It's that Time of Year Again...

Ugh.  Things I can be sure of this time of year: I will be swimming in a post Christmas funk, semi-dreading the end of another year in which I accomplished nothing spectacular and sweating the fact that I will soon be turning another year older.  Why oh why must it be this way?  I begin questioning all the decisions I've made in my life and wondering why, every year at this time, I seem to always feel the same way.  It's like I've spent the entire year walking a long lap only to end right where I began.  Oh sure there are a few changes.  I notice a few more wrinkles, pluck a couple gray hairs, and watch as my son grows faster than a sea monkey.  I can rarely find any accomplishments to take comfort in and the year begins covered in a sheet of melancholy (and snow). 

At the onset of my end of the year crisis, I always reach for the same book.  Whether I read it cover to cover or the occasional chapter or three, it has become an essential item to jumpstart the force that drives me.  Although it is listed under "Self-Help", an area of the book store I don't often frequent for fear someone I know may see me, it is not your ordinary self-help book (yes I have read one or two).  When I think of the term self-help, I think of the SNL character Stuart Smalley sitting in front of his mirror, telling his reflection "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me".  Daily affirmations have never worked for me, mostly because I find someway to discredit them.  That is the way my brain works.  Apparently it likes to play devil's advocate with itself.  Anway, back to the book.  It is titled Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem by Gloria Steinem.  Do not be discouraged by the title, rather, look at the authors name.  Hello, it's Gloria freakin' Steinem.  Credibility right there.

This book was first published in the early 90's and became a #1 national bestseller.  I purchased it sometime around 2001-2002 for a Women Studies class I took in college.  We were required to read some of the chapters but, at the time, I don't think I really absorbed the information.  I knew who Gloria Steinem was from readings in other Women Studies classes but at that time in my life, I was so focused on looking at the outside forces that had and were continuing to affect my life rather than analyzing myself and my own behaviors.  It wasn't until about 5 years ago that I actually read the entire book and felt that I actually learned things about myself and the people in my life.  As I said, I have read "self-help" books before, even went to therapy for a while, but this book is different.  Rather than advice, she shares stories about herself and others, history and research she has done or read about.  It's an educational and comforting read.  A book that should be required reading for everyone, women AND men. 

The reason I find myself picking it up at least once a year (if not more) is to remind myself that (to steal a quote from the book) "We create much of the outer world from within ourselves".  As weeks and months pass, I seem to lose site of this fact.  It's hard to unlearn bad habits (most of which we adopt at an early age) and to retrain your brain to take a different path every time it's faced with unforeseen obstacles.  So when I look ahead at a new year filled with the same struggles, it can be a bit daunting.  I figure the more I read the book, the more I learn and unlearn, the more likely I am to change my way of thinking so that one day, hopefully in the near future, I can feel as if I am continuing on the journey instead of reliving it.

3 Months Later....

Soooo much for my resolution to write more on my blog.  It's been 3 months...3 MONTHS!!  It feels like 3 days since my last entry.  What the hell have I been doing?  Well, let's see, I started a new job (not interesting enough to talk about), celebrated Halloween, went to two shows (Trampled by Turtles and Roma Di Luna), celebrated Thanksgiving and I am currently caught in the Christmas current and trying to keep my head above water.  I LOVE Christmas but it is exhausting and when it's over, I have to admit, it is a relief.

As I was saying, I had the pleasure of seeing Trampled by Turtles perform at the Kato Ballroom in October and it was an amazing show.  If you want to buy a CD (good x-mas gift!) that does not disappoint in any way, buy Palomino.  MY. GOD.  It is musical bliss.  I can be having the absolute worst day and all I have to do is listen to the song Victory and I am instantly elated. 


Trampled by Turtles at the Kato Ballroom



I'm not sure what the deal is with me being a drunk magnet but when I am at concert that serves alcohol, if there is an obnoxious drunk person (and there always is) they are right next to me, falling on me, stepping on my feet and spilling beer on me.  If this was a blog entry that focused soley on this show, I would have titled it Trampled by Drunk Chicks.  Luckily, half way through the show a nice young man let me take his spot by the stage so I was able to snap a few sweet shots and enjoy the show without being doused in alcohol.

