Top 5 On Friday - Week 139

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 best opening lines in rock music

I've really really had to think on this one and I decided some of the best openers come from one man, Elvis Costello. So he's getting the whole top five this week from me.

I Hope You're Happy Now
He's a fine figure of a man and handsome too
With his eyes upon the secret places he'd like to undo

Episode Of Blonde
I spy for the "Spirit of Curiosity"
All the scandals of each vain monstrosity
I gossip and I pry and I insinuate
If the failure is great
Then it tends to fascinate

I'm Not Angry
You're upstairs with the boyfriend while I'm left here to listen.
I hear you calling his name, I hear the stutter of ignition.

Pump It Up
I've been on tenterhooks
ending in dirty looks,
list'ning to the Muzak,
thinking 'bout this 'n' that.
She said that's that.
I don't wanna chitter-chat.
Turn it down a little bit
or turn it down flat.

How To Be Dumb
I was hell-bent on destroying my powers of concentration
While you were living like a saint
And all the time the very one you trusted was washing off
somebody else's paint

Listen in..

Hmmm I Wonder Where I Was Yesterday

This is the sign outside the radio station in California, PA. You know that place where the Fishy one works?

No, I wasn't stalking him. That's not worth it.

In his teasing yesterday and my oversensitivity...I've had one of those..moments. See when I won the tickets for the park he had to ask for all my information. Which could have turned into a gigglefest really. However when he asked my last name, he said something that was funny at the time but my mind turned it around later and here I sit, feeling blerghy over it. Because my mind just has to make mountains out of molehills. Damn my mind.

All he said was, "What's your last name? I know I should know it, I see it everyday."

Damn right you should know it. But never mind that. I'm going to attempt to not email him today, cos you know, I wouldn't want him to have to see my name in an email.

Grrrr.

I'm trying to remember why I didn't pop him one in the head last Saturday. Oh yeah, cos I was all fangirlly and going gaga over his total cuteness.

I Won Idlewild Tickets!

It isn't often that I win anything, but today when I heard the Ticket To Ride sound effects on The Pickle I thought, what the hell, I'll give it a go. It took 3 tries and believe it or not, this unlucky lady got through to her favorite Fishy.

I was befuddled and excited all at the same time. I could go to any of the Kennywood parks, but I've been to Kennywood once, on my birthday, so this time I plan to go to Idlewild, simply because I love the park and I can swim there if I want to.

I haven't had a chance to wear my new bathing suit once this summer because of all the crap that's gone on in my life. So with any luck, I'll get to do that this Sunday.

For this alone I would gladly give the Fishy one a big ole smooch. Mind you I don't really need a reason to want to do that, cos he's so darn cute I want to do it just because.

So thanks to my favorite radio station, 99.3 The Pickle, I now have something to do on Sunday! Yay!

Thursday Thirteen

13 things that have been keeping my sanity lately

1. Amazon.com: Because I love browsing through books and music and reading reviews, even when I don't have money. However I always end up buying something or wish listing something.

2. Cat Macros! I love them. I love the site I Can Has Cheezburger. When things get rough, this site makes me grin stupidly.

3. Online friends. Cos well, there aren't many friends locally that I can have girl talk with or anything else that's necessary to keep me from going over the edge.

4. The Beatlepics community on Livejournal. Pictures of the Fab 4 make me squee with joy. Especially pictures of George Harrison

5. Writing random emails to friends. It's seldom about what's on my mind, but typing at people keeps me sane. Don't tell the finned on that though.

6. Books: Even though I've been having a hard time finding something that will hold my interest lately.

7. Staring at my pictures on Flickr. Being reminded of good memories helps when life is sucking royally as it has been most of this year.

8. Reminding myself that this too will pass. I only wish it would all pass faster.

9. Exercise: At least when the temperatures aren't in the 90's. I can't work out in the heat. I get too tired and I end up not being able to a darn thing.

10. Making mix CDs or burning things for friends. A certain friend of mine has been swamped with music from me. My online Mom Linda needs to get her computer set up so I can send her a mp3 data CD soon!!!

11. Psych and Monk....keeping the sanity on Friday nights, except when flipping tennis is on. Grrr!

12. Cookbooks: One day I will be the best cook on the block. I'm developing my mother's passion for cookbooks. Please don't tell her.

13. Dwelling on the cliche "good things come to those who wait." because I've been waiting so long something fantastic is bound to happen any day now.

If my life were a musical

It's no surprise that I love musicals. I have since I was in high school. I feel a close bond with so much of the music. I've always thought it would be great to be on the Broadway stage, however there is one small thing that stops me. My voice curdles milk. Seriously, it does.

I've always loved the fact that in musicals people randomly burst into song. And they don't get beat up when they do.

I've felt connected to so many characters. But the musical that has the songs closest to my heart is Chess, written by the guys from ABBA and Tim Rice.

My two favorite songs from that show are Someone Else's Story and Nobody's Side. Though I have to say all the songs sung by the character Florence Vassy seem to hit a nerve.

It's that I've been screwed over, but I can't or won't move on mentality that I seem to get caught up in so often.

I find myself gravitating to these songs when my life it's a point where I need to get all my emotions out. I'll stand in my room with CD Player or computer blaring and sing at the top of my lungs. Let me tell you lately I've been singing Someone Else's Story more than I'd like to admit. Feel sorry for the people in my house. Really. Feel sorry for them!

Priorities

I've found that my priorities are really muddled these day. I need to try to focus on my one goal. Getting bills paid off.

