Francis Harold and the Holograms - The White Bull Weeps From Valhalla 12in [2012]

support the artist - buy at video disease

DL

The band then disintegrated after this recording session and will not be heard from again.

What the hell do I know, anyway?

Here is the current status of the nest in the wreath on my front door.  Now, I was certain that I had murdered five little avian souls because I did not know the nest was there and left the door open for several hours a couple of days, prohibiting mom from keeping them warm.  I agonized over this, actually.  So, every time I left the house, I would check to see if anything new had happened.  And today, it did.  In fact, a friend dropped by, and when I was showing her the nest with the fuzzy little wormy things, we were privileged to watch an egg hatch.  I will be checking it later for more activity, and am relieved to have not committed bird genocide. 

Actual Water - the Paisley Orchard [2012]

support the artist - buy something at bandcamp

DL

Slug Guts - Howlin' Gang [2011]

support the artist - buy at sacred bones

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Digger & the Pussycats - Card Shark Annie 7in [2005]

support the artist - buy at ptrash

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Shanks - Backstabber 7in [2010]

support the artist - buy at tic tac totally

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Thee Makeout Party / Audacity - Split 7in [2008]

support the artist - buy something at burger

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Chinese Burns - Can Dig 7in [2009]

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Grudge - When Christine Comes Around 7in [1973]

when christine comes around...
....im gonna smash your face in

Poppets - S/T 12in [2009]

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Poppets - Jack the Ripper Lover 7in [2009]

support the artist - buy something at bandcamp

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Martyr Privates - S/T 7in [2012]

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DL

It's not easy being me. Sigh...

I inherited a lawn mower from my roommate when she moved out 7 years ago.  It was not a bad lawn mower.  It worked, when I could get it started, which I will admit was a kind of a crap shoot.  Usually, it would cough and balk, I would walk away, and when we were both calmed down, it would start right up.  The bag was a bit of a hassle, always getting caught in the starter cord, and really heavy, to boot.  But we struggled along, me and my lawn mower.  That's it in the center there.  The one with the pull cord dangling by a thread.  That is fixable.  Yay.  Trouble is, it would cost me over $100 to have them come, pick it up, repair it, and bring it back.  Sucker does not fit in my Focus.  Now, on the far left is my first solution to this problem, a big honking Honda I bought from a friend, who just didn't like the gasoline model, preferred electric, and didn't have the big yard any more.  Starts right up, she said.  Uh huh.  I tried, my neighbor tried, I went online and looked in the manual, tried again.  Nothing.  Zipididoodah.  So she gave me back the check, and will pick up said mower soon.  And there, on the far right, is my new baby.  I waltzed into Sears today and bought it.  It came in a manageable carton.  They put it in the back seat of the Focus, and that saved me $75 right off the bat.  And then I got it home.  Now, getting it OUT of the backseat was a bit of a process.  At one point, I couldn't get it out OR in.  Finally, I got behind it and shoved with all my might.  It popped right out.  Good.  Hard part is over, right?  Uh huh.  Did I mention that I am really bad at mechanical things?  Well, I am.  And the instructions acted like I knew what a wingnut or a T-bolt were.  Had a couple of moments where I thought about swearing, and then, suddenly, it all dropped into place, and I got it together.  Amazing.  I took a break, had an artichoke, read the manual.  Then I went out and mowed the front lawn.  Just like that.  So happy that there is no dust spraying up my nose any more.  So happy that the grass catcher is really easy to remove and replace.  So happy it is all red and sparkly.  All this is worth $220.  The real test comes tomorrow, when we begin working on the recently tamed backyard.  Will have to adjust the height of the blade for that.  Should only take a half hour or so to figure that out.  Have lawn mower, will mow for food.

Francis Harold And The Holograms - Mirror Of Fear 7in [2009]

support the artist - buy at hozac

DL

Primitive Calculators - Glitter Kids 7in [1979/2003]

support the artist - released on meeuw

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XYX - Momento Ácido Contemporáneo 7in [2009]

support the artist - buy at skulltones

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XYX - Sistema De Terminacion Sexual 7in [2008]

support the artist - buy at s-s records

DL

Wonderful how my very very old rose bushes survive my tender neglect year after year, and, come spring, do this.  I put some on the table, too, redder than red in the little pear shaped vase my son gave me.  Followed up with a couple of bouquets of TJ's $3.99 blooms, and the house looks, if not tidy, at least celebratory.  Not sure what we are celebrating.  It will come to me, I'm sure.  Meanwhile, it's puppy naptime, so I am free to wander around without fear of trodding on the little tyke.  We are very close to learning to negotiate the dog door.  Oh, that will be the day!  Then he can follow Pickle out into the backyard, and poor big sister will only have a couple of bastions of peace in the little yellow house: the bed and the couch, which Punk can jump off of but not climb up onto yet.  Tiny milestones for my tiny guy.  Funny how life can whittle itself down to one simple question - where's the puppy?

polka dots.

