Album Review - Rouge Wave

Gateway track - "Lake Michigan" or "Publish my Love"

Two points. One - this band was featured on The OC. Two - this band makes me want to dance in tall grass.

To elaborate on point one - The OC was/is the quintessential television show capturing the essence of living in Orange County. Minus all the fights, weird love triangles, the fake pier, the fake Bait Shop, it is exactly like living in Orange County. Ok - it is NOTHING like living in Orange County (I just can't stomach to call it the OC), but there were many many pop culture jokes in which make this show truly enjoyable and utterly miss-able now that it is off the air. I don't care what you say - the show hit it's stride in season 4.

To elaborate on point two - Tall grass. It always looks so magical, so elusive, mysterious, romantic. Have you actually ever walked in tall grass? It is full of bugs, creepy crawlies, snakes, and other creatures that God made and that I am better off seeing on a screen. However, music videos, movies, and tv shows alike will continually make tall grass a dewy daydream of how beautiful raw nature is, when enjoyed at the simplest of levels, always synced and edited to sheer perfection.

Back to Rouge Wave. The album "Asleep at Heaven's Gate" is as ethereal as an episode of the OC and as mysterious and seemingly wonderful as running through tall grass.

I think I just got a mosquito bite. But it was well worth it.

Check it.

Meet Clark

Hands down, best christmas gift ever. Not only is Clark totally cute, but he SINGS. Yes, the singing might be quasi creepy, but AWESOME. :)

2007

The Year in Review:

Jan:

• Started off fantastic- Footy Game - US vs Sweden

Feb:

• Jack's Mannequin at SOMA - freaking amazing
• Followed by Ski Trip/Superbowl Sunday in Tahoe
• Followed by pneumonia

March:

• Still had pneumonia
• Mid-March - back to work!

April:

• The search for a new place to live began
• Find AMAZING place in Newport

May:

• Spent the first week of May in NYC with Jason
• Moved the next week to Newport Beach

June:

• Sales Conference in San Fran - Tainted Love at AT&T park, Carson Daily...all the madness
• Straight to Phoenix for Aryn's bachelorette party
• Napa - Jess' Bachelorette Party
• Aryn's Wedding!

July:

• 4th of July in Newport!
• Andre and Jessica's Wedding!
• Comic Con

Aug:

• Jordyn's Wedding!
• My 26th Birthday and the ever famous Pink Party
• Trip to Mt. View

Sept:

• Labor Day party in Newport!
• Justin Timberlake in concert
• Budapest!!!

Oct:

• Budapest!!!
• Trip to Mt View
• Two Jimmy Eat World Shows in one week! Wiltern and HOB Anaheim
  
• Halloween - Princess Leia

Nov:

• Promotion!!
• Trip to NYC :)
• LA fashion district day
• Trip to Stanford vs. Cal Big Game

Dec:

• KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas Night TWO - Jimmy Eat World, Muse, Feist, Spoon, Silversun Pickups, the Killers, Modest Mouse, and the Shins
  
• Decorated the Niesing's Tree
• Newport Harbor Boat Party
• Christmas light viewing with Google friends
• The White Party!
• Life Group Christmas party

What else will December hold?

Looking back at the past year, I traveled somewhere pretty much at least once a month. What an amazing blessing? New York twice, Budapest, various San Jose/Mt. View/San Fran trips, and who can forget all the fun trips for the summer of weddings? :)

I feel incredibly blessed to have such amazing memories for 2007!!

long haired dachshund puppy in the snow

I want this dog!!!

60's Soul

I am obsessed with 60's soul music right now. Fats Domino, Solomon Burke, The Drifters, The Supreme's... it is just all so amazing.

Music is incredible. I seriously can't imagine life without it. I am so so so so so so (going on forever) thankful for my hearing.

xoxo

kinda famous now, nbd

SO funny....

Oh, the Internet!

Map of the Problematique

I am sort of into the game of Pool right now.

Tonight I played a very fun game of Pool. I love random nights. I went to Alta and saw some open mic stuff, then off to this shady place on 19th to play some pool.

Sunday I saw:

• Spoon
• Feist
• Silversun Pickups
• Modest Mouse
• The Shins
• The Killers
• Jimmy Eat World
• Muse

Yeah...how about that line up? Merry freaking Christmas to myself! :) Huge thanks to Lauren for hooking me up with those tix. That made my YEAR.

And what a year it has been! 26 has been shaping up quite well thus far.

email me if you are interested in playing pool sometime, you pool shark you. :)

xoxo

Song of the Day: Map of the Problematique - Muse. Download this NOW. Even though it is about loneliness it will keep you company.

don't let it go away, this feeling has got to stay

I LOVE Gwen Stefani.

List of reasons why:

• She is from orange county. I live in orange county.
• She is Italian. I am Italian.
• She is just a girl. I am just a girl.
  
• She ain't no hollaback girl. I ain't no hollaback girl.
  
• She wants a simple kind of life. I want a simple kind of life.
  
• She called her second album "tragic kingdom" because she used to spend all her time at Disneyland. I currently spend lots of time at Disneyland.
• She likes L.A.M.B. I like giraffes.
  
• She married Gavin Rossdale. I used to like Bush.
  

I could probably go on. She just freaking rules. And through many phases of life, a No Doubt CD has been there.

I recently went to a record store. (I know!?!?!?!) Remember used cd's?

I bought "Return to Saturn" for $1.99 (take that!) I just love it.

Get You In

As we near the end of 2007 (What a great, odd, amazing, interesting year) I wanted to write my "things I want to accomplish in 2008" list. I did this in 2007 and it was wickedly destroyed by pneumonia. However, I ended up accomplishing a lot more than I expected. But that is another post altogether.

Socially:
*Go to Griffith Park Observatory
*Go to as many concerts as possible (try to see Nada Surf in San Fran Feb 2nd - anyone interested?)
*Travel to a new country in 2008 - possibly Italy.
*Travel to one new state in 2008 - would like to try Massachusetts/Maine/Louisiana/North Carolina or some combo of those
*Be open to new experiences. Say yes to trying new things, hanging out with new people.

Personally:
*Continued growth in my current position at work
*Check email less on the weekends
*Try to realize that I am not defined by what I do or accomplish (this is nearly impossible for this "list-maker")

Spiritually:
*Listen more
*Pray even more
*Love
*Let go
*Worry less about me, more about you and others around me
*To not have my hang ups about "Christian" things
*Be thankful in all circumstances, be joyful always, pray continually