Uphill Both Ways

A Lull in Music Consumption

2008-06-20T01:39:05Z

I'm testing out the new Blog It iPhone web app--I have nothing much to occupy me on my 90 minute bus commute, so I might as well post blog updates that I never seem to have time for otherwise. Lately, I've noticed a distinct slowdown in my music acquisitions this year--I think I've only bought three albums this year, and one of them is Ted Leo's The Tyranny of Distance (2001). The current ones, for what it's worth, are DCFC's Narrow Stairs, and My Morning Jacket's new album (the title escapes me just now).

By this point last year, I had new albums from Feist, Of Montreal, Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire, Deerhoof, Bright Eyes, and Apples In Stereo--and those are just the good ones. So why the slowdown? I have two explanations--the first is that early 2008 releases have been much lower key--sure, Bon Iver and Black Mountain have put out interesting albums, but few have been that compelling to me. The Hold Steady has an album release coming up, and I'm certain the back end of 2008 will see some great surprises, but I'm willing to assert that 2007 was just a remarkably good year for indie music releases.

My other theory is that I'm in the midst of a couple artist kicks, which I think everyone has once in a while. Lately, I've been getting a lot of rotation out of Stars, a band whom I've been aware of peripherally for a few years, and never cared for. When I was planning my excursion to Lollapalooza 2006, I acquired a significant amount of music from two bands I was generally uninterested in--Stars was one, Wilco the other. The night I was packing, in fact, I put A Ghost is Born on as my soundtrack, and had one of those rare and beautiful epiphanies about music--"Hummingbird" made me a fan, compelled me to rabidly consume every Wilco song I could get my hands on. Stars' Set Yourself On Fire sat neglected, and I missed their set at Lolla. Two years later, I had my epiphany about them while listening to "My Favorite Book," and since then I've just been digging deeper into their discography.

My other kick lately has been Ted Leo, a musician I've actually liked quite a bit for some time. What launched Ted Leo from a guy whose music I like to a guy I must see play before I die or get to old to be in mosh pits is a subtler process, but I think it was "Biomusicology" that really forced the shift. I really regret that it took me this long to appreciate Ted Leo, since I could have been listening to him (in Chisel) in high school. Then again, if I'd had my Sleater-Kinney epiphany before The Woods, I could have probably seen them more than just the one short show they played at Lollapalooza before their hiatus.

I've so far managed to avoid more than just snippets of the new Weezer album, which I think is damned lucky. I've heard enough though, that I have instead chosen to listen to Blue and reminisce about the album, which (along with Pinkerton) I would call "adolescence-defining." Blue in particular is one of those albums which serves as a cultural touchstone for people my age, and I think will live on for us in spite of its weaknesses. However, I'm starting to think of Rivers Cuomo with the same feeling of resentment I have for Michael Jackson--both are trouncing on my love for their earlier music with appallingly bad decisions.

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On my phone again...

2007-09-11T02:45:54Z

Oh, if only .mac could do mobile posting.

I have class in 20, so I guess now is as good a time as any to dash off a quick note on Vox. So here goes--

Yup.

Okay, in a nutshell, I had pneumonia a couple weeks ago, work is still work, school is decidedly less challenging than I thought it would be, and my iphone is still awesome. Wes and I are going to try and get a dog soon, and we now own a PS3, which is also awesome.

"The iphone is a very slick phone"
~Rob Enderle, predicting the iPhone will kill children.

Kate

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Blame it on the iphone.

2007-08-19T20:51:29Z

I know it's been quite a while since my last post, and there's really been one (maybe two) reason for it--my new phone of awesomeness. Since I joined the exclusive club of Apple iphone carriers, I've barely used my computer. After all, why read my news on my laptop, when it's on my phone? Why check my email there, when it's in my hand? In actuality, I'm writing this on my precious phone right now, thereby completing my descent into Apple fandom. I have drunk the Kool-Aid, and it's tasty.

The other reason I haven't been posting is because, well, my biggest challenge concerning where I work is keeping myself from engaging in punditry. Of course the old standby excuses of no time and no events of interest still apply, but there's also been an element of restraint in play as well.

Naturally, there's still nothing significant happening in my life, aside from my imminent attendance in graduate school. Class begins tomorrow, and so far I've been less than impressed with the quality of administration at the University of Hawaii. Actually, I have a sneaking suspicion the school is controlled by a secret shadow organization, since everyone from financial aid to admissions seems hellbent on keeping students from discovering some all-important Truth about their status in any of those areas. I'm actually beginning to miss MSU. On a more serious note, I'm regretting the decision to go to school here, and I have yet to set foot in a classroom. Thus, the power of a shitty infrastructure is demonstrated.

At least I've got a husband who will support me, although he's still recovering from an alarmingly serious bout of the flu. He lost 10 pounds and is still taking meds for it, and for the sinus infection and thrush he managed to get while sick. When the hospital doctors put him on codeine, he hallucinated that I was a bunny and started to pet my head. It's been a rough week.

