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Cat told me she was going to go the entire day without using her cell phone, ipod, or computer, because her econ teacher didn’t think anyone could.

I asked if she’d get extra credit. She said no. Just the sweet, delicious victory of proving him wrong.

Have you seen these funny “literal” videos people have been making? My brother sent me some links. Here’s one for “Under the Bridge:”

Here’s one for “Take On Me.”

They reminded me of some videos my son told me about. Do a search on youtube for “misheard lyrics.” Some of them are really funny. Here’s my favorite that I’ve seen so far, Nightwish:

Hamster! A dentist! I still don’t know what she’s actually saying.

Yeah, I went to a cemetery on Halloween, but this is a different boneyard. A couple weekends ago Nathaniel and I went with our friend Dave to check out a spot I heard about from Dillon called the boneyard. It’s an old empty industrial lot that has a lot of graffiti painted on some walls. I brought some cameras and I’ll post pics I took eventually, but first here are some Dave took with his nice point and shoot digital.

First we had to hike along rail road tracks to get to it. It wasn’t far, but I probably shouldn’t have worn flip flops. I don’t think I knew Dave was taking all these pictures of me.

He told me recently I completely change when someone points a camera at me, which I know is true—I hate having my picture taken. When he told me this he started trying to get shots of me when I didn’t know, but he was obvious about it and it didn’t really work. This time he just went into stealth mode without me catching on.

What’s that in the sky? A plane? Gigantor’s finger?

Here’s some of the graffiti.

I don’t know why I love graffiti so much, but I do. What do you think of it? Any faves among these pictures? I think I like the one with the white letters with faces. I think it says “HICK”? The H has eyes and the C is wearing a helmet.

Walking back to the car:

I was glad I had Dave and Nathaniel to go with. I’ve been wanting to go for awhile and was going to go on my own but if I had, I would’ve been scared I’d surprise a homeless guy sleeping somewhere or something.

In the morning. Later I went to a cemetery, but I’ll post pics from that some other time. The beach was pretty deserted:

That’s a TTV, or Through The Viewfinder shot. I took it with my digital camera. It’s a picture of another camera’s viewfinder—a vintage one with a really big viewfinder.

There are numerous beach hazards, in case you were wondering:

My favorite being:

Most of the people there were surfers or older retired folks—it was 10:30 am on a Friday.

The main reason I went out to take pictures is that we actually have clouds in the sky this time of year.

Ran into some friends of Misty May:

That’s a joke. I don’t know if those guys actually know Misty May. But I’m guessing they do. There’s always beach volleyball at Huntington Beach. Always.

Here I am up on the pier:

OK, it’s my shadow. Here’s a pin wheel:

The waves seemed pretty crowded for such crappy surf. Occasionally a good swell would come through but they seemed to peter out pretty fast.

And is it me, or are there a ton of little kids surfing? Why aren’t they in school?

My faves are always the older dudes, though.

They have style.

Some fun for a Friday.

I already did a post about PJ Harvey, so I won’t include her here. But I suspect she could line up all these female singers and kick their asses with one arm tied behind her back (and in spiked heels).

Still, these chicks are pretty dang awesome.

OK, here’s PJ too:

Who’d I leave out?

Not that it’s a competition, or anything.

This is the folder I store my mp3s in.

Obviously, that doesn’t do my collection justice. That’s only halfway through the Bs. Let’s see how it looks in iTunes.

Well that doesn’t even crack the As. Let’s zoom in on this sucker…

What’s that? 34,567 songs? It’s like an illness.

You know what’s sadder? I have a folder full of downloaded albums I haven’t even unzipped yet.

Moving on to cameras. Just how many cameras does one person need?

Let’s not answer that. Especially since I’ve already acquired another camera since putting this picture together.

What I originally intended this post to be about was my new computer monitor, anyway.

Yes, you wish you were this ridiculous. And messy. And had a husband that could do a no-footer on a dirt bike while still maintaining his dignity.

