Saturday, July 16, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 16

Last Song I Heard--I'm listening to Pandora which I love.  If you want to explore new music in genres or styles that you like, Pandora is a wonder.  It has introduced me to so many new bands that I absolutely am jazzed by.  The station I listen to the most is my Manic Street Preachers station.  They form the style that Pandora pulls music for, but they have had so many styles over the years that I get more than just 80's from them.  The last song I heard was Ain't No Rest for the Wicked by Cage the Elephant.

Friday, July 15, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 15

Song from the last concert you went to--I enjoyed U2 before I met DH but never followed them as closely as he did.  Since we've been married, we've seen U2 three times, once in Philadelphia, once in Chicago and now once in Baltimore, just a couple weeks ago in fact. I'm going back for the oldie but goodie, Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. 




Thursday, July 14, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 14

A strange song--The strangest song I have on my iPhone is Courtrais by Jon Hassell.  Even the album name is odd, Last Night the Moon Came Dropping its Clothes in the Street.  It's so strange that it isn't even on YouTube! So the song next on my list of songs that normal people don't listen to is Chaiyya Chiayya Bollywood Joint.  I'm actually kinda excited to share this song.  The YouTube video is exceedingly cool! Indians dancing on a moving train surrounded by beautiful scenery.  What more could you want on a Thursday?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 13

Song I can't help but like--Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus  I hear this song, and I start singing along.  If I'm in my car, I dance in my seat and sing at the top of my lungs; if I'm at home, I dance around the room and sing at the top of my lungs.  DH bought the song for me on iTunes because he was so amused by me.  I know that this song might ruin my music street cred (if I have any), but I can't help it.  It makes me happy!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 12

A song that reminds you of someone you hate--Hate.  There's no person I currently hate, so I'm going to pick on an insect instead.  The particular little nasty I've found a video for is called a spider or cave cricket.  Ugh! They look like a 6-legged spider and jump like a pogo stick on steroids.  Ugh and bleh!  I kill them with Raid because I can't bring myself to get within stomping distance of them.  When sprayed they have quite the little death scene, jumping all around and on everything trying to escape the poison killing them.  If you've never seen them in person, this video might not have the cringe factor that it does for me imagining them. Ugh, bleh and ehewwwwww! The music played is the theme from Jaws.  Truly appropriate if you've ever done battle with them. Ugh, bleh, ehewwww, and ACK!

Monday, July 11, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 11

Song that reminds you of a friend-Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi.  Kristy loves Bon Jovi.  She's got all their albums, she's been to their concerts a few times, she's cool like that.  I'm not sure what her favorite Bon Jovi song is, but I chose this one because sometimes it seems that's all we have is prayer.  She's a great believer in it, and I am, too.  This isn't the best version I've heard of the song, but it takes place in New Orleans, LA. Louisiana is one of the two states of the 50 that Kristy hasn't visited.  Perhaps if Bon Jovi plays there next year, she will get that one knocked out, too!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 10

A third of the way through the Song Challenge.  I'm enjoying this. Hope you are, too!  Today's challenge is a song that reminds you of a family member.  Whenever I hear big band music, I think of my Grandma and Grandpa.  They used to go out dancing, and Grandpa sang as a hobby like I do.  He almost made it big with Paul Whiteman's orchestra,  but he decided to get a job with the gas company so that he could save up and marry Grandma.  I'm glad he made the choice he did.  He was a great man, and I can't wait to see him again in heaven, dancing cheek to cheek with my Grandma to Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller. I miss them both so much.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 9

The song that inspires me by an artist that inspires me-Mighty to Save sung by Jeremy Camp. 

We sing this song fairly regularly in church. Every time we do it seems that God reminds me of another mountain in my life that He is able to move.

Jeremy Camp himself is inspiring, too.  When he was 23, he lost his first wife to ovarian cancer.   My sweet DH dying is my worst nightmare. For Jeremy to not only suffer that so young and to trust God through it amazes me.

Friday, July 8, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 8

The song that gets stuck in my head all the time--Actually I have a theory about songs running through my head. I have found sometimes that the songs that run through my head reflect how I am feeling in some way. 

Even so, I get annoyed by the song eventually.  My DH has a song that will always get an annoying song out of one's head.  The Smurf Song. Of course then you have to get that one out.  There's always the Song that Never Ends!

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 7

The song I hate.  Hate is such a strong word.  I generally don't hate stuff unless I'm being melodramatic.  I was having trouble thinking what song I hate when it hit me.  You Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by any band.  Ugh!  If DH wants to get on my nerves, push my buttons, encourage my crabbiness, he plays that song and laughs.   If they'd only make it in a punk rock version, then it would at least be more musically interesting. Sigh.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 6

A song that makes me laugh--This song makes me hoot.  The video makes it even better.  Please enjoy!

Cows with Guns--The Dead Kennedys

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 5

A song that makes me cry--I'll apologize from the get-go to those of you who dislike country music, and I think that a person could get a pancake breakfast's worth of maple sap from this song.  I love it though, and I'm a hot mess just listening to it to choose the link for this blog.  BTW, I don't have it on my iPod.  I can't see while I'm driving when I cry as hard as I do with this song (every stinking time I hear it, mind you!) She Misses Him on Sunday The Most by Diamond Rio

Monday, July 4, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 4

Song that makes me smile:  Audio Adrenaline's Big House.

I smile at the debate my DH and I always have when hearing it together. The song has a line about God having a big, big yard where we can play football.  I argue that they mean soccer, what the majority of the world calls football and the game you actually play with your feet.  He argues that it's talking about American football, a game that is misnamed IMHO since players carry the ball in their hands.

