the coolest gift

One of my best friends in high school hosted our foreign exchange student our senior year.

We took KB and welcomed him with open arms into our group of friends.

Fastforward 20+ years...yesterday after coming home from a movie date (This is 40 - highly recommend, although it was long, some places I laughed so hard I was crying!), imagine my surprise to find this in a package we received:

a cd copy of a mixed tape I made KB, along with copies of the actual cover and writing from 1988! What touched me most was not necessarily receiving the gift in the mail, but that he kept this tape for so long. I am glad to know I am not the only sentimental one of my friends. And say all the negative things you want about Facebook, I am thankful that it has allowed me to stay in better touch and at least know what is going on in the lived of people that I don't necessarily talk to every day but am glad to know they are doing well.

The end of the year always makes me a bit nostalgic and sentimental. Here's to a fantastic last weekend of the month!

Turn it up

Her new album has been growing on me. We are looking forward to her show in October.

Another working weekend...

They come all too quick! I think today is going to be a beautiful day as well...we will see if the patients actually show up!

Today's outfit is a bit on the casual side, but I figure for Saturday I don't really need to be that formal. I am glad I am able to incorporate my "fun" wardrobe into my "work" wardrobe. I prefer to wear work clothes that reflect my personal style rather than what traditional work clothes may be defined to be.

I think the hubs and I will be heading out to Discovery Green after work today - they have a DJ playing there who used to play at Body & Soul, this cool venue in NYC that we love. And it's free! I like to have something to look forward to when I have to work on Saturday.

Just a little thing

BK and JC's house is next to a music school. I like being here mid-afternoon (usually after a long morning of shopping, like today), chillin' and listenin' to the students practice. Sometimes they are really accomplished, sometimes they are beginners like today, but whichever they are, the music they make soothes my soul.

A sad day

I was in 6th grade when this album was released. And EVERYONE was addicted! He was such an amazing singer, dancer, performer. I can still listen to this album all the way through and it is still so awesome! This is the Michael Jackson I want to remember.

So close

{I have a feeling today will be a multiple post day as I have lots on my mind and lots of time - gotta take advantage!}
The Duran2 show was sold out and even though we had seats, the aisle was jammed pack with people trying to get closer and people dancing. We happened to be partying next to Diane Lokey-Farb, an H-town socialite. D recognized her, and after a few cocktails, I summoned the courage to ask for a photo:D took a photo with her friend, Joyce EcholsThey both attended the after-party with the band which was hosted by another H-town socialite, Becca Thrash. We should have been nicer!

The best show ever???

I'm not sure if I am ready to commit to that statement, but I will say that Duran Duran's show last night was truly amazing. We had fabulous seats - 3rd row from stage left, in front of John Taylor. Simon sounded great. They played a mix of new and old songs, but could have played for probably 2 more hours and still not run out of music. But I think what made it so amazing was the venue. Verizon is a fairly small place - it probably only hold a couple thousand people at most. Compared to a place like Minute Maid park, a show there is SO mush more personal. And given that Duran2 is not the most popular band of the moment, most concert go-ers are rapid fans like yours truly. Add a couple Fire Island Teas, and you have yourself a par-tay!I am still paying for the fun currently, at 7 pm the next night, but they were so worth it!

Newest musical obsession

Why haven't I listened to them sooner? Love the retro sound! And REALLY love the fact that they are named after my sister!

He didn't let us down

Yesterday was a fun filled day full of crafts and music! Tinger and I spent a couple hours in the morning running errands before we started craft day! We made coasters and napkins (and by we I mean I cut the fabic and she did the actual sewing). {photos to come later}

After craft day, Joe and I met some friends for a couple drinks before the George Michael concert. He was absolutely amazing! I think he is one of the most underrated artists from the 80s. I mean Wham was fun and everything, but his solo stuff is so much better. That said, he actually sang a few Wham songs (I'm Your Man, Everything She Wants and Careless Whisper!). I love that he also sang Kissing a Fool. He played for almost 3 hours and we were exhausted by the end.

Our seats were in the 2nd section back on the floor, which were very good, but I still had a difficut time taking a good photo.This morning I just found my GM cd and and uploading it to my ipod - I had forgotten I had it!

obsessed

...with photoshop! I love editing photos :)
And my new favorite song: Rest my Chemistry by Interpol

New music

I typically can't stand having music play when I am blogging, but I must say that I found this catchy tune during one of those such times. The band is called The Radio Dept and the song is called Pulling Our Weight. I love Itunes, because found the song and bought their EP right there on the spot! They are definitely a Cure/New Order influenced indi-rock band. The song reminds me of something I would have listened to the last couple years of college.
The video is kind of random, but I really like this song. I think it's on the Marie Antoinette soundtrack, which includes Ceremony, on of my favorite New Order songs ever.

