It's a beautiful day for a ballgame

Opening Day at the K. It's a damn beautiful stadium

March Madness?

I don't know if Kansas City is supposed to get 6" of snow in the last weekend of March, but here we are. . . We found a spot not quite as deep, so Lily could sniff for rabbits. She wouldn't stay still long enough in the deeper stuff, she was having too much fun hopping around and playing. Yes, I'm now one of those people that takes pictures of their dog.

Grandstand Burgers

Don't mind me if I go into a delicious, meat-induced coma. That's the way I'd like it to be.

What I'm doing tonight

Clemson/Michigan and Morgan St/Oklahoma

HAHAHAHA

Forget you. It's 12:04 am, it's been a rough night, I've had a bottle of wine, this is HILARIOUS

I'm proud of my knock-off Photoshop work. And I'm quite clever, I must admit.

And since I'm a little tipsy, I can forgive myself for doing this "facebook album cover" thing

Stepping up for H

Ok, since I haven't written anything for a long time, and H is out tonight sitting in ridiculous seats at a basketball game, I figured I'd give her and hand and live blog the Oscars, since she won't be able to do it herself.

Let's see, 7:27 - Some people were wearing stuff. Mickey Rourke is awesome. I hope he wins just to hear his speech.

7:30 - Wait, Hugh Jackman is hosting? I'm done.

I know it's less than a month into the new year. . .

. . . but I'm pretty sure I already have my two favorite albums of the year.

I know I'm far far far from the first to say this, but Animal Collective's latest album, Merriweather Post Pavilion is incredible. From track 1 ("In the Flowers") to the final song ("Brother Sport"), I don't think there's a minute where I'm not just totally enamored. I recognize a lot of these songs from the shows last year, including "In the Flowers," the first single (from I gather) from the album - "My Girls," and my personal favorite, "Summer Clothes."

"Summer Girls" performed at Coachella

Animal Collective - "My Girls" video

I mean, how can you not like that? And really, you should go to the youtube page for that video, and click on the "Watch in HD." It's beautiful. (maybe a post in the future will be about my current addiction to HD youtube videos.) And listen with headphones. or very loudly. That's how it should be heard. TRY NOT DANCING IN YOUR CHAIR, OR GETTING UP AND SHAKING YOUR RUMP. I'm hoping to see these guys again on their current tour, it'll be part of Flenker's 2009 vacation plans, since they're aren't coming anywhere near me. Oh well, I think it'll actually work out splendidly.

It's really early to say this, the year isn't even 1/12th over, but this could be the best album of 2009 already. Really. If you haven't listened to it, do it now, please. By any means necessary. And should you hear this album through "illicit" means, just promise that you'll eventually buy it for real. Because dammit, you should. It's the best album of the year!

And I mean that as no slight to this next album. They (he?) put a valiant fucking effort into it, and is rewarded with a very very solid spot at #2 for 2009. Of course I mean Emil Svanängen, aka Loney, Dear, and his latest album, released today, Dear John.

Loney, Dear - "Airport Surroundings"

This album has a slightly different sound from the previous releases, but it's a totally natural progression, not a shock to hear. And it's done so well. The "older" sound is still there in some songs, the quiet, desperate at times vocals with minimal instrumentation, but some hints of almost, but not quite, electronic sounds come out in some of the tracks, like the above "Airport Surroundings." Emil (yes, I feel like I can call him by his first name. He's given a hug to one of my best friends in the whole wide world, who has in turn hugged me. it's like he's hugged me through her) creates an album full of beautiful songs, shows off a wide vocal range, and just makes me want to pack up and move to Sweden (don't think I haven't considered it) Malin Ståhlberg, if you happen to be reading this, I love you. Move to Kansas City, we'll have a magical life together, we'll make music, start a family, and just be happy together, I'm sure of it. I'm going to most likely be at the Des Moines show, you can just hitch a ride back here with me, and we can conquer the world.

So, in summation, Animal Collective and Loney, Dear are awesome. Each and every one of you reading (all 3 of you) should listen to them over and over and over again, see them in concert, and spread the good word of this righteous music.

My birthday celebration!

For one

get pitted, so pitted

I'll have a real post up soon, I promise. I just can't stop watching this video long enough to form sentences. WHOOOPAH!

