The General Situation

The 365-Song Mixtape (#90–100)

90. Tightrope by Janelle Monáe (The Archandroid)
I'm a sucker for any song where the singer calls out the horn section. "We call that the classy brass...."

91. Money (That's What I Want) by the Flying Lizards (Flying Lizards)
Best part: When she shifts from "Give me your money" to "Just give me money." I've often thought about tracking down the album, but one song might be the ideal amount.

92. Like a Feather by Nikka Costa (Everybody Got Their Something)
She always make me think of a stripper who writes poetry.

93. Irresistable Bitch by Prince (The Hits/The B-Sides)
For about a decade, Prince could do almost no wrong. This was the B-side—the B-side!—to "Let's Pretend We're Married."

94. Rodeo Clowns by Jack Johnson (On & On)
I'm guessing that in certain circles it might be embarrassing to admit that you like Jack Johnson, but for me, his first two albums were full of wonderful songs. "Rodeo Clowns" is actually a minor one, but I like it.

95. Good Intentions by Lyle Lovett (Lyle Lovett and His Large Band)
Speaking of great songs.... Could anyone else get away with the phrase "temporary weight gain due to excess water retention"? Well, maybe Prince could.

96. Sequestered in Memphis by the Hold Steady (Stay Positive)
What this shares with "Good Intentions" is the conviction that anything can be fodder for a song—including a one-night stand gone ridiculously wrong.

97. Wishing He Was Dead by the Like (Release Me)
Best album of 2010. If you like pop music, buy it.

98. Cherchez la Femme / C'est Si Bon by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
You know why disco was awesome? It had room for a song like "Cherchez la Femme." It would've made a fantastic B-side to Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together," seeing as how it's about her ex-husband Tommy Mottola.

99. Just Got Lucky Jo Boxers (Essential Boxerbeat)
I can't upload this without the title looking weird; I must've bought it from Amazon or something. Anyway, I love this song, as I think I mentioned once before. Amusingly, I only recently realized what "Just Got Lucky" probably means.

100. Uncertain Smile by the The (Soul Mining)
My favorite song from one of my favorite records. "This Is the Day" is the tearjerker on Soul Mining, but "Uncertain Smile" has a world of emotions in it—and a sweet piano solo, to boot.

Torturing Adam via Email

Me: I bought art.
Adam: Super.
Me: Unicorns.
Adam: Oh.

To see it, click the link below...

At a Sample Sale That Opened Today

Me: Hi. I was hoping to take a quick photo for my website, tribecacitizen.com. Would that be OK?
Clerk: I don't know. We're not here long. It may be over by the time you publish it.
Me: Why? Are you closing today?
Clerk: No, at the end of the week.
Me: I'll be publishing it today.
Clerk: Will I be able to approve the photo?
Me: No. It's called journalism.
Clerk: I don't know then....
Me: It's your call.
Clerk: I don't want it to look bad.
Me: [Looking around.] It's not like the sale looks all that great.
Clerk: It's just that our stores look nice, and this is different.
Me: Right, it's a sample sale. Trust me: Readers know what a sample sale looks like.
Clerk: I guess it's OK. Nothing negative though, right?
Me: It's a sample sale. I'm going to write "Egg by Susan Lazar, which makes clothing for babies and kids, is having a sale at 64 N. Moore through the end of the week."
Clerk: OK.
Me: [Takes photo.] Thanks! [Heads for door.]
Clerk: That's it? That was painless!
Me: Hardly.

That's a Relief

Good Recipe: Cannellini Bean Salad With Shaved Spring Vegetables

Loved this recipe from David Tanis, even though I made a few changes. I used snap peas instead of asparagus, only two anchovies, and no red pepper flakes (we ran out). I also chose dill instead of the other herbs. And I added far less of the dressing than suggested. And I didn't bring out the mandoline.

Also, Tanis's recipe for cooking the beans, embedded within the accompanying essay for no good reason, was pretty loosey-goosey: "Rinse a pound of beans and put them in a pot. Cover with cold water and add a few aromatics — half an onion, a peeled carrot, a bay leaf, a clove, a few fennel seeds. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to the barest simmer. Add a large spoonful of olive oil and a small spoonful of salt. Let the beans simmer, uncovered, for an hour or so, checking on them occasionally. Depending on their age and other variables, they may take up to 30 minutes more. When they are truly tender, turn off the heat and let them cool completely in their broth before refrigerating. A pound of beans will give you twice enough for the recipe below, so plan on a bean dish once more this week." I had to frantically add water as the beans cooked. I also added way more fennel seed—a good pinch—and an extra clove and a half.

Anyway, highly recommended.