Crazybananas

Oh. My. God. I am so tired. Like, seriously, exhausted. And just because my husband got off the plane from Tennessee last night and headed directly into work, right after we had the police sweep our house because our front door was WIDE OPEN for 5 straight days, and didn’t get home until 6 this morning does not mean that I can’t complain about being tired. Because I’m effing tired. Damnit.

So, we got in last night from the holiday with Trent’s dad and we’re heading back out tomorrow to spend my dad’s 70th birthday and New Year’s Eve with my parents. Another day, another flight with a toddler. After this week I intend on sleeping for about 100 years. Give or take.

As I frantically packed and made dishes for my three (count em, 1-2-3!) potluck-style Christmas parties last week, I decided I was in much need of a soundtrack of some great music of 2007. I had big plans to come up with a fabulous list of tunes, music to make me look like the modern, glorious, hipster mother I aspire to be. But I didn’t have time. So I did the next best thing. I picked a few tunes from the wonderful NPR All Songs Considered 2007 Songs of the Year List. I also added a few of my own, and let me tell you, this is a damn good playlist. You should all download it, it’s all on iTunes. Or email me and I’ll send you a CD. But then you’ll feel very guilty about not supporting these awesome bands. They’re that good.

* To hear most of the songs in their entirety, click here. God bless NPR, Amen.

Rilo Kiley - The Moneymaker – It will make you want to shake your moneymaker, but not in that nasty hip hop kind of way…more like you would if you were selling drugs in Argentina. Oh, and just skip through the first 30 seconds of the video…

Lily Allen - Alfie – This song describes my life in a way that should be fairly easy to understand for any listener. Who wouldn’t love “Oh dearie me, my little brother’s in his bedroom smoking weed…” to a mix of techno and circus music?!

The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbor — This is just how I feel when I’m in New York.

Feist - I Feel It All — You probably have heard 1,2,3,4 on an iPod commercial (or my horrid My Space page), and this tune has the same feel, just a little less kitchy. Still got a great bounce though.

Andrew Bird - Imitosis – Violin picking? Who knew I’d like that? And that it would sound so awesome. And the mumbling. I can sympethize with mumblers.

The National - Green Gloves – This song makes me think of my friends…especially the ones I don’t see alot of anymore. I miss you guys! And I love you! And I hope you’ll have a drink for me! (Song starts about 2 minutes in, you may just want to use the NPR clip above, it’s better quality)

Amy Winehouse - You’re No Good — I know, I know. She has scary hair. And teeth. And she’s probably going to die of a drug overdose. But the really talented ones are always troubled…and oh my lord, this woman is so, so, so talented. And I miss baritone sax’s in mainstream pop.

Flight of the Conchords - The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room — Every woman is dying to hear “You’re so beautiful, you could be a waitress” and then have a guy do the robot.

Robert Plant and Allison Krauss - Please Read the Letter – Is it weird that Trent’s dad got this CD for Christmas and it’s on my top song list?

The New Pornographers - The Spirit of Giving – Technically this is teeny, tiny bit older, but it’s new to me, so it counts! My new holiday theme…

Lucinda Williams - Can’t Let Go — Another not-so-new song, but I don’t care. My list, my rules. Just try not to tap your feet to this one. I dare you.

Lucinda Black Bear - Kites – All the Lucinda’s made my list, by name alone. But this one is a great mix of folk and electric, and the lead singer sounds a bit like the spawn of Neal Young and Thom Yorke.

Radiohead - All I Need – Speaking of Thom Yorke, I have to agree with NPR listeners, this was one of the best (if not the best) album of the year. It was hard to pick one song, and I went back and forth on weather to pick a more mainstream one that more of you would like. But then I gave up and picked one I love instead.

Listen and head the glory. Or ignore me, like you usually do. But this time I have backup from NPR. And that’s, like, serious stuff.

Happy New Year!

Mikayla and I threw a Christmas party for Trent and Heath’s business. The party involved bowling, bar food and beer. When we couldn’t get a cab home, Mikayla found a card for a cab she had used a year or so ago. Turned out the cab was actually “cabaroke.” What is cabaroke, you ask?

I think I need to put that guy’s business card in the shredder…

Every once and a while I get tagged for one of these things where you reveal seven facts about yourself. I usually don’t respond because, well, don’t you all know everything there is to know about me? But Nicole tagged me, so I’ll try…

1. I have extreme OCD when it comes to Christmas lights. I don’t consider myself very stylish or critical of others’ personal style, especially when it comes to home decorating, but when the Christmas lights come out I turn into a raging psycho. I used to be obsessed with white lights, but I’m slowly starting to come around to multi-colored. This was a very big step for me. But if you have lights that are all one color, like all red or all blue, I will be the one outside your house with eggs and toliet paper. Just a warning. Same goes for blinking lights or people who light up the trunks of their trees, but not the branches.

2. I married a person that is the exact opposite of my type. In general, I tend to like artsy, punk-rocker-ish, angsty types. Very Jonathan Rhys-Myers. Whenever we’re out at bars and my girls will be checking out guys I’m always the one going, “what about that one, over there, with the blue hair and piercings.” I think it’s the Catholic school girl in me.

3. I have somewhat forsaken diet soda. I’m over it. Regular tastes so much better.

4. I am a movie junkie. I could sit around all day and watch movies, even crappy ones, if only that child of mine required less maintenance.

5. Sometimes I worry I’ve made the wrong choices in my life. And then I worry that people will find out I’m worrying and be mad at me.

6. This was my Christmas card this year. I made them myself.

7. I’m a horrible cook, but a fairly good baker.

That’s all. What are seven facts about you?

Again, I’m breaking the posting fast. Ah well, I’m still taking it slow, no big posts, definitely no real writing on my end, so I’m going to say it still counts. Darnit. It counts!

I have been working on Christmas gifts and lists and cards and cookies in my free time, and yesterday I received my first gift from my family Secret Santa, my 7-year-old cousin, Lilly. She got me another Kiva gift certificate (read about my first one here) and I’m so excited to continue helping others instead of getting more unwanted junk for myself…although a new camera lens is not considered unwanted or junk…I’m just saying.

Crap, this post is getting long. Wrap it up, woman!

So, long story short, I received an updated today on Lilian, the pharmacist from Kenya who I donated my Kiva money to in September:

“Lilian Nyasewe got her loan in September, and purchased the drugs she needed. Her business has recorded high returns thanks to KIVA lenders who made it possible, she made her first loan repayment in the month of November.Lilian is sure her business will grow.She wishes all Kiva lenders a MERRY X-MAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!”

So, if you’re looking for a gift this holiday season, try Kiva. It is one way to make the holiday for not only the gift recipient, but for someone miles away who is getting another chance at changing their world.

There are some people (Hi Erin! Hi Mara! Hi Other People!) who read this site strictly for updates on the family because they refuse to use email and I refuse to use MySpace. So, for you guys, here is Lucy’s Christmas wishlist…just so I don’t have to send it out.

OK, I’m really leaving now.

Wait, here is my wishlist too.

OK, seriously. Bye.