codename ~ STORMFIGHTER

For those who don't know, I'm scared stupid of storms. And it's all because of a time that, when I was 8, I looked outside the windows of my grandparents' house to witness my very first hurricane. His name was Andrew. Thanks to him, I've been afraid of storms since. Especially if, yep--they were hurricanes.

I don't really do well with nasty weather. The only time I'll actually tolerate storms is if I'm at work [then it's not so hot in drive-thru] or if I'm at home [then I could sleep 'em away or something]. And technically I should be used to handling storms by now--I'M A FLORIDIAN FOR GOODNESS' SAKE!!

All in all, I've really not a lot of patience for storms. Maybe a minor rainstorm. But thunderstorms... Tropical Storms... Hurricanes... no. I'm just a minor bit scared of 'em all. I hear about a Hurricane and--*roboter has heard it for himself!*--in short I just panic. I have to beat that PANIC button until it breaks.

The codename~STORMFIGHTER StarMix [albeit a minor short one--just two songs this time]

Yeah, I know. What a first song to start off with but hey. Thank you Shirley Manson for a song about being happy when it's pouring outside!
[/sarcasm]
"Only Happy When It Rains" - Garbage


The first time I heard this song was when I was at work, and Tropical Storm Fay was making her way through. That was last month too! When I heard this one of the regulars and I agreed that hey! Jack got it right, that fellow. Since then it's became my go-to song for when I get stuck at home, rained in. I'm not a big Jack Johnson fan, but I definitely love this song.
"Banana Pancakes" - Jack Johnson


A minor note--I'll be 25 in three weeks from today. Oh. bloody. joy.

~ me

Chapter 177 ~ ...oh for the love of... NOT AGAIN.

Just like last year. Getting over a minor heartache--Roboter and I have talked only 4 times these past two weeks. And work is a mess. AND...

one of my friends is engaged. That I once had a crush on. It's StarKnight Skater, whom I've known for 5 years now.

You know, I really don't seem to do well the last month before my Birthday, it seems. What happened a year ago... *hunts through the archive*

--OH YEAH! Pouncer gave me word of Agathangelos' engagement which, unfortunately, I didn't get to attend the wedding of. Something that, unfortunately, I still get upset at Siren over, but as long as neither of us mention the wedding my temper's at bay.

Tuesday 25 September 2008 ~ Chapter 67 ~ Sort of a Depressing Turn of Events.

Okay, I need to stop moping but, there's been a lot going on these past two weeks that, I'd been so worn out I didn't even remember to do the Top 20 so, before I forget altogether let's take care of that.

Starian Union Radio Top 20 [sorry this is 2 days late, all]
1] "NWA" - The Terrible Sea
2] "Harley David [Son of a Bitch]" - Bollock Brothers
3] "Handle With Care" - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
4] "Lost in the Supermarket" - The Clash
5] "Primitive Notion" - New Order
6] "New York" - Micro Chip League
7] "Say" - John Mayer
8] "The Queen Is Dead" - The Smiths
9] "Banana Pancakes" - Jack Johnson
10] "The New Pollution" - Beck
11] "New York Minute" - Don Henley
12] "Banquet" [The Streets Remix] - Bloc Party
13] "Let's Push Things Forward" - The Streets
14] "New York Minute" - Don Henley
15] "Theft, And Wandering Around Lost" - The Cocteau Twins
16] "Shut Up And Let Me Go" - The Ting Tings
17] "Charmer" - Kings of Leon
18] "I'm Gonna Be [500 Miles]" - The Proclaimers
19] "Falling Down" [Chemical Brothers Remix] - Oasis
20] "Mayor of Simpleton" - XTC

Alright, that done, things need to be addressed, *stat*--

~ Rage Against the Machine, you are definitely some serious heroes in the music world. --those wondering why I say this, this recent YouTube from 2 September sums it up quite nobly:
"Bulls on Parade" and "Killing in the Name of" - Rage Against the Machine

For the background on this, read more at the blog on Above the Fold.

