Refreshing Tunes for the Fall

I don't listen to the radio much since I'm never in the car- the only place where I ever put the radio on. But I took myself on a hike (which was ah-maze-ing thank you) and needed the car to get myself to the trail head. I was so thrilled to not feel confined to a bus schedule or someone else's schedule for me. I was elated at the freedom. So on the radio went. And I immediately heard some great stuff.

There's my favorite kind of sunny weather jam: Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It"


And I heard another obscure band called The XX. When first at a computer I found out that they're going to be in Boston on Sunday and I think I can convince Mike to go... Here's their effing awesome song "Crystalized":


When I'm on the bus I listen to Pandora Radio on my cellphone. It's amazing. The website creates a playlist on an artist you choose. I have a Florence and the Machine channel (indie rock), a Lucy Pearl channel (plays excellent urban, hip hop and R&B), a New Order Channel (for my new wave addiction) and a Joy Division channel (for when I want a little punk mixed into my new wave). I get the most mileage out of the Florence channel. Where I heard this ditty. Macintosh Bruan's "My Time":


I hope you found something new and cool of these three. I know I did.

Me Again!

Dearest Ke$ha,

Hello again! Thanks for sending a picture our way to ease Mike's frustration. You are too sweet! And now that we've seen you on Saturday Night Live, there is no doubting your ethnic background. I must say, I'm impressed with your choice of a pleather onsie. That is one ballsy move. I could never pull that off in my bedroom with the lights off let alone on national television. Especially when covered in Aboriginal nonsense. But then again, I'm not a pop star! J/k. I totally am. In my heart.

I'm writing you today because I love your new jam "Take it Off."

I think it's just great. Fun and funky with a dash of musical nostalgia. That combo takes real talent. Well done! But as you know, I'm not writing you just to sing your praise. I have some thoughts I want to share.

1. Were you going for a Mad Max sort of feeling where mobs dance-fight over paint instead of killing for oil? Or was this a commentary on eminent domain? When the government takes over you decide to fight back by dancing with abandon. I'm not quite sure about that. But then again, you don't look too confident about that choice either...
2. I had no idea about the connection between glitter and badassery. If I go somewhere and there's glitter on the floor is that all I need to know that shit is about to get real? Because I have no other way to gauge many situations and this is very helpful information.
3. Driving a gold trans am dressed like a pimp is one of few ways to beg getting pulled over if you so much as drive one mile over the limit. And when the cop finds your whiskey in a water bottle, clear water bottle I presume, he will arrest your ass faster than you can smack a bitch. At least put it in a Sigg water bottle or a Klean Kanteen. (And what is your obsession with whiskey? I love whiskey as much as the next booze hound but there are other wonderful liquors in which to imbibe. Like white lightening.)
4. Drunk texting is probably the least of your worries for the next morning after the night you are describing. I would be concerned about contacting ring worm from all the writhing nakedness. Which brings me to my next point:
   
5. Mike made an excellent observation: if you are taking all your clothes off, where are your wallets and purses going? You're just asking for identity theft in this place that is "so hardcore." But forget such trifle things. What about getting glitter in your who-ha? That is a far more pressing and immediate concern.
6. I applaud your designated driver! Are you sponsored by MADD? Or perhaps SADD? Because I think you just found yourself a brand new audience! Genius, K!

I hope this letter finds you well and pleather-free. That material is notorious for not breathing. We can't have breakouts on your young and supple pop-star epidermis. That's it for now.

Keeping it real,
Katherine
xxoo

What Am I Thinking?

I mentioned a few posts ago that I quit my job. The job that I was really excited about getting a year ago turned into a shit storm. My dream job was a dream realized only by the job description but not my supervisors. I asked until my face turned blue for more projects, specific projects, and all they gave me to do was print documents on letterhead and send people scripts. That was it. Of course the job was downsized right after I gave my notice. So it worked out a little bit since I was able to claim unemployment for time I otherwise wouldn't have.

