Top 5 Albums

In preparation for the release of The Killers' much-anticipated (at least by me) 3rd/4th album (depending on how you perceive Sawdust) on Tuesday, I've put together a list of my top 5 favorite albums of various artists, for the hell of it. Here they are:

Muse is my favorite artist, which is clearly evident on my iPod, as almost all their tracks have made their way there. So, they go at the top with their best and most-recent album, Black Holes and Revelations (2006). Close call, as Showbiz, Origin of Symmetry, and Absolution are all fantastic albums too. Can't wait for album #5! They just started working on it, so I'm guessing we have another 1-2 years to wait, at the very least.



I find very few albums that I can listen to in their entirety, and The Killers' Hot Fuss: Limited Edition (2005), the re-release of their 2004 debut album, is one of those. Absolutely wonderful. Their second album, Sam's Town, was a disappointment (but still good), as a result. I think Day and Age (the album coming at us Tuesday) has the potential to be almost as great as Hot Fuss, especially if "Human" is any indication - I friggin LOVE "Human"!



Next up is Guster's Lost and Gone Forever (1999). While I love most of Guster's albums, this is clearly their best. "Two Points for Honesty", "So Long", and "Barrel of a Gun" stand out.Coldplay...Viva la Vida is very close to being their best, but Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) IS their best. I remember hearing "Clocks" on the radio while waiting for my friend Julie in a Sims parking lot (I think) waaaay back in Dec. 2002, and I bought the album the next day. "The Scientist" is one of the most resonating pieces of music ever...such a sad, beautiful song. And the music video that goes along with it is pretty damn cool too.



Even though I have a hard time stomaching the songs where Robby is the lead vocalist, this Goo Goo Dolls album, for the most part, is excellent. Dizzy up the Girl (1998) contains "Iris", one of my all-time favorites, as well as "Broadway" and "Slide". Also, this is the first album of any artist that I purchased. And Johnny Rzeznik...not sure what he looks like now, but the last time I saw him in concert in 2004, he was quite the hottie!

Other artists I tend to like are Sarah McLachlan (yes, I actually DO like a few female artists!), Keane (Hopes & Fears), Snow Patrol (Final Straw), The Kooks, Switchfoot, Oasis, Travis, Patti Griffin, Mannheim Steamroller, and the Trans-siberian Orchestra (since we're getting close to the Holidays).

Facing the Judge...er, Commissioner

I will confess now. I've kept it a secret from a lot of people for the last 2 months, but back in September, a traffic cop gave me my very first speeding ticket. I was going 80 in a 65...GASP! Of course, I was not alone, but you know traffic cops; they can't multi-task...or catch "weavers" and/or motorcyclists. So, I was singled out...woopty friggin do.

Of course, over the last 2 months, I weighed paying the fine ($196, including traffic school) versus going down to the courthouse in November. I decided, since it would be easy to get time off work, I would give the court route a shot - what could it hurt, right? Plus, I'd never been into a courtroom, so it might be kinda cool to see Judge Judy in action.

So, on Thursday, I got up early and ate a big breakfast, worthy of a speeding maniac. Then, I headed on down to the courthouse (only 5 minutes away!). I had to stand in line for a little while to see a clerk, who I informed that I wanted to see the judge. Then, I was sent off to another department, where I waited (along with about 20 people) outside a court room.

When we were all called inside, we all took our seats and waited for the commissioner (not judge...I guess that's one level below judge?) to come in. I kept thinking "this is so cool! there's a bailiff and court recorder, just like on tv! Dayamn." Then, the commish came in, and the bailiff said "all rise" (just like on Judge Judy...ooooooo!! ahhhhh!!! do I sound like a bewildered country bumpkin yet?), and some words were said, and we all took our seats.

The commish lectured us for a bit, explaining the difference between "Not guilty" and "Guilty" (in case some might have crawled out from under a rock) as well as other terms. Very nice guy, actually. He started calling people up to the podium to mention their violation and ask for their plea. Most plead "guilty", as I did. As long as a person had a clean record, the commish knocked some $$ off the fine and sent him/her on his/her way. Same with me. He reduced my fine to $156! Well worth spending an hour and a half at the courthouse - I'm SO glad I hadn't just paid the fine via mail. Not only would I have overpaid, but I would've missed out on my courtroom experience!! If only I'd been able to take pictures..."will you take my picture as I plead guilty, kind sir? You're a peach!"

So, traffic school comes next. I have 3 months to attend (probably will do it online) and pay my fine. Maybe I'll do that on Christmas Day since I'll be by myself! Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like traffic school.