~ Siren, thank you again for the half-gallon of mint-chocolate chip ice cream. Sadly I haven't snacked on that since you visited Tuesday afternoon. I haven't finished the half-gallon though... got a helluva long way to go.

~ Kit darlin', whoop your ex in the behind on my behalf, because he kinda screwed up our hang-out time Thursday. Or not. In any case, see you Monday afternoon after I'm done at three. Hopefully. We defo need to hang out.

~ DJ, your comic version of Trans-Europa is nothing short of brilliant!! --for those who aren't familiar too well with her she's a fellow Barney's Angel and, she's 15 and LOVES Kraftwerk. And she draws wonderfully. I have evidence.

This is her cover for her comic version of Trans-Europa *it's a clicky-thumbnail because, really, yes, it's kinda big to fit on this blog, but it's still awesomeness*


~ Louise dear, I never thought you'd get the tail end of the storms we Floridians/American folk get as far as Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, and the like. My thoughts are definitely with you. As well as to all in the path of these darn storms. I hate 'em, don't you know? [Hurricane Andrew started it all for me, Summer of '92, folks.] And I do want to thank you again for putting together this for me, which is my song of the day for today:
"Neon Lights/Neonlicht" - Kraftwerk


~ Saint Barnabas folks, the Choir says, as of tomorrow, weeee're baaaack!!

~ The Verve, THANK YOU BIG TIME FOR REUNITING!! I didn't think you guys sound THIS awesome now, I'm definitely getting your new album ASAP, because this song's been playing on the indie station here. I didn't recognize you guys... OMG. I'm defo happy you've guys got new stuff out; hell, I didn't even realise you guys had your new album "Forth" out on 26 August--gosh I'm behind...
"Love Is Noise" - The Verve *yes, the verve!*


~ And finally, Roboter--yes, I saved you for last, 'cause everything I've had to say to you, I've e-mailed. I'm not gonna repost all that on here. Kinda lacked the patience for it.



...alrighty folks, I think I've just about said everything that should've been said this week. And tonight, for the first time in two weeks, I think I'm going to bed with a helluva clearer conscience. And God himself knows why.

*sigh* Now, anchoring down for the consequences of the letter--I'm hoping against hope that... well... the situation won't be as bad as I've been wigging out on.

*fingers crossed!!*

And until the next round, which won't be until Tuesday most likely...

~ me

Chapter 175 ~ Keep New Orleans In Mind...

...and thank God Hurricane Gustav weakened to a Catagory 2 before making landfall this morning. But still, plenty to worry about. This weekend the city and possibly the entire state of Louisiana went under manadatory evacuation. For those who stayed behind and are riding out the storm now, God be with them.

From Yahoo! News ~ Hurricane Gustav pounds Louisiana coast

In other news, Happy Labor Day to our fellow American Underground Citizens. :-) No, I don't intend to go to a barbecue or, like last Monday, waste my time going to a pool party. [Yes, really, last week's pool party was a complete waste of time.] I'll be spending my day off with Kit and her boyfriend later on.

Oh and... someone special in my little world, in my life, has a birthday very, VERY soon...

More later... probably.

~ me

Happy-Go-Thursday in the Underground!

Well, yes, I'm right on schedule this time! And look! no storms at the moment.

...actually, well, we do need to keep an eye out for storms Gustav and Hannah so... erm... we're not quite in the safe whim of things yet. Stay tuned for more weather drama as I hear more about it from... well... someone. As, at the moment, I'm kind of going by what the news says and by word of mouth.

*THIS JUST IN [6:10 P.M.] - GUSTAV EXPECTED TO HIT AS A CATAGORY 5 HURRICANE*

Sorry. Just heard the latest from Kit. But in the meantime, getting right down to the main reason why I'm posting on any given Thursday...

