NEW MUSIC

from behind, originally uploaded by joanna eleanor.

I got an email from emusic yesterday offering 50 free downloads. I was skeptical that I'd even be able to find 50 worth the trouble, since they don't have the same mainstream talent as iTunes. I found out that they do have lots of idie musicians and classic hits - not worth a subscription, but nice for an afternoon perusal.

I was pleasantly surprised when my search for new Christian music turned up Isa Couvertier, pictured above. I'd never heard of her, but her pure lyrics and catchy melodies make her stand out from the pack. She's the newest addition to my Christian singer/songwriter playlist. Finally, there's someone to keep Sara Groves and Matt Kearney company.

I also downloaded some songs from Enter the Worship Circle. I love that series, but every time I buy the CD's I end up giving them away. And I stumbled across the song, "Better than Life" by Julie Meyer - definitely worth the download.

Totally unrelated: The road trip was a blast. Maybe I will move to Oxford someday, or at least Pontotoc... It would be nice to live in a town where generations of my family were born and raised. Walking those streets, I loved feeling a stronger sense of history and connection with the past.

GOOGLE

offee, originally uploaded by Pose.

Google Maps still amazes me. Ryan and I are meeting at Starbucks in Hattiesburg in the morning. Since he's from out of town, I wanted to email simple directions. Two clicks later, and the job was done. They may not have all their ducks in a row, but I have to give them a gold star in geography!

ENTERPRISE HIGH

Mighty storm, originally uploaded by Newsblogpicture.

My thoughts and prayers are with the survivors of this week's storms. Seeing the photos and hearing the news reports struck a nerve, reminding me of Katrina. I was impressed that the Mayor in AL asked everyone watching the news to pray for the town. I thought I'd pass that request on here.

ETSY IDEA #1 & ROADTRIP MANIA

Glitterboard Mansion for Kelsey and Neilio., originally uploaded by icklebird.

I think I've found my first craft idea for etsy. I'm making a note of it here so I remember. The patterns for these retro houses are from the book Vintage Christmas Crafts by Sara Toliver. ISBN #1-4027-2791-7. Su has some construction tips for them on her blog.

Update on the roadtrip: Ryan just called and asked me to drive up to Oxford this weekend to see the University Theatre Department's production of Noises Off. Cool.

FLAMES ON THE SIDES OF MY FACE

Flames on the side of my face..., originally uploaded by Hilly_Blue.

Let me begin by stating the obvious: Madeline Kahn was a comic genius. This screen capture is from my all-time favorite movie scene. Do you recognize the movie?

It's one of those films I used to watch with friends - reciting the lines and laughing the whole time. It's right up there with Monty Python's Holy Grail.

Speaking of having a good time with friends, I'm just about dying to have an old skool road trip. If not to go camping, then at least a day trip to a concert. Heck, I'd settle for driving to Mobile for dinner at a decent restaurant. I just emailed a friend to see if we can put something together.

I finally got around to tweaking my preferences for last.fm; one of the features is a local concert calendar. Check out the three choices it highlighted for next month:

Taylor Hicks (!) @ House of Blues, NO on Wed. the 14th.

Paolo Nutini (Irish-Italian guy who sings with an Irish accent) @ Soul Kitchen, Mobile on Thursday, March 15th.

Shane & Shane (Christian singer/songwriting pair) @ St. Timothy UMC in Mandeville on Sunday, March 18th.

I wish I could attend all three. If I manage to go to one, it will be my first time to do anything majorly social since I returned home from overseas. I don't think I've even been to a movie. (What's playing, anyway?) My big day each week is grocery shopping. When did I start acting like a senior citizen?!

CHRIS WHITE

Please tell me why no talent posers get all the radio airtime and entertainers like this guy have to resort to youtube virals. Down with payola! Up with free enterprise!

PUBLIC DOMAIN SILENT MOVIES @ YOUTUBE

ETSY

120x120etsy, originally uploaded by designsponge.

Not sure if I've blogged about etsy before, but it's great, so check it out. I'm working on some ideas for things to post there, and I think my sis has already started selling there.

SARAH'S MAKE-DO

Primitive Heart Pin Cushion Front 2, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I'm proud of my sister. She made this pincushion and uploaded the photo onto my flickr stream. This picture is now in flickr's top 500 most "interesting" photos for Feb 7th. Way to go, Sarah! Can't wait to see some more of your new craft photos!

VALENTINE'S DAY MAILBOX

1970's School Valentine's Day Box, originally uploaded by Neato Coolville.

This box belongs to Todd. He made it back in 4th grade. Can you believe he saved it all these years? I made a box that year, but I didn't keep it. I remember ripping it into a million pieces after school that day.

We had a class contest for best decorated Valentine mailbox. I worked so hard decorating mine, only to come in 2nd place to my friend Reagan. After the party, on the playground, Reagan confessed to me that her mom had made hers. I was so bummed out!

