How did November & a post about Joss Whedon get here?

So, this month it appears I've gone and written a post about Joss Whedon and storytelling for the Darksiders Blog. You can learn how Joss brought me into the world of emotion, stories and dinosaur betrayal.

The rest of my life has been very busy on the parenting front. My son is now officially a high school graduate which means we are all free of the school regime. So excited about it on many fronts, one of which is no more early morning starts. Well, except tomorrow which shall be an OMG-o'clock start due to assessing night shift workers. It's so rare, I don't mind. Too much.

The lead up to silly, crazy, hot season this year also absorbs waiting for university offers for son and realising it's now under three months until I get married.

Dark Side Down Under

Writing of time flying, it has been brought to my attention the Dark Side DownUnder blog I'm a member of is about to turn 1.....

There are some awesome prizes on offer with book giveaways from Keri Arthur, Rowena Cory Daniells, Tracey O'Hara and Erica Hayes to name a few of many.

All you have to do is come along, make a comment and answer a question on Monday, October 31.

Creativity, Life & Time

As I look at the calendar I'm slightly stunned how near the end of October we are. I knew at the start of this year it would be a rough year for me to balance my desire to write with my parent hat (we won't discuss wedding planning, I'll keep myself in denial on that front).

It's taken most of the year, but I've given myself permission to ride out the remainder of the school year (er, with 3 weeks to go) where getting words not down is okay. My son is wrapping up school and viewing life post school and all that entails - university applications, scholarships, choices, life without the school regime. In a way, so glad it's him not me (remember being 17??).  I have no doubt he will find and land on his feet, however it can be hard to watch the rollercoaster being so close to the action.

Meanwhile, there have been a lot of blogs appearing in my Google Reader about creativity, the need to keep going, burn out, balancing the creative with the practical side of one's life and it has me thinking.

So, while that blog post is percolating in my mind I'd like to direct you over to a blog by Deborah Biancotti (who is currently playing over at World Fantasy Convention) about creative exhaustion. It is something that happens to everyone in many different and varied ways. I know I've certainly enjoyed reading all the various responses Deb has received and it shows how no matter what way we travel to and reach the end product everyone has these thoughts. It's how we learn to handle them that counts.

Mysterious paper sculptures - Central Station Blog post

The internet can be a time suck it's true. But sometimes you come across things (I love facebook and twitter for this very reason)....like this. Go on. Have a scroll through. I think they are all beautiful, awesome achievements.

Mysterious paper sculptures - Central Station Blog post

I know I've been remiss in posting since the music. Real Life has been keeping me out of mischief. However, I have plans. They are somewhere round here, mixed in my ones for world domination.

Unintentional Radio Silence

Or should that be unintentional blogging silence. There was a plan. To do a blog during the Romance Writers of Australia 50K30day challenge. Being consistent, I didn’t pull that off either. Real Life intervened (as it does).

July saw me co-ordinating on the ground the RWA 5DI program. Was interesting being on the other side of the fence as six years ago I did a similar event called EnVision. I’ve never looked back from doing it and wanted to pay it forward. In between timekeeping during 5DI, editing managed to resume (I’d hoped to, but wasn’t planning anything). Was such a relief after so many bumps this year.

Back in June, the plan was to get on with edits and to make headway into my current wip (aka mermaid’s story). However, she and Real Life had other plans.  I’ve spent the snatches of available time reworking the turn she insisted on doing. Now I have this, the dirty draft is going to go down.  

Now, August looms.  Of course, August in Australia also means the RWA annual conference. It’s the 20^th anniversary and looking like being a wonderful shindig with plenty of networking, fun and learning.This year is in Melbourne and one of the guests I’m very much looking forward to meeting is Kelley Armstrong. Melbourne is a lot cheaper (and shorter) to fly to than Canada. 

I find it very amusing in my final year as an unmarried woman I will be room sharing (think of it as a professional girls weekend). Continuing on this train of thought is my other half mentioning since next year’s conference is much closer to home he may tag along (we get married and he comes to crash my girl’s weekend, er, I mean professional development).