If the bills don't get paid off I can't justify any trips or anything else for that matter. I'm getting so darn close too. At this time next year, most of it should be gone. Assuming my computers don't die or my car or a myriad of other things.

I'd like to be able to pick up and have a real vacation for once. You know the kind where I get to spend more then 2 or 3 days on the Jersey shore.

My problem is that other than the bills I have nothing that I want badly anymore. I've lost focus on everything while I've sat here grasping at straws for the last 6 months to a year. At one point I thought a trip to Vegas was what I wanted, or a trip to Maine, but I don't want to do it alone and I have no one that I want to spend several days with.

Yes, I don't even know what I want anymore. Though I'm fast learning that what I want is more than just material things, its also more than happiness and love, if that even exists. Perhaps what I'm searching for is simply contentment.

5 Years Blogging

Today is my 5 year bloggerversary? Where are my presents?

Somehow I didn't think I'd get any.

Pooh!

5 years. 5 long years. Looking back, I've been through a lot. The change of jobs more times then I could count. The change of cars. I've written several stories and 2 novels in that period of time. My musical tastes have become stranger and stranger. I've learned to love photography and the ocean.

I've dealt with the loss of 2 beloved pets and 2 friends that I felt were close to me. One that I had talked to for years and another that was a more recent acquaintance.

I've been to several concerts and met several of the performers.

I've gained and lost weight. I've been a member of two gyms.

I've acquired several digital cameras and 3 mp3 players.

That's quite a lot for 5 years, yet I feel as if most of my life has been at a stand still. I'm not content. I want more out of my life than what I've been getting.

I don't know if I'm looking for the elusive happiness or if I just want a certain amount of change, that my mind is resisting. I long for something different and yet I know I'm not quite ready for it. I want something but only after something else happens, if that makes any sense at all.

In 5 more years I'll be 38. If I'm still blogging, I wonder if my life will be any different than it is now, if I'll have finally broken through those barriers that are keeping me in this rut.

Now my question to you....what have you learned about me, in the course of reading my ramblings over the years.

I'm Amused

Two random happy thoughts for the day, because I need as many happy thoughts as I can get right now.

~ My friend Mary sent me a T-shirt from Disneyland. No wait, let me go a step further, she sent me a Nightmare Before Christmas T-shirt from Disneyland. One word there, Squee!

~ Pattie Boyd's autobiography shipped yesterday. Woot! I am so excited about that, because I'm sick of the spoilers. I'm worse then the people that were Harry Potter fans when it comes to this book.

When my idols and school girl crushes come crashing down, I don't need anyone to help them down any faster.

Well, at least Pattie's book will be full of beautiful photos of George Harrison so that will be at least one plus. I don't really care if she slams Eric Clapton because I haven't had any respect for him in years.

But anyway...I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT!!!!

Random 10 - Week 120

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 and Fishy.

Tommy James - Love Words
(For one brief shiny moment this weekend I could listen to this song again)

Tommy James - Hold The Fire
(Same reason as the above)

Donovan - Catch The Wind
(My Friday Free For All song request)

Cliff Richard - I Will Not Be A Mistake
(The title says it all)

The Beatles - A Day In The Life
(Another song from the Friday Free For All this week)

Diana Krall - Narrow Daylight
(This is one of my favorite songs ever and it's on Fishy's songs for the Fishbowl Vol 3)

Duran Duran - Salt In The Rainbow
(A demo of a song that didn't make the Astronaut CD)

Elvis Costello - How To Be Dumb
(Apparently I don't need lessons)

Elvis Costello - Man Out Of Time
(Would I still love a man out of time? Yes)

Justin Hayward - Sometimes Less Is More
(This song is or rather, should be my mantra)

And the picture? Do you have to ask?



I think we look cute together. Don't tell him I said that.

I Am Such A Tard AGAIN

~ Why do I have a feeling someone was jerking my chain about something. If so...I guess that would be all that I deserved and the joke would be on me. Let me go laugh somewhere now.

~ If you go a day without eating much and then proceed to have a beer and half a sandwich you will get sick sick sick.

~ Hunger pains feel much like anxiety attacks, especially when the only liquid consumed is soda and beer.

~ Perceptions are deceiving apparently.

~ I will be hiding under my rock for awhile in embarrassment.

39 Reasons Fishy Needs To Have A Good Day

Today couldn't go by without a few special words for

1. He's not 40 yet.
2. Pickling helps preserve things, so he doesn't have to worry about aging.
3. He doesn't always take a bad photo and there's not always red eye.
4. He's getting a really cool Elvis Costello bootleg as a present from someone that refuses to let a birthday go unacknowledged.
5. At least he doesn't have to wear the parrot costume.
6. He has at least one fan.
7. He's had more than 15 minutes of fame.
8. He's not the one left holding the pickle.
9. He's not the one in the photograph holding the pickle and wearing Elvis sunglasses.
(The person that is...however hopes that photo doesn't see the light of day. Nay, prays that photo doesn't see the light of day. That person also hopes/prays that if the photo does see the light of day that her....erm that person's name will be changed because she can humiliate herself better than that)
10. The cats haven't killed him in the shower yet.
11. Only one photo of him has been photoshopped. (And I wasn't responsible for that photoshopping!)


12. I haven't given him his b-day spankings (for that he should be grateful. What was that 10 to grow on? 10?!? Hmmm. Kinky!)
13. I'll refrain from calling him a Pickled Herring for 24 hours...starting now.
14. He doesn't have to put up with me in person again until possibly Oct..unless of course he wants to. (In which case...I don't mind the teasing/banter)
15. He can laugh at all the kids going back to school, while he's sitting in his closet at the station. (This reason brought to you by my nephew Michael)
16. He's the cutest little fishy wishy evah!
17. He has pretty good taste in music.
18. His cat has made countless people laugh in the cat macros world.


