New Music I LOVE!

I mostly do these posts because Sister Big says she likes them and it points her to new music. These songs are all music discoveries from listening to the Pandora Music Network online.

Most of these songs listed here were found while listening to a station I created from the Twilight soundtrack.

First, my new favorite. Iron & Wine. They did the song played during the slow dance between Bella and Edward. The movie has a slightly more pop version than the one that appears on their album. Both are good and I haven't heard a song by this group that I haven't loved!

Flightless Bird:


This is my other favorite by them: Freedom Hangs like Heaven



Now I take you to Great Lake Swimmers. I really love this band, their soothing vocals and music just make me feel peaceful. This is called I Saw You in the Wild, its my second favorite song by them because I couldn't find my favorite song on youtube (I Could be Nothing)


And now The Frames. I found the song by Glen and Marketta on my Twilight Station and realized he is the same guy from the movie and soundtrack Once. I'm going to post two songs here, one from each.

First, by the Frames. I really dig this song. They are a band from Dublin and they play a great live show according to my BFF who went to see them this fall. I also have their album Setlist (borrowed and imported thanks to my local library) and I can tell they are a great live band.


Then the best song from Once, Falling Slowly. So beautiful and haunting and I believe it won an Oscar.


and finally Sufjan Stevens, whom I introduced on my last music post. He sings very mellow soothing songs and if you listen to the lyrics, many of them are about God and Jesus. This one is In the Devil's Territory and I swear I recognize it from a movie. Can anyone tell me which one? I thought perhaps it was on the Juno Soundtrack but I guess not...









What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

You Know Its Bad When...

You find the soundtrack commentary of a movie more riveting than the movie itself. I had the misfortune of watching Queen of the Damned... something I saw when it first came out, but forgot that it was pretty bad so rented it again (calm down, I only spent .50).

The movie may have been fine if it had done a decent job of following Ann Rice's story, but it didn't. You could tell it didn't when the guy from Linkin Park tried very hard to say something nice about the movie but could only come up with "In the movie Lestat is a Rock Star and that's what it was like in the book..." Yep, that's about it.

The thing I hated most was that they had Marius as his maker and got the Marius character all wrong. And they made Jessie a big dork as well as having Lestat make Jessie, and I think it was Mael who did it after she nearly died at the concert. But I'm fuzzy on that one, its been years since I've read it but I think it may have been my favorite in the Vampire Chronicles.

But, seriously, it had a great soundtrack. The dude from Korn did it and because he couldn't sing because of some contractual issues, he had his musical peer group do it for him. And Aaliya sure did have a wicked cool walk as Akasha, the Queen. Here's a clip, but be warned --near the end she rips the heart of the vampire out and eats it. ...But not in a scary way... lol




Books into movies are seldom as good as the original thing. Another book into movie I thought sucked bad was Golden Compass. Just plain bad, they changed things with no discernible motivation for doing so and they ended the movie just before the book's climax. Weird. If you've read the book, don't waste your time on the movie.

Now, one movie that I thought was better than the book was Practical Magic. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Its about sisters, love, overcoming the past and kicking evil ass! The soundtrack was excellent as well, see below for a great Stevie Nicks/Sheryl Crow song. But the book...forgettable. I remember finishing reading it after I saw the movie and thinking how much better the movie was. There are scenes that still give me chills, a gazillions times of watching later.

And why am I ranting about movies right now? Because Boogs is nearly asleep on the couch after having puked twice, I'm sitting in the dark when I need to be working on Christmas gifts for this weekend and I have to go potty really bad but am afraid the moment I do will happen to coincide with the third bout of puking. So I'm trying to distract myself. Hopefully I didn't distract you from anything good.

Enjoy Stevie Nicks!



What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

Contest!!

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." Berthold Auerbach

I like this quote, It reminds me of when I was a teenager, standing in church and feeling muddled and hopeless about my boyfriend, who was a psycho. Dating a psycho causes much muddleness by the way. Everything seemed to be in shambles and I was feeling an awful depressed funk.

That was until we began singing Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens. Something about that song just washed everything away and I felt noticeably lighter. It changed my mood completely. It washed my funk away.

Years later before walking down the aisle to wed darling Jim, I held hands with my two best friends and sang the song Closer to Fine by the Indigo Girls. Singing that calmed me and gave me the peace I needed to go down that aisle without being a mess of nerves.

I find that I gravitate toward music that speaks to me during my current phases of life. It gives me food for thought, it lifts me up or commiserates in misery with me. Music is my friend.

So, now to the contest. I have recently download about 15 new songs that I really like. You'll find some of them on this post and if you like the feel of the music, then please consider entering my new contest. Although I have the distinct feeling that Sister HB would say they make her want to slit her writs. But let me tell you, there will be some very fun and uplifting Regina Spektor songs in the mix, so don't worry too much.

To enter all you need to do is write in the comments about a moment when music helped you, healed you, hurt you, or inspired you to do something amazing. Tell me your most interesting story about music. I'll leave this open for a week, and then I'll go through and choose a winner.

Good luck!

New Songs Saturday!

Hi all. The hiatus here has obviously extended beyond Summer. The weather has changed and now I'm busier than ever! How does that happen??

But I thought I'd take some time to share some great new songs I've recently downloaded, discovered via Pandora.

Mad World by Alex Parker. This is a fan video made from Buffy the Vampire Slayer footage and I picked it because I LOVE THIS SERIES!! SO good, so funny and so smart.


Let Go-Frou Frou. This is a Final Fantasy Video, I just picked it at random.


Make this Go on Forever-Snow Patrol. And an X-Files video, another show I LOVE.


Sufjan Stevens, The Dress Looks Nice on You (ignore weird barbie doll thing.)


