hippielauryn

This is my cat, ISIS (named after the band, of course).  She had to have her left eye removed shortly after we found her when she was only a few months old.  She's the sweetest cat!
 
 
 

Getting some White Ferrari by week's end. Woo!

HOT PIE!
 
With the world going to shit all around you, its good to know that Hot Pie is there baking is little heart off, bringing carb-filled joy to the masses.
 
Arya acted just like the hound in that scene. Thought she was going to start dropping the cword. 
 
 

The rest of my July should be pretty fun (and tiring):
 
July 10th - Now, Now - Philadelphia
July 12th - New Found Glory - Wilmington
July 13th - Katie Ellen - Philadelphia
July 14th - Waxahatchee (Free at Noon) - Philadelphia
July 14th - New Found Glory - Lancaster
July 15th - The Superweaks - Philadelphia
July 17th - The Flatliners/Pkew Pkew Pkew/Garrett Dale - Philadelphia
July 20th - Incubus/Jimmy Eat World - Camden
July 23rd - Radio 104.5 Block Party ( Misterwives/Rubblebucket/Beach Slang) - Philadelphia
July 26th - Ben Gibbard - Washington D.C.
July 28th - XPoNential Festival (Pinegrove/Arkells/Hop Along/Conor Oberst) - Camden
July 28th - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Philadelphia
July 29th - XPoNential Festival (The Suffers/Strand of Oaks/Dave Hause/Spoon/Preservation Hall Jazz Band) - Camden
July 30th - Dashboard Confessional/All-American Rejects - Bethlehem
 
Hoping that secret Dave Hause show in Philly winds up being on the 31st to close out the month nicely.
 

I watched Split last night and was pleasantly surprised.  I don't know if I've ever liked a Shyamalan movie (save for maybe The 6th Sense when it came out) and probably would have skipped this, but the very positive attention and McAvoy sparked my interest.  It's nice to see him not get so wrapped up in twists and do something a little more straight forward.  He's always been a decent director, just has some failings as a writer.  My minor complaint is that the three girls weren't too developed.  Even the one with backstory was still fairly a 'one sided abducty'.  I also didn't care for the tie in to Unbreakable.  It didn't ruin the movie for me, but it felt like it cheapened it a bit.  Even with those nitpicks, I quite enjoyed it and would recommend it.  I mean it's probably worth watching just for McAvoy's multiple performances, he was great.

That's awesome! Love me some Edward and MO. Maine Beer Co. is fantastic. 
 
I'm up near Boston for the week. Had some Trillium DDH Scaled & Launch Beer and Hill Farmstead Society and Solitude. 

@batman @BuzzersonKillwell
 
Just got back from our VT trip. We weren't able to get outside of Waitsfield after our hike but was able to get my hands on some Sip of Sunshine, Heady Topper, Maine Beer Co - MO and Rock Art's Limited Access at the Village Grocery in town. I grabbed a pint of Hill Farmstead's Edward at Mad Taco and it blew me away. Such a superb APA! Also had Fiddlehead's Second Fiddle DIPA and  Drop-In's Heart of Lothian Scottish Brown Ale during dinner at Fire & Ice in Middlebury before we started our hike. Both were really tasty. I was a bit surprised with Heart of Lothian, as it didn't seem to get much love in ratings, etc. Was super fresh/drinkable and had awesome flavor.
Thanks for all of the insight and recommendations. Definitely looking forward to getting back up to VT/Maine again next year. 

Hobbies can be taken too seriously sometimes.

Don't do that to the poor kid.

Is the list gonna sell out?

i didn't know "crowlers" were even a thing. blew my mind a little bit. sharing it w/ the wife now! 
 

 

Yup. Crowlers are now legal in Texas. Glad you enjoyed it. Drink it soonish. Their canning skills aren't that great, but hopefully they will learn and get better. 

Lone Pint Yellow Rose is my jam right now. Oh man it's so good....

@hippielauryn Weathered Souls is legittttt. Who Got the Juice Now is so good. Wish I could take some home with me. 
 
Edit: just got a growler can. What. 

books:
how to ruin a record label
king dork
green lantern comic
records:
afi - miss murder
gameface - three to get ready
saturday night live
amy grant - a christmas album
phoenix - alone on christmas day
alkaline trio - help me
 
bunch of stickers and a couple cds and a nice warm winter hat that i needed.
 
very happy with my gift. the afi and trio records i used to have so its nice to get them back. im guessing that my secret santa was jacobe? thank you so much!
 

Since I'm kinda picky with what I listen to... I'll only do a few. (Links are to YouTube playlists.)
 
Best Rock: Artifex Pereo - "Passengers" *I consider this my #1 overall album this year, I really... very... highly... recommend this album!

