Kissing 2007 Goodbye

I can't say that I'll be sad to see 2007 go bye byes. Nope. I won't miss it at all. It was an aggravating year, personally.

I know one thing, I'm not holding out any hopes of 2008 being better. The only thing I know for sure is that I intend to get the bulk of my debt paid off, finally, this year. In fact, it should be gone in about 6 months.

That will be my only accomplishment and the only resolution I intend to make.

I'm not going to plan any trips, because I did that too much last year and I ended up very disappointed, going nowhere but Canton, OH.

I'm not going to think that any great concerts will be coming my way, considering that seeing The Grass Roots was the highlight of my year. PAH! No offense to Rob Grille, the show was great, I just hoped to catch at least one other show this year.



I will not try to become friends or anything else with any other Fish. The Pickled Herring that I somehow got too attached to this year was a mental drain.

Even though he's a damn hottie





But damn it, I will lose that last 8 lbs that I want to lose...but that's not a resolution, that's a demand I'm making on myself.

Walmart = Hell On Earth

I went to Walmart today for the first time since the pre-Thanksgiving rush of insanity. I have to say, I wish I hadn't. The place is an insane asylum. Even with most registers open, I had a half hour wait to get out of the damn store.

ARGH! Only that wasn't the word that was spilling from my lips while I waited.

An older gentlemen and I had bets going as to when we'd make it out of the store. I was thinking sometime after New Years Day might be the soonest.

Seriously I was in the store for almost 2 hours!

I'm never in Walmart that long! EVER!!

I was there mostly for groceries too, because for my lunches, which are usually South Beach Wraps or Low-Cal frozen dinners, their prices can't be beat. So it wasn't if I was returning stuff or looking for a good deal. I did find a gorgeous winter coat that looks much like my old quilted jacket, and it was only $30! So yay!

But it wasn't really worth the aggravation. I literally was reciting the retail employees mantra that I used to use when I worked for Kaufmann's back when I was just out of college, which is, "It's not polite to kill people." That's a mantra that I usually only use during the 4 weeks prior to Christmas. Apparently I'm going to have to extend its usage for another week.

GAH!

At least I shouldn't have to go back there for another 2 weeks

Best Of 2007 Mix CD

Artists: Various Artists
Album: Ring Out The Old: The Best Of 2007
Genre: pop, twee, rock, new wave
Comments: These are some of my favorite songs from this year from new artists and old

Fountains Of Wayne - 92 Subaru
Over The Rhine - Let's Spend The Day In Bed
Paul McCartney - Feet In The Clouds
Duran Duran - Box Full O'Honey
Siouxsie - Here Comes That Day
Erasure - Sunday Girl
Alison Moyet - One More Day
Nick Lowe - I Trained Her To Love Me
Diana Krall - Only The Lonely
Sara Barielles - Love Song
The Clientele - Bookshop Casanova
A Fine Frenzy - Come On, Come Out
Crowded House - You Are The Only One To Make Me Cry
Deborah Harry - Two Times Blue
Edwyn Collins - You'll Never Know My Love
Queen Latifah - I'm Not In Love
Jim Sturgess - I've Just Seen A Face
Ann Wilson - We Gotta Get Outta This Place
Suzy Bogguss - Sweet Danger
Original Cast - You Can't Stop The Beat

If you'd like a copy of this give me a shout. I have it uploaded so I can send it to anyone that can take a zip file and can download from divshare.

Reissues! ARGH!

Russ mentioned that the Rhino reissues of Elvis Costello's back catalog are slowly going out of print.

FUQUA!

I think I'm missing at least one of them. So today I have to sit in my pile of CDs to determine which ones I have and which ones I need.

EC has had his material reissued 3 times in the last two years and the last reissue happened less than a year after Rhino finished their superb reissue. I don't want to lose out on having all the spectacular double discs.

It's like the few Moody Blues discs on my wish list. I have every actual Moody Blues disc, but the ones on my wish list are those from the latest reissues that have unreleased tracks. It's so nice of the guys not to release the reissues in the US, btw, when its the US fans that have given them a steady paycheck for the last 20 + years with their tours. Thanks guys!

So now I know what discs will be coming off the wish list first. The Costello ones.

Damn! That wasn't how I planned it.

Nothing A Nap Won't Cure

Today was so bad @ work that I had to take a long nap to get over the stress.

Dear USPS,

Thanks for not delivering our paychecks today. I really appreciate it, as I'm the person that calls in payroll and distributes the checks, therefore am the person that gets an earful when they aren't there for the employees.

I also thank you on my behalf, because I had to withdrawal most of my checking today for my end of the month bill and to use my Christmas money to make up for what I didn't have because of the late arrival of the checks.

And one more thank you because I have to drive in to work tomorrow to check the mail so that I know the checks are safe and sound.