Colorblind by Natalie Walker


This song is probably my favorite new discovery. Its by Cat Power and I love the sound of the music and her voice, its mesmerizing to me.



Thats all for now. I have to go to do a fun fire truck thing now. Clue me in to some new favorites of yours!


What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

I Guess I Have a Thing for Unicorns. So sue me.

I've always been the girl who likes to know what she's getting and loves to get what she knows she loves. Reading all the books by a particular author, ordering the same meal at restaurants and re-watching movies I love.

When I was a young girl I somehow saw the movie Legend and I was enamored. Sister 7 would groan every time we went to the video store and I came home with this movie. But I loved it. And I still love it. I wanted to be Lily (played by Mia Sarah). She's beautiful and carefree, a bit spoiled and very human. Humans make mistakes and she makes a grave mistake then spends the rest of the movie trying to fix this terrible mistake.

I found her so amazing and loved the defiance she shows while with the Prince of Darkness. She laughs in his face and taunts him, she was fearless. To me she seemed so strong and in control. And of course the movie is about true love, trust and love conquering all.

Obviously I own the movie AND the soundtrack thank you. I mean, what's not to love about Tangerine Dream?? I even did my college level photography final (a slide show) using the very end of the song below. "Sweet songs of youth, the wise, the meeting of all wisdom. To believe in the good in man". My project was was a commentary on industry vs nature as told by portrait photographs. Not to brag, but it was kick ass. I got an A. But I digress. Or rather, I post some code below so you can enjoy a little Tangerine Dream.



Here is one of my favorite scenes. I always wanted that dress, I think I could fill it out a bit better than she did :)


I also loved the movie The Last Unicorn. I remember watching it in the theater as a very small girl. Great movie and even better soundtrack...as long as you skip the ones that are sung by Mia Farrow. OUCH!

I fell in love with the group America because of this movie...sadly I do not own this soundtrack. But if you find me watching this movie you'll notice I know all the words to all the songs.


Well, thats all I have for today. I know its not much, but hey, its what I've got ;) Have a great weekend everyone!


What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

What About Everything?

Each Girls Weekend, the ladies over the age of 18 are supposed to submit a song that speaks to their life in the last year. Its a good way to know what was going on in a person's life and to learn from their insight.

Many of the songs this year were wonderful both musically and lyrically. I'd like to see if each sister would consent to sharing their song and their meaning, but until I get an ok or nokay from them, here is mine.

This is one of the songs I picked for this year's Girls Weekend. This is a live show at VA Tech, I get the feeling that it was soon after the shootings. The song is called What About Everything by Carbon Leaf (you may remember Grey Sky Eyes by the same band).

I chose this song because to me its about being happy with your life, don't live life for the "what about" but take joy in your days and moments because you, for the most part, are not in need. And it has a good beat.

Enjoy, and feel free to pretend I tagged you about your favorite song and the meaning it held for your life the last year. If you take part, say so in the comments and I'll come take a listen :) This could be fun!



What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

My Boyfriend Won!

And all of God's people said, Amen.

What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

American Idol Recap, Right'chere

This much I know is true: The producers of AI are still pissed at David Archuletta's dad for being a big pain in the butt backstage.

It became apparent during the Producer's Pick round. The producers got to choose one song for each contestant to sing.

David Archuletta had to sing "Longer Than" by Dan Fogelberg. That's when I knew they were holding on to some serious grudges. Bad song. Baa-aahaaad. Song. He did the best he could with it, but his best wasn't good enough.

Syesha bored me. I don't even remember what songs she sang. I do remember her squealing "Thanks Giiiirrrl" to Paula. But that's about it. Oh yeah. She danced around a chair. Buh-bye.

My secret lovah David Cook sang "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack. He sang it right to me. Good thing Tom wasn't home or he would've been a tad annoyed. Whatev.

David C. also sang "Don't Wanna Close My Eyes" by Aerosmith. And he rocked the house. Randy wasn't digging it, but I wasn't digging Randy's ugly shirt.

Again, Paula was very sober.

Simon was looking sexay.

Randy was ai-ight.

Syesha is going home.

Better AI recaps at Boo's.
What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

American Idol, Dawg

I am compelled to review American Idol this week for a couple of reasons. First, I loves me some Neil Diamond. What is better than a little Sweet Caroline and I Am I Said?

Second, I have a big ol happily-married-woman-crush on David Cook. He is just smokin' hot the way he looks at me when he sings. Plus he cried the day his sick brother was in the audience. And, he's got a great voice. Which helps when you're in a huge talent competition that is based on, you know, singing.

Third, I want Jason to. just. go. home. I know there are some die-hard Jason fans (Ashlee), but there's something about the kid that really bothers me. Maybe it's the way he ignored Andrew Lloyd Webber's advice last week (Dude, the man is a musical genius. You are a baby. Listen to him!). Or the fact that he always looks a little bit high and he has a case of the munchies. Either way, I am not a fan.

But the main reason? It's my way of getting Boo Mama over here. See, I'm kind of her biggest stalker and she has barely acknowledged my presence. When you stalk someone? You would like them to know you exist. So, I'm linking our blog from hers today and I'm hoping she comes to visit.

In the interest of full disclosure, I wasn't able to watch the entire show. I had to go to a follow up meeting for my Beth Moore bible study. I left just as soon as I was able and got home in time for the second half hour. The Honey Bunch family lives like it's still 2006 and we do not have TIVO. I saw everyone sing their second song and am basing my opinion solely on that.

THIS is your American Idol review:

Syesha sang Thank The Lord for the Nighttime. Girl had it going on. I'm not familiar with this song but she did a great job.

