I have a confession to make. My name is Tracy and I am a GLEEK! How embarrassing is that?
I was hooked by the end of the first episode when they first sang Dont Stop Believin and have been addicted ever since. I just checked my Itunes and there are 151 selections on there from the show. That is a little scary. Sure, I know they say the music from Glee is KidzBop for adults but I do not care. Some of it makes it's way into every playlist I create, I am hopeless.
The things I like most about Glee is the way that it can make you both laugh and cry, sometimes in the same episode. How at certain moments it can just give you chills and goosebumps (usually it 's Rachel), and others just make you want to reach into the television screen and shake the character (also Rachel). Most of all though, I have to admit, what I love the most about Glee is Sue Sylvester. I said on Day 2, I wanted to be P!nk. Since I cannot ever pull that off, I am setting my sites on being a Sue! She just slays me everytime she opens her mouth. Of course it's all a cover, but wow! She has to be my favorite villain ever, and yet there are times when the heart sneaks through, ever so briefly. She is AWESOME!
Since I hereby declare today Glee Day, here are my top ten favorite performances on Glee. Ask me tomorrow, and the list may be different but here goes. If you have not been hooked by the show, you might want to avoid these. Like I said, they are addictive. I would not want to you turn out to be a Loser Like Me
10. Don't Stop Believing....episode one that started it all
9. Beautiful....Mercede's knocks this one out of the park, and made me cry in the process
8. Imagine...The deaf choir starts out and the New Directions kids join in....Goose Bumps!
7. Songbird....Santana dedicates it to Brittany and nurses feelings that are not returned.
6. Pure Imagination- the group sings at the funeral of Sue's sister. More tears....
5. Forget You- Gweneth Paltrow does CeeLoo Green....
4. Teenage Dream- Glee welcomes the Warblers to season 2
3. Pretending- Season 2 finale duet which ended in The Kiss....ARGHHHHH!
2. Get It Right- Rachel's solo at Regionals, season 2. Could easily have been #1 but I may need this one later on
And My Favorite Glee song so far...(it actually describes the whole show in a nutshell)
LOSER LIKE ME
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Day 12- A Song From A Band I Hate- Cum On Feel The Noize
Not sure if I like the term hate here. Hate is way too overrated. It takes way too much time and energy and is a complete waste of time. I cannot think of anything worth spending that effort on, and especially a band. That's just dumb.
In the spirit of the challenge however, I am going to interpret the term in a wide sense, and will share with you a song from a group that I do not like, will never like, and have a personal grudge against. I am not saying that this is completely rational. I am just saying, I have a big problem with this group. Who is it you ask? It is Quiet Riot, of course! I can explain.
It goes all the way back to the summer of 1983. My favorite song that summer was Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. Gosh that was just such an incredible song! For weeks it had been #1 on Suzi Wadd's Top Nine at Nine on 92X. For those from the Columbus area, you know I not only just dated myself thoroughly but also added some authenticity to this tale. For those not from Columbus, Suzi Wadd has been in Columbus radio for eons, still is I think. The Top Nine at Nine was a countdown. 92X was the cool station to listen too, though now it has morphed a couple of times and now I think is a country station.
I got sidetracked...sorry. So, Total Eclipse of the Heart was the top of the charts, and I knew I was guaranteed to hear it every night at 9pm on the dot. Well, one fateful night, we were at church, and since church ended just before 9pm, I begged the keys for the car from my mother, and raced out to our Chevy Chevette in the parking lot to power up the radio so I could hear my song. Hang on a second. Did you just snicker? There is nothing wrong with a Chevy Chevette! Ours was very very cool, and definitely not the normal run of the mill Chevette. Ours was a 4 door! Well, 5 if you counted the hatchback! Furthermore it had a luggage rack on the top. You didn't see that on many of them. It also had two trailer balls on the front bumper, where the previous owner attached the towing arms to pull it behind their Winnebago or what every RV they had. Did I mention it was a stick shift too! It was a cool car! I learned to drive in that car! I even took my first date out in that car! (I didn't get a second date.) No laughing at the Chevette!!!!
Oops...sidetracked again. Where was I? Oh yes, I turned on the stereo, right at 9pm, and caught the end of my song, just the "turn around bright eyes" part. I was not happy. How could Suzy Wadd end the countdown early like that! I was just thinking I needed to write a strongly worded letter to 92X, when Suzy Wadd announced "And now the NEW #1 song voted by you, the Columbus listeners on the Top Nine at Nine Is.....". Yep, you guessed it. Quiet Riot and Cum On Feel The Noize! I know! I could not believe it either! I was NOT a happy camper at that point. Stupid Quiet Riot! How dare they knock my song off it's perch at the top. I did not like them very much! I won't say hate, but GRRRRRRRR.
Well, it has been almost 30 years since this very traumatic time, but I still remember it quite vividly. The disappointment still lingers, but I suppose it would be the grown up thing to do to just get over it. Maybe it's time for bygones to be bygones.
Maybe so. If you were a member of Quiet Riot and happen to stumble across my blog while working the fast food window at some second rate greasy restaurant chain, or someone points it out to you as you polish the pins at the neighborhood bowling alley, here is a message just for you. When you look in the mirror at your bald headed worn out face and pot belly, and wonder if that kid from Ohio is still mad at you for knocking the Grammy winning Bonnie Tyler and her eternal hit Total Eclipse of the Heart from it's #1 spot with your loud and obnoxious song whose title you were not even intelligent enough to spell correctly, please rest assured, I bear you no animosity, and wish you well. I hope that bus that you ride to work everyday does not accidentally run you over. No hard feelings.
See...I'm not mad. I feel much better now.
In the spirit of the challenge however, I am going to interpret the term in a wide sense, and will share with you a song from a group that I do not like, will never like, and have a personal grudge against. I am not saying that this is completely rational. I am just saying, I have a big problem with this group. Who is it you ask? It is Quiet Riot, of course! I can explain.
It goes all the way back to the summer of 1983. My favorite song that summer was Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. Gosh that was just such an incredible song! For weeks it had been #1 on Suzi Wadd's Top Nine at Nine on 92X. For those from the Columbus area, you know I not only just dated myself thoroughly but also added some authenticity to this tale. For those not from Columbus, Suzi Wadd has been in Columbus radio for eons, still is I think. The Top Nine at Nine was a countdown. 92X was the cool station to listen too, though now it has morphed a couple of times and now I think is a country station.
I got sidetracked...sorry. So, Total Eclipse of the Heart was the top of the charts, and I knew I was guaranteed to hear it every night at 9pm on the dot. Well, one fateful night, we were at church, and since church ended just before 9pm, I begged the keys for the car from my mother, and raced out to our Chevy Chevette in the parking lot to power up the radio so I could hear my song. Hang on a second. Did you just snicker? There is nothing wrong with a Chevy Chevette! Ours was very very cool, and definitely not the normal run of the mill Chevette. Ours was a 4 door! Well, 5 if you counted the hatchback! Furthermore it had a luggage rack on the top. You didn't see that on many of them. It also had two trailer balls on the front bumper, where the previous owner attached the towing arms to pull it behind their Winnebago or what every RV they had. Did I mention it was a stick shift too! It was a cool car! I learned to drive in that car! I even took my first date out in that car! (I didn't get a second date.) No laughing at the Chevette!!!!
