I learned this week that my son has natural ice-skating abilities. Well, to be more specific, at least he was not afraid to try it. My son M had his 3rd birthday this week. To celebrate, we went to the Toledo Zoo to see their Lights Before Christmas. I had not been in years. My husband and son had never been. And this year the zoo was featuring ice skating as well. My son had never been ice skating before. I, for one, was very excited to go.
My husband and I took our ice skates and we rented some for M for only $3. M could both stand and walk around on his skates off of the ice. On the ice, he was able to stand by himself without falling. When it came to the actual skating, he didn’t quite have the hang of it. My husband had to hold onto him as they skated around. But my son wasn’t scared of it, as he was with Santa Claus and Tow Mater. He even asked to go back out when we took a break.
So sweet!
I could have stayed there all day. But, alas, it was dark and cold and we all got hungry. Maybe we will make it back again yet this year.
When we were headed home and I went to put my son in the car, I had to get him into his car seat while wearing his winter coat and snow pants, plus a few layers underneath. I said, “I have to squeeze you in your seat like a sausage. You are a sausage boy.”
He replied, “I not a sausage boy. I a cake boy.”
I had made him a semi-elaborate cake earlier in the day. I found the comment very funny. I will post more on his birthday cake in a later post.
I also learned that the awesome version of “Carol of the Bells” that the zoo was using for their synchronized lights was by an artist named Callann Lane (a.k.a. Cali). It is awesome and sort of electronic sounding. I have liked the version by the TransSiberian Orchestra called “Christmas Eve Sarajevo” for a number of years. But this year, I am digging on this version.
Having a long commute to work again, it takes no time at all for me to compile a list of songs that I try to search the radio dial for, and them am disappointed when I can’t find them.
Then I give up and make a mix CD of them all. I don’t have a car radio with an mp3 input hole or iPod that has a screen/playlists. So, I must burn CDs, like some sort of primitive late 90’s animal.
I think I am going through a mid-life crisis. And Avril Lavigne has a new album coming out. This CD reflects all that.
Warning for sensitive eyes: I buy and quote the explicit versions of all the songs. And all the best parts are the ones with the swear words.
I have included the iTunes genres so you can see how schizophrenic my musical tastes are. And so that you may laugh at Apple’s classifications.
And that is why they call it a MIX TAPE Photo: gokwala.com
1. Counting Stars-One Republic POP
This is one of those songs that I never noticed until I found myself singing along to it on the radio one day. It rocks, but there is a sound effect in the background that sounds just like my Pointer whining. That bothers me a little.
“Lately I been, I been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I been, I been prayin’ hard
Said no more counting dollars
We’ll be counting stars
Yeah, we’ll be counting stars”*
2. Over My Head (Cable Car)-The Fray ROCK
I have loved this song since it came out. My favorite part:
“Everyone knows I’m in
Over my head
Over my head
With eight seconds left in overtime
She’s on your mind
She’s on your mind”
3. Over My Head-Richard Marx POP
The local radio station that will play ANYTHING plays this all the time, even though it is from 2012. I bought it because I liked it, I thought it would be funny to put next to The Fray song of the same name, and I feel a little sorry for Richard Marx. Although he probably has more money than I ever will have, so he is probably doing just fine. My crazy friend and my green-haired friend and her brother all went to see Richard Marx once at an outdoor venue in the summer. On the big screen that was broadcasting his performance, I watched a bug fly in his mouth mid-song. He never missed a beat or hit a wrong note. He didn’t spit until the song was over. It really impressed me. He is a class act.
4. The a Team-Ed Sheeran SINGER/SONGWRITER
This is has terribly depressing subject matter, but it is catchy and gets stuck in my head.
“It’s too cold outside
For angels to fly”
5. Speak Life-tobyMac CHRISTIAN
I don’t know why I like tobyMac, I just do. This song is very upbeat and dancey, just like “Steal My Show”, the only other song by him that I know.
“So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why.”
6. We Can’t Stop-Miley Cyrus POP
I have liked Miley since her Hannah Montana days. I think her recent stunts that have attracted publicity are doing just what they were designed to do: ATTRACT PUBLICITY! I think she is a really good singer, although this song doesn’t fully showcase that. Who knew something so cool would come from the guy who cursed us with “Achy Breaky Heart”.
