Tabloid Mags

Now, Voyager

2009-12-14T15:42:00.007-05:00

289. The Untold Want

"The untold want, by life and land ne’er granted,
Now, Voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find."
-Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

I am no longer sitting here, waiting for my life to start. It's in motion--all wheels turning, rivers flowing, infinite possibilities germinating. I cannot tell you how it scares me beyond belief to know that the future is unwritten, but the book is mine for the writing.

I'm slowly learning what it is to have courage, to be a brave being, to fight for what I want. I thought I was all zen when I would say things like, "If it is meant to be mine, it will come to me." However, there's a difference between harmony and passivity. I never fought for anyone or anything. Today, I'm putting up my hands. Ready to embrace. Ready to duke it out. Here I am to take the punches that will surely fall squarely on my chin. That's what going out into the world for the first grand adventure is all about.

This morning, I looked that girl in the mirror square in the eye and said, "This is it, kid. We're going to put on a brave face and walk out that door to face the world." I loved that girl in the mirror today. I will love her for all of my tomorrows.

For B.K., who inspired a "smart cookie" to rethink the green.

A Little Love for Billy Squier

2009-12-13T14:36:00.004-05:00

Billy Squier and MTV wish to remind you that "Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You" circa 1981.

I love Billy Squier, regardless of past indiscretions.

Some Things I Like

2009-12-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

Jake Ryan's anatomy, Lloyd Dobler boomboxes, Molly Ringwald's hair color, Baudrillard's ideas of simulacra, Christian Slater's amazing receding/reappearing hairline, Uncle Jesse's sex appeal, Beach Boys studio chatter, vintage cocktail dresses, denim jackets, swinging from tree branches, musty books, walls of sound

Becky Lee Beck - "I Want A Beatle For Christmas"

2009-12-08T18:15:00.002-05:00

This little ditty is adorable after you get past the hideous organ. And if you're curious as to which Beatle I would like for Christmas, I'd put Mr. Harrison on my list.

Notes from the Margins of a Van Halen Commonplace from April 2007

2009-12-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

Do I want to be exclusive to the DLR years or is Van Hagar allowed?

Any way to tribute EVH guitar solos?

Can we reference cover songs or does that damage the integrity of the piece?

You and your damned celery.

Not really sure what was up with the plural pronoun in the third sentence. Racking my brain to figure out why I was driven to expletives over someone's celery.

Twist and Shout to a Jingle Bell Beat

2009-12-02T20:40:00.005-05:00

Rubber Band - "Jingle Bell Rock"

As I prepare for the first real snowfall of the year, and by that I mean that there is significant accumulation for making snow angels, I dust off some of my favorite holiday tracks. This one is by the Rubber Band, a Beatles cover band from Denmark who released a great holiday album, Christmas! The Beatmas, which reworks famous holiday tunes with Beatles instrumentals. It is fantastic, to say the least. Some other tracks will be appearing later in the month, but let's start off with this one, set to "Please, Please Me."

Priest Promotes

2009-11-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

Commercials made to promote the 1986 Judas Priest album, Turbo.

Infinity Guitars

2009-11-27T10:10:00.002-05:00

Sleigh Bells - "Infinity Guitars"

Discovered them via The Hype Machine feed. Easily made their way onto my iPod's running mix. Love the electronica meets garage rock feel. I will always be a garage rock girl.

Covers: The Locomotion

2009-11-15T13:20:00.005-05:00

Little Eva (live on Shindig)

The Chiffons

Grand Funk Railroad (live, 1974)

I recently learned that lead singer Mark Farner, he of the great jawline and sparkly guitar, writes Christian rock songs. Go figure.

Kylie Minogue

Monsterpiece Theater

2009-11-10T11:34:00.001-05:00

Happy 40th, Sesame Street!

Single Blessedness and Alcoholic Pianos

2009-11-04T21:17:00.005-05:00

Lately, I have observed more and more couplings amongst my friends, a phenomenon that tends to occur this time of year. I blame it on our northeast winters; they can take a toll on your soul, for certain. And as Bette Davis tells us, "bundling is a New England custom, both honored and revered." Or something along those lines.

However, as everyone's favorite "perpetual single" I tough it out alone with a little help from my good pal, Mr. Tom Waits.

How I adore all that "midnight howlin' at the moon" business. Of course, the logical follow-up to this would be a rousing rendition of "The Piano Has Been Drinking."

Marxist Dedication

2009-11-03T21:22:00.007-05:00

"This book was written in those long hours I spent waiting for my wife to get dressed to go out. And if she had never gotten dressed at all, this book would never have been written."

From 1963's Memoirs of a Mangy Lover by Groucho Marx.

Lots of highbrow reading here this week at Tabloid Mags.

Postmodern Fortune Cookie

2009-11-01T19:06:00.004-05:00

"The nearness of happiness always reawakens the anxiety of puberty."

From Fragments: Cool Memories III, 1990-1995 by my now-deceased French postmodern philosopher boyfriend, Jean Baudrillard.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

2009-10-31T10:15:00.005-04:00

The always-fantastic Dan Wilcox wrote a nice roundup of the shenanigans that occurred at Daniel Nester's Albany book launch party October 23. I happened to make a cameo, Benatar boots and all.

Speaking of which, if you haven't yet bought the Amazon top 100 seller in American humor, How To Be Inappropriate, I highly suggest you do so. You may just see my name in the credits.

Something's Fishy

2009-10-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Letter for Adam, New York literati.

Floral Buttons

2009-10-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Letter for Mills, Upstate Artist

With a Little Help from WCW

2009-10-26T10:31:00.003-04:00

Letter for Ashley, waitress extraordinaire.

Origami

2009-10-18T22:05:00.001-04:00

On the Radio

2009-10-16T14:01:00.002-04:00

I'm going to be doing some publicity work for my day job on the "Horse Talk" radio show this Saturday at 8 AM. If you're not still sleeping off Friday night, you can tune your radio dial to 99.1 FM or 1110 AM WTBQ if you're in the Hudson Valley or listen to the live stream online.

I believe there's a Q&A segment where listeners can call in and ask questions. You may even hear me "neigh."

Mason Jennings

2009-10-13T12:05:00.002-04:00

Dorm Room Door, October 2007

2009-10-09T20:30:00.002-04:00

I'm Ready For My Closeup, Mr. DeMille

2009-09-28T14:13:00.003-04:00

I'm one of the featured graduates on the College of St. Rose English Department Blog thanks to the wacky hijinks of Daniel Nester, author of the soon-to-be New York Times bestseller, How to be Inappropriate. Learn more than you'd care to about my day job and my alma mater here.

Violent Femmes

2009-09-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Because it's Friday, Gordon Gano is beautiful, and xylophone solos are underrated.

Violent Femmes - "Kiss Off"

Violent Femmes - Gone Daddy Gone

Cannonball Adderley feat. Miles Davis - "Autumn Leaves"

2009-09-17T20:43:00.002-04:00

Bird & the Bee

2009-09-10T19:23:00.003-04:00

Let me just preface this by saying I really want to go shopping with Inara George. Or just raid her wardrobe. It would make my days quite lovely and whimsical.

"Polite Dance Song"

"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" Yes, a Hall & Oates cover!

"How Deep Is Your Love?" Oh yes, a Bee Gees cover.