I appreciate your timely delivering of the mail, especially as my checks are mailed from Pittsburgh and my office is in my hamlet of Charleroi on Mon, which is less than 30 miles away.

Yours crankily,

The Mistress Of The Dark

Top 5 On Friday - Week 156

From Music Memoirs


Top 5 "musical" resolutions.

If any of you click on the link to the meme's page, I have to say I like the example of a musical resolution. Of course, I made that one up, but hey it's a good resolution!

1. I resolve to shrink my Amazon wish list from 117 CDs to something a bit more acceptable. Anyone want to help me do that! Have a look at my wish list here.

2. I resolve to attend more than one concert this year and one of those concerts should not be sponsored by 99.3 The Pickle, because looking @ Fishy more than once a year during a concert wrecks havoc on my camera and my well being. Damn that stupid crush I have on that stupid sweet, Pickle DJ.

3. I resolve to buy that bigger hard drive so that I have more room for my digital music collection. I really need the external hard drive badly.

4. I resolve to attend at least performance of a musical this year. (I'm hoping it will be Hairspray that's coming to Heinz Hall in March)

5. I resolve to only keep music that I like on my mp3 players. I hate having stuff that's I haven't really listened to on my Zen, because I listen to it primarily at the gym. There's nothing worse than trying to work out to girlie indie music that I've never heard before. It throws me off.

Why Is It Just Noon?

Ok, I feel like it should be at least 5 o'clock right now. This day is dragging in a bad way. I keep looking at the clock on my computer and expecting it to say something totally different. It's like the hands of time are moving in slow motion today; very slow motion.

I don't think I've ever had a day go by this slow in a long time.

Time has passed more quickly for me when I was waiting for someone in a hospital waiting area.

Yeah, that's how slow my day is going.

It doesn't help matters that every little thing is making me crazy.

Even my favorite radio station (and I say this with a trace of sarcasm)99.3 The Pickle is driving me batty. Can we please have some variety guys? Fishy? Anyone? Oh Keymarket Radio...the world can only stand to hear the same tired songs over and over and when you let new songs slip in...well they are just as tired as the ones that the station is already playing.

~head desk~

Would someone please put the fast forward on this day.

Pickle just played the Neil Diamond version of I'm A Believer.

~shudders~

I know Neil wrote it, but lordy, his version sounds like shit! Even the version from Shrek sounds better and wasn't that Smash Mouth? I even think Eddie Murphy sang it as the donkey and it sounded better.

My patience with today is wearing thin...

I bet you can't guess that, right?

Where's My Christmas Music?

I hate that the day after Christmas, the radio stops playing holiday songs. WTF. Have none of you heard of the 12 days of Christmas. The Christmas Season lasts from Dec 25 through Epiphany, but because money is the only thing that matters in this miserable, atheistic world we live in, you get one day and that's it. Oh you get the 30 days before the holiday to be made crazy, but you are only allowed to celebrate for 48 hours if you are lucky.

Wankers.

Up until the 1900's people celebrated through 12th Night. Christmas was a season. Decorations didn't come down the second the clock chimed midnight, ringing in Dec 26th.

Well people, I can tell you, my tree will be up til almost February. I don't like to lose site of Christmas. I love my tree. I love the holiday season. I hate that it's been spoiled by big business that thinks of it as just a special time for sales to increase. It's more than that. It's always been more than that, but we've ruined it. We've turned it into a shopping season and the real reason we celebrate Christmas has disappeared underneath all the wrappings.

Christmas is about friendship, family and love. I guess those things just aren't important in the modern society. Oh and the religious aspect of the holiday...god forbid that gets mentioned.

~shakes head~

We are a sad lot of people. A very sad lot of people

Christmas Recap

I never discussed my stash. I did well this year. Yeah, that sounds mercenary, but I did.

My pressies
Donovan - Sunshine Superman
Keri Noble - Let Go
Alison Moyet - The Turn
(These three pressies came from my wonderful online friends; Callie, Linda and Polly)

$25 Gift Card for Bath & Body Works
$25 Gift Card for Walmart

A Music Pirate long sleeved t-shirt
A thermal Jack Skellington long sleeved t-shirt

A Jack Skellington and Sally vinyl plush.

Oh and money that almost amounted to one week's pay, which granted isn't much, but whoo hoo! Bills will be paid and my AAA membership will be renewed!

And So Yesterday Was Christmas

And now it's all over. All the hard work, all the running, and the day is over. It didn't even have the decency to last any extra time. Nope, it lasted for the same 24 hours that every other day of the year lasts, and just like most children at the end of the day, I feel let down. Not because of anything I didn't get, or because anything that happened, just because.

Why does it all have to be over in the blink of an eye? Why does real life have to creep back in and take over. Even though I found myself sitting in this chair at the same time yesterday, there was a sense of accomplishment to everything I did yesterday. Today it's all old hat.

~sigh~

All the cooking is done.

