I Will Survive!

OK, Vh-1 Classic and their stupid Thanksgiving program is making me nutso. I think I prefer my own dysfunctional family to Dee Snider, Gloria Gaynor and Deborah Gibson! Have any of you seen this? Ms. Gibson had a neckline so low, Diana Krall was jealous!! I'm serious!! It was scary! Plus her lipstick was drawn on at least a half an inch above her actual lip!

The nice thing was they played a few good videos while it was on: The Damned's Shadow of Love (always good for a chuckle) and Wang Chung's Let's Go.

I've also come to a conclusion that some 60's music should only be listened to if you are on drugs. That has to be the only reason some people liked it. For instance Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man....uh...huh? What was that all about? Hey, maybe that explains Itchy Coo Park. Nah...nothing can explain Itchy Coo Park!

I'm a trifle sad, I had no further dreams about the Moody Blues last night. I was enjoying my nightly visits by the Jays. It was keeping me sane. Well maybe not sane, but at least amused.

I'm still on this blasted dial up connection as well. Which makes doing everything a bit obnoxious. Here's hoping it doesn't last more than the 2 more days they promised. I miss reading everyones blogs. :(

I'm even crankier than yesterday...but I'm still having those good dreams

I just want to thank Verizon for not getting our DSL line ready. How like them that is. This is the second time we've had to wait for our service to be ready! I hate Verizon...hate hate hate Verizon.

I have only 20 hours monthly to use for dial up! Eeeep! This is a huge problem. A huge huge problem. Which means you won't be seeing much of me around until this gets fixed. I'll be online long enough to rant about my netless misery and check email so my mail doesn't start bouncing.

GAH!

On a happy note, even cheap walmart sinus/allergy medicine produces good dreams. Yup, for three straight nights I was dreaming about the Moody Blues. Squeee! Pretty dreams of John Lodge! Justin was no where to be found. I wonder where he was hiding.

I can't figure out why John was fishing, or why he was trying to hook the raft I was on, but it was a cute dream. Hey, any dream with John Lodge or Justin Hayward in it is fine by me!

On a sad note: Today is the second anniversary of the death of George Harrison. I posted about him a few days ago, but I figured he deserved another mention. He was one of my first concubines and a musician I loved deared. His music brighted my days. There are many record shop employees that cringed when I came into their stores in the days prior to the release of Cloud 9. I pestered everyone for information on that one. The release date was pushed back at least 3 times. Thankfully the album was well worth the wait.

RIP

George Harrison

I still miss you

I'm tired sick and cranky...where are my moodies?

Long about 6 o'clock yesterday, we lost our internet connection. Thank you Earthlink, thank you very much. We are on limited dial up at the present time, until they get the situation fixed. They don't know when that will be.

It's like having life support pulled from you, I tell you. I'm internet dependant. I need a 12 step program!

So I'll be online for very small amounts of time. Which leaves me with time for other things..like putting up the Christmas tree, burning the Christmas card mix, burning some presents for a few online friends of mine, reading and possibly finishing up the first Christmas story about my moody men.

Oh and if you ever want to have wonderful dreams, take Tylenol Nightime Sinus...Oh the lovely things I saw in my sleep.

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Turkey Day

Just a few images to get you in the mood for the holiday. (or to giggle by..if you aren't American)





Oh and you should watch out for this bird!




Not a turkey..but rather pissed off that he might be considered a second choice for dinner!

Holiday Music Revisited

Here are the tracks for the Christmas Cards I'm sending out, you'll get one or both of these. (hee hee, depending on my love for you...and if you got an actual present)

Holiday Mix 2003 part 1

The Moody Blues - Don't Need a Reindeer
Michael Ball - When a Child is Born
Alison Moyet - The Coventry Carol
Captain Sensible - One Christmas Catalogue
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Sting - Gabriel's Message
Cheiftains and Elvis Costello - St Stephen's Day Murders
XTC - Thanks for Christmas
Jill Sobule - Merry Christmas From the Family
Rockapella - Carol of the Bells
The Monkees - Riu Chiu
Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas
Holly Cole - Christmas Time is Here
Cyndi Lauper - Winter Wonderland
The Kinks - Father Christmas
Squeeze - Christmas Day
Annie Haslam - O Holy Night
Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack - Making Christmas
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas
Madonna - Santa Baby
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
Erasure - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Paul Young - What Christmas Means to Me
The Moody Blues - What Child Is This?

Holiday Mix 2003 part 2

Ringo Starr - Dear Santa
Bing Crosby and David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy
George Harrison - Ding Dong
Jimmy Buffett - Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rhum
John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Sting - I Saw Three Ships
Enya - Silent Night
Rockapella - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
John Mellencamp - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Michael Ball - Happy New Year
Michael Crawford - Candlelight Carol
Ella Fitzgerald - What are You Doing New Year's Eve
The Moody Blues - The Spirit of Christmas
Pretenders - 2000 Miles
Cheap Trick - Come On Christmas
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Christmas All Over Again
Wendy and Carnie Wilson - Hey Santa!
Paul McCartney - Once Upon a Long Ago
Loreena McKennitt - The Bells Of Christmas

I still need a few more tracks to complete the last one...

If you don't know where you're going any road will take you there

I didn't want to start to think about George Harrison yet. Saturday is the 2 year anniversary of his death. Things like that don't usually mean much to me. What are you supposed to do? Have a happy death day celebration?

The problem started last night when Vh-1 Classic played the video for Any Road. It's such a beautiful video, showing some highlights of George's career. I was crying through the whole video. Today was Tuesday Twoplay on Vh-1 Classic and they played This Is Love and When We Was Fab, two of the singles from Cloud 9. At least I didn't cry through them. Quite a plus if you ask me.

I still mourn this beautiful and talented man





I can't find the words to say how much I miss him.

Holiday Cleaning and Holiday Music

I'm helping out around the house today, getting things cleaned up for the invasion of the family on Thursday. I'm also setting up the wagers on who starts the big holiday blow up. You know when someone pitches a tizzy making the holiday more stressful for everyone involved!

I have to tell you, I'm so looking forward to that! HA!

I also just realized that I have to burn everyone's Christmas Card CDs pretty darn soon! Eeep! I can't burn as many as I had wanted to, so any of you that get them, know that I love ya! Cos a certain concert took all my funds. I'm probably only sending out 6 or so..as opposed to the 15 I had originally planned on sending out.

Such is the nature of having very little money.

I have two mixes prepared...cos I think different people will appreciate different songs better. The main mix does have 2 Moody Blues Tracks, Don't Need a Reindeer from the new album December...BUY IT! and What Child Is This from the 80's that was recorded for a compilation.

The 2nd mix has the lovely John Lodge classic, The Spirit of Christmas that is also the title of my new holiday fanfic. Both CDS are ecclectic with artists ranging from Michael Crawford to the Damned's Captain Sensible, with a few other surprises thrown in as well.

I'll post the tracklists for both later today, after the great cleanup is finished.

My Musical Wish List

There are way too many CDs that I need right now. None of which I can get either until next month. I hate the situation I'm in. I hate not knowing what to do next. There's just so much I want to acquire and well this holiday is going to be tight money wise.

I promise I won't put a make a donation thing on the blog. Have you seen those? My god that's tacky! Please send me money!! It's so all about wrong that people have the audacity to do something like that. That some people might even be stupid enough to give them a donation freaks me out.

