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

Fab Fashionista (for Derby).

So.  Today (after I met up with L. at the gym, popped in to the commissary, put groceries away, and bathed my sweaty ass), I realized that my loyalty card to Fleurty Girl would be filled up today IF I bought two new tee shirts (you receive double-stamps on your loyalty card every Tuesday).  Which means, I could get a *free* shirt!!  Ooh, la la!!  Since I had to run out to the post office, I figured I'd just pop across the river and do a little shopping.  Imagine my surprise when I found TWO of the tees I wanted were marked down to $10 each... so, I ended up getting four shirts for the cost of less than two (full retail).  Score!!  I feel like ol' Charlie Sheen today...  WINNING!!

One of the reasons why I wanted to pick some new tees out is because on Saturday, I'm heading up to Shreveport.  I'll be score keeping for my favorite flat-track roller derby team...  the Twin City Knockers (also known as TCK).  I simply needed something funky to wear for that event.  Now my biggest problem is choosing EXACTLY which tee to wear for the bout (as I can't wear anything with the TCK logo on it)...  I might have to draw straws.

Here are my finds:

 ^^  In New Orleans, the medians are known as the "Neutral Ground".  

Apparently, this is a hold-over from when the French and Spanish had colonized southern Louisiana.  The area between the settlements was known as "The Neutral Ground".  

 ^^  City of New Orleans - Ordinance No. 3267 (March 10, 1857).  NOLA was a trashy whore back then, and she's a trashy whore now.  However, the houses of "ill repute" are now lovely bed & breakfasts gracing the Garden District and Uptown.  The only indication that they were brothels are the red gaslights lighting the doorways at night.

 ^^  The Sazerac is one of the most famous drinks in New Orleans.  You can still order one at many restaurants - however, the absinthe which is used in the drink has changed.  Spirits distilled with wormwood (which is what gives absinthe it's hallucinogenic properties) is illegal in the United States.

 ^^  Well, Boston wasn't acknowledged in this quote.  However, I simply think that the author overlooked the awesomeness.  He's dead, so I suppose I can forgive him for this transgression.  ;0))

^^  And just for shits and giggles... this was the line at the commissary today.  Now, you may feel inclined to ask me just how many registers were actually open today... and I'd have to tell you that there were TWO.  And one was the express lane (15 items or less) and they didn't have the self-checkout open, either (personally, I can't stand the self-checkout because I never seem to be able to place anything properly in the damned bags).  Anyhow, the retirees converge at 11:00 AM - note to self. 

So far, this has been the pinnacle of my exciting week.  I'm very excited to be heading to Shreveport early on Saturday morning to help set up the track at 1:00 - and then the bout happens at 7:00 PM (of course, the doors open earlier and it's a BYOB event - $5.00/cooler - no glass bottles).  It is going to be a blast!!  I'll post a whole bunch of pics when I get home on Sunday afternoon.  

x0x0

Vibrant Vernacular.

New Orleans is a very funky city, with a broad range of people who have a ton of character.  Like most regions of the US, there is a very distinct dialect - one that can be a bit hard to understand at times.  Since it's taken me a little while to get used to the local lingo, I figured I'd throw in some words and phrases that are very unusual and unlikely to be heard anywhere else in our fair country.  And just because I'm super-geeky and love to do stuff like this, I'm going to throw in some little-known facts about our fine city.  Read on, Jeeves!!

^^  Our neighborhood Catholic Church

I know I didn't HAVE to put a picture in this post...  I just like to break up the monotony.  ;0))

Vocabulary.  Oh, and pronunciation.  Very important - as a local will be able to make you as a tourist as soon as you ask a question.  So... (and in no particular order):

Burgundy Street  (local lingo:  burr-GOON-dee) - located in the French Quarter.

Chartres Street  (local lingo:  charters - not pronounced anything like the French) - located in the French Quarter.

New Orleans  (local lingo:  gnaw-leenz) - this one was difficult for me to get used to - as the city of Orleans in France pronounce it Orr-LAY-ohn (with the last syllable a little dragged out in a nasal-y way) - which is a far cry from how locals say it here.  ;0))

Marigny  (local lingo:  mare-en-hee) - very funky neighborhood on the Eastbank.  Lots of artists and musicians tend to live there.

Po'Boy  (local lingo:  poh-boy) - what is also know in other areas of the country as a submarine sandwich, hoagie, grinder... you get the picture.  If you order a Po'Boy the person taking your order will ask if you want it fully dressed.  If you answer "yes", your sandwich will come with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayo.

Muffuletta  (local lingo:  muff-ahh-leh-tah) - a traditional New Orleans sandwich.  It's very large and typically four people can eat off of one (they cut the round bread into fourths) or you can buy them by the quarters.

Tasso  (local lingo:  tahh-soh) - a spicy smoked ham found in many dishes here.  It's delicious!!

Boudin  (local lingo:  boo-dween) - a spicy sausage made from unusual meats...  here you can find alligator, crawfish, and pork boudin.

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If you're going to get groceries, you're making groceries.  As in "I'm out of almost everything here...  tomorrow I'll be making groceries at the Casey Jones."

Those grassy strips that are sometimes seen between the left and right side of the road (in all the other states they are referred to as medians) are called neutral ground here.  This dates back to the days when the French and Spanish occupied Louisiana and the small area between the French and Spanish boundaries was referred to as such.  For some strange reason, the term has made it down through the generations and is still used today.

In the Garden District and Uptown areas of the city, there are wild parrots which actually live in the large live oaks and in the palm trees.  They are easy to spot and it's pretty cool to be able to look up and see one.  There are a LOT of different colored ones, too.  :0))  

Speaking of birds, there are wild roosters and chickens that live in some parks, public areas, and medians (aka the neutral ground).  They are oddly territorial.  We also have a lot of pigeons, ducks, and geese.  Alas, flamingos are only found at the Zoo.

Most (if not all) convenience stores, supermarkets, and discount stores will not just have wine and beer available, they'll also have a selection of liquors and mixers available.  You can purchase alcohol at any time of the day or night.  There are no blue laws here.

On that note, you can also have your alcoholic drinks to go.  Yes, you did read that correctly!!  There are even drive-through daiquiri stands so that you don't even get out of your car.  They do come sealed - drinking and driving laws are most certainly enforced, but you can be lazy and stay in your car to order.

Glass bottles are prohibited on the streets - so if you get your boozy drink to go while you're walking around, you'll have it in a plastic cup.  Beer cans are not prohibited, either.

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Sometime over the next couple of days, I'll be writing about the Aquarium of the Americas and over the weekend, I'll be posting some Insectarium adventures.  Stay tuned - same bat time (okay, so maybe not really - ha!) but definitely the same bat channel.  Cheers!!

x0x0