All Time Favorite Song?

I got asked this by someone last week and I didn't have an answer.  There are *so many* songs I really like.  After thinking about it some more though, I think I might have to go with a very simple song by the Beatles: "In My Life" from Rubber Soul.  This and a hand full of other songs (like Find the River and Nightswimming by R.E.M.) are nostalgic favorites from high school.  They just conjure up all kinds of good memories.

A friend and I campaigned for "In My Life" as our senior prom song (and it won), our group performed it at music camp before we were really a group, I quoted it in my senior yearbook entry, and if the stupid dj hadn't fucked up (don't get me started about our wedding dj) it would have been played at our wedding.  It's not a very complicated song and there are probably other songs that move me more on a musical level, but it just makes me think back to good times.

There are places I remember all my life,

Though some have changed,

Some forever, not for better,

Some have gone and some remain.

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall.

Some are dead and some are living.

In my life I've loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers,

There is no one compares with you,

And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new.

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before,

I know I'll often stop and think about them,

In my life I'll love you more.

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before,

I know I'll often stop and think about them,

In my life I'll love you more.

In my life I'll love you more.

Oscar Night America - AFI Silver

Last night we went to the Oscar party at AFI Silver, and we had a pretty good time.  The food was decent (good Cuban food from Cubanos among other places).  I was a little disappointed with the drinks (wine and one type of cocktail), but hey it was open bar so I guess I can't complain too much.  It was fun to get dressed up and go out even if some of the other atendees got a little rowdy towards the end (I guess that is another problem with oen bar, LOL).  Here's a picture I made Jeff take. 

Weekly Recipe: Barbecue Meat Loaf

Meatloaf might be passe.  But passe things tend to come around again (like the unfortunate circa 1980s Madonna look, which seems to be making a comeback *shudder*), and besides, there are few better comfort foods than a good slice of meatloaf with a side of mashed potatoes. 

This month's Cooking Light did their cooking class section on meatloaf and offered up several interesting sounding recipes.  I made the first one, barbecue meatloaf, for dinner tonight and it was a big hit.  This is definitely making its way into my recipes file.  FYI - I used a spicy brown mustard, hot chili powder, and Famous Dave's Sweet and Sassy BBQ sauce (which has a bit of a kick).  I also drizzled some extra sauce on the pieces once they were plated.  I served it with veggies, and carmelized sweet onions.  Mmmmmmm-mmmmmmm good.

Oh and lest I forget to metion, the best part about this meatloaf is its nutritional info.  203 calories, 5.4 grams of fat, 1.1 grams of fiber for 2 slices.  For all you WW fans, that means it's only 4 points for 2 slices.  The same as a 3 oz chicken breast!  And it tastes infinitely better.  I have cut red meat almost completely out of my diet (opting for turkey, chicken, pork, and soy), but this recipe might convince me to eat it more. 

Barbecue Meatloaf
1 1/2  pounds ground beef, extra lean (raw)
1/2  cup dry breadcrumbs
1/2  cup chopped onion
1/3  cup barbecue sauce, divided
1  tablespoon prepared mustard
1 1/2  teaspoons chili powder
1  teaspoon garlic powder
1/2  teaspoon salt
1/2  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2  large egg whites
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine
the beef, breadcrumbs, and onion, 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce, and
remaining ingredients except cooking spray in a large bowl.

Shape
meat mixture into a 9 x 5-inch loaf on a broiler pan coated with
cooking spray. Spread remaining barbecue sauce over top of meat loaf.
Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a thermometer registers 160°. Let
stand 10 minutes. Cut loaf into 12 slices.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 2 slices)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES
203(24% from fat); FAT 5.4g (sat 2.2g,mono 2.2g,poly 0.5g); PROTEIN
27.3g; CHOLESTEROL 61mg; CALCIUM 26mg; SODIUM 517mg; FIBER 1.1g; IRON
3.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 10.5g

Belle and Sebastian and Music Theory

I've been listening to a lot of B+S recently in anticipation of their DC show on Monday.  And I realized that B+S is one of the few bands (the only band I can think of off of the top of my head) that can end a song with a minor chord when the rest of the song (or most of it anyways) has been major.  Pretty much every song that ends like that sounds (to me anyways) like it is trying too hard.  And instead of making me feel angsty (what I guess bands are trying to do), it makes me feel like rolling my eyes and snorting.  It just sounds so cheesy!  But B+S can somehow pull it off.  Hmmmmmmmm...

KT Tunstall

When we were in London I kept seeing stuff about KT Tunstall (she had just won a Brit for best British female solo artist).  Then the other day when I was in Tower they had her album "Eye to the Telescope" on sale, so I bought it.  It's pretty good.  I mean, it's probably not something I would list as one of my favorites, but she has a really great voice.  The album is folky with an edge and wanders around in some parts to jazz.  She sort of sounds like Fiona Apple, but less angsty.  And it's a pretty solid album (unlike, for example, the Ellie Lawson disc I have which has 2-3 good songs and the rest is crap). 

Page France

I just discovered this band recently and I find myself continually taking out whatever I have in my car cd player and putting this in instead.  They are from MD.  And they are playing at Iota in April.  Good music and good lyrics.  Just the way I like it.

Check out their myspace page - you can listen to some of their songs there for free.

75 pounds = $$$$

I hit the 75 pounds lost mark about 3 weeks ago.  I've now officially gone down 4 sizes.  I was taking stock of my closet the other day and literally about 3/4 of the stuff in it didn't fit.  I have NO spring/summer clothes other than a few non-work appropriate t-shirts.  Looks like someone will be going shopping.  Of course, I can't spend too much because I still have about 30 more pounds to lose.  Only 30 pounds -- just typing it makes me happy.