Eeep...I just interrupted my topic, which is more amusing. I was looking at my Wish List from Half.com and I realized how lazy I had been in buying the solo works of the Beatles. Half of Paul McCartney's solo catalog is there, as well as the discs with Wings. I'm still missing a few Harrison CDs as well.

On a happy note, I have completed the main portion of the Moody Blues collection.

Squeeeeeeee

Now all that's left is to someday hunt down the solo material by Ray Thomas, Graeme Edge and Mike Pinder. (Not too much of a Pinder fan myself so his efforts are last on the list) I already own all of Justin's solo albums..and John Lodge's Natural Avenue.

A note about John's one solo album. It's a bit odd, but in a good way. Which is kinda like John actually. Someone said it sounded disco-y, but I think they are wrong, it went on a lighter glam front. The song Street Cafe, which I adore, sounds like something Bowie would have written, only with a Harrison-like guitar part.

I do need to pick up the Gaia album, just to have Justin's On the Road on an actual CD. Plus it's supposed to be a beautiful album all around.

Back to the newer music front though. There's the Beatles - Let It Be Naked, Cyndi Lauper - At Last, Matchbox Twenty's EP, Madonna's new remix album, Delerium - Karma, Annie Haslam - An Enchanted Evening oh and the Club Bowie CD.

Here's hoping the family is kind to me this Christmas...

The best link ever

You really want to click this link.

You'll thank me for it in the end.

And after you thank me, thank Lesley for showing it to me.

10 Things I Hate

I'm leaving out the obvious things here, cos well..if you don't know by now that I don't like Diana Krall, Marie Hayward and Bridget Fonda...well I don't know what to say.

10. Authors and wannabe writers that use the same plot until it's beaten into the ground.

09. Formulated pop music. The reason why top 40 is crap and sounds the same. One day I'm going to hear something new on the radio and it's going to sound good. Yeah right!

08. People that don't understand away messages on IM or AIM. If I have a status message up that says I'm working on a story and you aren't someone I chat with on a regular basis,(Cheryl, Linda, Lesley,) or are a family member, leave me alone, I'm trying to do something.

07. People that have pissed me off and continuously aggravate me afterwards. If I stop visiting your blog, responding to your posts or emails, that means I'm not speaking to you. I deal with anger my way, you deal with it your way...unless it involves bugging the shit out of me...in which case...you'll only piss me off further.

06. The networks and cable stations moving my shows around so I have no clue when anything is on. I missed a week of BBC Coupling because of this..and it was a series 2 epi that I haven't seen! Grrrrrrr

05. Concert reviews. God how I hate them. Nearly all live performances are flawed. Concert reviews are useless, you either liked the show or you didn't. There really isn't anything in between.

04. Stupid idiotic journalists. Did you feel this one coming? I hate the morons that can't come up with an intelligent question for Justin, John, Elvis Costello, Duran Duran...etc. These are the people that annoy the hell out of me when I read magazines and newspapers.

03. People with piss poor communication skills. You know the kind that leave you in the dark about things for months and then expect you to be at their beck and call when they decide to pop back into your life.

02. Ticketmaster and any other outlet for concert tickets. I could be first in line for seats and still end up in such a place that I couldn't snap one blasted picture.

01. The people that follow bands around on all their tours, get good seats every damn time (ie: the first 3 rows) and take pictures. Oh wait..and when they take pictures they put their name through the middle of them, so the rest of the world can't enjoy the good fortune they had 30 times.

I feel much better now? How about you?

Question

Do we ever get an answer?

NO!

Does anyone ever ask the right questions?

NO!

I always marvel at the stupidity of the journalists that interview rock stars etc. They ask the same mindless set of questions over and over. It becomes robotic and I don't even want to read the interviews anymore.

Does everything have to be so predictable? This goes for talk shows too. They have the same set of 10 questions...that they ask ever damn time. They just modify them a bit for each performer.

I'm really sick of hearing Mr. Hayward tell the story of how the song Question was written. It bores me to no end. It was cute the first 5 times. Honestly, in the 40 years these guys have been in music, you could think of something more intelligent to ask them.

This goes for Mr. Costello as well. Only the questions asked him aren't about the music right now. GAH!

Yes I know he's getting married in January.

I'm happy for him...

Exceedingly happy for him.

(Look I'm doing a dance even...for his own happiness)

Oops..I probably should toss aside the Diana Krall voodoo doll I was stepping on, eh?

Still, I wish that someone out there would sit down and actually think about what to ask these guys. (And all the rest) Wouldn't it be great to read an interview that told you something.

I have any number of questions that would make a good Moody interview.

They have 40 years of musical experience to their credit!

40 years!

And people are still asking Justin about Question and EC has nearly 30...and they still want to know who the hell Allison is..and title the interviews..His Aim is True.

GAH!

Talk about mindless crap.

Time flies...

I waited for months and months for the 3 hours I spent in Youngstown OH last Sunday.

Last Sunday.

::sigh::

It's over.

It's not coming back.

They don't need a reindeer.

SOB!

Excuse me, while I ponder how the good things in life equal about a day and a half of my year and the bad things...well they get the rest.

Sure in the past 15 months I've had some great episodes with greatness, but the crap that followed really put a damper on them.

The Improv All Stars - Jeff and Chip (Two weeks after the worst employment fiasco of my life)

Elvis Costello - 3 days later I got the job at PRC working for the Expanets account. The job that nearly took all my sanity.

Eddie Izzard - The strange secretarial job that almost prevented me from seeing Eddie! ARGH! Thank god that didn't happen.

The Jays (Justin and John) - Yesterday the amazing disappearing boss resurfaces after a month of no communication.

Brad Sherwood was the only person that didn't have a nasty event following my meeting him.

I think I'll hang around Brad...he's apparently the safest..

Friday Five


A rather amusing Friday Five, so I thought I'd post it. Let the hilarity ensue.

1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year.

Reach 150 pages on Man Out of Time
Have a normal job again
Actually mail the Christmas Card CDs I've been jabbering on about
Write 2 Christmas Fanfics about the Jays of the Moody Blues
Own one CD by the Damned

2. List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again.

Joanne
Gail
Tina
Sandra
Deirdre

3. List five things you'd like to learn how to do.

Sing properly
Microsoft Office you know Excell, PowerPoint, Access
Drive a Stick
Cook
Save money

4. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit).

Attend all the Moody Blues concerts in the US..and maybe the UK
Get those blasted Credit Cards paid off
Buy a new computer
Can you say Mini Cooper?
Vegetate happily on my non Moody Blues days

5. List five things you do that help you relax.

Listen to Music (Moody Blues, Annie Haslam, Elvis Costello, Erasure)
Writing (soothes the savage beastie)
Walking
Watch a dvd or the telly
Go through the pictures on my hard drive....Mmmm Justin

Mr. Costello..kindly leave my subscious

Damn and blast I had the oddest dream about Elvis Costello and his "cyst." last night. It was beyond weird. He was sitting out at the picnic table in our front yard with the blonde one...Why? I do not know.

I was in my room sulking and making my ususal remarks about his choice of female company. My mother forced me to go outside and speak to them. Adding the very momlike - Be Nice.

