Amphitrite + Ardeo

Midsummer 2011

2011-06-23T12:42:00.000-04:00

Quick post, while I'm thinking of it all:

- Today would have been Timmy's 39th birthday. Miss you and love you lots, Brother Tim!

- I'm working on moving this blog, or taking it offline altogether. Haven't entirely decided yet, but I'll let you know before I do anything drastic. :)

- I'm moving pictures around as well; our Flickr Pro account expired (can't afford it right now), so you will not be able to see many of the pictures we have there until we either upgrade again or get them moved. Again, you'll know when I have it all done, but those pictures associated with some posts here are being moved to a different host!

- We are gearing up to move again. More on that later, but most likely I'll only share on Facebook. Right now, that's going to be the best place to find and keep in touch with me/us. The kids & I are staying with Mom most of next month, so if you know that info you can reach us there. I have much more time and will try to visit with everyone possible!!

Lots of changes here that I haven't yet mentioned* (even on FB). Rest assured we are all doing well, it's just become rather chaotic around here! I don't usually like to be so vague and I will not make a habit of it, but this is all I can/will say for right now. The next couple of weeks will be busy, so I will bring you up to speed after the 4th holiday. Love to you all! Be safe during this upcoming holiday and remember the *true* reason for it!!

~Amphitrite

*NOT pregnant, as Mom asked. Don't be jumpin' to conclusions, girls!!

Wrapping up May

2011-05-28T12:22:00.003-04:00

Doing all those posts in April really took it out of me for some reason! Today I'll just give you a brief overview of May, and will come back in a few days to write a real post about it all.

~ Our family had a lot of birthdays in May, and earlier this week we added another May baby! Welcome our new sweet nephew, Xavier! {Click here for Part 1 - Click here for Part 2} I think he looks a LOT like his big brother!! We can't wait to meet him, and I'm hoping we can visit in July sometime!

~ I spent at least 3 days a week looking for work. Every week. Still working on that, but am sewing things in the meantime and hoping to sell some here and there. I also have cleaned out my closet and found a few purses/bags I could maybe sell! So far no one is interested but I'm not giving up yet.

~ Miss Hurricane turned 8 last week, but luckily we didn't end up with a ton of new toys to take up space (she doesn't have) in the bedroom. That's another area we're trying to pare down, is her toys! She doesn't seem to be outgrowing the toys yet though... but she is outgrowing her clothes. She's growing up *sniff* :(

~ I turned 34 yesterday... and today I can feel it in my bones. I know the real reason for that, and it ain't my age, folks. Dad's employer recently had an open house; the boy and I went with him to see his lab and a tour of where he works (and has for 32 years!), and at point we found a scale. Well, Dad knew it was there, he steps on it every week. :D So Mister Twister stepped up, and he's now 112 pounds at 5'2" tall. He will be 13 in August... this mancub will soon be the tallest person in our house! *eep*
Well you've probably guessed - I, too, stepped on that damn scale. Here's the breakdown: I was down to 194 about 2 years ago, which was my lightest adult weight. Last year, when Ardeo lost his job and was at home all the time, I quit exercising at all (long story for another time). In October I quit smoking (yay!) and started eating more (boo!), still not exercising. I won't count the 5 week sickness I had. So, since quitting smoking, I have gained at least 20 pounds and I was obviously overweight to begin with. And THAT is what I feel in my bones - the weight. As far as clothing fit, I'm back to what I weighed at the end of high school. I don't know for sure what my weight was back then, but I know what size I was wearing compared to the size I wore just two years ago - and it's a big difference. This sucks, I'm disgusted, and as I'm starting a new personal year, I'm going to change it. To hell with swimsuit season, I just want to feel like I actually *belong* in this body. Right now, I don't. It feels foreign to me, this current body does not feel like *mine*. That may not make sense, but it's the best description I can come up with right now.

