the blisslist

behold my mummy foot! {December 30, 2009}

My foot makes me laugh. I feel like I should be fighting crime with this incredible, formidable thing! Captain America, are you in? We could be a team. Come on, say yes. Exclamation point! Exclamation point!

And hey, I want to thank everyone for the well wishes, comments, emails, etc. I'm doing just fine—and my beautiful, sweet mum will be spoiling & doting on me until Monday. I'm still pretty drowsy though, so I'm going to pull my blanket to my chin, take a nap, and leave you with my favorite find of the week: "Collar Bones" by Brooklyn-based North Highlands. It's a winsome, sunny, mildly sassy tune. Have a listen .... more soon, xo.

Collar Bones - North Highlands  |  website

three words (that became hard to say) {December 29, 2009}

I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers  |  website | 

♥♥♥ the Avett misters. See you April 17—my heart has been mined.
(New Yorker cover by adrian tomine, November 2008)

beer is proof that god wants us to be happy {December 28, 2009}

Not gonna argue with Ben Franklin on that one.

I just discovered that my favorite bar, The Monk's Kettle, is hosting a tasting of North Coast Brewery's Old Rasputin tomorrow. I love this particular stout. It is delicious and a little sweeter than Irish stouts. And it smells like coffee! The event is a vertical pouring, which I've never experienced on a beer. Tasters will sip Old Rasputin in its original state, Rasputin XI aged in oak bourbon barrels, and their newly released anniversary brew, Rasputin XII (which is aged in oak barrels as well.) Oooooooooo!!!

My surgery is tomorrow, so I can't go. Beer + crutches + painkillers most likely = me, face planted on the floor, Old Rasputin sticky in my hair. My mother staring in horror. The ridiculously hot handlebar-mustached waiter (you know who I am talking about if you frequent Monk's Kettle) remembering me forever as the handicapped girl who got sloppy and disrespected Old Rasputin. We can't have that.

Instead I'll just be at home reading a book and listening to music. I've revisited Dan Auerbach and Bill Callahan over the last few days—check out the songs below! They've been plucked from two of my most beloved albums of the year, Keep It Hid and Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle. As many of you know, Keep It Hid is a solo effort from mister Auerbach—who is the stellar vocalist/guitarist for The Black Keys. Mister Callahan has performed in the past as Smog, but he shed is old moniker for his last two records—which haven't been drastically different from what he produced as Smog. No matter. He always was pretty damn amazing.

Trouble Weighs a Ton - Dan Auerbach  |  website | 
My Friend - Bill Callahan  |  website

And no.
I have not accidentally grown a beard.

all this talk of ovulation .... {December 27, 2009}

Reminds me of its insignificance. Let's recap last week's phone conversation with my Kaiser nurse:  

Nurse lady: I need to ask you a few pre-op questions before your surgery on Tuesday.

Me: Sure. Go ahead. 

Nurse lady: So, first off, are you allergic to anything? I have prochlorperazine listed here.

Me: That's compazine, right? Yeah, it was prescribed for nausea several years ago. It did not go over well. I had difficulty breathing and experienced facial paralysis—my eyes rolled back into my head and my tongue protruded from my mouth. I had no control. I looked like Linda Blair from The Exorcist! I remember my mom bursting into tears and an ambulance arriving. I thought I was going to die!!!!!!

Nurse lady: Oh, wow .... 

Me: I KNOW. 

Nurse lady: Okay. So when did you get your last period?

Me: Oh. Ummm ....

Nurse lady: .....

Me:  .... Maybe two and a half weeks ago? 

Nurse lady: It's okay. We could always administer a pregnancy test before the procedure. 

Me: A pregnancy test? That's why you're asking? Oh man, I can assure you I'm DEFINITELY WITHOUT A QUESTION NOT PREGNANT. Heh!!

Nurse lady: Heh.

Me: .... yep. 

Nurse lady: So .... no pregnancy test. 

Girl, Inform Me - The Shins |  

I know, I share too much, blog. It's the truth though. And it would have been way more embarrassing if the situation warranted "BRING ON THE PREGNANCY TESTS," right? Ah, no matter. Regardless, I don't think my co-workers have figured out that I'm writing again. So this is my final post on ovulation. FOREVER. I MEAN IT.

Bye!

(image via ffffound)

lust lust, more ovulation {December 26, 2009}

Several design blogs included these gorgeous cases in their "holiday gift guide for men." Well, I must respectfully disagree: These walnut iphone cases OBVIOUSLY had me in mind when they chose to exist.

It's a treehouse for my iphone!
Fun. 

 

Happiness - Goldfrapp |  

ps. A new Goldfrapp album is on the way as well: Check out the band's very new blog posting!

(via Black Eiffel)

i think i just ovulated {December 25, 2009}

Jesus might not appreciate this particular post title on his birthday. Oh well. Maybe he would understand after listening to The National's music? I think so. I mean, come on. Their music, the magnificence, ovulation just happens. It's not my fault!!!

So I received the band's holiday e-newsletter on Saturday. It began with: "Hello everyone! We wanted to wish you happy holidays and a happy new year...."

