If these songs were taken away from me right now, I would probably roll over and expire:

1. "Over the Pond" - Album Leaf & Sigur Ros
2. "Comfort Eagle" - Cake
3. "E.M.P.T.Y." - The Clientele
4. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor" - Arctic Monkeys
5. "Such Great Heights" - Postal Service (Valentine's Day is coming up, after all)

So as long as everyone leaves my iTunes intact, no one dies...

"Peter Gabriel's "Big Time" has become the official theme of World Wrestling Entertainment's upcoming "WrestleMania 22," nearly 20 years after the song hit the top 10 in the United States."

You know, I love that song. I was planning to get a shirt with "my heaven will be a big heaven, and I will walk through the front door" so I could see how many people would get it, and how many people would think it was a Jesus-Crispy shirt.

Now I can't do that because I will get associated with wrestling. I never get to have any fun. However, the good news is I don't think people who watch wrestling will necessarily "get" the message of the song. The probably think it's "awesome", like "Born in the U.S.A.".

Still, better not to risk it.

This person and I chose the same template. Now that's funny...

Things that are not fair: Death Cab and John Vanderslice touring in Europe together.

"Sometimes that dream is a sad delusion, but sometimes it's true..." - Exodus Revolution, John Vanderslice.

See that little square cartoon of me to your right? That's an incorrect representation, because I no longer smoke.

Those of you who have known me in my midwestern life, please clean up whatever you spit out of your nose while reading the previous sentence.

After today, and well...after this week...or month...can someone give me one good damn reason to not smoke? And don't pull the "so you grow old and see your grandkids" bit, because I'm not looking forward to weekend benders at Chucky Cheese with Botox leaking out of my forehead.

And you shouldn't either.

Rant about work: #3 or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

The company I work for, which shall remain nameless, has produced another money-grubbing (i.e. - fund development) groveling piece to recruit uneasy liberals to fork over some of their winery earnings. These earnings go to such staples for the developmentally disabled such as: galleries to showcase their "artwork", independent living skills facilitators who can't teach worth crap because many of them have questionable pasts that include The Dead and lotsa drugs, and of course, monetary loans to go on company sponsored vacations to HAWAII. Oh yeah, that's teaching responsibility indeed.

Never mind that most of the clients are filthy, in questionable health, obese, unemployed and illiterate. But I suppose that's their choice.

Lo, I digress.

Anyway, so there's the new fund development film. Somehow, someone got Demi Moore to narrate this fine piece of kiss-ass. Really. Couldn't they find another has been actress that at least has some cred in this department? Where's Juliette Lewis? At least she's played a retard before.

Not all is terrible. I work with some cool gentlemen - Ed and Michael. They make me mix cds and proclaim my efficiency and hep cat status to anyone and everyone. Little bright spots, I tell ya.

Song o' the day: "This Place is a Prison" - Postal Service

Rant about work: #2

I have been at my current job for six months. I get evaluated twice in my first year; once at the three month mark, then again at the six month mark. I am evaluated by my entire staff as well as any other random department, organization, etc., I may deal with. I have kept this in mind since my first day. At my three month evaluation, there was not a single negative remark or area of improvement. It was nothing but glowing praise from everyone. Let me assure you, I busted my ass to get that evaluation too.

For this next evaluation, I was told by my supervisor that she "didn't want to sort through all the good comments" and this time my evaluation would consist of a half sheet of paper with one question..."What can Maggie improve upon?".

I'm sure, because my supervisor is the director of the department, and has been with the company for almost thirty years, and has worked her way up from the lowest position to the highest, she must understand it is good management to reward and encourage your employees, especially if they deserve it.

This must be an oversight.

Rant about work: #1

You know, I don't think it's funny to randomly shout numbers when someone is auditing the petty cash drawer and counting nickels. In fact, I think it's quite rude.

The person shouting has a "WWJD" award-type ribbon hanging up in her office. Can you get an award ribbon for asking a rhetorical question?

Best quote of all time from this person: (this was during a discussion of the looting occurring in New Orleans after the hurricane) "I know I'm a Christian woman, but I would shoot anyone who was stealing stuff out of those stores. It's just wrong, and they know it." I wanted to bring up that pesky "thou shall not kill" bit, but was too shocked to open my mouth.

Song of the day: "God's Love" - Bad Religion.

Tonight begins a new season of 24. Although it will be predictable and stale, I am giddy none the less.

"An Australian woman will face court charged with repeatedly stabbing her partner because he played an Elvis Presley song over and over again, police said Tuesday."

I find this to be completely justifiable. When I expressed this to Jason, he brought up my constant compulsion with "MacArthur Park" (including various recordings of it)and how he had never contemplated violence. The implication that Richard Harris and Elvis are musically in the same ring of hell is preposterous. Richard Harris had one hit, and now that he has passed on into Grade B Actors Heaven, no one spots him at 7 Eleven.

Elvis will never die. That poor woman knew that, and tried bravely to rid her house of smarmy oily music that brings nausea to any self-respecting rock-n-roll fan. I, for one, support her!

My resolution this year, besides being the best ME I can possibly be, is to blagh more. Nine days into the year and this is as far as I've gotten.

Maybe inspiration will strike unexpectedly.

Best album of the year so far that I got for Christmas: Beastie Boys Greatest Hits (excluding all offensive material)

Best song off the best album of the year so far that I got for Christmas: "Brass Monkey". Kick it old school, yo.

Save Our Bluths!

Song of the day: "Afternoon Delight" - Starland Vocal Band