Putting Realities in the Back Seat

I'm working on a new story. I'm two chapters in and it's in that tender chrysalis stage, where it could blossom into something beautiful, or it could erupt into a cloud of fairy glitter. That's what chrysalises do, right? Something like that.

I've found that the best way to sidestep glitter eruptions is to write from a place of possibilities - which generally means having to get Little Kid Kelly involved in the process. This isn't to say that I don't still believe in all sorts of possibilities, but the whole being an adult process can sometimes get me a bit distracted by realities.

This doesn't work for me when I'm writing. Keeping track of word counts and making goals for the same is helpful, but if I'm writing to that goal rather than to the story, I never get as much done. Basically, I need to get my grown up mind to take the back seat - letting the little kid mind run rampant through this new world discovering whatever she can.

Sometimes, this requires a push. And for this, I generally turn to childhood favorites - books, TV, or movies. Those fictional worlds that first made my developing brain explode in wonder. It doesn't matter if these things are no longer my favorite in their category, what's important is the reminder of feeling like absolutely anything is possible.

Here are some of my go-tos when I need reentry into the world of Possibilities:

This series was a staple of my childhood - the books that I was most likely to smuggle under my coat so I could sneak off and get some reading in at roller skating parties. And the books that left me with a never-to-be-fully-extinguished (but-thankfully-so-far-resisted) urge to wander through deserted construction sites in the hopes of meeting a kindly alien looking to gift me with powers.

Nothing gets my brain working like a dance party, and no song gets me back in my younger mind set like this one. This may or may not be because my sister, friends and I learned the dance to this...I can neither confirm nor deny. One thing I can say without reservation - I wish I could rock a turtle neck like these ladies.

There are very few rough scenes that can't be figured out over a pile of Legos. Something about working with your hands while your mind wanders...it gets the job done. Particularly, if what your hands are working on is building a Lego Hogwarts.

Chewandswallow remains one of my ideal vacation spots.

via GIPHY

My childhood was a revolving door of the original movies and extended universe books. I don't know that there will ever be another fictional world that so opens my mind to the beauty of never-ending possibilities.


So, what inspires you when you need to get creative?

New Year, New Whole Bucket of Things

Happy 2015 everyone!

I haven't quite wrapped my head around the new year yet. Even knowing that's what this post was going to be about, I still wrote "2014" in that greeting the first time around. It gets me every damn time.

Hope everyone's celebrations were wonderful. I, for one, have been catapulted into all sorts of newness by the beginning of 2015. In the last week, I have moved ten hours further north and started a new job. I am both freezing and excited and half the time can't tell which feeling is prompting the shaking. But since the shaking is happening, regardless of the reason, I figure I might as well just go full out and dance.

To that end, I offer you five of my favorite "new beginning" songs. Some involve saying hello, some goodbye - but they all either make sing along or get my feet tapping, sometimes both.


Children Will Listen (from Into the Woods)

This probably would have made the list even if I hadn't just seen the movie.

Since I have - and have listened to the Broadway soundtrack recently - it's

likely that I will never again not have this song in my head. 

Uncharted (Sara Bareilles)

The Morning Comes (Delta Rae)

The Parting Glass (Irish/Scottish Traditional Song)

The New World (from Songs for a New World)

If you have any to add, let's see them in the comments! I want to know what newness you guys having coming up this year.

Beneficial Distractions

There are some writing days that are all about complete, focused concentration. Internet bans, snack moratoriums, noise cancelling headphones, padded walls....the whole shebang. Gotta give all the characters their best chance at being heard over the usual noise.

Other days, some distractions are helpful. I'm not talking about the "Oh, look there are two new tweets in my news feed. And now another three. Wow, people are really tweeting right now. I should read them. LOOK AT ALL THE TWEETS," kind of distraction. I've never found that to be a big booster of my writing productivity. Music, on the other, is very helpful.

I frequently think about what my MC is listening to at this point in her life. Why does it mean something to her? How was she introduced to it? This rarely makes it in to the story, but it does inform the tone of my writing. I've always found music to be very influential on my mood. On the days when my brain is feeling a touch sluggish, nothing gets me into my MC's headspace faster than listening to a couple of the songs that I've dubbed "hers."

