Musicology. Listening ears are now ON.

The first word in the title of this post doesn't sound copacetic.  Yes, I agree.  It *does* - indeed - look entirely like a made-up word.  But it isn't.  According to my favorite online dictionary the term is legit (but no need to take my word on it) - here is the definition:

mu·si·col·o·gy

 [myoo-zi-kol-uh-jee]

noun

the scholarly or scientific study of music, as in historical research, musical theory, or the physical nature of sound.

Origin: 

1905–10; music + -o- + -logy

Related forms:

mu·si·co·log·i·cal [myoo-zi-kuh-loj-i-kuhl], adjective

mu·si·co·log·i·cal·ly, adverb

mu·si·col·o·gist, noun

Now we've all learned something new today, kids!!  //sarcasm  

I can't lie.  As a bibliophile, I'm a word-lover, a grammar lover, a spelling lover, and a text-speak hater.  I suppose this just adds a bit of eclectic charm to my (sometimes) abrasive personality.  But, it also means that if you receive a text from me, there will be no sign of abbreviated words, the spelling and punctuation will be (generally) proper, and the length of my response will reflect this.  However, if YOU send me a message with a bunch of fucking acronyms, I will more than likely curse you as I'm trying to look the shit up on Google.  

Seriously, though.  I'm going to post some YouTube video links with some newly discovered (by me) music.  Before my trip to Shreveport, I found myself in a musical rut.  I tend to enjoy a lot of alternative and grunge music and find that I have very little patience for shitty pop music (Justin Bieber??  Adam Lambert??  Mariah Carey??  Celine Dion??  - I can't even believe that I have befouled my blog with those musical whores).  And, I don't really care for a lot of country stuff (there's only so many times your wife can leave - or cheat, the tractor can flip over, the dog can die, or the crops can wither).  I'm okay with some of the classic country, like Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson - but as far as the new stuff goes??  No.  Just... no.  So, it was utterly surprising to me that I ended up downloading some music which sounds kind of country and twang-y.  Hell, maybe it's more bluesy (at least that's what I'm telling myself).  

For most of these songs, I've actually used an app on my iPhone called "Shazam".  It's a free app (you can also purchase the ad-ware free version, but I couldn't justify paying for that version - the adverts really don't bother me much and certainly don't affect the app itself) and all you have to do is touch the screen (to SHAZAM!!) when a song is on, and it identifies the name of the song and the artist.  Pretty snazzy, eh??

^^  Wham!!  It's Shazam!!  

**Okay, so that was wickedly cheezy.  But I thought it was amusing.  It is what it is.**

What I'm getting at, is this little app helped me to discover new (at least to me) music and artists.  It entirely took the guesswork out of finding the songs on both YouTube and the iTunes store.  

Now my shameless Shazam plug is over (and no, I didn't receive anything for pimping this app - I just really like it), we'll *finally* go on to the actual reason for this post... the music.

Please note:  Lyrics, video content and subject matter may be offensive to some.

"Ain't No Rest for the Wicked"

Cage the Elephant

"99 Problems"

Hugo

"Immigrant Song"

**Remake of Led Zepplin's original song**

**Also featured as the opening song for the movie "Girl With a Dragon Tattoo"**

Trent Reznor, Karen O., Atticus Ross

"Hats Off to the Bull"

Chevelle

"Pride"

**I couldn't find an official video for this song, hence just the audio.**

Syntax

"Man of Constant Sorrow"

**Remake of the song from the movie "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou"

Charm City Devils

"Alcohaulin' Ass"

Hell Yeah

"Too Close"

Alex Clare

"Hey Mister"

**Totally inappropriate**

Custom

"Shambala"

**This song makes me so happy - and reminds me of the movie "Drowning Mona"**

Three Dog Night

Just a partial list of my road-tripping music.  :0))  Some of these songs are a bit older (besides the Three Dog Night song from 1975) - and I missed them because we were living in Europe during the time they were released Stateside.  Contrary to popular belief, everything American does not necessarily make it across the pond.  Hell, the Germans still think David Hasselhoff is a hawt commodity (and for those brave enough to take a look and listen... click here).

Until next time, peeps.  

x0x0

Shreveport-ed.