My buddy Jason sang September Morn, which was unfortunate. He was bored. I was bored. The only people not bored were the girls swinging their arms (out of sync mind you) in the front row. When the judges yawned, rubbed their eyes and told him that he did a lousy job he tried to blame it on almost choking when he first started singing. So a goober was to blame for his blah-ness.

(As we went to commercial, the camera panned the audience. I am pretty certain I saw Hugh Hefner's girlfriends in the front row. Which makes me a little bit sick. American Idol is a family friendly show. Three hootchie mamas sharing an 85 year old man for a boyfriend? Not so family friendly. Makes me throw up a little in my mouth.)

My boyfriend David Cook sang All I Need Is You. Right to me. Did you notice that too? He's in love with me. And, my man ROCKED IT.

One of my favorite Neil Diamond songs is I Am I Said. When I saw Brooke was going to sing it, I got scared. I was sure she would forget the words. I needn't have worried about that since she WROTE THEM ON HER HANDS. Like this was an algebra test. Yes she did!

She didn't kill the song, but it was just "meh" for me. The thing she has going for her are her twinkly, sparkly eyes and pretty smile. She should do toothpaste commercials or be the new Breck girl. I don't want her winning this.

I would like to adopt David Archuletta. He could be Logan's new big brother and sleep in the top bunk. He's a doggone cutie patootie and sang America. While he was a bit shaky in the beginning, he brought it home at the end.

I think Syesha will be in the bottom two because she doesn't have a very strong fan base. Jason will be sitting right next to her since he put everyone to sleep and they have no idea what he sang.

And on a side note, did Simon look a little extra sex-ay tonight? I thought so. And I think Paula was sober! She was giving good advice and critiquing the songs like a pro.

Now go to Boo Mama's and check out some more reviews that are way better than mine.


What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

Huh.

I might need to break up with my boyfriend. Just for the summer, maybe. Don't hate me.



(My summer boyfriend's name is Jason Mraz, by the way. Isn't he just the cutest thing?)

What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

Black Dove

Welcome to Fiction Friday, a little endeavor started by Jane the Sane, for more participants short stories click on her name. This story is based on the Tori Amos song Black Dove (January) and was a collaboration between Sassy and JimmyEatWorld. For those of you unfamiliar with the song, or Tori Amos, see the video below. I big fat bursty heart Tori Amos and have seen her in concert.



The image below was stolen from this guy and modified by Sassy to fit the story. Sorry random dude, but I am giving you credit.

It was a small room, dirty and sparsely furnished. The faded flowered paper that had once dressed this wall was now peeling from and falling like curls to the floor. There was an old iron bed covered by a tattered sheet yellowed from time. Beside it sat a table with a solitary lit candle burning with a small halo of light reaching weakly from the little flame and beside that table on the floor was a young girl in a blue dress curled into a tiny little ball. The blue dress stood out amidst the bleakness of the room.

This was a room that looked like it had been forgotten by the world and went to a place where things forgotten go. And with that room went the girl because she too had been forgotten. So forgotten in fact that she’d almost forgotten herself as well.

She laid there, curled on her side, her grey eyes wide and unseeing. Mechanically she traced her name in the dust of the floor. Over and over she moved her finger along each letter.

E-L-L-A

And as she traced, her lips would move almost imperceptibly. If you were to put your ear right to her mouth you might hear the faintest of whispers that sounded almost like a song.

I’m a January girl,
I never let on how insane it is
In this tiny kinda scary house…
By the woods
By the woods
By the woods

Father Father Father Father…help me.

Her eyes focused on a thread of light breaking through the dirt that covered the window. The beam cut a path through the dust and gloom and fell on the floor beside her. Her deadened eyes focused a moment and she looked around. She saw everything in grays and blacks, sometimes dark browns. The light broke up the dreariness of her surroundings with its brightness.

Close your eyes she said to herself, it isn’t real.

E-L-L-A, E-L-L-A, E-L-L-A she traced frantically.

Ella pulled her knees to her chest and shut her eyes tight against the light. She found the light fearsome and unfamiliar. The candle flickered and flickered, loosing its desire late in the evening and extinguishing itself. She willed herself to stand, occasionally shooting suspicious glances at the relentless beam of light. She stared at the bed until she found the courage to walk over and fall down on it. Then she covered her face with her trembling dirty hands, shaking her head softly trying to stop the spill of tears. She could feel herself cracking, her mind slowly losing the war to the crazy her mother promised would come. Out of the oppressive silence she heard a rumble and opened her eyes to see the light. The light, still breaking through the window, tore from her looming straight jacket.

As she regarded the beam almost indifferently something again nudged her toward it and she got up and looked through the window. What she saw was lights brightly shinning on the cold and dark house, illuminated the twisted trees hovering around the little shack she called home. There she saw something that made her feel different. It was a truck not unlike most others, white with more wheels than it needed and too much dirt to tell what kind, but it had a flag on it. The state flag of Texas waving in the wind with a slogan she didn't even care enough to read.

Texas… She thought. Then she thought of her father who was now living there. And in that instant she knew what she had to do. She had to run away. She had to get out of this crazy and ugliness that surrounded her and choked her life away. The sudden longing she felt for her father’s kindness and love was the first time she’d felt something other than despair in a long time and a warmth welled up inside of her. She stared out that window unsure of her own feelings. A new feeling began rising up in her and there, in that moment, she learned of hope and she leaned heavily on that thread.

"If you ever want to leave, look under the dresser, under the floor." She suddenly remembered her brother's cryptic secret from long ago. Her mind must have tucked that away and amid all the chaos, she had forgotten about it until just now. Ella walked, taking that thread of hope with her and anxiously moved the dresser. There she saw a board that looked slightly different than the others around it, it had her name etched into it and wasn’t flush with the rest of the floor . She stared at that board for what must have been only a few seconds but seemed like hours to her. As she stared she remembered Joshua who had left to live with their father. She thought about him looking at her seriously the last time she saw him, pulling her into a heartfelt hug and a whispering the secret before he walked out the door never to be seen by her eyes again. She missed him, he would have made this life bearable.

