Hannah

On this point, me and Miss Stefani are in complete agreement (well, on most points me and Miss Stefani are in complete agreement). I love makeup. Foundation, cleanser, eye shadow, liner, lipstick — I love it all! You can emphasize your finer points (Much like Ned Beatty in Deliverance, I have a pretty mouth. Though I’ve never had Surprize Butsecks with hill folks). You can also camouflage your less than finer points (Hi pimples! Hi undereye circles that never go away!). Or you can go crazy and look like something, anything, completely different. Go Goth, be a rave kid, vamp it out. The possibilities are endless.

Now allow me to gush on the products I use each and every day. I’ll go into my more avant garde stuff later. Because I’m nice, I’ll even tell you where to get it and how much you’ll probably pay for it.

Cleanser:

Cetaphil is my cleanser of choice because my skin is mad cranky. Just one pump gets my whole face nice and clean. I’ve heard of people using it to take makeup off, but I wouldn’t try it. Also, it uh, sorta resembles a certain bodily fluid. Yes, I’m 12; shut up. It’ll set you back about $10, but you get a massive amount (16 fl. oz.), and like I said, you only need one pump to get your whole face clean. You can find it almost anywhere (Walgreens, Wal-Mart, CVS, etc.).

If you’re looking for something a little higher end, Kinerase’s Gentle Daily Cleanser is fabulous. A bit creamier than Cetaphil, it’s just as calming and my skin adored it. Unfortunately, it’s going to set you back $30 and unless you have a Sephora store close by, you’ll need to head online (my favorite online beauty source is Sephora) to get a hold of it. I only had a sample so I don’t know how long a full-sized bottle (6.6 ounces) of this stuff will last you, but it might be worth the price.

Moisturizer:

Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer is fabulous for sensitive skin and it has the added bonus of SPF. It has a really nice consistency and does a fantastic job of keeping skin supple. Because it’s for sensitive skin and has no added fragrances, you can use as much as you want. Even so, just a dab gets the job done easily. It costs between $6 - $8 and you can get it at the usual places (Wal-Mart, Walgreens, you know the drill). Also, coupons pop up often enough, so you can get it for even cheaper. You also get a good amount of product for the money (4 fl oz). Mine actually went bad before I ever ran out.

Another, more expensive, option is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. The gel is an alternative to the lotion version of the same product. It’s also very good for sensitive skin and soaks in like a dream. The downside is its lack of SPF (Boo, Clinique, boo!). But it comes in a handy dandy pump and you can slather on as much as you like. It’s probably necessary as just a dab does nothing for me. A 4.2 ounce bottle costs $23 and you can get it at any Clinique counter, Clinique’s Web site or Sephora.

Primer:

I confess I don’t use primer as much as probably should, but when I do, MAC’s Prep + Prime Face Protect is a godsend. It has SPF 50 — that’s right people, 50!!! It has a deliciously creamy consistency and just a little goes a long way. Which is good because it’s pretty expensive for such a small amount. You’ll be ponying up $26.50 for 1 fl oz. Yup, one ounce. You’ll have to hit up your local MAC counter or Web site to get it.

Another good option I’ve found is Napolean Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-foundation Primer. I got sample of this with an order from Sephora’s Web site (that’s the beauty of Sephora; samples, lovely samples) and it made my foundation look smooth and last for a good while. This, however, offers no SPF and a 1.7 oz. tube will set you back $39. Also, you’ll probably need to hit up the Web to get it. Primer’s not a requirement though, and while I listed it with my daily routine, it won’t hurt to skip it.

Concealer:

OK, I’ve presented two options for every category, but I’ve only ever used one concealer, so that’s the one I’m going to gush about. I use Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-in-Place Concealer. It blends well with my foundation (which is also Estee Lauder, but we’ll get to that). It covers pimples and dark under eye circles well and comes in a pretty convenient package. It also has SPF 10. Yes, I am obsessed with sun protection; why do you ask? A .24 fl oz tube will cost $19.50 and you can get it at an Estee Lauder counter or their Web site.

Foundation:

I’m a fickle creature when it comes to foundations, I’ll admit. I’ve used a million different kinds in a myriad of formulations. My current favorite is Estee Lauder’s Double Matte foundation. It has an SPF of 15 and eight different shades to choose from. That’s not many, but mine seems to do a decent job of matching my skin. True to its name, it stays shine free throughout most of the day, though I always have to blot toward the end of the night. Just a small amount gives my face excellent coverage, and it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky. A 1 fl oz bottle costs $32.50 and can be found at an Estee Lauder counter or the Web.