 
Best Metal: Silent Planet - "Everything Was Sound"

 
Best Soundtrack: Michael Giacchino - "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)

I'm running around a lot the next two days and I had a couple hours alone this afternoon before the craziness starts...so I opened my Secret Santa package a little early!
 

 
No idea who it is, but thank you so much! Both of these are records that I've really wanted, I love the Inside Llewyn Davis soundtrack and I listen to it on my iPod all the time (favorite songs are Hang Me, Oh Hang Me and 500 Miles), but I never picked up the record before so to have it on vinyl is super exciting!
 
The Charlie Brown Christmas album is particularly special to me though. My grandmom who was reaching the later stages of dementia passed away of cancer this past spring. In her room at the nursing home (which my granddad put her in when the dementia progressed beyond his ability to care for her at home) she had a CD boombox but no CDs. So, I took over a CD I thought might recognize through her foggy ability to remember anything - Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas". The last time I ever saw her we listened to this and Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me" and flipped through old photo books. It's a memory I'll have forever and I'm grateful to have the music that was the soundtrack to that memory on vinyl. Thanks Secret Santa, your presents mean more to me than you probably even realized.
 
Excited to see what all ya'll who are waiting till Christmas to open your packages got. Happy holidays everyone and thanks for letting me be a part of Secret Santa for a second year!

So I attempted to wait for the second package, but it hasn't arrived yet. I went ahead and opened what was labeled Package 1/2. This alone would be enough to make me happy!
 

 
My Santa got me the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Soundtrack AND Pinkerton! Unfortunately, all I have to go on as to WHO my Santa is is their location.  However, I have expert snooping skills and I'm 99% sure I know who it is. I'll wait to see if a second package shows up first though.
 
Either way... THANK YOU!

AHH!!! Before diving into these amazing gifts, the first thing I need to say is thank you so, so, so much Santa! You did an absolutely fantastic job, and I was grinning ear to ear (and still am)! Okay, on to the unwrapping!
 
 

 
Earlier this week I was greeted with these two big packages! To deter myself from opening them immediately, I took the liberty of wrapping them up with some shiny paper so that I could tear it off like a mad woman on Christmas morning (not sure if that makes me crazy in itself?)
 

 
Opening the first package, I'm surprised with puffy pink S's and a hint of purple paper! Surprisingly, they were not some space-age delicious candy, but instead used for packing (unfortunate, but ultimately, my belly is relieved, and my presents are happier)!
 

 
I dug around in both boxes to find some notes to hint at whoever was the sweetest person ever, and came up with the TINIEST CARD IN THE WORLD. It was heartwarming and made me squeal. Tiny things make me happy, and this card was no exception.  I also received a package from Amazon - which you'll see in a few artfully crafted photos - but just gotta say, you, Santa, nailed it.
 

 
A COOKBOOK? No, wait. A VEGAN COOKBOOK WITH A BUNCH OF WORDS THAT WOULD MAKE MY MOTHER BLUSH?! Appropriately, fuck yes! Thug Kitchen has been a favorite of mine for years, and while I did already own this book, now I can have a copy for my place and also for my dude's, in an ill-fated attempt to make him eat somewhat healthier. Mwahahahaha.
 
Also, as you can see, I got MORE TINY THINGS. The cutest sugar skull bead! An assumably-native Arizona magnet! And something that sounds delicious and makes me want to tear into it right now but I don't think making my entire Christmas diet candy would make me the happiest of campers. All of this is the coolest and I love it!
 

 
And finally...I got not one, but TWO RECORDS.
 
They are:
Portugal. The Man | Censored Colors (possibly my favorite from them!)
Lil BUB | Science & Magic : A Soundtrack to the Universe (I received Lil BUB gifts from literally everyone this year, and this was my favorite. I got to see her band last year and it was the weirdest and most unexpectedly wonderful experience ever. This record has been a desire of mine since! And it came with a poster!!!)
 
I know my Secret Santa couldn't have known this, but I received new speakers last night that blow my last set-up out of the water, and being able to break them in with these two spectacular relics of musical joy is one of the coolest gifts I'll probably ever get. 
 
Now, on to the guessing. With my great sleuthing abilities, the touch of Southwest flair, and being an absolute sweetheart, I'm taking a crack that it was @backpackoat in Arizona with the Spirit of Christmas! I can't say this enough, but thank you for everything - you're the best
 

 
p.s. My nephew was Santa's little helper (not the dog), and he's still deciding if he enjoys Lil BUB's tunes as much as I do  

I opened mine on the 21st, just now getting around to posting!! What a GREAT SS package. I am so stoked on all of it.

