Tuesday, March 29, 2011

If 50s the new 40 why am I 45?

The thought of turning 50 next month doesn’t thrill me. Of course it beats the alternative but frankly I don’t wanna turn 50. I don’t feel 50. Well occasionally I feel 50 but on most days I don’t. "50 is the new 40," or so some say. Movie stars say it. I'll say it too. “50 is the new 40”. Yeah. Sounds good. I think it means in earlier times when you were 50 you were 50 but not anymore. Uh-uh. These days thanks to advances in modern medicine, public health, diet, exercise (yeah sure), botox, and so on, people are staying younger longer. The old 50 is the new 40. What a comforting thought. So maybe that’s why it was a bit discomforting recently when a co-worker said he just COULD NOT believe I was turning 50. Discomforting because he then went on to say “You don’t look a day over 45”.  What?! Hey! If 50s the new 40 why am I 45???!  Did he really just say I look 5 years older than my age? To my face?! Well!! 


I love fuzzy math.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

a little more Josh Rouse

...this time in the streets of Barcelona. Why uber-talented and Nebraska born Josh Rouse isn't a household name is beyond me. It's amazing how many mainstream artists don't have half the talent of many of the lesser known like Josh. I love the filming style of the video below and to catch a glimpse of Spain with its rich history, beautiful people, and sounds of life (including barking dogs) in the background is wonderful. I wanna go to Spain.



More Josh Rouse videos from Spain:
http://www.blogotheque.net/Josh-Rouse,5240

More Josh Rouse music:

Friday, March 25, 2011

it's not you I was searching for, it's only me




I was driving and listening to the song above when the last few lines caught my ear. It’s one of those songs that start out about one thing and then suddenly becomes about something else. At first I was confused by the song. And then I got it. The words made me think how people sometimes idealize and stay in a relationship that’s not right for them because it’s easier than being alone. And how these same people will search continuously for themselves in someone else before they realize their self isn't there. The elusive happiness they seek isn't in another.

An old song says 1 is the loneliest number but is that really true? No one wants to be alone but isn't it lonelier to be in a relationship with someone and still feel alone? To be a 2 but feel like a 1? Isn't it better to be happy as 1 first? I think so. I like the part in this song when this realization becomes clear.

Princess on the Porch
Josh Rouse

I searched for you but you were nowhere to be found
A coastal state and all I stood on was frozen ground
And now I found you, it's been three months to the day
Oh and baby it's so good to see you, how I missed your face

The bedroom light was on as you waltzed off thru the hall
My hands were shaking, it was like I never knew you at all
You move so slowly, with such eloquence and grace
Oh and baby it's so good to see you, how I missed your face
Oh baby, it's so good to see you, how I missed your face

Princess on the porch as I waited for the flood
Gave you all the love I could, I gave you all that I should
And now you tell me you are dying to be free
Oh baby it's so good to see you, why'd you have to leave?
Oh baby it's so good to see you, why'd you have to leave?

I walked out to my car, in my pocket that's where I found the key
I turned around to see you staring right back at me
That's when I realized how you are and how we'll never be
Oh baby, it's not you I was searching for, it's only me
Oh baby, it's not you I was searching for, it's only me
Oh baby, it's not you I was searching for, it's only
it's only me

Oh baby, it's not you I was searching for, it's only me.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Yum!

Not only yum but healthy too!


For a baby shower at work yesterday Paula made these dee-lish (and colorful) fruit and yogurt parfaits. The pretty treats made for a healthy alternative to the other goodies at the party, making it a tad easier to pass up the marble cake, fudge brownies, key lime squares, chocolate cream pie etc. (ok, who am I kiddin, I didn’t pass up the other goodies either but the f&y parfaits were mm mm particularly good)…

Ingredients:
Low fat vanilla yogurt
Low fat cool whip
Strawberries
Raisins
Blueberries
Pineapple
Granola
Sprinkles

Directions:
Put ‘em all in a dessert cup of choice, top with sprinkles, and ta-da! Simple as that.

The other not-so-healthy stuff...


Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy St. Pat's Day!

Being that today is St. Pat’s Day and being that I myself am a wee bit Irish (thanks to me Granny Kirkpatrick) I planned on posting a playlist of songs from my favorite Irish Indie bands. There were two reasons why I didn't. 1) I was too lazy to do the research and 2) I ran out of time. So, in honor of St. Pat’s Day anyway, I will post a little music from one of Ireland’s most famous musicians (if not THE most famous), "Van the Man" Morrison.

Kinda scary how much they look alike...