19. He can listen to Tom Jones sing Sex Bomb anytime he wants to now. (God I hope it gets stuck in his head)
20. This old post should brighten his day. After all, a cyber strip tease is better then no strip tease, right?
21. If that post didn't brighten his day, I could remind him of 101 Things To Do With "Fish"
22. He should have a good day because he's actually checked off a few of the things on the 101 list. However there are still many more to go. Taps foot and glares at the Fishy. What are you waiting for?
23. Remind him that he's not the "Sour" one.
24. He shouldn't have to put up with my sister for a long while. (Do I hear a sigh of relief?)
25. He knows what your really supposed to do with a "pickle"
26. That bit about Charleroi girls...is only partially true. That should give him something to think about.
27. I don't get bursts of courage that often.
28. He doesn't have the worst job in the world. (I do.)
29. The Miami Vice (Don Johnson) look, is kinda cute on him.
30. He can have some retaliation if he wants to by playing Yummy Yummy Yummy, which would in turn make me have a rotten day because that song would be stuck in my head for the next 24 hours.
31. My creativity is just about at an end.
32. There shouldn't be anymore posts like this one until next year.
33. He was the only one not playing with a pickle.
34. The Pickle jokes may stop for awhile.
35. He can be made into a pretty amusing macro.



36. He's got to be laughing by now...and that signifies a good day.
37. Someone cared enough to send him a silly Screaming Banshee ecard.
38. Because I said so and that should count for something.
39. It's his 39th b-day today.

So if I haven't said it already:



And as always:

Weekend Recap

Saturday

~ The most beautiful day of my summer. Seriously. At least once I found my courage. Before 4 o'clock I was a nervous wreck

~ Discovered that Fishy's b-day is Monday. Contemplated bopping him in his cute little noggin, because I wouldn't get a b-day card for him on time.

~ Ate a halfway decent Reuban sandwich that took way too long to get to me, but I'm not complaining too much.

~ Took several pictures of Fishy for my viewing enjoyment.

~ Had a very strong burst of courage that I think only could have been a result of drinking one Bud Light. Yes...this (use your imagination) was brought to you by Bud Light and a girl that didn't eat much all day. Can you say, warm fuzzy feelings?

~ Grinned stupidly the remainder of the day.


Sunday

~ Went to church...thanked god for the courage, just in case it wasn't the Bud Light. (I'm still thinking it was, but I like to cover all my bases)

~ Did the laundry with gram.

~ Scurried off to Walmart to find a b-day card for the Feeshy.

~ Tried to decide which Elvis Costello concert CD should be his b-day present.

~ Brain exploded.

~ Found the best bootleg...copied it and thus will send it on its merry way to Fishy tomorrow as a belated b-day gift.

Memory....

A certain Fishy one asked me why I needed all the pictures yesterday. I being the mysterious sort, (STOP LAUGHING) said nothing, just giving an evil laugh.

But the answer is pretty simple: Photos = Memory.

My digital camera comes with me nearly everywhere I go, because if there's a chance there's something I'll really want to remember, I'll want a picture.

Yesterday was something I wanted to remember. Don't tell Fishy that. He'll get a swelled head.

Not to mention that yesterday was a very bright spot in a summer that I wish had never happened, so I needed all the good memories that I could get. So I have a bunch of photographic memories to keep me smiling for quite awhile.

Like this one my nephew took... Squee...he's so darn cute..

FEESHY!

I have seen hotness and I lived to tell about it.

~ Note to the Fishy one...I told you that I could take a good photo of you...I wish the same could be said about me. Blergh.



I wish I could get rid of the red from the tent thingy....but oh well..

Here's one with the Pickle Parrot.



He's such a cutie, isn't he?

And this one is my favorite.



I was on my best behavior. I teased, of course, because it is my nature to tease and it helps me not to go to pieces, because as most people know, I was nervous as hell going down there today. OK, I was beyond nervous...I was scared witless. I almost got back into the car once when I got there.

But I'm glad I went..and I hope I didn't annoy the hell out of him too much.

One word...for today...Bliss. Finally getting to talk to him was nicer than meeting any celebrity, and I've met my share. I'm a happy girl now.

Can I Be Nervous Now?

Tomorrow after almost a year, I will meet Fishy face to face. The Pickle is at My Cousin Vinny's sports bar in my hamlet of Charleroi on Mon.

I'm scared to death.

Our friendship/acquaintance has been rocky since the end of March.

I want a friendship...I'm not sure he does. He probably wishes I would come down with the flu tomorrow. I wish I could.

What am I going to say to him? Besides "Hi Fishy." And then I'll promptly pass out at his feet.

I've met famous people. I've carried on conversations with them. Intelligent ones even, and I managed to sound like a human being. I don't know if I can do that with him.

I like him. Because he's not like every DJ around. He's a goof. A goober. A geek. A sweetie too, because he's put up with me for several months now.

I have gone through periods of time when I shut the radio off or changed the station. I was teased about it too.

I just don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow. I'm scared to death. Of going and worse, of him.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 138

From Music Memoirs


Top 5 albums that you would recommend to all your fellow memers and why.

