I didn't really give the band Starfucker (or STRFKR for the faint of heart) a good listen until this year. I had heard them on KEXP from time to time, but then our friend Derek came to town and took Jacob to their concert. Jacob called me later that evening and said I would have absolutely loved them. Alas, I was at home with a baby - as I have said in the past, being able to just go out to shows any day of the week is the only thing I miss about pre-baby life.
Anyway, I listed to them the next day and Jacob was right! I absolutely loved them so much, in fact, that they practically immediately ousted the Black Keys from their long-standing rank in my top three favorite bands (which, if you are curious, now consists of My Morning Jacket, Manu Chao and Starfucker in no particular order....they are all so different from eachother it is hard to actually rank them as 1st, 2nd and 3rd.)
I love this band becuase they can just perk up your mood so fast! Practically all of their songs are full of pep and jolly goodness that you can't help but LOVE them. I find it impossible to keep a bad mood when I hear any of their songs thus, they are good to have around. I got the chance to see them at The Branx earlier this year. Unfortunately there were TWO opening bands before them and it was getting so late by the time they finally got on stage that I think we missed more than half of their set, not becuase we were too tired to stick around (we are in our oldy-moldy 30s now, you know) but becuase Roman was with a sitter and we always have this sense of guilt about someone having to watch him too late. It was great while it lasted though.
In the immortal words of LeVar Burton - "but don't take my word for it" - check 'em out for yourself! And I really hope you do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_l9ZMUWd68 (Myke Ptyson. Makes me want to dance a little and it is one of my favorite things in life when bands use hand clapping as an instrument)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCRSpOF4JJg (Holly - my favorite of theirs next to Myke Ptyson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krgbdZnqIpo (Boy Toy - another get up and dance-er)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UodDJEE49V0 (Girls Just Want to Have Fun - yes, that one. I love this song more than I ever did before becuase of this version)
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Who Needs a Drink?
Raise your hand if you are feeling absolutely deflated these days from all the horribleness. I know I am. I'm emotionally/mentally exhausted from all of the bad news this week. My heart is so shattered for the parents, families, friends, first responders, etc., who had to endure what they endured today in Connecticut.
How do we even begin to make things better? What has gone wrong? If we were to correctly idenfity the underlying problems, would our country even be willing to work together and come to agreement to remedy things?
P.S. - I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe the internet plays no small part in all of this.
How do we even begin to make things better? What has gone wrong? If we were to correctly idenfity the underlying problems, would our country even be willing to work together and come to agreement to remedy things?
P.S. - I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe the internet plays no small part in all of this.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Roman: The Best First-Born EVER!
Happy 2nd birthday to my baby boy!!!! I remember thinking when Roman hit about six to nine months that time was going by too fast and that I was going to miss him at that age so much. While time has flown by, the older my boy gets, the more fun we have. I honestly don't miss the earlier months like I thought I would. He just has more and more personality all the time and it gets better and better! To see his mind work and expand and learn is just incredible. His memory amazes me all the time and he already is a jokester (boy does he have Jacob's personality in practically every way!).
Anyway, to celebrate his second birthday, we took him on The Polar Express train ride at Hood River this past weekend. SUCH a fun time (but it won't be an annual event by any means...that would definitely take the excitement and wonder out of it). One of the funniest parts of the evening was when Santa got onto our train car and everyone claps and cheers and is excited and then there is Roman, who starts crying and saying "No thank you. No thank you." to having to visit with Santa (he came around, though, after he saw the other kids surviving the encounter)
His actual birthday was a mellow event - dinner and presents. But dinner was pancakes and bacon, which is probably his favorite food (that and when we were asking him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, he said pancakes - great! Dinner and birthday "cake" all in one!)
Some photos of the occasion:
Anyway, to celebrate his second birthday, we took him on The Polar Express train ride at Hood River this past weekend. SUCH a fun time (but it won't be an annual event by any means...that would definitely take the excitement and wonder out of it). One of the funniest parts of the evening was when Santa got onto our train car and everyone claps and cheers and is excited and then there is Roman, who starts crying and saying "No thank you. No thank you." to having to visit with Santa (he came around, though, after he saw the other kids surviving the encounter)
His actual birthday was a mellow event - dinner and presents. But dinner was pancakes and bacon, which is probably his favorite food (that and when we were asking him what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday, he said pancakes - great! Dinner and birthday "cake" all in one!)
