I really like the new REM album. In fact, I liked the previous one, too. Something happened after Bill Berry, the drummer with the magnificent mono-brow, left the band. They started making dull records, and I mean REALLY dull. But the last two have been fun again. And I’m enjoying enjoying them again.
Also in heavy rotation inside the Surf Report bunker: the new solo album by J. Mascis, and the reissue of Nick Lowe’s second record, Labour of Lust. I also bought the new Paul Simon album, and it’s fairly bizarre, but is growing on me quickly.
You know, in case you were wondering…
I’ve been dabbling in two of the bigger book nerd communities, as well: GoodReads and LibraryThing. If you have a profile at either of them, and would like to add me as a friend, I’d be honored. I’ve just gotten started, so I don’t have much to offer yet. But I’m planning to get into it, and maybe discover some cool books I didn’t previously know about.
And I just finished reading the first Spenser novel, by Robert B. Parker. It was fun, and I’m going to read them in order, until I get bored or run outta books. I read it on the Kindle, which is the best $200 I’ve spent recently. That’s $140 for the device, and $60 for the lighted cover. Money well-spent…
Last year I got a wild hair up my ass (I still don’t know what that phrase means, exactly…) and subscribed to a bunch of magazines on the same day. All have now expired, or are nearing their expiration dates. And the only one I’m going to continue with is Wired. I’m digging Wired.
On the DVD front, Toney and I are quickly ripping through the final season of Friday Night Lights. Man, what a great show that was… It’s a shame that more people didn’t watch it, but they somehow squeezed out five seasons, despite their always unspectacular ratings. So, that ain’t too shabby.
We’re seriously considering a purchase of the whole series on DVD, whenever it’s released.
And now you’re up to date on the stuff I’m enjoying at the moment. What about you? We need a progress report. Use the comments section below to tell us about the good stuff.
This one’s abbreviated, I know, but it’s better than the previous few Wednesdays when I didn’t update at all. Right? …Hello?
I’ll see you guys again tomorrow, I hope. I’ve got another weird work schedule this coming weekend, but I’ll do my best.
Have a great day, my friends.
Now playing in the bunker
Read Jeff’s first novel, Crossroads Road
Free the hookers!
I’m enjoying other things. Like the fact that I have a phone interview with a major company that could get me out of this…place…I work at now (being careful!). Keep your fingers crossed that the pay is comparable & they will rescue me!
Other than that I am enjoying nerdy/geeky things. Such as Glee & World of Warcraft. Hey, I said nerdy/geeky, didn’t I?!
Good luck, Melissa. And I know exactly how you feel…
Thanks, Jeff! I’m trying not to be super excited but ANY interview right now is happy news!
Oh best of luck to you! Hope you nail it!
Good luck. We’re all pulling for you !!
Be sure and ask the interviewer about the company’s policy re: employees surfing the internets during work hours. That’ll impress him/her.
The early Spenser books are pretty good. The last 10 or so in the series are short, preachy and dull as dishwater.
I’ve been enjoying books by Don Winslow. Good writer. Savages is brutal but maybe the best of the genre I have ever read.
I thought Friday Night Lights just started airing the final season a couple weeks ago. I don’t watch much TV from the regular networks so I don’t know for sure.
The final season DVD of Friday Night Lights went on sale before the season started airing on NBC. How weird is that?
Oh. OK. Yeh that’s kind of strange.
Not usually the sort of thing I read, but I read all the Jesse Stone novels over the last two years. I think it was due to the movies with Tom Selleck.
I’ve started watching “Fringe” from Season Two on, and I really enjoy it. I didn’t particularly want to get sucked into another crazy-ass serial like “Lost,” but this series offers pay-offs and forward momentum that keep me coming back for more.
Glad you’re reading Parker, Jeff. The early Spensers are absolutely great, but I suspect you’ll run out of steam after the first 10. And the last 10 are pretty near unreadable.
Fringe is quality. John Noble is a gifted dude. Anna Torv is strangely hot. Well, it’s not that strange.
FNL is killer, too.
I’m reading “The Baby in the Icebox” short fiction by James M. Cain (“The Postman Always Rings Twice”, etc.). Awesome old-school dialogue.He grew up here on MD’s Eastern Shore. Which makes us both slow.
FNL is one of the best shows ever, and I will definitely buy the entire set. I hate that the ratings have always been so poor. I always thought it was funny, though, that a show about high school football aired on Friday nights when lovers of high school football are out there enjoying, um, high school football. Go figure.
To Melissa – GOOD LUCK!!!
