Girl in the Suburbs.

Spring-Summer(?) Cleaning.

2009-06-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

Is it spring or summer? Time is flying by so quickly, I'm not sure if I missed the official first day of summer yet. Regardless, the weather has been so beautiful lately, it's hard to stay indoors to get some much needed cleaning done on the weekends. Thus, I will try to do little by little during the week so I can avoid weekend duties guilt-free.

I actually am bummed I fell so behind on my Google Reader blogroll and missed the Apartment Therapy Spring Cure challenge. Although, as I already have the book, and haven taken part in previous challenges, I suppose I can go through it on my own. Although, reading the blog posts from them usually was what kept me motivated for as long as I managed in the past--which sadly was never til the end of the 8-week challenge, but pretty darn close.

Here are links to my previous attempts:
Fall Cure 08 (Before) - which was as far as I made it--and frankly my house doesn't look tons different from what's in these pictures.
Spring Cure 08 (After)
Spring Cure 08 (During)
Spring Cure 08 (Before)

Hopefully in the following month or two I can post some more updated photos of all the work I WILL accomplish.

Is Pixar's UP one of my greatest fears?

2009-05-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

Saw Pixar's Up this weekend with my boyfriend, unfortunately, only in 2-D. We were cheap and wanted to use our AMC giftcard. Man. That first fifteen to twenty minutes of the film killed me. As predicted, I cried, like a baby. It was such a sweet beginning of the movie, and I am always amazed at how quickly Pixar is able to make an audience instantly attached to their characters (though I'm still waiting for a Pixar film with a female lead character, COME ON ALREADY). Any way, the beginning was so sweet and tender, and made you really reflect about life, and living each day in the moment; taking chances in life and really doing everything you want. Don't just wait until it passes you by, thinking, "there is always one more day." Cheesy. Believe me, I know it's beyond cheesy, but it's true dammit! It begs the question "Is Up my worst fear?" Meaning, am I living life to the fullest? Living in the moment, the here and now? It made me think about the things I hope to do and see and accomplish and feel in my life, and how much I already have. Seriously, go see Up. So you can feel as dorky as I do about it.

Here are some things I'm looking forward to in the near future:

* Seeing Death Cab for Cutie at the Hollywood Bowl for my birthday, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic!

* Finding the KogiBBQ truck in LA and getting a Korean taco of some sort.

* Coldplay outreach with my Oxfam peeps.

and whatever else life brings me.............

- way optimistic, nicole

P.S. Was anyone else very uncomfortable with that Sacha Baren Cohen / Eminem stunt at the MTV Movie Awards? Eeek.

Some of the things I miss...

2009-05-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Lately I feel completely overwhelmed. I really need to learn how to say no to some things. Lately, it's my volunteer jobs (KSCU & Oxfam Action Corps) that are eating up most of my non-"work-work" time--not that I'm complaining. I love and value both of those organizations very much. BUT, that being said, there are some things I miss having time to do. Some of those things are:

* spending time with my boyfriend..
* lounging with my doggie watching lame, mindless & sometimes GOOD television
* reading for pleasure
* cooking
* my family... i miss the baird children, especially.
* taking photographs. how am i ever going to improve if i never shoot?
* clothes shopping. it's been... too long. lots of my stuff has holes! :/
* seeing movies
* exercising... my gym card has dust on it...
* working on my house. i don't even have time for basic cleaning these days.
* hanging out with friends, aside from just going to shows

Dear Blog:

2009-05-27T10:40:00.000-07:00

I am sorry I have neglected you for over two months. I am sorry I have been cheating on you with Twitter and Facebook and other lesser social networking sites. I am sorry I have been subjecting my writing to mere 140 characters, when I should be practicing writing actual sentences. I am sorry that I only post to you to say I haven't posted in awhile. I am sorry I let spam comments be posted to you (the sure sign of a dead/dying blog).

I will try and be better. I will.

- nicole

Is this blog dead?

2009-03-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yikes. I haven't updated this in a very long time. I just don't have the energy for it lately--too much other stuff goin' on.