Some photos of the occasion:
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| The golden ticket! |
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| He loved getting the silver jingle bell from Santa. |
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| I guess you aren't so scary after all, Santa! |
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| Of course, he got a tractor from us. |
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| Jacob took the day off from work to hang out with Roman on his birthday :) The went to Powell's and Voodoo Donuts and rode the MAX and went to the nickel arcade and ate pizza! |
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| His pancakes cake! Four pancakes, whip cream, a candle and a tractor for the topper. We added raspberries and blueberries after he blew out the candle. |
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| Yes, he did bite off part of the candle. "bite the candle" and "yummy candle." |
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| One of the best family photos we've gotten in awhile :) |
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Summer: Are We There Yet?
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am really beginning to crave summer. The desire for natural warmth, light and Vitamin D is hitting me kind of early this year. Heck, it hasn’t even snowed and we’ve only just put up all of our Christmas decorations….the tree is lit and lovely and twirling away, and it is really fun to see Roman get excited about all of the Christmas lights every where we go (“beautifullllll,” he says. Love him!!).
BUT, today is sunshiney and I WANT SUMMER!
I get the craving every year, and I actually really like when it happens. It makes me want to super extra deep clean my house (compounded with all of the nesting that has accompanied this pregnancy, you’d thing my house would be meticulous, but not so much. I can’t keep up and it’s driving me nuts!). It makes me want to eat only fruit and vegetables and wholly nourish myself in the best ways possible. It makes me want to exercise, which isn’t exactly easy in my current state, but at least it makes me get out and walk more often). Finally, it puts me in the best mood ever when I start to crave summer, which is a great alternative to the SAD so many are prone to this time of year, myself included.
Okay, so only, like, 182.5 days until summer! I guess some pictures will have to do for now...
BUT, today is sunshiney and I WANT SUMMER!
I get the craving every year, and I actually really like when it happens. It makes me want to super extra deep clean my house (compounded with all of the nesting that has accompanied this pregnancy, you’d thing my house would be meticulous, but not so much. I can’t keep up and it’s driving me nuts!). It makes me want to eat only fruit and vegetables and wholly nourish myself in the best ways possible. It makes me want to exercise, which isn’t exactly easy in my current state, but at least it makes me get out and walk more often). Finally, it puts me in the best mood ever when I start to crave summer, which is a great alternative to the SAD so many are prone to this time of year, myself included.
Okay, so only, like, 182.5 days until summer! I guess some pictures will have to do for now...
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Pregnancy 2.0
I thought a change from my usual music and ranting posts might be in order for once.
In a few days I will begin in my third trimester of pregnancy. Week 28 of 40 (ish) (or 7 months, if you prefer months over weeks, and I do). I can't believe how quickly time has gone by this time around. It didn't drag on the first time or anything but it is flying by this time.
We know we are having a boy. Or a girl.
Like last time, I haven't had any food cravings or aversions but my nose is a little more sensitive to car exhaust. The one weird craving that I had was to listen to 80s bands such as The Cure and The Clash. Best craving ever....I never knew what I was missing! I never had the slightest interest in listening to pretty much any music from the 80s and, in fact, would just change the channel when it came on. Besides the baby itself, the other best gift this pregnancy has given me is a respect and appreciation for some truly awesome music. And it was most definitely a craving. I absolutely HAD to hear the song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, and it all went from there. What the hell kind of music lover was I before this?
Unlike last time, I had a few weeks of nausea but thankfully never actually threw up. I just had a general feeling of barfyness all day a few days a week for about 4-6 weeks.
Leg cramps - check, but so far not quite as frequently as round one.
Heartburn - nothing like last time. So far maybe just once or twice.
I began show much quicker this time around, which I have heard is very common after your first pregnancy. Jacob and I are both amazed every day at how ginormous my tummy is.
Praise the Lord, not a stretch mark in sight and no more spider veins in my legs than I had last time (which, happily, went away after Roman was born and I am hopeful they will go away this time as well. however, if genetics are any indicator, I might be in for it. Sorry about your legs, mom).
TMI alert - I'm not nearly as, shall we say, frisky this time. Sorry for all your wasted efforts, Jacob. I bet he was so excited for my second trimester to roll around, thinking it would be like last time. He swears that we are having a girl because of this difference (but a friend of mine who has a son recently told me she was the same way, so there goes that theory).
