ponyinarope tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011-04-15://1 2012-02-03T22:59:42Z Melody 1.0.0 (RC 2, build 36) Friday Five tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2012://1.294 2012-02-03T22:50:37Z 2012-02-03T22:59:42Z It's been awhile since I've found any INXS vinyl that I didn't already have, but yesterday I found a 12" copy of "Devil Inside" which means now I have the 12", 10" and 7" singles. And I can check that... ponyinarope
  1. Live Baby Live
  2. Welcome to Wherever You Are
  3. "New Sensation" 7" (how I haven't found this is beyond me)
  4. "Mystify 7"
  5. "Listen Like Thieves" 7"
]]> Book It! tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2012://1.291 2012-01-16T18:19:21Z 2012-01-16T05:58:13Z Fewer finished books this month since I've taken to reading things that are at least 500 pages.Just Read:The Corrections- Jonathan FranzenHad a hard time getting into this one because the characters weren't all that likeable at first, but by the... ponyinarope
Just Read:

The Corrections- Jonathan Franzen

Had a hard time getting into this one because the characters weren't all that likeable at first, but by the end I understood them more. If you liked Six Feet Under, you'd probably like this.

The Snowman- Jo Nesbo

This is the first of the Harry Hole series I've read. I decided not to read them in order because this one sounded interesting and I didn't want to read 4 books before I got to it. I think it was worth it.

1Q84- Haruki Murakami

Enjoyed this one, reminded me of those movies that you don't fully understand the depth and complexity of until you watch them a second time.

Currently Reading:

I Want My MTV- Craig Marks & Rob Tannenbaum


Up Next (probably):

The Leopard- Jo Nesbo]]> Friday Five tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2012://1.292 2012-01-13T19:40:39Z 2012-01-13T19:59:36Z Right now I'm reading I Want My MTV, which is an oral history of MTV from 1981-1992. This book is so relevant to my interests it's insane. In some of the chapters they talk about specific videos, and despite my... ponyinarope I Want My MTV, which is an oral history of MTV from 1981-1992. This book is so relevant to my interests it's insane. In some of the chapters they talk about specific videos, and despite my ridiculous memory for videos, I find myself wanting to watch them anyway. So here's a few that are mentioned in the book, from the parts I've read so far (I'm only to 1985):

Eurythmics- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)



Eurthymics- Love is a Stranger (I'd never seen this one before but it's one of my favorite Eurhymics songs)



Tears For Fears- Pale Shelter



Duran Duran- Hungry Like the Wolf



Billy Squier- Rock Me Tonight (I hate Billy Squier, but there's a whole chapter on this one because it's so special)

]]> Friday Five tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2012://1.287 2012-01-06T18:14:53Z 2011-12-22T18:49:53Z Happy New Year!5 things I hope to be doing more of in 2012WorkingMovingStitchingBloggingEtsy-ing... ponyinarope
5 things I hope to be doing more of in 2012

  1. Working
  2. Moving
  3. Stitching
  4. Blogging
  5. Etsy-ing
]]> 2012: Music Resolutions tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2012://1.289 2012-01-05T18:24:28Z 2012-01-03T19:49:36Z Typically at the beginning of the year I'm so burnt out on albums from the previous year from all my list making activities, I take a break from all those albums and listen to older stuff. Last year, I made... ponyinarope list of albums I wanted to spend more time with, which ended up being pretty nice (I never did get around to listening to the Bright Eyes ones though). So here's what I'm planning to listen to more in 2012.

R.E.M.: once the Bowie journey is over, the plan is to listen to all the R.E.M. albums from the beginning.

Destroyer- Trouble in Dreams: never got into this album when it first came out

Okkervil River- Black Sheep Boy

Pearl Jam- Vitalogy

Sonic Youth]]> 2012: Crafty Resolutions tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2012://1.290 2012-01-04T18:05:25Z 2012-01-03T19:35:00Z I don't usually make resolutions of any kind, but I like the idea of having some crafty goals for the year. These are definitely subject to change depending on my employment status this year.1. Make those Christmas cards I flaked... ponyinarope
1. Make those Christmas cards I flaked out on last year.

2. Try knitting again. It was a frustrating, borderline disaster that really made me question wanting to knit in the first place. I'll try again in the fall.

3. Open an Etsy store. this is going to be my big project of the year (like my site redesign was last year). I've gone back and forth on the whole Etsy thing for a few years, but I think I'm ready to do it and see what happens.

