Wherein Tenacious S Realizes That Being OCD Pays Off

As Lulu has recounted, we had a lovely evening a couple of days ago sitting around, saying nothing and listening to records on my new turntable. While there is a turntable in our house (which technically is mine),but after fourteen years of marriage has become community property and lives in Mr. Ten S's office, I really don't use it that often since my records are down in the basement, three floors down. So sitting around with Lulu and playing albums at whim and request was quite a treat for me.

What you need to understand is that my albums are my babies and always have been. I remember getting really frosty when my high school boyfriend upon our breakup suggested that I listen to The Police's "I Can't Stand Losing You." In this song it talks about returning LP's and that they got scratched up in the hands of the borrower. While he was equally OCD, encasing each record in the special anti-static/anti-scratch inner sleeve and every album in a clear plastic outer sleeve, the insinuation that I had scratched a record was just fuel for the breakup fire.

Lulu can vouch for me when I say that my albums are for the most part, aside from cat hair from past kitties being stuck inside every single album I opened, pristine. The covers just as vibrant as day one. The lyric sheets in perfect shape. The vinyl itself with no blemishes visible to the naked eye. While over the years I have been mocked from time to time about my OCD tendencies when it comes to the care and keeping of these albums (they are filed alphabetically and chronologically within each band), I am glad I was a twitchy lightswitch licking freak that obsessed about them. Years later I am the proud owner of a lovely album collection that brings me great joy and pride. And now, I will go take my medication. *twitch*twitch*

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas. Thought I'd spread some of the silly cheer we enjoyed today. For a second year in a row, Santa was very good to me. Those who know me, will know that Santa is a mind reader and knew that I would get tons of enjoyment from this:




I know I'm off school for the next few months, but if I seem absent, you'll know I'm ripping and burning, baby! Finally, my beloved vinyl will be available to me 24/7. Oh, the possibilities! In the car, while I study, at the gym... I'm going digital! Merry Christmas, everyone. I do love you all.

How Much Has Changed?

In 1984, one of my good friends gave us all a copy of this EP (I'll explain on request for those too young to understand) for Christmas. When I look back, this was the year my eyes opened. I saw the world beyond mine. I signed petitions for Amnesty International, I subscribed to the Christian Science Monitor to get news outside our media. I wrote the piece for Africa in our college paper. I knew what was going on. Again, how much has changed? Change the name of the nation. Change the name of the specific issue. How much smarter are we? Merry Christmas to all.

Master Illusionist

Apparently David Blaine is going to attempt to set a world record for sleep deprivation. Ha, ha, sucker! I started first and I'm gonna beat you!

Deer in Headlights Vol. II

Once again I find myself in the unenviable condition of having a large (25 pages) paper due on Friday afternoon and exactly two sentences written. I can't seem to find my way into my writer's mode. I know once the switch flips, I'll word vomit almost ten pages immediately, but I can't seem to make it happen. I predict several sleepless nights this week. This only makes me more happy that I am taking the next quarter off. I just have lost the will to do this for now. I'm so distracted by my life that I can't make school the main focus. And right now, it shouldn't be either. Christmas will have to wait until Friday at 5. That's when I will be released from the prison of grad school for a little vacation. I'm itching to get out, but I have one hell of a roadblock right now. Send good thoughts and any writer's tips if you have any, 'cuz I'm fresh out of inspiration right now.

This One Goes to 11

If I have a fault in life, it's that I don't know how to stop. Thank you, Anandamide, for recogonizing and appreciating my achilles heel, I mean, my finest feature. There's nothing I love more than winning a contest. Well, maybe getting an "A" on my schoolwork, but you get the point.

Two For Tuesday

OK, I'm a bit scattered in general and I kind of forgot I was trying to do a weekly feature. Welcome to my life. This is normal. Anyhow, the idea of this two'fer is supposed to be something old and something new. I'll start with the new.



THE NATIONAL-Slow Show

I think they feel like an old comfortable pair of shoes, a pair that apparently sings and plays lovely music. Yeah. That's it. Anyhow, I haven't had enough time to really absorb them completely, but on first drive-by they remind me of...



NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS-Do You Love Me

Somthing about the atmospheric deperateness in the sound of these two bands. It's retro yet timeless. A heartbreak in slow motion, your breath crystallizing in the air as you walk down the street at night, the loneliness of a big city.