Randomosity Returns

~ I want to know why we have to work when it's pouring down rain. (or snow) I think bad weather days should be an excuse to stay in bed.

~ Matchbox Twenty has a new album coming out and a new song on their website called How Far We've Come. This makes me happy. Rob Thomas = Love. It's a hits package, but hey it's a hits package with new songs. Yay!

~ I'm not in the mood for anything right now. I'm jittery and bored. Not an easy combination to deal with. I need some me time that doesn't involve me sitting by a computer.

~ Two books I've been reading that I recommend. (Yeah I read more than one thing at a time. I'm nuts)

That Camden Summer


(click to buy @ amazon)

A wonderful piece of romantic fiction set in the early days of the 1900's. Not smutty at all, just a story about one divorced woman's attempt to build a life for her 3 daughters in her hometown that isn't taking kindly to an outspoken divorcee returning.

The Cat That Came To Breakfast

(click to buy @ amazon)

I love the cat mystery series. Nuff said. You should try one too.

~ I've been listening to more female artists these days then men. Not sure why that is. I think I've even turned all Lilith Fair. This cannot be a good thing. This has to be a statement to the fact that music is taking a downward spiral or that guys are just screaming with their guitars and not singing. Hmmmm.

The Erie Trip That's Not To Be

Well, as my sister just got the bill for her car's transmission, the plans we had for going to Erie this month were pretty much washed away. Funny, I'm not feeling too awful about it, because I think we'd be sleeping in our car or paying way too much money for a room at this point.

~sigh~

This has just been the summer of disappointments.

But then again, I'm getting closer to having the bulk of my debt paid off, so all in all it's not to bad, plus there are loads of things in the area that can be done. I want to go to The Good Zoo in Wheeling and The Pittsburgh Zoo. But right now I'm not even trying to contemplate things to do. It's not worth it, because it's likely to end in more disappointment. And when things don't turn out I end up just like a child. I sulk, whine and cry around.

Another thing that is keeping me from making too many plans far in advance is that my mom's pacemaker is down to it's last 25% on the battery which means at any given month it could hit the point where she'd have to have a minor surgery.

Perhaps this is a higher powers way of telling me that it's a year for staying home and getting things sorted out.

I just wish the staying home part didn't mean staying home and doing nothing.

Blergh!

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 132

From Music Memoirs


Were you ever a member of any "music clubs"? Which ones? Are you still a member?
I think at one time I was a member of all of them; Columbia House, Play, and BMG. Now that BMG is the only one left, that's the only one I still belong to. I've got some good deals there too.

Columbia House used to offer 12 CDs for a penny. If you could choose 12 CDs what would they be. (Domestic releases only to make it realistic)

Toby Lightman - Bird On A Wire
Toby Lightman - Little Things
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Lisa Loeb - The Very Best Of Lisa Loeb
Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing
Suzanne Vega - 9 Objects of Desire
Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love
Crowded House - Farewell To The World
Louise Setera - Still Waters
Roxette - A Collection Of Roxette Hits
Tracey Thorn - Out Of The Woods
Warren Zevon: Genius: The Very Best Of Warren Zevon


What would you change about the music clubs?
The shipping costs! Lordy! That's where these blighters make all their money. That's why I tend to order when they have a "Free Shipping" special. They charge per disc, so if you're getting a good deal on a box set, you lose it on shipping. Blergh!

Tuesday Randomness

~ Still no plans made for the Erie trip. I'm frustrated, but since sister's car has had a bad transmission I'm not saying a damn thing. I still don't know how this trip is going to happen. It's a weekend. I can't imagine finding a place to stay right now at the height of vacation season in Erie is going to be easy.

~ The scale and I are fighting again. Scale seems to think I should be a fat ass. I hate the scale and want to throw it out the window. Oh and heat makes me retain loads of water...and I'm PMSy. Yeah, TMI, I know.

~ Another one of my bills happens to be paid off! Yee haw! I can see myself being almost debt free in about a year or so. Not bad. It's been a long time getting there too. I'm pleased.

~ I hate days without music, but that was my day yesterday at work. I just had my old creative muvo player with me. I maintained radio silence the whole day. I'm quite pleased with myself on that score...and have I mentioned that I truly hate radio. OK, not all radio, but I won't tune into WPKL. I won't! Cos I don't want to hear He-who-should-be-flushed-down-the-toilet.