4. Finish (and stitch) at least one pattern that I've put on hold.

5. Stitch something I'm really proud of. It's been awhile since I've done that. Still taking my stitchy break though.]]> Best of 2011: Albums tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.286 2011-12-31T18:18:16Z 2011-12-29T06:23:18Z This year, I listened to more new-to-me music than I probably have in a decade. Between new releases, going through David Bowie’s discography and discovering the awesomeness that is The Church, my ears have been busy. Not to mention starting... ponyinarope
For new releases, this was the year of the grower for me. Out of all the albums I heard, only two I actually liked the first time I listened to them (21 and Kaputt). There were a number of albums I was ready to write off before giving them one final listen and having the songs click for me. I think overall this was a good but not great (or particularly deep) year for music. My top album is hands down the best album of the year for me, although I really love all the albums in my top 5

10. Bright Eyes: The People's Key
Favorite songs: Haile Salassie, Shell Games

9. Okkervil River- I Am Very Far
Favorite songs: The Valley, Show Yourself

8. Emm Gryner- Northern Gospel
Favorite songs: Heartsleeves, Fast Exit

7. Sondre Lerche: Sondre Lerche
Favorite songs: Ricochet, Domino

6. Adele- 21
Favorite songs: Rumour Has It, I'll Be Waiting

5. Destroyer- Kaputt
Favorite songs: A Savage Night at the Opera, Kaputt

4. St. Vincent- Strange Mercy
Favorite songs: Dilettante, Chloe in the Afternoon

3. Beirut- The Rip Tide
Favorite songs: Port of Call, The Rip Tide

2. EMA- Past Life Martyred Saints
Favorite songs: Red Star, Butterfly Knife

1. PJ Harvey- Let England Shake
Favorite songs: The Colour of the Earth, In the Dark Places


Dishonorable mention:

Tune-yards: First, the alternating capitalization is just stupid, second, they're just a worse version of Vampire Weekend with a female singer.

James Blake: Boring with borderline awful singing


2010 album that should've made last year's list:

Twin Shadow- Forget


Looking forward to in 2012:

Isidore, Janelle Monae, Twin Shadow, David Usher]]> Best of 2011: Books tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.285 2011-12-30T18:09:59Z 2011-12-27T17:47:24Z It’s been awhile since I’ve done an end of year book list, but with getting a Kindle and a library card this year, I’ve been doing a lot of reading. I've split the list in 2 parts, one for books... ponyinarope end of year book list, but with getting a Kindle and a library card this year, I’ve been doing a lot of reading. I've split the list in 2 parts, one for books released this year and the other for other books I read for the first time this year.

2011 Favorites:
  1. The Art of Fielding- Chad Harbach
  2. Poke the Box- Seth Godin
  3. 1Q84- Haruki Murakami
  4. The Marriage Plot- Jeffery Eugenides
  5. Headhunters- Jo Nesbo

Other Favorites:

  1. The Likeness- Tana French
  2. The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest- Stieg Larsson
  3. After Dark- Haruki Murakami
  4. In the Woods- Tana French
  5. Middlemarch- George Eliot
]]> Best of 2011: Things tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.288 2011-12-29T18:20:10Z 2011-12-29T02:05:40Z Time to wrap the year up with a neat little bow. What better way to do that than with lots of lists? Today's list is all the random things I enjoyed this year.Nail polish: best cheap diversionTumblr: best way to... ponyinarope
Nail polish: best cheap diversion

Tumblr: best way to keep my sanity

A month in Texas: best trip

Blue Bell Southern Blackberry Cobbler: best ice cream

The Church: best new old band

PJ Harvey's first 2 albums: best albums I should've listened to sooner

"A Month of Sundays": best new favorite song

Homeland: best new show

Misfits: best streaming show

Portal 2: best game to play

Skyrim: best game to watch

Unfocused: best thing I made

Glitter berries: best cross stitch I wish I'd come up with]]> Friday Five tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.284 2011-12-23T18:18:25Z 2011-12-22T18:43:49Z I'll be posting my favorite albums list next week. PJ Harvey released an album that may or may not be my favorite of the year. In honor of that uncertainty, here's 5 of my favorite PJ Harvey songs.ShameDryCat on the... ponyinarope
  1. Shame
  2. Dry
  3. Cat on the Wall
  4. Catherine
  5. The Piano

Happy Holidays!]]> Book It! tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.281 2011-12-19T18:16:47Z 2011-12-18T05:22:13Z Been spending a lot of my time reading in the last month, partially because I can't get motivated to do much else at the moment. Luckily there are always books to read.Just Read:Faithful Place- Tana FrenchI enjoyed this one, although... ponyinarope
Just Read:

Faithful Place- Tana French

I enjoyed this one, although not as much as her first 2 books. Definitely looking forward to the next book.

