An Urban Dictionary Love Affair

Sometimes, Urban Dictionary cures boredom like no other. To Do Today: Look up your name. It's fun.

Slang word of the day:
Frisbeetarianism
The philosophy that when you die, your soul goes up on a roof and gets stuck. (George Carlin)
ex. "I don't believe in reincarnation. I am a strong Frisbeetarianist."

Lots of love and slang,
Caitlin

Hello, stranger!

I've returned! I just got back from my first camping trip - ever. I had the privilege of being the counselor for a Jr. High camp this weekend and after four days of becoming one with nature, jumping off waterfalls (for reals!), and sleeping with pine cones in my back - it's good to be back among civilization. That's not to say I didn't learn important lessons along the way though - like the value of a flashlight to avoid wandering into neighboring camps and being mistaken for a large animal. That totally could have happened to me, but luckily I was prepared. I also learned that I am terrible at card games. Really. I have very little strategy or will to strategize. Also, I learned that just when you think boys are about to get bored of skipping stones in a river for an hour, they invent a new game - throwing stones at boulders! It's like video games only better, apparently. But really, to be honest, I loved camping. Hot dogs have never tasted better, I slept like a baby, AND (and this is a big deal) I actually enjoyed running around and hiking all day. If you're ever around Mt. Shasta, totally check out Castle Crags - it was pretty sweet.

So in the last few weeks I've been trying to catch up on some reading. You know, books that I definitely should have read by now since everyone and their mother is reading them? Yeah, those. So here's a look at my reading list at the moment:
1. Helen of Troy by Margaret George - I don't know if everyone is actually reading this or not, but I am (about a fourth through) and so far it's pretty good. It's like learning about Greek mythology without actually having to crack a textbook. I'm down with that.
2. The Hours by Michael Cunningham- Okay, so maybe everyone isn't reading this either, but I was reading Virginia Woolf for a class last semester and I was interested to see how her story is woven into this novel. Plus, Cunningham won a Pulitzer Prize, so that must count for something, right? Right.
3. Varieties of Disturbance by Lydia Davis - This is one of those books that I randomly grabbed while in the library, but so far I'm really enjoying it. It's a collection of some pretty unconventional short stories. Some are really, really short...In fact, here's one for you called Collaboration with Fly: "I put that word on the page, but he added the apostrophe." Ha! The end.
4. Dead Heat by Joel C. Rosenberg - So you've probably heard of The Last Jihad, the book about a terrorist plane attack written 9 months before 9/11. Well, Dead Heat is yet another book by Rosenberg. Here's what the back of the book says, "The stage is set for war. Oil prices are surging to record heights. A new dictator is rising in Iraq. China is threatening Taiwan. North Korean forces are ready to strike south. Israel is feverishly trying to complete the third temple." Some of that sounds a little familiar, doesn't it? Oooo...I've got chills already. I can't wait to get started on this one. I love political thrillers.
5. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers - So a few friends recommended this book, so of course I had to see what all the hype was about. Once you get past the psuedo-self-indulgent introduction (How is that possible you say? No idea, but it's there.), it's actually quite a...uh...heartbreaking work of staggering genius? I don't know. There's some really funny and original stuff in here though.

So, maybe not everyone and their mother is reading them. But I am! (Very slowly - the consequence of trying to read a few different books at a time). And so far I definitely recommend that you pick them up.

Song of the Day: "I'm Amazed" by My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket's fifth album Evil Urges was released a few weeks ago (June 10). I love these guys. There's something truly Americana about their sound...if that makes sense. Described as a mix of indie rock, country rock, southern rock, psychedelic, and jam band styles, the band was also featured (under the name Ruckus) in the film Elizabethtown (one of my faves). Basically, I think a few of their songs belong on your Fourth of July playlist. Check out the free download here.

Oh! And guess what? While I was away camping, Caffeine celebrated (without an actual celebration) it's one month anniversary! Thanks for reading!

Lots of love and Americana,
Caitlin

Music Video Show and Tell

Metronomy - Radio Ladio

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

Sia-Breathe Me

To My Boy - "I am X Ray"

Justice - D.A.N.C.E

Yelle - "ACDG" (I love the Eurotrash boys Dancing).

