I have really enjoyed listening to podcasts, lately.
I love the Big Boo Cast by Big Mama (Melanie Shankle) and Boo Mama (Sophie Hudson). Listen to it online here or find it on iTunes and add it to your podcast line up. They blog at TheBigMamaBlog and BooMama respectively.
They’ve written some of my favorite recent reads, as well:
In the same vein, I love this insightful, funny author/ speaker: Annie Downs! Check out her podcast online here or on iTunes. She blogs at AnniefDowns.com and has written these faves:
Last, but not least, I’ve just discovered the Living Out Loud podcast with Alley and Amanda. Several friends have recently been guests on this podcast – Mary Brantley, Cathy, Rachel, and Sarah – totally worth a listen!
What do you listen to in the car? Any Podcasts you love that I missed?
I’ve apparently been watching a lot of documentaries lately on Netflix. These are my recent faves.
1. Shut Up, Little Man!
Watch out, kids – adult language! It’s about friendship. It’s about roommates. It’s about the time-old tradition of insulting the people you love. If you can stomach the f-word, this is a hilarious, entertaining, and exceptionally well-made documentary about the need for human connection, emotion, and human behavior.
2. Tabloid
Genius-level-IQ former beauty queen kidnaps a Mormon in London in the 70’s for a crazy sex-filled weekend – or does she? Learn about Mormonism. Learn about sneaking out of the UK as a poorly-costumed fake mute. Learn about cloning puppies. This documentary has something for everyone.
3. The Source Family
This documentary examines a radical experiment in utopian living in the 1970s. Jim Baker aka “Father Yod” opens some health food restaurants, employs runaways and minors, and becomes a self-proclaimed guru. See the cult through clips of actual footage and present day interviews with actual former members; listen to the tale unravel to the sounds of 60+ albums the Source Family recorded. There’s no cool aid, just wild mysticism, small bits of nudity, a miracle or too, and one dodgy old man. Watch it now.
4. We Cause Scenes
Avant garde meets prank meets hidden camera meets youtube. This is a short history of the rise of the internet, improv comedy, and the present movement in NYC 1,000s strong: Improv Everywhere. Highlights include no pants day on the subway, U2’s Bono being “arrested,” and a prank-filled wedding at the end (“… of course there’s a wrestler at my wedding!”). Witness the ebb and flow of one man’s hopes and dreams (like everyone else’s in the early 2000s in the city) and the evolution of this improvisational, interactive comedy as it pushes boundaries and seeks to redefine art.
5. Jim Gaffigan: Mr. Universe
Saved the best for last. Chock-full of one-liners, this comedy special is hilariously funny and remarkably clean. No adult content or language, offensive reference to genitalia, or degradation of women are needed for Gaffigan to have you rolling – with content ranging from family life to wales, and fast food to gym experiences. Fully relatable and extremely amusing, this is truly a must see.
I don’t have class on Fridays and Grant gets done with his by noon, so I’ve been dying to plan some fun outings for our Friday afternoons off together.
This morning, Grant skipped out the door on the way to his last marketing class ever (!) and I got up to straighten up a bit and plan our day. I had decided on going to Greenwich to explore and discover the National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Old Royal Naval College, Royal Observatory and see the famous Cutty Sark. The highlight of the Greenwich trip: The Prime Meridian.
We’d make our way back by waterboat on the Thames, but not before attending evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral. We’d finish up with dinner afterwards at a favorite little Italian place near Embankment and catch the Jubilee line home.
That is not what happened.
Instead, we were both so hungry when Grant got home that we decided to try out a little Italian place close to our flat in Hampstead, then head out to Greenwich. Luigi’s was amazing and had unusually large portions (we had spaghetti and lasagna). Before we’d even paid the check, a food coma came over us–the perfect comfortably-full-but-not-stuffed feeling that demands sleep.
What could we do?
As we headed home to lay in bed, snuggle up with two hot water bottles at our feet, and watch movies all afternoon together, I didn’t regret tossing our plans aside. It turned out to be a rare but perfect day after all.
My sweet friend, Cara (former neighbor in Atlanta), tagged me in a little blogger game. And because I’m “it” you get to find out 11 fun facts about me 🙂
The Rules: 1. You must post these rules. 2. Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog. 3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer. 4. You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post. 5. Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.
