Posts filed under 'Atypical Musings'
Free Song Download:: “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” – Seabird
Seabird is back with a new single entitled “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” which hit all digital outlets November 3. The track is pulled off of their sophomore album, Rocks Into Rivers, which releases on December 15. And now you have the chance to download “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” here!
A follow up to Seabird’s 2008 critically acclaimed label debut, ‘Til We See The Shore, Rocks Into Rivers features top-notch production by Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Sixpence None The Richer) and Matt Hales from Aqualung. The band split its time between Ocean Studios in Los Angeles and The Smoakstack in Nashville, honing what brothers Aaron and Ryan Morgan are calling their most exciting project to date.
Cincinnati-based Seabird comprises brothers Aaron (vocals/keys) and Ryan (guitar) Morgan as well as Preston Lane (drums). The band signed with Credential Recordings in late 2007 and released its debut label project,‘Til We See The Shore, June 24, 2008. A collaborative effort with producers Jacquire King (Modest Mouse, Kings Of Leon, Tom Waits, Switchfoot) and Allen Salmon (Mute Math), the album received phenomenal national publicity, featured on episodes of “Numb3rs,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and promos for ABC’s 12-time Emmy-nominated series, “Pushing Daisies.” The band was also recognized by its hometown as “Artist of the Year” at the 2008 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards and toured with artists including Barcelona, Meese, and Jars of Clay throughout the spring and summer of 2009. (Read Backseat Writer’s interview with Seabird’s Aaron Morgan, “Seabird Sees The Shore“!)
LISTEN TO AND/OR DOWNLOAD “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” BY SEABIRD HERE! (This will take you to an external link.)
Add comment November 13, 2009
Amy’s Trip to Florida, Part 1
During the last week of October, I went to Florida with my mom and my best friend, Sarah. We had a great time laughing, swimming, exploring, and letting our hair down–so to speak! Getting a sinus/double ear infection on the way back was not so fun, but hey, at least I wasn’t gagging up phlegm in Florida, right? Anyway, I wanted to share a few of our trip pics, many of these are intimate nature shots from Homosassa Springs–a wildlife preserve that has…wait for it…MANATEES! Enjoy! More Homosassa Springs and other trip pics next week!
Someone told me that manatees look like potatoes floating in water. Yeah, this manatee definitely has that floating potato look.
Flapping’s more fun with friends.
2 comments November 11, 2009
Pretty Pets in Costumes with a Pumpkin, Take 2
After deciding to adorn my pumpkin with a bow, I decided to adorn my pets with their Halloween costumes. Yes, I put my dogs in Halloween costumes–not only at Halloween, but also sometimes just for fun. And, of course, I took pictures. Maddy the Shih Tzu (white/gray) loves dressing up while Cassie the Peekapoo (tan) detests it and neither dog is fond of wearing hats. Despite all the tomfoolery, I was able to get both dogs and the pumpkin in some pictures!
It only took 20 minutes to get this shot…sheesh! Maddy looks like she’s turning into a vamp puppy.
Cassie gives up the fight and sits nicely for her picture.
Then Maddy intruded into Cassie’s portrait.
A quick shot of Maddy before she ripped off her hat and started chewing on it. Yes, she needs a haircut!
5 comments October 30, 2009
My Pretty Pumpkin
We’ve had the pumpkin for over a few weeks now sitting on the floor in a plastic bag. Since I’m back from my whirlwind Florida trip and sick as a dog, I decided it was finally time to decorate that bad boy. Using a Sharpie marker, metallic star stickers, and glittery fairy stickers, I made this::
Then Maddy the Shih Tzu came to investigate::
Not wanting to be left out, Cassie the Peekapoo came over, too, which caused Maddy to start break dancing. Then both dogs ran over to start playing–no doubt high on Sharpie marker fumes.
2 comments October 30, 2009
Return of Weird Wednesday
Wednesdays are tough, you know? It’s plopped smack dab in the middle of the week–two days down and two more to go. I know lately I haven’t been posting weird things on Wednesdays to get you kids motivated, but I will try my best. Every Wednesday can’t be weird, but I can always try.