This year, on Valentine's day, I judged a school art contest. The experience made me recall that bad 4th grade memory. As I interviewed each kid, I made sure I asked all the contestants to describe exactly how they made their entries!

FOOD

Even McDonald's is blingy in Vegas, originally uploaded by Fuzzy Gerdes.

I normally avoid fast food, but yesterday when the alarm sounded, I woke up thinking about McDonald's breakfast. The craving was enough incentive to help me drag myself from my warm bed at 5 am. The line was so long at the drive-thru I decided to go inside for my biscuit and Coke. I was hoping to relive one of those childhood moments when the only thing better than the McDonald's food was the happy meal toy that came with it. No such luck. That biscuit was the single-most salty thing I've ever tasted. I can't call it food. It was so bad, I've decided never to eat at McDonald's again. I started heading in this direction after watching "Super-Size Me," but this biscuit was the nail in the coffin.

Speaking of food. Tonight is the final episode of Bravo's Top Chef. Am I the only one rooting for Marcel? Not sure how I got hooked on this show, but I'm surprised by how much I enjoy it.

LADY

2 of the dogs, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Dad's dog Lady died today. She was poisoned, we think accidentally. She suffered a lot, and it was one of those rare times when I saw Daddy cry.

I hate times when someone I love is hurting and there is nothing I can do to make them feel better...

STATE OF THE UNION

Bush delivers the state of the Union to Congress tomorrow. I will be sure to watch, but I imagine it will be the same old song and dance. We'll see...

I am finally over the jet lag. Flying was a total nightmare. More on that later...maybe. Seems like I'm a little like Bush tonight - little disclosure and no definite timeline.

What's your opinion of Bush? If you believe the polls, he's the least popular president...maybe, ever.

VOTE FOR JIM, CLASS PRESIDENT.

Obviously, one of my New Year's resolutions is NOT to blog daily. I'm finally getting around to this first post of the new year. Hope 2007 is treating you well (and vice versa, conversely).

Jim Gaffigan is my favorite comedian. I downloaded some of his material and put it on my ipod. When I listened to him at the gym, I ended up falling off the treadmill. I laughed so hard I couldn't keep running.

Anyway, Jim is in a Comedy Central contest and I'd sure like it if he won. If you want to vote for him, follow this link:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sparkler, originally uploaded by Eric....

We've just rung in the new year. Hope your weather is a bit more suited to fireworks than it proved to be here in Germany - we were forced to brave a freezing drizzle and high winds. (Happy to be back inside, warm and dry.) May you and yours have a very happy 2007!

SNOW

snow day 004, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

We finally had our first day of snow since my arrival. I threw a snowball at David, and he built a tiny snowman. Now it feels a bit more like Christmastime.

Tomorrow night we are planning a bonfire in the firepit behind the house. We'll cook hotdogs and have smores. It has been raining a lot lately, so we're making the most of the predicted clear night.

Fireworks went on sale this morning, and David was there when the doors opened, Christmas money in hand. I might just be in for my loudest New Year's Eve, ever.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Lights, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

We lit the last advent candle tonight. In a few hours we'll head to the state church for a song service. Tomorrow morn we'll open gifts. Merry Christmas, everyone!

VERLIEBT IN GYMNASIUM

My niece attends public school here in Germany. Ellen is pretty level-headed, but like most 15-yr-old girls, she spends her day with schoolmates whose lives are brim-full of drama. Her little brother's English has a few gaps, so yesterday at dinner when I compared Ellen's classroom to a "Soap Opera," I had to define the unfamiliar term for David.

His Dad helped me to explain by offering the example of "Verleibt in Berlin," a cult hit in Germany that boasted 5 million daily TV viewers in 2005. Dan described the plot and cast to me, and I recognized the show as a current cross-over American weekly dramedy called, "Ugly Betty." Curious, I googled it and found out the history of the show.

It originally began in 1999 as a Columbian telanovella titled, "Yo soy Betty, la fea." In addition to Spanish, English, and German versions, there have also been Dutch, Russian, Indian, and Israeli adaptations. Score one for the "small world" concept. I imagine that the writer of "The Devil Wears Prada" also took the idea from some version of the original Columbian hit.

My inner grad student is tempted to write a comparison contrast essay about the different versions of this Cinderella story and the insights they reveal about our changing global cuture. I wonder why lots of the world's population enjoys watching fashionistas make fun of an ugly duckling.

TRAVEL UPDATE

g 032 Blankeneser Kirche am Markt, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I've had a bit of jetlag and the weather's been rainy, so sightseeing is getting a slow start. We did drive around to a few of the neighboring villages, and tonight we went to the State Church in Hamburg for a Christmas Concert. I've posted a few pics on flickr, and you can see them by following the link in the photo above.