~ Diet Coke Plus isn't all that bad. And yay for vitamins. Why? Because I always forget to take my multivitamin.

~ I hate gas prices, along with the rest of the country. My Exxon credit card is the only one that will never be paid off. ~sigh~ I can't even get a grip on that one and that sucks.

Missing Mondays

This is my meme where I share things that I miss...This week only one thing.

~ Family vacations: When I was a little girl up until about my 2nd year in college mom, dad and I would make our yearly pilgrimage to two of my favorite places in the world, Erie and Lancaster. Every so often we'd go somewhere else, like Seaworld or Niagra Falls, but for the most part we either went to Erie or Lancaster. Now mom and dad are too old or sick to travel that much, and well, the car just isn't good enough to make long trips either.

I found postcards of one of my favorite places in Lancaster this weekend during my cleaning spree. They are of a family amusement park located on Lincoln Highway (RT 30) in Lancaster. It's called Dutch Wonderland. Like all small amusement parks, it was bought up, but by Hersheypark. So it's still much the same park only with a few more rides for the older riders aka the parents.

One of the postcards has the old monorail. That made me smile the most because that particular ride was charred one year when we went. The monorail had been hit by lightning. The new monorail looked more like a box on the track rather than the futuristic car that used to move over the rails.





Another place we used to go was The Choo Choo Barn. A lovely spot heading out to Strasburg. It's a toy train place, only with a twist. The scenery around the trains is Lancaster. You'll see miniature versions of all the sites of the area. I loved it as a small girl.

And Strasburg, where you could take a short ride on the old steam engines. One of the cars on the train came from the film Hello Dolly. That was the car I always wanted to ride on.

Then there was Kitchen Kettle Village and the Farmers Markets, where all kinds of yummy goodies could be bought and eaten.

And speaking of eats....there was Good N' Plenty a Family Style restaurant where you sat at a long table with about 4 other families and enjoyed all kinds of great Amish food. Mmmm. Fresh bread, apple butter, homemade butter. My waistline is growing just thinking about it.

And on almost every trip to Lancaster we'd go almost into Philly to Kennett Square to Longwood Gardens. I've been back 3 times since, but it's not the same without my mom, who loves the place, but can't walk well anymore.

I miss this so badly. Those were good times.

Random 10 - Week 114

From "me" @ 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)

There was a mixed bag of tunes this weekend. Most came from my computer or mp3 player and one track was played @ Kings Restaurant when we went there for dinner tonight. BTW, Southwestern Omelets with cheesy hash brown casserole is a wonderful dinner choice!

Paul McCartney - Goodnight Tonight
(That was the restaurant song)

Rachael Sage - Obvious
(If I didn't know I had listened to this song while exercising at Jack's this morning I would swear it helped to prompt that nasty dream I had)

Tim Curry - Baby Love
(A pal from Livejournal sent me this one. OMG! I love Tim. He rocked on Psych on Friday night too)

The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball
(If it weren't for that dream I would think that the worst really was over now)

Toby Lightman - Real Love
(I discovered her this weekend, however the album I snagged didn't have this song on it! I am sad)

Paul Young - Ain't No Sunshine
(A glorious cover of this classic song. Paul does justice to Motown like no other)

The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams
(This is possibly one of my favorite songs of all times)

Grey Eye Glances - Big Red Boat
(If you don't like this song, I feel sorry for you)

Tom Petty - Zombie Zoo
(Gigglefest)

Cliff Richard - Carrie
(The first song on a mix cd in my car)

This week's picture: The dromedary says: FEED ME! FEED ME NOW!

And You're Still On My Mind

Damn it. It's been a week. I've distanced myself from someone. Why? Because I know that they don't care. It's a good thing. Right? I've tuned into another station when the boss has turned the radio on at work, but mostly I've maintained radio silence.

Truth be told, he wasn't on my mind much this week. I was convincing myself that he was forgotten. Just a little bit of stupidity that kept me amused for a few months. An innocent diversion, if you will.

Not the case.

My subconscious rebelled last night, in the form of a dream. I hate dreams, because all in all they seem so real and when I wake up I'm almost always feeling let down. This was no exception.