~ I spent yesterday at the elementary school for Miss Hurricane's field day, and her end-of-year class party! I have pictures, but I do not have everyone's permission to post (and only one of my child) so I need time to go through them. I am making a DVD for her teacher, which she can share with the other parents if she wants. The party theme was Hawaii - I have pics of some decor - and the kids had a blast! We had Virgin Coladas (we parents joked that we'd split the rest for home use, so we could add rum later!), Hawaiian Punch, Pineapple Cake, Fruit Salad, and cookies and pretzels; the kids watched a bit of Lilo & Stitch while they snacked (it was before lunch, since the day's schedule changed unexpectedly); later, we had a coconut race, Wipeout Zumba and a limbo! We finished the party with crafts: an origami boat, and pasta jewelry. I was at the school from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.! I haven't done that since I was in school myself! I did have a good day though - and the morning session of Field Day made me run around a bit, so I got some exercise in via chasing dodgeballs. It was overcast, but we barely got a sprinkle - all in all it was a great day!
Until dinner, when I was surprised with birthday pizza. <3 Hey, I didn't have to cook! LOL I think that covers most of it. It's a long weekend and I have plenty of housework to do (don't we always?!) so I'd best hop to it! I'll be walking outside later and that's a good start. Be safe and have fun this weekend! Blessings!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Snail Mail!

2011-05-11T15:31:00.000-04:00

Sing with me!
"Here's the mail - it never fails
It makes me wanna wag my tail
When it comes I wanna wail:
MAAAAAAIIIIL!"

~ SO ~
Today's mail brought another letter from my brother. We've been writing each other, on average, around once every 10 days or so; my last letter to him was at the end of April when I shared my 30 Days list with him. Oh, BTW, he's serving a little time - until January - which is why we're writing, as opposed to calling or Facebooking each other. So, since I've been looking for work (and sewing, and volunteering at the schools, and figuring out what to get Miss Hurricane for her birthday next week) I hadn't written him yet since. I did manage to get my visitor packet filled out, and as his birthday gift next month, I'm going to visit with him for a day (unless I'm working)! This does mean I'll drive 4 hours one-way, but I haven't seen him since right after Christmas anyway so it's worth it.
Back to my original thought and reason for writing here today: he enjoyed reading my list of music and said, "hey, I've got time, I'll do it too and maybe you can post it on your blog for me?" - of course! Why not? This will allow you all to see the similarities and differences between us as far as music goes. I can tell you that 'back in the day', he and I listened to a lot of the same music: heavy metal, or country (quite a spectrum, no?), depending on the week. Since he does have the time, I already have his complete list - and here's how I'm going to do it:
Over the next week, I'll find the videos for each of his choices. If I can't (some I think are obscure), I will look for the lyrics or the band website or something. Once I've compiled his list, I'll throw it all into one big, link-filled post; this will allow me to post once on his FB page, so his friends can see it too. And I can even print the final writing and mail it to him if he wants it! Hey, this is something I can do for him that still connects him to 'the outside'.
He ain't heavy :D

Until next time ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Mother's Day, 2011

2011-05-05T13:43:00.002-04:00

I've been searching through old posts at a forum I used to frequent (long, boring story) and today, I ran across this. Another person on that board got this as an email initially, and shared it with the group in 2007 ~ with Mother's Day just a few days away, I thought it appropriate to share with you!

Happy Mother's Day!

{QUOTE}:
Being a Mom:

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family."

"We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes:
I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?"; that every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the
primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.
I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood. She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.
I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.
However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother.
Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give herself up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks.
I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally say. Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

Please share this with a Mom that you know or all of your girlfriends who may someday be Moms. May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart.
{end QUOTE}

Love and Light to you and yours~
Namasate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 30 ~ favorite at this time last year

2011-04-30T20:20:00.000-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

"Sugar Magnolia"

^ Vinyl!! ^

I'll just let this one speak for itself. I still love this one, it still even has the highest number of plays according to my iTunes, and I think I played it on repeat for about 2 months early last year! I started calling Miss Hurricane, 'my sugar magnolia', but she told me that "only Dad makes the nicknames, you know." .... LOL (she's right though!)

'Sunshine daydream'? Nope, I can only call her by her middle name (by which she's known), and first name if she didn't hear me or is in trouble. Only Dad/Ardeo can call her nicknames: Gooberdina, The Goob, Scooter Bean, Free-Toes (when she's barefoot, thanks to her Kindergarten teacher), Puddin'..... whatever strikes him at any given moment, and she's cool with it! Rotten kid. ;)

- - - - - -
There you have it, folks! This post is the last one for April 2011, the last post for this edition of 30 Days of Music! I do have another lined up, and it's 31 Days, but I need a blogging break for now. I'm thinking I'll pull that one out in August if I can. Stay tuned!

