The Vine: January 12, 2007
Hi Sars,
I am putting the finishing touches on the yearly All-Company Meeting in Denver, CO, at the end of this month. One of the last things I have to do is put together the music — the random stuff that plays before the meeting starts, during the breaks, and as the room empties. I would LOVE to have Denver- or Colorado-themed stuff. So the question: other than “Rocky Mountain High” (John Denver) and “Rocky Mountain Way” (Joe Walsh), can your wonderful readers come up with a handful of other “themey” songs that I can slam onto my ‘pod before Thursday, January 25th?
I have “Carved in Stone: Live at Red Rocks Volume Two” which I will use as my last resort (“recorded live in Colorado” is good enough to work) but I would love to have an better mix as my primary!
Oodles and oodles of kudos if you can help me out…
Thanks!
A
Dear A,
I don’t have any CO-specific music on my own iPod, but if you’re willing to expand to mountain-y songs generally, you could use “Big Rock Candy Mountain” from the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack; “Mountain Angel,” by Dolly Parton; “Sugar Mountain,” by Neil Young; and of course “Night On Disco Mountain,” from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
Let’s see what the readers have to add. We’re looking for Denver- or Colorado-themed songs, although the song titles don’t have to reflect that; failing that, hit us with some mountain songs — the more hilariously off-center, the better. Two songs per email, please. Email subject line: “mountain music.”
Hi, Sars —
I work a great job, contribute to my community, volunteer, have an IRA, and have a tiny savings account for emergencies. I’m 26 years old, work in the nonprofit sector (so don’t make tons of cash, but I do okay), and have student loans. I have a car payment and two mortgages (need the house and the car).
The other thing I have is credit card debt. I am committed to paying it, but the interest rates keep getting jacked up. I have stopped using them entirely for almost a year now, but that only seems to make the problem worse! I have about $7K in credit card debt (spread over two cards), and I REALLY want to pay it off. Even though I’m paying $450 a month, it’s not going down substantially, because of yucky stupid APRs.
My question is this: how have other readers successfully paid off credit cards? Do those debt consolidation places work or do they murder good credit? Any advice would be great. Thank you!
Thought I was too smart to get caught in a typical trap!
Dear Smart,
I’m actually carrying a fair amount of debt at the moment (a hangover from business expenditures of the past), but I haven’t consolidated it or taken any specific measures; I’m just paying as I go and waiting for an opportunity to drive it down.
But the readers can probably advise you. Email subject line: “debt.”
Dear Sars,
This might be a question for the readers, but I’d really appreciate any advice you’ve got yourself.
I’m a chronic nail-biter. Seriously, I can remember biting my nails as a toddler. After this many years, I barely have any nails left, my cuticles are ruined and the skin around my nails is often sore.
I know that I should be able to stop through sheer force of willpower, but I really don’t seem to be able to do that. I know that it’s unattractive and unhygienic. Plus I’ve recently gotten engaged, and people wanting to get a look at my engagement ring means my fingers are suddenly on show all the time.
I’d really like to kick this horrible habit before my wedding. I don’t want my fingers bleeding all over my dress!
Thanks for any advice you can give me,
At least “onychophagia” is a cool word
Dear Cool,
I’ve never had a nail-biting problem, but I think it’s a fidgeting issue (smoking serves the same purpose for me, actually); you need to find something to do with your hands, something that keeps them away from your mouth, at times when you’re bored or anxious.
Friends of mine who have quit biting their nails have all used different strategies; I’m sure the readers will have a wide range of ideas. Readers? Email subject line: “nails.”
Tags: Ask The Readers popcult