I dreamed my cell phone was ringing and when I answered it was said person who shall be now known as he-who-should-be-flushed-down-the-toilet. He was arguing with me because "I" was ignoring him. I was arguing with him that he didn't answer mine anymore either so it didn't matter.

I don't know if there was any resolution to this in the dream because I woke up then. All I know is that someone that I was working my way to forgetting is back in my head. Please make him go away.

And Update On The Cleaning

3 bags of VHS tapes...Gone! I haven't made much space, but stuff is gone. And that's a good thing right?

I also did some work downstairs clearing some stuff out. I found some postcards my mother bought when I was a wee girl...I'll be scanning them for Missing Mondays. I also found some kindergarten pictures of myself.

Oye!

I was one ugly kid. OK, I'm still ugly, but that's beside the point.

~shudders~

I've still got to sort out what I'm doing with the VHS tapes. I need to get a whole kaboodle of CDs off my floor before some tragedy befalls them. And I couldn't survive if that happened.

After I finish that mess I need to start on the clothes again...and the books. Though the only way I'll get rid of books is if I've read them. I have enough reading material to see me to my dying day right now, sadly I don't know what to do with the cheesy novels and whatnot after I finish reading them.

~sigh~

Why can't tossing crap be easy?

Weekend Projects

It's dejunking time again my friends. I stare at my entertainment center and know that in a month or two I'll be taking the monstrosity down and burning it for firewood. So I'm going through VHS tapes that I have that I don't watch and I'll be tossing them.

I wish I could unload some of my odd movies that I've accumulated over the years. I could use the extra cash, and well, I never watch them. Heck I don't watch my dvds, mostly because I have the attention span of warm cellophane.

I have plans of buying a nice small stand for my tv/vcr/dvd player. My stereo doesn't need a home, because I think in the long run, the Stereo may be getting junked too. The tape player is broke and I don't use the CD player much and when I do it's hyper sensitive.

I just need to find a good spot for my knick-knacks. The top of my entertainment center is where all my shot glasses reside, as well as my Nightmare Before Christmas snow globes and other odd memorabilia. These things will have to find a new home when I get the new stand.

So in an attempt to live up to the girl scout motto, as I once was a scout, I'm going to be prepared and start clearing crap now. I'm also going to go through the closets again and see if I can make a donation to good will.

That should keep my weekend full.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 132

From "me" @ Music Memoirs

Top 5 Musical Collaborations (songs, albums) it can be a mixture of both.

I could do this in all Elvis Costello collaborations...but I'll try to show some variation.

1. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach: My favorite of his collaborations. It all started with the Austin Powers soundtrack with EC's lovely version of I'll Never Fall In Love Again...no I lie he did Bacharach and David songs almost from the beginning of his career, but who cares...It all leads up to this:

Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - Painted From Memory


(click to buy @ amazon)

2. The other Elvis Costello collaboration I can't fail to mention is his brief writing partnership with Paul McCartney. Though the 2 never recorded a full album together their songs appeared on 5 CDs.

These are my favorite albums that they appear on:

Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt


(click to buy @ amazon)

Elvis Costello - Mighty Like A Rose


(click to buy @ amazon)

Next are 3 songs.....

3. Dusty Springfield & The Pet Shop Boys - Nothing Has Been Proved
Everyone remembers The Pet Shop Boys hit with Dusty, but many don't remember this song which is really gorgeous. It would have been nice if a full album would have come out of their working together. I think it would have sounded lovely.

4. David Bowie w/Queen - Under Pressure
This is such a fantastic song, if only Vanilla Ice wouldn't have used it. That's seriously so very wrong.

5. Cliff Richard & Olivia Newton-John - Had To Be
This song came from the musical Heathcliff. It's stunning. Cliff and Olivia worked together on other songs like Suddenly from her film Xanadu, but this one is my personal favorite. I've often wondered why they didn't do an album together, their voices blend so well together.

Thursday Thirteen

13 random things about me

1. If dinner time gets any later I'm never going to be able to drag my butt to the gym this week. Must find alternate means of getting food. If I don't leave for the gym before 6 o'clock there's no way my butt is going. ARGH!

2. I'm the only human not affected by the Harry Potter madness. Erm they are just books people and movies, calm down and wait your turn.