She had chosen to stay with her mother; at the time she felt so much closer to her. But that was so long ago, too many sleepless night to count. Ella had been the one to choose this life, she was at fault. Her mother couldn‘t help the downward spiral she plummeted into. Ella sunk to her knees and using the nail file she kept for protection, she forced it around the edges of the board worked it until she finally freed it from the floor. A note lay on top of a small pile; the note stood like a large golden key to her new life. Large black letters spoke the name only Joshua knew, Katia. In their childhood games she was Princess Katia of the Fey and he was the brave Prince Vladimir.

Sis,

I know that you love Mom and Dad very much and that this hurts you just as much as it hurts me. Please don't be mad at me for going with Dad, I can't choose between Mom and Dad but I have to stay somewhere. I've spent more time with Dad and I feel more connected to him, you know. I'm mad at him too, for what he did, what he did to our family. But I think that he might need me.

Always remember Katia that no matter what happens, I'll be there for you. Nothing can come between us. Nothing.
Here is $150 and a map of Texas with directions to Dad's on it. That should be enough money for a bus ticket and some food. Just get to the station in Lawrence however you can but BE CAREFUL!

Love,
Vladimir the Brave

Under the note and the money there was a compass. Not just any compass, but his compass. It was her Dad's childhood compass that he’d given to Joshua on his tenth birthday, telling him that this was a special gift that cannot be lost.

"Remember son, you can't lose this compass because if you do, how are you going to find it without any directions?" he would say with a wink and a pat on the back every time he found Joshua pulling it out of his pocket to check which way was north.

She remembered this exchange and her tears seemed to betray her. She had cried many many times before out of deep sadness but this was different. She wasn't sad at all. She felt joy and hope as she closed her hand around that old bronze compass. Her fist clenched it tight as tears hit the back of her hand; each one acting like another bead of hope to whisper to herself that things were going to be different. She turned it over and traced her fingers along the JRB, their initials. Them. She had to get to them. In that moment before she even realized she’d considered it, she decided to run away.

With sudden determination Ella took off the beautiful blue dress that her father had sent her for her last birthday, folded it very carefully, and placed it in a small sack. She put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt then slipped on the sneakers turned brown with the dust of the woods around her. She shoved the compass and money into her jeans and slung the bag over her shoulder. Then carefully she put the board securely in place and as quietly as she could she slid the dresser back into position.

Mother should still be sleeping. She won’t discover this. She whispered internally like a mantra as she summoned her courage to move to the window. She had once been Katia the Lioness, the Princess of All Being and now she had been beaten and belittled into a mouse. A frightened weak mouse.

She had never let on how insane it became in this little house by the woods. They would have come if she’d let on, but she was afraid and someone needed to make sure her mother ate and remembered to pay the bills. At first it hadn’t been too terrible, her mother was normal for the most part. The loving mother she knew even though she seemed prone to the occasional dark mood. But after awhile the pressure of life began weighing her mother and she began drinking, then the pills, then the men started coming. Ella pretended nothing had changed but as time passed she grew thinner and her grey eyes became increasingly hallow. Then the hitting started. Now when ever Ella was home she would hide in her room and hope her mother would forget her like the rest of the world had seemed to.

Finally, after painfully slow minute passed, she reached the dirty window and once again looked out. The truck was still there, it probably belonged to a man, one of those men. Ella could hear muffled voices coming from the other room, her mother was awake. She had to move fast. She lifted the window as silently as she could, just enough to get out. The voices grew louder, she heard her mother screaming something and a distinct sound of flesh hitting flesh. Then crying. Ella was also used to this, her mother’s men weren't the chivalrous type. But then she heard something that she should have expected, something she should have guessed would come for her eventually. Heavy footsteps tread toward her room, followed by the quicker softer ones of her mother.

“Leave her alone” Ella heard her mother yell. The knob rattled then the sound of scuffling just outside the door. Ella was frozen in fear, she knew an awful fate was outside that door trying to get in and now was her only chance to save herself a lifetime of misery. Finally it was her mother’s scream that woke her from her fear.

“Run Ella!” Her mother shrieked, still having some mother lion left in her after all. Ella hopped out the window quicker than she ever thought she could move and ran desperately toward the running vehicle. Thank god her daddy had taught her how to drive when she was 14.

Behind her Ella heard more screaming, a man swearing and her mother screamed for her to run again. Ella reached the truck, yanked open the door, slid in and locked all the doors just before the man began pounding his fists on the window. He had a rage in his eyes unlike anything Ella had ever seen and she knew now that if he got a hold of her he would kill her for sure.

She looked fearfully at her mother, “Mama,” She screamed tearfully at her. She was so afraid of leaving her mother alone with this man. At that moment her mother suddenly became the ghost of her former self. Her skinny haggard body rose up straight and her eyes shone with the light of the woman she had once been. The mother she had once been, Ella’s mama. She stood there calmly and full of an uncharacteristic long ago strength.

“Go baby. Its ok, go now.” She said, waving a slow sad kiss to Ella. Ella nodded grimly, and blew her mother a kiss back. With tears clouding her vision she floored the truck and peeled out of there, running over her tormentor's foot in the process. Ella prayed silently that it would keep him from killing her mother long enough for her to call the police from the pay-phone at the bus station. And with that thought of her mother she smiled a sad bittersweet smile because her mother had pushed her from the nest and set her free. That was the last act of her mother’s life and it redeemed everything.

to read more about Ella later in life, click here for Grey Sky Eyes


What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

My boyfriend is cuter than Honey Bunch's!

