01 January 2010

So, it's the first day of another year. Funny thing, it feels just like any other day. Everyone is all on about resolutions, black eyed peas & corn bread and how everything is going to be super great because, get this: It's a New Year.

Wow.

Now, I'm not all cynical here, don't get the wrong idea. I'm the same chick who wants to believe wishes come true, magic exists and dreams become realities. But seriously!! At least in my fantasy world there is some catalyst to create wondrous things...not that they just happen because the date has changed.

Whew. Now that THAT is out of my system...I thought it might be nice to post an update.

Firstly, I've been hearing comments about how few I've made in recent months (and not so

recent months). And...I just uploaded photos :)

So WAY back in September Dede and I went to see Wicked at the Paramount. Def up

there on my list of musicals---costumes are amazing, story is good and the music stellar!!

September also held a brilliant

musical adventure to see Flogging Molly with James and Brenda-Boo. Yah, it was AMAZING!!!

We took along a wee picnic and saw some

interesting opening bands...and then the main event.

Yah, good times!

So then October rolled around which means Walt Disney World!!! The trip was awesome (as always). I really love EPCOT and this year they've added this AWESOME new game based upon KIM POSSIBLE!!!!

I had a great time doing a couple of the adventures in the afternoon and then Grant

joined in the fun a few days later. TOTALLY GREAT!!!

Even playing two afternoons we didn't get to do all of the adventures. Guess that leaves more fun for next time!!!

Immediately following Florida I went to California for a fun

weekend of soccer, Disneyland and seeing good friends from far

away! Ildiko and Bela were in town, all the way from Hungary! (YAY) and we met up at The Olive Garden. Sadly, Bela wasn't able to stay with us due to a tree emergency...but Ildiko and I enjoyed a meal and lots of chatting.

In November I took another trip to the Peninsula and stayed on the beach. I had a rough go being

ill through the month and the weekend was a perfect way to chill and get some rest. There was

a raging storm, brewed coffee, bacon, leftovers, lots of bubbles and avoiding tourists. I made the mistake of going over the weekend New Moon

was released, which meant silly twi-hards all around. I stayed out of town and had a blissful weekend.

And then it was December.

I love December...I live for Christmastime...I L-O-V-E Christmastime. The twinkle lights...the

carols...the food...the baking...Jesus. I always say...there would be no Easter if there wasn't Christmas. What a miracle...a choice that God made--for us. WOW

Of course the month started of with the annual

trip to Disneyland. Santa was pretty cool. Caught up with him over at the DLH--nice.

My way cool friend Tara and sis Tiffany threw a

great Christmas party the weekend following my return from SoCal.

We sang carols ate snacks and watched Harry Potter.

Seriously.

It was rad. Yah. Rad.

The following weekend was Christmas Supper

Party at my place. Oodles of fun with some good friends, good food, Christmas crackers and a white elephant exchange.

Good times!

Christmas was bliss...Boo came over on the Eve and we cooked and churched and saw lights...and

Christmas Day was full of gifts, film, friends and games :)

We even carried the celebration on to the following day! Good times!

This photo is us with Kat over at her place for a bit of an Irish Christmas Dinner...YUM!

Yah...so it's a brief look into the end of the year...but there it is.

Now it's a New Year. As you may have gathered from the intro here...I'm not into resolutions or thinking that "this year will be so much better than the last". Just like every season...I look at where I'm at and where I'm headed. I'll get my bearings and see if I'm on course.

I'll try to keep you posted.

So, what are your thoughts on this whole "New Year" business???

Just Wunderin'...Does Your Life Have a Soundtrack??

Do you have music that makes up the soundtrack of your life? I've been thinking about this recently. It seems for many of the major "era's" of my life (or events) there is at least one song attached. You have to know what I mean...those songs that come on and you are immediately transported to a different time and place.

Some of the ones that immediately pop into my mind are (in no particular order): 'Manhattan Bridge' by Blues Traveler, 'Looking for Space' by John Denver, 'Unwell' by Matchbox Twenty, 'Digee Dime' by Burlap to Cashmere, 'From a Jack to a King' by Ricky Van Shelton, 'Pour Some Sugar on Me' by Def Leppard (well...the whole Hysteria album, really), 'Welcome to the Jungle' by Guns-n-Roses, 'I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home' by David Frizzle, 'The Mountains Win Again' & 'Just Wait' by Blues Traveler, 'Orange Blossom Special' played by the Bar D Wranglers, the Main Street Christmas Loop, 'Love Song for a Savior' by Jars of Clay, 'Undo Me' by Jennfer Knapp, 'Solsbury Hill' by Peter Gabriel, the entire Counting Crows album August and Everything After, 'Have you Fallen on the Cornerstone' by Don Chaffer, 'Where Did I go Right' by Hilary Duff, the compilation CD Songs from the Loft, 'Love Song' by Third Day, 'Tell Her About It' & 'It's Still Rock-n-Roll to Me' by Billy Joel, 'Heart of Rock-n-Roll' by Heuy Lewis and The News, the Air Supply album Lost in Love, The Little Mermaid Soundtrack, various Toad the Wet Sprocket & Happy Mondays songs, Chris and Johnny & Jeff Buckley 'All You Got' by Tait, 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers, 'A Boy Named Sue' (or most any other song) by Johnny Cash...