3. The heatwave broke yesterday and I could finally sleep without a fan. That was a wonderful thing.

4. Kings has these fancy pancakes right now. I want them. If I can not have IHOP, someone take me to Kings for my chocolate chip pancakes. Then remind me why I'm always battling with the scale.

5. "At your journey's end you'll find a friend in me." Lovely words aren't they? There's at least one person I'd like to share them with, but since they don't care...Fuck em' No wait. They might like that.

6. I hate reading album reviews, especially on Amazon. I've found there's only one opinion that I value and that's mine. Sound clips are more helpful to me then someone else's arrogant opinion. Mind you that doesn't stop me from sharing my arrogant opinion, but I only do that on my blog.

7. Fucktard is my favorite word right now.

8. If you can't say it with love, say it with a cat macro!



9. Getting dressed in the morning is not a favorite thing of mine. I think we should be able to go to work in our PJs and fuzzy slippers.

10. Free concerts annoy me, especially when the one I want to see happens to be on the weekend I planned to be away from home. GRRRRRRR.

11. I never get any time to vegetate properly anymore. I miss vegging.

12. My car hates me. But the gas pumps hate me more.

13. We're supposed to go to Erie at the end of the month, assuming I can find a damn hotel room. So far this isn't looking good either. ARGH!

Mmmm New Music....Tasty

I just discovered yet another new artist and I bought 3 more CDs with my gift certificate that I got for my b-day from my wonderful friend Julie.

But first the new artist: Siobhan Donaghy


(click to buy @ amazon)

Brilliant sounding from what I've heard so far, plus that's one of the most beautiful covers I've seen in ages. However it's an import CD, so I can't afford it yet. ~sigh~

I did buy 3 CDs though with my gift certificate. I went across the board and bought 3 different artists. I like to spread the love around. And I know you're curious as to what I got...so without further delay...MY PURCHASES

Gordon Lightfoot - East Of Midnight


(click to buy @ amazon)

Right now, Gordon is my favorite artist, hands down. He tops Elvis Costello and the Moody Blues.

Amanada Marshall - self titled


(click to buy @ amazon)

I couldn't pass this one up for $1.00 and shipping. It couldn't get any better unless it came from LaLa.com

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Golden Classics Edition


(click to buy @ amazon)

There will be an upload of Gary's version of The Mighty Quinn when this CD gets here. I'm so excited!

I love my music!!

Waiting For Rain

The heatwave is supposed to break today. I'm waiting patiently for the rain, however it doesn't seem to be anywhere on the map.

It better get here, because I can't take another day in the 90's.

Yesterday I made the mistake of going to exercise. I did 35 minutes on the elliptical machine and then I tried to do some ab exercises, but I was already way too sweaty and crabby.

Note to self...don't bother to exercise if the temperature is over 90, as you will just be miserable and want to leave the whole time you're there, thus rendering the trip useless.

ARGH!

I've been looking at the radar and I see no rain.

~taps foot impatiently~

I have it from a very good source that it rained in Chicago yesterday. That rain should be making it here then. It just needs to get here much faster than it is.

I swear if it doesn't get here soon I'm going to go out and find it and drag it's sorry wet butt to Western PA. I want this heat wave gone and I want it gone now!!!

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 131

From Music Memoirs

Did you have any bands that you were ashamed of liking in your younger days?
No, at least not at the time I liked them. I ended up in many a verbal battle over my music loves. It was a war against Culture Club and Michael Jackson. I HATE WACKO JACKO and I always will.

Do you look back on some of the things you listened to and groan? If so, what were they?
Yes, and it's Culture Club that makes me groan. The music was great, in that cheesy 80's way, but there were only 2 really good albums and each only had a song or two that looking back have had staying power. Colour By Numbers was the best of the bunch. And if I could get past how vile Boy George turned out I might be able spin it more often, but when I listen I get a bad mental picture and I can't keep the music on.

Up through the 80's there were a lot of music related tv shows did you watch any? (That weren't on Mtv or Vh-1)
OH lordy, I watched so many of them; Friday Night Videos, Solid Gold (the worst of the bunch with those slutty near naked dancers), and whatever the video show was on HBO. (That's where I first saw the video for Olivia Newton-John's Physical)

A good many singers/musicians made films that were pretty awful, but have a cult following, which ones do you like?
Not sure it has a cult following but Paul McCartney's Give My Regards To Broad Street is a silly little movie. I can't forget Ringo's Caveman either. Oh and lastly...Polly had this one on her list and I agree, Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John. I can still watch that one over and over.