May is a busy month, as I've mentioned: three sisters-in-law, my dad, my mother-in-law, and MY birthday all hit this month; there's also Mother's Day, my parent's 35th wedding anniversary on the 21st (yay!!), and Memorial Day. Oh, and school lets out for my kids on June 3rd this year. Whew ~ makes me tired just typing it all out! It's about to get supah-busy, but at least it'll also be supah-warm!!

~Namaste~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 29 ~ from my childhood

2011-04-29T17:45:00.000-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

"You Got It (The Right Stuff)"

Hey, I'm about to turn 34 - do the math!!! =D

{NKOTB official site}

My dad took me to see NKOTB when they came to my hometown in 1990. I'm kind of surprised he didn't permanently lose some hearing! But bless his heart, he made it through my (and my friend's) fangirl-style screaming like it was no big deal. Her mom came too, maybe they kept each other sane?? We really couldn't see them too well from our seats - not quite 'nosebleed' section, but we were up kind of high in the building - and I know we sang and danced and screamed our fool heads off for (probably) two hours. I still remember some of that concert as if it were yesterday! It is so unlikely, but I would *love* to see them again; they're touring this summer and will have 3 shows within a 3 hour drive of here!!

Fellow fangirls will understand - I did and still do love Jonathan.... and Ardeo is totally okay with that fact. ;D

You know I totally had this poster on my wall:

It hung there for at least 2 years....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 28 ~ makes me feel guilty

2011-04-28T21:53:00.000-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

"Circle of Steel"

{The video above is a cover by someone named Brian - but I swear, he sounds *just* like Gordon Lightfoot! This is an excellent cover of a great song!}

I wish I could tell you why this song makes me feel guilty, but I honestly can't explain it. I have never been in any of the situations mentioned in this song, nor do I know anyone who has. But every time I hear it, I feel what I'd call guilt.

Maybe it's just a sign that I should volunteer more, see how I can help out in my community. I would like to say that I have or do, but I never have - yet I always want to do so. Yeah, I think that must be it.... I seriously just figured this out while typing it for you to read! To alleviate the guilt, I will see about volunteering somehow. And yes, I will let you know what happens! :D

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30 Days - April 27 ~ that I wish I could play

2011-04-27T20:50:00.004-04:00

*{More bad weather today delayed this post. Welcome to April in the Midwest!}*

For the 30 days of music:

[Calypso Medley]

What do I wish I could play? Just about anything on a steel drum! Brother Tim could play the steel drum, and I saw him do it at least twice. Just hearing steel drums puts me in a good mood! I'm sure it's supposed to ... but it makes me think of lounging on a beach, specifically in the Caribbean. I *L*O*V*E* the sound of steel drums.
I have a CD that I bought back in high school (that's 16 years ago now!!) and it is one of my favorites. I love to play it during the seasonal changes, especially during March, April and May. It really does help me to look forward and remind myself that 'it's almost summer time!!'.

Oh, I want to go back ... to the island....
You can choose your favorite island from this list...
I was married on the island of St. John, and have a friend who lives on St. Croix, in Christiansted.

Or, even plan a trip to visit for real:
Visit US Virgin Islands
Caribbean Travel: Destinations portal
Caribbean Travel Magazine
Definitive Caribbean

One of these days, when I'm filthy rich, I am totally moving myself to the Caribbean. Ardeo already wants a submarine when we hit the lottery, so I'll have the perfect place to drive it around!

^This is going to be my new bed.^

And one of these days, we'll actually buy a lottery ticket, so that we have the tiniest chance at that pipe dream! HA!

Enjoy the steel drum music ~ namaste!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 26 ~ that I can play on an instrument

2011-04-26T14:12:00.000-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

"Mercedes Benz"

I have loved Janis since I was a freshman in high school! I know today's theme involves an instrument, but! I haven't played any instrument since middle school (clarinet), and I couldn't play anything recognizable or that I'd remember these days anyway. Haven't touched a clarinet since 8th or 9th grade.... and I wouldn't call myself a drummer, although I can hit things in time with a beat. ;)

I never played any other instrument, so my instrument these days is my voice (I know it counts!!), and I have sung this song many times alone and in front of others; I have been told that I sing it well ~ I'll run with it!

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30 Days - April 25 ~ makes me laugh

2011-04-25T14:35:00.002-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

"In Spite of Ourselves" (song starts around 1:45, it's a live performance.)