The Questions: 1. If you could have someone do one chore for you for the rest of your life, what chore would it be? Washing clothes, dishes, or windows. Hate each and every one of those.
2. Which song do you always sing at-the-top-of-your-lungs-super-loud-yelling style in your car? Any power ballad or Beatles song. Most likely, something I’ve recently heard on Glee.
Sing seems to do the job.
But other past contenders have been Unwritten
Don’t Stop Believing
and, of course, Defying Gravity.
3. Publix or Kroger? Publix all the way.
4. What instrument do you wish you could play? Guitar. I can only barely play piano after years of lessons 100 years ago.
5. What did you eat for breakfast? …nothing… I should probably get on that.
I’m a local at a little coffee shop around the corner. The guy that owns it with his wife is from Cambodia and he’s always smiling. He begins to make my usual caramel latte and hot buttered croissant when he sees me walk through the door and he gives me half off because I come in most days. It is so nice the simple joy of being a local and having your usual favorite every-day order ready (and 50% off!).
6. If you had to buy your clothes from one store for the rest of your life, what store would you choose? Banana Republic (I’m such a prep.)
7. What is one quirky thing you do that others may find strange? I bite my nails. Grant hates it!
8. What TV show is your guilt pleasure? So many…. Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, My So-Called Life… are we sensing a late-90s trend… anyone…? Bueller?
9. What is your favorite season of the year? Autumn. All the colors, the turning leaves, and the fashion: layers, sweaters, boots, scarves… need I go on?!
10. When was the last time you felt homesick? All the time–are you kidding? London is a fun place to visit, but it’s a difficult place to live. I miss the slow Southern drawl, smiles, charm, and kindness, the sense of community and unapologetic evangelism of the South. I miss the warmth of the weather and even more so the people. Lord, take me home!
11. If you could be best-friends with a celebrity, who would he/she be? Jennifer Aniston. We’re practically besties already.
And here are your 11 Questions: 1. What’s your favorite Christmas/ Birthday gift or story (good or bad)? 2. What’s your favorite memory from college? 3. What’s your favorite place you’ve been? 4. What’s the next place you’d like to visit? 5. Lake, beach, mountains, or dessert? 6. What’s your favorite cuisine/ meal? 7. Would you rather be on Survivor, American Idol, or Jersey Shore (they’re about all the same to me)? 8. Would you rather head up a flash mob dance party or sing along? 9. What’s your favorite childhood movie? (You know I love me some Disney!) 10. What’s the best thing you’ve learned from your mother? 11. What’s your favorite pic (please post and add a caption)?
So can we talk about My So-Called Life? I love it. It is exaggerated, ridiculous, and has hilariously characteristic 90’s high school banter – sprinkled with plenty of “umm… you know”s, pregnant pauses, and “like”s.
Here are my Top 10 Favorite Things about My So-Called Life {sad that it only had one 19-episode season}.
10. The awkwardness is palpable and the tension in some strained relationships on the show is painful {in a good way}.
9. 1994 was the year of combat boots, over-sized plaid shirts, and grunge bands.
8. The issues of identity and searching for self are legit.
7. It’s set in Pittsburgh.
6. The parents’ relationship is embarrassingly real.
5. The hair.
4. The clothes.
3. The frienemies that the girls morph into – catty one minute, bffs the next.
2. The melodramatic nature of unchecked high school emotions.
1. How the show miraculously portrays a youthful Jared Leto (whose character, Jordan, is on the verge of dropping out, is habitually indifferent and makes little/ no effort with Angela {Claire Danes}, and who can barely read) as irresistible boyfriend material in true high school form.
I wasn’t exactly allowed to watch it {at the time, I was in 4th grade} but as I caught up on the reruns in high school, my Dad thought the name “My So-Called Life” was fetching for a maladjust teenage show.
I love the Big Boo Cast by Big Mama (Melanie Shankle) and Boo Mama (Sophie Hudson). Listen to it online here or find it on iTunes and add it to your podcast line up. They blog at TheBigMamaBlog and BooMama respectively.
grant + lucy :: romance 