Another great option is from Clinique. It’s called Perfectly Real. It matches skin like a dream, blends great and has a lovely, almost mousse-like texture. However, its staying power is woefully limited and it does absolutely nothing to stop the greasies. If you’re not of the oily persuasion, it would be a fantastic option. It covers well and, like most foundation, a little goes a long way. A 1 oz. tube costs $22.50 and you can get it through your Clinique counter, their Web site or Sephora.

Blush:

I’m new to the blush game and it’s definitely territory where one must tread lightly. The right shade can make you look flushed and awake; the wrong shade can make you look like a graduate from clown college. One of the best I’ve found is Hot Mama from TheBalm. It’s a pretty peachy pink with a gold shimmer. Don’t fear the shimmer though, it’s very subtle. It gives a sexy, ‘I’ve just finished a romp in the sheets’ flush that’s still very wearable. I’ve given it a whirl as an eye shadow, but wasn’t all that impressed. The packaging is incredibly cheeky and not terribly expensive at $18 for an 1 oz. package. As with most things, hit up Sephora.

A more recent discovery is Dandelion by Benefit. This powder has been out for a while, but I lived in fear of pink blush. This stuff is nothing to fear. Though it’s called a highlighter online and a few online reviews say it makes a better face powder, with my admittedly pasty complexion it makes me look like a good night’s rest even when I’m dog tired. It comes with its own brush which is feels velvety and does a good job of distributing the powder evenly. You’ll plunk down $28 for .35 oz, but a little goes a long way. Hit up Sephora or Benefit’s Web site.

Face Powder:

I’ll admit I have a love/hate relationship with face powder. I love the airbrushed look it gives my face; I loathe the way it cakes up when I so much as break a sweat. I switch out powders depending on what I need on any given day. My usual go to is Mineral Veil by Bare Escentuals. I got this in the Bare Escentuals mineral makeup starter kit. I HATED the foundation, never touched the bronzer, left the Skin Revver-Upper in the box and pretended the brushed didn’t exist, but the Mineral Veil is love. It goes on nice and sheer and keeps things in place. It is a bit on the shimmery side, which can get annoying. A .47 ounce jar costs $19. Hit up Sephora.

My second favorite is what I use when my makeup absolutely cannot move for any reason. Estee Lauder’s Double Matte Oil-Control pressed powder holds everything together and does an efficient job keeping the shine in its place. A .49 oz compact has lasted me almost three years. $25 may be a bit much for some, but seriously, I’ve had mine for three years! Take to the Web or the mall to find it.

Eye Shadow:

I love eye shadow. Like really love. Will have eye shadow’s babies kinda love. It’s the most versatile of all makeup products. While yes, some colors do compliment certain eye and skin colors, generally anyone can wear any kind of eye makeup.That said, I have my favorites. My everyday eye color is Vellum by MAC. A frosty white in the pot, it’s a duochrome that shine purple and blue from different angles. In a word: Gorgeous! It’s subtle enough to wear to work, but still crazy glam. The pot appears small at a mere .05 oz, a little goes a long way. It costs $14. A word of warning about MAC eye shadows in general: This stuff does not play. It’s heavily pigment and if you’re not careful, you may end up looking like a drag queen without meaning to.

This one isn’t just one eye shadow. Oh no, friends, it’s a palette. I love palettes; they’re the best way to get the most bang for your buck. Urban Decay’s Deluxe Shadow Box is a true winner. This set features nine of the brand’s Deluxe eye shadows which are velvety, heavily pigmented joys in and of themselves. The Deluxe line has 11 shades in total. The only ones missing from this are Heat and Sting. But there’s still something for everyone. Shimmery neutrals (the pretty Champagne colored Scratch is my favorite of those) mingle with bold brights and a dark blue and a gorgeous black round it out. This set also comes with a sample sized Primer Potion, which is a fantastic eye shadow base. Each shadow is about .03 oz, but a small amount is all you need for intense color. The shebang costs $36 and can be found at Sephora or Urban Decay’s Web site.

