Rocks in the Dryer

Hallelujah

via www.youtube.com

My Life According to Peanuts

Yesterday I wrote this. 

Today I find this:

I don't mind very much my life and experiences being illustrated perfectly by the Peanuts Gang (vintage of course) - quite frankly, I like it.  Very well put Schroeder.

Betty Draper Had No IPod

Then why oh why should I?  I made a rather interesting purchase at last week's estate sale adventure.  A bit out of character?  Yes.  Another stroke of accidental genius? I think yes.  A near marriage-ender? Yes, yes, yes. 

Behold the Hi-Fi:

It should go without saying that I am a music lover, no doubt.  Our home entertainment set ups, however are far from hi-tech and networked.  No, we don't have built in speakers fed by satellite radio and I doubt we ever will.  We have a variety of listening options in different areas of our home, but let this be known:  the "new" Hi-fi beats the proverbial band.  The sound throws itself magically around the whole house.

I thought DH was going to just pack up and leave me when he saw this being dragged in.  He doesn't think I am one bit funny.  It is the unforeseen results of this machine that even he can not deny.  Our children have been nothing short of enamored and their joy and discovery has left me speechless.

This Hi-Fi arrived to our home Saturday afternoon complete with about 30 LPs  (all with nostalgic ties to my own childhood).  We spent a very long time figuring out how to work it and then diving into our new collection of records.  There was such fascination in their learning about records (even I forgot you turn them over when you finish a side), how the machine works, can they PLEASE start the next one, how it differs from current listening devices.  I explained to DH that at very least if they land themselves on a trivia game show one day the winning question just could be about one of these devices and no other human from their generation will know the answer . . . just imagine! 

I acknowledge that benefit is a little far reaching.  Closer to home is the magic of listening to records.  There is something different to it.  All of the record collectors out there will tell you it is a unique experience and I now get just what they are talking about.  Our family stepped back in time this weekend and we enjoyed it more ways than I can verbally express.

We sat in the living room and listened to records.  Just listened.  We didn't skip through and rewind, we didn't multi-task, it wasn't the background. We listened.  Tucking my boys into bed Saturday night all they wanted to know was:  "Can we listen to records again tomorrow?" 

Joy to the world.

Sunday morning they fired up the HI-Fi at the crack of dawn, now very able change records and work the mechanics on their own.  They are equally obsessed with The Sound of Music and after listening to it attentively for the 30th time they were both singing happily along.  As I was in the kitchen preparing breakfast I heard my 7-year old singing "Doe a Deer" at the top of his lungs and immediately succumbed to barbaric sobs.  Accidental genius in it's finest form.  My young children were embracing, discovering and loving  The Sound of Music, how utterly magical is that?  It is imprinted on their brains, memory made, this will last a lifetime.  Yes I could have downloaded the sound track it to my ipod and had my boys listen to it many times before . . . it's the intangible aspect of the record bit that I can't quite put my finger on (or words to).

Of all I learned and experienced this weekend one bit stands out:  "My heart will be blessed with the Sound of Music and I'll sing along once more".  Thanks Christopher Plummer, I couldn't agree more.

Family Theme Song

via dsc.discovery.com

Can't say this is our new family theme song, in that I am not so sure we had an old one.  We are a singing bunch, but mostly we make up our own jingles to sing the hours away.  This one, however, has us all a-singing along and lovin' it. 

The song and the accompanying images makes each of us so happy.  Discovery Channel promo spot or not, it's all good stuff.  A few more 100 views and we might just have it memorized.  Here's a cheat sheet:

The World is Just Awesome

I love the mountains

I love the sun so bright

I love crustaceans

I love the stars at night

I love the whole world

so many things to see

boom de yada, boom de yada, boom de yada, boom de yada

I love to catch fish

I love the lemur eyes

I love the future

I love when humans fly

I love the whole world

no place I'd rather be

boom de yada, boom de yada, boom de yada, boom de yada  (still dirty, still lovin' it)

I love to blast off

I love adrenaline

I love the big bang

I love when air is thin

I love the whole world

and being part of it

boom de yada, boom de yada, boom de yada, boom de yada, boom de yada

I Know Why

I know why Julia Roberts married Lyle Lovett.  For that matter, I have no idea who he is married to and how many times he has been married, but I know why women marry him.   Dang it, if that man turns to superhuman, sassy magic when he is on stage.

Friday Night:  Orpheum Theater, Boston:  Lyle Lovett and His Really Large Band.

It was a heart stopping, organ rattling dream.  I had the wonderful experience of seeing Lyle last year when he was in Boston, though it was a far different experience this time around.

This year he traveled with his "really large band" and do they every know how to numb you right there in your seat.  There were 15 men on stage, all in suits, thank you very much.  Each person ferociously talented in their own right.  Do any of us treat our selves to live music enough?  I dare think not.

As last year, I seriously enjoyed Lyle's commentary almost as much as the music.  He's a strikingly witty guy.  He made many comments and observations (many he has to stop the music to utter) one of which struck me the funniest:  "I love playing in Boston, it's the only place in the country where you can call someone and Yankee and have them take it as a compliment".  So true and could only truly be realized by a true Southerner.

Lyle's really large band included a cello, bass, steel guitar, grand piano, drums, congo, fiddle, 2 electric guitars, 4 back up singers (all zooty suity gentlemen from the old Detroit days) and of course Lyle on his guitar ( I might be forgetting one).  It was almighty powerful, biblical if you will.  There were two songs in-particular that rang through us - pushed and pressed us back in our seats, brought tears to the eyes (I confirmed this point by looking into the eyes of my companions at song ending).  I can not remember them, only the bi-product, we were all taken out of body.

The encore was "church" one of my long standing favorites and it couldn't have been more perfect save for his rich and amazing back up crew in tow.  

4 stay-at-home mommies, 4 Lyle tickets and one yummy night on the town: 

The perfect antidote to life as usual.  Note to self . . . and anyone else who is listening:  Make more time for music, your soul with thank you.

Trick or Treat? A Treat for You!

Halloween or not - this song (and artist, Richard Shindell) have always been a long standing favorite.  I just realized how long it's been since I have taken the time to sing this one at the top of my lungs. 

I know you will love it . . . .

listen closely - the lyrics are not only timely, they are down right entertaining!  Happy Trick or Treating to all!

Simply click the "play" button, sit back and enjoy.

• Are You Happy Now? by Richard Shindell

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