The Sixes Meme

My loveliest and most talented near-neighbor I’ve never met, Eskimo Bliss, tagged me with another random things meme. I love lists and I’m rather random, so let’s play.

The Rules
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I’ve posted many (many, many) self-absorbed lists, so it was tough to come up with six things you haven’t read about me (and I told myself I can no longer include “R.E.M. is my favorite band” for six weeks). Let’s hope you find these somewhat entertaining.

1. I cannot step on a crack and break my mother’s back. I always step (sometimes hop) over the line.

2. I was once kicked off the bridesmaid team because Bridezilla said I wasn’t taking the wedding as seriously as she. Um, that counts as a duh, doesn’t it?

3. Broadway musicals bore me. I prefer my musical theater to be along the lines of Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

4. I once had a sex dream about Corky, the mentally challenged boy on the TV show “Life Goes On.” What makes this particularly disturbing is I never saw the show. (And, yes, he was goooooood.)

5. I am a Target addict. Today’s ensemble includes the following Red Dot Boutique items: slacks, turtleneck, cardigan, panties and bra, tights, makeup. There’s a Target across the street from my office, so I probably average three pop-ins every week.

6. Whenever I’m blue, I play three songs to perk me up: R.E.M.’s “Turn You Inside-out,” The Replacements’ “I Will Dare,” and Wilco’s “Heavy Metal Drummer.” If those don’t do the trick, I move to Sonic Youth’s “Incinerate” and Spoon’s “Did You Evah.” So far, I haven’t had to dig deeper into the playlist.


I’m tagging six sexy gals:

1. Flannery Alden at Prone to Whimsy got all sexy and sixy!

2. Christine at Real Men Don't Watch American Idol

3. Lisa at That’s Why got all sexy and sixy!

4. D. Guzman at Beginning to Bird got all sexy and sixy!

5. WendyB at Wendy Brandes Jewelry

6. Sue at Dating Rules for Sitcoms

* * * * * *

16 Things You Don’t Know About Me

My favorite never-seen gal pal Katie tagged me with this on Facebook. I’m double-dipping, publishing this here and on Facebook. Maybe this will start a trend: blog posts at Cup of Coffey! I’ve listed a lot of things you once didn’t know about me throughout the blog years, so you may recognize a couple of these; just act surprised.

1. R.E.M. is my favorite band in the whole wide world.

2. I have a scar along the edge of my chin. Having the scar isn’t weird, although I have no idea how I got it. What’s weird is, until I was in junior high, I thought it was the seam for my skin … as if The Good Lord knitted my flesh Himself.

3. I cannot sit through a scary movie, except for vampire flicks. Dying to see Let the Right One In at the Plaza Theatre this week.

4. Shows like “The Bachelor” make me angry. Competing for a man? Puh-lease. If the Mormons are so concerned about the sanctity of marriage, why aren’t they going after that crap?

5. I have arthritis in my right big toe. The aches come and go, but it’s cool to crack the toe knuckle.

6. I could not say “goddammit” — not even sing it in a song (always replaced with “hot damn”) — until I started working at an ad agency in 1984. Those two years ruined my wholesome vernacular. Now, when this graceless creature drops something or bumps into something (a regular feature in my day-to-day life), it’s always “Oh, goddammit!”

7. I bite my nails. I occasionally quit, but I’ve been in mega-gnaw mode since August.

8. I haven’t been to a concert in six months. No wonder I can’t stop gnawing my nails.

9. One of my favorite songs ever is Wham’s “Everything She Wants.” Still treasure the 45. I throw my arms wide and belt it out every time I hear it, whether I’m in the car or in a store. Used to embarrass the hell out of the Beloved Ex.

10. I can go for a year without a date, but I get very depressed if I go more than two weeks without a flirt object.

11. I’ve never been married, and I don’t ever see myself getting married. I have, however, fallen madly in love more times than I have fingers. Who needs a ring when you’ve enjoyed so many fingers?

12. Jimmy Carter and his family went to our church when he was governor. One morning between Sunday school and church, I was drinking at the water fountain outside the sanctuary, and kept hearing my mom apologize to someone. When my thirst was quenched, I found that my little black patents had been stomping the hell out of the tips of Jimmy’s wingtips. Much to my great disappointment, the future president’s bodyguards didn’t wrestle me to the ground; I guess my twelve-year-old self wasn’t very threatening.

13. I kissed Warren Zevon.

14. I also kissed Rufus Wainwright. But only on the cheek.

15. I’ve been in the hospital just once, for a staph infection in my sinuses at the end of my freshman year in college. Never been through an operation, and I still have my appendix and tonsils.

16. 16 was my favorite number when I was a tweenie. Why? Because it represented being a full-fledged teenager. And 16 Magazine was my fave.


I'm not going to tag anyone on the blog. If you want to play along, type up sixteen things we should know about you.

And if you're on Facebook, friend me.

* * * * * *

I Enjoy Being a Girl

The beginning of this week was one to be filed under “Horrific.” Imagine your worst nightmare coming to life. That would be Tuesday.

So, how did I get over it? Why, by cocktailing and baubling, of course.

One of my favorite local baublers, August Miller, had a trunk show at a local restaurant last night, and I couldn’t miss out the opportunity to rejuve the soul. And rejuve I did, with the best mojito I’ve had in years — and these lovelies:



August made the earrings while I mojito’ed.

August’s jewelry can also be found in New York, Chicago, and Nashville — and, of course, online. If you’re on Facebook, check out I (heart) August Miller Design Jewelry.

A mojito. A great sale on handmade jewelry. Girl talk. Damn, I really enjoy being a girl.

* * * * * *

The Bucket List: A Semi-meme

My sister e-mailed this to me. I’m too busy writing and being creative at work, so this slack-a**ed blogger decided to turn it into a blogpost.

Here’s The Bucket List of things I have or have not done throughout my life. If I haven't done it, the line is in green.