Just read along with the lyrics, although you can easily follow along if you just listen. It's certainly good for a giggle, but I'll rate it 'PG' - there's no swearing or anything, but she does mention drinking and underwear (hers, specifically!) - so you might want to test-listen before listening it with kids around! ;-)
You know, I mentioned Dave & Marisa the other day.... well, this is "their" song! Played at their wedding and everything - and once again, it's their fault that I know and love this song.... and that's okay!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 24 ~ for my funeral

2011-04-24T12:50:00.003-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 24 ~ wanted to play at my funeral:

"Photographs and Memories"

Again, I had a hard time choosing just one song for today. So I went and got some help - I asked my Facebook friends to choose a number between 1-38! The first person to answer said 23, and this song is #23 on my playlist called "When I'm Gone". I think I've referenced this playlist here once or twice, but I went ahead and put together a list of songs that I want to be played at my memorial service; of course I'm hoping that's a long, long time from now! (I want to be cremated. Donate my organs and plant flowers or veggies as a memorial, but don't stick my dead body in some box... thanks.) Since I love my music, and know which songs mean the most to me, I went ahead and put this playlist together.

Some of the other songs on that playlist are:
Make Your Own Kind of Music {'Mama' Cass Elliot}
The Inner Light {The Beatles}
One Love {Bob Marley & the Wailers}
Sugar Magnolia {Grateful Dead}
Joy to the World {Three Dog Night}
Tha Crossroads {Bone Thugs N Harmony} <- bet no one saw THAT coming...
Closer to Fine {Indigo Girls}
Okayalright {moe.}
Don't Worry, Be Happy {Bobby McFerrin}
When the Crowds are Gone {Savatage}

That is about a third of the entire playlist. You get the idea - some are songs by which I want to be remembered as having loved, others are just songs that have always reminded me of other loved ones who've passed and many of my family members would 'catch on' to that. I will probably add to it at times, but for now iTunes is telling me that I have 2.4 hours worth of music there!

I know not many people want to think about dying, especially while we're still young. I only thought about it in depth after Brother Tim died two years ago.

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if tomorrow is your last day.
Life is more enjoyable if you stop to smell the flowers - or hug your kids an extra time instead crying over spilled milk.

Namaste :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 23 ~ for my wedding

2011-04-23T20:01:00.002-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 23 ~ wanted to play at my wedding:

"Longer"

I was married in March of 2002, on a Caribbean beach, barefoot in the sand..... ahhhh. So, while this was not played at my wedding, it was on the list to be played had we not eloped! ;)

I love Dan Fogelberg. The above song really makes me think of my dear husband; because of my personal belief in reincarnation, I am *certain* that he & I have been through a couple of lifetimes together already. {Here's a link for the lyrics - "Longer" is about 3/4 of the way down the page.} The song Ardeo & I named as "our" song is actually "Mystifies Me" by Son Volt; I had never heard of Son Volt until we started dating, but he really liked them (and that song) so it kind of 'stuck' as ours. We like it, too! =D
I think we are going to hang on to "Longer" for a time when we might renew our vows.... for which, we'd actually invite our families as well rather than traipsing off to an island!

Well, maybe. HA!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 22 ~ when I'm sad

2011-04-22T21:53:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the delay today, we were under a severe t-storm warning, and eventually, a tornado warning too... so I'm just now getting around to finishing this up to post it for you.
On with it, then!

For the 30 days of music:

Day 22 ~ when I'm sad, I listen to:

"The Long Way Home"

^ Excellent album!! ^

Now, the embedded video is a montage for Captain Phil* of the Discovery show, Deadliest Catch - Phil died early in 2010.
At the end of the episode dealing with his passing, this song was playing and I immediately loved it. I made sure to watch the credits to figure out, at the very least, who was singing it; luckily they slowed down the credits and I saw the artist and song title easily. Hopped right over to iTunes and bought the song with the intent to look through the discography at another time, and I have since bought 10 or so songs.
This is a good mellow song, and I have it as a part of my "funeral playlist" (you'll see more of that in a couple days). Since it's newer - both in general, and to me personally - I do listen to it more often than most other 'sad' songs. I hope you like it too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*{{{May his soul be at rest.}}}

30 Days - April 21 ~ when I'm happy

2011-04-21T12:02:00.001-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 21 ~ when I'm happy:

"Rock Lobster"

