Beatley Goodness

I forgot to mention yesterday about the cool surprise I found in the CD player at work. A Beatles mix CD!!!

OK, that shouldn't be earthshattering, but when all the music where I work is usually done by "special" singers and not the actual artists, well, that makes finding something like that a bit wonderful.

In fact, at the first strains of Please Please Me, I stared at the speaker on the wall, unable to believe that the actual voices of Lennon and McCartney were coming through them.

It got better too.

All 10 songs on the CD were from the early Beatles CDs. There were songs like I Want To Hold Your Hand, Help!, All My Loving, Can't Buy Me Love and A Hard Day's Night. Suffice to say, I've found a new CD to love.

Hearing the Beatles at work makes me really really happy! (Especially when it's really the Beatles singing)

Yes, I'm easily amused.

It's Halfway Over

I'm really surprised that I've managed to survive this week as well as I have. It's been ages since I held down two jobs and I never had to juggle going to two jobs in one day before.

In the first year after I graduated college, I used to work on my days off at a law office to get a few extra bucks. Those were the days! I actually didn't have to worry about money then.

~sigh~

If only I could go back to those days. I don't know what I'd do to change things, because there are so many things I would have done differently.

But there's no sense in dwelling on the past.

I'm surviving and that's all that matters.

My life may not be perfect, but I'm enjoying it.

And the week is halfway over...

Oh and did I mention, I'm going to see Stevie Nicks and Don Henley in 2 weeks and I don't have to pay?

Having good friends is a wonderful thing.

Hump Day Hunks!

Ah! It's time to get the day started right! And what better way to do that than with my Hump Day Hunk Harem!

And in my book, these two guys make my Harem complete



Just a little over a month and a half til the Atlantic City concerts! And next Saturday the final show goes on sale! Wish me luck getting tickets on June 4th!

Behold The Hayward!

A friend of mine sent this to me in an email.

I should have saved him for the Hump Day Hunk Harem, but this Haywardian picture was too pretty to wait even a few hours before posting



What I want to know is why haven't they cloned him yet?

Take Me Back Tuesday

Ok, it's meme-ing time again. (I promise a real post when I get home from work today)

1. Name your three favourite British bands and a song from each of them.
The Moody Blues - Fly Me High
The Beatles - I Need You
Duran Duran - Want You More

2. Name your three favourite British front men.
Justin Hayward
Paul McCartney
Simon Le Bon

Does Elvis Costello count as a front man? Cos if he does, he boots Simon off the list.

3. Name three bands from the original British Invasion in the late 50's early 60's.
The Beatles
Herman's Hermits
The Hollies

Bonus question:
Lyrically speaking, here's the song:

"Sunset doesn't last all evening, a mind can blow those clouds away"
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass

Manic Monday?

It's just been one of those days that comes out of one of those weekends. I'm hoping things calm down in my life soon, very soon.

I worked 2 jobs today. I have nothing but sympathy for people that have to do this, especially when the end and start times of the two jobs are very close.

I felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off today. The only plus to this, is that I may have a little bit extra in the money fund at the end of this month. Amazing!

Who knows, maybe I'll get a few bills paid off, before I can make some more. (Which is actually happening faster than I'd like, because the scale is sinking lower and lower and with that brings the need for new clothes)

Speaking of new clothes, I got the cutest little workout-ish outfit from Lakeside.com

Actually, if you're curious, click here. I got the one with the lilac stripe.

Aren't you excited for me?

Random 10

It's time to recap my weekend musically. If you want to play along, go to music memoirs and leave a comment.

10 songs that sum up my weekend and a picture that links back.

The Moody Blues - I'll Be Level With You
Justin Hayward - Country Girl
Justin Hayward - Wrong Time, Right Place
Grey Eye Glances - Whispers
John Lodge - Street Cafe
Grey Eye Glances - The Lost Coast
Keri Noble - Piece Of My Heart
Keri Noble - Falling
John Lodge - Summer Breeze
The Moody Blues - Words You Say

There's no real reason for the songs I listened to, except that each brought a small amount of sanity to my life this weekend. And this weekend was very hectic and nerve wracking.

Oh and the picture?



I think that sums up my need for this kind of music.

Stolen Meme-age

Miss Tay posted this on her blog. In fact, she created this short little meme. So I encourage all of you to keep it going!

