For NaPodPoMo: No Mood Swing

30 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:19:00 -0500

For the last show, I go into overtime and record myself too loud to review things, thumbnail two sad romantic tales and play the theme music in full so you can hear a woman who knew more sad romantic tales than I ever hope to know. Thank you for listening.

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Where I found the song
An English translation of it (which can also be found in the lyrics field of the .mp3 file)

29 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:48:00 -0500

I cross a border to be able to sing some of my favourite song before the original singer takes over.

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The full original from Lala
I can't believe I posted this on a Greyhound bus in a traffic jam across the Peace Bridge from Buffalo to Fort Erie.

28 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:16:00 -0500

As I drive near Cleveland, my mom tells me about when she drove a little more dangerously as a teenager in the 1950's, and later had her wedding dress hacked up.

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27 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0500

Two from the late lamented Grace Babies: "Philosophy" from Frequency in 1997, and their last released song two years later, "Wish On It".

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A nice recent blog post about Frequency...which links back to my other podcast blog. It's the circle of life.

26 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:48:00 -0500

What did the Beats eat? For U.S. Thanksgiving, another reading by David Meltzer from his epic poem "Beat Thing", at This Ain't the Rosedale Library.

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The easier book Meltzer refers to is David's copy: the selected poems of David Meltzer

25 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:27:00 -0500

Yesterday, when I learned a Toronto landmark had been taken down, I went looking for a piece of it, but found history heavier than I would've imagined.

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Here's the post from Torontoist about the Lee's Palace facade.

24 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:13:00 -0500

There was something about her, though. Something, but not enough. "The Makeover" by Moe Berg from his book of short stories The Green Room.

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23 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:47:00 -0500

In July, I stumble upon Gentleman Reg at soundcheck, where he waits for the keyboard player to arrive before running through "You Can't Get It Back".

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22 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:52:00 -0500

Heather Havrilesky deals with her Oprah Abandonment Issues by posting her column on Salon.com November 20 and swilling cooking wine in her closet.

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Edited for time. Full column here.

21 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:31:00 -0500

I give a tour of my professional recording blanket fort and record something for a much better podcast.

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Update Nov. 23: Here's the finished episode!

20 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:00:00 -0500

A live song from an amazing Canadian artist I've loved for years, but who is known to not like people posting their recordings of his live songs. So I'm not putting his name here.

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Full story in the Lyrics field. I will link to where you can buy his stuff, and when you do, tell them how you found out about him. Thanks.

19 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:21:00 -0500

Watching tai chi in Grange Park, noting the open-toed Crocs and the Big Wheel.

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18 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:28:00 -0500

I exert a minimum of effort to go to the Santa Claus Parade, where the number of floats is questioned, the Burlington band percussion section is awesome and Santa orders a coffee at Tim Horton's.

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17 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:40:00 -0500

Stillnesses Are the Moves: a great track and a great cover you're not supposed to have.

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Full story in the lyrics field. For time, I had to fade out the end of the original. To hear it, hopefully you can still find it here.

16 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:55:00 -0500

Continuing to read Heather Havrilesky's TV column in Salon, in which she shows that she is not without "Mercy".

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15 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:50:00 -0500

In her TV column for Salon, Heather Havrilesky presents the Grey's Anato-Mad Lib.

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14 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:41:00 -0500

David Meltzer reads an excerpt from his epic poem on the Beat Generation (of which he was a part), "Beat Thing", at This Ain't the Rosedale Library.

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Meltzer is appearing with other poets as part of the ROCKPILE tour associated with the pretty amazing online literary magazine-ish thing Big Bridge. There'll be more from it.

13 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:24:00 -0500

Heaven-blessed: Sunday morning at the University of Toronto, and "All Around the World" by Jackdaw4 from the 2007 album Bipolar Diversions.

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Please explore that Jackdaw4 website or buy Jackdaw4 music via Bandcamp to make up for the permission I didn't request from some very lovely people, consistent with the Mission Statement.

12 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:12:00 -0500

Late last spring, I am confronted by the Mystery of the Tim Horton's Brie.

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This was actually the recording that inspired the idea of doing NaPodPoMo this year. So you can now blame whoever left that damn brie behind.

11 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:54:00 -0500

On Remembrance Day in Canada, more stories of Major Street and a veteran who wrote a poem when he knew his work was done for the time being.

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Here's the article and here's the video.

10 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:37:00 -0500

Monteforte are "In Love" with two delightful chunks of '80's Canadian cheese, at the Horseshoe Tavern, May 2008.

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Here are the originals of the song I never liked and the song I've loved. But Monteforte is the great equalizer.

Note that when Roxy sings "hot girls in love" in the chorus, Vikki and Brad dramatically mime wiping sweat from their brows in unison. I suggest you do the same.

09 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Mon, 9 Nov 2009 15:25:00 -0500

Elsewhere in my podcast landscape...a piece of The Duke Is Tops from Movies For the Blind episode 103.

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08 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sun, 8 Nov 2009 16:32:00 -0500

I went to the Zen Buddhist Temple here for the first time in months...and it shows.

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That old episode about Buddhism was Description 48: Don't Expect Much, done almost two years ago.

07 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0500

By chance, I walk into a book store where Paul Shaffer begins playing piano and talking about his start in showbiz.

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Of course, the Brass Rail will indeed probably be there for the rest of our lives. :-)

06 November 2009

descriptionto@gmail.com (Valerie In Toronto) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:30:00 -0500

Here's to the World's Most Passionate Girl. "68 Hrs." by National Velvet, from their self-titled debut album in 1988.

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If you haven't been reading the lyrics tags, this would be a good time to start.