Mascara:

I bought CoverGirl Lash Blast mainly because Drew Barrymore was in the advertisements and Drew would never, ever steer me wrong. And I’m happy to report she was right again. I bought the waterproof version because my allergies can make my eyes water and I like avoid raccoon eyes when I can. A lot of people across the Web hate on this product, but I love it. The wand is thicker than most and it takes some getting used to. Also, you cannot be heavy handed with this one; use a light touch. A .44 fl oz tube will run you about $7, and keep your eyes peeled for coupons. It’s easy to find at whatever drugstore or discount store makes you happy.

Another option is Clinique’s High Definition Lashes. It has a spiffy little comb on the other side of the brush that I never use. The formula and the regular brush are more than enough to get your lashes all sex kitten looking. It has staying power, though it’s not waterproof. A .24 fl oz tube will run you $14 and you can get it wherever you get Clinique, you know on the Web, in the mall, etc.

Eyeliner:

All things considered, I suck at eyeliner. But I keep on keeping on! My personal favorite is Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Liner. It comes in a vibrant array of colors and it’s a liquid so you brush it on. You can pile it on heavy for a glam punk effect or go easy on it and be edgy but still classy. A .25 fl oz tube costs $18 and you can get it from Sephora or the brand’s Web site.

Urban Decay and MAC kick ass in the eye makeup department. Woe unto me I haven’t tried any of MAC’s liners yet, but Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye pencils take the cake. They come in vibrant shades and glide on smooth with no pulling or tugging. They’re just sparkly enough to be fun without being straight-up tacky. They’re also waterproof and delightfully creamy. A .04 oz pencil costs about $16. Again, get it anywhere you get Urban Decay.

Lipstick:

My love for lip color knows no bounds. Truly. I adore it all. My favorite right now is Black Honey Almost Lipstick by Clinique. While it looks dangerously dark in the tube, it goes a delightful sheer berry that can be built up into a lovely, vampy wine. Its staying power leaves something to be desired, but it’s still a beautiful lip color that flatters everyone. A .07 oz tube will set you back $14 and you can get it wherever you get Clinique.

L’Oreal’s Infallible Lip Gloss was a find brought to my attention by my dearly beloved Sheena. My shade is Fiery which looks a scary brown in the bottle, but is a pretty coral with gold shimmer on lips. The glossiness eventually wears off, but it leaves behind a pretty coral stain. It’s a steal at about $9 for a .21 fl oz tube. Coupons pop up for it, so keep a look out.

Makeup Remover:

Now that you’ve got it all on, it’s time to take it all off. No, not like that! Sleeping in makeup is evil, so you have to remove it at the end of the night. My favorite (and the only one I ever use) is MAC’s Cleanse Off Oil. It seems counterintuitive to use oil to clean your face, but this stuff is amazing. Waterproof mascara and tough foundation doesn’t stand a chance. One or two pumps slathered on a dry face and then washed off with a washcloth gets your mug ready for the rest of your routine. $20 for 5 fl oz sounds like a lot, but I’ve had mine for 6 months. Get it at the MAC counter or the Web site.

This post was way longer than I meant for it to go, but next time I’ll go into products that I love, but don’t use daily.

In honor of my best gal’s birthday, I present the one and the only GERARD!

He’s pensive because he’s not currently chained to your bed post. I’d be angry too really.

He’s thinking ‘Nom nom nom, this microphone is tasty but Bean would be better!’

My pelvis, let me show you it.

Does this shot make me look artsy?

JAZZ HANDS! And hips!

A tongue, I haz one!!! You can take it from there!

Hehe. Sweaty. Hehe.

HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER, HOT MAMA!!!!

Usually my self-diagnosed ADD prevents me from being able to read anything longer than a really compelling magazine article. Unless the story is fresh, the writing tight and the subject interesting, I can’t make myself slog through much in the way of written word these days. Chalk it up to my day job where I spend all day reading other people’s crap and trying to turn into gold when I can.

However, I believe I’ve found my saving grace. Teen Lit. I love it. Well, to be specific, the current series I’m reading: ‘Vampire Kisses’ by Ellen Schreiber. I’ve already devoured the first two, now I’m hunting down the next two in the series.

Quick synopsis: Raven is a 16-year-old Goth kid living in white-bread suburbia. She finds out that a family has moved in to the creepy abandoned mansion in town and immediately starts investigating. She meets and soon falls in love with the teenage boy residing in the mansion, Alexander. Raven then discovers that her ‘Gothic Mate’ is in fact a vampire. Shenanigans ensue, hearts are broken and then quickly mended, kisses are exchanged, etc. etc.

