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February « 2008 « haydenandapryl.com

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February 12, 2008

Snowglobe on Pitchfork

Filed under: Music — Hayden @ 10:08 am

Hard to believe, but Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” is ten years old! And to celebrate, Pitchfork has a feature where various artists’ give reactions to this timeless, indie classic. Among the artists reflecting are Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal), David Vandervelde, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Dan Snaith (Caribou), and… Memphis’ own (and old friend) Jeff Hulett (Snowglobe). Jeff remembers the first time he “saw” Neutral Milk Hotel playing at the Young Avenue Deli opening up for Superchunk. Apparently, he was too young and wasn’t allowed inside, and thus had to experience the show outside in the rain. I also remember that show, and it stills holds a high position as one of the best live shows I have ever seen. As for the underage part, Jeff should have done what me and my friend Daniel did when we drove to Nashville to see The Magnetic Fields in `97. Like Jeff, we were told we weren’t old enough to be in the club but weren’t kicked out when the Field’s drummer/singer Claudia Gonson got us to sell their merchandise. That was another show that ranks very high on my best live show list.

While we’re on the subject of Snowglobe, a few weeks ago, I discovered that an old video I did for Snowglobe was on YouTube. Really, I had no idea. See it here.

Also, I have edited a few clips from a Snowglobe CD release party I shot with some friends on Vimeo. Does anyone else use Vimeo?

One more self promotion: Today, I can be heard on WEVL 89.9FM from 4 – 6pm with another episode of The Music Lovers Monthly Review.

Snowglobe at HiTone

Snowglobe at the HiTone on Christmas Day `07.

February 8, 2008

Eva’s Condition

Filed under: Eva Cat — Hayden @ 11:19 am

Well, I was hoping for better news. I got a call from our veterinarian last night around 7 o’clock that Eva’s lump was suspicious enough to have it removed. It definitely appears to be Feline Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma, which might be the result of a rabies shot she was given in `06. So hard to fathom that something that was supposed to help her could later be the cause of cancer. How rare is this? The statics aren’t completely clear but somewhere between 3 in 10,000 and 1 in 1,000.

The next step is to remove the tumor. And for this to be successful, the surgeon must have clean margins, which our veterinarian believes she has with Eva. Just in case, more around the tumor is cut due to the fact that the cancer might have already started spreading. That is if it is cancer. After the lump is removed, the vet will know within 7–10 days whether or not the lump was cancerous. I suppose I’m just trying to stay realistic.

Now, if it is in fact sarcoma, there is a 60%–80% chance that it will come back. In that case, we will have to have Eva’s back leg amputated. My goodness, that sounds so bizarre. Still again, staying grounded here. So next Friday, Eva will go in for surgery to remove the lump. And then we’ll just have to go from there. I will certainly keep you posted on any new developments with her condition.

For right now, Eva is completely herself. Lazy one second, and a bolt of energy the next. As I write this, she’s napping on my arm. Luckily, not like this:

Eva on Hand

This photos always reminds me of Laser Cats!

Here’s another link: This one is for a petition demanding safer vaccinations for our pets.

February 7, 2008

And now we go west of the Rockies…

Filed under: Random — Hayden @ 3:54 pm

Coast To Coast logo

Do you enjoy staying up late listening to the radio about tales of extraterrestrials, conspiracy theories, and cryptological anomalies? Well, then you must be a fan of Coast To Coast AM. And if you are, you might be interested to know that you can enjoy “Free Streaming Week” through February 10th, simply by signing away your life. I did.

Plastic Bags Blow (a post for Apryl)

Filed under: Random — Hayden @ 2:50 pm

Dominicks

Apryl dislikes plastic bags. If you know her, you know this to be true. One of her favorite companies is the Chicago company, Reusable Bags, which provides an alternative to the wasteful plastic bag. Think about it, nearly everywhere you go to spend your money, you’re more than likely coming back with a plastic bag. And there doesn’t seem to be worse offender than the grocery store. Well, Apryl bought us our own reusable bags which we take everywhere, especially the grocery store. Some groceries are starting to get the message on how damaging plastic bags are to our environment. Dominicks, which is where we typically get our groceries, sell their own reusable bags. I’ve even purchased a few so that I could keep them in my car. Strack & Van Til, another grocery store we occasionally shop at, credits you a quarter for each reusable bag that you use at check out. Still, it’s obvious that the general population or most businesses haven’t caught on. A common reaction: “Are you sure you don’t want a bag?”

Well, it looks like Chicago is ready to do something about such wastefulness. Well, at least two aldermen are, as they are proposing an ordinance that would require any store that has five or more stores to provide not only reusable bags for sale, but also a recycle bin for used plastic bags. Hopefully, this will pass without any troubles. Here’s the full story. Also, check out the 45 comments sparked by the story.

February 6, 2008

Our 1st Snow Shovel

Filed under: Weather — Hayden @ 11:05 pm

Apryl shoveling snowHayden shoveling snow

Apryl and I testing out our new (and first) snow shovel.

It works!

Breaking news now in Memphis…

Filed under: Weather — Hayden @ 11:44 am

Wow, Apryl and I heard about the tornadoes that touched down in Memphis (as well as Oxford and Jackson), which is never the way you want to hear about your hometown on the local news. Everyone OK?

