Music makes my world go round

Feeling all down and un-bloggy as I have been, I thought maybe I could just clean up my page or something…Mid-winter cleaning as you may call it.  So of course, being 2 years plus since I put anything on my blogroll, I figured I should check for url accuracy, and if I really gave a hoot about the content anymore.  And there it was.  My inspiration!  Its been so long since I visited my mommy-blogging friends (stalkees) that I all but forgot how much I absolutely adore them!  When I can sit at my desk in my (today, totally empty) office and laugh out loud, well, that’s a good thing!  Mommy bloggers; bringing joy to the masses in ways that only moms can!

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The boy is completely obsessed with Michael Jackson.  I am aware that some out there would be completely horrified because they just know that his was a bad, bad man and all…but really, I don’t know that, and I don’t really care at this point.  He entertains me.  Nuff said.  But the boy is obsessed.  For awhile, he tried to talk himself (and anyone else who would listen) into believing that he is actually Michael Jackson’s son, but he died, so then his dad (ex#1) came along and took over.  Yep, obsessed. But since he shares his obsession equally with Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario, I figure, eh, no biggie.  So when I saw the ad on tv for the new Michael Jackson the Experience game for Wii, well, you know I hopped on Amazon IMMEDIATELY (like, before the commercial was even done) and ordered two of those biotches!  (My friend’s kid is almost equally obsessed…partially because he’s younger and looks up to the boy immensely, but also because Michael Jackson is just awesome!)  I made a command decision to give the game to the boy for his birthday (23 December, yeah, he’s one of those kids) instead of Christmas, because, quite frankly, I couldn’t wait the extra two days to get to play it!!! 

Quite possibly the BEST. GAME . EVER.

It supports up to four players, and on most of the songs you can choose to be MJ himself, or one of the back-ups/female accompaniment.  You hold the wii-mote in your right hand (I love saying wii-mote!) and just mirror the moves on the screen.  You get the actual moves, and the lyrics to the songs scroll along the bottom of the screen!  IT’S SO MUCH FUN!!  Of course,  it’s probably advisable (at least for my out of shape old-ass) to warm up before because cheating isn’t really possible, and you know how MJ moves.  The first night we played for about 2 hours, and my shoulder was sore the next day from all the swinging (Beat It) and flapping (Thriller) I was doing.  Even the girl gets into it.  She likes that she can be a girl on some of the songs.  Although some of the moves (Dirty Diana) make me a little squeamish when she tries them.  Thankfully, I haven’t noted any crotch grabs or extra gratuitous air-humping yet, and the whole synchronized floor humping segment from The Way You Make Me Feel (starts around 5:20 if you’re not familiar) has been cut out.  *whew!*

On another, slightly related musically, note…

I SAW PRINCE IN CONCERT AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!!!!!!!!!

The bestest friend a girl (or guy for that matter) got tickets for the both of us for Christmas.  She’s awesome! It was awesome!  He was right there!!  I’ve been a Prince fan FOREVER, and way back in the day when we were young and in the military and roommates, we had a conversation about how I could never find anyone to go with me when he was touring regularly.  She made a promise then that if we were ever presented with the opportunity for a concert, she would definitely be my date.  10 years later, the opportunity presented itself and she made good on her promise.  Not just good, outstanding.  Did I mention the show was awesome?!  It was show 4 out of a 5 show tour, the first 3 being in New Jersey somewhere.  Sinbad opened with some comedy (yep he’s still alive) and then a band called Grand Central Station…lead singer of which was from Sly and the Family Stone.  Then his purpleness himself showed!  Let the girlish screaming and jumping up and down commence.  No. Really. Lots of screaming!  Sheila E played with him, and did one of her own songs too.  She is one hot lady and can play those drums like nobody’s business!  Prince played a lot of his old stuff: Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, 1999, 7, Purple Rain…of course! and much more.  His final encore he brought up a huge group of celebs (first show in New York, after all) including Whoopi, Jamie Fox, Alecia Keys, Spike Lee, John Leguizamo, and lots more.  All in all, it was quite probably the best night ever!  Check another one off the bucket list!

