According to Talia

What you need to know, straight from the source: Ms. Talia Page

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

And its only WEDNESDAY...



For those of you who wonder why, when I’m asked at parties or in bars what I do for a living, I usually reply “oh this and that” and immediately flip the script with a quick “what about you?”, I am now offering a tiny glimpse into my daily life here in the transitional phase- the place where I earn my living for the time being until I can get paid to do what I was born to do- and, no, its not professional chocolate cake eating! The truth is, I simply cannot explain in any socially acceptable amount of time, the current goings on of my (ahem) professional life.

As an aside, recently after I casually replied “oh this and that” at a party, the person I was talking to immediately went into a long elaborate story about how I was clearly an assassin for the mafia, and that is why I am so coy when asked my occupation. I did not correct him. As a result there are a few Brooklyn residents who now fear me…

Anyhoo, here is a break-down of just some of the events which have shaken down in my office this week. The reason I feel comfortable disclosing these embarrassing details is that I truly love and respect my co-workers (all of whom are over 70) as much as if they were my own grandmothers, and they all, despite their shortcomings, are amazing ladies, each with a great sense of humor. When I laugh, we all laugh.

MONDAY: 89 year old co-worker mentions that she has an upset stomach, and had to make an emergency trip to the bathroom. Within moments I discover a foul odor wafting through the hall, and a mysterious brown substance on the floor trailing out of the bathroom. I casually ask “what’s on the floor”, although I am fully aware of what has happened. Pandemonium ensues, Lysol is sprayed abundantly, trash is removed, and I cower in my office with an ideal clamp on my nose. (It should be noted that this is the second time in 2 months that someone has had such an accident and has cused a poop induced frenzy in the office) ALSO TODAY- 78 year old secretary has gotten new dentures. She cannot pronounce S’s. (Her last set lasted her 30 years I am told, but when her bottom tooth fell out last month, and I was required to crawl under her desk to retrieve it, she decided to get a new set. Until today she had glued it back in, but it was crooked.)

TUESDAY: 74 year old office helper (she answers phones, tidies up, and makes copies) has been called in for emergency cleaning (see Monday’s event). Now I am free to drink water and pee at my leisure. While vacuuming in the hall I hear her announce, apparently to herself, that she has gotten her fingers stuck in a mouse intended glue trap. “Oh boy!” she exclaims, “Now I know what the mice have to go through.” Right, that is exactly what the mice go through.

WEDNESDAY: My 78 year old secretary comes into my office this afternoon after having a smoke and gives me a goofy look. She then brings to my attention the fact that she is wearing two different shoes. Indeed she is. They are not similar. I later overhear her asking the other attorney while passing in the hall, to please excuse her, she’s limping because one of her shoes have more of a heel than the other. I giggle hysterically to myself. Later I overhear the ladies in the front office fervently discussing their preference for "fanny packs" over shoulder bags.

Baby I'm Yours


So far I have received mixed responses when it comes to British rock band, the Arctic Monkeys. Personally, I am a huge fan of tracks such as I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor and When the Sun Goes Down off 2006's Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What I'm Not- especially at the gym when the fast pace and shouted lyrics inspire me to run faster and with greater vigor!

However, even the skeptics, who have dubbed Arctic Monkeys as unoriginal or played out, are appreciating their softer side, in an unsuspected cover of Baby I'm Yours, originally released in 1965 by Barbara Lewis. Completely out of character, these boys hit the nail on the head on this one! Just listen for yourself on AOL Spinner. This track can be found on the album Leave Before the Lights Come On, released in August of 2006. Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A 2007 update on an age old concept



Have you seen the Millennium episode of Seinfeld where Jerry freaks out upon discovery that his new girlfriend, Valerie, (played by Laura Graham of Gilmore Girls) has placed him on her speed dial? The ever neurotic Jerry initially obsesses about whether Valerie is moving too fast, with the speed dial thing, but eventually takes it as a compliment when he reaches spot number one after a good date. At this point, Valerie’s step mother secretly contacts Jerry, and threatens him in attempts to regain her status on Valerie’s speed dial list. A not-so-good date happens in the meantime, and Jerry drops from #1 to # 7, AGAIN causing him to freak out about what this demotion in status really means.