Raven is my favorite part of the whole thing. She’s plucky, funny and incredibly likable. She’s accepted her lot in life as the Goth kid and doesn’t let it bother her. Despite a tough, scary exterior, she’s an incredibly tender-hearted character with a vibrant sense of humor. I almost wish she were a real person because we totally would have been best friends when I was a kid. Whenever I picture her character, I think of Ellen Page in Goth gear.

Alexander’s character is also extremely interesting. Because the story is written from Raven’s first-person perspective, you learn about his personality in bits and pieces right along with her. From the descriptions, he sounds incredibly hot. Definitely the kind of dude my 16-year-old self (and hell, my 24-year-old self) would go insane over. I keep seeing a slick, polished Davey Havok in my mind’s eye. Sorry Sheena, but Davey’s way more convincing as a vampire than Gerard. It’s the facial structure, I think.

The actual writing is excellent as far as teen lit goes. A few spelling errors and typos marred the first book, but I found none in the second. Though the insistence on using excess serial commas annoys me, I’ve found that in every single book I’ve read. I don’t know if the publishing world chooses to ignore that rule or what. Raven talks as you would expect a teenager to talk. There’s no ridiculous slang which makes me think that the writer actually knows actual teenagers and didn’t just write a bunch of nonsense and go ‘That’s how the kids these days talk, right?’ (Diablo Cody, I’m looking at you.) A few pop culture references could be lost on some, like Raven’s ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ and ‘Edward Scissorhands’ accessories, but if you don’t know those two films, frankly you are dead to me, so that takes care of that. Some of the more veiled references made me giggle. There’s a store in the book called Hot Gothics. Anyone want to guess what that’s like?

‘Vampire Kisses’ is really a very fun, rewarding read. You’ll find yourself smiling and laughing right along with Raven in her various hijinks. It doesn’t take long to fall in love with the characters. According to the author’s Web site, she’s signed on to do write at least through Volume 8, so I look forward to reading a lot more about Raven and her gang.

Another series worth checking out, and one that I will be blogging on as soon as I get them ordered and in my hot little hands, is ‘The Last Vampire’ by Christopher Pike. I read it when I was in high school and actually did project for English class my junior year on the last one in the series. It’s more adult with sexual themes and death and destruction and the like, but still a very satisfying read.

I’m a terrible blogger. Really I am.

It’s been a crazy past couple of weeks and I don’t really have anything interesting to report. So, I shall retreat to my last refuge of writer’s block: MUSIC LIST!

The theme: Songs to sing when a love interest has pissed  you off! Without going in to detail about my situation, suffice it to say, I’m an unhappy penguin.

So, let’s begin!

‘You Make me Feel Like a Whore’ by Everclear: My love for Art knows no bounds. ‘Some day I’ll teach you to beg’ and ‘Take your word like it was gospel, I’m so eager to please, yeah I like it when you talk to me’ are so very relevant to my current situation. As well as the chorus, ‘You make me feel like a whore.’

‘Thnks Fr Th Mmrs’ by Fall Out Boy: So, it’s a little dramatic given my situation, but I’m a drama queen so deal with it. ‘One night and one more time, thanks for the memories, even though they weren’t so great, it tastes like you, only sweeter’ sticks with me because I’m going to remember that one thing for the rest of my life even though it’s kinda meh right now. I figure with age and time I’ll look back and cackle like hell. Oh, and I like to jump on my bed and sing this song into my cell phone antenna.

‘Irreplaceable’ by Beyonce: I really hate her, but I do think this song will be this generation’s ‘I Will Survive.’ ‘You must not know about me, I can have another you in a minute, matter of fact he’ll be here in a minute,’ should be part of every woman’s repertoire. I’m currently working up the cojones to add it to my own. And to dudes who might be reading this: ‘Don’t you ever for a second get to thinking, you’re irreplaceable.’

‘Dammit’ by Blink-182: This anthem has served me well since junior high. ‘A day late, a buck short, I’m writing the report, on losing and failing, when I move I’m flailing’ and ‘And it’s happen once again, I’ll turn to a friend, someone who understands and sees through the master plan, but everybody’s gone, and I’ve been here for too long, to face this on my own, well I guess this is growing up,’ are pretty much me in all my immature glory. It also makes me realize that relationships don’t actually change from what they were like at 14.