Gone on a blind date
Skipped school
Watched someone die
Been to Canada
Been to Mexico
Been to Florida
Spent the night on three or more continents
Been on a plane
Skydived
Deep-sea dived
Been lost
Been on the opposite side of the country
Gone to Washington, D.C.
Swam in the ocean
Wasted too much time on Facebook
Cried yourself to sleep
Gone parking post-college
Played cops and robbers
Bungee-jumped
Recently colored with crayons
Been overseas
Ridden a motorcycle
Driven a motorcycle
Sang karaoke
Paid for a meal with coins only
Talked to your pets
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
Fallen in love more than once
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
Laughed until you peed your pants
Run a marathon
Caught a snowflake on your tongue
Learned a second language
Danced in the rain
Been on television
Been on the radio
Been in the newspaper
Been in a movie
Written a letter to Santa Claus
Been kissed under the mistletoe
Walked with the back of my skirt tucked into my panties
Spent a birthday alone
Been married
Watched the sunrise with someone
Blown bubbles
Seen the Grand Canyon
Gone ice skating
Been skinny dipping outdoors
Gone to the movies by yourself
Gone to a concert by yourself

Some of the greens are on my to-do list before my fiftieth birthday — just three months away! Can you think of others to add to the list? Or feeling like playing along on your blog?

* * * * * *

The One Wonders Meme

Fellow metro Atlantan Mathman6293 tagged me for an interesting meme: answering one-word questions. I need to get back in blogging shape, so let’s go, Number One!

1. Clothes: Whenever I’m in public, absolutely. At home, maybe. Oh, you mean where do I get them? Wherever a display grabs my attention. I’m more of a visual shopper, less of a label one.

2. Furniture: As with clothes, wherever something strikes my fantasy.

3. Sweet: If I’m slugging at home, it’s Häagen-Dazs’ Vanilla Swiss Almond with hot fudge sauce or Magic Shell. If I’m out, whatever sounds most decadent and gooey.

4. City: San Francisco, with Paris and New York City very close behind.

5. Drink: Since Coaster Punchman’s visit, I’ve been hung up on grapefruit margaritas. I guess I’m not ready to stop reliving that magical night.

6. Music: It’s my reason for living. Here’s a little secret: R.E.M. is my favorite band evah.

7. TV Series: Pushing Daisies

8. Film: I can’t pick just one, so here are some of my favorites: An Affair to Remember, Diva, Wings of Desire, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Amelie, Bridget Jones' Diary, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Harold and Maude, Parting Glances, All About Eve, The Evil Dead trilogy, The Women (the original), The Philadephia Story, Truly Madly Deeply

9. Workout: Lately, my most vigorous workouts have been chair-dancing at my desk at work. I’m starting a new vigorous regimen in a couple weeks, though.

10. Pastries: The chocolate croissants at the DeKalb Farmers Market — they’re perfect.

11. Coffee: Strong dark roast (preferably French), black. If I hit Java Monkey on my way to work, it’s a 16-ounce skim latte with an extra shot.


And now the 1s I’m tapping:

• Eebie at Modern Day Hobo has one-upped!
• Red at What I Like About the Universe has cussed me and one-upped!
• Skyler’s Dad at Some Days It’s Not Worth … has one-upped!
• Pagan at The Pagan Sphinx has one-upped!
• Mathdude at Eating Chicken Vindaloo has finally one-upped!

* * * * * *

A Slack-assed Blogger Fakes a Meme

Yeah, I know. I haven’t been e-round. My recent life has been a circus — professionally and personally — so I haven’t been able to find an hour to write all the posts in my head. Plus, my PC is being rather uncooperative lately. I went three days without e-mail access!

Excuses, excuses.

To get me back in the blogworld, I thought I’d answer this e-mail from my sister on the page. Play along if you wish.

Were you named after anyone?
My mother got the slightly unusual spelling of my first name from the actress Lizabeth Scott, who starred in Loving You with Elvis. My middle name comes from my great-grandmother who raised my mother.

When was the last time you cried?
This morning, after seeing Tim Russert’s son on Today. And ten minutes later over something personal.

Do you like your handwriting?
Somewhat. I like my g and 8, which I copied from the person who most influenced me: Mrs. Barrett, school newspaper advisor and toughest teacher I ever had. I’d love to find her so I could tell her how well I've done with everything she taught me.

What’s your favorite lunch meat?
Very rare roast beef or that pressed turkey in a package.

Do you have kids?
Two cats, one boyfriend, no children

If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Yep. I’m a lot of fun and I’m loyal to my beloveds. I occasionally rank an eight on the High-maintenance Meter — but what interesting woman doesn't?

Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Definitely; it's my family's language. I had to learn how to dial it back during the Beloved Ex era; who knew sarcasm could be hurtful?

Do you still have your tonsils?
Yep; appendix and virginity, too.

Would you bungee jump?
Absolutely. French and I almost did at a WRAS music festival in 1992, after a great set by the Soup Dragons. We were quite drunk on some alcoholic lemonade, and jumped the bungee way. It closed down as we got to the line, so we missed our chance.

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Nope. Why waste time on something unnecessary when I could be dancing?

Do you think you’re strong?
Yes. The Beloved Ex says I'm the strongest person he knows. And he'd know.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person?
The eyes. Or her baubles/his height.

Red or pink?
Depends on how it’s used.

What’s your least favorite thing about your body?
The excess junk in my trunk and my too-short legs.

Who do you miss the most?
OM

What color pants and shoes are you wearing?
No pants; I’m wearing a darling green print sundress. The shoes? Adorable two-inch strappy sandals. And you should see the baubles: recycled glass from Coke bottles!

How about your shirt?
Turquoise T-shirt. It looks fabulous with the green print sundress.

What’s the last thing you ate?
Currently munching on a salad while dreaming of cookies.

What are you listening to right now?
R.E.M.’s Accelerate — and getting pumped for this Saturday’s show!

Who’s the last person you spoke to on the phone?
Favorite Boy, late last night

If you were a crayon, which color would you be?
Periwinkle

What’s your favorite smell?
Favorite Boy — because if I can smell him, he’s in town. If he’s three states away at home, then it’s the scent of a spring rain I most enjoy sniffing.

What’s your favorite sport to watch?
Is Project Runway considered a sport? If not, then baseball.

What color is your hair?
Black, with more shoots of gray every year. I’m going for the Susan Sontag/Bride of Frankenstein look.

What color are your eyes?
Hazel — or as I like to describe them, green with freckles.

Do you wear contacts?
Since my freshman year in high school. I am one blind blogger without ‘em. The Beloved Ex used to enjoy taking away my glasses and quizzing me on what I could see (not much, unless I was living in an impressionist universe).

Favorite food?
YES! God, I love food (see: the excess junk in my trunk). Thai’s probably my favorite; Italian is my comfort food.

