fact that Wes suggested I buy them a little big specifically so that I could do this!)
- That Wednesday night is knit night EVERY WHERE I like to hang.
- Last but MOST DEFINITELY not least, I’m getting married to my favorite person in the whole world one month from today. YIPPEE!
Stuck in my head all night long.
24 Apr 2008 Leave a Comment
Mairsy doats and dosey doats and liddle lamsy divy.
Kiddley divy do, wouldn’t you, wouldn’nt you?
If the words sound queer and funny to your ear,
A little bit jumpy jivey, sing:
Mares eat oats and does eat oats, and
Little lambs eat i-ivy, oh…
Mairsy doats and dosey doats and liddle lamsy divy.
Kiddley divy do, wouldn’t you, wouldn’t you?
Let it Rock.
21 Jan 2008 Leave a Comment
in Fabulous Friends, Groovin' to Tunes
Last night we all gathered at Blenda’s house to party a bit before I leave. Everyone came out in full force. The cooking was AMAZING. Blenda from Oz made sausage rolls, risotto balls, zucchini quiche, and veggie wraps. Blogless Will made his cooking debut with bacon wrapped dates and walnuts – I can’t believe he’s been hiding his talents on us. Knitmeister S made appetizers and some tasty cookies. Some had really sweet messages:
Others did not:
I warned Knitmeister S that if the FU cookie made me sick, I would return his hostility a la the black and white cookie.
Johnny Cache livened up the party by bringing his brand new Rock Band. After my disastrous turn at Guitar Hero this was definitely up my alley. We formed a mean rock band, Let it Rock.
Our band featured the stylings of Todd (on left) on bass and Betty White on guitar:
Mr. Pants2tite on drums:
And Raven on vocals:
Many thanks to Blenda for being our groupie and taking lots of pics!
The 12 Day of Christmas
17 Dec 2007 Leave a Comment
Beware that this is not the typical Christmas carol… just watch for a few seconds and things really get going! This reminds me of a little ditty from the show “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Thanks to Blenda from Oz and a few others for pointing it out.
The Bear Went over the Mountain
12 Dec 2007 Leave a Comment
To see what he could see.
The other side of the mountain was all that he could see.
The Bear Song by Green Jelly. Hopefully I’ll have a better sound clip posted soon.
