lewis and clark had a journal. you, beth-annie, have a diary.

Friday, November 22, 2002
Motorola sucks, Craig.
I do not like them taking my husband from me for 60+ hours in a week.  Please give him back.

VCRs suck, Craig.
Especially when they don't tape a very important "Ed" episode while I'm at choir, and then I have to take an episode-specific NBC research survey without having seen the specific episode (no way was I going to not take an opportunity to talk up that show to NBC, whether I'd seen the episode or not--its ratings aren't good enough).  That on top of just plain missing what was apparently a very good and story-arc-important episode of one of my two favorite shows, not to mention now having an empty hole in the middle of my "Ed" tapes.  (And don't you dare try to tell me it's just a TV show.  You are wrong.)

Radio edits suck, Craig.
They always remove the most interesting part of the song.  Yup.  They do.

Road trips suck, Craig.
Well, not really, but getting ready for them sure does.  Especially when you've got a gazillion things to get done in no time and your husband can't necessarily help all that much because he probably has to work on the weekend (which he gets zero overtime pay for, thank you very much), and even if he doesn't have to work, he's had such a long and crappy week that he shouldn't have to do anything he doesn't want to, which most of this stuff will undoubtedly qualify as.

Blogs suck, Craig.
Would anyone miss this if I stopped writing in it?  Does anyone really know me any better from reading this?  It's not like I ever say anything.  I don't know.  I'm just having a bad day (er, actually make that week).  I apologize.  Lucky for you I will probably only have one more post before I take a weeklong Thanksgiving hiatus (over which I literally will have no way to post to this, since I don't use Blogger anymore).  I promise I will make that last post a little less mad-at-the-world.
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Thursday, November 21, 2002
Another Sixpence post.
I was just browsing through amazon.com's customer reviews and thought I would share with you some particularly ludicrous statements:

----"Their first single Breathe Your Name and their cover of Don't Dream Its Over are the absolute two best songs on the cd, and in my opinion the only two decent ones." -- Michael-Joseph from CA  [Thank you very much for expressing your bad taste in music.]

----"Well there I was listening along, with some measure of satisfaction...until I hit the track 'Paralyzed.' Yeeesh, another rock band strives bravely off into world politics, an area of which they apparently have minimal knowledge. I don't need anti-war messages in my Christian music, thank you. I can't recommend this CD, because the music is marginal, the message of faith is marginal, and the anti-war whining has already been done oodles of times before by pagan groups." -- ceferinol from CA  [Funny, I didn't think that song was actually ABOUT spreading anti-war propaganda.  My mistake.  Thank you, kind sir.]

----"If you're new to Sixpence and you loved their mega-hits Kiss Me & There She Goes, then run, don't walk to pick up this album. You'll be getting more of the same." -- faa from WI  [Thank you for, um, being wrong.]

----"The only song that I wasn't crazy about was 'Paralyzed,' because it was a little too depressing, which is very unlike them..." -- Lindsay from TX  [Please tell me this is sarcasm.  But somehow I think not.]

Oh, heck, why not some more?

From Billboard Magazine:  "It's actually refreshing to hear the sextet reaching beyond the sunny strains of signature hit 'Kiss Me' in thoughtful cuts like the orchestral 'Tension Is a Passing Note' and strummy 'Down and out of Time.'  [A compliment, yes, but given by one who obviously has not heard anything OTHER than "Kiss Me."]

From Rolling Stone:  ** (out of 5)  "Best known for 'Kiss Me,' one of 1999's biggest hits, these charming Christians deliver more pleasant pop-rock piffle..."  [hmmm, let's see... "charming Christians," "pop-rock piffle," TWO stars... where DO I start?]