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My Doctor, the Internet

2007-06-29T03:44:04Z

I've had a somewhat hilarious week. I'll see if I can relate everything in order:

First, I went grocery shopping (something I absolutely love to do on Sunday), and came home to discover I left the door unlocked by accident. This is something I almost never do, since we've had some break ins in my area in the last few months. So I walk in the door, and discover the big pile of laundry I had put on the couch was gone. After a little investigation, I also discovered that some of our DVDs were missing as well (notably, our Family Guy discs and Simpsons seasons). On the other hand, our XBox, iMac, Macbook Pro, and essentially anything of VALUE were all still present, although pretty much everything was a mess. Mostly, I was thinking "what the hell?"

When I went to drop some mail off for Monday, I noticed my laundry in a pile outside the house, behind some of our really impressive bushes. Upgrade from "what the hell?" to "what the fuck?"

I passed it off to stupid teenagers. I was close. Yesterday, after a hilarious trip to the beach, a woman and her two sons came up to our door. Neither of the boys was over 10, and mom marched them over with our discs so they could explain and apologize. Apparently, the boys had been playing around our house when they noticed our front door was open (one of the quirks of our house is the door will open on its own if it's not locked). After yelling in our house for a few minutes, the boys came in to explore, found out no one was there, and decided to avail themselves of some cool DVDs. Mom found the DVDs, and dragged them back to apologize.

As for my trip to the beach, it went pretty well up until I was a schmuck and stepped on a man-o-war that had washed up on the beach. I can't explain to you this pain--think the worst sunburn imaginable combined with your foot being asleep for, like 6 months, with a good old fashioned deep razor cut tacked on, all on a patch of skin that had terrible chicken pox. It's located on the side of my foot, too, so any walking at all has irritated it--probably keeping it looking and feeling worse for longer in the process. I haven't been to the doctor for it, though, mostly because if it was gonna kill me, I'd probably be dead by now, but if it's this bad tomorrow then I'm going to go see a doctor at the next possible opportunity (maybe Tuesday).

I've also got two small bee stings, but I've rarely ever felt those. I figure my week will be complete when I'm bit by a centipede at work tomorrow, and when I come home to a GFS sitting in my bathtub.

Other than that, life without Wes has been pretty mundane. I guess.

Until tomorrow, at which point all the crazy of the universe will descend upon me.

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QotD: Worst. Hairstyle. Ever.

2007-06-26T06:02:51Z

What was your worst hairstyle decision ever?

Hmmm...you know, I've done almost everything to my hair, and I've never actually disliked anything I did. Hair's just hair, after all.

Discodb8__3

This is probably the worst my hair ever looked--center part when you dye over your premature grays only once every couple months is a BAD, BAD idea. Also, you can't tell, but this also features what everyone I went to school with called the Old Maid Bun. Last, but not least, my hair becomes a nightmare when it grows over my collar--it pretty much always looks stringy, or dirty (I used to wash it twice a day in high school and kids would still say it was greasy-looking), or frizzy. I cut it all off, and all of a sudden people started complimenting my appearance for the first time in, um, ever.

Also, that shirt is so awesome Snoop Dogg wore it in a music video. No lie.

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I May be Retracting a Statement

2007-06-26T05:48:52Z

Nothing important, so those of you who read my blog for important, um, things, might as well skip on by.

This is the deal--I'm not necessarily a perfectionist (although it's not an inaccurate description), but I'm motivated by an almost compulsive sense of accomplishment. I thrive on achieving goals, surpassing expectations, etc. etc. I like to know that at the end of the day, I've actually done something worthwhile, even if that's only making the house a little cleaner, or eating a little better, or whatever.

So, I've found a use for Twitter--rather than answering the question "What are you doing?" I'm answering "What have I done?" instead. Sure, no one may care what I've done, but I really don't give a shit--I mean, who reads this page? As with most other web-related things I do, this one is purely for my benefit.

If you're curious with what motivated this, it's mostly for me to keep track of my constant "Life Improvement Project" which is basically, um, my life. Specifically, I started my Couch to 5K running program this week, and want to keep a permanent record of how I come along with it, along with my Not Drowning in the Ocean program, Eating Like an Adult program, and Build Anything, Ever program. I figure it'll be easier to put a sentence long update up on Twitter, instead of a whole post here.

Also, I am easily entertained by my own navel-gazing.

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If You Don't Like Gravel's Ad, You're Just a Dummy

2007-06-19T20:01:55Z

Mike Gravel finally decided to explain his ad campaign (which also includes a 7 minute video of burning twigs), which I like to call "WTF?" Here's what he told MSNBC:

“What people like you don’t understand — which I think is hilarious — is this is a metaphor,” Gravel said Monday, lecturing guest host David Shuster during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Tucker.”

