sometimes, more is better

I never knew what the big deal was with pop singer Lady Gaga, in fact I hate most pop music simply because of it's infuriating simplicity, cheapness, novelty driven one hit wonder sound that seems to never drive anyone to try more innovative musical sounds. That said, I listen to all types of music, and I am very open minded when it comes to certain pop producers, such as Timbaland, MIA, even Kanye before his huge ego leapt out of his closet and ate his own soul. THAT said, I officially became a Lady Gaga Fan this week, after finally watching some of her latest videos directed by Francis Lawrence, who directs big time Hollywood movies and as I have always followed the classic old school video directors like Spike Jonze who later made it big in El-lay, was curious about WHY so many people liked this Lady Gaga. ok maybe not LIKED her, but she's got the buzz. Finally, I saw a performance she did of her new single "Speechless", and well, she won me over. She's more Tori Amos than Britney Spears, and her crazy outfits, hair and makeup are more like pop art than some trashy tripe. At least SOMEONE is doing SOMETHING interesting out there in the pop world, and not trying to look like all the others. This artist was classically trained for vocals and piano in NY, and i can always respect someone who creates a name using some originality, even if it does contribute to her/his further commercial success. After all, the money does follow fame, and some people who work really hard, write their own lyrics, and play their own music, may well deserve some respect.
Lady Gaga is an example of the ends justifying the means, if her crazy outfits get you to listen to her music, then she is one smart business woman, and I can respect that.
Good for her!

Going down the Rabbit Hole...

Recently I was told that my "Grandpa", who passed away a few years back, and whom I held a special place in my heart, was adopted by his mother's second husband. I never knew her, of course, and never knew she remarried. I also never knew that she divorced her first husband...and was a little surprised at this info since you just don't hear alot about couples divorcing back in the "old days". Also, divorce is very rare in both sides of my family tree, which makes it more ironic that I married a divorced man, who like alot of my friends and almost myself, got married at a younger age with alot of stress on board. I've never held a negative attitude towards anyone who has tried the sometimes very hard act of marriage, and have always thought that most of us who attempt it are either crazy, naive, mentally unstable, or just plain bored. Anyway, Grandpa's stepfather raised him from childhood into the wonderful, witty, unique man that he became, and he had a happy and long life. What I am curious about now, is this birth father, his last name was "Labonte", my great grandfather.
That's all I know for the time being, and when my family gets together there's so much chitchat and barnyard chatter that I will have to remind myself this week to find out more.
Will there be more skeletons in the closet this year? More items to amuse me and my husband as we often marvel at the wonderful wackiness of our family trees and the stories they hold?
Oh....the stories I could tell, as could most people out there about their own families. What do we decide to tell our own children, nieces, or nephews? Do we leave the parts out about the political arguments over turkey day, the passive aggressive door slamming during family fire pit nights, the laughing over the lewd jokes during giddy late night Christmas Eves? Do we tell our kids about the oldest living McMullen (my very big pioneering family down here) that had a burlesque dancer show up to his 100th birthday?? Oh wait...shhh.. those kind of stories are meant to "stay in the family".....

Great music to dream by...

An oldie but goody that I just rediscovered on Napster...the soundtrack to "Out of Africa" composed by John Barry. This movie is one of my top ten of all time. It's got everything that I love- a true story of an aristocratic independent woman (Isac Denizen) played by Meryl Streep, and her naive purchase of a coffee farm in Africa. You know the rest.... one of the major components to the movie is the soundtrack, all instrumental. Just like the theme to "Jaws", "Indiana Jones", "E.T." and "Rocky", this music is unforgettable, albiet maybe less well known. The first track is the most well known to the movie's fans, but each piece after is perfectly scored to fit the mood of important scenes in the film. Just like the story, without giving it all away, each tune is simply sweet, soaring, or underscored with dark tones to fit each pivotal scene. If you're ever in the mood for great modern composition, without being distracted by a vocalist's flaws or personality, this is the soundtrack to add to the collection. Sometimes, it is just nice to hear music without the singing, without the added note of someone's distinct sound except for the composer's. It is enjoyable completely on it's own, if you've never seen the film, you will still enjoy the modern and fresh sound of "romantic" music that doesn't sound "romantic" or sugary sweet. The music, mostly strings, soars with a robust sound at times, and then lights up with single instrument solos and themes that are truly the sound of grace.
Highly recommended. and...if you haven't yet, watch the movie!!! It is the best non- love story love story you'll ever see. From my perspective, the land is the first love in the film, not the people, and that is what this Scottish, Irish, French descendant really related to.