Ohmygoodness. So I was just over at my sister's blog, and I realized that I absolutely positively NEED this top. So classic and perfectly polka-dotted. So ME! Doesn't she look so ahhhmazing modeling it? Right? Right...so check out the post that goes along with the top. Ever since little miss S came into this world (exactly six months and 18 days ago - not that I'm counting or anything), my proud mama style has fully embraced all things flowy paired with all things legging or skinny jean. But to kick up the hotness notch a bit, I'd love to pair this top with a black pencil skirt and these heels! Hubs and I do have some weddings coming up this summer...so shoes, a Mother's Day gift, possibly?

New(and old) horizons...

Adventures in the little yellow house... Gee, I just love Facebook.  Every morning, after a perusal of my email and reading through Hazelden's Thought for the Day, always inspirational, and the New York Times headlines, I head for my home page to check up on my kids first, then see all the stuff friends have been digging through on the great cyber-highway.  One of my more esoteric friends posted a lecture by Terence McKenna, and where have I been lo these 67 years?  Great mind, thinking outside the big box.  He advocated (he was already dead when I discovered him) the return to the mystical shamanic mind for the solutions to all our ennuis.  And his arguments are indeed loquacious.  However, they all kind of fizzled for me when I realized his thrust was to endorse psychodelic drugs, hallucinogens like magic mushrooms and that old fave of mind, LSD.  NOt that I think this is an especially dastardly thing.  It's just that I believe there are some disciplines such as meditation that can do the same thing, help one to embrace the inner journey and move beyond time and space, which Terence thought was the key.  And yes, the current patriarchal structure is pathetic.  Terence would bring us back to Gaia, and the feminine, which is a path I see as gentler and more life embracing than the current religious climate which propagates violence in its stampede for power.  While I enlightened myself, my Punk dutifully waited for me to arise from my intellectual sojourn under the computer desk, Pickle laid at my feet.  It is all very sweet, actually.  Blessed be.

Primitive Calculators / Slug Guts - Pumping Ugly Muscle 7in [2011]

support the artist - buy at sacred bones

DL

A1  - Primitive Calculators – Pumping Ugly Muscle                        

A2  - Slug Guts – Pumping Ugly Muscle               

B1  - Primitive Calculators – Pumping Ugly Muscle                        

A1 Recorded in Early 1979

B1 Recorded 21/2/2009 Live At Applecore Festival

A2 Recorded In brisbane

Video: Eamon McGrath - File Under Fire (live)

first weekend at the pet sitter's.

This weekend we are headed down to PA to visit my family and take S to her very first professional photo shoot. I'm beyond excited because I get to spend time with my parents and sister and we get to dress up S in all kinds of adorable outfits and headbands. Oh, the headbands. And she may or may not end up sitting in a flower pot.

However...I am absolutely dreading leaving Dallas with the pet sitter. He's never stayed over at an unfamiliar house without us before. And he's pretty high-maintenance in the "I'm scared so I'm not going to eat anything but please come pet me and reassure me everything's okay" kind of way. I shouldn't be nervous - we went for an "orientation" (yes, I treat my dog like he is my child) the other week and the sitter's house is absolutely gorgeous and dog-friendly. She only keeps four dogs at a time and has the ability to section them off if they don't get along. They go on walks. They get treats. They get individual attention. It's pretty much the best place I could take Dallas. It's just that...I've never done it before. I've never left my first baby with a near stranger overnight, aside of when we had to leave him in the hospital two days after we adopted him.

Puppy boy, the day after he came home from the hospital.

The sad thing is, Dallas doesn't even know what's coming. Which I guess is actually a good thing. I just know I'm going to hate turning around and walking out of that house without him. I'm not going to be able to stand seeing him standing there with his ears down and his eyes looking at me like, "why am I not coming with you?"

That is what he'll look like. Dang those big expressive brown eyes. But, I gotta do it. I gotta get him used to staying at the sitter's so come summer and weddings and vacations, he realizes that he's only going there to stay for a little while. That mommy and daddy will be back to get him in a few days. I'll be praying that you do okay and have fun this weekend little boy! Maybe you'll even make some new friends.