Want to know why I quit my job? I was so upset with my current employment and the desperate fact that there was nothing better out there for me, I decided to go into business for myself. The book business. I want to open a bookstore in downtown Albany.

The fact that I can now talk about it in my current jobs and on this blog without fear of my bosses finding out about it is liberating. I haven't really had a chance to write about it until now because getting my act together is proving an uphill battle. Fear keeps gripping me. Fear of my current financial situation getting in the way of securing financing. Fear of not getting the retail space I want. Fear of failure. Of course I won't know until I try. And I would never forgive myself if I didn't try. There are very few woulda, shoulda, couldas in my life and I don't want this to be it.

I'm sick of working for incompetent bosses. Managers who have no management skills are too many to count. I'm lucky that the two part time jobs I have are fine (I'm not writing that to cover my ass, they legitimately don't know about this blog and no one at work(s) does either.) But I've had some shitty bosses who don't mentor or foster employee talents. Which is even more annoying when I'm standing there telling them I'm good at something and can handle it.

So. I want to be my own boss. And maybe boss some other people. I want to be a manager who makes employees feel valuable and like they are a part of something other than a way to get a paycheck and check out. I also want to be able to DO STUFF. My jobs have been so limiting and with no real responsibility. I'm tired of it. I want to take the bull by the horns. Whatever horns they be. I'll take 'em.

I took a one-day intro to bookselling back in May when I went to the national trade show for bookselling. I joined the American Booksellers Association. I am taking an entrepreneurial "boot camp" where I'm meeting all kinds of people who can help me in my business plan and help me know where to go to get money. I'm not taking it so much for the what, I've done a TON of research on legal things and accounting things, but the how, who and where. It's proving awesome. Too bad I can only go to one of the two nights a week because my schedule prevents me from attending both. I also met with the owner of another independent bookstore in Albany and she's going to let me apprentice in her store close to one of my jobs. I'm trying to do this smartly. But also within my budget. Sadly I can't afford to go to a three day workshop in bookselling down in Florida. Maybe if I didn't just pay for a wedding on my credit card I would. Que sera sera.

So here I went. And here I go. Wish me luck. And I'll let you know what's up.

I Did Not Make a New Friend Today

Pandora, a music site, can stream on my phone so I enjoy listening to that while on the bus. Today I forgot my phone and was subjected to the conversations around me. Usually there is very little talking or there's the occasional one-sided phone conversation. But today was a special day. There was a very chatty fellow on the 22 bus between Albany and Troy (a bus-line already known for sketchy characters that is only reinforced further with every single ride I take) and I was privy to an awesome conversation/monologue today.

They tried to put me in jail twice.
I *** his baby-mama.
This is my first drug charge. All I have is violent crimes.
The cops busted his door down looking for me now he's facing jail time for that shit.
I'm not gonna pop no crying girl.

I didn't know what to do with myself. I was terrified and interested at the same time. I should've been more terrified than I was but he excused himself when he bumped into another rider. Go figure.

My Favorite Things: About Ernest Borgnine

5. Borgnine's full legal name makes me want to eat Indian food with champagne- Ermes Effron Borgnino.

4. His work as the doorman of John Silverman's sitcom masterpiece "The Single Guy." Ernest brought me many laughs in my most formative years. And I thank him.

3. The man's tireless support of feminism:

They tried it the wrong way. You can't expect anyone to take you seriously if you burn your undies and tell me I'm a pig. That's why it failed. Too many ugly broads telling me that they don't want to sleep with me. Who wanted you anyway?

And:

I hate hippies and dopeheads. Just hate them. I'm glad we sent the men off to war. They came back with a sense of responsibility and respect. We should have grabbed the women, given them a bath, put a chastity belt on them, and put them in secretary school.

2. Oohh la la. His teeth.
1. Back in 1964, Borgnine married Ethel Merman. The marriage ended after a month because she couldn't stand the fact that he was the bigger star.

The Skinny

I know I said I wouldn't be this sparse again but I have good reasons, I swear! Your head will spin.