Given we are both off to Brighton, England in 2013 for World Fantasy Convention (our delayed honeymoon) perhaps starting with a Romance Conference may be a wise thing.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 30 The End is Here! Desire, Romance & Blood

I've done it. Managed to keep with this meme all the way through. Never done this many blogs in a row. I'm thinking the once a  month with extras will be the way to go (it's where I sit comfortably in the blogging world when added to twitter, facebook and oh yeah, that pesky writing thing I do). Part of the experiment in doing this meme via my blog rather than facebook (keeping the list was another) was to see if I wanted to blog more often. I can see a blog post about where the interwebz fits into my world.

The final choice was for favourite song this time last year. May 2010 was a blur. I was busy working 2 jobs (both regarding teaching/training), juggling a teen in the first of two years of senior (we're in the final year now) and organising an engagement shindig......songs weren't really a priority.

Trawling YouTube by ways of friends posting songs on facebook was more how I came across songs last year.

The result is I'm wrapping with two songs.

The first is a performance by a capella group On the Rocks dong a performance of a Gaga medley with Bad Romance dominating (& it was the song on high play on radios too). I love the movements they do along with the general awesomeness of a bunch of guys pulling off the songs.

The second is another I must've heard a lot and started to enjoy via morning weekend tv music shows. Undisclosed Desires by Muse. Added bonus to a version I found on YouTube (before my son bought a few of the cds) is someone put a composite of Eric Northmen & Sookie Stackhouse from True Blood to the song. A fan of the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris and the HBO tv show (though do not watch/read one expecting the other to be the same).  Personally I think the actors playing Pam and Eric in particular have nailed their characters brilliantly. Some of the others I hold reservations on (& just don't get me started on the fairies....)

So to wrap.......some Eric goodness :-)

30 Day Song Challenge Day 29 Childhood, Puppets & Eurovision

The end is nigh. Today is the penultimate song choice. A song from your childhood. Being chosen and revealed on Mother's Day no less.

I could go with Abba, have memories of one of their albums being the first one I asked to own. Then I thought I could pull out one of the many hippie country folk songs from John Denver, Carole King, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Seekers since that is what I grew up listening to. But since many songs I've chosen are tending to the more obscure or left of field I figure I should keep this going.......

What I didn't realise in this song choice was it was originally a Eurovision song. Honestly, my mother has a lot to answer for *lol* (the fact Abba did Eurovision in no way changes this fact). The song came out before I was born, how on earth I heard it I have no idea. I do remember the small, single song LP record and requesting to have it played (I couldn't use the stereo system - was too young .....) and bop around the lounge room dancing to it. Repeatedly.

Without further ado........here is a classic earworm that can be hard to get out of your head. Puppet on a String sung by Sandie Shaw. Oh, and I managed to find the actual Eurovision performance.....so very different to what is done nowadays.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 28 What's Guilt? No choices made

Today is the hardest one in the list. Again I knew it was coming and again I have no idea what to use. In fact I'm not going to be putting a song up. Different to guilty pleasures (like chocolate) it is mean to be a song that makes me feel guilty. I don't feel guilty when any song plays and I have none that trigger a case of guilts....

Wonder if that's in part due to the fact I live my life eternally feeling guilt (mother's guilt, creative guilt...you know, those "I should be doing something about this/that/whatever" sensation and you're not doing it).

I searched around the interwebz to find songs about guilt - since that was the closest I was going to get but even then I was quite meh over the exercise.

Tomorrow is going to amusing as hell (well, in my brain it is).

30 Day Song Challenge Day 27 Playing Music Harder than it seems

A song I wish I could play. It's taken me most of the day to think on this one (and that is knowing this choice was coming).

I keep coming back to a number of instruments I wish I could play. Owning them or even having the commitment to rent them to practice is the main obstacle to this wish. On the list of instruments I wish to own/play (which I've realised all are used to play Baroque Music).....

oboe

harpsichord

bassoon

Cello

(yeah, there's the cost of a decent sized car right there for you...which is why I've not indulged myself on this desire).

So, I've been spending the day doing mundane tasks like grocery shopping, making jam drops all the while thinking of various pieces of music over the years I've thought would be cool to play. I can think of pieces for each instrument, to play with an orchestra.....harder than it seems to make a choice.

