I just deleted a bunch of friends - like 2/3rds of my friends. Most of the people never post anymore and I am guessing are not even here anymore.It is shocking to see, really, how many people do not post anymore and how fast it changed. It wasn't until I was looking at that list that I saw all these names and remembered them posting a lot not that long ago.

Well, I didn't want to offer up my meager postings to a room of people who are not on the boat, so i cut things down and will cut down more in the future. If you have been cut and you feel you want to be re-added let me know.

I just wrote a spontaneous record review. The first I have written in many many years. I used to do it all the time, for zines, program guides and on white labels that we put on the dvds at the radio station with a track by track listing that said things like:

1 - Feel good pop song with hand claps and lalas
2 - camp fire sing along with sound effects, Daniel Johnson like
3 - swooning waltz with marimba and chorus - awesome!

Anyway, a friend posted this a video of this band on Facebook and I loved it. I used to listen to so much Japanese pop and psych and I have missed finding new bands like this. This band did a record with The Pastels (I remember buying my first Pastels record at Asta's Records in Oakland)and it is all I have been missing the last few years of my life. Mostly. So I fired this off for the lala page since it had no review:

I haven't even finished listening to this record and I can tell you that I love it and have been needing it for many years.

Now, I am not saying that sweet Japanese melancholic atmospheric pop hasn't been out there in the world. I just haven't stumbled upon it.

Add to that the pairing of The Tenniscoats with Hazy Gazy Steadfast indie pop stars like The Pastels and it makes it even more rare.

Sure, Damon and Naomi teamed up with the Japanese psych folk band Ghost in 2000 for a record that was just as satisfying and dripping with as much melodic meloncholy - although with that album you also got a good chunk of smug pretension - but hey, it was a DAMON and Naomi record. I still loved the record and Ghost is always a winner.

Anyway, my point is once every nine years is not enough. I would love a record in this category every year. And maybe there have been and I am just not aware. That is very possible. If you know of ones I am missing, please alert me.

Street Poetry

street poems :: dublin 2009 from ze frank on Vimeo.

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Free Shipping offer at The Cedar Chest through Sunday.

Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch project. Saw it via alexvcooks blog. I am excited about this. Read more here.

Yesterday afternoon I went over to an old friends house to hang out with him and his wife, daughter and brother. It was lots of fun. He and I have been friends for over 20 years. We were talking about wanting to do some space clearing this weekend and how we have been meaning to get rid of some stuff. He asked me if I would want all the mix tapes I made him in the 80's and early 90's.

I said "No."

I was surprised at how quickly and confidently I answered the question. Me, the most nostalgic person you might know. It was not something I had even contemplated before. He was shocked, too. I asked if he would want his and he said no. We both said it would be too embarrassing.

It is interesting when you surprise yourself.


I have been on a blog posting splurge today. Check them all out at PonyBoy Press. You get nature, links, art and recipes. Also, remember you can add PonyBoy Press blog to yer LJ list, too, right 'chere.


Smell ya later

I

I just found out via thesugarmonster 's post that Bea Arthur died. Oh that is sad. She will be missed. I loved her in Maude and of course The Golden Girls. And she was very funny and smart when I heard her on interviews.

Watching Maude now is like going into some possible future that would never be. The series took on classism, racism, feminism and practically every other controversial subject and landed squarely on the liberal side of most of these.  But, more importantly they made you think about your reactions.

I have only seen a couple episodes in the last twenty plus years, but it is startling how thought provoking and cutting they were. What happened to all the steam that was building in the 70's?

Just now, while looking for this picture, I see that there was an episode on Maude where the 47 year old found herself pregnant and she got an abortion! The episode was written in response to a call out from the group Zero Population Growth. They were offering a cash prize for the first sitcom to address population growth.

Where is that group now? Steve often talks about this. Why does no one talk about having less kids as a way to fight global warming?

Anyway, I got off topic....Bea Arthur. You were awesome. Godspeed, you Grey Haired Empress.

Hey you guys, wanna come down to the Armory this weekend and paw through a whole bunch of old postcards and photos. You can buy some for as little as 25 cents usually and you can meet lots of cool older people. Look for postcards of your hometown, look at the cool displays, marvel at the awesome postcard collecting geek love. Admission is a couple bucks.