Oops...sidetracked again. Where was I? Oh yes, I turned on the stereo, right at 9pm, and caught the end of my song, just the "turn around bright eyes" part. I was not happy. How could Suzy Wadd end the countdown early like that! I was just thinking I needed to write a strongly worded letter to 92X, when Suzy Wadd announced "And now the NEW #1 song voted by you, the Columbus listeners on the Top Nine at Nine Is.....". Yep, you guessed it. Quiet Riot and Cum On Feel The Noize! I know! I could not believe it either! I was NOT a happy camper at that point. Stupid Quiet Riot! How dare they knock my song off it's perch at the top. I did not like them very much! I won't say hate, but GRRRRRRRR.
Well, it has been almost 30 years since this very traumatic time, but I still remember it quite vividly. The disappointment still lingers, but I suppose it would be the grown up thing to do to just get over it. Maybe it's time for bygones to be bygones.
Maybe so. If you were a member of Quiet Riot and happen to stumble across my blog while working the fast food window at some second rate greasy restaurant chain, or someone points it out to you as you polish the pins at the neighborhood bowling alley, here is a message just for you. When you look in the mirror at your bald headed worn out face and pot belly, and wonder if that kid from Ohio is still mad at you for knocking the Grammy winning Bonnie Tyler and her eternal hit Total Eclipse of the Heart from it's #1 spot with your loud and obnoxious song whose title you were not even intelligent enough to spell correctly, please rest assured, I bear you no animosity, and wish you well. I hope that bus that you ride to work everyday does not accidentally run you over. No hard feelings.
See...I'm not mad. I feel much better now.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Day 11- A Song From My Favorite Band- Armageddon It
I mentioned a couple days ago, I had a few glaring holes in my 30 day list that were giving me trouble. Today and tomorrow were a couple of them. As I looked through the thousands of songs in my library, I quickly learned, the majority of the music I listen to is by individuals, not bands or groups. Being a purist on these things, it makes matters worse that some of the possible groups that I could have tried to use, are not really bands but singing groups, and thus did not qualify here. I do not want the 30 day challenge gods to disqualify me because of a technicality. So I kept searching for a good fit for today.
I briefly considered Fleetwood Mac, but that was cheating because I really only liked them because of Stevie Nicks, and the selections I would have used (Rhiannon, Silver Springs, Landslide) could easily have been solo efforts. That then disqualified my next choice of Matchbox 20, who even as I sat down just now to type this I was going to use. If Rob Thomas had not have gone solo, they are who you would be reading about right now, and listening to Back to Good or Unwell. I guess, maybe I am being too picky. Bon Jovi went into the pile too for the same reasons.
So I was down to Def Leppard and Boston, both of which are admittedly polar opposites from the first two I mentioned, but sometimes, hit the spot just perfectly. At this point it is a flip of a coin. For Boston, it is the fact that in an age of synthesizers and auto tune, this band was 100 percent pure. It is pretty incredible what these guys were able to make their instruments do. The Third Stage album is really an amazing showcase of skill and musical ability going to an all new level. For Def Leppard, it is the stadium rocking anthems (Pour Some Sugar On Me, Photograph, Armageddon It), plus a nitty gritty ballad here and there (Love Bites). Add to the fact that due to a tragic accident, Def Leppard's drummer lost an arm in an accident, but quickly returned to performing with the group, an act of sheer determination that is quite an inspiration, even today.
LOL....I still do not know which way to go.
Ok, YouTube made the call for me. Boston I guess was not a video kind of band. So we go with the one armed drummer! (However, now I am off to ITunes to add both Third Stage by Boston and Hysteria by Def Leppard to my IPOD). Guess I will be rocking tonight at work.
Def Leppard- Armageddon It
I briefly considered Fleetwood Mac, but that was cheating because I really only liked them because of Stevie Nicks, and the selections I would have used (Rhiannon, Silver Springs, Landslide) could easily have been solo efforts. That then disqualified my next choice of Matchbox 20, who even as I sat down just now to type this I was going to use. If Rob Thomas had not have gone solo, they are who you would be reading about right now, and listening to Back to Good or Unwell. I guess, maybe I am being too picky. Bon Jovi went into the pile too for the same reasons.
So I was down to Def Leppard and Boston, both of which are admittedly polar opposites from the first two I mentioned, but sometimes, hit the spot just perfectly. At this point it is a flip of a coin. For Boston, it is the fact that in an age of synthesizers and auto tune, this band was 100 percent pure. It is pretty incredible what these guys were able to make their instruments do. The Third Stage album is really an amazing showcase of skill and musical ability going to an all new level. For Def Leppard, it is the stadium rocking anthems (Pour Some Sugar On Me, Photograph, Armageddon It), plus a nitty gritty ballad here and there (Love Bites). Add to the fact that due to a tragic accident, Def Leppard's drummer lost an arm in an accident, but quickly returned to performing with the group, an act of sheer determination that is quite an inspiration, even today.
LOL....I still do not know which way to go.
Ok, YouTube made the call for me. Boston I guess was not a video kind of band. So we go with the one armed drummer! (However, now I am off to ITunes to add both Third Stage by Boston and Hysteria by Def Leppard to my IPOD). Guess I will be rocking tonight at work.
Def Leppard- Armageddon It
Monday, June 27, 2011
Day 10- A Song That I Can Fall Asleep To- Somewhere in Time
Let me begin by saying, I learned something new today. It's not often that I get surprised, but today is one of those days. I will get to that in a second. Today's challenge was to find a song that I can fall asleep to. Easily done since I can fall asleep just about anytime. If sleeping were an Olympic event, I could be a contender for the Gold! I think that comes from working the night shift, and never actually having a regular sleep schedule. The vampire schedule works well for me though, and I do like it. It is only hard on the weekends when I switch over for 2 days to being up in the day and sleeping at night, and then juggle back in time for work on Mondays. Some weeks are better than others.
On those very rare occasions that I have trouble falling asleep, I go immediately to the soundtrack to the movie Somewhere in Time. No matter what my mind is racing over (that is usually the only reason I cannot sleep), the score from this movie immediately relaxes and soothes me, sweeping me quickly and blissfully into oblivion.
