Biographies and Billy Joel

Writing might be on a little bit of a weird schedule for the next few weeks, I'm going to be traveling for work a bunch. Last week I was in Kodiak. (I didn't see a Kodiak bear. Unfortunately.) This week I'm back in the A-N-C then I'm off to southeast AK for 10 days.

This week's favorite thing is biographies. I like biographies for one reason - I'm nosy. I want to know all kinds of weird details about people, regardless of whether I know them or not. Right now I'm reading Kurt Vonnegut: Letters and I'm loving it. And I get to be doubly  nosy. Not only do I get to read all about his life, but I get to read his personal letters.

My favorite part was his letter to his pregnant first wife, Jane. He sent her a contract (you can read the whole thing here) and it's genius. And heartfelt. And pretty adorable. Good work, Kurt.

I also really like reading his opinions on other authors."Example: T.S. Eliot. Fuck him. Everyone knows he's from St. Louis. Everyone but him." Tell me how you really feel.

I think the next biography I'm going to read is Autobiography of a Spy by Mary Bancroft. Kurt replied to a letter she wrote in 1972 and called it amusing and generous. If she can write an amusing, generous letter she can probably write a pretty good book about being a spy too.

It just occurred to me that a post about biographies is timely in light of this whole (utterly ridiculous) Gen. Petraeus scandal. That was unintentional.




Fact: Billy Joel is a the key to a healthy relationship. Hot jam of the week is Tell Her About It because it's good advice and the video features Rodney Dangerfield. Did you know Billy Joel and I share a birthday?

Hot Jam Extravaganza!

ALL HOT JAMS ALL THE TIME (this week.)

When I started thinking about what to write this week, my original plan was for Classy Girls by The Lumineers to be the hot jam. But then I heard Jolene by Dolly Parton on The Voice, and I thought maybe that should be the hot jam. Then I heard Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet and You and I by Ingrid Michaelson on my Pandora station and I thought one of those should be the hot jam. Then I reread my running list of topics/hot jams and decided Honey, I Been Thinking About You by Jackie Greene should be the hot jam. So, as you can see, I was in an indecisive pickle (story of my life) and as a result THEY ARE ALL THE HOT JAMS.Because I'm in charge of this and I can do whatever I want.

You've probably heard The Lumineers song Ho Hey, it was all over the place not too long ago (here's an adorable and talented! 8 year old covering it). I really like it, but I like Classy Girls better. The Lumineers sound like someone I would hear a mid-summer Alaska bluegrass festival. Which is basically my favorite place in the world.

 I love a song that tells a story, and I think this is a great one. And also offers some good advice. Classy girls really don't kiss in bars. Keep that in mind, ladies. (And gentlemen. If a girl is willing to kiss you in a bar, she's probably not a classy girl)

Dolly Parton blows my mind. I mean, look at her.

Fact: While looking for this image, Google suggested I search "dolly parton hot"

How does she not fall over, let alone sing like she does? Jolene is heartbreaking and that's what makes it so amazing. And it could only be more country if it mentioned something about a dog running away (or spaceships, toddlers, Model T cars, and jars of beer?)

Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet was released my senior year in high school, and I love it just as much now as I did then. I like that it's classically rock-n-roll and  that the lyrics implies a "Well....are you? (Gonna be my girl)" There might as well be a "Check 'yes, no or maybe'" at the end.

Two things make me love Honey I Been Thinking About You - 1) Harmonica 2) the lines I don't really care about your hot-blooded sister/I'm sure there's a man for to love her and miss her/I didn't mean nothing, I just happened to kiss her

You and I by Ingrid Michaelson might be the cutest song that references buying a home in the south of France. But my favorite lyric has nothing to do with real estate, but rather is a thinly veiled "adult" reference. Maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you/If you know what I mean. If you add "If you know what I mean" to anything, it automatically makes it moderately dirty and thoroughly awesome. Keep that in mind, song writers.