Any way, the dj blog has some playlist updates! :D

-neeeeeeeeeeeecole

p.s. i am very excited about some upcoming prospects! more later.

To Mom: Happy Birthday. From: Your daughter, with love.

2009-02-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to give a special shout out to my mom on her birthday! I love you so much mom and I appreciate everything that you've taught me (and continue to teach me) in life.

I'm not really even sure my mom reads this regularly, but I'm sure I can count on my dad to show this to her. Right dad?

- Nicole

P.S. The above photo is still one of my all time favorites of my mom and I.

Sweet little request.

2009-02-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

I just got the cutest email to our Music Department account. It states the following:

Hi,

We are an all girl rock band outta Tacoma Wa and want to find out how to submit our original music to you for consideration.. We are 12 and 13 and play our own stuff as well as covers...
Thanks
Lizzy
Starstruck

How fucking cute is it that this little 12 or 13 year old named herself Lizzy Starstruck? I haven't even heard them yet but I'm already smitten! Plus I adore girl-groups!

Am I home from work yet?...

I wish this is what my day looked like today...

2009-02-02T11:32:00.000-08:00

(caption: "this is ur dog when i got home!")

Lately our dog has figured out how to get up on our bed. I say this as if it's confusing because our bed is up fairly high for a short little guy to jump up. Sometimes I get out of the shower to find him burrowed deep under our covers. Nathan sent me a text message with the above photo with that caption when he found him like that today. So cute.

minimalism flickr.

2009-01-31T10:20:00.000-08:00

Kinda cool minimalist version of your Flickr photostream. I hardly know her is the name of the site, and basically if you have a flickr your website would be www.ihardlyknowher.com/yourusername.

Pretty nifty.

365 Project Week 2 Wrap Up.

2009-01-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

Some self-portraits of sorts. Only six this week, since the previous week's wrap up included the first 8. I am debating switching to a more structured format, even though I didn't (don't?) want to. I think I'll wait until I've completed one month's worth of photos and join in to a structure at week 5. If anyone has any good theme 365's they are doing, please send me the link!

1. 9.365.09, 2. 10.365.09, 3. 11.365.09, 4. 12.365.09, 5. 13.365.09, 6. 14.365.09

Inauguration Day: A Girl Enamored.

2009-01-21T20:08:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I'm a tad obsessed, but these photos posted on the Boston Globe website are AMAZING. Click the below photo for the full set. You won't be sorry.

Flickr find.

2009-01-21T07:51:00.001-08:00

haight & masonic, originally uploaded by heather.

Amen.

Happy Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

Wow. It has been an amazing and inspiring day! I can't stop watching the news coverage, it doesn't really get old now that this day has finally arrived. It feels like this day has taken forever, even since the election, but it's finally here and I couldn't have been more happy with PRESIDENT Obama's speech. I don't have much else to say that hasn't been said a hundred times over. Everyone will take something from this day--and hopefully turn it into something proactive to create positive change in this world. The day has been perfect.

We had a work celebration in the morning (see above shot). Here are some shots from the day.

But, first, video of PRESIDENT (never gets old) Obama's speech:

(Starbucks had special red, white and blue warmers. Displayed by my co-workers!)

(Jumped out from behind the camera for a quick capture for me to remember this day! As if I need it)

A petty complaint (on a day not meant for it)...

2009-01-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

I know it's not the day for nerd-complaints (and I'll get to the bigger stuff from the day soon enough), but What the EFFE!!!!!!!!!! So LAME!

