There's a series of CDs out there called Verve Remixed which are chock full of goodness. It's a lovely mix of classic songs from Verve Records, remixed by many of today's best (and totally unknown) DJs. There's also the occasional DJ that we might have heard of in there, too. This collection has led to a rash of imitators - i'm looking mainly at the Pink Martini crowd - bu there are others as well. I honestly don't care about who started it, or who does it better - i like it all. So when i found out there was a group doing other remixes, i had to check it out. There's Motown Remixed, and there's also a series called Remixed and Reimagined.
In Dallas, one of the teachers had the Motown Remixed CDs, and I borrowed them and fell in love. Here I present to you one of my favorite tracks off the first CD.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Race Car Ya-Yas [Cake]
remember when i got a job and moved back from dallas? well, right after coming home with a trailer full of stuff, i also bought a new car. not, new new, but new-to-me. It's a very low mileage 2008 mazda 3 hatchback - much to the chagrin of our neighbor, who is all in your face about american cars - but i've loved every mazda i've ever owned, from the first family car, to Danger Bob, to Rio, and now this currently unnamed dream sitting in the garage. KTO has also loved her mazdas - all in all, they've given us long and trouble free service, so we're a mazda family, i guess.
Anyway, contrary to the above testimonial for mazda, i did plenty of research on cars. i am still doing some post-purchase, cause it's a fun hobby? i don't know why, but it's interesting, the similarities/difference between the car lines. I'm really starting to notice the cockpit layout of other cars. I'm not saying mazda is the winner, but i recently rode in a mini cooper, and they are definitely not the winner.
i'm also noticing more of my car (the new one) on the road. they always caught my eye, but now that i have one, they seem to be everywhere. there are 3 that even share most of my commute to work. i don't come home at the same time every day, but most days there are 2 other ones that are going in that direction at the same time as me. i think it's common to notice other people in your car, but i'm really aware of it now, because the car is new to me and because it's a more stylish car than Rio was. plus i like seeing what types of other people have purchased the car - it seems to be a pretty big demographic.
what i've also noticed is that regardless of their age, race or sex, i tend to mentally race them as we are driving. whether they know it or not, whenever two or more are gathered, it's on. (attention KTO, I don't actually race them) generally in my mental races i win - largely because the race is one-sided, but also because i do have a bit of a lead foot. and, this car is nearly twice as powerful as the last one, so it's got the ability to actually race, if the need arose. m my last car i could probably have taken on a vespa scooter, and that's about it. if the AC was on, forget it. The downside to all that new power is that it means more gas. I net the same overall mileage on one tank of gas, but this tank also holds about 3 more gallons - so my actual MPG is around 4 or 5 less.
However, i wouldn't trade it for the world. because now i can win those races.
Anyway, contrary to the above testimonial for mazda, i did plenty of research on cars. i am still doing some post-purchase, cause it's a fun hobby? i don't know why, but it's interesting, the similarities/difference between the car lines. I'm really starting to notice the cockpit layout of other cars. I'm not saying mazda is the winner, but i recently rode in a mini cooper, and they are definitely not the winner.
i'm also noticing more of my car (the new one) on the road. they always caught my eye, but now that i have one, they seem to be everywhere. there are 3 that even share most of my commute to work. i don't come home at the same time every day, but most days there are 2 other ones that are going in that direction at the same time as me. i think it's common to notice other people in your car, but i'm really aware of it now, because the car is new to me and because it's a more stylish car than Rio was. plus i like seeing what types of other people have purchased the car - it seems to be a pretty big demographic.
what i've also noticed is that regardless of their age, race or sex, i tend to mentally race them as we are driving. whether they know it or not, whenever two or more are gathered, it's on. (attention KTO, I don't actually race them) generally in my mental races i win - largely because the race is one-sided, but also because i do have a bit of a lead foot. and, this car is nearly twice as powerful as the last one, so it's got the ability to actually race, if the need arose. m my last car i could probably have taken on a vespa scooter, and that's about it. if the AC was on, forget it. The downside to all that new power is that it means more gas. I net the same overall mileage on one tank of gas, but this tank also holds about 3 more gallons - so my actual MPG is around 4 or 5 less.
However, i wouldn't trade it for the world. because now i can win those races.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Coming Home [G. Love and Special Sauce]
I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!