Where does the time go?

December is almost here. I am starting to get in the Christmas spirit but sometimes things can become overwhelming. I have all these ideas in my head that I would like to do, but the execution is the difficult part (for me at least!). I have already ordered my Christmas cards, thank goodness, but I haven't even started on my Christmas shopping. That's why I love e-shopping...I don't have to leave the comfort of my own home!
I am a little annoyed that I will be out of town for work this weekend, when it could have been a nice weekend at home, catching up and getting ready for Christmas. I am trying to let it go and not get stressed about it but, again, sometimes I let little things get me all worked up. I think I inherited this personality trait from my mom.
At least I have some new music to listen to

(I wish I could have seen them live! Hopefully they will be touring next year. Simon's voice is still fabulous and John Taylor is still hot!)

New favorite song

I've never been a huge Maroon 5 fan, but I love this song!

U and ur hand!

My new favorite song by pink!

Not everyone understands house music

It's a spiritual thing

It's a body thing

It's a soul thing.

This is me, shakin' it at our first visit to the Roxy in New York. Got to love those zebra pants and the platforms!

Indecision

I have all these scrapping ideas in my head but none are coming to fruition. Scrapper's block in the sense that I know what I want to do, but I have been procrastinating doing them. I think the journaling is what keeps me back. I have things I want to say but don't know how to get them out. That's the main reason I blog. To keep my creative juices flowing. Now I just need to get them down on paper.

I want to do at least 2 mini-albums next year (I've already gotten too many things started and not finished this year so I don't want to start anything new.). One is of my friends, both past and present (well, mostly present - I guess I should say local and far away). Another is the songs of my life. I started listing them in an excel spreadsheet. And I already have almost 30 down! I could probably list more than 100 but I will try to keep it down to a minimum.

So now here is where the blog should start to help. I'd love to keep a little notebook, but who am I kidding? I hate writing and what's more, half the time I can't even read my own handwriting! If I can journal snippet as they come to my mind, I should be able to put the albums together more easily. So that's what I'm starting today.



My ultimate song is Just Like Heaven, by the Cure. 1987 was a great year for music. And it was a great year of my life. I was in my junior year of high school. I had my own established group of friends. We were all enjoying each other's company and not getting the college itch quite yet. My best friend Shaila and I still lived in the same state. And our friend Jennifer Clarke introduced us to New Wave music. Of course Kiss Me was probably one of the Cure's most commerically successful album and Just Like Heaven was played to death on the radio (and still is). But I still love it. It was our song.

SexyBack

I confess. I am loving JT's new single. It's a great dance song. Having it has the final song for So You Think You Can Dance helps as well. I can't wait to hear some cool remixes.

Music memories...

I love VH1 classics. They play cool old songs. Some relatively common. But some are more obscure. I love knowing the obscure songs. I would really like to make a scrapbook/journal of the songs that I love. From my first Abba tape to my latest Shapeshifters CD. It would be more of a journal I guess. Too many songs to remember. But I associate many memories to what I was listening to. I guess that means I have an audio memory??

VH1

I am watching the all-request classic videos. They are playing some cool songs I haven't heard in forever - like "I Go Crazy," by Flesh for Lulu and "Affair of the Heart" by Rick Springfield. Hee hee - I could watch this all night!

I love this song, "Joe," by the Cranberries. For obvious reasons. I remembering listening to it when we starting dating (through the whole ex-boyfriend drama). The Cranberries have been one of my favorite bands. I think I have almost all their albums, even when they weren't that radio-friendly. Of course, the Cranberries influence was from an old ex, Nick. My musical tastes have definitely been shaped by the boys that have been in my life.

Honestly, my own musical taste developed when I was younger than 10. Pop music. Live it, love it. Rick Springfield was my first love! Then of course, Duran Duran ruled. I expect 90% of the females born in the late 60's early 70's can name you their favorite member. John Taylor is still hot as well as Simon! I even saw Madonna at Texas Stadium. But towards the end of high school until present probably 80% of my music was not independently discovered. But I'm ok with that.

My college roommate, Karen, definitely influence me. Everything but the Girl, Sade and Cocoteau Twins, to name a few. I remember first hearing CT and thinking, "What in God's name is that racket??!!??" But Heaven or Las Vegas sold me. And the noisy stuff wasn't so bad.

Now I'm listening to probably one of my favorite songs of all time - "Shake the Disease" by Depeche Mode. I think they even played it when we saw them at the Toyota Center this year. The summer between my sophomore and junior years in high school I went to Europe with my high school orchestra. An amazing trip. I bought this tape, Catching up with Depeche Mode, on a whim. Turns out, the boy I had a crush on, Chuck, loved them. What a coincidence. Nothing ever came of that crush, but my love for Depeche has remained strong. Boys may come and go, but music lasts forever!