lajendi

how to get out of a funk

  Simon and Garfunkel accompanied by an October sunrise.

Not everyday is a Paul and Art day (Forest, where ever he is, just got a facial tic from my writing that) really they are too special for every day in much the same way that I wouldn't want to drink soda for lunch out of a crystal goblet. After 16 years of marriage I'm just now realizing that two of my favorite things in the world are also the first names of the best ever singer/songwriter duo.

Start out with I Am A Rock and Sounds of Silence, indulging the darkness a little to get comfortable in your own skin. The sardonic wit of Mrs. Robinson comes next but let's not go too fast so Bridge Over Troubled Waters after that.  Slide into The Boxer and while we're in the neighborhood add a few more NYC songs with America and The Only Living Boy in New York. As the sky brightens it seems appropriate to hear El Condor Pasa:

"I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail.
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.
Yes I would.
If I only could,
I surely would.

"Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world
Its saddest sound,
Its saddest sound.

"I'd rather be a forest than a street.
Yes I would.
If I could,
I surely would.

"I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet,
Yes I would.
If I only could,
I surely would."

Kathy's Song makes you miss your sister so it is appropriate, be careful we're feeling up don't get down again. Feelin' Groovy will fix that. If you can keep the kids from laughing at your lip syncing abilities you can listen to Baby Driver while they eat cheerios (J likes the car noises). Do you know that the potency of this prescription is magnified if you sing along?  Keep the customers satisfied is rebellious little tune, reminding you to be yourself. Cecelia closes it out, "Jubilation, she loves me again, I fall on the floor and I laughing."

Then I wander around to other favorites. Billy Joel probably, after those NYC tunes, but now that I'm feeling better let's avoid listening to Allentown.

 

Another tip: An almond croissant and a cuddly toddler to kiss helps too.

HSM birthday

What is HSM? Come on doesn't everyone know High School Musical? Nope I'm not into the acronym and I have always had a major problem with turning my children into puppets for the corporate machine. Yes, as far as machines go High School Musical is great in comparison to others out there, but making my child's chest a billboard for the newest craze makes me crazy.

There, now that I've stated my opinion I'll show you all the things we will do at A.'s birthday party to further the HSM craze.

 

 

Who Said It

Before the party, write down several lines from the movie with the character that said it, on slips of paper. The players take turns selecting a slip of paper form a basket. Then, they'll say the quote aloud and see
who can guess the character from the movie that belongs to that quote.

Search for the Cell Phones

Mrs. Darbus has hidden everyone's cell phones. The kids have to find them! Before the party hide several plastic, candy filled or lip gloss cell phones. Write clues using the movie as hints. You'll find a fun quiz and
other ideas that may help on the High School Musical Website. When it's time to play, the kids will work as a team to answer all of the clues and find the cell phones. Of course everyone gets a phone to take home!

Wildcats Pennants

As an additional activity provide the supplies for making a Wildcats pennant to take home. These are made using red and white craft foam and a craft glue stick. Provide enough scissors for the kids to cut their own stars and letters, or you may want to provide pre-cut letters and shapes that you'll find at most craft stores (we find that easier). Often the shapes and letters come "sticky-backed", making this project even easier for you and the kids!

Play musical games to the soundtrack of the movie such as freeze dance, musical chairs, or hot potato.

Turn your house into a school cafeteria lunch line. Give the kids lunch trays and have them line up to choose from a selection of cafeteria favorites such as pizza slices, hamburgers, sandwiches, plates of macaroni and cheese, mini carrots, apples, and cookies. Serve little cartons of milk in both the plain and chocolate varieties. Get juice or milk in the paper boxes you can stick a straw into.

Party Favors-

Party favors might include glitter nailpolish, sweat bands, pretend microphones, and toy basketballs. Pom Pom Sets, Zippered Pencil bag filled with fun pencils, pens, erasers, stickers and a treat or two.

date

DH and I went out last night, much needed after the lunacy of the past few weeks.

We spent some of our time at Barnes and Noble. The local library doesn't have alot of new titles so when I'm  interested in something I'd like current info on ol' B&N becomes my library. No, I don't feel guilty about this, after all why put a coffee shop and cushy chairs if you don't expect people to sit and stay a while? Although it does remind me of a line from the Simpsons, Apu: "Hey, hey, this is not a lending library. If you're not going to buy that thing put it down or I'll blow your heads off!"