The Starian Union Radio Top 20 for today, Thursday 28 August 2008~
1] "Handle With Care" - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
2] "Banana Pancakes" - Jack Johnson
3] "NWA" - The Terrible Sea
4] "Harley David [Son of a Bitch]" - Bollock Brothers
5] "New York" - Micro Chip League
6] "The Queen Is Dead" - The Smiths
7] "Primitive Notion" - New Order
8] "Lost In The Supermarket" - The Clash
9] "Young Folks" - Peter Bjorn and John
10] "Say" - John Mayer
11] "The New Pollution" - Beck
12] "Perpetual" - VNV Nation
13] "Teardrop" - Massive Attack
14] "New York Minute" - Don Henley
15] "Hang Me Up To Dry" - Cold War Kids
16] "Shut Up And Let Me Go" - The Ting Tings
17] "Banquet" [The Streets Remix] - Bloc Party
18] "Theft, And Wandering Around Lost" - The Cocteau Twins
19] "Don't Change" - INXS
20] "Let's Push Things Forward" - The Streets

Alrighty then, we now resume you to regularly-scheduled life. Tune back in tomorrow when, for Chapter 174, we'll be having the latest on Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hannah. This could get ugly as, unfortunately, I'm sort of on my own for this Weather Report. Bear with me, fellow Citizens...

Until the next round...

~ me

Chapter 172 ~ A Rosary of Tears: A Year Later...

I still remember... a year ago today I didn't seem to think much, except, just like last night, I saw a rainbow. And for those of you Underground Citizens that know me best, I hate rainbows. To me they are the messengers of sorrow, the Harbingers of Bad News I call 'em. They meant bad news then, they still do now.

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of when my world started to shatter. No matter how hard I try to shun the memory of my ex Kaguya away, it all falls down to this. And everything that happened between now and then, I'm thinking of this in the form of an Anglican Rosary--a Rosary of Tears in this case.

By the way, in case you're asking, this is what an Anglican Rosary looks like:


So, following the diagram around... the way a Rosary's usually prayed, I'm going to recount the Tears, if you will.

Starting at the very bead right above the cross, there stands me, about to start the path through the Tears. Right above, the First Heartache--Kaguya. Then seven smaller beads follow, seven more Tears to cry between then and the Second Heartache, Hikari. Seven more memories of tears later, the Third Heartache, not too long ago: Siren. Between Heartaches 2 and 4, 10 of the smaller Tears stand for the 10 of my friends who've lost a loved one--family or pet--since April.

The Fourth Heartache is yet to come, but draws very, very near, and those small Tears after that are the Tears to come--between now and my Quarter-Centennial, in about a month and a week or so from now. And, well, it's a bit of new situation that I don't know... well... just HOW in the world I came to face this.

Something's happened to Roboter--and I can't put my finger on it, and it seems that there's nothing I can do to help him. We haven't talked since early Saturday morning, and judging from the text he *finally* sent me Sunday he's probably dealing with stuff that, emotionally, is getting to him.

So of course, am I to worry? Uhm... hell yeah.

At the moment, I'm taking the advice of last night's fortune cookie, which I saw BEFORE I faced the rainbow:

Restrain yourself from intruding into other's buisinesses.

So... well... I guess, I haven't talked to him since Friday. I only sent him a text letting him know that I'm thinking of him and that I hope he's alright. But otherwise I've decided to let him be for a while. When he's ready to talk, or if he ever needs someone to talk to, he knows I'm never too far, somehow.

But still, it hurts. To feel like I'd been a year ago. In a sense, alone. And with Roboter, I don't know what to do. It seems that, for a second time, life's kinda taken him away from me. Again. And there isn't a damn thing I can do about it except to look back on some of the posts from last October, back when I codenamed him Antenna [because back then Roboter was Ralf of Kraftwerk! *lol*]. But... I still wonder...

DID I DO ANYTHING WRONG, THAT HE ISN'T TALKING TO ME NOW!?