 

Aw, you too, mister Nationals! Next, it went on to read: "We're busy mixing our new album now and waiting on a blizzard that's about to hit New York City."

WHOA. THE MEN ARE MIXING! The recording is done? Did you read that? THEY ARE AT HOME MIXING RIGHT NOW.

Happy holidays, indeed. The National's new release is my most anticipated album of 2010. I'm looking forward to releases from Spoon, Final Fantasy, Arcade Fire, The Magnetic Fields, Los Campesinos!, Frightened Rabbit, Shearwater, Panda Bear, Menomena, LCD Soundsystem, Band of Horses, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, and Jens Lekman as well, but those 2010 anticipations are manageable. During The National's 2009 tour, I found myself performing weekly excavations of YouTube in search of lousy digital camera recordings of new songs. I haven't done this for any other band. Ever!

Thanks to a recent post from the Listenerd, I discovered the video for "So Far Around the Bend"—the band's contributing single to February 09's Dark Was the Night compilation. Unsurprisingly, the video is directed by the band's friend, Vincent Moon. The video gives a little insight into the Dark Was the Night project—which is one of the best compilations in recent memory. Have at it. 

In the meantime, I am still listening to live performances of the band's new tracks. Whether or not these songs will end up on their new album remains to be seen. Merry Ovulation, friends! 

England (New Song, Live Performance) - The National | website

  
(top image from The National's website. Photographer unknown)

gobsmacked {December 24, 2009}

I'm terribly infatuated with "Ring Ring" by Brooklyn-based Sleigh Bells. Folks, I hope you like your tunes with a side of YAY WONDERFUL—and get this: the song is just a demo. This duo barely even has a myspace page. I want more!!!!

Ring Ring - Sleigh Bells | website

Time to start my morning before heading down Valencia Street for some last minute shopping. I am going to braid my hair like this today. Candy cane tea & sweet maple oatmeal first.

Then braids.

Bye!

Update: Success has been had!

  
 

(image via the beloved urban weeds)

let's call the whole thing off {December 23, 2009}

So ...

I'm having surgery in 6 days. Voluntarily.

Fist pump!

Over the past few months, notions of hiking the entire John Muir Trail have settled into every crack & corner of my mind. It has become a very real goal, and I'm excited. I have a time frame in mind, and it's the reason why I am having foot surgery. I must have an overactive joint fused and pinned in order to handle the trail. I must do it. Come on, have you read this?

The downside: a hard cast for three months, a sedentary life working from home, being very reliant on my friends, no driving, no concerts, no hiking. Scaring small children with the longest crutches in the world. Sobbing & hiccuping into my pillow at night, cursing mister John Muir ....

My dear friend, Azin, once announced at a staff lunch, "Some people are addicted to crack. Liz is addicted to walking." She's right. I just might lose my mind, folks. The blog situation is different now. I will need an outlet, and I plan on posting here during my recovery. The nature of my blog may change slightly, since I have an ever-burgeoning interest in design & typography—but music is still the love of my life. My ardor is steadfast and true. 

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. Here's to blogging in the new year—I'm raising my gigantic bottle of vicodin to you!

♥,
Liz

ps. Turn your ears toward "Jackson" by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood. I've been mesmerized with this Johnny Cash cover for weeks & weeks, and it finally made its social debut during my Farewell to Mobility Party last Thursday. Leading up to the party, I had fantasized about breaking into song & dance and pulling everyone into a stomping, very well-choreographed hoedown in my flat. Unfortunately, my hoedown didn't happen. I was attempting to be a good hostess, and I spent most of the evening in the kitchen. My unknowing friends are mostly likely very grateful for this fact.

And so, the supreme awesomeness of my Farewell to Mobility hoedown must live on in my mind ..... "Jackson" is one hell of a song though, ♥ both versions! 

Jackson - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood |  
Jackson - June Carter & Johnny Cash | 

We got married in a fever,
Hotter than a pepper sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson,
Ever since the fire went out.
I'm goin' to Jackson,
I'm gonna mess around,
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson,
Look out Jackson town!
 

(image by ashley thalman)

so long, blog {November 21, 2009}

Ten-fifteenish already ... I have a bulgy day ahead of me, so I must be brief. Guys, I'm taking an indefinite leave from blogging to focus on a few sprouting projects, and dream elsewhere for a spell. I hope you don't delete me from your readers—I will check-in & revisit the blisslist in a few months and maybe we can be besties once more!

Please consider paying attention to a handful of my lovely web friends while I am away. I love all of their blogs and my eyes & ears will remain ever-devoted. Let's be devoted together!

♥,
Liz 

ps. I went to the GIRLS show last night at Swedish American (they were fantastic, btw), and I discovered that my ex, Geoff, looks exactly like their drummer from several feet away. Mannerisms and everything, too. I was completely mesmerized!!!! Hmmmmmm ...

pps. I'm very in love with Jimmy Tamborello this morning, and I'm especially in love with this song. So farewell—signing out in a calm, warm front; this grand romantico of wonder:

Last Songs - Dntel |   website

(artwork by matt sundstrom!)