Bat for Lashes - What's a Girl to Do

Flyleaf - All Around Me

AND SURPRISE! A music video my friend Bryce and I made for 23jinx.

Weekend Plans: I always like to brag about the cool and artsy friends I get to hang around. Some of these guys I know, Chris, Matt, and Tim are in a local band called Burgundy. They have some of their sweet songs up online and hopefully, in the near future, an interview with all four members of the band will be available here on Caffeine for your reading pleasure. If you're in the Sacramento area this Friday night you can check them out at the VOX café on the corner of 19th and X at 7 PM. If you've wondered where to find all the Christian, hardcore/metal bands in Sacramento - this is the place! Burgundy will be playing with The Shotgun Effect, The Fall of Autumn, Hello, Sailor, and The Color Amnesty. Tickets are only $5. Come support the local music scene, people!

Lots of love and hxc,
Caitlin

Books and Movies and Museums, oh my!

Hello again, dear Reader. This week I'm appealing to all of you bibliophiles. You know how seeing a movie before reading the book can kill even the best novel ever? I hate that. So, to save you from a similar fate, here's a heads up to some new movies in the works that come from some of my favorite (or, at least, well liked) books. Read them first!

1. Journey to the Center of the Earth - It's going to be in 3-D with Brendan Fraser. Need I say more? Release Date (or Read Before): July 11, 2008

2. Inkheart - Brendan Fraser again? It's a teen fiction read by German author Cornelia Funke about a bookbinder who can bring characters to life in his books when he reads them aloud. This equals trouble when the villain escapes. I read this book in middle school and I remember liking it enough to read the sequel, Inkspell. There's also a third book, Inkdeath, due out in English in October of 2008. Read Before January 20, 2009.

3. The Giver - You have plenty of time to read this one - it's release is set for 2011. This still has to be one of my favorite books from middle school...about a utopian society that seems perfect until a young boy learns about the true suffering and joys of the "real" world. And Dustin Hoffman!!

4. Angels & Demons - Dan Brown's prequel to the DaVinci Code has just as much controversy surrounding the film as ever. Director Ron Howard and actor Tom Hanks have been banned by the Catholic church from filming in two Rome churches considered vital to the plot. Crazy, huh? Read before May 15, 2008.

5. Dune - Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom) will be directing the latest attempt to adapt Frank Herbert's popular sci-fi novel. Read before 2010.

6. The City of Ember - I loved this book back in the day (okay, it was 2003). It's a three part series including The People of Sparks and The Prophet of Yonwood. The first in the series is about a city that has always flourished until the lamps that light the city start to flicker and darkness threatens their entire way of life. Two teenagers try to unlock the mystery of their city, have an adventure, and so on. Bill Murray is going to play the mayor and the main character, Lina, will be played by Saoirse Ronan (Atonement). Read before October 10, 2008.

7. Twilight - Considering all the hype that's surrounding this movie, you really have to read the book first. Sure, a film (or book, for that matter) about love and vampires seems incredibly cheesy, but maybe it will stray away from being your average chick flick. Some have compared the popularity of the book series to that of Harry Potter. I don't know if I agree, but I'm willing to give these books a chance - mostly because they are the perfect beach read. The Twilight Saga has four books total: Twilight, Eclipse, New Moon, and the soon-to-be-released Breaking Dawn (August 2nd). The film also looks pretty promising with Kristin Stewart (Into the Wild, In the Land of Women) and Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter as Cedric Diggory, Vanity Fair) playing the lead characters. Read before December 12, 2008.

8. Atlas Shrugged - A powerful railroad executive, Dagny Taggart, struggles to keep her business alive while society is crumbling around her. It's rumored that Angelina Jolie will be playing her. Just to warn you, this is a heavy read. At over 1,000 pages long, it is one of the longest novels ever written in any European language. The book explores a number of philosophical themes Rand would later develop into Objectivism. Atlas Shrugged was voted the most influencial book in reader's lives after the Bible. Read before 2009.

9. The Hobbit - Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth) directing the Hobbit?! I'm so there. Ah! And James MacAvoy is rumored to play Bilbo. Sweet! Read before December 2011.

