HeadSong Friday: More Love

Happy Friday! Hey, we made it! In a week that brought us the Republican Convention and some truly fantastic mudslinging, I wanted to offer my own olive branch to my conservative brothers and sisters.

I know there are some out there who believe very differently than I do, and the snark and sarcasm has been flowing freely out there on both sides, so I'd like to wrap you all up in a big warm hug and ask if we can't all get along? Or at least agree to do our part to focus on the real issues rather than take the nasty pot-shots that are just too easy to come by during any political season.

I'm not making any promises, I'm just saying I'll do my best.

Have a lovely Autumn weekend, all.

HeadSong Friday: It's a TIE!

A blast from the past, a look at the future. In Honor of the Future President of the United States, Barack Obama - Ladies and Gentlemen, Sly and the Family Stone!




And just in case you McCain fans want to know what I think of his Vice Presidential choice:

HeadSong Friday: Kiss From a Rose

God, it's been an intense couple weeks. I can't really go into it much, because I'm completely wiped out, but it started with our fabulous friends visiting us from Seattle. That was wonderful.
They are the most loving, incredible people, and she has this shitty cancer, and cancer is just, so, well, it's just fucked, is what it is. I hate being so far away, and I really hate that I don't have a cure for cancer in my pocket. Because if I did? I wouldn't even care how rich that trick would make me - it wouldn't compare to healing my friend. But with all that money I'd make, I'd take us all to Paris, and we'd eat our weight in cheese and chocolate.

Then this week, a friend called, frantic, saying that people were following her. Her English is on the low end of the scale, so I wasn't sure what was up, but we raced down there, and as I spoke with her I realized she was paranoid. I managed to get her into the clinic today, no mean feat (and I am officially counting my blessings for health insurance - depending on the state or county for that stuff is like swimming upstream with a giant rock around your neck), and convinced her to speak to her husband. I did as well. They are from another country, and talk about watching what you say and how you say it. Man. I was so nervous that I would step outside the cultural boundaries and make things worse. But he's on board, and I'm hoping we'll be able to find her the help she needs. She's been a good friend to me, and her son is one of JH's good buddies.

So tomorrow, we have another round of out of town guests, and I'm giddy with happiness to see them, but I'm a little behind in having the house ready. But I figured that it might be better if I were relaxed, and somewhat normal, so tomorrow morning I'm going for a massage. A long overdue massage.

And tonight, I'm going to go to my happy place, Paris, and take you with me.
I'll set the scene.
Here is the view out our window....


Charley and I have been several times pre-JH, and those times were all so incredible, and romantic and culturally uplifting, but the visit to the City of Light that I was thinking about as I lay in JH's bed, eyes closed while he read out loud, was the time we went with Charley's mom, dad, sister and JH. It was for his parents 50th anniversary, and they took US, and we all stayed in an apartment near the Champs-Elysees. There were, since we were traveling with family, some interesting times. JH threw up our first morning there. All over the bed. My mother-in-law got sick. All the adults had little temper tantrums at some point, like you do when you travel with people. JH was an absolute DREAM to travel with. He stayed awake during the entire trip over the ocean, and when we landed spotted Tour L'Eiffel from the air, he said "MOMMY! I stayed awake all NIGHT!" But aside from his feeling yukky that first day, he was the perfect travel companion. He did all the museums, he helped us find some amazing parks, he loved the Metro, and he ordered one scoop of Vanilla ice cream every day. In French. Aside from trips to the ER where he was exceedingly brave, I've never been so proud to be his mom as I was on that trip. He charmed every hardened French waiter we had. They were a puddle of melted Vanille Glace in his hands.


So tonight, join me, won't you? We'll sit outside at Maison du Chocolate, and sip red wine, and eat some of these delicious morsels



and take in the sights and sounds, and feel the cool evening breeze on the streets of Paris. This song will be playing, because for some reason, every time I've been to Paris, they've been playing something by Seal.



Ahhhhh. Oui.

HeadSong Friday: The Secret O' Life

I thought about "Angel From Montgomery" today, the first line of which is "I am an old woman", but thought this really suited my mood much better.

As we say around our dinner table: "Thank you for the blessings"

HeadSong Friday: The Impossible Dream

Because I can't kick you, internets, but I want to, dammit, I NEED to.

Because I'm an aging Theater Geek (like an aging Marching Band Geek, only more dramatic), and this is perhaps one of the best songs ever written for the stage.

Because Brian Stokes Mitchell's voice makes me moist in my nether regions.

Because I saw him for the first time at the Hollywood Bowl way, waaaay up in the cheap seats and thought he was singing directly to me:

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you:

HeadSong Friday: King Of The Road

You'd think that with all the bike riding we've been doing I'd pick something obvious like "I Want To Ride My Bicycle" by Queen, but seriously, have you seen how many cycling montages there are on youtube? Holy Padded Bike Shorts, Batman, there are waaaay too many.

