20 posts tagged “vox hunt”
Video: Show us the first video that appears when you search your name on YouTube.
I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Searching for Brandy can definitely be an interesting experience in some search engines. :D And then I'm also not a big fan of Brandy, the singer, and I thought getting one of her videos would be likely. Someone once asked me right after her first album came out if I was named after her. Huh? She's 3 years younger than me, and she didn't get popular until I was in my late teens, so how would my parents have named me after her? Anyway, that's another story.
Instead I found Red Hot Chili Peppers covering "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)", the song I (and most of the other Brandys I know) was named after. I'm not sure if I like it or not, but it's so much better than I was expecting when I searched for my name.
Audio: Show us the best album (new or old) that you've bought this year.
Well, I spent last weekend going to two Jason Gray concerts in two different states, so it's probably not a surprise that his All the Lovely Losers CD is my favorite album of the year. Unfortunately, it's not sold on Amazon, so I'm including "Into the Mystery" from the album for your listening pleasure. You can hear more of Jason's music at his MySpace page and his regular site.
I'm not great at describing music other than to say that I like it or I don't like it, but I'll take a shot at describing this album. Jason is a folksy singer-songwriter, and the songs on the album range from folk-pop to folk-rock. I can easily imagine this CD playing in a coffeehouse if that helps to give you sense of its vibe. I'm in love with his lyrics and how he really speaks to those of us who just don't feel worthy of God's love. Faith can be scary, and he's not afraid to talk about that and to also share how God works through our weaknesses as well as our strengths.
Apart from his wonderful singing and songwriting, Jason is also one of the good guys. He supports World Vision and has a real desire to ease the suffering of children who are being orphaned by AIDS around the world. One of the songs on the album - "You are Mercy" - was written after a trip to Africa with his family to see the work World Vision is doing. The song encourages us to pray for the world while also being a part of the answer to those prayers by taking action.
If you're interested in buying the CD, it's available on iTunes, and you can also order from echotunes to get a bonus acoustic CD from Jason with your purchase.
Also at the concerts where we saw Jason Gray were downhere and Sevenglory. Downhere was actually the main band at both concerts and is great, but I was fixated on Jason Gray. :D I have all of their albums, but the only one I bought this year was Wide-Eyed and Simplified, which is an acoustic version of their Wide-Eyed and Mystified. It's a great album with the band telling the stories behind the songs, which is always something I enjoy from musicians I like. The main reason I'm mentioning them here though is simply because I've been listening to so much of them lately. I didn't want to leave them out!
I heard Sevenglory for the first time this weekend, bought their CD, and then went to the next day's concert and completely enjoyed them again. They have a great rock sound, and their lead singer Fred Butson has a really unique sound.
Then I have another recent CD purchase with Decemberadio, a more Southern rock or classic rock sound. They're playing a few hours away from us this weekend, and Matt is dropping some heavy hints that he'd like to go to that concert. I'd be more interested if it wasn't part of a big outdoor festival. I don't know if I'm up for another one of those yet when I'm only interested in one band that's playing. We'll see how the weekend goes, I guess.
Video: Show us your TV crush.
Submitted by quornflour.
The first one that came to mind was my first TV crush. My mom is a huge Days of our Lives fan, and I grew up watching that with her. Around 1985/1986 when I was 9-10, I developed a major crush on Bo Brady. I loved his hair and his black leather jacket, and I thought motorcycles were really cool, so that was great too. At that time (and now too actually) Bo was played by Peter Reckell. He's still a handsome guy, but I don't crush on him. It was really 80s Bo Brady that won me.
With Dean, I think it's just the obvious love for his family and that protective older brother thing that gets me because I'm a big sister, and I really relate to that. And the cool black four-door 1967 Chevy Impala and his fondness of classic rock are just added bonuses.
Video: It's 70's music Wednesday.
Book: What book are you most ashamed you haven't read?
Submitted by Byrne.
I like this question, but I don't have a response for it. I think I like it because it reminds me of the silly joy I get from being able to tell someone talking about the latest literary masterpiece, "Nope, haven't read it. Don't plan to." I always have a book in hand, and people seem to equate that with someone who has grand thoughts about important books, but really, it just means that I love to read.
I mostly read fantasy with a smattering of science fiction and mysteries because those tend to be the books that make me happy to have spent my limited time in their worlds. I do like discovering new authors and books, so I branch out when something seems interesting, but I never feel like I have to read something because of someone else's expectations. (If only I could be so strong when it comes to other types of expectations!)
Having said all that, I guess I do feel bad for all those times I skimmed a textbook just enough to figure out what was important for that particular professor so that I could get my lovely A. I was way too fixated on a grade in the past where it got in the way of really learning, which is a shame. So I guess I talked myself into a bit of an answer after all, but even for those, I'm not ashamed of not reading them. I just wish I had been more focused on the process of learning than stressing about the final grade. And skimming or reading quickly for the main ideas still serves me well in grad school to get a handle on things, so it's a good skill to have.
Book: Show us one of your favorite cookbooks.