Well, not really. But I am behind in sharing good news with you. As you may have guessed from my earlier post, I'm no longer working in Dallas. While I was home for the break in between quarters, I had a few interviews. One was a phone interview with RTKL in Baltimore. We talked for about 1.5 hours, and I've heard nothing from them. Another was a Skype interview with Gensler in Washington DC. Let me tell you, skype interviews are awkward. It was better than a phone interview because I could flash my winning smile and also get some body language feedback, but it was just strange. You cant really make eye contact with skype, cause the camera is above the screen, which is what you're looking at. They sent me a follow up email a few weeks later, letting me know they were going to go with a local candidate. Or they just said that to make me feel better? I did have an actual in-person interview as well, with a St.Louis company that does retail work - fast food companies and mall-type chain stores. I got an offer right before I had to go back to Dallas, and after a short bit of decision making, I took the St. Louis job. It's less design work than I'm used to, but it's good exposure into retail work, and it's local.
So that's great - I had a job in St.L. But then I had to quit my job in Dallas, 5 days before the new quarter was supposed to start. That was a bit nerve wracking. I called my boss and she pretty much knew what was going on - I mean, why else would I call during vacation? I offered to come down and help transition (my version of the 2week notice) and after talking about it, she decided it would be easier for the kids if they just started the quarter with the right teacher, so I wasn't required to go back down to teach. I did go down for the first week to make sure the replacement teachers had the right info, etc. Also, to pack up all my stuff and move it home.
When I had my final meeting with my boss she cried, which was a bit uncomfortable. She told me I was good fit with the group and she was sad to see me go. She also told me that she liked my style and my energy, and that she heard nothing but good reviews about me from the students. She said that at some point in life I should go back to teaching. Then she got upset with me for not letting her know I was looking for another job. Apparently in the teaching world, you tell your boss you're shopping around. That goes contrary to anything I've ever heard about job searching, so clearly I didn't tell them anything. We did talk about how it was kinda obvious, since KTO had only been down once to visit, and how we weren't putting the house on the market or anything like that. After that, I drove home, and didn't look back.
I've been home for almost a month, and it is great to finally put an end to the dallas adventure.
Well, not really. But I am behind in sharing good news with you. As you may have guessed from my earlier post, I'm no longer working in Dallas. While I was home for the break in between quarters, I had a few interviews. One was a phone interview with RTKL in Baltimore. We talked for about 1.5 hours, and I've heard nothing from them. Another was a Skype interview with Gensler in Washington DC. Let me tell you, skype interviews are awkward. It was better than a phone interview because I could flash my winning smile and also get some body language feedback, but it was just strange. You cant really make eye contact with skype, cause the camera is above the screen, which is what you're looking at. They sent me a follow up email a few weeks later, letting me know they were going to go with a local candidate. Or they just said that to make me feel better? I did have an actual in-person interview as well, with a St.Louis company that does retail work - fast food companies and mall-type chain stores. I got an offer right before I had to go back to Dallas, and after a short bit of decision making, I took the St. Louis job. It's less design work than I'm used to, but it's good exposure into retail work, and it's local.
So that's great - I had a job in St.L. But then I had to quit my job in Dallas, 5 days before the new quarter was supposed to start. That was a bit nerve wracking. I called my boss and she pretty much knew what was going on - I mean, why else would I call during vacation? I offered to come down and help transition (my version of the 2week notice) and after talking about it, she decided it would be easier for the kids if they just started the quarter with the right teacher, so I wasn't required to go back down to teach. I did go down for the first week to make sure the replacement teachers had the right info, etc. Also, to pack up all my stuff and move it home.
When I had my final meeting with my boss she cried, which was a bit uncomfortable. She told me I was good fit with the group and she was sad to see me go. She also told me that she liked my style and my energy, and that she heard nothing but good reviews about me from the students. She said that at some point in life I should go back to teaching. Then she got upset with me for not letting her know I was looking for another job. Apparently in the teaching world, you tell your boss you're shopping around. That goes contrary to anything I've ever heard about job searching, so clearly I didn't tell them anything. We did talk about how it was kinda obvious, since KTO had only been down once to visit, and how we weren't putting the house on the market or anything like that. After that, I drove home, and didn't look back.
I've been home for almost a month, and it is great to finally put an end to the dallas adventure.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
August and Everything After [Counting Crows]
august's calendar. a bit of a return to nature for this one.
next up, july's big news.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Down and Out [Kid Cudi]
here is a link to a collection of stories/emails from people who have faced long term unemployment. I didn't spend a lot of time telling friends and family how terrible being unemployed was - I always took the good humour, positive outlook approach. I don't know that anyone can fully understand until they've been through it - and that's something i wouldn't wish on my worst enemies. This collection does a good job of highlighting some of the thoughts and feelings that you go through while you're unemployed, and also reveals just how tough the market is for some people.
down but not out
down but not out
It Is A Crime [Sade]
here's an interesting link to a in interactive website depicting the time that crime happens in various US cities. You can seek out specific crimes, and the page will rearrange according to frequency.
time for crime
time for crime
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Dallas [Steely Dan]
I've been waiting to post this link since I moved down to Dallas, and now I get to. Don't pay attention to all the lyrics, just focus on the chorus, which is my favorite part right now.