Are any of your youthful guilty pleasures still favorites now? Or do you pretend like you never liked them?
I can't call Culture Club or Wham! favorites now, but I still like them. I like Bonnie Tyler too. I will not pretend I never liked them either. I admit fully to my awful taste as a child! But hey, I liked The Monkees and The Beatles then too!

What's the point?

Of text messaging on cell phones? I used to pay $5 to Verizon for this feature, but when I got my new cell phone it disappeared. Not that I mind at all. I hate text messaging. It annoys the hell out of me. Plus it saved me some cash, and I'm all about saving cash.

My phone has a memory card, so I don't need to email pictures to a special spot online, I just save them to the card and transfer them to my computer. So again I don't need a text or pix feature.

The problem I have right now, is that I have one friend in Pittsburgh that rather than emailing me (which I would think is easier) or *gasp* calling me has to send me text messages that aren't worth 10 cents.

Just stop texting me, damn it!

I mean it takes longer to send a text message than to type up an email or leave a voice mail half the time. Grrrr. Stop wasting my money on these stupid things. Hell, I hardly used the cell phone, but I keep it for emergencies. It's hardly worth the $50 I get charged after all the damn taxes, but that's another rant altogether.

Stop texting me! It's making me a cranky bitch!

Missing Mondays

It's been awhile since I've done a post like this....

~ I remember a time when I could go into a mall and there would be at least 2 music stores and I would find stuff from my wish list there without special ordering them. Oh how I loved instant gratification.

~ BMG Music Club wasn't the only music club in existence, but it didn't matter because it had an awesome selection.

~ I used to drink Cocoa Loco's at Gloria Jean's Coffee without guilt! WTF was wrong with me?

~ I wasn't embarrassed to admit I liked a song or album at the top of the charts.

~ Going to the mall was a favorite past time. This didn't change for me until I started working at the mall. However even though I don't work their now, I'm not keen on the mall anymore. It also changed when my mom couldn't go shopping with me anymore.

~ I could stay up as long as I wanted and getting up the next morning wasn't an issue.

~ Po Folks was the best place to eat Sunday dinner.

~ 80's Night at Metropol! I miss Metropol! I didn't get to go clubbing enough in my boring youth.

Random 10 - Week 113

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)

Elvis Costello - Episode Of Blonde

I always find myself singing these lyrics at the top of my lungs:

It's such a shame you had to break the heart
You could have counted on

Can't imagine why? Can you?

George Harrison - What Is Life?

Wheeling Island was playing that one. Wow!

Wilson Phillips - A Reason To Believe

I was reliving some of my high school days. Bad music, in a good way.

Barbra Streisand - With One Look

It's best not to ask about this one, m'kay.

Elvis Costello - Radio Silence

Words of wisdom...especially from 6-10 on 99.3 The Pickle..

The sad waste of this wonderful invention
Maintaining radio silence from now on

Julia Fordham - Perfect Me

Banderas - May This Be Your Last Sorrow

Tom Petty - Think About Me

Tom Petty - Even The Losers

These songs were a result of me sharing some of my CD collection.

The Moody Blues - Lovely To See You

The first Moody Blues song I heard before heading off to bed.

And now for the photo....Bootsie!

Randomosity Of My Weekend

~ Yesterday I went to Wheeling Island. Gambled away $10. I just can't deal with tossing money away like that when I never ever get anything back. Why can't there just be an awesome buffet somewhere nearby?

~ When it's around 90 degrees even the Ohio River can provide relief.



~ Yes, I need a pedicure. No, there is nowhere around me that does them for a reasonable price, plus there's no one giving my feet attention, so why should I waste the money. I think I'll buy some nice foot cream though.

~ Purple Haze is my favorite beer, and there doesn't seem to be any place close to me that sells it. Thankfully the Giant Eagle in Canton, OH does. I will be buying a case next month when I visit my brother.

~ I know not where we are going to be staying or going at the end of the month and its making me nutty.

~ This is really a lovely view.



~ As Elvis Costello said..."I'll be maintaining radio silence from now on."