Somewhere in Time has been one of my favorite movies for 25 years or more. I first remember seeing it in high school. Jane Seymour, Christopher Reeve and Christopher Plummer star in it, and it is to be quite frank about it, a HUGE chick flick, but with an awful ending (I will not give it away, but for those who have seen it, you know what I mean). It was filmed at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, and is mostly a period piece from the turn of the century. We visited the Grand Hotel when I was a kid, but that was before I knew the movie. If I were to have a "Bucket List", one of the items on it would be to return there, and thanks to the whole new view the movie has given me, see it again with new perspective. When I do, I will have this music playing in my mind. I just hope I do not fall asleep.
BONUS INFO
It came as a great surprise to me, that Richard Matheson, the author of the story, Somewhere in Time (originally titled Bid Time Return) has been quite a prolific storyteller. I knew he had also penned What Dreams May Come, and Passion Play. I ready all three of them What shocked me was some of his other tales which include I am Legend, The Box, The Legend of Hell House and Stir of Echos. He wrote for the Twilight Zone, including the famous Terror at 20,000 Feet episode with a young William Shatner starring, as well as the introduction and closing statements spoken by Rod Serling. He wrote for Star Trek. I would never have connected him to such a vast array of works. It amazed me, and I had to add it here for you as well.
On those very rare occasions that I have trouble falling asleep, I go immediately to the soundtrack to the movie Somewhere in Time. No matter what my mind is racing over (that is usually the only reason I cannot sleep), the score from this movie immediately relaxes and soothes me, sweeping me quickly and blissfully into oblivion.
Somewhere in Time has been one of my favorite movies for 25 years or more. I first remember seeing it in high school. Jane Seymour, Christopher Reeve and Christopher Plummer star in it, and it is to be quite frank about it, a HUGE chick flick, but with an awful ending (I will not give it away, but for those who have seen it, you know what I mean). It was filmed at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, and is mostly a period piece from the turn of the century. We visited the Grand Hotel when I was a kid, but that was before I knew the movie. If I were to have a "Bucket List", one of the items on it would be to return there, and thanks to the whole new view the movie has given me, see it again with new perspective. When I do, I will have this music playing in my mind. I just hope I do not fall asleep.
BONUS INFO
It came as a great surprise to me, that Richard Matheson, the author of the story, Somewhere in Time (originally titled Bid Time Return) has been quite a prolific storyteller. I knew he had also penned What Dreams May Come, and Passion Play. I ready all three of them What shocked me was some of his other tales which include I am Legend, The Box, The Legend of Hell House and Stir of Echos. He wrote for the Twilight Zone, including the famous Terror at 20,000 Feet episode with a young William Shatner starring, as well as the introduction and closing statements spoken by Rod Serling. He wrote for Star Trek. I would never have connected him to such a vast array of works. It amazed me, and I had to add it here for you as well.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Day 09 – A Song I Can Dance To - When Love Takes Over
I mentioned, I do like to dance. Not that I am particularly good at it, but sometimes it is just fun to get out on the dance floor with everyone else and have some fun. I tried the country thing years ago when the line dancing craze was in. I was terrible. I would learn them ok, but once the music started and my feet went the wrong way, I would just get tickled and start laughing, and by the time I stopped, the song was over. I attempted the 2 step, and after damaging enough partners, I realized that too was not for me. If you bruise enough toes, you very quickly run out of willing partners. I guess a more free style approach works best for me.
While we were still living in Columbus, I had a very reliable partner for nights to go out dancing. Saturday nights when we would go out, I would track down Lance, and we would spend hours on the floor at TW's, stopping only to grab a quick drink and then jump back into the fray. I do miss those nights. TW's was known for a pretty good mix of people and music. From Disco to Techno, they melted it all together every Saturday night. We would dance to all of it, but when they would play CHER...Lance would go berserk. I usually had to stand back and give him a little more room for those songs. Even now, when those songs come on, I get a big smile and have to go dance. I have not seen Lance in a year or so, but when Believe or Song for the Lonely comes on, I have to get out there and in my head, he is there with me, clapping his hands and having a ball.
Most of the time now, since moving to Mansfield and living in Fort Wayne, I am on my own dancing. Jim worries too much about looking silly to get out there much, but I don't really have that problem. There is one song however that will entice him to the floor, and it is one of my favorites as well. It is not Cher, but I am pretty sure Lance would have a good time with it as well. Hope you enjoy it.
While we were still living in Columbus, I had a very reliable partner for nights to go out dancing. Saturday nights when we would go out, I would track down Lance, and we would spend hours on the floor at TW's, stopping only to grab a quick drink and then jump back into the fray. I do miss those nights. TW's was known for a pretty good mix of people and music. From Disco to Techno, they melted it all together every Saturday night. We would dance to all of it, but when they would play CHER...Lance would go berserk. I usually had to stand back and give him a little more room for those songs. Even now, when those songs come on, I get a big smile and have to go dance. I have not seen Lance in a year or so, but when Believe or Song for the Lonely comes on, I have to get out there and in my head, he is there with me, clapping his hands and having a ball.
Most of the time now, since moving to Mansfield and living in Fort Wayne, I am on my own dancing. Jim worries too much about looking silly to get out there much, but I don't really have that problem. There is one song however that will entice him to the floor, and it is one of my favorites as well. It is not Cher, but I am pretty sure Lance would have a good time with it as well. Hope you enjoy it.
When Love Takes Over....Kelly Rowland and David Guetta
And what the heck, this one is dedicated to Lance.
Song for the Lonely...CHER
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Day 8- A Song I Know All The Words Too- Marry You
I know all the words to a lot of songs. At least I THINK I do. Working on an assembly line, I have plenty of time to learn the words as I listen to my ipod and sing along (for the most part) in my head. The problem I run into is, sometimes I learn the words wrong. When that happens, it is just plain hell to try to get them right when I figure out my error. I had this problem as a kid too. Remember the Escape Song? It's the one where the chorus goes
" If you like pina colladas and getting caught in the rain...."
Well, I really liked that song. I had never, however, heard of pina colladas. So when I sang it, the words were
"If you like being a clodda...."
I didn't know what a collada was, but I just figured it was a fancy word for being a silly clod. It worked with the song. Well in my head anyway. Blame that on youth. Now, if the story ended there, I could escape with my dignity intact,...maybe. But of course, it does not.
I heard a cool song on Glee (we will talk about that later) in the episode that had the wedding in it called Marry You, which I learned later was by Bruno Mars. It is a fun catchy tune that made it's way to my playlist. I really like this song! It was fun to sing along too. The chorus is...
It's a beautiful night, we're looking for something dumb to do
Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you
Is it that look in your eyes, or is it these dancing Jews
Hey baby I think I wanna marry you
I did not know who these Jews were. I had no idea why they were dancing, but hey, I did not write it. I figured it made sense to someone. Plus, on Glee when they sang it, Rachel (who is Jewish) sang that part of the chorus as they danced down the aisle. It fit perfectly! I sang it for weeks and weeks that way. Then, we were in the car and Jim heard me sing it. We are lucky we did not wreck, he was laughing so hard at me. Evidently, there are no dancing Jews! The words are "dancing JUICE". Nooooooo! That cannot be right! Who ever heard of dancing juice anyway. That's just dumb.