Sheesh...if I'm having this much trouble leaving my dog, I don't even want to know how I'll feel when S goes off to her first sleepover.

my take on minestrone.

When you marry into an Italian family, you better learn how to cook authentic Italian dinners. To my husband, it does not matter if he's really only half Italian...to him, he is one-hundred-percent-the-real-deal. And let me tell you, his family definitely backs up that belief. (In a good way, of course). We live in New York and our last name could be straight off the boat from Italy. You get the picture.

All was well and good when we were first living together and both working demanding auditing jobs in D.C. - Hubs cooked dinner most of the time. He liked cooking. He was good at it. He knew what he liked. Well, this girl was just fine with that arrangement! However, that honeymoon quickly ended when I became a stay-at-home mama. Husband: "What do you mean you don't know what to make for dinner? You had all day to figure it out..."

I know, I usually sit around thinking about dinner all day. Sound familiar? But I gotta give it to him. I'll gladly take an hour or two to make some food over sitting in an office all day. (Hey now...don't bash me for taking a housewife tone. My husband works hard so I can stay home with our daughter. I wouldn't give that up for anything.)

So, this meant I better be putting some sort of deliciously olive-oiled dish on the table at least twice a week. Luckily, I've been able to put my own (how should I say...less fattening) Mediterranean spin on the hearty Italian classics. Hey, Italy IS bordering the Mediterranean Sea, is it not?

Classic Minestrone Soup
(adapted from a recipe found in the What Would Jesus Eat? Cookbook by Don Colbert, M.D.)

>>Start out by cutting your choice of veggies into bite-size pieces. This recipe makes 6-10 servings (meaning about 4 deep-dish soup bowl servings), so you'll need 7 cups of the veggies.

I use different veggies each time I make this. Basically whatever I'm feelin' at the moment. Last night, I used:

• 1 medium eggplant
• 1 small onion
• 1/4 bag of baby carrots
• 1 red pepper
• 1/2 bag of spinach (sounds like a lot, but it shrinks a ton when cooked)

>> Briefly heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped veggies. Saute for about 5 minutes or until veggies begin to soften.

>> Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce and 5 cups of water with 5 beef bouillon cubes (you can sub 5 cups low-sodium beef broth if you prefer).

>> Stir in 16 ounces white or red beans (really any beans will work) or chickpeas. I used chickpeas.

>> Add a few spices you like, eyeballing the amount. I used oregano, basil, pepper, and hamburger seasoning. Yes, I know there is no hamburger in the soup. Try it! This spice is amazing on everything!

>> Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. Add 1/3 cup uncooked small pasta of your choice. I used whole-wheat elbows!

>> Simmer about 15 minutes more or until pasta is tender. Voila! Try sprinkling Parmesan cheese over your soup and serve with garlic bread...heaven.

Brat Farrar - S/T [2012]

support the artist - buy at bandcamp

DL

Sunday. Again.

Okay, not liking this new dashboard at my blogsite.  Confused with all these little icon thingies.  Nothing wrong with the old one, folks!  I suppose I will figure it out, eventually.  In the meantime, don't have a clue.  Big horse is almost done.  I ordered a new pastel book from Amazon.com, and it will be here tomorrow, at which time I expect to be inspired and everything I do will be so artful that galleries will be calling me.  Well, it couldn't hurt anything, that's for sure.  Quiet at the moment in the little yellow house.  Both dogs are having their noon nap, the Pickle under the table, and Punk under the computer desk.  Punk is in his "whatever" mode, where he is happy wherever he is, like in his kitchen pen while I slept in, outside the with Pickle, in the pen again while I took my bath, outside again, and then in the office while I tried to figure out how to post this amazingly interesting information.  At least the power tools have ceased for a while. Guess it must be Miller time for the guys down the street.  Plans for the day include starting a new painting, and a trip to the pet supply store for more piddle pads and rawhide bones for my pack.  And maybe framing a couple more paintings.  And maybe washing the car.  And maybe making some noise of my own, contingent on starting my limping lawnmower.  Okay.  That's enough drivel.  An aspirin, then lunch.  That's plan enough for the cowwoman.

rummage sale success!

If you have children, you know how expensive it can get to buy clothing for them. Especially when they are growing out of those baby sizes right before your eyes. But it's just so hard to bypass the stores with those adorable outfits and neon 50% off signs hanging in the windows. Heck, I find it hard to stay away even without seeing cute outfits or sale signs. And then you have the internet...yikes.