It seems like on the storm front, we’re next. We were suppose to get a major snow storm last night, but it seems like that’s all going to occur now this afternoon. From the Chicago Tribune, “The unstable weather system is associated with a line of storms that raged across the southern part of the nation Tuesday night, spawning twisters that ripped through at least four states and killed at least 47 people.” Speaking of the Tribune, the online edition has some crazy photos from yesterday’s storms down South.

February 5, 2008

Send good thoughts

Filed under: Eva Cat — Hayden @ 7:34 pm

Today, I had to take Eva to the vet so she could get a small lump on her leg checked out. The lump, which is on her upper back leg, doesn’t seem to cause her any pain or discomfort but is still alarming. Since Eva hadn’t been to the vet in Chicago yet, I had to do some research on Yelp. Luckily, I found a favorable vet called My Vet which is located in our Bucktown neighborhood. Both the people and the service were fantastic. And Eva was a very good girl.

The lump could be any number of things but the scariest possibility is cancer. The vet took a sample, and we should get the results by Thursday or Friday. Until then, any good vibrations you can send this way would be greatly appreciated.

Eva relaxin'

Eva relaxin’

February 4, 2008

A Super weekend

Filed under: Food,In the Hood,Movies,Sports,Weather — Hayden @ 11:49 am

It was a good weekend.

On Friday, our friend Trey invited me and Apryl to a house party that was going on in our neighborhood. The party was being hosted by Trey’s friend Jim, a very talented photographer. At the party, there was a musical performance from the legendary Sally Timms (The Mekons) along with Janet Bean (Eleventh Dream Day, Freakwater, etc.), and Jim Elkington (The Zincs). To call the performance intimate would be an understatement. Below, the group playing in Jim’s amazing apartment (above his studio):

Sally Timms and Co.

Since there was no cover, it was up to Pepsi Co. and their new drink Tava to help provide the funds for the band and the pizza. Because of the Tava sponsorship, you weren’t allowed to drink anything other than Tava until a certain time. And while you sipped away on the Tava, a photographer roamed around snapping photos of you, and a video crew took random folks downstairs to the studio to interview them about their Tava experience. I kid you not! So if you see me and Apryl on a billboard chugging down Mediterranean Fiesta, you know how it happened. And that our payment was pizza.

Tavatastic

Saturday, the owners of the company I work for a lot were screening a film they just produced called Senator Obama Goes To Africa at the Music Box (where we watched White Christmas). I believe that anyone who watches this film, no matter what your political outlook is, will get to see Obama as more than a politician, also as a keen listener, and an individual who is honestly sensitive to others’ hardships. Beyond the subject matter, this low-budget film is quite a technical achievement and makes me proud that I get to work with this company.

That night, Apryl and I got Mexican DELIVERED. How great is that? Most importantly, it was good.

On Sunday, Apryl and I ventured out to our friends Brooke and Jeff’s apartment in Edgewater to watch the Super Bowl. And what a venture it was. We were waiting for our bus for close to forty minutes until we finally got a cab (our first time in Chicago). Well, our cab driver was from the suburbs and didn’t know how to get to Edgewater without me telling him. On top of that, he only had three dollars in change. What?!? So instead of having him take us all the way, we had him drop us off at the Fullerton train station, where we took the Red Line to Edgewater. We got there about five minutes before half time. Oh well, the real action took place in the second half, right? What a game! I would have to go way back to remember a better Super Bowl. Congratulations, Giants!

Apryl in Edgewater

During the game, it starting snowing really hard outside. Above, Apryl humors me for a second as I take her picture walking back to the train station. Notice the Tupperware in her hands, which contains leftover homemade brownies and butter cookies. Yummy!

Thorndale Stop

The Thorndale train stop in the snow. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long. Instead of dealing with another late bus, we decided to take the Red Line all the way to The Loop (downtown) and transfer over to the Blue Line. A little out of the way, but we didn’t have to wait outside in the snow.

February 1, 2008

Snow Photos

Filed under: In the Hood,Weather — Hayden @ 1:42 pm

Looking out the front door and seeing snow

Check out a few photos I took around the neighborhood of our recent snow storm.

The Sox get into the Zone…

Filed under: Sports — Hayden @ 2:05 am

White Sox ornament

Hard to believe (especially with the amount of snow accumulated outside), but in twenty seven days the Chicago White Sox will start their spring training season in Tucson, Arizona. Of the 30+ games, thirteen are being televised on Comcast SportsNet, WGN and ESPN. Ready for my Game Reports? In fact, the Sox have made some nice lineup additions (Orlando Cabrera, Nick Swisher, Octavio Dotel, etc.) during the off season, which makes me hopefully for a far better season than`07.

However, the best news is that the Sox last game of spring training is going to be played in Memphis at the AutoZone Park! On March 29, the Sox will take on the New York Mets as part of the Civil Rights Game, which will be shown on ESPN. For some reason, I thought the Cardinals always played this game. But whatever. Now, is it silly for me to fly down for a single, spring training game?

Commercial Appeal article.

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