Um, actually Mike (I can call you Mike, right?), I do understand it's supposed to be a metaphor. The difficulty you've run into is that none of us can figure out what it's a metaphor for. And, honestly, if no one can figure out the metaphor, then it fails because your people executed it poorly--not because your potential voters are too stupid to get it. Golly gee whiz, that one's pretty easy to figure out, dontcha think?

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Existentialism is for Losers

2007-06-19T07:09:56Z

I've been sort of drifting the last couple days--Wes is gone on his trip, and so I have about three weeks on my own. I intend to actually do some serious house work (especially in the kitchen), but between starting my actual job and a general feeling of lethargy, I've mostly been a lazy ass.

Today I went to Makaha beach for most of the day. Don't let the picture fool you, it was actually a lot less crowded

Makaha_beach

than this today--the nearest people to me were about 300 feet over. Of course, part of that might be that I was smack in the middle of a section that's notorious for forming rip currents when the surf's up, but come on, it's summer--the biggest waves breaking on the surf were maybe 2 feet. And hell, I'll take my chances with rip currents if it means I get my own private beach.

Ironically, I have a sunburn, but earned the majority of it while being productive and running errands Friday and yesterday. Moral of the story--I'm spending more time on the beach.

Also, I'm watching the Daily Show right now, and I am wholly in favor of a Produce Pete-inspired movie. Produce Pete rocks, and I'm a little sad that Steve Carrell didn't reprise his role for posterity when he was on tonight. I miss Steve Carrell, although I'll be honest and admit that I had a thing for Stephen Colbert since his days on Strangers with Candy. Even Stephen cracked my shit up (especially the one where they did a binge drinking episode for Spring Breakers and got Carrell totally "trashed").

Sigh. I'm going to drift my way towards bed, I think.

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Mike Gravel Appeals to Postmodern Voters

2007-06-15T16:19:10Z

For those who might be behind the times, Mike Gravel is an also-ran for President on the Dems side--sort of like an angrier Kucinich, with approximately .005% of potential votes in the polls. So, if you're that far away from winning, why waste your precious ad money on "explaining your stance on issues" or "currying favor with certain demographics" when you can just hire an aspiring avant-garde director to film you?

Mike Gravel - Rock -

Usually, if an old man comes up to me and stares at me like that, I'll tell them "no cash, sorry" and back the fuck away. Of course, even if I knew that old man was Mike Gravel, presidential candidate, I'd probably still do exactly that. I mean, that jacket looks pretty cheap, and he doesn't seem above panhandling. And really, would you be surprised if you pulled up to an intersection one day and Mike Gravel began washing your car windows to pick up some extra cash?

And then, there's the rock throwing. This might be the greatest piece of deep conditioning political advertising since "Morning in America," and the rock symbolizes American economic interests, while the water represents the world's resentment to our excesses (or maybe the rock is our presence in Iraq, and the water is terrorism...or the rock is HATE, and the water is LOVE, and the message is that love will conquer all...). It's so deep, I don't even get what the hell the message may be.

I would suggest for Mike Gravel's next ad, he film a worn down armchair left by the street for 5 minutes, then dump a bucket of water on it while a vinyl of Sonic Nurse plays from a nearby open window. I think it would be a great meditation on immigration reform policy.

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Posting Via MarsEdit...

2007-06-07T01:47:57Z

Hurray for updated software.

I start work tomorrow. It's been damn near a year since I was employed, though it doesn't feel much like it because student teaching at its easiest was a 60-hour workweek (for free!). Still, it's good to be hired at last, making decent money for the time being, and interacting with people in a semi-meaningful way again.

On the other hand, my current mood vacillates between "Tense" and "Panicked," which is basically par for the course anytime I take action to change my life. I've learned over many, many years that all it takes is about 14 days for me to be settled and adjusted.

Today I got my confirmation that the iPhone might actually be a huge success: my mom called to tell me she "decided to buy one sometime." So you can understand how significant this might be, let me share some things:

Fun Facts About My Mom and Cell Phones:

When she finally got one, she didn't realize it needed to be charged to work.

She's had her phone for at least 2 years, but only figured out how to set up voicemail 6 months ago.

She only carries one because her office got it for her--otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten one at all.

I'm still pretty sure she doesn't know what SMS messaging is.

So she's not a fan. As for other gadget aspects of the phone, she doesn't own an iPod (although she should), and she's not real big on killing time on the internet--mostly, she does her work research and reads email. On the other hand, I think the only reason she doesn't like working with computers/using her cell phone/consuming media is because her equipment for it has always sucked. I think if she had a Mac, an iPhone, and an iPod, she'd be much more savvy.

Me, personally, I've pretty much decided to get an iPhone, though there are qualifiers which could break the deal. First is the plan--right now my husband and I are on a Cingular/AT&T family plan, and we're due to re-up and get new phones in a month or so. If the iPhone is only available to new AT&T customers, I'm screwed. If I can't get it without changing to an indiv. plan, that's one thing. If said plan is the rumored $70/month, I'm out.

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