Unfortunately, the damage was done. After weeks of dancing Jews, it is forever stuck in my head. If I concentrate real hard, I can make it juice, but if I am absentmindedly singing along, the dancing Jews come right back. It is hard living in my head sometimes.
So this is the song I (thought I) knew all the words too...
Here's the scene from Glee which is a lot of fun too.
" If you like pina colladas and getting caught in the rain...."
Well, I really liked that song. I had never, however, heard of pina colladas. So when I sang it, the words were
"If you like being a clodda...."
I didn't know what a collada was, but I just figured it was a fancy word for being a silly clod. It worked with the song. Well in my head anyway. Blame that on youth. Now, if the story ended there, I could escape with my dignity intact,...maybe. But of course, it does not.
I heard a cool song on Glee (we will talk about that later) in the episode that had the wedding in it called Marry You, which I learned later was by Bruno Mars. It is a fun catchy tune that made it's way to my playlist. I really like this song! It was fun to sing along too. The chorus is...
It's a beautiful night, we're looking for something dumb to do
Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you
Is it that look in your eyes, or is it these dancing Jews
Hey baby I think I wanna marry you
I did not know who these Jews were. I had no idea why they were dancing, but hey, I did not write it. I figured it made sense to someone. Plus, on Glee when they sang it, Rachel (who is Jewish) sang that part of the chorus as they danced down the aisle. It fit perfectly! I sang it for weeks and weeks that way. Then, we were in the car and Jim heard me sing it. We are lucky we did not wreck, he was laughing so hard at me. Evidently, there are no dancing Jews! The words are "dancing JUICE". Nooooooo! That cannot be right! Who ever heard of dancing juice anyway. That's just dumb.
Unfortunately, the damage was done. After weeks of dancing Jews, it is forever stuck in my head. If I concentrate real hard, I can make it juice, but if I am absentmindedly singing along, the dancing Jews come right back. It is hard living in my head sometimes.
So this is the song I (thought I) knew all the words too...
Here's the scene from Glee which is a lot of fun too.
For the record, I still like my lyrics better. :-)
Friday, June 24, 2011
Day 7- A Song That Reminds Me of An Event- This Woman's Work
Hopefully all of you will not be disappointed in me for saying this. I cheated some on this Challenge. I have been considering for a long time to do it, imagining what songs I would select. When I got right down to executing it though, I had to print out the list and work ahead some selecting songs for the different categories. I guess I do not think fast enough on my feet (or seat at the moment) to just wing it. I apologize. The problem is, I still have several holes to fill in and today was one of them. I had taken a narrow view of today's challenge and was trying to find a song that happened at an event that was worth sharing.
All I could come up with was "Hands Across America" from 1986. For the young'uns that were not even born yet, that was a song that went with a big movement to raise money to feed the hungry. The goal was to gather enough support and people to create a human chain from New York to California. It was a big thing back then. However, I looked up the video and I could not bring myself to use it. It really was kind of hokey. So I went back to the drawing board, and decided to try broader interpretation and BOOM! I had my song.
My daughter Megan was born October 19, 1991. She was late!
She does get it honest though. I too am punctually challenged. I am thinking it is genetic. As I was saying, the due date had come and gone, and still no baby. I am sure it goes without saying, Susie was getting a little impatient to finish being pregnant, but each time we went in to check, the doctor kept saying everything is fine, we will just keep an out and let the baby come in her own time. On the 18th we had another one of these appointments and after fifteen minutes of monitoring, all was normal and we were prepared to be put off again, when the the heart beat slowed for a very brief moment. That was all it took. They scheduled us to come in for the labor to be induced. We had plenty of time though. The plan was for us to arrive that evening around 6pm and get checked in, settled in, and then they would induce in the morning. Sounds great! We called our parents and let them know the plan so they could be there the next morning, went and grabbed a few things and returned to the hospital.
After checking, they of course, checked things out again. I noticed that the exam was a different than all the others we had experienced. We asked about that, and were told "We just broke her water. We are not real busy tonight so we decided to go ahead and induce now." REALLY!!?!??!!!!?!!!? So much for the plan. So things got rolling pretty quickly at that point. We re-telephoned everyone again to let them know and then the contractions started coming. My job was to watch the cool little machine and let Susie know when the numbers started to rise (indicating a contraction) and then go back down as they abated. This was fine at first, but as things got more intense, I think Susie stopped believing me and the nifty machine, and told me so on several occasions quite pointedly. I was just trying to help. It went on for a long while with no progress and then finally, after about 5 hours of this she an epidural. They didn't offer me one.
Not long after, we heard a strange noise from "down there". Susie told me to look and see what was going on. Now, it is not a good idea when someone is doing all of the hard work of having a baby and you are the support and coach to, tell that person "no", I am not a complete idiot. So I lifted the sheet and...... Have you ever had a dog that was sick to it's stomach and their natural instincts take over and they just start eating grass uncontrollably? It makes them feel better. Well, I had a similar reaction to what I observed. I dropped the sheet, backed slowly away from the bed toward the door, and all that I knew at that point was I desperately needed some bread to eat. I just had to get some bread.
To be fair, the stress of the situation and the large amounts of caffeine had my stomach already on edge, but that sight took me over the edge. I struggled to keep my stomach under control. I knew it would be uncool throw up when she was doing all of the work. Susie was dumbfounded when I told her that I had to leave the room and go in search of bread. She swore I was going to miss the arrival, but I guess I was green enough, that she let me go. (By the way, she LOVES to tell this story now...she thinks it is hilarious). I hurried down to the cafeteria, bought 2 slices of plain dry bread, and hightailed it back to the room. In the elevator, I heard them page me, and we I got back, the epidural had worn off enough that it was time for Megan to make her grand entrance." She was a healthy, if a little slimy, beautiful baby girl!
I remember this song from a Kevin Bacon movie, She's Having A Baby. We watched it several times during the pregnancy, and I still pull it out occasionally to reminisce about that time in my life. For me though, it escaped the small screen and became quite real that day as Susie and I welcomed Megan into this world.
This video clip is actually from the movie...sound is good though. Kevin Bacon was sooooo young then...geeesh.
All I could come up with was "Hands Across America" from 1986. For the young'uns that were not even born yet, that was a song that went with a big movement to raise money to feed the hungry. The goal was to gather enough support and people to create a human chain from New York to California. It was a big thing back then. However, I looked up the video and I could not bring myself to use it. It really was kind of hokey. So I went back to the drawing board, and decided to try broader interpretation and BOOM! I had my song.
My daughter Megan was born October 19, 1991. She was late!
