giggle pop

It has been requested that I write more about music and less about sports and animals. While I have no intention of writing less about sports and animals I will make more of an attempt to write about music. One of my favorite artists is Ryan Adams, and it just hit me how amazing of a job he does on cover songs. I am usually not a big fan of cover songs, but he does an absolutely brilliant job when he does one. There are three that come into mind: Down in a Hole (originally Alice in Chains), Wonderwall (originally Oasis), Always on my Mind (originally Willie Nelson).

Down in a Hole

I absolutely love the original version of this song, as well as Alice in Chains in general. But Ryan Adams cover of this song gives me chills. It is a bit of a depressing song, but a beautiful song. There is a lot of pain in it, as to be expected from Alice in Chains, and Ryan does an amazing job at capturing it. The song was on a little EP that came out a few years ago called "Follow the Lights" and I highly recommend. Also has a great version "If I am a Stranger" and a wonderful little song called "My Love for you is Real."

Wonderwall

The original is by Oasis, as everyone and their mother knows. I love the original, and Oasis is also one of my favorite bands, I have listened to them for as long as I can remember. This is another cover that just gives me chills. Ryan's take on it is a bit different, but it is brilliant. The song is on Part 1 of the "Love is Hell" album. I remember this came out when I was living in London many years back, the (2) album(s) really really fit that time in my life. Whenever I hear this cover I think of a particular rainy day in early December wandering around the city a few days before I had to leave. I promised myself one day I would move back, and every time I hear this version of the song it reminds me of that promise.

Always on my Mind

I should start off by saying that I love Willie Nelson, and this is one of my favorite songs ever. I did not think Willie could be done justice in a cover, but once again Ryan nailed it. Sometimes I forget what an amazing love song this is. I don't have much else to say other than check it out! It is on "Jacksonville City Nights" which is one of my favorite Ryan Adams albums.

Apparently there is more than one breed of squirrel, I guess I knew some looked different than others, but I am told some are worse than others. I once saw a flying squirrel, now that was pretty cool. Anyways, there is a cute breed of squirrels who live in my yard, people say they are bad because they chew on houses or something. I always thought they were misunderstood with adorable little ears…until one made things personal. Anyone who knows me, knows I often have battles with animals and/or inanimate objects, and now I have been entirely outsmarted by a squirrel.

We have a few different bird feeders in the yard, and bird feeders can be pretty high tech, especially when you have many who want to eat the bird feed that are not birds i.e. bears, deer, squirrels. One of our bird feeders is especially tricky and I have never figured out how to open it. This bird house/feeder is designed to be super-duper anti-squirrel. It is on top of a long slipper pole, has a slippery roof, and the part you eat out of closes if something heavier than a bird on it. This feeder/house is also anti-giggle pop because it has some weird latch thing to open it that I cannot figure out how to open. Somehow one of the squirrels managed to climb onto the house/feeder, unlatch it and get inside. Now it sits in there eating the bird seed and every once in a while popping his head up and mocking me. I still cannot figure out how he gets in there and I still cannot figure out how to get in there myself.

The crafty squirrel at work...

Here are somethings I was thinking about today that you probably did not want to know.

I hope you got the reference to "The Office" in the header

I am convinced 24 is the most awesome show ever made, and Jack Bauer is the coolest/sexiest man ever. If you have not been watching this season you should, it’s awesome.

Glaze doughnuts and iPhones do not mix.

Do you ever watch those shows about the apocalypse on the History channel? I do. I mean you never know, right? Anyways, I am fascinated when they have the experts on. There is always some guy who knows more than anyone reasonably should about something like the meaning of the third horseman’s hat. It makes me wonder, what event in their life prompted them to become an expert in something completely random. There seems to be turning points in everyone’s lives that lead to an interest in things. Like various events in my life have resulted in me really wanting to stop and eat every time I see a white castle. I just wonder what event in their life led them in the direction to be an expert in apocalyptic prophecy. I also wonder where I can find one of their phone numbers. They seem like a useful friend to have around, you know, if they are right and the world is ending soon.

Do you ever find yourself liking a song you really wish you did not like? Right now I can’t stop listening to Britney Spears “Circus.” Though watching her life is an amusing glimpse in to the crystal ball of the future of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift.

I love watching reruns of the show wife swap on lifetime network. I am also fully aware of all the things wrong with that statement.

I used to feed the animals in my yard because I thought they were cute. I still think they are cute, but in the back of my mind I secretly wonder if I stop feeding them will the try and eat me instead.

Have you ever woke up one day and realized you were living your favorite song whether you wanted to or not. The first time I heard “Tangled Up in Blue,” I could not make sense of it. After a while I began to realize it is simply about life, just walking through it with mix of near inappropriate optimism and wonder and taking note of the small things that make up the big picture. However, my new found fascination with the song stems from something a little bit more literal. “I had a job in the great north woods working as a cook for a spell…so I drifted down to new Orleans…but all the while I was alone, with the past close behind” Just reverse that line, and you pretty much have the last few years of my life. I have spent my whole life living in some sort of city until now, now I live in the frozen woods of northern Minnesota, and it is surprisingly a pretty interesting place. I figure as I enter into this new chapter of my life, I would write my adventures on this internet thing.

I am new to this whole blog thing, but it seems fun, and maybe slightly narcissistic to think people actually want to read it, but hey it gives me something to do. Still deciding what this is all going to be about, but will most likely be a mix of my thoughts on my favorite things bad tv, various sports, philosophy, candy, alcohol, music, and whatever may be wandering through my head on any given day. Basically an attempt at me to attempt to be funny and entertaining. I have some interesting, well at least amusing, topics planned and will try to update a few times a week. I am still working on all of the formatting and stuff so expect this to look nicer and more creative eventually, and any tips or suggestions on formatting is greatly appreciated.

I assume if you are reading this, you probably know me. If you don’t know me then hello new people. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

I think I may add a little thing at the end of each entry called “song of the day/post” or whatever where I will have my favorite song that day and why it is my favorite…

Song of the day: Girls Aloud “Can’t Speak French”
Why: It makes me smile