Let's go a little country this week for the first Tunes Tuesday of 2012. According to NPR, Lindi Ortega is "Canada's answer to Dolly Parton." That's not a question that I expected Canada to answer.
December Hiking at Strickler Knob
Before Christmas, Joe organized a little hiking expedition to the Shenandoah, near Luray Caverns.
We hiked a nine-mile roundtrip trail to Strickler Knob, which boasted some pretty amazing views. I didn't capture any here, because I was too scared to get to close to the edge. I don't like heights at all.
It was a beautiful trail, with a couple river crossings. I did OK, except that I have a knack for managing to trip when the ground is perfectly level. It must be exciting to walk behind me on the trail, as I'm turning my ankle and recovering every 10 minutes.
The last mile was all uphill, just an absolute slog. I really thought I wouldn't be able to do it. I started feeling faint and then I tried to breathe and I could only take short little breaths. That's the closest I've ever been to a panic attack. I can see why people check themselves into the ER for panic attacks. I eventually made it back to the car, after much struggle. We said we earned our hamburger dinners at Burger Brothers after that.
Joe surveys the scene.
Here's the rock scramble at the end of the trail.
Alex M., Channing and Alex C. climbed up on that perch. They are crazy! I was so worried they would fall.
Look at pro-rock climber Alex M. jumping between those rocks. Don't try this at home, kids.
New Headboard: To Be or Not To Be?
Ever since I moved into my new place, I've had my eye on this Scroll Headboard from West Elm. I've never had a headboard before. In my last bedroom, I put the bed in front of two bookshelves and books occasionally fell on my head.
But no more, if I had the Scroll Headboard. It looks suitably imposing/princess-y, which apparently is a look I'm going for.
While Christmas shopping at Tysons, I saw that the headboard happened to be on sale for 25% off, which is the best deal I'd ever seen in my year of careful monitoring. So when I was supposed to be shopping for others, I dropped $300 on myself. Plus they had it in stock, so I wouldn't have to pay to get it delivered. Even more savings. They said it would fit in a minivan, no problem.
I made my dad drive me in the minivan to Tysons during the thick of Christmas shopping, which is a kamikaze mission. Of course I bought this thing during one of the most painful times to go to the mall.
And unfortunately for both of us, it turned out the headboard wouldn't fit in the minivan. The stock guy wouldn't even try. It is gigantic. Much more so than I accounted for in my initial impulsive shopping. Which made me wonder, will it even fit up the stairs in my apartment?
My boxframe for the full bed fit up the stairs, but it was a struggle. If the box frame fit up the stairs, then a 5.5 ft x 4.5 ft headboard will be able to as well? My fear is that I will manage to drag it home and then it will get stuck on the stairs.
So my options are as follows. I can:
a.) Convince my dad to take the seats out of the minivan, which will involve much grumbling and be painful for all involved.
b.) Pay $120 to get it shipped, but that is almost half of the price of the whole thing. But it would be less of a hassle.
c.) Rent a UHaul, which would be a huge hassle.
d.) Return the dang thing and wash your hands of all of it. Maybe it wasn't meant to be. And plus I will be dragging it around forever.
Right now it is sitting in a stockroom, awaiting my next move. I'd like to outsource this decision. I really want it, but is it worth all the hassle? What do you think I should do?
Tunes Tuesday, "Piledriver Waltz," Alex Turner
Some people might grow out of angsty teen movies, but I'm not in that camp. If you're like me and love a good "quirky sensitive outsider teen against the world" flick, put Submarine on your Netflix queue. An easy description of Submarine is the British Rushmore, but that's unfair. It's artfully done, with some beautiful scenes that will stick with you. And the main character is deeply likable, even when he's doing unlikeable things, like conducting "routine searches" of his parents' bedroom, or contemplating killing his girlfriend's dog to prepare her for the possible death of a parent. He means well, even in the most disastrously misguided of his decisions.
And I knew I had to love the film when I realized the soundtrack is by Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys. He could forget the whole rock thing and just write these sorts of ballads, and that would make me happy. I love the way he turns a phrase - "If you're going to try and walk on water, make sure you wear your comfortable shoes."
People Magazine Superfan
People magazine is one of the highlights of my week. Is that pathetic to say? It's pure escapism, but with much more intellectual heft than say, an US Weekly. It's just well done and always has been. I remember wanting a subscription so badly growing up, but it was extravagant. I would linger at the dentist to read all the articles. Finally my mom gave in and got a subscription, "for Adele," she said. Funny how she's continued renewing ever since I moved out. Her pop culture knowledge has skyrocketed. My dad, however, lives on another planet when it comes to celebrities. I would pull out a People magazine and point to various stars and ask my dad who they were. "And this is?" I'd ask, pointing to Jennifer Lopez's fox fur-eyelash adorned headshot. "No clue," my dad would say. Brangelina, Bennifer 2.0, Reese, he was in the dark on all of them. It was fantastically amusing, like talking to an alien.
One guy I went out with could barely contain his disdain when he saw a copy of People on my coffee table. "You subscribe to People?" he said with a sneer. My indie cred had just nosedived. "Yes, I subscribe to People," I said. "I love People." I do. I'm not ashamed.
Apparently Joe does too. A few weeks ago, he picked up a copy and read it cover to cover, focusing especially on the "Bachelorette-where-did-the-love-go-wrong" article.
Yesterday he asked if I got a People this week. "You're not going to believe this," I said. "I donated it to my boss's care package for her surgery next week. Without even reading it myself first. Have you ever heard of anything so selfless??"
"People magazines are a dime a dozen in a hospital setting," said Joe, as he threw up his arms. His eyes glowed with an anger that seemed almost primal.
OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a tad bit... But just barely. It made me laugh though. I asked him if I could write about this conversation on my blog.
"I probably seem like a sociopath on your blog. Maybe I seem like a sociopath in real life," he said.
Perhaps so, but at least he's giving me plenty of material.
One guy I went out with could barely contain his disdain when he saw a copy of People on my coffee table. "You subscribe to People?" he said with a sneer. My indie cred had just nosedived. "Yes, I subscribe to People," I said. "I love People." I do. I'm not ashamed.
Apparently Joe does too. A few weeks ago, he picked up a copy and read it cover to cover, focusing especially on the "Bachelorette-where-did-the-love-go-wrong" article.
Yesterday he asked if I got a People this week. "You're not going to believe this," I said. "I donated it to my boss's care package for her surgery next week. Without even reading it myself first. Have you ever heard of anything so selfless??"
"People magazines are a dime a dozen in a hospital setting," said Joe, as he threw up his arms. His eyes glowed with an anger that seemed almost primal.
OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a tad bit... But just barely. It made me laugh though. I asked him if I could write about this conversation on my blog.
"I probably seem like a sociopath on your blog. Maybe I seem like a sociopath in real life," he said.
Perhaps so, but at least he's giving me plenty of material.
Tunes Tuesday "In the Bleak Midwinter," Ed Harcourt
I carried a torch for Ed Harcourt's music in college. I think he should have gotten more recognition Stateside, his songs were so lovely in that singer-songwriter, turn of the new millennium way. The albums I wore out in my Honda Civic's CD player were as follows: "From Every Sphere," "Here Be Monsters," and "Strangers."
I'm writing about Ed today because I saw him listed on this encyclopedic list of Christmas songs from indie/alternative bands, and I had to check it out. Merry Christmas if you celebrate! Hope your week is going well so far, I for one can't wait till Sunday.