Upon watching this episode recently on TBS, I was immediately reminded of MYSPACE! Think about it- how many of us (or certainly people we know) have obsessed over whether or not they have earned a place in someone’s TOP 8 or TOP FRIENDS list on Myspace??? Personally, I could really give a rip, but I know people (a few in particular, but I will not name names) who are completely fixated and preoccupied by their Myspace status- constantly checking out people’s “Top Friends” lists and taking personal offense to being demoted to a lower rank or being (God forbid) removed altogether!

What is it with status symbols in today’s society? Isn’t it good enough that I have your phone number, call you occasionally, and for that matter, that I don’t ignore you all together?! What’s the big deal with rankings anyway? I remember being on the playground when I was in first grade naming off who was my “first best friend”, my “second best friend”, and so on. It’s all so trite and silly if you ask me. I can tell who are my real friends by important factors such as who calls me on my birthday, who has known me all my life through the good times, the uni-brow, and the insecure phases, and STILL comes to visit me in NY at least once a year.

And isn’t dating difficult enough without having to worry about whether your new crush has you on his top friends, who he’s got pictures of on his profile, and so on? I’m self conscious enough without newly invented ways to grade myself in the eyes of others, so I would like to throw up a big virtual middle finger at the whole Myspace Top Friends ranking system (but not enough to actually do anything drastic like deleting my page or anything).

Today, I challenge you all to erase your top friends, and replace each spot with people you don’t know very well- the band that just sent you a random request, the creepy old guy who went to your alma mater…..get to know someone new, because after all, the people you care about should know this already!

Friday, January 26, 2007

Pearl Jam Europe 2007

Well, we've all been anxiously awaiting the news on what our boys were going to do with their time in 2007, and early this morning we found out! Pearl Jam has announced several Eurpoean/ festival tour dates for June 2007!! If there is any possible way that I can swing this, I am most definately going to do it! Woulda been easier to take a drive up to London, Ontario of course, but hey, I have to see the prettier part of the world at some point, don't I? I've posted the schedule for you below....anyone have any preferences? I wouldn't mind taking a jaunt over to Italy :) Thank you boys...I hope to catch you in the old country!!!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

COACHELLA 2007

Another amazing line up for yet another music festival! Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual treat which started in 1999, and takes place in Indio, California. Similar to Lollapalooza and Bonaroo, Coachella has in the past featured many of the latest, greatest atlernative rock, hip hop, and electronica artists over the course of 2 days, BUT THIS YEAR it will be a 3 day affair!! On April 27, 28, and 29, spectators can enjoy the likes of Regina Spektor, Silversun Pickups, Arctic Monkeys, Travis, Jose Gonzales, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Damien Rice, Crowded House, The Decemberists, and MANY MANY MORE!!! Don't know about you crazy kooks (btw The Kooks will be playing too), but I am going :) Check the official site later this week for more info. Tickets are not on sale yet, but will be very soon, so get your platinum master card's ready.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Superfluous goals

Im am embarrassed to admit that I dropped the ball on Thursday as far as the Wrens and Takka Takka show. I waited till after work to attempt to buy my ticket (in my defense, Thursday was a very busy day at work), and unfortunately they had already sold out. I made one last go at it by showing up at the Knitting Factory when doors opened, but alas, the jig was up, and I did not get to see the show :( Instead, I went to The Dove and tossed down a few swanky martinis, with my friends, and everything was right in the world again.





I went on a bit of a drinking/eating/spending bender this weekend (it happens every time I have visitors in town), so I vowed to stay in next weekend (Sarah was agreeable to same)- ALL WEEKEND and do nothing. Of course, as usual, friends are welcome to come over and do nothing with us, which inevitably results in a something of sorts, but hey, its good to set goals, right? Problem is, Im already tempted to go see Ted Leo at North Six this Friday night. He's playing a benefit concert with Medications, The Forms and Last Letters. Tickets are $15, doors at 8, and the show starts at 9. (who am I kidding, I'll probably be there) Ted Leo + Pharmacists are also badass enough to have a bunch of free downloads HERE on the official site, so check em out.