I really can't explain this one. I dig The B-52s, and have ever since "Love Shack" became hugely popular. Love that song too! Today, I learned that they've been together since 1976 and hail from Athens, GA.... I know people who live in Athens today! That might not mean much to anyone else, but I thought 'hey, how about that!' when I read it (here on Wikipedia).
Anyway, I can tell you that the beginning bars are all it takes to make me smile. I've actually happened upon it first thing in the morning: one day after putting Miss Hurricane on the bus, I had plans to go for a walk and had my iPod with me. As her bus pulled away, I started looking for 'what am I going to listen to today?' and came upon my 'Walking' playlist. Wanting to mix it up a bit, I hit shuffle; the first song to play was "Rock Lobster"! And of course, I cracked up near the end when all the "fish" were "talking" as the lead singer named them.... there are some interesting sounds there. That makes it all the more awesome to me though!
They remind me of some of the sounds of the 1950s for some reason, which is obviously just before my favorite decade. Hope you enjoy this song too, or at least the video!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

30 Days - April 20 ~ when I'm angry

2011-04-20T14:42:00.001-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 20 ~ when I'm angry, I like to listen to:

"Harvester of Sorrow"

QUICK - guess which album it's on!! ;)

It is so much better when it's unbelievably loud! For years, at least reaching back as far as 6th or 7th grade, I've been a Metallica fan. Thanks to Cousin Dave, I've known about them since right around 1985 (about 4 years after they formed). Lars* has always been my favorite!

Metallica is my go-to metal band - sometimes, I'm just in the mood for it; sometimes I need to vent some frustrations and just want something loud and fast and angry-sounding. Sometimes it makes for really great driving music! Behind CSN, Metallica is my #2 most-owned artist. I have most (maybe all?) of their albums in my iTunes library, and I know I used to own: Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, ...And Justice For All (the Amazon link above, just click the album art), and the Black album (Metallica). Bro had Garage Inc and St. Anger, then bought Death Magnetic when it first came out; he later inherited my Metallica CDs when I moved over to all-digital music.

If you've been reading along this month, you've gathered that I'm more of a 'dirty hippie' than 'headbanger' - but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy both! They are not mutually exclusive in my world, or my iTunes library. If you looked, you could very likely find a playlist including James Taylor, Shaggy, Grateful Dead and Metallica songs on it. Actually, now that I look, I do have them all together on the one I call "random" (go figure!). That playlist has 49 songs on it, all over the board - I even see DMX and Rosemary Clooney in there.... yeah, that's eclectic alright.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*(He's the drummer, and the first in a line of crushes I've had on drummers.)

30 Days - April 19 ~ from my favorite album

2011-04-19T18:05:00.000-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 19 ~ from my favorite album:

"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" - this one's live from Woodstock 1969, baby!!

If you play/listen to that all the way to the end, you'll note that it was the second time those guys had ever played music together. Stephen Stills is the one who says so! As far as this being from my favorite album - well, my favorite collection that I still possess is their 4-CD box set, which I linked you to on Day 11. This is one that has been pretty popular on the radio in the past, and you've probably heard it even if this isn't your genre.... everybody's heard the "do-do-do-do-do, doot doot do-do-do-doot" and can sing along! Stills even goes into a bit of Spanish there, talking about the 'queen of the Caribbean' and how he's sad that he can't come along.
You can read the Wikipedia article here, and it says everything you ever needed to know! I've said it many times so far - this is my favorite group, and "Judy Blue Eyes" has always been in my personal Top 10 of favorites. A nice lengthy tune which can play over and over again, and it wouldn't bother me one little bit. :D

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30 Days - April 18 ~ I wish I heard it more often on the radio

2011-04-18T11:48:00.002-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 18 ~ I wish I heard more often on the radio:

"Wagon Wheel"

First, I have to thank (cousin) Dave's wife for introducing me to this song in particular. They also prefer college radio and live near a college that features lots of local musicians, and shows nearby are pretty regular as well. I also think Dave & Marisa have really good taste in music! Hey, she & I both dig and can sing along with Carole King.... you just can't go wrong with her. :D
I had been up to visit them a couple years ago, and Marisa said, "oh, you *have* to hear this awesome song. It's my new favorite!" and told me she'd heard it on her college station. We both still love the song, and I've listened to (and bought) a few more of their songs since then; I just really dig their vibe.
(Yeah, I know how that sounds... like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. I'm okay with that. I love that gang of meddling kids!)