(so many songs...so not wanting to bore you!)

Some are not songs I would choose, but they absolutely define a piece of time in my life, like Steven Curtis Chapman's 'Great Adventure' & 'Dive'. Ah...the memories.

There isn't much recent music in there. This isn't to say that nothing significant has happened, rather, I think it just takes some distance to realise which music brings a memory to life. It's funny to me some of the memories brought back so vividly...ones that remind me of a girls locker room before a basketball game where I would likely score for the wrong team, driving well beyond what is considered reasonable and prudent down some country road, going through a McDonald's Drive Thru to get free food with Monopoly tickets, sitting by the shore of Lake Yellowstone or night skiing with my pop.

I really have stumbled upon some pretty good tunes recently. I had sort of stopped listening to music unless I had UAB on in my office (all Disney park music) for background sounds. After I received some good recommendations and loaded up a new playlist I started listening a lot more. That 'new playlist' is currently in the sidebar to your left.

This playlist has a fair amount of Blue October and Placebo and other stuff that was referred to as 'alternative music' when I lived in AZ. Since I haven't had a radio in my auto nor one at home for at least three years, there could be some new fancy term for the stuff that I'm oblivious to. This is a genre I enjoy a lot. I'm not sure why the angst and having death as a focal point enthralls me, but it does.

I've also been listening to more classical music, including: Ravel, Shostakovich, Debussy, Faure, Janacek & Bartok.

I'm a sucker for anything with fiddles, harmonicas, banjos and/or accordions. I like a lot of Bluegrass and old to old-old stuff - - songs from the late forties back to the civil war era & beyond.

One song has been popping out at me recently. It's the single 'Be My Escape' by Reliant K. It is in my current playlist and each time it shuffles in, my attention is caught. If you want to hear it click the video below.

What initially pulled me into the song was this line:

"But the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair"

After a few spins I had to pull up the all of the lyrics. This is the stanza that includes the previous quote:

"I’m giving up on doing this alone now
Cause I’ve failed and I’m ready to be shown how
He’s told me the way and I’m trying to get there
And this life sentence that I’m serving
I admit that I’m every bit deserving
But the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair"

I tend to think to much in general, which may be one reason why I can make just about anything in this world turn into a reflection of or descriptor for my faith. I over think things. I know better than to assume any artist's meaning...but as for my personal thoughts-no harm, no foul-right?

Isn't it fascinating how our minds hold onto some things and then lets others simply slip away?

What songs bring back the most vivid memories for you?

Are there other things that call up memories for you? ...a taste or smell?

I hope everyone has some good music to listen to today : )

my-tunes

Since I've been home since Wedneday due to this wonderful winter storm, I've had a bit of time for puttering and doddling and doing things that wouldn't probably do otherwise.

I've been making candy, listening to Christmas music, allowing the trash to pile up in the kitchen walkway, reading, journaling, laundry (does it EVER end) and many other odds and ends...

One thing I decided to do was put together some new music. As my budget is spread ever thinner, it is quite unreasonable for me to consider purchasing music. So I decided to pull together a nice new Playlist!

I finished putting songs in last night (it's the longest list I've made) and am still listening through it for the first time. I like it. I hope you do to.

If you want to check it out you can listen from my blog (but no navigating away) or you can click 'pop out player' which opens in a new window. It used to actually "pop out". Silly Playlist.com. So, I guess it really doesn't matter...you'll have a window that music is coming out of.

It's a variety...no rap or speed metal, though--maybe next time (heh). Bers and Chrissy, I think you'll like much of it & Chris will see some of 'our' songs in there.

Anyway...there it is.

What are you listening to these days?

(Really, I mean it...I want to know. I love to check out different/new/new to me music. I don't have a radio in my auto so I end up taking suggestions from authors and various other outlets that I with through internetland.)

Tell me, tell me!