Larry. Mullen. Jr. Need I say more? Ok, I know many of you are saying "who" so here is a picture. Larry is the drummer of the Band U2 and although he's just the drummer I HEART LARRY! Look how cute he is!
I mean, if I could choose any of the band members of U2 I would first pick Larry, then Bono, then the Edge...and sorry, I'd only be friends with Adam. Sorry Adam.

Look at him, isn't he drooly? I met Larry when I was in High School. I was in love with both him and Christian Slater, but Christian Slater grew up and started hitting his girlfriends so I dropped him like a dirty tissue. But still, years later when I see Larry, I get all a flutter. Just like when I was in High School.
And although I have a line up of the order in which I'd date the members of U2, I'd probably only date the others as a way to get close to Larry.
And, he even looks like a fun dad! Doesn't he? So there you have it. Larry Mullen Jr.
Below is a clip from the movie Rattle and Hum (good watch!), a few minutes into it U2 goes to visit Graceland. Larry is a BIG Elvis fan and talks about his visit. Bono even sweat talks the guide into letting Larry sit on Elvis's Harley. I Heart Larry and I hope you will too!






What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

It's time for you to meet my boyfriend.

I was introduced to him while I was still in high school and it was love at first site. He was beautiful and romantic and sweet and gorgeous. He had the best hair ever. It was better than mine.

Sister Big sometimes gets jealous of our relationship. She wants to be his number one girlfriend. She can just shut it. He's. All. Mine.

Listen to him sing one of my favorite songs. He's singing for me, you know.




What's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

Grey Sky Eyes

Today is Fiction Friday, for more FF participants go visit Jane the Sane.

This is a short story based on the lyrics of the song Grey Sky Eyes by Carbon Leaf. Another Sassy and JimmyEW collaboration.

Now for your listening pleasure see below for the full song, just created last night because Youtube only had stupid and/or poorly recorded versions. See how much I love you? Hit play and listen while you read.

I walked briskly down the cold, busy street so intent on my thoughts I didn't notice the business man on his cell phone, or the bike rider, or really any of the 10 people I bumped into that morning. I had lived this day a hundred times already but this time was different. This time I was living it outside of my mind.

As I got closer to the coffee shop, I picked my gaze up from the sidewalk and stopped to glance at my reflection. My dark hair was slightly longer than I was used to but the gel kept it in place and gave it a very tousled affect. That seemed to be the style and although I could care less what "the style" was, I did want to look good today. And I felt like I looked pretty good. My shirt, which was a muted blue, fit snugly over my slim build and the waitresses at my restaurant always told me I looked good in it. But would she think so? I peered closer; I could almost see the blue of my eyes in the reflection as they peered back at me.

"What are you doing?" I muttered quietly to myself. I pulled up the collar of my black pea coat to block the uncharacteristically cool wind as it whipped down the street. In Wisconsin this day would have seemed warm, but living in L.A. for five years had changed my ability to withstand cold. As I stood there thinking about the cold I lost my nerve. Shaking my head, I turned around and began walking back the way I'd come from. I was halfway down the block before I stopped abruptly. I stood there a moment, shaking my head then began pacing back and forth, unsure what to do. Finally I turned and walked back to the window.

I looked hard at my reflection in the darkened window and took a deep breath.
"I'm doing this. I'm not waiting any more, I'm sick of waiting." and with that I smiled a hopeful smile at myself and nodded my head determinedly.

My name is Jonah and I'm a poet, well..., actually I'm a chef, but in essence I am a poet. I see poetry everywhere. The dripping chocolate falling decadently over a piece of beautifully cut cheese cake, the buzzing glow of the street lamp, the curve of an arm...the curve of her arm specifically. I felt very unsure as I walked, until I thought of her. She was what I was very sure of.

I have written hundreds of poems about her over the years. And today IS the day. Today is the day I will tell her how I feel. But I don't know what will happen. You see, Katia, or Kat as I know her, is a star. She plays Ryver Stockholm in the Soap Opera Touchstone and although she has only been Ryver for a year, she has already been nominated for a couple of Daytime Emmys. And now the industry and tabloids have begun calling her the new Meg Ryan.

And I? I am Jonah Gosse, a sous chef, not even the chef but the second in command. Although I’d argue I do most of the work and all of the management of the kitchen. But none of that matters because I can't compete with the hulky leading men, big names, red carpet and Hollywood parties.

"I'm the guy next door," I said aloud, "I'm the guy who cooks your fillet mignon during the day and at night secretly writes poems about something he can never have." my voice trailed off in frustration.

"You fool! Why are you doing this, you've been over this before. YOU aren't enough. You can't compete with what she has, what she is." Anger started to take over my face like a slow spreading rash.

"Stop that.” I hissed at myself trying to contain the rush of negativity I was feeling.
“Do I really want to live the rest of my life not knowing? Do I want to spend the rest of my days writing poems that she will never read? Or do I want to take a chance, even a big chance and say that at least I tried.” I sighed heavily and clenched my jaw in determination. I am going to do this, even if we can't be friends anymore, even if it is the end of us, I am going to try.

With that last thought I walked off with a confident stride, towards the only thing I was sure of; that this woman, draped in mystery, held my love inside her.

But as I neared the end of the block I felt it come back, the uncertainty of my ability to give her everything she’s used to, everything her life had become since she'd left the restaurant. Those negative thoughts only lasted a few moments because I shook myself and began talking aloud. Valarie, my prep cook, had told me once that to stop unwanted streams of thought you needed to start talking out loud. Something about talking stopped the thoughts. So if there was ever a time that I needed the nagging doubts and fears to stop playing games in my head, it was now.

