Pistol

I can't get enough of this song. I first heard it at my dear Holly's, wedding, in August. It was the song that she and her husband, Easton, chose for their wedding dance. Holly didn't want to dance, and we bullied her into it. I'm glad that we did. I think she was glad that we did too.

I didn't think to look it up until a couple of weeks ago, and now I just listen to it on repeat.

Good choice, Holly and Easton. Good choice.

Just Sayin'

 You should have kissed me / You should have pushed me up against the wall / You should have kissed me / I was right on the edge and ready to fall

Love and Memories Part I

There are some songs that no matter where you are or what time it is, when you hear them, your mind gets transported back to a time or place or just to a person.

Here are a few of those:


(Whitney Houston, Greatest Love of All)
This song takes me back to the house on Frank Street. My mom used to listen to Mix 107.7 and probably a few other stations, and I remember her making Amy and me pancakes and telling us that she was going to be on the radio because she had won some contest. We listened eagerly to hear her voice transmitted over the radio. I can't remember how much she won. There are a few other songs that came out in the early 90s that make me think of us driving around in the station wagon and such.

My best friend in elementary school, Jessica Hobbs, has a few songs that are dedicated to her.

(Ace of Base, The Sign)
We listened to this song while driving to the Miami County Fair. Her mom paid for me to go almost every year, which was SO nice of her, I wouldn't have gone if she hadn't. We went the night where you could buy the bracelets to get on as many rides as your stomach could handle. We rode the tilt-o-whirl until they literally wouldn't let us on anymore, and then Pam would buy us elephant ears or funnel cakes.





We used to listen to Will Smith or Sugar Ray while playing Paper Boy on the Nintendo while eating a cup of Oreos, filled and made soggy by milk, with a spoon.



This was one of the first songs where I learned all the lyrics to. I have a horrible memory, and couldn't remember the lyrics while my friends all sang at the top of their lungs. My memory had room for this song and Torn by Natalie Imbruglia. The two of these songs always take me back to Laura Wharton's house, where we watched Lifetime movies about bulimia and created a baby out of water balloons that we had for a really long time.



And then there was Hanson. Jessica, Heather Ridenour and I had the three boys divided between us, and we all thought they were so cute. I was a fan of Taylor.



To be continued.

Great Cover of a Great Song

I'm digging this cover of Adele's Someone Like You, which is perfect for this mopey mood I'm in right now.

Zombie Song

A friend of mine posted this on his blog today, and I've been obsessed with it ever since. It's the best, most catchy, most awesome Halloween/Zombie song of all time.

Island in the Sun

Tonight I went up to Salt Lake to have a final dinner with my cousin Chloe, as she heads to Florida this weekend to begin a new adventure. I grabbed our friend Jared and we met at La Hacienda, a favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. Unfortunately for us, it was closed. Fortunately, though, Jared loomed outside long enough to talk to the owner who took pity on us and sent us to a closer La Hacienda in Draper, promising to call ahead and tell the manager that we were to get 50% off our meal.

The food was delicious -- as it always is -- and on our way back, watching the final glimpses of daylight disappear from the western horizon, my hair whipping across my face, Island in the Sun by Weezer started to play on the radio.

We were in a Jeep, and the top was off and the doors removed. It was hot, but not sweltering. The open road, open sky and the moon was available to be seen all around us. I wish I had the eloquence to describe the touch of teals and golds, and the perfectly shaped crescent moon, which looked larger than normal.

I was with people I care about, enjoying the weather, enjoying the view and loving the experience.

It was a pretty perfect moment.



And I really just love that song.

Country Chic

"I hate country music."



I don't know how many times I have uttered, confessed, threatened and spouted these words. Or for how long. Though, I know that it was long before junior high school and continued well into my years in college. I associated country music with the likes of Travis Tritt, Randy Travis and Conway Twitty. Whatever that awful stuff that my dad took home in the form of cassette tapes from my Grandma's "successes" at garage sales and would then torture us on the way back from Lexington... I hated it.

And then out came artists like Martina McBride, Shania Twain, etc. Talented, yes. Beautiful, of course. But awful music! (I still hate the majority of her songs.) What is it about country artists that are obviously talented, but make some of the worst song choices ever?!
There has always been the occasional country song that one of my friends would listen to, and it was either catchy or whatever, and I would like it. But the genre as a whole, yiiiick.

