Saturday, January 30, 2016

My jam

My jam (what I'm listening to or my current playlist) has always had a big impact on my writing (in that I can't write unless I'm listening to music).

At work, in various corporate and marketing communications positions, I would routinely put on headphones to create the necessary "vibe" to write whatever I had to write; whether it be a press release or an article about, say... tequila.  

Recently, my jam has been pretty heavily influenced by the people I follow on Instagram (let's be honest here, I'm actually only referring to one person; Kylie Jenner) though Kate Hudson posted one of the songs from Rihanna's new Anti album today - Love on the Brain - and I'm really diggin' it. It has an old-school love ballad quality to it, like Santo and Johnny's Sleep Walk, The Flamingos' I Only have Eyes for You, and The Platters' Twilight Time.

(I would post it but apparently it's been taken off the internet... for now... good thing I listened to it 10 times this morning.) Since I can't, I'll post this instead:

 #BBHMM

But back to KJ (Kylie, not Kendall. Or Kris). Thanks to a nifty page on Instagram I get to follow her Snapchat (without actually having to be on Snapchat) and discover loads of new (to me) music. Like Post Malone.

 White Iverson

Saucin'.

Another artist I chanced upon through KJ is GFrsh on Gabrielle Aplin's Panic Cord.

"you kept all the things i threw away"
 
Due to the current, ummm, situation in KJ's life (Tyga) his music has definitely been making it to my playlist as well. From Rack City and Doped Up (Tyga's ode to Michael Jackson's Thriller) to Stimulated (his ode to, ummm, nevermind).

"they say she young, i should've waited"

I actually "rediscovered" a song through Kendall Jenner who had it playing in the background of one of her Instagram videos; Your Love by The Outfield.

"you know i like my girls a little bit older"   

So far, nothing from Kris.











   

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

A living language (part 2) or English is ratchet

Since it's still fair to call it the beginning of a new year I thought it would still be cool (#goals) to post a follow-up to last February's A living language or English on fleek. If "language is forever changing" it's probably fair to say that 2015 saw its fair share of new words see the light of day. 

Here are my top ten:

1. Ratchet: While perhaps best known as a tool (ha!) also referred to as a socket wrench, "ratchet" is also used to describe something that is, like, super cool and awesome. Exhibit A: Nicki Minaj referred to Adele as "mad ratchet" in a tweet in response to her rap of a Monster verse on James Corden's The Late Show's Carpool Karaoke.

mad ratchet indeed

2. Basic: Basic is basically someone or something that is boring and unoriginal. It made it into the dictionary as such, in its slang version, in 2015. Personally, basic really made it on my radar when Kate Moss and Marc Jacobs posted a video of themselves calling out various "basic bitches" for escorting Ms. Moss off a plane.

"calling all the basic bitches"

3. Netflix and chill: While everyone knows what this means I remember a time, not so long ago, when I did not. If you don't I suggest you look it up, just for fun. NSFW   
4. Squad: A squad is defined as a clique of friends, a gang or crew. The word is most often used in hashtags and in high schools. 


5. Ew: Ew pretty much means what it sounds like it means. It's no bueno. Popularized by Jimmy Fallon in Ew!, I'm pretty sure Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie were the first to use it.

"hashpipe like!" 

6. No bueno: Spanish for "no good" (duh!), "no bueno" is part of a larger trend of Spanish words and expressions, like "on fuego," being used for no apparent reason.


7. Slob (or douche) Kabob (or kebob): Popularized by the self-proclaimed queen (of life) Kourtney Kardashian, slob and douche kabob are terms of endearment used for Scott Disick.



8. A variety of phrases from Hotline Bling: Drake's much memed Hotline Bling popularized a variety of phrases, including "you used to call me on my cell phone," "you started wearing less and going out more" and "that can only mean one thing." 

400 million views and counting

9. Sauvage: While Sauvage is not actually used by anyone (yet) I strongly suggest it become Johnny Depp's new name.  Who's in?

Le Sauvage

10. AF: An abbreviation for "as fuck" most often used on social media to reinforce a statement (about oneself, of course). For example:

 Mood AF







Thursday, January 21, 2016

Hot dogs and hot rods

I've written about the wonder known as the Orange Julep before here and am revisiting it now, in my mind's eye at the very least, as a way of escaping winter and researching similar wonders or roadside attractions in other areas (let's just say, randomly, between here and Florida).

Tots randomly.


But back to the Julep. Every Wednesday between May'ish and October'ish it plays host to more than just hot dogs on hot rod night, famous for its classic cars even more than its classic cheeseburgers.




From classic Chevrolet El Caminos and vintage Ford Falcons to old-time pickup trucks and more, hot rod night is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a balmy Montreal evening chowing down on classic fast-food fare while listening to Twilight Time and taking a nostalgic walk, or drive, on the wild side.






The bonus is all that travelling through time really works up an appetite. And then, just like that... craving satisfied. 

"Happy Days" indeed:

  
On a (once again, totally random) side note, I'm told there are a number of similar but unique tourist-friendly stops or roadside attractions on the route (I-95 South) between Montreal and Florida. I'd love to hear about them!

The Sunshine (or Orange) State is callin'... Just sayin'.


an oldie but a goodie