Thank you!! 🙂
I’m enjoying “Angry Birds” on my iPod. It is totally addictive.
I’m also enjoying my Blizzak tires!
I’ve been enjoying Dennis LeHane mysteries. Not real deep, but good for the treadmill.
I’m also actually putting the effort in to catch The Killing each week – not something I normally bother to with TV.
The wife and I have latched onto a show on Comedy Central called “Workaholics”.
I’m reading one of Mark Twain’s books, “Traveling the Equator”. It’s very interesting. He travels by boat along the equator, and talks about all the weird shit he runs into on the way. It includes little drawings of his, and stuff like that.
I envy you guys for being able to get so lost in music. I don’t know shit about music. And when some hipster recommends something to me, I think it sounds like shit.
As a friend of the current drummer of REM (well, more of an aquaintance) I’m definitely of the opinion that Bill Rieflin is part of what is RIGHT again with REM.
I just remembered that I am enjoying a fantastic audiobook recording of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”. Seriously, if any of you out there in the intertubes listen to audiobooks do yourselves a favor and listen to ANYTHING narrated by George Guidall. The man is a genius with voicework.
If you think you are going to stay on LibraryThing, let me know. You missed it, but they had an incredible fiasco with their SantaThing this past Christmas, so they gave the survivors a lifetime subscription to give away. I’ve been holding on to mine waiting for a worthy recipient. Send me a note if you want it.
I am enjoying re-reading George Carlin’s “sorta-autobiography” “Last Words”.
I’m also enjoying the fact that some numb-nuts in maintenance finally decided to turn on the A/C in this sweltering hell hole.
I enjoy Trader Joe’s unsweetened iced tea. It’s very smooth on the palate.
madz…today is MY day to sweat like balls. My hair looks like what you’d pull off a loaded brush. Then..walk into an exam room and ice has formed on everything and the ol’ nips turn into a bird perch. Nothing’s consistent in this place.
Oh man, My hair has looked like a loofah sponge for the entire month of April. I need freaking farm equipment to brush it. I could have Stevie Wonder style it with a butter knife and the results would probbaly be a lot better. I have curley hair but it seems to shrivel like a dick in this weather.
Oh and just so you know, I’m not one of those shallow c’s who feels like they can’t leave the house with “bad hair” – No, I really don’t care – slap it up in a clip and skip off – , but after the 43rd consecutive day looking like Jimmy Page circa 1976, it kinda bugs you, ya know?
Oh yeah…that blows. With all this freakin rain and humidity you can never gert that fresh feeling. Heh
Boo friggidy hoo. At least you have hair. Mine just up’d and fell out when I was 22.
The worst part about being bald is that when you get a hair in your mouth, you KNOW it’s not yours
I’m just enjoying the fact that the ladies used the words “balls”, “dick”, and “blows” in their conversation. And we got to watch.
Henderson
Thank you for that useful comment. I actually spit some beer back in to the bottle.
I am sensing the big ol’ eye roll even before I say/type this….but I am currently enjoying “Dancing with the Stars” and watching Steelers…Hines Ward. As my boyfriend says as I am cast off to the “bedroom TV” to watch it…”So gay”.
I am also enjoying getting my ducks in a row to make a leap from this life-sucking job to my own business. So…Melissa…best of luck to you! “Rescue” is what I need too.
Thank you, thank you, Bikerchick! Good luck with your business; sending positive vibes your way!!
I am enjoying a python script
at this time
My problem with FNL was that it aired on Friday nights during highschool football season, at least at one point, right?
And it’s Friday Night Kites.
Yeah!
Currently enjoying the series of MIllenium books, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Girl who played with fire etc..
Ok, it looks like they aired on Tuesday, maybe they did repeats on Fridays. Whatever.
I’m currently enjoying The Reds, a french dip sandwich from Lion’s Choice, Wussy, and reading Building Wireless Sensor Networks.
I am enjoying the killer track “Lake Bodom” by Children of Bodom.
I’m loving The Silver Seas albums High Society and Chateau Revenge, both of which i need to thank the superb BBC London (et al) DJ and raconteur Danny Baker. If you’ve never heard his podcasts (circa 2007) they’re well worth a listen, available free at http://www.theadbs.co.uk/
He’s also back on BBC London after a hiatus
I just finished Anthony Bourdain’s second book, after putting off reading the final chapter for months. I just didn’t want it to end. And I devoured Crossroads Road. Of course.
ON TV, there’s a new season of The Deadliest Catch to get into, and a new season of No Reservations, and since we’re lettin’ it all hang out here, I’ll even admit that I enjoy American Freakin’ Idol. The contestants and Steven Tylor, not that bullshit results show stuff.
