Glimpse January 15 2014

A glimpse into today:

At home: Michael is staying home with Dashiell, who had a fever last night and was talking in a delirious fashion around midnight: "I'm not going to play with money. No, because I might get hurt." So, having some sort of strange dream!

At work: A lovely mild winter day. Maybe an afternoon bike ride at lunch time with a thermos of tea and a bit of chocolate.

Wishing for: My new 50mm lens to arrive! I want to start playing with that the light today would be wonderful to try it out... Patience... And SNOW so we can cross country ski, already!

Reading: The Two Towers, The Name of This Book is Secret, The Explosive Child, Your Money or Your Life.

Listening to: The Bryan Ferry Orchestra's Cocktail Party Music cd, James Blake cd, KEXP at work, (But I dreamed about a Playskool record player last night that I almost acquired!)

Making: Delicious chili (the secret's in the adobo sauce and sprinkling of roasted corn), strawberry and oat scones, hot chocolate sweetened with a few pitted dates (so creamy and thick).

Seasonal music

'Love and Happiness' by Al Green. If there is one song that transcends the seasons, from a balmy, unbearable summer day to be cozy inside while a blizzard descends outside, this song fits anywhere.

The XX, I find somewhat melancholy and I adore listening to it in autumn, as the days disappear faster and give in to the chill that summer could never bring. This is when I read the dark adventure books of Tolkein. This is my time to devour fiction.

Jagwar Ma was fantastic for summer, floating tunes on summer breezes. James Brown tells it how it is to summer, keep working, getting it done, doesn't matter how high the humidity is. You gotta keep going!

August 2013 Playlist & Summer Songs

A recent discussion on the infamous 'song of summer' concept made me put on my thinking cap and observational goggles. Media outlets demand a 'summer song' for each year and they seek it out early in the season. But perhaps there should be a summer song for each stage of summer.

June's playlist was rife with louder, dancey songs 'Woo hoo, it's summer!!! Propel yourself on the rope swing and into the pond in those cut-offs, it's officially summer and it's time to live it up!" I would go with the Bruno Mars song or Icono Pop. Daft Punk was all over the place. (But then, if you have the financial backing of those large music companies, your music will get out there, plus they are all mysterious in those helmets aren't they? They were even in a Vogue photoshoot, it was ridiculous, but very shiny.) June has the taste of mainstream music to me.

July was a complete wash for playlists. Mostly it was about favorites, old time music and revisiting playlists from earlier in the year while we sanded, painted and generally broke down each night, while we worked on our slightly run-down Victorian house. I had a serious hankering for Tom Jones and Elton John, like a pregnant lady seeks out pickles, I needed to hear the classics. Something comforting and familiar.

August is more of a mellow mix, the comforting stage of summer. Yeah, June was fun, July was busy and now? Well, now it's August and it's time to sit back and just enjoy the perfectness that's all around. I have to say, I'm very partial to the new Beck song and Jagwar Ma. Just sit back, hum along and fall asleep in the sun kind of songs.

Technically there's still September to enjoy, but working in academe, we all know that's going to be about returning students and constant interruptions. Hardly conducive to finding new music. I'll see what I can do.

June 2013 Playlist

The sun is finally shining, after soooo much rain. Now it's time to move and groove as summer is officially one week away from our grubby, muddy little set of paws.

May 2013 Playlist

Playlist for mid-springtime. It's about moving and dancing and pondering.

Springtime tunes: rockin' version

Lots of new and exciting music, man have I needed an infusion of new tuneage!
Listening to KEXP and podcasts from SXSW, that'll do it.

fave tunes of 2012

This isn't everything, but some of the tunes I enjoyed hearing over and over again in 2012.

thanksgiving jam 2012 playlist

From ripping out old carpet and *shazzam* discovering unknown 100 year old pine boards beneath; to a candlelit pizza picnic on our kitchen floor; to our first family bikeride where each person powers themselves along the path - this Thanksgiving was the most memorable I've ever experienced. Here's our music from the looooong weekend.