GJ Willis' Art Notes

index_r3_c2, originally uploaded by willisgirl.

The above photo is a picture of The Killers. I feel that they are the best rock group to have ever come out of Las Vegas.

Today, is the first Saturday in several weeks that I didn’t go into work. I spent most of the day updating my blog, adding pictures and links.

Mostly, I was just lazing around the house listening to two cd’s I bought yesterday. I just can’t bring myself to take them out of my cd player. they’ve become like crack.

NEW CD’s I’M ADDICTED TO: It was Friday afternoon and I just got paid. My paycheck was fat with all the money I made from nearly psychotic amounts of overtime. So I bounced into the Towson Barnes and Nobles with the intention of buying a couple of cd’s. The fact that I could have gotten a better price at Walmart didn’t worry me none. For the first time in weeks I had money baby!

I went in the store to get cd’s by Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, and Death Cab For Cutie. The only cd I could find in the store was Franz Ferdinand. I always thought that a big time mega store like Barnes and Nobles would have everything. So I went down the block and across the street to Borders.

I found everything I was looking for and more. However, I had a major episode of memory loss and couldn’t remember the name of the Death Cab For Cutie cd I wanted. Inside the store they had an insane number of various Death Cab For Cutie cd’s. The trouble was I could’nt remember the title of the one I wanted. So instead of picking it up I bought the Damnwells Bastard of the Beat cd. I have yet to really listen to this cd.

I reached an epiphany some time last night that The Killers are the best damn group to have ever come out of Vegas. I also was not disappointed by Franz Ferdinand. Their cd really rocks!

For the past two evenings I’ve been dancing around my postage stamp sized apartment to these two cd’s. I just can’t bring myself to take them out of my cd changer. So at this moment I’m going to sprout hyperbole about Franz Ferdinand and The Killers whom I both feel are the absolute best new bands I’ve heard this year.

FRANZ FERDINAND REVIEW: First off I have to say that I like the entire Franz Ferdinand cd, to paraphrase a line from Jerry Maguire, “They had me at play.” From the moment I pressed play on my cd player I was hooked.

Favorite tracks on the cd include Jacqueline. I like how it starts off as an acoustic guitar driven folk song that eventually rocks out. I really like the chorus that goes:

It’s aways better on holiday
So much better on holiday
That’s why we work when
We need the money

I also really like, Take Me Out. I love how it starts out at an up tempo rock beat then slows down to a sexy grinding disco beat. Other songs I enjoyed on the cd include, The Dark of the Matinee, Auf Achse, Darts Of Pleasure, and Michael.

Clearly, this album merits the group being named New Musical Express magazine’s Best New Band in Britain. In short these lads from Scotland really know how to rock.

Franz Ferdinand are: Alex Kapranos-vocals/guitar, Nick McCarthy-guitar/vocals/keys, Bob Hardy-bass, and Paul Thomson-drums/vocals

THE KILLERS-HOT FUSS REVIEW: Yeah, I know I said it before but The Killers are the best thing to have come out of Vegas in a long while. The overall sound of the cd is derivative of the 80’s yet at the same time completly original! The hooks are at the same time comfortably familar yet new.

Their cd starts off strong with Jenny Was a Friend of Mind. From the first few chords of the song you know that you’re in for something different. This isn’t a run of the mill Blink-182 sound alike band that record companies keep pushing. This is a band that has it’s own unique sound.

Favorite tracks on the cd include: Mr. Brightside, (I’m absolutly head over heels in love with that song!), Somebody Told Me, and All These Things I’ve Done.

Of all the songs I named my absolute favorite is, All These Things I’ve Done. It’s very reminiscent of the bagpipe sounding guitars of Big Country meet the pounding drums of U2 with a Bay City Rollers chorus. I love it when the gospel choir in the song sing, ‘I got a soul but I’m not a soldier’.

The Killers are Brandon Flowers-vocals/synthesizer, Dave Keuning-guitar, Mark Stoermer-bass, and Ronnie Vannucci-drums.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on lounge around the house clothes. Black Dr. Who sweatshirt, jeans and red flip flops.

blender04, originally uploaded by willisgirl.

When I saw this I had to add it to my blog. Larry Mullen Jr., shirtless!!! Nearly all my dreams fulfilled!!! Mercy!!! What a bod!!! Ahem, back to the blog.....

The #20 was on time this morning. Hopefully the fill-in driver will also be on time for the next three weeks.

When I got on the bus the stern looking driver was again having a jovial conversation with Eric from BGE. They were both laughing about passengers who are always searching for their fare money even though they see the bus coming several blocks away. Eric, suggested that possibly it was because they hadn't waken up yet. The driver said it depends on when they wake up because she sees it throughout the day.

The light rail train was also on time this morning. The makeup monster was aboard she was doing her nails once again. Is it really necessary to polish your nails every single day? Thankfully, she will be getting off at the very next stop.

NEW CD’s: I bought three new cd’s last Saturday. I have U2’s How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, Now That’s What I Call Music #17, and The Beatles 1.

I have been listening to U2’s new cd, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb practically night and day since I purchased it last Saturday at Walmart. My favorite tracks on the cd include; Vertigo, Miracle Drug, Love and Peace or Else, City of Blinding Light, One Step Closer, and Original Of The Species. If I had to choose one favorite tracks on the cd it would be a toss up between City of Blinding Light and Love and Peace or Else.

Overall, I really enjoyed the cd a lot. I feel it fits in well with the other albums in U2’s legendary musical canon. I can’t think of anything else to say other than U2 rocks!

I bought Now That’s What I Call Music #17 just to get a feel for what the kids are listening to. I admit I’m black and don’t know a single thing about current hip hop/rap music. In fact my supervisor at work who’s white and lives in the county is probably more up to date on hip hop music than I am. So I thought I’d get this cd to school myself.

I found a lot of the songs that I hear blaring from cars and in my niece’s room on the cd. So I wasn’t hearing anything that was entirely new to me. The only thing new is that I can now put an artist and song title to 92Q’s current play list.

Another thing I’ve discovered from purchasing this cd is that I find that I am annoyed by the sound of J-Kwon’s voice. How on earth did he manage to get a record deal? I guess he must be blackmailing a record executive somewhere...

I bought The Beatles 1 cd because I don’t have any and this one was on sale. In the past I owned all The Beatles albums on vinyl. The cd was of course chock full of classics. It’s the legendary Beatles what do you expect?

NEW CD’s I WANT: Cd’s I want to buy include, The Killers, Hot Fuss cd, Death Cab for Cutie’s, Transatlanticism cd, and Franz Ferdinand’s self titled Franz Ferdinand cd.

I first heard The Killers on WHFS last Saturday. I was completely blown away by their Mr. Brightside single. It sounded completely new and original. Hearing The Killers on HFS was completely refreshing. HFS tends to play the same songs over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Hearing that song made me realize for the first time that WTMD plays safe music that everyone can agree on. It’s new music that’s destined to be played on a soccer mom station. Sure, the music is new but it never really rocks.

Yesterday, I noticed that WTMD, during Stephan’s morning show added The Killers, Mr. Brightside single to there play list. I think they only did this because the album was nominated for a Grammy. Who would have ever thought that HFS would scoop WTMD on new music?

I want the Franz Ferdinand cd because I really like there, Take Me Out, single.

Also, I understand that they were named the best band in Britain by UK’s New Musical Express magazine.. I have a feeling that I would really enjoy there cd if Take Me Out is any indication of what the other songs are like.

I also have to say that I’ve tried for many weeks on eBay to score the cd but keep getting outbid. It reminds me of the times I tried to buy Linkin Park’s cd on eBay. In the end I had to go to the store.

I want Death Cab For Cutie because I’m curious about what they sound like. Almost every time I search for a cd on Amazon.com’s site there name comes up as a musical artist I might be interested in. WTMD just this week added one of there songs to there play list. I recall hearing it on Stephan’s morning show. It sounded eerily enough like something I might be interested in. How does Amazon.com do it?

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today I’m wearing a green and white marble knit sweater with a mock blue turtleneck underneath along with blue slacks and brown lace up shoes. Yes, I'm wearing slacks and it's not even business casual day at work.

xmas, originally uploaded by willisgirl.

The #20 bus was five minutes late this morning. Despite it’s lateness the bus got me to the light rail station on time. It appears that the train now leaves at 6:00 instead of 5:55. Either way it looks like I will be on time this morning. I still feel a bit worried about how the buses will be running for the next three weeks.

OFFICE GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY: the gifts Yesterday, we had our annual Christmas party for our group. It seems to have gone well.

This year Cassandra, gave out little glass jars. Jai Li, gave out these candles which were enclosed in a lamp shade holder. Deborah, gave out small Avon lotions. Arvada, gave out candy cane pens.

Brian, our fear less leader, aka Scrooge, didn’t give anybody, anything. He said he hasn’t finished shopping yet. Yeah, right, Mr. Scrooge...

Despite this announcement we gave him gifts anyway. Cassandra, gave him this kick ass Baltimore Ravens blanket. It looked like it cost a fortune. Jai Li gave him a plaid wool scarf. It looked very distinguished. The group gave him a card filled with cold hard American green backs. The group each contributed $10 towards it. So he should have money now to buy us something. If not then...Oh, well....

It should be said that our group’s generosity did not stop at just our fear less leaders doorstep. We each contributed to get his boss, Dave, a new blue shirt from Hecht’s. Jai Li, also gave him a wool scarf. The scarf perfectly matches his ubiquitous cowboy boots.

Naturally, he seemed surprised that we had gotten him anything. I think this was the first year the group remembered to get him a gift for Christmas. He’s a very laid back, low key person.

I got Christmas cards this year from Lisa, Arvada, Helena, and some one I don’t know. Then again maybe I do know the person. It was signed by their last name. I have to admit I barely know the last names of all my coworkers. I just call them by their first names. Anyway, the card from the name I didn’t recognize was a boring over the top religious card. Jesus Christ! It’s Christmas Time! Lighten Up, Why Don’t Ya!

OFFICE GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY: the food For the party we had food brought in from the Towson Delly. I had a grill cheese sandwich, french fries, cheese cake, and a fruit punch. Overall, the food was average, nothing to write home about. However, I wish we had gotten food from a ritzier upscale place.

The only person from the group who was nice enough to bring in food for the party was Deborah. She brought a carrot cake and cookies from home. I didn’t find out about it until later in the day. Sorry, to say I didn’t get a chance to sample any of it.

WHAT I’M WEARING: I have on a yellow and blue v-neck fair island knit sweater. Underneath it, I’m wearing a long sleeve denim shirt. The pants I’m wearing are blue jeans. The shoes I have on are blue suede shoes. The shoes seemed to fit with what I have on.

The #20 bus was on time this morning. It was again being driven by the stern looking woman. I was distressed to learn through a conversation she was having with one of the passengers, Eric from BGE, that she will be off for the next three weeks. Friday will be her last day before the start of her vacation.

Egads! What will I do? How can explain the possibility of being late for three weeks to Brian, my supervisor? I hope and pray this January that he doesn't have to hold the semi-annual, ‘you all must be on time for work meeting’. I always feel like those meeting are directed at me, the sole MTA rider of the group.

OFFICE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING COMPLETED: I finished my Christmas shopping for presents for my co-workers last night. I ended up buying small economically priced Whitman chocolate samplers. They came prewrapped so I didn't have to worry about wrapping anything. I think they’re nice and petite.

I’m not sure how they will go over. I think the majority of people in the group are on diets. I know for sure that Brian is a health and physical fitness nut. I think he works out for like 4 hours a day or something extreme like that.

Anyway, I really wanted to get them all silver holiday boxes of Hershey’s sugar free chocolates. However, I couldn't find the price for them anywhere on the shelf or on the box. I tried going up to the cash register to get a price check but the line was too long.

In the end I figured it would be best to get the small box of sugary chocolates as opposed to the big box of Hershey’s sugar free chocolates. This way it wouldn’t seem as though I was making some sort of grandiose gesture. Besides, some people in the group might interpret the big box of sugar free chocolates as saying that I think their fat. Which in a sense would be ironic....

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on a blue sweater. It’s multicolored and has a knitting sampler feel to it. Underneath this I’m wearing a mock dark blue turtleneck. I’m also wearing blue jeans and a new pair of blue suede shoes.

The bus was on time this morning. However, complications occured when the bus stopped at the corner of Baltimore Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. The stern looking #20 bus driver announced that she would have to stop there to wait for the #2 or #1 bus. She said we were welcome to stay on the bus to wait for the other buses to come by. This was kind of her because it was 30 degrees outside. Other bus drivers would have kicked out off in the cold while they stayed inside the warm bus.

The #1 bus eventually came down the street about five minutes later. Surprisingly, the bus got me to the light rail station on time. Even though there was a slight delay this morning with a broken down bus it looks as though I will be on time for work this morning.

WHAT I’M WEARING:This morning I’m wearing an olive green and purple sweater with blue jeans along with the new brown leather lace up shoes.

It was drizzling outside this morning. The #20 bus came as usual. It is being driven by the stern looking woman.

The light rail was also on time. When I got on the train I immediately detected the smell of finger nail polish. This could mean only one thing, the makeup monster was aboard doing her nails once again. Luckily, she gets off at the next stop.

HEART PALPITATIONS PART TWO: Yesterday, after several days of having a normal heart beat it sped up again. This time I know for sure it was caused by caffeine.

I drank a small container of Turkey Hill Green Tea with Ginseng. Thirty minutes later my heart was beating like a drum solo. So I suppose it was all related to caffeine not stress.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on a black sweater. I haven’t worn this sweater in about two years. Unlike the other sweaters this one is actually in my new size. I think it was a gift someone. Underneath the sweater I have on a white turtleneck pullover and blue jeans. I’m wearing a new pair of shoes I bought I on Saturday at the Hunt Valley Walmart.

As I look at these shoes I recall that I used to own a pair just like it. Does everyone go back and buy similar items to the ones they used to own or is it just me?

This morning I got up and went to my second ever church service at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore. This time I was on time for the service.

I felt a bit uncomfortable at the Greeting our Neighbors section of the service. I’m a quiet, non-sociable, painfully shy, autistic woman. However, I learned the names of two people at the service. I’m not sure if they will be back next week. They were attending the church for the first time today. I believe there names were Eric and Carol? I didn’t get to experience greeting people at my first service because I was late. I wonder if it happens every Sunday 15 minutes into the service? .

OFFICE CHRISTMAS CARDS: Every year I give Brian, my Mr. Clean looking supervisor, a Santa Claus card. I give Helena and Keisha religious themed cards. Everybody else I don’t give much care or thought about what card to give them. However, there’s one person in my group that I’m not quiet sure what type of card to give him.

The reason is because I’m not sure if he’s Jewish or not. I saw him leave out early from work last Tuesday. I’m not sure if this was related to it being the first day of Hanukkah or something else entirely. I think it would be inappropriate to go up and ask him if he was Jewish without it sounding anti-Semetic.

I’m filled with anxiety every year because I give him a nondescript card that says Peace on it or has a dove because I’m not quiet sure if I would be offending him by giving him a card that says, Merry Christmas or has Santa Clause on it.

I hate doing this because it makes me feel as though I’m discriminating against him. I would just like to know once and for all what his views are on the matter.

I just need to know, would he be offended by receiving a Hanukkah card instead or is a regular Christmas card ok? For all I know the generic nondescript cards may be offensive to him? Does any one out there have any views on this matter?

Thank goodness no one really reads this blog on a regular basis to see the irony of a Pagan, non-Christian, Unitarian, filled with anxiety over what card to give another possibly non-Christian person.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Right now I’m wearing a ruby red thermal top with black cotton pants and red flip flops.