These were taken with my phone the last few weeks. In order: Estate sale, Nursery, Postcard Club, Ikea, German Grocery Store

Did anyone else see this book review in graphic novel form in the NYT Book Review. I was pretty neat. I wannna read all my book reviews like that.

I am in the mood for capers tonight.

Here is what I think I will make:

pasta tossed in butter and some truffle salt

add capers and some feta cheese

on top of it: sauteed together: chard, brussel sprouts and maybe some tofu

Found via the athomeathome blog. New Math is a website that has a new posting every Monday.

I like this one, but think it needs an addition:

Maturity = Things you used to do - things you used to do + things you thought you would never do

I am guessing younger people would read this as depressing. At 23 I probably would have, too. But, trust me when I tell you it isn't.

I got the first disc of Perfect Strangers from Netflix recently. It wasn't sure if it would still be as funny to me, but it is pretty good. And the theme! The theme is the quintessential 80's tv theme - with the instrumental beginning, the synthesizer, the sax and the building to the epic chorus - and then at the end a little melancholy slow down.

I cannot get over the horror of the colors they chose to use in those title credits. Really? Mauve with electric blue and bright yellow. And the clothes they are wearing could not clash more. It makes me think that they didn't even think of the possibility of designing this segment to look good. Like they totally just left it all up to chance and whatever color the background was that day or whatever.

Anyway, it is the perfect thing to watch while you are going through papers in your work room.

Hi Friends,

I am doing my first giveaway at PonyBoy Press. Go over there and enter if you want to win this neat gocco covered Project Planner Journal.

All you have to do is leave a comment (make sure I have a way to get in touch with you) and tell me a project that has been on your to-do list for a while. It has been fun to see people's answers.

These Project Planners are great for planning crafts, sewing projects, home decor, gardens and all kinds of stuff.

As someone who doesn't have cable and never has, I have been so sad to see all the kooky and great tv shows and movies from the 50s and 60s disappear from regular network television.

Well, tonight I found a new channel. It is 2.2 for you Portlanders. So, it is available without cable, but you do need to have the converter box.

Right now, The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini is on. It is so awesome. I love the songs. And they play The Patty Duke Show a lot! I am seriously so excited about this channel. They also have lots of movies, including lots of weird 80's movies.

Watch this awesome bit from the movie I am watching right now.

Sorry to see her go. Here is the NY Times obit on her. Odd how they don't mention Multiplication Rock. It was just a short gig, but it made such a lasting impression on a whole generation, including myself. I wrote about it and the number figure 8 here.

Hi there, friend,

Do you like to look at blogs with lots of vintage images? Do you like old photos and pretty antique papers? Well, then you should totally subscribe toThe Cedar Chest blog!

I have created a live journal feed, too. You can add The Cedar Chest blog to your friends list. Go here for that
 

Also, the blog How About Orange had my Valentine Matchboxes on her Valentines to make list yesterday. The hits to my website yesterday went up by 1800%! Seriously. Pretty Cool.

And in addition: I was featured, also on this blog the other day.

And furthermore, I have some Valentines in The Cedar Chest Shoppe

Etsy Buy Handmade thecedarchest

And in conclusion,  I have a PRO flickr account now. I think I am the most excited about having a set just for pictures of tea parties.

I spent most of today and all of tonight working on these:




I did not make them because I am selling them or even because I wanted to hand them out (although I will). I mainly made them because I wanted to create a freebie so that you and others can download the pdf and have an inexpensive, unique valentine to give to people, or so that people might be inspired to make their own versions.

It was something I thought about a couple weeks ago and I just had to do it. I wouldn't say the 8 plus hours I spent on it today was fun, really. It is nice to have it done and to have it turn out as I imagined. But, I could have been seeing friends or doing something out in the world, but instead I sat at my desk and did the kind of work I do at my day job all day on my day off. At 12:41 a.m., right now, it seems absurd.

Anyway, I hope you do like them. Visit my ponyboy press site to get more information and to download the free pdf.