I am thankful that just like last time, it has been an easygoing process. It's just getting harder to do things like get out of bed and bend over to tie my shoes or put on my socks. To get out of bed, sometimes I have to rock a little from side to side to gain some momentum. :)
I love feeling all of the kicking and movement and it is fun to see my belly move around.
Nesting started really early this time and I've really enjoyed all of the amped-up domesticness (that must be a sign that it's a girl too because girls are more into cooking and cleaning. Right?). I'm usually pretty domestic, but like I said, this is domestic skills on steroids!
We're getting very excited for Baby Wright II's arrival. We might finally have our names picked out (don't ask. I won't tell you what the are). I'm not sure how we are going to manage two young kids, and it is going to be extra tough over the next year because Jacob is also working on his masters degree and we both work full time, but we are ready to take it on!!!
We keep telling Roman there is a baby in mommy's tummy and I think he is starting to understand. He's going to be an awesome older brother....after the initial loathing and jealousy wears off, of course.
Roman wants to be in the picture too.
Must be a boy! (ignore the glowing boobs)
This one will have to do. Almost 28 weeks/7 months.
In a few days I will begin in my third trimester of pregnancy. Week 28 of 40 (ish) (or 7 months, if you prefer months over weeks, and I do). I can't believe how quickly time has gone by this time around. It didn't drag on the first time or anything but it is flying by this time.
We know we are having a boy. Or a girl.
Like last time, I haven't had any food cravings or aversions but my nose is a little more sensitive to car exhaust. The one weird craving that I had was to listen to 80s bands such as The Cure and The Clash. Best craving ever....I never knew what I was missing! I never had the slightest interest in listening to pretty much any music from the 80s and, in fact, would just change the channel when it came on. Besides the baby itself, the other best gift this pregnancy has given me is a respect and appreciation for some truly awesome music. And it was most definitely a craving. I absolutely HAD to hear the song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, and it all went from there. What the hell kind of music lover was I before this?
Unlike last time, I had a few weeks of nausea but thankfully never actually threw up. I just had a general feeling of barfyness all day a few days a week for about 4-6 weeks.
Leg cramps - check, but so far not quite as frequently as round one.
Heartburn - nothing like last time. So far maybe just once or twice.
I began show much quicker this time around, which I have heard is very common after your first pregnancy. Jacob and I are both amazed every day at how ginormous my tummy is.
Praise the Lord, not a stretch mark in sight and no more spider veins in my legs than I had last time (which, happily, went away after Roman was born and I am hopeful they will go away this time as well. however, if genetics are any indicator, I might be in for it. Sorry about your legs, mom).
TMI alert - I'm not nearly as, shall we say, frisky this time. Sorry for all your wasted efforts, Jacob. I bet he was so excited for my second trimester to roll around, thinking it would be like last time. He swears that we are having a girl because of this difference (but a friend of mine who has a son recently told me she was the same way, so there goes that theory).
I am thankful that just like last time, it has been an easygoing process. It's just getting harder to do things like get out of bed and bend over to tie my shoes or put on my socks. To get out of bed, sometimes I have to rock a little from side to side to gain some momentum. :)
I love feeling all of the kicking and movement and it is fun to see my belly move around.
Nesting started really early this time and I've really enjoyed all of the amped-up domesticness (that must be a sign that it's a girl too because girls are more into cooking and cleaning. Right?). I'm usually pretty domestic, but like I said, this is domestic skills on steroids!
We're getting very excited for Baby Wright II's arrival. We might finally have our names picked out (don't ask. I won't tell you what the are). I'm not sure how we are going to manage two young kids, and it is going to be extra tough over the next year because Jacob is also working on his masters degree and we both work full time, but we are ready to take it on!!!
We keep telling Roman there is a baby in mommy's tummy and I think he is starting to understand. He's going to be an awesome older brother....after the initial loathing and jealousy wears off, of course.
Roman wants to be in the picture too.
Must be a boy! (ignore the glowing boobs)
This one will have to do. Almost 28 weeks/7 months.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Road Rage Monday!
Dear Lady in front of me on Mill Plain:
You don't need to slow down so early. You don't need to accelerate so slowly. You don't need to be going slower than the drivers in the right lane if you are in the left lane. You DEFINITELY DO need to get over when the person behind you has to resort to honking and flashing their lights at you. People like you give me a spike in blood pressure. I am sure it is my own issue and not yours, but still, be courteous and GET THE FRICK OVER! You don't belong in the left lane. You had plenty of room to get over but I did not, otherwise I would have passed you a lot earlier than I did.