But mom...I don't want to be nice to "the cyst," she's marrying a manwhore of mine...One that up until these past few months was very high on the manwhore list.

Needless to say, as the subconcious is Catholic and is full of things to make you feel guilty, I learned in the dream that "the cyst" was a very nice woman. The whole family agreed. I was pleased that my dream made her more physically unappealing than I find her. Well thank you subconcious for that little thing.

Now the question is, What was this all about? and Should I put the kettle on and expect company?

Me Me Me Me

I have a fotolog, everyone go look!

I'm adding my alloted one picture a day. Starting with all my brushes with greatness. So far there are pictures of me with Eddie Izzard, Elvis Costello and those 2 blokes I constantly mention. There's also a photo shop project I did awhile back saved there.

So go look. It also has a guestbook where you can comment on the photos, which is kinda cool. I'm going to scan in some more of my Improv All Stars shots and see if I can get them posted there in the next few days.

It's the little things in life that keep me amused.

What Elvis Am I?

Saw this at Ali's Blog. So I had to do it!

My Results?


You are Legendary Elvis!


Which Elvis Costello Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

A Little Survey to Change the Subject

Here's todays Seven

01. Have you ever had a surprise party?
No, I absolutely hate parties. I prefer to have a dinner or what not with one or two friends or family.

02. What makes someone lame?
Do you have a few hours, I can make a list...
Just a rundown...
People that live and breathe one thing...and refuse to experience anything else life has to offer
People who believe that Britney, Christina, and Celine Dion have talent...(Ok..perhaps not lame...just musically challenged)
People that refuse to look beyond outward appearances


03. What do adults do that you will never do?

Put aside my obsession for music to work 40 hours and not enjoy the sounds of the bands I love.

04. What do children/teens do that you would have never done?

Show my belly to the world. No one ever ever wants to see that?

05. Forever young...do you want to be forever young?

Only if the vampire that bites me looks like Justin Hayward or John Lodge! OK OK or Elvis Costello..or Danny Elfman...Geeze..I do like some other men ya know!

06. Do you really want to live forever?

Not if this Alphaville song is going to remain stuck in my head! The truthful answer, No!

07. What could make you so happy right now that you would cry and laugh and sing?

Do you really have to ask that? Cos I got part of that wish on Sunday night..Let's just say this:



could make all of that possible.

And here I was trying to avoid mentioning my Moody Men today.

A Thing of Beauty

Just found out why he was scratching his nose...The poor baby had a cold!

Everyone let out a resounding awwwwwwwwwww





That's my man Justin....leaving the Powers Auditorium Sunday night.

So what happens now?

For all the bad luck I seem to have in other areas of my life, I do have some good. This past year especially. What I want to know is this, why are the good moments so fleeting and the shoddy ones so long?

What's next? I mean, I've been hugged by John Lodge and Justin Hayward called me darling. Can anything wonderful happen after this? Who's left? Will I get to see these guys again?

There are very few bands that I have wanted to see more than once. Perhaps a better way to say it would be, there aren't many bands that I want to see over and over again. The Moody Blues are definitely one of those bands. I don't care that the setlist doesn't change much, I don't care that the shows are on average about an hour and a half long. I just want to see the Jays.

The Monkees are another band that I loved seeing live. I've seen them four times in the past 20 years. Eeep! The last show was at a ribfest about 2 years ago. I was right in front of the stage. Truly a wonderful experience.

As to the rest, Duran Duran I could stand to see at least one more time with the original line up. They aren't as high priority anymore. I'd love to see Cheap Trick again, in a small venue like I did the last time. I even have Rick Nielson's guitar pick to prove I was there!!

I'm not sure about Costello right now. I think I'd rather wait and see if he gets North out of his system. Though from the bootlegs I've heard he's not too mellow on stage. Thank God!

I think I'm going to stare at that picture of Justin some more. It's keeping me sane (or perhaps..delightfully insane) these days.

Coming Down Off the Cloud

I don't even want to post. To post will push those two fabulous pictures down and then away. I just want to stare at them and recapture the few precious moments again and again.

I still can't believe how incredibly blue, Justin's eyes are, and how handsome John is in person. Pictures, including this one, don't do the man justice.

Now I have to deal with the coming down part. It's over. The moment is gone. It can't come back. Reliving it doesn't do much good, as I'm finding out. (however much I want to stare at them and think of John Lodge with his warm loving arms around me)

::sigh::

I want to go to Philly and see them again!!!!

OK, that was childish. I have neither the money or the vehicle for that. I spent every last extra cent on this show.

Was it worth it?

It was worth every cent of it and then some. Just for those two pictures alone. The music is the "and then some." I've never heard a band sound so good and I've seen many concerts. (McCartney, Clapton, Costello etc) This was one show that couldn't disappoint. I wish everyone had the chance to hear the perfection of this last Sunday evening.

::sigh::

To see Justin throw his head back in that special ecstasy that he gets from playing. To see John Lodge turn around in his tight black leather pants. To see Graeme Edge do the funky chicken and riverdance..and shake his tushie! Totally incredible!

But more than that....to hear Justin sing Nights in White Satin live...and know that nothing on record sounds as beautiful as that. Angels had to be looking down in jealousy while he was singing that song. (A song was not always fond of)

I want to close my eyes and hear the songs again and again.

Justin and John...bring my heart back safely.....

He smiled for me...and just me

In Case You Don't believe Me

This would be proof that I met Mr. Lodge.

You Can't Review Perfection

There is nothing I can say about last night's concert that would in anyway do justice to the wonderful performance I was lucky enough to see.

The setlist was exquisite. I wouldn't want them to change a thing, and that goes for See Saw as the encore. They did four tracks from the new December CD, including my very favorite, Don't Need a Reindeer. I couldn't even pick a highlight of the show, everything was so incredible. There wasn't one flaw to the performance given by these fine musicians. They gave their energy and enthusiam to everyone there.

The guys looked great and everyone had a wonderful time. I never met so many sweet people in my life. Moodiegirl from the Higher and Higher Board was one of the nicest fans I've had the opportunity to meet. Everyone was wonderful.

John Lodge is the kindest, sweetest man I've ever had the good fortune of meeting. I will cherish the feeling of his very warm arms around me for the rest of my life. It made the day so much more special.

Justin was a sweetie as well, but he's more wary around fans. He did call me darling and he flashed that beautiful smile of his in my direction, so that I could snap a picture.

The Jays, two of the finest, men in the business. They are men that know their craft well. For those 2 hours, I was a part of the magic. I hope I can capture it again someday.

I did forget someone, Graeme. I want to thank him for the laughs during Higher and Higher. It's so wonderful to watch and listen to people that are enjoying themselves, and he sure was during that song.

I don't think there is much else I can say. I don't really believe I'll ever have an experience like that again. I only know this. Those guys don't need Merlin to cast a spell, they do it fine on their own.

This is one Hayho, who'll keep the faith

Curse Blogrolling

Someone tampered with blogrolling last night and all my links to my favorite blogs vanished. So if you don't see your link on the side, shout out so I can add you back. I tried to get as many back that I could. Thank god for the shout outs and chatterbox, or I'd have lost all.

Squeeeee Again

Just a short entry for now to say. I met John Lodge of the Moody Blues and I can die a happy girl. I have to take the car back and get the pictures developed. Then I'll give a more complete description of the show. Perhaps I'll even be calm enough to type it then.