Planning My First Vacation This Year

Hopefully at the end of this month I'll be heading east to Hershey and Lancaster/Philly.

I'm thinking 2 nights in Hershey and one night in Lancaster. I'm not sure yet. It may have to be backwards. I don't know. Finding a room is not looking easy here, especially as there's not much time in advance.

ARGH!

I wish the kid could be convinced to go to Erie or just Lancaster.

So far most of the motels are booked. I'd love to go to Longwood Gardens but even that is not looking like its going to be feasible.

Truthfully I wish I didn't have to deal with finding accommodations. It always makes me nutty. I know for places like Atlantic City you need loads of time I really thought Hershey would be easier. Silly me. It's worse and it's almost as expensive.

This is really not much fun.

I'll probably be up all night pricing hotels.

Someone put me out of my misery please!

Have A Laugh....On Me

This is me getting doused by a 20 foot wave, created by the Pittsburgh Plunge at Kennywood Park.

It's quite possibly the funniest and worst picture ever taken of me. My nephew thought it would be funny to get a picture of me looking like a drowned rat, when I, in my infinite stupidity, decided to stand on the walkway, where the boats come down.

Let's just say it wasn't quite warm enough to be standing there or riding the Plunge that day, but idiot that I am, I did both.

So if you are feeling up for a fright, click on the picture to enlarge. I, however, will not be held responsible if you want to poke your eyes out with a rusty melon baller after viewing my less than beautiful self.

Top 5 On Friday - Week 131

From "me" @ Music Memoirs

Top 5 albums that are at least 20 years old. (There's a stipulation however...all 5 albums cannot be by the same artist/band)

1. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Blood And Chocolate


(click to buy @ amazon)

This one just makes the cut. It came out in 1986. It's quite possibly my absolute favorite Elvis Costello CD. No joke, not a bad song on this one. It's worth it just to hear Battered Old Bird, Crimes Of Paris and Blue Chair.

2. The Moody Blues - Seventh Sojourn


(click to buy @ amazon)

At the beginning of my Moodies love, this was the first album I found on vinyl. I played it to death. I don't know that the album is still alive even though it was only purchased a few years back.

3. George Harrison - George Harrison


(click to buy @ amazon)

Unspoiled George Harrison. So many pretty songs on this one, and all untouched by Jeff Lynne's evil hands! Yay!

4. Tom Petty - Damn The Torpedoes


(click to buy @ amazon)

If you own one Heartbreakers album, this one really should be it. Early Petty, again unspoiled by Jeff Lynne. (Are you sensing a pattern here? I hate Jeff Lynne)

5. Duran Duran - Seven & The Ragged Tiger


(click to buy @ amazon)

Take off the instrumental and this is a perfect album. I've been a fan of Duran Duran for years, but I'm hard pressed to be able to tell you that there's a completely good album by the band. There's usually one stink bomb per record. I can ignore an instrumental, so this one wins as my top album, followed by Notorious.

You may be asking yourself, why has The Mistress Of The Dark not used The Beatles in her post. It's quite simple. The Beatles are too much of a given, so I chose to go with other bands.

It's Murder! Two Rooms: Celebrating The Songs Of Elton John & Bernie Taupin

I bought this Elton John/Bernie Taupin covers disc ages ago, and today I sent it on to some poor soul on LaLa.com that wanted to toss away $1.75.

I ripped it to my hard drive before sending it on, because I hadn't listened to it in ages, and with good reason. It's vile. I don't even know where to begin.

The worst tracks:

Tina Turner - The Bitch Is Back
(She does this one so much better live. The album version is an abomination)

Sinead (Shinehead) O'Connor - Sacrifice
(You don't do things like this to my favorite Elton John track. Make her shut it!)

Jon Bon Jovi - Levon
(I hate this by default. I hate Jon Boy. Everything he sings sounds the freaking same, and this is a damn good Elton song.)

The WTF tracks:

Rod Stewart - Your Song
(It's not bad....it's not good...I hope you don't mind if I put down in words that Rod should stop singing other people's songs...and start recording some stuff of his own.)

Wilson Phillips - Daniel
(The verdict is still out on this one. It's possibly good)

Kate Bush - Rocket Man
(So weird that its good. But it just doesn't suit Kate's voice and the arrangement is truly a WTF!)