I couldn't find a shorter snapshot version of this one...Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach. Really love it about the 1 - 2 minute mark.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 26 Playing is No Longer Secret

A song that you can play on an instrument.

Oh this was fun to choose. I was remembering the time in my life I played the flute (essentially until I left school, though I do still pull it out every now and again). My high school had a very ambitious music program with a conductor who thought nothing (or, maybe he gave it some thought), of throwing to the advanced concert band works of a high standard. It was hard and we needed to practice. I wasn't as disciplined as I should've been but perhaps if I had my life would've taken a whole other route (music & ancient civilisations were my big loves.....still are in fact).

Ergo, today's choice. The Marriage of Figaro Overture by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Undiluted aka rearranged for school students. We played the real deal. I have copies of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd flute parts. Have played them all. I didn't have the piccolo at this point (that would've been around for the Magic Flute the following year). I was 15yrs old/Grade 10 and can remember playing it along with Slavonic Dances by Dvorak.

I hear this piece and immediately my brain goes to playing the notes, mastering the double tonguing technique required, remembering the rests, the different points of starting, harmonies.....

I love playing music. On my wish list of when I have a gazillion dollars I'd love to buy an oboe and learn to play it. In the meantime, I should probably look into getting my flute serviced......

30 Day Song Challenge Day 25 Teens Make Me Laugh

A song that makes you laugh. A couple came to mind, but one stood out. Sort of Dunno Nothin' by Pete Denahy is a look at the day to day conversations one can attempt to have with a teenager. In particular a teenage boy. I have a teenage son and have had days like this. I don't know about girls, I'm sure they can be just as non-communicative towards parents, family or people who aren't part of their inner sanctum. It's a very Australian song. Aussie language and humour in all areas - the lyrics, the delivery, the settings used. Makes me laugh. Hope you get a smile too.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 24 Humour & funerals make an appearance

A song you'd like played at your funeral. I've thought of this on occasion and I have two songs I'd like played. Whether it'd happen is another thing entirely.

One song is What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. I first discovered this song via the Robin Williams movie Good Morning Vietnam. It's also the final song at the end of the TV version of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'd have this one played first (as you can get weepy).

My son I'm sure would say the next one is an obvious show of my humour but really it's to tell people to get on with their lives and to celebrate life. The song is Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin, an earworm of a song that came out in the late 80s. Added bonus to the video is Robin Williams making an appearance.

Sure be sad, but what I really want at my funeral is for people to celebrate the act of living and the times they had with me. 

30 Day Song Challenge Day 23 Wedding Secrets not revealed

A song to play at my wedding.  However, my wedding is on a schedule for next year. We haven't decided what songs we're going to use yet. Not to mention, my arrival song is going to be a surprise for the groom.

Maybe, after the ceremony next February, I'll do a post about weddings but until then.....I'm going to seal my lips, and take the U.S. fifth and not tell here.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 22 When Chilli is Sad

A song listened to when sad. Sometimes it depends on the cause of sadness, a passing memory, something that is upsetting at the time, being a witness or participant - it all changes the song choice for me. So, I trawled through all my music lists, listened to a few. Then realised one automatically pops into my head - Otherside by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'd forgotten how much I liked this video too.

The other time this song makes an appearance is when I do my swimming laps - there's a great rhythm in this song that times perfectly with strokes used in swimming up and down a pool. Swimming however does not make me sad. It relaxes me. So, a multipurpose song really.

I use Red Hot Chili Peppers a lot when I'm writing. The music can help me slide into the zone to a point I've no idea how much time has passed by.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 21 Happy Song with Lions

Aaaah, Saturday and the hunt for a song I play when I'm happy. Honestly, nothing popped. But one I find cheery and always leaves me feeling chirpy would be The Lion Sleeps Tonight. I always thought it was a traditional song (aka folk song), however, if you're curious click on the song title (just above here) to go to the Wikipedia listing and see the interesting history this song has had on the copyright front.

It's been around awhile but more recent history is an appearance in The Lion King - movie and musical. A great movie that has much sentimentality tied to it as well.

The version I'm linking to today cracks me up with the animation of the hippo and the dog. I love the gestures both facial and body. Enjoy!

Oh, and I can never listen to it just one time.....there's always at least a second....or a third.....

30 Day Song Challenge Day 20 Emotions Begin, Today Anger

Wow, I've kept with this and find myself in the final 10. For the next few days it's choices tied to emotional states. Today it's anger. Discovered something interesting as I trawled through my playlists. I don't listen to music when angry. Lower levels of that state, frustration, annoyance, aggravated I may listen to some things, but when angry - nothing. Having a very hot temper (that is on a very, very long fuse), when I hit anger it's more about calming down afterwards.

So, with that in mind, I've chosen a song from a playlist I know I use when I've been angry and am looking at finding my balance again. Besides, listen to the lyrics......

30 Day Song Challenge Day 19 - Playing Favourites

A song from the favourite album. Oh that's not hard. Not hard at all.....yeah, right. I have some albums I've kept for years because they're favourites. I have others that are newer to the collection & I'm thinking they'll become perennial favourites. How does one choose?

Speed of Purple is a band created and led by Sallie Campbell. Yes, Sallie has appeared elsewhere in this list so it's no surprise that she should appear here. I love the sound she creates, and her music choices always leave me inspired. There is a reason why any of her work, no matter where she is, I tend to seek out and enjoy immensely (the fact she is an awesome person is an added bonus). Some of the others Sallie has been tied with have been Tulipan, Deep Blue Orchestra, Kate Miller-Heidke, string quartets & collaborations with many others.

This song is from Beautiful Things and I've chosen Puppet, the opening song to use here. It's one of my favourites but really every song on this album I love and repeatedly listen to.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 18 So Many Choices & the Radio

Today's choice is about a song I wish I heard on the radio. Sheeesh. What a loaded selection. I know many wonderful and very talented musicians and wish I could hear all of them on the radio (one of the reasons I no longer listen to the radio as much anymore).

Problem this morning was not just picking only one but working out who had the easiest link out so you can hear them do their thing. So, as a result I'm going to list a few that I'd like to hear on the radio....they would be Sunas (though they are getting play with their new CD Celtic Road just released), Speed of Purple, led by a good friend, Sallie Campbell (who is currently very busy with the Deep Blue Orchestra <--- another group I'd love to hear on radio) and Liz Lecoanet who is one very talented vocalist (but her song is not out for public release as far as I know and I can't link anywhere).

So, with all those wonderful people is another fine singer, Wendy Rule. I heard her live last year at one of the house concerts she did (at friend Mil Clayton's place). Wendy's voice is amazing to hear live - hence why I used a live rather than studio version of the song. Really, the cds (& I own nearly all of them) are a cleaner recording but no changing her tone, depth and strength of voice.

Enjoy The Wolf Sky......

30 Day Song Challenge Day 17

A song heard often on the radio. Hmmm, I don't really listen to the radio that much, and, the one I do listen to isn't focused on music. Doesn't help matters, the one time of day I do have it on (aka the alarm clock) they're going through a retro one hit wonder phase (& therefore I can't remember any of them....plus the fact I'm waking up).

So, I'm going with one I hear/see regularly on the weekend music programs on tv. Plus, I know I've gone into my son's room (who does have a music station as his alarm) & heard this one too. Not to mention it's one I can tolerate reasonably well (hey, I could've picked something really annoying & earworm making).

I still feel sorry for him, lugging his piano around. Times like those, playing the piccolo = win.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 16 or how I've turned on a song

Today is ANZAC Day here in Australia which is a day of reflection & for once an early start in the household as my son walked in a march representing his school (though they are on holidays, the senior leaders chose to do it). As a result I've been up for a lot longer than usual before posting here on this challenge.

The song to go in search for is one I used to love but now hate. Really, there aren't many in that category. Sure, I was a teenager in the 80s and for that there are a number which hold cringe worthy affection. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to hate them. I put it down to nostalgia for my first loves, and all those 'first' experiences as you grow up.

Kokomo by The Beach Boys was released in 1988 in conjunction with the movie Cocktail, starring a much younger Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown. Personally, I was more enamoured with Bryan over Tom (he never held that huge an appeal for me - I think it's too many teeth in that smile....)