But for now, I guess, I can only wonder, What did I do? Why won't he talk to me? Could anything have been done to fix things, whatever the situation? How could 10 months of talking fall apart in one weekend of silence?

*sigh* I've spent the last three days [Saturday thru Monday/yesterday] worrying myself quietly about him. And I don't know what's wrong or why or... well... nothing.

I don't know. Maybe it is my fault.

So, for the part of me that, somehow, still belives... despite the Rosary of Tears...

I pulled my coat around my shoulders
And took a walk down through the park
The leaves were falling around me
The groaning city in the gathering dark
On some solitary rock
A desperate lover left his mark,
"Baby, I've changed. Please come back."

What the head makes cloudy
The heart makes very clear
The days were so much brighter
In the time when she was here
But I know there's somebody somewhere
Make these dark clouds disappear
Until that day, I have to believe
I believe, I believe

In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
You can get out of the rain
In a New York Minute
Everything can change
In a New York Minute
~ "New York Minute" - Don Henley
At the moment this is all I can find, YouTube-wise, until I get the song up, as it's the Song of the Week for this week.


Tonight is Dr. Rickman's 25th-anniversary Concert at Stetson. And, I did fail to mention two things that happened recently:

Tabbsy's uncle passed away two weeks ago today. That's why the death toll is at 10.
1 lost her uncle.
2 lost their fathers.
1 lost her mother.
1 lost her brother.
1 lost his niece.
2 lost their husbands.
2 lost their pet dogs.
May her uncle's soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace eternal. + Amen.

And, last week [20 August] was Ralf from Kraftwerk's birthday, and because of the storm I'd completely forgotten until Roboter reminded me. But still. A song should've been due. And I'm somewhat at fault for forgetting that. So I do apologise for the tardiness of both newsbits.

Alrighty. Time for me to go get ready for Dr. Rickman's Concert. And I still gotta reblue my hair. I doubt I'll have time for that though. That... that's not good news, is it?

*sigh* Part of me really, really wants to cry right now. And trying to be a brave StarKnight Captain in the face of anything, in a sense, I can't. But tonight, this week... I just know I will. I saw the rainbow, the Harbinger of Bad News. And I'm anchoring down to whatever's left of... well... anything to hold on to.

Oh and, the new section of the ceiling over my stove's got a leak in it too. Fucking hell.

Okay, I think I'll go and have a good cry about how screwed up my 25 years alive have really become...



*sigh* Until the next round, boys and girls...

~ me.

Chapter 171 ~ Aftermath.

This week in pictures, and this morning.

Monday


Wednesday


Thursday




Yesterday [Friday]






This morning, within the last couple of hours


























Marmalade Skies




Joseph's Coat




Life carries on. ~ "Prayer for the Dying," Seal

Chapter 170 ~ Survived.

Many, many apologies for this week's massive absence, but in case no one's been watching the T.V. my homestate of Florida got a very unnecessary visit by Tropical Storm Fay. Areas of Florida are flooded, as she'd been around [particularly East-Central Florida] all. damn. week. Needless to say there's been a lot of rain and nasty winds about this week; safe to say it wasn't the week to go near a central processing unit. Except at work, while dealing with some of the most ungrateful, inconsiderate mess of customers I'd ever faced in a long time.

Well, this week's over, and I'm off all weekend. But my week's basically been screwed over as I'd been indoors all week. What a freckin' waste.

