Emphasis Mine

I'm doing practically everything but type the words for you

I love the fact that I can make iMixes. It's just another way I can be bossy and impose my own personal--and sometimes questionable- taste onto you.

This kind of reminds me of one of one of those things I think I am very talented at, but later realize I was only acceptable at best. Like when I briefly was into Rollerblading--I thought I was great at it until I saw video of myself doing it, tragic.

I have made another one called "Perfect Writing Music." Perfect for me at least.

To me these songs are subtle enough not to distract, but powerful enough to inspire. Except for "Here's where the story ends," by The Sundays. I just thought that would be clever to end it with that song.

I have added some of my iMixes to my sidebar. They don't exactly, well, they don't fit, but I can't resist having them there.

Impossibly Happy Music

I spent time on iTunes last night making this iMix for Carrie at Barefoot Gypsy Girl.

Carrie, During your blog-break I hope you enjoy some time with your family and friends. Please refrain from listening to "Death Cab for Cutie" during your respite and listen to the skillfully crafted iMix below instead. Come back when you're ready...will all be waiting.

Here is your iMix: Impossibly Happy Music

Note: Does not include "Walking on sunshine" or "All I want to do is have some fun," ironically, these songs throw me into a deep 2 1/2 minute depression. It is more of a Pete Townsend, Feist, Rickie Lee Jones kind of listen...

Craig Ferguson Is Now Officially The Funniest American

Today, Craig Ferguson was sworn in as a U.S. Citizen. (Read about it here) So, he is now officially the funniest American. See him taking his citizenship test here. Could you pass? Me neither...

If you don't watch him on The Late, Late Show every night, you should. I TIVo-it and watch while I'm eating my Frosted Mini-Wheats in the morning. It's a great way to start your day, but there is the real danger of a milk-through-the-nose moment.

I first started watching him when I caught this show: Craig Talks From The Heart. You don't see this kind of transparency on TV often. (Even if you do watch The View.) So, yes, he is a real guy, but he is also friggin hilarious.

Okay, so you don't believe me, right? Comedy snob are we? Here are some choice clips:
iPod vs. Zune
Old Fashioned Violence
He loves America

If I had my own sitcom, I would want him to be my sitcom husband. Ooooo, yes, I have the whole thing completely written inluding the opening credits and montage (to the tune of "It Must Be Love" by Madness). And when I say 'completely written,' I mean I have it all in my head.

What? Right, like you don't cast people in your own sitcom...Seriously, you do that too, right?

What you should be watching, reading and eating in Orange County

The Morning Read: Keith Sharon at OC Register.com has created a page that you should be checking in on every morning and I am not just saying that because he wrote I was a "funny lady."

DayBreak OC on KDOC: It is much better since its rough start (see what I wrote here)...I try to watch everyday. I think Ben Aaron's segments are spot on-- exactly what they should be.

PCH Dog: In Orange and Huntington Beach, not the most feminine place to eat, but yum. Went there today and was the only girl in line with 15 (literally 15) guys. ***learned I apparently should be watching "Family Guy."**

Trendzilla at OC Weekly: I love Vickie Chang's column. She addresses the most pressing fashion questions, like: Do we have to LOVE Juicy if we live in OC ?(no); Is a handbag really an investment? (no); Is Carrie Bradshaw truly the cultural/fashion voice of our generation? (noooooooo)

Taco Rosa: Just eat there okay?

The OC Art Blog: YES, OC, as in Orange County A-R-T Blog. Chris Hoff keeps us up on Art in Orange County.

OC Then: Reminisce about orange groves, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor and other things from Orange County's brief history.

McSweeney's Bundle Jumble

If you are interested in writing, or writers, or reaching new heights in absurdity and wit through storytelling, you should read McSweeney's "Believer." Not to be bossy or anything, but McSweeney's is offering a bundle of past issues for $15 ($15 I say!) Look here for proof.

I ordered "The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers." This is the quote from the book that commanded me to pull out my credit card: Ian McEwan: "The dream, surely, that we all have, is to write this beautiful paragraph that actually is describing something but at the same time in another voice is writing a commentary on its own creation, without having to be a story about a writer." You should order this too, oops...there I go again, bossy, bossy.

Also, see McSweeney's store here. Larry would love the Circus T-shirt...

Best and Worst of 2007...According to me

New Years is all about the lists. I love a good list.

Most overused phrases/words of the year: credit crunch, actually and amazing.

Don't ever use this word in 2008: Hottie (especially if you are a man over 40 years old.)

Most under used phrase of the year: Excuse me.

Phrase I am going to personally bring into style in 2008: It's Cas (as in It's Casual).

Person who I hope is actually like how they appear on TV: Tim Gunn.

Person on TV who beleives their own press the most: Kat from LA Ink.

Best Music: Crowded House's Time On Earth.

Worst Music: Did James Blunt release anything this year?

Best TV Show: Flight of the Conchords.

Worst TV Show: Did James Blunt have his own TV show this year?

Fruit of the year: The Pink Lady Apple.

Fashion trend perched for a comeback in 2008: Dolphin Shorts.

Worst fashion trend of 2007: Anything by "Juicy" but their "Trustfund Generation" line is particularly despicable.

Best book of 2007 that I didn't read: "The Ordeal of Elizabeth March: A Woman in World History."

Best book of 2007 I did read: "Born Standing Up," by Steve Martin.

Best Children's Movie of 2007: The Water Horse. (We didn't get out to see an grown-up movie the year entire year.)

Most incredible YouTube video: Battle of Kruger. (You have to watch the WHOLE thing to appreciate its Awesomeness.)

Broughton Household specific:

Biggest insult in the Broughton house for 2007, in order of degree of hurtfulness: baby, diaper baby, Goo-goo-gaa-gaa baby.

Worst cooking mishap: Christmas Eve cornbread or corn "brick" bread.

Most quoted movie line: "Dumb Dumb give me gum gum" from Night at the Museum.

Purshase that perplexed Larry the most: Pink Donna Karen purse bought at TJ Max.

Best Netflix rental: The World's Fastest Indian. (We are way behind in our movie watching)

Have a safe and happy New Year.

Get The Kids Together For A Spaz-Fest

I don't care for the terms "play date", "girl's night out" or "date night." To me they just cheapen the experience of, kids playing, hanging out with your friends and going out with your guy. They seem like terms made up by an editor of some parenting magazine.

I "do" all of these things, but would rather just let them happen naturally, the only respectable way, planned at the very last possible minute.

These are my approved substitutes:

Get the kids together for a "play date": Beat Each Other With A Stick-Off, Spaz-Fest, Tell-on-each-other-a-thon or Dirt War.

Let's all of us girls get together for a "girl's night out": Nice Dinner and a Chat, Secret Meeting of the Sisterly Alliance ("SMOTSA"... Going to a SMOTSA) or $15.00 pink cocktail.

My Husband and I are going to have a "date night": Conversation, Laugh or Dirt War.

Enough With The Skull and Crossbones Already

I am completely over the whole Skull and Crossbones phenomenon; on my kid's fruit snacks, on flags flying high above RV's at Huntington State Beach, on dog T-shirts and (gasp!) on a silk scarf I found today at J.Crew (curses).
From now on, unless you are a true pillaging pirate, or a bottle of poison in a cartoon, I forbid you from wearing any likeness of the dreaded Skull and Crossbones.