Vintage Polo?

 Recognize them?  That's Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, having fun on bikes.  Pretty awesome, right?  Well, there is plenty more where that came from. 

Last week I got a nice treat from a friend of mine who has known me (and my love for bicycles) for practically my whole life.

She sent me a link to this bicycle related tumblr

It is filled with great old photos of people you may recognize on bicycles.  Pretty cool, hey?

classic bill murray

yup....that's john, paul, george and ringo.

 And here are Ray Walston and Anthony Perkins playing a little bike polo circa way back when.

Check out the tumblr.  it's pretty cool.

Sick of Being Sick!

 Hi Friends.  Happy Thursday.  GUESS WHAT?  This is my 100th post.  exciting, hey? I think that's pretty cool.  I can't believe it has almost been a year since I started this thing.

anyway.....I've been sick.  REAL sick.  like in bed for 3 days straight, sinuses out of control, can't stop coughing, raw nose kinda sick.  I even used 2 days of PTO and missed work.  Now THAT means it is serious. 

Luckily, I have a wonderful lady friend who takes care of me and buys me cough drops....

 and Kleenex.....

 and makes sure I'm using my Neti Pot.

Anyhow, being sick for a few days, there is only so much you can sleep.  So I caught up on movies and TV.  I saw the Social Network.  good story, not anywhere CLOSE to the best movie this year.  I mean, yes, it was a nice story and thanks for the history.  But nothing too special about this one (at least not for me.)

Inception, on the other hand, WAS AWESOME!  I loved it.  And I want to own it.  When sick, I often take night time meds which help me sleep, even when I'm coughing.  These meds also make my dreams unbelievably vivid.  So after lots of intense (awesome) dreams, I watched a movie about intense and awesome dreams.

In America came out years ago.  I always wanted to see it.  Little did I know/realize that A owns it.  So I finally saw it and know why we own it.  just what I needed.

 I also spent about 4 hours SUCKED into A&E watching Intervention. This show makes you feel both bad and good at the same time.  Like I'm so glad I'm not a junky.  But yikes, that looks like a rough life, you know?

Criminal Minds is like my new(ish) favorite show.  A and I stumbled upon this show during the fall and have been WAY into it ever since.I love it. 

And ever since we found the Wonder Years/Family Ties/Doogie Howser channel, we have been enjoying childhood flashbacks. 

So that is what I have been up to.  What do you do when you are sick, besides eat too much soup and yell at your dogs to stop barking at people walking by? 

something cool for a cold day

What the hell is with all the snow?  I am usually pro (as pro as you can be) winter.  But this is starting to get ridiculous, and it is only mid January.  When I watched Patrick Hammer this morning, he told me we were going to get "some flurries."  these flurries were not supposed to continue all morning and leave the roads all sloppy again.  But alas, the snow has not even pretended to let up.

let's talk about the slop.  To be honest, slop is not the worst of it.  yes, it makes things wet, but that isn't so hard to cut through.  In fact, I feel pretty in control when it is wet. I may get a little splash here and there, but that is what my leg warmers are for.  That wetness has never even reached my second layer of socks, so it isn't too bad. the part about all of this that I really don't care for, is the fact that it covers up all the hard packed (as I call it Molten....but it is ice) chunks of ice.

Let's talk more about the moonstone/molten ice I'm referring to.  This stuff is usually on the edge of the road, right near where I and most cyclists ride the road.  I think it is a result of snow being plowed to the side, and then it gets driven on so much that it gets crazy packed down, and then turned into ice, but it is like 4 inches thick, and comes out of nowhere.  When I see this stuff, I try more than anything to avoid it.  But sometimes, you just can't and then you need to ride it like it is a wave.  what I mean is, if you don't stay on the crest, the ice (or wave...) will swallow you whole/make you fall.  So far, I have survived the moments of ice/wave riding.  But on days like today, the fresh powder covers up the ice chunks and makes it hard to see them.  On days like this I'm glad I have my route home (the road itself) memorized.  I know where the big ice chunks are, and where they break.  hopefully I will make it home safely today....

But really, I wasn't planning on talking about that today.  I was planning on giving you something nice to look at, other than the falling snow.

I think A and I need one of these.  She can just sit pretty like a lady :)

ENJOY!

Tuesday Night

Jimmy's in NE reminds me of being back home in MKE.  cheap, cash only, decent jukebox, awesome beef sticks.  all the things I like.

Back in the Game! (for now)

Can it be true?  After MONTHS of no mixes, I'm back in the game!  Now this is just a little something to tide you over while I figure out the new mix program I'm trying to use.  So there is no real theme here, just some music to get down to.  Enjoy!
NEW MIX! 1.11.11

 1. Rhinestone Eyes-Gorillaz.  This is one of the singles off of their new album plastic beach.  I think it is pretty catchy and pretty classic Gorillaz sound. 