I'm sayin' goodbye, bye, bye, Dallas;
I can't stay.
Should have been at the palace
Yesterday
Bye, bye, Dallas; got to go
That's right, the Dallas adventure is over. OVER!
I'm sayin' goodbye, bye, bye, Dallas;
I can't stay.
Should have been at the palace
Yesterday
Bye, bye, Dallas; got to go
That's right, the Dallas adventure is over. OVER!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Changes [David Bowie]
So i've been not posting lately, despite my promise to post more. I apologize, but it's for a very good reason. There have been a slew of changes going on, and this weekend I will address them all. for cereal.
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
The Heat Is On [Glen Frey]
Grilling. It's never really been my thing. Don't get me wrong, i like a good grilled chicken sammich, but in general, take it or leave it. My lovely wife, on the other hand, could exist purely on a diet of grilled chicken drumsticks, i think. When we lived in separate apartments, she had a tiny little weber grill - so small you had to put it on a table or hunch over it to cook anything. and, while charcoal is better (so they say) it was a pain to work with, cause it could take forever to get the thing hot, then good luck trying to cook enough food on that tiny surface area. when we bought the house, we upgraded to a big ol' 4 burner gas grill, with upper rack, additional side warmer, etc. it was a big deal for her to move from charcoal to gas, but we actually grill a lot more with this thing, cause of the ease of use.
Thing is, i don't like to be outside in the summer sun, standing next to a giant flaming heat source. Also, I dont like to have little pieces of burnt on my food, which tends to happen on the grill. Char marks - no thanks. and, as it turns out, yesterday i also singed off most of the hair on my right arm. so grilling for me is a bit of a challenge. i try to be supportive - "sure honey, let's do chicken on the grill" but i'm really thinking "i could just as easily eat cereal tonight".
When we have people over - more in the past, less now that i live 600 miles away - we cook foodstuffs on the grill. it's just the way we do things around here. normally that's brats and dogs and burgers. while i might not care for grilled food, i do like to experiment in the kitchen. at our cook-outs people have been introduced to my creations, in the form of "world famous burgers". i figure a catchy title makes the fact that it could be a disaster go down a little easier. in the past i have made jambalaya burgers, Hawaiian burgers (pineapple inside the burger) and just yesterday we had taco burgers.
so far, i think its a tie - jambalaya burgers were a big hit. hawaiian burgers not so much. yesterday's taco burgers were a mixed bag - most people said they liked them, but some people said it in that 'my mother taught me manners' way, and i had one myself (obviously) and it wasnt what i expected or intended. so i'm calling the score 1 win, 1 loss, and 1 tie.
I've got some other ideas for "world famous burger" recipes, but i'm willing to take suggestions, too. how about it, dear listeners? any crazy burger ideas living in those heads of yours?
also - hope you all had a good 4th of july.
Thing is, i don't like to be outside in the summer sun, standing next to a giant flaming heat source. Also, I dont like to have little pieces of burnt on my food, which tends to happen on the grill. Char marks - no thanks. and, as it turns out, yesterday i also singed off most of the hair on my right arm. so grilling for me is a bit of a challenge. i try to be supportive - "sure honey, let's do chicken on the grill" but i'm really thinking "i could just as easily eat cereal tonight".
When we have people over - more in the past, less now that i live 600 miles away - we cook foodstuffs on the grill. it's just the way we do things around here. normally that's brats and dogs and burgers. while i might not care for grilled food, i do like to experiment in the kitchen. at our cook-outs people have been introduced to my creations, in the form of "world famous burgers". i figure a catchy title makes the fact that it could be a disaster go down a little easier. in the past i have made jambalaya burgers, Hawaiian burgers (pineapple inside the burger) and just yesterday we had taco burgers.
so far, i think its a tie - jambalaya burgers were a big hit. hawaiian burgers not so much. yesterday's taco burgers were a mixed bag - most people said they liked them, but some people said it in that 'my mother taught me manners' way, and i had one myself (obviously) and it wasnt what i expected or intended. so i'm calling the score 1 win, 1 loss, and 1 tie.
I've got some other ideas for "world famous burger" recipes, but i'm willing to take suggestions, too. how about it, dear listeners? any crazy burger ideas living in those heads of yours?
also - hope you all had a good 4th of july.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Firework [Katy Perry]
look, i've been absent for a little while. sorry about that. the quarter ended, there was all sorts of training and prep for the next quarter, etc. i know it's no excuse, but let me make it up to you with a new set of calendars for July? these are widescreen, but if you follow the link you can get to a standard sized one as well.
hope that makes it better - more soon, i promise.
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