I doubt it though. I still have a zillion and one squees left before I return to normal. If the picture of my sister and I squeeing with John Lodge's arms around us turns out, it will be posted here.

Until then, I must return to my Moody coma for awhile.

~One last thing. Elvis Costello? Who's he?

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

OMG, OMG! I'm going to see the Moody Blues today! Finally after 17 years, the stars are in the proper alignment and I like the band and they are touring! This has been long in coming I tell you.

Words cannot express how excited I am. So I won't say anymore..

I'll just post a picture

Why am I so nervous? Please explain to me

In just a few hours, 2.5 to be exact, I'll be getting the rental car for my trip to OH. I'm trying to mentally calculate the things I need to be doing.

So far this is what's been accomplished.

1. The dress has been selected. I'm probably going to be the best dressed female at the show. Unless of course it remains cold, then I will be uniquely dressed.

2. Reindeer antlers are ready to go. Justin says he "Don't Need a Reindeer." Well, we'll see about that.

3. Directions are printed. This should have been higher on the list, but woot, it's done.

4. I've burned more than enough music for the journey. Oddly I didn't make a Moody Blues mix. That's kinda wrong. I may have to do that today, just for the helluva it.

Now you might ask, "What the hell do you need to do today then?"

1. Buy contact lens solution. I'll be wearing those for 14 hours or more tomorrow
2. Buy two Christmas cards, 1 to put the floppy disc for Justin in and the other for John. I'm really getting my hopes up for nothing you know. There's no way in hell I'll meet these guys.
3. Find directions to the IHOP in Youngstown. After concert numnums are necessary.

Of course I could add...for the hilarity factor alone...

~ Find Justin Hayward and make him fall madly in love with me.

Don't worry I can wait until you finish laughing....

Are you done yet?

(taps foot)

Come on...it's not that funny!

(Ok...maybe a little funny)

Enough!

Ah, now back to the making of mix cds for the next hour or two.

Roadtrip Music....and other fun things

As the day approaches for me to see my Justiny Poo and company, I'm trying to get some tunes ready to take with me on the road. So far I've gone through all the lists of mixes I've made over the past few months and burned some of them.

I've made artwork for all of them too.

So I've been kind of busy.

Which CDs did I burn? I burned myself a copy of the Quintessential Burn mix, (the 2 cd set), My Freaky Favorites (from my sad little CD Swap), reburned my Sultry Mix now called In the Mood, and I'm redoing the Decade of Song for the 60's at the moment.

I'm going to be burning the Burn it - Summer Mix again...cos I found artwork I printed for mine, that I never made today. Woot! One less thing I have to print!

Oh and since I haven't said this yet, Sunday is the Moody Blues concert!!!

(spins and dances in excitement)

Can one person be this happy? Not often!

The Thing That Disgusts Me Most

Things were going so well today. The Moody Blues show is fastly approaching. I'm working on Man Out of Time again. Life should be good...But NO!

I was hunting down pictures for my 80's Yahoo group, for a friend there that's helped keep the dwindling baby alive, when I came across this:





So I doubt anyone here is asking: What are you annoyed by Andrea? I can't imagine..it's such a lovely picture of Elvis Costello.

Yeh verily it tis a lovely picture of him.

Now if only someone would convince Miss Piggy on his arm there, to put on a gosh darn bra! I would be a tad bit less nauseated looking at her. No I lie, even a bra wouldn't make it any easier for me. Perhaps a bag over her head? Yes, I think that would work...a nice bag!

And for those of you thinking...What a wench...she doesn't like Diana "Princess of Pork" Krall, because she's marrying Elvis Costello...well, you're partially right. That's one of the reasons I don't like her...The other reason is, I've heard her sing. Ewww! An Ella Fitzgerald she is not. Plus she covered a Beatles song, and essentially killed it. Stabbed it to death with her voice and then crushed it to the ground with her pointy shoe. "Take that my pretty little song" she must have said.

GAH!

Two things you should never do if you want to stay in my good graces..kill a Beatles song and marry one of my manwhores.

In Praise of ABBA

The next time I decide to go to the Costello Message Board, will someone please stop me?I go there, it seems, to raise my blood pressure. I can't think of any other reason. It leads me to continue on with my rant that I started this morning. You know, how everyone's musical taste is different.

Step away from the keyboard, Andrea....step away!

It took me 2 hours to write that entry, because I was so angry that someone was dissing my Elvis! My Elvis was being dissed!!! Grrrrr. It was written that he sang through his throat. No..actually he sings through his teeth. It's that gap between his front teeth that gives him that odd (yet appealing) sound to his voice.

So as you might have guessed, someone on the above mentioned board has dissed ABBA. I am saddened by this. Not angry as I was when Mr. Costello was dissed, just saddened.

I really think that people should listen to their music and realize, ABBA didn't really do disco music. They did Pop music. Pop music that was still worth listening to. Sure there were some really cheesy songs, but even the Beatles had some of those.

What I love about the Costello Board...is how pretenious they are..How many times have I said this? Costello is God but this sucks..and that sucks..and we must read deep thoughtful novels...etc..for we are deep thoughtful people.

UH? People? Hello...Your deep thoughtful God listens to Destiny's Child! Crikey..and they complain about ABBA!

So now I want to say this for ABBA...Benny and Bjorn are fine songwriters. They write catchy tunes that stick in your head forever once you hear them. Agentha and Frida had lovely voices.

And while I'm on the subject of Agentha...the song The Angels Cry written by my Justiny Poo, was written for her. Justin...try a brunette sometime would ya! (shakes head sadly) So see the ABBA chicks aren't that bad if my Justin writes them songs. (OK, my Justin is a daft romantic sometimes..but I still lurve him)

Anywho....There is nothing wrong with ABBA. They were a great pop band from a decade that had very little good pop music...but a lot of different music. One could do a lot worse then listening to ABBA..

Oh and by the way..Because EC thinks they are cool.."THEY ARE"

why?

BECAUSE EC IS GOD! (well to some of you...and I don't mean Clapton)

wanders sheepishly off..after using other people's words against them..

I feel suddenly smug.

Dr. Diana Princess of Pork?

Apparently they give out honorary doctorates to anyone these days...even Krallomort.

PAH!

While Mr. Costello sits back proudly and watches.

I wonder how long before the "Star is Born" syndrome hits the Damnable Declan. He has a miserable track record with women to begin with. It's going to be fun to see how long this marriage lasts when it's obvious that his hunny is far more successful in music than he is. (That in itself is an atrocity)

Anyone want to wager on the length of this marriage?

Don't Make Me Think - A musical musing

After a night of power outages and snow fall, I'm not in the mood to be deep and thoughtful. Wait! I'm never deep and thoughtful. At least not here. Still, I don't want to think yet this morning. Unfortunately that idea has been compromised..

I was reading through my list of blogs on the roll this morning and I came up with an entry at Emily's blog that made me think, growl and subsequently storm from the computer.

What was the topic that got me fired up this morning?

Musical artists that I wanted to like but couldn't...

I probably wouldn't be ranting if one person...One single ,solitary individual hadn't been on the list. Yeah you guessed it, Elvis Costello.

So I got to thinking about Elvis. Cos I haven't done that in a very long time, at least in a non-I'd like to throttle you for engaging yourself to that Princess of Pork way.