And on days when I just need to exercise the old mind pan, I take a scene that's been proving stubborn and I set iTunes to shuffle. I rewrite the scene a few times, shifting the tone of it to match each new song, only stopping to skip if a Christmas one pops up (unless it's between Thanksgiving and New Years Day - there are rules, people). After fifteen minutes, I hit pause and check out what I've got. Nine times out of ten, there's something that clicks enough to get me back on track.

So, that's one of my creativity boosters? I'd love to hear some of yours.

While, you're thinking about that, I'm going to leave you with a song that embodies the general mood of a character I'm working on right now:

Time to Start Moving Again

If you're anything like me, you're using the recent influx of nicer days to thaw out the sweet dance moves that have been hibernating the last few months. Also, if you're anything like me, you feel a little bit like the Tin Man after a storm.

But under-used joints shall not stand in our way! It's time to start moving again. How else will we be in prime condition for all those summer water balloon battles? We really need to be able to bob and weave.

These tunes should put you on the right track.


"Hey, Hey, Hey" (Delta Rae)

"I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (Whitney Houston)

"Higher and Higher" (Jackie Wilson)

"The World Is New" (Save Ferris)

"Hang Loose" (Alabama Shakes)

So, do you have any suggestions for me? Tomorrow's dance card still has room on it.

The Right Kind of Spooky

Fall is officially upon us. Probably my favorite season, despite the inevitable packing on of caramel apple weight.

No matter how much I love Christmas or watching new flowers bloom or sunny days by the ocean, I never feel as inspired as when the weather is cooling and the leaves are changing colors. In the summer, storms bring to mind pirates, but in the fall, dark clouds mean witches, ghosts and all manner of spooks hiding in the shadows, waiting to be found. They make me want to create some magic of my own.

The ideas flow. Some in the entirely wrong direction, but they're still fun to consider. And when I take a break from my own worlds to visit someone else's, I like it to be just the right kind of spooky. Not really scary, mind you. Because I am what is generally known as a giant mega chicken when it comes to horror movies. No, thank you. I am interested in sleeping again at some point in my life.

But I do like to feel a little spooked. A slight chill up the spine, as opposed to a sudden, overwhelming desire to hide under my bed and ne'er emerge again. Thankfully, this fall has offered me some new fare. 

First, my sister recently introduced me to Delta Rae. If you're not already listening to them, you should definitely check them out. They're pretty much an explosion of awesome. And one of their songs is exactly what I'm looking for when it comes to an autumn playlist. Fun to sing a long to, a touch of the supernatural and an intensity from the lead singer that creates just the perfect amount of spookiness.

I definitely believe that she could take out the village before being thrown in the river. It's all in the eyes.

And then in the realm of television, I am getting into Sleepy Hollow big time. It may be a pretty big leap from the original source material, but as far as I'm concerned the changes are paying off so far. I tend to feel a little twitch of unease while I'm watching but the lingering effect isn't nightmare inducing fear. When I finish an episode, I just feel like writing. Not anything related to what I watched, I just want to get back to work. I don't think I can coherently explain why that is, but suffice it to say, I'm happy to be inspired in whatever ways possible.

Now, though, I'm looking for books that will fit into the category of spooky, but not necessarily scary, to add to my TBR list. Particularly paranormal or mystery. Any suggestions?

Traveling Tunes: Ireland

Good morning, folks! Well, it's actually afternoon for me. And it's night in Australia....

So, maybe I should just stick with "Hey there!"

I am still knocking around the Emerald Isle, song in my heart as I go. Thought it only right to share some of them with you. And, so, my traveling soundtrack grows...

To begin with, I must include some musicians who I've actually seen in person:

I mean, the music is beautiful enough. But add in the balancing act? That's just impressive.

Try to listen to this next song without at least tapping your foot.

If you managed it, you've much more will power than I.

This trip is my first time hearing this next song.

Absolutely beautiful and also, nice to know that the love of Elvis spans oceans.

I would be remiss in this list if I didn't include at least one song in Irish.

If you're interested in a translation, check it out here!

To tie things up, here's another tune that, if you're anything like me, is going to get you clapping before you realize it.