Until, one day... it wasn't.

I think it has been a gradual process that was inevitable. After all, I was born in Kentucky. I have hillbilly roots, and it shouldn't be a surprise that I would eventually come to love that, and accept it. And then, of course, there are the calendars like Studs*N*Spurs, which my friend, Sabrina, so kindly gifted to me to years in a row. Sure, the models are all probably gay. But that doesn't make a shirtless cowboy in chaps any less attractive...

I remember being 16 and working at Bob Evans with the "Dream Team" - Adam Galley and me running the host stand and the cash register. I liked Adam, a lot. I found out that he was a HUGE Garth Brooks fan, and so I got into my parents' CDs and pulled out the two albums they owned of his. I hated it. You can't hate I've Got Friends in Low Places, but I really didn't like his other songs. I couldn't handle the twang.

Still, through the years, more and more country songs leaked onto my playlists, anyway. Artists like Dierks Bentley and Josh Turner made me perk up my ears. Music that I wouldn't listen to on the radio, I was suddenly watching the music videos on GAC and CMT. I also happened to read a few books that, while romanticized (one might even call them romances...), were about Old West cowboys... and well, I was a goner after that.

There's something about the southern charm and gentle respect that I just find to be absolutely attractive. I've always liked that slow southern drawl. And yes, a good fitting pair of jeans....

Plus, there's the fact that the celebrity country artists are surprisingly put together. They don't seem to be nearly as crazy as the rest of the pop star and reality television world. Yes, there's the scandalous LeAnn Rimes, and whatnot. But if you look at others, they've been married to their husbands and wives for years and years with no sign of trouble for the time being. It's encouraging.

I still hate some of the really gay country songs. But others like Then by Brad Paisley, or I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes by Dierks, or She Wouldn't Be Gone by Blake Shelton... I just love them. The songs are sweet and sentimental, they're patriot and talk about God and more and more I find my radio on the country stations than I do any of the others.

It's very strange.



But it's not only music. I love the rustic, country looks. I love lace and burlap and weathered wood. And horses. (Will someone PLEASE take me horseback riding?) My grandma made this adorable cowboy quilt, and I've already called dibs. That quilt belongs to my unborn son... If he ever comes.

My newest favorite scent comes from Bath and Body Works and is called Country Chic. It's fabulous.

I guess my point is, you will not hear me using the above phrase ever again. I thought I would be more ashamed by this confession, but I'm not. I'm OK with it. I've accepted this about myself. I like country.

I like country music.

Ok, it's still a little weird admitting it. But I'm definitely going to embrace it from now on.

Sugar Ray

If you remember this video, this song or more importantly, this band, then you will understand why Becca and I were so excited to catch them in concert - for free.

Sugar Ray was at the Riverwoods on Saturday night. I was late, of course, and so I missed a lot of the show. I pulled up and parked and When Its Over was playing, I heard some girl say that "some weird Sugar Ray karaoke" was going on. I wonder if she ever figured out that, No, that really was Mark McGrath.

I think I missed most of their original songs. They played a few songs that weren't theirs. And then they did a lot of weird clips (Mark McGrath is a HUGE Will Ferrell fan, to the point where he played a whole song in cow bell) and even longer thank you speeches. He invited two kids up on stage and made them dance around and sing... which was annoying, because they weren't good and they weren't cool.

I'm positive he was on something.

It was pretty cold... but after a while of jumping around in the crowd, and singing and shouting to our heart's content we warmed up.

Sugar Ray planned their exit rather perfectly. They saved Fly for the last song, and then at the very end, a firework show started behind the crowd. There was no time to demand an encore, and they disappeared from stage.

Of course, the whole firework thing was ruined by them playing Katy Perry... I hate her. The concert took a turn into a Mob Dance Party, and that was pretty awesome.

I love 90s music.

The Copper Onion & Capitol Theater

Last week I had the opportunity to have a little night on the town with a good friend of mine.

Waiting for the Opera to start.

We left work earlier than we are both used to and headed up to Salt Lake for dinner at The Copper Onion. It had come recommended from a friend of William's, and neither of us had been there. I had taken a glance at the menu before going, but didn't know what half of what was listed on there actually was. We ended up ordering a salad (that, curiously enough, tasted like feet unless you got a bite of red onion, and then tasted actually kind of good) and bone marrow.