Second, the reason I have it here today is that I'm pretty sure I've never heard it on *my* favorite station here - yet. I will admit that I don't have the radio on 24/7, it's really only on for an hour or so at most on any given day. I use my computer for most everything during the day, and use Pandora most often.
Still, when I'm in the car, it'd be nice to hear it a little more often. Really, anything from OCMS is a nice audio treat. I hope you enjoy it!

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30 Days - April 17 ~ heard often on the radio

2011-04-17T16:16:00.001-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 17 - heard often on the radio:

"*Fook*in' Perfect"

You should know by now that I typically listen to college radio - it's not mainstream music at all; mine is found at 88.1 FM, and you can probably find the college station for your city near there on your radio's dial. {Here, scroll down and check this listing for yours!} I *love* listening to 88.1 because it's music I wouldn't normally hear of... local bands, obscure bands, singer/songwriters, and demos. There is also a great variety because (1) the students are the DJs and have music interests everywhere from Classical, to Bluegrass, to Gospel, to Heavy Metal, and all points between on the spectrum; and (2) each show only lasts 2 hours, with each DJ putting on one show per week... maayyybe two shows, depending on the DJ. I've listened often enough to know that it can EASILY take 6 months for the same song to play twice (and I mean 6 months - the repeats are extremely rare). I did hear one song twice; it was the same DJ, and it was about 4 months from the first time I'd heard her play it. Haven't heard it on the radio since, but I own that song now so it's okay! I have discovered so much great music in the last few years!
OH! And the best part of college radio? Almost *zero* commercials. Any ads mentioned are for local places: a local bookstore, a local bakery, local Italian food place (tasty stuff, according to Ardeo), free concerts that may happen at a nearby resale shop, etc.; and the commercials are maybe once per show? Awesome! It's the good stuff that matters and is within walking distance. That's a whole lotta win in my book!!

However, I knew this post would come... since I have a handy list of prompts for this month's rambling posts. ;)
So, this morning while I sorted laundry (cuz my life is just soooo interesting....), I listened to the 'top hits for today' kind of music station. At some point, the above song came on - the clean version, since it IS the teeny-bopper station! - and I liked it. My only clues before writing this were the DJ saying "Here's Pink! You're listening to {something owned by ClearChannel - go figure!}" blah blah I quit listening to the guy. Laundry sorted, I came to the computer and went to Billboard's website to find the Hot 100 chart for last week. Currently, this song is at #12 but it's been popular for 15 weeks.... therefore, I'm going to bet it's been played a lot. I like the way it sounds, and will look for it on iTunes and stick it in my cart.
Here: MTV wrote a better article than I could have. The gist of what I'm reading is that it's an anti-bullying video/song. That's a great message to put out right now, so we have another win here!

Now since new/pop music isn't really my genre, I'm going to stop writing here for today. Tomorrow should be much easier, as will the rest of the month, since I can go back to pulling tunes from my iPod library.... that's one of my favorite activities. =D

~
*(Yes, she says the F word. In my world, it's just another word. There is a clean version somewhere but I'm using this one, as it is from Pink's YouTube channel. Nothing better than a direct link to the artist when it can be found!)*

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30 Days - April 16 ~ I used to love it, now I hate it.

2011-04-16T16:42:00.003-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 16 - used to love it, now I hate it:

"Making Love Out of Nothing at All"

Ugh. As my dad is fond of saying, "gag me with a spoon"! Yes, it was an easy choice today, and it also has to do with the douche from Day 2. My hatred for this song goes back to early in 1998. One of these days I'll actually tell the whole story - I'm just not up for it right now, and I don't want to taint this month's ramblings with such garbage. When I'm ready and have it written as its own post, I'll link it with this one. For now, I don't want to think about him; just know that this song was 'our' song, and now it makes me gag. I will change the station/turn it off if it comes on the radio... which, fortunately, doesn't happen very much at all. (I do still listen to my classic rock station, so it *has* happened.)

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30 Days - April 15 ~ describes me

2011-04-15T17:06:00.001-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 15 ~ that describes me:

"What I Am" by Edie Brickell

Yes, this particular song is from the '90's - I was a teen back then! Once again, I kind of drew a blank while sifting through my music library. Actually I only got about halfway through it before I decided to just go with this song! Since I've always loved it and have ADD (listen to the opening lyrics!) I'll just let the lyrics speak for themselves.