The Clientele - God Save The Clientele



Nat recommended this one to me and after hearing it...you need to hear it as well. If you need further proof of this album's goodness listen to Bookshop Casanova

A Fine Frenzy - One Cell In The Sea



There's been a lot of fuss over this album and for good reason. Alison Sudol has a fantastic voice I'm particularly fond of the song Almost Lover

Gordon Lightfoot - A Painter Passing Through


Gordon Lightfoot's recording has been sparse since the 80's. This is one of his last albums, released in 1998. Though his voice isn't as strong as it was in the 70's, the songs are still gorgeous, especially the title track and his homage to Toronto, On Yonge Street.

Toby Lightman - Bird On A Wire



I'm always excited to hear female singers that don't capitalize on slutty but rather on the music. Toby's one of them. Yay for people keeping their clothes on.

Erasure - Light At The End Of The World


One of the best Erasure albums in ages. If you like Synthpop, new wave or any other 80's band of the Duran Duran-ish sort of sound...You'll love this. Sunday Girl makes me so very happy.

Well, It's Happened

Mom's pacemaker battery has hit the point where she has to go in for a replacement. However this time she's getting "The Cadillac" of all pacemakers, as her doctor put it yesterday. This time she gets one with a built in defibrillator.

The surgery's been scheduled for Sept 10, which would have been the Monday that I was in Atlantic City, except we aren't going to Atlantic City.

~sigh~

That should be the perfect end to a summer from hell. I only hope it makes things easier for her. Since her last heart attack and medication change, she's not been able to get out as much. The medications working together help her heart but they give her chronic gout.

I guess it's good that its finally happened because we've been waiting on this for over a year now.

I wonder if I'll be able to use my vacation days for myself next year, or if they will all go to hospital stays again.

~bigger sigh~

It's Been On My Mind

Some things I've been thinking about lately....

~ How the hydraulic hoses on my car that were bad managed to affect my car stereo. They are now fixed and those goofy error messages on my cd player have stopped. Weird. However Bernie can now turn left again. Yay!

~ Am I going to be able to spout out any words to Fish on Saturday? Better still am I going to be able to go. I can think of many reasons why I shouldn't bother, but very few reasons why I should.

~ If I do manage to go, will the Fishy one let me have my picture taken with him. Oh the blog fodder that will ensue.

~ Why am I acting like Fishy is some very famous sort? He's no different then I am, only he has a slightly better job...except when he has to lose his weekends off to do stupid stuff like this.

~ Keri Noble's new CD is out next month in Japan but the US release date isn't until March. WTF is up with that?

~ My nephew bought an I-fucking-pod. I don't know why. Actually I've been telling him I don't know him, because he has succumbed to Ipod peer pressure.

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 137

From Music Memoirs

~ What songs remind you of the end of summer?
One song comes to mind, Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward. Oh and Don Henley's Boys Of Summer. It would be a crime if I forgot that one.

~ What were/are some of the musical needs you had fill before heading back to school?
I always made a bunch of mix tapes for the car before going back to school. I commuted for the 4 years I spent at California University of PA, so I had to have some good tunes, because the radio sucks, and The Pickle wasn't there then.


~ The Beach Boys said, "Be True To Your School" are you?
Nope. Never was, never will be, and wild horses couldn't drag me to a class reunion.

~ Are there any songs that really make you think of the classroom, whether it be the lower grades, high school or college?
The Musical Chess particularly Nobody's Side and One Night In Bangkok make me think of my first year of college which was rather tumultuous.

A Fishy Development

It seems my Fishy one is coming to Charleroi on Saturday for a Pickle Live appearance. He's going to be at a restaurant/sports bar downtown. Yes, I went into a small amount of shock when he announced it yesterday, because I don't know if I was really hoping for something like that. Best to keep my feelings in check.

So I sent him an email asking him if he'd slug me if I showed up at My Cousin Vinny's on Saturday afternoon.

This morning I got a response.

Feel free. get mom out to spin the wheel.

I think he's telling me that I need chaperoned. Mind you, he's probably right. I need someone to make sure I don't open my mouth and stick my foot right in it.

Must remember....friendship is all that can happen here. (No matter how devastingly beautiful I am. HA!)

Must remember there is a person he's involved with.

Still I want to make a good impression, because well, I want him to know that I'm not scary, and that I can be a friend. Cos I really miss his friendship.

Crocs?

What is it about these hideous shoes that has everyone in a tizzy. Crocs are the ugliest shoes I've ever seen in my life. They are glorified jellies. Hello! Anyone remember jellies from the 80's? Surely I'm not the only one.

These are an updated, uglier and more expensive version of those cheap ass shoes that everyone bought and wore. I had dozens of them, and to this day I don't know why.

The question I keep asking myself is why do I want a pair of these?

I'm not one to succumb to peer pressure, but upon seeing these things I wanted a pair. I must be out of my mind. The cheapest pair, the Prima is $24.99 which is much more than I like to spend on shoes these days. I'm a Payless kinda girl.

Maybe I want to have a small part of the 80's back in my life. I don't know, but I really really want a pair of these stupid shoes, even if they will break the bank.

Random 10 - Week 119

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)

Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time
(I found my Heart Of Stone tape awhile back and this weekend it went in my parents car, because mine is on the verge of breaking down.)

The Clientele - Bookshop Casanova
(Thanks to Nat I have a new muiscal obsession)

Death Cab For Cutie - Soul Meets Body
(I was trying terribly to like this band again. Plans may make it to my CD collection at some point)

The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You
(I thought I knew you. What did I know)

The Monkees - Tell Me Love
(There's something extremely sexy about this song from their final album)

The Bangles - Different Light
(Another old tape that made it into my dad's car)

Henry Lee Summer - I Wish I Had A Girl
(I finally got the tape to play. Now I wish I had this song on mp3 or on CD because it's stuck in my damn head!)