A song with "White" in the title:
The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin (Red Rocks Version)

(I had to go with the obvious)

A song that creeps you out:
Shriekback - Nemesis

(The video was kinda creepy too)

A song with "You" in the title:

Justin Hayward and John Lodge - You

(There are way to many songs that I could use here. The first song that popped into my head was The Moody Blues - You and Me, but I used the Moodies once)

A song that brings you to tears:
Art Garfunkel - Bright Eyes

(This song is a wrist slasher)

A song that you heard today:
Grey Eye Glances - Sleepy

(I've been listening to them and Keri Noble a lot today)

A song from a movie:
Duran Duran - A View To A Kill

A song that not many people have heard, but should:
Justin Hayward - Wrong Time, Right Place

(One of the Bonus Tracks to the newly reissued Songwriter CD)

101 Things To Do With John Lodge

I did a similar post about Justin Hayward a few months ago. I figured it was time to do one with Lodgey. Inspired by the site, 101 things to do with Simon Le Bon. I'm such a bad girl!

1. Make sure he takes the leather trousers on the summer 2005 tour, and not the leather pocketed jeans.
2. Have him bring a case of Krisemma wine to share with you. Get him drunk and take advantage of him. (Don't tell Kirsten, lest she kicks your butt)
3. Remind him that sunglasses should be worn on your head and not around your neck.

4. Remind him that he wrote some really kick ass songs, and he should get to sing them on tour. (Read my lips Lodgey, Sitting At The Wheel)
5. Spank him when he tries to straighten his unrully curly locks.
6. Take him shopping for clothes, introduce him to a world of color.
7. Ask him where Natural Avenue is...and how can the world be walking on it?
8. Force him into the studio to record that album of "Western Cowboy" tunes.
9. Go golfing with him and when he putts, scream "Nice Ass, Lodgey"
10. Make him buy a respectable vehicle and not an SUV!

Jeep Cherokees are not acceptable!
11. Ask him what Words You Say is about.
12. At 5 in the morning, ask him if he wants to wake up now.
13. Make him shake his groove thang (because he knows what his groove thang is)

14. Make him show you the various Lodgey Looks (like this one)

15. Congratulate him on marrying a cute lady

as opposed to what some other band members walked down the aisle with.

16. Ask him who the pun-ny guy was that came up with the title "Blue Jays"
17. Ask him what it felt like to be in the presence of such beauty.

smack him really hard if he laughs.
18. Two words: Chocolate Sauce
19. Two more words: Whipped Cream.
20. Ask him how many times he's been asked about Nights In White Satin, even though he didn't write it.
21. Tell him that you'll gladly ride his see saw, even if he's just a singer in a rock n' roll band.
22. Ask him to protect you from the scary shadows on the wall.
23. Ask him why Natural Avenue was the only solo album he's done, and then smack him soundly for each lame excuse he gives you.
24. Ask him how his legs get so shiny? Is it shaving or waxing?
25. Get him to do a proper update on John Lodge.com
26. Convince him that when the audience can recite his closing lines to each Moody Blues concert that it's time to come up with something different.
27. Tell him to send you as much wine as he wants.
28. Make him answer the "Boxers, briefs or nothing at all" question. Make him give proof of his answer.
29. Tell him about the nicknames that he's been given "Brain" and "Lodgiculea Moodicuss Cockerspanielious of the family nice asseous"
30. Ask him if he can ever get a word in edgewise when he does interviews with Justin.
31. Go into his closet and find out how many black and white shirts he owns.
32. Ask him who "The One" is about.
33. Ask him why it can't be forever now.
34. Lean on him tonight.
35. Have him armwrestle Justin Hayward to see who's king of the band.
36. Play strip poker with him.
37. Get Minstrel's Song stuck in his head.
38. Fuzzy cuff him to the bed and have your wicked way with him.
39. Get him to explain why he looks like he's in pain when he sings.
40. Take him to the Tiki Lounge in Pittsbugh, buy him several Suffering Bastards, see how well he can handle alcohol stronger than wine.
41. Make him explain the lyrics to every song he's ever written, because some of them don't make any sense at all.
42. Get him to unbutton more than 2 buttons on his shirts while on stage or untie that new shirt of his, so that we can see some skin.
43. Help him get rid of his writers block. (Using force if necessary)
44. Count his chins. (And then wonder why they only multiply some of the time)
45. Make him give you Lodgey hugs for at least 2 hours or until you turn blue from his squeezing!
46. Make him do the Higher and Higher dance with Graeme, see how much it pisses Justin off.
47. Get Justin to give him one more song in the setlist. Threaten to change Isn't Life Strange to Words You Say, if he won't let him.
48. Instead of Casino hopping, take him bar hopping and make him buy all the drinks.
49. Take him to a fondue restaurant and feed him. Make him lick the fondue off your fingers if necessary.
50. See if he can properly ride a motorcyle
51. Ask him what roles the guys are playing in the next Men In Black film