From Marc Wiggins at rocknworld.com:  "'Divine Discontent' is a great CD as it passes all three of my tests: First, I can play the entire CD without skipping over songs (too many other CDs have only a few goods songs with the rest as filler).  Second, I usually let the CD run again immediately after its first play.  And finally, I liked it so much that I went out and got all of their previous albums.  [I]t will be nice to hear this level of depth and quality on the radio.  I give this one an A."   [Just thought you might need some cheering up after the rest of the drek. ;)]
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Wednesday, November 20, 2002
I believe I promised you a Sixpence concert report.
First of all, the venue was quite cool.  It was kind of like a theater but not really, since it had tables and chairs instead of theater seats, and it had a few different levels, with the back and slightly higher levels having mostly booths to sit at rather than chairs with tables.  The whole place was kept pretty dark, except for some theater-style "runway lights" along parts of the floor and some tiny lamps on the booth tables.  Basically the whole style of the place made it feel like a sort of sleek, stylish, classy, modern-but-1940s-influenced dinner theater/club kind of a thing.  If that makes any sense.  It had a nice atmosphere that went well with Sixpence's music.

The opening act was a local band that played very energetic sort of funk/soul/rock.  They were the kind of band that is very talented and very enjoyable to see perform live, but I probably wouldn't go out and buy their CD.

Now, the setlist (which I copied down before the concert ever started as I was sitting right by the stage in front of Matt Slocum's... spot... and a guy came and taped the setlist down on the stage essentially right in front of me.  What, like I wasn't supposed to read it?):
Pieces
There She Goes
Waiting On the Sun
Breathe Your Name
Melody of You
A Million Parachutes
Down and Out of Time
Don't Dream It's Over
I've Been Waiting
Eyes Wide Open
Tonight
Kiss Me
Oceans
Tension is a Passing Note
Still Burning(encore--acoustic, just Leigh and Matt)

Best performance of the night:  "Eyes Wide Open."  They did it harder than on the record and it very much rocked.

Best non-album song:  "Oceans."  They also did this at Cornerstone.  It should have been on the album.

Biggest disappointment:  NOTHING off TBM and nothing off their self-titled except the required elements.  I believe I made the comment after looking at the setlist that this was going to be a very "secular" Sixpence show, hence also the lack of "Dizzy," which I would have very much liked to have heard.

Cutest Leigh moment:  When she apologized to the opening band for having left a banana peel on the stage from their soundcheck earlier.  "I'm sorry, that was VERY rude of me."  :)

Most welcome change from old-school live 6P:  The addition of Jerry McFadden's keyboards and background vocals (yes, background vocals!  In concert!).

Biggest rip-off:  Only getting two pictures taken before a security dude came over and told me that only people with a press pass were allowed to take photos.  Pooey.
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Tuesday, November 19, 2002
So it fell.
And we saw it, yes we did. We woke up before 4 and found that the sky had just recently cleared (yay!). So we drove out a little ways northwest of town, parked ourselves on the side of a not-very-traveled country road and watched the sky for a little over an hour. I stopped counting after I saw about 15 in the first three or four minutes, so don't ask me how many we saw. A lot. Including what is easily the brightest, biggest, most spectacular meteor I've ever seen. ; It was so worth it. And I haven't even gone back to bed (yaaaawn). I hope others of you got to see it (I know Patty was going to try). It was, like, WAY cool. Totally.
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Monday, November 18, 2002
The sky is falling.
Tonight/tomorrow morning is supposed to be one of the most spectacular meteor showers in our lifetime. If you're an astronomy-lover like me, you already know about the Leonids and how good they're supposed to be this year, but if you don't, they are supposed to peak around 4:30am CST tomorrow morning (tonight) in the eastern sky. I beg you to go out and watch them if you can, seeing as the STUPID WEATHER here will likely keep US from being able to see ANYTHING. It is cloudy here and will probably remain cloudy until the sun comes up. Poo on that. We will still wake up around 3:30 anyway to see if it's cleared at all, but I'm not holding out much hope. Poo again. And poo some more. So please go see them for us if it is clear where you live. And then tell us about them. Poo.
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Friday, November 15, 2002
Sing a song of Sixpence.
So tonight is the Sixpence concert in Chicago. Later I will post a setlist, maybe a review of sorts, and hopefully some pictures if they let us take a camera in. Or maybe even if they don't. ;) Later, buds.
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Thursday, November 14, 2002
I am copying Matt because I have no creativity or time for creativity today and this will be fast and hopefully slightly interesting.  But probably not.

1. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
Um, well, truthfully, lately on weekdays it's been anywhere between 10 and, um, noon [cringe].  Saturdays usually 9-10, and Sundays about 7.

2. IF YOU COULD EAT LUNCH WITH ONE FAMOUS PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE?
Steve Taylor.  Although I'm sure he'd think I was terribly boring.  Or Ted Raimi.  Although I'm sure he'd think I was terribly boring.  Or Jim Caviezel.  Although I'm sure he'd think I was terribly boring.

3. GOLD OR SILVER?
Silver all the way.

4. WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA?
Austin Powers in Goldmember.  But trust me, this is not representative of my taste.

5. FAVORITE TV SHOWS?
Ok, are you ready for this one?  Roughly in order (and these are only currently-on-the-air shows):  Ed, Gilmore Girls, Alias, Friends, Smallville.  There are many others I watch, but those are the ones I absolutely positively refuse to miss every week.

6. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST?
Either cereal or a bagel (usually blueberry) with cream cheese.  Very rarely something like eggs or french toast.  Sundays usually nothing.

7. WHAT WOULD YOU HATE TO BE LEFT IN A ROOM WITH?
Anna Nicole Smith.  Or Marilyn Manson.  And, yes, I realize the question said "what."

8. CAN YOU TOUCH YOUR NOSE WITH YOUR TONGUE?
Nope.

9. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Like, inspirationally inspire?  Meaning, not like how "Trading Spaces" has inspired me to want to decorate?  I guess nature.  And really good music.

10. WHAT'S YOUR MIDDLE NAME?
Lynn.

11. BEACH, CITY, Or COUNTRY?
Like, do you not know me at all?  Beach!  Although I very much like visiting the city.

13. FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Chocolate Chip, I guess.  Although I'm not that much of an ice cream person (yes, we DO exist).

14. BUTTERED, PLAIN, OR SALTED POPCORN?
Buttered, but only if it's movie-theater butter, none of that fake microwave popcorn "butter."

15. FAVORITE COLOR?
Oh, geez.  I don't really have ONE, but I like deep reds, sage greens, ocean blues, rich creams... yeah, like I said, I guess I don't have one.

16. FAVORITE CAR?
Easy.  Chrysler Sebring convertible.  Pretty, pretty, pretty...

17. FAVORITE SANDWICH FILLING?
Mmmm... either hot ham and swiss (nice and melty), or nice roasted turkey breast with lettuce and tomato.  Or Quizno's Bistro Beef.  I think it's time for lunch.

18. TRUE LOVE?
My high school sweetie.  How lucky am I?  Oh, and I suppose Josh, too.  ;)

19. WHAT CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU DESPISE?
Obnoxiousivity.  Lack of sense of humor.  Thinking fat jokes are funny.  Perkiness.  When people can't pick only ONE THING like they're supposed to on lists like these.  How annoying.

20. FAVORITE FLOWER?
Tulips.  Second choice would be hydrangeas.

21. IF YOU HAD A BIG WIN IN THE LOTTERY, HOW LONG WOULD YOU WAIT TO TELL PEOPLE?
A BIG win?  I don't think I'd spread it around that much if I could help it.  But we'd probably tell our family pretty much right away.  Actually, you know what?  That's just a stupid question.  I'm boycotting it.  Even though it's too late.

22. FIZZY OR STILL WATER AS A DRINK?
Fizzy, but only if it actually has flavor.  I almost always prefer pop to anything else.  Unless I don't want a sweet drink.  Then it's milk or water.

23. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM?
White, but that's only because we live in an apartment.  Once I have my OWN bathroom, I have aspirations of painting each wall a different, vibrant color.  Like blue, orange, green, and red.  And I might just be crazy enough to do it.

24. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING?
Well, they're separated between two key rings, but I have a total of six: one apartment, one to my parents house (you suppose they might want that back sometime?), two Lumina, one Malibu, and one to our mailbox.

25. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE?
Gee, I'm thinking California.

26. CAN YOU JUGGLE? IF YES HOW MANY?
Not even close.

27. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK:
Saturday, because I actually get to see my husband for more than a few hours.

28. RED OR WHITE WINE?
Blush.

29. WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY?
Not much.  It was a Tuesday.

30. DO YOU CARRY A DONOR CARD?
People don't?

33. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?
Forthcoming.

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Things That Bug Me.
Days that aren't any sort of anniversary.
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Wednesday, November 13, 2002
What I Want for Christmas, A List by Little Bethy-Annie Prins.
1.  A pool table.
2.  A place to put a pool table.
3.  Furniture.
4.  A place to put furniture.
5.  To live in California.
6.  For my family to live in California.
7.  For it to snow in California, but just for Christmas.
8.  A trip to Hawaii.
9.  A piano.
10.  A place to put a piano.
11.  To be able to play the piano.
12.  A trip to Italy.
13.  A Winnebago.
14.  Peace on earth, good will toward men.
15.  "We are the United States Government.  We Don't DO that sort of thing."  (No points to the first non-Josh person to name that pop-culture reference.  And I'll double it if you don't cheat by using the internet.)
16.  To get back on the track which I have off-gotten.  Sorry.
17.  A palm tree.
18.  For Matthew and Kimberly to have a baby.
19.  For me to not drop that baby on its head so I can then have a baby of my own in good conscience.
20.  A trip to Hubbardton, VT.  Nah.  East Hubbardton, VT.

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Anniversary of the Day.
Today is the half anniversary of our wedding.  We have now been married for two-and-a-half years.  Yay us.  But I don't need flowers or anything.  I'm a simple girl.  Especially tulips.  I hate tulips.  Especially white ones.  Blech.
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Tuesday, November 12, 2002
More useless information.
We have joined AAA.  It seemed like the right time, with our trip to Virginia coming up.  Actually, the right time would have been before our two-week trip out west in May, but nevermind.  This is the right time now, especially since we got a good deal on our initial membership.  So we've got a bunch of free maps and a couple guidebooks coming, and, more important, peace of mind.  We drive a lot.

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Things That Do Not Bug Me.
When Josh doesn't have to go to Germany for a week.  This month, anyway.
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Useless information.
Today is the anniversary of when Josh and I started going out, way back in 1996. Wow. But I don't need flowers or anything. I'm a simple girl. Especially tulips. I hate tulips. Especially white ones. Blech.
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Monday, November 11, 2002
We are bad bad horrible people.
As of this coming weekend, we will no longer be a Motorola phone household.  Shameful, I know.  But we have been left with no choice.  After deciding we don't use our cell phone enough to make $20 a month worth it (plus extra toll charges every time we call Richmond -- no, we don't know why), we are switching to Virgin Mobile pre-paid service.  It will be much cheaper, have more extensive coverage, and have NO ROAMING CHARGES.  The problem:  can't use a Motorola phone.  So we had to buy a Kyocera phone instead.  It's not as pretty or as small or as light or as cute as our previous Motorola phones, but it will be much cheaper in the long run.  We are so sorry.  The appropriate people will be informed of our new phone number shortly.

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My husband is a better musician than Chris Isaak.  Please don't ask me why.  It's stupid.

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Things That Bug Me.
Grocery shopping.
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Saturday, November 9, 2002
"Hi.  I'm a normal person just like you.  I like to listen to the rock music."
We drove to Madison last night to see Luce perform live at the UW Union (for FREE!).  They rocked.  Their rendition of "Eleanor Rigby" especially rocked (literally and figuratively).  The fact that they actually had trumpet in their live show rocked.  Being able to pick up their CD for $10 instead of $14 + S&H rocked.  The fact that it was a late show and we didn't get home till almost 2am did not rock.  But it was worth it.  Even Josh said so.  :P

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Things That Bug Me.
Having to look at pictures of myself that I for some unknown reason posted front and center on my blog.  I don't know what came over me.
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Thursday, November 7, 2002
This is seriously the coolest thing ever.

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You all are going to watch Sixpence perform on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," right?  That's what I thought.  (Incidentally, it would appear that we do not get the syndicated "Wayne Brady Show" here, so if anyone does and could watch it, I'm curious whether Sixpence just performs or talks or what.)

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Things That Bug Me.
Slow traffic in the left lane passing slower traffic in the right lane and refusing to push on the gas pedal *just a little bit* to get past the slower traffic at more than a snail's pace so that you, the faster traffic in the left lane, can get the heck past both the slow and the slower traffic.  The world will not end if you go a couple miles over the speed limit for a few seconds.  I promise.
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Wednesday, November 6, 2002
As much as I love our $15 rust-colored, '70s floral loveseat...
This weekend I fell in love.  We found a beautiful, stylish, comfortable sofa-loveseat set covered in luxurious camel suede for less than $950.  But Josh doesn't want to get it.  Something about we don't have room in our apartment, we don't want to get furniture before we move, suede is highly impractical, especially if kids will one day be in the picture, blah, blah, blah... WHATEVER!  You can look at it, but you'll have to imagine it covered in my beautiful, luxurious camel suede (and with not-those-pillows).  It's pretty.  It's soft.  It's pretty.  Is it so wrong of me to want real furniture?  I think not.  Is it so wrong of me to want suede furniture?  Is it really far, far too impractical?  Does anyone know, seriously?  No, seriously.  Tell me.  Tell me I'm wrong.  I dare you.

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I have added recently watched movies from our film page to the side of my blog.  Like you care.

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Things That Bug Me.
The fact that I like the new Eminem song that's played in the 8-Mile commercials. It must be the end of the world.
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I WIN! Barely.
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Tuesday, November 5, 2002
ME FOR SHERIFF.
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Monday, November 4, 2002
This is a special request.
I am looking for a CD.  Not a specific CD.  Not even one that I know for sure exists, though I assume it does... somewhere.  I want to find a CD with good, solid, INSTRUMENTAL (preferrably orchestral) versions of the Gershwin songs "Summertime," "An American in Paris," and "Rhapsody in Blue."  I don't care what else is on the album, as long as those three are all there.  I've done a little searching already, but there are so many albums out there with so many different versions of so many Gershwin songs that it's a little overwhelming.  So if anyone happens to already know of a CD that might qualify, or of some way to do a more advanced CD search online, please let me know.

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Things That Bug Me.
Anne Geddes.  Babies are not toys.
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Friday, November 1, 2002
Josh, thy name is Mr. Linn.
No, not that Josh.  Our church's choir director Josh.  This Sunday (All Saints Sunday, I believe) we are singing at both services Brahms' "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place," a beautiful but uber-difficult (at least for a church choir) choral piece from Johannes' German Requiem.  I mean, we're talking AHS-Concert-Chorale-State-Large-Group-Contest-Worthy material here.  And I know that means something to at least three of you out there.  If you would care to give it a listen, it is well worth it, I assure you.  I just wish the soprano part weren't so high so much of the time.  I am NOT a first soprano.

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Josh's Sleeptalking, Installment Three (No, not our choir director.  I do not know if he talks in his sleep.)
"There is a deal, actually.  See, the thing is, we got the computer out, and it was my computer, and....... I don't know."

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Things That Bug Me.
Incense.  Any and all varieties.  I am not picky.
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