COMPLETELY UNRELATED: Im pretty embarrassed by the fact that I have great difficulty understanding dialog between British actors, especially in British tv shows and movies. For example, I once tagged along with my friends to see Layer Cake at the movie theater. Not only was the violence and action nature completely out of line with my preferred cinematic genres BUT, I actually fell asleep because I could not follow a damn thing the actors were saying. It's not just the accent, but rather a combination of accent and a crazy slang which I, a relatively uncultured American, would not be familiar with unless I exposed myself to it more regularly. Recently, I've been taunted with rave reviews from my peers of a show called Extras on HBO:


"Ricky Gervais stars as Andy Millman, a 40-something actor who gave up his day job to pursue movie fame -- only to find he couldn't land any substantial parts. Undaunted by failure and convinced of his star potential, Andy finally turned the corner when a comedy pilot he wrote got picked up by a British TV network. Despite his many gaffs and foibles, Andy may well be on his way to fame and fortune...if only he can survive meddling network executives, questionable fans, and the gross ineptitude of his clueless agent, Darren Lamb (Stephen Merchant)."
I struggled through an episode on demand the other day, and vaguely caught a poop reference which made me chuckle, but for the most part, I was a dud. Though I sat on the edge of the couch and leaned forward with eyes squinted and head cocked to the side like a curious pooch, I got nothin!

So, my shameful inability to be diverse in my tv and film interests, coupled with a fascinating discovery of Cockney, a wacky British rhyming slang, have caused me to instate a new goal for myself: to learn and eventually become fluent enough to use Cockney in conversation, AND to watch more BBC :) Its an odd goal, but fun, and hey, what else to I have to do with my time......(that was a rhetorical question, I don't really want you to answer that)
Happy Monday
-Talia

Thursday, January 18, 2007

This weekend's music events...pretty pumped!

Yo, I am super pumped about this show which I recruited my friends to attend with me, scheduled for tomorrow night at the Knitting Factory and I thought I would share the flyer with you! Its a benefit show, proceeds to go to Planned Parenthood of NYC (great cause), and there are some great bands playing, namely The Wrens and Takka Takka, which has recently been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine's On The Edge Section! Hope to see you there :)






Monday, January 15, 2007

Oh the lives of city girls....

A while back, I had come up with the brilliant idea to collect Instant Message conversations from friends, and eventually strangers too, and post them on a blog dedicated to celebrating the funny conversations we, "generation text", have via email and instant messanger throughout the day at work, to prevent from getting any actual work done. From time to time, my friends still send me their IM conversations, and I get a good laugh out of them. I am posting one which struck me as hilarious below. The names of my friends have been changed to protect their anonymity. Keep them coming, guys! I love to read it!











FriendA: any word from #10?
FriendB: yes. i received an email promptly at 9:54
FriendA: good
FriendB: yes....at least i am not that big of a hose bag; i am currently playing the game of generics
FriendA: ?
FriendB: generic email conversations
FriendA: right
FriendB: we stick to the w's
FriendA: hahaha
FriendB: work, weekend, wtc
FriendA: world trade center?
FriendB: etc
FriendA: lol
FriendB: haha; i don't even know his bday or how old he is for real

FriendB: i find it very uncomfortable that i know what your penis looks like and i don't know how old you are
FriendA: lol can't you count the rings around it?
to tell the age
like a sequoia?
FriendB: HAHAHAHA
FriendB: I am imagining a sequoia
FriendA: lol I gave myself a high five for that one!
FriendB: could you imagine if that could really happen?
you are not 29.... you are 42!
FriendA: hahahah- It could prevent alot of unwanted pregnancies!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Talia's Song Pick-o-the week!

