6 posts tagged “meme”

Got a nice meme from Marianne: 

"The best songs of this autumn that can be either brand new or older. Post a list of the top 5 favorite songs of the moment, and then ask 5 other bloggers to do the same"

Hmm it's going to be tough to pick the songs. You see, I rely on my iTunes library really heavily. I add new songs daily/weekly, and listen to them in the order of what is newest. And due to some computer updates, I had to reinstall everything, and lost my "music history"... a lot of favourites have gone missing in action, lost among all the thousands of songs I have. So I'm slowly re-discovering my music, thanks to the Genius feature added to the latest iTunes version... But anyways, I'll pick top 5 of my favourites that I've found so far from my library.

Damien Rice - Slow

Last year in his concert Damien sang this little, touching song that I've been trying to find ever since then, with only the line "our dance is almost over" ringing in my head (and isn't that just the perfect line?). I finally succeeded and found it on YouTube (Where would I be without YouTube... my love for music videos is possibly even stronger than for just audio) My heart breaks every time I listen to it.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Heart breaking, heart touching song. And the live version in Jools Holland... when his voice breaks it makes my heart ache for him.

Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance

Another music blog or Grey's Anatomy discovery. Possibly both. Not sure what caught me first: the voice, the lyrics or the instruments in the background.

George Laswell - Sing, Theresa Says

This was a discovery from a music blog. I just love the "da di dum di dum di dum dum"...

Citizen Cope - Fame

I don't really remember how I came across this song for the first time. Probably in one of the many music blogs I frequently read... If you know my music taste, you wouldn't expect me to like this song based on the first few notes. But the song and the voice somehow caught my attention and made me fall in love with the song.

There are so many more than top 5 songs I wold have liked to post here. But I'll stop at these, because they are worth getting the spotlight to themselves. I tried adding songs with female singers to the list, honestly, I did. But it just wasn't meant to be...

If my life was a movie, I'm not really sure what kind of a movie it would be.... A little bit of everything, I guess? But ignoring that, it's fun to think about what the soundtrack of "my life - the movie" would be. I'm sure I've done this before somewhere, sometime, but I don't care... :). After a lot of thought, it would be something like this (at least vol 1). The theme titles are from the old soundtrack meme that's been circling around, that's one of the reasons why they're in somewhat confusing order:

19/08/2007

I don't know what happened this autumn, I stopped writing down everything possible. And I don't like that, because I really don't remember stuff without writing it down... So, I guess it's time to start writing again. And what better way to begin tracking my life again than writing a new version of the end of the year meme... So here goes.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Um. Traveled to USA, I guess?

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes, I did keep my promise for 2007; I promised not smoke during 2007 and to keep on eating chocolate (I've never smoked and I've always loved chocolate)... And yes, I made one for this year, too. I'll let you know what it was in a year or so.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
None during 2007. But that's going to change during this year again...

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. It's been a good year in that sense.

5. What countries did you visit?
USA, USA, USA... And Sweden.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Better priorities in life, and will & motivation to make my plans reality.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
20.07.2007, because of the numbers and M&S's wedding :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I made a few new friends this year.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I made a few new enemies this year. And forgot to live in the moment, somehow I always end up worrying about the future if I don't concentrate hard enough on the present...

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Sinus infections non stop. I think they're here to stay

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Well, nothing special. Although I do love my red handbag a lot.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Um. Tough one, I think I might concentrate on the negatives in life too much to notice this. A couple of people have become more important to me than I'd expected them to.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Best left unmentioned...

14. Where did most of your money go?
New furniture, clothes, car.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing Damien Rice, Bell X1, Tori Amos, NIN, Placebo and Antony & The Johnsons play live in concerts :)

16. What songs will always remind you of 2007?
The Montgolfier Brothers - Journey's End, The Cinematic Orchestra - Breathe, Foo Fighters - The Pretender, Gotye - Heart's a Mess

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder

ii. thinner or fatter? the same. hmph

iii. richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
exercise, relaxing, traveling for fun

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
worrying, thinking, traveling for work, worrying about work

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it at home :)

21. How will you be spending New Years?
Spent it with friends, again. Good times

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Continued to be in love.

23. How many one night stands?
none

24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
Dexter, Lost, Heroes, Gossip Girl

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yes.

26. What was the best book you read?
Have mostly read silly chick lit books, so nothing worth mentioning I'm afraid...

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Feist, Saul Williams, The Cinematic Orchestra, Glen Hansard

28. What did you want and get?
I kind of forgot to want to do anything.

29. What did you want and not get?
Travel abroad during my summer holiday.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
"Once"

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
See now this is what I mean, if I don't write it down, I will forget. I turned 29, but can't really remember what I did. Nothing?

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less work.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Err um, this is always so hard. Mix of things, really. Black ruled still.

34. What kept you sane?
Family & music.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Damien Rice, I guess?

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Well now... surely there was something but just cannot remember it now.

37. Who did you miss?
Many friends I get to see face to face far too rarely...

38. Who was the best new person you met?
This year hasn't been the best in this sense...

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
I'll have to learn to prioritize more. And understand the fact that some people will never understand me, no matter how I spell things out for them. And that's fine as long as everyone understands the situation...

