Archive for the ‘Lists’ Category
I am a Sucker for…
My sister Lindsay did this, and called me out to do my own list as well! I think it’s a splendid idea, so here, for you, is my list of things that I’m an absolute sucker for. Ever want to bring me joy or cheer me up? These things will do the trick.
1. Letterpress Items
Weather it’s invitations, business cards, product tags… if it’s letterpress I’m doomed to love it.
2. Banjo or Fiddle Reels
Played in a happy bluegrass reel, either one of these instruments bring me to another level of happy.
3. Campfires Under The Stars
There really isn’t any other place where I feel so at peace with the world. The smell, the sound, every single thing about being by a campfire warms me inside and out.
4. Musical Theatre
Both the spontaneous dancing and the fabulous musical numbers… going to a musical will leave me feeling on cloud 9 every single time! Spamalot was a particular favorite… which included another thing that I’m a sucker for… Monty Python.
5. Songs with Pedal/Vamp/Drone
Okay, this one takes a bit of explaining. Years ago I started compiling a playlist of all the songs that made my skin tingle the most. I called it my “Life Soundtrack.” You know the types of songs… the ones that give you that feeling like you’re floating, your arms become covered in goosebumps. That musical ecstasy feeling. My list of songs is an odd mix of artists, but each song made me feel that same tingling feeling.
One day Steve was perusing my list and told me that every single song had one thing in common: Pedal Tones. The term comes from classical music, when an organ player would hold one note on the foot pedal throughout the entire song. In modern music, it’s sometimes done as a one-note drone, but the same effect can also be achieved with a Vamp. Basically it’s an underlying repeating phrase or drone in the music that lies beneath the melody, and doesn’t change, even as the chords change around it. (Think bagpipes, which I also love.) It can be quite prevalent or very subtle. It gives songs such an etherial magical feel. It’s easier to hear it than describe it, so here are some of the songs on my list that are good examples of Pedal Tones:
6. Anything Apple or Nikon
This is where the geek in my comes in full force. New Apple products? I’ll want ‘em. Nikon cameras and even more… Nikon LENSES? Drooool….
7. Fondue
Melted cheese? Melted chocolate? I mean, COME ON. If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be Fondue. Oh, with Wine, of course.
8. Faces on Inanimate Objects
You’re sure to get a gleeful giggle out of me if you put eyes onto a stapler. Or washing machine. Or pop can. Or tissue box. Or scissors. Or [insert any object here].
Perfect example of this:
9. Chick Flicks
What? This shouldn’t surprise you. I want a love story, some comedy, and a happy ending. Is that too much to ask?
10. Gymnastics
It’s a sport that consumed hours and hours my life from age 5 to age 16. Still to this day, I yearn to be in the gym, to swing around the bars, flip across the floor, throw myself at the vault, and curse at the balance beam. It’s something I’ll miss forever, and I’ll watch live or on TV every single chance I get!
So how about you? What are you a total sucker for? Make your own list, and post a link!
Jen’s Best and Worst Of 2008
Here is my totally random, completely odd & awesome, Best / Worst list of 2008. Please enjoy!
And, if you feel so inclined, copy the questions (or invent some of your own), and write your own answers on your blog, and link to it in the comments!
Best drink: Tazo Passion Herbal Tea
Best overall victory: Obama winning the Election
Best online tool: Google Reader
Best “fun” purchase: Wii
Best blog: Awen
Best random discovered actual persons name: Batbold Barsbold
Best footwear: Knee socks
Best fabric pattern: Argyle
Best latte: Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks
Best project taken on in 2008: Flickr Daily 365 project
Best Flickr Group: Flickr Group Roulette
Best new TV show: Privileged
Best canceled TV show: Pushing Daisies
Best movie (overall fave): Twilight
Best movie (drama): The Secret Life of Bees
Best movie (comedy): Role Models
Best movie (animated): Wall•E
Best movie that got bad reviews but I loved: Australia
Best FUN movie experience: Mama Mia
Best play / musical seen: Spamalot!
Best SNL skit: Ras Trent
Best sport: Tennis
Best sushi: The “Jenny Roll” at Tsunami
Best blog decision: Switching to Wordpress
Best injury: Goose-egg on my head from rough-housing with Colette
Best camping trip: Temple Mountain Wash area with Steve
Best color: Yellow
Best thing that I should have hated but ended up loving: Turning 30
Best actor obsession: Rob Pattinson
Best actress obsession: Zooey Deschanel
Best song discovered: “I’m trying to Break your heart” by Wilco
Best sports victory: Utah killing BYU
Best sports watching experience: USA Gymnasts @ The Olympics
Best smell: Grapefruit
Best hair dye experience: Discovering “Amber Shimmer” color.
Best fish pet: Flotsam & Jetsum the yellow fishies.
Best midnight snack: Toast with Peanut Butter & Miller’s Cinnamon Creamy Honey
Best overall discovery: EVO canned cat food.
Best vacation: MacDonald Family Reunion @ The Falls
Best discovered town: Olympia, Washington
Best discovered “spot”: Millersylvania State Park
Best awesome farm animal: This guy
Best concert: John Mayer
Best winter wear: Linen scarves
Best summer wear: Linen skirts
Best purchase: A new violin
Best new genre of music discovered: Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Best plant: Hydrangeas
Best purses: Kathy Van Zealand purses
Best insect: Bees
Best reorganization project: Project “condense clothes closet to make room for purses”
Best friend: Steve
Best triumphant moment: Bug being pronounced Diabetes-free because of a change in his diet!
Best Eggs Benedict: Eggs in the City
Best discovered hole-in-the-wall diner: Briton’s in Sandy
Best unfinished project: Publishing “Bridges” by Frank to my website
Best year so far? Yep.
Worst painful experience: Wisdom teeth removed
Worst worry: Worried about sick kitty cat
Worst TV show: “Rock of Love” “I Love New York” “A Shot at Love with Tila…” et. all
Worst movie: Zack & Miri make a Porno
Worst weather: Icy winds
Worst annoyance: Passive agressive jerks
Worst overused word: Ginormous / Maverick (tie)
Worst loss: Luke Aitken
Worst pundit: Rush Limbaugh (this could be a lifetime achievement award)
Worst HEX color: #F7AAF8
Worst losers (sports): BYU fans
Worst losers (politics): Hannity / Limbaugh (tie)
Worst celebrity: Spencer Pratt
Worst hair dye experience: Attempting “light golden auburn”. Baaaaad.
Worst insect: Earwigs Worst fish pet: The Australian Rainbow who ate everybody else.
Worst thing that should have been cool but wasn’t: Portland Saturday Market
Worst vacation: Vegas trip when I was still sick from Wisdom Teeth removal
Worst annoyance: My stupid carpet
Worst Eggs Benedict: IHOP
Worst dis: Having my car hit in a parking lot, and they didn’t leave a note
THINGS I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THAT I WON’T BE GETTING
• A new kitchen
• For my kitten to stop being so picky about her litterbox being spotless, and allow me to go a week without cleaning it without peeing on my bed as revenge
• An early spring. Like, in January.
• A new water heater, so I don’t have to take 2 minute showers anymore.
• Cutely decorated & fully designer painted bathrooms. Like, without the work.
• 50 bars of chocolate that have had the calories taken out.
• Some great ideas about what to do with this website.
• A diamond ring (well, we’ll see… maybe Valentines?)
• A 75% raise, plus two months paid vacation
• A free vacation, so I can use those paid vacation months
• To have Steve never put his fresh-out-of-the-shower towel on the bed anymore
• 6 inches of height added to my body
• Ok, now this is getting carried away…
