I bought Loretta Lynn’s Van Lear Rose today at Homer’s. Awesome, awesome, awesome album, I must say. Jason and I discussed this at lunch today: I feel like somewhat of a bandwagoner/sell-out. The reason? I never owned a Loretta Lynn album until this one, which was produced by Jack White. I heard “Portland Oregon” on 89.7 The River and loved it. That’s what made me buy the album. I’d recommend it to one and all.

Jason bought Hope and Fears by Keane, which I’m ripping as we “speak.” Now that’s a damn fine piece of musical artistry. Lovely, lovely. Again, another one I’d recommend in a heartbeat.

How many people can say they spent Memorial Day 2004 at a mortuary? I can. Our friend, Brian, lives and works for a mortuary in downtown Omaha. We grilled steaks, hot wings and ate outside. It was lovely! We’ve been over there before, and even celebrated New Year’s Eve at the mortuary. Brian’s an excellent host. We rounded out the evening listening to some class rock in one of the funeral chapels, followed by a two-hour drive around Omaha. Memorial Day weekend couldn’t have ended any better.

Well, that’s not entirely true. Matthew and I rented “Love Actually” last night. I could only make it through the first 45 minutes. I didn’t like it that much.

Here’s a few photos from Monday’s fun :-)

See more photos from Memorial Day ’04

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5099013/

We were literally pounded with severe weather last night. The first storm rolled in around 8, the second shortly after midnight. The second storm was so bad that it (1) woke me up; and (2) knocked down a HUGE part of an old tree in my neighbor’s back yard. They’ve been at it with chainsaws all morning. The noise is starting to wear on my nerves, but they have a lot to clean up. I imagine the branch took out their power, too. Thankfully, I can’t see any damage to my house or yard. This time. I’m sure at some point I’ll pay my dues as a Nebraska homeowner. I certainly did this past winter.

So I’m leaving my house this morning for work, my arms loaded with my purse, lunch, a change of clothes, my iPod, PowerBook, magazine and a book. I mentally make sure I have everything as I’m walking out the back door. Slam. The door shuts. I think, should I lock the deadbolt? That’s when I realize it doesn’t matter; I locked my keys in the house! Thankfully, I had my cell phone. I called my mom, who drove over with a spare set of keys. Whew!

I have a headache. I just took some Advil. Let’s hope it helps, as I have a family BBQ tonight at my aunt and uncle’s house. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather stays nice, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Tomorrow is Machian’s graduation party. That should be fun :-)

OK, it happened. I got bored with my old LiveJournal layout and changed it up. I like this style so far. I think the entries and text are easier to read. What do you think?

Even though it’s not getting the greatest reviews…

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/27/day.tomorrow/index.html

It’s Friday. Friday should be the day to get things in order for Monday. But no, not this week. This Friday is for laying out the 6/2 paper. True, we don’t work Monday, but today’s work is hanging above my head like a gray cloud. I don’t want to go to work! The worst is working late on a Friday. Oy, vey.

Pulled weeds last night for about an hour. The experience wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it’d be. Then, I made dinner: two hot dogs, corn, peaches and a glass of milk. I followed that up with three Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies. Delicious.

I’m reading “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott and am now thinking I need to write a book. A few people have told me that I should write a book. But what about? What the hell would I write about? I need an idea.

From the Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~2174543,00.html

Microsoft to undercut iPod price with player

Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, will begin selling portable music players for as much as 80 percent less than Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod.

The Microsoft-branded devices will “look and feel” as good as the iPod for as little as $50, said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of MSN at Microsoft Corp., at the Goldman Sachs fifth annual Internet Conference in Las Vegas. The iPod sells for $249 to $499.

Microsoft, based in Redmond, Wash., will release a number of music players when it launches its online music service later this year, giving customers more choices than Apple, Mehdi said.

I COULD NOT disagree more with this concept. True, we all make fun of others at one time or another. But to take that mockery and humiliation to this extent is absolutely wrong. I sincerely hope a lawsuit is in The WB’s future for this kind of televised brutality.

http://www.thewb.com/Shows/GenericShow/0,11116,169159,00.html