A good many of the cookies and goodies are eaten. (Oh lordy....I'm not stepping on the scale for a month now)

All the presents are open.

It's back to work today.

~bigger sigh~

Norman Rockwell didn't think of the day after when he made his perfect images.

It's time for the post-Christmas depression to set in.

Yay! Just what I always wanted. I'm sure I'll get over it. It's a yearly thing. I'm used to it by now. But why do the good feelings only last one day out of 365?

Merry Christmas

100_1018
Originally uploaded by moodylady

From my family to yours, I wish you the happiest of holidays. My the love that was born into the world over 2000 years ago, shine in your hearts today and may you share that love with those near you.

Merry Christmas,

xoxo

The Mistress Of The Dark

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Finale

Merry Christmas all my blogging friends!

It's Christmastime In The City



Cast In Bronze - Carol Of The Bells
Joan Osborne - Christmas Must Be Tonight
Fountains Of Wayne - I Want An Alien For Christmas
Emmylou Harris - The First Noel
Cliff Richard - 21st Century Christmas
Tommy James - I Love Christmas
Shawn Colvin - Love Came Down At Christmas
Sarah McLachlan - I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
Dean Martin - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Donna Summer - Christmas Spirit
Rick Springfield - Christmas With You
Peter Cetera - You Just Gotta Love Christmas
Gavin DeGraw - Silver Bells
Colbie Calliat - Mistletoe
Margo Guryan - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
Gary Puckett - The Christmas Song
Over The Rhine - Here It Is
Ringo Starr - Dear Santa
Davy Jones - When I Look Back At Christmas
Celtic Woman - Ding Dong Merrily On High
America - A Christmas To Remember
Peter Paul & Mary - The Cherry Tree Carol

change xx to tt when you Download

My Christmas Present To Myself

I know that it wasn't the most intelligent thing to do. I know that some people will yell at me for doing it, but a few minutes ago, I picked up my cell phone and hit that number I have on speed dial and said Merry Christmas to Fishy.

I told myself for the last week that I wasn't going to do that. That I was really going to put it all behind me, but sadly I caved. I had to say Merry Christmas to Fishy.

So around 7:30 I had a smile on my face from ear to ear, because I am the biggest Fishy fangirl out there. OK, it's possible that his actual girlfriend is a bigger fangirl, but I'll just ignore that right now, right?

Yup....33 going on 13 again...but oh well...







I wouldn't mind finding him under my tree this year.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 23

Hope you all have a very Cool Yule, Bette Midler style. Tomorrow's the last day of the calender, but I may have some special music for you on Christmas Day.

Bette Midler - Cool Yule

I Wonder

If Santa will bring me what I want for Christmas this year.







Not the most flattering picture of me, but hey this was pre-weight loss, so what can you expect.

Now Santa Baby about that Christmas list....you don't have to slip a sable under the tree for me. But Santa Baby...fill my stocking with a duplex and checks (not the mix) sign your x on the line.

Come to think of it...that 54' Convertible, light blue might be a better ride than the 91 Rusty Chevrolet that I currently drive.

C'mon Santa Baby....one more little thing, a ring, and I don't mean on the phone.

OK, I'll stop killing that song. I just hope Santa is good to me.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 22

It's not Christmas until I've played this song at least 100 times!

Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas


I really can't say anything more than this is another one of my favorite Christmas songs ever.

This is What I've Accomplished

In the last 48 hours I've done quite a bit.

~ I've made some great mint chip cookies that taste fantastic.

~ I bought myself a CD. Yay for music!

~ I've learned how to make crepes! I don't call them crepes though. I call them by their Slovak name which I can't spell. So for the purpose of making myself seem halfway intelligent they are crepes.

~ I made the puppy chow.

~ I also made some fudge

Sadly there's more to be done. I need to grocery shop for tomorrow's dinner. More baking so that the family and I can grow fat over the next 8-9 days. There's the cleaning that I never enjoy doing. And I can't forget getting presents in order.

Now why is it that I'm not supposed to panic?

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 21

There are so many lovely Christmas tunes out there and I feel bad I've neglected some of them. I wish I could share all my Christmas music with you. I have at least 5 GB of music on my computer alone.

Today I'm going to feature a song by James Taylor that I've loved since his holiday album came out a few years back.



James Taylor - Home By Another Way

Top 5 On Friday - Week 155

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 albums released in 2007 (In your opinion)

1. Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
No ifs, ands, or buts about this one.



2. Nick Lowe - At My Age
I'm always happy when Nick puts out a new record. I'm even happier when it kicks butt, and this one does.



3. Erasure - Light At The End Of The World.
Words cannot express how much I love this album. It's one of this synth pop duo's best in recent years. I rank it up there with I Say I Say I Say, which is my 2nd favorite Erasure album.