10. The Tale of Desperaux - The tale of three unlikely heroes - a misfit mouse who prefers reading books to eating them, an unhappy rat who schemes to leave the darkness of the dungeon, and a bumbling servant girl with cauliflower ears - whose fates are intertwined with that of the castle's princess. This film has some pretty big star power: Sigourney Weaver, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew Broderick, to name a few. Read before December 19, 2008.

11. The Lovely Bones - Great, great book. The story of a young girl, brutally raped and murdered, as she watches the effect of her death on her family, friends, and murderer from Heaven. Directed by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, King Kong)! Mark Whalberg, Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Wiesz, and Susan Sarandon are all in this one. Read before October 9, 2009.

12. The Time Traveler's Wife - A lovely book, hopefully a lovely movie? It's a romantic drama about a Chicago librarian (Eric Bana) with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage to Clare (Rachel McAdams). Read before December 25, 2008.

13. My Sister's Keeper - Directed by Nick Cassavettes (The Notebook) and starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, and Joan Cusack. Read before 2009.

I love the Tony Awards. Take a look at this year's winner of Best Musical, In The Heights.

Weekend Plans:

I think everyone who lives in the Sacramento area has visited the Crocker Art Museum at least once. Chances are it was in elementary school - that time in your life where you look at modern art, scoff, and think to yourself, I could do that. Well, I think it's time to give the Crocker Art Museum a second chance. With it's current exhibition, The Language of the Nude, the museum unveils 60 of it's rarely seen drawings of the human form. In August, Andy Warhol and American Pop will be the focus of its new exhibition. Also, every Thursday the Museum is open late to host special tours and programs including lectures, classes, and concerts. Highlight tours feature different themes every month and begin at 6:30 PM.

Okay, here is the best part: admission is only $3 with a student ID and FREE Sundays from 10 AM-1 PM. I see some serious inexpensive (yet romantic) date potential here. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM-5 PM. Thursday, 10 AM-9 PM, (closed on Mondays)

NOTE: Don't forget to check out Digital Crocker, the Museum's Online collection of over 500 works of art.

Song of the Day: Last Request by Paolo Nutini

This Scottish singer/songwriter released his first album, These Streets, in 2006. His song, Last Request, was featured at the end of the Scrubs episode "My Words of Wisdom" in Season 6.

Lots of love and artsy-ness,
Caitlin

iblog mini

Watch Into the Wild with Emile Hirsch. It will bring out your inner hippie, introduce you to the call of the wild, and make you want to go rough it in the wilderness (well, sort of) - and all in 148 minutes, ladies and gentlemen. It's based on the real story of Chris McCandless, an Emory University grad who gave up his possessions, money, and indentity to live in the wilderness of Alaska. It's a gem in my book. Not to mention director and author of the screenplay, Sean Penn's great attention to detail and heartbreaking insights into society's young generation. Do not delay.

To go along with that, the song of the day comes from the movie soundtrack, comprised largely from original and covered songs for the film by Eddie Veder (Pearl Jam vocalist) and with songs by Michael Brook in the credits. I really recommend the whole album, but definitely check out the cover of Indio's Hard Sun and Rise. Make this the soundtrack to your summer road trip.

Lots of love and tree hugs,
Caitlin

Espresso Yourself: Check it out!

Summer finally feels like it's taking off, which in my life usually means that I am busy, busy, busy. You see, my summer style doesn't really revolve around lazing around by the pool and having endless movie marathons, I'm all about going out and doing something. Hence, the short hiatus from Caffeine. But fear not, I have returned, and after a lovely three day vacation spent antique shopping and tea partying with my best friend, I come to you with some more new and exciting things you need to check out this summer.

First of all, I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight the Expresso Yourself links on the sidebar. Not only because there are some pretty interesting blogs and websites that will surely entertain you, but also because many of them are interactive, D.I.Y., and boredom busting!

1. 21Q (or Who Knew Sactown was Interesting?) - So I stumbled across this when I was looking up our subscription to the Bee and was surprised to see all that is happening in the world of arts, entertainment, fashion, and pop culture just in Sacramento. With contributors from The Bee and multiple posts a day, there is always something new to check out.

