Mad Music Monday...

This week I chose M83.

They are coming to The Pageant in St.Louis this May, and I'm hoping my cousin and I are going to go.  (Michelle: if you're reading this...HINT, HINT!)

They are just really, really good.

It's lock yourself in the bathroom for 10 minutes, and breathe kind of music. 

I do that.

Do you?

If not, you should.

I highly recommend it.

In fact, you could do it after you read this post, and play the 2 You Tube vids I posted.

That would be nice.

You'll like it.

I promise.

The 10 minute break, and the tunes.

Ear buds might help. 

Just sayin'.

Mad Music Monday...

So, I used to do 'Hump Day Ear Candy' on Wednesday, but because things seem to be new around here, AND because my corpus callosum hurts on Mondays...I thought I would move Wednesday's post to Monday leaving Wednesday open for things I would normally post on Monday.  {Is anyone else thinking about the teacher in 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'?}

So, after thinking long and hard about what band to post today, I have decided to share 'The Velvet Underground'.

Certainly, this band isn't new to most people...quite the opposite actually, but I love them so. 

For me...it's Sunday Funday music.  True rock-n-roll written and performed by real rock-n-roll musicians.  {And, yes...the kind of band that was all sex, drugs, & the music, managed by Andy Warhol for goodness sake. It was the 60s-70s, people...c'mon.}

So, sit on your patio with a cold beverage with the sun setting low, and enjoy this music for what it is. 

Magic.

Stay tuned this week for nonsense, scandal, travel plans, and plenty of shout outs!

PS I'm not entirely sure what a corpus callosum is or does, but I know it's in your brain, and I know that my brain hurts on Mondays.  Plus, it sounds super official.

Hump day ear candy.

So, it's been awhile. 

And, today, I thought I'd do a little something different.

Instead of sharing some of my favorite music with you {even though I have tons of stuff to share: Local Natives, Jonsi (Sigur Ros), Miike Snow, Imagine Dragons, Wye Oak, new Mumford & Sons, etc} I was going to share with you my all time favorite lyrics.

I think lyrics are a pretty powerful thing.  Sometimes they can change the entire way I feel about a song. 

Say the melody isn't a favorite, but the lyrics are magic...

Or the tune is catchy, but the lyrics are all wrong, and just don't speak to you...

See what I mean?

I think they are so important.  It's poetry.  A lot is left to interpretation.  Subjectivity. 

So, without further ado...
my favorite lyrics come from Mr.Jeff Buckley, may he rest in peace.

This is our last goodbye
I hate to feel the love between us die.
But it's over
Just hear this and then I'll go:
You gave me more to live for,
More than you'll ever know.

Well, this is our last embrace,
Must I dream and always see your face?
Why can't we overcome this wall?
Baby, maybe it's just because I didn't know you at all.

Kiss me, please kiss me,
But kiss me out of desire, babe, and not consolation.
Oh, you know it makes me so angry 'cause I know that in time
I'll only make you cry, this is our last goodbye...

~Excerpt from "Last Goodbye" written by Jeff Buckley

Sigh.

I know, right?

Those words get me every time. 

The thing is, they really aren't relevant to me in my life.  Call me lucky in love, I suppose. But, the reason I think I adore these words so, is because they have the power to make me feel a deep sadness about something I don't know much about. Heartbreak.

They evoke so many emotions. I think that's what a good song {lyrically & otherwise} should do.  I think these words above others always stick out to me because even though I haven't experienced severe heartache in the love department, it still stirs something inside me.

Sort of like 'Wuthering Heights'.  Don't even get me started on that one!

That sounds totally cheesy.  Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.  But, geez, that is why I LOVE MUSIC!

There just isn't a good way to articulate it.  At all.

So what does it for you? Lyrically speaking? 

I'd LOVE to know.

Unless, of course, it's Lady Gaga, "Poker Face":

I won't tell you that I love you
Kiss or hug you
Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin
I'm not lyin' I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunning

Which, I'm sure every good crafter out there can appreciate, but c'mon...not a lot of substance, ya know?

Hump Day Ear Candy.

Ghostland Observatory.  They are rad.  This is one of my several Wakarusa discoveries.

My favorite...

They tour pretty frequently, too, which is grrrrrrreat.  Nothing beats live music.  NOTHING!

They will get you dancing for sure.  Personally, this is house cleaning music if I've ever heard any.  Funky.

I've been writing a deep post that I think I'm finally ready to share this week, so stay tuned.  Don't we all love my deep thoughts?