4. Siouxsie - Mantaray
It's good to see Ms. Sioux back and with a great album. I hope things get better for her, since her marriage to Budgie is over. Poor Siouxsie.



5. Fountains Of Wayne - Traffic & Weather
Pure pop music goodness.



There were other great albums this year and some not so great. There was also an absence of Elvis Costello, which makes me sad. The number one spot should have gone to him, but nope, he released nothing notable this year. I had hoped Duran Duran could have claimed the number 5 spot on my list, but Red Carpet Massacre just isn't worth the notice. I haven't listened to it much since its release. It refuses to grow on me. Emmy Rossum's debut is beautiful, but hardly rates making a Top 5 list....Though I think for honorable mentions Over The Rhine's Snow Angels and The Trumpet Child can get a nod.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 20

OMG Christmas is almost here!!

I think that calls for some humorous Christmas music. It can't all be carols and songs of love, right?

Here's one of the funniest songs I've heard in ages.

Bob River's Comedy Corp - 12 Pains Of Christmas

My Morning Routine - I Hate It

Everyday it's the same thing. Up around 5:30. A half hour or more spent staring aimlessly at my computer, writing the blog, reading whatever blogs I can get to before I have to get ready for work.

I know I've gone on about this before, but lately I just want sleep and I can't bring myself to change my routine any.

That scares me. I am that stuck in my ways.

What scares me most is that this makes me look like a morning person, which deep down I'm not. I much prefer to do my internet time in the evening, but at some point in the last 5-7 years, my body got used to getting up at 5:30. It happened after I stopped working retail and now I'm used to this schedule.

At least on the weekends my body lets me sleep til 8 o'clock.

I envy people that can sleep til afternoon. For me to do that I'd have to stay up til 3 a.m. and then I can probably bet you that I'd only sleep maybe 5 or 6 hours.

The worst part of this is that no matter how early I'm up and out of bed, I still can't function until at least 10 o'clock. So it's a waste of my time being out of bed that early on non-work days. (Sometimes it's a waste on those days too)

I just want to have some sleep in time!

Why can't I have it? Huh? Huh?

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 19

I found a new song this year thanks to one of the groups I'm in on Livejournal. The song is by Tristan Prettyman and features vocals by Jason Mraz.

I was hesitant to listen at first because the title was All I Want For Christmas. I made the mistake of assuming it was another tired version of that other song. Thankfully it's a very different song and a very pretty one at that.

Tristan Prettyman - All I Want For Chrismtas

(The song is labeled christmas song if you download but it is tagged properly)

The Chex Recipe

Here's a variation on the recipe I mentioned in my last post. The one I use doesn't call for butter or vanilla so if you don't like that you don't need to use those ingredients. The other ingredients and measurements are the same. I also add cashews and craisins to my mix.

Puppy Chow
INGREDIENTS:

* 9 cups rice Chex cereal
* 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
* 1/4 cup margarine
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

PREPARATION:
Place the chex cereal in a large bowl that is large enough to have enough room to stir things up. Melt the chocolate chips, margarine, and peanut butter in a microwave safe dish, in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes, or until smooth and creamy when stirred. Add the vanilla, and stir. Pour over the cereal and stir until the cereal is evenly coated. Put the powdered sugar in a large paper sack, add the coated cereal and shake until evenly coated with the powdered sugar. Spread over a sheet of waxed paper until cooled off. Store in an air tight container.

Wednesday Already?

I'm about to go into full panic mode! Christmas is officially under a week away, and baking and cleaning still need done. I'm dying here. I don't think anything will get done.

I have a great fudge recipe I want to try, plus the winter Chex mix with powdered sugar. I don't know what it's called but I didn't make it last year and it depressed me greatly. It's my favorite snack food. And about 3 other cookies that we make yearly!!

So much to do. So little time to do it!

Mom's still not at 100% either.

Then I have to check in on grandma each night. (Which isn't an issue except when making cookies etc)

I still don't know how I'm working on Christmas Eve either. That could help things along quite a bit if I have the day off. I'm thinking that it will be a half day though, even though that's almost useless. That's another rant altogether though.

Less than 1 week to Christmas!!!

Sweet Mary, mother of Pete, how am I going to get everything done!

And why am I worried about it when there is no one but the usual family visiting this year. (My brother and his brood are driving over for a few hours on Sunday, because work schedules screwed up his holiday)

I now return you to your regularly scheduled panic!

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 17

Today's song is chosen for Russ who said in his answers to Tuesday Tunes, that Little Drummer Boy was one of his favorite traditional Christmas tunes.

Well today I bring you Little Drummer Boy by my favorite "little drummer boy," Ringo Starr, from this album



Ringo Starr - Little Drummer Boy

Tuesday Tunes

From Music Memoirs


What are your favorite traditional "Christmas Carols?"
For me, I've always loved O Holy Night, Away In A Manger and Angels We Have Heard On High. It's not Christmas if I don't hear all three of these at least once.