So as we try to balance our spending so we can begin to build up our savings account again (quitting my job, moving, buying a house, and having a baby can kinda take a toll), I've become a bit obsessed with finding good deals. This means scouting out consignment shops, yard sales, and rummage sales. And I'm proud to say that I've managed to find some pretty dope stuff. No, it probably is not what's hot "this season", but chances are your baby doesn't mind.

Here's a few of my finds from this morning's trip to our church's rummage sale. Gymboree, BabyGap, Carter's...you can't beat 25 and 50 cent prices! Wash 'em up and they're good as new.

high five for friday.

1. Hubs had the day off today! Don't you love when it feels like Saturday, but it is only Friday and you have the entire weekend in front of you?

2. Perfect 70 degree spring weather the past few days.

3. This top that I'm showing off today...and that I happen to be totally in love with. It pairs perfectly with everything! Might just need it in every other color too...

4. All of my husband's hard work and long hours these past four months paid off quite nicely (our savings account thinks so). I'm so proud of him!

And one more...

5. Today is the fifth anniversary of that wonderful day when Hubs asked me to marry him. I said yes, of course! We've been through so much since then, and I would not change a moment of any of it. I know you wouldn't, either. Now we have a house, an SUV, and an amazing baby girl. I love you, Babe.

Beginnings...

I bought this really big piece of black sanded paper with the idea of working BIG, pushing my envelope of comfort around the pastels. Now, I have only worked on sanded surface once before, and that was dynamite. It picks up every speck of pigment, and the result is thrilling for this little artist. Perhaps it is picking up too much? Well, this is but a mere idea at the moment. The superstucture. Funny, when I photograph a piece, I can see right away where it is working and where it needs more. The white is a little too much, don't you think? I am thinking of muting it with some pale colors. But I am liking the idea of it all just fine, and that is huge for me. I am horribly critical of my own work. Not in a mean-spirited way, but in the what-were-you-thinking way. So, back to the drawing board. Good project for a really warm spring day. Dogs are romping in the backyard when not draped around the floor like discarded clothing. Good movie on the TV running in the background. Up to elbows in pastels. Yes, it's all good. Whatever isn't done will still be there tomorrow. Yes.

After the mice, this.

I caught and released 9 mice, and that looks like the lot of them. No mouse sign for a couple of days. Yay. Then I noticed that this bird kept trying to fly into the house when I had the front door open. Come to find she has made a nest in the wreath there, and laid five jellybean sized eggs in it. Now, we are keeping the door shut, hoping our porch time for the pooches has not interfered with the gestation of these tiny creatures. A couple of weeks will tell. Honestly, wildness all around me this year. Luckily, the backyard jungle got tamed yesterday, and further ministrations should have it all spiffed up soon, so dog and poopie have a place to loll about. At least I will not lose Punk in the high grass any more. What a character. None of my other dogs really cared for the mess of dog toys I have here. Punk loves them. He gets them to squeak. He pulls them all out of the basket the way my son pulled all the pots and pans out of the cupboard when he was a toddler. I put them all away at the end of the day, and we start over the next morning. Teaching him to sleep in next. Yeah. That'll happen.

thursday = friday (this week anyway...)

Awkward
>>Thinking I look like a fly little mama in my white ankles...only to have my husband point out, when I met him for lunch, that my pants were still rockin' the back pocket store tag. And this was made known after I spent a good hour and a half walking around the pediatrician's office. At least the tag sort of blended in with the pants, right?
>>Lying to my daughter's pediatrician that yes, I will be diligent with a bedtime routine so that she learns to fall asleep without me nursing her. Nope. S loves our breastfeeding bond and so do I. It's not necessary to take this away from her when it does no harm and she falls asleep at night just fine.
>>How I can't stand that we currently have a random assortment of chairs on our deck instead of the actual patio set that should be up by now. Not to mention the non-working stereo that sits in the corner. It looks hillbilly-ish.

