Gretch-a-sketch (old)

No, this is not the sweet blog post I teased about last time. I just needed an excuse to use that blog title.

In other news, I'm playing around with the formatting. (Duh, Gretchen, as if they couldn't tell?)

One more random item: Is there a blog that showcases blogs with only one or two entry? Like, where the author started one and then didn't return? For example, I came across this one yesterday (set the world on fire, huh?) and I wanted this to be my original domain, but noooo, it was taken.

That is all.

Okay, so I'm working on this really super cool blog post, but it probably won't be done 'til the weekend.

In the meantime, here are some baby panda pics. Jamie may have her new corgi, Dooce has Chuck and Coco, Britney has 15 baby tigers (side note: that's an SNL clip, so watch at your own risk), but I so want one of these.

1. Generic emotions with no explanation whatsoever. “Blanky McBlankerson is happy/sad/excited/tired/etc.” Yeah, good for you. At least use a bit of interesting vocabulary in there. I’d much rather read something like “Blanky likes using words that make her sound pretentious, like ‘pretentious.’”

2. Observations on the weather. Chances are, most of the people in your network live where you live, and therefore don’t need an update! And if they aren’t in your network, they don’t care.

3. Write something about “what I’m doing right now” and take it literally. Examples include “doing homework,” “going to bed,” and the like. I mean, other than the fact you’re obviously on facebook instead of working on an assignment, this is another good instance of me not caring.

P.S. Acceptable updates include quotes, funny stories, links, pointed observations, song lyrics, pithy social commentary, or telling me you’re auditioning for Jeopardy! (That last one is totally true for one of my friends.) Also, no offense if you actually do these things, just don’t expect me to any time soon.
Oh! You can also now find me on Twitter. This means the Billy Joel feature is gone, but I’ll make sure to include some choice lines from the Piano Man occasionally.
I’ve gotta run. I’m busy, it’s snowing, and I have really got to get going on reading that chapter…

1. Chew Eclipse Gum--Yeah, this one is kind of obvious-town. Plus, Orbit is better and you still get the whole "outer space" feel.

2. Read Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse--Can we take a second to admire the beautifully cast Cullen family? Yum. But the real question at hand is: Edward or Jacob? Discuss.

3. Listening to Bonnie Tyler--Total eclipse of the moon? Try Total Eclipse of the Heart! Turn around, bright eyes--it's the ideal song for belting and provided one of the most memorable scenes in Bandits. Once upon a time, I was falling in love, now I'm only falling apart...

(Ha! See what I did there with music and notes? My friends say I'm “pretty clever.”)

1. Dear Bandwagon,
Hi. It’s me, Gretchen. I know, it’s been a while. Mind if I jump back on for a while? I’m writing to thank you for introducing Yael Naim, via Apple’s always catchy advertisements. (This time, for the sleek and super-thin Macbook Air. It’s like the Heidi Klum of laptops!) I’ll admit, I did hear about Yael a few months ago, via the Awesome girls and meant to get around to listening to her, but it never happened. (Fun fact: the Awesome girls also introduced me to Feist before her “1-2-3-4” fame. You should pay attention to those girls more often.) Anyhow, Yael is pretty dang fantastic, with her French-Hebrew background and those lovely cheekbones. I doubt she’ll stay mainstream for the long haul, but I’m glad to have found her.
Hugs and kisses,
Gretchen
P.S. You might want to become familiar with Courtney Jaye (see #3), because if I had any say in these matters, she would be your next target.
P.P.S. Please do something about Uggs for next winter, like banishing all those who wear them to Northern Siberia. (But at least their feet will be warm, right?)

2. Okay, peeps. Listen up. You know how I like a good deal, right? Joshua Radin’s new EP, Unclear Sky, was released last Tuesday on iTunes for $2.99. It’s four songs of pure talent for only three dollars! His album comes out this summer, but this is enough to tide me over until then. Seriously, I must have listened to it over fifteen times since Tuesday. Music review time! Yay!
Track 1: Sky (Feat. Ingrid Michaelson)—Okay, first off, it has Ingrid Michaelson, so you know it’s a winner. It’s the catchiest song of the four and makes me happy every time I hear it. I’m dying for someone to get the tab online, since I can’t really transpose music yet.
Track 2: Lovely Tonight—This is what Radin does best. It’s slower, but not boring. The guitar is impeccable and the female vocals are by Catherine Feeny (he runs with some seriously amazing chicas) with electric guitar by Ryan Adams (!).
Track 3: The Fear You Won’t Fall—Easily my least favorite of the four, but that isn’t saying very much. It’s still very much beautiful and it includes the return of Priscilla Ahn (love her), who’s his back-up on “We Were Here.”
Track 4: You’ve Got Growin’ Up To Do—Radin evokes a perfect sense of raw desperation on this demo version. His myspace blog mentions a “very special female vocal” on the album version. Oh, the suspense! The best part is that he also says he’s saving his best stuff for the actual cd release. Can’t wait!
(Note to Joshua: If you ever get over that on-again/off-again thing with Schulyer Fisk, I think I deserve at least one date.)

3. I fell in love with Courtney Jaye about four years ago during the all-too brief radio run of her song “Can’t Behave.” (The link is to a hilarious fanvid of Hawkeye featuring that song.) She spent some time in Hawaii and she describes her sound as “tropicountry.” Her new album, “Queen of Sabotage” is expected to be out this year, but I can’t for the life of me find an actual release date. Anyhow, you can listen to five of her new songs on her myspace page. Her lyrics are honest and she’s got this great voice that’s also easy to sing along to. Perfect music for a luau or driving along the coast.

Dove Dark Chocolate Promises (“When two hearts race, both win”)
Mi Familia
Cherry Pop-tarts
Books that make me slightly sad
Books that make me incredibly happy
Chick-lit books
Tina Fey singing about books
The end of the writer’s strike
Neurons
LOLcats
My IRL friends and my bloggy friends
Joshua Radin’s new EP
Mindy Kaling
The KEXP Podcast
Discovering new music
Boys that hold the door open for me
Stacey & Clinton
Jim & Pam
Webcomics
Fry sauce
Jemaine
Actually, Bret.
Hmm. No, Jemaine.
Alpine, AZ
Pandora Radio
Welsh Corgis
Google Reader and Site Meter
Ferris Wheels
Words like “redonkulous” and “adorkable”
3-Day Weekends
Dorothy Parker
Meaningful gifts, like a ham

1. Niles Crane--He won me over at a very young age. His quirks and intelligence are only rivaled by his brother's, but Frasier isn't quite so endearing. Daphne Moon is one lucky lady.

2. Radar O'Reilly--Sweet, slightly naive, and ever loyal--the later episodes of M*A*S*H are not the same without him.

3. Simon Tam--I truly less than three Simon! He's so...proper and awkward all at once. Firefly did not deserve its early demise, but that's a rant for another post. Anyhow, his gradual acceptance with the crew (especially Mal) is one of the best character developments this side of Veronica Mars. Plus, he's entirely dreamy. (Fun fact: Zac Efron played a young Simon in the "Safe" episode.)

Um, so I need this shirt.

Glarkware, why must you be so awesome?