Go back home to your four cats.
Hate,
Sally
You don't need to slow down so early. You don't need to accelerate so slowly. You don't need to be going slower than the drivers in the right lane if you are in the left lane. You DEFINITELY DO need to get over when the person behind you has to resort to honking and flashing their lights at you. People like you give me a spike in blood pressure. I am sure it is my own issue and not yours, but still, be courteous and GET THE FRICK OVER! You don't belong in the left lane. You had plenty of room to get over but I did not, otherwise I would have passed you a lot earlier than I did.
Go back home to your four cats.
Hate,
Sally
Friday, October 12, 2012
Watch Out, World!
Sally is in total bitch-mode. So while I’m here, I may as well revel in it for awhile. Ready? Here goes!
Eff you, politics. I hate you. I hate the slander and lies, I hate the littering of signs all over the road side and people’s yards, I hate that millions and millions of dollars are spent on campaigning. I hate that our government is so divided and broken. I hate that there are so many people who go only by party lines. I hate how much time is wasted by a politician telling me what their opponent hasn’t done/isn’t doing. I don’t care. Instead, tell me what you are going to do to fix the problems. Tell me more about your plans than your opinion of your opponent. Roseanne Barr for President!!! Man, I seriously love her.
I hate that there are still people out there who spend any iota of time or resources to see that certain rights be reserved only for certain people. Really? There are still people who don’t think that all human beings deserve the same rights? I can’t wait until the judgmental are judged.
Speaking of judgmental – am I the only person in the WORLD who doesn’t think Jessica Biel is good looking? I wouldn’t even consider her cute. Why does no one else see this? (Confidential to Justin Timberlake - you could do SO much better. Have you met my friend Wendy? You two would make a good match)
I hate all other drivers on the road. Especially the ones who are texting or talking on the phone while they drive. I can’t believe there are people who still do this even though we hear all the time about the horrible (and SO preventable) accidents this causes.
Speaking of preventable causes of death – really, smokers?
I can’t believe the shelf life that Reality TV has had. I hate reality TV and find it ludicrous that is it even called Reality TV because of all of the people I know none of them have lives that are, IN REALITY, that fucked up. Maybe watching that stuff just makes people feel better about their own lives. But really, there are better ways to go about feeling good about oneself. (That said, I am guilty as charged for watching One Tree Hill and really enjoying it. I know it isn’t reality TV, but shows like that are just as bad).
Aah - I feel better. In the words of Calvin "nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around."
Eff you, politics. I hate you. I hate the slander and lies, I hate the littering of signs all over the road side and people’s yards, I hate that millions and millions of dollars are spent on campaigning. I hate that our government is so divided and broken. I hate that there are so many people who go only by party lines. I hate how much time is wasted by a politician telling me what their opponent hasn’t done/isn’t doing. I don’t care. Instead, tell me what you are going to do to fix the problems. Tell me more about your plans than your opinion of your opponent. Roseanne Barr for President!!! Man, I seriously love her.
I hate that there are still people out there who spend any iota of time or resources to see that certain rights be reserved only for certain people. Really? There are still people who don’t think that all human beings deserve the same rights? I can’t wait until the judgmental are judged.
Speaking of judgmental – am I the only person in the WORLD who doesn’t think Jessica Biel is good looking? I wouldn’t even consider her cute. Why does no one else see this? (Confidential to Justin Timberlake - you could do SO much better. Have you met my friend Wendy? You two would make a good match)
I hate all other drivers on the road. Especially the ones who are texting or talking on the phone while they drive. I can’t believe there are people who still do this even though we hear all the time about the horrible (and SO preventable) accidents this causes.
Speaking of preventable causes of death – really, smokers?
I can’t believe the shelf life that Reality TV has had. I hate reality TV and find it ludicrous that is it even called Reality TV because of all of the people I know none of them have lives that are, IN REALITY, that fucked up. Maybe watching that stuff just makes people feel better about their own lives. But really, there are better ways to go about feeling good about oneself. (That said, I am guilty as charged for watching One Tree Hill and really enjoying it. I know it isn’t reality TV, but shows like that are just as bad).
Aah - I feel better. In the words of Calvin "nothing helps a bad mood like spreading it around."
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