heartbreak playlist

I cannot listen to music at all right now. But my brain keeps throwing these songs up and insisting that I play them, if only in my head. In no particular order, except for #1...

1. Satellite of Love | Lou Reed
2. Train in Vain | The Clash
3. Farm in the Middle of Nowhere | Buffy St. Marie
4. Another Innocent Girl | Alkaline Trio
5. I Melt With You | Modern English
6. Not Too Soon | Throwing Muses
7. Now They'll Sleep | Belly
8. Perfect Day | Lou Reed

january song of the month

I was thinking that it was too bad that I had already used Changes since it pretty much sums up my last six weeks.... six months..... six years.... But David Bowies passing today has me remembering all of his songs that have been the soundtrack to specific points in my life.

My introduction to Bowie was in 1981 when I borrowed Scary Monsters on cassette from the public library and then listened to the crap out of it. Ashes to Ashes was the song that got the most play. I have no idea why it struck a chord with my 11-year old self but it remains one of my favourites.

december song of the month

october song of the month

Spending the weekend binge watching Freaks and Geeks while nursing a horrible head cold. It's such a great show and I totally missed it the first time around. Making me realize just how happy I am that high school is faaaaaaar behind. And as always, looking forward to the day grad school is behind me as well!

Here's the theme....

july song of the month

This song is by The Figs, an all-female bluegrass band from Lafayette. The ukelele player, Jillian Johnson, was shot and killed by a man who hated women because she was a woman. Twenty six years after Marc Lepine shot fourteen women for the same reason, it is still utterly shocking each time it happens.

When I declined to go see Trainwreck with the MLIS gals last weekend, my only thought was that I had too much work to do. I did not consider that being killed was a possibility. I know that the chance of being shot by a stranger while out for an evening with my friends is infinitesimally small. I don't live in fear. But I also don't understand how someone can hate women, or any group of people, that much.

june song of the month

O has introduced rock n' roll Mondays to the kindergarten room at the daycare, which has prompted several discussions about which songs he should play. Since I  keep bugging him about the lack of women on his list, I thought this month's song better be by a kick ass chick. Had to make it something that was appropriate for five year olds, which was harder than I thought it would be!

Here's a two-for-one-special. And any suggestions for other songs can go in the comments!

And just for good measure, a link to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Women Who Rock exhibit.

may song of the month

This month's song is dedicated to Don Phillips, who passed away on April 14 and is buried today. I had the great pleasure of working for Don for a couple of years in the early 90s. One of the awesome things about working at Candlewood was Don's extensive and varied music collection. I heard all kinds of things there that I might never have otherwise. I had a hard time choosing just one song but this particular ture sticks out in my mind because when I mentioned to Don that I liked it, he replied (in his deep, gravelly voice) something like, "Me too, but I feel silly singing along." I thought that was hilarious. Don was a kind and generous man who will be greatly missed by many, including me.

april song of the month

Five more days until the end of the first semester. Am I ready to be done? Hell, ya. Am I ready to be done the whole program? Yes! Yes! Yes! Am I ready to get out of London? You bet.

march song of the month

March is my least favourite month. In Manitoba, it's just gross, grey and slushy... In London, it is even worse since I've already had two months of grey and slushy. Definitely in the doldrums. Also struggling with this weird feeling of disorientation and unreality, like, what am I doing here? Why am I on this bus? Who the hell are all these strangers? I've been kind of walking through the last week in a bit of a daze. Hoping that spring will fix this, but in the meantime...

february song of the month

Was going to post a different Herman Dune song but then I heard this one and it's so sweet and cute and fits my mood these days. Plus I can't resist tight pant wearing, sleepy eyed, hairy guys. :]

Okay... after that nice little interlude, back to my essay...

january song of the month

25 years ago today. Jason Shipley's apartment. 4E. Chelsea Court. A party I didn't want to attend. A dimly lit, smokey room and a case of mistaken identity that changed my life.

