Rock, Chick Rock

For some reason, my music-listening experience has recently been inundated by female artists. This is partly by choice: in what I listen to, and through my expanding awareness of the music I'm missing out on. But this trend also depends on the forums I explore and what I am exposed to there. But even then, NPR doesn't force me to listen to anything ... But enough analysis! Here are some tunes/artists to liven up your day/life, ranging from folk to rock and back again:

Florence + the Machine performs prettily in studio

Wye Oak on some balcony playing "Civilian" (and I thought the album version was good)

And then there's the amazing Lisa Hannigan's "Tiny Desk Concert": http://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141684634/lisa-hannigan-tiny-desk-concert

Or, even Laura Marling playing "Muse" in concert

Once again, Dum Dum Girls (been listening to their album all week):

And a teaser from one of my favorites, Sharon Van Etten, who'll be on tour next year supporting her new album: http://www.thealternateside.org/111129/sharon-van-etten-tramps-view-serpents-download-album-art

So I guess music in 2011 wasn't all that bad, but still ... bring on 2012!

Terps lose, Terps lose, Terps lose ...

This past fall, I hoped (as I do every year) that the Maryland Men's soccer team would be successful. They always make the NCAA tournament, and are perennially one of the top-ranked teams in the country. So, "success" for them would mean a National Championship, or at least a berth in the College Cup (the semifinal round.) Since I held this team so dear in my time at school (never missing a home game), I've of course written about them here before. Two years ago I had the pleasure of following them to two playoff games on the road, a tough route to a championship they fell short of reaching. And this past season, I had the opportunity to see them play when they took on Seton Hall just a short train ride away in the New Jersey suburbs. Although I was giddy to see them play (and to buy treats in support of the SH cheerleading team) that game itself was particularly frustrating: neither side scored, fouls and missed-opportunites were rampant, and despite Seton Hall not even close to playing on the same level as the Terps, they were competent enough to shutout the visitors. Oh, and Juan Agudelo, rising star of the US National Team and member of the New York Red Bulls, was there checking out the college game he eschewed to, you know, make some dough.

Now, I had especially wanted the Terps to do well this year so they might erase the woes of the football team (ineptly managed by a first-year coach) and the emerging woes of the men's basketball team (shakily starting their season under a first-year coach). However, no men's program at College Park is nearly as successful as the Maryland field hockey team which just became National Champions for the fifth time in the last 10 years (even winning back-to-back titles twice in that stretch, including this year.) Obviously, they're doing very well and won't be one of the athletic programs cut from the school budget. Actually, they should probably get more money, press, and notoriety than basketball and football--but we know that won't happen.

At any rate, I was excited to watch the live broadcast of the Terps playoff game on Sunday. I thought they were a lock for the win: a team with regular post-season experience in a third-round game, at home, against Louisville (who, despite being last year's tourney runner-up, was just a mid-conferance squad this season ... in the Big East.) But despite all the Terps' on-field talent and off-field advantages, Louisville burnt them three times (in the same way) for three goals. Though the Terps equalized twice, they evidentally didn't learn to lock down the quick counterattack off a long ball and gave up a goal too late in the game for another comeback. A disappointing result, especially considering this is how I watched them finish their seson twice in college--beaten at home in the third round by an inferior team.

By now it's long time to finish up this post, and all further writing about my Terps soccer fandom, with this:
https://acrobat.com/#d=wq3-SN5HnklixaoSqTjL8Q

It's a scene I wrote last winter for a short-play contest about D.C.-area sports. I actually didn't finish it in time to submit it, though. Eventually, I'll write a post about missed opportunities, risk/reward, and the agony/ecstacy of a soccer match. Until then, you have these few pages--relics from a time when I thought I could possibly try to be a playwright.

A Very Mandy Meal

Before the extravaganza that is the traditional American Thanksgiving, Mandy and I put together a sumptuous for our apartment. It featured Mandy's latest crock-pot concoction ('tis the season, after all): lentil & butternut squash stew. 

Of course, Tim will claim that his meddling monitoring not only contributed to the cook of the stew, but also to preventing the house from burning down. Alongside this hearty stew, I added a loaf of my usual no-knead, no-worry artisan bread, paired the meal with a rather dry, tart Spanish apple cider.

And for those of you not familiar with my aunt: crock-pot meal + mountain of fresh bread + green drink = a very Mandy meal (though I believe a sprinkle-encrusted bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream would also qualify.)   

A Turkey(less) Trot at Coney Island

A month after our triumphs at the Bay Ridge 5K, we took the long train ride out to Coney Island to try our luck on the boardwalk for the 6^th Annual Turkey Trot 5K (the entry fee to which benefited no charity or benevolent cause.) Though closed for the season, Coney Island still offered surf, sand, and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. And, of course, the opportunity to punish ourselves for three miles along a windy wooden walkway populated by curious and obstructive onlookers.