A Poem for Thursday: "blessing the boats" - Lucille Clifton

(at St. Mary's)

may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back     may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that

Music for your Midweek: Guster and Matisyahu

A bunch of us made the trek up to Park City to check out the festival and star-gaze. I saw a famous person (Michael Urie from Ugly Betty), had the best burger and fry sauce ever, and then we headed to Deer Valley. My roomate's sister-in-law works there, and told us that the lead singer from Guster and Matisyahu would be there. I'm so glad we were able to go! I love Ryan Miller's voice. This was one of my favorite tracks from the night:

Matisyahu more than made up for his confused performance last September at the Depot. He wasn't wasted this time, and his set was all acoustic. I found these clips from his performance. This mash-up with "Fast Car",was especially beautiful:

and this was lovely too:

Jump on the Bandwagon

Ingrid just sent me a link tho Macklemore and Lewis' Tiny Desk Concert. So great. 

WARNING: Some words inappropriate for some audiences.

PS. Did you know you pronounce his name mack-luh-more instead of mack-el-more? 

Good to know.

Fed up. *spoiler alert*

I've been watching Downton Abbey. Season three is total bummer and I do not like it at all. Matthew and Mary are always snapping at each other. Bates is still in prison (I think he's guilty, for reals) and Anna is a saint (boring). Honestly, if it wasn't for that new hot footman, I might have given up on the show all together.

Don't even get me started on Lord Grantham:

Thanks to Hannah for this!
*Hannah, you need to create a blog so I can link to you!*

But wasn't Ethel's illegitimate child just darling?

A Poem for Thursday: "Keeping Things Whole" - Mark Strand

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

Music for your Midweek: Bjork

This song is so beautiful. 

and I want to be Bjork.

A poem for Thursday: Hemingway "Advice to a Son"

So forgetful this week. First no music yesterday, then no poem today. I just finished "Moveable Feast". It basically helped me decide that I should start doing what I want. To keep in the Hemingway mood, here is a poem by him:

Advice To A Son

Never trust a white man,
Never kill a Jew,
Never sign a contract,
Never rent a pew.
Don't enlist in armies;
Nor marry many wives;
Never write for magazines;
Never scratch your hives.
Always put paper on the seat,
Don't believe in wars,
Keep yourself both clean and neat,
Never marry whores.
Never pay a blackmailer,
Never go to law,
Never trust a publisher,
Or you'll sleep on straw.
All your friends will leave you
All your friends will die
So lead a clean and wholesome life
And join them in the sky. 

Music for your Midweek: Langhorne Slim and the Law

AAAAHHHHH I almost forgot our midweek video! SORRRYYYYYY! I was really busy re-learning how to pin-drop and dance to "Thrift Shop". More on this later. anyway. I've watched about a milllion bajillion versions of this video, and I love the energy of it. Enjoy.

Reason #43 I am going to be the meanest mom in the world

Every so often, we'll have someone come into our office who's worked for hours on a project. Sewing blankets, making book shelves, gathering toys... all so that their son can get his eagle scout, I mean, *help the community. HELICOPTER PARENTS HAVE TAKEN OVER UTAH COUNTYYYYYYYY

*A lot of these projects have little to do with what the community needs, but what is convenient to do.
And this is reason #43 why I'll be the meanest mom in the world: If my son or daughter asks for help on a service project I will only help if they have done due diligence to see what the community is in need of. Meany Pants McGee. Look out.

Murmuration

Someone posted this video on Facebook, and I just had to share it. 

And we should all just watch Tree of Life.

A Poem for Thursday: "Don't try to rush things" from Poem 41 - Antonio Machado

Don't try to rush things:
for the cup to run over,
it must first be filled.

Music for your Midweek: Darwin Deez

Here's a fun one for you.
So hip, he'll make your head hurt.

He's coming to Kilby Court on March 1st suckaaaaaasssss
Let's go!!!!!!

Also, I have a little Spotify playlist that I update with artists who we'll be in Utah sometime soon.
Check it out. 

Did you just travel back in time to Provo in the year 2006? Ask this guy where to eat!

I wish I remembered how I found this website. It was something to do with work... sure. Anyways. Jerry's restaurant reviews are awesome. What dedication. I wonder what happened to him?

Because NOBODY looks cool when they're drunk...

Hey guys! Here is a friendly PSA from your favorite blogger. I'm part of the S.M.A.R.T. Coalition in Utah County; a anti-substance abuse group. We work on initiatives and publicity campaigns to specifically combat drug and alcohol abuse. They had me write a little bloggity blog about resources in the community, and... HERE IT IS!

1. The highlighted texts were supposed to be links to the websites following them. ooops.
2. I never thought it would come to this, but I think I need a professional head shot done. gross.
3. Alcohol abuse is not good.

I also had to post on the group Facebook page last week. I wanted to post these ads because they are so disturbing and great, but I thought it would be a bit much...

WARNING.
This first one is freaked me out pretty bad.

Please have a healthy and happy New Year!

A Poem for Thursday: "Leap Before You Look" - W.H. Auden

The sense of danger must not disappear:
The way is certainly both short and steep,
However gradual it looks from here;
Look if you like, but you will have to leap.

Though-minded men get mushy in their sleep
And break the by-laws any fool can keep;
It is not the convention but the gear
That has a tendency to disappear.

The worried efforts of the busy heap,
The dirt, the imprecision, and the beer
Produce a few smart wisecracks every year;
Laugh if you can, but you will have to leap.

The clothes that are considered right to wear
Will not be either sensible or cheap,
So long as we consent to live like sheep
And never mention those who disappear.

Much can be said for social savoir-faire,
But to rejoice when no one else is there
Is even harder than it is to weep
No one is watching, but you have to leap.

A solitude ten thousand fathoms deep
Sustains the bed on which we lie, my dear;
Although I love you, you have to leap;
Our dream of safety has to disappear.

Music for your Midweek: The Wrens

I wanted to include the song "Asleep" by the Smiths in my latest mix, partly because of "Perks of Being a Wallflower", which I read a couple months ago. Partly because it ends with Auld Lang Syne, and I thought that would be poetic. When it came time to actually create the mix, I realized I only had that track on my dead Mac Air, not on our home computer. Curses. I even went to the library to try and find a Smiths cd, to no avail. (I did pick up the White Stripes movies I had on hold, so it wasn't a total waste). ANYWAY, while I was looking up "Asleep", I found "Sleep". I think it's kind of nice. It was featured on a cd for Network Neutrality, whatever that means. Hope you like it!