I love this moment.

"The Office" doin' what it do.

Appreciation

I haven't done an appreciation post in a while.  In this post, I would like to express my appreciation for my best buddy, Katie Byrnes.  Katie and I met in AP Chemistry my junior year of high school.  We almost never became friends because chemistry was not my strong suit and I was a horrible lab partner.  But magically, we did, and it's been a great time ever since. 

Katie and I have been friends for long enough that we don't know who came up with some of our inside jokes.  We have also been friends long enough that we've been able to watch each other mature and evolve.  We've been friends through romances, opinions, and haircuts good and bad (at least on my end) and I daresay we're better off for each other's friendship.  I'm certainly better off because of hers.

Through her I have also been privileged to become friends with the fabulous Mrs. Byrnes, the dashing Mr. Byrnes, the mysterious duo of Molly Byrnes Fridley and Jared Fridley, the intellectual giant Samuel Brian "Schmooze" Byrnes, and some asshole hairless cat.  For those introductions I am grateful.

Thanks, Katie, for never leaving me stuck holding the coconut!

Personal Update

I go to orientation for my accounting program tomorrow -- sweet.  I'm also temping right now at a place that with any luck might give me work periodically for the foreseeable future.  I'll probably be playing in a women's rec basketball league within the next couple of weeks (if I can come up with 85 bucks, that is) so I've been working on my skills.  Feeling pretty badass. And college football begins this weekend -- Northwestern beats Boston College this Saturday, and the Mrs. and I are going to be there to see it!

I'm still broke as hell, but I'm living my old man life and having a good time.  Spending time with the lady, seeing the friends, playing sports, watching sports, cooking, eating, watching The Office and The West Wing -- doesn't get much better than that.  Look out for more regular posting in the future.

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #1

This is it.  This is the end.  My #1 favorite song of all time, people.  Thank you all for reading this far.

1. Don't worry baby -- The Beach Boys

"Well, it's been building up inside of me for oh, I don't know how long.
I don't know why, but I keep thinking something's bound to go wrong.
But she looks in my eyes, and makes me realize when she says, 'Don't worry baby...'"

This is my song.  If I had to choose a song to marry, it'd be this one.  It's the one.  I just love this song. 

Claire does a mean ukulele version, and Ruth and I do a very sweet duet. 

(Note: This performance is obviously eminently weird, but it's the only one I could find on youtube that isn't from the 80's.  Hope you enjoyed it.)


Well, there they are! My Top 100 songs of all time!  Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #2

2. Tired of being alone -- Al Green

Al Green-- a really damn cool dude who understand the value of good backup vocals.  His R&B is better than his gospel but people sell the gospel a bit short sometimes. 

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #3

3. Desperado -- Linda Ronstadt

As I have said before, Linda's should be the canonical version of this song.  There's nothing good about The Eagles' version, though you of course have to give them credit for writing it.  This is a gay cowboy song. Or something.  Whatever it is, it's heartbreaking and smart and silly and fun and great for singing in the shower.  The final video is the Northwestern a cappella group, Purple Haze, singing Desperado.  The lead singer is Harris, who apparently once saved my girlfriend's life, and the tall blond man in the back left is my buddy Eric.  Shucks, sometimes I wish I was still in college.

Also, while on youtube, I just discovered that the Carpenters did their own version of Desperado? Why god, why? Who is the sicko who let Karen Carpenter anywhere near Desperado? SOME THINGS ARE JUST TOO SAD AND YOU CAN'T ALLOW THEM TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO SAD.

Best line: "And freedom, oh freedom, that's just some people talkin'.  Your prison is walking through this world all alone."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #4

4. Baby I need your lovin' -- The Four Tops

IT'S THE VOCALS, STUPID.  NO REALLY, THE FOUR TOPS COULD SING. 

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #5

5. Can't take my eyes off you -- Frankie Valli

There is absolutely nothing about Frankie Valli himself that is cool or charming, at all. I actually have no idea how he was ever famous.  But this song rocks hard. 

Best line: "Oh pretty baby, don't bring me down I pray.  Oh pretty baby, now that I found you stay and let me love you baby, let me love you."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #6

6.  I say a little prayer -- Aretha Franklin

A Burt Bacharach song originally done by Dionne Warwick (Whitney Houston's aunt).  Warwick's version was too fast, so Aretha slowed it down.  Amazing. 

Best line: It's all amazing.

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #7

7. Wouldn't it be nice -- The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys always seem more recent to me then the Beatles -- why? I dunno.  They're just so cool, and hipsters try to be them. The first video is actually audio of the Beach Boys in the recording studio doing this song.  Brian Wilson is a really interesting guy -- it's fun to listen to him take control of the creative process.