Also, don't forget to enter the Methane Studios giveaway, HERE.  Good Luck!

A return & stuff on the horizon...

Well, we made it home in one piece!  It was the most fun anyone could ever have in the Arkansas death heat.  Which really was a lot of fun.  I have some crappy photos to share taken with my craptastic point and shoot from 2006.  You will have to deal.

If you have never been to a major music festival and you're old {like we are}, you may have a bit of culture shock as you pull up.  Luckily, I've had some previous exposure.  The photo above is the main stage camping area.  This is NOT where we camped.  We camped across the road in a lovely, shaded spot called West Woods.  This festival was 25,000 strong {maybe more}, so you can imagine some of the conditions.  It is not for the faint of heart.  I will say that I think the staff did a great job keeping everyone as happy, as comfortable, and as safe as possible!

The main stage grounds were full of fun stuff and dust and sun and sweat.  But also, art, food, smoothies, beer, and, of course, music.  Again, if you are new to this sort of thing...there is music nearly 24 hours a day.  Some of the food vendors serve 24 hours a day, too.  Which is good for fatties like me.

The photo above is of Big Daddy and my super cousin and musical-soul-mate-at-arms, Michelle.  They are walking off into the Mulberry Mountain sunset.  Yes, there is some sun haze/flare, BUT it is also an enormous dust cloud settling over the grounds after Mumford & Sons amazing, foot stomping set.

I'm not sure how anyone in their right mind could perform quite the set they did in long sleeves and jeans.  But they did.  No one passed out, no one gave up, no one disappointed.  It was hot folks.  Hotter than I can put into words.

So hot in fact, that about 98% of that wetness is sweat, and the other 2% is water from a very welcomed water balloon attack.  Michelle even has broken balloon remnants still stuck to her sweatyness.  We may have sweat a bit excessively because we were dancing up a dust cloud.

This is my favorite photo of the weekend.  The ferris wheel and the blue Ozark sky.  Do I need to say anymore?  When I took this, we were headed back to our camp for the night.  On the way we bought some fresh ice for our cooler.  Carrying it back was welcome relief from the heat.

The whole gang {my sis, brother-in-law, hubby, cousin, and me} was getting tired.  We had been on the road since 5:30 am, and couldn't hang any longer.  I wish we would have had some 20-something youth on our side to head back over the main stage area at about 2 in the morning.  It sounded bumpin' over there.  Alas, I couldn't drag my old ass out of the tent.  Nor could anyone else.  I will say that the temps dropped to a very comfortable 70ish that night.  It was amazing.

It really is a beautiful part of the country.  The views are amazing.  The people were friendly.  The music was fantastic.  I'm glad we did it.

In other news...I'm hosting an incredible giveaway early next week.  My friends over at Methane Studios are going to be giving one lucky reader their choice of a letter from their 'Ransom Lettters Series'.  Thanks, Carolyn!

I will post the deets on Monday or Tuesday, and choose a winner on Friday.

Cool, huh?

Hump day ear candy.

Since I'm off to Wakarusa Music Festival early Saturday morning, I thought I'd share with you one of the Saturday performers.  Taking the stage after Mumford & Sons is Ben Harper.  He's pretty much amazing.  I read somewhere once that if you're a guy, and you're choosing between two girls to date, you should pick the one that prefers Ben over Lady Gaga because chances are she's quality.  I think that sums up is musical ability.

First, I'll give you one of my favorite songs of his, 'Skin Thin'.  Plus, the video is so great!  My sister says I always like depressing music.  I guess she's 1/3 right because I also love show tunes and anything that gets my toe tappin' or foot stompin'.



Second, I'll share with you a great cover he does of the INXS tune 'Never Tear Us Apart'.  Check out how he tears up his weissenborn.  Wow!



Another fav of mine...



I'll leave you with one of his vids with Jack Johnson.  They've done lots of stuff together.



Enjoy, my friends!

Random randomness in bullets.

image via Gimme Me Some Oven

• Thank you, Crystal for showing me the light, and by that, I mean 'cake batter rice krispie treats'.
• Thank you, Trish for being concerned about us in Missouri.  Fortunately, we are hours away from the devastation.  What a heartbreaking tragedy.  Mother Nature knows no bounds.

image via MSNBC

• I like engagement sessions.  Super fun!

• I like to laugh.  Especially at Facebook.  I am its biggest fan and strongest opponent all at the same time.  Certain types of status updates are a favorite topic of conversation around here.