I've tried to give you a whole experience, finding a link that has movie snippets throughout......now go wash your brain out with something.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 15 The Inner Me

Choose a song that describes yourself. I'd be curious to see what others would pick for me in this category. Doesn't help there are two songs I'd use here. Even had a discussion with the other half on it and we couldn't split them apart.

The one I'm going with the link to is Bitch by Meredith Brooks. I think it really does encapsulate all aspects of myself. We all have light and shadow.

The second option would have been Did It Again by Kylie Minogue. Again a song about light and shadow or perhaps better described the many faceted sides that humans have.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 14 - Surprise Loving, Gaming & Opera

Now back on track to today's selection - a song no one would expect you to love. This is a fun one to choose - I mean, how do I know what people expect of me? Especially, since music, like my reading is very omnivore-like - pretty much anything goes?

Well, I thought of one. And I loves it. Really do. I think the most amused by my lurve of this one is my son - since it's the end credits to one of his favourite games of all time - Portal (which btw has had the long awaited sequel,  Portal 2 was released only a few days ago).

I loves the lyrics, the intent, the style and delivery....*sigh*. I'm also amused to have discovered the singer is a classically trained soprano opera singer, Ellen McLain.

I'd even contemplate it as my wedding arrival song next year but you know, good taste and all that (you have to listen to and know the lyrics)....

Now don't you feel like chocolate cake?

30 Day Song Challenge Day 13 - Guilty Pleasure with bellydancing

Oops, running late. I blame car trouble, lengthy road trips (four hours one way) and no sleep. Today's choice is a song I find a guilty pleasure. I think it can be interpreted two ways and am taking the view that it may be uncool to like this one type. Who knows with these things.

Shakira's Hips Don't Lie just appeals. I like it without watching the filmclip but the bellydancing she does in the clip also appeals (note to self, get organised and resume classes one day). Also appealing, the trumpet and beats in this song. Time to get hip flicking!

Song Break via way of Playdate

I have completely lost track of time this year. Today I'm having a playdate over at Kylie Griffin's blog discussing the hows and whys of what I write.

Kylie is a lovely lady who I met via  Romance Writers of Australia. She is busy working on her books with Vengeance Born due out in February 2012 (an awesome time to be doing anything in my opinion). You can find out more at her website http://www.kyliegriffin.com/Home.html

I'm looking forward to catching up in person again at the August conference. Much celebrating will be had!

30 Day Song Challenge Day Twelve

A song from a band you hate. Tough one on the basis that a)really can't think of one at the level of hate and b) why would I play something here if I hate it so much?

Rather I can think of soloists that I intensely dislike - enough to turn off the radio, switch the tv channel or avoid the product (if they've gone & sold the song for advertising). I'm going with one from this pile.

I suspect it's as much a case of overkill AND the fact that the "farewell tour" thing is so overdone it's beyond a joke. Just retire already. Or don't. None of this taking a last bow, on and on and on and on.....

So, if you dare to play it - some John Farnham......

30 Day Song Challenge Day Ten - Why Must I Choose

A song from your favourite band. Well, right there is a dilemma. I have a couple of favourite bands but went for one that I've known and heard the longest.  The Ink Spots. They now fall into the "Nostalgia" section of the music store but I think they had a resurgence in the gaming world thanks to Fallout 3.

My favourite song by them would be 'Taint Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do but can't find a sample. Intead I've gone for one of the more well known ones (Fallout 3, The Simpsons are two I know of who have used it).

Enjoy I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire

Seasons, Sleep & 30 Day Song Challenge Day Ten

A song that makes you fall asleep. I've chosen a song that helps me fall to sleep rather than one that is so blargh you fall asleep to avoid it.

The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi wins this round. Years ago, when I had trouble sleeping as a kid (it's been an issue for a long time) my  mum would play a cassette (yep, technology ruled) of the Four Seasons to help distract my brain as I drifted off to sleep.

The result is each season means something slightly different to me. Depending on which side of the tape we were up to (that fangled technology required these accommodations) meant I either started with Spring or Autumn. So, those were the signals for my brain to start getting to sleep. If I heard Summer or Winter start I knew I was having one of 'those' nights aka taking forever to get to sleep.