But I was thinking today, as JH and I were out and about in our little town, peddling along, about how amazing it felt the first time I rode without training wheels, and the first time I rode without a parent nearby (not that that will ever happen with Joe-Henry - he'll be trying to shake me off his bumper when he's twenty). It made me feel a lot like this. Like I owned every inch of sidewalk, and I didn't have a care in the world.



I loved this song as a kid, and when I came across this version, with all those fab colors, I couldn't resist. They reminded me of his bike shorts. We got him two pairs, almost three years ago now, as sort of make-shift compression garments. He picked out the colors himself. He got turquoise and this electric pink. He went through a phase at that age where everything was pink: he had pink converse sneakers, pink striped rainboots, and when he heard at kindergarten that pink was a "girl color", he stopped wearing them. But today, today was different. He pulled on those pink bike shorts (with other shorts over them), and peddled his little butt all over the place. He wanted me to take his picture in them tonight, and I was only too happy to oblige.



Have a great weekend, everyone. Wear your favorite color, and ride, baby, ride. Ding ding!

HeadSong Friday: American Tune

Ya know, I thought about some Sousa, but I figured you'd all get enough of that without me piling more on your plate. I wanted to do something rousing and patriotic, but this one kept creeping through my head. And since it is HeadSong Friday, well, I knew what I had to do.

I have always loved this song. It gets me every time. It reminds me of my dad, it reminds me of people I've known that work so hard, and never give up. Even when they know that hard work isn't going to do anything but keep them busy until the shit hits the fan. They just plug along and do their best, and get ready for another day.

Words & music by Paul Simon

Many's the time I've been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and I've often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I'm all right, I'm all right
I'm just weary to my bones
Still, you don't expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

And I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
or driven to its knees
but it's all right, it's all right
for we lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the
road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age's most uncertain hours
and sing an American tune
Oh, and it's alright, it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day
And I'm trying to get some rest
That's all I'm trying to get some rest


Take care of your families today. Stay safe. And remember to put your right hand over your heart on the left side when they play The Star Spangled Banner. Oh, and eat as much potato salad as you want. Because spuds will do right by you, every damn time.

Happy 4th, people.

HeadSong Friday: Sweet Caroline

When I was nine years old, my sister took me with her to San Francisco. My mother had died the previous winter, and my darlin' sister, in her early twenties looking for fun and adventure, had to take me on her trip to the big city. She was going to visit friends, then we'd travel to San Bernardino to see mom's brother and our cousins. It was a HUGE trip for me: my first airplane trip, my first visit to a large city, and I got to take twenty whole dollars with me to spend any way I wanted. I tried to buy my sister a suede fringed purse that was all the hippy rage, but she made me take it back. So I think I spent it wisely on bubblegum, and a Leo mug, which I still have, and is still so very far out. The bubble gum came in handy when we were catching a trolley car and this fat woman pushed me out of the way so she could get on and sit down before I could get on, and I managed to sneak a huge wad out of my mouth and under her corpulent behind. My sister was so proud of me.

Anyway, two songs have always reminded me of that trip - "Do You Know The Way To San Jose" by Dionne Warwick, and "Cracklin' Rosie" by Neil Diamond. We'd hear them in the backseat of the car that someone else was driving while we were on our way to the zoo, or Fisherman's Wharf, or Sausolito. God, even typing this brings a lump to my throat. That was the trip that made me thirsty for culture, for diversity and the buzz of life that you can only get in the city.

So why not put one of those on my HeadSong list? Well, just because I didn't do it today, doesn't mean that I never will. But today it had to be Sweet Caroline. For Father's Day, we got Charley two new Neil Diamond cd's (12 Songs and Home Before Dark, both of which are fantastic), but it left me itching to hear the old stuff, the stuff I came of age to. The first concert I ever attended was Neil Diamond in 1977 (or was it '78?) with my friend Deonne Poe and her parents. He wore a puffy sleeved shirt, much like the one in this video, and he looked on the big screen like my high school crush, Steve Leatham. Oh, Steve. Where are you now? He had that black hair and those sparkly eyes, and mmmmmm dreaminess.

ANYWAY. Sorry. How many tangents can I fit into this HeadSong post? Don't get me started, people. Where was I? Oh, yes, Sweet Caroline. The reason I went with this one is simple. Joe-Henry got to pick today. He's been on a Neil Diamond kick with us, and this one is his favorite. And he just got back yesterday, and he's yummy, and he makes me smile. And he watched this video with such rapt attention, I just know it's going to be the first song on his first cover album.

Good times never seemed so good.

HeadSong Friday: Vacation

I was never big on the girl groups in the 80's, even though those songs should, like, TOtally take me back to a time when I was young and carefree and didn't have a muffin top above my jeans.

But since my boys are leaving today for SoCal, and I will have the house to myself for 48 hours, when my husband comes home to me (alone) and we will spend the next five days doing what comes naturally (you know, bitching at each other about getting the chores done with occasional bursts of hot monkey love), I woke up this morning with the song playing... no... BLARING in my head.

