Current Favorites

1. Oasis- Round Are Way
2. Hard-Fi- Cash Machine
3. New Order- Perfect Kiss
4. Sir Tom Jones- You Can Leave Your Hat On

Oh, who am I kidding? So much for not repeating myself....

5. Stone Roses- Mersey Paradise
6. The Jam- Saturday's Kids
7. Green Day- American Idiot
8. The Libertines- Can't Stand Me Now
9. Joy Division- She's Lost Control
10. Gorillaz- D.A.R.E.

So funny

Earlier, I gave mad props to Sienna Miller for apparently shagging the New Bond to get back at her nanny-rogering fiance, Jude Law. I now have a new woman to respect. Well, a little bit, as she doesn't seem to be a great example of humanity, having worked for Tom DeLay and all.

Nothing says revenge like going to the FBI on your ex-fiance who dumped you for a manicurist.

Songs Of the Week

1. Primal Scream- Rocks
2. Oasis- The Importance of Being Idle
3. New Order- Krafty
4. Sugababes- Ugly
5. Stevie Wonder- Isn't She Lovely?
6. Ms. Aretha Franklin- Bridge Over Troubled Water
7. Paul Weller- Peacock Suit
8. Neil Young- F&^%ing Up
9. Stone Roses- Shoot You Down
10. The Rolling Stones- Gimme Shelter

Resolutions

In a town in Iowa, a long time ago, a young man named "Opie," declared upon the dawn of the new year, the next 365 days were going to be "The Year of the Opie." And indeed, it was. Boyfriend got busier with more (and cuter) girls than could have been reasonably expected in anyone's wildest dreams, and generally had a fantastic year. Boyfriend hit it with about a quarter of the female population of Ames. And so the trend began.

2005 was declared the "Year of the Casey." And, as it was said, it was. Girlfriend got into grad school, moved to a posh suburb of Chi-town, got a great job, and is now dating a dentist that likes karaoke (she does, too), and graduated from Harvard. In Massachusetts. Yes, that one.

As 2006 has been declared "The Year of the Jenny" by many friends, I have made the following resolutions for the next 364 days..... I will:

1. Get into grad school
2. Get a great job
3. Write something professionally
4. Get my sorry butt into shape
5. Move to my spiritual home, the United Kingdom. Probably Manchester, as I am completely obsessed with bands from that city. Joy Division/New Order, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Oasis, et al....
6. Meet Noel Gallagher, who will instantly leave his girlfriend, marry me, and ensconce me into the life that I would very much like to become accustomed to, and raise loud-mouthed children (ours) together, whilst becoming a fashion icon and renowned wit. Marianne Faithfull, though without the heroin. Anita Pallenburg, again, without the heroin. And I'd be married to the funniest man in the world. Seriously, read an interview with the man. He's hysterical.
7. Tell my snooty twit of a sister to get bent. Eight ways from Sunday. And she will.

Just thought I'd let you know, what is about to happen. Power of positive thinking and all that.

Unjust

I cannot, for love nor money, acertain why The Stone Roses never broke in the US. (Obviously, am watching my Roses DVD I got for Christmas while writing this).

I realize, of course, that Ian's voice, wavers, shall we say. But the stage presence he has, unfreakingbelieveable. At the Blackpool concert, for the love of God, the man comes out playing with a damn yo-yo. John Squire is one of my favorite guitar players, despite his serious wah-wah pedal issues (Sounds good, just a lot). Reni should be on everyone's lists of best drummers ever. Big sound, 3-piece kit. No room for debate. And my favorite, Mani. Best bassist ever. Seriously. Doesn't do the wanking bass work (Les Claypool, I'm talking to you), is very subtle, but makes the music move along, groove along if you will.

The Roses never breaking here is just another example, of why American taste in music, in my humble opinion, tends to do the impossible, and both suck and blow at the same time.

Songs Obsessively Listened To This Week

1. The Jam- Saturday's Kids
2. Sugababes- Ugly
3. New Order- Temptation
4. Stone Roses- Mersey Paradise
5. Basement Jaxx feat. Dizzee Rascal- Lucky Star
6. Kayne West- Touch the Sky
7. Artic Monkeys- Bet You Look Good On the Dance Floor
8. Paul Weller- Instant Karma!
9. Damian "Gong" Marley- Welcome to Jam Rock
10. Oasis- The Masterplan

Grief

When it all comes down, I think, barring major international incidents, that one of the most traumatic things in my life (so far), happened tonight.

My paternal grandmother had been suffering from various Alzheimers/dementia-related ailments for years now. This morning, things took a turn for the worse.

Mom and Dad went over to the nursing home several times today. My poor Dad, who is too soft-hearted to go deer hunting, sat with my other soft-hearted uncles watching Grandma pass to the next world all day. Mom called and asked me to go down to keep Grandpa company after work.

After finishing up at the flowershop, I ran to the grocery store to get Grandpa something to eat. As he is 90, and doesn't give a damn about cholesterol, I got him fried chicken and Old Style Light- beer, nectar of the Gods and the Chicago Cubs- for supper.