I guess I've learned my lesson...no more 80 mph for me these days. I stick to 70-75 mph. Well, unless I have one car behind me and one car in front of me, and we're all happily driving 80+ together. Not many cops have the courage to pull over several cars at a time...just the caboose of such speed trains gets caught, normally. So ends my criminal tale.

I Won't be Home for Christmas..and other uplifting Christmas songs

The downturn in the economy is finally affecting my credit union. And by finally, I mean that in a "knew it was coming, but not happy about it" kinda way. We are now experiencing major cutbacks, such as layoffs, hiring-freezes, bonus decreases, etc. One of our newest branches (we have 17) is closing the day before Thanksgiving, meaning 10 of the 12 team members there will be leaving the credit union for now. This is the first time my company has had to lay off employees in all of its almost-70 years. And unfortunately, more layoffs and changes are coming.

My branch, also a newer branch (but much stronger), is facing some anxiety, as we will be losing 4 of our 13-member team by the end of the year: our branch manager, the assistant operations manager, the financial services manager (my supervisor), and my work sister and fellow financial services rep. My branch manager will be moving to another branch while another manager co-manages our branch and another branch. My supervisor is accepting a great job opportunity with another company, the assistant operations manager is being let go, and my work sister (if she were reading this, she would love that I'm calling her that lol) is taking maternity leave for 3-4 months.

Of course, this is all happening right before the holidays when I normally take a week-long vacation to GA to visit family and old friends. With things as they are at work and with many eyes watching how I handle my current situation, I must stay in CA for Christmas this year.

This will be my 2nd Christmas away from family (the last being in 2005). I will definitely miss sharing the wonderful traditions with them. As in 2005, I'm sure the melancholy feelings won't hit me until Christmas Eve, but I'll have my own decorations, Christmas music, phone calls, and of course my little girl to get me through it. And I think it will be fun to work on Christmas Eve with my work family, so that'll help some! I always enjoyed working Christmas Eve back in Georgia with my work family there. Weird, I know. But that's me!

Sierra's definitely going to be happy that I will not be abandoning her this year lol. Hopefully, things at work will improve soon - I am confident we will ride out the storm, though. I consider the cutback that eliminates our uniforms (and replaces them with business casual attire) to be a HUGE improvement already.

But now I'm starting to ramble. I suppose this blog entry is just to somewhat explain to those who care why I will not be in GA at Christmas. It's hard to believe it's only a month away!

Election Day 2008

I think the most amazing thing about this year's presidential election is how many people voted. It's fantastic that so many more people were inspired to get out there and exercise their too-often taken-for-granted right. Still, it's surprising that almost half the country did not vote at all. That I don't understand.

Moving on, it was hilarious to watch the media try to make Election Night into a dramatic event. They used the phrase "too close to call" often, hoping to keep people engaged for as long as possible, even when Obama had racked up 206 electoral votes...with CA, OR, WA, and HI still not being included (their polls had not closed yet). Brian Williams would completely disregard CA, trying to pretend that it might go either way. lol At 8 pm PST/11 pm EST, when the West Coast polls closed, it was over: Obama won in a HUGE way!! I LOVE California's 55 electoral votes. Yeah, baby!!! And even sweeter, we stole Florida, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia, Indiana, Nevada, and most likely North Carolina from the Reds. Florida was the sweetest betrayal of all...WOOHOO!!!

In California, chickens were egg-static over the results of Prop 2. They were practically running around like their heads had been cut off. They now will be able to fully turn around in their cages, enjoying a little more freedom before the Grim Reaper comes to visit.

Yes, California voters seem to care more about chickens than about gay people. Might I propose that we gay people adopt Chicken Little as our new mascot? He can tell everyone, in typical melodramatic religious conservative tones, that the sky will fall if equality is not restored. And he can do it in a cute, wittle chicken way. AND to draw even more sympathy, he can give his speech from a newly-expanded cage that his fans gave him, where he can do a little twirl.

Yeah, I'm a little upset (make that a LOT upset) about the turnout of Prop 8. Religious conservatives and their American Family Association won this battle, but not the war. We WILL persevere, we WILL have equal rights. And the next state where religious conservatives WILL lose a battle is New York, thanks to an incoming Democratic government. 2009 will see more blows to the conniving, manipulative group who oppose the rights of others. Take that, Pat Robertson, Joyce Meyer, and the rest of ya! You will not prevail with your backwards traditions.

It is ironic that on a day when civil rights reached great heights for African Americans via Obama's election, civil rights for gay people were damaged once again. But Election Day 2008 is still a momentous, glorious day (if tainted by Prop 8), thanks to Obama, a growth in the Democratic Congress, and the defeat of other religious conservative ballot measures.

Here's to the next 4 years and to the heave-ho of Dubya!!!