I spent a lot of time at my new place this weekend, cleaning, running long-packed-away dishes and linens through their respective cleaning machines, getting ideas about how my furniture would fit. All the while, I was listening to Microtrends - I got through the whole thing this weekend.
Truth is, there was nothing new in this book. We all already know that the Latino vote is of growing importance, that men still make more than women, and that we are a sleep-deprived, caffeine-fueled nation.
Having said that, I think this book is probably 6 years old. Maybe some of the trends were new at the time, but unfortunately the whole thing dated rather quickly.
We're switching over to some new systems at work, but we've been a little slow to get going because you have to jump the initial hurdle of getting all the information added, settings set, etc. As horribly inefficient as the old systems might be, at least they're already in place.
This week, I'm making changes. Type, type away.
Recap of Goal #42: I had some success with this one. Now I just need to keep it up and make it a habit.
P!nk is probably best known for her fun, rock-star-style songs, things like "Raise Your Glass" and "So What," which get the most radio play because they're pop culture candy. But she has a surprising number of heavy, often controversial songs which are totally worth a listen (and watch). Check out the following, for the following reasons:
Please Don't Leave Me - an "If I Were a Boy"-esque domestic violence role reversal, with some mental instability thrown in for good measure. Family Portrait - a painful picture of the damage done to kids in a broken family Stupid Girls - a request to girls to stay strong, be ambitious, and not sell out Try - an anthem to not giving up, with a sexual- and domestic-violence themed video (below) Sober - a gritty investigation of identity and the consequences of our choices; I'm still working out the exact details F**kin' Perfect - a reminder that, even if now sucks, things will get better (bonus: video stars Tina Majorino - remember her?).
And after watching all those, I recommend going back and watching some of her fun stuff for a pick-me-up because - sheesh - you'll need it.
Ever wonder 'bout what he's doin',
How it all turned to lies?
Sometimes I think that it's better to never ask why.
Where there is desire there is gonna be a flame,
Where there is a flame someone's bound to get burned,
But just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die,
You gotta get up and try, try, try,
Gotta get up and try, try, try,
You gotta get up and try, try, try.
Funny how the heart can be deceiving,
More than just a couple times.
Why do we fall in love so easy, even when it's not right?
Where there is desire there is gonna be a flame,
Where there is a flame someone's bound to get burned,
But just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die,
You gotta get up and try, try, try,
Gotta get up and try, try, try,
You gotta get up and try, try, try.
Ever worry that it might be ruined?
And does it make you wanna cry?
When you're out there doin' what you're doin', are you just getting by?
Tell me, are you just getting by, by, by?
Where there is desire there is gonna be a flame,
Where there is a flame someone's bound to get burned,
But just because it burns doesn't mean you're gonna die,
You gotta get up and try, try, try,
Gotta get up and try, try, try,
You gotta get up and try, try, try,
Gotta get up and try, try, try,
Gotta get up and try, try, try,
You gotta get up and try, try, try,
Gotta get up and try, try, try.
You gotta get up and try, try, try,
Gotta get up and try, try, try.
Made a wrong turn once or twice,
Dug my way out, blood and fire.
Bad decisions, that's alright,
Welcome to my silly life.
Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood,
Miss, no way it's all good, it didn't slow me down.
Mistaken, always second guessing,
Always second guessing - look, I'm still around.
Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than fuckin' perfect.
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothin', you're fuckin' perfect to me.
You're so mean when you talk
About yourself, you are wrong.
Change the voices in your head,
Make them like you instead.
So complicated, look how we are makin'
Filled with so much hatred, such a tired game.
It's enough, I've done all I can think of,
Chased down all my demons, I've seen you do the same.
Oh, pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than fuckin' perfect.
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothin', you're fuckin' perfect to me.
Spoken:
The whole world's scared so I swallow the fear,
The only thing I should be drinkin' is an ice cold beer.
So cool in line and we try, try, try,
But we try too hard, it's a waste of my time.
Done lookin' for the critics 'cause they're everywhere,
They don't like my jeans, they don't get my hair.
Estrange ourselves, and we do it all the time,
Why do we do that? Why do I do that? Why do I do that?
Yeah! Oh, oh, pretty pretty please.
Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than fuckin' perfect.
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothin', you're fuckin' perfect to me.
Yeah, you're perfect, you're perfect.
Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than fuckin' perfect.
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothin', you are perfect to me.
It's Friday night. Almost Saturday morning. I just got home.
I was cleaning my new apartment.
That's right, I spent my Friday night cleaning. Obviously I'm one of the cool kids. But let's get over that and to the important part of that sentence: I have a new apartment!
Whew, this book has a long name! We'll just call it American City.
If you're in St. Louis, from St. Louis, or St. Louis-adjacent in some way, this is an easy-to-browse coffee table book. Buildings highlighted in the book are in chronological order (and frankly, I could have done without a few of the modern ones). It's fascinating to open the book and see a building you've seen a hundred times before, but appreciate it in a whole new way now that you know some of its history.
Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes is another one of the audiobooks I got from Mom.
I wasn't totally sold by the introduction, but the first chapter (or section? It's hard to tell when you're listening to it on audio) is about relationships, which is a subject of some interest to me at the moment. Hopefully that holds for the rest of the book.
On Friday night, I went to the first of five performances at Powell Hall for which I have already purchased tickets this season.
First up was Beethoven No. 6, aka the Pastoral Symphony. The first movement was a light, evocative piece, and sort of reminded me of a non-winter version of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The second movement was a bit richer and fuller, getting more musical support from the big instruments, and the third was a combination - heavy and strong with soft interludes.
After intermission we heard Ravel's Concerto in G Major, which confused me at first. It wasn't exactly discordant, but certainly wasn't terribly rhythmic either - especially the first and third movements. The whole piece had elements which were reminiscent of jazz and big band swing. At the break I looked at the program and that made perfect sense; it was composed 1929-1931.
Our last piece was Debussy's La Mer, which started out a bit dark. It grew flowery but a tad melancholic as well, like there was a shadow of sadness just below the surface of the music (or the water, as the case may be). Through the end of the movements it gets more lively and jarring, with dramatic shifts in volume and timbre, which I can forgive because of the starring role given to the contrabassoon. (Why do I like the contrabassoon? I don't really know, but why not? It looks cool, it sounds cool, it's fun to say.)
Goal #42: break the habit of immediately jumping on my computer when I get to work.
I know, it will take more than a week to break the habit. But I'd like to at least make an effort.
Here's what happens: I get to work, I put my lunch in the fridge, I sit down, and I check my email. I click on a link, and another link, I check another e-mail address, I read the news, and before I know it, it's lunch time.
This is a bad pattern. As with many resolutions, progress on this front will be hard to measure, but maybe it's Potter Stewart-worthy, "I know it when I see it."
Recap of Goal #41: fabulous! I found several places I like, and I'm putting in an application for one tomorrow! Apparently there are some other people interested in it so I may not get it, but keep your fingers crossed!
I finished up with Water for Elephants - it's a touching tale told in two versions of the
same voice: Jacob Jankowski at 90 (or 93) and at 23. Young Jacob is weathering the Great Depression
in vet school when we meet him, but a family tragedy spells the end of his formal education.
With nothing else to do, he signs on with a traveling circus. He meets
the cast of characters - some of them like him, some of them don't care
for him a bit.
Young Jacob has a few run-ins with the unpredictable
animal trainer August, with who he already has a complicated
relationship by virtue of the fact that Jacob finds himself in love with
August's wife Marlena. August also happens to be his boss. It's a complicated relationship.
Old Jacob tells the story of his
younger self, and interlaces his tale with vignettes illustrating the
sorrow of aging. He doesn't always recognize his family members when
they visit him, and sometimes they don't come when they should. It's
heartbreakingly sad. The bright spots are his moments of excitement - the circus comes to town and he's going to get to go! Even simple things like the days when he can remember his nurse's name. He's a feisty fellow, and entertaining and observant even when things aren't going his way.
On the whole, touching and lovely, covering everything from loyalty to friends (people and animals) to the power of memory to corruption.
Keith Urban is a master of songs about memory of all types. They can be hopeful, like "Making Memories of Us." They can be sad, like "Tonight I Wanna Cry." They can be an I-told-you-so, like "You'll Think of Me." Take your pick - they're all great. Click to watch the videos (with lyrics selected by yours truly).
"I'm gonna be here for you from now on,
This you know somehow;
You've been stretched to the limits but it's alright now....
And I'm gonna love you,
Like nobody loves you,
And I'll earn your trust
Making memories of us."
"Alone in this house again tonight,
I got the TV on, the sound turned down, and a bottle of wine.
There's pictures of you and I on the walls around me,
The way that it was and could've been surrounds me,
I'll never get over you walking away.
I've never been the kind to ever let my feelings show,
And I thought that being strong meant never losing your self control,
But I'm just drunk enough to let go of my pain,
To hell with my pride, let it fall like rain from my eyes,
Tonight I wanna cry."
"Ever since you found yourself in someone else's arms,
I've been tryin' my best to get along,
But that's okay, there's nothing left to say but
Take your records, take your freedom,
Take your memories, I don't need 'em.
Take your space and take your reasons,
But you'll think of me.
Take your cat and leave my sweater,
'Cause we have nothing left to weather.
In fact I'll feel a whole lot better,
But you'll think of me."
I spent a lot of time at my new place this weekend, cleaning, running long-packed-away dishes and linens through their respective cleaning machines, getting ideas about how my furniture would fit. All the while, I was listening to Microtrends - I got through the whole thing this weekend.