• I cannot and will not stop listening to this song.  I love Johnny.  Love, love, love.

• Last week of school means craziness.  Cuckoo, nuts, psycho.
• That is all.

Hump day ear candy.

Try "The Naked and Famous".

You will like them.

And you do not have to be naked or famous to enjoy.

By the way...Mum and his Sons have some new material floating around: HERE, HERE, and HERE.  I thought you may like to give a listen as we all wait for that elusive second album.  I will be giving a full report on their set list from Wakarusa, along with many, many photos...of us, not them.  Unless of course our plan comes to fruition.  That being becoming best friends with the band.  Then, the photos will be of us WITH them.  I would not hold my breath if I were you.    

Hump day ear candy.

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.

If you haven't heard of them, now you have.

Grace has quite a voice.

They can rock it out.

I had the pleasure of seeing them live last year when they opened for The Avett Brothers.

Fan ever since.

This is GREAT cleaning house music.

Start with "Paris".  It's been getting some radio time.  It's fine rock-n-roll.



And, yes...she looks like Heidi Klum.  And, yes....she is friends with Kenny Chesney.

And, yes...she did a song for Disney's 'Tangled'...



Here is one of my favorites...



Hope you like Grace and her Nocturnals.  Try 'Sugar' and 'Falling or Flying'.  Try it all.

Have a great Wednesday!

Cooking! Food! Dancing!

I love to eat.

But, I will eat anything.  Junk, good stuff, meat, veggies, tofu.

In my quest to 'toiten' up, I am trying to eat better, and not snack.

Last night was pizza night.

I made my own concoction on a whole wheat tortilla.

A splash of good olive oil, a sprinkle of parmesan, and load of fresh stuff...onion, broccoli, spinach, shrooms, and tomatoes after it was baked at 350 for about 8-10 minutes.  Did I mention the goat cheese?

Just a few dabs here and there.

It was delish.

My husband and boys would never eat it.

Ever.

Sigh.

In order to keep a good thing going, 

I cut up a bunch of fruit and veggies and put them in the fridge ready to go.  

That's part of the problem.

Convenience.

If it's all ready to go, I'm way more inclined to eat it.

Also, I like to dance around while I'm cooking or baking.

This is a good song for that...

It's Friday...so DANCE!

This just in...

We are going here:

for one night only.

To see them:

Just to clarify,

that's 'Mumford & Sons'.

Thank You.

Methane Studios.

First off, let me say, I was not paid or rewarded in any way to write this post.  Secondly, little Jake is sick, so I'll be quick about this.

I got a comment from a reader on this post, and based on what she told me, I had to check it out.

I was wowed.  Wow, wow, wow!

Her husband owns Methane Studios.  It is just fantastic.

Let me share with you a sampling:

love this one by Mark McDevitt

my favorite band du jour

and those florals make me swoon

LOVE Camera Obscura, LOVE this print by Robert Lee

think...little girl's room

this one is great by Staci Janik

would look groovy in a sewing room/studio

this one by Mark McDevitt

c'mon, we all know how I feel about Glen

and books for that matter

They sell gig posters, art prints, t-shirts, and lots of Dave Matthews posters, too.  The designs are so incredible.  

Additionally, if you follow them on Facebook here, you can get in on purchasing one of a kind test prints, and view rejected designs {personally, I think that is so cool}.  

If your design and musical tastes resemble mine at all...I highly encourage you to not only take a peek at Methane Studios, but buy something.  Treat yourself to a real work of art.  I have a feeling it's a purchase you won't regret!

Average people are cool.

Once again, I would like to thank Heather at "Blessed Little Nest" for the header help.  I was really at an impass, and couldn't creatively translate what I wanted on my own this time.  I think she nailed it.  She also tweaked my new tagline a bit, and I lurv it!

So, on that same thread, I will share with you the 'average' peoples' anthem.  "Where Have All the Average People Gone?", written by Roger Miller, performed by Mr.Scott Avett, and, yes, I met that handsome man.  Scott Avett, not Roger Miller. {Lyrics below, and I hope I'm not the only one that can identify.}

The people in this city call me country,
Because of how I walk and talk and smile.
Well I don't mind them laughing in the city,
But the country folks all say I'm citified.

The fighting men they say that I'm a coward.
Because I never push no one around.
Gentle people call me trouble-maker,
Cause I'll always fight and stand my ground.

Funny I don't fit.
Where have all the average people gone?

Some pious people point and call me sinner,
Because to them I've never seen the lights.
Other folks think of me as a preacher.
I'm just doing what I think is right.