Here's a lovely version of O Holy Night

Gary Puckett - O Holy Night


What song best says "Christmas" to you?
When A Child Is Born

My mother and I both love this version

Michael Ball - When A Child Is Born

What is your favorite modern Christmas song?
Just one? Perish the thought

Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
Cliff Richard - Mistletoe and Wine
The Moody Blues - Don't Need A Reindeer

You've seen one of these in the Advent Calender..and you'll see the other two in coming days.

Do you have a favorite Christmas album? If so what is it?
Right now I have several but if I narrow it down to one, it would have to be:

The Moody Blues - December

One More Day Of Running

I'm going to the gym tonight and after that I have grocery shopping to do for the last minute stuff that we need for the holiday meals.

I've already bought out Rite Aid's candy department. I have Whitmen's Samplers and Russell Stover boxes, as well as Hershey's Pot Of Gold Truffles, chocolate covered cherries, candy canes. You name it, I've got it! Or at least it feels that way.

Last night I went to a wonderful little grocery/produce place in Perryopolis called the Big Barn. They have all sorts of Amish goodies; jellies, veggies, dips, sauces. I was in my heaven! I didn't even get to look at the deli. Maybe next time!

I bought some peach jam for grandma and cinnamon apple butter for us, as well as red pepper jelly, which is incredible on crackers or bagels with plain cream cheese. Mmmm. Tasty!

But my find of the night, wasn't a jelly. It was a jar of spiced apple rings. I was beginning to think I was the only person that loved these things. We used to get them all the time, and then they disappeared. I almost let out a whoop when I found them last night.

It's going to be a good Christmas.

Random 10 - Week 136

I forgot to do this yesterday, because I was so darn busy with weird stuff, which I will tell you all about later.

From Music Memoirs

It was another weekend of weird music...

Vinyl Kings - Dreams
Vinyl Kings - Chocolate Cake

These guys are a tribute band (sorta) to the Beatles, only they don't sing Beatles songs, they sing their own songs, that sound like they could've been written by the Fab Four. Their first album A Little Trip is fantastic. I need to get their second one.

Cliff Richard - Climbing Up Mount Everest
(Quite possibly my favorite Cliff song)
Cliff Richard - Saviour's Day
(Love this one too)

Colbie Caillat - Midnight Bottle
Colbie Caillat - Tailor Made

I finally got to give this album a listen and it's quite good. I understand why everyone's talking about her, besides the fact that she looks a lot like Jennifer Anniston.

Grey Eye Glances - Snow
Grey Eye Glances - Halfway Back
Grey Eye Glances - Even
Grey Eye Glances - Faces

It's not hard to tell that this band is one of my favorites in the whole world, right?

Oh and the photo is my darling little Oogie, who decided that the new cube shelves I put together was a great place to hang out.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 17

It isn't often that I feature the same carol twice, but in the case of Carol Of The Bells, it needs to be done. The first version I posted was the gorgeous instrumental by Cast In Bronze. Tonight I give you Emmy Rossum's version, which is fantastic.



Emmy Rossum - Carol Of The Bells

What A Weekend

All this crazy business about the snowstorm that conveniently ignored my part of the northeast. Now I'm not totally complaining about that. I'm not much for driving in snow etc, but we were all prepared for a nice weekend tucked away from the world because of the snow.

It never quite made it. There's not even any worth photographing. Pooh! I don't think we even got half an inch of snow, which is much less than what the rest of the Northeastern part of the US got.

That's somehow not right.

I'm in PA. PA is in the Northeast! I demand my snow. I demand extra time to sleep in, to get more stuff cleaned for Christmas.

I really don't know how I'm going to deal with the holiday. We're celebrating with my brother over the weekend, then with the rest of the family on the proper day. I've got so much cooking/cleaning/shopping to do in the next 5 days that my head is going to spin.

I don't know what I'm going to have to forgo. I think it may be the gym. I just don't have time to spend right now and that's depressing and scary, since we're going to be having every manner of yummy, fattening and calorie laden foods for the next 2 weeks.

I feel more stress coming on.

That is not a good thing.

Pass the Peppermint Mocha please? And add rum to it, please.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 16

A few weeks back I watch The Celtic Woman Christmas special on PBS with my mum. It was gorgeous. I had bought the disc previously, but hadn't had a chance to listen to it yet. The show gave me a chance to experience the music in a wonderful way.

The women who are a part of this group have fantastic voices, no matter what they are singing, but the Christmas songs sound especially lovely.

Here's one that can be found on this CD


Ding Dong Merrily On High

Me at 7

I thought everyone could use a good laugh, and since I was doing some serious cleaning, putting together some cube cabinets today, I thought I'd share a couple of photos I found in the process.

I Can't Forget

Today is a date that will stick in my mind forever. Last year in the evening, I sat with my most beloved kitty on my lap as she breathed her last.

