Feliz Navidad!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Today is my favorite holiday, hands down. Good food, good company, good times.

So this is random, but Sade was on Power 106 a couple days ago and it was amazing. I had the dumbest look on my face as I was driving and thinking, "1. This isn't hip-hop, what's it doing on this station? 2. I don't care because I'm feeling this song. 3. ...IS THIS SADE???" Considering her music style and the fact that she dropped off the face of the Earth since her last album, I was pleasantly surprised to hear her new single "Soldier of Love" on the radio.

SO! Young Buck did a remix of Sade's song "Soldier of Love." I'm sharing this with everyone as a Christmas gift. Brand spanking new. AND SO GOOD!! I'll be jamming to this through the rest of 2009 and well into 2010.



Enjoy!
-Gabz

Nothin' on you, baby

Song of the day: B.o.B. (Bobby Ray) ft. Bruno Mars- Nothin' on You. Not a club banger, but hot shit nonetheless. I promise the next song will be more upbeat/gangsta ... the holidays are making me too sappy. Yesterday I caught myself tearing up during two different episodes of "Full House." Embarrassingly enough, they were episodes I had already seen multiple times.



-Gabz

Just some thoughts...

I was on the phone with Kikz when she asked me if I thought the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason," is true. I know I say it a lot as a coping mechanism when something in my life goes wrong, but is it really true? I think the phrase implies that there's a grand plan for all of us, and every event is all part of this grand plan. I just don't think life works like that.

What if we lose the best thing that's ever happened to us because we don't fight for it? What if life doesn't get better for you after a tragic event? I don't mean to sound nihilistic or pessimistic... but I think life is random, all about timing, and oftentimes left up to chance.

To me, "When one door closes, another one opens" is a better way of thinking about life. I'd rather actively look for new opportunities when something bad happens than to dwell on the closed door, thinking there is a reason behind it. Related, but ultimately different, ideas behind the two quotes.

-Gabz

My latest girl-crush: Alicia Keys

In this entry, I just want to apologize to Alicia Keys for being such a goddamn hater for so many years. I remember talking shit in 2002 when she was in Eve's "Gangsta Lovin" video and I definitely still hate her song, "No One"... but it's about time I pay her some respect. She's been playing on my iTunes non-stop lately, so I think I'll share the joy with you:

This song, "Put it in a Love Song" by Alicia Keys ft. Beyonce hasn't had much radio play yet, but it will be huge. Mark my words.



This song, "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" I have heard a few times on the radio. It's a little slow so I'm not sure it's everyone's flavor, but I really like it. Empowering. And she doesn't play the piano while standing in this video (but you know she wants to...)! Major plus.



Also, check out her performance ft. Stephen Colbert in "Empire State of Mind." Hahaha!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

You're welcome!
-Gabz

"May the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows"

Operation Make-People-Crafty-Gifts has been put on hold. I lost my credit card AND debit card at a bar so I have no means to do anything. Third best thing I'm good at: losing shit. Luckily I have "Lost Citicard" on speed dial so I can immediately call them to cancel my cards. I wish I were kidding about this.

Forget about Christmas for a sec. New Year's is coming up! Such an overrated holiday, mostly because it's a holiday that doesn't revolve around food. Anyway, thinking about New Years got me thinking about the importance of this upcoming year. 2010 is the year I will graduate from undergrad, move out of my family's house for good, make payments on things I've never had to pay for before, and decide what I want to do with my life (kinda). As often as I give people my spiel about my post-grad plans, nothing is ever definite... how scary is that? But despite the indefiniteness of my future and my tendency to be pessimistic about my own life, I just feel good about 2010, and I hope everything falls into place (cue: Modest Mouse- "Gravity Rides Everything").

Love,
Gabz

True Life: I'm a Martha Stewart wannabe

If it's one thing I'm an expert at, it's procrastinating. I kinda forgot that Christmas is only a week away and despite having two jobs, I'm completely broke (probably because the 2nd best thing I'm good at is spending). So I'm left here at 2:30AM on December 19th trying to figure out what to get my family for Christmas.

I like to think I can be crafty so I'm challenging myself to make everyone's presents this year. I'm just feeling so uninspired right now. I went on etsy.com to stir up some motivation/steal ideas and the only really cool thing I saw was "Slimy Jell-O Treats."


So I guess I'll see what I can muster up. I want to make a picture frame for my sister and bro-in-law, cool t-shirt for the popz, stuffed animal for Blakey, and a treasure/memory/jewelry box thing for Madie. I'd bet $10 that I don't actually go through with all this, except I'm broke and don't have $10 to bet.

Props to Kikz for giving me a ticket to this blog train.

Until next time,
Gabz