(Analog) Monday: Romeo + Juliet.

So, I can't stop watching My So-Called Life. My life for the past three days has consisted solely of knitting on the couch sharing the company of Angela Chase and Jordan Catalano while trying to eat my body weight in parsley.

Since all that I can think about is Claire Danes, I found the Baz Luhrman's Romeo +  Juliet Soundtrack most apropos for today's (analog) Monday. This cassette appears courtesy of the always supportive Rich Russell, who feeds the angsty teenager that still lives inside me every chance he gets. Well, that sounded weird. Whatever. It's late and I'm hungry. I really can't think of anything except the moment when Dave is going to get home with a 7-layer burrito and a root beer for me.

I've been feeling really anxious lately because I start classes at a new school on Wednesday. I keep having dreams about high school, or dreams where people from high school show up. Not bad ones or anything. High school was actually a pretty good experience for me. I guess this Analog Monday has a two-fold purpose for me, actually. The summer before I started high school, two friends and I watched Romeo and Juliet religiously. We must have seen it in the theatres at least ten times. As soon as it came out on VHS, we watched it every single day and so the soundtrack has become super nostalgic to me.

As I embark on yet another educational facet of my life, I'm looking back to what made the others so special and hoping for the same.

This post is definitely dedicated to my high school BFFL's Heather and Sheena, whom I haven't seen in quite awhile but still think about always. I miss you girls!!!!

And with that being said, Wish me LUCK!!!! I'm gonna need it :-)
  

Vinyl Monday; (More) Cat Stevens.

I revamped the VINYL MONDAY header! Do you love it?
It rained all day yesterday, so I didn't have a chance to take pictures outside. I took these at about 11:00 pm in the hallway between my bathroom and bedroom, I didn't shave or do my hair, so looking down kinda masked all that nasty. Enough about the pictures! It's VINYL MONDAY.

Did you know that I love Cat Stevens? BECAUSE I LOVE CAT STEVENS! His albums make up about 90% of my record collection and I'm totally not embarrassed by it. The first time I heard him, I was moved to tears; powerful stuff. As he gets older, he just keeps getting better. I hope that in some ways, I'm like him.

Does that make sense? Like, maybe some of his luminosity will brush off onto to me if I listen close enough?
I'm ready to shake the stardust out my hair but, first I'm going to go flip the record over.

What have you been listening to?

Vinyl Monday: Mama Cass

Hey kittens!!!!

I have been so incredibly busy with some deadline knitting that I completely neglected my blog all of last week! So sorry!  It will all be worth it in the end, trust me. HUGE things are happening at La Casa de Knitxcore. It seems like there is yarn in the mailbox every day. There is, actually. If I disappear, the authorities will find me under a mountain of brightly colored wool. I guarantee it.

In addition to knitting and making my eyes real big while listening to Mama Cass, I've watched just about everything single thing Hulu has to offer; if you have any TV series suggestions PLEASE leave a comment. I'm almost finished the Mary Tyler Moore show. The other night while I was waiting for pizza dough to rise, I actually watched an episode of Mister Roger's Neighborhood; things are getting serious. Actually, it did end up making me cry somehow. Whatever.

OMIGOD. I forgot to put on the pasta sauce for dinner. I'm making it from scratch and I haven't even started yet!

Have a fun night!

Vinyl Monday: The Monkees.

We've already discussed my gigantic crush on Mike Nesmith, but I wanted to make sure that ALL of the Monkees got a fair shake on my blog.

The are such a source of positive energy! You can't listen to them without smiling. This morning, I felt moody and little groggy before going into work. I wasn't really sure how to psych myself into happy mode until I dug out this record (the sleeve above isn't mine; mine is in VERY bad shape). Almost instantly, everything turned around.

Have you ever read about Maslow's theory regarding peak experiences? Basically, a peak experience is one of those moments where you are immediately flooded with intense feelings of happiness and inter-connectedness; a moment of transcendence. While it is considered to be insanely difficult to facilitate these experiences outside of using hallugenics, some things may trigger smaller (but still powerful) states of euphoria.

Listening to the Monkees this morning, gave me just enough personal illumination to make it through the rest of the day with a smile on my face.

Thanks boys!

Vinyl Monday: Seatrain.

Be sure to watch the video this week! It's incredible!


I was digging through the discount bin at our local record shop (Buy 2, Get 1 Free!!!!), and I came across this Seatrain album. I squealed a little and took a picture. The sleeve was just too good. I kept digging, and set this one aside. I almost walked out empty handed. I didn't know who they were, they just looked amazing.

A dude in overalls with no shirt underneath, a large amount of love beads AND awkward facial hair situations? This album cover was made for me, right?

I shamelessly shelled out $7 after finding two other equally as impressive albums, and skipped to work.

I got home and decided to do a little research. I'm usually not into super psychedelic stuff, but I really dig this.

Do YOU?

Vinyl Monday: Carole King.

I saw Lea at my day job earlier today (the one that's keeping my lights on), and somehow our discussion turned to THIS Vinyl Monday post. I was tired this morning and not feeling super thoughtful or anything. I jusy waved my hand over my record crates and pulled out the first thing I touched; Carole King's Tapestry.

To be completely honest, I have never ever listened to it. It's just one of those records that every single thrift shop/record store/goodwill has by the millions. I really like OTHER artists she's loosely associated with, she can't be that bad, right?

When I got home tonight, I found it incredibly hard to find a video in which Carole really seemed to encompass a "vibe", after about four or five I assumed she was just another1970's automaton; engineered to pump out the jams.

Finally, I found this one, where ol' Carole finally gets down and really rides those astral planes.
(The drummer is a stone cold fox, BTW)

So, now I guess I'm a convert.

She's really not that bad.

What do you think? Have I lost mind? Do YOU like her?