Starian Union Radio Top 20 for Thursday 21 August 2008 ~
1] "NWA" - The Terrible Sea
2] "New York" - Micro Chip League
3] "Handle With Care" - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
4] "Say" - John Mayer
5] "Luno" - Bloc Party
6] "Cities In Dust" - Siouxsie and the Banshees
7] "Banana Pancakes" - Jack Johnson
8] "Harley David [Son of a B!tch]" - Bollock Brothers
9] "Something About Us" - Clay Aiken
10] "Young Folks" - Peter Bjorn and John
11] "Lost in the Supermarket" - The Clash
12] "The Queen Is Dead" - The Smiths
13] "Primitive Notion" - New Order
14] "Perpetual" - VNV Nation
15] "The New Pollution" - Beck
16] "Teardrop" - Massive Attack
17] "Theft, and Wandering Around Lost" - The Cocteau Twins
18] "Don't Change" - INXS
19] "Pioneers" - Bloc Party
20] "Thieves Like Us" - New Order

So Roboter on Monday nearly got shot by lightning on his way to work. Literally. He was on his way to work when he ended driving right into a freckin' storm [way to go honey!]... complete with rain, wind, AND hail. He's trying to make it to work in one piece, and all is kinda alright as he arrives at the parking lot. Now mind you, en route to work he notices that the lightning is striking the ANTENNA TOWER at the station. And no surprise, it's a cause for panic for both him AND myself.

Well, as he was about to make his run through the parking lot... well... he ran and--I couldn't tell what was going on over the phone. I heard this loud BOOM!!, heard a yell, and then a whole lot of laughter besides my own giggling!! Turns out his coworker had opened the door for Roboter so he could literally dive right through as an actual lightning bolt had JUST MISSED him!! And we ALL got a helluva good laugh out of that, which, after our conversation on the phone, must've prompted him to text me the following:

Btw, I hope that escapade goes in the blog!

Yes dear, it's in the blog now. ;-) *lol!!*

Two minutes later another text from him...
storm clouds!

they're still out there!

So my crazy weather nut got God-awful close to the weather that time. Literally!! But at least he's alright, thank God.

This week meanwhile was when Tropical Storm Fay hit this state upside. Unbloodyfair. A lot of rain and some hectic wind--Melbourne is currently flooded. Word came this morning that the Florida Hospital, Fish Memorial [in Orange City] is being evacuated--something broke, water everywhere. [PLEASE keep the patients and staff in your kind thoughts and prayers, fellow Underground Citizens.] Power was out in Merritt Island, where Siren is. This was also supposed to be the first week of school for most of Central Florida, Volusia County in particular and for Stetson University as well.

Work was very, VERY nervewrecking as well, as this week the weather just about messed some of us over. Michelle's house is flooded, as is Nicci's. I don't know who else from work is suffering, though I *did* walk to work Monday, Tuesday and yesterday. Not a fun situation to be walking to work in. And this week brought out some of the most ungrateful, inconsiderate customers I'd ever faced in quite a good long while. We had a sign that said "PLEASE turn your windshield wipers off! Thank you!" today because most of the week a majority of the customers didn't even consider turning them off at my Drive-Thru window. And the Store Manager wasn't in the best of moods [his oldest son Kristian left for the Air Force this week], and everybody was stressed out because of the storm. And it all took its toll on little old me. So, bear with me as I proudly declare,

THANK GOD I'M OFF THE NEXT TWO DOGGONE DAYS!!!

*whew!!* There. All better now.

So there you have it. This week, pretty much, and the Top 20 all caught up.

--crap, I almost forgot. Supposedly there's ANOTHER STORM heading our way in the next handful of days. And to be honest that's the last thing I need.

Oh and, the new part of the ceiling, over my stove, now has a leak somewhere. So of course, as if having a Tropical Storm and a workweek from hell all in the same week wasn't enough to bitch about...



*sigh* I think some dinner is in order.

This week is over. And I'm glad I survived.

~ me

Chapter 91: Saturday Night's Alright!!

For the first time in about 2 weeks or so, the weather in Florida is nothing short of chilltastic, charming...

and cloud-free.

Yep, this morning looked like this--


And this afternoon looks like this--


Yeah, y'all can tell this weekend's bound to be a nice one, except at night 'cause it's gonna be uber-chilly, but still! Not a cloud in the sky!!

Today was a damn good day to be in the drive-thru.

~ 'Sunshine'

Chapter 66: Humming the sounds of a sweeter melody. [The whim of Yom Kippur, the thrill of life.]