I smile wistfully, too, at the simplicity of the song. "All I know is you need love, and I've got a family. . . . Come and go with me to my Father's house." It cuts across ideologies, hang-ups, and anger and highlights the Father's love and desire for everyone to accept His love and hospitality.  I know for most people that Christianity isn't so simple.  It always has been for me.  God loves me, I want to be in heaven with Him, so what do I have to do for that to happen.   Believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead.  I guess this song makes me cry, too, for those who won't/can't believe that truth. 

Sunday, July 3, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 3

The first song I ever heard--My Mom was always playing music.  The first song I remember hearing multiple times was "Drip, Drip, Drop, Little April Showers" from the Bambi soundtrack.  I was 4.  I don't have that on my iPod though, and since that is a stipulation I made for myself, sorry, no Bambi video.  The first song on my iPod I remember hearing is "Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington, Jr.  I was 8 or 9 and the cool college guy next door played it all the time.  Our houses were a stones throw away, and we both kept our windows open.  I'm probably fortunate that's all I heard at that tender age. 

I have the straight-up Grover Washington, Jr. version and Will Smith's version that he sang about his son, Jaden.  Both are sweet.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 2

The first song I ever heard by my favorite artist: Day 2 and already this list is giving me pause.  Who is my favorite artist?  Who do I always go back to? No idea! 

I enjoy Christian/Worship music.  When my heart is troubled, I head there. When I'm angry I head to metal music, the louder the better, until my equilibrium is reestablished.  I enjoy blues, jazz, rock n' roll, country (gasp!), rap, classical, pop, pretty much whatever.  I listen to any song (a least a bit of it) once.  And if it's music played by a friend, I'm an instant fan!  My husband, Steve, is a lot like that, too, although if you ask him, he'd say that his favorite artist is U2.  Okay, enough dilly dallying and shilly shallying.  I pick Muse as my favorite artist and Super Massive Black Hole as the first song I heard by them.

So, without further ado, Super Massive Black Hole by Muse!

Friday, July 1, 2011

30 Day Song Challenge--Day 1

I've been woefully lacking in blog posts this year.  FourSquare proved easier to log vacation activites, and I've not been knitting much.  Whoops, there go my blog ideas.

A Twitter friend @THESteveDeVries, posted this 30 Day Song Challenge on his blog.  I looked at the topics and thought, "This is doable." All the songs titles will come from my iPod.  I'll be uploading video (hopefully).  Enjoy and join along if you want!

Day 1--My Favorite Song

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Self-sufficiency




Self-sufficiency. Merriam-Webster’s defines it as being able to maintain oneself or itself without outside aid; capable of providing for one's own needs.  I’ve spent my life in self-sufficiency and robbed myself of God’s sustaining grace, the kind of grace that God metes out for dealing with the trials and tribulations of life.   

Most huge things in life are not meant to be dealt with on one’s own.  Instead I am supposed to approach God’s throne with confidence, trust Him during the trial, that the trial has purpose and meaning and that it will bring maturity as He says it will instead of shutting down and not allowing the pain to enter.   

Shutting down makes one numb.  I woke up this morning, and my one thought was that I was numb.  I’m not feeling the pain of my marriage to a wonderful, supportive husband who I will never give up but who doesn’t understand me like I really want to be understood (which hurts although I believe it to be typical), the pain of dealing with two physically needy parents, the pain of not having and, more and more, never having children of my own, even the old pains of having to leave all my friends after 6th grade or further back of my Dad leaving me and my Mom.   

I’m tired of my self-sufficiency.  Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  James 1:2 -4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  

 So come, pain, wrack my heart with your sharpness during these my trials, but also come, Lord Jesus, send your grace to support me in my trials and bring the perseverance and maturity that You long for me to develop.  And thank you for the  timely sermon from McLean Bible Church’s online church this morning along with the music that softened my heart to listen.


Monday, January 3, 2011

Time Won't Give Me Time

Why is it that I can get up at 5 am and still be late to work at 8 am? How come I can walk downstairs at 7:15 and not leave until 7:50? Where does the time go? I'm reading this article in the Scientific American about time. It's not giving me answers. I need to know, people, because time has given me problems my whole life.

My Mom and step-Dad used to say that I obviously believed that Star Trek was real. They said that because I would leave home at the same time that I was supposed to be someplace. They figured that I reckoned that I could just beam wherever it was I needed to be and be on time.

I go into a store and time stops. Really, it does! It doesn't start again until I come out of the store after strolling around touching, trying on, and paying. Then it's as if time has sped up out of control, and I'm late again. No, I know what you are saying and no, I'm not imagining it. Time really does stop. I forget all about time until I've left the merchandise induced trance that is shopping. And it doesn't matter how much I remind myself before I go in that I have a deadline or a time constraint (psh, as if I'd really recognize that), I still act like I have all the time in the world.

Why do some people have an innate sense of time and others don't? Now that I mention it, how did it get to be 11:30 pm now? I was just eating dinner with Steve a minute ago!

How can I wile away the hours conferring with the flowers and consulting with the rain, yet it takes for-ev-er for vacation to get here? Then when it does, why is it over in a blink, no matter what I do or how much I pack into it?

How can a life of four score years and 10 seem so short yet three years seems so long, unending and unendurable?

Do we as humans just long to be outside of time like God is and to see time spread out like a landscape in front of us like Scientific American says time is arranged with past, present and future mashed in together, losing their separate meaning? In eternity, will we have a sense of time or will we forget how old we've gotten? Will it matter? And if it doesn't matter then, why does it matter so much now?