AlmostFamous

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Member Since: 3/20/2002
Total Mixes: 161
Total Feedback: 579

Other Mixes By AlmostFamous

Playlist | Mixed Genre
Playlist | Mixed Genre
MP3 Playlist | Mixed Genre
MP3 Playlist | Mixed Genre

The Life and Times of Gertrude Bartlett

Artist Song
Sheryl Crow  If It Makes You Happy 
Bruce Springsteen  Meeting Across The River 
Dashboard Confessional  Carve Out Your Heart 
Chantal Kreviazuk  Leaving On a Jet Plane (John Denver cover) 
Wilco  Far Far Away 
Blue Rodeo  Falling Down Blue 
John Mayer  Something's Missing 
The Beatles  Elanor Rigby 
Odds  Truth Untold 
The Stars  Sleep Tonight 
Ben Harper  Diamonds On The Inside 
Amy Winehouse  What Is It About Men? 
Scissor Sisters  Return to Oz 
Ben Folds  Smoke 
The Killers  All These Things That I've Done 
The Shins  Pressed In a Book 

Comment:

Follow me here...While on a trip to NYC last summer, I purchased a copy of Michael Cunningham's "The Hours" from the Strand Bookshop, one of the biggest used bookstores you'll find anywhere. While flipping through it, I found a ticket stub from an America West flight from Phoenix to Portland in the name of "Gertrude Bartlett". This led me to start wondering who she was. So this is what I think happened...**She's a young writer from New York, who one day back in '02, bought herself a used copy of "The Hours" (track 1). Later that day, while walking near The Hudson, she happened upon a smashing young man, and struck up pleasant conversation (2). Over coffees and art house movies in the days and weeks to follow, they fell in love (3). Al was going swimmingly for six months or so, until he told her one day that he was going home to Portland to take a new job (4). She thought she could let things go, but after only one week, she decided to follow him- on an America West flight that connected in Phoenix (5). They rekindled their love for a few weeks, but she found that portland wasn't for her, and left for New York, with their future uncertain (6). After two months of phone calls and emails, he breaks things off with her over the phone (7). As she wanders NYC in a sad state, she sees the places the two of them used to go to and feels tremendously lonely (8). What is worse, is that she has suddenly found herself suffering from a bad case of writer's block, unable to focus or create (9). Seeking an outlet, she writes a 3AM letter to him that flows from sad, to depressed, to angry, to clarity (10). Inspired by her realizations about the failed relationship, she finds her spark and starts writing again (11). She spends her days penning a book about men that ends up hitting it big becoming a bestseller (12). One afternoon in May of '04 there is a knock on the door. Having heard all about her sudden success, her smashing young man has come to NYC (13). Though she spends the afternoon with him, she sends him on his way, telling him that she no longer "needs" him. Inspired by her afternoon of empowerment, she decides to move uptown, and starts packing up her apartment. While packing, she begins to discard mementos of her time with him, no longer feeling the dependency she once did (14). While packing up her life, she sorts through things, and decides to sell off some items she no longer wants...including her copy of "The Hours". She sells it to the Strand Bookstore (15), where I happen upon it two months later, and come across her ticket stub from Phoenix to Portland (16).** Coulda gone that way, who's to say? Thanks for reading. -Famous.

Feedback:

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laylao
Date: 3/13/2005
great
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Chongo
Date: 3/13/2005
What a cool idea. I hope you never find out who the real Gertrude Bartlett is, because it would be disappointing if she weren't that interesting.
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CBlaze
Date: 3/13/2005
Or as she is going through her apartment - she notices the book that she bought on that flight to Portland and decides it reminds her too much of him and the life she is moving away from - so she goes to that bookstore sells it and then goes out and buys another edition - for her new life. Nice mixing my friend and cool story!
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AppleRouge
Date: 3/13/2005
While I'm not a big fan of the music you chose, the concept is certainly unique and I just had to comment on it! How you enjoy the novel, in fact I think your whole construction could be a book in-of-itself. Very creative.
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yellowstar1
Date: 3/14/2005
I've often pondered such small things, but never put as much creativity in to make a mix out of it-- very, very smart. And I loved The Hours... have yet to see the movie, but the book was excellent.
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Dom1
Date: 3/14/2005
Like the concept!
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hemizen
Date: 3/14/2005
I agree with Dom1!
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Mixxer
Date: 3/14/2005
Ah yes - The Strand in the Village - I know it well. Great story.
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BenandSara
Date: 3/28/2005
This.... is awesome :-)