Although this song is not from that night (or, it could have been... I can't really remember...) it is of that era. O had the album. I played it often. Definitely reminds me of those days. Plus, come on, it's Lou Reed with Bowie on backing vocals. What could be finer?

december song of the month

For O, who didn't like last month's choice. Four more days!!!

november song of the month

At some point this month, in an unknown location, I heard this song. Was I grocery shopping? Was it someone's ring tone? Who knows. But it's been stuck in my brain for weeks. Which is okay, because I like it. I like Serena. And I say this as someone who is not generally a commercial pop music fan. But she's pretty darn awesome. The vid, however? Meh...

october song of the month

I actually find the video a bit hard to watch but love the song. Had never heard of Samantha Crain until we were driving home from our blissful weekend at Crooked Mountain. Was the perfect song for heading home when I really didn't want to.

august theme song + a list for o.

Ten awesome old timey country songs (in no particular order):

1. Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson
2. Blue Moon of Kentucky by Bill Monroe
3. There Goes My Everything by Jack Green
4. The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton
5. Walkin' the Floor Over You by Ernest Tubb
6. Jolene by Dolly Parton
7. King of the Road by Roger Miller
8. Jackson by Johnny Cash and June Carter
9. You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man) by Loretta Lynn
10. So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams

june theme song

Not the greatest video but hard to find Roots Roundup on the web. Definitely brings back some memories but more currently, spending a lot on time on my trusty Trek and loving it. Except for going over my handlebars today. Wasn't hurt, other than some minor scrapes, but dignity seriously wounded.

June has been a busy and actually fairly eventful month, which is why this is the only post. Name change became official so have been spending a great deal of time getting all my ID updated. Got accepted to the MLIS program at Western, so generally getting my ducks in a row. Which includes fixing stuff in the house, meeting with our financial dude, applying for scholarships, etc.

Did take a break for the annual sister's weekend at Crooked Mountain. Every year we always say that we hope we see something. Something does not include: cows, crows, seagulls, Canada geese, squirrels or gophers. Last year we saw a fox kit who kindly posed for us until Ali got a dozen or so fantastic shots. This year we saw a ruby throated hummingbird and a great grey owl. Neither were particularly interested in having their picture taken but she still got 'em.

Also keeping on top of World Cup though not finding the time to watch many games. Really sorry I missed the Brazil-Chile game today. But knew who had won when people started driving through the Village, honking horns and waving green flags. And then the same again with Columbia.

And LASTLY, since it has been raining tons and keeping me indoors, I've become completely sucked into these books and spending all my last scraps of time on the sofa, totally absorbed.

Next month.... probably more of the same and then my nephews arrive! Yay!

may theme song

This was going to be my March theme song until it got bumped by Disney (sorry, lovely and talented Canadian indie artist....). So many of the lyrics really spoke to me, though overall I can't say that I understand what it's about.

It's a strange year and it appears that I am stuck
So much of the last couple of years has just been keeping things together and getting through each day. Lately I started to feel much less stuck. Decisions have been made about school, months of an insane work schedule came to an end, and my poor brain has healed to the point where I am more or less feeling like myself again.

Frantic city keep me warm this fall, it's been a heavy year
O's move, concussion in August that was such a setback, the Rufus incident, the freakin' weather.... Definitely a heavy year. Have been referring to the last six months as the winter of my discontent.

Bathurst, Spadina, St. George and Bay
This of course make me think of O. I imagine him riding the subway past those stops, transferring to the street car, going about his day 2000 kilometers away.

I predict a graceful expulsion
When I first heard this, I thought she was singing graceful explosion, but expulsion is so much better. Our very slow spring has definitely contributed to my feeling of letting out a long, deep sigh. But I also feel like I'm pushing things out of my life that I don't need to hang onto anymore. Hopefully I can be somewhat graceful about it. I love the way she sings this part because she seems so determined, but also like she wants to be hopeful.

april theme song

I know.... it's the first day of the month. And the last post was my March theme song. But Lucinda exactly expresses my feelings today. Winter, I dedicate this song to you.

I don't want you anymore
You took my joy
I don't want you anymore
You took my joy
You took my joy and I want it back
You took my joy
You took my joy and I want it back

march theme song

Had a different song queued up but then Karen sent me this. Believe me, I'm a lot less cheerful than Olaf. -30 windchill on my walk to work this morning... freakin' blizzard on the walk home. Singing In Summer through clenched teeth.

When life gets rough, I like to hold onto my dream
Of relaxing in the summer sun...

february theme song

Something sweet and silly to offset the general shitty-ness of the month.

And, uh, happy Valentine's Day, O. Here's to smoking stupid little cigarettes and drinking stupid wine. I'm always pretty happy when I'm kicking back with you.