In November I went to the Coffee Hag to see Roma Di Luna perform as part of the 89.3 The Current Road Trip.  The entire band was not there but Alexei and Channy Moon Casselle (the husband and wife duo that started the group) were enough to captivate the audience.  The voice that comes out of Channy seems other worldly.  It's beautiful and moving and I don't think I've heard another like it, ever.  I've been a fan ever since I heard These Tears Ain't Mine but nothing compares to seeing them perform live.  The chemistry between Alexei and Channy was apparent while they were performing and when they were answering questions and giving the crowd some background info on how they got started. 

Alexi and Channy from Roma Di Luna performing at the Coffee Hag

I was so mesmerized by Roma Di Luna's performance that after the show, I forgot to go meet Jill Riley and Steve Seel and tell them how much I adore them and the Current and how they make my mornings at work bearable.

If You're from Minnesota and it Doesn't Matter Where...

The next time you're in Minneapolis (on Hennepin in uptown to be exact) I recommend you stop by Savoy Pizza Uptown (http://www.savoyuptown.com/).  Not only do they have great food, they also sell concert tickets. One concert they have tickets for is the Titus Andronicus and Free Energy this Friday at the Triple Rock Social Club, a show I will not be attending because I live about an hour and half away and it's my last day at my job and I can't leave early and I really want to because I love Free Energy and seeing them in concert would be musical bliss.  Ah but I digress.  Savoy Uptown has the best garlic cheese bread I have EVER devoured.  I wasn't really in the mood for pizza (this almost never happens) so I tried the pesto turkey sandwich and it was delish.  I love me some pesto.  I am eager to go back and try their uptown veggie pizza (spinach, fresh tomato, artichoke, kalamata olives, feta cheese), sounds mouth watering, huh?


mmmm, cheesy bread



And since you're in the neighborhood, you should stop by Fifth Element (http://www.fifthelementonline.com/), which is less than a block away.  Peruse the hip hop, buy some t-shirts or maybe see a local celebrity, like Slug from Atmosphere.  That's right, I said Slug! (side note: not sure if I've mentioned this yet but I LOVE Atmosphere.  Their music is on constant rotation in my car, ipod and home.)  After eating at Savoy, we stopped by Fifth Element so I could pick up a Rhymesayers t-shirt and a CD or two.  There I am sorting through the CDs when I hear the door open and a familiar voice speaking, I looked up to see Slug's head poking through the door.  AND I almost fainted.  He was unloading some shoes and stood at the counter the entire time I was in the store.  I was freaking out (on the inside because I didn't want him to think/know that I am crazed fan) and I wanted to say SOMETHING but we all remember the incident at Soundset where I met him and the only thing that came out when I tried to speak was "I love you" when what I meant to say was "I love your music".  He looked at me the same way James Caan looked at Kathy Bates in Misery when she told him she was his number one fan.  In other words the "This bitch is crazy" look.  Okay so I don't really know because he was wearing sunglasses but I'm pretty sure that's what he was thinking.  So I went to the counter, paid for my t-shirt and CD and got the hell out of there before I embarrassed myself.  I'm sure it's not a rare occurrence for someone who frequents Fifth Element to run into Slug, but walking into the store that Sunday afternoon, the possibility never crossed my mind. 

One of my goals, I recently decided, is to get them to come play a show in Mankato (after all, they do give a shout out to Mankato in their song Shhh).  I don't know how I'm going to do it but it has to be done.  They recently released a new CD To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EP's [Explicit] (yes I already have it) and are touring right now.  They'll be playing two shows at First Ave on November 27th and 28th and the only reason I do not have tickets yet is because I cannot find anyone to go with me.  Either I need to meet people with better taste in music, or I just need new friends all together.

A New Not So Miserable Experience

As you may have heard, last week I won tickets from www.vita.mn to see the Gin Blossoms perform at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. This was my first time seeing them live, as well as my first time dining at the Dakota Jazz Club. Overall, the experience was incredible. The age of the audience members ranged from gray hair to bleached blonde.  We were located about 5 tables from the stage and enjoyed a great performance. The size of the club provides an intimate setting and the sound of the band playing the acoustic versions of their songs made it feel as if I'd plucked them from a stage and set them in my living room. Frontman Robin Wilson, or "Bif" as he referred to himself, has an amazing voice and is welcome to sing in my living room any time. 