Misty was the cat that was supposed to my mother's but she became mine, much to my chagrin, but I loved her with all my heart. She was like a child to me. Knowing that she suffered from feline leukemia and that I could do nothing to make her better made me feel guilty. I still weep when I think of her. I worry that she didn't know that I loved her so very much, because when she was bad kitty, which wasn't often, she got a swat on the backside. I feel guilty for all those smacks that should have been cuddles.





I hope wherever she is, and I'm sure it's kitty heaven, that she knows her mama loved her so much, and if I could give her one more cuddle I would make sure it lasted days and days.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 15

Something new. Something different. Something country?

While country is not my favorite genre, I admit to finding some pretty songs from certain artists every now and then. One of the artists I found that's a little bit country, is Mindy Smith.

I'm taking the title track from her Christmas CD My Holiday



I hope you enjoy it.

Mindy Smith - My Holiday

Another Weekend From Hell

Another busy one on the way for me...

~ Laundry

~ Grocery Shopping

~ Exercise

~ Christmas Stuff

~ Taking care of grandma

~ Assembling a piece of furniture I bought a month ago. Ooops.

~ Cleaning

~ Drink beer. (drink lotsa beer)

~ Sleep

~ Photograph the winter storm that better be a good one!

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 14

Christmas music is keeping me happy right now, because I'm really down. I mean really down. So here's another old favorite of mine


David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Little Drummer Boy


This song brings me so much joy, I hope it brings some into yours as well

Top 5 On Friday - Week 154

From Music Memoirs

This week's topic is brought to you care of this post.

Top 5 songs that should never be covered again!

1. The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin: At least 3 artists other than The Moodies or Justin have covered this one and that's 3 too many. Nana Mouskouri did a version and so did Mario Frangoulis (Blergh). The Dickies did a punk version which was oddly refreshing and then there was a bluegrass version that sent me running for band aids for my ears. Please, no more!

2. Bacharach & David - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself: I think everyone has covered this one. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap tried a version, Dusty Springfield, Elvis Costello and if I'm right, so did The White Stripes. It's time to retire this song, even though it's lovely.

3. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale: This has to be another one of those over covered songs and no one lends a new twist, among the people covering this one a few times too many, Annie Lennox, Sarah Brightman and Justin Hayward.

4. Richard Harris - MacArthur Park: This song isn't even good, so why is everyone covering it? Blergh! Among the people not letting this song die, Elaine Paige, Donna Summer and Justin Hayward (again).

5. John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is Over): There is only one version of this song that should be played. It's Lennon, don't cover it. That goes for some of my favorite people like The Moody Blues that in my opinion really hurt this song, Sarah McLachlan, heck even The Monkees tried their hand at it when they did a medley for Mtv back in the 80's. No more!

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 13

There are several songs that I always share at Christmas. Tonight you are going to be treated to one of them.

The song is by Elvis Costello & The Chieftains and is taken from The Chieftains' disc The Bells Of Dublin.



Elvis Costello w/The Cheiftains - St Stephan's Day Murders

I'm Not Fit To Be Around

I'm cranky. I'm angry. People shouldn't come near me. It's a bad thing. This whole issue with grandma and with mom still being out of commission herself, has made me about ready to run away from home or something.

I need a mental health day. I need the gym. I need a hug.

I just can't take all of this right now. I feel like I work for a nursing home and the other half of the time I feel useless.

There's too much to bitch about right now and most of it isn't stuff I want to share here.

I just want some time and some space that I don't have right now. You have no idea how much I want Saturday to get here. Maybe by then I'll be able to breathe. Maybe I'll be able to go somewhere and hide from the world.

Last year at this time, the cat that I loved the most, and I know that's awful to say, because I love all my animals, but Misty was special, and she died Dec 16, and now all this with Grandma. My mind can't take much more.

I want to cry. I have cried.

HUG ME!

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 12

It's time for another Christmas Classic. I remember the first time I heard Elton John's Step Into Christmas. I nearly doubled over in glee. It's so cheesy. It's so typically Elton.

It's one of those songs that makes you feel merry and bright. Really it does. You only have to listen to it once to become addicted to it's goodness.

So go on. What are you waiting for.

Elton John - Step Into Christmas

Sinking Faster And Faster

Gram's doctor is talking nursing/personal care home, because Gram shouldn't be alone, not because she's sick, but because she's still weak, and there's no real reason to keep her in the hospital. He claims its only temporary, but none of us believe that. I know I don't believe that, because gram's 100, to be 101 in March. Most people that age aren't lucky enough to be living at home at that age, and she was.

Still I'm sad that things are changing and not for the better.

I'm not good at times like this. It makes me nutty. Well nuttier. I get cranky. I can't reason.

I can worry about other things and it doesn't bother me, but when it comes to family it takes all my brain cells and the normal thought process just stops.