‘Say My Name’ by Destiny’s Child: ‘You acting kinda shady, ain’t calling me baby, why the sudden change’ and ‘First of all, let me say, that I am not the one to sit around and be played’. To which I say, PREACH.

‘Miserable’ by Lit: ‘You make me come, you make me complete, you make me completely miserable.’ Well, every part but the first two.

‘My Friends Over You’ by New Found Glory: I hoped I’d never have to dust this one off again, but here we are! ‘I’m drunk off your kiss, for another night in a row, this is becoming too routine for me, but I didn’t mean to lead you on’ and, my favorite, ‘You were everything I wanted, but I just can’t finish what I started, there’s no room left here on my back, it was damaged long ago, though you swear that you are true, I’d still pick my friends over you!’ make me smile a smile worthy of the Kool Aid man.

‘Roses’ by Outkast: Yeah, he’s singing about a girl named Caroline, but I’m creative! I’d put a sample lyric, but I can’t without laughing my ass off so, go here http://lyricwiki.org/OutKast:Roses

I made an effort to stay away from sad bastard music because I firmly believe this is nothing to be sad about. One of the splendid things about life is that it goes on, no matter how big, dumb or foolish your mistakes happen to be.

You ever get in a massively bad mood? Like for no good reason you’re sobbing all the time and just can’t help but think everything sucks? That’s been me this week. While I’ll spare you the gory details, the one thing that’s kept me somewhat functioning and even-keeled is, wait for it it!, music.

So in that spirit, I’ve decided to list the songs that never fail to calm me down when I need it.

‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley: I always stop and take a deep breath whenever I hear this. It’s so soothing.

‘Olala’ by Sensation Junkies: I have no idea if these guys are still around but the line ‘I may not amount to much more than a smile and a memory’ always speaks to me whenever I feel shitty.

‘Friday I’m in Love’ by The Cure: Let’s face it, Robert Smith can make any psuedo-emo kid smile. This song is also the perfect kind of sweet. You feel light when you hear it, but not bubbly.

‘Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) Remix’ by Fergie w/Sean Kingston: I know, I know. It’s Fergie. But I love her. A LOT. ‘But I’ve got to get a move on with my life’ makes me happy.

‘Stadium Arcadium’ by The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Musical Valium. First off, Anthony Kiedis can do no wrong. Also, there’s so much going on musically that you don’t have time to wallow, you just kind of hang on and let the song take you wherever it wants.

‘Boston’ by Augustana: Who hasn’t desperately needed a change of scenery? Plus, this song came out when I was in Colorado and it always made me feel better about how much I hated it there.

‘Move Along’ by The All-American Rejects: ‘When all you gotta keep is strong, move along, move along like I know you do, and even when your hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through.’ Sigh.  Who hasn’t been there? And Mr. Blue-Eyed Singer Dude? Come to Mama.

‘Tonight, Tonight’ by The Smashing Pumpkins: Obviously. We’ve discussed this.

‘Times Like These’ by The Foo Fighters: ‘It’s times like these you learn to live again, it’s times like these you give and give again.’ Preach it, Dave!

‘Of a Broken Heart’ by Zwan: Say what you will about Zwan, I loved it. And I really loved this song. In specific, ‘the heart of a child, is in your hands now, so let’s see you smile, because I’m not impressed, with your loneliness.’

‘Santa Monica’ by Everclear: I don’t think Art and company get enough credit. They are really a fucking great band. Oh, and I’ve seen them live. Yes, I do rock, just ask Sheena! But ‘We can live beside the ocean, leave the fire behind, swim out past the breakers, watch the world die’ is like a wonderful salve.

‘God Called in Sick Today’ by AFI: I love this. Big time. I don’t know what about it specifically makes me feel better, but it always does.

There are a million more that always make me feel better. It all depends on what I’m upset about. If I’m pissed off at work, Marilyn Manson and Korn make an appearance. If a crush has gone sour, mopey broken-heart music starts to show up in heavy rotation.

OK, so between funky work schedules, family drama and my new DS, this little baby’s been all but ignored. My apologies.

Add in a dash of ‘What the hell am I going to write about?!’ and you get the idea.

So I’m going to write about my new obsession: VIDEO GAMES!

I have a Wii (go ahead, envy me), a Playstation 2 and a Nintendo DS. I’m in love with each and every one of them. They each serve their own purpose.

