Under a Red Roof

Jiving

March 9, 2012 in Listening, Reading, Shopping, Spotlighting, Watching by Colleen | Permalink

Some ever so random bits and bobs for you today. My mind is a wandering one. Its oft preferred state, which, after some overly obsessive and incredibly tiresome thinking suits me fine. Uh-huh.

First, a little more leg than I anticipated, but whatever. Call me a slut, but my neighbor beat you to the punch on whore. Because if a little leg, using birth control before having my internal lady parts removed (read about it here: 1, 2, 3, 4) , and enjoying sex with my husband make me one, I say, in for a penny, in for a pound. Anyhoo, the socks beg to be seen! They are from Gumball Poodle (oddly, I bought mine at New Seasons) and are perfect for roller skating, even when hidden under cropped pants, with many other neat-o options. Meat, anyone? Beer? Bacon?

Second, a little listening. Do you know about Poking Smot? I must say that I, in no way or shape, like this moniker. Really? That’s the best you got? Well, I shall forgive you because your website is so freakin’ awesome that it nearly makes my head spin. Music, so very much music: new, old, jazzy, synthy, rocky, poppy (currently jiving and toe tapping to Sandy Bull’s “Blend”). Merde et zut alors! This place could be the site of my downfall. I’ll just listen to one more song and be on my way, oh and another, but wait, they’ve got that? Down for the count peeps, d-o-w-n!

Third, a little reading. This is a shout out for local writer K.B. Dixon who sent me a copy of his book, The Photo Album. It is a very quirky, Colleen-style tale. A warm breeze of an afternoon read and well worth the time, it’s an imaginary photo album (hence the title) with captions. What was happening there? What was intended? What don’t we see? Filled with details of places I love and very much home. It made me think, laugh, and sigh with wonder.

Fourth, a little watching. And contrast. First, another one of my man-crushes, Zach Galifianiakis (I’m not kidding), in a supporting role (with Jason Schwartzman and Ted Danson – a fine trio if ever there was) in a truly awesome and also very Colleen-style comedy series, Bored to Death. I think I’ve mentioned this bit of kooky before, but dang, do I love it so. The hubster can’t get enough of it either, I might add. We laugh until we cry and always want more. Luckily we’ve got DVD number two waiting for us to-night. It’s on, bitches! (Just for you, Amber)

Now to the contrast, The Yellow Handkerchief. It follows Brett (William Hurt) after his release from prison, searching for a new hold on life and remembering May (Maria Bellow), the love he left behind. Then there is Martine (Kristen Stewart) and Gordy (handsome Eddie Redmayne), young and inexperienced, escaping home, awkward and yearning for a connection, to no longer be outsiders and first forgotten. They travel in Gordy’s car, through the post Katrina aftermath, taking ill used highways and discovering unexpected places, especially within themselves. Sweet and sad and happy.

Fifth, a little love, for you, sweet readers, and Friday. Have a tip-top, hat’s-off, groove-on weekend!

Saturday & Sunday

February 6, 2012 in Eating, Exploring, Listening, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

Saturday:

Cleaned the kitchen and a rather filthy and malodorous refrigerator, liberating a myriad of ill used condiments and forgotten foods.

Made focaccia and smoky roasted red pepper and tomato stew with garbanzo beans, delicious.

Enjoyed a beautiful light

That warmed us all.

Sunday:

Got up early, more gorgeous light.

Walked to breakfast, more deliciousness.

Saw beauty everywhere en route home.

Danced and danced to Fleet Foxes “Grown Ocean,”

While my newly bearded man typed and strategized on top-down, multi-player, outer space game functionality.

Watched the moon rise.

Tags: cats

I got your back…

January 18, 2012 in Listening by Colleen | Permalink

I do not know to whom these boxer shorts belong, save some faceless young man with no fear of exposing his drawers. It may be slightly redundant to say that I quite like them, having taken a photo on the sly and all, neat cassette tapes and fond memories of days before digital. The beautiful garbage made after being jettisoned from a car window, brown plastic fluttering and alive in the slightest breeze.

Yesterday was a weird day, part shitty crapper-doodle, and thanks to friends near and far, part best of the best. Today is better, though cold, cold, cold. I am yearning for an escape (back here!), to lie in warmth with bright light shining in my eyes, but since there is no sun to be had for miles upon miles, and my bank account is not bottomless, I have, a la Mr. Snazzy Boxer Shorts, made a mix-tape, hoping it warms me from the inside. It’s dreamy-rocky-hip-hoppy and as golden as summer skin.

“Tequila Sunrise” – The Eagles

“Someday Some Morning Sometime” – Billy Bragg & Wilco

“Expecting to Fly” – Neil Young

“Going to California” – Led Zeppelin

“Sea Side” – Devendra Banhart

“Warrior’s Ring” – Shiva Rea Yoga Trance Dance CD, to which I lost the sleeve.

“I Know You Got Soul” – Eric B. & Rakim

“The Idiot Kings” – Soul Coughing

“Would?” – Alice in Chains

“The Golden Hour” – Marisa Anderson

“The First Taste” – Fiona Apple

“Moonlight Drive” – The Doors

“Half-Light” – Lanterna

“The Eclipse” – Fionnuala Ni Chiosain

Photo Unrelated

January 16, 2012 in Listening, Remembering by Colleen | 1 comment

When I was a sophomore in high school, I camped out for U2 tickets with my friend Dionne and a boy named Ed, a boy I had never previously met, a friend of a friend, who had a camper, and was as eager for good seats as we were. We met at my house the night before, a Sunday, I think, and parked next to the Peaches Records and Tapes on 72nd and Federal. We didn’t sleep a wink, both out of excitement and fear – the neighborhood being slightly sketchy, listening to U2 in the dark, tape after glorious tape, while we spoke reverently, and in hushed tones, on every manner of subject related to the band.

We got our tickets after they made the horde that assembled by morning all cross the street then run back, P.E. style. Ms. Schenk would have been proud. The effort paid off, and we got floor seats! We congratulated ourselves on a job well done, bid adieu to Ed, only to see him one more time at the show, wearing a green plastic visor with flashing lights, ensuring he’d be caught on camera while they filmed Rattle & Hum. Though I don’t remember if he was. It’s been a long time.

Dionne and I went back to her house, skipping school (with our parents permission – we were good girls with excellent negotiating skills), and, in hindsight, made an entirely appropriate decision to watch The Gods Must Be Crazy. For just as a Coke bottle falling from the sky is crazy, so would be the notion of camping with a stranger for tickets to hear music rather than obtain food or something life sustaining. We humans, and in particular, teenage music fans, are a funny lot.

Thanks be to the digital age, we can now buy tickets from the comfort of home or a wi-fi hot spot, with the help of a credit card and swift fingers. I learned this firsthand on Saturday, after deciding that seeing Radiohead, live and in person, is something I must do before I die.

Truth be told, I am rather surprised at myself. I never thought I’d go to a show like this again, generally preferring small venues over being jostled and lost in a crowd, no, a sea of humanity. But being that they are in my top three bands of all time (How very high school of me!), the bullet was bit and seats procured, though for five times what I paid for a show back in the day. Ouch! It’s a different world. Now where is Kadeem Hardison? Maybe he can come with me if the hubster can’t…

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the instigator of my great love of music, my dad, Jim. Growing up, he played record after record from a collection of hundreds, introducing me to a very wide world, and for which I am eternally grateful. Thank you Daddy, and Happy Birthday!