Voice As Beautiful As a Magnolia

I saw Aimee Mann perform live last night. I adore her in just about every way. Her voice is so silky, distinct, and graceful. Anyway, she's quite the personable performer. Really knows how to connect with her crowd. Here's my lousy camera phone picture taken from my not-so-lousy spot in the audience!


In addition, she played quite a few selections from her new album "Fucking Smilers." One track in particular titled "31 Today" is fantastical and has an equally awesome video directed by Bobcat Goldthwait and co-starring Miss Morgan Murphy. The song is really wonderful though, and I think accurately predicts my future. Enjoy!

Vroom.

I've never read an excerpt from a book that described my out of balance approach to life so perfectly:

"That is my problem with life, I rush through it, like I'm being chased. Even things whose whole point is slowness, like drinking relaxing tea. When I drink relaxing tea, I suck it down as if I'm in a contest for who can drink relaxing tea the quickest. Or if I'm in a hot tub with some other people and we're all looking up at the stars, I'll be the first to say, It's so beautiful here. The sooner you say, It's so beautiful here, the quicker you can say, Wow, I'm getting overheated."

-Miranda July, 'No One Belongs Here More Than You'

A Wise English Professor Once Said...

Last night I was standing in front of Ira Glass in line at UCB Theater (that has nothing to do with the point of the anecdote, I just really think it's neat that he was there) and talking to Jodi about vapid pop culture. We were discussing websites such as Perezhilton.com and toxic tabloid magazines.

Jodi, being the smart gal that she is, was expressing how she will no longer read that garbage anymore because as seemingly harmless as it is- it really is just obnoxious gobbletygook. I've always hated that crap and have never understood the allure, which brought to mind one of the most valuable things I picked up during my brief stint at Sacramento City Community College.

I was in English 300, one of the few classes I actually gleaned anything from. I had a great professor who was a retired Marine with a Wiccan slant. Interpret that as you will. Anyhow, once during a class discussion regarding the nonsense that is Reality TV, a fellow student mentioned that she loved "Survivor" and highly recommended it to the teacher.

His response?

"You know, I have this theory that what I put into my mouth affects the way that I feel physically, and what I put into my mind affects how I think and learn. So, in summation, I try not to put shit into either."

Hard to argue with that logic.

Mind you, this is also the same teacher that said, "If you go through college, spend the time, money, and energy to graduate and get that career building degree, yet never develop critical thinking skills- you've wasted the experience."

I liked the cut of his jib.

Celebrate Your Independence and Death!

So, tonight was a spectacular evening of fun and fireworks with my people. Truly wonderful. Too much to really articulate and get into. I only want to share one particular moment that will tickle me until the day I die.

Whilst walking to a Brooklyn rooftop to seek out an optimal view of the firework's showcase, the troop and I passed a funeral home with a neon sign that read:

"Ortiz Fun Home"

There's nothing I love more in this world than an ironically busted neon sign.

Pure Baby Bliss Air

Sweet, sweet baby Emi. You're four months old. You're developing brilliantly. Your keen awareness of everything, happy-go-lucky attitude, and deep wisdom within your eyes tells me you have something the rest of us don't. Why is it then, when I place you in your exer-saucer, riddled with gadgets and gizmos aplenty, that you instead become transfixed with the air purifier? There's a singing teapot within your arms reach for crying out loud. Yet, a chrome colored box with vents is the only thing that seems to engage you. I mean, you go apeshit over that thing.

Don't get me wrong, I love infants. I think they're splendid, adorable creatures. However, that doesn't alter the fact the Onion headline "Study Reveals: Babies Are Stupid," is absolutely true.