The Wii is awesome for cutesy games. Current favorites are My Sims, Wii Sports and Rayman Raving Rabbids. The control scheme of the Wii makes interactive games a total blast, and also makes you look like the biggest moron ever whilst playing them. Wii Sports tops them all. Tennis and boxing are fantastic. If ever you need a stress relief, beating the soup out of a 3D cartoon character does the trick. It’s great for getting you off the sofa and actually interacting with your friends as opposed to sitting there and watching someone chop the head off of a monster for the umpteenth time. You can also make a cartoon version of yourself, called a Mii, but the options are fairly generic and you end up with a character that could look like anyone. The controls aren’t flawless and sometimes the games go beyond cutesy all the way into just plain stupid. Also, a lot of the games require more than one player, and if you usually play games solo, it’s kinda depressing. Who wants to be made to feel like a loser by their video game console? The games themselves aren’t exactly on the cheap side either and the number of different titles is by no means expansive. The console itself is relatively cheap considering the price of the Xbox and PS3. The fact that’s it’s damned hard to find is offputting. But the ability to check the weather, news and send e-mail through a wireless Internet connection are all pluses. It also can play Gamecube games and you can purchase classic NES and SNES games on the virtual console.

The Playstation 2 is my go-to system for when I feel like being a little more hardcore. Hardcore, of course, is a relative term for me. My favorites for the PS2 are Katamari Damacy, Final Fantasy and Destroy All Humans. The PS2 is great for RPGs and platformers and the control scheme is fairly fool proof and easy to pick up. The PS2 has it’s fair share of cutesy titles (which, if you couldn’t figure this out, I LOVE CUTESY TITLES!) as well as more violent fare. And you can play with friends or online if you want to, but you don’t have to. The games are reasonably priced and used titles are fairly easy to come by. The unit itself is incredibly inexpensive and, like the games, used units are easy to come by. It also plays DVDs and PS1 games. It can be hooked to the internet to play MMORPGs like Final Fantasy XI online. It also offers a wide variety of different games catering to every age group and gaming level.

The DS is a recent addition to my collection and so far has been successful in eating my life. My favorites so far are Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing: Wild World. It’s the perfect size to throw in your purse or bag if you know you’re going to have time to kill during the day. The battery life is fantastic and it comes in a range of colors (mine is Cobalt). It also has wireless capabilities so you can play online with friends from across the world or across the room. The unit itself is inexpensive, running about the same price as a PS2, and used units can be had. The games are inexpensive and expansive, and used titles abound. Simulation games are popular, but there are many fighting titles, RPGs and point and shoots. The DS also offers a huge selection of educational games like Brain Age and some foreign language games. You can also play GBA games.

All things considered, I play the DS more than any of my other systems. Because of it’s size, I can play it wherever I want. Also, the games are hella entertaining. I can slip it in my lunch bag and while I’m waiting around at work, I can harvest turnips or chat with friends in Animal Crossing.

It’s a fun way to pass the time and in some cases, you can learn new things. I have my eye on some French and Spanish language learning games.

I threatened it and now I’m following through: DAVEY HAVOK PICTURE POST!!

And yes, this will be a regular feature, so deal!

If you have any special requests, holla!

Now, as they say, let’s get it on!

Ella, ella, eh, eh, eh

Don’t be sad emo boy. Come here, mama will cheer you up.

Holy Manic Panic, Bat Man!

Choosing eyeliner can be so stressful sometimes.

Teh Sex, I iz it.

Although I have nothing compelling to report, I still felt obligated to post today. I’m giving myself a small break from the Smashing Pumpkins trip down memory lane. It’s pretty emotional and i need to give myself some time to comeback down from it.

My original plan was to do a Davey Havok picture post, but all of my good pictures are stored on my home computer. Alas, I am still chained to my desk at work, where I’ll be for another 4 hours or so. But never fear, the weekend, she is still young.

Instead, I bring you a list of people, places and things currently making me happy. Links will follow after I get to home computer.

People:

Davey Havok, obviously for merely continuing to exist.

Jane Fonda, for dropping the C-bomb on TV.

Sheena, obviously for also continuing to exist.

Canton, Ohio, Jury for convicting the dude that killed his pregnany baby mama

Places:

Hmmm … none right now. Blech.

