The Snow Must Not Go On!

Ello!

Sorry I haven't blogged in a lil while. Honestly I have just not been "feeling it" as you will. Ya see, mother nature is a raging bitch. There's been over 2 feet of snow by me in past week or so. Not cool. All this snow has made for a very cranky, stir crazy Crippie. Not only has the snow been constricting me in terms of what I can and cannot do, it's also making me hurt like crazy. I can feel one of my knees swelling up as I'm writing this. Ugh, sorry to complain... it's just frustrating being trapped inside your home and inside your body. I want spring, also Crippie is pretty much set on moving to Arizona one day. As much as I hate scorpions and all that jazz, at this point I hate snow more.

Moving on from weather rants, here's what I've been up to since I'm pretty much trapped between work and home...

Watching "The Walking Dead" - So happy to have this back on. Normally I have little "Walking Dead Parties" with some of my pals, but the weather has prevented them thus far. Hopefully this weekend they shall resume.

"House of Cards" Marathon - *insert Southern drawl* oh my lawd I do love me some House of Cards. The only bad thing about this show is that it makes you crave ribs. It took me a little over a day to finish watching the second season. Last season my favorite character was Claire. While she is still super awesome this season, a new character came in and stole my heart... CASHEW THE GUINEA PIG! I don't want to spoil anything for those of you still watching, but Cashew is amazing and she makes the show.

grabbingsand.tumblr.com / Via Netflix

Listening to the soundtrack of "Frozen" - I have not seen this movie yet, but I really need to. I'm not exaggerating when I say I listened "Let it Go" and "Do You Want to Build A Snowman?" at least four times today. AT LEAST!

Listening to the soundtrack of "Inside Llewyn Davis" - I have not seen this movie either. But I adore the soundtrack. It's definitely one of my favorites. I wish it was longer like "O Brother Where Art Thou" but it's still amazing. If you haven't heard Marcus Mumford & Oscar Issac's cover of "Fare Thee Well - Dink's Song" or Stark Sand's cover of "The Last Thing on My Mind" you need to. As much as love soundtracks with original music, I love soundtracks like this that reintroduce classics. I like my music to have a history. And the songs on this album most certainly do. If you're a folky like me, you'll love this.

Reading - GASP! I know! I'm that bored. I finished reading Art Spiegelman's "Maus" last month and I LOVED it. It's so tragic and gave me all sorts of feels, but it's incredibly well written and well drawn. I cannot recommend it enough. I also read David B.'s "Epileptic". It's the story of the author's experience growing up with his epileptic brother. It got a little confusing at times but I absolutely loved how the author portrayed his brother's illness. Like a monster trying to consume him. Very good read. Also recommend it. To compensate for all the depressing feels I am currently reading Allie Brosh's "Hyperbole and a Half". I'm only one chapter in and I kid you not I was crying from laughter on multiple occasions. In my opinion, her visualizations of depression are the most accurate and relatable descriptions I have ever encountered. As someone who doesn't suffer from depression I read it and go "Oh... I get it now". I haven't even finished this book and I can already tell you that I freaking love it.

Watching Teen Mom 2 - Don't judge me, it's my guilty pleasure. Apart from seeing all of the stupidity and it making me feel better about my life, this season in particular is actually quite poignant. The daughter of one of the girls was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. The contrast of seeing her deal with fitting her daughter in a wheelchair, coming to grips with how she will not be able to things a lot of other kids will go, still clinging to hope that she'll walk down the aisle when she gets married, etc while the others deal with such meaningless "drama". It's compelling, it's real, and it's something that doesn't get featured on TV often.

Snuggles with the Animals - Obviously all of my furbabies have been getting oodles of loves.

Well, that's about it around here. The weather is supposed to warm up for a few days. I'll enjoy it while I have it.

Crippie's Tippie - Use a cane or a walker? Obtain ice picks for them.

Crippie Remembers Pete Seeger

Greetings!

Thank you guys sooooooo much for all of your support for my little jewelry business. I made a facebook page for 'em, if you wanna check it out click HERE.

I hope all my readers are staying warm during this most recent winter storm. I don't know about you guys, but Crippie is beyond done with these storms. The cold hurts my joints, the snow limits where I can go, AND literally every place I have gone in the past few days has used at least one (or the only) handicap parking spot as a dumping place for snow. UGH! It feels like this weather is restricting and suffocating me. One day I'll probably move somewhere without snow, but for now I must unfortunately deal with it. Any recommendations of nice, dry places to live? Preferably without scorpions. :)

Moving on, as you may know Pete Seeger, arguably the greatest folk singer ever passed away on January 27th at the age of 94. I was absolutely devastated when the news of his death broke. I was raised on Pete Seeger's music and still listen to it (I'm listening to Turn, Turn, Turn right now). He was such a talented musician and singer, a bad ass activist (performing at the Occupy Wallstreet rallies, being blacklisted, all that fun stuff) but also a genuinely awesome person. Crippie would like to share a lil' story about my mother's own personal experience with Pete Seeger...

"When I was about 11, 3 civil rights workers were murdered in Mississippi. Having been raised in the ways of Pete Seeger and the Weavers, Woody Guthrie and others in the folk music scene, I did what you were supposed to do, and I wrote a song about it. Not a bad song for an 11 year old folkie, and my mom sent it to Pete Seeger, who actually answered! His secretary signed the letter, but Pete Seeger sent my song to Broadside Magazine! They never published it, but it didn't matter. I had this letter from my hero. It's framed and hanging in our hallway, together with the letter I received from Robert and Carolyn Goodman, parents of Andy Goodman, one of the murdered civil rights workers. This is one of my most treasured mementos, one of my most treasured memories."

How amazing is that? BTW, if any of you youngins' have never heard of the event my mother is referring to, click HERE, events like that should not be forgotten.

Here are a few of Crippie's favorite Pete Seeger songs. I know a lot of younger people don't always appreciate this kind of music, but maybe they need to be educated. (Yes, I know he didn't write some of these songs, but they're fantastic covers regardless)

Think that's enough of 'em? Believe me this is a small sampling of my favorite Pete Seeger songs. 

Rest in Peace Pete, thank you for the music <3

Crippie's Tippie - If you haven't checked out Pete Seeger's music... do it... now.