There comes a time in every young woman's life when her collection of mp3s surpasses the capacity on her ipod. For me, this is a time of great pride, but also of great sadness because I must leave some of my beloved tunes behind when I venture out into the world on a day to day basis. To cope with this problem, I have begun to create playlists (which can be a tedius task when you're scrolling through thousands of songs looking for tunes which appropriately fit into categories such as "Bad Day mix" "Pump up workout mix" and the most difficult of all "favorites"). So far, I've tried a mix which I take to the gym with me and yesterday, on shuffle, the first song that played is the song I now make my pick of the week.

With thousands of songs on my ipod, I was missing some tunes which were being shunned by the shuffle option and upon narrowing the selection I can, once again, treat myself to tracks I had since forgotten about. Anyone Can Play Guitar, by Radiohead is one such track. It takes me back to 8th grade, and reinforces a 2-part philosophy which I firmly live by: (1) You can do whatever it is that your heart desires, if only you put your mind to it and (2) Being a rockstar makes you cool.



















With that, I beg that you to enjoy the lyrics to
Anyone Can Play Guitar
by: Radiohead
Destiny, destiny protect me from the world
Destiny, hold my hand protect me from the world
Here we are with our running and confusion
And I don't see no confusion anywhere

And if the world does turnAnd if London burns I'll be standing on the beach with my guitar
I wanna be in a band when I get to heaven
Anyone can play guitar
And they won't be a nothing anymore

Grow my hair, grow my hair
I am Jim Morrison
row my hair
I wanna be wanna be wanna be Jim Morrison

Here we are with our running and confusion
And I don't see no confusion anywhere
And if the world does turn
And if London burns I'll be standing on the beach with my guitar
I wanna be in a band when I get to heaven
Anyone can play guitar
And they won't be a nothing anymore

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Reign Over Me

You may have heard by now about the upcoming Adam Sandler movie called Reign Over Me, set to open in theaters in March, about a guy (Sandler) who loses his whole family in a plane crash, and reunites with his college roomate, played by Don Cheadle. I love Adam Sandler, but thats not the best part of this story: The BEST PART is that for the movie, Pearl Jam, has recorded a cover of Love Reign O'er Me, by The Who! Its unbelievably hot, as you might expect it to be- first time I listened to it, I got chills :)

Check out the trailer for Reign Over Me:

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You can also listen to a full version of Pearl Jam's Love Reign O'er Me cover via Real Player by clicking HERE

Monday, January 08, 2007

Thank you!

Well, thats it, the end of my days as a 26-year-old. Big ups and many thanks to the several awesome people who made this birthday spectacular! I love you all, and despite the brief emotional breakdown that comes with the territory (I am severely opposed to aging), I really did have an amazing birthday! I love you all- thanks for singing with me, buying me Magnolia cupcakes, drinking with me, laying in bed with me and watching Barbarella, sharing in mom's home made sphaghetti, calling and singing to me......A girl couldn't couldn't ask for better company as she skates dangerously close to an age which starts with a 3 (gulp). Im so lucky :)
Here's a few shots of me being a mic hog at Second on Second Saturday night. If anyone has more pics from the weekend, please share! As you can see, I was a little too busy to play photographer :)



Thursday, January 04, 2007

Bitch beat me to it- Box in a box!

In response to Justin Timberlake's HUGELY popular dick in a box sketch on SNL, some chickie has done a reciprocal video. I gotta give it up for her eventhough I should have come up with this but, she's done well! This video is almost as funny as the original.
Watch this: My box in a box

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Just for you!

Hi boys and girls! I just wanted to remind you that the new Apples in Stereo album, The New Magnetic Wonder, will be released on February 6, 2007. You can pre-order it here. For your enjoyment, however, the band has given me special permission to share with you Energy, their first single off the new album. I love it, and I think you will too! Actually, the whole album is great, so you're best off buying it outright! Especially if you're a LOTR fan, cuz remember, The Apples are on Simian Records which is the lable started by LOTR darling, Elija Wood!
Click here to listen to Energy. Enjoy!


Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Talia's Song Pick-o-the-week

This pick of the week is an adorable little ditty by Scottish based band, Belle & Sebastian called Funny Little Frog. I kept hearing it on CMJ radio, and it sparked my interest in B&S. Then, Saturday night after the Spoon show, Jed and I went on a little shopping spree at Virgin (everything is sinfully on sale right now) and I picked up the latest album from Belle & Sebastian, The Pursuit of Life. So far, I like what I've heard, and I can't get enough of this song, the music of which is reminiscent to me of Chicago's Saturday In the Park, so with great pleasure I present to you:

Funny Little Frog
By: Belle & Sebastian

Honey lovin you is the greatest thing
I get to be myself and I get to sing
I get to play at being irresponsible
I come home late at night and I love your soul
I never forget you in my prayers
I never have a bad thing to report

You're my picture on the wall
You're my vision in the hall
You're the one I'm talking to
When I get in from my work
You are my girl, and you don't even know it
I am livin out the life of a poet
I am the jester in the ancient court
You're the funny little frog in my throat
My eye sight's fading, my hearing's dim
I can't get insured for the state I'm in
I'm a danger to myself I've been starting fights
At the party at the club on a Saturday night
But I don't get disapproving from my girl
She gets ALL THE highlights wrapped in pearls..

You're my picture on the wall
You're my vision in the hall
You're the one I'm talking to
When I get in from my work
You are my girl, and you don't even know it
I am livin out the life of a poet
I am the jester in the ancient court
You're the funny little frog in my throat
I had a conversation with you at night
It's a little one sided but that's alright
I tell you in the kitchen about my day
You sit on the bed in the dark changing places
With the ghost that was there before you came
You've come to save my life again

I don't dare to touch your hand
I don't dare to think of you
In a physical way
And I don't know how you smell
You are the cover of my magazine
You're my fashion tip, a living museum
I'd pay to visit you on rainy Sundays
I'll maybe tell you all about it someday

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy Fricken New Year

Well, thats it for 2006- the year in which I went a little crazy. I ditched my old reserved worry wort attitued, threw caution to the wind and let my hair down! I must say that 2006 was one of my best years so far from ringing in the New Year in Minneapolis with Alethea, to spring break in Fort Meyers, Los Angeles, and San Diego with Meredith, THEN making it into Irving Plaza in NYC to see Pearl Jam's secret exclusive pre-tour show and kick off an 8 concert series where I would travel to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and eventually Seattle and the Gorge to see my favorite band promote their best album in 10 years! I played hard this year, and I want to thank everyone who helped me!
Now for 2007, the year I make stuff happen. This is my year to begin to materialize all these dreams I've been accumulating over the years. I now have the means to deliver, and I deserve it. Watch out, I have a plan this year, and the sky is the limit! I wish you all a very safe, happy, healthy and prosperous 2007!!

And now for some reviews:


Saturday night I saw Spoon at Webster Hall. Webster is a great venue, but for some reason Spoon didn't exactly dazzle me. Don't get me wrong, I rocked out, and enjoyed myself, as I would at practically any show, but the performance was a bit flat, and didn't exactly blow my skirt up. Keep tryin, Spoon, I think you're probably best suited for a summery outdoor concert. Small club shows don't really do you justice.
Last night, I was FINALLY able to see Mates of State at The Knitting Factory! This husband and wife duo of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel definately came through for me and was everything I expected and more. To simply listen to their recorded music, you could easily think that Mates was comprised of a 4 or 5 piece ensemble. However, these two are able to multi-task, harmonizing lyrics while simultaneously playing organs and drums. The music is so fun and light -hearted, that even boring wall flowers in the house, dragged to the show by their cooler friends with excellent taste in music, were bobbing their heads and getting into the show. Mates of State played 2 shows at Knitting Factory on New Year's Eve, the earlier being a benefit for the Kalianne Fox, a little girl who suffered from infantile MLD.
Enjoy your first week of the new year!
~Talia~