I shoved my iPod ear buds into my ears and switched on the music. Poignantly, the song that began playing was Walk Unafraid by REM. Suddenly Michael Stipe was there walking beside me for a moment, telling me to walk unafraid, to be clumsy instead. To hold my “love me or leave me” high. To crush this charade and shred this sad masquerade. It was just what I needed.

"Thanks Michael," I said with a smile and began talking aloud again, this time in a clear voice instead of a murmur.

"I know that isn't really her," I said assuredly, knowing this with more than my head.
"That glamour and glitz isn't who she is. Remember, I’m the only one that sees through it. I’m the only one she lets see her without her pretty happy mask on." As I spoke I didn't fret about what the people around me would think, they were the least of my concerns. And besides, the iPOD gave a buffer as well as the illusion I may be on a cell. So I continued on with my monologue, holding with what Valarie said, only now I began talking to her. I imagined looking at her pale face with her light grey eyes staring widely back at me. Her long black hair parted down the center and falling softly down her shoulders. I loved her long hair, how sometimes she'd put random little braids in it or tied it into a knot to keep it out of her way. Not many women had hair that long anymore. I imagined what I would say to her if she was with me at this very moment.

"Kat, look at me for a moment. I mean, really look at me. You see me here; I'm standing here in front of you because I can't live this lie any longer. I can't hide it anymore. Kat, you and I...there is something about us that is different. I feel it and I know that you feel it to. I see it in your eyes when you let yourself out. I see something in there when I hold you. That night, the night in the rain after your audition for Touchstone. That night for a moment your veil lifted and you let me in. You let the fear flow out of you in great wet tears and you wept on my shoulder. You were worried about getting my shirt messy and I laughed at you because I was already dripping wet. Do you remember sitting in my apartment afterwards? You were wearing my bathrobe while your clothes were in the dryer and sipping on hot chocolate. Do you remember the hours we spent just talking that night? You let me in, you told me how afraid you were of disappearing and how you went into acting as a way to hide yourself. That contradiction confused and unnerved you.

You never told me why you hide, but I can see the sadness in your eyes. They reminded me of clouds moving over a blue sky just before a rain. I so desperately wanted to make the sun break through, to see them glow."

As I stopped talking, to listen to the music unfold, I began living that night again in my head. Before that moment in the rain we were just two people working at the same place. We'd laugh and joke around occasionally but nothing more than a casual acquaintance. I worked in the back and she was the hot waitress/actress, like most waiters and waitresses in LA. Most of them never stopped being a waitress, hitting it big was so rare and a dream of so many there. Dreams are what brought people out here in the first place. Some did make it though, like Kat. It was like she really was there to briefly grace my world with her radiance before becoming a real star.

I used to watch her from afar, hovering at the kitchen door, and just observe her curiously. She'd smile and laugh with customers, charm the tips right out from under them. But when she thought no one was watching her and she was alone I would see her change. It was like watching rough water suddenly calm into a silent lull, her smiles falling off her face leaving a quiet stillness that seemed infinitely sad. I had watched this happen a few times, always unobserved from the kitchen, but I saw it clearly as if she were right in front of me saying, "That isn't me! I don't know who that is." I felt deep inside that this was what I was seeing, so when she broke down in the rain one night after my shift she only had confirmed what I felt I already knew. I took my coat off and slung it around her shoulders and walked her the three blocks to my apartment.

That night is when all her hopes and fears came spilling out of her. She cried about how broken she felt and how much effort she exerted to keep her veil up. She never told me what broke her but it didn’t matter to me. After her heartfelt confession I saw a lightness come into her and a smile returned but this one was different because it shone in her eyes as well.

After that night we shared, we really became as close as two friends could become. And always, when we were together she’d arrive and the façade would slip away and she would stand there before me naked in her realness. And I grew to love this girl, this quivering woman who stood before most people as a butterfly but showed me that she really had just built her cocoon to hide in; never intending to emerge from it.

Then, inevitably, she started getting more popular. Touchstone began writing more story lines for her and the busier she got the less I saw her. Her schedule became so demanding that she had to quit the restaurant and although I was happy for her I was sorry to lose that closeness I was used to. She would still call and talk to me whenever she had a spare moment, but our schedules never seemed to work out and now it has been far too long since I’d seen her last.

As I walked up to the coffee shop, I could see Kat through the large bay windows. Some caffeinated fans were getting their pictures taken with her.

And there it was. That beautiful smile of hers. She seemed to glow, just glow whenever it came out. It showed off her perfect white teeth, made her eyes sparkle, and turned her into a star. Now I'm no casting director, but I've got to imagine when you see this beautiful woman smiling like that. Like you could actually feel her smile - well, I'd pick her to be the next big thing too.

I waited for the impromptu fan club to dismiss before walking up to her. Part of me still wanting to avoid this conversation but another part told me that the right moment would not be amidst drooling fans either.

I weaved my way through the dispersing admirers and stopped just in front of her. I went to take her hand and she pulled me in for a big hug.
"Wow, how long has it been, Jonah?" she asked reminiscently.
"Almost six months" I said as a matter of fact. "Your waitress retirement party, remember?" I chuckled.

"Oh, yeah...The official end of my screwing up people's dinner and spilling their drinks party, how could I forget?" she laughed.

"So, what's on your mind, Jonah?" Kat asked in that concerned tone of hers.

I sat down beside her on the couch in the now quiet corner and gathered up every ounce of bravery. Then I started speaking.

"Do you know the movie Groundhogs Day?" I asked her with a sly grin.

"The Bill Murray movie? Yes, I love that movie." Kat responded.