This weekend I made a quick trip up to Shreveport to visit with friends - and to participate as an NSO (Non-Skating-Official) for this weekend's bout with my first (and favorite!!) flat-track roller derby team... the Twin City Knockers.  I was up, showered, and eating breakfast by 6:00 AM on Saturday morning, packed the car,  filled the gas tank, and left New Orleans by 7:30 AM.  It's a 5-hour trek (roughly 350 miles) from NOLA to Shreveport - along roads that have NOTHING (and I mean NOTHING) to look at... even the gas stations are few and far between.  However, I *am* a glutton for punishment AND I really enjoy a solitary road trip... it's awesome to take the top off the car, listen to whatever I want to, and just lose myself in thought.  Therapeutic, really.

One of the gas stations I stopped at (exit 87 in Alexandria, Louisiana) was really dodgy... I pulled in there around 10:00 in the morning and was a tad bit worried that I might get shanked while filling up the car.  Of course, I needed more than just a fill-up.  I had to use the public bathroom.  Oh.  My.  Gawd.  Besides the fact that it was a unisex bathroom (with a MASSIVELY TALL urinal for the menfolk to pee in and a pretty grubby commode), there was a condom machine mounted on the wall... and one of the items you could purchase for .75 (all quarters, please and thank you) was "Randy Goat Weed".  Touted as a male enhancement drug, I shudder to think of what type of ingredients were really in those miracle "pills".  And I also wonder just how many people have actually parted with their spare change and actually TRIED it.  The proof is in the pudding:

 ^^  Always quality restrooms to be found on I49 N - Exit 87 (Alexandria, LA)

 ^^  This is what .75 cents in a trashy public restroom buys you...

So, after a mood-altering visit to the bad bathroom over in Shanksville, I headed back up the road in order to make it to the House of Wheels and assist with the track set-up (and whatever else my team needed me to do).  Luckily, I had time for lunch (at a decent sandwich shop) before meeting all the other NSOs at 2:00 PM.  The bout was scheduled to start at 7:00 PM, with the doors opening at 6:00 PM so that spectators could get their drink on ($5.00 surcharge for coolers - no matter what the size!!)...

^^  Home of the Twin City Knockers - and one of my favorite places to be.  :0))

^^  Sexy socks and skates...

^^  And the final score... with the Knockers taking the win!!!  :0))

The after-party was at a new (old) bar that I hadn't been to before - Bear's on Fairfield.  They had some excellent drink specials and the bar staff was awesome.  Very attentive AND offered free shots (some kind of vodka mixed with pineapple???  That was what they smelled like) - also had no problem with the derby girls getting boisterous.  Oh, and they served decent bar food... the kitchen was open as long as the bartenders were still serving.  This, in and of itself, makes Bear's a winner in my book!!

^^  All lit up!!  (Literally)

**Photo courtesy of Bear's on Fairfield**

I didn't get any pictures of the inside... it was dim and a bit smoky (most bars in Louisiana still allow patrons to smoke) and I was too busy socializing to even think about taking pictures.  However, I *did* find these gems in the bathroom (I know, I know... what IS it about me, this trip, and bathrooms??!!??) - and being a big huge fan of "Stall Wall" poetry and doodles...  

 ^^  This gem graced the first stall in the ladies room...

^^  And this was in another stall.  I thought the repertoire was quite witty!!

After having some drinks at the bar, visiting with the team, meeting the opposing team (off the derby track), we called it a night and headed home to have some snacks and chill out.  Of course, my friend B. and I ended up gabbing until almost 2:30 AM - and then we both crashed.  

I set my alarm for 9:30 AM so that I could get a move on my day and meet some of my friends for lunch before heading back to New Orleans.  I'm not going to lie...  I was dead tired.  Ended up going to the Olive Garden and after a great lunch, I packed the car back up and headed home.

All in all, it was a fabulous weekend and I'm so glad I was able to catch up with everyone.  

Road Trip + Roller Derby + Good Friends + Food + Boozy Drinks = A Great Weekend

x0x0

French Pop.

Music!!

I don't know why, but I love listening to funky songs in different languages.  The video is really cute, too.  Enjoy!!

Happy VD!!