Currently humming this track right here...



"Europe Endless" by Kraftwerk. I'm talking, uber-dancable technopop.

This YouTube however, is a bit of a humorous because it takes a few good clips from a movie about Nazi spies and pairs it with some robot rock. To be honest, a track from 1977 in this case is enough for me to make me dance in my seat. No joke!!

Naw... not the fathers of electrodisco!! Naw!!

Meanwhile... last night and all through today is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Ten days after the Jewish New Year [Rosh Hashanah]. Those few precious days in between are days of repentance, self-examination and self-denial. And to be honest, this day's a bit of a stronger blessing than other people would've guessed about this day. Yeah, we fast for 25 hours, but let's be real about the main reason why we do this. TO KEEP FOCUS ON PRAYER!!

'Nuff said on that subject. Next topic of discussion...

This week's highlights [and then some], in pictures--

First, this week [and earlier this month for one pic] on my camera...


Earlier this month. Yeah, that's one helluvan order I took there, folks. The rest of the store got pissed. I however was amused. [By the way, that was the Sunday my Grandma Sharon had her surprise birthday party.]


Last Friday night, for the Sabbath service, all the gals of the Temple [including me!] got to light Shabbat candles. After that we said the Prayer for Lighting the Sabbath Lights. Fun time had by all!


This past Monday was my younger sister's birthday. We celebrated it last Saturday afternoon/evening. By the way, she's 10 now. Dayumn, she's getting big! Go, Small Lady, Go!!


Kinda blurred, but this was where we were having some birthday cake, and Dad decided to brag, "My piece is bigger than yours." Don't worry though. I had the smallest piece of the lot, 'cause I was full from all that spaghetti we had for dinner!!


Wednesday it rained. All. Day. Long. Nice day to be in the Drive-Thru too, as I missed working on a rainy day. I loved it. So much so that at 6:53 A.M. it was the perfect moment to catch a rainy-day morning picture. That picture was the result.


Yesterday I was heading to Downtown DeLand after visiting Mom [stepmom] at her job. I took the public bus and, as I was listening to Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express" at the time, I took that opportunity to capture this moment. I nicknamed that bus I took that day the "Trans-Small Town Express." Classic.

And then, these next four pictures...




...were the progression of the skies as I was heading to Temple Israel last night. First pic, at 6:12 P.M., then at 6:23 P.M. [I actualy faced the Downtown area, opposite of my destination, for this pic], at 6:24 P.M. and finally at 6:36 P.M.

Alright, enough of my life, it's time for some different eye-candy...


Aww... don't the guys of Kraftwerk look so adorable? I giggled half to death looking at the pic. And doesn't Ralf look so bashful!?


Speaking of Ralf, looks like it's tea-time for him!


From monkey to mensch-maschine is but a remarkable evolution!


The mensch-maschinen are taking over!! YESS!!


Dancing mensch-maschinen!! Bliss! Joy! Happiness! w00t! Hee!!


Mensch-maschine Karl vs. the Pocket Calculator. What. A. Hoot!


Aww... me being swarmed by adorable mensch-maschinen!! [Don't worry, I have Ralf in my hand, Florian hanging out in my purse, Karl trying to hide behind my foot and Wolfgang holding down the fort on my other foot!!]

And for the final giggle of the day, a "Caption This!!" moment--

[pic one]Florian: Hi kids!! We're Kraftwerk, die mensche-maschinen from Germany!! Now we're gonna play for you guys some music!! *grin*
[pic two]Ralf: ...uhm... Florian... I don't think so. *shakes his head*
[pic three]Ralf: See, let me show y'all how it's done!!

Giggle away, y'all, until the next round...

~ 'Sunshine'

Chapter 38: Odds, ends, and... a blackout!? [Must be a Wednesday...!]

[Currently playing: 'Fade to Grey' by Visage.]

