I keep remembering small things I wanted to post about. I have been feeling scatterbrained lately, and have to remind myself that I am still really tired and that this will pass.
When I was writing the "Art of Travel" essay I obsessively listened to the Pearl Jam song "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town." I have always loved that song, and wanted to capture the feeling of that moment when Eddie Vedder (sp?) shouts "I just want to scream hello!" It doesn't read well, you have to listen to the song. Although you can't tell from the finished product, most of the essays I've written have a song behind them. Sometimes the song's lyrics or content aren't related in any way to what I have written; rather it is the sort of emotional or cathartic topography of the song that helps me think about the way I want to structure something. Anyway, that song (and the essay) got me thinking about good travel songs. Here are my current ones:
Pearl Jam song "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town."
Simon and Garfunkel, "America"
Paul Simon, "Graceland"
Mountain Goats, "Going to Georgia"
more later...
The other random thing I wanted to ask: we're thinking of buying an espresso machine. Nothing too expensive. The one I've been using was only 30 bucks and has lasted four years, but keeps exploding grinds these days. I am willing to spend a few hundred dollars... maybe... actually I haven't decided yet. Any recommendations?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
"life is a highway" no idea who sings it, I don't think he's great but I like THAT song.Maybe it is Tom Cochrane.
My husband, and a couple of coffee freaks we know use those two piece screw together stovetop jobs. They say it's the best...the buddies also have a stove top container they heat the milk in shaped like an oversized stainless mug, and then a handheld dohicky that with a few pumps froths it up beautifully.
This is on a boat...no electricity, excellent coffee though.
Then there are those Vietnamese sit on top of your cup and drip through jobs that make EXCELLENT coffee, especially iced with sweetened condensed milk, mmmmmmm.
I don't think that helped much though.
I read this entry a while back and it has been on my mind ever since. Not anything in particular (and I have no suggestions for the espresso maker) but the whole concept of music and writing. I wonder sometimes if while I am listening to certain music if it changes my writing or not, or if I am listening to certain music because I am in a certain mood and therefore in a certain writing mood.
And then just music in general... I listen to some great "adult alternative" music (not sure where that term came from but that seems to be the term for where I find the music I like) and then a few hours later I turn on some classical music and completely enjoy it.
Now I need to get my hands on Perl Jam's "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" and read your "Art of Travel" essay again.
Post a Comment