Australia

Australia...I have daydreamed of going there for years and when I say years, I mean years. Not like one or two but more like ten plus years. Everyone has a place they want to visit or places they want to visit. When I was 16, it was Key West and then I thought maybe I'd like to move to San Francisco because I so loved Armistead Maupin's characters in Tale of the City, but when I started my mason jar of fun, I labeled it Key West. San Francisco, you just weren't in my soul like Key West was. Another place I wanted to travel to was New Orleans and Las Vegas. I never knew pre-Katrina New Orleans, but I do know post-Katrina New Orleans and it was as if Key West had moved to the land of gumbo and crawfish. My soul felt good there. Vegas...Sin City...the desert of flashy lights...I enjoy you but for only about 3 or 4 days. It's where my soul goes to play and eat decadent food. In the back of my head, there was one place, I knew I had to visit. I longed for it. My soul longed for it...Australia. I'd ask my parents every year if they would mind if I missed Christmas or New Years because this year I WAS GOING to Australia. They would say no they wouldn't mind, travel while I could, have fun while I could, and supported every hair brained plan I had. Another year would come and go and I'd ask the same question again. Well, after years of planning and day dreaming, I am going to Australia this December. First, I was going to go by myself. I'm an adult, I don't need someone to be with me to have fun. I am content to travel on my own and do things on my own. My first trip to Key West was on my own. Now though, I am going with some dear friends: Suzanne, Heather, & Nikki.  We arrive in Sydney on December 15th. On the 17th, I plan on watching the sun come up over Bondi Beach and as the sun kisses the morning awake, I will look up to the sky and know that my mom is smiling down on me for FINALLY realizing a dream and when the sun bids the day goodnight, I will make a wish on the first star I see over Bondi Beach and know once again, that all the roads I have traveled, all the choices good and bad I have made, and that all the money I have and don't have put me right where I should be...Australia.

After the 18th, we don't have a set plan on what we will be doing...we will go wherever our songlines take us until Dec 28th when we return to Bondi Beach and spend the rest of the year skydiving, being beach bums, adventurous, and ringing in the new year.

I don't know what adventures Australia will bring for me and the other girls, but I do know it's now not only a trip that I was destined to do but that they were destined to do with me. It is written in the stars and it has been written into our songlines. It will be the trip of a life time for all of us and it will be a trip that changes all of our lives.

Australia, I still cannot believe I will be seeing you in a mere 196 days. I don't think I'll actually believe it until I land and see you for myself. I do know, that I cannot wait to experience everything you have to offer and give my life.

Charleston Fun

The trip to Charleston swung into action the moment I saw that The Constellations were opening up for Minus the Bear at the Music Farm. Joining me for the show would be Suzanne & Krissie. I called in a favor and scored us tickets to the show and then found a room near the venue that wasn't sky high since it was Memorial Day Weekend.

5:30 AM - Sunday, May 29th - the alarm goes off...I am still hungover from the stupid fun I had on Thursday, Friday, & Saturday. Time to rally though. I can sleep when I'm dead...or on the beach. I swing by Suzanne's and we load Hailey the Honda up with beach essentials...football, boogie board, vodka & red bull. We head onward to pick up Krissie...after a few slight wrong turns and mispronunciations we now have everyone and everything we need for the beach. I slept for 2.5 hours. Suzanne for an hour, and Krissie for 4.5 hours...combined total, 8 hours of sleep before Charleston fun...we're good right?? Delirium and laughter set in right outside of Rock Hill, SC. Suzanne's Facebook Update: Road trip: Red bull vodka, Shelia, krissie, banana, 1 hour plus 2 hours plus 4.5 hours collectively equals one full nights sleep and a partridge in a pear tree. Then Suzanne from the backseat says, "Shelia be careful of Yoshimi, he'll spin you out but I have a banana to throw at him and I'll be damned if Mario the Italian is on the beach, I'll throw the banana at him instead." She then falls asleep. We arrive at Isle of Palms by 11ish...give or take a few minutes. We park. We hit the beach for chilling, sunning, & floating in the beach.

3:30 PM - we reload the car & go check into our hotel. We hit the cobblestone streets of Charleston in search of food and land at 39 Rue de Jean...to us Rue. We ask to sit on the patio and order beer, wine, water, oysters, crab salads, and sushi. Our server RJ had impeccable timing...and by impeccable, I mean, he walked up at every inappropriate converstaion we were having, but he got our sleep deprived humor and put up with us. He had just as much as we did so we ordered a cheese plate, fries, edamame, dessert, and martinis. Please go to Rue and sit in RJ's section. He was completely awesome. So awesome, we were going to buy him drinks after his shift. That sadly didn't happen because well...what had happened was...

7:30 PM - we walk out of the hotel and across the block to the Music Farm. The Constellations hit the stage at 7:55 pm and we want to grab a drink and a spot in the crowd. There is some sort of kick ass party in the block we are walking across and it instantly lifts our tired spirits and settles us for a night of great music. We befriend DeAngelo behind the bar, order a round, and head to the merch table and Jamie from the Constellations greets us. We hug, I buy a shirt, wish a good show and then drag Suzanne & Krissie into the crowd. Krissie has seen me at a Constellations show...Suzanne was about to experience her first...the band hits the stage and rocked are faces off for the next 35 minutes. We also acquire a new friend, name unknown...her friends didn't want to dance and we were. We were also the only people in the crowd drinking and the oldest people in the crowd. Score 2 points for the 21 & up crowd!! Suzanne is now a fan of the band :) We return to the bar and buy the band a round of shots and as the 2nd band plays we leave. We saw who we came to see and hit the streets of Charleston.  Quick run through...we hit A.C.'s...don't dig the vibe going on, chug some drinks, bail. My depth perception is not at full capacity and what looks like a 2 foot drop is a 5 foot drop and I end up on my ass after scaling a wall. Nothing's broken. Nothing's bruised. Laughter ensues and we continute to walk. We hit Hyman's Seafood, drink a round of drinks, bail because the overpowering smell of seafood. Hit TBonz for food and drinks we don't finish. Return to the hotel by 11:30 pm and pass out from exhaustion and booze.

Monday...we wake up, have breakfast, shower, check out and hit the streets of Charleston for a little shopping. I, being the Buffett fan, request Margaritaville trip but between the hotel and there we stop at some awesome stores like Robot Candy Co. If you need a 4.75 lb gummi bear, they've got it. If you need candy from your childhood (lemonheads, grapeheads, candy cigarettes, etc), they've got it too. We goof off in Margaritaville for a bit and then hit a side street. I hear Shelia Taylor being yelled out into the Charleston air. Suzanne & Krissie proclaim I know someone everywhere. A blast from my past, Miss Tracy Little...fantastic chef and spontaneous person and I hug, catch up, and promise to keep in touch. She working at Charleston Place and we agree that the next I'm down, I'm eating there. We continue our walk and  stumble into Mellow Mood and spend a solid hour there. Suzanne & I buy dresses for the summer here and for our Australia trip in December. Jay & Tanya are the best ever! I felt at home in their store. Jay chatted with us about Australia, the places he & his wife visits, the fabrics of the dresses, the stones in the jewelry, and so on. We leave with our purchases as happy as can be and lifetime patrons. So lifetime that two hours later, I return to the store and buy the dress that caught my eye in the first place. I knew it was suppose to be bought if it was still in the store and it was and Xavier Rudd was playing as well. Universe, I listened. I bought it. We head to Squeeze on suggestion from Jay but it is closed and we had to Mac's Place Pub & Grub. When we walk in, we all 3 agree, it's our kind of bar. We hang out with Travis the bartender and recap what a great store Mellow Mood was and the great people we have met in Charleston. We also agree that we're down for a day trip and make plans to do it again in June and every month after that too.

So thanks to: RJ (Rue), DeAngelo (Music Farm), Jay & Tanya (Mellow Mood), Travis (Mac's Place) for your great services and to everyone else we met along the way that made the trip fantastic.

A huge thanks to the Constellations for putting on a hell-uv-a show and of course thanks to Suzanne and Krissie who joined me on this road trip.

The world is your oyster people...make each moment count.

May Earworms

I wake up with the oddest songs in my head. Here are May's (updated daily)

05.01 - Shake That by Eminem
05.02 - Judas by Lady GaGa
05.03 - Love Me Like You Use To by The Skybombers
05.04 - Nail in My Coffin by The Kills
05.05 - Icredibly Close by The Miggs
05.06 - Badfish by Sublime
05.07 - ---
05.08 - All I Do is Win - DJ Khaled
05.09 - ---
05.10 - Hit by Hank & Cupcakes
05.11 - This is Gonna Hurt by Sixx: A.M.
05.12 - ---
05.13 - ---
05.14 - ---
05.15 - Can't Deny It - Fabolous
05.16 - Dark Blue - Jack's Mannequin
05.17 - ---
05.18 - The Reasons We Were Blessed by Xavier Rudd
05.19 - ---
05.20 - This is Gonna Hurt by Sixx: A.M.
05.21 - Waidmanns Heil by Rammstien
05.22 - Edge of Glory by Lady GaGa
05.23 - Toxicity by System of a Down
05.24 - ---
05.25 - ---
05.26 - Alive by Edwin
05.27 - ---
05.28 - ---
05.29 - ---
05.30 - Perfect Day by The Constellations
05.31 - Government Hooker by Lady GaGa

Alive

While walking my dog, Nick, this morning, there was a light breeze and the sun was shining. This song popped into my head. Like the song goes, it feels good to be alive.

Lyrics to "Alive" by Edwin
It feels so good to breathe the air
Another spin around the sun
On this spec of life
In the universe
The gift of love
Is there for everyone

Angels working over time
Day or night to hold the hands
That play all alone
A baby's born pure to the world
As the old man lays down his head and closes his out
With nothing said

Every year another promise is made
A pint of beer raised towards a better day
Lets find a star, a star to call our own
And make a wish, maybe we can make it home

Ain't it good to be alive?
To feel the sun, strong against your face
Strawberry blonde waves of silky hair
Spills over me like the milky way

Ain't it good to be alive?
Ain't it good to be alive?

Alive, alive....(x2)

Ain't it good to breathe the air
Another spin around the sun
On this spec of life in the universe
A little peace of life in everyone
Ain't it good to be alive?
Ain't it good to be alive?
To feel the sun strong against your face
It spills over me like the milky way

Alive, alive...(x2)

Songs of My Life - May 2011

Hold My Breath by Ross Copperman
     I had music playing in the background of work but the lyrics caught my ear. "I don't want to hold my breath. Toss my pennies in a wishing well. Believe in fortunes I can't tell, cuz this is my life. I won't let them get inside my mind. I don't want to fall one step behind. Loose my place at the finish line, cuz this my time." Great song and I must thank Krissie for putting this on her Winter Mix. It might not have made a difference in my life in 2010, but the song makes a difference in 2011

On the Surface by Civil Twilight
     This band from South Africa is just amazing and everyone should go see them. Again, music playing in the background of work and the piano caught my ear and then the lyrics spoke to me. "I heard a song inside of me, itt resonated off the sea, and all the chorus voices sang it back to me. If life is an ocean, then I'm only on the surface."

They Can't Buy the Sunshine by Turin Brakes
     Shocker, lyrically connection here but the lyrics say it all "they can't buy the sunshine."

The Thought of Losing You by Dredg
     A free song on iTunes but from a band I had forgotten I liked. I loved their song Zebraskin & I like the lyrics to this song.

Til Kindgom Come by Coldplay
      I have always enjoyed this song and after leaving my dad's house where my sister & her family live, this song popped up and as I listened to the lyrics, I made a mental note to make sure my dad listened to this song. I know this is how he feels about my mom. He will wait until he has to, to see her again.

Digging the Heroine by Econoline Crush
     I have loved this band since they came into  the music scene and this song popped up when I had my iPod on shuffle. It took me back to 1999 and reminded me of the relationship I was in and it reminded me that I am now where I need to be.

The Ghosts of California by Fort Frances
     I am a huge David McMillan fan and this is his full band project and it's just fantastic. This song is a reminder to me that you must take a step forward towards your dream. You have to let go of your past and the hurt and just move on. My favorite lyrics "It's a good year for leaving. It's a good year for letting go."

Stone by Stereophonics
     Another iPod on shuffle gem...the lyrics "I pick myself up off the ground, sick to death of lying down...you're in my soul, you're in mind, but I don't know where you are now" just reminded me of how I felt when my mom died and how I had to just take one step at a time and move forward. It actually inspired the blog "Listening to the Universe."

Gone by U2
     Same as above, iPod on shuffle surprise. Just remembered how much I like this song.

In Repair by Our Lady Peace
     Again, shuffle surprise on the same night as Stereophonics and U2. They lyrics "Well it's good to know that you'll be okay. I've been waiting for this...Like a machine, they'll fix you from the start...take the time to figure it out. Know the wire, the fuse, things that you doubt." I took it as words from my mom from the Universe. Our lives are always in some sort of repair and it's okay.

Love Comes and Goes by Xavier Rudd
     When Xavier came to the station and played this song for us, I really listened to the lyrics for the first time ever and I've listened to the song at least 25 times. I instantly thought of my dad and sent him the song. I can't say I know how it feels to have the kind of love in this song, but it's a song of healing. "Love comes and goes sometimes decades sometimes months. Raise you up to the sky make you feel like every little thing is bright. Send you crashing back down, make you so sick you want to drown. No other pain like losing a soul mate."

I Don't Mind by honeyhoney
     So far my favorite song on their new CD Billy Jack. Fun, toe tapping, and a damn good song.

Don't Give Up On Me Now by Ben Harper
     A free song on iTunes but a goodie. Love the lyrics "It's not what we do, it's what we do with what we feel. Takes all you have to stare it down, and whisper "Devil, no deal." ... You can wait your whole life, not knowing what you're waiting for."

Benediction by Thurston Moore
     Another free song on iTunes and also a goodie. If you can get benediction into a song, I like it.

Scheiße by Lady GaGa
     I don't care who you are, bitch can entertain. I just love this song & the lyric "If you're a strong female, you don't need permission."

Don't Stop (Color on the Walls) by Foster the People
     Just a freaking catchy little ditty.

Rammstein - Vegas

When Rammstein played MSG in 2010, it was the first time I saw the band live. I never thought I'd see the band perform. Their 2010 show was the first time they had been on US soil in 10 years then in 2011 they announced they were doing a few dates stateside. Seeing Rammstein once, unbelievable. Seeing Rammstein twice within 6 months...priceless.  I was going to try to see them in Chicago & in Vegas but looking at my bank account, I had to pick one or the other. I chose Vegas of course.

Like the NY show, this was no let down. Some might have been upset that the set list was the same from the MSG show, but I did not care. With a production like theirs you have to be smart in what you're playing, carrying, and setting up each night!

I cannot speak highly enough of the Rammstein show or the band in general. Even if you are not a fan of Rammstein show, you MUST go see them live just once in your life if you're a fan of live music. You might not like the music or understand the lyrics, but you will get that a spectacular show it is.

The video below is from Vegas of their song "Engel" from their Sehnsucht album. It is the song they closed the set too as well. Translated lyrics HERE

Concert Review: Xavier Rudd and honeyhoney

I am a huge honeyhoney fan and their live shows reflect the personalities of Suzanne & Ben. Fun, entertaining, great music, and superb lyrics. Last night they opened for Xavier Rudd @ Neighborhood Theatre. When I saw that honeyhoney was going to be coming to town, I was stoked, but who was this Xavier Rudd? I went to his website and was not let down. I bought his new release Koonyum Sun to familiarize myself with his music and patiently waited to see not only one but two of my favorite bands! Bonus to seeing them both live...they were going to stop by the studio and perform 2 songs acoustic for the station and some lucky listeners.

First up...honeyhoney
     Their new songs were fantastic. I was already going to buy the new CD when they announced in the studio that it was available for a digital download. The played mostly new songs from their new album Billy Jack and I was lucky they played "Not For Long" from their last CD First Rodeo. It is my favorite song off the CD. Their set, short, but nonetheless just as great as all the other times I have seen them. I can see/hear how they have matured on stage and I can only see a huge success in their future. This is one of the bands that will suddenly be one of those bands that are everywhere and I'm glad to have seem them from the beginning!
     Side note: their 2 song performance at the studio was fantastic & fun. Can't speak enough about this band.

Second up...Xavier Rudd
     This was my 1st Xavier Rudd show and it WILL NOT be my last. There are a few concerts I've seen that I would come close to calling a religious experience (Jimmy Buffett & Ray LaMontange), but seeing Xavier Rudd was truly a religious experience. The music, the lyrics, the energy from him on the stage, and the energy of the crowd made it seem like we were the only people on the planet. I completely forgot about the outside world and was truly enlightened by the music. I was still on a spiritual high when I arrived to work this morning. I tried to explain to a co-worker exactly how it felt to be there, but I failed miserably. You just have to see Xavier Rudd live. There's something transcending about his music. Something that moves you in positive direction. Something that touches you and leaves a mark. I left the venue in complete awe and with even more respect than I had when I entered a few hours earlier. I also walked away with copies of all the other CDs I didn't own plus a t-shirt.
     Side note: his 2 song set at the studio was absolutely brilliant. Meeting him in person was an honor. I'm rarely nervous around artists, but was completely speechless and nervous meeting him.

Xaveir Rudd @ Neighborhood Theatre
May 17, 2011
On drums and the didgeridoo

Xavier & the audience


crossposted on The Hockey Maven

Listening to the Universe

"I pick myself up off the ground, sick to death of lying down...You're in my soul. You're in my mind, but I don't know where you are now." ~Stereophonics

When my mom passed away, my friend and co-worker Sarah W. said, "Invite your mom to come play with you in your dreams." For months, every night when I went to sleep, I'd invite my mom to come see me in my dreams. Hoping to talk to her one last time. The one time she did come to me a few weeks after she passed away, I woke up in a cold sweat and crying. It was far from a dream, a nightmare really, and when I tried to go back to sleep, I told her to come see me when she wanted to and that I'd be waiting for her. I never invited her to come back to my dreams again. I definitely didn't want a nightmare like I had before. I figured if she needed to talk to me, she'd come when she was ready or when I was ready.

Fast forward to March 2011, the week of me completing the tattoo tribute for my mom, I dreamt of her every night leading up to the day I finished the tattoo. I realized it was closure. Some dreams were just dreams...we were slaying vampires and zombies (her favorite horror movies) and some were just me watching her as if she were in a movie. They always seemed very short dreams like lightning flashing across the sky. Then there were the dreams that were prophetic and I woke up questioning if it were a dream or if it was my mind wanting that dream to be the answer I wanted to hear/see.

I know I sound like a nut to those who don't believe that something greater than we are is out in the Universe, but in my heart of hearts, I know the dreams that I had with my mom that I thought were prophetic, was her and the Universe guiding me in the right direction for my what is my future.

Another friend and co-worker, Emily B. said to me last week, "I feel that December 17th is a going to be a good day for you." I said in return, "Well it can't suck anymore than they have the last two years." (My mom passed away on Dec 17, 2009 and Dec 17, 2010...well it was a year later and I was just figuring out how to live again.) Emily B clarified that I was going to see 2 of my favorite artists on May 17th and that good things seem to be around the 17th for me. Then as I FINALLY booked my flight to Australia last week, I looked at the flight numbers. Delta flight 17 out to Sydney. Delta flight 16 back. (16 is my favorite number). I emailed Emily B and told her I think she was onto something. The Universe had spoken and my eyes, my heart, and my soul was listening.

I don't know if every 17th will surrounded by good things, but so far, so good. I just have to keep listening to the Universe, pay attention to the dreams I have, and keep my eyes on the stars. They shine and dance for us.

Listening to "Gone" by U2

Closed on Sunday

"No plane on Sunday. Check it again come Monday. Just a hopeless situation. Make the best of it's 'bout all you can do." ~ Jimmy Buffett

My sister and I planned a family day trip for us, her daughters, and her husband. We decided to take "Da Nieces" to Gem Mountain and let them pan for gems & just enjoy the scenery. I've taken my oldest niece, Riley, twice before and we thought my youngest niece, Taylor, would have a blast. She has that curious nature just like her older sister. So we hope in the car and start the drive to Spruce Pine, NC. It's not that far away, about 2 hour drive or less depending on bathroom breaks and traffic. On the way up, Brenda (Sis-tah) and I started wondering if it would be open. Neither of us had thought to verify the times they were open, we just decided to go to the mountains and have fun. As we passed the signs for it, we started yelling "closed on Sunday" to each other and laughing about what if. We pull into Gem Mountain and guess what, it was closed on Sunday. My brother-in-law woke from his nap in the backseat and asked why in this day and age we didn't check before we left or while we were driving, and I told him, that Brenda and I had agreed that it was now part of the adventure. We turned the car back around and headed back down Spruce Pine towards Linville Caverns.

I love Linville Caverns! I have loved that place since I was kid. My sister also had flashbacks to childhood field trips. I have also taken Riley to the caverns several times. Before we went into the cavern, we spent an hour outside at the creek, stretching our legs, playing in the ice cold water, and having fun and laughing. Taylor, my fearless, younger niece had no qualms trying to jump, crawl, walk, her way from slippery rock to slippery rock. At one point, we had a human chain of passing her from person to person to get her across the rocks. She wanted to play in the water and in the banks of the creek. We picked up snails and crawdads and splashed around like kids. We ventured from outdoors and towards the caverns. Julia our tour guide was fortunate to only get the 5 of us...maybe she was unfortunate. We asked a lot of questions, joked around with each other, and had a lot of fun.

After the cavern tour, we stopped a little road side resturant called Louise's and had a late lunch of fried Southern goodness and then landed at Linville Falls & Gorge where we walked/hiked, enjoyed nature, and the scenery. We stomped through mud, puddles, unrolled leaves to find out what bug had rolled it up. The inhabitant of that leaf was long gone by then of course.

On the drive back, the entire Thompson clan all fell asleep and I drove back listening to Constellations and Eric Hutchinson. They were resting quietly from exhaustion and fun. I had a full heart of love, laughter, and living.

The only thing missing was my dad who was being carried away safely to his next destination, Florida, on the wings of his angel, my mom. As she carried him to safety, she watched over us and gave us a day together we surely will not forget.

As Jimmy Buffett sings, "No plane on Sunday...make the best of it..."

And that's just what this Family Funday Sunday did...Gem Mountain was closed but we still had a blast!

See all the pictures from our Linville Adventure and some of my favorites are below

Brenda & Taylor - Liniville Caverns - May 15, 2011



Riley & Taylor - Linville Caverns - May 15, 2011



Riley, Bud, & Taylor - Linville Caverns, May 15, 2011

Only a Change of Worlds



(c) http://www.greatcosmichappyass.com/
The card I gave my dad when my mom passed away.




I read this Tweet from @TheSingleWoman "There will come a day when you will realize: You would have never found YOU if you hadn’t lost THEM."

I realize it's inregard to a break up but with today's news that a dear friend's dad is battling a cancer more severe than hoped, when I read it, I found the words comforting. I would not be the person I am today if my mother was still alive. I would not be the person I am today if I hadn't lost her to a subdural hematoma.

I'm not saying everyone needs to lose someone they love dearly to find their way, but I am saying that as tough as it is in the moment of their death and in the moments after, your destiny, your beliefs, your needs change. You become shaped by the life they have lived and they life they would have lived. I found myself living every moment like it's my last and loving every moment that I have with my family and my friends.

I don't know what the future holds for my friend and her family. I don't know if it will end in sadness or in a celebration of life. A life that is still alive or a celebration of a life that once lived. All I do know is that the spirit of my friend though fragile cannot be completely broken. She has many friends and family who will hold her through the anger, the tears, the fears, the denial, and the acceptance. If she allows us, we will help her pick up the pieces and put a patch over the holes that life has given her heart. If she chooses to go it alone as I did, she will at least know that when she is ready, we will be there for her.

Death as hard as it is, is not the end of one's spirit, just the shell that held them here on Earth. One's Spirit lives forever and I look at my youngest niece Taylor who only knew her Grandma Lek for a brief six months and see so many influences that could only be from my mom as proof that One's Spirit does live on.