She does get it honest though. I too am punctually challenged. I am thinking it is genetic. As I was saying, the due date had come and gone, and still no baby. I am sure it goes without saying, Susie was getting a little impatient to finish being pregnant, but each time we went in to check, the doctor kept saying everything is fine, we will just keep an out and let the baby come in her own time. On the 18th we had another one of these appointments and after fifteen minutes of monitoring, all was normal and we were prepared to be put off again, when the the heart beat slowed for a very brief moment. That was all it took. They scheduled us to come in for the labor to be induced. We had plenty of time though. The plan was for us to arrive that evening around 6pm and get checked in, settled in, and then they would induce in the morning. Sounds great! We called our parents and let them know the plan so they could be there the next morning, went and grabbed a few things and returned to the hospital.
After checking, they of course, checked things out again. I noticed that the exam was a different than all the others we had experienced. We asked about that, and were told "We just broke her water. We are not real busy tonight so we decided to go ahead and induce now." REALLY!!?!??!!!!?!!!? So much for the plan. So things got rolling pretty quickly at that point. We re-telephoned everyone again to let them know and then the contractions started coming. My job was to watch the cool little machine and let Susie know when the numbers started to rise (indicating a contraction) and then go back down as they abated. This was fine at first, but as things got more intense, I think Susie stopped believing me and the nifty machine, and told me so on several occasions quite pointedly. I was just trying to help. It went on for a long while with no progress and then finally, after about 5 hours of this she an epidural. They didn't offer me one.
Not long after, we heard a strange noise from "down there". Susie told me to look and see what was going on. Now, it is not a good idea when someone is doing all of the hard work of having a baby and you are the support and coach to, tell that person "no", I am not a complete idiot. So I lifted the sheet and...... Have you ever had a dog that was sick to it's stomach and their natural instincts take over and they just start eating grass uncontrollably? It makes them feel better. Well, I had a similar reaction to what I observed. I dropped the sheet, backed slowly away from the bed toward the door, and all that I knew at that point was I desperately needed some bread to eat. I just had to get some bread.
To be fair, the stress of the situation and the large amounts of caffeine had my stomach already on edge, but that sight took me over the edge. I struggled to keep my stomach under control. I knew it would be uncool throw up when she was doing all of the work. Susie was dumbfounded when I told her that I had to leave the room and go in search of bread. She swore I was going to miss the arrival, but I guess I was green enough, that she let me go. (By the way, she LOVES to tell this story now...she thinks it is hilarious). I hurried down to the cafeteria, bought 2 slices of plain dry bread, and hightailed it back to the room. In the elevator, I heard them page me, and we I got back, the epidural had worn off enough that it was time for Megan to make her grand entrance." She was a healthy, if a little slimy, beautiful baby girl!
I remember this song from a Kevin Bacon movie, She's Having A Baby. We watched it several times during the pregnancy, and I still pull it out occasionally to reminisce about that time in my life. For me though, it escaped the small screen and became quite real that day as Susie and I welcomed Megan into this world.
This video clip is actually from the movie...sound is good though. Kevin Bacon was sooooo young then...geeesh.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 6 - A Song that Reminds Me of Somewhere - Love is in the Air
Key West is probably my favorite place on the planet. We have been there close to a dozen times now, and each time we go, I find it harder and harder to leave. The atmosphere is just so laid back, and it is easy to forget all of the normal hustle and bustle of life when you are there. Their motto of "One Human Family" really does fully explain the live and let live philosophy of those lucky enough to live there. It is quite a diverse family as well, all crammed on a tiny little island. We visited there when I was a child, road the Conch Train, got the t shirt, but it has been the later trips that I really understood how special it is.
We have met many of the "locals" in our visits, and despite the thousands and thousands of tourists that roll through there, these folks always remarkably remember our faces and our names when we run into them. There's Phil, who owns Graffiti (and almost always gets Jim to buy some $100 shirt that is dedicated for New Years Eve and rarely gets worn again) and Eddy, an eternal bartender at the Bourbon Street Pub who has a voice like gravel and loves talking horses and workouts with Jim. Ma Jon, our favorite and funniest of the entertainer's at the 801 Cabaret who gave us a standing invitation to join him for his annual Christmas dinner party, where his mother, the unsinkable Eileen, presides over the table and Jon never sits down to eat, until the final of the seven courses is served. These are just a few of the wonderful and colorful characters that make our trips there so memorable and the city almost a second home to us.
Those friendships have grown over time, but the FIRST time we ventured down to Key West, we were definitely strangers in a strange land. I had done my homework on places to go while we were in town. This was before internet phones so I did the research from home (on dial up AOL no less) and I was ready. We had found a hotel room on the causeway coming into the island, just a short drive into Duval Street where is seemed that everything was located. That was our first lesson. Stay close enough that once you arrive, you can park the car and not touch it again for the duration. We didn't know.
So we drove the 2 miles into Duval, at a crawl, kind of found our target area, and then got swept a good 5 blocks on down before we could find a place to park. Lesson number two...parking....Good Luck With That! Finally on foot, we headed to our destination and stepping onto Duval found ourselves in a sea of tourists. Lesson three...walking in KW, plan to take your time and don't walk to close to the folks in front of you. They are in no hurry and stop for absolutely no discernible reason just for the heck of it. It definitely requires a slower pace.
To make a long story short, as we walked up Duval, we stopped for some dinner (Willy T's), looked in a couple stores, and then lost track of where we were heading. I of course, wasn't carrying the pages and pages of info I had looked up (I didn't want to look like a tourist) and I could not for the life of me remember the name of the club we were heading to. Not wanting to admit to my error, we kept walking and finally came across a place that had music just pumping out into the night. We played it cool (because that's how we are) and passed it on the other side of the street to get a look. It really looked like where we wanted to go. So we crossed the street and passed it again, glancing in as we went by. Third time's a charm, we doubled back and stopped at the door. The song was familiar, Love is In the Air and as we mustered the gumption to go in..... WTF!?!?!?!?!
As the song got to the chorus, it looked like an EXPLOSION of white bar napkins flying everywhere in the air at once. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen. We were hooked and had to go in and see what that was all about and thus discovered the Bourbon Street Pub. It didnt take long to realize we had found our place to hang out. And to this day, whenever that song is played, the napkins FLY. If you are ever in KW and see the Pub with the giant Red Shoe hanging over the door, go in and pull up a stool. When the song starts, brace yourself, grab a big handful of napkins, and when the chorus hits, you'll know what to do!!!!
We have met many of the "locals" in our visits, and despite the thousands and thousands of tourists that roll through there, these folks always remarkably remember our faces and our names when we run into them. There's Phil, who owns Graffiti (and almost always gets Jim to buy some $100 shirt that is dedicated for New Years Eve and rarely gets worn again) and Eddy, an eternal bartender at the Bourbon Street Pub who has a voice like gravel and loves talking horses and workouts with Jim. Ma Jon, our favorite and funniest of the entertainer's at the 801 Cabaret who gave us a standing invitation to join him for his annual Christmas dinner party, where his mother, the unsinkable Eileen, presides over the table and Jon never sits down to eat, until the final of the seven courses is served. These are just a few of the wonderful and colorful characters that make our trips there so memorable and the city almost a second home to us.