Hey, I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not!

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30 Days - April 14 ~ you wouldn't expect this!

2011-04-14T14:46:00.002-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 14 ~ the song that no one would expect me to love:

"Start Wearing Purple" by Gogol Bordello!

Listen to the song, see if you don't start bopping your head in time with the beat - it's funky, they toss in some lyrics in a foreign language (Ukrainian?), and I just really like the way it flows. Now, if you wonder where I heard of this band.... Ardeo used to work with a guy who had lived in NYC for a time. Gogol Bordello is from NYC, and he had seen them live way back when they were new-ish. One night the two were working together and I dropped in to have dinner with my man; NYC guy had his iPod going and this song was playing. I knew they liked to listen to the college radio station here (we do at home too) so I asked if that's what was on. He said no, and told me about this band and that he'd seen them live. I had dinner and came back home, and *immediately* searched iTunes for them! I think I only chose a couple of their songs (the wallet's only so deep, ya know) but this is the one that remains my favorite from them.

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30 Days - April 13 ~ my guilty pleasure

2011-04-13T14:12:00.000-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 13 ~ my guilty pleasure.....

Theme song for the kid's show:
"The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That"

Alrighty. I have admitted (on FB) to watching this show almost every weekday. I enjoy it, I know all the words to the theme song, and it makes me laugh! So what makes this a guilty pleasure?

Maybe the fact that it comes on in my area *after* both kids are at school??
Yep, that's it. Even Ardeo pokes a little fun at me about it, because he's seen me watch it.... even before going back downstairs for a nap if I feel like I need one.
Here's my school morning schedule:
0540 - my wake-up alarm goes off. I come upstairs, turn on the news, make my tea and let it brew while I use the toilet (come on, everyone pees right when they get up!!), then eat breakfast and drink the tea while I watch the Sunrise Show (my local NBC news).
0610 - if I haven't already, it's time to make oatmeal for the kids in our awesome rice cooker* ~ if oatmeal is ready, then it's time for the Sun Salutation.
0620 - time to wake Miss Hurricane, if I'm going to put her on the bus. Change TV to PBS after Sunrise's 'Fun Fact of the Day'!
0650 - time to leave for the bus stop. Her bus comes right about 7 every morning; if it's cold or rainy, I usually just drive her to school and will let her sleep until 0650, and we'd leave at 0725. School starts for her at 0745.
0745 - time to wake Mister Twister. Often, he's already awake by this time, and can make his own breakfast. Usually either Ardeo or I have it made before he gets up.
0825 - Mister Twister leaves for the bus stop; his bus comes around 0830, but he walks really fast!
0830 - time for the cat -- The Cat in the Hat!

*While this is not our exact rice cooker - ours is no longer available online - this is the same brand and looks very similar, just updated. We do have a Panasonic 5-cup Fuzzy Logic, and it is awesome. Can cook e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. in it ~ rice, instant potatoes, chili, spaghetti, scrambled eggs, and steam veggies. Just about the only cookware we need, and I do use it every single day. Takes up about a square foot of counter space. Easy to clean. Seriously, it's awesome (=

{tangent coming}
I have trouble falling asleep at night; I'm a night owl by nature, and am known for staying up working on stuff or reading until midnight or later, easily. I really do try to get to bed/sleep before 10-11 at night, but most nights I'm just not sleepy in the least. Why lay there wide awake doing nothing, when I could just stay up and write something for you to read (lol), or make something, or even plan/lay out dinner for the next day? It is the morning after a late night like that, that would pretty much require my taking a nap after The Cat in the Hat. Sometimes I am able to fall asleep early enough that I will stay awake and go on about my day. I know I need to do that *every* day, but it's not easy.... I've always been like that, and if left alone, my internal clock would let me sleep from about 1 a.m. until 10 a.m. or so. I actually do that on the weekends... piece of cake! :D
{end tangent}

And there you have it - my musical guilty pleasure is the theme song to a kid's show! Just see if it doesn't get stuck in YOUR head! ;)

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30 Days - April 12 ~ from a band I hate

2011-04-12T14:46:00.009-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 12 ~ from a band I hate:

Okay... I had a seriously hard time finding a band I hate. There are very few music acts/genres that I even *dislike* - I really will listen to damn near anything, and if it sounds good, I don't see the point in liking it or not based on who's singing (even in the case of Milli Vanilli during my tween years!). So, after a couple days of searching, I can present you with this link: Insane Clown Posse, "Miracles".*

*** Now, I must warn you ~ these dudes paint their faces like clowns. If you fear clowns, DO NOT click that link. (That is the sole reason I did not embed this video - I didn't want to run the risk of a screencap full of clown face.) If clowns who swear like crusty old sailors don't bother you much and you want to hear the music, go ahead and open that new window, then come back here really fast!! Seriously, they quite liberally sprinkle the lyrics with cuss words.... you have been warned. (=

{Here's the Amazon link to that particular album: Bang! Pow! Boom! }

After a bit of browsing, I decided that the above was their only song that I could handle hearing all the way through... and I actually kinda like it. I think it could use different lyrics, but I'm not a lyricist and they obviously made money somehow! I'm not the least bit offended by the words - I once earned the nickname 'Frankie' for a reason, folks!** - but I personally just liked the music better than their lyrics. Still, I don't 'hate' this dynamic duo, but I think I'll stick with listening to them on YouTube or when I'm not in charge of what's playing......

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*Really, if this choice offends you, just remember that music tastes are subjective. This list is mine, and I'm sure yours would be worlds different, which is what makes the world go 'round! Or something like that.......
**Thanks, 'Grandpa' Dan!! =D

30 Days - April 11 ~ from my favorite band

2011-04-11T15:35:00.001-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 11 ~ from my favorite band:

"To The Last Whale: Critical Mass/Wind on the Water"
(I personally get serious goosebumps during the first 1:10 of this one. I cannot adequately describe the way their voices fit together so perfectly.)

{Click above to buy their boxed set! Well worth the price!!}

Here's your warning: I have ADD, so there's a bunch of radom linkage below!

They haven't always and will never be a "band" in the sense that they *only* ever play together. There's a story in the book that comes with the box set, about how CSN decided from the get-go that they would leave 'wiggle room' - i.e. if any of them wanted to go solo, or work with just one other among them, or go off and work with another band entirely.... they could do so. And it's apparently worked out very well for them! They all have had great careers, solo and otherwise. I just absolutely enjoy CSN working together, and Neil Young is an excellent addition to much of their music.
{Man, I really was born in the wrong decade.... for the music I truly enjoy, I'm about 10 years too young!}

Anytime these friendly surveys come around, CSNY (or some combo) is always the first to come to mind for me. Although a few days ago, the music theme was "one that reminds me of someone", I can come up with a great CSNY song for almost every one of my friends. That's one thing that made it hard to narrow it down for this! But I knew the one I chose could *only* ever remind me of one person! :D
I am lucky enough to have seen them live, twice:
June 5, 1996 - CSN + Chicago (double headliner? hellz yeah!!), with dear Brother Timmy, &
{the summer/fall of 1995? maybe?} - Crosby + Nash, with someone from work. That ticket stub is in the scrapbook, at Mom's, so I can't look to see when it was.... but I do remember the show, where I worked, and who went with me! ;D
I would love to see them again - they're on tour right now, but I'm in the wrong part of the country.... and also broke. There has been talk that this may/will be their last tour together but I reeeeeeeeeally hope it isn't!! Should it come to be, I want to try to see them separately if that opportuniy presents itself. [fingers and toes and eyes all crossed for that!!]

Some extra links* which also open new windows, cuz I luv dem:
David Crosby (bonus: CPR is another band, in which Crosby's son is also involved. Give them a listen!)
Stephen Stills
Graham Nash**
Neil Young

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*Please note that these links are different than any linked during my rambling above the crossing I did. LOL
**He's still a hottie. Fo realz.

30 Days - April 10 ~ which makes me fall asleep

2011-04-10T16:37:00.001-04:00

For the 30 days of music:

Day 10 ~ a song which makes me fall asleep:

"Witchi Tai To"

Now, I've always really enjoyed Brewer & Shipley's more popular song, "One Toke Over the Line". 'Witchi Tai To' doesn't necessarily put me to sleep, but it is a very soothing song - and it's 6 minutes long, so, at night and on repeat? I could fall asleep by the middle of the third play! During the day I'm fine and singing along as much as possible (I'm not entirely sure about some of the lyrics, so I wing it!) because I think it's a very groovy tune.
I hope you enjoy it as well!

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