 2. This is Radio Clash-the Clash.  Growing up with a big brother that was/is way into punk music, I heard my fair share of The Clash growing up.  The clash are pretty rad in that they took advantage of the backlash against punk and used it to their benefit, because they are a pretty radio friendly band, and people loved the shit out of them.  I like this song a lot.

 3. Tightrope-Janelle Monae.  again, off of her new *amazing* album The ArchAndroid. it is super catchy, and easy to tap a toe to.  Plus, it features Big Boi, and that is a good thing.  also, don't you love those saddle shoes seen above, because I do!

 4. Chain of Fools- Aretha Franklin.  Everyone needs a little soul sister in their life.  period.

 5. We could be Friends-Freelance Whales.  I've heard some good, but mainly negative comments about this band.  But however emo/hipster/unoriginal they are, I think they are rad.  And I think this song is rad.

 6.No Hope Kids-the Wavves.  I'm still trying to come up with an opinion about this band.  So, listen to some of their music with me and tell me what you think. 

 7. Crazy for You-Best Coast.  Over the summer I was listening to Best Coast off and on.  And then we got tickets to see them....and we didn't go to the show because it was on a school night.  I'm still kicking myself in the ass for that.  It is pretty simplistic, however pretty awesome.

 8. Chan Chan- Buena Vista Social Club.  Listening to their music really takes me away from the snow and cold of MN and makes me, for a few simple minutes, feel like I'm somewhere in South America, using my broken Spanish to figure out where to go dancing.  I love that.

 9. Love and Happiness-Al Green.  again-why wouldn't you want some Al Green in your life.  I have had this conversation more than once-Al Green or Marvin Gaye.  While this is hard, and I think I like that both exist, I'm more of an Al Green fan.  there.  I said it.

 10. Ragged Wood-Fleet Foxes.  Having this album on Vinyl really makes it feel like it was produced back in the early 70's.  All of the vocal harmonies, well they just do it for me. 

 11.  Head Over Heels-Tears for Fears.  Since I was a kid, I have loved this band.  I only know about 8 of their songs, but that's 5 more than most people.  They are what makes the 80's a great time to remember.  just like you, I think of Donny Darko, but that wasn't always the case. 

 12. Irene-Caribou.  Another band that I'd like to listen to more, just so I have a better personal opinion of them.

 13. Basic Space-the XX.  They were HUGE last year.  And I bet their sophomore album is a success too (when it comes out.)  This is my favorite track by them.  Plus, I have some personal memories of this coming into my life last fall (of 2009, that is).

 14. Sunrise-Yeasayer.  Have I told you how much I love Yeasayer lately?  seeing them blow the roof off of 7th street entry is still one of my favorite shows ever.  and again, I'm brought back to when A and I first met, which always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

15.  All the Young Dudes-Mott the Hoople.  I remember hearing this in my Dad's old blue boat of a car when I was no more than 4 or 5.  We were on our way to KFC (back when it was Kentucky Friend Chicken) to purchase some chicken Little's-which were mini chicken sammies that were (in the mind of 5 year old Cayla) the best thing ever made for kids.  I mean, they were kid size!  and I can't complain with that. and why do I remember this so well? Anyhow, the use of this song in Juno made me start to love it all over again.

So that is that, friends.  A new mix.  I hope you enjoy it!  hopefully there will be more to come.

GO PACK GO!

Not often do I spend time talking about Sports on here.  But today, I must make note that my Pack just beat the Eagles in the Wildcat and will be moving on in the playoffs to play The Hotlanta Falcons.  Let's go green and gold!!!

Also, watch the highlights of the game here.  I find it to be enjoyable!

topsies!

 Well here we are, almost done with our first week of 2011.  As I was listening to the new Girl Talk album All Day which by the way, I can't stop listening to, I realized that i didn't even bother with a making note of my top albums of 2010.  I haven't been listening to too much new music, which is too bad.  But with school and work and life, I just haven't been as free as I used to be.  So here are some albums that came out this year that I'm really enjoying. And this is just my opinion.  I by no mean think my music snobbery is better than yours.  These just happened to be the albums that came out in the last year that I have listened to a lot and like a lot and think are some of the best of 2010.

That being said, I have also added a list of albums that I bet are great, but I just haven't had a chance to listen to much.  For me, an album is great when you can listen to it a lot and continue to want to listen to it a lot.  That doesn't mean listen to it at any point during the day-certain music fits certain moods better than others.  And again, my opinion isn't the only one out there. 

