A song I like (though not necessarily the music video as much...maybe just listen to the song...)

Piano for Old People (and a few thoughts on trying to stay true to what you believe)

When I was younger my mom put me in piano lessons, and like my violin lessons, I only half- heartedly tried to do well, an attitude I regret a little now.  But! Not to be held back by my lack of enthusiasm in the past, I've decided now is as good a time as any to rally my energies.  So I've picked a few songs and practiced as many times a week as I can.  To encourage myself, I set up this prize: If I practice at least 15 mins. three times a week for two months, I can buy any one piece of sheet music I want at the end of the second month.

I realize that is a meager amount of practice time--but I'm going from no practice time to practice time, so I thought slow and steady (and realistic) was best.  I'm proud to say, though, that I've practiced much more than a mere 45 mins a week almost every week so far.  The piano is addicting, I tell you.

As part of my deal with myself, I've been practicing a hymn or two from church, so my newly developing skilz don't go to waste when it comes to serving in church.  So when I saw this sheet music in this month's youth magazine (from church) I took it with me to see if I liked the song.


I love the song, or rather, the message of the song.  You'll notice that it starts out with music from the hymn Come, Come Ye Saints--and that was one of the selling points for me.  I love the idea that anyone who is trying to live a moral code of values is engaged in a struggle not unlike our pioneer anscestors--though our conflict is more subtle in nature, it takes the same kind of dedication, fortitude, will-power and faith.

And anyone who has tried to live a code of values different from the norm knows what I mean when I say it is a struggle or conflict.  It isn't easy to be the only person at a social gathering, or at work, or anywhere, really, who believes something different from everyone else.  Especially when the thing you believe puts you in the position of having to say what you believe (which almost always means a high likelihood of  being ridiculed, or having to defend yourself---or at the very least having to find a way to tactfully remove yourself from the situation).  It certainly isn't a comfortable place to find yourself in.

So, I think the message of this song is a perfect rally cry for youth everywhere who are trying to hold true to their moral beliefs.  Actually, it's also a perfect rally cry even for this one older person who is trying to learn to play the piano.

Corinne Bailey Rae's New CD

NPR ran this story on Ms. Rae's new album, and then set up a beautiful FREE link to let you listen to the album until it's released on Jan. 26.  Enjoy.  --Moo

Tune for Autumn

Playlist Update

Last week I started listening to music at work. It's the first time I've tried it on a regular basis. Until now, I've avoided music altogether because I didn't want to have to veto most of the songs requested/brought in by the tweens I work with.

It all started in one of my desperate forays into our little town library. I found four CDs that I couldn't resist.

Billboard Top Hits 1975 -- 1979 (I know that's 5 CDs, but, actually, 1977 is awol so it wasn't really an option)

I checked them out on a whim more than anything else.

And...I've loved listening to them! For instance, right now Abba's Take a Chance On Me is playing. And I just sang along to Dream Weaver by Gary Wright and I Go Crazy by Paul Davis.

Oh man. What about Reminiscing by Little River Band?!

More surprising than my own enjoyment is the fact that the tweens recognize and LIKE some of the songs too. When pressed, they'll say, "Oh, it's on a commercial," or "It's in that one movie."

Maybe I like the CDs so much because because I grew up listening to those songs. To be frank, on most days you'll catch me avoiding 70's music. I hardly ever dredge it up from the depths of my ipod playlists.

But this time...
It's just, once I started listening it brought back, well, not really memories per say...more a feeling. The songs feel comfortable, familiar, safe--like an old friend.

P.S. Um, the music videos, well, they don't convey that same feeling. The Abba one made me snicker and possibly roll my eyes at the awful 70's clothing and the hazy lighting (does that really make women more attractive? I've gotta ask The Rock about that). That doesn't change the fact that the song is AWESOME! --Lu

Internet Box of Chocolates

Moo and The Geologist came to the FP to visit us today. Woohoo!

I gave her a "hard copy" of this card (which I purchased at Walmart, in case you need one of your very own to hold and love and cherish).

In return she gave me a hug and showed me a blog in which a very crafty woman makes beautiful things, such as a gown, and then gives them away (e.g. Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!) Mostly we were oooing and ahhing over the thrill it would be to have a gown like this, especially when we were kids and had plenty of occasions for wearing such a dress.

In other news, my friend Jamila and her brother also made a detour to the FP and stayed the night with us. They showed me this comedian, and I in turn showed them this one.

Then my brother sent me this link to the Cars Toons (as short films about the characters from the Disney/Pixar movie Cars).

And, because I'm sharing all my internet loves right now, I'll throw this one in too. This wonderful man has taken the time to make videos of himself playing popular songs, then breaking down the fingerings so that you can learn how to play the songs yourself. I'm not much of a piano player, but I can pick up songs when someone shows me the fingering. And thus I did a little dance when I found out I could have my very own private tutoring session for Freee. Now if I could just find a piano....

Saturday Night Dances

So, I work with teenagers (and tweens) at my day job (so much less formal than a courtroom, though, much heavier on the drama), and this Friday we are having a Dance Party. They requested it and I agreed to host it.

I've been planning a playlist--because no, I will not let them be in charge of it. Heaven forbid. It would be rated R for Raunchy.

Tonight I purchased some songs that I loved to dance to as a youngster (and that I think they will willingly dance to...I thought they were too cool for some of these songs, but surprisingly, they have made references to some of them, and just yesterday one of the "coolest" kids busted out the macarana for no good reason. Yes. I love tweens.) Just listening to the songs has taken me back to those awkward, yet very anticipated Saturday Night Stake Youth Dances. Wow. I loved those things.

Here's a few of my favorites:
The Electric Slide
500 Miles
Cotton Eyed Joe
YMCA
Chicken Dance (so utterly annoying, but you get to act like a chicken!)
Macarana (though it's never been a favorite, just hearing it takes me back to those dim cultural halls of my youth)
Dancing Queen (yeah, I thought the song was about me).

Maybe you have some suggestions, songs I've forgotten...I'd love to hear what they are (even if you've never attended a Saturday Night Stake Youth Dance, surely there's some song that when you hear it you think of a Rhythmic Ceremonial Ritual you attended in your youth.
--Lu

This American Life Favorites

This is short but informative---
I've been listening to the favorites from the NPR affiliated This American Life program, and I highly recommend them, at least the ones I like:

thisamericanlife.com

Go to "Our Favorites" there at the top. Some recommendations of shows to start with are:

Giant Pool of Money
The Watchmen (found on the main home page----one of the follow ups to Giant Pool of Money)
Teenage Embed, Part Two (and Part One)

Moo

Moo is Ashamed for not posting

Note the capitalization?
That means true penance.
Or at least enough shame to get me to post something.

Back in my young and reckless years as a sophomore in my illustration program, a group of us under the real aliases of Thing One, Thing Two , Thing Three (me) and Thing 3.14, started

The Argyle Club


The main purpose of this club was to have a nice excuse to eat chicken and cheesecake on Thursdays, with a rousing game of croquet shortly after in our argyle socks. What more, and better still, it was an indoor croquet game in a small squashy space with about 12 people and a bunch of chairs and tables and much violent mallet whacking.
The Argyle Club's Thursday theme song is one worth listening to, called

Cheesecake
by Louis Armstrong

This is one of those songs I can guarantee 90-100% of you will like.

Happy Friday, and cheesecake eating.

Moo

Note: the SHOO FLEA was just too good not to post. Just say it outloud: "shoo-flea."