“It’s our party we can do what we want to
It’s our house we can love who we want to
It’s our song we can sing if we want to
It’s my mouth I can say what I want to”
7. Wrecking Ball-Eli Lieb POP
I like Miley’s version, but this guy really rocks it.
“Don’t you ever say I just walked away
I will always want you”
8. Girls Just Want to Have Fun-Cyndi Lauper POP
I heard this song on the way to work this week and it actually made me cry. I am going to blame it on the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder. But some of the lyrics really are deep.
“Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest of the world
I want to be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls they want to have fun”
Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars
9. Up In The Air-30 Seconds to Mars ALTERNATIVE
I have liked 30 Seconds to Mars since they came out with their first song “Capricorn”. I love that Jared Leto is proving that former actors can have successful bands. I love it when he wears eyeliner. I can’t believe I missed going to see them in my concert-going 20’s.
“I’ll wrap my hands around your neck so tight with love, love.
A thousand times I tempted fate.
A thousand times I played this game.
A thousand times that I have said today, today, today.”
10. City of Angels-30 Seconds to Mars ALTERNATIVE
Every time this song comes on the radio, I change it, because the beginning is just so slow. But I love the emotion in the song. The lyrics say “strangers”, but Jared actually sings it like “strangels”. I want to be a strangel for Halloween. Sort of like a strange angel? I could just wear my normal clothes and mismatched socks, and slap on a pair of wings. I have black wings. That would make me more stranger.
“Lost in the city of angels
Down in the comfort of strangers
I found myself in the fire burnt hills
In the land of a billion lights”
11. What the Hell-Avril Lavigne POP
The namesake for this whole CD. I totally love Avril, and I have all her albums. Well, I did, except somehow I missed when “Goodbye Lullabye” came out. I am guessing that was because I was busy with my son’s doctor appointments and trying to find a job. I wasn’t listening to much radio. But my collection is now up-to-date. I would BE Avril if I could.
“All my life I’ve been good but now
I’m thinking ‘What the hell?'”
12. Smile-Avril Lavigne POP
It has a cute music video.
13. Rock N Roll-Avril Lavigne POP
It has a cute music video with Bear-Sharks. And the song rocks!
“I don’t care if I’m a misfit
I like it better than the hipster bullshit
I am the motherfucking princess
You still love me”
14. Undead-Hollywood Undead ROCK
I love Rap/Rock and I was very sad when it went out of style. Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park–I loved them all. I am happy that Hollywood Undead seems to be bringing it back.
“You better get up out the way,
Tomorrow we’ll rise so let’s fight today,
You know, I don’t give a fuck what you think or say,
‘Cause we’ll rock this whole place anyway.”
15. Dead Bite-Hollywood Undead ROCK
Rap/Rock, and REALLY creepy.
“What would you do if I told you I hate you?
What would you do if your life’s on the line?
What would you say if I told you I hate you?
I’ve got something that’ll blow your mind, mind”
16. 4 Real-Avril Lavigne POP
I needed more songs on the CD.
17. Darlin-Avril Lavigne POP
Ditto
18. Goodbye-Avril Lavigne POP
A very powerful song, but kinda slow for my taste.
*All lyrics belong to their respective writers. I am sorry to say I am not that talented.
My heart will always belong to analog ❤ Photo: gokwala.com
I know. You are probably asking why I am still putting songs onto CDs. Because:
1. My car is from 2003 and doesn’t have a mp3 plug-in. (And I like to listen to music in my car.)
2. There is a great station close by called 89X that plays great alternative music, but causes interference with wireless mp3 transmitters.
3. My iPod is one of the tiny ones with no screen, so I can’t really create “playlists” for it like you can on fancier models.
4. Sometimes I just want to listen to the same 17 songs over and over again.
And I would still be putting songs onto cassette tapes, if that was at all feasible anymore.
There are songs on here from 1994 to 2013. All freshly purchased from iTunes this year. (The ones from 1994 and 1998 I wanted to purchase back then on CD, but I was a poor college student. I figured I would wait until someday when I had more money. I still don’t have any more money, but I think I have waited long enough. I think 19 years is long enough for delayed gratification.)
There are songs from different genres. From Pop to Alternative to Dance to Rap to Christian. (If a Taylor Swift song had made it on this CD, I would have country as well.) I am sure Avril LaVigne wouldn’t want to be on a CD with Selena Gomez. I am sure Macklemore probably has no idea who Evan Taubenfeld is. I’m sure tobyMac never thought he would be on a CD with Courtney Love. Anna Kendrick never expected to hear herself on the radio, period. And I’m sure Courtney Love doesn’t want to be on a CD with ANY of these people.