from Angry Asian Man site:

keanu will star in cowboy bebop
It's confirmed. Last week, Variety reported that Keanu Reeves will indeed star as future bounty hunter Spike Spiegel in 20th Century Fox's live-action adaptation of the popular anime series Cowboy Bebop: Keanu Reeves set for 'Bebop'.Don't hate me for saying this, but I don't think this is an entirely bad idea. Keanu gets a lot of hate for his low-charisma surfer-dudeness, but in the right role, he isn't half-bad. For Spike, I'd argue the most important elements is cool. Can Keanu pull this one off? For now, I am willing to find out.The series follows Spiegel and a ragtag group of bounty hunters traveling on their spaceship, the Bebop. I've always thought that out of all the anime properties to be translated for the big screen, Cowboy Bebop has enormous potential, particularly because the series itself successfully borrows pop culture elements from a variety of other genres. What's most encouraging though, is the close involvement of Sunrise Inc., which produced the original series. Sunrise's Kenji Uchida and Shinichiro Watanabe will serve as associate producers alongside series writer Keiko Nobumoto. And series producer Masahiko Minami will serve as a production consultant. Will Sunrise's participation help preserve some level of Cowboy Bebop's badass-ness? Or will this just be another crappy Hollywood handling of a beloved anime series? (Let's face it -- that Dragonball movie looks and is going to be baaaaaaaad.) I guess we'll see, whenever this actually happens.
angrylink

365 Project Week 1 Wrap Up.

2009-01-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

Instead of posting each 365 photo every day, I've decided to compile a weekly mosaic to show you my weeks shots. I'll try to post them up on Sundays and make it a regular thing. This week's includes 8 instead of 7 since I couldn't get the size of mine right and had already posted the last photo. Click the mosaic for view the entire set on my flickr.

Saying no to corporate takeover.

2009-01-15T15:29:00.000-08:00

From the Indie 103 website:

Indie Activist:

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience -

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option --- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world.

my new internet crush.

2009-01-14T00:40:00.000-08:00

for more.

nutella sandwiches.

2009-01-13T10:52:00.001-08:00

nutella sandwiches., originally uploaded by neeecole..

This is a reminder post to myself (sorry for the selfish post--but Flickr won't let me blog straight to my Tumblr).

I need to make these again soon. So delicious.

365.

2009-01-13T10:17:00.001-08:00

nikond40. [28.365], originally uploaded by neeecole..

I've decided to try and do the 365 Project again. I only made it 90/365 in '08. Here's to a better finish in '09.

(My 1.365 date was Sunday- 1.11.09). I will post them up today/tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

What's up for the next 1001 days...?

2009-01-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

I have updated my 101 in 1001 days Project. It had been quite awhile since I'd done any updating, although I have been keeping up with a lot of my 101 items. I still have some time so I'm not giving up on it yet!

Radio show is tomorrow. If you are up early in the a.m. listen to 103.3 f.m. in the Bay, or online at http://www.kscu.org/. Normally I go from 7-11 a.m. but every first Tuesday of the month is our work staff meetings so I gotta be outta there before 9. Unfortunately I wasn't able to do my show today. Had to go in earlier to work. Apologies! I promise to be there next Tuesday for my full show (7-11 a.m.)

Okay, time for bed.

Currently watching: Diners, drive-ins and dives- Real deal fast food episode.

Shorty and Me.

2009-01-02T17:30:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I finally made it to the end of John Grogan's, Marley and Me. It wasn't that the book required much time to get through, it's basically written at a middle school reading level (not a knock); it's that I found the book to be funny, honest, sweet, and very close to my heart--which was why getting through the inevitable ending was so difficult.

I realize this book was published in 2007, that I am probably the last person to read it and people care even less now that it's a movie starring Jennifer Aniston (why do people hate her so much?), but I just have to give a shout out to this book. Read it if you are a dog fan, if you've lost a pet, and if you know what it feels like to appreciate the little canine friend who waits patiently for you to come home from work every night just to get some belly rubs.

Yes, I am giving a shout-out to my little four-legged family member, Shorty (and my only other lifetime family dog--Scruffy [RIP], and my parents current dog--Penney, who both are/were great dogs). Back to Shorty: he's awesome. Sure he's got some naughty (typical) dog habits, like he chases squirrels, he barks at any door bell on TV (well he barks at a lot of things), he lays across the top of the sofa like a cat would do, he steals my spot every time I get up, he tries to bite almost anyone that comes into our house, and he lays by his food bowl begging for more even after he's just been fed.