Awesome
>>S had her six month well-baby visit today! Besides the shots (I think I hate this part more than S does) and the half-hour we had to wait before the nurse arrived to administer the shots, all went well. S is weighing in at 15 lbs 6 oz and she is 26.5 inches tall. Long and lean...taking after her daddy. I just can't believe how fast our baby girl is growing. The weeks are flying. But she is absolutely precious and so animated and happy.
>>The world here in the Hudson Valley has finally transformed into spring this past week. Crystal blue skies and green leaves and buds and flowers and grass being mowed. I don't think I've ever noticed how profound this change is, until this year. I'm constantly being reminded that God's hand is on every living thing.
>>Our desert of a backyard is finally almost covered by grass. Except for the ten-foot strip by the back fence that Dallas loves to trample while barking at invisible dogs. Thank you, sprinklers and sunny days.
>>Baby girl's newest discovery - her "back laugh". She sounds like a pterodactyl, only cuter and baby-er. Makes me wanna just squeeze her.
>>For a husband that is a CPA, tax season is over. Which means Hubs has a day off tomorrow to spend just with us. The first in four months. Woohoo, three day weekend!

guest post >> summer essentials.

Here it is people...my little bloggy's first guest post! Remember last Friday when I guest posted over at my lil sista's fashion-forward blog? I mentioned here that I would be showcasing her post on my site this week, and well, that day has arrived! Seeing as the temps over here in the Northeast have been bordering on sandal-worthy weather, my sis M from Rock Paper Scissors is writing about her favorite must-have pieces for this summer. From some delicious accessories to transforming a strapless maxi dress into a work-appropriate skirt, this girl has got summer style done right.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

v-neck f21 (old); jeans banana republic (old); wedges kohls; jean jacket oldnavy (old); fedora f21 (similar)

Hello there! If you are coming from my blog, rock paper scissors, then you already know a tiny bit about me.  If you are a reader of my sister's fancy-shmancy mommy blog right here at nugget on a budget then we are brand new friends! I am a recent, as in 6 months ago, college grad with varying interests that I don't need to ramble on about here.  I started my blog to give myself a fresh new start and a blank text box to vent, create, and experiment in with this, that, and everything!  Seeing as I am new to this big ole blogging world, I'd love for you to stop on by my blog sometime, I'm sure you'll love to stick around.

As for what I'm doing here today, I'm here to tell you what I am absolutely LOVING for this summer (and for my closet).  I barely had a chance to get excited about all of the spring styles before these freakishly high summer temps stormed on in (at least for the last few days).

Seeing as I am a substitute teacher, I try to to gear myself towards choices that can swing for a fun night out with the girls or a day in the classroom with 23 six-year-olds. Usually this means something that is higher cut up top and lengthier on the bottom.  But, with the right type of styling, I've managed to even make my spaghetti strap maxi dress make an appearance (or three) in the classroom.  Not to mention, the lower the price, the more tempting the buy (even for a terrible decision maker like myself).

Anywho - here are my top must-haves for this summer:

Maxi-mania

Whether it is a maxi skirt or a maxi dress, I am loving the trend of flowey lengths in the summer breeze.  Not only can these be incorporated throughout spring and summer, inside the office or out, but with the right amount of layering, I intend on transforming these in to some fall (and even winter) pieces as well.

black maxi dress

pleated white

red tribal

Pretty Pretty Pastels

I am adoring the amount of pastels popping up in forms of skirts, shorts, and pants especially.  Not only are pastels constantly on my mind - florals are a must have.

double mint

pastel pants

florally yours

Girly Blouses

I am a huge fan of the typical v-neck, boyfriend jeans and boat shoes for summer days and errands but the amount of blouses I have seen on the racks make me long for a touch of girly glam on top of my comfy boyfriend bottoms.

powder pink

peplum

all that shimmers

Final Touches

These three trends are ones that, at first, were difficult for me to break in to and justify with my strict teaching wardrobe but now I have difficulty pulling myself away from adding ever last one I spot in the stores.

the wedge

the hat

the statement

Thanks for spending some time with me today and checking out some of my must have items of the season.  I am sure that there will be plenty more to discover so stop on by my blog and I'm sure we can become great pals (especially if you love my sister as much as I do!).

Russian Roulettes - R&R [2009]

support the artist - buy at ptrash

DL

sunny morning.

Completely tired out by only taking two short naps yesterday (I don't recommend it...makes for a very fussy baby come evening), Missy Miss S was catching up on her zzz's this morning...

So Dally boy and I spent some fun in the sun...

And I was surprised at how quickly the grass is coming up in the backyard. I guess it pays to have sprinklers...and a husband who diligently works on the yard after work. (Hard to believe there was a pool there a month ago!)

Today I'm declaring my "off day", meaning I am not packing up baby and going anywhere. Except to spend an hour or two with my friend walking our kids around the neighborhood. Here's to you, yoga pants, couch, coffee, and DVR. What I'm saying is...make it a point to find fifteen minutes today and spend it doing...nothing :)