Happy Place

Recent Acquisitions

Jens Lekman, who I've been in love with since Ashley first played this song for me in her NEW (at the time) honda



What I REALLY wanted to put was my favorite (for now) song from her new album Metals, "The Bad in Each Other"... but since apparently it doesn't exist online you'll have to settle for this.  Chickens, just back from the shore.



Hamburgers.  Pool Party.



One of my favorite singers, this is from her newest album Passengers.  It's funny now to think, based on the first song that I'd ever heard her sing, I thought she only had sort of sad, pretty songs.  But seriously, some of them are full rock-outs.



And because I'm feeling the need to force the season


AND, if anyone would care to borrow a book (you can even read it before me if you want!)

Happy Place: "New Years Eve hasn't been the same since Guy Lombardo died"

Neil Gaiman loves Gail Carson Levine, too

I like to read.  And when I read, the subject often varies, but my goal is to escape.  That is why I dislike non-fiction, at least at the moment.  Recently, I read a poem where one of my favorite authors paid a nice compliment to another of my favorite authors.  It's okay if you don't know what it is, you'll enjoy it anyways.

  

Instructions, by Neil Gaiman

Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never

saw before.

Say "please" before you open the latch,

go through,

walk down the path.

A red metal imp hangs from the green-painted

front door,

as a knocker,

do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.

Walk through the house. Take nothing. Eat

nothing.

However, if any creature tells you that it hungers,

feed it.

If it tells you that it is dirty,

clean it.

If it cries to you that it hurts,

if you can,

ease its pain.

From the back garden you will be able to see the

wild wood.

The deep well you walk past leads to Winter's

realm;

there is another land at the bottom of it.

If you turn around here,

you can walk back, safely;

you will lose no face. I will think no less of you.

Once through the garden you will be in the

wood.

The trees are old. Eyes peer from the under-

growth.

Beneath a twisted oak sits an old woman. She

may ask for something;

give it to her. She

will point the way to the castle.

Inside it are three princesses.

Do not trust the youngest. Walk on.

In the clearing beyond the castle the twelve

months sit about a fire,

warming their feet, exchanging tales.

They may do favors for you, if you are polite.

You may pick strawberries in December's frost.

Trust the wolves, but do not tell them where

you are going.

The river can be crossed by the ferry. The ferry-

man will take you.

(The answer to his question is this:

If he hands the oar to his passenger, he will be free to

leave the boat.

Only tell him this from a safe distance.)

If an eagle gives you a feather, keep it safe.

Remember: that giants sleep too soundly; that

witches are often betrayed by their appetites;

dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always;

hearts can be well-hidden,

and you betray them with your tongue.

Do not be jealous of your sister.

Know that diamonds and roses

are as uncomfortable when they tumble from

one's lips as toads and frogs:

colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.

Remember your name.

Do not lose hope — what you seek will be found.

Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped

to help you in their turn.

Trust dreams.

Trust your heart, and trust your story.

When you come back, return the way you came.

Favors will be returned, debts will be repaid.

Do not forget your manners.

Do not look back.

Ride the wise eagle (you shall not fall).

Ride the silver fish (you will not drown).

Ride the grey wolf (hold tightly to his fur).

There is a worm at the heart of the tower; that is

why it will not stand.

When you reach the little house, the place your

journey started,

you will recognize it, although it will seem

much smaller than you remember.

Walk up the path, and through the garden gate

you never saw before but once.

And then go home. Or make a home.

And rest.

music for you

 Material Girl by thebirdandthebee

Polite Dance Song (Totally Rude Remix) by thebirdandthebee



And finally.... now we know where Glee found the arrangement that they used on the show (which was awful).

Will you stop making fun of my for loving Fleetwood Mac now, Mom??

Probably not haha.  She just hates Stevie's voice, so what can you do?  Won't stop me. 

One thing I can say for Glee - sometimes they improve songs.  Usually they make them worse, or just do an okay impression, but sometimes they get a really great interpretation.  "Songbird" was that song this time - frankly, I think it was better than the original.  

Kristin Chenoweth sang "Dreams" and it was actually pretty awful; her voice is not suited at all to this music - she's operatic, and Stevie sounds like she just got done chain-smoking right before she sings.  Which is why it's great haha.

I could now dive into the basic reasons why I think Glee is the coolest show ever - not because they are all fantastic (or in some cases, even mediocre) singers, but because they're teaching a younger generation about all of this fantastic music that they'd never IN A MILLION YEARS listen to on their own - but I won't haha.  I'll just say that Santana did a great job this week!  Oh and I wish they'd played one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs from Rumours, The Chain, but hey you can't get everything.

Happy Place

Adele |Adele Lyrics |Adele Unplugged |Unplugged

I'm sure you've already guessed that I'm going to this.

 

Just read the summary and try NOT to think of how awesome it'll be.  Pretty hard, right?  No, but seriously I hope they do a scene from "Postcards" because that would SLAY me.

World Press Photo

The World Press Photo winners have been selected, here's the link.  I really loved this one, of a Russian cadet. 

6 Months til Bloomsday, but I just had to hear it

I think I've posted Aedin's reading before, but it's just so phenomenal.