We really don't do the Valentine's Day thingie here.  Usually, husby will pick me up something "cheeze-tastic" (heart-shaped box o' chocolates with a funny little stuffed toy) and a card.  And we don't typically go out (we don't want to fight the crowds) and we're just not romantically wired.  Our first VD together consisted of steak, shrimp, and lots of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill (at his apartment).  Ooh-la-la!!  And husby picked the meal and cooked it.  This feast was presented on a card table that would shake like crazy every single time either one of us sawed off a piece of steak.

But it was magical.  And we laughed and got silly and listened to our favorite music and had great sex.

Okay.  So the sex thing was probably TMI.  Apologies.

And did I mention that I'm severely allergic to most flowers??  So the husby gets a pass on those, too.  :0))

I hope that all of you have a very fantastic VD - whether it's a hot night on the town, dinner at a fancy restaurant, pizza, wings and a movie, or eating Chinese delivery naked in bed...  make it YOURS.  And be sure to enjoy.

x0x0

Mardi Gras Parade!!! And Random Commentary!!! (Part I)

Our Westbank (also known as the "Bestbank" to some) had our Krewe of Nomtoc Mardi Gras Parade today.  The husby and I decided to hoof it over, since it was so close to our house (only about 8 blocks away - not bad really!!).  The only thing I regret is NOT bringing my cheery-green-folding chair.  The crowd was pretty mild (even for 11:00 in the morning!!) and the New Orleans Police Department (the few patrolling the corner we were on) were as cool as cucumbers.

Please note:  Most, if not all, of the Mardi Gras parades during the day are considered to be family-friendly events and really fucked-up drunks and lewd, nude behavior is NOT appropriate at all.  You will end up in the hooscow or in an NOPD paddy-wagon.  Ladies, if you want to get the beads the old-fashioned way (by flashing your bare breasts), you're going to have to go across the river and hit up a night-time parade in the French Quarter.

That being said, here are some pictures and highlights of our Krewe of Nomtoc parade today:

^^  The Shriners were some of the first through.  They had a ton of these street rods!!

^^  Had to take a picture of this...  it says "Jugs Social Club" - hehehe!!  

(*Most of my friends will get the reference, but if you'd like to know, leave me a message.)

^^  The King of the Krewe of Nomtoc.

(Every float was pulled by a red tractor.  It was very interesting.)

^^  The King's Float (side view)

^^  The Back of the King's Float - it was very well done.  :0))

~ INTERMISSION ~ 

For a bathroom break, duh!!  

^^ Bathroom Break!!  On the back of trailer, no less.  

I don't know how comfortable I'd feel using a porta-john on the trailer of a truck!!

^^  And I actually felt bed for this NOLA PD officer...  he had to follow the truck loaded with the sans-a-john and stop the parade whenever a participant needed to use the bathroom.

Pun intended:  but that was a SHIT assignment, considering it was 74* and humid today.  I hope he was being paid overtime for that!!

~ Intermission Over ~

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming (of sorts - if you could call it that)

^^  The Queen of the Krewe of Nantoc's tractor... 

^^  And her personalized Float.  She looked very proper and lovely.  :0))

^^  And a look down to street to see what's coming...  

The parade was at a bit of a pause, which is why you see the dancers sitting down.

You ca also see part of the Central Business District (CBD) and the French Quarter in the background. 

^^  And "Hello Kitty" and her entourage has arrived.

All the little girls wanted to go and hug her.  It was pretty funny.  

At least you can't tell if you're making eye contact when the other person is wearing a mask...

^^ Disney's Mickey Mouse and PBS's Zoe (correct me if I'm worong) were flying the Muppet Banner.  

Poor Big Bird (not that I'ma fan) - his head was on so crooked, I wondered how he could see.

And then, I figured he might be bombed out of his mind wearing a Camelback filled with booze UNDERNEATH the heavy-feather suit.  Good play, Big Bird Impersonator.  Good play!!

^^  Okay, Big Bird is *really lagging along**

And you can't tell by the picture, but he's weaving all over.  Hence why he has his own "space" between characters.  It also looks like The Bird is being worn like a woman in his high heels.  

CROSS DRESSER!!  :0))

^^  Elmo had his own space - and po-po services because little kids kept trying to run and hug him.

I don't give a shit what anyone says - those furry outfits have got to be HOT AS HELL even though the weather is mild.  And I do (wickedly wonder) just how clean IS that get-up???

^^  And a parade just wouldn't be a parade without SpongeBob SquarePants!!

