The Captive Chains of Apple

It grates on me that Apple dictates my taste.  Well, I guess dictate isn't exactly the right word.  Manipulates?  Predicts?  Sends-opinions-into-my-brain?  That's not enough to stop me spreading the hand-picked-Apple love, though. (see what I did there?)  Whoever is in charge of marketing/ads at Apple knows what the fuck they're doing.  And I usually fall for it, like the big sucker I am.  I believe I have mentioned my weakness for catchy music, a void that Apple always fills whenever a new iPod device (or any Apple device, really), comes out.  Yes, I bought this CD.  And was sick of it a month later (but what a catchy month it was!).

This time, though, I really really think they've hit on something genius and long-lasting.  How do I know this?  Because the one song they picked for the new Nano TV ad isn't even the best one!

I am now in love with Miss Li, I think.  Based on her songs and music videos, which I know is a great basis for friendship.  She's like Squirrel Nut Zippers + Kelly Clarkson + Neutral Milk Hotel.  And all those things = Happy Bobblehead Gretchen.  So please, go forth and Youtube, and enjoy this bounty of Swedish goodness.  Or eat some Swedish fish.  Both will give you approximately the same sugar rush.  And you wish you could carry both in your pocket.

Creepster Factor of 8.5

Just so you all know, the player piano in CAM was playing smooth jazz yesterday.  With multiple instrument sounds.  None of them were a piano.

True Blood True Confession

My name is Gretchen, and I read the Sookie Stackhouse books.

It is sort of shameful (sidenotepoll: what is more shameful, Twilight or True Blood?), and I really only feel okay about it because there are so many parts about the books that make me mad. One of these parts is from early on in the series (SPOILERS, I GUESS?): Bill's infantalization of Sookie. Namely, when he brushes her hair. Over and over. And washes it. And then brushes it. And then of course they have the mindblowing sex, but the hairbrushing, the hairbrushing! I am creeped out by this so much. I can never imagine a situation where I would want one of my s.o.s brushing my hair. Part of this may be due to the fact that I haven't owned or used a brush in approximately 8 years, but whatever.

Disclaimer to all: even though I am thoroughly creeped out and annoyed by parts of these books, I still enjoy them, and will probably read them again and again. I've already bookmarked the release date of short stories so I can put in my request at the library.

So this is usually the point I bring up when I say I feel uncomfortable full endorsing the Southern Vampire Mysteries, blah blah blah. And usually people agree with me, and then I feel smart and very literary critic-ish.

However, I noticed a funny thing when I got my hair cut yesterday. The hair-washing is my favorite part. There is something incredibly relaxing about someone washing your hair: making sure the water temperature is just fine, using deliciously foreign-to-me shampoo and conditioner, and massaging my head. It's incredibly relaxing to have someone clean your hair and you don't have to do anything at all - you don't even have to make small talk if you don't want to. And to give credit to Ms. Stackhouse, I suppose it would be even better if it was a vampire you found incredibly attractive doing the washing and brushing.

So once every couple of months, I will indulge my inner Sookie, and surrender to the pleasure of someone else washing and brushing my hair. Just know, Ms. Sookie, that this does not change my opinion of all your cute midriff-baring tops.

(image from here and uses this license)

Schlafly Art Outside

Went to Schlafly Art Outside this weekend (their fancy name for "Art Fair on Our Parking Lot"), and it was...good. Not mindblowing, but solid. Sort of like Schlafly beer, I guess (but not like Bottleworks food, oh my god I could write 22634634 billion posts about how delicious that stuff is). I digress! Sorry!

There are a limited number of booths (53, by my count on the website), and lots offered the same things. Ceramics, photography, living room paintings, etc. Most were also prohibitively expensive (at least for my wallet). Some awesome jewelry was found, and some prints I wished I could afford, but I wasn't blown away by the options. I think I've become more a fan of "craft" shows than "art" shows. I want art that I can use, not that I can look at.

(Here's my plug for the jewelry - I bought two necklaces and some earrings from Zanne Avenue that I love love love. Maps/comics/book images + awesome settings are, well, awesome! And it wasn't ungodly expensive, just sort of pricey.)

The non-art part of Art Outside was pretty satisfying. I still can't get used to $4.25 beers, but then again, I'm cheap. And the more you drink, the more reasonable the price seems. They were tasty, and even though every time I went up the sign said they were out of Summer Lager, they always had it. The Mac and Cheese was likewise delicious, but I was a little too full of beer to sample anything else. The pretzel sticks looked great, even though i did think they were chocolate covered bananas for the first two hours we were there.

The music was hopping and good - I loved Maid Rite (the first band), and I will definitely make an effort to see them more around the St. Louis area. The middle band I dimly recall (sorry! looking at art! and sort of drunk!), and Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost played last, which was satisfying. It's nice to hear a band and know lots of songs. Luckily, they ended their set 1/2 hour early and I got to go on to bed.

It was definitely a satisfying evening, and since the looking and listening is free, I'm certain I'll be back next year.