For the Love of October

It's certainly been a while hasn't it?

I am currently blaming the lack of blog-o-sphere action on the fact that I actually thought I was forever locked out of my account due to google owning every email service on the planet.  Let's just say things got rather complicated and I now have to log in with an address that includes % signs and words that don't make sense...(oh technology)

In case you've been in a box for the last few weeks, I am here to inform you that it is gloriously, and most officially AUTUMN.

Let's take a look, shall we?

It smelled like fall today.  That crispy, comforting smell of fallen leaves beginning their transition back into dirt.  I'm tellin' you - I love it! (although my unenthused face in this picture would beg to differ...)

What's another thing I love might you ask?  Why it's this absurdly bat-winged-flowy shirt that I plucked from a heaping clothes dumpster pile at the end of last year!

(Just look at how it immediately improves my otherwise hopeless attempts at modern dance!)

And looking stoic.  I'm telling you, if you ever need to look stoic, nothing will do it like loopy-shoulder-cut-outs.

Also, there were many lovely trees with many gnarly roots that were just begging for me to creepily smash my face of them.  I mean, it's almost Halloween right?

But enough of me...let's get back to this autumn I'm talking about!

These next two pictures were taken from opposite sides of the same bridge.  One side is the more metropolis-view, the other a much more natural one.  It's quite amazing really.

So happy continued autumn and October! 

Take all the paths that intrigue you, and don't forget to crunch around in some leaves!

Re-wind and Re-view

Do you ever base your day around a song?

if not, you should try it sometime...

One fine day (known as October 2nd) I finally got around to listening to the entire album

Push and Shove released this September by No Doubt.  Their first album to hit stores in over ten years!

In case you were wondering, this is what it looks like if I listen to this album while getting dressed:

only maybe not that face the entire time.

I have been wildly excited for this album to come out since - let's see - LAST YEAR!...

In the last two years or so No Doubt has occupied this special place in my heart of 90s nostalgia, summer vibes, and girl power of sorts.  Yes, I am aware that 75% of the group is male, but there's just something about Gwen's boundless energy, ability to do push-ups, and older style that make me want to jump around in a bellyshirt and while being a little bit punk.

I digress.  Back to the album:

Overall, I'm actually pretty happy with the album.  I mean there are times when I feel all hipster while I whine inside my head "but I just want the old No Doubt back!"

Here's the thing head: things change!

(and that's okay)

I think the biggest change is in the instrumentals.  I feel like it used to literally be Gwen + the boys, 

now I feel like it's Gwen + computers + some cameo appearances by Tony, Adrian, and Tom.

I guess what I feel is lacking the most in today's music is the existence of intelligent instrumentals.  I mean "accompaniment" that isn't just synth loops ect.  I mean "accompaniment" that is really a whole musical line of it's own, and get it's moment of glory apart from just the singer(s).

Anyone else feel that way?

~ So here's my ultra-simplfied review of Push and Shove (as I was listening to it) ~

Let's break it down:

Settle Down

Wasn't too hyped when I first heard it on the radio this summer, but after awhile it grew on me, and I was singing along every time it came on the radio.  It also gave me immense pleasure to hear No Doubt on the radio again!

- good summer groove

- nice ska influences

- interesting/contrasting sections

- liked the "middle-east-ish" synths (very à la tragic kingdom)

- sounded pretty old school (yep. I'm going to use that word.)

Looking Hot:

- okay on first impression

- early 2000s feel

- lyrics..meh? (Gwen you're in your 40s...but hey - she can pull it off!)

- loved brass cut-time break

- some good drum breaks & hints of guitar here n' there

One More Summer:

- well, at least we know Tony/Adrian/Tom still exist!

- not my favorite

- maybe I just wan't in a down-tempo mood, also it was the end of the summer, so not really what I wanted to hear...

Push and Shove:

- you know, I'm okay with this one

- ska time again!

- the whole cut-time break in frickin' awesome

- seriously though..."hustler" references in more than one song?

Easy:

- weird synth opening

- "I'm a hustler baby"...again, seriously?

- whole robin hood pun = meh.

- I don't have patience for this one...wait maybe it's okay.

Gravity:

- good start

- this is for sure a classic sound for them

- reminds me of tragic kingdom

Undercover:

- sounds like no doubt in the beginning, then...

WHY DID GWEN TURN INTO KATY PERRY?!?

- auto tune or what?!

- lyrics even sound like Katy Perry "trying to connect the dots" (K.P Last Friday Night)

- ack! gross!

Undone:

- guitar, that's nice

- ballad time...

- wait...are we playing country music now?

- taylor swift?

- I might be ok with the middle after awhile, I'll get back to you on that.

Sparkle:

- YES!

- right from the start I'm feeling old-school No Doubt

- easy ska groove

- wow, this one is good

- awesome brass solo

Heaven:

- well it's okay

- kind of "life is a bit of a butt" song

Dreaming the Same Dream:

- this sounds pretty classic

- also like an 80s pop ballad...

And that's the finale!

So hopefully that wasn't ridiculously boring to read, but instead academically tantalizing, as  you pondered and debated your own reactions to the album!

(well maybe not that either.)

REGARDLESS - what did you think of the album?

Amazed?

Disappointed?

Bored?

Super-mega-awesome-hyped?

Until next time - Get in line and settle down!

And so it Begins

 

Year Two,Week Two: A Picture Narrative...

school - nothing a good pursed lips can't conquer! 

Hoopin'!

It is with great honor, and affection for the curbside, that I introduce my exciting new pastime:

Hula hooping!

Would you believe that two stunning hoops were being heartlessly abandoned by the roadside? I certainly can not!As fate would have it, the glorious scavengers of Webb were driving past these poor deserted specimens - picked them up, and made a late-night drop off by my mailbox.  Imagine my surprise, when I came back from rehearsal to find two hula hoops awaiting me at 9:30PM!This is even more exciting than one might imagine, because for I have been trying to secure a good hula hoop for some time to no avail.  I even went to the hardware store to try and buy all the parts to make one myself, only to be foiled at every understocked turn!I also got a new shirt for 25¢ which I am very much in love with:

 Also I really love moccasins...a lot

How to begin hooping:

1.) Get a crazy look on your face as you flail about trying to keep the hoop going.

2.) Realize, hey wait - this isn't that bad!

3.) Panic again, as your false hope has made you loose your rhythm and your hoop is escaping once more!

4.) Repeat until the hoop falls down - repeat whole process to your heart's content!

Now Wrap Like This

While summer seems universally loved for all, there are times when the heat and humidity make me feel like I'm literally living in the Amazon rain forest.  Some times you've simply got to combat the heat with a little hot weather vibe of your own!  In this instance, I turned to those most wonderful fabric rectangles: the sarong!

Just slip a swimsuit, tank top or whatever your comfortable (and cool) in and you're ready to go.

 

If you were wondering how you might achieve this same excellent outcome with a simple fabric rectangle, allow me to introduce my method of sarong tying.  While there are literally hundreds of ways to tie them, this is one of my favorites.

Contrary to popular belief, this tutorial was not done in badly photoshopped clouds...

1.) Fold the fabric in half around your body. Take the corner of the front part and bring over your shoulder

2.) While you hold the corner over your shoulder, bring the fabric that was behind you around your waist.

3.) Hold the fabric you just wrapped around your middle behind your back.  Then twist the edge that was over your shoulder for a less bulky look.

4.) Take the two ends and tie them together behind your back.  This might take some audience assistance depending on your fabric length.

5.) If you feel like being snappy, pin up one of the front fabric layers for another nice little drape like I've done on my right side.

YOU'RE DONE!