Faev snogs: Gin Blossoms, “Until I Fall Away”

The Gin Blossoms were the first rock concert I saw, at the University of Scranton. Apparently this happened on 21 April 1994. My dad was given two tickets way in advance, and then “Hey Jealousy” became a huge hit and the show sold out. For a week or so, I was the coolest kid in my high school. I took my friend Chad and of course we wore ripped jeans and flannel shirts. The Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies opened and I was amazed by how tall and badass the lead guitarist looked. Chad and I befriended two cute girls from Allentown and danced with them all evening. I even got to mosh and crowd surf. Afterward, I couldn’t hear normally again for a few days. All in all, it was a pretty generic experience, but it was my generic experience.

I still like most of the songs on New Miserable Experience: “Lost Horizons,” “Hey Jealousy,” “Found Out About You,” “On Allison Road,” “29,” “Pieces of the Night”—and of course the above cut, which is surely the prettiest track on the album. Although Song Meanings tells me that it doesn’t in fact include what was until today my favorite line in the song—”I’m having a good enough time”—and that possibly changes things.

The official video version is after the jump. I’d not seen it until today, either, which goes to show there are always new experiences, miserable and otherwise, waiting out there for you. It’s sepia-toned and features long slow dissolves and flash-cuts and makes me want to reread Sandman, it’s so super-early-1990s. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Obligatory Thanksgiving Food Blogging, Part 2

Another Thanksgiving dinner is already in the books. My family eats early!

Our meal is for the most part very traditional. We have sausage stuffing and gravy and mashed potatoes:

Usually my dad makes his own sausage, but this year we got it from the marvelous Sabatelle’s Market in downtown Pittston:

Oh, there was also corn:

And sweet potatoes, too, which I never eat:

And there were roasted brussel sprouts, which I failed to snap a picture of.

As for meat, we had a ham and two turkeys. (There are thirteen of us this year, over a few days, and we were originally expecting fifteen.) One of the turkeys was roasted, the other smoked:

Here are some larger views of the table as the food was being brought out:

My cousin Karen posed for one of my photos. Like me, she’s a real show-off:

We all knew where to sit because my mother makes place cards for everyone. I doctored mine a few years back:

And here’s what went in front of my place card:

Observing the whole affair was my parents’ cat, KC:

Finally, I like to dress up some for Thanksgiving dinner. Here is the outfit I chose this year:

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Part 3, forthcoming, is where the real action is.

Read Full Post »

Obligatory Thanksgiving Food Blogging, Part 1

Every year, I go home to my parents’ house in Scranton for Thanksgiving. My dad is a chef, and Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday, and it’s the one time he asks that everyone come home. I’m happy to oblige.

This year I thought I’d share some of the wealth. First we have…homemade pickles (mostly all eaten):

Next is some of my dad’s horseradish:

And meatballs and sausage:

… which go well with National Bakery rolls:

My mother also contributes. She makes the cranberry sauce:

… but more on the more traditional stuff tomorrow.

Finally, we have a new brewery in town: Susquehanna Brewing Company. (I’m actually in Pittston). So we’re trying out some of their ale:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Read Full Post »