What’s your favorite cereal?
I tell people Cheerios (especially this time of year because I can put fresh peaches on top) — but it’s really Cap’n Crunch. I haven’t spooned the Cap’n in four or five years, sadly; it's not on the approved Weighty Waddlers list.

What’s your favorite ice cream?
Häagen-Dazs Coffee Heath Bar Crunch (which is hard to find) or Vanilla Swiss Almond (with hot fudge or Magic Shell drenching the top)

Favorite dessert?
Cake or cookies with buttercream frosting

Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings. I’m such a wuss over scary movies — unless Bruce Campbell is starring in it.

What’s the last movie you watched?
Bridget Jones’s Diary on Bravo over the weekend. If it’s on, I must watch.

What book are you reading now?
David Sedaris’ new collection, When You Are Engulfed in Flames. Busted out laughing twice while reading it on the bus this morning.

Summer or winter?
I’m really a spring/fall chick. Of the two queried above, I’ll pick winter any day. I hate the heat; I get whiny and bitchy and irritable when the humidity hits.

Hugs or kisses?
Yes … oh, God, yes.

What’s on your mouse pad?
Don’t use one; I surf barebacked.

What did you watch on TV last night?
The neverending Tim Russert coverage on MSNBC. I adored Tim Russert; his death hit me hard.

What’s your favorite sound?
Someone laughing over something I said. Or the opening note of an R.E.M. show.

Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Can’t pick one over the other; they’re both brilliant.

What’s the farthest you’ve been from home?
Europe. Of the countries I’ve visitied, I guess Italy’s the farthest away from Atlanta.

Do you have a special talent?
Yes; just ask Favorite Boy. Seriously, I’m very comfortable talking in front of an audience, and I can also rhyme on a dime and whip up a song parody in no time — family traits I’m proud to possess.

Where were you born?
Right here in Atlanta.

Who do you want to answer these questions?
Every damn one of you!

* * * * * *

The Inquisition: Meme Style

My new favorite blogger, The Pagan Sphinx, recently tagged me with one of my favorite types of memes: listmania! I love making lists. I love writing about me. So lists about me … well, that’s just blogging gold, dear readers.


Ten Years Ago
I was working for The Coca-Cola Company and living with the Beloved Ex. Next to our first six months — that phase where everything is golden and giggly and glittery — that was probably our best time together. We were living in a condo with a yardette — an 8’ x 18’ yard with a privacy fence, which we turned into a riot of English garden color. Gardening wasn’t the extent of my Martha Stewartism: For Easter I baked a batch of sugar cookies shaped like eggs; Beloved Ex and I then decorated them like Easter eggs with buttercream frosting and those baking thingies, putting them on a bed of plastic basket grass (note that I even use Martha’s lingo).


Five Things on Today’s To-do List
Notice my priorities.
1. Call mechanic about the latest Check Engine light
2. Find pirate costumes [DONE]
3. Start on Friday’s mix tape [DONE]
4. Balance my checkbook and rework my budget
5. Write this meme post [DONE]


If I Were a Billionaire
So many things I’d do. P.Sphinx didn’t enumerate her If I Weres, but I’m going to give you five What I’d Dos:
1. Set up. I wouldn’t want my family or friends working. Sure, it’s a grand gesture, but it’s also a selfish one: If I decided to up and fly to Madrid, someone has to be able to go with me.
2. Donate. Time and money. I’d give money to organizations that put the majority of their donations in the field, such as Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Purse. I’d also start organizations to get less-privileged children and teens interesting in books and art.
3. Settle. I’d buy a house in the mountains, somewhere in western North Carolina or eastern Tennessee. New York is where I’d rather be; I just adore a penthouse view. And I’d keep a home in Decatur to be near family and friends.
4. Travel. I’d rather stay in fabulous hotels that have homes dotted across the world.
5. Reestablish. By buying my great-grandfather’s old grocery store. I’d start an art gallery collective, where the artists being shown would help man the gallery. It would be named Hamilton’s Market, as it was named in the 1940s and 1950s. We’d have live bands, author readings, all sorts of creative and cultural events.


Three Bad Habits
Boy, it’s hard to come up with three. Okay, to be honest, it’s hard to pick just three.
1. I bite my nails. Sometimes, like now, I can stop and let them grow … but I’m sure I’ll be gnawing again soon.
2. I interrupt. It’s the Coffey conversation style — perfectly acceptable around our dinner tables, but rather rude when chatting with people. I try not to, but then I get a thought in my head and …
3. I procrastinate. So many things can be put off until the last minute, y'know.


Five Places I’ve Lived
Although I always wanted to, I’ve never lived outside Georgia; in fact, other than my two years at the University of Georgia, I haven’t lived outside the metropolitan Atlanta area. Because most of you aren’t familiar with the various Atlanta neighborhoods, I’m going to pretend I’ve lived in these cities:
1. New York City
2. Paris
3. San Francisco
4. Sydney
5. Portland (preferably Oregon, but I’d fake Maine, too)


Five Jobs I’ve Had
I’m going with the non-career gigs:
1. Babysitter Extraordinaire, my neighborhood
2. Denim Shopgirl and Okefenoke Swamp Ridegirl, Six Flags Over Georgia
3. Route Accounting, Coca-Cola Bottling (high school and college summers/Christmas breaks)
4. Public Relations/Public Affairs Director, WRAS (Georgia State University)
5. Bookseller, Bookstar


I’m Tagging
1. The Beloved Ex met the challenge!
2. Write Procrastinator met the challenge!
3. Skyler’s Dad met the challenge!
4. Mathdude met the challenge!
5. Eebie met the challenge!

* * * * * *

49 for 49

Today’s my 49th birthday, so I guess it’s time to face the fact: I’m nearly middle-aged.

That's right, I’m going to live and go to concerts until at least my 100th birthday, so I’m not officially middle-aged until next March. Please humor me.

It’s a strange thing, facing the fact that you’ve officially completed the growing-up process and are now headed on the downslope. Will I ever feel grown up? Does that mean I have to start listening to adult contemporary radio?

Let’s not get reflective and doomsdayable. Instead, let’s celebrate with a self-indulgent list.

1. I don’t work on my birthday. I believe it should be a national law — hell, a commandment.

2. I did work once on my birthday, in 1993, as I was flying to San Francisco the following morning. Miserable. No parades, no applause, no balloons, nothing.

