You Can't Take It With You

Well, if you know me, you know that one of my all time favorite bands is As Tall As Lions ("but lions aren't very tall!"). I don't even know how I discovered them, but the first song I can remember being obsessed with was "Deep Sleeper", which you can hear in the montage of Italy pictures:


Italy 2



When their self titled album came out and I got my hands on it, I was pretty much smitten for life. "Song for Luna", "Ghosts of York", "I'm Kicking Myself", and the ever-popular "Love Love Love" (featured in Meg & Lane's wedding video) are just a few of my favorite songs. The vocals themselves are like another instrument...it's intense.

Back to the point, and their latest venture You Can't Take It With You, probably beat its predecessor into the musical happenings of my heart. The CD plays out in order like a film, each song complementing and leading the way for the next. My personal favorites, the title track "You Can't Take It With You", "In Case of Rapture" (amazing lyrically), the long instrumental "Duermete"...I mean, the whole cd is pretty fantastic.

I am hoping beyond hope I can get my hands on a ticket to the Voodoo festival in New Orleans on Halloween weekend, because As Tall As Lions is performing on Halloween Day! and I have never seen them live, though I've tried.

If you haven't heard them before, download:

Deep Sleeper (From Lafcadio)
Love Love Love (As Tall As Lions)


Ghosts of York (As Tall As Lions)
Stab City (As Tall As Lions)
Songs for Luna (As Tall As Lions)
I'm Kicking Myself (As Tall As Lions)

You Can't Take It With You
In Case of Rapture
Lost My Mind

Why Louisiana?

"Actually, I'm from California."

"Really? Why did you move here!?!?"

You would not believe how many times I get this question. So to simplify it, here are the reasons:

1) Adventure! I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and experience something new and completely different than what I knew. While Louisiana is still familiar, there are a lot of differences between the food, culture, and social structures than in California. Believe it or not, sometimes it feels completely different! But it has almost all* the comforts of home.

*There is, however, a lack of good Mexican food and cheap sushi.

2) Cost! It is a fact that you get more bang for your buck here. My housing, a bedroom and bath all to myself with 3 roommates, two living rooms, a kitchen and washer/dryer, is the cost equivalent of a shared dorm room at a California university! The tuition, even out of state, is equal (and since the tuition hikes in Cali) or lower to California tuition.

3) Atmosphere! The overall feeling at the ULL campus is laid back and not LIBERAL. I don't feel the weight of a liberal faculty or student body, in fact, it's the opposite! There is a huge population of Catholic students (and other religions) on campus, who are active and outspoken. There's even a Catholic chapel on campus, Our Lady of Wisdom! I see Father Chester at Zeus all the time (the on campus Greek cafe).

4) The Campus Aesthetic: the campus is gorgeous! I fell in love with the buildings almost instantly! The ancient green tree canopies over the walk ways give it an old world feel, the look of an ivy league with less pretension.

5) My friend Sarah said it fit me perfectly: Sarah said I would fit in on this campus more than she did (she's a French major), and she was right! Not only was it a great choice, but I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. I love my teachers and classes, and have made some great friends here. Who knows what I will do when I graduate!