Ani DiFranco

Ani Difranco has been in my ibuds the past few days. She is by far on the top of the list for Artists I admire. Her lyrics are original and oddly philosophical - speaking to the strong woman in all of us. She created her own record label at a very young age "Righteous Babe Records" So she could allow herself to create a product that is completely uncensored and true to herself without having to please a commercial record company. Ani often gets a bad rap for being "an Angry Girl" mostly because she speaks the truth of what she see's and there are those who would rather keep uncomfortable things unsaid, but when I listen to her I notice something very different. In every word, every chord, and every performance you can just hear and tell that she loves to do what she does and most important she does it for no one else but her self. I hope to always love what I do as much as she does. These are three songs that I think really will show just how playfully in love she is with making music.

"Little Plastic Castles"

"In a coffee shop

in a city

which is every coffee shop

in every city

on a day

which is every day"

"Pick Yer Nose"

"I fight with love

and I laugh with rage.

You gotta live light enough to see the humor

You gotta live long enough to see some change."

"Both Hands"

"And in each other's shadows

we grew less and less tall

and eventually our theories

couldn't explain it all.

and I'm recording our history

now on the bedroom wall

and when we leave

the landlord will come

and paint over it all"

Ode to Shakespeare

Today was the first day of rehearsals for Shakespeare's "As You Like It" being put up in Down Town NYC at the Glenn Frankel Theatre. It was such an energizing and exciting first day that I decided to do an "Apples to Oranges" tribute to William Shakespeare. Any more ado would be about nothing so, with no further ado...

"These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things"

Shakespeare Inspired

CLICK TO ENLARGE

1) Picture Frame by WildSorbet.com $34.99: As soon as I saw this frame I couldn't take my eyes off it. Its aged wallpaper quality makes your photos look like show pieces. Perfect for my Shakespeare Tribute.

2) Ralph Lauren's Men's Polo $29.95: I love me a good polo. And with Ralph Lauren's Polo's you can be casual with confidence! As a fan of the popped collar (yes i'm proud to say it) I couldn't help but add it to the "...my favorite things": Shakespeare edition, as Bill, himself, is sporting a popped collar in one of his most famous renderings!

3) Italian Leather Desk Journal With Belt Closure by JournalShelf.com $135: For the Journal-er, for the writer, for the thinker. I love feeling like I have journal or manuscript that is really worth the words and thoughts I put in it. Keep this in your bag for thoughts on the go! Perfect for all those who daydream on the subway.

4) Rococo Candelabra $56: I love this because it has that Classic Silhouette BUT its made from a VERY modern material. Classy, Clean and Crazy.

5) Modern Quill Pens by Jayson Home & Garden $28: This is really the best of both worlds. The look and feel of an ink dipped quill BUT the efficiency of a ball point pen. They come in a variety of bird feathers. With these, you'll feel important and dignified even when writing your grocery list.

6) Arnold Brant Turtle neck (with with matching suit $6,000: The priciest item on "...my favorite things":Shakespeare. For me shakespearian cloths are all about the neck flourishes. This ribbed Turtle Neck is an ode to the ruffle collar. A Turtleneck with a suit coat, if you can pull it off, is a nice twist for getting dressed up. I believe dinner and a broadway show would be in order... just NOT "Mama Mia"!

7) The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics) $17.98: In a world where Kindles are taking over I find it important to have nice copies of your favorite books to turn your bookshelf into a valid show piece. This leather-bound anthology is not only beautiful but puts some of the greatest literary works at your fingertips.

8) BURBERRY Wool and Cashmere-blend cable-knit snood $375: Not only does this circular scarf/neck-wrap remind me of a modern take on the classic Shakespeare ruffle-collar but most importantly Burberry just screams elegance. I know it's costly but Burberry never goes unnoticed. As my masculine rock-climby- type brother even said "I just wanna be well off enough so that I can afford to wear Burberry."

9) Tommy Hilfiger Suit, Grey Slim Stripe, Trim Fit $322: This suit is the perfect combination of modern and classic. Theres is nothing like a complete suit (shirt, tie, vest, jacket, pants) that makes you feel like a modern day nobleman. However, this trim fit ensemble will not give you the bulk silhouette of our favorite shakespeare characters!

A Date with Mr. Clean

We all have those days where you just wake up and know you are going to be completely useless until you get everything just they way you want it. Well, today was one of those days.

"These are a few of my Favorite"...

CLEANING MUST HAVES

1) Mr. Clean Magic Eraser:This thing is a godsend. I use it on every and all my cleaning needs... Barring bringing it in the shower with me. A Must have for anyone who loves a little Magic in their lives.

2) Memorex Mini Mover:Small but powerful. I live in a two floor apartment and I can play this thing down stairs and hear it while cleaning in my bed room upstairs.

