the sloppy copy

While the majority of my “Favorite Texas Songs” are all twang n’ sass, I figured I’d throw the non-country-music-lovers out there a bone with this one. China Grove is in Texas, fwiw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iSq6rYyHVM

“China Grove” / Doobie Brothers (1973)

“The only two things in life that make it worth livin’ / Are guitars that tune good and firm feelin’ women”

“Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” / Waylon Jennings (1977)

Things I’ve Said While Drunk:
(in order of level of intoxication)

1. “But the larger ice surface in European-style ice hockey really lets you see the plays unfold!”
2. “Oh my God, let’s go for a run at 5:30 tomorrow morning!”
3. “Yes! Let’s move to Mankato!”
4. “You are the best dude in the band, hands down. You fucking ROCKED tonight!”
5. “Doesn’t this jukebox have any more Joy Divison?!”
6. “Give me that karaoke book.”
7. “Who wants an Irish car bomb?”
8. “Pujols’ fielding is underrated; they say anyone can be a first baseman and I disagree. Here’s why…”
9. “Remind me how to send a text message. I think I forgot.”
10. “Excuse me, I’m going to vomit in the bushes.”

I used to be pretty ambivalent about the state of Texas, but as I grew older I began to meet more and more folks from this fair land. Soon, I began to share their enthusiasm for their homeland. This excitement festered inside me like a bad case of h. pylori, until one day I decided to highlight my favorite songs about Texas in my SOTD.

Today, I bring you:

“Galveston” / Glen Campbell (1969)

Am I imagining things, or did this song get a lot of radio play for approximately one month and then it vanished? Also, that sentence was grammatically fucked-up, as E.B. White might have said.

“Sky is Over” / Serj Tankian (2007)

Today’s SOTD is dedicated to my friend Jamil. Congrats, buddy, I think this is my first dedication to a person I actually know!

“Everyday” / Dave Matthews Band (2001)

I think that I over-exaggerate my affinity for sushi.

I become quite excited at the prospect of eating it, but only when it is made with very specific ingredients. Any substituting or straying from the original plan – even, say, something as slight as using crab salad instead of crab – and I’m out. Napkin-on-the-table, hands-up-in-the-air, I’m-outta-here, check-puh-lease.

In order to avoid such scenes, I try to stick with sushi places with which I am familiar. When someone suggests somewhere New, I thoroughly scan through that restaurant’s menu in advance before committing to a definite “yes.”

Is this incredibly high-maintenance behavior? Probably, but it beats the alternative: ordering Sally Albright-style and running the risk of pissing off the server and/or chef.

That said, I’m trying a new place this afternoon, a place that seems to favor the additions of Japanese mayo and smelt roe – two ingredients that make me feel, well, what’s the opposite of being thrilled? Asking the server to omit one ingredient is in okay, not-as-shaky territory, but two? I am close to *gasp* just ordering off of the “Fusion” menu, which seems to consist of fried chicken fingers dipped in teriyaki sauce.

Of course, there’s always the Pad Thai…

if they’ll make it without the egg, of course.

I am fascinated by the 80s. I enjoy watching 80s movies. I like reading about 80s current events. I love (some) 80s music. Basically, I want to study this decade, anthropologically.

And while I’ve always had an affinity for neon colors and Morrissey, I don’t actually want to go back and relive that particular era. Mall bangs and Jordache jeans and coke-fueled dance parties might be fun for awhile, but I think the novelty would, for me, wear off quickly.

But if I could just hop in a time machine and take it all in for a few days, that’d be just great.

This song’s title is written on Ian Curtis’ headstone. Sadly poetic.

“Love Will Tear Us Apart” / Joy Division (1980)

this might be in my top ten favorite songs.

“D’Yer Mak’er” / Led Zeppelin (1973)