52. Convince him that black tank tops and white shirts don't look good together

53. Get him to button his shirt cuffs, just once and keep them buttoned.
54. Ask him what this look was all about

55. Teach him and Justin for that matter how to clean their guitars.
56. Ask him what kind of faith is he keeping.
57. Ask him how high his hair got in the 80's.
58. Ask him if he ever got as high as his hair in the 80's.
59. Have him recount the activities at the Octave garden party. Find out how long it took for Justin to cut the cake.

60. Ask him what's in the bag Kirsten is carrying, and why she looks so frightened.

61. Find out how they felt when they learned their drummer had been replaced by a reindeer.

62. Make him golf, nekkid!
63. Get him a fitting for new leather trousers. Help him in the dressing room, if needed.
64. Tell him that "The Spirit Of Christmas" is still around, he just has to look hard for it.
65. Make him work his "Magic" on you.
66. Tickle his toes and see if he giggles.
67. Have him find new ways of keeping Justin awake during the songs he doesn't sing.
68. Have him perfect his Star Wars routine with Justin.

69. Sixty Nine! (Like you thought I'd let that one slip by!)
70. Keep him away from cigars!

71. Put on reindeer antlers and see how he reacts.

72. Take him to the beach and rub suntan lotion all over his shiny leggies.
73. Snuggle up to him when he's wearing his warm cashmere coat.
74. Ask him why a women that's 23 should be married with kids of her own as he wrote in Piece of My Heart. Slap him if his answer is stupid.
75. Make him do an impromptu concert, making him sing all the songs Justin won't let him.
76. If he won't do an impromptu concert make him sing Words You Say as a lullaby.
77. Force him to write more songs with Justin, but this time, when it comes to recording them, make him sing them.
78. If that doesn't work, at least make them record another album together. Wait, wouldn't that be another Moody Blues record.
79. Ask him if "January" is going to come out any time before hell freezes over.
80. Make him repeat after you..."No tour with Yes, EVER!" The Moody Blues should stand on their own.
81. Find out how Ray Thomas is. (Someone's had to have spoken to him)
82. Play with his curls until he goes mad.
83. Ask him if Ride My See Saw is really about what we think it's about ~wink wink, nudge nudge~
84. Find out where he's hiding some of the sexy suits he used to wear.
85. While looking for his suits, make him find some of the bass guitars that seemed to have disappeared over the years.
86. Remind him repeatedly that shirtless is sexy.
87. Make him take his wife shopping for clothes. Kirsten could use some new frocks. Come along to oversee her purchases.
88. Make him draw pretty pictures of hands, like he did here.
89. Threaten him if the Moodies don't come to Pittsburgh sometime in the near future that you'll take away his golf clubs and drink all his wine.
90. One word: Kareoke
91. Take him to Wheeling Island to play with the chocolate fountain.
92. Play strip chess with him. (Wish fervently that he doesn't know how to play)
93. Give him a good spanking, just because his butt has been asking for it.
94. Make him wear a Santa hat. It's not fair that Ray and Graeme look foolish.

95. Ask him who the hell was in the space suit.

96. Take him to a laser light show, and see if he's really captivated by all pretty lights or just the ones they use on the road.
97. Ask him if you can be his waterbottle

98. Make him let you take all the nekkid pictures your digital camera can stand. Invite Justin and Gordy and Paul along for the photo shoot. They can join in as well.
99. Dress him in drag.
100. Ask him for sex tips and make him teach you.
101. Repeat the last 100 as necessary.

Can't Get Much Worse

This is one of those cryptic posts where I say that life is not going quite the way I want it to be going right now, but don't tell you exactly what's wrong.

I think it can be summed up as just a really really bad day. One that can't really get a whole lot better.

So, instead of whining, I'm not going to say anything more and just go off into hiding for a bit today, and hope that things get better.

I wish I could just go to my happy place, but right now, I can't find it.

Top Five On Friday

You want to play along to? Go here

Top 5 albums released in the last 5 years

1. The Moody Blues - December (released in Oct 2003)



Best Christmas/Holiday CD ever. If you don't have it, you should!

2. Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel (released April 2002)



Though The Delivery Man is good, it doesn't hold a candle to this disc, which in my humble opinion is his best since Blood and Chocolate.

3. Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room (released April 2004)



I bought this one, because Elvis Costello wrote some of the tracks with her. I didn't expect to like it, let alone love it as much as I do. (It's the whole, she married my favorite concubine thing) But oddly I fell in love with the title track and the rest followed. This is my favorite Diana Krall disc. BUY IT! If you don't already have it.

4.David Bowie - Reality (Released Sept 2003)



I buy every Bowie CD when it comes out. This is the first time in ages that I've liked just about every song on one. (Plus the CD artwork is so darn cute!)

5. Duran Duran - Astronaut (Released Sept 2004)



This is there best album since the 80's, it even tops the Wedding Album which is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Top 5 songs released in the last 5 years

1. The Moody Blues - Don't Need A Reindeer

2. Justin Hayward - On The Road

3. Elvis Costello - Still

4. Erasure - Breathe

5. Bernie Barlow - Astral Plane

Weirdness

~ It's been a month and still the 2nd Moody Blues concert in Atlantic City is not on sale. I want to go, but after the first ticket buying experience, I'm tempted to not even care.

But then my greedy little self starts to wonder if and when I'll see the Moody Blues again. With the band dwindling to really just the Jays, I've got to wonder if my Moody Men are ready to toss in the towel.

Which is seriously what's making me want to buy tickets to the second show if and when it happens.

OK that and this



It just seems so weird to me (and a zillion other fans) that the venue has decided to wait til the first show sells out, before putting the second date on sale.

I've been tagged

Karen tagged me to do this meme, and though I'm pretty sure I've done it once, it can't hurt to do it again, right?

01. Total volume of music files on my computer?
I just did an update of my playlist on winamp and I have 4270 songs on my hard drive. Oh and I promise, over the holiday weekend at the end of the month, I'll post it again, so if you need any tunes, I'll get them to ya.

02. The last CD I bought was?
Rob Thomas - Something More (the special cd from Target with extra mixes etc)

03. Song playing right now:
The Moody Blues - The Day Begins (I have no idea why I'm listening to Days Of Future Past)

04. Five songs I listen to a lot or that mean a lot to me(in no particular order):
Elvis Costello - Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams
Duran Duran - Ordinary World
The Moody Blues - Steppin In A Slide Zone
Erasure - Siren Song

05. Which 5 people are you passing this baton to, and why?
Lady Starlight, CBlaze, Jennifer, MoodyMistress and Mary. Why? Just because!

Hump Day Hunks Anyone?

Seriously, the only thing good about today is that the week is already half over. I feel like crap. I've got a horrible headache and I'm just downright cranky.

I'm sure all of this stems from the lack of soda in my life the past two days. I'm alive but I'm not happy about it.

OK, I'm happy about part of it. In two days I'm down about 2 more pounds. I had a feeling the absence of soda would get the scale moving downward again, I didn't realize how much so quickly.

But anyway, I feel like crap, so it's time to bring on the Hump Day Hunk Harem!



A young and lovely photo of Mr. Hayward.



A young and lovely photo of Mr. Lodgey Lodge



A recent photo of Mr. Simon Le Bon.



And this picture of Elvis Costello is just to gorgeous for words.

Those are my hunks and they make me feel much better!

A few things..

~ I've survived a whole day without . I'd ask for a cookie, but that would defeat the purpose of giving up the .

~ I have a gorgeous cream crocheted dress that I bought a few years back. It fits gorgeously now. Odd, when I bought it I was at least 5 pounds lighter than I am now. Isn't it funny how muscle and fat redistribute thembselves?

~ I started tanning last week. I think I might actually have a little bit of color to me. I haven't tanned in years and this is my first time using a tanning bed. It's kind of freaky laying in something that looks like a coffin. When it shuts off I feel like one of Dracula's brides rising for the night.

~ This is my favorite website right now. I love the photos of Atlantic City that Paul took. It's really making me long to go, right now, and not in two months.

~ I'm so in love with my new camera. I want to take pictures of something, but when I'm at home, there's not much to snap pictures of. Damn my hamlet of Charleroi on Mon for being so damn boring.

~ I finally heard the new Wallflowers song, Beautiful Side Of Somewhere. I don't knwo what's made me start listening to this band again. Perhaps it was the possibility of seeing them in concert this summer, or maybe it's just the need to listen to something different. Whatever the reason, I'm really enjoying the new song. If anyone wants it, let me know and I'll upload.