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
It's universal, I know, I know
It's not less special, to know, to know
Everybody can feel it too
And what's unique
Is me and you

Watching the way things can turn round and round
You need the grace of a tightrope walker
Anyway now, that you can, just do something that's good
Something that's good

I was tagged by mnoo to write 8 things about myself you'd never dream of knowing. Hmm. I've written these before, and always struggle with the task because if you know me, you probably know all of these things. I am far less mysterious than I'd like to be...

But oh well, let's give it a try:

1) I have easily over 100 blogs & websites bookmarked (more like 300 if I count the bookmarks at work to the list). On a normal day, I go through the list at least once (the topics vary from work-related to music etc). And tens of sites by memory and using the history list. This takes less time than you'd think.
2) I've slowly started to realize I should have studied sociology.
3) I push everything that takes time, effort and concentration to the last minute. And every time I do that, I swear next time I'll start sooner. I never do.
4) Every time I walk into a music store (the kind where there's real customer service, not the faceless, robot-like stores), I feel like I've come home, and begin to dream of a music&art store of my own.
5) Before, I used to look everyone in the eye, especially when I spoke to them. To my own annoyance, I've stopped doing that with most people nowadays, but I acknowledge and understand the reasons behind it.
6) I'm hopeless with remembering numbers: phone numbers, birthdays, important dates & years. If I've forgotten your birthday, believe me: you're not the only one I've done that to. I'm sorry.
7) I think I'll never get over my crush on Mr Darcy
8) I seem to always end up being surrounded by chaos. I've started to wonder if I create it. (well, to be honest, I know I do but am still in denial)

I was reading back some old online journals and discovered this meme I participated in last year. I think it's time to do it again, since another year has passed. Here goes...

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Traveled to Vietnam. Saw Depeche Mode live in concert.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not sure if I made any last year. This time I followed an advice by a comedian whose name I cannot remember right now, to make a promise that's really easy to keep. My new years' resolutions are to not smoke during 2007 and to keep on eating chocolate (I've never smoked and I've always loved chocolate).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Oh boy, sure did, baby boom all around me... Several friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Hmm. Not this year, if I remember correctly.

5. What countries did you visit?
Vietnam. (and airports in Japan and Thailand, if those count. I guess they don't)

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
More peace of mind.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
21st December, just because I broke a bone in my wrist on that day and have had to write it down to several insurance related papers lately...

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
New job, healthier me (still a lot of room for improvement on that front, though...)

9. What was your biggest failure?
Um. I guess I could have been a better person and a better friend.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, some lovely flus and the wrist (+ back) injury.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Canon EOS 350D and Canon Ixus 60, some lovely pieces of furniture as well.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Well err.. no one's?

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Knowing me, the list is too long to write here...

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mostly on new furniture  for the new house. Money well spent, in my opinion.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Well.. I should be on my way to Washington (& Las Vegas) right at this moment. It was pretty cool, until I was forced to cancel the trip. I guess the new job has been one source of excitement, as well.

16. What songs will always remind you of 2006?
The Perishers - Sway, Spoon - The Way We Get By, Peeping Tom - We're Not Alone (Remix)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier

ii. thinner or fatter? thinner

iii. richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
exercise, relaxing, traveling for fun

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
worrying, thinking

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
It was spent at my parents' house, next year we're staying home, though...

21. How will you be spending New Years?
With a group of friends at our place, eating well, playing games (Wii made an appearance) and chatting.

22. Did you fall in love in 2006?
People? Continued to be in love, and lots of crushes (the "I think you're great" -kind). Music; lots of new bands and songs to love...

23. How many one night stands?
none

24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
Lost, Dexter, Heroes, House

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.

26. What was the best book you read?
Err.  Umm. Nothing worth mentioning, I'm afraid :(

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
There are so many, thanks to all the music blogs I've discovered lately... Trespassers William, Sufjan Stevens, The Perishers, Kate Havnevik etc

28. What did you want and get?
Change in my work life, new challenges.

29. What did you want and not get?
Peace of mind has been on my wishlist for nothing for years now...

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Umm. I can't remember? I liked Casino Royale (and Daniel Craig...) a lot, surprisingly enough.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I can't really remember? Oh, right, I think I was home sick... Exciting life, as always.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less silence would have been nice. For being the quiet kind myself I really seem to dislike lack of communication surprisingly lot.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Black ruled, once again. There was some improvement when compared to the year before, but still long ways to go, i'm afraid...

34. What kept you sane?
Family, music, some big changes in my surroundings (new home, new job).

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Daniel Craig, Mike Patton, Josh Holloway

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Still not paying enough attention to politics to answer this...

37. Who did you miss?
My grandmother, my nieces and nephew...

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My new goddaughter (that's third, now :) ), a new colleague at the new work office

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
Did I learn anything? It's sometimes hard to tell... Maybe that since we're all different, we can also have different ways to try to reach the same end goal. And others' ways are not necessarily "wrong" just because I've decided to do things in another fashion...

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
So it goes, though no one knows you like they used to do
Have a drink, the sky is sinking toward a deeper blue
And you’re still alright