Ain’t they purdy? Photo: fuzzboxgirl.com
Some of this potpourri can be blamed on the local radio station that I listen to for local news. They play music, but have no real format. (This coming from a girl who has a B.A. in Radio…and TV.) Also, I am exposed to some of the current pop songs while working at my job at the mall. Hear (or see) something enough times, you begin to like it.
With no further ado, here is what I a listening to now:
Divergent Summer 2013
1. Here’s to Never Growing Up – Avril Lavigne [Pop] 2013
2. Cups (Pitch Perfect’s “When I’m Gone”) – Anna Kendrick [Pop] 2013
3. Steal My Show – tobyMac [Christian] 2012
4. Come & Get It – Selena Gomez [Pop] 2013
5. Never Gonna Happen – Colette Carr [Pop] 2013
6. Like I Got a Gun (feat. YG) – Colette Carr [Pop] 2013
7. Best Years Of Our Lives (ft. Avril Lavigne) – Evan T [Pop] 2011
8. Pumpkin Pie – Evan Taubenfeld [Pop] 2009
9. Boy Meets Girl – Evan Taubenfeld [Pop] 2009
10. The Story of Me And You – Evan Taubenfeld [Pop] 2009
11. F16 – Colette Carr [Pop] 2013
12. I Love Kev Nish – Colette Carr [Pop] 2013
13. (We Do It) Primo – Colette Carr [Pop] 2013
14. Can’t Touch This (feat. E-40) – Colette Carr [Pop] 2013
15. Jimmy Iovine (feat. Ab-Soul) – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis [Hip Hop/Rap] 2012
16. And We Danced (feat. Ziggy Stardust) – Macklemore [Hip Hop/Rap] 2009
17. Celebrity Skin – Hole [Rock] 1998
18. Awful – Hole [Rock] 1998
19. Boys on the Radio – Hole [Rock] 1998
20. Miss World – Hole [Alternative] 1994
21. Asking for It – Hole [Alternative] 1994
Wonderfalls is a great show that everyone should seek out and find a way to watch it. Especially if you are interested in the odd things I write about in my other posts.
I just rewatched all the episodes, and I figured that makes this the best time to write about it, while it is fresh in my memory.
Wonderfalls was broadcast on FOX in 2004. It only has 13 episodes. I watched it when it first aired. I really enjoyed it and was sorry to see it canceled. I happened to procure a partial set of the full series on DVD. I am so glad I did. Otherwise, this could have been a gem that could have slipped my mind and would have been lost forever.
It is a wonderfully quirky show about a twenty-something girl who is over-educated and under-employed. She lives in a trailer that looks like the inside of Jeanie’s bottle, but isn’t quite as big. She works at Wonderfalls, a souvenir shop for Niagara Falls, where the series is set. It is one of those cheesy souvenir shops, with all the toys and stuffed animals that I love to visit when on vacation. Except, well, the stuffed animals (and wax lions with smooshed faces) start to talk to her.
The first season is spent with her trying to hide this life-complicating issue from everyone, because she believes she is crazy. (There does seem to be a higher force at work behind the voices, be it God, Fate, or Satan.) Sometimes I wished she would just tell her family and friends. Even when she tried, they mostly did not believe her.
If there had been a season 2, I would like to think everyone would have found out that inanimate animal objects were talking to her and causing her to act so out of character for her normal personality. In the Special Features, the creators said they would have had her in a mental hospital for Season 3. Eek!
Jaye’s best friend Mahandra McGinty and her family round out the rest of the cast. Her family are supposed to be unlikeable people. But they are all such fine actors that I tend to start liking them anyway. Some of you may know Lee Pace, who plays her brother Aaron, from another show called Pushing Daisies. I have never watched it, but I hear that was good, but under-appereciated as well. He also plays Garrett in Breaking Dawn-Part 2. I kind of liked him in that. Didn’t realize until this week that it was the same actor! (FYI—Alex Rice who plays Sue Clearwater in the same movie was also on Wonderfalls, featured in the episode called “Totem Mole”.)