The Good (And I'm hard pressed to find any)

The Who - Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
(OK, by default, I love Roger Daltry....but this is a song that is suited for The Who...but can I please look at Roger...rather than listen?)

Hall & Oates - Philadelphia Freedom
(Oddly a nice interpretation of a song I truly hate)

Phil Collins - Burn Down The Mission
(Phil does covers well. I actually prefer his cover of True Colors to Cyndi Lauper's original)

The Most Pitiful
The Beach Boys - Crocodile Rock
(I HATE THE BEACH BOYS! This is a bigger abomination than Tina's cover of The Bitch Is Back. It's much much worse than their cover of the Mama's and the Papa's California Dreamin' from the 80's)

The rest of the album isn't even worth mentioning. Don't waste your money on this. Seriously! Don't do it!

The Duets CD is a much easier listen, as Elton is sharing vocals, rather than having his songs killed by artists that are so much better than this. (with the exception of Jon Boy)

Thursday Thirteen

13 things I wish I had never done

1. Chosen to go to California University Of PA. I should have just gone to Douglas School of Business and got an Associates. My Bachelor's Degree isn't worth the paper its printed on to me. Plus I would have stayed out of much trouble.

2. The Moody Blues in Cincy...that should never have happened.

3. No one know that I had a crush on a certain finned person, including the finned one. Oh wait...I said I'd forget about those few months. Yeah right, like you can forget that kind of stupidity.

4. The Herman's Hermits concert. If I hadn't discovered that Peter was playing Uniontown, I never would have listened to The Pickle..and problem 3 would be erased entirely.

5. Retail..never would have worked in a store for even a week let alone years.

6. I would somehow not have become addicted to my computer.

7. I wouldn't have gone to Atlantic City...because then I wouldn't have to miss it.

8. I never would have gone to a costume party in the fall of 1992.

9. My shadow..I'd never have become afraid of it.

10. I'd not have spent so much on stuff that matters so very little.

11. I wouldn't let myself fall so easily and so many times.

12. I'd put myself first instead of family, which may sound callous, but so many of my life decisions were based on other people and not me.

13. I'd not have vented so quickly about things that upset me, because things that are said are damn hard to be forgiven for, even though I was the wronged party.

Happy Fourth Of July

Celebrate safely!

That said, go consume all the hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and beer that you can without exploding or passing out!

Take Me Back Tuesday - Week 130

From this lady @ Music Memoirs


What type of music do you find to be the best to sleep to?
Perhaps the next question is the better one. When I'm sleepy I can conk out to just about anything. Though I have to say, if I have any preferences they would be artists like Grey Eye Glances, Julia Fordham, The Moody Blues, and my special Elvis Costello sleep mix CD.

Is there any kind of music that you absolutely can't fall asleep to?
Not really if you go by genre etc. I think I've fallen asleep to Def Leppard and Poison a few times. (Scary, I know) What usually keeps me awake are those songs that make me think. Not about topics, mind you, but about situations and people. I have a lot of songs that will do that, so I have to make sure they don't make it on a mix CD that I'll play at night when I'm about to go to bed, or I'll be up all night, fretting over something I can't do a damn thing about.

If anyone artist could sing you to sleep who would it be and what would they sing to you?
Ah..so many voices...so many songs...so many answers that would have nothing to do with them singing me to sleep, but rather getting into bed with me after they were done with their song.

I wouldn't mind Elvis Costello showing up to sing Long Journey Home to me. That would be truly Heavenly.



He cold also sing anything from this CD



because it would be a given to put me straight to sleep.

The Birthday In Review...

It took 33 years, but finally I had a relatively "stress free" birthday. Rejoice with me.

Here are some highlights....photos to follow when I'm not dead on my feet from my birthday activities.

~ Teased the DJ a bit...and was most obnoxious in reminding him what day it was.

~ Said Pickle DJ wished me a happy b-day on the air and teased me about something I did. I realize now that if I do ever run into Fish...a cat fight may ensue. I wonder which one of us would win?

~ Said Pickle DJ probably thinks I'm an attention whore...when really an email saying "Happy Birthday Andrea" would have made my day too. However he will never know that. Ah well.

~ Kennywood rocks on Mondays. The lines are short. The employees aren't as rude. All is good.

