New Tunes

I haven't written for a while about music. This summer seems like it's been a pretty boring period - is it just me, or has the music industry gotten lazy and just put Adele on 24/7??

If you're looking for something new and fun, these are my recent favorites:



Dance:

• Moves Like Jagger (Maroon 5)
• Mr. Saxobeat (Alexandra Stan)
• Push Up (Freestylers)
• Right There (Nicole Scherzinger)
• I'm Into You (Jennifer Lopez)
• White Knuckles (Ok Go). I might have written about this one before, but it's so fun, reminds me a lot of Prince. Push Up (above) does too.
• Fade Like A Shadow (KT Tunstall)
  

Everything else:

• Danny's Song (Kenny Loggins)
• I'll Be Your Man, and Stay the Night (James Blunt)
• The World Spins Madly On (The Weepies)
• Everything by Snow Patrol. I've learned that if you're feeling blue, this is wonderful music to wallow around with. Just be careful to use the list above to bring yourself back!
  

Grandma's Work

A few days ago I took Ada and Logan to visit my mom at her office. We went out for lunch, and met a dozen or so of her co-workers at the Colorado DOT. It was hilarious to watch Ada and Logan, at first they were shy. By the last person, they were thrusting their hands out for a shake, and giving their full names at full volume. It was adorable! Logan also helped himself to several office chairs. We got to see the garage (above) with the big machines that repair roads, very cool.

Chicago and Milwaukee

Last weekend I got to make a trip to Chicago and Milwaukee! I was there for a wedding, but got to enjoy lots of goofing off and socializing too. Here are a few of my favorite pics. The first is with one of my oldest and best friends Sejal, who was a school mate long ago, and has been my faithful penpal for years and years.

Other shots include the view from the hotel, a bar we ducked into during a cloudburst, the Chicago River, Lake Michigan from the wedding venue, and the board at a great fish restaurant we went to called Glen's Diner.

You Read It Here First...

My experience with Anna Karenina and Hunger Games is playing out all over again. I was looking forward to a book called Absolute Monarchs, a non-fiction for the layperson about the history of popes. The topic had so much potential, I swear. But I had to give it up and search for something that didn't drain my energy.

And I stumbled on Ready Player One. You read it here first -- when I discovered this book it had 28 reviews on Amazon, all 5 stars. Now it's up to 56. Hunger Games has 2,813 reviews, so let's watch the counter. This book plays to the same audience, and it's just as much fun.

It's a futuristic book about a worldwide virtual reality, and a contest set up by the designer of the program. If you even have a passing interest or history with video games (past, present and future), 1980s pop culture, science fiction, or trends in technology, you've gotta give it a try. I was hooked on page 1, I'm not kidding.

Art All Day Every Day

In the last few months, I've looked at A LOT of artwork online. Yesterday I came across this image, and I don't know what to do with it! (Click to enlarge.) It's probably not a concept that fits with my business, but I feel a really strong reaction to it. It made me laugh immediately, which never happens. The situation of an old superhero picking up spilled groceries makes me feel like all my frustrations in life, all the upheaval and exhaustion and all the unknown turn out to be just part of the experience we all go through. Even superheros. It makes me feel better, normal, like life is exasperating and it's just kind of funny.

I might have to shoot this guy an email. The artist's name is Andreas Englund, here is his utterly charming portfolio.

Learn A Little Somethin'

Ok, maybe engineering videos aren't the sexiest internet content, but here is one worth watching. This is a 10 minute video that is beautifully done, about the mountains in Colorado. It was sent to me by my mother, who works for the Department of Transportation. This really gives me a fuller appreciation for the complexity of the work she does!

Pics of Atticus

I'm so behind on posting, forgive me! Here are some recent pics (ok, sort of recent) of my darling nephew... I love you little man!