Cleaning up my act

This weekend my brother-in-law was over and he brought along a couple movies he said were just the funniest movies ever.  He had "Who Loves You Man" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall".  I was not at all impressed with either.  I particularly did not like the Sarah Marshall movie.  It had its funny moments, but overall it was very crude and filled with graphic nudity and sex.

Maybe I'm just getting too old, but I think a romantic comedy can tell a story and be funny with out being full of breasts and man-parts and humping.  So as of now, I am swearing off R-rated movies all together.  I want to see movies I would feel comfortable watching with my daughter in the room.  Call me an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy, but that's where I stand.  Keep it clean if you want me in the audience.

Desert Island list

Many times you will here people ask someone what is their "desert island CD List" or "Desert Island book list", as in "If you were trapped on a desert island with only 10 CD's or books what would they be"  For me this is a very tough choice, especially when it comes to music, and I'm not sure I can do it.  But this summer I am going to try, and sometime before the summer is over I will blog my Book and CD list. Although to be fare\\ir, I would probably just bring my solar power adapter and my iPod and have all the music I want...but to play fair I will try to come up with my lists. 

If you would like input, please leave your ideas in the comment section of the blog (not on the facebook page, on the blog itself.  Thanks.

Welcome to June

So a new month begins and I am supposed to be telling you how I have finally got myself back into balance and on track for my resolutions and targets for the year.  And truth be told the first week of May looked like I was in fact headed that way.  The second week was a slight slip, but still doing okay.  The last two weeks of May spiraled down, to crash last week at a 0 point week.  So picking up with June we shall try again to pick it up.

First thing is I need to cut out the Domino's snacking, which has gotten really heavy again.  Next I have com to realize that we will probably have 1 or both of my brothers-in-law around on weekends, so I need to find other writing and reading times.  Let's see if June can refresh us.

Music and memory

Memory is triggered by many different things, and it works differently for each individual.  For me the top memory trigger by far is music.  This has become very evident for me in the past few months.  Since losing my mother-in-law in early April I find myself tearing up in the aisles at work at the strangest times.  When the country music is playing on the Muzak system and a Trace Atkins song comes on (He was one of Debi's favorite singers) I find myself remembering a conversation with her, or time we'd spent together.  And it doesn't have to be one of his sappy songs, even his crazy "Honky Tonk bedonkadonk" song will bring the memories on.

And as I noticed this happening, I began to think of other songs that bring on memories. "Don't you want me" always makes me think of the summer I worked at Pine Trail Camp before my Senior Year in High School.  Lionel Ritchie's :Hello" makes me think of my freshman crush at Wheaton (not naming names, sorry). Collin Raye's "The Gift" makes me  think of my December wedding (even though the song wasn't played at the wedding or reception.  Anything by Johnny Mathis automatically takes me back to growing up with Mom as my earliest musical mentor.  And Cheap Trick's "Heaven Tonight" makes me think of my brother Dave, because he introduced me to Cheap Trick (and most of the other rock I listen to).  And who can forget Jenn Treezenburg (sp) when they here Aerosmith sing "Come Together" (Okay, probably only applies to kids I went to Calvin with)

I guess for me life is just filled with musical cues. And as Larry Norman says, "Let the Tape Keep Rolling"!

Aggravating

It is so aggravating!! All season long Dancing with the Stars has been on Monday and Tuesday with American Idol on Wednesday and Thursday.  Now it's finals week and suddenly American Idol is on Tuesday and Wednesday. Ok, they aren't actually against each other, but I watch stuff later with TIVO, and don't have 3 hours of watching time tonight.

WHY DO they do this to me??? Ok..sorry...done moaning.

Music find

When I was growing up in the late 70's and early 80's I was into the Christian music scene pretty heavily...in all honesty, I still am. I had stacks of LP's by big names like Randy Stonehill, Amy Grant, & the Imperials. But I also had more obscure acts like September, Malcolm & the Mirrors and Elim Hall.  Then in the mid to late 80's something crazy happened,,, a little thing called the CD.  Suddenly my vinyl was becoming obsolete.  I grabbed as much stuff up on CD as was rereleased.  But many of the smaller acts never met the digital format.  So when I went from CDs to iPod I could not bring the vinyl with me.

Now I have been looking at getting a USB turntable, but have never had the cash to invest.  But thanks to a friend of mine, I have found a couple website that have been able to help me out.  Now before some of you go crazy on me about robbing artists of their fair share, etc. Let me say first of all, I am only downloading stuff I know I can't find on CD.  Stuff I know is out of print.  I encourage you to do the same.  Check iTunes first, and download from their when possible.  But if you are looking for some great old christian albums check out these two sites:

old christian music


flipsidemn

And for those who just want to listen to some great old christian music, I recommend this podcast:

Full Circle

If you grew up around the same time as me, these will bring back great memories. ENJOY!!

American Idol: Here comes the finale & why Josh went home.

First let me start off by saying that when auditions were first starting, I picked Phillip Phillips to be in the final. And I guess Jessica has a good voice too, and should be there as well.  Problem this season was there was so much talent in the top five it really could have gone to any of them. 

Of course this week we had to say goodbye to judges' favorite, Josh Leddet (sp).  Now here is what I have to say about Josh-- he has an amazing voice.  With that said, I must also say it was his time to go home. "Why?" you may ask. I'll tell you...because every song sounded the same.  He was very James Brownish in his sound, and every time he got onstage I heard the same song with a new set of words.  He would have been great in the 60's but nothing he sang had Today's Hit written on it...I'm sorry. He was good, but not a winner on Idol.

Ok..nuff said. GO PHILLIP!!