Best line: "Wouldn't it be nice if we were older? Then we wouldn't have to wait so long.  And wouldn't it be nice to live together in the kind of world where we'd belong?"

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #8

8. Moon river -- Henry Mancini

This was written for Audrey Hepburn to sing in Breakfast At Tiffany's, because the song is moving without requiring a singer with much range.

Best line: "Oh dream maker, you heartbreaker, wherever you're going I'm going your way."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #9

9. Be my baby -- The Ronettes

This song is really in vogue right now.  It has every quality that attracts me to a song -- what the fuck?! vocals, words about love, great backup vocals, and even the influence of Phil Spector.

Oh, Phil Spector.  I love his musical contributions.  He did amazing things with girl groups (he was married to a Ronnette), The Beatles, etc. and he heavily influenced tons of artists (the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen).  This guy is such an important figure in popular musical history.

But Jesus Christ, he's a maniac.  In an industry full of terrible people, he stands out.  I mean, look at him!

I guess looking like a criminal doesn't mean you're a crimial, but in Phil Spector's case it does.  Long story short, the man loves guns a lot and that stopped working for him eventually. Phil Spector scares the shit out of me, and I'm thrilled he's in prison rather than walking the streets right now. 

Either way, this is my 9th favorite song.

Best line: "For every kiss you give me, I'll give you three."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #10

10. Abbey Road medley -- The Beatles

That's cheating, you say? I disagree.  This is justifiably "one" song for the purpose of this list.  I don't need to tell you how incredible this medley is, and I can't actually say anything interesting about it.  Abbey Road is my father's favorite album, and as such I heard this a lot growing up.

Have a listen while you're here -- You Never Give Me Your Money/Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard/Polythene Pam/She Came In Through the Bathroom Window/Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End. 

Best line: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." How could it be anything else?

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 Songs #20-11

20. Cruel to be kind -- Nick Lowe

This video is hilariously lame, but I love Nick Lowe. And remember this great scene from 10 Things I Hate About You?

Best line: Some songs don't have best lines.  I'm starting to wish I hadn't included this question. Sigh.

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 Songs #30-21

30. This year -- The Mountain Goats

This is a song about triumph! And about being strong in the face of adversity! And about defiance! Yeah!

Best line: "I am gonna make it though this year if it kills me! I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me!"

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 Songs #40-31

40. Asleep and dreaming -- The Magnetic Fields

Stephin Merritt has a gift for using classic/cliched imagery in a way that's moving and fresh.  His songs talk about butterflies, trains and ships, soldiers at war, roses, etc. etc. but it's never silly -- or at least, it's never silly in a way that's a problem.

This song also happens to contain one of the sweeter sentiments about love I've ever heard.

Best line: "I've seen you laugh at nothing at all, I've seen you sadly weeping.  The sweetest thing I ever saw was you asleep and dreaming.  I've seen you when your ship came in and when your train was leaving.  The sweetest thing I ever saw was you asleep and dreaming.  Oh, you may not be beautiful, but it's not for me to judge.  I don't know if you're beautiful because I love you too much."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 Songs #50-41

50. Bad reputation – Joan Jett

One of the classic rebellion songs.  I developed an affinity for this one when I became a “Freaks and Geeks” fan.  I’m pretty sure it’s also in 10 Things I Hate About You. 

Best line: “I don’t give a damn about my reputation.  You’re living in the past it’s a new generation.”

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #60-51

60. Coming home -- John Legend

It's moving and the vocals are incredible, especially at the end.

Best line: "I'll make it home again, I pray you fall in love again."

POOLEYBLOG's Top 100 songs #70-61

70. Such great heights -- The Postal Service

I normally wouldn't like this kind of song (I don't like anything else from this band) but this song is just so charming.  I dislike the Iron & Wine version and refuse to link to it. 

Best line: "And I'm think it's a sign that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned. And I have to speculate that God himself did make us into corresponsding shapes, like puzzle pieces from the clay."

POOLEYBLOG'S Top 100 Songs #80-71

80. Born on a train -- The Magnetic Fields

So, this is one of my favorite Magnetic Fields songs, and I thought it was just me because it's not one of the famous ones.  But lo and behold, when I was looking for a youtube link to the song, I discovered this FUCKING AWESOME cover of the song by none other than Arcade Fire.  Win Butler apparently likes the song too.  Could my life be any better?

Best line: "Well I've been making promises I know I'll never keep.  One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep."