Photobooth rocks.

Lisa in a comic book.


Pop art, with apologies to Andy Warhol.

Life imitates art?

Your assignment:

Compare and contrast truth with fiction.


Ok, so maybe its harder to see the parallels without watching the Bones episode, but if you've seen it, you know what I mean. It's kind of scary, actually.

Things I Dislike about Today

1) Returning to responsibilities
2) Waiting for phone calls
3) Needing caffiene to get me through
4) Deadline
5) Driving to New Albany twice
6) Not being at the lake
7) Saying goodbye to my boyfriend.
8) Not having a hand to hold
9) The empty bed downstairs
10) Uncertainty

This is the part where you judge me

While I was on my Completely Pointless And Stupid (CPAS) trip to New Albany this morning, I decided it's time to broach a controversial subject on this blog. Because what's a blog without controversy, after all?

I admit that I avoid conflict like the plague, but I think its about time that we talk about a potentially divisive subject. Maybe half of you will despise me after we discuss ...

Music.

Ok, I think I have good taste, but that doesn't mean you'll agree. On my good days, I'm a third degree music lover. First degree types are the ones who find all the good stuff, are ultra-indie and wear "I listen to bands that don't even exist yet" T-shirts. Second degrees get it from first degrees or from indie-type blogs. So third degree means probably some people know how awesome the music is yet, but your younger sibling may not have quite caught on. Fourth degree starts getting dangerous, because you're venturing into the "sell out" radio single area. I'm probably fourth degree most of the time.

My main problem is that I do music the same way I do jeans. I pick an album and listen to it until I've worn it out completely. The albums that last longest get my highest approval ratings. Lots of things go into how an album wears on me -- the music, of course, but also the VOICE of the person singing (smooth goes over better than scratchy, gruff or whiny) and the LYRICS. Because I like to sing along, the lyrics have to be sufficiently complicated or interesting. It's best if I identify with them in some way. And it's really really good if the singer and I have the same approximate vocal range. One last caveat: Almost the whole album has to be exceptional. I can dislike one or two songs, but more than that, and I tend to ditch the album because I'm too annoyed at having to skip songs.

With all those things in mind, I release to you my current top 5 albums, in no particular order. Some of these are pretty old, I know. That's partly because they've worn well and partly because I discovered them late -- WAY after they were released.

1) North, Something Corporate -- Beautiful piano-driven rock. This album is better than Leaving through the Window, their previous album, or Konstantine, the 9-minute single you may have heard somewhere a few years ago.

2) The Madding Crowd, Nine Days -- One of the most underrated albums ever. If you heard "Story of a Girl" on the radio back in the day and liked it, I highly recommend picking this up.

3) Bleed American, Jimmy Eat World -- I usually skip the overplayed "In the Middle" and the slow "Angels," but this album rocks, otherwise.

4) Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson -- OK, so she won American Idol and pros wrote these songs, not her, but they're awesome to sing. Plus I really believe that if men would listen to the lyrics and the emotions behind them, they'd be a whole lot closer to understanding most women. No, really.

5) Speak for Yourself, Imogen Heap -- My newest find, but it seems like it will last. Great lyrics and music.

OK, people, feel free to judge me starting now.

While on vacation ...

I dreamed everyone knew I was going to get fired, but no one would tell me why.

Anyone think Lisa's stressed out?

Losing the battle, but twinning the war?

I'm saddened by the imminent departure of one who has brightened many of my days here, but it's going to be interesting to watch the surgical separation of the Siamese Jennifers.

Two girls, so alike, yet so different -- and JOINED at the back! Watch as Dr. Newjob severs the ties that bind these two women who have NEVER EVER been apart! They cover the same beats, practically, and c'mon, they have the same name, so they're pretty much the same person, right?

OK, that's not even close to being true. They are not at all alike, and they're not even in the office together, half the time. But I am going to miss the confusion and havoc that they wreaked during Wednesday staff meetings.

Heck, I'm going to miss Wednesday lunches and their organizer!

*sniffle*

I'll have to be content that the other Lisa and I can still bewilder the newsroom. We both have empty seats near us, so maybe we can make things even worse (read: better) by sitting near each other...

Baked goods poll at right ---->

I anticipate this will become a running feature. I took the first four suggestions I heard, and you vote for what you want. Polls will close on Saturday and baked goods should appear sometime during the following week.

Vote, people! Do your civic duty!

I'm taking requests

To boost flagging office morale, I will be accepting requests for the baked goods I bring in. :)

Post your request here or e-mail it to me at my work address. I'm more likely to go for stuff that 1) I think I'll like and 2) I haven't made before.

Please don't send specific recipes, because part of the fun is hunting for one. Baking is theraputic for me, so this is making me feel better, too (not just you).

Aaaaand ... go!