And, now, I must go and learn to play a tin whistle or bodhran or fiddle or something.....

Traveling Tunes: Australia

Back in April, I started off my traveling soundtrack. After my time spent down under, I'm ready to add some  more songs to this list.

Now, whereas the first grouping didn't need much explanation, I feel like these might warrant a sentence or two.

To begin with, who doesn't feel like this when they're on vacation?

Plus, all the times that she sings "I'm flying" is really reminiscent of the thirty odd hours I spent in a plane.

We saw Shakespeare's Henry IV at the Opera House. The play was quite cool and the Opera House itself was stunning. The problem was that there were posters for it all over the city. And every time we saw them, the Roomie just couldn't help but start singing about another Henry.

It's like The Song that Never Ends. At least when the Roomie sings it. Because it's not just the second verse that's the same as the first, but the third....seventh....twenty-sixth....

Also, I actually attended a sporting event - a rugby game between the Rabitohs and the Cowboys. Now, we were rooting for the Rabitohs because that's who my friends told us to root for, but let's face it, I would have rooted for them anyway. Much cooler name. Anyway, I have to include this song because I have been properly programmed by sports movies to believe that it is not a true athletic event if there isn't any Queen on in the background.

I managed to stop myself from yelling "Quack...quack...quack!" whenever people would start chanting. Instead I'd just yell "Rugby!" And occasionally "Scrum!" That's a rugby thing, right?

We were in the country for Mother's Day and there were lots of commercials for different gifts folks could be getting their moms. One of them was about music and the main song they played (including clips from the video) in the background was the following:

And the voice over would say, "Just like Michael Buble says, Mother's Day is a beautiful day!" Now, I could be wrong, but I don't think that's exactly what he was singing about. Maybe I missed some nuances?

This following song is by an Australian artist my friends introduced me to during my visit. There's some language in here that's not quite kid-appropriate, but I'd say the message it fairly universal. After all, aren't we all wondering where in all of hell are the hoverboards we were promised??

Science, you did let me down. But I'm here to tell you, I will totally forgive and forget if you would just give me a flying car. Preferably a hatchback.

All right, that wraps up this segment, but I'll be adding in songs from my time at location one in Ireland next week.

Have a great weekend!

Traveling Tunes

This past Friday was my last day of work. I’ve worked in this office for the last two and a half years and it was a very good experience for me.

But it was time for some change.

And I figured go big or go home, right? So, starting in about a week and a half, I’m off on an adventure. Australia, Ireland, some time back in dear old NY, a visit to Maine. These are the things definitely planned for right now, but more locales may pop up along the way. Ultimately, I’m not sure where I’m going to end up. Which is equal parts awesome and terrifying.

Anyway, the first step to any great trip is the proper soundtrack, correct? I decided to start with the tunes of starting journeys:

 

Tell me this video doesn't inspire you....That's right....You can't.

I’ll be compiling more of my summer of travel soundtrack at the various destinations.

But do you have any more suggestions for Part I?

Lullabies

Between friends and family, I have a number of babies coming into my life right now. I’m going to be an auntall over the place. Which means, I’ve been looking into a lot of baby-related things lately. Given my love of music, lullabies have been on the list.

Who doesn’t enjoy being sung to sleep?

I’ve gone through periods in my life where I have listened to music every night as I’ve drifted off. I learned early on that I had to choose my bedtime music wisely. Tried the Broadway soundtrack to Footloose for a week once. Which I guess kind of worked. I was pretty tired after I got up and danced around the room for a half hour. 

However, I don’t think anyone’s going to let me watch their babies if I get them all riled up like that. So, I’ve been looking into songs of a more soothing variety.

I like some of the classics, but of course a few of them are kind of scary.

“Rock-a-Bye Baby” ends with the baby plummeting from a tree tops and possibly being crushed by a splintering cradle. Sleep tight, kid. The fact that I’ve seen “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” listed as a lullaby is bizarre to me. Who falls into peaceful slumber while thinking about spiders? I know it’s a surefire way to keep me burning the midnight oil. Or, you know, maybe we can just sing about a little girl drowning to death right before the eyes of a little boy who wants to save her, but can't swim. And then talk about how her decaying body fertilized plants. And how he fell in love with her little sister and forgot all about her. That'll give the kiddies sweet dreams.

Possibly my favorite verse from this version of the little ditty is:

In my dreams she still doth haunt me
Robed in garlands soaked in brine
Though in life I used to hug her
Now she's dead, I draw the line

Gotta teach the children boundaries, right?

Still, even more than twinkling stars and golden slumbers of the not-so-blood-curdling classics, I like some of the modern lullaby-ish tunes. Here are a few of my favorites:

If you'll notice, not an arachnid or horrible death among them.

How about you? Any suggestions for my coming nieces and nephews?

Dance Break

Thursday is always one of the hardest days, in my opinion. It is just….so…..close….to being Friday. But it’s not and that’s a bummer. I have, however, found something fool proof to get me through the final push of the week.

The dance break.

Now, to be clear, you do not need any actual dancing talent for this mental getaway. For while I do love dancing, I am not particularly rhythmically blessed. What I do bring to the table is raw enthusiasm and willingness to look like a total idiot. And that, my friends, in something I truly believe we can all find inside.

So, pick a place – be it your office, a vacant bathroom stall, a parking lot, a hallway (empty or otherwise) – and a favorite tune and go to town. I promise that in the span of one song, you will find the energy needed to finish out the work week. And if someone happens upon your little dance party, invite them to join in. If they don’t? Know that in their heart of hearts, they wish they did.

At least that’s what I tell myself.

Now, to get you started, here are five pick-me-up songs from my favorites list:

 Come one, who doesn't wish they could have been part

of Motown group?

I just wish I could dance as acrobatically as all these folks.

This one is almost pathological. I can't not dance when I hear it.

In fact, I'm dancing right now, just thinking about it.

Hello, my childhood. 

 It starts off with some simple foot tapping.

Next thing I know, I'm skipping around the room.

No matter what, know that you’re not alone in your doldrums relief.

I’m already dancing.

Waiting on Spring

Spring time is here and the living is easy!

Okay, yeah, I’m currently trying to climb into my office heater. And fine, there’s talk of more snow next Monday. Stop bothering me with trivial details!

How about it being lighter later, huh? That’s springy. It’s not called “springing” forward for nothing, am I right? Sure, the month after daylight savings is always a total mind twist where I think I have more hours in the day than I actually do and somehow it’s ten o’clock before I realize I need to stop frolicking in the frost laden fields and eat some mac and cheese or something. But that’s a price I’m willing to pay for warmer weather.

Or, more realistically, the growing hope that one day the weather will indeed be less frigid.

So, I’m going to celebrate spring. Not let all those naysayers who keep reminding me that it’s supposed to be in the 30s tomorrow. THE THIRTIES. JUST ABOVE FREEZING. WHAT?

No, no, I’m sorry. That’s not what this is about. This is about the celebration of spring. Ignore the cold. Ignore. The. Cold.

Okay, I’m having a little bit of a hard time with that. If you are too, here are my suggestions as to how to get your mind off the, I don’t even want to say it, wintry temperatures:

-          Watch a spring themed movie, such as classics From Justin to Kelly or Shag: The Movie. Seriously, turn away from you computer and go watch these movies. I give you my guarantee that afterward, you will not be thinking about how cold it is. In fact, you may be robbed of the ability to think entirely.

-          Belt out some tunes from The Secret Garden. It may be a bit to cold to start your gardening, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sing about it. Plus, if you like to dance whilst you sing, you’ll be feeling warmer in no time!

-          Do some spring cleaning. Or if you’re not feeling quite that ambitious yet, read The Berenstain Bears Clean House. Might give you some ideas for when you finally do feeling like organizing all your things.

-          Nothing chases away the cold like new love. For some seasonally appropriate tales of devotion, check out Come the Spring (Julie Garwood) or Scandal in Spring (Lisa Kleypas).

-          Solve a mystery! That’ll totally keep you from thinking about the fact that you’re wearing three sweaters. Maybe you have one in your own life that you want to look into, but if not, Rita Mae Brown’s got you covered with the spring time themed Catch as Cat Can.

-          Perhaps reading about warmer weather isn’t helping. In that case, I suggest Ice Hunt by James Rollins. It probably still won’t be springy out when you’ve finished, but at least you’re not in the Arctic. Or, you know, fighting prehistoric creatures. Unless you’re into that sort of thing. Who am I to judge?

Okay, those are my tips. If you have any of your own, please share below. In the mean time, I think I need a forth sweater. And maybe some hot cocoa.

Mental Reset

Do you have a default song in your head?

I tend to frequently get songs stuck in my head. Last night it was “I’m Gonna Be” by The Proclaimers. A good, fun song, to be sure. But once it latches on to your brain stem, it’s nearly impossible to shake it off.

And because I’m a little bit mean, I’m going to try to put it in all of your heads as well:

You’re welcome.

But, back to the point – lots of songs get stuck in my head. Some more than others. For days, I will have the same melody playing in circles in the old brain pan. And when I finally manage to oust them, they almost inevitably turn up on the radio. The tunes of Cee Lo and Carly Rae Jepsen haunt me.  

There are some days however, where my brain is quiet. No music. Just peaceful silence. Which is wonderful, until I decide that I’m bored with it and would like a little music. And suddenly….nothing. For all my love of songs, I can not come up with a one.

This deafening quiet tends to last just under the longest minute ever and then the music comes through again. But in these situations, it is almost invariably the same song that pops into my mind first.

“Colors of the Wind.”

Yup, the song from Disney’s Pocahontas.

I have no idea why. Sure, I liked that movie as a kid, but it wasn’t my favorite Disney film. I’ve been in numerous musicals. I’ve listened to countless CDs. My inner musical library is not too shabby.

But every time: “Colors of the Wind.”

So, am I alone, or does this happen to other people? Do you have one random song that is always the first to pop into your head when you decide it’s time to do a little singing?

And, finally, in deference to my inner voice:

I’m all for walking in another’s footsteps, but I think grabbing bear cubs 

is an action that should be included in this song.

All You Need Is Love....and the Occasional Well Chosen Word

Music is an amazing thing. It can draw out all the same emotions a great book does, but it often doesn’t have more than a few minutes to do so. And what’s the topic that shows up with the most frequency in songs? Love.

Apparently the Beatles were right. That’s all you need. Of course, having the words to express your emotions doesn’t hurt either.

Here are my top ten songs discussing word choice, writing, reading, and possibly the most famous romantic couple in literature:

1. “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” (1937)

The sole reason this couple is on the verge of calling it quits seems to be that they disagree on the pronunciation of certain words. Now, I’m happy that they ultimately decide to stay together, but I’m also glad they understand that an issue as important as this must be discussed when embarking on a serious relationship.

2. “Love Letters” (1945)

This song holds a special place in my heart as it always reminds me of my grandparents. But it also speaks to the power of words. It doesn’t matter that the singer is alone in a desolate place, so long as she has the words given to her by the one she loves.

3. “Adelaide’s Lament” (1950)

Sometimes love doesn’t work out exactly the way you want it to. The best way to deal with this? Break out some psychology books and self diagnose. Obviously.

4. “Show Me” (1956)

Despite the power and beauty of words, occasionally a little action is necessary. If you’re looking to illustrate that point (and aren’t above a little theatricality), this is the song for you.

5. “The Star-Crossed Lovers” (1957)

Maybe you’re not in the mood for words. You’re just looking for a nice slow dance. That doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your search for the literary. Just grab your dance partner and sway along to the melancholy sounds of Duke Ellington. Romeo and Juliet may not be verbal here, but the two saxophones representing them are still having a conversation.

6. “The Book of Love” (1957)

I too wonder who wrote the Book of Love. Mostly because I’d like to ask them what happens in Chapter 5. I get the feeling the Monotones are giving us the Cliffs Notes version. At the very least I’m missing an important step between Chapters 3 and 4. How do you go straight from remembering the meaning of romance to breaking up? And why exactly are we assuming that she will always be the one to need the second chance? I’m starting to wonder if you even really read the book, Monotones, or if you just skimmed. Did no one tell you that there was going to be a quiz?

7. “Fever” (1958)

Now, I personally don’t remember Shakespeare penning the dialogue, “Julie, baby, you’re my flame,” but after listening to this, who doesn’t want to use the line, “I burn forsooth?” (Also, technically this song was first performed in 1956, but Romeo & Juliet didn’t make their appearance in it until 1958.)

8. “L-O-V-E” (1965)

There comes a time when subtly must be cast aside and you just need to spell it out. But how do you accomplish this without coming across as either too boring or too aggressive? Make it an acrostic! You know who loves acrostics? Everybody.

9. “The Letter” (1967)

Once again, the love letter comes out swinging. Not sure if all the letter said was “I can’t live without you anymore” or if she went in to more detail. Regardless, whatever thoughts she put on the paper were enough to get her fella uprooting his life.

10. “Your Song” (1970)

On the surface, this is a song about writing a song. But more than that, it’s about struggling to find the right words to express your love for someone. And knowing that even though the words might be simple and not able to encompass the entirety of your emotions, they’re the best tool you have. So, you tell the other person that life is better with them and trust that they can feel the rest.

Can you think of any songs you’d add to the list? Particularly from more recent years, as I’ve only now noticed how historically skewed my list is.

Hope you’re spending at least some of the day dancing! (I personally find it a good mid-week catharsis. Particularly if you can manage it without your coworkers walking by.)

The Eternal Question

Friday has arrived, my friends! The weekend is stretched out before us in all its glory and I'm readying myself for the traditional end-of-the-week dance.

And it shall be awesome.

But until it strikes end-of-work-o-clock, I'm distracting myself with sweet thoughts. Literally. I'm thinking about cake and pie. Because, why not?

I will say, I've struggled with myself over the years, trying to decide which I preferred. Cake or pie. Pie or cake. I think we can all agree, they're both awesome (and if we can't agree on that, we're probably not the soul mates I imagined). But who wins in the ultimate battle for our taste buds?

I've done my research. Consulted expert after expert. I rented Waitress, recorded Cake Boss. I've listened to every song on Lisa Loeb's "Cake and Pie." I've learned what happens when you get baked into a cake and that pies can be a bit dangerous. I've sent my resume to The Pie Hole....possibly more than once. 

Pretty much left no stone unturned.

Ultimately, it seems, though, there is no one answer to this question. It's something all people must decide for themselves.

Through much soul searching and teeth gnawing and the filling out of this handy dandy bracket, I have discovered that pie has the advantage in my world.

I'm a pie girl.

There, I said it.

What are you?

Only Reasonable Conclusion: My iPod's Watching Me

I don’t know what was going on with my iPod this morning.

I like to leave it on shuffle for the drive. I get to listen to a variety of different musical genres and without fail have one I-totally-forgot-I-had-this-album! moment.

Sometimes the iPod Shuffle gods are very good to me. Monday, for instance, started with two songs from Footloose and some Jackson 5. Tell me who wouldn’t be pumped to start the week after that?

Apparently as the week has progressed the gods have decided that they are as tired as the rest of us. In what I can only imagine is an effort to pump some new lifeblood into the week, it would appear they deemed this morning “Creeper Thursday.”

I mean, it started off fine. Just the normal mix of jazz, ‘90s pop, showtunes and oldies. Fine and dandy. Then about fifteen minutes in, things took a turn for the disturbing.

It started with the immediately recognizable opening chords of “Sunglasses at Night.” But it didn’t play the full song. I guess it didn’t download entirely into iTunes, so what I got was “I wear my sunglasses at night so I can, so I can watch you weave then breathe your story lines.” And then total silence for about five seconds.

Sweet, merciful heavens, are you watching me breathe now? Are you in the car??

After those five seconds of silence, I was rewarded with “Every Breath You Take.” Not better.

iPod, STOP WATCHING ME!

Generally speaking, I don’t find the Backstreet Boys particularly intimidating, but when “As Long As You Love Me” came on the heels of the other two songs, I couldn’t stop my brain from taking me down a dark path.

Do you really not care what I did or are you just saying that so I don’t ask you what you did? What did you do?!?!?

And then a song from my Christmas mix came on. The risk you run with the shuffle. I was coming up to a red light, so I knew I’d be able to turn it quickly (after January 2^nd and before Thanksgiving – no Christmas music!). Unfortunately, not quickly enough. Heard enough of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” to know that the “baby” in question was soon going to be asking “What’s in this drink?”