 

No Barney here

Music has always been a big part of my life.  I can’t play any instruments at the moment, although once upon a time I was ok with the piano.  (I dropped lessons after only 6 months)  I tried to learn guitar after high school, but my fingers aren’t as flexible or strong as they should be.  Nonetheless, I play a mean radio!   

There was always music when I was growing up.  My dad was/is one of those guys that has a kick ass home entertainment system and plenty of music to play on it.  He tends mostly towards classic rock, Zeppelin, The Who, Beatles, Queen, Supertramp, to name a few, and these comprised the soundtrack of my youth.  As I grew up, I went through my rebellious stage of Rap and R&B, and I cringe to admit, a little Country.  My tastes have broadened in my adult years, and I believe it’s very important to bring my own kids’ tastes along with me.  That’s why I have steered clear of the annoying kid singing CDs and Barney and the Wiggles for the entirety of their short (so-far) lives.  And it has paid off, for my ears, my sanity, and their musical benefit.

There was one CD I bought for them, a kids’ album from the show (on Noggin, the greatest kids’ network ever!!) Jack’s Big Music Show.  It’s a great show, all about the joys of music, hosted by two puppets, Jack and Mary, and Jack’s dog Mel.  They feature artists, aimed at children, but still quite talented, such as Laurie Berkner, Hot Peas and Butter, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, and Music for Aardvarks and other Mammals.  The CD is fabulous, and I have often found myself singing right along with it, and the kids, jamming as it were!

Lurie Berkner Band

Dirty Sock Funtime Band

 

I truly feel my efforts to save my own ears open my children’s hearts and minds to good music from the start has contributed to my sanity  their impeccable taste in music today.  My son’s first favorite song was “Fergalicious” by (of course) Fergie.  Ok, not such a manly song, but a good one nonetheless.  He learned all the words quite quickly, and would sing and dance his heart out, complete with a little attitude.  His new favorite band is The Foo Fighters (yea!) and his favorite song is “Let It Die.”  He sings it perfectly, complete with the passionate scrunched up face and eyes closed that is appropriate for the second half of the song.  Absolutely adorable!!

My daughter, on the other hand, has always been a rocker.  She was enamoured with Disturbed for quite awhile.  Even before she could walk, she would rock out, leaning on the couch and scrunching up her fists, growling along with David Draimen in “Stupify” and “Down With the Sickness.”  I’m so proud!! 

So no Barney in my house…thankgoodness!!

Virgin Mobile Fest 2008!!

I have officially attended my first ever ROCK CONCERT!! The Virgin Mobile Fest–2008 was freaking awesome!!  It was an all day thing (actually two days, but we just did the one).  I’ve been to a couple concerts before, in my younger years.  I’ve seen: Coolio, R. Kelly, Boys II Men, TLC, Montel Williams, Janet Jackson (Janet Tour in 1995), and while I did go to see No Doubt, (just before they split up) which was in a small theater in Sacramento, we (and by we, I mean one of the morons I was with) got kicked out just before their set.  The lead-in band was pretty good, from what I remember, but genius-who-will-not-be named (and I) shared two or three (big) bottles of Chianti on the way up.  Needless to say, we were pretty lit.  I turned that into a great time.  He turned it into an excuse to light up a cigarette, in an indoor theater, in the crowd, in California, and hit on some girl half his age.  The bouncer was not pleased.  But of course, genius then decided he wanted to take on the bouncer who was twice his size, at least, and soon thereafter got evicted from the theater completely.  Nice!  I opted for leaving him out there to suffer, alone, so the rest of us could enjoy the show (call me heartless…I don’t care!) but the rest of my concert-going-compadres wanted to take care of him so we all had to leave and drive his drunk ass home.  Not cool!!

But back to the Virgin Festival…Mr. W, the kids (his, not mine), and I showed up just in time to catch most of Duffy, then The Offspring, Lupe Fiasco, some crappy “band” that I can’t remember, The Silver Beats (a Japanese Beatles cover band), CHUCK-freaking-BERRY (how cool is that??!!), The Foo Fighters, and the tail end of Jack Johnson (his performance, not his butt, although I’m sure his butt is very nice).  It was amazing!!  The place was crawling with folks of all shapes and sizes…and by that I mean ages, backgrounds, and levels of freak-ness.  There was beer, margaritas, and tons of food (not to mention a fair amount of smoke… if you know what I mean..but seriously, what all day, open air, festival-type concert would be complete without the smoke??)

