Monthly Archives: December 2010

In Review

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I suppose it’s natural for everyone to become nostalgic at the end of the year, and I’m no exception.  I was recently running through my blog posts just to see what I was blogging about at the beginning of the year, up until now.  I’ve been blogging here for a little over a year, but I really started the bulk of it, and really started being dedicated to it in January.

There have been a lot of changes this year.  I started the year off thinking it would be busy.  I didn’t realize just how busy it would be; how hectic it ended up being.  All in all, I guess I would have to say that it has been a good year.  I encountered someone not too long ago who, when asked how he was doing that day responded with an electic smile, “I can’t complain.  I’m still here!”  He knew that any day that he was blessed to wake up to was a good day, and I love that attitude.  So, in reviewing the year, I have to be thankful for it, even if the end has been somewhat less than ideal.  Isn’t that called the law of immediacy or something?  The principle that the last thing that happens in a given situtation is the thing you remember most.  You know what I mean.  A lousy end makes one believe that maybe the whole was just as lousy, when really it wasn’t.

Looking back at my posts, I remember the craziness of decorating a cake for my brother and sister-in-law’s rehearsal dinner, and how important that seemed.  I remember trips and posts for friends.  I read posts about the loss of my soon-to-be-ex-father-in-law (divorce is STILL not final, but will be soon).  There are posts that were written in happy times, of a happy marriage, that are sad to me now, but I wouldn’t change them for the world–my past is a part of who I am.  My little one went to Kindergarten and is a “big kid” in her own estimation, and I struggled with that, but now she’s thriving and can’t wait to go back to school…and honestly, I’ll be happy to see her going back.  She loves it so much.  There are book and movie reviews, and silly bumperstickers I’ve shot pics of with my camera phone. 

I started my blog to be a place where I could “scribble” down any thought that entered my head, or any that I deemed worthy to put to “paper,” even if I was the only one reading it.  And at some point during the year, though, something happened.  Right when part of my life was falling apart, I found a new direction…or maybe that direction found me here on the blog.  I began to write more about music, and that’s what my blog has evolved into.  It’s still my “Random Ramblings and Musings of Everything,” but it’s mainly about music. 

I’m not sure where this new, revised direction will take me in the New Year, but I’m excited for it.  I don’t know exactly when my divorce fiasco will be over with (certainly sometime in January), but I’m excited for that as well.  I don’t know what the New Year will bring, but if 2010 is any indication, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride…

And I’m excited to be on it.

Happy New Year!

xo

New Charity Widget!

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Check it out!!!  Lookit over there —————————> 

In the top right-hand corner (or top of the third column) there’s a charity widget for Music Saves Lives there.  Do an activity and help find blood donors, marrow donors, and organize blood drives for those in need.  It’s free and there’s nothing to sign up for!  Pass it on, peeps! :)

From the charity’s website:

Music Saves Lives® is the bridge between music, entertainment and important life-saving causes. We bring a simple concept; connect the music and entertainment, we all love, to a life saving community action. MSL has focused efforts on blood donation and the bone marrow registry, reaching out by sharing facts, educating and empowering. We educate about the importance of simple life saving actions they can participate in. These simple actions, like donating blood, running a blood drive, and registering for the marrow program to save those with leukemia, all connect back to the community.

#23 Ain’t No Sunshine

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I could go into a big, mopey thing about how Bill Withers’s Ain’t No Sunshine fits so perfectly into my own autobiographical soundtrack; how it always occurs to me, pops into my head, when my baby girl is gone from me and with her father.  I could hash through the lyrics, but I won’t–there’s no need.  This song is amazing.

I love the rhythm.  I love the strings.  I LOVE the soul.  They don’t make music like this anymore.  Talk about some great ’70s funky blues!

Do me a favor: put the headphones into your computer and crank it up.

Another reason I love this song is that it plays in one of the best and most creative movie scenes depicting the passage of time.  In Notting Hill, Hugh Grant walks from one end of the lane to another, through a marketplace, and this song plays in the background as the seasons change from one to another and, showing the passage of time through a year.  Say what you will about the movie itself; that scene is amazing.

#24 Supermassive Fave

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As if the post title didn’t give it away, here’s another of my favorite songs:

#24 Supermassive Black Hole, Muse

Okay, so maybe Muse is on your list of favorites.  Maybe you don’t care for conspiracy theorist, British rockers.  Or, maybe you’re wondering why on earth I’m bringing Greek mythology into my list of faves. 

(((crickets))) 

Greek mythology.  You know.  The muses?  Ba-da bing!  Er, nevermind.

So anyway, Supermassive Black Hole wasn’t the first Muse song I ever heard, but it was the first Muse song that I ever heard, knowing that it was Muse that was playing it.  Does that make sense or am I blogging in circles again?  Let’s recap: Had heard Muse songs before.  Didn’t know they were done by Muse.  Supermassive Black Hole sought out because it was done by Muse = my official introduction to the band.

Actually (and you’re going to cringe), Supermassive Black Hole was sought out by myself because I’d seen the list of songs for the very first Twilight movie soundtrack online and had no idea what the song sounded like.  Needless to say, I was curious.

I found it easily on their Black Holes and Revelations album, and once I downloaded it, I was over the moon at how different and how ground-breaking they were (and still are).  Supermassive Black Hole quickly became one of my favorite songs, and though I’ve listened to it a ba-zillion times, it still never ceases to disappoint me, and it’s one of my favorite songs to rock out to.

What is one (or some) of your favorite songs?

P.S. Don’tcha love music videos that look like the band was on an acid trip?  Bizarre…