The first thing I see is the note with the hints and the gift explanations.

You knocked it out of the park, got an Alabama cat toy, right on top and Oswald just loved it.

Here's a picture with everything! Got the star wars/alabama shirt which is super cool. Love the Falcon 10", always had my eye on it but I just never pulled the trigger. Same story with that Gaslight anthem record. Only had a chance to listen to that protaganist cd and it just rips start to finish, based on the hints and the unwritten Law cd, my guess is @ozfacter and everything is so great man! I really love it and i'd give you a christmas hug if I could! Thank you!
 
Bonus picture of Oswald stoned out of his mind protecting the football with his life.

i checked out freetail last time and that's a great spot! had a really good calzone, and yeah, $2.50 pints. will have to check out some of the others. i get 50 bucks to spend for dinner, so always looking for good spots.

Here are some of my favorites from this year. Hail the Sun - Culture Scars is without a doubt my #1 AOTY. I can't get enough of it. 
Hail the Sun - Culture Scars Sianvar - Stay Lost Polyenso - Pure in the Plastic Artifex Pereo - Passengers Thrice - To Be Everywhere is to be Nowhere The Hotelier - Goodness Deep Sea Diver - Secrets Tancred - Out of the Garden Pup - The Dream Is Over TTNG - Disappointment Island You Blew It! - Abendrot Cardinal - Pinegrove Into It. Over It. - Standards 

I would love to trade for some Jester King. I live in CO and can get anything from around here. 

I came up with a list of my top 20 albums, plus top 5 EPs for the year. I even created a spotify playlist to accompany it.
 
 
Albums:
1. The Dear Hunter - Act V: Hymns With The Devil In Confessional
2. Touche Amore - Stage Four
3. Sunndrug - Exit Wounds
4. Astronoid - Air
5. Heavy English - Pop Wasteland
6. OWEL - Dear Me
7. Polyenso - Pure in the Plastic
8. All Get Out - Nobody Likes a Quitter
9. Belle Noire - What it Means to Be
10. Thank You Scientist - Stranger Heads Prevail
11. Vinnie Caruana - Survivor’s Guilt
12. Greater Pyrenees - Greater Pyrenees
13. Rare Futures - This is Your Brain on Love
14. o'brother - Endless Light
15. Night Verses - Into The Vanishing Light 
16. Nothing - Tired of Tomorrow
17. Oh Malô - As We Were 
18. ORBS - Past Life Regression 
19. The Skulx - The Skulx
20. David Bazan - Blanco
EPs: 
1. Mother Kraken - I
2. Adjy - Prelude (.3333)
3. Not A Planet - Smoke Bombs & Cigarettes: The History of Now
4. Steven Wilson - 4 and a Half
5. I the Mighty- Oil in Water
 
 

Accepted.
 
Here is the before pic, which we already established was graciously send by chkadea. This was out of control.
 
 
The after....

 
Whores - Gold 12" - Gold/Purple Swirl --- I have heard good things about this record, but had not listened to before. It rules. I really dig it. I think it might be sold out at the moment. Thus, glad i am glad to have a copy. Thanks!
 
UXO - S/T 12" - White --- This is the new band by Chris and and Steve from Unsane and Today is the Day, respectively.  It is also loud, abrasive and good.
 
Coquettish - Total Pops Madness 7" - Tests Press --- This is from a japanese ska punk band. I was unfamiliar with them. Will have to give this some spins.
 
Andes Peppermint Crunch Thins --- I love peppermint bark. I am crushing them as I type.
 
The Emerald Mile --- It says the story is epic and looks intriguing. Next on my list.
 
Star Wars Lego Wookie Gunship --- After typing this out I am going to put it together. I love me some star wars. I am actually listening to the Catalyst book (Rouge One Prequel) as i type. 
 
Broomstick Strawberry Gunpowder Green Tea --- My wife was eyeing this up. She is a tea junkie. I hope to get a cup in soon.
 
Sun art paper --- Looks fun. I hope to send some friends my sun burned bird.
 
Ren & Stimpy comic --- Always a good time. Nothing beats the episode where Stimpy loses his fart.
 
Camping Clothes Line --- This looks useful. I plan to try it out once we thaw out.
 
Swedish Dish Cloth -- I do a lot of dishes. My wife does few. I will put this to good use.
 
Moosey X-mas Ornaments --- Already on the tree.
 
2 CD mixes --- Some sweet tunes on here: Bad Brains, Tom Waits, Murder by Death, Robert Johnson, Lera Lynn, Joy Division, etc.
 
It goes without saying, chkadea did an awesome job. Thank you so much!! In appreciation here is another pic of the foster kitties.