My only complaint, I would have liked them to perform longer (what female doesn't wish this at one time or another?). The show started at 7pm and was done by 8pm. They were performing again at 9:30 but with an hour and half of driving ahead and work the next morning, staying for the second performance was sadly not an option for me. I was elated to hear them play many of their old singles including "Til I Hear it From You" and "Hey Jealousy" but I think my favorite song of the night was "Lost Horizons".  Listening to those songs again reminded me of high school days gone by and the very next day I ordered their New Miserable Experience CD.  So if you see a red Honda Accord driving down the road and hear the song "Found Out About You" blaring through the open windows, there's a good chance it's me behind the wheel.  Oh, by the way, for all you Gin Blossoms fans, the band has a new CD titled No Chocolate Cake coming out Sept 28th and you can pre-order it on Amazon RIGHT NOW.

As for the Dakota Jazz Club, the food was pricey but about what you would expect in downtown Minneapolis.  More importantly, it was gooooood.  I started my three course meal off with Bay Scallop Seviche for the appeteaser (scallops w/ avocado, serrano chile, coriander) this was the first time I'd ever had scallops cold.  My main course was steak and fries, (what can I say, I'm a meat and potatoes gal).  The 10 oz sirloin was tender and delicious.  For dessert, Hubbell (my blog name for my husband) and I enjoyed the Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie, very yummy and highly recommended.  All in all, four thumbs up. 

Singing Hey Jealousy

If there is one thing I have concluded from this experience, it is that I NEED a new camera!!

Play it Forward

Good evening, Folliers!
For someone who LOVES to write, I haven't been doing much of that on here lately.  I plan to make more of an effort from this day forward (just like me to make mid-year resolutions).  I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to Twitter.  If I could just cut my Twitter time in half, I would have so much more time to blog.  BUT I do have to thank Twitter because if I wouldn't have been scrolling through the tweets of the 283 people, businesses, etc. that I follow, I wouldn't have won tickets to see the Gin Blossoms tomorrow night!  I also want to thank www.vita.mn because they were giving the tickets away and I won them by simply tweeting "tickets, please!"  If only everything in life could be that easy. 

I'm hoping to have a good seat so I can snap a few pics and post them on here for my 2 folliers to enjoy.  Also, they're playing at the Dakota Jazz Club (Minneapolis) and I've never been there and have always wanted to go (doubly excited).

Since we're on the subject of music, I feel the need to share the songs from my mixCD of the summer, which I cleverly titled "June 2010".  The songs (purchased off iTunes) have been on constant rotation through out the summer.  I found myself wondering if years from now, when I hear one of the songs from this mixCD, if I will think of the summer of 2010 the way I think about the summer of '93 when I hear Hey Jealousy from the Gin Blossoms.  I love that music has that power (even bad music), to pull you back to certain moments in your life (even the bad ones). 

So here's the list of songs I've been listening to a lot this summer (besides Atmosphere) and I feel you should get to know these bands (if you don't already).  I owe 89.3 The Current a HUGE thank you as well because if it wasn't for listening to that station every day, I'm not sure I would have been introduced to such amazing music.  Note: not all songs are new, as in released this year, but they are ALL good and that's what matters.

1. Free Energy by Free Energy - no this is not a misprint, the name of the song and the name of the band are one in the same.  This song reminds me of youth.  Pure and simple.  Best line:  "and I'm so disconnected, I'm never going to check back in". 

2. American Slang by the Gaslight Anthem - this band has been around for years but I hadn't heard of them until The Current started playing this song.  I was hooked.  I like some of their other songs too but THIS one is my favorite.  Also, I love Brian Fallon's voice.

3. Kick Drum Heart by the Avett Brothers - ahhhhh the Avett Brothers.  I don't think I've ever heard a song from them I don't like but this one made the cut for this mixCD. 