And of course there’s the drama, the suspense, the anticipation, the heartache, and the joy that is Lakers basketball.
I’m enjoying the last bowl of the chili I made Saturday. This is one of a series of test batches for the upcoming cookoff. Actually, I enjoyed it a few minutes ago and am now hearing the empty bowl make a ringing sound as the cat licks it clean.
.
I bet one thing you won’t be enjoying is cleaning kitty’s litter box later.
I’m enjoying a steady supply of Roald Dahl at the moment. My daughter loves his books, so we have stocked up for “nightly reading time”. I love “The Twits”.
I am also enjoying the heck out of my Kindle. My dad decided to buy one for me a few months ago, since I love to read. I’m middle aged, and the man still spoils me rotten.
On the music front, well, I’m wandering through old stuff that reminds me of my childhood. [McKuen, Waits, Cohen, Three Dog Night, Cochrane…] The approach of Mother’s Day tends to do that to me.
“James and the Giant Peach” was one of my favorite books.
I’m enjoying porch sitting in the backyard during the last few weeks before God opens the oven door [You Arizonans know what I mean]. Adult beverage in hand, feet up, kid tearing around on the new artificial turf, contemplating life while looking at the Reading Beer thermometer that my father had hanging in his garage for 40 years.
I am enjoying having the windows open, Mumford and Sons, the Ramones and inappropriate touching day. That’s a thing at our house today that my husband came up with. I’m just glad no one has stopped by.
“inappropriate touching day” LMAO! Must give that a whirl.
I recently enjoyed every episode of the Chicago Code. Except the last one which I missed because I forgot it was Monday and watched a ballgame instead.
Right now, I’m enjoying my new girlfriend and her many tricks, shooting guns in the dark at explosive targets and a big ass bucket of KFC. And sweet tea season!
I’m into podcasts right now big time… waiting on Crossroads Road to hit my mailbox and debating on a Blackberry playbook or a Nook or a kindle…
I’m thinking of re listening to the Bartimeaus (sp?)Trilogy on Cd.. The narrator has an awesome voice and the books are fantastic and witty. A new one came out last year so i need to get that one.
Good luck Melissa!! I told UPS to Fug it 4 years ago after 10.5 yrs of service and went to Chasebank…Now i know how the other half lives…I get internets, treated like an adult, can wear open toed shoes in an office environment, nice comfortable chairs, 10 hr days, off on fridays, etc etc… best move i ever made next to getting a divorce..
I am trying to not get too excited as I know very little about this position. But, my phone interview is tomorrow & if that goes well I am hoping to learn more & hopefully negotiate so my pay will stay comparable to what I earn now. I will even take a slight pay cut if need be.
All I know is that the place I currently work is slowly sucking the life outta me. I used to really enjoy it but with recent changes & cuts we have gone through it has made coming in difficult.
Plus, I know it’s time to move on when on Sunday nights I cry and cry @ the thought of having to come in again & I come home from work upset or crying. I’m a bit of a baby, I guess, but I like getting my work done & don’t like drama and random bullshit being slung at me regularly. So, here’s hoping this new company can whisk me away.
Plus they allow you to wear jeans and stuff to work, so that’s AWESOME in my book! 🙂
Thank you for the support, guys!!
oh yes,, forgot to say i took a 2 buck paycut just so I could enjoy life..and we can wear jeans too…I hope you got the job..since its friday 11pm
Melissa…
Your prospective employers need you more than you need them: your experience, your skills, your focus, your personality. They’d be lucky to get you. I believe that…if you do too, your confidence will come through over the phone. Go get ’em. Good luck.
jtb
Thank you, JTB! My gosh, that was awesome. You guys are giving me the courage and support that is making this so much easier for me. Thank you all so much! I love my Surf Report family (even more than I love most of my real family, so there!)
I just finished your book! I really enjoyed it. My sort of humor and really original. I couldn’t stop wondering if it was an autobiography in parts! Please, please, please start on the sequel soon! You have left it wide open and I have to have it! Thanks for the great laughs!
I heard on the news last night that Wally World is going to start carrying GUNS….again (?). Now that’s a whole new set of People of Walmart pics.
I can’t wait!
Sons of Anarchy
Weeds
Californication
are all outstanding.
Want to start watching Treme and Game of Thrones (as well as the GoT books)
Love, love, love SoA. I haven’t seen the others. Are they as good?
Now the end of FNLs, rent last season of “Justified” AND catch up with this season. Final episode next week. Moonshine, coal mines, runnin weed and lotsa weapons bein fired!!