Yes, you read that right.

Bone marrow has the density and texture of... a slug.

It didn't taste bad... it just was interesting. And now that I've had it, I can safely say that I probably won't ever eat it again. The real treat, of course, was the entrees. William got the ribs (already off the bone) which was so perfectly tender and moist and absolutely, incredibly delicious. Probably meat heaven on a fork. I got the veal meatballs. And they were also very yummy. I should have gotten pictures of those dishes.

Next we were off to...

Capitol Theatre for La Boheme. It was my first experience at the opera and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I think more now that I've had time to reflect on it. I was too busy trying to take in the whole atmosphere, that I didn't really think about the actual opera until days later. I thought it was interesting that I enjoyed the female voices more than the male. (My preferences are almost always reversed to that.) And I liked the blended voices more than solos. Also, the song about the coat was weird, and pretty pointless. It was fun to see all the different characters that attend the opera. There was a pretty large age range, dress range and appreciation range. I found myself mostly surrounded by thespians, which is always interesting.

I have to thank William again for a pleasant evening. I really liked my first experience at the opera and I definitely hope it is not my last.

Country Music: Explained

I don't like country music. Or I say I don't...because most the time I can only listen to one, maybe two songs, before I have to change the station.

But once in an inexplicable moment, and despite the strange looks I get from the majority of the guys in the office or even to my own chagrin, I will turn on the country. I didn't ever really think I could explain why I got in these moods, but after yesterdays emotional breakdown, I think I've figured it out.

I play country music when I have a lot of unexplained emotions. I'm usually on the verge of tears or seconds away from pushing a guy against a wall or waiting for an excuse to run down some poor pedestrian. It doesn't matter whether I'm happy, sad or lonely. I could be excited or...whatever emotion, if it is more intense than normal (my emotions tend to run on the intense side always) then I turn on the country music and sing my lungs out.

Usually it's a particular playlist.

Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
Your Man - Josh Turner
No Rush - Josh Turner
Real Good Man - Tim McGraw
I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes - Dierks Bentley
I'll Take That as a Yes - Phil Vassar
Nothing on But the Radio - Gary Allen
Like We Never Loved at All - Faith Hill (& Tim McGraw)
Rodeo - Garth Brooks
Who's Your Daddy - Toby Keith
You Wouldn't Be Gone - Blake Shelton
Let Me Touch You - Alison Krauss
When You Say Nothing at All - Alison Krauss
Whiskey Lullaby - Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley

Yes, Garth. He's on the list. Even though when I was 16, I tried desperately to like him and I've only found maybe 3-5 songs that I like of his despite his many, many albums. Normally I just say that I can't stand him. Normally I say that I can't stand country. But at least my play list is a good country list.

Ah, well...

A Little Flute Practice

So the video is nothing interesting to look at, but it is just me playing my flute. I brought it back to Utah with me the last time I went home because I wanted to pick it back up. I've been practicing flute more than stats, really... well, maybe it is about the same.

The first song is Come Thou Fount and the second it the first few lines of Claire de Lune. I'm not good at either, because I can't do really high notes and I can't do really low notes. And well, the counting throws me off and I can't sight read. There were more songs that I was going to post, but I'm too embarrassed to post just yet. Sometimes I play them really well, and other days I'm just off. I have a book with Harry Potter music and another with a medley of hymns. Those are hard because I don't really know how they are supposed to sound, and so a lot of the time I am making up the melody.

Ah, well... I'm trying to get better. C keeps threatening to sign me up for the musical fireside our ward wants to have (also, I'm hard-pressed to think of another ward that has more firesides than we do. I swear, last month we had one every Sunday. And they've already started it for after conference next week.) I tell C that I am not good enough to play in front of people, but she's a hard person to convince. However, I played the agency card, and I think she took the hint. I'll let you all know when I go public with my playing again...maybe in about 10 years.

2009 Mash-Up

Probably one of the cooler things I've seen this week.

MP3panda.com

This is where I get music...because I'm too cheap for iTunes and too moral for pirates. ...or not. But if that sounds like you - then I recommend this site. And also this artist - Ray LaMontagne. yum!