The two videos of weirdness come from the lovely Jenny B. Jones, who writes young adult fiction, you should visit her website because she’s pretty funny. Anyway, thanks to Jenny, we have some fodder to liven up our Wednesday.
The first video features two guys named Rhett and Link (website) who sing their order to a very astute Taco Bell employee. Ha, I appreciate the $42 + change bill.
The next video is an office’s musical rendition of Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” Man, do all offices have cute nerdy guys like that? 
Add comment October 28, 2009
To Save A Life–the Movie & the Sonic Kitty
On Thursday evening, I attended a pre-screening of TO SAVE A LIFE, a film that delves into the lives of teenagers in crisis (suicide, pregnancy, divorce, cutting, bullying). For now, all I will say about the film (which releases in January 2010) is:: it’s pretty good, has the potential to get teens (and adults) talking about crucial issues, and I love the kid who pours bacon bits on his ice cream cone while on a date. Plus, the promo items, which include recycled pens made from wood and slap bracelets were top-notch.
Also, exciting was the opportunity to meet my pal, Lori Lenz, who I’ve been working with for quite a while, but never met face-to-face, until tonight. I made her a scarf and she wore it all night! Lori is ABSOLUTELY adorable, and if you get a chance to catch her at one of the TO SAVE A LIFE pre-screenings, you should give her a big hug from me! And tell her that you love her scarf.
Lori and me! Look she's wearing the scarf I made!
Before we headed to Philly, Sarah and I made a pit stop in Levittown. She had to do a work thing and dropped me off at the Super Wal-Mart. After people-watching for an hour in the store, I decided to go outside to savor the beautiful fall weather. I walked and walked and walked until I ended up at a Sonic clear across the parking lot. As I sat down to read, I noticed a young tabby several yards away. We eyeballed each other, and deeming me safe, the cat crept closer and closer until it was only two feet away. I beckoned the feline closer, but it maintained its distance. Finally, I stood up, and it ran away to hang out in Parking Spot #1.
Philly Phever has even taken over Chik-Fil-A
So I asked two Sonic employees about the cat and they told me that it was there unofficial mascot. Apparently, they called the humane society and other rescue organizations, but no one would come to take away the cats. Cats? You mean there’s more than one? Yup, a whole family of felines lives in the weeds.
An old ship along the water front.
Over at Parking Spot #1, Miley the Cat (I named it Miley because “Party in the USA” was playing) was looking hopefully at a new family of diners. The poor thing probably survived on scraps thrown her way. I considered ordering her a hot dog, but decided against it. I knew I couldn’t take her with me, so I called my mom and asked her to pray for Miley the Cat. My mom, who knows my love for animals, asked God to care for this sweet cat—that it might know the love of a family.
Be a hero & save Miley's life!
I don’t know what else to do, but tell you about Miley, show you his/her picture, and let you know where to go to claim a beautiful kitty that needs a home. Miley the Cat is located at the Sonic along Route 13 in Levittown, PA at the Levittown Town Center Shopping Center. If you can’t make Miley yours, please let someone know about her/him because you can save a life.
Add comment October 23, 2009
Photo Essay:: Cape Cod, Part 1
In September, I went on a lovely trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. But due to an insanely busy schedule, I haven’t been able to post my photos. However, I decided to give you a sneak peek of what’s going to come…
I went on a Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch and finally got to see humpback whales! I have wanted to see a humpback in the wild since I adopted a humpback whale in second grade. Dreams do come true (and not just at Disney World). Yes, there are more whale pics to come! I will dedicate a whole photo essay to humpback whales!
Little sparrow hanging out in Provincetown, MA.
Provincetown, MA
This is one of those pics that looks incredible when it’s bigger. Currently, it’s my desktop monitor’s wallpaper. I love how the gull is skipping over the water.
Plimoth Plantation
This is the Mayflower II, a reproduction of the original.
