Songs of My Life - March 2011

Blue Skies Again by Jessica Lea Mayfield
My friend Heather played this song on her iPod as she, her roommate Nikki, and I sat in the park on the first warm day of spring. It summed up my feelings for winter and how over it I was

Rumour Has It by Adele
I just love the drums, song, & tempo of this song.

New Low by Middle Class Rut
Lyrically, I just connect to this song. “I’ve been right. I’ve been left. I’ve been wrong. I’ve left behind. I’ve been up but mostly down.”

Voices by Chris Young
Rocking a little country here and again, it’s a song I connected to lyrically. When I need answers, I think of what my mom or grandpa would say to me from the heavens and what my dad would say to me now and what my grandma would say to me if she could remember who I was.

Another Like You - Hayes Carll
This reminds me of “The Gin Mill Girls” which is myself, Suzanne, Heather, Nikki, & Krissie. The song is sassy and sometimes unclassy just like we are when we get together.

Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
This song is a song I put on a play list I have for my nieces. I had heard the song before but never really paid attention to the song until I watched the video in the blog post “Acceptance” and it just made me think of my oldest niece and how she’s going through that insecurity, everyone hates me, I am ugly age when in reality she’s one of the smartest most beautiful girls I know.

Our Hearts Are Wrong by Jessica Lea Mayfiedl
Just like the lyrics.

Tonight (I’m Loving You) by Enrique Iglesias
I can’t even believe I like this song but it makes me want to dance.

Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show
Just reminds me of drinking @ The Gin Mill

Walk On by G. Love
It’s G. Love, what’s not to love right? It’s the lyrics. Shocked? You shouldn’t be. “

American Boy by Estelle
Another The Gin Mill drinking song. The Gin Mill plays random music and I love it.

Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
I heard Leonard Cohen’s version of this song while I was sitting in the artist chair at Fu’s Custom Tattoos. Closure had been achieved. Tattoo tribute to my mom was in the final steps and everything seemed right in the world.

Originally posted on www.sheliataylor.com

Life is Waiting For You

“Life is waiting for you, it’s all messed up, but we're alive. Oh, Life is waiting for you, it’s all messed up, but we'll survive.”

~Our Lady Peace

I don’t where or at what point my life shifted, but it did. Things that were once important weren’t any more. Things that weren’t important had become important. I stopped relying on others and started to rely on me. I didn’t look for validations in others any more, I only care about how I felt and what I saw when I looked in the mirror.
As I have said in previous posts, I spent 2010 in a daze, but as 2011 rolled around, I wanted to experience EVERYTHING I missed in 2010. I wanted to start living with no regrets. I wanted to live the life I know my mom would have been proud of. The life she had dreamed for me, the life she hoped for me. Not the shell of a person I had lived as in 2010.
So far, I think she’d be very proud of me right now. I am finally accomplishing a dream of going to Australia at the end of 2011. Something her and I talked about every year and my response was always, I can do it next year when . Well, it’s next year and this is the year. I’m doing it. When the sun rises on December 17 2011, I will be on a beach in Sydney, celebrating 2 things: the life of my mom and a dream coming true and when the sun sets that night, I know heaven’s brightest star, my mom, will be shining down me with a smile as big as her four foot nine frame.
Today, I felt my heart stop just as it had when my mom had passed away. Someone who I looked up to as mentor, a leader, and friend exited my career life. He will be missed greatly by me and as I sit here with tears of sadness for him leaving, I am reminded of how much he will always be around. In fact, I texted him to make him promise me he would be in my life forever. He said he would. It’s the only promise I will hold him accountable for.
Life doesn’t stop when something horrible happens or when someone you love leaves this earth. Life goes on. Even though the title of this post is called “Life is Waiting for You,” life does not wait and the life that you should be living will only wait so long for you.
I refuse to miss a moment of the life that is ahead of me...a moment of life that is waiting for me to live it.
I’m going to see The Kills in April, Rammstein and The Constellationsin May. Sure I could wait for them to come to or back to Charlotte, but I might as well be waiting to win the lottery too. I’m not going to regret not going to see 3 of my favorite artists.
I’m going to Key West in August. I’m getting in my car and driving the A1A and will love every moment of it. It’s something I want to do for a few years, this is the time to do it.
A few weeks ago, I got in my car and drove to the beach. I needed to see, feel, and smell the ocean. It was one of the best life decisions I had made. I ended up locking my keys in the trunk and had to spend $55 bucks to get them out. I could have been angry at myself and cursed myself for locking the keys in the trunk and spending money from doing something clueless, but I didn’t let it ruin a perfect day. I called my dad, we laughed about it and I waited in the spring sun for the locksmith. I know I was his happiest customer of the day. I had come down to rejuvenate my spirit and I wasn’t going to let the locked keys in the trunk ruin it.
Life may be waiting for you, but the time is now. Don’t wait to do the things you have always wanted to do. One day you won’t be able to do them anymore.

