What a day. Seriously. I spent NINE hours at the George R. Brown convention center. No, not at the mega-manic bridal catastrophe, but at the Houston Cat Show! (I am very aware that I mentioned it yesterday.)
Well, if you're interested, my guy Joey won 6th best household pet in the first round of judging. Very cool. So, for those in the dark about all of this, here is how it works. The rest of the show is all high-falootin' pure breeds, who get judged on a certain set of objective parameters. Joey, on the other hand, was subjected to a rigorous subjective system that -- as far as we could tell -- is determined by the whims and whisps of the judge presiding. There are three rounds of household pet (hereafter "HHP") judging, which includes a session of all (43 this year) cats, and then the top ten are called back for the finals.
At the first session, all cats are given a "participant" ribbon, as can be seen here:
Yeah, I know how "pleasant" I look. I actually had a great time today. That is my happy face, dammit.
After one finishes this initial round, you haul your cat back to its little cage, and wait. If your number is called, you get to go back (as you are one of the ten finalists) and then the judge assigns a final place. Joey (as I stated earlier) won 6th place in the first round:
Nice. And then, you wait. And then, you go to another preliminary session in the next round. Unfortunately, Joey was not a finalist in either. But at least the idiot dingus kid who was next to us only got 7th in the initial round. I know it's cheap and assy to get competitive at a cat show with a 5th grader, but MAN was that kid obnoxious. At one point his parents were having a meltdown because little punk-ass wanted to eat his banana off a plate, while ol' dad wanted him to eat it like a "normal person." Pure gold. You can't make this shit up.
Oh, and by the way, cat people are disturbingly nice. Yes, some are exactly as the stereotypes would suggest, but most are very nice and quiet, unassuming people. That I can live with.
So...
Since I didn't have the mojo to run today, I won't be writing about that. (You're welcome, Cramer.) Instead I thought I'd talk about some music. Back in the days of AMG, I would compile my year-end best-of list and get emails from friends who assumed that I'd lost my marbles. For example, my 2001 year-end list which was topped off with System of a Down started a whole back and forth with Italy Jason which was finally resolved when I saw their next album sitting in his car. Chris: 1, Jason: 842. But now, I listen to so little new stuff, that I thought maybe I'd go through some of the stuff that really moved me this year, be it old or new.
Abruptum - Evil Genius
I never thought (way back in 1997) that I'd go for the extreme metal, but I did. And more surprising really is that it's lo-fi black metal that gets me all goofy.
Akercocke - Antichrist
Wow. I used to laugh my ass off at these guys, but I have to say I'd never have thought a metal band could incorporate Jawbox style guitar work while paying homage to the dark lord.
Beatles - Capitol Years, Vol. 1
It's the Beatles. They're a pretty damn good band.
Bill Evans - Symbiosis
I finally sat down and paid attention to this record. Wow.
Cardigans - Gran Turismo
To hell with their poppy lovey stuff. This was a great record.
Cult - Rare Cult
Yeah, I own the seven disc rarities box. By the Cult. I never said I had great taste.
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell
This really isn't a bad record. It's no Violator, but it's got some great tunes.
Depeche Mode - Violator
This is Violator. I will always love this one.
The Doors - L.A. Woman
The Doors - Waiting for the Sun
I'm really hot and cold with this band. On the one hand, they had some great tunes. On the other, Ray Manzarek is an ass. And Jim Morrison is a mediocre poet at best, no matter what Oliver Stone may tell you.
Emperor - Scattered Ashes
Mainly disc 2. Their cover of "A Fine Day to Die" is downright relentless.
Fiona Apple - Tidal
I know, I know. She's nuts, and a bit overwrought, but the slow songs on this one always get to me.
Free - Free
Paul Rodgers. 2nd greatest rock vocalist. Ever.
Genesis - (Essentially the Phil Collins years as a whole)
You got a problem wit dat? eh?
Ian Brown - Solarized
No, it's no Stone Roses, but neither was their second album.
Jamiroquai - A Funk Odyssey
I kept putting this one aside, until I saw the video for "Lovefoolosophy." That did it.
Jay-Z - The Black Album
Amanda got me into this one. Good call, sweetie.
Joy Division - Closer
When my job sucked, this was a great soundtrack.
Katatonia - The Great Cold Distance
Really got into this, then lost the disc. Not the case. Just the disc. I have no idea where it went. Crap!
Keane - Under the Iron Sea
Kinda whiny, but still tuney. Thank you, FIFA 07!
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
I know how much you love her, Cramer, but she's got some good songs. It's pop. No thought required.
Kylie Minogue - X
SOME of this record is fantastic.
Made Out of Babies - Trophy
When this woman screams, it makes me all fuzzy.
Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
Thank you for owning this one, John.
Minutemen - Double Nickels on the Dime
Rediscovered after many years gone.
Opeth - Blackwater Park, Ghost Reveries, and My Arms, Your Hearse
These guys are just too good.
Pet Shop Boys - Actually
"King's Cross" is worth the price.
Power Station - Power Station
Sometimes I miss Robert Palmer.
Rick James - Street Songs (Deluxe Edition)
The live disc is fucking amazing.
Robbie Williams - Rudebox
Proof that pop music can be fluffy, funny, AND adult.
Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Arguably, one of their best ever.
Rush - Chronicles
Rush!
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
One of those guys whose fans give me a serious headache, but he keeps making good music.
Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
I have one of the songs off this one in my head at least once a week.
Screaming Trees - Anthology
Proof that the guys at SST had great taste.
Talking Heads - Best of
I got really into "This Must Be The Place" and "Burning Down the House" in November.
Watain - Sworn to the Dark
BLACK METAL RULES!
Okay. That's plenty.
Good night.