Evidence

Some of you have doubted the fact that I am able to accomplish an independent study course - much less STATS 221 as independent study. I am here to set your ill-at-ease minds to rest, and prove to you that I have, in fact, opened my course and I am looking.

Even though I would rather:

• Pluck out EVERY hair on my body with tweezers
• Eat egg whites and celery
• Jump from a burning building into a pile of broken glass
• Shovel manure
  
• Cut off my toes - and NOT for the benefit of science
• Peel off my fingernails
• And any number of other measure of torture

I have started!

"You haven't told me yet," said Lady Nuttall, "what it is your fiancé does for a living."

"He's a statistician," replied Lamia, with an annoying sense of being on the defensive.

Lady Nuttall was obviously taken aback. It had not occurred to her that statisticians entered into normal social relationships. The species, she would have surmised, was perpetuated in some collateral manner, like mules.

"But, it's a very interesting profession," said Lamia warmly.

"I don't doubt it," said the lady, who obviously doubted it very much.

-The Dreaded Lesson Manual

I have it on good authority that we should trust the aristocracy - especially when they are right. (Meaning, not only is Stats NOT interesting...it is also torture, tedious, horrible and any other word you can possibly throw at it that is negative!)

For those of you wondering, though, (As I know a great many of you are) Stats is defined as:

Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, and interpreting numerical facts—which we call data. We are bombarded by data in our everyday life. Most of us associate "statistics" with the bits of datum that appear in news reports: baseball batting averages, imported car sales, the latest poll of the president's popularity, and the average high temperature for today's date. Advertisements often claim that data show the superiority of the advertiser's product. All sides in public debates about economics, education, and social policy argue from data. Yet the usefulness of statistics goes far beyond these everyday examples.

In a completely unrelated note - Check out Ray LaMontagne and Landon Pigg...they are seriously so WONDERFUL to listen to and have an 98.7% rate of making me happy, with a zero margin of error.

Ray...



Or Landon...

BYU Kind of Life

Dear Shelli...

Just a few reminders as you travel through this thing we call life. You seem to be forgetting, or letting your imagination run away with you, and I just want to make sure you keep your head on straight.

1. No matter what you think - studying is important. You can't sit and read or watch television, or even hang out with friends if you think you are going to pass your classes. Just because you didn't learn it in class, doesn't mean you can't ever know the material! Study - and you will do really well on your tests.
2. Um, Shell, hun... your room does not clean itself. If you are sick of stepping over your piles of laundry, you have to put them away. The same goes for the laundry, it will not make it to the washing machine without your help.
3. Just like you cringe every time someone puts on their favorite country song or listens repeatedly to the same song you can't stand, please remember that not everyone likes YOUR music (even if it is fantastic).
4. Hey, I can read your mind. And you know what? That guy that you are staring at, well, he's not going to push you against the wall and molest your lips with his, no matter how much you will it with your mind. He will also not do the following: say some witty remark in speech only appropriate during the Regency era, whisk you away to go horseback riding in the sunset, propose marriage within seconds of meeting you (I know you know that, but I just thought I'd throw that in...don't get testy with me!); he's not going to fight over you with your other imaginary boyfriend, and he's definitely not going to rescue you from some life endangering circumstance. When is your life ever in danger anyway?
5. To go along with number four, just remember... things like that DON'T happen. I know, shocker! Marcia Lynn McClure, Diana Gabaldon, Deanne Gist, Eva Ibbotson, and all your other favorite authors write FICTION. As do you. Get over it.
6. Everything you have been promised in your Patriarchal Blessing is dependent on your faithfulness, and by doing what it says in order to accomplish those things. So stop wondering why it hasn't happened yet. You know why. Besides, Heavenly Father knows what He is doing. It will happen when it happens.
   
7. Not buying groceries and pretending that you aren't eating, doesn't mean that the calories from Wendy's, the Hard Disk, or BYU don't count. You should probably just buy some healthy food from the grocery store and eat that.
8. The four minute dance party, Monday through Thursday, does not count as adequate exercise. Especially since you DO NOT know how to dance to that kind of music. No matter what your roommates say.
9. If you want to go to Scotland, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Morocco, Bermuda, St. John's, Jamaica, tour the East coast, Ireland, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Romania, Brazil, Argentina, etc. You need money! You can't get there without it. And you need a passport! Speaking of cash. Money is not a renewable resource; if you aren't earning it, you'll run out! So get back to work!
10. Everyone knows you are single. You can stop bringing it up. I know it's habit now, but it's also annoying.
    

Music Quiz

I stole this from Courtney's sister, Brittany... because I like her blog and I like to share my music.

1. Put Your music (in this case my MP3/phone) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write that song name down- no skipping!!*

*(I was so tempted to skip, but didn't... so all references to alcohol or like such as, it was on RANDOM, and I could not help it...)

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Just Like Heaven - The Cure

WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR PERSONALITY?
The Secret Life of Daydreams - Dario Marianelli
appropriate...

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Your Guardian Angel - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Unintended - Muse

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Mr. Bigstuff - Aretha Franklin
haha...

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Stab My Back - American Rejects
Worst motto ever... oh well. It is a GREAT song.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Love Song for No One - John Mayer

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
As Lovers Go - Dashboard Confessionals

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FREQUENTLY?
Calling You - Blue October

WHAT IS 2+2?
It Passes All My Understanding - Cherie Call

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Go-Getter Greg - Ludo

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Perfect Time of Day - Howie Day

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Drunken Lament - Ludo
now how ironic is that?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Out of My Head - Fastball
I'm pretty much there already

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Lonely Day - System of a Down

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Mmmbop - Hanson

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Please - Ludo

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
I Miss You - Blink 182

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Kiss You Better - Maximo Park
haha...

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
St. Patrick's Day - John Mayer

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Dirty Dancing - Mya

That's the end? Too bad...

Throw Your Clothes on the Floor

Ever since the trip to the Scera theater to watch Pride and Prejudice the musical (along with the lesbian lovers and other side shows the musical aided in providing) we have been planning to attend tonight's Boyz II Men concert. We have listened to their II CD over and over... or at least some of their songs over and over and over and over. And we made t-shirts, complete with Rhinestones. So tonight, we were ready... and we enjoyed almost every minute of it. Or would have, had we been able to see the stage!


Recipe for the best night ever:

1. 1 Grassy knoll
2. 1 beautiful, cloudless night with a sky full of stars
3. 6 large Polynesian men
4. the Polynesians' amazon women (some were white...still HUGE)
5. 2 Awesome roommates
6. 1 HOT BYU basketball player -his girlfriend
7. BOYZ II MEN!!!!
8. frozen yogurt

We went to the concert with high expectations. Arriving at 6:55 p.m. when the concert was supposed to start at 8:00 p.m. We walked in and the blanketed area was already full. Content to sit at the top of the hill overlooking the rest of the area and stage, we entertained ourselves by taking pictures.





Our fun was disrupted when some guy came with his little blanket and tried to squeeze into a almost non-existent spot, claiming to be "desperate" for a place to sit (the place was packed and it was still forty-five minutes until start time) in front of the group of Polynesian women (so called because their dates/husbands were Polys, not necessarily because they were...all were Amazon women, though) to which they said they would scoot their blanket forward and he could place his blanket in front of us. While it was just him, we were reluctant but willing to "cut" in front of us... That is, until he started listening to our conversations and making faces at us. He offered to take some of our pictures, to which we declined.

When the show started, we were treated to a talent show of some sort. Most the acts were decent, but nothing too spectacular. Until an 11-year old got up and started singing I Will Always Love You. I've seen so many people butcher this song on American Idol, that I thought, there is no way this girl can pull it off. And yet, I was proven wrong! This girl nailed it. Definitely winner, hands down. She was amazing, and 11.

The cutter's friends showed up... more white Amazons. I can't believe how big these women are. I didn't know big women existed in Provo. They were fat. They were stalky. And tall. HUGE women, and blocking our view to the stage. I always thought that Provo was full of super skinny barbie types, with their bleach blonde, teased hair and perfect nails and...you know the type. But these girls were like nothing I'd ever seen. I was suddenly very pissed at the man and his "desperate" act. How could he have ever expected to squeeze between the Polynesians and the rest of the crowd? His women-folk were just as big!

FINALLY after waiting forever, Boyz II Men came out! Even minus one member of the group, they are amazing. Velvet and silky R&B voices, and so incredibly smooth. From what we could see of them, little glimpses here and there through heads and elbows and giant Polynesians, they were still hot! They sounded great. They were awesome.


Since we couldn't watch our Boyz the whole time, we watched the next best thing... the BYU baksetball played that had to have been 7' tall, and georgeous to boot. I thought Ashley was going to jump his bones, but his girlfriend eventually joined him. Making it uncomfortable to watch him... luckily we had found an opening where we could see more glimpses.

A few more Polynesian guys came in late and instead of trying to maneuver through Desperate boy and his group to meet up with the other Polys, they stood next to us awhile. I was standing on my tippy-toes and jumping trying to see over the mountain of women and the guy turned to me and said, "Hey, you can sit on his shoulders," pointing to his friend. I looked over, tipped my head all the way back and laughed out loud. This guy was 8' tall, HUGE! And cute. And HUGE! He towered over everyone! His friend disappeared and the giant Polynesian stood videotaping the concert, I watched from his camera for a few minutes... I couldn't believe how big he was. It was awesome.

Between the tall Polynesians and the sexy, deep voice of one of the Boyz II Men guys, I was near to swooning every ten minutes!

When they sang the Momma song, they made everyone get out their cell phones and call their mothers to dedicate it to them... it was pretty cute. But my mom was asleep. So we listened to Becca sing to her mom.

After the concert, we went to Hello Yogurt. Only the best Yogurt shop on the planet! It was so delicious. There are like six different flavors (Cheesecake, Chocolate, Strawberry, Peach, Pecan, and tart) and then you pick whatever you want to put on top and then pay by weight. It was SO YUMMY!

Overall, best night ever.

21st Century Pariah

I've always thought this was the case... in fact, I know I've said so many a time. However, KP brought it to my attention once again. She pointed out that maybe, perhaps, for some reason... I don't belong in the 21st century.

You probably don't think this is the case. I mean, after all, I have adapted QUITE well, considering. I use the internet and computers with skill and finesse. Having such a vast amount of knowledge at my fingertips is...wonderful. Irreplaceable. In fact, I just spent five seconds looking up lyrics to a song that I'm listening to. I love my portable music/cell phone/calculator/alarm clock/watch/text messaging machine. I LOVE the vast amount of music that is avaialable. MUSE, LUDO, Boys II Men...haha. Ask my dad, my computer is FULL of music. And I listen to way more than I own on Pandora. It is SO nice being able to talk to my parents 2,000 miles away in Ohio, or my friends living in Michigan or California or Idaho. I spend more time in front of the television and movie theaters than necessary. I love traveling, and despite how difficult it is with the TSA crap we have to go through every time we fly - it's not like we're sailing over the ocean in a boat filled with plague or bumping around in horse and buggy. Or walking. I love driving, despite the price of gas. I DIE of heat on a daily basis, despite the wonderful air conditioning that cools everything...except my car. *shrug* Oh, and there's the whole medical thing, and drugs and advancements made in feminie hygiene and such.

Okay, maybe living in a different century would be hard. Well, not maybe. It would be. Could I give up all of those advantages? Those are just the luxury luxuries. What about the hot, running water? What about the fact that I can go to the store and have all vitamins and minerals available with foods that aren't even in season, but somehow still available? Or the fact that there are vaccinations against all sorts of deadly diseases? If I were born in the 1700s, I might have died before reaching age 5 of some sort of mumps, measles, typhus, etc. I guess the great thing about being born in another century would be that I wouldn't know any different. I wouldn't think that it was harder, because I wouldn't know it could be easier. Of course, this is all sounding as if I had the option - which I don't.

But it's definitely going to be one of the questions I ask Heavenly Father when I get back to Him. Why? Why 1985 and not 1785 or 1885? Both times seem MUCH more interesting and definitely have more appeal than now. I mean, these were times when new places were being discovered, countries shaped, inventions that changed lifestyles were being invented. Now, it's like we've lost all creativity. Sure we have new versions of things coming out all the time, but it's the same thing. Over and over and over. These people were inventing things that had never been seen before.