The Art of Fielding- Chad Harbach

I've seen this book everywhere for the last few months. Finally decided to read it and it was definitely worth it, one of the best books I've read this year.

After Dark- Haruki Murakami

I really enjoyed this one. Liked it more than Norweigan Wood.

Currently Reading:

1Q84- Haruki Murakami


Up Next (probably):

The Snowman- Jo Nesbo

The Corrections- Jonathan Franzen]]> Friday Five tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.283 2011-12-16T18:25:06Z 2011-12-10T06:38:18Z I'll be posting my favorite albums list in a couple of weeks. Sondre Lerche released an album that may or may not be my favorite of the year. In honor of that uncertainty, here's 5 of my favorite Sondre Lerche... ponyinarope
  1. Sleep On Needles
  2. Easy To Persuade
  3. No One's Gonna Come
  4. She's Fantastic
  5. (I Wanna) Call It Love
]]> Friday Five tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.282 2011-12-02T18:21:00Z 2011-12-02T06:47:21Z Things I've been doing during my stitching sabbatical:ReadingCookingKnitting (unsuccessfully)Making Christmas cards (thinking about it anyway)Debating the merits of The Walking Dead... ponyinarope
  1. Reading
  2. Cooking
  3. Knitting (unsuccessfully)
  4. Making Christmas cards (thinking about it anyway)
  5. Debating the merits of The Walking Dead
]]> WIP Wednesday: Cheesecake Edition tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.280 2011-11-26T04:41:05Z 2011-11-26T04:53:59Z Note: I was supposed to post this Wednesday (obviously) but I'm having a week of complete stupidity and forgot to. So glad this week is over.My contribution to Thanksgiving this year is pumpkin cheesecake (I don't like pie). I first... ponyinarope Note: I was supposed to post this Wednesday (obviously) but I'm having a week of complete stupidity and forgot to. So glad this week is over.

My contribution to Thanksgiving this year is pumpkin cheesecake (I don't like pie). I first made it a couple of years ago and almost burned my house down* in the process thanks to a dripping springform pan. Despite that, it turned out pretty tasty.

Here's the main ingredient for the crust. Non-homemade gingersnaps are the devil. You will break teeth trying to eat them. Luckily I was just beating them to a bloody pulp.

pc1

I had a picture of the crust, but frankly the crust didn't meet with my OCD level approval so I'm hiding it and hoping it tastes better than it looks.

Here's the cheesecake ready for the oven. I didn't have a flat frosting spatula thingie so it's not as smooth as it could be. That bothered me greatly.

pc2

And here's the finished product before I put it in the fridge to sit until tomorrow. Annoyed about the cracks, I didn't have any the first time. Have I mentioned that baking brings out the perfectionist in me? Note the drip stopping foil. I got smart this time.

pc3

*not really, but the place did fill up with smoke

Happy Thanksgiving!]]> Book It! tag:www.ponyinarope.com,2011://1.272 2011-11-21T17:26:49Z 2011-11-18T05:18:40Z With all the books I'm reading right now, I've decided to do a monthly book update. I'll keep things spoiler free.Just read:The Likeness- Tana FrenchLoved this book, going back and forth in my head as to whether I liked it... ponyinarope
Just read:

The Likeness- Tana French
Loved this book, going back and forth in my head as to whether I liked it more or less than In The Woods. Was definitely one of those books that sticks with you even after you finish it.
The Visible Man- Chuck Klosterman
As someone who has studied psychology, parts of this book drove me nuts. Like yelling at the book nuts. And yet that didn't take away from enjoying it.
The Marriage Plot- Jeffery Eugenides
Been looking forward to this book for months. I enjoyed it but I think I'll have to read it again to fully appreciate it.
Are We Not New Wave?- Theo Cateforis
Recommended if you're a fan of late 70s/early 80s music.
Headhunters- Jo Nesbo
If you liked Stieg Larsson's books, you'll probably enjoy this.
Damned- Chuck Palanhuik
Enjoyed this one. Thought it was better than Tell-All.

Currently reading:

Faithful Place- Tana French


Up next (probably):

Cloud Atlas- David Mitchell

1Q84- Haruki Murakami

]]>