Duffy sounds great live.  A great start to a great day.  And she is super-cute!  She did keep doing this “move” that involved her throwing her head back, kicking one leg up, and twirling the mic around several times which got to be a bit annoying, but otherwise, great performance.

The Offspring were great.  Old stuff, new stuff.  Fan-f-ing-tastic!

Lupe Fiasco (rap/R&B group), never heard of them, but they had a great performance.  Definately one for the iTunes library.

The Silver Beats (the Japanese Beatles cover band) was pretty good.  A couple of them had an accent, but it was all good, nonetheless.

Chuck Berry is definitely a pimp, and always will be.  He called a bunch of girls up on stage for his last song, and some crazy chick tried to put her arms around him and stepped on the plug to his guitar.  Silly girls!!  He recovered well and continued to rock.

And then there was the Foo Fighters!  Great performance, great songs, great crowd reaction..just all great!!  I can’t stress enough how great the Foo Fighters were/are!

No first-concert would be complete without a token–a T-shirt from the concert (and a few more tan lines).  It was a great day which led into a great night.     (so how many times can you say great in one post??!!)

—>pictures soon to come!

(So just how many times can one say great in a single post??!!)

These are a few of my favorite things

“…raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…”  ok, not exactly.   Those things are nice and all, but these, these are a few of my favorite things:

Starting off with how I start off most mornings, Starbucks.  I swear I used to hate Starbucks.  Really.  It was part that thing where I didn’t want to buy into all the mainstream crap that everyone else is addicted to, just cause.  Part because I really didn’t think their coffee was that great.  Enter Mr. W.  he got me hooked, and now I just can’t seem to accept anything less.  Crack.  It must be the crack they brew in it.  I’m sure of it!

And more on the morning…(when I actually do get to eat breakfast) I love Weetabix!  It was a love that started in my childhood, living in England where it is originally from.  Imagine my sheer delight when I wandered into the “organic food” section of Safeway a year or two back and discovered it there, being marketed as “organic” and “healthy!”  I suppose it is, if you don’t load it down with cow’s milk and processed sugar…oops.  The American version is packaged a little differently, but it’s all the same inside.  Extra yummy served warm with just enough milk to soak the whole “cake.”  Try it, I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Daisies…my favorite flower.  I tried to like the exotic lilies and the traditional roses when (rarely) presented with them by a suitor, but it all goes back to the simple things.  It all goes back to daisies.  (Even better if they are personally picked.)  The way I figure, any man can go spend a fortune on some beautiful roses or lilies or whatever they have pre-packaged at the flower shop “For Her,” but it takes some imagination and confidence to show up with some simple daisies as a symbol of your affection for that someone special.  And that’s just damn sexy.  Seriously guys…

Purple is my favorite color.  It always has been and probably always will be.  Purple is a symbol of royalty and of cancer awareness.  Purple inspires songs and movies.  Purple comes in the rain and in a haze.  Purple is a state of mind.  (Besides, Prince likes purple, so is there any other explanation needed?)

 

 

I love Prince.  If Prince showed up at my door at any given point in my life and asked me to run away with him, I’d say yes.  Actually, I’d probably be in his car with the motor running, tapping my foot impatiently before he finished his question, but I digress.  He is one of the most talented musicians (he can play every note on every instrument in every one of his songs himself).  He’s innovative and creative (When Doves Cry has no baseline…little known fact).  He’s in touch with his masculinity and femininity (he is a Gemini, after all).  And he looks damn good in purple!!

 

Jack Vettriano.  My favorite artist.  I have this piece, “The Singing Butler,” hanging in my living room.  As a matter of fact, my entire house (unintentionally, but coincidentally) was decorated in colors right from this picture.  You’ve probably seen it around, and I love it…

…but I love Jack because he also does pieces like this…

…and this…notice the couple in the background….seriously…sexy… 

And speaking of sexy things, check out these kicks!  I love them!  Madden Girl “Paulee” slingbacks from Victoria’s Secret.  I get a comment or compliment every time I wear them.  They have that peep toe I adore, and just a little bit of flair to keep it interesting.  Best yet, they are comfortable!