First of all, not sure how the hell this haze came about, but it must be the cause of this very interesting sunset from last night--



[6:52 P.M. last night, just as I was turning the corner to get around to my job.]

This odd haze has been around for quite some time, actually. I should've done my homework about this, but I haven't. Oops. But anyway, I'll be honest here. It just makes the sky look so... so... weird. I mean, it's kinda hard to describe it but, basically it makes the sky look rather pale... close to white, really. I don't know, maybe it's just me. But in any case, I hope it's gone soon... or at least I hope it rains. We could sure use it. Big time.

In other happy-strange-oddity news, Monday night I got a special treat in the mailbox: my friend Margaret in Canada [the resident Hooky's Angel of the Excelsios Underground] sent me a third envelope full of Joy Division/New Order pics!! Yay!!

A good majority of them were Steve and Barney pictures, as well as some of them together. I was in happy post-punk girl heaven. So much so that I took a picture of my favorite picture sent to me, and now this is my cell phone wallpaper:



Coworker Tabby thought he looked younger than 49 by a good shot--she even thinks he's cute!! Hee-hee!! *all giggles and stuff now*

[I mean, hell, if he looked at me like that then, how the heck could I not say no!?]

And finally, for a laugh-out-loud shock of the day, at around 1:30 this afternoon a nice surprise happened--considering I had a crappy day [again...!], this proved to be that, now it was the hurting's turn to laugh its ass off...



With some light reflected from the outside [or was that the emergency light?]. No joke. The power around our block went OUT!!

We were closed for about an hour or so until the power came back on and we got things going again. Fun times because I wasn't on the clock when it happened, so I got to stick around and watch all the fun unfold!!

Of course, Barb was pissed because apparently this happened five minutes after she left to attend a meeting somewhere in town. It all became he-said-she-said-and-she-said when she said we were open, but Swing Manager Melissa informed her that Supervisor Chris said to close the place down until power came back up. And I, of course, just played messenger and laughed at it all. It was perfect!



...then again I'm sure there'll be hell to pay tomorrow! Crap!

So, in closing, here are a handful of songs for you Excelsians to jam to. This is my newly o-fish-ul [erm, official!] old-school gothique StarMix. Trust me, this is just part of what the 80's were all about...

Yazoo [or Yaz] - 'Don't Go' ~ Got me from the first synth notes. Alison 'Alf' Moyet is right below Gillian Gilbert in my list of the most influential women in music. Alf provided the vocals to the synths of Vince Clarke [ex-Depeche Mode]. She. Is. Amazing!

The Teardrop Explodes - 'Brave Boys Keep Their Promises' ~ I never heard of them until it was noted once that they played at a festival with Joy Division. This song got my interest and attention. Very unique in its own way, really. Gotta find more TTE for the Underground, yes, I should. Indeed.

Stockholm Monsters - 'Winter' ~ Never heard of them until a fellow NOOLer [can't remember who--dangit!] mentioned them. I now have four or five songs from them, and they are absofreckin'lutely cool. An Excelsios favorite already. So much so that two of their songs, this being one of them, are on the Hacienda Homecoming music player here [the other track on it is 'Fairy Tales'].

Public Image Ltd - 'Rise' ~ Possibly the best thing Johnny Lydon, that redheaded cutie, ever did after the rise and fall of the Sex Pistols, was starting PiL [as this band is commonly known]. This is perhaps their biggest hit, and it's a surpriser too, as Johnny sounds wonderful in this song. Bravo, Johnny, sir!! *sigh*

The Smiths - 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' ~ Come. The. Bleep. On. How the Helen of Troy could anyone have a goth mix without Morrissey's beloved band the Smiths!? Every goth-ish mix I've done has this song on it. It's just the perfect sad love song. [Just watch out for that 10-ton truck.]

The Pet Shop Boys - 'It's a Sin' ~ Yes, I do consider this a goth song. If you've seen the video you'd probably understand. And anyway, the lyrics are quite a testimony to it. But overall, it's a good dance tune. No shame in this song whatsoeffin'ever.

