The music of life

Listening to Bret Michaels sing with Jimmy Buffet on I-Tunes .... Funny, before this Bret Michaels phenomena, I was buying his solo albums (do they still call them albums?) all along.
I watched him on Celebrity Apprentice and gained a whole new respect for him. After watching him with the hookers on the Rock of Love shows, he needed to!
It was weird when he had his brain hemorrhage. My sister called to tell me and I felt sad. I guess when you are passionate about music, like I am, it stays with you. Music is a part of you. And growing up with Bret Michaels, his posters on my wall, tapes and CD's constantly on my radio, I feel like he was part of that. Not like I am a weird fan, stalker type ... but, you have a connection to people like that.
He was a part of of my childhood, my dating life (how many times did I make out to Every Rose has Its Thorn????), and even my wedding and my sisters' weddings (at least one Poison song had to be played at them!).
Funny how certain songs, artists, albums, etc can instantly put you in a good mood, no matter what. And, as I have said before, can take you back to times that you will never forget.

Remember the nights we sat

and talked about all our dreams

Well little did we know then

They were more distant than they seemed

Well I knew it

You knew it too

the things we'd go through

We knew the things we had to do

To make it baby

Songs of My Life

I was reading the blog of a friend recently and she was posting about a song that was stuck in her head (thanks a lot ... that song followed me around for days!).

After reading this blog (and finally shaking the song out of my brain), I started to think about my life and the music that accompanies it.

I remember a paper I wrote back in high school. It was for an Advanced Creative Writing class that I absolutely adored ... a class that even made me consider Writing as a career ... I have no idea why I didn't pursue that thought. Every once in a while I enjoy looking at some of those papers (yes, I saved each and every one ... most were written about my heartbreak, but some were pretty inspired!).

Anyway, the paper that I remember, was about how certain senses can take you back to memories you didn't even think you remembered. Like the smell of a certain cologne can remind you of your your 8th grade crush or the scent of Jean Nate brings you back to your Grandma's house.

My paper was concentrated on the sense of sound. How certain songs can almost be like pictures floating in front of your eyes when you hear their distinct melodies. Some memories can be sad, some can make you giggle ... some can get you just as fired up now as they did back then!

Here are some of the songs that take me back ....



Celebration by Kool and the Gang. Now, I am sure this song has been played at most weddings or proms you have attended, I know it has for me. But, the one memory that comes up every time I hear this song is a Father/Daughter dance I attended with my Dad during my Freshman year of high school. It was Spring, 1989. I remember noticing how cool my Dad actually was. He had rhythm. He had this distinct dance move where he shakes his hips and bobs his head side to side, all smooth and stylish. I never really had noticed my dad like that until that point in my life. It makes me smile just thinking about it.



Come on Eileen by Dexi's Midnight Runners. This song always take me back to my little yellow bedroom at our last house in Indiana. I remember my sisters and I dancing to that song over and over, running in circles faster and faster as the melody sped up. Good times.



Another One Bites the Dust by Queen. My Mom. Forest Green Chevy Nova. Turned up ... loud. Too cool.



Ice Ice baby by Vanilla Ice. My sisters and I could rap (and, frightfully, still can) each and every word. Ha!



Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. This song was the Prom theme at my boyfriend's Senior Prom. It was also "our song." Every single time I hear it I can remember him.



***This is where my post will escape to my high school sweetheart memories .... I often wonder if I am psycho for remembering all of this stuff, or if everyone remembers this stuff. These songs remind me of "that" guy, the one who broke my heart into a million pieces. ***



More Than Words Can Say by Alias. I can almost remember the notes Brian (that was his name) used to send me. They were long ass love letters, all gushy and sweet. He once wrote out the words to this song for me. (and all the girls can go ... "aaaawwwwww")



I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2. On a night out with friends, this song came on the radio, Brian leaned over and whispered, "I already found what I am looking for."



Days Gone By by Slaughter. Not a well known song. I had just bought this CD when Brian dumped me out of the clear blue sky. This track? I would put it on repeat and sob my eyes out until I had nothing left and then I would do it all over again.



***OK ... no more Brian songs ..... but I did have other boyfriends ... really, I did!!!!***



November Rain by Guns and Roses. So, the guy I met right after the big break up, thought this was "our" song ... on the first night I met him ... and I was totally annihilated. Um ... after one date, I decided I would rather stay heartbroken!



Dream on by Aerosmith. My girlfriend had a crush on a boy (he was pretty hot I must say) in high school who loved Aerosmith. One night, she and I sat in my room and hit play and pause all night long until we learned the words to this song .... ha ha ha. Too bad we didn't have Google.



Killing Me Softly by The Fugees. My middle sister came to visit me in college. She listened to this song incessantly. The visit was a blast. On the way home we listened to this song: To Really Love a Woman by Bryan Adams.



3AM by Matchbox 20. I moved out into my own totally cute apartment. Free from all boys. Free to do anything I chose to do. I listened to this song cranked way up.



Angel by Sarah McLaughlin. I met E when this song was out. I always thought about him when it came on the radio ... even before I realized I liked him.



Best Friend by TimMcGraw. Our wedding song. Also, my ring tone for E. He was/is my best friend ... most of the time ;)



You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban. I dance with my Dad to this song at my wedding. I seriously cannot listen to more than 15 seconds (and that is pushing it) without tearing up and soon sobbing like a baby. If you aren't married, and you plan on getting married, and you really love you Dad, double check the length of the song you will dance with him to ... this one killed me!



