insomnia
From time to time, when I’m feeling particularly contemplative, I often turn to music for refuge. I strap on a pair of headphones, lie back and close my eyes and let the thoughts wander like the wisps that escape evaporating dry ice.
In my high school years, Tori Amos was at the forefront of my developing adoration of singer-songwriters (I obviously have a soft spot for them). Probably the classic prototype artist of the this genre - there exists something just so haunting and full of emotion yet delicate and articulate in her artistic delivery.
I wanted to put up my favourite track Precious Things but of course it’s like the only video that has disabled embedding. So instead: Mr. Zebra:
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I do this exercise when I can’t fall asleep at night. Often it doesn’t work, but it’s kind of fun just to encourage my mind to put together a string of words and just let my thoughts run rampant. Basically, it’s stream of consciousness - not a novel concept, but a fun one to play around with. Think up a thought, any thought. Whenever you feel like you’re going to stop thinking about that though, grab that concept and think about whatever comes to mind - however ridiculous. Follow that thought and continue endlessly.
Here, let’s try it:
When I think of calculators I think of Texas Instruments. Texas has that camel spider that Ellis was talking about or maybe not Texas as it is Texan soldier in Iraq - wait, never mind it was just a soldier with a Texan accent on Youtube that was in Iraq and found a camel spider. Camels have many humps, but I’m not sure how many they have on average - is it three or four? Three is Mags’ favourite number. I always take four paper towels when I’m drying my hands in the bathroom. Either that or I take eight if I’ve lost count, or if eight is not enough I will take ten, but it always has to be one of those numbers - I’m very superstitious about it. Superstition is a great song by Stevie Wonder. I wonder how blind people get so good at navigating - is it true that their other senses are enhanced as a result of their disability? It must be true - the brain is malleable. I want to get a brain tattoo on my arm.
That last one is true.
monday morning
- Charlotte Martin is a great singer-songstress (I’ve got a soft spot for those) courtesy of Illinois. Steel is her first song I heard, albeit not her best (turn to Your Armor or Limits of Our Love for those). She’s doing an acoustic set for Rolling Stones’ online feature (they put a LOT of great bands in an acoustic environment, look them up) and is probably the only artist I’ve seen bang on the soundboard and slam on the pedal to create some really unused sounds. Her stuff’s been featured on everything from TV shows to The Sims.
- Kraak & Smaak are a band I’ve never heard of, but they have a wicked music video doing those paper flippy things that I loved to do in elementary.
- NY Times did this amazing article that Shane posted on FB about Shane Battier’s strange playing style. By far the best sports article I’ve ever read in my life - proof you don’t have to be a cookie cutter basketball player to be good at the game.
- Rachel Yamagata’s 1963 is one of those songs you listen to on rainy days with some Earl Grey tea - there’s nothing quite like it. It turns any crappy day into something magical.
- I can’t say enough about Tori Amos, arguably the best singer-songstress that exists. I just love the line, “So you found a girl that thinks really deep thoughts / What’s so amazing about really deep thoughts?”
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I just learned that the There She Is!!! series has come to a close. I have to say that the beloved bunny/kitty series is one of the most amazing series that’s out there on Flash video (along with Xiao Xiao’s stick figure fights, Animator vs. Animation, MK vs. SF, etc.), and has truly epitomized what it means to really be in love. I think my favourite will always be #2 - love is never perfect but always shines through:Step 1 - There She Is!!!
Step 2 - Cake Dance
Step 3 - Doki & Nabi
Step 4 - Paradise
Final Step
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Uncle Joseph had his birthday last weekend; the man’s still going on strong. We had a beautiful dinner with a beautiful prayer, and Boss got a dragon kite for a present. Kirsten participated in ripping the wrapping asunder:
What a joker.
Our Calgary trip was really fun - I don’t have many pictures because I was honestly too busy eating half the time than to record our trip. We visited the ex-Palette cafe DeVille (it’s in the same place and has much of the old decor at least), and Paul took us to this great sushi place on 4th St. & 17th Ave. called Sushi Towa (right across from Henry Singer & Group Seven), so that in itself was awesome:
Note the Bodum teacup - double walled for superior insulation to keep your tea warm but your hand cool. These puppies are $15 a pop. Bodum makes a great line of products that are really overpriced but very much worth it if you can afford it.
Paul’s Tamago sushi - never seen one this big.
Tempura udon. The broth was the tempura sauce you usually use for dipping.
Black & White roll on the left, Rainbow on the right. Even sushi discriminates.
