The human mind is amazing in the way that it is capable of turning ordinary, non-threatening items into maliciously vindictive entities. When you’re having a bad day, an exceedingly strong burst of wind ceases to be a beautiful part of nature and instead becomes an affront on your personal well-being. “Piss off Wind! Stop trying to blow in my face! I hate you so much!” Even bodily functions like an eye twitch that won’t go away somehow becomes justification for homicide. Granted, you can’t murder a twitching eye, but your crazy-ass mind doesn’t care about that.

1. NPR: A Marriage That’s Good Enough - This short piece from NPR is a tidy lesson in not seeking perfection in everything. I agree with the author, so often we can too easily get caught up in looking for something more. Being content is an exercise I need to learn how to practice.
2. Terrible weeks - Sometimes it just feels that everything that could go wrong in a span of seven days just does. With everything seemingly exploding around me this week, coming out of it in one piece makes me realize that 50% of it is legitimate stress and 50% of it is my own stressing about being stressed. Just as the day after a storm seems incomprehensible in it’s tranquility, sometimes the periods right after hell unleashes it’s fury are the most refreshing.
3. The Ten - I can’t decide what to think about the trailer for this movie. The cast lineup is insane: Winona Rider, Paul Rudd, Adam Brody, Rob Corddry, Liev Schrieber, and onwards…crazy! Watch the trailer and decide for yourself if this looks terrible or intriguing. My indecision alone is what makes it something I love for the week.
4. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA - No idea how this beer slipped past me until now, as it’s a veritable classic in the craftbrew circles. Exceedingly balanced, long on taste, and a nice touch of citrus and pine from the hops. The beefed up 90 Minute was a might too much for my palette, but the 60 is a great, refreshing summer beer.
5. The Plain White T’s - Specifically, their older 2005 album, All That We Needed. I never paid attention to these Chicago kids until last week’s AOL Under Cover sessions. And while their 2006 release has two or three great songs, their older album has a much more well-rounded and consistent feeling. Catchy pop-punk songs that lean more toward the structure of old Beatle’s songs than do other bands right now. It’s a great disc. Perfect summer driving music.

I have a bad habit of saying, “Yeah do that, do EXACTLY THAT! That is exactly what the F*** I wanted you to do!” when I’m having a bad go of it. This is possibly the dumbest thing I could think of. But somehow verbalizing this to the plant that just peed water on my shirt or to the screw that just stripped itself makes me feel marginally better. I need to be careful though, because I think I’ve given the dishwasher a complex by screaming at it. Can you give appliances Paxil?