Soak up the Sun by Sheryl Crow. The song playing when Big J was born. He was my sun and I soaked it up.



List of Demands by Saul Williams. Unfortunately they didn't have the radio on when little j was born. But March Madness was in full swing when I brought him home from the hospital. There was Nike commercial that they played every other second and this was its song. Little j slept in the pack and play downstairs next to the TV those first two weeks and will probably have some experience with this song someday and not really know why ... he will just think, "where the hell have I heard this before????" :)



I have so many songs I could list. Lists that could go on and on ... especially for an audiophile like me. Maybe some day I will revisit this post and add some more "songs of my life."



What are your songs?

10 Things That Make Me Happy

My cousin's wife, Libby (http://thespringersdailygrind.blogspot.com/) "tagged" me in her blog, so, what the heck, I will use it as today's inspiration!

...10 Things that Make me Happy.

While I am sure some people will get all deep and poignant ... I am going to list those, as well as a few of the little things that get me through the days sometimes!

1. My little guys. They are insane. They are nuts. They make me want to run out of the house screaming, "HELP ME!" But, they are boys given to me by the good Lord in Heaven and I love them with every ounce of me.

2. My family. Even though my parents have been going through some emotional changes lately, we still get along great. I could not ask for a better mom or dad. My sisters are my friends for life and that, no matter what argument we might have, will never change.

3. My husband. He drives me insane. We have had our ups and downs. But in the end, he is another gift given to me and I cherish him.

4. My TV shows. House, 24, The Forgotten (my new favorite from this year) and My Boys. I cannot miss them and I am sad when each episode is done. Like they say, it is the little things.

5. Spin. I love, love, love, my Spin class. I hate getting UP for the class, but when I am there (and my fave instructor is teaching) I love the exhilarating feeling I get. I could cycle for hours ... sometimes. :)

6. Diet Dr Pepper. I have stated this before, I know. And yes, I know the NutraSweet sucks. But, seriously, I look forward to having a cold can of pop. It makes me feel happy. Period. Cancer be damned. LOL!

7. Summer. Do I have to say anything more??????

8. Reading. Magazines, chic lit, biographies. I love reading and wish I could do more of it; with 2 kids and a full time job, it only happens every once in a while.

9. Loud music. People are sometimes shocked to hear the things that I listen to. Sometimes, it is: the louder, the better. For some odd reason, sometimes, it calms me down. It is the only music that I can listen to when I work out - dance music and hip hop just make me want to bounce. Loud music wants me to rip the gym apart and then piece it back together again. (and, oh yea, is it bad that Big J loves loud music too?!?!?!)

10. God. Without Him it all is meaningless.

OK ... I guess I can tag a couple ....

http://www.misguidedmommy.com/

http://interrupteddaydream.blogspot.com/

It's beginning to feel like Christmas

As I sit here drinking a glass of port, listening to Johnny Mathis sing "Silver Bells," and wrap the umpteenth present of the evening ... I thought, "it is actually starting to feel like Christmas."

Was it the port? No, I am sure it helped ... a lot, but it wasn't that. Was it the wrapping and bows and ribbons? Nope. Definitely "Christmasy," but it wasn't the topper. It was Johnny's way of singing about the bells ringing and children playing and blah, blah, blah, that suddenly made it all about Christmas.

There are something that I cannot do without at Christmas .. some new, and some old.

It is not Christmas until I hear the Salsoul Orchestra Christmas album (OK, did I totally just age myself by saying "album?"), never heard of it? OMG! Total classic, and it makes me think of my Mom cleaning the house every time I listen to it (as does Neil Diamond, but I digress). Other "musts" in the music department include, Johnny Mathis, Harry Simeone Chorale, Manheim Steamroller, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (this is our family mainstay, the boys love it and I am taking Big J to their concert on the 26th).

It isn't Christmas until I watch Charlie Brown (now, I must watch it on DVD, as TV destroys it every year by adding more and more commercials and cutting parts of the beloved show), White Christmas (sing it with me now, "snow, snow, snow!), A Christmas Carol with Alastir Sim (my fave), It's a Wonderful Life (another I have to have on DVD ... no commercials; and it makes me cry every time, still), A Pocketful of Miracles (another must see if you haven't, Glen Ford and Bette Davis, a small spin on My Fair Lady. It was one of my Dad's favorites and now I am addicted), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (thank God I have children now!) and A Holiday Affair.

It isn't Christmas until I eat a cut-out sugar cookie slathered with homemade frosting and dingo dots (that is what we call 'em and I am sticking to it!), my Mom's cherry cheesecake, spice drops - red and green, egg nog (not the real stuff, but the lite version you buy in the refrigerated section at the store), and my latest favorite, from Starbucks, a venti non-fat peppermint white chocolate mocha (OMG - so effing good!).

It isn't Christmas until I sit on my couch with quiet Christmas music playing, the lights are out and all I see are the lights from the Christmas tree. I am 35 years old and the magic never wears away from that.

Now that I am Mommy, it isn't Christmas until I have wrapped the last present and remembered the "last little something" to throw in their stockings.

And truly, it isn't Christmas until I go to Mass ... it doesn't have to be Midnight or daybreak, just Mass on Christmas ... it is one of the most beautiful things a person can experience. Really ... try it.

What makes your Christmas? Anything I missed?