I've got 100 resolutions

well, not really. I've got about 0. Not my thing. But I do like reminiscing, and this song brings back some memories of my DJing days at Iowa State.



So, in the next few days, there will probably be more reminiscing, and, since everyone else is doing one, and it makes for an easy post, I'll probably have my top 10 albums of the year. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow or Friday. Yeah. This was a pretty good year as far as albums released goes.

Of course, in the next few weeks, I'll be preparing everyone's favorite, The Flenkys! So if anyone would like to make any nominations, or if you have a good category in mind, send them my way!

This year was a very transitional year for me personally, you know, with moving and getting a real job and my first apartment on my own and a dog and what have you. Things are looking up, though, I've made some great friends, and still have some excellent friends from my past, spread all around the country. (and isn't it funny that my friend that lives the furthest away is making her second trip already, and the rest of you have yet to come. . .) So things are going alright. I'll look back more on the year in the future. A lot happened.

Until next time, enjoy your day, make the most of the leap second (it already passed, but I think you can observe it in any second over the next few hours) and be safe out there. I will try to be safe while spending New Year's in my apartment. Which will be infinitely better than my New Year's Eve last year.

And everyone, cheer on the Hawkeyes tomorrow morning as they take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Outback Bowl! It should be a good game, and here's to hoping that Iowa rings in the new year with a WIN!!

My travel companion

Heading to Iowa.

Plaza lights

I'm really not a crotchety old man yet. I promise.

Yeah, it's been 2+ weeks since I last wrote posted. And I'm ok with that. You know why? Because no one wants to read about me sitting on my behind. There hasn't been much action in the past few weeks (not like there was really much action in the weeks/months preceding that, but I digress), though there has been some plans made for action in the future. Like a January visitor to help celebrate 28, and possibly a springtime trip to New York City. oh, and I'll be getting a dog in a few days.

But I'm still trying to figure out what, if anything, I'll be doing on New Years. Part of me wants to just sit at my place alone, struggle to make it until midnight, and fall asleep. (in actuality, I give this the highest odds of happening.) I'd like to make a trip somewhere, since I now have the 2nd off of work, but don't know where to go. Maybe Tampa for the Outback Bowl, or Chicago to see some friends, or elsewhere. who knows?!

Otherwise, things are quiet here. I have yet to do any Christmas shopping, but have an outline of what I want to get for most people on my list. It will just be a matter of getting the items in an orderly fashion, without inflicting bodily harm upon myself or others during the act of acquiring said items. I would consider doing my shopping online, but I'm getting to the point where I'd have to pay more to get the packages in time.

In sports news, Iowa's Shonn Greene received the Doak Walker award, given to the best running back in the NCAA. I was hoping he'd be invited to the Heisman presentation, but knew he'd have about a 0.3% of winning, since he's not a QB that plays in a league that barely plays defense (I'm looking at you, Bradford and McCoy). The Royals signed Kyle Farnsworth. great. awesome. He can throw 97 mph. And tackle dudes (see video below). That's about it.



Umm, what else. . . Oh, the weather is kind of ridiculous. Monday, it was 60 degrees. Tuesday, we got an inch or two of snow in a decent-sized snowstorm. Last night it was raining, this morning I had a layer of ice on my car (and some on the parking lot, which I found and promptly slipped on), and then the temperature got into the mid-40's. Now there's this forecast for the weekend/early next week


Taken from wunderground.com. Yes, the high is supposed to be 61 on Sunday. And the high on Monday is forecasted to be 16. That's gonna be hell on my joints.

Real good

After bonding in the hot tub, we share a pickle

Thanksgiving night

Explaining the finer points of tequila

Thanksgiving at Mom's

Drunken Wii bowling. Uncle Jerry takes his turn. We are drunk.

Rough day

As you can tell, it was a long day for dog and boy alike.

Iowa bound

Well, I'm heading northeast for the holiday weekend, to have a nice Iowa Thanksgiving. If I can do it with out killing my time or myself, I'll try to give some updates on the road. Since I can do that with this fancy phone of mine! Safe travels to everyone, and happy turkey day.

Test

This is only a test. In case of an actual emergency, these frosted animal crackers would be eaten.

:(

this scene sums things up for me the best right now.