As I mentioned in my post for today's QotD, I really like cookbooks, and I have a wide variety of them. It would be hard to pick an overall favorite, but two that come to mind are Passionate Vegetarian by Crescent Dragonwagon and Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. Matt and I aren't vegetarians, but we tend to eat vegetarian meals about 75% of the time.
Passionate Vegetarian is an extremely readable cookbook, which is great for me because I often read cookbooks just like any other kind of book and not just when I'm looking for something to cook. The recipes are great as well, and a personal favorite is Artichoke-Eggplant Lasagna. I think it's also good if you're interested in trying a variety of grains because she offers some basic prep tips for grains like amaranth.
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, like Passionate Vegetarian, is a big cookbook, so you get a lot for your money. It's an excellent reference with the first chapter titled "Becoming a Cook", and it contains fundamentals such as a discussion of kitchen equipment, cutting and chopping techniques, and basic ingredients and methods. I learned a lot from its chapter on buying and storing a variety of vegetables, and the recipes are great too with a variety of suggestions for making your own mark on them as you become more comfortable with them.
Book: Show us one of your favorite works of fiction.
While browsing the bargain books at the front of the store, I found The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint, and the cover appealed to me. The name seemed familiar too, and then I remembered that Willa had recently mentioned him in her journal. (And how cool is it that I can still link to that post?) I spent my $4.98 to check him out for myself, and I read the entire collection of short stories that night. His fictional town Newford grabbed me, and I still want to move there.
The Ivory and the Horn isn't my favorite book by de Lint, but it was the first, which makes it special. And I have really nice memories of that trip to Anchorage and of that time in general, so that adds some bonus points.
Audio: Share a song that reminds you of a current or past relationship.
Matt and I have so many songs that are little touchstones for us that it's hard to just pick one, so I'm not. :D
Eleven years ago, I didn't even know Matt existed. I posted several penpal ads on some websites, and at the end of February 1996, Matt responded to one of those with an email.
Virtuality - Rush
Net boy, net girl send your heartbeat 'round the world
We emailed and chatted constantly, and within just a few weeks, I was smitten. One Tuesday afternoon in April, we chatted and typed those three little words to each other.
Tuesday Afternoon - The Moody Blues
I'm looking at myself, reflections of my mind.
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind.
So gently swaying through the fairyland of love.
If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of
Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon.
I finally heard his voice a week later. We sent each other photos of ourselves and our families and lots of letters. He sent me a mix tape that I played constantly. I imagined him singing each song to me and looked forward to the day I could see him and hear his voice at the same time.
You Better You Bet - The Who
When I say I love you, you say you better
You better you better you bet
When I say I need you you say you better
Let My Love Open The Door - Pete Townshend
Come on and give me a chance to say
Let my love open the door
It's all I'm living for
Release yourself from misery
In May, I lost internet access when I went home for the summer, but we consoled ourselves with the thought that we would soon be together in person for the first time. Matt had gotten a ticket to fly from Alaska to Tennessee, and we would have 10 days together. I met him at the airport, and being with him was beyond anything I could have imagined.
I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden
I knew I loved you before I met you.
I think I dreamed you into life.
I think I found my way home.
I know that it might sound more than
a little crazy, but I believe.
I drove him to one of my favorite spots in the Smokies, and we sat outside all night long, just talking and holding each other.
Moondance - Van Morrison
All the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush
The rest of our days together went by in a blur. We spent a lot of time in my car, singing to each other, as I showed him some of my favorite spots in eastern Tennessee. Any doubts that we might have had about us vanished during that first night. By the time he left for Alaska, we were engaged and planning to get married later in the summer, but I still didn't want him to leave. Saying goodbye at the airport was tough on both of us.
Don't Cry - Asia
Don't cry now that I've found you.
Don't cry. Take a look around you.
Don't cry. It took so long to find you.
Do whatever you want, but little darling please don't cry.
My parents were shocked at how quickly things had progressed with Matt and me. Thankfully, they really liked Matt. Sometimes, I think it didn't really sink in for them until Matt and I got married in August. A week after the wedding, I moved to Alaska.
Suds in the Bucket - Sara Evans
Now don't you wonder what the preacher's gonna preach about Sunday mornin'.
Nothing quite like this has happened here before.
Well he must have been a looker, a smooth talkin' son of gun,
For such a grounded girl to just up and run.
And life goes on, and now we've been married 10 years and living in North Carolina. Life certainly hasn't been perfect, but the roller coaster is a lot more fun with him along for the ride. :D
In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel
Love I get so lost sometimes.
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart.
When I want to run away,
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go,
I come back to the place you are.
One Hundred Names - The Nields
I have known you all my life.
In fact, I knew you long before.
A hundred years or so of you,
and all I want from you is more.
Show us something you made yourself.
I finished embroidering a small quilt and matching pillowcases for my niece yesterday, and of course, I forgot to take a photo of any of it until I was packing the last pillowcase this morning. I'll have to get her to take some photos for me when she gets them on her bed. She's my girly girl, and she's all about pink and flowers.
Show us something weird that's on your desk.
Submitted by Alex.
To me, this is one of the most normal items on my desk, but in every office I've ever worked, people ignore all the interesting toys to comment on this little photo frame.