The wealthy people think that I'm a hobo,
Lean and hungry, writing mournful songs.
And the poor, poor people think I'm a rich man,
But really, I'm just trying to get along.

Its funny I don't fit.
Tell me where have all the average people gone?

And the government has given me a number,
To simplify my birth and life and death.
And still my woman thinks I'm awful important,
Like the moon and the sun and the sea and the sky and breath.

Yes, its funny I don't fit.
Where have all the average people gone?

It's funny I don't fit,
Where have all the average people gone?

Update: on progress...

Okay, so, I'm getting some makeover help from sweet Heather over at "Blessed Little Nest".  If you don't know Heather, pop over and say hello.

She will make you smile.  Anywho, that will begin on Monday, so there will be some delay in the new layout.

Also, I'm going to keep at the ole blog until I don't.  I'm hoping as our house finally gets settled, I will discover new fervor for blogging.  I don't ever want to feel like it is an obligation.

Thirdly, I was going to share with you a few things that are giving me good vibes as of late.

Number 1:
I love Disney's Robin Hood.  It is one of my favorites.  Roger Miller's Alan-a-Dale is arguably one of the most delightful, most memorable Disney characters EVER.  Well, the other day, while meandering through 'Mumford & Sons' and 'The Avett Brothers' You Tube vids {both of which are all I've been listening to the past several weeks, sad but true}, I found a gem.

Those young boys from England are something else.  They recorded 'Not in Nottingham'.  Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant.

Why, if I was about 12 years younger, not married, no kids, and had absolutely nothing else keeping my back in the Lou, I'd have to find those young Brits and hug them tight.  Real tight.  And thank them for plucking and crooning just the way I like. Then, I would marry Marcus.  The End.

Number 2:
We received a really cool wedding gift almost 11 years ago.  A vintage, green vinyl, double wide, chaise lounger with a reclining and vibrating mechanism that actually still works.  It never found a place in our 2 previous homes, mostly due to space restrictions.

But, in the new abode it has been resurrected from storage.

It has already brought much joy to our family.  Acutally, I'm sick of feeling the floor shaking all the way in the kitchen because of the vibrating feature.  The littles think it is pure genius.  Eventually, I would love to have it recovered in white vinyl, but that is a LONG way off.  Disabling all of the mechanical features may be a nice way to go, too.

Number 3:

Several little painting projects are keeping me quite occupied, but I'll have to say, the piece that is getting a coat of this green is really making me happy.  

And, I thought it wasn't easy being green?!?!?!

P.S.  Have I ever told you about affinity for mini paint rollers?  Whomever thought of those deserves a big trophy.

I know it must be killing some of you not to see photos of the house, and all I can tell you is, it's SLOW GOING.  That is really difficult for me to deal with, but I know when it's done, it will be so worth it. 

Thanks for the encouraging words the other day, and thanks for sticking with me.  Because sometimes...I am a loser.  And, that is okay. 

A Christmas Song a Day.

Merry Chirstmas!

May the true meaning of this holiday be in your heart!

 card by Less Ordinary Designs

Today's song is pretty spot on.

Sufjan Stevens, "Joy to the World"

Love,
Odd Girl Out

A Christmas Song a Day.

Merry Christmas Eve to you all!

Thank you for sticking with me during my little break.

It's snowing in the Lou, and for once we have nothing to do tonight, but go to church this evening.

I'm making a big dinner {maybe some candlelight}, and plenty of cookies.

So, Jake and I will be snuggling with our four littles all the night through.

I saved one of my favorites for near to the end...

This gem features my 'boyfriend' Glen, and sweet, Marketa, of course.

'The Frames' classic is revisited with some Christmas cheer in the middle.

I could weep when I hear this song.

The Swell Season, "Star, Star" {Daytrotter Session recording}

A Christmas Song a Day.

This one is so pretty.

 So, so pretty.

It's a wonderful cover.

Feist, "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming"

A Christmas Song a Day.

Oops...I think a missed a day or two.

Sorry.

If you like synthesizers, then today's song is for you.  ;)

The Raveonettes, Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).

A Christmas Song a Day.

You may recognize this from a Target commercial.

Or maybe not.

I didn't realize it was from the Red Bullseye's advertising campaign until I searched for a video of it on You Tube.

But, either way...Target's cool quotient has gone of the charts in the last 15 years.

Jenny O., "Get Down for the Holidays"

A Christmas Song a Day.

Low, "Just Like Christmas"

Happy Weekend!