And the video for “Life” by Our Lady Peace




Originally posted on www.sheliataylor.com

The Fun of Life

I was looking at my schedule to see what I have coming up & I was plesantly surprised at how awesome my life is going to be & wanted to share. The fun will be extended if Charlotte Checkers make it to the playoffs too!

04.02 - Dean & Deluca Day with one of my best friends Kathy. We will sit and gorge ourselves on wine & delicious food!
04.03 - Explosions in the Sky @ Amos
04.04 - Charlotte Checkers game
04.05 - Charlotte Checkers Golf Tournament w/ the Rozak, DZL, Da Boss, & Creepy Jeffrey
04.05 - Dinner & drinks w/ Ronnie @ Cow Fish
04.06 - Detroit Red Wings vs Carolina Hurricanes game @ RBC Center
04.08 - Charlotte Checkers game
04.08 - Gareth Asher @ Evening Muse (after the Checkers game)
04.09 - Charlotte Checkers game
04.11 - Tattoo appt
04.17 - The Dirty Heads @ Amos
04.18 - Suzanne Federline's Birthday
04.18 - Coheed & Cambria @ Fillmore
04.20 - D.R.U.G.S @ 1065 End Sessions
04.21 - Jimmy Buffett @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
04.26 - Iron & Wine @ Amos
04.27 - Bayside @ 1065 End Sessions
04.29 - Amy Mann's Birthday
05.05 - My niece's Taylor's Birthday
05.07 - Carolina Rebellion
05.08 - My niece's Riley's Birthday
05.17 - Xavier Rudd w/ honeyhoney @ Neighborhood Theatre
05.20 - Vegas
05.21 - Rammstein in Vegas
05.22 - System of the Down in Vegas
05.23 - Returning home from Vegas...exhausted

I'd keep going but I'm exhausted just thinking about all I have to do!

CD Review: Several Shades of Why by J. Mascis

Do you remember Dinosaur Jr's "Feel the Pain"? Neither did I. I know Dinosaur Jr. I know the song "Feel the Pain," but I could have never connected the two.

What does that have to do with J. Mascis? J. Masics was founder of Dinosaur Jr.

When I grabbed the CD off of DZL's desk, I didn't recognize the name of the artist. Hell, I couldn't even know for sure what the name of the artist was. (Album cover below). I thought the alumb cover was cool. Yes, I totally judged an album by it's cover and I'm glad. This is a great little folk, singer songwriter, acoustic CD. I hate labels but this CD is all of the mentioned.

J. Mascis' voice is a bit raspy but quiet and soothing (I hope that makes sense to others). It's a cloudy rainy day here in Charlotte, NC and these songs fit the mood of the weather perfectly but with a bit of sunshine coming through the clouds.

I give it 3 of 5 stars.


Album cover from J. Mascis

Originally posted on 1065.com & The Hockey Maven

CD Review: Different Gear, Still Speeding by Beady Eye

Beady Eye features all the members of Oasis but Noel Gallagher.

Magazines, blogs, etc have Liam claiming that he aspires this band to bigger than The Beatles, but just set those crazy attention grabbing headlines aside and listen to the music.  That's what is about in the end.

The music.

And the music is good. Good fun. Good rock. Good to move to. 13 songs & 52 minutes of good. There were a couple of tracks I had to look at to make sure I wasn't listening to The Beatles. "The Roller," "For Anyone," and "Standing on the Edge of the Noise," could have been songs the Fab Four sang but instead they are Beady Eye's Fab Four songs. "Wigwam" reminds of Oasis, and my favorite track is "Kill for a Dream." I loved the lyrics to this song.

I give this 3.5 stars out of 5.
Definitely a purchase I would not regret and a cd that would constantly suprise me when it popped into my iTunes on Shuffle Mix

Watch the video for "The Roller

Originally posted on original posts on 1065.com & The Hockey Maven

Song Review: "Tear It Down" by Burn Halo

First, I have to say, I was a HUGE 18 Visions fan and I was crushed when I heard they broke up. I have always loved the sound of James Hart's voice so when Burn Halo appeared on the music scene, I was stoked. I truly enjoyed Burn Halo's debut cd and was fortunate to see them play @ Amos' Southend.

Today, a little present came to via email and it was their single "Tear It Down" from Burn Halo's forthcoming CD “Up From The Ashes” in stores 6/28.

I have my first favorite RAWK track of the year. I think this song has great guitar, sick drumming, and killer vocals.

To liste to "Tear It Down" please visit the original posts on 1065.com & The Hockey Maven

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 21 - Song that You Listen to When You're Happy

Gareth Asher's "I'm Not Worried About It"

March Earworms

I wake up with the oddest songs in my head. Here are March's (updated daily)
03.01 - Slow Motion by Juvenile
03.02 - Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
03.03 - You Got Me by Tristan Prettyman
03.04 - Rolling in the Deep by Adele
03.05 - ---
03.06 - Fuck You by Cee-Lo
03.07 - ---
03.08 - New Low by Middle Class Rut
03.09 - ---
03.10 - Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
03.11 - Raise Your Glass by Pink
03.12 - ---
03.13 - Love Left to Lose by Sons of Sylvia
03.14 - Rumpshaker by Wreckx-n-Effect
03.15 - ---
03.16 - Good Morning Beautiful - Steve Holy
03.17 - ---
03.18 - ---
03.19 - Where the Boat Leaves From by Zac Brown Band
03.20 - ---
03.21 - Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show
03.22 - Mocking Bird by Michael Tolcher
03.23 - ---
03.24 - Raise Your Glass by Pink
03.25 - ---
03.26 - Empire State of Mind by Jay Z
03.27 - Born This Way by Lady GaGa
03.28 - I'm Not Worried About It by Gareth Asher
03.29 - Don't Bring Me Down by Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O)
03.30 - ---
03.31 - ---

Cross posted on www.sheliataylor.com

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 20 - Song You Listen to When You're Angry

This is one was easy. "Waidmann's Heil" by Rammstein - I love the music to this song!

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 19 - Song from Your Favorite Album

Language. Sex. Violence. Other? by Stereophonics is one of my favorite albums and this is my favorite song off the album. Again, lyrically, this song speaks to me

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 18 - Song that You Wish You Heard on the Radio

"Always Love" by Nada Surf
I just love the lyrics to this song.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 17 - Song that You Hear Often on the Radio

I don't listen to a lot of radio because of the iPod but it would have to be Flyleaf's "All Around Me." I swear it plays around 8 am EVERY DAY.

Watch the video HERE

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 16 - Song that You Used to Love but Now Hate

I actually don't have a song for this. I can't think of one song that makes me cringe. If I've loved it at one point, I still like it.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 15 - Song that Describes You

"Hula Girl at Heart" by Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy probably wrote it for one of his daughters but he might as well said he wrote it for me too!

No video, so I give you the lyrics

"Hula Girl at Heart"
She owns a window to the ocean
She has a pipeline to the sky
But earthly creatures rarely notice
When Guardian Angels pass them by

Like a gecko behind a painting
With hidden wisdom to impart
In a world that needs more dancing
She’s a hula girl at heart
Photographs show she is lovely
Her bare feet are a work of art
Her fragrance speaks of frangipani
Yes she’s still a hula girl at heart

With her pad and watercolors
Drawing fish and butterflies
Children always seem to conjure
Images they recognize
In the land beside the ocean
Where romantics seem to dwell
Destiny can set in motion
Ripples that turn into swells
She knows how to face the music
She knows where the magic starts
In a world that needs more dancing
She’s still a hula girl at heart

Songs sing slow
Days zoom by
Time can’t keep her
Nor can I

She has worn a wealth of costumes
Hula skirt to wedding gown
Lived in cities walked through jungles
Always sees the sun go down

In this age of teeming tourists
Fellow travelers know her well
The darling of deserted beaches
Hides her wisdom in a shell
Her sensual and easy motion
Seems impossible to chart
In a world that needs more dancing
She’s still a hula girl at heart

© 2006 Coral Reefer Music (BMI) & Little Flock Music (BMI) &
Alsation Music (BMI), admin by Bug Music & Will Kimbrough Music (BMI) admin by Bluewater Music Inc.

Risk Is Everything

Risk IS everything...that is what I have learned this week. It hit me like a ton of bricks on Monday. Out of the blue, it seemed to answer all the questions I had.

Over the weekend, I took a day trip to the beach. I needed to see ocean. I needed to hear ocean. I needed my soul to be quiet and when I arrived at the beach, I knew I had made the right decision when I heard a Jimmy Buffett tune trickling out of the near by pierhouse. I heard the sign and I knew all was right in the world.

I'm a sign person. I believe the Universe gives you small signs or even big signs that you're doing what you're suppose to do or suppose to be where you are. I'll be the first to admit that in 2010, I probably didn't see any sign the Universe was sending my way. My head was in the clouds of denial and not really believing that I was living my life without my mom and my heart was healing from her death.

Somewhere around December 2010, I fell back to the earth and to reality. I felt like a human again. I felt like the holes in my heart had patchwork over it and I could start living again. Maybe it started with my trip to NYC to see my first Rammstein show and the NY Rangers play at Madison Square Garden. Maybe it started with the first trip I took alone since I was 23. I don't know when, but I was on the right path. I rang the New Year in with friends who were once strangers...just people who hang out at the same bar I hang out at...people who's paths I've crossed due to work and other friends. Those strangers were now friends. Those friends brought in 2011 with a bang, a shot, and loads of laughter.  NYE 2010 was 3 days of pure fun.

A few weeks ago, I completed my tattoo tribute to my mom's memory, her spirit, and her life. It has the lyrics "I will never forget. I will never regret. I will live my life closer to the edge" on it and I am trying to live to never forget, to live to never regret, and to live my life closer to the edge.  The week leading up to the final session, I dreamed of my mom every night. It was the first time I had her visit me in my dreams. I realized as I sat in the artist chair that the tattoo was my closure on her death. She was telling me it was okay and I realized it.

Since then, the signs that have come my way have let me know that I am doing just what I'm suppose to. I am right where I need to be right now. I listen to the Universe a little more carefully now. I pay attention to my surroundings a bit more. I listen to my friends with open minds. I look at strangers and wonder if they were sent into my life for a reason or if it's just a ship passing in the night.

Most people think I'm in idiot for taking a risk this year by cashing out my 401K and doing my dream trip to Australia, but the signs that the Universe has thrown at me has let me know that I am absolutely making the right decision. From the moment I said my plans out loud at the Gin Mill, I met Geoffrey from Melbourne a few hours later on Australia Day no less, talking with Stranger to Friend Carlyn about her trip to Australia, talking to a stranger at the tattoo shop while getting the final touches on my tribute tattoo who use to live in Sydney and now lives in Charlotte (she's getting a tattto from my artist soon), and just recently, talking to 2 friends who have been and getting a list of to-do's while I'm there. Universe I hear you. I'm going.

Risk IS everything, but if you don't ever try or risk anything, then failure is your only option. Failure is not an option on my goal list this year, but taking a risk is.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 14 - Song that No One Would Expect You to Love

I think people find it funny that me, the rock girl, knows her Wu Tang Clan tunes and I think they are very surprised that I love "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" by Ol' Dirty Bastard

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 13 - Song that is a Guilty Pleasure

Don't judge...it's "Rumors" by Lindsay Lohan

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 12 - Song From a Band You Hate

Hate's a pretty strong word, but that would be "Baby" by Justin Bieber. 

And I can't even bring myself to put a video of that on here...

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 11 - Song from Your Favorite Band

I have 4 bands/artists that I can listen to every day and that is Jimmy Buffett, Rammstein, Stereophonics, U2 but I have decided to go with Rammstein's "Los" from their Reise Reise album.

Whenever I mention Rammstein, everyone goes "Du Hast" and yes it's a good song but the band is so much more than that and when I heard this song for the first time I was blown away.

This is from their live DVD/CD Volkerball

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 10 - Song that Makes You Fall Asleep

This was a tough one but I'm sure I have put this song on and found myself asleep. I find it very relaxing. Kula Shaker's "Govinda"

Somewhere Else Just for a While

This is where I'll be for the next few hours. It's been worth the drive. Sounds of waves crashing & Jimmy Buffett trickling down from a restaurant. Yes, life is good today.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 9 - Song that You Can Dance To

Little Bit of Feel Good by Jamie Lidell always makes my booty move.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 8 - Song that You Know All the Words To

I know a lot of words to a lot of songs, but I think most people are surprised when I say I know all the words to "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & E Z Rock.  My sister and friend use to sing this song every day at the bus stop.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 7 - Song that Reminds You of a Certain Event

Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" will always remind me of my baby sister's wedding. This was her and my brother in law's song when they got married.

I Need a Mental Health Day

I wanted to keep this blog all positive with universal positive vibes and love, but I realize that is going to be harder than I thought. This first started out as a rant to all the incompetent fools I work with, but then I realized that though I work with incompetent nincompoops, the people of Japan are doing a million times a million worse than what I'm dealing with. I really just need a mental health day. A day off where I disconnect from the world and by disconnect, I mean no phones, internet, social media, email, and so on.

I am living the dream. I can't lie or complain about my life. It's a great life. I have a job I don't hate. I have a family who loves me. I have friends who are there for me to laugh with and get stupid with. I'm healthy and I have a roof over my head. I AM LIVING THE DREAM. I just want a day to myself or weekend to myself where no one knows my name and where no one asks for anything free or for concert tickets.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 6 - Song that Reminds You of Somewhere

Jimmy Buffett's "Bring Back the Magic" reminds me of Key West. There is something about that place that is magical and peaceful. My soul is always happy there.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 5 - Song that Reminds You of Someone

There are so many songs that associate with memories and with people, places, and life events, but this song, means the most to me.  This song reminds me of my mom.  This was the song that was playing when I got out of the car when she went into the hospital and that night after emergency surgery on her brain, when I got back in the car, I hit repeat. I listened to this song in the car on repeat for over 6 days. I vowed I wouldn't stop listening to it until she got out of the hospital. She passed away on Dec. 17, 2009, and when I hear this song, I remember life and her words of wisdom. I remember what a beautiful soul and spark she had.

Listen/watch and turn the music up.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 4 - Song that Makes You Sad

Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Halleujah"

A Tribute to Lek

I cannot believe it is finished.
Yesterday, Travis @ Fu’s Custom Tattoos completed my tattoo tribute to my mom.
This is what the final piece looks like. I cannot express enough how happy I am with this piece. It is everything I dreamed it would be and for me, the perfect tribute to my crazy little Thai lady. I hope that whatever heavenly garden she is sitting in that loves it as much as I do.

I also want to thank Travis for the spiritual journey that I took while getting this tattoo. I realized yesterday as I sat in the chair that I was reaching closure on everything with my mom’s death. This tattoo helped me find the peace I needed for my soul.

If you are ever in the need for a tattoo, I of course recommend Travis @ Fu’s Custom Tattoos but I also recommend anyone that works there. The vibe in that place is inviting, creative, and an absolute perfect place to get a tattoo. They have a life long customer in me and in my father.

Happy Anniversary from Ricky

Well today we've been married for 36 years. God, I miss you. You come to me all the time in my dreams. One day I hope I wake up from this nightmare. They say it gets easier as time goes by but it don't. I had all the things I wanted to say, but if I start I would jabber on for hours. I'm just going to say "I MISS YOU SO" and I still LOVE YOU. There will never be anyone else. I'll talk to you later in my dreams.
Love,
~Ricky

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 3 - Song that Makes You Happy

Whenever I hear this song, I am instantly in a good mood and that song is "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" by Scissor Sisters.

Just try not to tap your toes when you hear this song!

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 2 - Least Favorite Song

Hands down my least favorite song is Tim McGraw's god awful cover of the wonderful song "When the Stars Go Blue" by Ryan Adams.

Tim strips the song of any emotion and meaning and makes it lifeless.

Ryan's original version is beautiful, poetic, heartbreaking, and moving.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 1 - Favorite Song

To narrow down all my favorite songs into 1 favorite song...whew, but the winner is:

A Pirate Looks @ Forty by Jimmy Buffett
     This song spoke to me the first time I heard it. I'm a child of the water and the lyrics "Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call. Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall."  When both of my nieces were born, I would sing this song to them as I rocked them to sleep.

Here's Jimmy singing the song with Zac Brown on CMT's Crossroads

A Pirate Looks at 40 (from CMT Crossroads) - Jimmy Buffett - Jimmy Buffett Videos

Acceptance

hate   
1. to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest: to hate the enemy; to hate bigotry.
2. to be unwilling; dislike: I hate to do it.