Too tired to write anything remotely interesting

What a day, yard sale at 7, art festival, groceries, blah blah blah. Friday I spent 6 hours away from my family at a very old, very posh spa in Safety Harbor, that is directly across Tampa Bay from the airport, beginning the day swimming in a pool of pure mineral springs water that comes from the springs on site. It was FANTASTIC. Then a hot tub with the same mineral springs, then an herbal wrap where I was wrapped up like an enchilada by a mysterious accented woman and left in a dark room to relax and sweat out toxins, and felt a million little tickles of sweat that i couldn't itch. After that, it was on to a massage, which boulders of stress were rolled out like playdough by a tiny over 60 woman who had hands like a terminator machine. Finally, the day ended with a facial and my face was left with an oily lavendar sheen that i can still smell a day later. YUM. It is interesting that the springs were discovered in the 1500's by a Spanish explorer, of course, the Indians were using it for about 10,000 years previous. Just a few miles north of this site is a huge Indian mound (their dumping grounds) so it makes sense they used the inland Bay area for oysters, fishing etc and dipping their own stressed out bodies in the mineral bubbly.
I needed it. It was great. I am thankful for the gift. Now am fully motivated to book another one next year.
Girls do wanna have fun.

Funny wise man once said

"If I were two faced, would I be wearing this one?" Abe Lincoln.

Palin really bothers people.

I have ALOT of friends on facebook who are really upset that Sarah Palin even exists. I also have ALOT of friends who like her, respect her and wish her well. (Not one of them, now, will admit to being a BIG fan of hers, funny how finicky us Americans are when the "cool" factor is in play, much like ALOT of Obama's fans... I think I agree with a politico who said that ALOT of people voted for him because they thought it would give them mileage.)
Do people have nothing else to be upset about? I mean, ABOOT? Why give a HOOT if you just don't like her? Why don't you like her? Does she remind you too much of your mom??? Does her old fashioned, do it yourself, annoying, cloying and do-gooder attitude just irritate you? Then maybe you should go back to your cave of coolness, and get some Freudian therapy.
I jest! I joke!
I sincerely hope that some of the 30 something people that read this realize I poke fun of the news ALOT. And if they know me well enough or even have the same sense of humour, they get that I'm not making fun of any of my friends, just life in general these days....
Anyway, I sometimes want to tell people who get upset about our present set of politicians to chill out, but then I'd have to include myself in that group, and I only chill out once a year when the moon is full, bright, and there are no elections.
I'll go ahead and advise myself although the moon is about as bright as our truck after washing restrictions...
Chill Out, Ms. McCarthy, the world ain't gonna end just because your wise old man didn't win.

Hello...is it me your looking for?

Good morning. It's been a very busy past few days, as today will be. Last night I was so tired of the noise of two boys that when P got home at 4:30 I started getting ready for bed. Made it by 8 p.m. and read for about an hour, which is like heaven to me. Our littlest would not stop that cranky crying for four hours straight even though he had a full tummy, so he slept in the carseat (in our bedroom of course)- his favorite spot. So, he'll get some stretching out time today! Our other son was the same way, until he started eating baby food, they just get so cranky in the evenings.

The WEIRDEST part of my evening, during my long coma, was the dream I had. I don't usually pay much attention to dreams, even the "really real" ones, and by 5-6 a.m am too busy getting everyone fed that I forget them. I was so exhausted last night that the crazy subconscious mind brought out all kinds of weird images.

Here it is- I had a dream that JASON BATEMAN from "Arrested Development" kept trying to get fresh with me, AND that his crazy ex-girlfriend found out and was crying to my friends, thus gaining all kinds of sympathy and making me look like a hooker.

First, I have only seen a few episodes of AD, and yes they are funny. The most I have seen Bateman in are the movies like "Dodgeball" and other comedies that he's great in as somewhat small but memorable roles. Also, I don't know anything about any of his current or ex-girlfriends. I DO NOT have some secret crush on him.

So, I'm finishing up coffee after being up since 5:45 and need to get everyone dressed so we can make it to NIck's speech therapy down in Pinellas Park.

Hope all YOUR dreams come true today!