(Side note:  Oops, for some reason the text in the last two songs above displayed incorrectly. Song No. 8 is "Ill Tell Me Ma" and No. 9 is "Irish Heartbeat")
x

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

A nice warm day

It's not often in March we get to enjoy a nice warm day. This past Saturday was one of those days. It was a good day to be out and about and one of the many stops Mark and I made while out and about was Cedar Lake Cellars in Wright City – a good long drive and a peaceful easy place to be (just watch out for that red wine). haha



http://cedarlakecellars.com/

Monday, March 14, 2011

Rise to Me

Boy talk about bringing a tear to your eye. I just read the inspiration behind my favorite song off the new Decemberists album, The King Is Dead. The song is Rise to Me and listening to it breaks my heart. Colin Meloy, frontman of the band, wrote the song, along with his wife Carson Ellis, about their 4-year-old son Henry, who has autism. I can only imagine the longing to reach inside the world of an autistic child. I can only imagine.

"My son... is autistic. So that song is about mine and Carson's challenges," Colin says. "Thankfully, Hank is high-functioning. He taught himself to read when he was three, and he can tell you the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods, but can't use a door handle, and has trouble looking people in the eye - this would all be recognized by any parent with experience of autism."

A few lyrics from the song:

Hey Henry can you hear me?
Let me see those eyes
This distance between us
Can seem a mountain size

But boy:
You are going to stand your ground


beautiful beautiful song
The Decemberists - Rise To Me .mp3
Found at bee mp3 search engine

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Good time and sore feet at Off Broadway

The Austin, TX Band of Heathens (BOH) played at Off Broadway Saturday night. It was the second time I saw the band play there. The first time was last Halloween when their van was broken into. In a Q/A interview shortly following the incident, one of the band members had this to say:

What’s been the worst experience you guys have had as a band?
Well, yesterday we came down and discovered that someone had broken into our van and stolen our stereo and DVD player and GPS thing. There’s been some pretty nasty hangovers. That might be the worst.


So does something like that leave a bad taste in your mouth for that city?
That was in St. Louis. It reminded me of one of the [National Lampoon] Vacation movies, where they got the wheels jacked off their car in East St. Louis. Maybe a little bit, but we had a great show the night before and had a great time there, so we’ll try not to hold it against the city.

Link to the rest of the interview:
http://sacurrent.com/music/story.asp?id=71704

What a nice and brave group of guys to "not hold it against the city" and come back and give St. Louis another chance, especially during St. Louis' very own crazy Mardi Gras days.

Opening up for BOH at Off Broadway Saturday night was:

The David Mayfield Parade (oh and what a parade he was).
I'm not quite sure if David believes he’s some sort of sex kitten or just likes to shake his butt. Whatever the case he's a hoot and a very entertaining and talented guy. He's also the big bro of the young and crazy talented Jessica Lea Mayfield.


Mark and The David Mayfield Parade's cute Sarah Silva

THE BAND OF HEATHENS
I wish I had taken more video of BOH but by the time they took the stage all I could think about was my poor aching feet. :*(



Mark and my favorite Heathen, the soulful and cute Ed Jurdi.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Millionaire

Great song by Kevin Welch, previously recorded by Solomon Burke. This version of the song Millionaire was recorded by The Band of Heathens. BOH is a band with not one, but three distinct voices, and what I like most about their version of this song is clearly hearing all of them. More about BOH later...

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is moms 75th birthday, her real birthday. A surprise party was held this past Saturday at River's Edge and I'm happy to say that after much planning, scheming, and trying our darndest the last couple months to keep her surprise party a surprise, it was! WE DID IT! Much to our surprise (mine, Mandy's, Emily's, Jake's, Mel's, Jeff's, Jo's, Mark's, and our whole extended family's) the party went off pretty much without a hitch. Well, there was a tiny hitch but I won't go into that. The important thing is the party remained a surprise (and with a mom who always finds out everything that's no small feat!). Not only was the party a surprise...it was a success! Mom thoroughly and sincerely enjoyed herself and all her guests. Whew! :)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!


This video includes a silly "This is your Life" slideshow, plus pictures from the party.


This video includes live movies from the party (pre-surprise and post).

A Special Note:

To Mandy and Emily, thanks so much for helping make your grandma's party something she'll always remember. You guys are the best!

And to Mark, thanks so much for hunting down and organizing all the great "crooner" music for the party. You too are the best! Oh and btw, I was not a little stressed out (I was a lot stressed out)...and she did too recognize your car. ;)

Family is Everything (click to make bigger)