I'm not sure I'll be making my rounds for the next few days in my regular fashion, and I hate that, because I like keeping up with everyone on my friends list. So if you don't hear from me, know it's not because I don't care, but because my brain is so frazzled that I can't think straight.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 11

Christmas has some horrid novelty songs and some really cute ones. Because 8 hours of my day are spent listening to Oldies Radio aka 99.3 The Pickle, I get to hear my fair share of odd novelty songs, and this doesn't change at Christmas.

One of my favorite novelty Christmas tunes is by The Royal Guardsmen



Snoopy's Christmas

Tuesday Tunes - Week 13

From Music Memoirs

Open your Itunes or Windows Media or Winamp or whatever music player you use and tell me.

Your top 5 songs:
The Moody Blues - Yes, I Believe 179 plays
The Moody Blues - When A Child Is Born 177 plays
The Moody Blues - In The Bleak Midwinter 171 plays
The Moody Blues - Don't Need A Reindeer 166 plays
The Moody Blues - In The Quiet Of Christmas Morning 166 plays

Your most played artist:
If I go by Last.fm it's The Moody Blues with over 37,000 plays

How many songs you have on your computer
9039 by my winamp

The first artist listed alphabetically and the last
The first artist is ? and the Mysterians the last artist is The Zombies

I Did Something Stupid Yesterday

In my infinite stupidity, I put together a Christmas present for my Pickle DJ. Ok, for The Pickle DJ. Why? Because I haven't the brain I was given and because some part of me hopes that some little thing I do will see me forgiven or something like that so that we could be friends again.

Yes, I admit to still having a crush on him. I can't help that. Fishy is a pretty damn good looking guy, but I know that nothing will come of that ever. (I knew that from the beginning too, but no one will believe that) But for that brief time at the beginning of the year I thought I had a friend, and I have too few of those it seems.

But again, I made up a little Christmas stocking for Fishy and I won tickets on the Pickle last week, so I figured when I was picking them up, I'd drop off his present, which I did yesterday. Now I'm nervous. What if he doesn't like it? Part of his present was a green "fishy" ornament, the rest were a bunch of mix CDs that I made. What if doing this has offended.

I don't know why I worry if I've offended him so much. I've never been this way before. I also don't know why I just can't shut the radio off and forget I ever knew him in anyway. I imagine it's because I'm crazy. At least, I'm sure that's how he sees me.

~ I'm a sad sad bunny ~

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 10

Today's song is one of my favorite "modern" tunes. I think I've posted it every year that I've done the "advent song calender"

Dido's Christmas Day. It's just such a pretty song. Whatever happened to her anyway? I never did buy Life For Rent. Another lovely vocalist that disappeared off the face of the earth, but that's neither here nor there. Enjoy today's song.

Dido - Christmas Day

Random 10 - Week 135

From Music Memoirs

10 songs that sum up your weekend...or were on your weekend playlist...and one picture that relates back. (oh, and if you feel like it, tell us why you picked the songs you did)

It's all about The Christmas Mix CD this week.

Cast In Bronze - We Three Kings
Cliff Richard - 21st Century Christmas
The Moody Blues - Don't Need A Reindeer
Celtic Woman - Ding Dong Merrily On High
Peter Paul & Mary - The Cherry Tree Carol
Emmylou Harris - The First Noel
Over The Rhine - Here It Is
Rick Springfield - Christmas With You
Tommy James - I Love Christmas
Ringo Starr - Dear Santa

And the picture is my Christmas kitty, Oogie

Life Is Crazy

I thought maybe by today things would be calming down a bit, but that wasn't the case. They are keeping Grandma in the hospital at least until today, which means I'm going to have to be the one to get her, if we do bring her home. The other thing that is driving me nuts is that they are mentioning nursing/personal care homes again. I know gram is 100, soon to be 101 in March and she probably shouldn't be alone anymore, but the thought of her not being in the house across the street is just so damn sad.

I haven't been to the gym in a week thanks to mom's back problems, the weather and now this. I had plans of going on Sunday, but that didn't happen. Very little happened that I wanted to happen this weekend.

ARGH!

All I've succeeded in doing was lose a bit more my fragile sanity.

Oh and my two youngest cats, Oogie and Bootsie have decided that it's fun to wrestle under my Christmas tree, which leaves me with a feeling of dread, because I don't wish to come home and find the tree on the floor!

Double ARGH!

I don't have time to breathe right now, let alone get anything done for myself. I'm almost done with the Christmas mixes though. I don't know that I'll be getting a link to that one posted this week though. I do have one for the Winter Mix I posted yesterday, so if you'd like the files, just give me a shout and I'll send it your way.

Now can I please go back to bed for about 10 hours, because I'm mentally drained, and I don't think I can stand to think today.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 9

Today's song comes from one of my favorite progressive rock vocalists, Annie Haslam. It's one of the many beautiful tracks on the album It Snows In Heaven Too.


