Oh dear. I just watched Steven Tyler singing the National Anthem. And by “singing,” I mean…well, I mean singing, if you will. It’s right here for anyone who who’s in the mood to feel REALLY tense and worried before a few select song lines. Then to roll your eyes and feel kind of weird after hearing those select song lines.

Why does this guy irritate me so much? Could it be that I loved him so much in high school, and due to things like this, I actually irritate myself so much? Or could it be that he paints his fingernails black, something that only “Goth” high school (or middle school?) students should be excited about? I don’t know. He just really annoys me. It also annoys me that apparently he has girls lined up to go out on dates with him–I know, I know, girls like rich guys. But come on…there are rich guys out there who are much, much, much less annoying than this dude. (Ha! Effective word choice because remember “Dude Looks Like a Lady”? Yeah, guess who wrote it. Steven Tyler, the dude who looks like a lady in the above photo.)

SO, I really don’t believe in people bashing. I’m not sure why I am breaking my rule to bash Steven Tyler. I think this version of the National Anthem was just…ridiculous, and thereby pushed me over the edge. BUT since I don’t believe in people bashing, I am going to end this post on the most positive note ever. Here are some amazing, unique traits that Steven Tyler has:

1. No matter where he is or what he is doing–David Letterman interview, singing the National Anthem, at a concert–Steven Tyler is always dressed like a pirate, yet always looks like a woman. Who else can manage that?
2. Steven Tyler looks like that (see above photo), yet has had like 10 wives. Plus, by his own admission, countless lovers. That combination of truths is impossible–yet he somehow accomplished each despite the other.
3. Steven Tyler is the father of Liv Tyler, one of the most graceful, beautiful actresses in all of Hollywood. Well, at least he has a legacy now. Aside from pirate costumes, I mean.

Mmmm, ok that’s all I can think of. Sorry for being mean. Also, sorry if you love Steven Tyler. I’m sure you have your reasons (such as that you really love pirate costumes. HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. Sorry).

PS. Ok, I just thought of an actual positive point!!! Yay! Steven Tyler wrote “Dream On.” (Sing with me, sing for the years, sing for the laughter, sing for the tears…YouTube link here.) Really, that’s a great song. AND I deleted the mean joke I just made about Steven Tyler thereby ending on a positive note! Yay!

Remember this song? (This is the Iko Iko music video–the version of the song from the movie RainMan). How in the WORLD did I forget how sassy and sexy this video is? The lady pictured above is the singer from Belle Stars. I love this video–good scenes from RainMan, plus it’s a great version of this song.

I’ve experienced one extremely positive effect from watching this video a million times today and yesterday: I always disliked ballet until now–specifically due to the tight spandex on guys look. While I’ve always wanted to be sophisticated enough to like opera and ballet…it just hasn’t happened for me. Well, until the fancy footwork by the dude in this video. MAN. I wish I could be his type (ie, male I guess). Ha ha. I just said I wish I could be male–what a weird and un-funny joke that was!

A few other things I’m enjoying about this video:

1. How the girl in this video be SO HOT with white dreadlocks and green things hanging off her bodysuit? Also, why is it that she’s adorable when she swings HER hair, but when I swing mine like that, I look stupid? Whatever.
2. How short and tight people’s pants were in the movie RainMan–I never noticed that at the time, but wow.
3. For some reason, I always remembered the girl in the movie as the same lady who did all those “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful” commercials. Nope–totally different lady in this movie…
4. Is it just me, or does the VH1 title in the lower left corner say “Rain Main” instead of “Rain Man”? Come on now VH1.
5. I tried to do the sassy dances of the blond dread locks girl in the video. It didn’t go well, but I’m so proud that I tried.

Oh also, this video has been viewed like 1,400,000 times. I think I personally am responsible for a good 1000 of those just between yesterday and today. If you decide to watch the video–and ESPECIALLY the hot footwork at 1:39, you might keep clicking replay. You’ve been warned!

Then there’s me. It feels a little lame to think about who I’ve helped compared to the people Bill Gates has helped. Okay, let’s scale that statement down by comparing me to normal people, and I will STILL seem lame. Compare the number of people I’ve helped to…for example, those my Grandma helped, or my sister who volunteers at a home for the elderly, or my son’s teacher who takes in abandoned animals and nurses them back to health until they are adopted.

Well, it’s quotes like these below that help remind me that it doesn’t require doing millions of hours of volunteer work to help and make a difference…It’s the choices I make by the minute, the hour, the day, and the week–who do I smile at? Who do I encourage? Who do I lift up? Or, who do I tear down? Who do I listen to? Who do I talk to death? Who do I pay attention to? And who do I ignore? Do I tip well, or do I give the absolute bare minimum to that driver who’s slaving away to earn a living for his family?

These things do seem important, but even as I try really hard to be nice and helpful and not get snappy with people even when they get snappy with me (DIFFICULT), I still get sad that I can’t help more people, I can’t take away children’s pain, I can’t give homeless people a home, I can’t do this, I can’t do that–due to limitations of time, money, and other resources…

So boy did I LOVE THESE QUOTES I read by Mother Teresa:

“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed just one.”

Enjoy those words. And now it’s time for bed. (I have not been very disciplined about bedtime lately, but I am very determined, and this blog is not stopping me from going to bed this INSTANT. )

Nighty night!

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and god; It was never between you and them anyway.

RIP Steve Jobs. I can’t believe he died at age 56.

Not many people can say they impacted the WHOLE WORLD. Especially by age 56.

I’m very sad right now. The world has lost an amazing mind and visionary.