But he also has the best qualities any dog owner could ask for: he gets so excited when we get home that he basically has a panic attack (wheezes), he loves being cuddly and snuggles with us on the couch, he's a good protector, he's extremely loyal, he's hilarious and he loves us unconditionally.

Which is exactly why dog people are dog people: emotional intelligence. The other night while I was laying in bed, finishing the end of Marley and crying uncontrollably, a little black fuzz-ball appeared at the side of my bed. Shorty was trying to comfort me because he knew I was sad. I lifed him up on my bed and he layed on my stomach wondering what was wrong and what he could do to help (I read it in his eyes). I don't even think my boyfriend is as intuitive as Shorty is when it comes to emotions. He hides when he knows I'm mad and he comes to comfort me when he knows I'm sad (OK--well maybe they are about equal).

Having a dog is amazing--yes they are a lot of work, and can be stressful, but in the end it's so worth it. You begin to realize how what you give them seems so little compared to what they give you in return. Reading the book made me think about all this and made me a little sad to know that there will be a day when Shorty won't be there to greet me at the door when I come home. (Although I'll have an awesome book to turn to when that day comes--which hopefully won't be for MANY MANY MANY years.)

For now I will enjoy every little bastard thing he does, and know that one day I will be looking back and laughing about it.

One more Shorty picture, just because:
Current music: clue to kalo + lily perdida (2009, mush) [this album is amazing!]

The most romantic movie of 2008:

2009-01-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

Yup. Although Slumdog Millionaire was pretty close, I have to say that I think Wall-E was the sweetest, most touching movie I saw in 2008. I cry uncontrollably every time Eve(-aaaaa!) sees the footage of Wall-E trying to wake her up. Loved it!

My year in writing.

2009-01-02T10:30:00.000-08:00

During the summer of 2008 I decided that I really missed writing. I was (am?) feeling stuck in my job and needed some kind of creative outlet, separate from KSCU. I decided to hunt on Craigslist and apply for writing gigs.

I started doing a couple assignments for an Oakland website called Evolution of Media and an SF music & mp3 download (legal ones) site called betterPropaganda. I was basically doing a series of album reviews and some record label spotlights. At first the reviews for Evolution of Media were chosen for me, but since I have easy access to new music through the radio station, the owner let me select my own albums to review. I was digging it so I decided to try out as a writing contributor/intern for Tiny Mix Tapes. Tiny Mix Tapes was a bigger gig (lots of readers), but I was doing music related news stories, not reviews.

Tiny Mix Tapes was a nice change from just doing reviews but I soon realized I was taking on way too many things at once (all this while working at my real [paying] 8-5 job). Unfortunately I slacked off on Tiny Mix Tapes and stopped doing weekly stuff for Evolution of Media. I am guessing many real freelance writers have this same problem of overwhelming themselves--although I'm sure if I were actually getting paid for any of my articles it wouldn't be as big of an issue.

I'm still doing some writing for betterPropaganda, as I really like what they are doing with the site and seem to have some direction and structure, yet still offer us writers tons of freedom.

I've compiled a list and links to all my stuff the was "published" for the year.

Tiny Mix Tapes:
New Pornographers Tour Article
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin Tour Article
Lykke Li Tour Article
MusicFest NW Article

betterPropaganda:
Mush Records Spotlight
Atmosphere- When Life Gives You Lemons... Review
Morr Music Spotlight
Azeeda Booth- In Flesh Tones (Album Review)
Astralwerks Spotlight
Her Space Holiday- Sleepy Tigers EP (Album Review)
Polyvinyl Records Spotlight
Kill Rock Stars Spotlight
Murs: 3:16 - The 9th Edition (Top 100 Albums of the Decade - #84)
Ladytron (Top 100 Artists of the Decade - #59)
Air- Talkie Walkie (Top 100 Albums of the Decade - #53)
Postal Service- Give Up (Top 100 Albums of the Decade - #28)
TV on the Radio (Top 100 Artists of the Decade - #27)
Caribou (Top 100 Artists of the Decade - #24)
OutKast- Stankonia (Top 100 Albums of the Decade - #22)
Boards of Canada- Geogaddi (Top 100 Albums of the Decade - #18)
M83 (Top 100 Artists of the Decade - # 11)