Things:

My iPod, for being lulling me to sleep at night and keeping me from murdering co-workers by day

My Macbook, for not sucking like my work computer.

I hate Valentine’s Day with a fiery, fiery passion. Yeah, the candy’s awesome and sure, sometimes my parents send me flowers, but by the by, it always serves to remind me of my chronically single condition.

Today on the radio, you’ll no doubt be hearing Valentine’s dedications: ‘This Michael Bolton hit goes out to Pookie McPookerkins from Buttercup.’ VOMIT.

So, in the spirit of being single, Here’s a list of Anti-Valentine’s songs and after that you’ll find my very own Valentine’s dedications. Some will be sweet, others will be snarky, it’s up to you to determine which is which.

Love Stinks! The Playlist:

‘Cheating gets it Faster’ by Jimmy Eat World: ‘I’m going out, I don’t care if you’re angry’ makes me deliriously happy.

‘Ain’t that Lonely Yet’ by Dwight Yoakam: ‘You keep leaving, notes stuck on my door, say you’re hungry for some more, girl that’s too bad’ Yeah, if you’ve pissed him off so bad he won’t even hit it, you’ve done something WRONG.

‘Crop Tub’ by A.F.I.: Who hasn’t wanted to tell someone ‘Fuck you very much.’

‘Song for the Dumped’ by Ben Folds Five: Parting may be such sweet sorrow, but getting your stuff back after a break up sounds like a pain in the ass.

‘(Fuck You) An Ode to No One’ by The Smashing Pumpkins: Yup, you were thinking it and Billy just came right out and said it. Make sure you thank him.

‘Violet’ by Hole: Speaking of Billy! I love it when Courtney growls, ‘I told you from the start, just how this would end, well I get what I want, but I never want it again’

‘Irreplacable’ by Beyonce: This was a hard sell because I cannot stand Beyonce, but holy crap I like this song. I think the line ‘You must not know about me’ should be part of every woman’s break-up repertoire.

‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ by Bon Jovi: Not only is it great karoake fodder, everyone knows at least one chick like the one in the song.

‘Drinking my Baby Goodbye’ by The Charlie Daniels Band: Though I’m not one for tying one on, I will raise a glass of Diet Mountain Dew in solidarity with the following line: ‘If it takes all night, I’m gonna do it right, I’m gonna sit here til I can’t see.’

‘Sounds Better in the Song’ by Drive-by Truckers: I always feel sorry for this song’s protagonist, especially considering the following lines: ‘She used to dream ‘em with me, every single crazy one, til they started hurting her too, now she’s got some of her own, and outgrowing me might be the best thing for her she’s ever done’ and ‘Now she’s found herself, and I lost mine, and I’m just another guy who can’t give her anything’

‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’ by Green Day: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not a graduation song, please stop trying to force it! It seems like one of those breakups where there are no hard feelings, it just didn’t work out. Example: ‘For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while.’

‘Miserable’ by Lit: ‘You make me come, you make me complete, you make me completely miserable’ LOVE. IT.

‘Fall Back Down’ by Rancid: A punk song about friends helping you out after a break up! And, um, I kinda want to have Tim Armstrong’s babies.

And now, dedications!

To Sheena: ‘Baby Got Back’ by Sir Mix a Lot, ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’ by Duran Duran and ‘Tonight, Tonight’ by The Smashing Pumpkins. The DM rocked didn’t it?

To Davey Havok: ‘Between Breaths (An XX Perspective) by Blaqk Audio. When and where, lover boy.

To the sports department: ‘Pretty fly (for a white guy)’ by The Offspring. Don’t give up, boys!!

While ‘Mellon Collie’ guided my entry into Vietnam, er, I mean high school, by the time I discovered ‘Siamese Dream’ I was already deep in the trenches. Home had gotten even worse and school was, well, ya know, HORRIBLE.

Prompted by my love for ‘Mellon Collie,’ I decided to make my way through their earlier material. Having read a ton of articles about the band, I knew ‘Siamese Dream’ would be the next. I’ve never regretted it.

This is where I figured out that the ‘Bullet’ video wasn’t a fluke, Billy did, in fact, used to have hair! Trivial now, but that was huge when I was a teenager. I also purchased Vieuphoria around the same time and fell madly in love. The electric version of ‘Disarm’ still makes me all breathless.

Because much of what I posted in the ‘Mellon Collie’ entry applies to every single album in the catalog, I’m just going  to jump right into the rundown.