Those friendships have grown over time, but the FIRST time we ventured down to Key West, we were definitely strangers in a strange land. I had done my homework on places to go while we were in town. This was before internet phones so I did the research from home (on dial up AOL no less) and I was ready. We had found a hotel room on the causeway coming into the island, just a short drive into Duval Street where is seemed that everything was located. That was our first lesson. Stay close enough that once you arrive, you can park the car and not touch it again for the duration. We didn't know.
So we drove the 2 miles into Duval, at a crawl, kind of found our target area, and then got swept a good 5 blocks on down before we could find a place to park. Lesson number two...parking....Good Luck With That! Finally on foot, we headed to our destination and stepping onto Duval found ourselves in a sea of tourists. Lesson three...walking in KW, plan to take your time and don't walk to close to the folks in front of you. They are in no hurry and stop for absolutely no discernible reason just for the heck of it. It definitely requires a slower pace.
To make a long story short, as we walked up Duval, we stopped for some dinner (Willy T's), looked in a couple stores, and then lost track of where we were heading. I of course, wasn't carrying the pages and pages of info I had looked up (I didn't want to look like a tourist) and I could not for the life of me remember the name of the club we were heading to. Not wanting to admit to my error, we kept walking and finally came across a place that had music just pumping out into the night. We played it cool (because that's how we are) and passed it on the other side of the street to get a look. It really looked like where we wanted to go. So we crossed the street and passed it again, glancing in as we went by. Third time's a charm, we doubled back and stopped at the door. The song was familiar, Love is In the Air and as we mustered the gumption to go in..... WTF!?!?!?!?!
As the song got to the chorus, it looked like an EXPLOSION of white bar napkins flying everywhere in the air at once. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen. We were hooked and had to go in and see what that was all about and thus discovered the Bourbon Street Pub. It didnt take long to realize we had found our place to hang out. And to this day, whenever that song is played, the napkins FLY. If you are ever in KW and see the Pub with the giant Red Shoe hanging over the door, go in and pull up a stool. When the song starts, brace yourself, grab a big handful of napkins, and when the chorus hits, you'll know what to do!!!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day Five - A Song that Reminds Me of Someone- Trashing the Camp
I would guess it was 8 or 9 years ago, Megan, Jim and I were at the Michigan Little Celebration horse show, in Mason, Michigan. Horse shows are usually a lot of fun, but also a whole lot of work. The first night is usually a late one, trying to get all the horses ridden, and then we are shy on sleep the rest of the weekend. Even that does not fully explain what happened at the show that year though. For some reason, Megan and I got the song Trashin the Camp from the movie Tarzan in our heads and could not get it out. There are no intelligible words to the song, unless you count the constant refrain of "Dwee Dot Dwee Doooooo". We sang that refrain in the truck, we sang it in the barn aisle, we sang it washing horses, we sang it every time we turned around it seemed. And each time, we would just start laughing uncontrollably. Even Jim, who is usually all business at horse shows, couldn't help but laugh at us apparently losing our minds. He would just shake his head and walk the other way. It was way beyond silly, and I specialize in silly.
Even now, the song makes me laugh, and I always see Megan giggling uncontrollably when I hear it. "Dweeee Dot Dweee Dooooooo"
Even now, the song makes me laugh, and I always see Megan giggling uncontrollably when I hear it. "Dweeee Dot Dweee Dooooooo"
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Day 4 - A Song That Makes Me Sad - A Better Place to Be
Loneliness can be a terrible terrible thing. Not so much the "ohhhh....there is nothing on TV and its too late to call anyone...I wish someone would entertain me" kind of lonely, but the debilitating loneliness that comes from feeling unloved or unlovable. It is the feeling that no one understands or could ever understand you, or would even be willing to try. It is the feeling of complete isolation, even when in a crowded factory, or office, or school. It is the feeling of despair when you ask, "would anyone even notice if I were not here?" or worse yet, "wouldn't the world be a better place if I were not in it anymore?"
It is a very dark place to be, and unfortunately, so many people are in that place. These folks are all around us. Some are able to put on a fake smile and blend in a bit. Some use anger as a defense against the pain of these feelings and some turn to religion. Others surf the edge of the crowd, hoping that maybe just once, someone will notice them and invite them in. Some just go through the motions of living, because they just do not know what else to do. Still others submit to the despair, and either give up on living or take action and put an end to their own misery. Those are the ones we finally end up noticing, just a little too late. Like I said, it is a terrible, terrible thing.
The song I selected for today is by one of my favorite storytellers, Harry Chapin. If the name rings a bell, it is because you may be familiar with another song he wrote called Cats in the Cradle. I doubt that it ever got any airplay on the radio. It really is not that kind of song. My brother Mike introduced me to Harry Chapin many years ago. His cassette tape was always in my car, and it was excellent listening on long road trips. Some of his stories were fun and silly, some were sad but all of them were engrossing. A Better Place to Be is the story of three very different lonely and damaged souls who crossed each others paths. I have been each of them at various times in my life and would not wish that one another. Moreover, the song is sad for me because, these folks are all around. I am reminded again by listening to it that the hand that I extend, or fail to extend, may be the one that makes all the difference in the world. Who knows, I could use it myself again someday.
(Please bear with the recording, it is from a live concert in August of 1980.)
One final thought. So the song ends with the watchman apparently leaving with the waitress. I wonder what happens after that. Does the cycle continue or are they able to break it together? I wish I knew the answer to that one...
It is a very dark place to be, and unfortunately, so many people are in that place. These folks are all around us. Some are able to put on a fake smile and blend in a bit. Some use anger as a defense against the pain of these feelings and some turn to religion. Others surf the edge of the crowd, hoping that maybe just once, someone will notice them and invite them in. Some just go through the motions of living, because they just do not know what else to do. Still others submit to the despair, and either give up on living or take action and put an end to their own misery. Those are the ones we finally end up noticing, just a little too late. Like I said, it is a terrible, terrible thing.
The song I selected for today is by one of my favorite storytellers, Harry Chapin. If the name rings a bell, it is because you may be familiar with another song he wrote called Cats in the Cradle. I doubt that it ever got any airplay on the radio. It really is not that kind of song. My brother Mike introduced me to Harry Chapin many years ago. His cassette tape was always in my car, and it was excellent listening on long road trips. Some of his stories were fun and silly, some were sad but all of them were engrossing. A Better Place to Be is the story of three very different lonely and damaged souls who crossed each others paths. I have been each of them at various times in my life and would not wish that one another. Moreover, the song is sad for me because, these folks are all around. I am reminded again by listening to it that the hand that I extend, or fail to extend, may be the one that makes all the difference in the world. Who knows, I could use it myself again someday.