Big Boi Sir Lucious Left Foot: the Son of Chico Dusty
I am no expert on hip hop, nor do I pretend to be one.  However, I have always loved Outkast.  Here we are with a solo album from Big Boi that is not only creative, catchy and danceable, it is HUGE! 
And Big Boi really throws down. His lyrics are unreal! Plus, there are a lot of guests on this album and according to him-he makes "freaky" music.  I don't disagree.

Beach House  Teen Dream  

Have you listened to this album?  If you have, I don't need to explain why it made my list.  If you haven't-let me explain.  This album is full of droney keyboards, haunting guitar riffs and the unreal, unmatched vocals of Victoria Lagrand.  When I first picked this up (recommended by none other than Mr. Race) i listened to it on repeat for like 2 days.  In fact, when I walked out of the record store and popped it into the CD player in A's car, I had to drive around the city and listen to the album in full before I could head home.  It was spring time, and the weather was changing and between the smooth *music* of the album and her voice/unreal lyrics, I couldn't help but clarify right then and there that it would make this list.

Delorean Subiza

A got me this album over the summer (i think?)  Ive been in a real electronic, low-fi stuff lately.  It just makes me feel good.  This album is really great and brings me back to my younger years, when finding a fun party was my number 1 (or 2) priority.  It is exactly the type of album I would have playing during a party-not necessarily a kegger, but more like a group of my 20 closest friends getting together to chat and drink and dance enjoy one another. 

Janelle Monae The Archandroid

Janelle Monae, where have you been all my life?  This catchy-poppy-SciFi album blows the roof off of a lot of what Ive heard this year.  My Buddy Jon told me about this album a while back, and even encouraged me to get tickets to her show long before I heard the album.  And I was a fool, and did not get a ticket....he is still saying I told you so.  She is amazing.  the voice, the look, the funk....all so good. I just like how one second I'm in the Motown filled 50's and the next I'm on Mars or something. Rad. Give it a listen!

Gorillaz Plastic Beach

While I have never been a HUGE Gorillaz fan, I've always appreciated their music.  It is pretty unique, and for that I think they are pretty good.  This new album has some cool stuff going on.  There is a musical theme (a motif, if you will) that continues to come back throughout the album. It is that of something you may find in a piece of classical music.  I think it makes for a really smart album, as well as catchy, and rhythm driven.

LCD Soundsystem This is Happening

I know some people who are too snobbish to understand how great this album is.  I think there are people out there that either don't get it, or are too stuck in the ways/didn't hear it first, thus say they don't like this album.  I feel that this is like saying you don't like Rubber Soul.  I mean, you don't have to *love* the Beatles to see that they are significant, and changed music, and helped other bands find a sound for themselves.  While I *don't* think that LCD Soundsystem are as significant as the Beatles, I do think they are an important piece to what is musical history today.  That's my dish on LCD Soundsystem.

Local Natives Gorilla Manor

I love this band.  They may be boring/cliche to some of you, but I happen to like them a lot.  I really love CSNY, and local natives remind me of a modern day version of that.  I love the harmonies, I love the percussive driven sound, and I love the haunting guitar licks.  I wrote a review here after I saw them live last Spring.  Call me what you'd like, hipster, trendy, blah blah.  I could say the same/similar for just about any artist right now.  Just try me :)

Arcade Fire The Suburbs

I really love this band.  Each album has something different and amazing to offer.  Funeral really moved me, maybe because of the time in my life when it came out.  This album (while Ive only heard it all the way through about 4 times) definitely gives me a certain feeling, which morphs throughout the album.  I think as we get older we start to look at life a little differently.  This album, being about the Suburbs, has got me thinking about my life-both currently, and the future plans I have.

Girl Talk All Day

Girl talk is amazing.  Some may say that mashups aren't real music ability or skill, but I could argue that all day long.  No one else thinks of making music like this.  It goes way above and beyond some simple sampling.  there are just so many levels of music and tempos and rhythms and lyrics.  Brilliant.  I challenge anyone who feels the music is unoriginal and/or the idea that "anyone can do it" to try it out.  Try finding songs across several genres/time periods/styles/tempos/etc and make them sound good either layered or strung together, or both.  Not so simple....

And that is that.  That is how I feel about the last year in music.  And as promised, here is a list of Albums I haven't had the chance to fuller get a feel for, but from what I've heard, I like.

Flying Lotus-Cosmogramma

Wavves-King of the Beach

Caribou-Swim

The Walkmen-Lisbon

Spoon-Transference

Glasser-Ring

Crystal Castles-Crystal Castles

Best Coast-Crazy for You

Robyn-Body Talk pt 1

Gil Scott-Heron- I'm New Here

Woods-At Echo Lake

Sufjan Stevens-the Age of Adz

Hot Chip-One Life Stand

Erykah Badu-New Amerykah pt 2: Return of the Ankh

The Roots-How I got Over

Jonsi-Go

See ya later, friends!