And as it seems, Blogger will NOT let me enter any more pictures.  So, I'll be posting extras on an additional post, below this one.  

More to come, for sure!!  :0))

x0x0

Super Bowl??? No. Iron Chef??? Yes.

There are SO many "celebrities" here (for The Game - AKA "Super Bowl" and for "Other Reasons" - you know, like Mardi Gras) and I really felt so VERY lucky (because I'm such a Foodie and all) to be able to see Marc Forgione (an Iron Chef) at a Macy's demonstration...  well, from my perspective... fuck the Super Bowl (it's not as if The Saints are playing in it).  So, I'd much rather SEE someone of this caliber cook AND answer questions.  Chef Forgione was so personal, so nice, so witty, so honest...  it was WORTH the time it took to see his show (we claimed our FRONT ROW SEATS two hours before the demonstration).  He also signed my cookbook and I ended up scoring some pretty sweet mixing bowls (I fell in love with them before I realized that they were the hoity-toity Macy's line of Martha Stewart stuff - sorry, but I feel like she is K-Mart material and not much else).

Anyhow, let me get on with it.

Chef's food???  Brilliant.  Everything he made???  We ALL tasted.  Marc used a smaller version of MY beloved Kitchen Aid mixer to make his own sausage.  And everything was RIGHT THERE and REAL.  He also made a version of a New England Lobstah Roll that was to die for - and I learned a brand new technique for getting the tail meat cooked and easy to peel.  :0))

Take a look (some of the pics are blurry - I was using my iPhone)...

 ^^  Interviewing I

 ^^  Interviewing II

 ^^  Interviewing III

 ^^  Delicious de-constructed Sausage, Peppers, and Onions...  email me for the recipe...

Too bad my beloved husby detests NYC (my apologies to any New York readers).  I think it's his Southern upbringing along with some piss-poor tourists that he came across during his misbegotten youth - but (fingers crossed) I'd love to go there just to dine at very specific restaurants.  :0))

Such food LOVE.

Marc is the bomb-diggity....  

Deliciousness. 

x0x0

Cock-A-Doodle-Don't!!

We have WILD ROOSTERS in Algiers Point.  Apparently, they usually hang out in the grassy median a couple streets down from us, but one has found his way into my neighbor's yard and it will not.  quit. crowing.  Seriously.  We live in the city.  How do roosters just go wild??  Did someone import a bunch and just let them go??  I'm pretty sure that New Orleans has some sort of "no-livestock-allowed-in-your-backyard-ordinance" (although Louisiana is a weird state based on Napoleonic law, unlike the rest of the United States) - but that bird has got to go.

I think my neighbor wants to blow it away with a double-barrel shotgun.

Coq Au Vin, anyone???

^^  The Cock 

(Please note the paper plate full of food.  Apparently, our other neighbor is feeding the fucking thing.)

Shoes and a Blimp.

Let's discuss proper footwear for the French Quarter, shall we??  On my romp through the French Market (bought some freshly-made Pico de Gallo, vine-ripened tomatoes, and green bell peppers) I couldn't help but notice what type of shoes people (especially women) were wearing.

Cringed at the chick hanging on to her old man for dear life while she wobbled in her 6-inch-spike-hooker-heels, winced at how a woman was walking on platforms - on cobblestones, and witnessed another poor fashion victim wearing fancy sandals who was watching every step she took to avoid falling.  New Orleans has BAD sidewalks and even worse streets.  The city is below sea level and so the plumbing and everything else is odd.  And it's like most typical American cities - always under construction.

The ONLY way I would wear some fancy-schmancy shoes out would be if I were getting into a limo or a cab from the hotel/motel/inn that picked me up where I was staying (and then going to a restaurant/pub/gastro-pub) and picking me BACK up and deposited me at my hotel/motel/inn.  No walking involved.  Absolutely NOT.  Even in $32.99 pumps from Payless - not happening.  I have seen ruined Jimmy Choos shoes in trash bins - and that is a sad, sad thing.

So, this is what I wear:

^^  $20-buck-Chuck One Stars

These cheap-ass Chuck-Taylor One Stars from Target.  Once they are broken in, they are surprisingly comfortable.  The rubber soles, tips, and additional rubber AROUND the shoe protect your feet from some of the street nastiness.  And, because they are canvas - they can be washed!!  I prefer the slip on style so I don't have to worry about laces getting all nasty and dragging around in the dirty streets.  