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark - 'Electricity' ~ OMD [as this band is commonly known] actually played with Joy Division in the same festival as with The Teardrop Explodes. Forgot the name of the festival, but I'm sure of it. Anywho, this track's on the Hacienda Homecoming music player.

New Order - 'Mesh' ~ Hands down my favorite pre-'Temptation' song by the Order [with 'Procession' in a VERY close second!]. The beats, the bass, the guitars, vox and synths--I love it all. Just something so cool and so sexy about it. Can't put my finger on it, really. But it's still a good song!

Joy Division - 'Heart and Soul' ~ I opted for something very haunting from the 'Closer' album by the Division, and this track is exactly it. Very gothique and very beautiful. And Ian's vocals!? Hel-lo chill factor! Need I say more? I think not.

The Durutti Column - 'Otis' ~ Somehow, this could just fit. I don't have a clue how the DC could be goth, but this could serve as good chill music. And anyway, it lightens up the mix a bit. This song's on the Hacienda Homecoming music player, as well on a few more upcoming Mixes.

Visage - 'Fade to Grey' ~ One of the great classic neo-romantic gothique songs. It just grips you like it's nobody's business, from the opening synths to the final 'We fade to grey'. Although I will admit that I do find the video a bit strange if not slightly disturbing, a good song all around.

Peter Murphy - 'Cuts You Up' ~ Quite possibly one of the best things to come out of Peter Murphy since Bauhaus. This is pretty different from his Bauhaus material, but it also has its own sense of pure whim. The DJ back at Indie-Bar always paired this song with the one following it--

Siouxsie and the Banshees - 'Cities in Dust' ~ My very first Siouxsie song. Heard it as a kid, never heard it again until almost a year ago. And now it's become one of my all-time favorite songs. I once dedicated this to an ex-boyfriend who did me wrong. Of course, he wasn't too thrilled on how I moved on!!

New Order - 'Angel Dust' ~ I'm sorry but, I just canNOT resist putting this classic track on there. From 1986's classic album 'Brotherhood', this was one of the three favorite tracks on there. Its remix is 'Evil Dust', which I'll have to post on here one of these days. Yeah, it's that good.

The Cure - 'Lovesong' ~ The quintessential gothic love song, courtesy of the Cure. The lyrics, the keyboards, the entire song is just one hell of a classic. Sure it could be a bit cheesy and possibly one of their most overrated songs but, come the hello on! it could be one of the best love songs ever.

Tunnelvision - 'Glenn Miller' ~ I swear, I never heard of them until Saturday night when I went music-hunting. This song's got a sound similar to the Division, but not quite. It's a very interesting song though, and the chorus is, albeit a small bit hard-to-understand, very neat-o. Ace song.

Ministry - 'Every Day Is Halloween' ~ Ahh, the classic anthem for the whole gothic nation. Al Jourgensen did us goths justice when he and Ministry put this song together. It's got common airplay now, and not just on Halloweens anymore. Put it on and remind yourself, this is what it is to be a goth!!

The Durutti Column - 'Sketch for Summer' ~ What more unique way to end a goth mix than with more of the DC? This song is a bit more unique than 'Otis', and it's already become my favorite DC track. Possibly one of the best chill-out songs never really discovered. A great masterpiece all in all.

...and there you have it! Some of the best 80's goth tracks I can think of at the moment. Yet it all just works! I can't wait to hear this back at the Apartment.

A final note--I finally have the first official soundtrack to the 'Angelos' arc, so stay tuned for the mix of eclecticity, as I debut the first round of StarMixes devoted to the 'Angelos' arc.

Until the next round, enjoy the noise, and Cheers!! XOXOXO Mike, Crush!!

~ 'Sunshine'

ETA 8:42 P.M. ~ I am an idiot--I FORGOT THE MP3 LINKS!! STUPID SUNSHINE!!