He does have an odd-acquired taste voice.

Drat...I got fired up for nothing. I had a giggle at the bands and artists listed. I especially liked the part about the goth guys trying to sound like Peter Murphy. Which proves that even in more indie forms of music, that people try to conform to something that is successful in hopes that they too will be successful. Which is why all of Top 40 sounds exactly the same.

So it all ends up to, no two people will have the same taste in music. Which is why musical arguements are the most fun. Just say someone's favorite artist is shite or you don't like them and watch what happens. Madness and mayhem ensue.

I dare you to tell my sister that the Scorpions suck! And while you are doing that, I'll leave the country so I don't have to hear the ear piercing screams that will be coming from her mouth..plus I don't want to get blood on my new outfit.

The most fun part in arguing music is listening to how pertentious and arrogant people get about their favorite bands. (Sticks nose up in the air...Mssrs Hayward and Lodge are far superior to all other songwriters....then after you finish laughing you can finish reading this rant)

I want to say this right now. I don't want the Moody Blues to be everyone's favorite band. Thankfully at this stage in their career, I won't have to worry about that. I tend to prefer the underdog. I like enjoying the music that people don't usually like.

My Costello underdog would be Punch the Clock. I love that disc. I also like Goodbye Cruel World...mind you, the Daryl Hall track is a bit much...but there's Inch By Inch to consider and I Wanna Be Loved! Ah...now where is that damn cd.

Really..it's true, go to any message board and you'll see that. You'll also find at least one fan that feels the band could be something more. That they should be doing something differently so that they would have a number 1 album or a more successful album.

Oye, I can think of one guy on the Moody Blues Higher and Higher Board that I could throttle. He finds fault with everything. They don't promote themselves yada yada yada. It goes on and on.

I think once you start liking a band you feel like they belong to you and you would love to give your imput to their careers, but crikey, sometimes it gets to be a bit much. Though it does provide me with hours of entertainment and many long rants on this blog.

Which proves I'm just as bad as all the rest....Tee Hee..

Musicial Musings...courtesy of Tay

I love a good music survey..and Miss Tay made this one. Seemed like fun, so I'll share my answers with you.

1. Pick a song with "music" in the title :
"Music" - Madonna
2. Favorite Saturday Morning Theme Songs :
"Speed Racer" Cos I always liked that cartoon
3. Name a song that makes you think dirty thoughts :
"Deep" - The Moody Blues
5. Pick a song from 1985 :
"A View to a Kill" - Duran Duran
(If you can't think of any, try this
6. Pick a song from 1995 :
"Stay With Me" - Erasure
7. Give me a real depressing love song :
"Last Beat of My Heart" - Siouxsie and the Banshees
8. Your favorite new song :
"Stacy's Mom" - Fountains of Wayne
9. Most Likely to do a Strip Tease to this song :
"All That Jazz" Chicago Soundtrack
10. A song about Masterbation :
Turning Japanese - The Vapors (ya really think so)
11. Favorite New Wave Song :
"Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode
12. A song you love, but you no idea what it's about :
"New Amsterdam" Elvis Costello (Ok..I know a little of what its about)
13. A song you stole from a friend :
"Eloise" - The Damned
14. A song that make's you into a emotional wreck :
"On My Own" - Les Miserables
15. A song about "sleep" or "sleeping" :
"I'm Only Sleeping" - The Beatles
16. A Karkoke Don't :
"My Heart Will Go On" or any other Celine Dion atrocity
17. Name a Violent Femmes, other then "Blister in the Sun" :
"Add it Up"
18. A song with "feel" or "free" :
"I Wanna Be Free" the Monkees
19. Favorite song at age 14 :
"The Flame" - Cheap Trick
20. Song dedicated to an ex-friend/ex-lover :
"Unhappy Birthday" - The Smiths
21. A goth song :
"Cuts You Up" - Peter Murphy
22. A Christmas Song :
"Don't Need a Reindeer" - The Moody Blues
23. Give me your favorite sex song :
"Elevator Man" - Oingo Boingo
24. A song that tell's us something about ya :
"Paperback Writer" - the Beatles
25. Dance your ass off ...Make it danceable :
"The Sign" Ace of Base
26. Make you angry :
"Imagine" John Lennon
27. Name a very, long song :
"Change" Oingo Boingo
28. A song you hate, from your favorite artist/band :
All of the CD "North" except Still
29. 1st Mp3 ever downloaded :
"Elementary Physics" - Oingo Boingo
30. 1st Song ever Slow danced to :
~Have never slow danced...I'm so unloved
31. Add a song you think I would like :
"A Twist In My Sobriety" - Tanita Tikaram

Pondering Mr. Costello

Ah, it's been nearly 2 months since North came out, and the album still annoys me. His fans annoy me...even he is beginning to annoy me. If it weren't for pictures like the one posted a few days ago, I'd probably have tossed him aside.

Thank god for prettiness.

Yes, I am fickle. I fully admit to that. I haven't listened to a whole Costello CD in at least a month, and that was probably North. I tried so hard to like it. I know it's a good piece of work, but nope, I can't stand it. The songs I do like on it are the ones that aren't on the actual CD. OK..allow me to explain. The download only track North..though about Canada..and of course the Princess of Pork in a roundabout way..I'm sure..is my favorite track. The other two are bonus tracks on the European and Japanese versions of the CD; Impatience and Too Blue. Of the actual CD, Still is the only track I can stomach at intervals.

Up until this CD, there has never been a Costello CD that I have hated with this much passion. I'm so glad I have other musical interests to tide me over until his next record, which I hope will be a lot less boring to my musical palate.

And one last thing of annoyance, on a Costello related issue. I love how pompous and arrogant some of his fans are and how personally they take a bad review. I have this to say. North may be a great album, but it's not going to be an album that the average music fan falls in love with. I guess I'm average, because I can't like it.

Still, to each his own. I would rather listen to N'Sync over the new Costello CD. That my dear friends is how bad I hate North.

I Ordered My CD!

For any of you that know my wish lists lately, one CD has been very prominent on it. That would be this one



Finally, after months of looking, and thinking the official site wasn't selling it anymore, it became available. I could just do the happy dance right now.

Annie has one of those voices that just takes you away. I'm so glad that she recorded Justin Hayward's The Angels Cry. If she hadn't, I never would have learned to love her music.

I can't say this enough, if you like music that has that dreamy, ethereal, almost Celtic sound to it, you'll like Annie Haslam.

Merry Christmas To You

I just did the first part of the Christmas Mix. I may do two discs for people that I trade more mixes with..and use the one disc as the Christmas Card Mix. Why 2 mixes? I have so many seasonal songs now and I'd like to share them with my friends.

Here's Christmas 2003 Part 1

The Moody Blues - Don't Need a Reindeer
Michael Ball - When a Child Is Born
Alison Moyet - The Coventry Carol
Captain Sensible - One Christmas Catalouge
Boris Karloff - You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch
Sting - Gabriel's Message
Cheiftains w/Elvis Costello - St Stephen's Day Murders
XTC - Thanks for Christmas
Jill Sobule - Merry Christmas From the Family
Rockapella - Carol of the Bells
The Monkees - Riu Chiu
Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas
Holly Cole - Christmastime is Here
Cyndi Lauper - Winter Wonderland
The Kinks - Father Christmas
Squeeze - Christmas Day
Annie Haslam - O Holy Night
Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack - Making Christmas
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas
Madonna - Santa Baby
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
Erasure - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Paul Young - What Christmas Means To Me
The Moody Blues - What Child Is This?

