The Weepies

A few years back (maybe 4?) B & I were wandering thru a Tower Records on a gloomy day. I was feeling rather weepy for no apparent reason when B picked up a CD and laughingly handed it to me.

We had never heard of the band but he bought it anyway.



We ended up loving the CD, especially me and now when I listen to it I think of that time. I think of my little one bedroom apartment in North Hollywood. I think of the late night runs to the local diner. I think of a night that we lost power and lit candles and listened to this album. It brings back sweet memories.

Actually thinking back it wasn't as mellow and romantic as it sounds.

Did I ever mention I'm afraid of the dark? I had been moving furniture at the time the power went out and a mattress was blocking the door. B was in the kitchen making dinner. I yelled for him to come get me... all squished between the furniture. He was laughing.



Me: Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! I can't see! It's so dark! I'm blocked in! Aaaaaahhhhh!
B: Uh, it's ok, I'm right here ~chuckle~ I'm.right.here.

(Did I mention it was a tiny 650 square foot apartment?)

Me: But it's dark! Do we have a lighter?! Matches?! I have candles and no fire!
Me: The mattress, I can't ~breathes heavily~ it's blocking me in! Where are you?!
Me: Its! so! dark!!!!

B: Follow the light of my watch ~chuckle~

Eventually I made it out and once we ran to the store to get more candles it was kinda fun.

There's my random memory for today.

Don't let my spaziness detract from this adorable husband and wife team.


No amount of coffee
No amount of crying
No amount of whiskey
No amount of wine
No, no, no, no, no
Nothing else will do
I've gotta have you, I've gotta have you

Love,
Dandy Spaz

CD Freebie: Sarah McLachlan Wintersong

Have I told you how much I love Christmas music? I really do.


I respect the right of people to hate it, especially since it starts playing sometime around Halloween. But for me hearing Christmas music makes me giddy, I clap my hands and sigh and sing along and dance in the living room and giggle and so much more ridiculousness.

This year Christmas is starting early! Its a flurry of events around here and we wanted to be prepared. My mom started decorating this weekend. While she has been decorating the house I've been turning it into a disaster area with my baking.

I can't do Christmas baking without Christmas music. I just can't. So, I've broken out the holiday CDs.


This is not your typical Christmas CD but its a very pretty wintery sort of sound.



Anyhow, I have the Sarah McLachlan Wintersong CD. I've put it on my ipod, put it on my mom's ipod and backed up my ipod library and now I can send it on its way.


So listen to the songs here as they are on the CD and if you want it let me know.




I would be more than happy to send it out to the first person to respond with a Yes, please send it to me... or a Absolutley I would love it.... or a I can't wait to give that to my boyfriend because he has been dying for Sarah McLachlan Wintersong...




If its not your cup of tea don't worry about passing it up!

A Fine Frenzy

I don't buy CDs quite as often as I used to. Ever since iTunes started carrying a larger selection its often cheaper to get an album there. I do buy the CD if B and I both want it or if its cheaper at Amoeba than iTunes.

What to do with the CD then? I'm really trying not to add to our already immense CD collection. So... I thought I might just pass them on to you!

I'll put up a few samples of songs featured on the CD I have and the first person who says that they want the CD can have it. I'll mail it to you... if you don't mind 2nd hand CDs. Actually, it'll be more than second hand because I'm buying them used.




A while back I posted a video of Priscilla Ahn singing Dream and Jana told me to check out A Fine Frenzy. Thank you Jana, I love discovering new music!




There is your little taste of A Fine Frenzy, its their first album called One Cell
In The Sea.

If you want it, let me know!

Concert in the Park- Pacific Symphony

B and I spent Sunday evening at Pittsford Park. Every year they do a concert series here. We've only actually ever made it to the last, most grand concert. It is part of the Target Symphony in the Cities series which features none other than the Pacific Symphony.

Did everyone notice the full grown man sitting behind his gimongous dog? The dog was huge. Huge and slobbery.



Back to the concert. The fun actually starts around 5:30 when they have music related arts and crafts. I saw some fantastic handcrafted tambourines.

The gentleman in the middle is Carl St. Clair, the music director for the symphony. Here he teaches eager pupils the art of conducting.



Most of my pictures looked more like a movie about child zombies. I did catch a smile on this young man. He was focused and soaked up everything Mr. St. Clair said.



St. Clair is a fantastic teacher, in that eccentric music teacher kind of way. He made funny faces and large movements. He is celebrating his 20th year as the director and you can see in every gesture that his passion is as strong as ever.

If you are in the area and interested in seeing the Pacific Symphony try and make it to their Music For The Cure event benefiting the Susan G. Komen foundation.



These 2 sweeties were fading fast and nearly poked their daddy's eye out several times. Of course, I just stood and took pictures.

The little boy on the right was a ball of energy with the cutest little mohawk. His parents were equally adorable.



B and I had ridden our bikes down to the park. We found a nice spot on a hill to sit and relax as the Symphony took their places. It was very pretty sitting there under the trees.

Thats the stage to the right. My stage pictures were really craptastic but you get the idea.



These two were so adorable. Whenever she would drop her hand he would shift to be touching her again. I can't wait to adopt a dog someday. Someday when I grow up.