Erasure - I Could Fall In Love With You
(Have I mentioned how much I love their new album?)

Blondie - Rapture
(The man from mars is eating cars again! I wish he'd eat my beretta)

Clan Of Xymox - Agonised By Love
(I uploaded this one for a friend the other day)

And now for the picture..Meet a 2 toed sloth.

I'm So Lazy

I think my weekend has turned into one big lazyfest. I just have no motivation to do anything at all.

I did get to the gym 2 times though, so I think I deserve a yee ha for that.

I found out that I need to make a small purchase at Snapfish or they'll delete all my photos. ARGH! So I went to my account only to find out I hadn't uploaded the pictures from my grandmother's 100th b-day party. Those were the pictures I wanted to buy too.

So I've got 30 days to get those uploaded so I can make a purchase.

Can I just say that's so damn aggravating? Because it is. It's damn aggravating.

I still have to upload pictures from the Akron Zoo from last week to flikr as well as the pictures I took at Critter Country Animal Park yesterday. I have no idea when I'm going to get that done either. I hate the process of weeding through photos to get rid of the shots that didn't turn out.

I'm just totally exhausted. I never feel like I have enough sleeping time or time to do anything I want to do, but when I do get to do something the time flies by.

I think I'm just totally exhausted, physically and mentally. It's been a very rough few weeks and I don't think I'm over any of it just yet.

I Miss My Cassette Player

Why?

Because I have a stack of cassettes that I really want to listen to, but can't, because my stereo's CD player is shot.

Blergh.

I refuse to spend money on a fancy stereo system when most of my music just goes to my computer to be burned on mix cds or transfered to one of my mp3 players.

I have a nice tiny desktop system I bought at Macy's for $40 last Christmas. It's perfect and has an auxiliary hookup for my turntable. Yes, folks, I still own and play vinyl. I love vinyl. I fact this past spring I stole...erm borrowed 2 of my sister's Gordon Lightfoot albums. Don't tell her she's never going to see them again, m'kay?

A few of the cassettes I found, aren't available on CD or if they were they are long out of print. The only place I can play these tapes are in my father's car, and even that isn't quite as nice as my stereo was.

I probably should toss them out, but my heart can't let go.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 137

From Music Memoirs

Top 5 "earworms" that you actually like getting stuck in your head.

1. Cliff Richard - Climbing Up Mount Everest
This is my favorite earworm. I put it on so many mix CDs that it's ridiculous. When it comes on, I'm giddy and it stays in my head for ages afterwards

2. The Moody Blues - Vintage Wine
The catchyness of this song is criminal. It's also criminal that this song was never done live. There's not much redeeming in the album Sur La Mer, but this song has to be one of the best. It's bouncy. It's happy. It's annoying as all hell in a good way. Bless you for this one, Jus.

3. Manfred Mann - The Mighty Quinn
This song got stuck inside my head the first time I saw the short clip/video on Vh-1 Classic. I always feel good after hearing it, and it always sticks with me too.

4. Elvis Costello - Tart
This song has a history of popping into my head when watching the food network. All a chef has to do is make a "tart" and there it is...wrapping around my brain.

Tart....and the flavor is...Tart!

A very strange yet oddly enjoyable song by Mr. Costello.

5. Rob Thomas - Ever The Same
They play this one a lot on BOB FM...and I do mean a lot. I didn't know what it was until someone asked for the song on a livejournal community and I played it while uploading it.

Honorable mentions go to Elvis Costello for Crimes of Paris, Monkey to Man and Battered Old Bird, The Moody Blues for Don't Need A Reindeer and Lovely To See You, and Gary Puckett & the Union Gap for Lady Willpower

Where Did The Week Go?

I can't believe it's Friday already. At this time last week I was getting ready to go to Canton.

Damn.

A week is gone in the blink of an eye.

However it was a week that I would gladly see pass. I don't wish to go through another one like this, or rather another day like Monday for quite awhile.

I would like to go back to Friday and call a do over of the weekend. I wish there had been more time to do things, to see things, to take more pictures, to make it go more slowly.

It's not fair that so much of this summer has flown by much like this week has. I had plans, such plans, to do things and see things, and they've all gone to hell. Now it's mid August and the summer is winding down and none of them got done for one reason or another.

I feel like I've done nothing, though I know I've done a few things. I've been to Kennywood, I've been to Phipps, I've gone to Canton...No wait, I haven't really done anything and like a child, I'm going to pout about it.

I had such high expectations of this summer and they've all been brought low. I almost want to wish this year away, because it's been so awful, but I can't, because frankly I'm scared next year will be worse.

Vintage Photo

Who's that spiffy guy in the coast guard uniform?

That's my father.

I found the picture while cleaning and scanned it. Lately I've been finding old photos of my family. I have a photo of my dad's parents that I want to scan soon. That was the set of grandparents that I never knew. In fact, the only grandparent that I've known is my mother's mom. All the others were gone on by the time I was born.

This past week has made me think about all these people and how I don't really know the people close to me. I know very little of the life my dad's led, other than what I've seen in the last 33 years, I'm ashamed to say.

I want to change that. I don't want to go through my life and not know the people that I love the most.

It's Time For New Music

I was at Amazon yesterday doing random searches for things that might amuse me in the coming months. Boy did I find a lot of stuff. Lots of stuff. It's possible that I could singlehandedly help the music industry out of it's slump.