I do all the time. The one I’m in love with right now is actually one that’s been out for awhile and I loved it when it came out. But I just heard it again the other day and could actually make out all the lyrics. Here it is:

I spent an hour in the car yesterday playing it on repeat until I could sing along with every word. I love the part where the chorus kicks in again near the end, and they play the guitar part a little harder, makes you want to jump up and down or stomp your feet.

What song are you in love with?

I really don’t care much about politics. I know a lot of people do. I personally can not get worked up over it. I’m all about emotional conservation, and worrying about politicians and which one is the bigger liar is not on my list of things to spend emotional energy on.

Yes I’m very cynical about it.

I came across this clip of Jon Stewart on the TV show Crossfire from four years ago. I loved it when it was new; I love it now. I think it’s interesting to watch now, in the death throes of another election year, because it was filmed during the last election in 2004.

Jon Stewart totally calls the hosts out for the lameness they participate in. No offense to those of you who love those kinds of shows, but I happen to think they’re exactly what Jon Stewart claims: theater. And I do think they’re hurting America. I think most Americans are pretty much centrists when it comes to politics. The media wants us to be right or left, black or white, and it gets very tiring after awhile.

It’s hilarious, how lost the hosts are in trying to deal with his comments. “Be funny. You’re not being funny.” That’s the best they could come up with? I personally thought he was hilarious.

My favorite part is when they accuse him of sucking up to John Kerry because Stewart asked him soft questions when he was on Jon Stewart’s show, and Stewart reminds them that the show leading into his is puppets making crank phone calls.

Earthless are a local band I’ve seen once before. They really blew me away last time I saw them. They’re three guys who don’t look like they should be in a band together at all. One is a short, stoner-looking guy (on bass). One is a giant Hispanic guy (on drums). And one is a scrawny, kinda geeky-looking white guy (on guitar). Put them together, and what do you get? An amazing psych rock jam band.

I heard they were playing a free music festival out in Chino so I took Nathaniel and Dillon to check it out. It was free! It was held at a shopping plaza, which was weird. But it meant I got pictures like this:

Very bizarre setting for this band.

(Nathaniel and Dillon on lower right)

When we got there, we walked right up to the stage, and a guy announced Earthless was next. Couldn’t have timed it better. There were around 100 people there I’d guess. Probably more, but most weren’t right up against the stage.

They play these big long songs, like one song can go on for 30 minutes. It’ll start to wind down, and you think it’s gonna be over, and then it’ll build back up all over again.

They stopped playing after what to me seemed like 15 minutes. Nathaniel said it was 30 though. I was bummed they had to do such a short set.

We stuck around for another band but they weren’t very good. Then we left.

Nathaniel’s hair is getting long.

More video here.

More pictures here.

Next upcoming show: Van Morrison!

Actually, a really great line up of doom metal bands is playing the night before Van. I really want to go. I just don’t want to be too tired for Van’s show. What to do?

I took the boys to a local guitar store to get a new amp. This is what we got:

Pretty dang sick, right?

So we got to the store and wanted to hear how it sounded. The guy working there looked like he was straight out of the 80s. As in, he was in a hair metal band in the 80s and has now aged 20 years, but still clings to his youth. He had long black hair, which was all damaged from the black hair dye. And he was wearing a tank top and gym shorts, which really kind of made me uncomfortable, but maybe I shouldn’t mention that.

He told Elijah to grab a guitar and he’d plug it into the amp. Elijah went to grab the closest one and the guy freaked. “NOT THAT ONE! That one’s signed by Michael Angelo!”

I said, “Michael Angelo…That guy’s so cheesy. He out-Spinal Taps Spinal Tap.”

Don’t believe me? Here he is:

When I got home and told Daniel about it, he asked if Michael Angelo signed the guitar with both hands.

On the heartless streets of Huntington Beach.

Some cower in fear, not knowing which way to turn.

They find themselves seeking out companionship in questionable places, turning their backs on their true friends, not realizing they’re headed only for sorrow and despair.

Until, lost amongst unfeeling strangers, they fall into a drunken stupor of spiraling shame and degradation.

Don’t let this be you.