Yes I used the Moody Blues twice...I could have used them many many more times, but I was nice. So there!

Love Eternal ~ Finis

For those of you that keep up with my stories in one way or another, I just wanted to post that Love Eternal was at long last finished. I started this one back in June, but so many things kept me from working on it.

Today, it's completed. It's 91 pages in length, the longest story thus far that I've written. (Not including Man Out of Time, which has been stripped down to only 54 pages)

If you'd like to read the story of Lord Hayward and Victoria, send me an email or shout out and I'll send you the completed story in word document form.

I feel very accomplished at the moment.

The Day is Approaching

I can't believe that the concert is this Sunday!! Oh mylanta! On Sunday I'm going to at last see Justin Hayward...up close...or as close as 11 rows center permits, and personal.

THUD!

The weather is turning cold, a good and a bad thing. It puts me more in mind for a Christmas concert, if they choose to do any of the songs from December, but it can make driving a bitch. Thank goodness I'm renting a car.

So far I have 3 dresses that are potentials for this concert. The weather will be the deciding factor on this dilemma. I plan to dress for the Moody Blues as I would for any show I'd see in a posh theatre. (Though dress 2 is more fun then the other 2)

I'm much too excited about this. When I get excited about things I'm ususally let down completely. With only one case, this is true.

The one case that it wasn't:




I would give almost anything to post a picture of me with one of the Jays next week at this time. I'm not getting my hopes up.

It's All In The Eyes

I just found this lovely picture today, and I had to share it with everyone. He may not be my number one concubine anymore, but he's still gorgeous. I wish Diana Princess of Pork to perdition, for her luck at nabbing him.



Personally, I wouldn't mind having one myself...if only he didn't cheat on his wife. Hmmm..perhaps the key would not be to marry him..but to be his bit on the side. Nice work if you can get it.

I Want My Erasure DVD!!

Pardon the outburst. I originally thought that the Hits DVD coming out tomorrow was just Pop plus the videos from the last few albums. I was wrong. It's a 2 dvd set that has all the videos from Pop + ABBA-esque as well as the newer ones. Squee. This means I'll have the video of Lay All Your Love On Me, when I buy it. (My Abba-esque video is dying)

For those of you that have never witnessed this video.


Andy Bell,




is wearing gold trousers. (tight gold trousers of the pleather variety) I don't care if the man is gay, he is a sight to behold. Such an adorable man and a voice that will knock your socks off.

I can't wait to get my copy now. I thought I'd wait, but I think I'm going to order my copy from cd universe today.

Oh and this just in: Amazon's free shipping plee is a crock of poo. They delay the shipping 3 to 5 days if you take advantage of that option. PAH! When I read that I declared that the only business they will get from me is when I purchase the Moody Blues Ballads collection. (That comes with the UK version of December as well) No bonus tracks though. These guys need to get with the program. The UK releases nay the European and Japanese releases are supposed to be an insult to the US releases.

I'm kinda glad the Moody Blues don't do that. I don't have to buy extra cds then.

Oh, if you aren't keeping track...5 more days til my Youngstown jaunt...And yes I realize that it looks like I'm going on Saturday...the concert is Sunday...Try to understand my warped reasoning..I've already ticked Monday from the calender.

I want my Moody Blues NOW!!





And yes that is my favorite recent picture of the Moody Blues.

6 Days and Counting

If you have to ask for what, you don't know me! Let the Moody Blues preparations begin.

Today or tomorrow will be the day of the hair. Yup..cut, style and color so I don't look like a hag for Justin and John (who aren't going to see me anyway)

After that will be the directions that need printing, as well as the hunt for the IHOP that's in the area! Must go to IHOP after the concert!

In other lovely news, Duran Duran are touring again. Sadly they will be in Cleveland this week. It was the Moody Blues or Duran Duran. What a sad choice to have to make. But I have seen Duran Duran twice...and the Moody Blues not at all. So the answer was obvious.

I never travel for concerts. It's a labor of love, this trip I'm making to Youngstown on Sunday, to see the Moody Blues. I'm not and have never been one for road trips. I just know that I might not have another chance to see them, and I'm taking it. I'm doing it in spite of all odds. I'm using up all my extra money, to rent a car, to get my souveneirs not to mention all the incidentals that come with making a trip like this.

So to my favorite band: The Moody Blues...I leave you with this message.

I love you...cos I wouldn't do this for Elvis Costello (Would not do it now at all), I wouldn't do this for Paul McCartney or David Bowie either. Come to think of it..There isn't another band that I'd travel more than the hour jaunt to Pittsburgh for, except of course the Moody Blues..

So be a bunch of dears, and sing Don't Need a Reindeer for me!

And if you have any questions as to what this girl wants for Christmas...

Here's a hint:

Tempted to Spit

I'm beginning to hate Best Buy with a passion. This will be the 7th time I've tried to buy something that was a new release and they didn't have it. GAH! I have a frequent shopper card for that store, and I can't buy a damn thing I want there because they don't have it...plus...and this is a biggie, they don't let you used that shopper card online!

Firstly, they never got in the last 3 Elvis Costello reissues. I had to buy Trust online, the other two that I couldn't wait for, I got at Borders.

Secondly, December...they have never friggin got in. The Century 3 store doesn't have one iota of Christmas music. Can I hear a Grrrr from the audience please!

Thirdly, they didn't have the new Duran Duran DVD. Grrrrrr. It just came out on Tuesday. (They also didn't have any of the 3 Moody Blues DVDs that are available. Not a damn one of them)

I wonder what the chances will be of them having the Erasure DVD this week. HA...slim to nil most likely. I guess Amazon will be getting my business again. How depressing!

Movies and Such

Why does the only movie I want to see have to be playing in the theartre I hate most on this earth? Love Actually, you know the film with all that lovely eye candy; Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, is playing at the Loews Theatre in the Waterfront. PAH!

I would rather walk on fire than go to the Waterfront. Seriously! And this is the only place in all of Pittsburgh showing that movie.

(Grumbles)

I need my eye candy to tide me over until next weekend's Moody Blues concert. You have no idea how excited I am about this. I'm going to see my Justiny Poo for the very first time!

I consider myself very lucky when it comes to concerts. I've had good seats for most of my favorites; Elvis Costello, Duran Duran, The Monkees etc. Thank God I was lucky for the Moody Blues. I was on the phone for over an hour trying to get seats. Can you imagine how delighted I was when they were 11th row seats rather than the peanut heaven seats I was expecting.

I'm going to actually "SEE" my Justin.

OK, back to the movie. I realize it's a crap love story sorta thing, but how can I pass up all the delightful eye candy? Really after watching this movie I'll have eye cavities! Only I don't think I'm going to see it. WAH!

I suppose I should make do and just go buy my Sarah McLaughlin CD as I should have on Tuesday and grab a bit of lunch. There's so much that has to be done by next Saturday.