Oh my, is there anything more fun than children dancing? Dance, dance. Dance, dance. They were so into the music. I think songs from the King & I were playing at this point.



Not the boys though. They were too busy rolling down the hills and crashing into each other. It always helps if you have a good friend to give you that kick start.



You didn't think we would make it through an outing without eating something did you? Well, I wasn't going to but I had to support the local boy scout troop.

I only had a lick. OK maybe like 10 licks. But that was it. How many Weight Watcher points are 10 licks of soft serve?

~soft serve pictures provided by B, he did a great job!~



The music was beautiful. There is nothing like hearing music live.

We stayed and listened as the sun set behind the trees.

When was the last time you saw a concert or performance? Who did you see?

A little mellow on a busy day

Hello lovelies, doing a lot of running around today (like trying on my wedding dress for my first alterations consultation!). I also wanted to thank those who helped me format my blog so I could fit my pictures on here, I'm new to this whole blog thing and you are all very patient.

I found myself wishing for a day to do nothing but mellow out. So, I thought I'd share some mood mellowing videos with you.

This one I found on Loobylu's site. B and I are great fans of aquariums and this one is just amazing. I find it incredibly calming. I agree with Loobylu that the best way to watch this is to do the full screen version. (Just click on the icon in the bottom right hand corner next to vimeo- the one that looks like 4 arrows pointing to the corners)

Kuroshio Sea - 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world - (song is Please don't go by Barcelona) from Jon Rawlinson on Vimeo.
I love being able to see the people observing the aquarium. The videographer has an interesting website, his name is Jon Rawlinson.


This next one is of an artist called Priscilla Ahn. I heard her song in a round about sort of way and it took me a while to find out who she was. It wasn't until I found the videos I realized it was just her and one of those cool recording reverb things. Someone please tell me what that is called.

Priscilla Ahn - "Dream" from Paste Magazine on Vimeo.
I really can't remember the site I was on and it kills me. It was a site for a couple who do professional family videos. This song Dream was playing in the background. I just loved those videos, they had such a cinematic quality about them. I hope someday I'll come across that site again.

Don't you just lovely the quality of the videos on vimeo? If you aren't familiar with vimeo, get on and explore. Its not your youtube, its full of high quality videos and short films.

I'm almost done, I swear. Have I told you how much I love the rain? I've been yearning for a rainy day to cuddle up with a book. This forest may have come straight out of my fantasies.

Forest from JF on Vimeo.

What are you up to today?

Amoeba Music, Hollywood

This is one of B's favorite places. This is Amoeba Music. Do you like music? Any kind of music? Do you like movies? Do you like people watching? Do you like records? Do you need a place to find music you can't get on itunes or in Best Buy? Are you looking for suggestions of music you might like but have not yet heard of? Would you like to enter an independent record store so large it has its own map?

Well then Amoeba is the place for you!


Its hard to take a picture to get a scope of the place. B are you out there? B and I usually split up at the door. I tend to wander and B has already compiled a list of music to search out. I come up here to track him down.


This view is from the balcony of the movie section upstairs. Do you see that stage at the back of the picture? Its very, very tiny. Here B saw Sia and was quite impressed. We've seen her in concert and she has an incredible voice.. she could fill up a venue without a mike. Her recorded music doesn't compare to hearing her live.

Norah Jones played on this stage but we both had to work :(

What you don't see is the other 50% of space... yes this is only half. This is only the rock music.


Amoeba sells music collectibles and music only released over seas or other hard to get things of the music variety. It reminded me that somewhere I have a Michael Jackson doll and a MJ record player from the early 80's. I hope we kept all that stuff.



I love the records. No, I don't have any use for them. But I love them anyway. I feel sophisticated browsing thru the records.



I also love looking at the posters. Oh, if I could go back in time and go to these concerts.



I prefer the listening station in the Jazz room. Its much more quiet than the main one and there are hardly ever any people in this one. Now don't go run and tell all your friends. It'll be our little secret.

The music in Amoeba covers every interest. You can find Country, Christian, African beats, R&B and chanting from a far away monastery.


Have you been searching high and low for the Barbarella sound track? Search no more!

Amoeba also puts out a free booklet called Music We Like in which the Amoeba staff from the 3 stores list... the music they like. You didn't see that coming, did you? This booklet will keep B busy for weeks. He will read it thru and thru spending countless hours listening to the music suggested to find something new.

In about a month I'll ask him to list the new bands I'll like. He knows my taste and I get to skip the searching part.



Check out this poster. Its an original poster featuring The Grateful Dead as one of the bands playing in San francisco. Charge at the door $2.50. This poster is $1000.

Unlike that poster, the prices at Amoeba are fantastic. Majority of the stores inventory is used but guaranteed to play well. I picked up an Etta James CD for $4.99.


There are DVDs galore. Looking at the TV section is like taking a stroll down memory lane. I used to love Bewitched. Does anyone remember the TV show Beauty and the Beast?


The outside of the building is painted in a beautiful mural.

Amoeba is also known for their community outreach, push to be green and relief efforts. The staff and customers are as varied as the music they carry and that is one of the reasons I love it so much.