But not as comfortable as these.  My Vans.  I’ve always been a sucker for the “fat shoe.”  DC shoes, Vans, the old style Sketchers (before they became mainstream), and of course the old school shell-toe Adidas. (thank you Korn for providing me a way to always remember how that is spelled!)  Yes that is paisley on the shoe, and yes it is pink…not either of my faves.  But look close.  There are little skulls inside each of the paisley swirly thingies, so that makes it ok.

And for the ultimate in comfort, if I must wear shoes (I’d much rather go barefoot 24/7) it’s all about the flip-flops.  My personal favorites are Reef shoes.  They have that squishy foam bottom that molds to your foot as you wear them making them personally fitted after some wear.  Ahhhh…  Word to the wise, however:  don’t let others borrow your Reef shoes, as their foot is probably nothing like yours and it will invariably screw up the wear, making the shoe neither conform to your or their foot.  Hrumph!

These really are the most “perfect panites.”  When I first pulled them out of the package, I was like, hell, no.  There  is no way in hell these are going to cover my butt let alone make it to my butt.  They looked like cheesecloth shorts made for one of the girl’s toy dolls.  But it even says on the package…they stretch.  Trust me (them) they’ll fit.  And they did.  And I love them.  They are opaque, so they’ve got the sexy factor going on.  They are tagless boyshorts, so they are totally comfortable(almost as if you weren’t wearing any undies at all, but without that akward “I’m not wearing any undies” uncomfortableness).  And they are low cut and really thin, so no panty-peek or panty lines.  How did I ever live without them?  Added bonus: Mr. W way prefers boy-shorts to a thong any day of the week, and these have his definite seal of approval.  I just knew we were meant to be! 

I bought this ring from Amazon. (Love Amazon.  Don’t let their lack of an individual listing on this list confuse you.  I LOVE AMAZON!) I bought this ring on a whim, as an I love me present.  It wasn’t the most expensive thing in the world at $25, and it’s not the most flashy, glamorous thing.  However, it makes me feel good when I wear it.  I can look at it and smile and know that at least one person out there loves me….ME! 

I saved the best for last…my secret lover…my one and only…my one true love…my Nikon D40.  I don’t bring him out (yes, it is a him) nearly as much as I should.  I neglect him (damn, I need to charge the battery), I forget him (no kid pics from the carnival Saturday), I leave him at home when I should take him everywhere I go (he’s a little heavy, and I’m afraid to leave him in the car…), but I love him.  It took many years to find him.  I knew kind of what I was looking for in a man Digital SLR, but it was when we touchedI picked him up at Best Buy, I just knew he was the one.  No fancy bells and whistles, except maybe the fantabulous macro/telephoto lens I snagged on Amazon. (yes, size does matter!)     I’m working out the kinks in our relationship, trying to figure things out.  You can see the log of our time together on my photo weblog: briteclicks.  It’s a work in progress, growing pains and all that, but it’s true love nonetheless!

So who needs brown paper packages and string…these are a few of my favorite things!

Because I just don’t have the words…

“Waiting”…by Renee Cassar  (Google her, she’s great!)

You’re so scared to show emotion

That I think you’re bleeding from within

And I’ve tried to reach inside you

And break the walls so we can begin

I’ve walked to hell with you

I’ve done it all to please you, baby

And we’ve come so far that now I really need you to

Let it out, and let it out, and let me in

Let it go

Don’t you know that I’m waiting

For you

I’m wanting to belong here

I’m trying to hold on and understand

That you’ve been through so much

That it’s hard to trust someone again

My dreams are always with you

My hopes, they lie within you, baby

But I’ve tried so hard that now I really need you to

Let it out, let it out, and let me in

Let it go

Don’t you know that I’m waiting

For you

I want to see you

Let me see you

Let me in

Let me in

I want to know you

The worst about you

I want to see everything

Everything

Let it out, and let it out, and let me in

Let it go

Don’t you know that I’m waiting

For you