(Please bear with the recording, it is from a live concert in August of 1980.)
One final thought. So the song ends with the watchman apparently leaving with the waitress. I wonder what happens after that. Does the cycle continue or are they able to break it together? I wish I knew the answer to that one...
Monday, June 20, 2011
Day Three- A Song That Makes Me Happy - Raise Your Glass!
I am a big fan of P!nk! No, not the color, that would be pink, and for the record that has never really worked on me. I end up looking like an ice cream vendor. I am referring to P!nk the artist. Let me just say, when I grown up, I want to be her! Ok, may I want to be just like her. Her sense of humor, her willingness to be downright silly, her sharp edged "tell it like it is" attitude, and her tender vulnerability, all in one extremely unique and attractive package. I can not get enough of it!
She comes across as a bit of a misfit sometimes, but I am ok with that. I like the misfits of this world, and quite frankly seem to attract my share of them. These are the folks that add color to my daily life. In fact, I am not completely sold on the whole "fitting in" thing anyway. It is too much stress to worry about what others are thinking and too much bother to keep changing to make other folks happy, when the only happiness that I can really control or worry about is my own. So, you know what, I do not care if I look like a frog dropped onto a hot frying pan when I dance. I just like to dance. I am learning that sometimes my hair is fine messed up and those wrinkles will come out of my jeans eventually, no one really cares anyway.
That's why this song makes me happy. It's an Anthem for all Us Misfits! " Don't get fancy, just get dancey...Why so serious???"....
If you get it too.....Just Raise Your Glass!!!!!!!!
Gotta Love her as the Rosie the Riveter
She comes across as a bit of a misfit sometimes, but I am ok with that. I like the misfits of this world, and quite frankly seem to attract my share of them. These are the folks that add color to my daily life. In fact, I am not completely sold on the whole "fitting in" thing anyway. It is too much stress to worry about what others are thinking and too much bother to keep changing to make other folks happy, when the only happiness that I can really control or worry about is my own. So, you know what, I do not care if I look like a frog dropped onto a hot frying pan when I dance. I just like to dance. I am learning that sometimes my hair is fine messed up and those wrinkles will come out of my jeans eventually, no one really cares anyway.
That's why this song makes me happy. It's an Anthem for all Us Misfits! " Don't get fancy, just get dancey...Why so serious???"....
If you get it too.....Just Raise Your Glass!!!!!!!!
Gotta Love her as the Rosie the Riveter
Friday, June 17, 2011
Day Two- My Least Favorite Song- The Chicken Dance
Giving thought to today, there were several contenders for the prize of Least Favorite Song. All of them shared the same characteristic of being inexplicably inescapable during their hey days. For what ever reason these goofy things were everywhere. Some of them are still around. For example....Who Let the Dogs Out? Sebastian can answer that one, I do. How about the Macarena? No thanks, I prefer mine with cheese and preferably made by Kraft. The Thong Song...Not even on a BET! Then there was Don't Worry Be Happy. While I appreciate the sentiment, after about 10,000 times it made me wish I had a gun. The top of this heap for me, I have to say, is The Chicken Dance! Be it a wedding or party or the toy aisle at the drug store, you can hear this polka playing. And the wacky dance that goes along with it, I will just have to let that be.
I will admit, there is one special occasion that cemented this song as my least favorite, but first a bit of a confession and short back story. I am NOT a morning person. In fact, I can be downright EVIL when I first wake up. Yes, I know it's a flaw. I need a good 30 minutes of quiet with just me and a soda to get my brain working. Even Sebastian knows this, he is very patient with me when I first get up and he is waiting to go outside. Jim however, took a bit of time to learn. He likes to tell the story of one morning while we were living in Vegas. I had just gotten up on this Saturday morning where I had to work and he did not. I was sitting on the couch like a zombie, staring at the wall, and trying to coax my brain into activating, when he decided to get up and start chattering with me about God knows what, I honestly to this day couldn't tell you. He was happy as a clam and the poor guy, did not even see it coming. I looked at him, with what I ,am sure were death rays shooting from my eyeballs, and asked him what time it was? He still missed his obvious warning and said "It's 7:15", to which I responded "THEN WHY ARE YOU (expletive omitted here) TALKING TO ME!!!!!!!!!". Needless to say, he fled, and I definitely owed him an apology later in the day. The only positive thing, is now he knows better.
Well, anyway, tying this in to The Chicken Dance. At one of Megan's early birthday parties, she was maybe 8 or 9, 10 at the most, she had here traditional slumber party with 10 giggly, happy, bouncy, screaming little girls over for the night. These were always so much fun and with the help of some advil and tag teaming by Susie, me and my mom, generally painfree affairs. At one of these parties, I had been working second shift and arrived with the party in full swing. They did the limbo, the pinata, then the required trading of prizes afterwards and finally wound down and were ready for bed. Me too. I took the couch that evening and was very happily sleeping away the next morning, when I was abruptly wakened by the sound of ....you guessed it.....THE CHICKEN DANCE blaring near my head. I cracked my eyes open to find these 10 precious little souls, dancing literally on my head, just laughing and giggling and thinking this was the funniest thing in the whole wide world. My brain literally came unattached from my skull and began rattling around my head. I thought I was going to die. It's lucky that I didn't take a few of them with me. Needless to say, No More Chicken Dance EVER!!!!!!!!!
I will admit, there is one special occasion that cemented this song as my least favorite, but first a bit of a confession and short back story. I am NOT a morning person. In fact, I can be downright EVIL when I first wake up. Yes, I know it's a flaw. I need a good 30 minutes of quiet with just me and a soda to get my brain working. Even Sebastian knows this, he is very patient with me when I first get up and he is waiting to go outside. Jim however, took a bit of time to learn. He likes to tell the story of one morning while we were living in Vegas. I had just gotten up on this Saturday morning where I had to work and he did not. I was sitting on the couch like a zombie, staring at the wall, and trying to coax my brain into activating, when he decided to get up and start chattering with me about God knows what, I honestly to this day couldn't tell you. He was happy as a clam and the poor guy, did not even see it coming. I looked at him, with what I ,am sure were death rays shooting from my eyeballs, and asked him what time it was? He still missed his obvious warning and said "It's 7:15", to which I responded "THEN WHY ARE YOU (expletive omitted here) TALKING TO ME!!!!!!!!!". Needless to say, he fled, and I definitely owed him an apology later in the day. The only positive thing, is now he knows better.