Spring and Autumn are such triggers now, that I tend to almost not-hear them. I've gone with an excerpt of Winter as the show'n'tell. Plus I think the link is kinda awesome (I'm a sucker for fancy masques). Enjoy!

30 Day Song Challenge Day Nine - Dance Day

Today's selection is a song you dance to. Amusing aside, it's Monday and raining. Finding this one and relistening is a good way to start the week too :-)  

There's a number of songs that fall into this category but Love Shack  is the no brainer.

Love Shack by B52s - it's just got the right beat for bopping along at any level of sobriety. I remember enjoying the video back when a teenager and still find it brings a smile. This song also meets other categories such certain event & know the words.

2011 30 Day Song Challenge Day Eight - Where I'm forgetful

I've amused myself no end this morning. I'm notorious at not remembering things.....like song lyrics (or even better, mishearing them), or for not singing. Only a precious few have heard the event. Long story why. It just is.

So, I'm thinking, racking my brain, trawling through my various songlists for a song that I know ALL the words to. Sometimes, I'm slow.

It's no secret that I'm a Joss Whedon fan. Being able to Joss this meme has made my day.
I know all the words to all the songs in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Once More With Feeling" aka the Buffy Musical Episode. Then I realised I know all the words also to Dr Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog AND Commentary! The Musical (the commentary that comes along with Dr Horrible dvd)....

Aaaah, I'm spoilt for choice now. Decisions. Decisions. In the end I went with ......"Something to Sing About" - I tend to sing it (even if it's silently in my head) as soon as it starts.

So many choices and picking one very hard to do especially when you add all the Dr Horrible choices into the mix.

30 Day Song Challenge Day Seven

Certain event + song association = today's choice. Another no brainer for me. It's short and sweet, not to mention one I could use for tomorrow's selection (knowing all the words to). Welcome to Green Day, Time of Your Life

For many, this song may remind them of the end of the TV series Seinfeld but for me, it's my divorce song. 

Yup, this came out as I was going through a tumultuous period in my life. The lyrics were, and to this day are,  poignant. I have no regrets about my marriage nor our eventual separation and the lyrics reflect my view of our relationship. 

I posted the recorded version, but this is a song that also is amazing to hear live versions of, which alas I've yet to do but YouTube is a wonderful place to waste time, lose hours, er, find things.

2011 30 Day Song Challenge - Day Six

Oh the relief! Finally, an easy and no-thinking-required choice. Today's selection is Stasia by Tulipan. A group that has since disbanded but through an amusing twist of fate I've become friends with one of the members, Sallie Campbell (via uni and that is another story).

I hear the opening notes of this song and I'm immediately transported back to The Woodford Folk Festival I attended at the turn of the century (1999/2000). It was a huge year for me personally and professionally and with some friends we bought full season passes and pitched our tents.

The finding a link so you can hear it for yourselves is another thing. They were just on the turnaround of the internet music explosion. I couldn't find anything on you tube but found this link and page over on myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/tulipan/music/songs/stasia-73534800

So very many memories. It was awesome and all I need to do to bring back the feelings of laying on the hill under the night sky in the amphitheatre is start this song.

2011 30 Day Song Challenge - Day Five

A song reminding me of someone.

Oi vey! These are getting tougher not easier. In part I have a bad memory and being slightly stubborn, I didn't want to pick something from more recent times. Music has always been a big part of  my life. The maternal line of my family like singing (I'm the odd duck and that would be a post for another time). Since my Nana got a mention yesterday, decided today it was my mother's turn.

She has done yoga since I was a teenager - sure it's why she is so (relatively) zen dealing with life. This song was one on a cd she gave me when my son was born. She would sing along with it to him, and sing it without the cd. She loves kirtan, an Indian form of sacred chanting and meditation.  This particular song has been done with a choir (and yes, it is long - in part the form of song to achieve a meditative state) but it works.

The interesting thing I found with this song selection was it wasn't so much the song or its lyrics that reminded me of someone, it was the situation/event/memory associated with someone and the song.

Saying that, this one does manage to combine to the two - the person and the memory association.

