My Real Life

This week’s twisted mix tape assignment was to post about your favorite Christmas music.

No small task for this girl, because I love Christmas music.

Love. It.

However, the music I love isn’t always so mainstream, but that’s okay, because if there is any time of year that is about tradition, it’s this one.

My first choice is my Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians The Sounds of Christmas Album.

It was produced in the 1950’s and my parents pulled out the record every single holiday season.

I know every word to every song on the album and love it so very much.

I was only able to find one of the songs on YouTube, so here is “Ring Those Christmas Bells” by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians:

One of my favorite holiday CD’s that I bought when Real Man and I were first married is the Rosie O’Donnell Christmas Album.

I know, I know…Rosie O’Donnell isn’t for everyone.

But, this album, I just loved.

It has two of my favorite Christmas songs on it.

The first is a duet between Rosie O’Donnell and…wait for it…Elmo.

The version on the CD is better, but here is a YouTube version of the duet:

The second song from the CD that is one of my CHristmas favorites is Billy Porter singing “O Holy Night” which is one of my favorite Christmas songs no matter who is singing it, but when he sings it, and oh my God, when he gets to the end…goosebumps.

The next Christmas song that I love is “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses.

Can’t help but sing along, even though they aren’t the best singers and it’s more of a “talking” song than a real singing song.

My final song for today (although there are more Christmas songs that I certainly love) is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Karen Carpenter.

Sung by anyone else and the song is “Eh” for me, but as I’ve said before, Karen Carpenter’s voice was just pure smoothness and I’d listen to her sing the ABC’s with a longing sigh.

So, have YOURSELF a merry little holiday season and enjoy the sweet sounds of Karen Carpenter.

I know, I know…

I’m a little late.

Everyone else is far beyond Thanksgiving and well into the Christmas season by today.

People have actually been trampled to death at Black Friday sales, people have spent thousands at home ordering deals online, trees are up, and even I posted about how the Christmas music has begun to play at our house.

But, today, I’d like to backtrack a little and talk about Thanksgiving.

We had Thanksgiving at one of my brother-in-laws’s homes this year.

They were gracious enough to open up their home to us, and please note that when I say “us” I mean 24 of us who came to spend the holiday with the five of them.

It was lovely.

Truly lovely.

We talked, we laughed, we ate, we talked and laughed some more.

Even all of the kids got along, and that is no small feat, considering that of the 29 people who were there, 14 of them were 15 years old or under, all the way down to Tiny, who is 2.

Tiny made himself at home with his cousin’s toys:

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Baby made himself at home on his aunt and uncle’s furniture:

I made myself at home by stuffing myself silly.

Real Man and his Dad, the original Real Man showed up in matching clothes…a glimpse of the future for me, perhaps:

It was just a truly perfect celebration.

Then, because eight hours together on Thanksgiving wasn’t quite enough, we joined together the next day, in the bitter cold and snow flurries for a bit of family football in a local park.

Although, not everyone was into the game:

When I was a teenager, I was so sure that I was going to live far away from where I grew up.

Yet, there is just something about spending time like this with your family that makes you glad you never left.

Do we all get along and see eye to eye all the time?

Of course not.

But it’s okay.

Because at the end of the day, we love and appreciate each other and that’s the whole point.

Thanksgiving is over and it’s that time of year again.

The excitement level is rising and you can just feel the electricity in the air.

The best example I have of this, in our home, is that this is happening again.

It started at dinner the other night, and now, it’s in full effect, almost every day.

So, please go here and rewatch this video from last year.

Because they make my heart sing and put me in the spirit like nothing else.

…my kids are all so different.

It’s always obvious to me how different they are, but this morning, as they got out of bed, I felt like I had a perfect visual example of how different they are.

During the day, Monkey in the Middle never stops moving.

Literally.

Never. Stops. Moving.

And yet…

This is what his bed looked like when I woke him this morning.  He slid right out and left it looking as though no one had even slept in it.

Monkey Girl is a pretty sedentary kids.  Her interests are reading books, doing homework, and playing on the computer.

And yet…

This is what HER bed looked like when she woke up this morning.

Like a tornado dropped her right in the middle of Oz this morning.

And, finally, Baby Monkey.

A variety of interests, sometimes moving, sometimes still, but always sweet.

Here’s what I found when he woke up this morning.

Just right…

The theme for this week was to share songs that tell a story.

My favorite kind.

So, without a lot of intro, here are some of my favorite songs that tell a story.

#1 Hurricane by Bob Dylan

I used to teach this song when I did a short unit on songs with meaning because a lot of music today doesn’t have much meaning beyond ‘let’s dance,’ ‘I love you,’ ‘I hate you,’ and ‘let’s dance a little more.”

The story of Reuben “Hurricane” Carter has always grabbed me, because I can’t fathom how completely corrupt the entire system was and how huge the helping of disservice that was done to this man.

Great, great song…awful, awful story.

2.  Copacabana by Barry Manilow

Need I say more?

3.  Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meat Loaf

I always feel like I need to take a shower after I see or hear Meat Loaf, but this song had to be included in this list.

This song drives me insane because I’ve seen grown adults turn into utter fools when this one comes on, acting it out, creeping me out beyond belief.

And yet…

I know every word.

4.  My Name is Luka by Suzanne Vega

Always made me sad when I heard it.

Still does.

5.  Hazard by Richard Marx

I always thought this song was strange.  Like, did Richard Marx kill someone and this is his confession?

Having just thought of it, I just looked it up and it turns out that he wrote  the song, hated it, but published it anyway, because he wanted to prove his wife wrong, who said it would be a hit.

It went to #1 in a bunch of countries and pissed Richard Marx off.

Whatever.

6.  Don’t Stand So Close to Me by the Police

I know you know this one.

Everyone does.

7.  The Devil Went Down to Georgia by the Charlie Daniels Band

This one makes you move like no other.

You just can’t listen to this song and keep your foot still.

And, the story is captivating.

Love this.

8.  Brick by Ben Folds Five

Heartbreaking.

You feel for everyone in the story and want to go into the song and hold them close.

Hope you enjoyed story time!!!

On October 16th, I left home.

I got in my car and drove away from my house.

No kids.

No husband.

Just me and the open road.

And, five minutes later, I arrived at our local I Just Want to Pee Alone Ladies Night Out.

We met up at End of Elm and chatted the night away.

Representing the ladies of I Just Want to Pee Alone were myself, Kim from Let Me Start by Saying, and Anna from Random Handprints.

We met up with my friend, Jean, who I was so grateful to have there.

Then, in walked a lovely lady named Jennifer, who blogs at Outsmarted Mommy, which I now love.

We all just sat and chatted and had a lovely, lovely time.

I don’t know why I wait for special occasions to get out and hang with the ladies.

It’s always much needed and I always feel so relaxed afterward.

And I know I’m not alone in this.

Moms are notorious for forgetting to take care of ourselves.

It’s crazy, really, because when I finally do get around to doing something for me, I am reminded of the stewardesses on airplanes telling the adults to take the oxygen first so that they are then able to take care of the children in their care.

A mommy who is breathing easy makes for a family who is breathing easy.

Breathe deep, friends.

You deserve it.

I know what you are thinking.

She hasn’t written in forever, and now she is going to show us a picture of a razor and call it a post???

There is a method to my madness.

I promise.

In May of 2006, I went shopping.

In March of 2007, I submitted the story of that shopping trip to Refund Cents magazine.

If you can read PDF files, you can click below to see the whole story.

Refund Cents Article

In that shopping trip, I bought 24 razors.

I went back and bought 24 more.

This week, I used the last of those razors.

It is, my friends, the end of an era.

I can’t believe that when I go to the grocery store, next weekend, I will have to buy a razor.

I feel like a fish out of water.

Has razor technology changed in the past seven years?

Do they even make this razor that I have loved, anymore?

Will I ever get a deal like that again?

Wish me luck, good deals, and smooth legs, my friends!

So, my parents got a puppy.

Her name is Bea and she’s so sweet.

Bea has her biggest fan in Tiny.

BFF’s for sure.

Peas and carrots.

Peanut butter and jelly.

And the best part is that he gets to grow up with a dog without me having to take care of a dog.

Win-win, because, let’s be honest.

I think we’re all full.

He’s born.

And you hold him in your arms and you can’t believe how little he is or how sweet or how utterly, utterly yours.

He’s a baby, and even though he is growing, he is your baby.

He gets bigger, and does bigger boy things, but he still wants to snuggle you every second he gets and you love him up every chance you get.

Because babies are your babies no matter what, I convinced myself.

And then yesterday…

This…

…turned into this…

…and you began to see the man that he will become.

He was so proud, and I was, too.

I was.

But a little piece of my heart broke, as well.

So, the rules for today are:  I wouldn’t love these songs so much if they weren’t part of a Soundtrack. Your favorite songs from soundtracks, could be anywhere from pop music you love to original scores, you decide. 

So, I get the rules, I do…however, when I love a movie…really love a movie, I fall in love with the entire soundtrack.  The music makes the story, and I can remember every scene that was punctuated by music.  So, I think I may need to just do my favorite soundtracks.  Because I can.

(The links in each item on the list are to the Amazon page where you can sneak a listen to a bit of each song)

#1 St. Elmo’s Fire

http://www.amazon.com/St-Elmos-Fire-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B002GKRX6Q

I was in 7th grade when “St. Elmo’s Fire” came out and I bought the cassette tape and listened to it so many times, I had to replace it.  I loved the music.  I loved the movie.

There are certainly songs on there that I may not have loved as much if they weren’t part of this movie I loved, but it’s hard to pick out one, in particular.

Every song on there makes me remember how I felt when I watched the movie, a 7th grader, wanting to grow up and lead an adult life, like the characters on the screen.  They were bigger than life, to me…so sophisticated, so exciting, so beautiful.  And every song on that soundtrack makes me feel young again.

#2 Pitch Perfect

http://www.amazon.com/Pitch-Perfect-Soundtrack/dp/B0099G6Q5E/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381000687&sr=301-1

It’s okay…you can say it.

This is not the thinking girl’s choice.

However, I love vocal music, particularly creative vocal music, particularly creative vocal music that is performed well.

This is.

This soundtrack makes me happy.

I saw “Pitch Perfect” with Erin and Michaela, and I think they can tell you that I was completely into it.

Not the story, per se, although it did make me chuckle, but man, I just love watching people sing and perform.

It’s one of the few DVD’s that I actually own, and I watch it all the time.

While I do laundry, make dinner, etc.

I just fast forward to all of the performances and sing along.

Can’t help myself.

#3 Les Miserables

http://www.amazon.com/Original-1985-London-Cast-Recording/dp/B006UMBUUG/ref=sr_1_10?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1381002484&sr=1-10&keywords=les+miserables+soundtrack

Not the movie soundtrack, but the original London cast from 1985.

It’s the CD that I own and know every single word to every single song.

I’ve seen the show on Broadway six times and sobbed my way through each time.

This time, the story played a huge part, but oh my God, the music.

I’m getting goosebumps just typing this, and I’m not even listening to it right now.

The emotion in those voices.

The talent in those voices.

It’s beyond…It’s just beyond.

#4  Into the Wild

http://www.amazon.com/Music-Motion-Picture-Into-Wild/dp/B009H4WT9K/ref=sr_shvl_album_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1381002705&sr=301-2

I almost feel like I don’t have to say anything other than “Eddie Vedder” to explain this choice because, OMG, Eddie Vedder.

However, for the uninitiated, I will elaborate.

Vedder’s voice is so…soulful and the lyrics paint pictures for me, despite the fact that I’ve never seen the movie.

Yep, I love the soundtrack for a movie I’ve never seen.

If that doesn’t sell this entry, I don’t know what will.

#5 Amadeus

Oh, how I loved this film, and oh, how I love this soundtrack.

I won’t bother leaving the link A) because I doubt many people who read this will click on it to listen to some Mozart, and B) Amazon doesn’t let you listen to the music from this one.  Just too good, I think.

The entire soundtrack is by Mozart, obviously, and classical music just feeds my soul.

If you haven’t ever seen the film, you should.

If you aren’t a classical music fan, you can still enjoy the movie.

However, you probably wouldn’t enjoy the soundtrack.

But, like most things, I don’t really mind if no one else agrees with me.

I think it’s amazing and that’s enough for me.