My choice is O Come O Come Immanuel, which is the perfect "Advent" song.

Listen and enjoy!

O Come O Come Immanuel

My Bad Day: Let Me Tell You About It

Yesterday was insane. I managed to finish a Winter Mix CD project. This is my mix for the project:

In the Bleak Midwinter

1. Gordon Lightfoot - Song For A Winters Night
2. A Fine Frenzy - Let It Snow
3. Paul McCartney - Footprints
4. Siddal - In The Bleak Midwinter
5. Genesis - Snowbound
6. Rod Stewart & Dolly Parton - Baby, It's Cold Outside
7. Dar Williams - February
8. Diana Krall - Popsicle Toes
9. Nick Lowe - Freezing
10. Elaine Paige - A Winter's Tale
11. Justin Hayward & John Lodge - Nights Winters Years
12. Grey Eye Glances - Snow
13. Elvis Costello - North
14. Heart - Let's Stay In
15. Danny Elfman - Edward Scissorhands Theme
16. Natalie Imbruglia - Shiver
17. Jethro Tull - First Snow On Brooklyn
18. Thea Gilmore - December In New York
19. Dean Martin - A Winter Romance

This is three songs different from what I'm sending to Fishy, because I changed those for the group because other people shared the songs I chose. If you'd like a download of this let me know.

Now on to the other badness.

I went to Target yesterday, which was insane. I bought Christmas candy, some clothes that I needed, and a green fish ornament for Fishy who will probably wish me dead after he gets my present, but oh well, that's probably not much different from now.

After doing the Target thing, I went to Taco Bell which is truly Taco Hell when you are at the one in West Mifflin behind Century 3 Mall. I ordered a Beef Combo Burrito and a diet pepsi and was then accosted by the crazy, mental challenged old lady they had on the cleaning crew. She drove me nuts while I was trying to eat. I was never so glad to be out of a restaurant. I'm never going back to that Taco Bell. I've had nothing but bad experiences there. The last time there was a chick giving her boyfriend a hand job at her table with her kids present!!! Nope not going there ever again.

Now for the rest of it. I get home and finish up the mix and then go to check on grandma. Guess what? Grandma fell. She's sitting at the top of the steps crabbing at me as soon as I walk in the door.

Oye vey!

We got her cleaned up and dress and called 911. She didn't break anything and they wanted to send her home after her requisite 4 hours in the ER, but her personal doctor told them to keep her for observation. Yay.

I was at the hospital from 7 - 10, we watched a Celtic Woman special on PBS and then part of a McCartney special, until they took her to her room.

That was my swinging Saturday night for you. Oh and I'm nowhere near done with my Christmas Mix CD. Please kill me!

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 8

The only song I could chose on this day.

R.I.P. John, the world misses you and your music....



John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Busy Busy Busy

GAH! I thought it was earlier, and now as I look at the clock I see that it's almost noon, and I have next to nothing done that I wanted to get done today.

Must step away from the computer.

Must get to Washington Target or West Mifflin Target or some Target. I need to get stuff. I need to get stuff somewhere.

This holiday is just making my life chaos, and yet I love Christmas and everything there is to do with it, but people in my life have been sick and I've had to put so much on hold that I'm losing a grip on my small shred of sanity.

Wish me luck. Pray for me. Or something

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 7

What would Christmas be without a song by Cliff Richard? It would be a dull lifeless holiday.

Last year, Cliff released a new Christmas single and this year I'm sharing it with you because it's catchy and cute and all those things that Cliff Richard songs are supposed to be. Oh and did I mention it will get stuck in your head? Well, it will. But you won't mind. It's a good little song.



Cliff Richard - 21st Century Christmas

Top 5 On Friday - Week 153

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 Songs That Make You Cheery

George Harrison - Cheer Down

This song has always made me smile. I can imagine Olivia trying to calm down and over excited, cheery George by saying those words, "Cheer down!"

Diana Krall - Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep

This song just makes everything all right with the world. Something about the subject matter and Diana's voice. I imagine she sings a good lullaby to those twins.

Erasure - Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me

Probably my favorite Erasure song ever. Anytime this song comes on I feel so much cheerier.

The Moody Blues - Send Me No Wine


Lodgey and his silly, get stuck in your head songs. Bless him for this one. He should write more like it. I love Lodgey tunes!

Peter Mayer - The Introvert Song


You only have to listen to know why this one makes me cheery

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 6

There's a band out of Cincinnati that makes gorgeous music. Their name is Over The Rhine, and if you jazzy/alt-country/pop you should check them out, because they are awesome. It only took one listen to fall in love.

It was hard to pick a song because their latest Christmas offering, Snow Angels is just too wonderful.



Over The Rhine - The Only Thing I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue