The Soundtrack of My Life?

The last time I blogged, I believe it was snowing. We're about there again, except we're in the middle of a record week for warm temps.

(Thanks for the weather update, Lid, now we resume blogging.)

I am trying to keep a family history blog since I joined Ancestrydotcom, so that takes up time that I could use here, instead, writing about ...  nothing, as I used to in the good old days. 

So I'm jumping back in with a meme which you answer with a song that fits the description. I'll do five today and then take it up again. Feel free to leave your own choices in the comments!

Day 1: "A song from childhood"  I'll go with: "Keep on Dancin'," by the Gentrys. I still love the percussion and the fake ending. Love these images from the 60s and 70s, too.

Day 2: "A song that reminds of your ex boy/girlfriend"
The last ex-boyfriend I had was 1981, so ...
the song from the vault would be "Blue Morning, Blue Day," by Foreigner. Here we are at our senior prom. Years later, I realized I was dating a Dave Coulier doppleganger. This boy has passed way, rest in peace.

Day 3: "A song that reminds you of your parents" "Let Your Love Flow" My mom dearly loved this song when it was popular, which made me kind of not like it, because when you're a teenager, it's wEiRd when your parents like what is popular. (No worries; I have been repaid. 3X.)

Day 4: "A song that calms you down" "Summer Breeze," by Seals and Crofts. Who needs pot when you've got this song.

Day 5: "A song that is often stuck in your head" This is a three-way tie. 1) "Sister Golden Hair"  2) "How Long" 3) "Sentimental Lady"



Yes, I have a thing for the 70s, but please share your choices, even if they're from the 21st Century!

Who are Hall and Oates? What is Wrong With You.

OK, people. I've had about enough of your Hall and Oates illiteracy. Come out of your comas and get your diplomas. Wake up and smell the "Blue-eyed Soul."

Yes, it's true that when I first started talking about Hall and Oates to my then teenagers, they had no clue who/what H&O are.

"Hauling Oats?"
"Holland Oats?"
"Hauling Goats?"

I thought I would bust a gasket, whatever that means. Clearly, I had not done my job as a mom (or blogger) by not introducing them (and you) to one of the most prolific 80s music writer/performers, whose careers have lasted literally for decades, from the 70s to now.

But every time one of you says, "I don't know who that is," I want to say, "What is wrong with you people? Are all of my blog readers 12 years old?"

I never realized, in younger years, how much I actually enjoyed their music, until one day I started mentally listing all of their songs that I always listen to completion on the radio.

And then I bought CDs.

And then I bought concert tickets a couple of years ago. I had not bought a concert ticket since the 80s. That's how BIG this was to me.

And then ... just when Hall and Oates were about to "make my dreams come true, ooh-ooh, ooh-oo, ooh-ooh" Daryl Hall contracted Lyme Disease and they had to cancel concerts.

Lyme Disease? Yep, and pretty serious, too, evidently.

Daryl Hall Lyme Disease Interview - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Since then, the duo has never been back around this area.

So I'm starting to think Lyme Disease was an excuse not to see me, Daryl Hall. Because I've learned that most things in life are about me.

Anyway, here is a short list of songs. I know that you're going to slap yourself upside the head in recognition:

Sara Smile
She's Gone
You Make My Dreams
Private Eyes
I Can't Go For That
Rich Girl
One on One
Say It Isn't So
Out of Touch
Kiss on My List (the quintessential Oates back-up "la-la" song)
Maneater

I was going to say which is my favorite, but I just can't. Special fondness for "Rich Girl" "Can't Go for That" and "Kiss."

One of the well-known aspects of the group is that Daryl Hall almost always sings lead, and John Oates almost always sings "Ooh" and "La" and other echoing phrases. Many have joked that this is a point of contention between them. Apparently not, since they've been playing together since the 70s.

People love to do parodies of Hall and Oates, including a political SNL skit last Fall. Not sure how Hall and Oates feel about the parodies, but I think they're great.

And then there's this one from "Psych," which my family loves. You have to watch a 30 second ad before the parody, if you're interested.



At any rate, I hope I have answered the question "Who are Hall and Oates" adequately because I never want to hear that question again from you.

Here's the real deal, in all of the 80s glory. Trivia: Which Julia Roberts movie features "Maneater" on the soundtrack?

American Idol Wrap-Up & Oh No It Dit'n!

Oh yes it did snow, right on April 7, right on my little deck where my deck furniture should be unpacked and unstacked and my hinder should be upon it.

Unbelievable.

And the nerve of DeeDee at Fiddledeedee to post: On Saturday, Fiddledaddy took the children out of the house to go swimming. Because Florida forgot Spring and rocketed directly into Summer.

For realsies, DeeDee?

So I'm watching American Idol right now, and tonight's theme is "Contestants Pick a Song a From the Year They Were Born." Wow. We're reaching clear back to 'N Sync.

Speaking of reaching back, they showed the judges' baby pictures tonight, and Ryan's pic was the cutest of all because he had little big bunny teeth. Completely adorable.

The oldest contestant, Danny Gokey, was born in 1980. Sigh. I am old. Ye olde, to be exact.

Glad we got the enigma of Lil Rounds' name cleared up. She is, thank goodness, not "Lih-ull Rounds," as Simon calls her. "Lil" is in fact the diminutive of Lillian. And so we can learn from this that "Li'l Kim," the rapper turned "Dancing With the Stars" star, is not "Li'l" as in "little" at all. She is actually "Lillian Kim," which immediately klassies her up a little bit. Same with "Li'l Richard." He is in fact "Lillian Richard," which suits him like an Alfred Dunner ensemble fits Beyonce.

I know this isn't an original comment, but I do think so far that everyone's just mediocre tonight, truly like pretty good karaoke.

I like Anoop, but I think his look needs some polishing up. Last week Scott had a new 'do, and I'd like to see Anoop get a makeover, too. He looks very boyish, which is great if you are Anoop's mom or grandmom, but after all, as Ryan says, this is American Idol.

That sounds really bad. I'd hate to think what Anoop would say if he decided to critique me. Especially since I'm sitting here in pajamas eating almonds out of a can.

By the way, the can my almonds are in is exactly the same shape/height as my Italian bread crumb can, which is what I accidentally pulled out of the cabinet and sat down with here at the computer to eat. "Yep, just gnoshin' on some Italian bread crumbs! Mmmm!"

I've noticed my appetite has picked up in the last couple of days. Probably because I'm exercising more. But I'm still not going for bread crumbs.

OK--the show is back on.

The songs these people are choosing are terrible! Point in fact: Survivor "The Search is Over?"

Really? Oh, I think maybe the competition is over for Scott. But he is so sweet.
Why does everyone look so young?

Oh yeah, I forgot: "Sigh. I am old. Ye olde."

What did you think of Allison Iraheta's version of "I Can't Make You Love Me?" I thought it was all right, but I'd probably leave Bonnie Raitt alone, just as they should leave Whitney, Mariah, Aretha, Christina, and Kathie Lee Gifford alone.

Did you catch the "How Lovely to Be a Woman" Walmart commercial? Don't know who's singing it, but I'm suspicious. Where has Megan Joy Quarky Corkrey been lately? I think she might have slipped one over on us in this commercial.

OK, the judges went nuts for Matt Giraud and Adam Lambert. I'm not getting it.

I didn't even recognize Adam's song, and apparently, upon Googling it, I found it was originally done by Tears for Fears, the group which recorded one of my all-time favorite songs ever, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."

Ok, I just looked at a couple of videos of this song, and I def prefer the 1982 original to the others. Go 80s! Ye olde 80s.

Well, time to sign off here because I've got a Ken Lee Cake in the oven (seriously, I do) and Biggest Loser waiting on Tivo.



30 x 5'ers: Tomorrow, Thursday the 9th, is the day you are supposed to post a little somethin'-somethin' about this experience, good, bad or indifferent, and link up here. Then we can all share. Last time I tried this, like four people linked up. Now you have had plenty of warning time, so get thinkin' about what you want to say. It doesn't have to be a dissertation, just a few lines will do.

My plan is that we will call it a day (call it a two weeks?) and rest over Easter. And then I'd like to propose one more idea along these lines.

Remember: Leave those chocolate bunnies ears INTACT. And link up tomorrow!

ATTENTION 30 x 5ers: BEST 1 MIN. WORK OUT. EVER.

Take On the '80s: "Magic Frame!"

OK, there is a "*" word in this, "*ss," but other than that, it's clean, and it cracks me up. This is the first music video I remember watching. At least it made the first big impression on me. It takes a couple of seconds to get going, but then the silliness starts.

Without futher ado, here is the girl with the great hair and the band "A Ha" ... 1985 ... Take On Me!



Band Montage!

My Son Goes to College, Part 2

I'm not going to kid you, it was a rough weekend. My second child, my only son who has been with us all summer, is now back at school. Sigh.

The adjustment is not as difficult as last year, of course. It's just that my middle child is the life of the party in our family. Yes, he often annoys his sisters with his poking, tickling and singing [see pic], but when he's not around, there's a piece of the puzzle missing. Like mashed potatoes without salt, we were a bunch of bland boiled potatoes around here this weekend.

One of the things he likes to do to crack me up is speak to me, his English major mother, in a very high-pitched, nasally, affected Shakespearean actor's voice. It sounds just like the recordings of MacBeth's witches that I heard in high school English class. So instead of just asking me normally, he might say, "Mothah, has thou doest my laundry whence thou didst upon my sovereign brow?" I guess you'd have to hear it to get the full weird-out effect, but he won't let me tape him. I know that if I'm on my death bed and he starts doing this, I will come back to life just to die laughing.

His other favorite thing is to sing, particularly goofy 80s songs. Unless you know him really well, you'd never guess this, because he's all athletic and serious around most people. But he discovered this song and then this video, which completely slayed him (I know that "slew" is correct, but who says "slew" in an informal blog post?) and he has sung it at the top of his lungs all summer long, probably at least once a day. Even the name "Dexy's Midnight Runners" cracks him up, but not as much as the guy continually putting his arms over his head while wearing his denim vest, rolled up pants, loafers and bandana around his neck. Usually Kristin joins in singing along with him. Or we all do. Because who doesn't want to sing about Eileen??!

So I'm not going to think about missing Jordan. I'm going to remember the summer of Eileen. And then ... because the fam loves "Psych," I included an outtake from that show where Shawn and Gus sing "Come On Eileen." Get ready to have your 80s socks rocked off.

Summer Tag & the Tale of Three Al's

*First of all, the hog roast benefit for my friend Diane went really well. She left a note on my desk for me to see this morning saying, "I had the time of my life." That meant the world to me. Thank you so much for praying for her on Sunday's post. I'm going to print it off and send it to her. Her love language is words of affirmation, so others' prayers mean a lot to her. Thank you, you all. I love you for being so kind to someone you've never met.*

Remember summer nights when you were a kid? Right about dusk, a game of tag would inevitably break out. You were chased by other kids and mosquitoes. Oh what fun, until the neighbor's dog, Cracker, thought you were chasing his kid and so he jumped up and bit you, knocking you to the ground where you tore up your knee. Good times.

I got a little behind on my tag "game," recently, but I'm catching up now. I think I stalled because when your life's an open book on your blog, it's difficult to come up with 6 things people don't already know about you.

Now that I've said that, it's a little disturbing.

Anyway, this week, Cyndy at Walking Faithfully, Sonya at Truth 4 the Journey, Mary at Keep the Light Shining, Kelly at Wonder Woman Wonders and Jen at Today at Jen's House all tagged me. I'm throwing this one out there to whoever wants to play. I'm sure you know the rules by now, so I'm not going to bore you with them. If you MUST know the rules, click on one of the taggers above, who played by the rules. Basically, the rule is: "Tell us 6 Private or Embarrassing Things About Yourself and then Entrap Someone Else!"

1. I know what's going on here; do you? I know because I love to "research" stuff on the Internet. So one night, July 4th, as a matter of fact, my girlfriends and I were sitting on a patio sipping drinks and admiring our spousal studs who were engaged in a game of cut-throat Ladder Ball, when one friend spied a couple of bugs in this position. We all had guesses about what was going on: "bugs in love," "bugs at war," "mother bug clinging to college offspring bug who is trying to move out," etc. So we watched them for like, a long time. Just sipping. And watching. That night, as soon as I got home I researched lightning bugs and found out that they were indeed, doing the "Jitterbug of Love" or making their own fireworks, wink, wink. I emailed all of my friends who were there, and so we all slept well after that mystery was solved. (BTW, This is the main reason they let me stay in the group. I do all of their thinking for them, and another one of us reads everything aloud for the rest of us. We're like an organism.)

Geez. We're only on number 2? Sometimes, when I can't think of what to post about, I post a picture, and it gives me something to talk about. Only it didn't work this time. This is a clever picture of me thinking. Now you can see why the group relies on my cogitations.


3. My kids turned me on to Cute Overload, where you view dumb things like kittens and hamsters "talking" in a strange baby-talk language full of phonetic renderings of words. If you know me and how I feel about Zoe, you can see why this appeals to me. It's about as addicting as Free Rice but on the extreme opposite end of the intelligence spectrum. But "I haz happiness" when I "seez" the cutenesses.


4. When I was little, I had an imaginary friend named "Tacko," not to be confused with the common "taco." In my head, Tacko looked similar to, but not exactly like, Alvin of the Chipmunks. I don't know whatever happened to my imaginary friend. Perhaps all cute imaginary friends retire to Cuteness Overload Land, like ancient movie stars guest starring on Love Boat.


5. Speaking of Alvin, my mother claims we are related to Sgt. Alvin C. York, who did something fabulous, just fabulous, in one of our wars. You can see that I have thoroughly studied my genealogy and US history. The reason I don't take Mom's claim seriously is that 7/8 of all Indiana residents hail from Jamestown, TN, home of ... Sgt. Alvin C. York. So really, it's like the whole York family is having a reunion here in Indiana every day! Yee-ha. Sometimes we congregate to watch the Colts, who are related to and named after "Alvin C.(Colts) York." Here is Sgt. York, whom his family just calls, "Al."

6. Speaking of calling people "Al," I have always loved to sing "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon. It's a great singing-in-the-shower song. So many clever lyrics--don't know what in the world the song is about except maybe man's confusion and anxiety about feeling detached while longing for community due to his inherent desire to integrate and belong, but that's just my armchair analysis. This is a long video, so you might not want to hang in there for the whole thing. Plus the melody is insidious, but I'm still leaving you with "You Can Call Me Al," featuring Paul Simon and Chevy Chase, when Chevy Chase was still actually likable. (He traded being funny for political stumping. Not prudent at any juncture.) I'm warning you; the chorus is addictive.





I was also blessed with an award from Rachel at Christians in Good Company and Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. Thanks, guys. Girls. Women. Y'all.

The Lone Wolf is Joining the Pack--Are You "Hungry Like The Wolf?"

What you say on your blog can come back to you, ladies.

This week, I received an email message from Diane of Meyers on the Hood:

I have now seen a couple comments spread around the BloggyWorld where you mentioned you might want to/should probably do the online Beth Moore "Believing God" Bible study. I want to/should probably do it, too. If you sign up, I'll sign up.

I said that?

Yep. More than once. But as far back as January, I posted about being the last lone wolf who had not joined a Beth Moore study. As a result, no one has ever called me a Siesta.

What someone called me, instead, relative to my lack of Beth Mooreness, is "Penultimate Coolness," which is the same as saying, "Almost Cool But Not Quite." In fact, here is my favorite comment after that post from none other than Missy of It's Almost Naptime:

You are way too cool to not have done a Beth study. Seriously. That is the ONLY thing holding you back from Ultimate Coolness. Right now, you are Penultimate Coolness.

I think she and Diane are right. It's time. And besides, "Siesta" is way easier to say than "The Penultimate Coolness."

Anyway, several of you commented after that post that I was not the last lone wolf, that some of you, too, had not participated yet.

If this is you, and you would like to join Diane and me in this online study, here's a little sumpin' we cooked up that might make your eyes narrow and the fur on the back of your neck stand up.

Every Thursday for the next nine weeks, Diane and I will take turns posting about that particular week's lesson. While we Diane and I totally Ken Lee each other, it would be awesome to hear from you about what you took away from that lesson and how God is moving in your life and circumstances.

You know, it would be like Diane and I are the wolves who howl first at the moon, and then you howl in response, and then we howl in return and so on, until the sun comes up or someone shoots us. Fun!

We are so excited about doing this that WE GOT A BUTTON.





You are welcome to copy our "Believing God" button and put it on your own blog so that others can join in on this journey of faith-building. Kind of like adding to the fold. But not the sheepfold, for heaven's sake, because then we'd have to eat them.

<a target="_blank" href="http://meyersonthehood.blogspot.com/2008/07/believing-god.html"><br/><br/><img border="0" width="150" alt="Believing GOD" src="http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f337/rodmeyer/BelievingGodButton.png" height="142"/></a>

Sound fun? Sound like an adventure that God might want you to be a part of?
In that case, sign up and do your first week's lesson [watch a video, fill in some blanks] then meet us back here this Thursday, July 31.

We'll be here. Even if it's just the two of us. [Please don't let it be just the two of us.]

And now, this video doesn't have anything to do with Beth Moore or Diane or Missy, except that Missy is a child of the '80s, but here is Duran Duran with "Hungry Like the Wolf," which kept blaring in my head as I wrote this post. Maybe all Simon really needed was to join the Beth Moore online Bible study, "Believing God."




*Button designed by one of the most patient women in the world, Lindsay, of Splat Designs. Thanks!

WHAM!

OK, ever since Luke Menard sang "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" on American Idol, our entire family has been singing it. It's like a worm in our brains. I think I heard our dog humming it. I also have that Zoolander gasoline scene looping in my head. Thanks, Luke.

WHAM! has particular significance to me because my husband's true full name is George Michael, although I often call him "Jorge," which, for my fellow Hoosiers, is pronounced, "Hor-hay." Stalkers, stay away. This George Michael is straight and mine.

Anyway, I was sitting here at the computer and "George Michael" was in the kitchen, and we were singing together, although in separate rooms, a rather enthusiastic and magical rendition of "Wake Me Up" for the listening enjoyment of our teenagers.

So we got to the line, "You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day," and suddenly, Jorge calls out to me, "That's a neat line!"

I yell back, "Really? Because I really, really like that lyric! I think it's clever!"

And he shouts again, "Yes, I was being serious!"

"Really? Me TOO!" (Now it's like we're IN that Zoolander scene.)

"Yeah!"

And then, little cartoon red hearts floated out of my head and into the kitchen where I'm sure Jorge snatched them out of the air and tucked them into his shirt next to his heart.

But then our daughter ruined the moment by saying, "Who is Doris Day?"

Once again, I see that I have failed as a mom.

I replied, "She was a movie star in the 1950's, very ... light, happy, sort of a girl next door ...."

Then Jorge interrupted from the kitchen with a lilting, "I'd say the word you're looking for is 'effervescent.'"

Cracked me UP. Oh, how I love this Goofball.

Our kids? Not so enamored with either of us. I'm sure Elijah Blue and Chastity didn't appreciate their singing parents, either.

Now, you know you want to hear it ... you know you want to sing it ... you know you want to see those rockin' 80's fashions ....

So here is George Michael and ... that other guy (?), singing the apparent theme song of my marriage. Notice please WHAM!'s and the background singers' costumes: all white with "Choose Life" written in large sized letters. What in the world was that about?

Also notice please, that the background singers have white Choose Life t-shirts on with long tulip-like skirts, which is a sort of a scary cult look. You will see these long skirts best at the end of the video. Those long skirts must have been rather restrictive and kept the background singers from leaping about like WHAM! does during this entire song, when they're not smiling in a close-up like a Pearl Drops Tooth Polish commercial.

Also notice please, the hair of the fans in the audience. They loved George so much they copied his hair and makeup. And do not miss Other Guy's mullet hat, which my son particularly enjoyed pointing out.

But, of all things you must notice, PLEASE don't miss the boys in their shorts at the end.

And remember, you heard it from Paula Abdul herself, she choreographed this tour.

The worm in my brain has been fed AGAIN in posting this for you. But it was worth it. And just so you know, this is my favorite post ever.

Just Another Manic Monday

In the words of some of the deepest, most influential female philosophers of the late 20th century, "It's just another Manic Monday (whoa) I wish it were Sunday, (whoa) 'cause that's my fun day (whoa) my I don't have to run-day; it's just another manic Monday." --The Bangles (circa 1986)

Yesterday we went to church, ate dinner, and watched a bunch of season 2 of LOST. I cannot sit through movies and TV shoes without also doing something productive, so I also folded laundry and did crunches on the floor while we watched. Then we went to life group and came home. And now it is Monday again. Hope you're having a good one. Tonight is my monthly meeting of Women of Influence, and this month's book is Joyce Meyer's "Look Great Feel Great." Or is it "Feel Great Look Great." Or is it, "Wear Sequins, Lose Weight?"

Philosophical question: Who is more philosophic, Joyce Meyer, or The Bangles?

So you know how I hate to cook. Well, I want to share a recipe, maybe for the first time ever on my blog; I'm not sure. It is a rare event though, because why spread ineptitude on a regular basis? Forwarding one of my recipes could technically be considered spreading a computer virus.

Oh well.

This is called "Fiery Chicken Spinach Salad" or "The Meal That Didn't Stink."

Ingredients:

6 pieces of chicken breast strips. I used the breaded frozen kind. You could use grilled or whatever.
1 pkg. fresh spinach
1 tomato in wedges
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
1 bag or can of corn with the red things in them that they used to put in Banquet TV dinners (Mexican corn?)
some shredded cheese
bacon crumbles

Cook the chicken.
Put spinach on plate.
Top spinach with tomato, green pepper, and corn.
Place chicken on top of veggies.

Add dressing:

Dressing: I just like salsa. But you could use anything you like. You could also mix some barbecue sauce, ranch dressing and salsa for a grand slam of dressing. Then top with bacon crumbles.

Behold the meal I didn't ruin:

PS: I want you to know that when I made this meal, I opened my cabinet to get down the glass bowl, and something small fell out and hit me on the cheek just below the eye and fell onto the counter.

It was a spider.

OHMYGOSH. You should have seen me jumping around and yelling and being grossed out. You would think that spiders have cooties. I smashed it with a piece of raw bacon. I was just so entirely grossed out that I had to wash all of my dishes in that cabinet, and sanitize my counter, as well. I do feel sorta sorry for him, though, because being smashed by a giant piece of raw bacon is just one of the ugliest ways to go.

What Joyce Meyer would say to the smashed spider: "Stop walking around with your head hanging low just because somebody mistreated you. Get up. Tell yourself that not matter how the world beats you down, you can be victorious because you are God's creation! Amen?!"

What The Bangles would say to the smashed spider: "Walk like an Egyptian."

Uh-Oh. You know you want to hear that song now!

Retro Christmas

The Chef at Friday's Feast is taking a break, so I decided to do a retro Christmas slideshow. Maybe you'll recognize some of the favorite gifts and relate to the backgrounds. Enjoy!