Music and Memories

Do you guys have any specific music that takes you back to a certain time in your life?  Almost all my music is like that.  THis is probably because I have a terrible habit of listening to one album for months at a time.  Here are a few examples:

Mika, Life in Cartoon Motion:  This album takes me back to a really, really different time in my life.  The point where I was living the college life... Lots and lots of partying and everything that goes along with it.  Ever time I listen to these songs, I have vivid memories of dancing on tables.  Haha.  Yeah, I was one of those.

The Killers, Hot Fuss:  When I listen to this album, all I think of is sitting on the back porch at the house I lived in at the time.  It had a fantastic back porch, and some of my greatest memories are sitting back there listening to The Killers, painting, and smoking cloves.

The Postal Service, Give Up:  I went to a small Baptist college in Shawnee Oklahoma for my first two years of college.  I was so, so, so depressed going there.  It just wasn't me.  Don't even get me started on what I think of private, church-affiliated colleges.  I spent a lot of time just driving around aimlessly, listening to this CD.  I loved getting lost on my long drives and always hoped I would end up somewhere other than Shawnee.  So, every time I listen to this album, I think of long, long drives and lots of sadness.

And for a REALLY way back in time pick- Reel Big Fish, Cheer Up:  In high school, I loved punk rock and ska.  The high school me makes me laugh a lot.  I was so care-free.  I still listen to this CD, and it still makes me smile.  Sometimes some really old, cheery music is just refreshing, you know?

Music is powerful...  I'm not sure what I would do without it.

Trae's Playlist

I mentioned before that I do not plan to raise Trae on the typical children's music.  When I was little, I listened to actual good music, and I want him to be the same way.  Because of this, I have started to make him a playlist that we listen to when we are hanging out at the apartment.  It is nowhere near finished.  Actually, there are jut a few of my favorite songs on there at the moment.  I have well over 6,000 songs to sort through and decide on, but I have a little bit of a start.  Here it is:

Everything Will Be Alright - The Killers
Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll - The Killers
Hey Jude - The Beatles
Let It Be - The Beatles
Magnetic - Sanctus Real
One Love/ People Get Ready - Bob Marley
The Luckiest - Ben Folds
Lullabye - Ben Folds Five

Any good songs you think I should add?  Let me know!

Other than that, here is a special little photo of Trae and his great grandmother.  She has been really sick lately, but today she was like her old self.  I am so glad she got to hold him.  This picture is special to me.

Back on the Wagon

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

I'm taking a risk with this one because I am probably going to sound pretty arrogant, but I inspire myself a lot. Ha. Tool-ish, right? I am a fairly introspective person. I like thinking and analyzing and trying to make myself into the best person I can be. I try not to want what other people have, and I try to be as happy as I can with where I am in life at the present moment. Therefore, I draw most inspiration from myself in a sense of the things I want to accomplish. Of course, my faith is very important to me, and God plays a big part in the decisions I make, but when it comes to dreams and aspirations, I would like to think that God has given me a very creative mind and I am completely able to use it to better my life.

Other than that, I have been SUPER stressed lately. I am having a hard time keeping up with things around our home while taking care of Trae. At some point, I am going to have to realize that things will never be perfect again, but when you live in an apartment, a little mess becomes a big mess VERY quickly. Luckily, my friend Staci reminded me of one of my very favorite artists, MIKA! (Check out her cute fashion blog by clicking her name. It's full of good reading and pretty things to look at.) So, right now I am de-stressing by listening to some happy music and remembering all the times I drunkenly danced on tables to this music.

Trae Will Be One Cool Kid

Trae finally got big enough to wear the Beatles shirt I have been itching to get on him since day one. He obviously loves it.

I have some really great memories of being young. A lot of those memories focus around riding in the car with my dad listening to music from the 60s and 70s. Of course, when my mom had her way, I listened to the typical kid music (I really don't think Trae will ever listen to kid music. I can't stand it, and there is just so much more great music that I want him to be introduced to at an early age.), but when I was with my dad, we always listened to oldies. I could sing (and still can) every word of almost any old song. This was a little bit different than the other people my age. I clearly remember asking one of my friends who/what NSync was. I love this quirk about me. I still don't know anything about popular music, but if you want to know who sang what in the 60s or 70s, I am your girl. Since Trae spends most of his time with me (lucky child!), I think he will be the same way. So far, he has been introduced to The Beatles, Mumford and Sons, The Killers, and Weezer. I know he can't understand yet, but one day he is going to ask to listen to The Beatles when everyone else is listening to something as terrible as Justin Bieber... and one day (maybe when he is much older), he will thank me.