‘Cherub Rock’: Because I lacked a lot of knowledge about the early ’90s rock scene, this song didn’t make a lot of sense to me at first. As far as I was concerned, hipsters were a type of pants. After doing some background research, I realized what the song was about and my respect for Billy went through the roof.  I always like it when people call other people on their bull shit.

‘Quiet’: This epitomized my utter disgust with my classmates. I thought they were boorish and loud and obnoxious, and they constantly fucked up my ordered little universe. This was my way of yelling ‘SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!’

‘Today’: This is almost like ‘Tonight, Tonight’ for me. Whenever I would get completely freaked out and think ‘I’m never going to get out of here!’ I would listen to this and say to myself, ‘Yeah, but today wasn’t so bad.’ The line ‘I’ve tried so hard to cleanse these regrets, my angel wings are bruised and restrained’ always hit me hard because I know what it’s like to feel like you’ll never be clean and you’ll always be stuck. And yes, when I shuffle free of my mortal coil, I want this played at my funeral. Oh and the line ‘I wanna turn you on’ really really did it for me.

‘Hummer’: So many lines from this helped through some crap times. ‘Happiness will make you wonder, will I feel OK?’ made me think about what I was going to if I ever did finally become happy, would I know how to accept it or would I throw it away? The line ‘I want something new, but what I am I supposed to do about you?’ brought to mind the fact that though we were as close as any two friends could be, my then best friend and I were drifting apart and as much as I wanted new and different things for my life, I was still terrified about leaving her behind.

‘Rocket’: ‘I torch my soul to show the world that I am pure deep inside my heart’ still describes me. ‘I want everything I’ll never be’ does too. ‘The moon is out, the stars invite, think I’ll leave tonight’ gave me the courage to be different and say ‘Don’t like it? Fuck you.’

‘Disarm’: Oh boy. I can’t count the number of times I have sat weeping to this song. This made me realize that what you hate is a reflection of you. So when kids tormented me for being different or being a freak, I realized it was because they felt different or like a freak for whatever reason and they were scared. I wasn’t afraid, which scared them even more. So the torment grew. ‘The bitterness of one who’s left alone’ struck a cord with me because I felt my parents never asked me about my life, my dreams, my fears. And anytime I did pipe up, I got picked on about it. ‘Send this smile over to you’ basically became my plan of attack and still is. If someone hurts me, all’s I can do is love them more.

‘Soma’: Though I had (have) no real romantic experience and this song is about a romance gone awry, it still connects with me. ‘I’m all by myself, as I’ve always felt’ was pretty much my mantra. ‘So let the sadness come again, on that you can depend on me, until the bitter bitter end of the world, God sleeps in bliss’ hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I heard it and never fails to do so more than 10 years later. And the live version of this leaves me utterly speechless and almost in tears.

‘Geek U.S.A.’: The only thing I can really say about this ‘I never liked me anyway.’ Being a teenager was GRREEEAAAT.

‘Mayonaise’: ‘When your life is so, so dreary, dream’ gave my depressed teenage self hope. ‘And I fail, but when I can, I will, try to understand, that when I can, I will’ and ‘Can anybody hear me, I just want to be, me’ pretty much summed out how I felt about everything. I might not have been doing everything right, but I knew someday I would.

‘Spaceboy’: ‘Watch me, death defy, defile my life’ was how I felt about my mom for a long time. I had to sit and watch her hurt herself and could nothing more than watch. ‘And spaceboy they’ll kill me, before I’m dead and gone’ was relevant as well. I always kinda felt that, even though mom’s never heard this song, this is kind of ‘our’ song.

‘Silverfuck’: The immediate attraction was of course the F bomb in the title, but I was kind of indifferent to it for a while. Then I saw the live version and almost died. And maybe this is just me, but the line ‘What I’ve recovered of me, I put into a box, underneath my bed’ sounds like the mythical ‘Heart-shaped box’ of Nirvana fame. Anyone else think that?

‘Sweet Sweet’: I love this. It’s so dreamy and light. ‘Sweet Sweet Sweet little agony, I don’t know just where you’ve been, but I’ll take take take all that you have for me, in sin’ and ‘ And they all want you to change’ make me deliriously, goofy happy.

‘Luna’: ‘I’ll hear your song, if you want me to, I’ll sing along’ *sigh*