3) Jay Brannan's Album Goddamned: One of my #1 Favorite artists of all time. I love his lyrics, I love his hooks. Great to pump up while doing house work or just any time you wanna lose track of time!

4) Swiffer Wetjet: It's simple math.

Mopping - Bucket - Scrubbing = Happy Cleaning

5) Handheld DIRT DEViL: This is compact and packs a serious punch. It was recently given to us and I am more than sold on the dirt devil brand. One of these will be in every apartment I have from now on. Great for the BIGGEST and LITTLEST jobs!

6)Batman Comic Book Underwear from H&M: For those of you who like to clean A La "Risky Business" and for any one who pretends to have super powers when no one's looking, these are for you. I ONLY wear H&M Undies and these are by far my favorite.

7) Clorox DISINFECTING WIPES: The perfect way to put a period on your cleaning spree. It's like tissues... for your house's nose... kinda.

"Remember when segregation was simple and we could ONLY Marry someone in our segregated group?"

An equal ground must be found.

It is the only ground worth standing on.

But first we must be equals.

We must allow each other to have our beliefs and biases,

as humans we are made up of not much more.

If we ever wish to discontinue disagreement

then we must search not in our differences

but in our shared truths.

Truth. We are all alive.

If we are not we are dead.

The dead are not our concern

for if we impose the hypotheticals of a world beyond this

we forsake the rules and realities of this world.

Truth will be found only when biases are separated from the governing.

It is the only way to secure that we are ALL allowed our OWN hypothetical.

A separation of church and state must be reached.

Truth. We are all human,

we must agree that no human is more equal than another.

In our equality,

no member of humanity can strip another of any need.

We all need connection.

We must agree that love is un measurable

for as much as we try

it can never be truly expressed or made tangible,

rather, only felt by those lucky enough to feel it.

We must agree that any attempt to measure ones emotion to another's

is simply through a prejudice

and prejudice by its very nature impedes truth.

Something can only ever be what it is.

We must find a away to see that nakedly.

If your beliefs

and the institutions those beliefs are built on

do not believe as I do

... that is okay.

You will never give me your permission

because I will never ask your permission.

I should never HAVE to.

You do not hold my love in your hands

That is for my heart to hold.

The day a religious institution has become so big

where one has no choice but to ask for acceptance

from an institution that one does not not find valid

then that is the day we have failed.

The government must not become a religious institution.

Once it has we

become governed not by basic truths

but by shards of hypotheticals

ready and willing to cut equality.

Organizations that foster specific beliefs

can and should exist

for the purpose of bettering those

who believe like wise

Truth. I am not an all.

An all is never a one.

therefore

governing must execute its self so the individual is allowed to remain as such

with NO CONSEQUENCES.

Marriage is not a religious institution.

It is a contract that protects the right to love,

a basic right in human equality,

and protects all the complications it entails.

If your religious institution does not want to marry a couple

don't

But allow the that couple the right to marry in a LEGAL institution.

We must never hinder anothers basic needs with out beliefs.

-Jesse Adams

"If You don't like gay marriage

Don't marry a gay person"

- Whoopi Goldberg

Game Night!

So it's GAME NIGHT again at the Adams-Bruno household! Something we take very seriously. AT LEAST once a week we invite people over to have some game inspired frivolity! Tonight, we played the "The Paper Game" AKA Celebrity and Chubby Bunny (The object is to stuff as many marshmallows in your cheeks as you can and still audibly say the words "Chubby Bunny") I was the chubbiest Bunny tonight!

The Paper Game supplies!

The ridiculously difficult names that made it into the bowl... "CRISPUS ATTUCKS"? The only Black Founding Father!... That's how we roll!

Chubby Bunny supplies!

My Favorite Chubby Bunnies!

"Hubby Bubby"? What?

CHUBBY BUNNY FAIL!

Orange Sky Alexi Murdoch

"In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love,

in your love,

in your love"

Apples to Oranges, my new procrastination.

Here I am at the edge of a new blogging frontier. It's 6:20am and I've yet to go to sleep so I chose the logical solution... I created a blog. "Apples To Oranges"- my brand spankin' new virtual outlet. Why "Apples to Oranges" you ask? Why not. Who ever said you couldn't compare the two? Who ever said you could't do anything. This blog is for anyone who's ever thought for the sake of thinking, laughed for the sake of laughing, and loved for the sake of loving. First and foremost this blog is me. Inspired by my life, inner and outer. This blog is the after math of the life of an odd boy in New York City trying to really live. So please, stick around as I pick my brain to see what I can give you all... and if its apples and oranges that come out... then I promise that won't stop me from sharing OR comparing.