Guest List: PP

Welcome to the latest edition of blogspot's Guest List.

Each week, we ask one of our favorite blog authors to fill us in on what they've been up to lately: which tracks they can't stop spinning, what books they can't put down, and what new bands they've caught on tour.

This week it's PP (also known as PP Senior), who takes a little time out of her rigorous authoring schedule to tell us everything we are interested in. Because we are, for once, interested.

>> Favorite Songs from the Past Year

From last year, I liked LCD Soundsystem the most. We also went to a concert, in Köln, which was great.

(Editor's note: She also told yours truly that she had to spend some considerable time lining up for beer while the best songs were playing. The verity of this is waiting for confirmation.)

Can I tell you which is my favorite LCD Soundsystem song? It's All My Friends. I also love the remix (download it from here.)

>> Favorite Older Songs at the Moment

Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles, and Amulet by Natacha Atlas. I heard a song on the radio, which I liked so I noted the words down and I was very proud of myself because it was in French. And I found the song (it was Mon Amie La Rose, and of course I misunderstood some words) and then I listened to some more and I found Amulet. I don't think I could say it's my favorite old song because I had not listened to it before, I vaguely knew who she was, and she also used to come to Sziget, but I never went to see her. I hope she's coming this year, too! Well Offspring is coming to VOLT Fesztivál so what are the chances?

>> Favorite New Artist

Titus Andronicus


>> Favorite Song Ever

I guess it should be something by Bruce Springsteen. My favorite album is Darkness on the Edge of Town but there are so many great songs, I don't know, maybe Dancing in the Dark? Although I think "this gun's for hire" is a bit out of place, what's a gun doing in that song? I understand the metaphor but I think it's a bit too much, I mean the mix of images.

>> Your Karaoke Song

Take a Chance on Me by ABBA

>> Best Recent Concert

On my birthday we went to Corvintető (or Corvinterasz, I never know, same thing) and there was a concert by Carbonfools, a Hungarian band. They sounded great and then the next day I checked them out on the Internet but they were much much better live. Zsófi (Editor's note: her sister) and I are going to see them again on May 17.

>> Last Great Film I Saw

Last film I saw was In the Valley of Elah, which wasn't so great, although Charlize Theron is my favorite actress. Last great film? Hmm...well yes. The Kite Runner. I know it's lame but I had to cry like 5 times during the film, but it was good.

>> Last Great Book I Read

I know this is not the question but now I'm reading Decameron and you would think it's full of spicy parts because it has the reputation of being about sex, like we were not to read it in high school, but please this is not spicy at all! And I'm halfway through the book and the stories get repetitive and the narrators are way too verbose. I was excited at the beginning for getting all the Firenze references, and it was interesting to read about the pest (I mean the black death) but let's be honest it gets to be a bit boring. I will try to finish it, though.

>> Favorite Piece of Musical Equipment

Not the guitar. Especially not at a fire.

>> Best Thing I Did This Year

(Editor's note: She is raising her eyebrows)

>> Favorite TV Show at the Moment

The Wire, but while I'm waiting for getting the next season to watch, I watch House on tv.

>> Favorite Video Game at the Moment

Pacman! I played with Kinga on Tuesday, on an original Commodore 64.

(Editor's note: I would have liked to insert a photo taken by PP here but she left her purse at home and the card reader of the phone was, and let's hope it still is, in the purse, and yours truly here also hopes she didn't lose the purse but left it at home.)

>> My Ringtone

Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles

>> Which Upcoming Sports Event Excites You the Most

Roland Garros starts on May 25 is all I have to say.

>> Favorite Team for Euro 2008

France, as always

These are The DAYS! I got off the tram and the air felt like I was in Düsseldorf. Then I realized it was the smell of rain. Wonderful sweet smell.

I still haven't bought a camera and I swore once I buy it I would take it with me every time (a la "take my camera everywhere"). I know the new camera won't have flash (I hate the flash) so I couldn't take pictures every time, but still. Today I could have just stopped before getting on the metro and wait at the zebra crossing and take 10 nice photos. It was raining but the clouds were clearing and the sun was not down yet. And it's not cold any more. On Monday when I was biking home I was going through the island and I saw two girls practicing juggling with sticks among the pretty green trees. Somebody's in a good mood!

oh Ho Chi Minh City!

I think I could start writing a blog about all the places I have already visited imaginarily. A month ago, I was about to go to Morocco, then when I heard about John's moving to China, I was set to go and then I told someone and he told me about a blog of two Hungarians who are now travelling in Asia, and then I saw great photos of a beach in Vietnam and now I want to go to Vietnam. I know Kissinger won't be there, but it would be nice to see his old stomping grounds!

Today Kinga drove us back to Budapest. We were already in the city when Kinga didn't see that the lights were red and she drove in and we almost crashed with another car. Oops. They were then passing us by and the woman in the passenger's seat was rolling down the window and shouting, "hülye" (stupid) and showing us the birds. And then that car stopped in front of us at a traffic light and the woman leaned out and took a photo of our car with her phone! Kinga said no worries, they cannot charge us with anything if they cannot prove with a motion picture of what we were doing. Don't you sometimes forget to check the traffic lights, dyed-blond woman in sunglasses?

strike two

I'm still at home. There's going to be a strike again tomorrow, and I still have my bike in the office. So today I have to go to play basketball by bicycle, and then bike home from there. And my bicycle lights work with a dynamo (is this a word?) so it's going to be even harder to bike. And now I have to take 3 1.5 liter bottles (of wine) to work because I want to take them home on Friday. But enough! I have to...mmm...dash

I dreamed that my grandma bought two cats and she said if we don't take them home she will take them down to the basement and God knows what will happen to them. I knew I couldn't take them home and I was a child and I was crying.

Then I was in Baltimore with SB and I said, "great now I want to go shopping" but then the shops had only sports shoes and a colleague of mine was there, too, and I remembered the foggy harbor and it wasn't pleasant.

about the winetrip weekend

It was nice but I didn't get so drunk. At first, I didn't get the "oh it's so much nicer than living in the city" feeling (as everyone else) (like it's a big deal) (for me, who is from the countryside!) but then when on the way back we stopped at Balaton I felt so nostalgic and I wanted to get on a boat and row around in the reed. And just wished I was alone. Weird, because I always complain about being so "alone".

Shots

I spent the whole morning running to and from the agency where they renew my driver's license. I had an appointment, but it turned out I went to the wrong office. So I had to go back after lunch. Shiiit!



<-- I was waiting for the tram 20 minutes! And I got bored. It was really windy, but warm and sunny.

And now that we are leaving for the wine trip weekend, it's getting cloudy. But I don't worry about the weather! It's going to be really nice!

birthday party, with Szilvi

So yesterday we went out to the "rooftop party" but it turned out that the rooftop only opens today, but the place one storey below the roof was also good. And the band we saw was really good! It was like 120 Days. We left after 3 songs.



Szilvi text messaging "someone".



Szilvi on the bus going home.

biking home on Wednesday