Happy Birthday Riley

Riley
Spring of 2009

Happy Birthday Riley! Today you turn 12! TWELVE! To think, you were born premature and had to be on a heart & lung monitor for your first three months. I remember the doctors tell your mom & dad that you might be in the bottom of the percentile in those childhood achievements they monitor but you showed them wrong! You were off that heart & lung monitor within weeks and sprouted your wings and have grown and and continued to show that you are nothing but the best of the best! I'm so proud of you Stinker! You continue to amaze me and put me in awe of your spirit. I will always love you big as the sky!

Happy Birthday Taylor

Taylor Rayne Thompson
May 2009
One of my favorite pictures of her first year

Happy Birthday Taylor!
You turn 2 years old in a couple of hours and I am grateful for the moments I have with you. I wish nothing but happiness and success and joys for your life!
Love,
Shelia

Songs of My Life - April 2011

I'm late on this post, but life is what it is, and the first 4 days of May kicked my ass.

Life by Our Lady Peace
     This was on the cusp of March and April. It inspired this post Life is Waiting for You. I just like the lyrics "Life is waiting for you. It's all messed up, but we'll survive."

Fuckin' Perfect by Pink
     Again, lyrical connection to the song. I have a play list for my nieces that has songs that I think would inspire and move them. If I had this song when I was at the age of awkward and geeky, I would have smiled knowing that someone thought I was perfect. This song is for Riley and Taylor. "Don't you ever feel like your less than fucking perfect. You're perfect to me."

Sugarbuzz by Marvelous 3
     I was on my way to Raleigh to see the Wings vs Canes game. I was on my 2nd Starburst pack when I started humming the song about my own sugar buzz. I had to hear the song and I forgot how great it is. You can't help but sing the song at the top of your lungs! "Ain't nobody going to get me down...You can stick that sign up your ass. The one that says it won't last...If I have the time of my life."

Gravity by Angie Aparo
     This song came on when I did a Genius Mix on my iPod. I have always love the lyrics to this song and it inspired the post Happiness is Coming. Singing the song at the top of my lungs, as the chorus to the song hit, I broke into tears. Not tears of sadness but tears of realizing that I was doing what I was suppose to be doing. Living how I was suppose to be living. Not saving time for another life, but spending the time I had living the life I was living.

Incredibly Close by Miggs
     Lyrical connection: "Because I feel like I'm on fire. I'm trapped. Trapped inside myself. I'm stuck in gear and I'm filled with fear, screaming go, go, go, go, go." There was a moment in April when I felt exactly what the lyrics said and this song was my anthem to myself to make a life choice. I was surprised by how easy the decision I made came to me and how 100% sure of it I was.

Hit by Hank & Cupcakes
     I never had heard of the band but I got a request for a proposal to giveaway tickets. Intrigued by the band name, I went to their site to see what they were about. This song played. I was hooked.

MoneyGrabber by Fitz and the Tantrums
     Besides being a great earworm, it makes me want to dance. It is also what ever woman or man should say to the one they keep letting back in. "Don't come back anytime, I've already had your kind. This is your pay back, money grabber...This ain't your home, so I'm showing you the door. Wave goodbye now, it's time for you to go."

I Wrote the Book by Beth Ditto
     Free song on iTunes. I liked the title because well, I write. I've written novels...I wrote the book. Other than that, it's a great little dance ditty.

It's a Great Day to be Alive by Darrell Scott
     Gareth Asher does a great cover of this song and it's always a great day to be alive. I made it my motto for April

Surprise Surprise by Brett Dennen
     Another free song on iTunes. "Open up your eyes, it's happening all around you..." My message to the world...live your life. Don't leave this world with regrets.

Stealing a Moment from Strangers

I was walking my dog Nick the other morning and this little boy and his grandmother (I assumed because of the way she interacted with him) was in front of me. They walked hand in hand and she spoke to him in her native tongue. They stopped at one of the entrances to the apartment building to watch a dog running around in the courtyard. The smile on the little boy's face was amazing. I had to take a moment to steal this picture. It was a moment between them I will never forget. As Nick & I passed, he bounced over to Nick with a smile and that no-sense-of-fear only kids have. I stopped so he could pet Nick. Later that day, as I took Nick on his afternoon, I ran into the woman again. She was all smiles and said hello to me. She reminded me of my mom. I am thankful I passed them twice in one day. The love between them was undeniable.