In the Criminal Justice system...

My former Art Museum co-worker Monique Smith recently died of something called sarcoidosis which affects the lungs. She used to cough a lot but I never knew she had this disease. Monique was a very unique (it rhymes!) person and wonderful artist in her own right. From time to time she would give me little postcard sized paintings of hers. I will always remember how she would randomly break out into song from the other side of our cubicle wall.

I do not have a picture of her so I posted a picture of Jesse L. Martin from Law&Order who she once told me she thought he was a "stone fox". I agreed though I personally thought Jerry Orbach was pretty attractive for an older man as well. I think she thought I was challenging her so I quickly added "but of course Jesse L. Martin is much more handsome."

She peaced out too young and she will be missed.

Part 2

Here it is my loves:

1. Nora - Richard Shindell

I love this song so much. He is one of the premier songwriters in the contemporary folk scene today. His music is melodic and smart. It is from this song that I formed a fascination with the letters written between Heloise and Abalard who's legendary romance was plagued with great pain and misfortune. If you like this song you should buy his compilation with Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky; Cry Cry Cry. Or ask me to burn it for you.

2. Some Surprise - Lisa Hannigan & Paul Noonan

Lisa Hannigan is famous for lending vocals to the Damian Rice albums and Paul Noonan is the front man for Bell 1X.

3. Blood and Peanut Butter - B.C. Camplight

A local band who I hear is big in Europe. I cannot confirm this but they did draw a decent crowd when the played at Johnny Brendas.

4. We Get On - Kate Nash

The lyrics are like a poorly written diary entry that somehow really work when set to music. Perez loves this chick.

5. Eve, The Apple of My Eye - Bell 1X

Yup, I like this band.

6. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - Bessie Smith

Gerry & The Jeepsters opened with this song while performing at a sports bar in Rhode Island. I got so drunk that night that I asked my brother-in-law for cash to buy their home made album (I didn't) and loudly proclaimed that if I ever got married I would hire them to play at my reception. There was also a man there with the biggest face tattoo I have ever seen. He caught me staring and I made no attempt to be subtle about it. I think if you are going to get your face tattooed you should expect drunk girls to stare at it when you are out in public.

7. If I Ever Leave This Wold Alive - Flogging Molly

An Irish band I should have saved for my St. Patty's day mix. It's off the P.S. I Love You soundtrack. I will probably rent it when the DVD comes out.

8. Things We Don't Need Anymore - Jenny Owens Young

I listened to this on Perez. Autumn and I loved it. This song describes how I felt Chistmas 2006.

9. Graduation Day - Chis Isaac

10. What's a Girl to Do - Bat for Lashes

11. Lost Count - Ebba Foresberg

This was my anthem for a quite a while a few years back.

12. Sorry - Maria Mena

I am ending this mix on a sad note.

*This is the earliest painting of Heloise and Abalard and art historians say that they are holding an invisible bible. I like to think about why the artist chose to do that.

Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex

I’m sure you notice that I have been not been posting with that 2007 zeal lately and I apologize. Well, not really. I don’t give a shit – deal with it. I only post when I feel compelled to so if you want to read something while you are wasting time at work I suggest Perez Hilton, the Onion, or my favorite; online shopping at Amazon (mostly books), Anthropologie (clothes), Zappos (shoes), ebay (clothes and shoes). Only on sale – Colleen loves a deal! Today I spent my lunch trying to get my hands on a bottle of absinthe which proved to be quite difficult with Pennsy’s draconian state controlled liquor distribution. To Hell with them for throwing a wrench in my plan to ritualistically prepare a nice hallucinogenic cocktail after a long day at the office and unwind. It's my God given right!

Also, I have been busy with broker school and since we are selling one of our properties my boss has me preparing all the due diligence documents. Once you get over 20 million $$ offers, getting ready for settlement becomes quite a task. A task I have no experience doing. Baptism by fire I guess.

So, the here I present Aut, Colleen soundtrack Vol. 5: Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex. Usually I create play lists with an audience in mind but this one is probably the closest one to what my personal mixes are like. It is a motley crue of genres and I hope you enjoy it. If not, again I don’t give shit.

Disc 1
1. Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex – CSS
If you had to, what would you give up; music or sex? This is if baby making is not part of the equation (there are other ways to conceive) and you could never listen to any music again.

2. San Jose – Joe Purdy
Joe Purdy is a wonderful singer/songwriter and this new song is his best to date. For me this song satisfies my craving for intense music.

3. Run - Snow Patrol

4. Colleen – Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Because I admit it, I am a little vain.

5. My Love For You is Real – Ryan Adams
He’s my baby. This would be a really good wedding song.

6. All the Right Friends – R.E.M
Maybe you noticed that I like very early R.E.M. – Life’s Rich Pageant is one of my all time favorite albums. Not only is R.E.M. a great band but I feel that they are also a very important one. For anyone who will listen, I make an excellent case that the “Seattle sound” was born in Athens, Georgia. You have to listen to the early albums before they transitioned into a more palatable/radio friendly pop band in the 90’s. To really understand my point you must try to listen to the music set apart from Michael’s Stipe’s vocals which are what people will do and associate it with that alterna-pop for which they are most known. Note: this is not the original recording.

7. Eternal Flame – Joan as Policewoman

8. Band of Gold (Remix) – Kimberly Locke
This one goes out to all you American Idol fans.

9. England 2 Columbia 0 – Kirsty MacColl
My dad’s pick.

10. Moonlight Mile – The Rolling Stones
Have you every thought to yourself “I wonder what Colleen’s favorite Stones song is…” Well here it is off Sticky Fingers.

11. Non je ne regrette rien (I regret nothing)– Edith Piaf
I just saw her bio pic La Vie en Rose for which she is nominated for an Oscar this year. I highly recommend it. For all you philistines out there I must warn you: this film is subtitled.

Enough for now. Disc Two list will follow shortly.

Comming Soon!

New Aut, Colleen music mix! I'll post the track list probably sometime tomorrow.

Babies aren't just for taping breakup notes to anymore...

They can be political props too! I find it almost impossible to dislike any candidate when they are holding a sweet little baby.

This is one of the best things I have seen all week.
http://slate.com/id/2181495/?GT1=10837
Make sure you check out the slide show.

Who doesn't love babies?

For bonus cuteness check out
http://wetcats.blogspot.com/

Where's Andrae?

Clay and I love fashion so both of us watch Project Runway. Tim Gunn is without a doubt, the best part of the show. He's fantastic. You can't watch at least one show without developing your own Tim Gunn impression in your head. Apparently Santino (season 2) was no different.

Even if you don't watch the show I think you will enjoy these YouTube clips I was checking out at lunch today.

The first link is a trailer spoof to get those out of the loop familiar with Tim & Andrae's very special relationship.
After that are the brilliant Santino does Tim Gunn clips.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MDmoQCrCUvQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8V05OSMdOE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj33t1Fbc-A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emFimFKfUkY&NR=1
The confrontation:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PuLvfeQj4IA

Hello. My name is Colleen and I am a Britney Spears addict.

I love the Briney drama - no, LOVE it! It all started with the Britney/Justin break up (did she cheat on him with that choreographer guy? How did Justin find out? Was it really like that Cry Me a River song of his?)

From then on I was hooked and it just keeps getting better and better.

What a hot mess...

installing and setting solid steel pillars in concrete