Take Me Back Tuesday

This week the Take Me Back Tuesday meme is about Mtv. I remember when Mtv was good, when it was more like video radio than the mindless drivel it is today.

So without further adieu, the questions:

Who are the first Mtv VJs that you can remember?
My three favorites were Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn (Miss Du-ran Du-ran) and Adam Curry (God I had such a crush on him and his big mall hair)

Name 3 tv shows that aired on Mtv. (were any of them actually music related?)
Ok, only one of these shows that I'm going to list is music related.
Altv (Hosted by Weird Al, and there were some great musical guests)
Remote Control (The TV Trivia Game)
Half Hour Comedy Hour (Greg Proops was once on this, and damn it, I didn't see it)

What bands do you think would be nothing without Mtv?
Without Mtv most of the new romantic bands would be nothing. But I'll single one out: Duran Duran. Without the exposure of video they definitely wouldn't have started that quasi-Beatlemania-ish frenzy that happened in the early and mid-80's.

Video let the prettiness factor take over for talent in most cases. Thankfully when it came to Duran Duran they did have talent to back things up.

Bonus:

What is your favorite music video?
The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams (Damn video makes me cry every time I see it)and if you go here, you can see that video as well as a few other great Moody Blues videos.

Giving up Coke!

Yup I'm a cokehead. Erm Coca-cola that is. I'm determined to lose that last bit of weight before my vacation.

Yeah, I know my vacation isn't for another 2 months, but I want to have it gone before I go. I want to know that its gone and that I look good before I get in the car to make that 7 hour drive to New Jersey.

To do that, I'm finally going to try to get rid of those empty cola calories I've been consuming every day of my life since I was a wee bitty child.

Feel my pain, please?

I can't live without this stuff .

OK, I don't know that yet, but if you don't see me blogging anytime after today, you'll know I died from a lack of my favorite carbonated beverage.

Random Ten

I'm recapping my weekend musically for you, care of the meme at Music Memoirs

Madonna - Causing a Commotion
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
Paul McCartney - Junior's Farm
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
Duran Duran - Rio
Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner
The Moody Blues - The Voice
Simon & Garfunkel - The 59th St Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
Billie Myers - Kiss The Rain
Arcadia - Say The Word

Now before I post the picture, let me explain why some of these songs are on my weekend playlist, because they certainly don't go together.

From Madonna to Fleetwood Mac were songs that were played at Joe's Crab Shack when we were eating there, BTW I highly recommend the crab cakes if you go there.

Duran Duran was playing in Bessemer Court after one of the dancing fountain performances.

As for Suzanne Vega, there's a restaurant called Tom's Diner in the South Side. Every time I see it, that song pops in my head.

The Moody Blues? Do I need an excuse? No, I didn't think so, but I'll give you one anyway. We were listening to Long Distance Voyager on the way home from Pittsburgh and talking about that song.

The Simon and Garfunkel song is here because my nephew doesn't want to be a hippy because he'd have to say things like groovy.

The Billie Myers is on here because at work there is an awful cover of that song on one of our cds, and I desperately needed to hear the original.

Arcadia is on here because I was reading that they are planning a singles box of the bands singles and Say The Word is a quasi rarity.

Now for my picture.


My drink from Joe's Crab Shack. 

Here's the zip of all 10 songs.

Good Day Sunshine

Well we went to Pittsburgh and the sun was out all day. Will wonders never cease? I took about 170 pictures, mostly on my new camera, but a few on the old one, just because I love it and it does take pretty good pictures.

The first shots are up at the photoblog now.

So go ahead and check them out. I'm really proud of the new camera. I'm not getting as many fuzzy shots as I was with the old one and the zoom is making me very happy, because I have dreams of getting good pictures of certain sexy recording artists in 2 months. (Can't imagine who they might be, can you?)

I'll be posting more pictures on a daily basis over there, so you can eventually see all of them.

Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment or two over there of what you think of them.

The sun will shine in Pittsburgh today

It's shining as we speak and that's a small miracle. Why? Because I'm going to Pittsburgh today, and 99.9% of the time that I decide to visit our fair city, it rains.

Well today it isn't.



Which means I'll finally have some beautiful pictures of Pittsburgh with sunshine in them! Wow!

OK, I do have pictures like that, but usually my sister isn't with me when I take them.

Why? Because she usually packs the rain cloud with her when we go. Today will be different!

I'm looking forward to taking more pictures of flowers with my new camera and getting some pictures of the lovely *cough* city, which I'll post at the photoblog later today.