Wednesday Mind Hump 10/15/08

Today's Wednesday Mind Hump:

Write about . . .

Musicians

or

Concerts

The subject, length, focus, etc. I leave all up to you. You're free to write whatever you like.


Over the past year, I've become a big fan of Kelly Clarkson. She won the first American Idol competition in 2002 and has since released three very successful albums. I took my best friend/sister-in-law, Becca, to see her in concert last year on her birthday, 10/18. This year, oddly enough, Kelly's playing in our area again on 10/18 (this Saturday!), so needless to say, Becca is getting the same present!

I only knew a few of Kelly's songs when we went to see her last year, but I loved her concert so much that I downloaded all three of her albums after seeing her. Her songs really speak to me, and I just love her voice and her energy.

Lately, I've been listening to her music while I work out at the gym. Know what's really cool about her songs? Not only are they great for cardio (I maintain 100 RPM on the bike during the verses, then do a quick burst of speed up to 115 RPM during the high-energy choruses) but a few of the songs are actually fun to sing about the weight I've lost. I'm serious!

Like this one:

Since u been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on
Yeah, yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since u been gone

And this:

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway


See what I mean? ;)

My childhood, revisited...?

(Thanks, Jess, for the info!)

So People magazine is reporting that New Kids on the Block are getting back together.

Wow.

Okay, dorky admission time... once upon a brief time, like most of the girls my age, I adored them. I had all of their tapes (tapes!), posters on my wall, buttons on my jacket, and I saw them in concert at least twice. Donnie was my favorite. I even dressed up as him for Halloween... with a shirt that said "Home Boy" and a peace sign around my neck. LOL.

So yeah, I'm really amused that they're getting back together. Too funny. A bunch of 35-to-40-year-olds dancing around, calling themselves "New Kids"... tee hee. I can't wait. I'm making my friend Jess promise that we will go see them in concert (if it comes to that). I'll have to dig out my buttons...

The Prince of Darkness!

Matt and I attended the Ozzy Osbourne concert tonight!

<-- This is Matt being Metal. LOL.

I'd never been to an Ozzy concert before, though Matt has seen him 3 times.... way back before we were together. I tried to remember why I hadn't listened to Ozzy back then and then I remembered that I went to one of those fundie mind-control churches where they considered stuff like Ozzy "devil music" and showed us videos that told us how satanic he was. And that just made me (and my inner rebellious teenager) even happier to be there! LOL.

It was an *awesome* show! Pyrotechnics, a huge coffin-shaped cross with OZZY written across it, girls in the audience flashing boobie, and Ozzy spraying the crowd with foam... lol. I bought a TIGHT t-shirt with "OZZY" across the front in rhinestones. The show was definitely NOT long enough, but concerts rarely are. Ozzy is so cute with his little pot belly. I love just listening to him talk, lol. And Zakk Wilde is amazing on guitar.

He sang one or two songs from his newest album... I *loved* "Not Going Away":

Get out of my way.
There's nothing you can do to change what I say.
I won't ever let go.
I've got the answer,
But you'll never know.
I got my eyes opened wide,
Ain't gonna slip up or slide,
Can't take me down,
After all I'm still crazy...

'Tis the Season

I'll admit it: the past few years, I've been pretty grinchy. There are a lot of things about this season that annoy me. The crowded malls, the gaudy outdoor displays, the rampant materialism, the fundie-invented "War on Christmas" -- it's all taken a toll on me. But nothing has made this season as difficult as the fact that my grandmother, who loved this time of year more than any other, passed away just 15 days before Christmas in 2004. I miss her terribly. All our little traditions at this time of year, and helping her with preparations, especially as she got older, were things that I really looked forward to. And without her, the holiday feels empty.

But this year, I'm making an effort to really let myself enjoy the season. I've been listening to the all-holiday-music station on the radio, I've got some decorations up, and I'm even thinking about baking cookies. I suggested to my extended family that we do a polyanna among the adults this year, and everyone was enthusiastic about my idea, so fortunately we have less expenses this year. And I'm really looking forward to Christmas Eve at my sister's -- she's making a traditional Italian "seven fishes" dinner. I don't know much about the tradition, but I'm bringing mussels marinara! Yum!

So, in the spirit of allowing the little things to make me happy at this time of year, here's one of my favorite holiday tunes from the 80's. I'm planning on sharing a few more of my faves as the holiday season continues. Enjoy!