Along with one of my cousins, we sat with Grandpa, knowing that as it was 8:30 at night, and we hadn't heard anything, no good news would be along shortly. We looked at old pictures- my Dad and his siblings had a pet duck and squirrel, named "Duck" and "Squirrel," natch- and listened to Grandpa talk about WWII, and how he was terrified of Crocodiles when he was stationed in Australia.

Periodically, Grandpa would say, "I guess that Mom has taken a turn for the worse." I didn't know what to say. I thought, the grandma that taught me to sew, embroider, and about flowers is dying in a god-forsaken nursing home, having not recognized anyone who loves her for the past 3 years. She is surrounded by her children, yet, they might as well be workers, because she knows them not. Her husband of 60+ years sits in their home, wringing his hands, because he's too fragile to watch the transition. Again, I didn't know what to say.

As I sit here, drying my tears, I know, intellectually, that my grandma is better off, wherever people go when they leave this plane of existence. I know this, in my mind.

But what I weep for is that she never got to know her great-grandchildren, see most of her grandchildren married, graduate from college, etc.... That the last time that Grandpa saw her, she didn't know who he was, her husband that she sent off to war, pregnant with their first child. Her husband that she raised four children with. Her husband that stood with her when their little boy died of SIDS.

I wish, that somehow, the last time I saw my Grandma, before the disease took hold, I could remember that I told her that I loved her. I'm sure that I did, but still....And that, somehow, in the depths of her illness, that she remembered that. Even now.

What Miles Davis said

Impossibly cute

So much adorableness. Cuteness. Fluffiness. Any place that has 16 Panda cubs is the "Happiest Place on Earth." Get bent, Disney.

Weekly Top Ten

Songs I've listened to more than a bajillion times this week:

1. This Is the One- The Stone Roses
2. Transmission- Joy Division
3. Trouble With Love Is- Kelly Clarkson
4. Thick As Thieves- The Jam
5. All the King's Horses- Joss Stone
6. Red Dress- Sugababes
7. Let There Be Love- Oasis
8. Landslide- Fleetwood Mac
9. Let's Groove- Earth, Wind & Fire
10. Caught Up- Madonna

Where's a wizard when a girl needs one?

http://www.slate.com/id/2131640/?nav=tap3
Link
I have to tell you, I don't listen to the radio much. Cuts into my obsessive listening to CD's by Brit bands that I think about entirely too much and way too often.

That being said, when I was flipping thru the channels today- it snowed 5-6 inches here, and I wanted to hear road conditions- I heard this song. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I can't begin to describe the stupid.

I was more appalled by this song, than I was by the country song where the prisoner's wife pimps out their dog (to distract the guard dog), so said prisoner can break out of aforementioned jail.

Hee. Imagine my joy when I found out I wasn't the only one who felt this way.

First of all, I couldn't figure out what the f&*% they were talking about. Then, I thought it was an unholy remake of "The Humpty Dance." Oh yeah, betcha hadn't thought about the Digital Underground in a while. God, I just name-checked Digital Underground.

Man, I wish some of the crap in the Harry Potter books were real, because I could use a good Obliviate right now. Get that damn idiot song out of my grey matter.

What the hell?

http://www.hellomagazine.com/music/2005/12/07/billboardawards/
Link

I have to admit, Gwen Stefani isn't exactly my cup of tea, style-wise. Bit too rip-offy of your average teenager. I worship the stylistic ground (though obviously not some of the personal choices of the following) that my girls, Kate Moss, Carine Roitfeld (editor of French Vogue), and Sienna Miller, walk on. But I digress.

That being said, I like the dress that Gwen has on, but what in the name of All That Is Holy is on her head? Was she going for Rita Hayworth, had a brain spasm, and got Gilda confused with Carmen Freaking Miranda?

Honestly, you can't make this crap up

Link
Rep. Jeff Miller, R-FLA, official Bonehead of the day.

"Not a single person was marched into a gas chamber and killed," Miller told the survivors.

No freaking crap. What a moron.

More Manchester worship

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/christmas/s/189/189672_top_ten_gigs_of_2005.html
Link

Killer.

Oh, but for the grace of God

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1659316,00.html
Link

Had I not grown up in a rural area, with strict parents, this so could have been me (only with New Kids On the Block).

Love the Modfather

http://www.nme.com/news/oasis/21631
Link

Weller rules.

Oprah's Favorite Things

I know that it is a sign of my unbelievable shallowness, but I have something on the Big O's list! The Kashwere robe! In Iris!

Idiots

Okay, so I'm supposed to "wait for the bling." What if there is no "bling?" Will cash suffice? Uhhh, wait, let me rephrase that...

Dubious honor

Each year, the Literary Review (UK) awards authors with particularly awful naughty scenes, their "Bad Sex in Fiction" award. Sadly, I don't believe that Scooter Libby's book qualified this year.

YAY! It's Happy Goblet of Fire Day!

http://salon.com/ent/movies/review/2005/11/17/potter/
">Link

The only movie review in memory that made me cry. Love Salon. Can hardly wait till 6:30 tomorrow evening, when I see the movie.