3. I will never work on my birthday again.

4. I may forget your phone number, or the type of car you drive, or to get your package to the post office — but I will never forget your birthday.

5. When we reconnected after twenty years, Filegod1 was surprised to learn I still knew his birthday.

6. I quietly celebrate the birthdays of my beloved rock stars by wearing outfits that reflect their personalities and listening to their music throughout their special days.

7. (Why, oh why, hasn’t my neighbor Paste hired me yet? Josh Jackson, please call.)

8. One regular commenter — Renae, the cutie in the blue plaid dress — was at my eighth birthday party.

9. Except for this lovely shot (thanks to the hat and the glasses), I take horrible photos.

10. That’s why you only see the top or back of my curly head.

11. Gawd, I hope I’m really not that washed-out and pie-faced.

12. Nick Lowe and I share a birthday.

13. Favorite Boy and Elvis Costello were born on the same day.

14. If you’re a fellow music geek, you’ll think that’s totally cute, too.

15. I don’t feel old.

16. I feel younger and happier than I did at 39.

17. I guess fifty really is the new thirty. I’m actually looking forward to that decade of my life.

18. Four regular commenters — HollyC, RCofCHS, Filegod1, and Renae — and one (very) occasional commenter (Janice) were at my “surprise” 18th birthday party.

19. Those quotation marks are necessary. My mother let the surprise cat out of the bag because I was moping around over getting dumped.

20. My eyebrows are more gray than black. They’re grayer than the hair on my head.

21. We won’t discuss the gray-to-black ratio on other body parts.

22. Most of the women in my family tend to go blonde instead of gray.

23. I don’t think I can pull off blonde, though, unless I decide to embrace the wallflower side of my personality.

24. I’m currently hoping for the Susan Sontag/Bride of Frankenstein look: a shock of white on the black mane.

25. I have to admit, I like the gray shooting through my hair.

26. So far.

27. I have no desire to be younger, or to go back to a younger phase of my life.

28. I love my age and what I’ve lived through.

29. I just wish my a** had the firm strength of my adult personality.

30. I threw myself one kick-ass thirtieth birthday party. I remember parts of it, too.

31. I ended the party in a completely different outfit — which is interesting when you consider that my duplex apartment had an open floor plan.

32. (Lucky partygoers.)

33. I think I love R.E.M. more than I did most of my lovers.

34. Yeah, I know I’ve written that once or twice (or eighty-three times) — but you should never miss an opportunity to shout about the great love of your life.

35. Their new album — Accelerate — comes out a week from today, so be sure to check in for album updates and tidbits.

36. My 36th birthday was spent with Nick Drake, several bottles of wine, some goat cheese, and meandering drives through the North Georgia mountains.

37. It was my one quiet, reflective birthday — a birthday that marked a new direction in my life.

38. I’ve been at peace and I haven’t been lonely since that March of 1995.

39. I may be 49, but I've lived during six decades.

40. My fortieth birthday was spent in New Orleans — the best place for your fortieth.

41. We dined at K-Paul’s and Emeril’s … drank hurricanes, a lot of wine, a little champagne … hit the voodoo museum and the Blue Dog Gallery.

42. And, appropriately, spent hours snapping photos at the Lafayette Cemetery.

43. (If I were organized, I would have scanned some of those photos for this post … the key word being “If.”)

44. My lips are now enclosed inside parenthetical grooves on my face, as if my mouth is a facial aside.

45. Why do I continue using a magnifying makeup mirror at this wrinkled age?

46. As forty-eight counts out its final minutes, I realize how lucky I am to have my group of loved ones …

47. … the experiences I’ve lived …

48. … true joy for life.

49. Forty-nine is here. Favorite Boy will be here soon. Happy birthday to me!

* * * * * *

Mix Tape Friday: It's My Party!

And I’ll dance if I want to.

Today’s tape is my birthday party mix. My birthday’s Tuesday, but the celebration begins today with forty-nine favorite songs that get me up offa that thang — you should have seen the dance moves up and down my hall this week! — one song for each glorious year of life.

There’s no big party this year; I’m saving the candles and streamers for next year’s milestone birthday. This year’s celebration will be a party of two. Out of town. With candles and champagne. And probably a bauble purchase or seven.

Since I wanted one tape with my favorite dancing tunes, you’ll see some repeats this week. Added bonus: There isn’t much room for debate since these are *my* favorite dancing songs — although I would like to know some of your favorite get-up-offas.

R.E.M. :: Radio Free Europe

The Replacements :: I Will Dare

Beck :: Black Tambourine

Joe Jackson :: I’m the Man

Andrew W.K. :: We Want Fun

Morris Day & The Time :: Jungle Love

Deee-lite :: Groove Is in the Heart

Pavement :: Stereo

Cloud Cult :: Happy Hippo

The B-52’s :: Mesopotamia

Cameo :: Word Up

Elvis Costello :: Tear off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)

The Clash :: Radio Clash

Blur :: Song 2

U2 :: Elevation (Tomb Raider Mix)

Elastica :: Connection

The Roots feat. Cody Chesnutt :: Seed 2.0

The Pretenders :: Middle of the Road

The Beatles :: Revolution

Sonic Youth :: Incinerate

Mike Watt feat. Eddie Vedder :: Against the 70’s

Wilco :: Heavy Metal Drummer

Spoon :: Don’t You Evah

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles :: Going to a Go-Go

Soup Dragons :: Divine Thing

The Pixies :: Here Comes Your Man

Prince :: My Name Is Prince

Sugar :: Your Favorite Thing

The Farm :: Groovy Train

The Pipettes :: Dirty Mind

The Jackson 5 :: ABC

Naked Eyes :: Promises, Promises

XTC :: Life Begins at the Hop

David Bowie :: Fashion

Brothers Johnson :: Get the Funk Out Ma Face

Cypress Hill :: Insane in the Membrane

Pylon :: Feast on My Heart

10,000 Maniacs :: Pit Viper

Super Furry Animals :: (Drawing) Rings Around the World

The Gap Band :: You Dropped a Bomb on Me

The Ramones :: Judy Is a Punk

Tone Loc :: Funky Cold Medina

The Whigs :: Right Hand on My Heart

The Raveonettes :: Attack of the Ghost Riders

Kool & The Gang :: Jungle Boogie

Devo :: Uncontrollable Urge

Curtis Mayfield :: Move on up

The Rolling Stones :: Little T&A

George Clinton :: Last Dance

Don’t miss a dance — download the zip file and get your party shoes on the dance floor with me!