Plus, there were a lot more rules and standards, and etiquette. Now, granted, I'm not the most proper person in the world. I think I would have liked to live during all of that only for the sake of breaking all the societal rules. Like showing off my ankle! Yes, I would be quite rebellious. Now, if I want to be rebellious, I have to walk around naked...and even then, some places it's acceptable. *shudder*

Fortunately, after daydreaming about all the romantic adventures I would have had living in 1808, I remember that all the books I read (Gabaldon, Gist, Ibbotson, McClure, etc.) are writing about just that...romantic adventures. Granted, they all write about the disease and malnutrition, famine, natural disasters, dying of a fever, etc. etc. etc. (Especially Gabaldon, she does not soften the blow of the hardships at all.) But still, they are fictional stories that characterize the main characters as still these beautiful people where love conquers all...even disease. I know it's not realistic. I look at pictures of cowboys and such from the 1800s, and they were not the handsome, beautiful, rugged, masculine...*sigh* men that I imagine when I'm reading about Ryder Maddox or Brevan McClean. I KNOW that. I do. I sear.

Doesn't mean I like living in 2008, all of the time.

Lyrics and My Biggest Pet Peeve

So, sometimes, in the middle of the day my brain stops functioning. I can't work anymore, and I need a distraction. If the girls aren't up for a walk, or if I don't really have time to leave my office, I go check out a random website. Usually a favorite blog. I already have music playing on Pandora, or through myplaylist.com or a CD that I particularly want to listen to - and I open the blog and WHAM! I am bombarded by someone else's taste in music. Do you know how confusing, loud, and obnoxious it is? It's like one of those hidden pop-ups that start talking and you can't figure out how to turn it off! So now I have to scroll down and QUICKLY push pause in order to make sure I am not blasted out of my office before the music player loads. But not only that, I have to do it EVERY TIME the page is refreshed! IT IS SO ANNOYING.

So because you force your music on me, every time I read your blog, I am going to do it too. Only less obnoxiously.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*... yeah, that's annoying.

Some songs I like for the beat, others the melody, usually it's a combination of those two and the lyrics... but lately, I have just been getting a kick out of some of these artists:

MySpace Girl (The Afters)

I saw you once, it was enough/You asked me what I wanted, I want you/But I replied, I'll have some fries
So mesmerized, my heart was over driving through

I saw your name and unashamed/I searched within 500 miles to find/Any clue just as to who I've fallen for/Cause you've got me and I've got time

I saw your picture on Myspace/Maybe someday we can turn it into ourspace baby/I don't care how long it takes/I'm saving space in my top 8 for you

The second time you were so nice/I loved the way told me to enjoy my day/But I know what you meant to say instead/Was really that you wanted us to run away

I said let's go, I'll pack my clothes/Just promise me you'll wear that/purple dress you have/You look so cute when you're confused/You backed away and asked me how I knew about that

I know you're scared/I know our love is crazy/And I'm so crazy/You make me crazy For you

The Horror of Our Love (Ludo)

I'm a killer/Cold and wrathful/Silent sleeper/I've been inside your bedroom/I've murdered half the town/Left you love notes on their headstones/I'll fill the graveyards/Until I have you

Moonlight walking/I smell your softness/Carnivorous and lusting/To track you down among the pines/I want you stuffed into my mouth/Hold you down and tear you open/Live inside you/Oh, love - I'd never hurt you

But I'll grind against your bones/Until our marrows mix/I will eat you slowly/Ohhhhh/The horror of our love...

Love Me Dead (Ludo)

Love me cancerously/Like a salt-sore soaked in the sea./'High-maintenance' means/You're a gluttonous queen/Narcissistic and mean.

Kill me romantically/Fill my soul with vomit/Then ask me for a piece of gum./Bitter and dumb/You're my sugarplum.

You're awful, I love you!
You're hideous and sexy!

Life Will Go On (Chris Isaak)

Tender dreams, shadows fall/Love too sweet, to recall/Dry your eyes, Face the dawn/Life will go on, life will go on/Broken heart find your way/Make it through just this day/Face the world on your own/Life will go on

Close I've Come (Ben Lee)

the universe is brought back/from the brink of destruction/every time you smile

Into the Dark (Ben Lee)

you're not a landmine/you're not a goldmine/no, you're not mine at all

Hmm...there are tons more. Maybe I will share more later. Or check out any of Ludo's songs. They are crazy, strange, and I absolutely love them.