Oh, and that is the Choggie's rear-end and tail.  She wouldn't budge.  Probably not even for chicken.  Apologies for not cropping out the dog's ass in the picture.

And, then, sitting on my back porch after all my shoe contemplation...  I see...

^^  A Blimp!!

I think it's a DirectTV blimp because they've got some stuff going on with the Super Bowl coverage and all.  And even though it's a down-and-dirty iPhone photo, I still thought it was pretty neat.  From what I understand, there should be planes doing sky-writing over this weekend, so I hope to catch some shots of that (and maybe a parade or two).

But just remember, people...  pick your shoes WISELY.

x0x0

So wrong. Why can't I stop laughing??

To any "regular" readers I have, please don't get too excited about two posts two days in a row...  I'm not that motivated yet and I just quit eating fast food for the month of January (I couldn't commit to a whole year - didn't want to set myself up for failure) - I'm a bit grumpy because of the carby-carb high I'm sorely missing.  One of my friends who quit cold turkey (carbs - NOT booze or cigs) said that if I could make it for five days, I'd probably be okay.

So, I'm trying.

Anyhow, my stupid New Year's Semi-Resolution is not supposed to be the topic of this post.  The picture featured below is.

^^  "IN CASE OF RAPTURE CARS YOURS!"

I came across this little gem somewhere on Pacific Avenue in The Point while I was walking the dog.  I actually had to stop and look twice.  At first I was looking down at the plate and the top of the trunk had shielded the first part of the statement...  so all I read was "CARS YOURS".  So, I put the dog and reverse and had another look.  And laughed and laughed and laughed.  I have seen other plate surrounds concerning The Rapture and most of them were on the lines of "When The Rapture Comes You'd Better Grab My Steering Wheel" or some other such nonsense.  Now this???  Utterly hilarious because the owner apparently doesn't care who gets Raptured with them...  they just want the rest of us sinners to KNOW that it is perfectly fine to take the car.  

And I'm a-okay with it... including the piss-poor grammar.  

x0x0

The Casey Jones.

It's okay if you berate the fact that I'm an Instagram whore.  I can live with it.  As you can tell, I'm no photographer - nor do I have a fancy-schmancy camera.  I only just realized that my iPhone 4S has a flash AND a zoom on it...  so, apparently after owning the thing for about 7 months, I'm just learning it's potential.  I figured the dog was just being uncooperative while I was trying to capture her pic for the most part.  Well, I was wrong!!  Go me.  Now I owe the dog an apology.  ;0))

This post is not about my shitty picture taking.  Oh, noes.  Not at all.  It is about our most local food store...  Casey Jones Supermarket.  Except, we call it The Casey Jones (and never with "supermarket" added at the end).  And you never just run to the market, you are indeed telling your loved one(s) or family member(s) or friend(s) "I'm going to The Casey Jones...  need anything?"  My friend K., who grew up in New Orleans (mostly on the Westbank), told me that you could hit up the ol' CJ wearing just about anything - and no one will notice.  She's absolutely, positively correct. 

As a matter-of-fact, this particular style of slip-on bedroom shoe (^^) seems to be THE choice of footwear after 5:00 PM (pink seems to be preferred, but I've seen them in many a different color).  I'm not going to go out on a limb and say that The Casey Jones is clothing optional, but I have seen men in overalls with no tee-shirt underneath with the sides gaping open (and having the utter and total fear of accidentally looking BELOW chest-level).  I've also been privy to view some people wearing their pants way below their boxers (or in one case, lower than their tighty-not-so-whiteys - brain bleach - or at least LAUNDRY bleach, please).  

However, in all fairness - the staff is wickedly friendly, nice and very knowledgeable, they do have a great variety of their own spices, feature items exclusive to Louisiana (Cajun and Creole brands), and almost every employee can tell you where to find what you're looking for.  To me??  That's priceless.

 ^^ Vantage point from my parking spot...

 ^^  Getting closer...  I do love this place.  :0))

^^  Nothing screams NOLA louder than a deer-head in front of an American Flag!!

Another weird New Orleans thing...  you are never just going to get groceries...  you are "making groceries".  As in "I don't have time tomorrow, I've got to make groceries before the holidays."

All hail The Casey Jones!!!

x0x0