"This is the end of my groundhogs day." I said, knowing this is not exactly how I practiced this but going with what first came to mind.
"See, in the movie he relives the same day over and over but you never quite know if its punishment or a gift or maybe just a hiccup in his life." I stated as if a metaphor was going to make this easier.

"I have relived this day over and over in my head ever since that first night we spent together. That night was like the most real and tangible night of my life. Just sharing thoughts and feelings and knowing I was talking to the real you, the real Kat. Not the one who wears that big beautiful smile all the time, just Kat with no mask.”
I waited for a response from her, for any response. She just looked at me waiting patiently for me to continue. But I saw her face change, her mask slipped a little and she became very serious.

"You see, Kat, there’s something to us. There is something here," I said moving my hand between us like a line. "I used to watch you working, I would see you and I was never enamored like the rest of them. I never cared about your beauty because when I looked in your eyes all I saw was you, not your facade. Kat, I can't compete with your world but you know what? I don't want to. I want to be something real to you, something you can see and touch and believe in. Because Kat, I love you and if I don't do something about it right now, then I might as well just give up on everything. Because in the end of it all, in the end of everything. This is all that matters. Us, people, love, lives and everything that comes with it.” I looked down at my hands for a moment, wondering if I should say more or if I should get up and run for it. I decided I had come this far, I might as well say all I had to say.

“Kat, I don't care if we have only one day together because at least I will get to live that day with you, outside my head. Kat, this is it. This is a chance to be truly happy, what do you say? Do you want to jump with me? Because I'm ready to jump, in fact I just did, but I hope you'll be holding my hand so I can fly instead of fall." I stopped abruptly looking into her eyes, every second feeling like I was underwater. The pressure of the silence was suffocating me. But I waited, waited for a response and what I got wasn't spoken with words but was silent vulnerability.

Her eyes widened and filled with tears as she struggled with what to say. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came. Still, I waited for her to speak, knowing she would when she knew what to say.

"I'm afraid," She said in a trembling whisper. A silent tear slid slowly and gracefully down her cheek.

I took her small hands into mine. Her fingers were thin and cold and I rubbed them between my hands to warm them. I leaned close and looked hard into her eyes before speaking.
"Listen to your heart, Kat. What would you do if you weren't afraid?" I whispered back to her.

Kat nodded her head thoughtfully and, as she nodded, a smile broke through but this smile was an unpolished smile, her real smile.
"I am no great thing." She said to me in warning. "Me, I'm just a person and I'm not special. My eyes neither rain nor they glow, they are just me. I am just Katia." She said with more tears coming to the surface.

I touched her face softly, wiping away her tears with the back of my hand. Then I smiled widely.

"Kat, that’s just it. You are who I'm in love with. You right here with me now. None of that other stuff. This is it Kat, this is us."
Kat nodded happily, her breath catching in small heaving gasps as she tried not to weep. But her efforts were to no avail and she collapsed with great racking sobs. I pulled her to me, smelling her hair and reveling in the feel of her in my arms again. It had been a long time since I'd touched her, let alone hold her close.

“I never.. I never thought anyone could ever care about me till you Jonah. Never me, for me. You made me hope and hope made me afraid.” she stopped speaking then and leaned into me crying softly.

"What do you say Kat," I whispered softly into her ear.
Indistinguishably Kat's sobbing became made of both tears and musical laughter. She pressed into me, her body shaking with the strength of her emotions and said in her musical laughing voice
"yes, yes, yes. For a lifetime, for a year for how ever long we have in this world, yes."

And at that moment, we flew.


what's that? You want to comment? Just click on the itty-bitty words below that
say "Gimme Some Sugar". Can you see them? Good. We can't wait to chat with you.

Tune Tag and I WAS a Hairy Mo Fo

Ashlee tagged us but since we had a heavy week of posts planned we haven't had a chance to get to it till now. The tag is all about music, your five favorite songs and why...so here we go!

Beautiful Day by U2: (HB's choice) Tom and I had been dating for about five months when I went to Jamaica with my friend Joy. I had a great time, but really looked forward to seeing him when I got home. I had butterflies in my tummy on the entire four hour drive from the airport to Traverse City because I was so excited to see him again. The song Beautiful Day kept playing during the drive back-and it was a beautiful day. Sunny, beginning of spring and I was going to be seeing Tom again. Now whenever I hear that song I think of him and the beginning of our relationship. (Now everybody say it with me: "Awwwwww")

No Shoes No Shirt No Service (HB's choice) When Logan was about two, Tom bought a Kenny Chesney CD and Logan proceeded to fall in love with this song. He would SHOUT out the words "No shoes! No shirt! No problem!" as loud as he could dancing as close to the speaker as he could get. A-dor-able and he still loves the song.

Kind and Generous (Sassy and HB's pick) This song always reminds me of my sisters. My sisters and I falling in love as Natalie Merchant sang on stage at Lillith Faire and then later all of us dancing in a circle with knocked up HB at her wedding. Good memories great song!

Sugar High: (Sassy's pick) This song reminds me of my recent discovery (not re-discovery) of my love for my husband. We were both just so happy and excited about this newness that this song just really captured our excitement for each other. This may seem somewhat confusing since i say recent yet I've been married for over 10 years, but I'll be writing about this for Valentines Day. Since you've probably never heard it or of it I'm going to post a Youtube video since Pandora doesn't have it :(

And

Dust in the Wind: (Sassy's song) If you don't know this song then wow... go find it and listen to it. This song I heard for the first time as a frightened little girl. I was prone to reoccuring nightmares (still am) and was terrified of night. Terrified. I laid awake and finally I decided to turn on my clock radio and this song came on. Something about this song made the cold heaviness melt away and I could suddenly breath again.

So there you have it! We're not going to tag anyone specifically so anyone who reads this can play along, but be sure to comment here so we can come read yours!