4. Crystalised by the XX - you know those songs you like, you can't explain why, you just do?  Well that's how I feel about this song.  Favorite line: "I'll forgive and forget, before I'm paralyzed".

5. Don't Haunt this Place by the Rural Alberta Advantage - another song about a break up, you ask?  yes and it's a good one.  I like quite a few of their songs but again, this one made the cut. 

6. Set me Free by The Heavy - you've probably heard their song How You Like Me Now on that Kia commercial but this song is better.

7. Running with the Wolves by Cloud Cult - what can I say, I'm a sucker for MN bands.  AND they make great music.  Favorite line: "I need to feel something different for just a little while".

8. The Ends by Halloween, Alaska - Since they're a Minneapolis band, I'm hoping this means I'll be seeing them play live in the near future.  Best line: "No matter what today pretends, no matter how you see the means, these are the ends".

9. Low Rising by the Swell Season - See previous post Better than Swell

10. The Cave by Mumford and Sons - this band just blows me away.  First song I ever heard by them was Little Lion Man and I fell in love.

11. These Tears Ain't Mine by Roma Di Luna - another Minneapolis group!  Supportin' local music y'all.  I missed the chance to see them perform last week and I'm still kicking myself. 

12. Setback by the Constellations - I REALLY like this band.  Their beats, their lyrics.

13. Shadow People by Dr Dog - Never heard of this band until I heard this song.  Check under music tab for further details.

That's it, Folliers.  Good night and happy listening....

Better than Swell

I have been known to spend hours on YouTube watching Damien Rice perform live at various locations.  Add too much caffeine to the mix and you will find a thirty something woman hugging her computer monitor while crying like a baby.  Years ago, when the scruffy, little Irish man came out with his song "The Blower's Daughter" I became obsessed with his voice/lyrics/music/him.  If he ever plays a concert in the states again, you can bet I'll be there. 

Enter new scruffy, little Irish man that moves me to tears: Glen Hansard from The Swell Season.  The first time I heard the song Low Rising on the radio I became an instant fan.  I should mention the other member of the group, pianist Markéta Irglová.  She is to Glen what Lisa Hannigan is to Damien Rice.  Her voice not only compliments his, but tangles with it perfectly, producing something so moving, I am blown away when I watch their live performances on YouTube.  You can feel the passion and energy that Glen Hansard exudes and the raw lyrics add to the many reasons why I adore them.

Love this performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFDfJsNY_2E

Who Wrote the Blog of Love?

Welcome followers (folliers)!  There are many reasons why I've started this blog, including my love for writing and giving my opinion.  Although it may appear I write under the guise of expert, I am no more knowledgeable on the following subjects than anyone else.  Maybe just a tad more obsessed.  After all, "love is merely a madness"...

Let's begin with the name of this blog, for I admit it has to do with my love of Anne Sexton (i.e. The Book of Folly) but also highlights the absurdity (some may say) of my obesessions, including but not limited to: music, books, shopping, magazines and food.

I LOVE music, listening to it, seeing it played live, discovering new music, etc.  I'll let you know who I am listening to, who I've recently discovered and maybe give an occasional review of any live music I get to experience.  Feel free to comment and give suggestions of music/bands you think I may like.

I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction.  I've really been into memoirs and biographies for the past few years.  I don't always read the latest and greatest, just whatever I stumble upon.  I'll let you know what I'm reading and, as common courtesy, you should do the same. 

I collect (didn't want to use the word love TOO many times) clothes, shoes, purses, etc.  I am NOT, by any means, a fashionista.  Far from it.  BUT I do enjoy burying my nose in fashion mags, a scene similar to a child who studies the Christmas wishbook catalog.  I'm hoping to someday afford, at the very least, a Prada sock. Also, shopping is one of my favorite forms of exercise (along with Yoga).  The stores I frequent the most are T.J. Maxx and Ebay.  I am the every women's shopper, the bargain buyer, the clearance queen.

I appreciate a good meal, whether I cook it or dine out.  I enjoy sampling new-to-me restaurants and recipes.  Feel free to send me recipes and I may also share when I try something new.

P.S. Layout and design are subject to change.  Please be patient with me while I learn as I go...