I'll miss my guys - I know I will. But alone time? Working in my garden without having to find something or cook something or watch something...once a year I think I can handle it.

Head Song Friday - Here Comes The Sun

I had planned another song for today's HeadSong Friday, but I'm going to save it for awhile. Because when I woke up this morning and looked out the window, this is what I saw.

Blue Sky. Sunshine.

And the birds were singing along.

We've been experiencing something that some have dubbed "Juneuary" up here in the Northwest. It's been gray, and rainy and setting all kinds of records for cold.

So this morning it was time to rise and celebrate, and this song was playing in my head already, so I went searching for a version that would get across the absolute peppiness I felt looking out my window.

Some might think it's a travesty that I didn't use The Beatles version, but I have my reasons. I'll tell you about it sometime. I love that version so much, but well, it takes me down another road, and that's not the road I'm on today.

There's also Nina Simone's version, and while I love her madly, again: not quite peppy enough.

So even though, there isn't an official "video" and it's just the words to the song, I think Sheryl Crow gives this song the zing that I'm feeling this morning. That this could be it: we might get to see some summer, or at least some sunshine after all....
That crazy woman you see skipping down the street in her bare feet and her bathrobe spilling splashing coffee as she goes? That would be me.

Headsong Friday: Willy Was A Whale

Today's headsong is inspired by one of our favorites, Justin Roberts. From the time Joe-Henry was an infant, whenever we ran errands, I'd put in a cd. Someone had suggested "Wee Sing", and I purchased it, then quickly realized that I wanted to tape cinnamon rolls to my ears so I wouldn't have to listen. When Joe-Henry was not even a year old, I picked up Justin's cd Great Big Sun, followed quickly by Yellow Bus. I'd put Joe-Henry in his highchair while I got dinner ready, and he'd rock out. One of his first words, after listening to "In The Car" was "AGAIN!", until he learned how to say "REPEAT!"
To add some icing to the whole deal is Justin and his band genuinely love meeting their little fans. We've been to several concerts and he always remembers Joe-Henry, even though it might have been a few years and many concerts for him. The thing that I love the most about his music is how rich it is. It's not simple little tunes - the orchestration is full and peppy, thanks in part to his collaborator Liam Davis and the amazing Not Ready For Naptime Players, and he doesn't "sing down" because his target audience is smaller than he is. His music is full of imagery, and it makes you want to hear it over and over. And it doesn't hurt that his voice sounds just a little bit like James Taylor.

I love this song in particular because I'm a huge fan of puns, and the visual pun of the Weno sign just makes me giggle. Give it a listen, then head over to his website to check out more of his music.

AGAIN!

Head Song Friday - Red Clay Halo

There aren't many women that I'd like to be, other than myself. Sure I'd like to be thinner, or richer, or something, but mostly I'd just like to be my own version of that. But I have to say, right here, I want to be Gillian Welch. Just crawl up her skinny butt and be her. That angular face, that halo of red hair, and that talent - not just singing, but writing the way she does, like she's just been a receiver of the world's wisdom. And she and David Rawlings, with all of his bony angles and shy smiles, well, when they play together, they look like they just about max out the fun meter.

This song was on heavy repeat around here for awhile, as it was one of Joe-Henry's faves. We like to sing it at family hoot nights, and I can listen to it again and again, and still want to hear it one more time.

Turn it up and enjoy. Play it a time or two. Then a few more. Sing along, no one's around!

HeadSong Friday: Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)

The bass line here just gets my heart racing, and nothing is cuter than Robert Plant when he does that little run. This collaboration was so exciting in so many ways: two artists from very different genres, both bringing different audiences together, not to mention they both have gorgeous hair.

Heading out this weekend going to my hometown. Taking a long road trip with my sister and Joe-Henry to see my brother, my niece and her baby. I haven't been there in, well, over eight years. Way too long. I'm looking forward to the time with family, and to meeting the newest addition to the clan. So is Joe-Henry - he wants to be a big brother in the worst way, and this is as close as he'll get, I'm afraid, with my withered old eggs.

We'll take cameras and snacks, and you better believe this cd will be on deck.

Have a memorable Memotional Day weekend!

HeadSong Friday: The Be Good Tanyas - The Littlest Birds

This one's for Joe-Henry. He coined the term the other morning when he woke up saying "Mom, I have a Star Wars Headsong going on..."

I loved the term, so I wanted to steal it for the blog. And because he gave me the idea, and because this song reminds me of him everytime I hear it, not only because he is my little bird, but because he thought for the longest time that it was "The Little Ass Birds...", and well, that makes me smile almost as much as the song, I dedicate this first HeadSong Friday post to my sweet little bird.

(Also, I didn't want YOUR first headsong to be a Star Wars Battle Theme - isn't that nice of me?!)