Music Review #1

Here's a shot of the CDs I bought today at Goodwill - Imperial Beach, and am currently listening to:

New CDs

They are:

<Top left>     BMW Audiophile Demo Disc (New in package)

<Top right>     Imogen Heap - Self Titled (Promo!)

<Bottom Left>     Deutsche Grammophon - Kathleen Battle - New Year's Concert

<Bottom Right>     Alison Krauss - Forget About It

First disc queued up was Alison Krauss, and I really like her voice.  This album's tone is quite somber, and I wasn't really in the mood for that today, but I played it through and it is well recorded, albeit very "modern" and compressed, which isn't to my taste.  Definite keeper and will be listened to again, but not an instant favorite.

Preface to this disc's thoughts:  I'm not especially well versed in classical or orchestral music, but I did have a musical upbringing and played viola, oboe and tenor sax before leaving "school" instruments for the electric guitar, and my shortcomings as a reviewer will surely make themselves known.  The German classical compilation started off with a few tracks of what I consider to be typical Romantic classical stuff, which I find forgettable and better listened to as background music that isn't grabbing your attention.  After track 6, I started recognizing them and getting into it a bit more.  I typically shy away from any mix of orchestra and solo voices, but Fruhlingsstimmen (#9 on this disc) was very nice.  Not the best or most revealing (in details or emotion) recording I've ever heard, but it's clean and quiet and very competent.  Another to listen to again, on a quiet Sunday morning with coffee.

iMogen Heap's 1998 iMegaphone after the classical listed above was a big shock.  It is loud, modern and brash in places.  Huge change, but not necessarily in a bad direction.  I've only heard bits and pieces of her work before, so I'm going into this with only an open mind and a short glass of Harvey's Bristol Cream on ice to accompany the tunes.  I'm finding it a slightly odd mix of poppy 4/4 time signatures with goofy lyrics and electronics over them.  Sort of reminds me of Beck's Odelay in it's eccentricities, although the end result is fairly different.

Lastly, the BMW test disc is really eclectic!  It's a fun listen, and the quality is definitely there.  I found out that it came from the dealer when you pulled a new BMW off the line.  This particular disc is from '01, so it should match up with my Dad's M Roadster, and I don't think he had one with the car.  Three cheers for OEM+ mentality, yes?

On a final note, I'd love to talk music, even generalities, or swap discs or something.  Comment here and let's expand each other's horizons!

We made it!

Finally, after a thousand attempts and years of struggle (ok, it was really just a couple times pulling up their Yelp page and finding that we missed their open hours AGAIN), we made it to an apparently well-known and much-favorited (is that a real life, one that you can really use in real life, or just an "internet real word?" Hmm...) little taco/burrito joint.

I've been called a rookie because I didn't know it existed.  I've been teased for knowing so much else about the city I have called home for the past 5 years, including which is the longest of the piers in the area (it's not the one that is closest to Mexico!!) that I can seem like a born-n-raised-in-SD-lifer, but not knowing about this spot.


So I'll bet you're excited to see some awesome shots of the burrito that Chelse got.  Or a quick-n-dirty Instagram shot of my 5 rolled tacos, all lined up in their delicious order?  Well...you're out of luck.  We had exactly zero cameras with us on this adventure.  Gasp.  Double-gasp.


Zero cameras!  Not one hidden in the trunk, not one jamming in a front pocket, nothing.  We could not even take pictures of the super awesome and entirely too filling dessert we had in Coronado along with 50c worth of 78rpm oldies, either.  After stuffing our faces there, and catching up on caffeine with an awesome Breve Latté (an old trick ensuring you'll get something drinkable or better even if the espresso isn't perfection, from my time behind the counter as a barista), we hit the Goodwill before blazing back home.


NO DESSERT PICTURES.  I can't believe I just typed that.

Mini review post to come!  Happy Thursday, everybody!

Headed back home.

That's what my Facebook post was all about yesterday after more than a week away from our apartment and life.

I'm still re-adjusting to the lack of cell phone coverage and the lack of paint fumes, so I'll just post up one of my favorite shots from the trip as the pool at my parent's house was finally warm enough to jump in and stay in for more than the time it takes to get out, but there will be more reflection to come.

Away

Boyo,

You've been gone since Wednesday. Since then, I've worn your t-shirt to fall asleep in at night. I've broken the only Gross Brother's mini cup in the world. I've dined in and watched movies and ate pizza with a Sofie. I've walked the streets of Adams without you by my side and marveled at the simplicity of alone-ness. 

The kitchen was cleaned, work was done, and laundry put away. The days have been long and the nights, restless. The neighbor's music bumping the walls when before it was unheard. Dogs barking and no cat's to call Friend stopped by.

The record has stopped spinning here and Pillows need a Conversation. When you get back, my world will be righted.
I will make you coffee and biscotti, kiss your earlobe, face, neck, and run my fingers through your hair. You will fill my lungs and laugh at my clumsiness as I almost poke your eye or fall off balance and into your knees. 

You'll knock out my legs with a press on my shoulders and have to hold me up slightly. One of these days, I'll jump on your back (, but call me a midget because I'll need a boost). We'll spin until we lose our glasses and fall misshapenly onto the floor.

Our love may be jutting out at odd angles, but it's ours and it's the one I love best.

Miss you, Boyo, but I'll be seeing you soon!

Love, Love love!

Girlie

Internal conflicts of a forward dreaming mind

With the teasingly warm days interspersed with these annoyingly cold ones, it's like dating the invisible man. Why won't summer come and put away these winter coats?

Today was a snuggle under the covers and tax your brain kind of day. As you may or may not have noticed, the blog is a lot simpler. The theme has changed and now it actually matches our website, a bit! (And there is a link to it.) The website, meh, is still incomplete as of today, but soon, lovelies, soon it will be complete! Mwahaha-err*cough*erherm...

With all of that working it's magic on my little known coding brain, I've been tossing around the idea of doing a Groupon (or something) to get the ball rolling. Not to say that is isn't already! We're starting to get requests more and more often! I'm excited my the number of inquiries! My hesitation for the Groupon? Well, besides selling 500+ (as another photographer just did yesterday!), I ran one at my restaurant and, well, the people who bought the coupon were 70% Awful! Only 25% ranked Normal and a lousy 5% were Good or Better!

My grading scale must be confusing. For a restaurant? How am I grading them? Level of complaints, difficulty dealing with complaints/person, person trying to wiggle extra coupons out of you and getting angry when you don't give it, tips, listening/attention skills, and finally, personality/kindness levels.

Kind of hesitant? Maybe. I have a lot of friends who buy Groupons or Livingsocials and some are tough characters, but none would be disrespectful. Heck, I buy them, too! I don't know. It sounds like a great way to jumpstart the networking and open up opportunities with people whom we may not have had the chance to meet with otherwise! It's a big deal! (Ka-dun-cha!)

There's a lot to do before then, I know, but gah! Internal conflicts of a forward dreaming mind, indeed! What say you, lovlies? Would you be Game?