Here’s a party favor for you:

R.E.M. :: Supernatural Superserious

Find the Buck: Peter, of course, starts off the tape with “Radio Free Europe” — but there’s a Buck guitar solo in another song. Which one? The first person who guesses correctly gets to suggest two songs for the (very special) April 4 mix tape.

Favorite Boy has been giving me grief about my “Heavy Metal Drummer” obsession. He doesn’t understand why I love this above all Wilco songs; there are, after all, several better ones in the catalog. I just love the happy feeling, the energy of the song — and the lyrics build great visuals in my fuzzy head. And I dance*dance*dance when I hear it.

“I Will Dare” has been one of my favorite songs since Let It Be was released in 1984. Like “Heavy Metal Drummer,” it has great energy — and I always bust out dancin’ on the first note. I also love the line How smart are you? / How old am I? / Let’s count the rings / Around my eyes. Paul Westerberg writes some frickin’ fantastic lyrics, doesn’t he? (BTW, I’m playing “I Will Dare” and chair-dancin’ my chaired ass off while writing this.)

“Happy Hippo” boasts the most fun use of Neil Young ever on record. Who knew Neil could be a dance track?

My Cool Cred: "Revolution" is my mother's favorite Beatles song. The woman can dance when that record is spinning 'round the turntable.

Dance, children. Dance all damn weekend.

* * * * * *

The Movie Quotes Meme

Meme-rific week continues thanks to the beloved Bad Tempered Barbara, who tapped me for the Movie Quote Meme.

The Rules

1. Here are quotes from 15 of my favourite movies. [Barbara’s Canadian, so she uses the “u” in words like “favourite.” I prefer that spelling, I must admit.]
2. See if you can name the films from whence they were lifted. [“From whence.” Don’t you just love it?]
3. No googling or IMDBing; I'm trusting you on this.
4. I'll post the film names as they’re correctly identified.

Ready, kids? Let’s go to the movies!

1. “What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?” — Rob (John Cusack), High Fidelity [Filegod]

2. “I had tried singing once and they threw tomatoes so after the show I had a nice salad.” — Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell), Hedwig and the Angry Inch [Barbara]

3. “Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night!” — Margo Channing (Bette Davis), All About Eve [Malcolm]

4. “Let's nuke the bastards.” — President Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman), Independence Day [Filegod]

5. “They have to paint me red before they chop me. It's a different religion from ours. I think.” — Ringo, Help! [Bubs]

6. “Dude, I know they were just kids, but we kicked their pube-less asses!” — Jay (Jason Mewes), Dogma [Filegod]

7. “If it had to happen to one of us, why did it have to be you?” — Nicky Ferrante (Cary Grant), An Affair to Remember [Artful Kisser]

8. “I was dreamin'. Dreamin' my d*ck was out and I was checkin' to see if that infected bump on the head of it had filled with pus again. If it had, I was gonna name it after my ex-wife Priscilla and bust it by j*ckin' off. Or I'd like to think that's what I'd do. Dreams let you think like that. Truth was, I hadn't had a hard-on in years.” — Elvis (Bruce Campbell), Bubba Ho-tep [Filegod]

9. “I would be remiss in my duty if I did not tell you that the idea of intercourse ... the act of your firm, young body ... comingling with ... withered flesh ... sagging breasts ... and flabby b-b-buttocks ... makes me want ... to vomit.” — Priest (Eric Christmas), Harold and Maude [Bubs]

10. “Our love for each other was stronger than ever … but I preminisced no return of the salad days.” — H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage), Raising Arizona [Filegod]

11. “It wasn't like they took turns. It was all at once. Every which way. Rather like a marvelous pretzel.” “Ooh. Pretzelingus.”

12. “I'm nice. I really am. Apart from my terrible taste in pie.” — Juliet (Keira Knightly), Love Actually [Filegod]

13. “Oh, l'amour, l'amour, how it can let you down. Hmm. How it can pick you up again.” — Countess DeLave (Mary Boland), The Women [Kat-heel-well]

14. “You know when you hear girls say ‘Ah man, I was so shit-faced last night, I shouldn't have fucked that guy?’ We could be that mistake!” — Seth (Jonah Hill), Superbad [Barbara]

15. “I was taught that my prince would come, and he would be a lawyer, and I would have his children. And on the weekends we would barbecue. And all the other princes and their princesses would come, and they would say, ‘Delicious, delicious.’ Oh, how boring.” — Margaret (Anne Carlisle), Liquid Sky [Sean Wraight]


Since I didn’t include a quote from Clerks, Filegod suggested I include this:




Lights! Camera! Action!
• Erik’s Choice’s Erik
• Gifted Typist’s Gifted keyboardist, Typist
• Pop Culture Dish’s Malcolm
• Sprawling Ramshackle Compound’s Bubs
• When Will I Use This’ Mathman6293

* * * * * *

Me in Six

Mathman6293 at When Will I Use This? gave me the best challenge so far: write my memoir in six words. Hell, I’m a Southerner; it takes me eleven words just to say hello. But I need a challenge this week.

The Six-word Memoir Rules

1. Write your own six-word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog. Include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you.
4. Tag five more blogs — and link ‘em.

I spend my workday working and playing with words, so you’d think this would be easy. When I knew what I wanted to say, the six words came easily:

Music brought my soul to life.

Worshipping the Automatic for the People-like thingie
(Brighton, 1992)

Hmmmm … which loquacious bloggers are up for the challenge? I tap:

• Bliss and Bile’s Chelene has sixed!
• The Road Goes on Forever’s Keith has sixed!
• Land-o-Lulu’s Lulu has sixed!
• Social Zimurgy’s Doc
• Scrivenings’ Scrivener

* * * * * *

Let’s Play Crazy 8s!

Miss Alex at Fonzie Sox has been patiently awaiting my response to her meme tag — and this is a fun one: Crazy 8s.