My Moody Blues To Do List:

1. Burn CDS for the trip or make a few mix tapes
2. Decide which dress is going to be worn to the show. (Uh I have 3)
3. Find shoes that look appropriate with the chosen dress
4. Print out the map to the theatre
5. Look up places to eat on the web. (one cannot starve while journeying to the Moody Men)
6. Determine how much cash is needed for the show. Must have a t-shirt and a program at least!
7. Listen to December repeatedly to send vibes their way....cos I want to hear Don't Need a Reindeer live!

I'm sure there's more things I need to do.. Like practice my seductive look. (you know..in case I'd meet the Jays)

OK..OK..I'll stop dreaming now. Back to the grim reality.

We Interrupt This Moody Blues Moment To Bring You a Post of Musical Musings

I'm reburning and going through a lot of my mix CDS for my long journey to Youngstown next week. The first mix I'm reburning is the freaky favorites mix I did for my first sad pathetic CD swap back in May.

I swear my car thinks Mix CDs are treats to be eaten as quickly as possible. It's a good thing I save the Roxio files so that I can reburn them with ease. The next mixes to get refurbished will be the Decade of Song Mixes.

I fully intend on having some good tunes for my drive to OH next weekend. I'm even going through the mixes I've made for other people, to see if there's a mix worth making again from there.

My friend Katy's Silly Love Song mix is going to get reburned as is her Silly Songs mix. I wish I remembered a few more. I have the setlists for the b-day mixes I made for Erin and April as well. If I recall correctly those were great mixes too.

All this will probably be for naught, when I go to pick up the rental car I'm taking to OH. It will probably have a tape player only and I'll have to scramble to make a mix tape. The first I'll have made in over 3 years.

Still like the Girl Scout I once was, I'm always prepared. I'm making the CDs, and I have 3 blank cassettes waiting.

I know so many of you make mixes. So I'm going to leave you with a question that you can answer here or at your blog. What was on your favorite mix?

Having Another Moody Blues Moment

Forgive me for using this band as a neverending topic here, but I can't help it! There's only a week til Youngstown!! Finally, after nearly twenty years of on and off liking of this band, I'm finally going to see them in concert!!!

Does the 11th row happy dance! Also prays to the camera god that I can get a few good pictures of the blonde adonis that sings Nights In White Satin.

Praise Hayward!

I think I'm more excited for this concert than I was for Mr. Costello last year. (and there's a better chance of meeting EC after a show than there is the Moody Blues) How can I not be excited though? These guys are truly lovely. Their music has been the inspiration to me for months now. They have managed to pull me out of the Man Out of Time writing funk.

OK, it's not really so much the Moody Blues as it is one man; Justin Hayward. I'm trying to think of a blonde man who has sent me into such a tizzy. I think it might have been Geriant Wyn Davies from Forever Knight, but that was so long ago I can't remember.

Then again, it doesn't matter why. All that matters is, this man is ideal. (at least to me and a handful of others)

The Moody Blues Put the "P" in Progressive Rock

If you are wondering how they did that, it's simple, they put the "pretty" in progressive rock. Goodness knows someone had to.

Allow me to name some progressive rock bands for you.

Jethro Tull
Uriah Heap
Genesis
Pink Floyd
10cc

Not a pretty one amongst them. Peter Gabriel is probably the closest these bands get to pretty. (Not that pretty...but ok)

I also leave out the band Renaissance, cos Annie Haslam is quite pretty in her unique way. Have I mentioned that her music is exquisite and that anyone that like ethereal vocals should check out either her music with Renaissance or her solo material?

But back to the Moodies...Even in the 60's and 70's..they were such cutie pies...and such hams when they had to be.

For Example



I rest my case...The Moody Blues put the "P" in Progressive Rock

And control of my hard drive goes to

For the past 2 or 3 days, I've been trying to organize the images I have saved on my computer. Most of these images are of my lovely manwhores. There are a few shots of myself, but nothing to write home about. Wait, none of the photos of me are ever worth writing home about.

Anyway, I was setting up the folders for everyone and I started to wonder, who do I have the most pictures of on my hard drive. This isn't an accurate number right now, because all of the pictures haven't been put in their proper homes. Plus there are those 23 new pictures of Justin and John that I found last night. GAH...can't put them in their homes until they've been sent through to my Heartthrob Harem group once.

Again as it stands this is how the numbers break down.

Danny Elfman - 103 files (more on disc)
The Moody Blues - 104 files (This is of all the band or assorted pics)
Elvis Costello - 134 files (there are many more but not on the hard drive anymore)
John Lodge - 139 files
The Jays - 158 files (still many more not in the folder)
Justin Hayward - 766 and counting....plus a few zillion more on disc.

So guess who literally owns my hard drive?

Yup!

The Divine Mr. Hayward!

Miss Tay asks a Musical Question

I saw this topic on Tay's alter-blog, and decided that I should answer it too.

How often do you buy CDs? What pushes you the extra mile to go buy the CD as opposed to just burning it from someone?

Looking around my room I see a sea of CDs. Try saying that 5 times fast. Ha! I dare you.

Miss Tay has rules for buying CDs..the Music Whore does not. If the Music Whore had those, she would surely not be the Music Whore. The Music Whore buys CDs when the urge hits her...or on any given new release Tuesday..when something special hits the shelves.

I will admit to not buying as many CDs recently as I used to. It has nothing to do with downloading music either. There's not been a lot of great new music lately. At least not what the Music Whore wants to listen too.

Most of my purchases are bands and artists that I'm obsessed with. I will buy every single CD a band puts out, if I love them enough. So curses to Duran Duran, Erasure, Depeche Mode,Nick Lowe, Tanita Tikaram, Madonna, Sarah Brightman, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sting, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello (especially when I hate hate hate NORTH), and the Moody Blues (I had to stop somewhere, this list was getting way too long).

I will buy a CD from an artist I've not heard much from. It was song snippets that made be buy Caroline Lavelle's Spirit CD. I've never regretted it once. But very seldom will I buy something that I've only heard a song from. (Unless it's in a bargain bin)

As for where I purchase my CDs, BestBuy and Half.com are my two favorite stores. Best Buy is the cheapest place for CDs...online or in the store. Half.com is great for out of print or hard to find discs. I've got some great CDs there for low low prices. (Can you say Moody Blues Live at the Red Rocks Deluxe Edition for 10.98!)

For the most part, I don't burn CDs from someone. I have had some from kind souls that copied discs for me until I could purchase them. (And I do purchase them) To them I say a big THANK YOU!

Steph has I rule that I adhere to as well in regards to downloading. If you like it enough to download all of it, BUY IT!

The only time I'll download a whole album and not buy it, is when I can't. (meaning the album is out of print) I still don't have Annie Haslam's It Snows In Heaven Too. I want this CD so badly and I can find it nowhere; not half.com or a host of other used CD sites.

So for me to go that extra mile (more like a baby step) it has to be a band I really love or really want to acquire to my collection. (The Damned are not included in this..because dammit, I want Damned CDs..I just can't find em cheap enough)

So if you haven't guessed it, there isn't much that will stop me from buying a CD, except lack of funds

Did you doubt that I was an 80's music whore?

I hope not?

Final Score: 99

No one here gets out alive

It's a random act of posting again, because I feel like ranting for awhile. (And there's so much to rant about) The question now is where to begin?