These were the titles I investigated, the first I studied very intently and became depressed that I'm old to be starting down this road.

 

 

 

 

 

Along these lines, Baby may have milk sensitivities too. I'll just say this, when I got her out of bed this morning she went straight into the bathtub, did not pass go and did not collect $100.

 

(not an exact replica)

DH bought this:

 

 

 

I purchased nothing because there is a pile of books waiting by the bed and a Psych text that needs my attention.  Upon arriving home I did read more in this though-

 

 

 

 

The Italy section was the best in my opinion, reminded me of Under the Tuscan Sun (book not movie, never the movie, poop on the movie) There were a few points of interest about relaxation and yoga but she is not the best writer for metaphysical stuff. ("stuff"- obviously I'm not one to write about it either).

IMO books and music always go well together. While writing this post and studying yesturday I enjoyed Jason Mraz's new album. More mello than his earlier work, but that's about par for me.

pow - wow

Today while taking a break from home construction (definately will show and tell but only after it's done, I'm all about the drama of it) A, J and I went to an Indian Pow-Wow.

Thinking ahead I stuffed the camera into my bag, knowing there would be great things to share with you. But as you plainly see I have no pictures. My response to the pow-wow was unexpected.

There were booths with  turquoise native jewlery and leather goods. Dancers were filling the air with the sounds of the bells on their feet. The campfires for cooking were spreading smoke and aroma over the hollow. It was all I could do not to cry. Very unexpectedly I felt my heart skip a beat and proclaim to my mind, "this is a part of me". Here in the midst of this region that seems so foriegn to my western soul was something I knew.

When I was a child I remember someone telling me to put some shoes on and get inside, that I looked like a little indian girl (was that you Dad?). If that was being an indian girl, I was all for it. Throughout my life I've heard whispers of indian blood in my family line, I like to think it is true. It explains my slight olive toned skin, free spirit, love of nature, and gives a little more drama to my plain brown hair.

At one point during the pow-wow a single drum beat a deep steady rhythm, I felt it as the heartbeat of mother earth. Seeing  familiar faces in traditional dress perform the dances of their heritage became more than my camera was worthy of. I could no more take a picture of them than I could take a picture of someone sitting in a pew at church.

So my heart wished for words to explain to the indians that I am a little indian girl. To tell them I learned all about the indians of Utah in school and wondered which tribe I was from. That I could be a dancer tinkling with bells on my feet and sleep in teepee to wake at sunrise with no sign of civilization in sight.

Maybe that is why I thrill at a camping trip when few women do, it is a chance to recapture my indian childhood.

Workout playlist

One of the ingredients for a successful workout is good music.

At one time I found myself dreading the gym because my workout coincided with a trekking class (strenous workout on the treadmill through varying speed and incline). I didn't participate in the class but still got out of the class the thing I hate most about exercise classes- being yelled at. This instructor was in an area not bigger than 20'x30' yet she insisted on using a megaphone. In addition the gym had music playing throughout but she brought a separate boombox for her own class music. The result was a full assalt on myhearing- intructor yelling through megaphone, pumping music through boombox, music from gym loudspeakers mixed with gymgoers yelling to speak to each other.  Thank the heavens for MP3 and great noise blocking headphones.

This is my playlist for workouts. It really invigorates me to push through the last lift or keep up with the treadmill when I'm dragging. And when it's an extra special day and I get the opportunity to run outside it makes me feel like never stopping.

Ok Go - Invincible, and Do What You Want

Foo Fighters - The Pretender

Audioslave - Be Yourself

Alana Davis - 32 Flavors

Bonnie Raitt - I Will Not Be Broken

Chris Cornell - You Know My Name

Creed - Don't Stop Dancing

Jason Mraz- Geek in the Pink

Sting - Send Your Love (Dave Aude Remix Edit Version)

BTW - I've also found headphones great for avoiding unwanted social advances, if you know what I mean. 

Snow Day

Today I did this:

 

Like this:

 

It  made my neighbor's day to see the crazy mother of four next door shoveling the driveway in shorts. The biggest smile I've ever seen on his face. It's good to make people smile.

Ironically enough this is the song that played on the MP3 while shoveling. 

The snow made me feel at home. It was more like Colorado snow than the icy stuff we usually get here. Plus its nice to have the roads and gym to myself because most people here are scared to drive in snow. Its still snowing . Even though I'm anxious for spring I just can't stop smiling.