I don’t understand that word. To feel extreme aversion for something...I know I say I hate a certain co-worker but if she were bleeding in a ditch, I’m human enough to offer help. I really don’t hate her, but don’t appreciate how she gets by on her looks when prettier women before her have had to work twice as hard. Sure, on a bad day, I do wish she’d trip and fall out of her righteously expensive car and scrap a knee but I would never wish death on her. I would even sit and have drinks with her at a bar which I’ve done, but she’s not the 1st person I call when I want to grab an after work drink.

I stumbled onto a kick ass blog through CNN today and when I watched the video above, I was moved to tears. I just don’t understand hate. How can one person hate another for whom they choose to give their love too. I was bullied in school, but I can’t even compare the bulliness I received to those that my LGBTQ friends have received and still receive.

I look at my friends and wonder how someone could hate them because they are nothing but some of the most positive people on the planet. So full of love, so full of beauty, and so full of positive universal energy that they are my ray of sunshines on a cloudy day.

So this video and this blog post is dedicated to all of those that don’t feel accepted...as the song says, “When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change cause you're amazing, just the way you are. And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for awhile.”

Originally posted on Shelia Taylor

La Vie Dansante

Meaning: The Dancing Life
Well, according to Jimmy Buffett, it means the dancing life, and you know what, I'll take it. I have a mix on my iPod called "La Vie Dansante" and it's a list of songs that make me feel good and puts me in a good headspace.

I mean with lyrics like below, why wouldn't I be in a good headspace.
That's why I wander and follow La Vie Dansante
On the night wind that takes me just where I want
That's all I want La Vie Dansante

But as I listened to the rest of the playlist, I realized it was bits and pieces of my soul caught in songlines.

"Narcolepsy" by Third Eye Blind came out in 1997 I remember connecting to the lyrics "How'd you like to be alone and drowing."  I was in a relationship and parts of me felt like I was drowning in it, but today as I listened to it, I connected with "There's a bone in my hand that connects to a drink, In a crowded room where the glasses clink. And I'll buy you a beer."  That is where I am now, hanging with friends who make me laugh. Knowing that if I was drowning, they'd at least yell for help.

"Rooftops" by Lostprophets...I always find myself connecting to their anthems and this song is perfect in expressing on how I want to live my life.
"Standing on the rooftops
Everybody scream your heart out
This is all we got now
All the love I've met
I have no regrets
If it all ends now, I'm set
Will we make a mark this time
Will we always say we tried
Never gonna regret
Watching every sunset"

I'm screaming my heart out and living the dancing life, and I couldn't be happier. My soul has been captured in songlines and I will follow them and let them lead me into the Dreaming.

My Bucket List

I was reading an article on Tiny Buddha and realized, I didn't have a bucket list of things I wanted to do before I kicked the bucket.

So here's what I want to do so far:

- travel to Australia (going in December of 2011)
- swim with dolphins
- see a game at every NHL ice rink
- have a novel on the NY Times Best Seller list
- meet the Dalai Lama

It's might not seem like a lot, but I realized that I'm truly living the dream and get to do a lot of what makes me happy!

One Step Closer to Going...

To totally rip off one of my favorite bands U2's songline, "one step closer to knowing.." I am one step closer to going to Australia. I applied for my ETA (visa) and it has been approved. I now need to buy my airline ticket. I can't believe after 10 plus years of talking, daydreaming, & planning that it's actually going to happen!

Stay tuned...more to come as I book & plan my trip!

This Heart of Mine Is Ready for Spring

While listening to “Blue Skies Again” by Jessica Lea Mayfield this morning, I found myself connecting with the lyrics “this heart of mine is ready for spring.” In my previous post My Wanderlusting Soul, I talked about the desire and need to travel. Listening to this song, I realized how I need sunshine and a sandy beach. I want to put my toes in the sand and sit and listen to the waves. I want to watch the sunrise and watch the sunset. I don’t have to have a fruity cocktail or anything with me…just a spot on the sand and I’m happy. Okay, so maybe a camera would be nice to capture the beauty of the moment.

I need a view like this right now...

Mallory Square @ Key West, FL (August 2010)

Peaceful Perfection

My sister snapped this picture of my youngest niece on the first real nice and non-winter day.
With all the equipment she could have played on, she played quietly with Mother Nature.

Wildflowers

I think that if my dad listened Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" he would say this is exactly what I would say to you, your sister, and your nieces.

Every time I hear it, I imagine my dad telling me to do exactly as the lyrics say.  I don't know what inspired Tom Petty to write it, but I'm glad he did.

And I'm even happier that Jimmy Buffett covered it.