Ear (and eye) Candy

I'm in Seattle and still recovering from this damn cold. So writing this was meant to cheer me up, and I chose to blend two loves: boys and music. ;)

I've never really dated a musician, and have never particularly been attracted to guys for their musical abilities (though it's a nice cherry on top), but there are a few musicians I've seen live that are just damn sexy when doing their thing on stage. Here's a sample:

Britt Daniel - He may be a hipster and a player who's too cool for Austin, but the man has perfected his foot stompin and ass shakin moves. There was a day when I would go see Spoon live almost every time they played, but these days they play large, expensive venues and I am content to just recall past memories of Britt's sexy stage charisma and jam to their CDs.



Munaf Rayani - Unfortunately I've only seen Explosions in the Sky play live once, and though I was half dead from exhaustion, I was mesmerized. These four guys are absolutely amazing musicians. And there is something undeniably attractive about the way Munaf sways (and thrashes) with his guitar. I could watch for hours. (He's the one on the far right of the stage in the video - it's long but SO worth it)



Gary Clark, Jr. - Those who've seen live shows with me know that I am a sucker for the harmonica, and Gary Clark, Jr. plays it oh so well. Any musician who can successfully juggle vocals, harmonica, and guitar alone on stage commands my respect, and this one happens to be easy on the eyes as well.

Gary Clark, Jr. - Unknown song

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So there you have it. Now, don't think I see live shows simply for the eye candy, cause that's hardly the case. I am happy and eager to see any good live show, whether it's Pinetop Perkins, Daniel Johnston, or someone who could give Johnny Depp a run for his money. The fact that some shows provide a little added bonus just makes the deal even sweeter. And make for a fun blog post.

My revived interest in sci-fi/fantasy novels

Other than the Harry Potter series, I haven't read sci-fi since middle school. Does everyone go through a sci-fi phase at that age? It seemed to me that section of the bookstore was always full of shy, bookworm teens like myself back then.

But after I read the last Harry Potter book and was jonesin for some more page-turning fiction, a friend turned me on to George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series.

This is by far the best sci-fi/fantasy series I have ever read (and no, I haven't read them all). And I am somewhat resentful that it is even included in that genre, which is kept separate from all other fiction in most bookstores. I'm not sure if this segregation implies inferiority, but if it does, Martin's books certainly don't belong in any inferior section.

My favorite thing about the series is that no character is entirely pure and lovable. Which is a good thing, since most characters, important or not, could be killed off in any paragraph. But each character is uniquely dynamic.

And I continue to be amazed at the complete unpredictability of the plot! I have found myself rereading pages, just to make sure that I was actually reading the words correctly. "No shit! He really did kill her off!" is a common exclamation when I read these books.

Sadly, I have just started the last published book in the series. I will try my damnedest to read it slowly in the hopes that the last book will be published soon after I finish this one. As you all know, I am not a patient person.

Hacking up a lung

Ugh, I hate being sick! Especially with a cold, like I have now. I was out Christmas shopping and half the store turned to look at me in pity when I went into a fit of coughing. It's bad enough that I feel and look awful, but now everyone has to stare at me! Not fair. So no more Christmas shopping for me until I feel normal again.

On a happier note, here's a neat link that Jon sent me: www.beerandturkey.org. The BA will make all our holidays better with their thoughtful suggestions of the perfect beer and food pairings. :)

Introductions

That's right, citags! I've got myself a "real" blog now. :) And as some of you have come to expect from my myspace blog, here you will find strange and sometimes humorous ramblings on topics such as music, beer, books, Austin, cooperatives, boys, traveling, and all sorts of other random crap that I choose to write about.
So, welcome!

I thought I would start by pulling from an old, old myspace blog post that makes for a lovely introduction of yours truly.

Some random facts about me:

Until I was five, my last name was Haffelder.

I've been to 16 states in the U.S. and 10 countries.

I had heart surgery at 18 mos to repair a hole in the wall of my heart.

My mother and I have a matching birthmark on each leg.

I think everyone should read War with the Newts by Karel Capek.

I want to learn to play disc golf.

I have moved every year since 2000.

The only biological relative I've ever met is my mother.

My bookshelves have more Czech literature than anything else (13 books to be exact).

My pinkie fingers are abnormally short.

I have read the entire Bible.

And here are a few of the things that fascinate me:

Clouds - I could watch them move and change shape for hours on a windy day.

The silent, almost inperceptible communication that takes place between two people who understand one another, no matter how long they've actually known each other.

Quotes - I am a collector of quotes and have been doing so since my grandpa got me a Reader's Digest subscription when I was 13 or so. Quotable Quotes was my favorite page!

The way pets know when you are sad or sick and are suddenly much more interested in giving you attention.

Everything about cities and how they work, how they change over time, why they attract certain types of people, and become breeding grounds for specific industries.

The image and connotation of Texas/Texans around the world.

Beer :)