I added one mile on my bike ride tonight since my last ride. And I added one mile per hour, too (mostly because I was doing more downhills). I went through one loop of Amherst’s new, 6 million dollar, double-roundabout, perhaps the most puzzling road construction I’ve ever lived through. WTF, Amherst, WTF?
photo from Daily Hampshire Gazette 8-1-12
not my car, but about the size of any car that should be expected to fit in the mini-lanes of our new roundabout
*
I keep singing this in my head. From my kids’ iPod, but a song which she got from her Dad.
How can you not be full of gratitude on a day like today? It’s beautiful outside, cool and crisp and sunny. The strong wind that whipped around the Valley every day for over a week has finally subsided. It will probably climb into the upper 60s later on. Yum.
This morning, our dear young friend is undergoing major surgery in Montreal, a full spinal fusion, from the sacrum up. It will take up to 8 hours. My mind will be on that at times throughout the day.
I’ve been listening anew to a bunch of Julian Cope. Wishing I could hear Jehovahkill though we somehow lost the disc; it was actually my initiation album to all things Arch Drude.
Julian Cope is as crazy as a loon, but he has managed to crank out some great stuff over his three decades on the scene. This from the stellar Peggy Suicide
The other day in the car, I was listening to one of our local indie radio stations (yes, I know it’s quaint to listen to the radio) and this song came on and hit me over the head like a ton of bricks. How could it not? It’s crazy and bold and unusual and annoying and entrancing and her voice, well, it’s powerful and clear and schmaltzy and beautiful and perfect for musical theater and it draws me right in. I had to look it up on the playlist when I got home because its title wasn’t announced by the time I got out of the car. And if you think wiki qualifies as research, I did a tiny bit of that, too, just to be fair to the writers. I think it’s a brilliant song.
Yes, Hubby and Violet have finally made it back from China, both in all pieces, meaning each in one piece, at 2 this morning. It was high time.
No one seemed to read my post the other day. I swear, on my stats page, not one hit. What’s up with that? But if you do read it, it sort of makes this Music Monday more of a twofer, as they say in FM-radio parlance, but also, that means it should be posted on a Tuesday. But this isn’t FM radio, you dig? so I’m still in like Flynn.
Before I think the better of it, I am going to post a video of myself singing a French song. If you have any better ideas, you do your own music monday. I already did a driving in the car post, maybe more than one, so I’m trying to keep it fresh.
Erin O’Brien over at the Owner’s Manual is not only a published author of renown, but also used to do quite a lot of youtube videos. Did she ever sing on them? Further research would have to be conducted by yours truly before I could answer that; but she makes me a little braver than I might otherwise have been had she not boldly paved the way for a blogging chick like me.
The word is reign, from regner; not rain, from pleurer:
I done wrote a long post, but rather than subject you to it, I’ve decided to do the video first and the blabbin’ later, that way you can read it or shuck it as you see fit
I’m thinkin’ ’bout MY DOORBELL
(don’t worry, the herky-jerky is all part of the fun!)
I’m thinkin’ ’bout
the half rabbit that was left for us at the back door this morning. I mean, a perfect pair of rabbit legs, hiney, and a cottontail courtesy of our cat Miss Lilly. She is a killer extraordinaire. Tally for Spring aught 12 so far? 2 perfect and rather large chipmunks on successive days; 1 vole; one largish mole, which I found endearing for some reason due to its perfectly evolved digging “paws” and weird nose; one spleen or liver or something yesterday; and today’s beautiful bunny wabbit. Miss Lilly had a steamboat, she also had a bell, but she is good at being a cat no matter.
in the distance from the fields in Hadley, the beauty of the downy fluff of new buds on the trees on the Holyoke Range
that I have to hang up bras to dry for 3 females
that I otter be makin’ my granola, but I am too exhausted
how much I (yes, I purposely left off the ‘ve) been doing for Hubby and Eldest, in order that they may have an easier time getting out the door to China on Weds. This is usual–extra laundry organization, extra purchase of snacks for car trip to JFK, extra car care–oil change (it’s due anyway), car inspex (it’s overdue anyway), clear it out of junk (always overdue), fill the tank. Hubby’s on his own for getting the tires changed out and wasn’t that a kick in the nuts (not that I’d know but I have experienced EXTREME ovarian pain) since this was the first year he’d gotten snow tires (as a remedy for no longer having a Suburu) and we didn’t even have snow?
that my man and my kid will be gone for 10 days
my extreme lack of sleep, cumulative for weeks now (I seemed to catch up a coupla days here and there, but last night was a doozy)
I know, it came to me today when I was running god’s errands, that I am manic because I am trying to deflect the fact of their imminent departure. You have no idea how much I hate it when my man’s done gone. My kid–it seems more like she should be doing things like this and I’ll miss her madly and worry about her, too, but I’m never used to Hubby Away.
I’m happy though and I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout MY DOORBELL
11:29 PM: LATE-BREAKING ADDENDUM: I also remembered today, as I wrote out a check for my groceries, that this was the birthday of one of my Big High School Crushes. It was a funny memory, I laughed. I’m so smack-dab middle-aged, I don’t even want to think about it let alone admit that I qualify for this label. Oh, high school, oh crush, oh DKV!
HULA HOOP UPDATE: after only 2 minutes on the back porch, I figured out how to hula hoop! Whew am glad I am not as much of a bonehead as I thought. I can walk with it a few steps, turn around a bit, got the rocking problem covered. However, I bought a big, huge, heavy hula hoop but I’m ready to move up to a smaller, more lightweight one. Must I wait for a summer festival?