Here are some of this fall's offerings that will probably make their way into my collection.

The Very Best Of Diana Krall - Release Sept 18



Suzy Bogguss - Sweet Dreams - Release Sept 4
I've already heard this one. It's pretty darn good too.



Debbie Harry - Necessary Evil - Release Sept 25
I love the cover of this one. I think I would buy it for that alone.



Ann Wilson (Of Heart) Hope & Glory Release - Sept 11
I need to hear more of this one, because it's a covers CD with lots of special guests, but I can't deny that Ann still rocks hard.



Annie Lennox - Songs Of Mass Destruction - Release Oct 2
I can't wait for this one. I love Annie!!!



Loreena McKennitt - Nights From Alhambra (live)
I still haven't bought her last album. Bad me.



These all will be added to my Amazon Wish List. Cos there's Christmas coming up in a few short months. (ARGH)

Musical Randomosity

~ I bought my first truly copy protected CD. Let me tell you this, EMI, screw you. I had to download special software, but I ripped your copy protected CD and now the files will be on my mp3 player. I paid for that disc, I deserve to be able to do what I want with it.



If it weren't a Keri Noble CD that I desperately wanted, I would be so pissed off. As it is, I'm just mildly annoyed.

~ The Moody Blues are now the artist I love to hate. I've been listening to them more out of habit than love anymore. I think its possible that they've run their course. That makes me sad. However I just don't care anymore.

~ The new Matchbox Twenty is available for preorder on Amazon.



I can't wait for Exile On Mainstream, even though its a Best Of compilation. I heard there were going to be several "new" songs too. Yay! I love me some Rob Thomas. Oh and the song How Far We've Come is damn good.

~ Duran Duran...will they ever finish that new album they've been working on for the last 3 years. What a bunch of lazy wankers!

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 136

From Music Memoirs

What bands from the 90's that have broken up do you miss?
Semisonic though I'm not sure they've officially broken up, but they haven't had a "real" release since.
Are Smash Mouth still around? I saw that Sugar Ray was doing a concert this year, but I think that I miss looking at the lead singer rather than listening to them, though I have to say I really loved that Every Morning song, even though it was played into the ground.

What was your favorite song from that decade?
There were quite a few good songs from the 90's
Semisonic - Closing Time
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
Sarah McLachlan - Building a Mystery
Matchbox Twenty - Push
Garbage - I'm Only Happy When It Rains

What was your favorite album?
If I'm totally honest with you....




How did you feel about the whole "grunge" genre that popped up in the early 90's?
One genre that singlehandedly made an entire generation of people not wash or comb their damn hair and the music itself was vile with very few exceptions. I won't even start on my "Kurt Cobain was a talentless man" rant because it's not nice to speak unkindly of the dead. Suffice to say grunge = crap in my book.

What was your favorite 1 hit wonder of that decade?
Hands down it had to be Chumbawumba's Tubthumper. That one still gets stuck in my head every time I hear it.

* Note: Elvis Costello doesn't make the list, though he had some of his most awesome music in the 90's, I wasn't listening to him much then. Actually I wasn't listening to him at all.

Wandering Around In A Daze

This weekend combined with yesterday's trip to Pittsburgh for my father was just too much. I'm exhausted. I'm also so thrown off my routine I don't know how I'll get back on it.

Tired as I am, I'm going to try to go to Jack's because this past weekend was all about eating out and right now I feel like a fatass.

I'm scared to come out of this daze because I know when I do I'm going to be really depressed. The Atlantic City trip has been put on hold and that in itself will put me in a funk. No pretty lights until next year. ~sigh~

However that's a small price to pay for dad not having anything done other than the heart cath. We really expected them to be doing something a bit more evasive that would result in his not being able to drive for 4 weeks. That, thank god was not the case. He should be able to do his running around town by the end of the week.

I just hope that I can get through the day today without passing out cold on my desk from tiredness. At least at my brother's I got nearly 8 hours of sleep each night, but Sunday night I only got about 4.5 and last night about 6.5.

I'm just so exhausted. I don't know whether I'm coming or going. Someone please direct me towards my bed and give me a pillow.

And This Was The Day

~ Dad's heart cath was done and he's home now. Can I get a yee ha for that? They found 2 small blockages that they don't believe will affect anything so they didn't do the angioplasty. The valve that's not working properly is also not as bad as they thought, so they chose not to do open heart surgery to fix. All these are the pluses. The minus is he has a weak heart muscle and they need to find the proper medication for him. My dad is one of the lucky few that don't suffer from hypertension. His blood pressure is actually on the low side.

~ I'm extremely tired after being up at what we like to call o'dark thirty to take dad into the city of Pittsburgh. I need another weekend to get over these last few days.

~ I got everyone to Shadyside Hospital without getting lost or without printing up directions. I am officially the goddess of driving in Pittsburgh. Bow to my greatness!

~ Boston Market sirloin dip sandwiches are delicious. So are the mashed potatoes.

~ The cost to park in a hospital parking lot is insane even when you have a patient in the hospital. WTF? They cut you a break on by charging you only $3.75 when you are picking the patient up or there for outpatient/short stay surgery.

~ UPMC Hospitals are the cleanest and most friendly hospitals I've ever been in. The hospital my sister was in in December gave me the creeps.

Random 10 - Week 118

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)

This was my traveling music for the weekend...