June
I got married and planned the whole thing almost on my own. Almost. I had many consultations with friends, help from family and both from the dude I married. But still, it's exhausting and incredibly time consuming to have an almost total DIY wedding. (And we got pictures back so I'll load some soon. Promise.) Every time I was on the Internet I felt guilty if I wasn't doing one of two things- finishing the wedding and one other research project.

I also did a new triathlon on Lake George that kicked my ass. But it was a lot of fun and I think with proper training I can do it better next year. Mike found us a lovely place to stay on the water and I got to try out my sexy new wet suit. It's a sleeveless onsie that makes me look like a seal. Sexy is an understatement, yeah?

July
I did my other triathlon, my last of the year. I was within a few minutes of my same time last year and can safely say I did well. This guy decided to cross in front of me with .05 miles left in the entire race and I yelled at him while huffing and puffing my way around the corner.

My good friend Karen asked me to be in her wedding and her bridal shower was this month. Lyndy and I got so fucking lost in New Jersey but we found a White Castle AND two Texas Weiners (a restaurant you perverts.) Then a weekend or so later I went to NYC for her bachelorette. I got to go a night early and she and I went to see an awesome concert. The next night she got in a fist fight with a bouncer. It was great.

August
Mike and I honeymooned in Napa, CA where we drank, ate, hung with new friends, hiked and ate some more. It was nice- our first vacation together and I'm glad it could be our honeymoon. Though we shouldn't wait another six years to go away together. Needless to say, I didn't tan. At all.

I quit my job only to be fired a week later. Over the phone. While at a wedding rehearsal for my fist-fighting friend. If I hadn't quit a week prior it would have really, really sucked. Then I started a new job which didn't pay me enough so I got ANOTHER job.

September
I started the OTHER job. I now work six days a week and have colorful bus commutes an hour in each direction. Three days I go to Troy (I like to do the 10 mile bike there as much as possible and Mike picks me up since I work so late) and three days I go to Schenectady in the other direction. That bike ride would be too long so I take the bus for that one. The inter-city buses are fine. Intra-city buses are not...

And I started training for a half-marathon. Woot! It's in Philadelphia the week before Thanksgiving. Wish me luck!!

I'm going to do my best to do better. Look forward to November when I post every day. I'm going to have to flex my muscles in the next six weeks. I have to make it up to you, to my creativity and man- I miss blogging.

Hovercraft Are a Bad Idea

Why you ask?

1. Traffic regulation. How the fuck are you going to keep people from hovering off the beaten path? How are people going to know there's a path in the first place? Designated hoverboard zones? Hovering traffic cones? It'll take only one douchebag to entertain himself with taking out hovering cones to create havoc. Would passing someone above or below them be illegal? To mark a hover-road would be ridiculously impossible. A strong wind could take a hovering traffic light and hurl it into a window. Any regulating devices would have to hover with the road. All that junk would block out the sun and create really ugly, messy skylines. Not to mention create wonky tan lines.

2. Accidents. Road accidents are terrible. Can you imagine a collision between two hovercars? Not only would you have to clean up the explosion on surrounding buildings, you would have to clean up errant body bits all over the place. And you'd have to clean up any collateral damage underneath the crash. So much mess. No thank you.

3. Parking. Would there be hovering parking lots? No? Then you'd have to pave parking lots anyway. If the parking lots were hovering then you could have lovely gardens underneath where the parking lot would be, but you'd only be able to garden plants of the nightshade family because the sunlight would be spotty at best. And what if your hovercar had an oil leak? That splatter would be HUGE!

4. Hovering school buses. All it takes is a small group of jack-asses to jump at the same time to create a massive accident. No thank you!

Cars and other items should remain attached to the Earth's gravitational pull. Gravity is good. Gravity is our friend.

Zelda's Music Writer Thanks You for the New Job

I've found my recent pop obsession. Ladies and gentlemen please enjoy the phenomenon known as Justin Bieber.



I still maintain he's a girl.