Funky Meltdown Dance mix (still feeling inspired since seeing the No Nos 2 weeks ago)
Wild Cherry
Earth, Wind, and Fire
KC and the Sunshine Band–it was hard to choose which video to post, they all have their strengths (and weaknesses), but I settled for the one which featured the most hairy, bare-to-the-waist chests
P Funk
The Commodores
And this old gem, which in my memory was a little more up-tempo. Still good dance music even if her voice drags a bit
Eek! Music Monday is beginning to feel a bit perfunctory. I dunno, maybe you couldn’t tell? I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel though. Today feels a little more organic, but part of me thinks, you know, we all have access to the same music, can I really tell you something you don’t already know?
By the time our first born was about 6-months old, we’d stick her in the “Baby Bundler,” a 25-foot long, 2-foot wide piece of stretchy cotton that wrapped around our bodies, place her facing out, and dance around, her arms and legs sticking out and bouncing up-and-down to our movements and the music. A splendid time was had by all.
I can’t remember many of the songs we played, but here are a couple of favorites.
Listening to Yo La Tengo in the car the other day reminded me of this:
Speeding Motorcycle, Daniel Johnston
Speeding motorcycle, won’t you change me?
Speeding motorcycle, won’t you change me?
In a world of funny changes
Speeding motorcycle, won’t you change me?
Speeding motorcycle of my heart
Speeding motorcycle; always changing me
Speeding motorcycle, don’t you drive recklessly
Speeding motorcycle of my heart
Pretty girls have taken you for a ride
Hurt you deep inside but you never slowed down
Speeding motorcycle in my heart
Speeding motorcycle, let’s speed smart
‘Cause we don’t want to wreck but
We can do a lot of tricks
We don’t have to break our necks
To get our kicks
Speeding motorcycle, the road is ours
Speeding motorcycle, let’s speed some more
‘Cause we don’t need reason and we don’t need logic
We’ve got feeling and we’re dang proud of it
Speeding motorcycle, there’s nothing you can’t do
Speeding motorcycle, I love you
Speeding motorcycle, let’s just go
Speeding motorcycle
Let’s go let’s go let’s go
Oo oo
Considering what Iggy Pop was doing when he’d perform this song live, how appropriate was it for baby bundler dancing? I’m not too concerned, but just now when my kids saw a couple of the live videos, they made faces and said “he’s weird Mom.” What’s worse than the naked gyrations and references to heroin addiction was the sell out to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Maybe the joke’s on them.
Lust For Life, Iggy Pop
Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And a flesh machine
He’s gonna do another strip tease
Hey man, where’d you get that lotion?
I’ve been hurting since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah, something called love
Well, that’s like hypnotising chickens
Well, I’m just a modern guy
Of course, I’ve had it in the ear before
‘Cause of a lust for life
‘Cause of a lust for life
I’m worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O.
Wear a uniform
All on government loan
I’m worth a million in prizes
Yeah, I’m through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs
Well, I’m just a modern guy
Of course, I’ve had it in my ear before
‘Cause, of a lust for life (lust for life)
‘Cause of a lust for life (lust for life, oooo)
I’ve got a lust for life (oooh)
Got a lust for life (oooh)
Oh, a lust for life (oooh)
Oh, a lust for life (oooh)
A lust for life (oooh)
I got a lust for life (oooh)
Got a lust for life
Well, I’m just a modern guy
Of course, I’ve had it in my ear before
‘Cause I’ve a lust for life
‘Cause I’ve a lust for life.
Well, here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And a flesh machine
I know he’s gonna do another strip tease
Hey man, where’d ya get that lotion?
Your skin starts itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Oh Love, love, love
Well, that’s like hypnotising chickens.
Well, I’m just a modern guy
Of course, I’ve had it in the ear before
And I’ve a lust for life (lust for life)
‘Cause I’ve a lust for life (lust for life)
Got a lust for life
Yeah, a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Oh, a lust for life
Got a lust for life
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life
I hope you didn’t notice (but I now confess) that I was uninspired last week on Music Monday. Sure, I love Raphael Saadiq, sure that’s a great song. I have thought of retiring this particular weekly stint until the spirit moves me again.
Tonight I asked my little one (not so little, as about 3 weeks ago, she became taller than me) “What song should I post on my blog?” and she answered “the music from that show [Ken Burns’ series The Civil War],” which she watched a portion of with Hubby earlier tonight. She’s been reading Across Five Aprils and did an extra project on the battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) for school this week.
I don’t play an instrument (7 years of piano, all for naught), but if I could, I imagine it would be most pleasant to play this on the violin.
The deep, satisfying double stops; the familiar and homey nature of the tune; the way the rising melody hits a minor note before its descent and resolve; it is all so poignant and sweet.
I was going to post a version without images because war is too much to look at sometimes, but the one from the soundtrack* without images gets cut off before the end. I figure you all don’t listen all the way through anyway….you’ve got your iTunes and your iPod and your fancies. Me too. Just in case it is new to you, here:
*UPDATE, August 23, 2012: the version from the soundtrack to Ken Burns’ documentary was pulled and I just found out, so I’m posting another version. Visuals are terrible, but I didn’t care for the live video recording of Jay Unger and family. Ironic, isn’t it? Let’s see how long before they copyright and pull this one. It’ll probably take me a while to notice, if I ever do. Look, I know there’s some sort of doodad app to inform me if a video is pulled off of youtube. But I don’t have it set up. Crap.
twinklysparkles 