Tommy James - Isn't That The Guy
Rob Thomas - Ever The Same
Dar Williams - Echoes (I love this song)
Plumb - Free
Justin Hayward - Celtic Heart
Toby Lightman - Real Love
Paul Stookey - The Wedding Song (There Is Love)
Elvis Costello - Who Are These People (Explicit Version)
Anggun - Still Reminds Me
Tom Petty - Big Weekend

And for my picture? My brother's cat BeeBee

I'm Home

I had a wonderful weekend. I almost had my mind off things that are going to happen tomorrow.

Today I went to IHOP for the first time. Mmmmm. Nummy. I hope that chain makes it to my area soon. We're supposed to be getting a few of the restaurants in the next year or so. Fingers crossed that Washington, PA will get one of them. Ham & Cheese Crepes are delicious!

After IHOP we headed to the Akron Zoo or as we were calling it, the Acorn Zoo. I've been to a lot of zoos and that one ranks up there as one of the nicest, right along with the Erie Zoo. The gardens there are spectacular. It was just gorgeous. Hopefully I'll be able to post some photos in the next few days, after things here at home settle down.

All I ask is that you keep my father in your thoughts for the next 24 hours. My fingers are crossed that whatever is wrong can be easily fixed and that he will be ok and home with us by the end of the week.

I'm In Ohio

I can't help but blog, there's a computer in the guest room. Wheeeee! Today we're going to go to Ohio's Amish Country, eat some good food, do some shopping and generally bum around the area. I've only been to my brother's once, when my hard drive crashed and I had him look at the computer to make sure it was nothing worse.

Tomorrow, I'm finally going to IHOP and then to the Akron Zoo. I love zoos. Zoos make me smile.

Oh I have to say I made it here without getting lost.

Can I get a "Yee Ha" for that?

I think so. I think I deserve a yee haw.

More later.....

Top 5 On Friday - Week 136

From Music Memoirs


Top 5 artists you loved in college.

I listened to some pretty odd stuff from 1992-1996 when I attended California University of PA.

1. Michael Crawford - Yes, that would be the Phantom Of The Opera. The only Phantom worth mentioning in my book. I loved musicals. I still do. The only difference is now I can't afford to go see them. Pooh!

2. Sarah Brightman - Dive and Unexpected Songs were the two albums I owed at the time. I loved the song Meadowlark, and well, everything on Dive. I think Sarah does really good new agey pop music.

3. Duran Duran - I didn't get into Duran Duran until The Wedding Album. After that it was just a bad thing. They became an addiction for several years. They aren't as huge a part of my musical life these days, but I still like them.

4. Erasure - I Say I Say I Say came out when I was in college. It was one of my favorite albums, and I was extremely happy to walk in a Sam Goody store and find the CD Single for Always. It brought me much joy.

5. Alison Moyet - Half of Yazoo and one hell of a great voice. I had to discover Erasure to discover her. It was definitely worth it. Alf has one of the best voices out there.

Mini Vacation

Suddenly the one thing I was looking forward too isn't all that exciting. I really wanted to enjoy the trip to Canton, OH that I'm going to take tomorrow, but I just can't now. I'm going to be a basket case the whole time.

At least I'm going to be staying with my brother, whose wife is a cardiac nurse, so she can reassure me that when I come home on Monday everything will be fine. Everything must be fine. Or as fine as it can be.

I'm just so damn tired right now. I've been getting to bed later. I've been trying to get stuff done.

But I am going to try to enjoy the 2 days that I'm away from home. However all I want right now is a few good hours of uninterrupted sleep, because no matter what I do, my body has been waking up earlier and earlier and I haven't been able to fall back to sleep. Maybe when I'm at my brother's where there's central air, I'll be able to zone out for a full 8.

I'll be leaving shortly after work tomorrow and staying until Sunday evening. My brother is a computer guru so I'll probably be able to post after tomorrow morning too.

When The Going Gets Tough

The tough get Prozac. Now pass the prozac. The dad situation is not too good. I'll be taking 2 vacation days on Monday and Tuesday because he's going to be having a heart cath.

They already know there's a valve that isn't working properly and they want to see if there are any blockages etc.

I don't know why this came as a shock to me. I was expecting something like this, really I was, but hearing it was like a blow to the gut. I saw the doctor typing in what was wrong with him, and I felt the air being squeezed out of me, because I knew that nothing he was typing could be good. When do doctors ever type good things into the computer? Especially cardiologists.

I should be used to this, right? Mom's been through it more times than I can count.

Right now I'm feeling totally numb. I refuse to cry. Crying is a waste of energy. It doesn't even do me any good, and believe me I'd know, I've spent more than my share of crying over the last few months. Crying gets you nowhere and nothing.

I'm not a deeply religious person, but right now if any of you send prayers our way, it would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully God hasn't forgotten my family and he'll make everything turn out well on Monday, or at least as well as they can be.

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 135

From Music Memoirs


Back in the day before the internet ruled the earth and people went to malls etc...

What was your favorite record store?
Oasis Music, which was a division of the National Record Mart chain was my very favorite. It was a huge store located near South Park off Route 88. My CD collection grew large partially due to that store. I loved it to pieces and went there at least twice a month.

Are there any non-chain stores that you still frequent for your music needs?
When I'm in Pittsburgh I try to hit Dave's Music Mine on the South Side. They have a huge vinyl section in the basement of the store, plus they carry imports! That's a big Squee for a girl that loves music from Europe.

What was your favorite "find" at your favorite store?
I found a Duran Duran poster at Oasis back in the early 90's from the early days. I can't remember if it was Rio era or Seven & The Ragged Tiger era, but the poster was mint, and I paid only 50 cents for it!!!