8 Things I’m Passionate About
I’m a deep one, aren’t I?
1. R.E.M.
2. My friends
3. Music
4. Baubles
5. Travel
6. Kissing
7. Beautifully written books, beautifully directed movies
8. Laughter


8 Things I Want to Do Before I Die
I posted a similar list a couple of years ago; some things have changed.
1. Drive across the country without a planned itinerary
2. Write a novel and have it published
3. Live in another city
4. Learn how to play guitar
5. Skydive
6. Travel to Australia and Asia
7. BFF Rob Sheffield
8. Party with the NYC bloggers … the Chicago bloggers … the Toronto bloggers … and everyone in between


8 Things I Often Say
I’m a deep one, aren’t I?
1. “It’s baublicious!”
2. “I love R.E.M.”
3. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to crash into you.”
4. “He curls my toes.”
5. “I adore Michael Stipe.”
6. “One more swirl, please.”
7. “Ohg*ddammit!” [cursed whenever I drop something or bump into something.]
8. “That’s Peter Buck playing guitar on this song.”


8 Books I’ve Read Recently
I don’t read much during annual report season, so I’m listing some of my 2007 faves.
1. Love Is a Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield
2. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon, Crystal Zevon
3. By George, Wesley Stace
4. An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England, Brock Clarke
5. The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Michael Chabon
6. Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul, Karen Abbott
7. Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas , Chuck Klosterman
8. Becoming Abigail, Chris Abani


8 Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over
These are the songs I play when I need to dance myself into a good mood.
1. R.E.M.: “Radio Free Europe”
2. The Replacements: “I Will Dare”
3. Wilco: “Heavy Metal Drummer”
4. Prince: “My Name Is Prince”
5. The Clash: “The Magnificent Seven”
6. Al Green: “Take Me to the River”
7. The Rolling Stones: “Little T&A”
8. Marcy Playground: “Sex and Candy”


8 Things That Attract Me to My Best Friends
I have the grooviest group of friends you could imagine.
1. Their passions
2. Their senses of humor
3. Their intelligence
4. Their creativity (yes, HollyC, even you)
5. Their fearlessness
6. Their silliness
7. Their feigned interest when I yammer on about who’s playing on this record and who else he’s played with
8. Their undying love for and loyalty to me


8 Things That Drive Me Crazy
I added this one; it drove me crazy that there were only seven categories in Crazy 8s.
1. Closed-minded people
2. People who are too politically correct
3. The use of “that” when referring to a person [use “who,” people!]
4. Dates who are late [Favorite Boy is always early. Favorite Boy is a dating doll.]
5. A verb that doesn’t agree with its noun
6. Wearing sandals without polish on the toenails (it’s a Southern thing)
7. Drivers who must come to a complete stop to make a right turn
8. Unnecessary quotation marks


8 People I Think Should Go All Crazy 8s on Us
1. Coffeypot’s Beloved Uncle
2. Eating Chicken Vindaloo’s Mathdude eight it up … a wee bit
3. Haahnster’s Hallucinations’ MIA Boy
4. Intravenus de Milo’s Tony Alva
5. Rants Raves Life etc.’s Artful Dodger, maybe mixing it up with Mix Tape Girl
6. Some Days It's Not Worth Chewing Through the Leather Straps’ Dad of Skyler eight it up!
7. What I Like About the Universe’s Evil Evil Genius eight it up!
8. Write Procrastinator’s Brown Lightning

* * * * * *

A Meme-rific Week

I’ve been tagged recently for several interesting memes, and I’m going to try to post every one this week. Work has taken me away from the blogworld for the last several weeks, and I hope a week o’ memes will bring me back full force.

I’m going to start with the easiest: The Middle Name Meme, tagged by the delightful Katie.

The Rules

1. Post the rules before you give your answers.

2. List one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother's maiden name.

3. At the end of your blog post, tag one person (or blogger of another species) for each letter of your middle name. Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged.

My middle name is GRACE, the middle name of my great-grandmother who helped raise my mother.

G: Sadly, I don’t live up to my middle name. I’m not very graceful. But I’ve been told recently that I have quite a distinctive walk, one I like to think borders on graceful.

R: I have a racy sense of humor. I’m proud to admit that things I’ve said have shocked and embarrassed some of my male buddies — and those cohorts are not weak of heart or humor. (Bet you thought I’d go all R.E.M. on you here, huh? This girl is full of surprises.)

A: I’m an Atlanta native — which is impressive only to those living in this huge metropolitan area since they know how rare Atlantans in Atlanta can be.

C: I love going to concerts. (Wow. Revealing little-known facts about myself is liberating.) In fact, I plan to hit at least five of R.E.M.’s seven East Coast shows in June. Evil Genius is gonna dance the DC grass flat with me; anyone else want to join me? (C’mon, you knew I’d work in R.E.M. anyway.)

E: I have an exuberant personality. I tend to absolutely love and adore things, or abhor them. Imagine freckled arms flailing as I rave about a song, or a person, or the swirl currently in front of me.


Now I tag five graceful bloggers:

Bad Tempered Zombie’s Barbara

Eskimo Bliss’s Eskimokiss

The Girl with Moxie’s Moxie spelled it out

It’s a Pug’s Life’s Marni spelled it out

Prone to Whimsy’s Flannery

Spill, girls.

* * * * * *

7 and 7 Is

The coolest couple of the blogworld — Flannery and Doc — both tagged me for the latest in blog memes: seven things you don’t know about me. I’ve posted a few of these memes, so coming up with fourteen new things you don’t know about me is a challenge — a challenge worthy of blowing off some office hours.

Flannery’s request was for a song-laden seven — and I’m more than happy to oblige. So, Flannery’s seven will be music-related, and Doc’s will be filled with deep, dark secrets.

And so, as Love sings, here is 7 and 7 Is.

Flannery’s Seven

1. The first album I ever owned was Blood, Sweat & Tears. Santa brought it to me the year our family got a hi-fi stereo. My favorite track on the album is “Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie” — but today I’m sharing one of the hits off the album, Spinning Wheel.

2. The first album I bought with my own money was the Help! soundtrack. Since it was the soundtrack, it included the various orchestral pieces played throughout the movie. Sadly, that version is not available on CD and I have yet to get my LP converted. Probably my favorite song on the album is You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away; John’s vocals are dreamy, and you can never go wrong with a well-banged tambourine.

3. The first 8-track tape I bought proves my extreme coolness: Jefferson Starship’s Red Octopus. Oh, yeah, I was groovin’ between the ch-chungs. It took many turntable Miracles to earn my record collection cred once I hit the college campus.

4. The first concert I was a Willie Nelson show, with Waylon Jennings and Leon Russell on piano, in the early 1970s. The whole family went. It was also the first night I smelled pot. I don’t think they performed this, but I love Willie and Waylon’s cover of (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay.

5. I embarrassed myself in front of Eddie Money. He was in town for a show, and came to our campus radio station for an interview. Musicians are notoriously late for interviews, so I was in the cafeteria, no doubt flirting with my latest victim. Well, Eddie got to the station early — and, as PR Director, I missed out on my job of welcoming him. I dashed downstairs to the studio, where Eddie and a couple of the jocks were hanging out. I greeted him, then told him I brought in some albums (I’d just bought) that I’d like him to sign. He asked if I was going to his show, and I explained I was very hung over; he suggested some hangover cures. I yammered like a yokel and giggled out some inane, college-age crap — until I noticed the jock was glaring at me and the On Air light was lit. I handled it professionally, shrieking and dashing into the news studio. I was, as Mr. Money sings here, Shakin’ with embarrassment. He was a charmer, coming into the news studio post-interview, bowing and asking me to make it to the show. I didn’t.

6. You’d think my favorite band during my freshman year at UGA was R.E.M., but no; Michael and Peter had yet to find each other at Wuxtry. I was a typical freshman girl in 1977, swooning over Dan Fogelberg and songs like Aspen/These Days. Still sad that we recently lost him, although I haven’t listened to a Fogelberg album in eons.

7. I’ve become a digital queen in the last few years, buying fewer and fewer CDs. The last CD I bought was Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, which includes tasty aural morsels like A Foggy Day and Medley: Almost Like Being in Love/This Can't Be Love.

Doc’s Seven

1. I coordinate my reading glasses with my outfits. I have reading glasses in all the must colors: black, brown, red, lime green, turquoise, blue, rimless. Choosing that day’s reading glasses is as important a morning ritual as baubling up with the earrings, necklace, bracelet, and watch.

2. I’m very anal about my PC’s taskbar. Applications must always be opened in a particular order. For my office PC, it’s Winamp — Outlook — Yahoo e-mail — Current Projects folder — and then the application I’m using. If one crashes, I must close, then reopen all that follow so that order is restored.

3. I’m obsessed with Bridget Jones’s Diary (alternate title: The Cup’s Life on Celluloid). More than once I’ve watched back-to-back viewings on Bravo. Nothing better than a Friday night of take-out Thai and four hours of Bridget. I have the DVD, but I must always watch the broadcasts.

4. I got in trouble in kindergarten for kissing all the boys. (RCofCHS, it was your fault, I’m sure.) I also had problems learning how to tie a bow … probably because I was always trying to tie one on with all those beaux.

My graduating class at Kiddie Dude Ranch, 1965. I’m third from the right. Look at the wide berth those bitches gave me. Why wouldn’t anyone stand close to me?

5. I may have a problem with commitment. When given the choice of a five-year or ten-year driver’s license, I opted for the shorter-term license. If you knew my problem with getting licenses renewed, you’d be concerned, too. But who knows where (or who) I’ll be in ten years?

6. My left pinky is twisted from breaking the bone. I have no idea how or when I broke it; it has been that way as long as I remember. When I’m nervous, I click the broken joint back and forth. To further mar my short, stubby hands, I sport a writing bump on the inside knuckle of my right ring finger. I’ve never held a pencil properly — and thus cannot use chopsticks, either. My Japanese bosses tried teaching me in the early 1980s, but quickly gave up.

7. I’ve been a member of the R.E.M. fan club for at least twenty years. I get opps for presale tickets and a Christmas package every year, as well as a quarterly newsletter. It’s the best ten bucks I spend every year. (Did you really think you were going to get out of here without an R.E.M. triviality?)


And thus we close out another edition of Seven Things You Didn’t Know about me with Billy Bragg’s cover of 7 and 7 Is.

But not before I tag others — that’s seven and seven others:

All the Way from Oy to Vey’s Katie has 7’ed!

Bad Tempered Zombie’s Barbara has 7’ed!

Gifted Typist has 7’ed!

Give Me My Blue Blanket

I, Splotchy’s Splotchy has 7’ed!

Politits’s DCup has 7’ed!

Reject the Koolaid’s Jacy

Ribbed for Your Pleasure’s Mountjoy has 7’ed!

Save Your Generation’s Pistols at Dawn has 7’ed!

Scrivener

Tanya Espanya has 7’ed!

Wapentake has 7’ed!

What I Like About the Universe's Evil Evil Genius has 7’ed!

Yawp's Third Worst Poet in the Galaxy has 7’ed!

Get your seven spillin’, kids.

* * * * * *

100 Things About 2007

This is my 400th post. I listed 100 things about me in my 200th post, and considered adding to that. But since it’s a new year, I thought I’d relive some of my 2007 highlights … 100, to be exact.


1. I moved at the beginning of 2007. I left the ‘burbs, returning to my favorite area of town. I hope to never leave Decatur again.

2. Among other cool things, Decatur has long been one of our major lesbian neighborhoods. Possibly because in the Southern tongue it’s pronounced “dick-hater.”

3. While I love my life in Decatur, I have not become a dick-hater. It’s flattering, though, to go to the grocery store sans makeup and still get hit on.

4. My cup runneth over in the romance department the first few months of 2007 … “runneth over” being the key phrase.

5. A bit dramatic, a bit over the top by spring — so I took a boy break by the time the azaleas were blooming.

6. That break is ready to be broken.

7. Other than the rom-drama, my scariest 2007 moment was my brush with Karl Maldenism.

8. Luckily, the gin blossom faded away and left my nose intact, thanks to a pharm cocktail of antibiotics and steroids …

9. … although the steroids wreaked havoc on my body. Hate the ‘roids. My body is still raging from the ‘roids.

10. Runner-up for scariest moment: My eyelash bonfire during the Horrific Move of 2007. They’re back, too.

11. I thus stopped scaring small and mid-sized children by May, and was back to batting eyelashes by June.

12. (I’ve been sorting through my 2007 blog archives to fill this list. I didn’t blog much last year, did I?)

13. (Did I live a boring, noneventful 2007 — or was it just too busy and exciting for me to sit down and write about it? I’m still not sure.)