30 Day Song Challenge Day Four

I really should get consistent with my subject titles, ah well.

And so we reach the Song that Makes You Sad. It wasn't until I had to choose I realised I don't really have any that make me sad. So, after much thinking and surfing through songs I came to one that the memory and association brings about a melancholic state and if done right, tears can occur.

My sister (who is a trained soprano) sang this in honour of my Nana at her funeral a few years ago. I've always found this song soul reaching but, now if sung by a female it is sure to throw me back to the day of the funeral.

I've chosen Celine Dion from the choices available on You Tube.....I'd much prefer to give you my sister's voice, but she hasn't gotten around to uploading stuff on the interwebz much.

Regardless of where it is in this challenge songlist, I think Ave Maria is a beautiful song and when done right, by instrumental, male or female vocal can move the soul.  As a friend of mine also doing the challenge via facebook, has shown by her choosing Ave Maria as song that makes her happy (we are astrologically flip sides of the same coin so it makes sense....I think).

30 Day Song Challenge

Today it's about making one happy. I noticed that happy comes up again later in the month.

One thing I've realised is a number of songs I enjoy, serve many masters so it's been interesting to work out which one I want to place where. Today is a good example. I could think of a few songs that land in the world of "make you happy" but I want to use them more elsewhere.

Whether I remember this as the days move by is a completely different thing.....

So....without further ado...Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

There are a number of Python songs I could use here. A close and tied second would be The Lumberjack song and The Philosopher's song.....

2011 30 Day Song Challenge - Day Two

Today is Least Favourite Song.

I'm fairly tolerant of a lot of styles but it was a close call between these two songs. I'm only going to inflict one here - to spare brain cells and earworms.

Chain Reaction by Diana Ross & She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals are the unfortunate winners of this category. Both of them still to this day have me mute or change the channel on tv or radio.

The fact that both of these songs come from my teen years and I still to this day I switch them off says possibly as much about radio/tv overkill on playing them as much as the songs themselves.

Enjoy isn't the word to use. Tomorrow should be something better......

30 Day Song Challenge

So. I've finally succumbed to a music meme. It was bound to happen. I've played music since primary school & I suspect if I'd been able to talk myself into the idea of a touring and itinerant lifestyle I would've pursued music as a career choice.

Music was one of those crossroad major decisions one makes in life. Thanks to the school system at 15 I had to choose between music and ancient history. Ancient history won as I was able to continue instrumental music until I finished school.

Given I ended up with a double major in ancient civilisations for my first degree it was the right way to go. Not least as I never did convince myself of a wanting musician lifestyle - and to this day I see a live production of something I always want to be down in the pit with the musos (not on stage with the performers).

So, without further ado - here is day 1 of the  meme.

Your favourite song. I went with the Elvis version of Suspicious Minds. I also enjoy the Pet Shop Boys version (& suspect if I heard, or more importantly, remembered others I'd like them too).

2011 Reading Challenges

After the toe-dabbling in 2010 with reading challenges, I’ve decided to once again take some up.

However, this year I want to take up some new and shiny challenges. I’m a reading omnivore, there isn’t much I won’t at least try to read. Finishing may be another question (I’m looking at you Russian authors and Jane Austen) but committing to starting. Well, that would be a good resolution to put out in the interwebs.

The first one is Stephen King. I have ‘On Writing ‘somewhere handy most of the time but other than an occasional novella, I’ve never really delved. As a result I'm taking the option to read six in a year. 

Associated with Stephen King, would be the Horror & Urban Fantasy challenge. It's an interesting one this as both terms can create wide variations of what is defined as Horror or Urban Fantasy. I'll be surprised if I don't make the twenty-four reads. 

The final challenge I’m taking is one that will force me to double-check the genre I’m reading. I already read in mystery and suspense topic, but again they tend to have the paranormal, speculative fiction bent. I’m hoping by having this number to achieve I’ll expand my author list (plus I think I can now sneak in my J.D. Robb glomming I've been undertaking too). Twelve is most definitely a manageable number too.

Of course keeping a list is also a handy way of looking back in a year’s time and see that I haven’t been faffing around the house too much.