Evolution of Media:
Gigi Pellegrino- Passion in the Mirror
Stephen Peppos- Vertigo
Mates of State- Re-Arrange Us
Subtle- ExitingARM
Lemuria- Get Better
Hercules and Love Affair- Hercules and Love Affair
The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
Bitter:Sweet- Drama
Beck- Modern Guilt
Brazilian Girls- New York City
Obi Best- Capades
Mr. Meeble- Never Trust the Chinese
Shugo Tokumaru- Exit
The Botticellis- Old Home Movies
----------------------------------------
Geezus. Now that I see the articles compiled all together, I can really see just how much time I spent writing last year. This doesn't even include all the other album notes I made for new music for the radio station, or all the other blog-writing I was doing. Sometimes it's good to create lists of things you've accomplished. If anything it'll make you feel less lazy.

Current music: daedelus + exquisite corpse (2005, mush records)

For this 2009 New Years, I resolve:

2008-12-31T20:00:00.000-08:00

As the year of 2008 is winding down to it's final few hours, I am left thinking about the inevitable changes we all fixate on changing for the better in the following year. That's right, New Years resolutions. To do, or not to do? I always make half-assed attempts at creating a list of things I really do want to change from the previous year. Sad attempts, meaningful hopes & dreams that somehow never, well, resolve. I am tempted to just forget writing any of mine down, or not even say any out loud for fear of total and complete utter cliched failure. Oh--fuck it. Below is my meaningful, half-assed 2009 New Year's Resolutions.

to enjoy more fresh fruits & veggies
to spend less (which leads to): end magazine subscriptions, buy secondhand, be selective
to enjoy the outdoors more (spend more time hiking, playing, gardening)
to use more public transportation
to travel!
to enjoy my gym membership more often.
to do it yourself! (DIY it up! sew, make, paint, create!)
to read the books on my shelves before buying/checking out from the library.
to back up my computer files (don't want a sad mac/did you back up moment! only w/o the mac)
to indulge in pampering myself: manis, pedis, massages, oh my!
to do even more writing (make my blog posts more like articles rather than... you know.)
to attach my camera to my hip and make it my new best friend.
to get prints made of my photos and actually put them in photo albums (tho not scrap booking)
to spend time with the ones i love...
to have more nicole time.

That's all 15 of them. Many have followed me over from the previous year's resolutions but that's okay. Did you notice my clever attempt at being asset based instead of deficit ("enjoy more fresh fruits and veggies" and my personal fave, "enjoy my gym membership more often")? We'll see how many of them show up again on my '10 New Years resolution list.

Until then... HAPPY NEW YEAR! Be safe and have fun.

My Crazy Afternoon.

2008-12-31T15:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, sue me, I am really not getting much work done today. But what do you expect--it's New Years Eve! So, I was bored at work just now (okay, all day), so I decided to Google my name + blog when I discovered a link to one of my old websites (via the old Bay Area Ska website! The person running the site was an acquaintance and she linked me!).

Visit it here. It's awesome! I created it sometime in 2000 and then last updated it in 2002. Through that site I also located mine and my friend/old co-dj, Teshia's DJ website. Check that out too. We were djs cinnamon toast crunch & trix, and our show was called "The With Milk Show" (on KSCU, 103.3 f.m., of course).

I realize this is one of those things that is only interesting to people who know me (maybe not even them), but luckily for me, about 90% of the 10 people who regularly read this know me! So if you wanted to know random tidbits of my likings from back in '00-'02 then check it out. In my journal there is also some blog posts leading up to 9/11... when I was supposed to be going to New York for CMJ for the first time on 9/12. But really most of it is just random musings from a younger me.

Sometimes I miss those days in my late teens/early twenties, but mostly I don't.

Enjoy.