Earworm

I like the song Earthbound by Rodney Crowell a whole lot, mostly because it includes a nice list at the end, and I really like lists. Since last night, it has been stuck in my head, along with the word 'epidemiological' from a book I'm reading (Three Junes by Julia Glass, if you must know). It goes something like this:

I could shed my skin and in the blink of an eye (epidemiological) I could fly fly fly (epidemiological)
Tie my dreams up in a sack Lay my head down on the track (epidemiological) and die die die (epidemiological)
My life's been so sweet I just can't stand it (epidemiological)
I must admit I've made out like a bandit (epidemiological)

Last night's conversation with a real good friend of mine (epidemiological) drinkin wine
wine wine (epidemiological)
Said fifty years of livin and your worst mistakes forgiven (epidemiological) takes time
time time (epidemiological)
One man's lust for life brings world reknown (epidemiological)
Next guy can't get two feet off the ground (epidemiological)......earthbound

Earthbound....hear the wind through the tops of the trees (epidemiological)
Earthbound....summer sun nearly ninety degrees (epidemiological)
Earthbound....big ol' moon sinking down...... (epidemiological) think I might stick
around
EARTHBOUND

I knew love once way back when she had almond eyes and olive skin (epidemiological)
And long black hair (epidemiological)
She was Irish Spanish mixbreed I was southeast Texas hayseed (epidemiological)
We were almost there (epidemiological)
Her daddy didn't like my kind around (epidemiological)
True love took the next train out of town (epidemiological) ......earthbound

Earthbound....where there's fathers and daughters in pain (epidemiological)
Earthbound....mama's boy walking home in the rain (epidemiological)
Earthbound....like a ship run aground (epidemiological) I think I might stick around
EARTHBOUND (epidemiological)

With each new day that passes I'm in need of thicker glasses (epidemiological) but it's
all OK (epidemiological)
Someday I'll be leaving but I just can't help believing that it's (epidemiological) not
today
Every golden moment I have found (epidemiological)
I've done my best to run right in the ground (epidemiological).....earthbound

Earthbound....see the sky big and beautiful blue (epidemiological)
Earthbound....fallen angels are talkin' to you (epidemiological)
Earthbound....keepin' close to the ground (epidemiological) think I might stick around
EARTHBOUND
(epidemiological)

Earthbound....Tom Waits, Aretha Franklin, Mary Karr (epidemiological)
Earthbound....Walter Cronkite, Seamus Heaney, Ringo Starr (epidemiological)
Dalai Lama, Charlie Brown think I might stick around (epidemiological)
Earthbound (epidemiological)

Funny

Wierd Fortune Cookie Collection

Petals

On Beauty

Last year, when our new store opened, there was a wall of orchids in the stairwell. I wanted one, and many people around me bought them, but I kept waiting for the perfect one and never found it. Then they went out of season. They just put them out again for spring, and as I was on my way to find some fig newtons this morning (WFM store brand is highly recommended, btw), my orchid found me. It was sitting slightly apart from the others, and instead of being pink or white or yellow, was a beautiful cream color, with purple veins. Also, it had two bug clips instead of just one and six blossoms, and I do everything in even numbers only.

Oh yeah, the title just reminded me that I read a book called On Beauty not too long ago. It's a retelling of Howard's End, set in a contemporary (imaginary) Ivy League school. The plot doesn't always translate well, but the writing itself is beautiful and hilarious. I highly recommend.

1000 Pages of Dickens

So finally, my long awaited (ha!) review of Bleak House:

Actually, I really don't have too much to say. If you enjoy Dickens, you'll enjoy this book. If you don't, you won't. As always, the minor characters were the most enjoyable: the Bagnet family were my favorites, with Mrs. Pardiggle, the Smallweeds, and Caddy Jellyby coming in close behind. I loved the absurdity of a character actually spotaneously combusting. Every plot twist can be seen miles ahead of time, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. In fact, it allowed me to focus more on the hints and foreshadowing that preceded each revelation.

I heard there was a TV movie being made with that X-Files woman as Lady Dedlock. Anyone know anything about this? When it's coming out? Is it BBC? A&E? Did I already miss it? When is it available on DVD? Why am I so lazy that I don't just look this up myself? I know B is anxiously looking forward to watching yet another TV miniseries based on a classic British novel.

p.s. for some reason, the blogger spellcheck insists that I should replace 'foreshadowing' with 'presidential'

Sign

Seen on the El Arroyo billboard on 5th:

Come try our ricin beans

Neurosis (Cont.)

A list of things my 85-lb dog, Monster, is not deathly afraid of:

Food
My bed
Chew toys (most)
Hair dryers

Neurosis

A partial list of things my 85-lb dog, Monster, is deathly afraid of:

Ironing boards
Vacuum cleaners
Pool noodles
Loud doors
Cardboard boxes
Dishwashers
Ladders
Hot tubs
Men on unicycles
Water bottles
Garbage bags
Garages
Groomers
My MIL's shitzus
Manhole covers
Cars
Scissors
Hair brushes
The swans at Town Lake

Ha!

From Overheard in New York

Woman on cell: Jesus Christ, this is like Russia in the 19th century only instead of toilet paper and soap, people are lined up to buy brie and pate.

--Whole Foods, Union Square

Nostalgia

One of my two favorite podcasts, Coverville, is featuring video game covers in the latest episode. Check it out for some serious nostalgia - my thumbs started twitching after a while.

And I guess, while I'm on the subject of podcasts, I should recommend my other favorite too. Coverville and The Sounds in My Head are the only two podcasts I have consistently listened to since I discovered podcasting a little over a year ago. Both are amazing and have introduced me to new music, and I have developed a huge internet-crush on Brian Ibbott.