Make Good Art.

-Neil Gaiman

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Friends of the Library

Friends of the Library

Truthfully, I didn't know what
I was losing. Common sense
said that despite our love of radio quiz shows,
Jane Austen, and Friends of the Library sales,
the distance between my youthful exuberance
and your graying hair was too far to bridge.
I learned simply to enjoy the sticky July afternoons
where Scrabble games blended to evening rendezvous
and you counted the freckles on my back. On the last day,
when you beat me with "atonement" and later
pronounced the final count, I convinced myself
that I could emerge unscathed. Leaving, that afternoon
you kissed my palm and wished me good luck.
I left the apartment as calm and collected as I could wish.
Convinced that I would be the one without regret.

Life is What Happens

Life is What Happens

Wells Fargo called. The car payment is late. And, speaking of late, so am I and I don't know how to tell you. At the moment, the dog needs to be walked, the repairman couldn't fix the washing machine, and your mother won't get off the phone. I hope that when you come home we can slip off for a walk or a late movie. Although, it's more likely that we'll make some mac and cheese and argue about dishes and who forgot to make the bed this morning. Then, I'll drift to my Hebrew textbooks and half-finished papers. You, to your crossword, the television on in the background. Later, brushing your teeth, you'll hear me adding another blanket cursing the broken, cold radiator. Shivering together under the covers, you'll whisper "Won't it be nice when..." falling asleep before you can finish. I'll kiss your shoulder and wonder if I'm crazy. I love the way things are now.

Monday, June 8, 2009

I miss making mix tapes.

I was a mix-tape master while I was in high school. I made them for friends, my signif, my mother, anyone I knew who had a cassette player got a mix tape from me. I loved the process involved in making a tape—selecting the songs, putting them in just the right order, getting the spacing between them perfect—and then handing the tape over to the person. Most of my tapes had themes, whether it was girl bands, emo-licious, or my brief and ill-advised foray into bands like Slipknot (what was I thinking?), I poured tons of effort into those tapes. I guess making mix cds is similar, but I miss the fuss involved with making a tape.

Somewhat recently my ipod had an impromptu encounter with the washing machine. The score is: Washing Machine: 1, Ipod: 0. As my Pontiac is a 2000, it still has a cassette deck rather than a cd player. I can’t afford a new ipod for myself, so I’ve been investing in tapes found at Saver’s or thrift stores. But I keep thinking about making new mix tapes.

In conjunction with all of this, I’ve noticed that I’ve had a few icky mornings in a row. I haven’t been able to get up and get moving as quickly as I normally do. While talking to Michelle this morning I asked for her five favorite songs to get moving in the morning, particularly on days when you know it’s going to be a long, bad day (i.e., eight hours of class and working half a day). Her list got me to thinking about mix tapes and what I would put on my bad-day commute to work tape. The songs (and their justifications) are as follows (in no particular order).



1. Think: Aretha Franklin
Mother Prosen brought us up on Patsy Cline and Motown. While I love my Patsy Cline records when I’m feeling heartbroken and want to crawl into a bottle of Rye, nothing beats the Aretha when I’m feeling a little low energy and down about life. “Think” is easily one of her most upbeat and self-affirming songs.
Best Lyric:I ain't no psychiatrist/I ain't no doctor with degree/It don't take too much IQ to see what you're doing to me

2. When Doves Cry: Prince
I would have Prince’s babies if the opportunity arose. When an artist can be around for as long as Prince and STILL sell out a concert in eleven minutes, you have to give them props. The Purple Rain album is, I know, one of his most touted. But with definite reason (if I have not already pledged my undying love and devotion to you, presenting me with this album will secure it.) “When Doves Cry” is the song I usually choose for my private dance-parties, a must when I’m trying to get my sea-legs on a bad morning.
Best Lyric: Dig if you will the picture/of you and I engaged in a kiss/the sweat of your body covers me/can you my darlin’/can you picture this?

3. Wagon Wheel: OCMS
One of the fondest memories of my life involves this song, spoons and a cutting board used as percussion, harmonicas, and a pair of guitars. And a tiny kitchen in Grand Marais. And copious amounts of wine. Enough said.
Best lyric: I gotta get a move on before the sun/ I hear my baby callin’ my name/ and I know that she’s the only one/If I die in Raleigh/At least I will die free

4. Take It Easy: The Eagles
If Mother Prosen was going to raise us on weepy country music and classic Motown, Pa was going to raise us on Rock n’Roll. The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, and Bruce Springsteen are all associated with Dad working on cars, cleaning the garage, waxing his old Ford Bronco. A song about a down-on-his-luck gypsy hounded by love-gone-wrong who still wants to be freewheelin’? How can that not be on a bad-day playlist?
Best Lyric: Come on baby/don’t say maybe/I’ve gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me.

5. Criminal: Fiona Apple
Every feminist theologian has a maneater (or womeneater) deep inside. Thank you, Fiona Apple for helping me get in touch with mine. Additionally, this song sounds great with your windows down, cranked way, way up.
Best Lyric: It’s a sad, sad world/when a girl will break a boy/just because she can

6. Poses: Rufus Wainwright
A friend once described dear old Rufus as the “modern day Judy Garland.” While I may not go that far, I love singing along with this particular song. Best belted out as if you are Judy Garland. Particularly at stopped lights in Stearns County.
Best lyric: “I did go from wanting to be someone/now I’m drunk and wearing flip flops on 5th Ave.”

7. Crown: Mason Jennings
Let’s be honest. Some terrible days are perpetrated by love gone awry. Mason Jennings is (in my mind) the uncontested king of love-gone-wrong songs. This is (again, in my opinion) the best of his best break-up songs. Putting a fresh spin on the same old thing (Long-distance relationship, missing someone, alcohol, infidelity) Mason makes my heart explode. And have I mentioned the awesome harmonica?
Best lyric: “I always feared that you’d be true/true to yourself/to the bitter end”

8. Rocket Man: Elton John
I actually have no even moderately compelling reason why I love this song so much. It just pulls me out of the dumps. And I love Elton John.
Best Lyric: And all this science/I don’t understand/it’s just my job/five days a week

9. We Get On: Kate Nash
Oh, Kate Nash. I fell in love with you the first time I heard your Cockney accent on “Foundations.” Song synopsis: Girl meets boy. Girl much to shy to do anything about it. Crushes. Attempts to make a move. Finds boy at party making out with other girl. Girl cries, gets loaded, and locks herself in the bathroom. Keeps crushing despite his involvement with other girl. The end. Combined with a great pop sound, the song manages to talk about heartbreak and still be upbeat.
Best lyric: I don’t ever dream/about you and me/I don’t ever make-up/stuff about us/ that could be classed as insanity/I just think we could get on.

10. First Day of My Life: Bright Eyes
What with all the “done me wrong” songs on this list, I need to have something that reminds me that sometimes, things do work out. Who better to share some cautious optimism than the veritable prince of relationship angst? Cautiously optimistic and heart-wrenchingly sweet, I remember that if Connor Oberst can find something positive in gigantic mess of romantic relationships, I can do it as well.
BONUS: If it’s a particularly bad morning, I’ll watch the video that goes along with the song.
Best lyric: So if you want to be with me/With these things there’s no telling/we’ll just have to wait and see/ But I’d rather be working for a paycheck/then waiting to win the lottery