Pilgrim Fountain, Plymouth MA
This is another pic that looks amazing at its full size because you can actually see the moon!
4 comments October 21, 2009
Take 5 with Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, authors of I’ll Have Who She’s Having
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke’s 20-year friendship is the stuff chick lit novels are made of—literally! Not only are Liz and Lisa a dynamic duo in their own right, but they pooled their talents to co-wrote their first book, I’ll Have Who She’s Having. Both ladies say they have Type A personalities, so they worked out their control issues by writing a dual narrative book, each focusing on one main character.
The two main protagonists—Kate and Kelly—are sisters (and best friends) who are at two very different stages in their lives. While Kelly is still trying to land a man, Kate is struggling as a stay-at-home mom with an infant. Each sister searches for self-significance in an idealized relationship with one man—their volleyball coach! The result is…well, you’ll just have to read the book now, won’t you?
Because they are amazingly beautiful and intelligent, Liz and Lisa agreed to Take 5 with Backseat Writer. I hope you find them as amusing and brilliant as I do!
How does the friendship between the Walker sisters, Kate and Kelly, mimic your friendship with one another?
Lisa: Liz and I are a lot like Kate and Kelly. For example, there was the time I dressed up like Britney Spears and tried to steal one of her boyfriends. Just kidding!
In all seriousness, we are like sisters in every way (except I don’t have frizzy hair and she doesn’t have a pointy nose!). From the love and support to the break ups and make ups, through our 20+ years of being friends, we’ve always known each other as well as we know ourselves. And that’s what makes our friendship just as strong as Kate and Kelly’s sisterhood bond.
Liz: When we wrote the book, Lisa and I couldn’t have been more different than our characters (er, if you don’t count the fact that Lisa was single with a string of recent break ups under her belt and I was married with two kids)…but our friendship really is very similar in that we value the other’s opinion as much as our own. And we know we can always count on each other.
No matter what life stage a woman is in, it seems like she battles with feeling attractive, sexy, and desirable—something that single, sexy Kate and new mom Kelly both deal with in different ways. Why do you think women battle so much with these feelings and how do you think reading about Kelly and Kate’s struggles might empower women?
Lisa: If only we had the answers to why women battle so much with negative body image or more importantly, the answer to make it stop!
Through Kate’s character, we wanted to show that you can be thin and attractive like Kate and still have insecurities about the way you look. We think women will relate to this character because how a woman feels about herself has more to do with inner confidence than anything else. And part of Kate’s journey is battling the issues she has that have nothing to do with her physical appearance.
Liz: As a mother of two, I hoped other moms would be able to relate to the struggles Kelly goes through with her own body image. Until the end of time, women will always compare themselves to each other (it’s just what we do!) and for Kelly, she struggles with not having the same body type as her sister, Kate, and her mother, Kitty. But, like Kate, she realizes her struggles with feeling inferior about her looks have more to do with her insecurities as a new mother and in her marriage.
Can you spill about the next Liz and Lisa masterpiece?
Lisa & Lisa: First, thank you for calling it a masterpiece! What we can tell you, is that our next book is again about women. (What better subject is there?) And this time, we’re tackling the important topic of divorce. And how women can tend to misunderstand and judge each other in tense and difficult situations like the break up of a marriage.
Another great way to get a weekly dose of Liz and Liz is by reading your joint blog, Chick Lit Is Not Dead. So, come on, ladies, why should people read it?
Lisa: Because it’s (brutally) honest.
Liz: We write about things that happen to a lot of women- single, married and moms alike- in a way that we hope elicits a COL (chortle out loud) or two.
Since you reference singing and karaoke so much in your book, I must know—what’s your biggest karaoke disaster? (Mine was after having a terrible night singing Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” at a TGI Friday’s. It was wretched and yet so empowering.)
Lisa: I have a steadfast rule. No. Karaoke. Evuh. This is because my voice is worse than Cameron Diaz’s in MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING. Trust me; the world will be happy I spared them the pain.