Thanks for the fun game Ashlee!!

...speaking of Ashlee...

Ashlee challenged us to blog about a part of our body that we hate and since I can't just take a picture of my entire body (how sad is that) I decided to pick my legs/knees.

My knees are ugly and look knobby and more like boy knees. But while contemplating this challenge I thought about how I hadn't shaved my legs for about 2 months or more....well, thats not entirely true, I shaved one leg about a month ago then gave up when the razor died.

But I wondered...could I really see my legs through all the hair? Maybe while my hair was growing my legs mysteriously became beautiful? I wasn't sure so I decided I better shave them to find out, just in case they weren't ugly anymore.

As much as I say I don't shave for the extra insulation from the Northern Michigan cold, I really don't like hairy legs that much. I'm just lazy. And it actually causes a problem like on days when I don't have clean pants yet can't wear a skrit becasue my braidable leg hair will poke through...or when Sister HB's male friend tried to gallantly help me get my boot on while I was holding my sleeping baby. I suddenly became shrew-ish, insisting I had it covered because I was afraid he'd see my leg hair and throw up in his mouth. They were that bad....see below.

NO that is NOT a man's leg, it is my very hairy knobby knee with that lumpy fleshness above it (or below it because the picture is kind of upside down)

I got three razors just in case. My favorite of the disposables is the middle one but the other two are there for the first go round. Like using scissors before you use the clippers.

To shave, which I am by no means an expert at because I only tend to do it a few months out of the year, I like to use soap, don't know why- just always have. My soap is Dove Cucumber something and I love the smell of it. You should check it out!

I decided to try to go with my fav razor, you can see it's cutting a nice little patch through the hair, but will it last for both legs?

EW! Sorry to subject you with all this hairiness!

Finally after about a good 15 minutes I am clean shaven. Lets check out and see if I still hate my knee.

Aw, Shucks...still there. Oh well...

My Jimmy Eats World still loves them and after 10 years had no clue about what I was talking about when I was describing what I don't like my knees.

It's time for your Lent Family Devotional,

brought to you by Sister H.B.



GOD GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE!

I John 5:13-15

All of you have faith in the Son of God, and I have written to let you know that you have eternal life. We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.

Music for the New Year (Ode to Pandora)

I find music to be very soothing and often pertinent to my life. Music is the soundtrack for the movie we're living and sometimes it can open doors into our dark hearts or shine light upon our smiling faces. And sometimes it can even close out the darkness and lift us into the light.

Below I'm going to list some new interesting music I discovered through listening to Pandora http://www.pandora.com/ which is accurately called the music genome project. They have dissected a gazillion songs and artists and thrown them all into their streaming radio. What you do when you sign up for this FREE streaming radio is type in a song title or artist you like then Pandora will play songs and artists for you that have similar elements and influences. You can thumb up songs you like and thumbs down those you don't (thumbs down immediately stops the song from playing). As you go through your songs you hone your "station" until it's perfect for you. This site has introduced me to some great new artists I've never heard of and helped me to fall in love with artists I'd only heard some mainstream stuff of but never experienced their full beauty. So below I'm going to list my favorite station (actually a combination of a few elements) and the great songs I've found through it.

My station is actually a "Quickmix" of a few of the best stations I've created. It's Table for One by Liz Phair, Fade Into You by Mazzy Star, Hey There Delilah by Plain White Tee's and Night Swimming by REM. Through this salmagundi I have found an audiory experience that is quite divine.

Coming Through the Woods, is the current soundtrack for my life. I'm simply going to list some of the songs below and comment on a few. Please remember these are just my take on the music, each listener hears different things.

Samson- Regina Spektor http://www.pandora.com/music/song/regina+spektor/samson

Beautiful lyrics and voice. I love this song! Have you ever "cut the hair" of someone you loved and caused some great pain to them?

Table for One- Liz Phair http://www.pandora.com/music/song/liz+phair/table+for+1

For me this song is about the struggle of overcoming your demons and angst against those who joyfully aid you in your downfall and about realizing what is wrong with you.

Space Travel is Boring- Sun Kil Moon- this is a slow remake of a Modest Mouse Song. http://www.pandora.com/music/song/sun+kil+moon/space+travel+is+boring

Ben Folds Five- Ok, who didn't hear Brick in the 90's? Was that the 90's? Wow I'm old. But from listening to Pandora I've heard his song Luckiest which reminds me very much of my feelings about my husband (stop gagging Sister Honey) and Magic which I just think is plain beautiful. I would never have discovered these songs without Pandora.

http://www.pandora.com/music/song/ben+folds/luckiest

http://www.pandora.com/music/song/ben+folds+5/magic

The Maker-Dave Mathews- Again, who doesn't know Dave Matthews, but seriously I've never been that big of a fan until I heard him do a live version of this song on Pandora. LOVE IT! I feel this song. http://www.pandora.com/music/song/dave+matthews+tim+reynolds/maker+live

I Will Follow You into The Dark-Death Cab for Cutie- this song is essentially what my husband has said to me on occasion (hush Sister Honey) and it makes me feel warm and safe when i hear it. http://www.pandora.com/music/song/death+cab+for+cutie/i+will+follow+you+into+dark

Mother to the Moon -Jason Myles. Oooooh, what a voice, need I say more?

http://www.pandora.com/music/song/jason+myles+goss/mother+to+moon

And Jose Gonzalas, I think he has such a lovely sound.

Besides these beauties I've also discovered slow strange remakes of songs like Jessie's Girl and Time after Time. You can go to Pandora and do a song search and sample these odd and beautiful songs, you can sample songs off the entire albums or you can just listen to whatever comes your way.

Now go build your soundtrack! Happy Listening!

View My Stats