~The Moody Blues - December: The single most elusive CD in the world at this time. I have my 2 copies. (with the 3rd from the UK coming at the end of the month) So far the major retailers don't have it in. Best Buy's Christmas music is trickling in slowly..and Wal-mart...PAH...should be shot for what they are selling. How can an album sell...if you can't find it to buy it!!


~Coupling DVD - Series 2 costs $27.99!!! GAH! I paid $19.99 for Series one...is the extra money for the scene of Mr. Coyle's naked backside? Granted it's worth it, but Jeezy Creezy....that's ridiculous!

~Coupling on BBC America - One question...when the hell is it on now? They've moved it a zillion times this fall, thanks to NBC's short lived clone. I have no idea what time it's on anymore and we're back to series 2 that I haven't seen quite yet. (I started watching at the Jane and the Truth Snake epi)

~11 Days to the Moody Blues!! And I'm still a fat ugly cow...if Justin or John saw me...oh how they would run.

~Why is it the one thing you want to wear, that is in eye shot every other day of the week, takes missing when you finally decide to wear it?

~Finishing stories is not easy. I have a 11 day deadline to finish Love Eternal. Wish me luck.

Burn It - Free For Fall Mix

Well I finally have the setlist completed. I'm going to be burning the discs for all the members of my group tonight, and hopefully work on the artwork as well. I wish I could really do some fancy artwork, but I'm just not that artistic when it comes to photo editing software.

As I've said before, I'm doing a Winter Theme for this swap. It's not quite Christmas-y but it can be. After I finish this..I'll be working on my Christmas CD Cards...Ah...who will be receiving the Music Whore's Christmas Mix! Only the lucky will know!

Until then...here's the "Music Whore's Frosty Winter Mix"

Danny Elfman - Edward Scissorhands Theme
David Essex - A Winter's Tale
Annie Lennox - Put A Little Love In Your Heart
Harry Connick Jr. - Sleigh Ride
Annie Haslam - It Snows In Heaven Too
The Moody Blues - December Snow
Siddal - In the Bleak Midwinter
Holly Cole w/the Barenaked Ladies - Baby It's Cold Outside
Loreena McKennitt - Snow
Elvis Costello - North
Sarah McLaughlin and Jewel - Song for a Winter's Night
Michael Ball - River
Bette Midler - From a Distance
Sarah Brightman - Winter Light
Enya - The Celts
Justin Hayward & John Lodge - Nights Winters Years
Tori Amos - Winter
Nick Lowe - Freezing

I think it's a very pretty mix, good for curling up with a good book and cup of tea or hot chocolate.

To Love Another Person Is to See the Face of God

I watched the concert of Les Miserables from Royal Albert Hall on VHS last night. I bought it a few years back and never got around to watching it completely until last night.

It helped me move along with reading the book. I'm determined to get through the book in a week. (Believe it or not I'm about 200 pages into it now) Of course listening to the lovely Michael Ball sing definitely helps. He played Marius Pontmercy in the London Cast. The man has a spectacular voice. He's also a cutie pie...



Isn't he darling? He has the most incredible voice. I don't think I would have ever gotten around to reading the book or listening to him again if it weren't for the Moody Blues. Michael Ball did a Christmas album a few years back, and some of his song choices were recorded by the Moody Blues on December.

It was the domino effect, I tell you.

When in doubt these days I blame two things.

1. The Moody Blues - For being so damn wonderful, and introducing me to the musical Jekyll and Hyde..and songbird...Annie Haslam

2. Elvis Costello - For putting out an album that's almost completely turned me off his music. GAH! I hate North...I hate North...I hate North.

Random Question...

Have you never been mellow?

Mr. Costello has been...I wish he'd stop! Someone piss him off please, so he can go back to his normal snarky, cranky self. Oh yeah, and tell him his fiancee or wife or whatever the Princess of Pork is these days...that she was beat with an ugly stick..and if he'd raise his eyes from her cleavage for a few minutes he might see that.

This Diana Krall rant has been brought to you by The Music Whore...hating the wives and girlfriends of her concubines for nearly 30 years

The Music Whore's Christmas Music...

Oh goodness, where has the time gone. It's almost time to start making the Christmas mix...that I use as Christmas cards.

So I decided today to examine the Christmas music I have on CD in preparation for my mix. (Those I truly love may get a double CD addition)

Jimmy Buffett - Christmas Island (on CDR that my brother copied for me)
Michael Ball - Christmas
Michael Crawford - A Christmas Album
David Foster - The Christmas Album
Ringo Starr - I Wanna Be Santa Claus
Harry Connick Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas

Hmmmm did I forget something?

Oh yeah....

The Moody Blues - December

Not to worry...I also have the albums where Wonderful Christmastime can be found and Harrison's Ding Dong...(Great New Year's song) I also have the first Moody Blues Christmas song...on mp3...which was What Child Is This?

I plan to make this the most creative Christmas CD Card ever!!

I'm also doing a Winter Themed Mix for the Free for Fall Burn It over at the Neurotic Fishbowl.

Here are the tracks I've come up with so far.

David Essex - A Winter's Tale
Annie Lennox - Put a Little Love In Your Heart
Harry Connick Jr - Sleigh Ride
Annie Haslam - It Snows in Heaven Too
Moody Blues - December Snow
Siddal - In the Bleak Midwinter
Holly Cole w/Barenaked Ladys - Baby It's Cold Outside
Loreena McKennitt - Snow
Elvis Costello - North (just because he sings the word Moose)
Sarah McLaughlin and Jewel - Song for a Winters Night
Michael Ball - River
Bette Midler - From a Distance
Enya - The Celts

I still need a few more tracks I think...any ideas?

They let the strangest people out on Halloween

ARGH!

Who the hell are these two weirdos?





Oh hell...that's my sister and me....

Scary isn't it?

Editors note: The Music Whore is the devilish one.....

2nd Time Round

I blame all of this on the Moody Blues. Since my love for them was renewed I've been interested in hearing some different things. I've renewed my love for musical theatre and for more ethereal sounding music.

So in the midst of all this renewed love, I discovered my love for the musical Les Miserables. I listened to that musical yesterday and I was reminded of a promise I made myself after I had seen the musical many years ago. That promise was to reread the novel that inspired it.

I, like many teenagers, was forced to read this book for my Advanced English class...can't remember if it was my sophomore or junior year. I had to read it over the summer too. (Will the cruelty never stop?)

The book was in that obnoxious 2 column form, that many text books are written in. It's completely unnatural to read something that way. So needless to say, I never really did. (At least not in a way that I could appreciate the story)

Seeing the musical did make me remember the parts of the story that were stuck in my brain, and made me want to give the book another try. Hence the promise was made.

It's taken 10 years for me to work on that promise. I'm now officially reading Les Miserables. It's a good book. I really think that the education system should focus more on getting teenagers to read...rather than forcing them into reading something that they won't be able to grasp (or want to grasp)

I'm not saying literature be abandoned, but I really think that the novels they chose to foist upon the students should be something that should be enjoyable to read.

Some books and plays that still make me cringe.....

Ethan Frome
An Enemy of the People (We called it An Enema of the People)
All's Quiet on the Western Front
Julius Ceasar
Moby Dick (God I hate that freaking whale)

I'm sure there were a few more plays too, but these were the ones that caused me the most trauma.

So Les Miz, I'm giving you a second chance...maybe a nearly 30 year old mind will appreciate you now.