Big Sigh

So much for all being well with the world. My dad had his doctor's appointment yesterday and the results of that visit weren't all that we wanted them to be. All is NOT well.

He's got Cardio Myopathy, and if there's someone that can better explain what that is, I'd be truly happy. I know it has to do with how well the heart is pumping. He has low blood pressure so the meds that they usually prescribe would lower it even more, so his doctor is sending him to a specialist "today" because she was at her wits end at what to give him to get this under control.

All of this makes me feel numb. I'm used to things being wrong with my mother, not my father. He's the older of the two, as well. Which means we really should have been expecting something to come along.

But who wants to think about that? I don't see my father as an 81 year old man, at least I didn't until yesterday. Now I do. Now I've got 2 parents to really worry about.

I went apeshit when the nurses in ER called him an "elderly" gentlemen. I don't like the word elderly much, I think I've mentioned that. (Even if its true)

Now I have to come to grips with reality, a reality that I really don't want to get a grip on.

Please keep my dad in your thoughts and prayers.

Random 10 - Week 117

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)

I was ripping some different music to my hard drive this weekend, so inevitably some of that was played. Plus there's the music I listened to on my drive to Washington on Sunday...most of which was accompanied by cussing, because my car CD player kept conking out, forcing me to listen to 99.3 The Pickle. (That resulted in more cussing or growling because that meant I heard someone doing their commercials)

1. Anggun - Still Reminds Me
2. The Monkees - Sometime In The Morning
3. Paul Stookey - The Wedding Song (There Is Love)
(I requested that one for my mother on Friday, because I'm a total goof)
4. The Farm - The Man Who Cried
5. Peter Tork - Giant Step
6. Paul McCartney - Mister Bellamy
(This song is so darn trippy)
7. The Beatles - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
(One of my favorite Beatles tunes)
8. Herman's Hermits - Silhouettes
(That was on The Pickle)
9. Shamen - Destination Eschaton
10. Tommy James - Lupe & Joe
(I miss hearing this song on The Pickle)

And now for the picture..found on the Pickle website.



Fishy has silly knees. So glad I talked myself out of going. I would have just embarrassed myself, going all gaga over his silly knees. Stupid cute DJ. Stupid self that still has a stupid crush on the stupid cute DJ. ARGH!

ARGH I've Been To The Mall!

I wanted to get a few new things for my weekend at my brother's so I headed out to Crown Center in Washington.

A few hours later and about a hundred dollars charged, I'm home with two huge bags of clothes. Can you say, "SALE?" I gave equal amounts of money to the Macy's and Dots Gods, who should be sufficiently pleased.

I have some really cute outfits too, for this trip and hopefully my trip to Atlantic City next month. I still need to get to Rue 21 because after last week's Pittsburgh trip, I've got a huge love for that store.

As you might have guessed, I love clothes. I always have. That combined with CDs have been my downfall over the years.

I try really hard not to buy out the stores, but you get me into a good department store or other shop and I see things that are super cute and I go on a binge. Worse still, B. Moss is going to be opening at Crown Center this week. ARGH! More cute clothes.

It wouldn't be so bad if I had someplace to wear them, but my job is super casual, jeans and t-shirts casual. I really need to find places to wear all my new clothes. And this is why I really need a date. However since I'm not going to get one of those, I'll just have to think up more places to go.

Saturday Stuff

~ I can't believe I ordered the two new Elvis Costello Best Of compilations on BMG. I told myself I would not to this, but they had a sale and I got them both for about 7 bucks and that includes shipping. ACK! BMG is evil. It seduces me.


The First Ten Years: Seriously I'm probably never going to listen to this one.



Rock N Roll Music: Again..I think I ordered them because Elvis Costello needs the cash to put the twins through college in 17 years.

~ I'm reading a wonderful book by Theresa Alan.



Granted no one is like a real human being, but it's extremely funny. It's about a group friends in an Improv troupe and their struggles to make it. It has the token beautiful blonde...the token fat girl..a gay guy...cos these are becoming a token character too.

I'm always a bit confused by how writers always make the heroine breathtakingly beautiful or dowdy, or so she believes she is. Its unnerving at times. Oh and even the dowdy ones have jobs, or can afford to have an apartment or a house on waitresses wages. Where the hell do these women live, anyway?

Ah but I shouldn't complain, it's a good book. I just long for something that smacks a little of reality so I could feel that there was hope for me one day.

~ Speaking of romance, ok, speaking of someone I still wouldn't mind hooking up with. Fishy is going to be in Smithton in a few hours. If I had courage, which I don't have, I would go just to say hi and to see how he would react to seeing me in the flesh as opposed to being crazy email girl, whose voice he knows without my even saying my name, even after 4 weeks of radio silence. "I'm the only one that calls him Fishy, besides his goddaughter" or so he said at one time.

But I know I won't go, for two reasons:

1. I don't want to be disappointed by him. If I planned this, I'd get my hopes up that he'd meet me and he'd realize I'm really a normal girl. (Well as normal as I can be) Our friendship would resume. Life would be happy again. My email box wouldn't be lonely anymore and I could listen to Pickle again in the morning.

2. All the pent up emotion would come washing through when I saw him and I'd either burst into tears or hit him. Both things aren't a good idea or a good way to make a first impression.

So you can see my dilemma and you can see why I'm going to be sitting on my butt at home or safely working out at Jack's. I don't think I could stand it the results of either of those reasons.