Artists of the Month
- Miike Snow: "Animal" is the latest song stuck on repeat in my head, and they were awesome live. Can't wait to see them again in the fall.
- Phoenix: Somehow I tend to forget that this band is totally amazing. All of their albums are strong. "Too Young" is one of the most beautiful, heart-breaking songs ever. They rock live. I had one of those singular moments in time during their show. Phenomenal all around.
- Mr. Hudson: "Supernova" is a massive song. Listen to it. And then listen to the Calvin Harris remix. This man has managed to present Kanye West in a non-annoying way. That is a feat that deserves mad props.
- Calvin Harris: Yet another new song from Calvin: "Ready for the Weekend." Possibly his strongest single yet. The man is a hit machine. Can't get over his talent. He keeps surprising me.
- Basement Jaxx: "Raindrops" on repeat, baby! Still not even close to being tired of this song after two whole months of daily play. Insanity, I know; but it's just that good. Really.
Things I Cooked
- Spanakopita (spinach pie)
- Mac & Cheese with turkey peperoni
- Roast beef & Havarti sandwiches
- Meatloaf
- Cauliflower puree
- Roasted zucchini
- Sauteed Pork Loin
- Polkadot Blondie Bars
- Crab salad sandwiches
Movies
- UP
- The Hangover
- Star Trek (IMAX)
- Summer Hours
- The Proposal
- Cheri
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Books
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson. This book has gotten such good, and well deserved buzz. However, I am way too impatient to wait until it is out in paperback stateside, so I went in every bookstore I could find on my European trip and hunted it down in paperback over there. It was well worth the effort. A well constructed crime thriller that is just the right mix of high- and low-brow.
- How We Decide, Jonah Lehrer. An interesting read on how the human mind works and what motivates it in the decision making process. Reading this sparked some good personal insights and self-reflections.
- The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson. Even better than the book before it! This one is action packed and just a little bit pulpy. It keeps you riveted and guessing until the very last page. Worth lugging all 600 pages all the way from Vienna. I can't wait for the third book in this trilogy.- Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell. One of the least insightful books I have ever read. Basically, those of us who excel in life can attribute our success to luck, circumstance, and opportunity. Um, der, Malcolm. I don't think you needed to take up 285 pages to tell me something I am already aware of on a daily basis.