2. 253 (or the Online Novel that Conquers Boredom) - Imagine 253 people on London's Underground headed for Elephant and castle. Each car holds 36 seats and a driver, each with their own stories. This is how 253 begins to unfold. It's the ultimate novel about degrees of separation. As you read snapshots of each character you can follow hyperlinks to another and discover their relationship. It's a throwback to those Choose Your Own Adventure novels. This is really the perfect 0n-the-go novel. It's entirely online, it's interactive, and you can never lose your spot. Ryman's comedy is spot-on and he has a mosaic of insights to share.

3. Cosmogirl DIY (or How I Keep Myself Busy) - Now before you chuckle about my link to Cosmogirl, you have to check it out. Though intended for ladies, the step-by-step instructions for making t-shirts, necklaces, curtains, and the like could be made as gifts too.

4. Domino (or How to Make the World Prettier) - Domino is hands-down my favorite home decór and interior design magazine of all time. If nothing else, it can help you figure out how to make your dorm room somewhat resemble a homey place to live. On the website, however, there are instructions for everything from wiring an outdoor plug to starting your own garden. Basically, the inspiration for my future home will come from the pages of this magazine.

5. Instructables (or Show and Tell) - If you've ever wondered how to make a Smoothie-Making Human Powered Bicycle or an Underwater Microphone then this is the website for you. There's How-to and Show-and-Tell videos on virtually everything.

6. Pandora (or Instant Party Music) - Music analysts look closely at the characteristics of each song and then you can choose a song you like and Pandora will look for songs with similar characteristics based on over 400 different factors. It's great if you're someone who is looking for music to match your mood. Pandora gets it right for me almost every time.

7. Ryan Horsfall, Magician (or My Friend Ryan is cool) - The title says it all really. If you're looking for entertainment for a party or corporate event, Ryan does a really good job...

8. The Big Four Blog (or The Blog Written by My Cool, Smart Friend) - The Big Four refers to the prime interests of this blogger - music, movies, sports, and politics. Filled with random facts, the blogger's take on the latest news headlines, music recommendations, and more - this blog is a constant surprise. Plus, he's my friend, which makes it 10x cooler.

9. The Clothes Horse (or Inspiration for my Closet) - Just one of those guilty pleasure blogs that fulfills my fashion quota of the day on a regular basis.

10. The Sound of Young America (or Not Your Grandmother's Radio Show) - This is a real treat for your ears, brain, and funny bone all in one. Each week, host Jesse Thorn, self proclaimed as "America's Radio Sweetheart," interviews personalities from the entertainment and arts world. From stand-up comedians to authors of what may be the next great American novel, you don't want to miss an episode.

11. This Blog Will Make You a Better, Smarter Person (or Yeah....) - So I stumbled across this blog on accident, but it is actually one of my favorites here. I saw a show at the American College Theatre Festival this year by a student at UCLA, Kit Steinkellner. I was looking for information about her play later on google (it was an amazing show, by the way) and I found her blog, which is also a gem. It's artsy and full of personality and I guess you have to read it to experience it. It's definitely served as a bit of inspiration for my own blog. Make sure you look at the Websites she likes. There are some really great webisodes there that I also love: Clark and Michael, Ryder's Reel, Dorm Life, and Quarterlife, to name a few. Though she doesn't update very often, check out the archive for some pretty interesting stuff.

12. Threadbanger (or Cooler Clothes Than Yours) - Videos on a variety of do-it-yourself projects for your closet and home. I promise that watching these webisodes will bring out your inner craftiness like no other.

13. Zulkey (or A Better Blog) - Claire Zulkey describes it best: "It's kind of a humor site, kind of a blog, kind of a repository for my writings, kind of an after-dinner mint for the brain." Check it.

Song of the Day: So out of nostalgia, the song of the day is Anne's Theme from the film Anne of Green Gables. This was the favorite film of my childhood and this song is what I hear driving around on those perfect summer days. The instrumental is beautiful and heartbreaking. If you've ever been a fan of the books or movies, you'll absolutely love it. If not, you are missing out, in my opinion. I have the youtube piano version here, but the full instrumental (10x better) is on itunes.

Lots of Love and Tea Parties,

Caitlin