Never a question anyone should have to ask.

But I did get to change it before the light turned green. So, problem solved. Until I realized that the song that came on next was Good Charlotte’s “My Bloody Valentine.”

Why do I even have all these songs on my iPod?!?!?

Finally, I was pulling up to the parking structure. Rolled down the window to badge in, said hello to a coworker, rolled the window back up just in time to realize that my iPod was blasting “Backdoor Lover” from Josie & The Pussycats.

To quote Don Lockwood, “Dignity. Always dignity.”

On the plus side, I was very happy to get to work. So, I guess the shuffle gods did their job after all. Next time though, let’s just stick with fun and peppy in the morning, shall we?

Let's All Hum Together, Shall We?

I have music on the brain today.

I organized my iTunes last night. Don’t know what was going on when I first imported all the music. It’s entirely possible that I contracted the job out to a manic space money. That would at least explain the strange split CDs, to a certain extent. Not to mention the sea of “Track 01”s I had to wade through.

It was some scary traveling for awhile, but I have emerged on the other side. Victorious.

But, now I’m doing a whole lot of singing – much, I’m sure, to the dismay of my coworkers. Now, I’m going to share with you some of the songs on the old brain pan. Because, let’s face it, the odds of me being able to totally curb my office harmonizing, but I’d sure feel better if I thought some people out there might be humming along with me.

Every once in awhile I’ll hear a song that opens up my mind and gets the creativity flowing. What comes pouring out more often than not has absolutely nothing to do with the subject matter of the song. It’s more of an emotional inspiration. This is one of those songs for me. Every time I hear it, I want to sit down and get back to writing.

I’ve mentioned that there are a large number of fictional towns that I would like to live in for a spell. Well, I have some songs that I wouldn’t mind moving into for awhile, as well. This is one of them.

These two consistently inspire me to find more fun grocery stores. There’s not nearly enough song and dance going on in the one I frequent.

This is just classic late ‘90s. And that never gets old.

And to finish up, this is absolutely what I’m singing the most today.

Started off the day with some car dancing to the Pitch Perfect soundtrack. And let me tell you, car dancing just puts me in a good head space. I strongly encourage you all to do a little sitting-at-you-computer-grooving. It’ll make a bad day better and a good day the best.

Any songs on your mind today? I’d be happy to join you in a few bars.

The Naughty List

I love Christmas music. Not really much of a shocker. But, in addition to loving the songs that embody the true spirit of the season, I also enjoy those whose characters seem to be headed for the naughty list.

• This kid

• To his credit, he’s pretty up front about it. But, seriously, kid, a tack on your teacher’s chair and a sugar bowl full of ants? Those are hard to come back from. Of course, I was told that tattling wasn’t nice, so maybe some of those who “snitched on him” are also in trouble.

• Pretty much all the reindeer but Rudolph

• An entire group that shuns the one different kid to the point that he’s not even allowed to play games with anyone. Oh, but suddenly he’s all famous and they’re singing a different tune (well, it’s all the same tune, but you get what I'm saying). I don’t think prejudice and opportunism are really going to get you that high on the right side of the list.

• This grandpa

• His wife gets killed on Christmas Eve by a rouge sleigh and he’s “in there watching football, drinking beer and playing cards with Cousin Mel”?? I mean, there’s putting on a brave face for your family and then there’s plain callousness. I’m starting to wonder if the whole blaming Santa thing is just a front. I’m calling Christmas conspiracy.

• Dave

• There’s some serious rodent favoritism going on here. I get it, Alvin can be a bit of a troublemaker. But to tell Simon and Theodore that they’re doing great, but calling Alvin out on being a smidge flat? That’s not very nice, Dave. This isn’t American Idol. They’re chipmunks. The simple fact that they wear turtlenecks and can carry a tune is reason enough for celebration.

• The Backdoor Braggart

• It gets a little lost in the story of the sweet little boy with the sick mother, who naturally one feels for, but what this song is really about is some guy making sure everyone knows that he’s the one who laid down the money for those shoes. Would have been a much more touching tale if he saw the clerk do so instead.

So, consider these tunes cautionary tales - or, you know, just really catchy - and have a great weekend!