Liz: I was karaoke-ing (is that a word?) in college with a friend and in a bold and inexplicable move, I decided to go solo! Um, I’m not sure what the problem was—the song choice (Whitney Houston) the drinks before (they all ended with ‘drop’) or my voice (I’d like to think it wasn’t my voice!) but let’s just say, my only solo since has been in the shower!
For more Liz and Lisa fun, be sure to check out their blog Chick Lit Is Not Dead and follow the ladies on Twitter (@lizandlisa) for an array of colorful and humorous comments!
2 comments October 19, 2009
CONTEST CLOSED:: Three Ways to Win the book A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE, which offers a faith-based perspective on climate change
Like me, are you looking for real answers on climate change this Blog Action Day? If so, A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE: GLOBAL WARMING FACTS FOR FAITH-BASED DECISIONS is the book for us! Written by NOBEL-prizing winning U.N. panelist Katharine Hayhoe and pastor Andrew Farley (author of The Naked Gospel), A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE explores how the Christian faith should approach the issues of climate change. Using fact and biblical insight, the book provides readers insight into a topic that’s not only important today, but for our tomorrow’s as well.
Backseat Writer in conjunction with Hachette Book Group is giving away one copy of A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE. To enter, leave a comment about why you think this is an important book (and your Twitter name, if applicable). You can get an extra entry for Tweeting this statement: “ Win the book A Climate for Change, which offers a faith-based perspective on climate change. Details at BackseatWriter.com”
Update: As much as I hate to be wrong, I misread something and Katharine was *not* on “The O’Reilly Factor” on 10/15. She actually appeared on a Sept. 2 show with Laura Ingraham (see clip). So, you can watch a clip of Katharine Hayhoe’s apperance on “The O’Reilly Factor” in which she talks about California wild fires. Watch the clip and tell me what you think. That’s a total of 3 entries!
Again, here are the three ways to win::
1. Leave a comment (only 1 entry no matter how many comments you leave.)
2. Tweet one of these statements:
” Win the book A Climate for Change, which offers a faith-based perspective on climate change:: http://bit.ly/4uv8Zb”
“Three Ways to Win the book A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE, which offers a faith-based perspective on climate change:: http://bit.ly/4uv8Zb “
“I really want to save the polar bears, so I’m going to read A CLIMATE FOR CHANGE, and you can, too. Win the book:: http://bit.ly/4uv8Zb”
Leave a comment on this post with your Twitter name so I can verify your Tweet (only 1 entry no matter how many times you Tweet this!)
3. Tell me what you think of Katharine’s appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor” on by watching this clip. (Again, only 1 entry!)
Contest ends Friday, Oct. 16 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so leave a valid e-mail address.
THE WINNER OF THE BOOK IS AMY COURTS! Thanks to everyone for your comments and participation! (BTW, the winner was selected at random using a highly scientific method!)
18 comments October 15, 2009
Bible Review:: The Transformation Study Bible (NLT)
The Transformation Study Bible’s general editor is renowned Bible teacher Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe, a former pastor at Chicago’s Moody Church. A lifetime of study has gone into the commentaries, cross references, study notes, and concordance contained in this book. Additionally, Wiersbe adds a touch of his “Be” series and “Catalyst” notes that encourage readers to apply Scripture to real-life situations.
Presented in the easy-to-read New Living Translation (NLT), The Transformation Study Bible is a good resource for Christians who want to dig deeper into their study and understanding of Scripture. Before each book of the Bible is a in-depth overview explaining the history, setting, and intended audience. The Scripture itself is jam-packed with verse-by-verse commentary, textual footnotes, and cross references as well as the aforementioned “Catalyst” notes.
This isn’t a Bible I would carry to church, but it definitely enhances personal study of the word—in community or individual settings. While some of the footnotes may seem a little elementary to seasoned Christians, The Transformation Study Bible’s expansive commentary has something for everyone, including learned scholars.
*I received a copy The Transformation Study Bible from David C. Cook Publishers for review. And I’m keeping it!*
Add comment October 23, 2009