~ The new ride, Cosmic Chaos, kicks butt...or in my case gut. The ride holds you in at the stomach...I think I left mine there last night.

~ Riding the Pittsburgh Plunge when it's not quite 80 degrees, is not very smart. Riding it twice is just plain stupid. I'm officially stupid. However it was quite amusing to walk around the park like a drowned rat.

~ The Wave Swinger is still my favorite ride.

~ No one makes fries quite like the Potato Patch. They are best served drenched in gravy and cheese.

~ I got fireworks for my birthday!

~ I rode every coaster except Phantom's Revenge, which my stomach doesn't like much.

~ Heard my favorite Julia Fordham song at the park "Hope Prayer And Time." I did my best not to sing too loudly.

All in all, it was a fantastic day. I don't think I've had a b-day I've enjoyed as much.

So You Say It's Your Birthday

Actually I do, and right now I'm feeling reflective....which in most cases is a bad thing....

I went to Erie in July for the first time in over 10 years.....



Saw Lucy The Elephant for the first time in Margate, NJ




Finally got the gorgeous night shot of the horses at Ceasars....



Played with a llama or two.



Saw Peter Noone in concert.



Helped Grandma celebrate 100 years in March of 07



Now for the sad bits....

Lost two of my beloved kitties in the space of 7 weeks.





However around the end of March I did bring Bootsie to her new forever home.



There was lots more that went on...but these were the most memorable things that went on in my life in the past year.

33 Years Of Song

This mix is made up of one song that's a favorite of mine for each year I've been torturing people with my existence! Muhahaha.

Each artist is represented only one time.

1974: Gordon Lightfoot - Carefree Highway
1975: Justin Hayward & John Lodge - This Morning
1976: Cliff Richard - Miss You Nights
1977: Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
1978: Nick Lowe - Little Hitler
1979: ABBA - Chiquitita
1980: Olivia Newton-John - Xanadu
1981: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Insider
1982: Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Man Out Of Time
1983: Spandau Ballet - True
1984: Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
1985: Paul Young - Everything Must Change
1986: The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams
1987: George Harrison - Fish On The Sand
1988: Cheap Trick - Never Had A Lot To Lose
1989: Jimmy Somerville - Read My Lips
1990: Oingo Boingo - Out Of Control
1991: Erasure - Waiting For The Day
1992: Lindsey Buckingham - Countdown
1993: Sarah Brightman - Once In A Lifetime
1994: Jimmy Buffett - Vampires, Mummies and the Holy Ghost
1995: Siouxsie & The Banshees - Fall From Grace
1996: The Wallflowers - 6th Avenue Heartache
1997: Paul McCartney - The World Tonight
1998: Grey Eye Glances - One Day Soon
1999: David Bowie - Thursday's Child
2000: Duran Duran - Mars Meets Venus
2001: Stereophonics - Have A Nice Day
2002: Emm Gryner - East Coast Angel
2003: Bernie Barlow - Sexy
2004: Keri Noble - Look At Me
2005: Rob Thomas - Ever The Same
2006: Diana Krall - The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
2007: Fountains Of Wayne - Traffic and Weather

Yes, that's comes out to 34 songs, but are you complaining?

A b-day present from me to you

Plagued By Dreams

I had the most bizarre dream last night. It's bizarre because I can only remember a small fraction of it. Usually when I remember dreams I wake up and remember the whole thing, like its a small film that my head created, usually to taunt me when I wake up.

I dreamed that I was getting into my car somewhere and for whatever reason I had facial mask on. WTF! This is weirder than those showing up in school without clothes on dreams.

But wait, it gets better.

As I'm getting into my car...I spy someone else getting into their vehicle, someone I wouldn't want to see me with anything on my face, to be perfectly honest. Actually, someone I wouldn't want to see me with a zit or anything else for that matter.

ARGH!

I don't want to have these kinds of weird dreams. I don't know if I even spoke to this person in the dream. I having a feeling I tried to. I'm sure I didn't succeed, because I know that if I were face to face with this person there would be no words. I would just stand there like a dumby and if I managed to say anything it would squeak out and I would look like a bigger fool than I am.

NO MORE DREAMS, DAMN IT!

I can't take them, they mess with my day and they depress me.