Every time I watch the show, I re-fall in love with Tyron Leitso. He hasn’t been in any other TV shows or movies that I watch since, but I really like the character of Eric, the messy love interest, that he plays for Jaye. And I think that is my second biggest draw that keeps me re-watching and enjoying it: the blossoming love between Eric and Jaye, complicated by Jaye’s voices and Eric’s wife. (Just watch the show. The wife is a bitch. No one would ever root for them to get back together. Especially after what she did!) Their relationship always puts me in a hopeful, romantic mood. Leitso is very similar in looks and mannerisms to Matthew Fox. It bothers me a little, because I prefer Leitso.
The first biggest reason I keep watching? I really like Caroline Dhavernas as Jaye Tyler. She is the type of person I wish I could be (except maybe without a voice so deep). She lives her life how she wants, she tells it like it is, she doesn’t take crap from anyone (she does have to take crap from the talking objects though). She sinks into a depression after Eric’s wife returns, and that is very painful to watch.
But every time I watch it anyway.
Because I keep rooting for them to be together.
Will Fate bring them together or push them apart?
And what is with all those non-specific pro-nouns anyway?!
I feel like the last five minutes of the final episode that show you what happens with Eric and Jaye is rushed and was probably added after they found out they were being canceled. But I am grateful for that tiny piece of closure.
Oh, you want to know if they get together?
You will have to find it somewhere and watch for yourself.
The complete series box set is available for purchase at Amazon.com. Or, you can watch episodes for free on YouTube.com.
It was the little show that couldn’t [keep from getting cancelled], struggling for ratings as soon as it first came on the air.
It currently has a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Amazon and a 7.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb.com.
You can add this to the list of other great shows cancelled before their time like My So-Called Life, Terriers, and Homefront.
Hey, wait a minute…Those are all shows on my Top 10 list as well!
From the final episode “Caged Bird”:
Eric: I’d like to return these.
Jaye: Are they broken? ‘Cause we sell a lot of crap here.
I learned that I might like the artist Colette Carr. I originally checked her out on YouTube because I saw a pic of her with multi-colored hair. I wanted to know what she sounded like. She is lots of autotune, but also very cute, has bright clothes, some snarky lyrics, and dancey beats. I like to think I looked like her in my 20s. I didn’t. I wish I still looked like her. Here is a cool song by her.
NOTE: Contains explicit language. (Like, all through the song, including the title.)
I also learned that I am not the only one who has thought all these years that Avril Lavigne and her lead guitarist should get together. I think I started thinking that when I watched an MTV day-in-the-life special about her. Avril and her guitarist, Evan Taubenfeld, seemed very snuggily and friendly and oh so cute together. Here is a link to a couple videos featuring them.
NOTE: Contains angsty pop lyrics.
I also added a new page to I’m not stalking you. It is called What I Support. I plan to add causes to it from time to time. I am sure there are more I forgot. It lets you know a little more about what mental and emotional place in the universe I am working from.
I learned at work there is something called a “Gold Star Award” that the manager can give out for employees who go ‘above and beyond’. Ever since, I have been consumed by thinking about how I could win one of those. I really miss Academic Awards ceremonies from when I was in high school. They made me feel like a rock star! (Well, not really. But it was nice to feel recognized for my achievements. “Rock star” just makes it sound more glamorous…) They had similar awards at the last place I worked. But when I started there were 1200 employees in the building! And I did not have a job that screamed ‘above and beyond’ potential. By the time the place got down to a third of that amount of employees, they had stopped giving out awards:( When the place closed, I was fortunate enough to provide a home for one of my favorite ex-boss’s awards. (While we were alike in many ways, he did not treasure his awards as I would. Just sayin’.) My current job doesn’t scream ‘above and beyond’ potential either, but I have lots of extra time to craft a way to try and make that happen. And I have fewer employees to compete with.
Hand-me-down award
I also learned that it is AWESOME to go spy on the filming of a movie. They were shooting a scene for Transformers 4 in my backyard (OK, actually 20 minutes down the road). My son and I went down and watched for about an hour before I had to go to work. Of course we weren’t able to get near the actual set. But we were able to stand across the road from where they were moving the cars in and out. I took lots of pictures. Here are a few.
Optimus Prime!
I was told this was a Lamborghini
Stunt man?
The proof is on the rented truck…
This video is taken by someone I don’t know, but is way more awesome than any of the pictures I took. Enjoy.
NOTE: Bitchin’ explosions.
I'm not stalking you. 