Well, anyway, tying this in to The Chicken Dance. At one of Megan's early birthday parties, she was maybe 8 or 9, 10 at the most, she had here traditional slumber party with 10 giggly, happy, bouncy, screaming little girls over for the night. These were always so much fun and with the help of some advil and tag teaming by Susie, me and my mom, generally painfree affairs. At one of these parties, I had been working second shift and arrived with the party in full swing. They did the limbo, the pinata, then the required trading of prizes afterwards and finally wound down and were ready for bed. Me too. I took the couch that evening and was very happily sleeping away the next morning, when I was abruptly wakened by the sound of ....you guessed it.....THE CHICKEN DANCE blaring near my head. I cracked my eyes open to find these 10 precious little souls, dancing literally on my head, just laughing and giggling and thinking this was the funniest thing in the whole wide world. My brain literally came unattached from my skull and began rattling around my head. I thought I was going to die. It's lucky that I didn't take a few of them with me. Needless to say, No More Chicken Dance EVER!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Day One- My Favorite Song- It Is Well With My Soul
So, right out of the starting gate, I protest! My Favorite Song???? Really??? Favorite Song EVER?
As long as I can remember, I have always had music as an integral part of my life. It provides such a release and comfort, boosts moments of happiness to the next level, keeps me company during the quiet times and is always evolving, just as I hope that I am. To pick just one is almost a betrayal to all of the other favorites that could be listed here, but I guess I should try not to cheat the challenge. At least not on the first day anyway.
It took some thought to find the song that has remained with throughout the years, and the result took me as much by surprise as it may all of you. It is not on my IPOD, I have not had it on a playlist in many many years, and yet this song has been with me since I was a child, gave me strength when I was an awkward teenager, comforted me in my post school years which were often turbulent and filled with change, and even now I find is in the back of my mind, just waiting to surface when called upon.
As I look through the next 30 days, I am not sure there will be any other hymns that will appear, but I cannot think of another song that has been with me longer than this one. I remember singing it along side my mother in the pew at church. I sang it at my grandmother's funeral. I remember sitting very homesick on a rock overlooking the ocean late at night in Hawaii and running it through my mind. I remember struggling to get the words out while in Portugal. As I learned more about my own character, I leaned very heavily on it to find the quiet still place in the middle of all of the chaos. That is actually the story of the song, finding peace in the middle of the storm...and being content. It can be challenging, but you all know that. Here it is...
I had to weed through YouTube to find a version I could live with but this one has the added bonus of supplying the story behind the origins of the song, which is an inspiration in itself, and adds to the songs inspiration and power.
I dont really recommend the following version to the faint of heart, but if you like a little more classical power behind your hymns, there is no one who can really supply that better than Sandi Patti. God love her, she can shake the roof when she wants to...
As long as I can remember, I have always had music as an integral part of my life. It provides such a release and comfort, boosts moments of happiness to the next level, keeps me company during the quiet times and is always evolving, just as I hope that I am. To pick just one is almost a betrayal to all of the other favorites that could be listed here, but I guess I should try not to cheat the challenge. At least not on the first day anyway.
It took some thought to find the song that has remained with throughout the years, and the result took me as much by surprise as it may all of you. It is not on my IPOD, I have not had it on a playlist in many many years, and yet this song has been with me since I was a child, gave me strength when I was an awkward teenager, comforted me in my post school years which were often turbulent and filled with change, and even now I find is in the back of my mind, just waiting to surface when called upon.
As I look through the next 30 days, I am not sure there will be any other hymns that will appear, but I cannot think of another song that has been with me longer than this one. I remember singing it along side my mother in the pew at church. I sang it at my grandmother's funeral. I remember sitting very homesick on a rock overlooking the ocean late at night in Hawaii and running it through my mind. I remember struggling to get the words out while in Portugal. As I learned more about my own character, I leaned very heavily on it to find the quiet still place in the middle of all of the chaos. That is actually the story of the song, finding peace in the middle of the storm...and being content. It can be challenging, but you all know that. Here it is...
I had to weed through YouTube to find a version I could live with but this one has the added bonus of supplying the story behind the origins of the song, which is an inspiration in itself, and adds to the songs inspiration and power.
I dont really recommend the following version to the faint of heart, but if you like a little more classical power behind your hymns, there is no one who can really supply that better than Sandi Patti. God love her, she can shake the roof when she wants to...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Welcome Friends!
At long last, I have decided to set off on a new adventure. Spending so many days at a time away from my home and family, I have found my routine here in the Fort growing stagnant. Sure I have Sebastian, my Great Dane, for company, but conversation is very much limited. Facebook offers some interaction, and of course, my cell phone is my lifeline to home, but time can slow to a crawl between trips back to Ohio. Since I have some time on my hands, we will give this a try.
For the last month or so, I have greatly enjoyed following along the blog of a high school classmate (Thomas Carpenter) as he worked his way through the 30 Day Song Challenge. I thought that this might be a good way to get my feet wet, so for the next little while, I would like to share with you some music. The challenge, for those that are unfamiliar, is a list of 30 selections that fit a given description. I have a feeling the real challenge will not be to come up with a song, but to come up with only ONE for each day, but I will give it a shot.
Here is the list of topics for the challenge. Wish me luck!
day 01 – your favorite song
day 02 – your least favorite song
day 03 – a song that makes you happy
day 04 – a song that makes you sad
day 05 – a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 – a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 – a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 – a song that you know all the words to
day 09 – a song that you can dance to
day 10 – a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 – a song from your favorite band
day 12 – a song from a band you hate
day 13 – a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 – a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 – a song that describes you
day 16 – a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 – a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 – a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 – a song from your favorite album
day 20 – a song that you listen to when you’re angry
day 21 – a song that you listen to when you’re happy
day 22 – a song that you listen to when you’re sad
day 23 – a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 – a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 – a song that makes you laugh
day 26 – a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 – a song that you wish you could play
day 28 – a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 – a song from your childhood
day 30 – your favorite song at this time last year
I hope you enjoy following along with me.
Tracy
For the last month or so, I have greatly enjoyed following along the blog of a high school classmate (Thomas Carpenter) as he worked his way through the 30 Day Song Challenge. I thought that this might be a good way to get my feet wet, so for the next little while, I would like to share with you some music. The challenge, for those that are unfamiliar, is a list of 30 selections that fit a given description. I have a feeling the real challenge will not be to come up with a song, but to come up with only ONE for each day, but I will give it a shot.
Here is the list of topics for the challenge. Wish me luck!
day 01 – your favorite song
day 02 – your least favorite song
day 03 – a song that makes you happy
day 04 – a song that makes you sad
day 05 – a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 – a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 – a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 – a song that you know all the words to
day 09 – a song that you can dance to
day 10 – a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 – a song from your favorite band
day 12 – a song from a band you hate
day 13 – a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 – a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 – a song that describes you
day 16 – a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 – a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 – a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 – a song from your favorite album
day 20 – a song that you listen to when you’re angry
day 21 – a song that you listen to when you’re happy
day 22 – a song that you listen to when you’re sad
day 23 – a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 – a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 – a song that makes you laugh
day 26 – a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 – a song that you wish you could play
day 28 – a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 – a song from your childhood
day 30 – your favorite song at this time last year
I hope you enjoy following along with me.
Tracy
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