14. My mother and my sister had surgery last year, and both mended ahead of schedule.

15. We Coffey chicks are super-women.

16. Thank you for your comments and e-mails; your thoughts meant a lot to me.

17. The professional side of my life went very well in 2007.

18. The creativity level was cranked to 13, and I knocked off a lot of office socks.

19. But, really, do you want to read about the corporate Cup? Yeah, let’s move on to important things.

20. My beloveds were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

21. I’m still brimming with R.E.M. pride.

22. Rumor has it that the new album will be awesome — their best in years.

23. I was hoping for a March 25 release date, since that’s a Tuesday and my 49th birthday.

24. I think my undying love for R.E.M. deserves that honor. Don’t you?

25. But it’s coming out the following Tuesday — April Fools Day. The only fools will be those who don’t buy the album.

26. On an R.E.M. side note, I kept to my promise of a Peter Buck post ban after finding my blog was monopolizing the Technorati searches.

27. But I still love him.

28. In a non-sexual, non-stalking way, of course. I just want to be his best friend.

29. Is that creepy?

30. I saw nearly 30 concerts in 2007 — my busiest live-music year in a decade.

31. The best were Glenn Tilbrook (he’s funky — he told us so) …

32. … Wilco, in the pouring rain …

33. … Rufus Wainwright, Judy Garlanded to the nines …

34. … and Stevie Wonder, under the stars on a balmy night.

35. I hope to hit even more live shows in ’08.

36. After all, R.E.M. will be touring ...

37. … and I’m hitting the road for some Wilco shows.

38. Didn’t hit the road as much as I would have liked in 2007.

39. I enjoyed a holiday weekend in Chattanooga.

40. And I left my heart again in San Francisco.

41. I scored cocktails, appetizers, and dishing with liter-hottie Write Procrastinator while in The City — and that may have been the best part of the trip.

42. I went all self-indulgent on you with a new blog series, Mix Tape Fridays. You know I can’t resist a chance to blog about my favorite tunes.

43. I published twenty mix tapes and four holiday tapes — 864 songs.

44. Guess who appeared on every mix tape? Yep: R.E.M., or a Michael Stipe or Peter Buck appearance.

45. Second most appearances (excluding Warren Zevon on his tribute tape): The B-52’s and Elvis Costello tied with nine, followed by David Bowie.

46. I spend way too much time on these mix tapes: coming up with themes … pulling songs … working out the flows … rearranging the order for better segues … logging tracks on the Excel spreadsheet.

47. (I am nerd. Hear me roar.)

48. I listen to the mix tape tracks all week at work, which is interfering with me listening to actual albums.

49. But one must sacrifice in the name of art, right?

50. I hope I’ve turned a few of you onto new acts via these mix tapes. They definitely get conversations going in the comment box.

51. My favorite album of 2007 was Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky. It’s the album I played most often this year.

52. Because of the mix tape phenomenon (well, it’s a phenom in my mind), I didn’t get to fully listen to many of the new albums I like.

53. If I had listened more to 2007’s crop of new albums, I’m sure Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, The Black Lips’ Good Bad Not Evil, Of Montreal’s Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer, Nick Lowe’s At My Age, The National’s Boxer, and Modest Mouse’s We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank.

54. But I don’t want to fake a list since I didn’t listen as I should.

55. Favorite book — by a landslide — was Robb Sheffield’s Love Is a Mix Tape — and Robb’s going to be at my corner bookstore in a couple of weeks!

56. I can’t thank Artful Dodger enough for telling me about it.

57. It made me laugh — it made me cry — it was better than Cats.

58. And it inspired the ever-popular Mix Tape Friday posts. (See #42.)

59. Speaking of authors, I enjoyed a few brushes with liter-hotties in 2007.

61. Michael Chabon was the prettiest — and I finally learned how to pronounce his name.

61. Wesley Stace was the most entertaining, with Chuck Klosterman coming in at a very close second and Brock Clarke placing third.

62. But my greatest ’07 liter-hottie moment was when the much-adored Sherman Alexie sang Kiss’ “Beth” to me as he signed my book.

63. I’ve hated that song since it came out in 1976. That is, I hated it until Sept. 1 at 6:12 p.m.

64. I hate to admit it, but the most disappointing book in 2007 was Armistead Maupin’s Michael Tolliver Lives. It wasn’t bad; it was just okay.

65. I didn’t see as many ’07 movies as I would have liked … but I have some favorites.

67. My top movie was Once. How could it not be, with a perfect combination of great music and romance?

67. Plus, we saw Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová in concert in November, which increased my movie love.

68. Other fave flicks included King of California and Waitress.

69. Boy, I didn’t see much, did I? I have a lot of DVDs to see in the coming months to get me ready for awards season.

70. The most important movie news in my 2007, though was my first weekend solo show.

71. I’ve repeated the solo movie outings, and have yet to be mistaken for a homeless person.

72. TV didn’t offer many stellar moments for me in 2007.

73. The Sopranos finale, of course, was fantastic.

74. My favorite show of the year was Mad Men ...

75. ... and second favorite was Pushing Daisies.

76. And, of course, the Bravo staples: Project Runway and Top Chef.

77. My 30th class reunion was held in November, but I didn’t attend.

78. I did, however, reconnect with the person I most wanted to find. Thank the Google gods for blogs!

79. Since Favorite High-school Boy found me, we’ve had a great time catching up and one-upping each other on music and books and bawdy jokes.

80. He’s firmly back on my favorite list, thirty years later. Cool, huh?

81. We had a great time getting together when he was home for Thanksgiving …

82. … and even more fun during his Christmas visit.

83. I can’t wait for his Arbor Day visit. Lucky for me, Georgia observes Arbor Day in February.

84. On the friendship side of my life, many of my beloveds went through some tough times this year.

85. Breakups seemed to be the theme for the last half of the year.

86. In hindsight, I think most of them are much better off getting away from their not-at-all-better halves,

87. but there will be challenges for them this year as they venture back into the dating world.

88. Lucky for them, they have a professional dater on hand to give them advice.

89. All in all, 2007 was a great year,

90. filled with music and baubles and books and merriment,

91. fun times, fabulous friends, the joy of being a Decaturite once again.

92. A bit of adventure, a (wee) bit of maturing, and some gloriously giddy moments.

93. What do I want in 2008?

93. A lot of adventures …

94. … a new friend or five ...

95. … more blogger meet-ups (already met one in 2008; story to come this week) …

96. … more interesting blog posts …

97. … a smaller ass …

98. … a Democrat in the White House …

99. … more time to read your blogs …

100. … and a year filled with R.E.M., margaritas, and fish tacos.

* * * * * *