Reboot

If a blog has been post-free for almost a year, does that mean the site becomes new again? Like if you don't have sex for a long time, do you become a virgin retroactive?

Let's find out if anyone gives a damn and begin the posts anew. Stay tuned, if there is anyone out there that is tuning at all....


-COG

Shameless Promotion

I figured if anyone still reads this page (highly doubtful since my last post was a looooonnnnnnnngggggggg time ago), you might be interested in a site I created to house my photographs.

If you have time on your hands, please visit http://mysilverlake.smugmug.com and check out my little hobby. Thank you, and good night!


-COG

Thank tha Lawd for DVR

I was able, through the magic of DVR, to watch the entire Grammy telecast in about an hour. The show itself was 3 hours and 33 minutes (so my DVR told me), so without the miracle of technology there was no way I would have sat through that commercial ridden, self-congratulatory awards fest. Although this year seemed different. It was more a show of concert performances with a few awards scattered in, which made it seem more relevant than it has been in many years.

Like most Grammy shows, it's all about the performances. Even though the voters seem hopelessly out of touch (Hey, I'm hip! I voted for Robert Plant! He's the lead singer from that hair band!), they usually do a bang up job on booking exciting musical guests. This year was no exception, although the sound seemed off for most of the show (this could be ATT&T's fault since I've been having issues with the sound on my recorded shows).

My favorite performance of the evening? Had to be the "Rap Pack" of T.I., Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne and Kanye West with M.I.A. Girl had the most balls of all of them, getting up on that stage ready to burst with child and still KILLING IT. I know she got a lot of flack for what she wore, but f**k that. She had the stones to give an awesome performance with her kid crowning, for christ's sake. Swagga like us, indeed.

I also have to appreciate the pairing of the young-ens, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. I can't believe I'm paying a compliment, let alone a musical one, to Cyrus. But wonders never cease. She sounded decent (if trying a bit too hard) and the duet sounded generally lovely. Maybe there's hope for the future yet.

Kanye West and Estelle killed it with American Boy. That was one of my favorite songs of 2008, and I'm glad Estelle is getting some mainstream love in the U.S. I had to search the internet high and low to download her album about a year ago, so it's nice to see her all over. Give that single a listen. I dare you not to shake your butt and get your groove on. Impossible to sit still.

I have to admit, I'm just not hip enough for Radiohead. I know, I know. They are such critical darlings, but I haven't purchased their music since Pablo Honey. No wait, I did get that album with Fake Plastic Trees on it. So there, I'm a bit hip. But if a band's music is too dense for me, it's damn dense. Don't get me wrong, I don't consider myself a Mensa music member, but I do have a couple of I.Q. points to my name. And I like to unwrap lyrics like a present, and I like when they aren't easy to get (hello Indigo Girls, holla out to you!), but In Rainbows gets a pass from me.

Even though I don't want to admit it, I did enjoy Justin Timberlake with T.I. as well. It doesn't hurt that the song they performed is one of my favorites off of the album Paper Trail, "Dead and Gone". This album was close to my favorite of 2008, pretty much in a tie with Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak. Sorry, Kanye, I know you like to win but I'm pretty sure you could give a crap about COG's opinion anyway. Though you should...you should my friend...

That counts my Grammy highlights...what were yours?

-COG

I told you it was me...

A new year is supposed to be a time for new resolutions. Apparently keeping up with my blog posts did NOT make the list this year, as this is my first one of 2009 and it's almost February. Don't hate the player, hate the game!

I've had some posting inspiration from my friend Lil' J for 10 random thoughts. The original idea was 25 random thoughts, but I'm not a deep thinker so I'm sticking with 10. I might have done something similar a while back, but none of you have that kind of memory so I think I'm safe. Here goes:

1) The Pistons need to dump some dead weight. And by dead weight I mean Allen Iverson. Joe D, I hope you kept your receipt for that one.

2) I'm not a cold weather girl. It's been in the basement of the deep freeze here since Thanksgiving, with no end in sight. Look up Seasonal Depression on WebMD and my picture appears in the Related Links.

3) My photography has hit a plateau. I need to find some inspiration for a new set of pix! Post some ideas in the comments, faithful COG reader. And keep it clean.

4) We need to find a place to vacation this year within the U.S. We need to go around the July 4th holiday, so again post some ideas in the comments.

5) I am thankful for my friends. Most people would be lucky to have just one friend of the caliber that I have. I can count over half a dozen that have my back and I have theirs. I don't take this for granted.

6) The older I become, the sexier I feel.

7) My job is something I do to earn cash for our vacations and fun stuff. I would quit tomorrow if we had the income.

8) Still can't run regularly because of my back and hips. This depresses me, but I'm trying hard to find fun, alternative exercise in lieu of it.

9) I'm a nerd that does crossword puzzles; cross-stitch; and I'm trying to learn to knit.

10) And for Lil'J....if you're not first, you're last! (fist bump)


Hope the new year is treating you well...

-COG