Y'all know I favor a small black moleskine for this sort of thing, but this here is pretty adorable. I just want that pencil, mostly. I am pretty into the idea of having a special pencil just for my recipe book, come to think of it. I should make that happen.
But, yeah, plan your meals! You'll cook more, eat more vegetable, and feel happier. And be one of the cool kids.
A long time ago, when I liked to talk in even greater exaggerations and superlatives than I do now, I was pretty sure The Jesus and Mary Chain was my favorite band ever. I recall saying on multiple occasions that they were perfect because you could listen to them, regardless of your mood. That they were perfect when you were sad and perfect when you were happy.
Since then, I hope my range of emotions has increased and my musical tastes widened, but The Jesus and Mary Chain's music still sounds pretty brilliant. And in this particular video, they are so cool it hurts.
Also, its got a rather spring time feel to it, no? Go listen to April Skies, as well, for a seasonally appropriate Jesus and Mary Chain choice. No distortion there, for those of you that find that sort of thing off-putting. Probably should have included it on my playlist, come to think of it. Would have included it here, as well, but the only proper video has commercials, which is horrifying.
It just occurred to me that I totally forgot to make an April mix. I'm pretty bad at this blog thing, especially as the weather gets warmer, because it's like, "Hmm, should I talk into the void or go sit in the sun?" The sun tends to win every time, actually, regardless of what the alternative is. So it goes.
But I do feel sort of obligated to maintain my commitment to a monthly playlist, because I know a few people who dig it at least. Plus I think it'll make a nice record of my year if I keep up with it. I thought about making this a shorter playlist, since April is half over at this point, but that just didn't seem fair.
Anyway. As for April: If I were going to introduce it on stage or something, I'd be all like, "This month requires no introduction." So I won't fuss too much introducing it here, either. April is new flowers and days of sunshine and days of rain. If you're like me, and your happiness is pretty dependent on the whims of the weather, April can be kind of a roller-coaster. But its also a welcome light at the end of Boston's Winter Tunnel, and so April's lowest lows are still pretty rad. Like, if its going to rain all day, its almost cool, because you get to put on your matching sky blue trench coat and rain boots, and rock your leopard print umbrella.
With this thought, I also wonder, what do dudes do to make themselves feel better? I'm so sorry for them sometimes, living a life without accessories. I guess that's why there's sports or something.
I'm joking, of course. Here's the music:
1. Cotton Fields - The Beach Boys
2. A Blossom Fell - Nat King Cole
3. This Flight Tonight - Joni Mitchell
4. Mysteries - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5. Sweatshop - Brazilian Girls
6. Master and Everyone - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
7. Music Talk - Stevie Wonder
8. I Wanna Live - Glen Campbell
9. Women Make A Fool Out Of Me - Merle Haggard
10. Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s) - Los Campesinos
11. Labrynthian Pomp - Of Montreal
12. Rally - Phoenix
13. What You Know -T.I.
14. Rainy Day Women # 12 & 35 - Bob Dylan
15. Dream Wanderer's Tune - Deerhoof
16. I Can't Wait - The White Stripes
17. Banho de Lua - Os Mutantes
18. Invitango - Brigitte Bardot
19. I Got You - James Brown
20. So Fresh, So Clean - Outkast
21. Bottle Rocket - The Go! Team
22. The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
23. Somebody Have Mercy - Sam Cooke
24. We Are Nowhere and It's Now - Bright Eyes
25. On Se Quitte Toujours - Francoise Hardy
26. I Better Be Quiet Now - Elliott Smith
27. Laugh - The Monkees
28. My Girls - Animal Collective
29. Sunday in Savannah - Nina Simone
30. Opportunity - The Jewels
Can I also just say how awesome it is to be a grown up and not care two figs what other people think about your musical tastes? I feel so liberated to be able to say, you know, I still absolutely love this Bright Eyes song and I'm going to put it on my playlist, damn it. Go ahead and judge me. I thumb my nose at you, sir. I decide what's cool now.
Usually, I'm pretty militant about keeping your consumer goods American and as local as possible, but I'm somehow ok with these products' sources.
Saltwater crocodile skin has got to come from somewhere and all.
In all seriousness, though, Sourcemap is a nice tool to occasionally evaluate your purchases. This week, I totally stumped some of my first graders by asking how fruit gets to the grocery store. And since they're six-ish, and I'm here to teach them things, that's pretty reasonable. You're not six. Know where your stuff comes from and how it gets to you.
My serious buying American speech is forthcoming, no worries.
