Musical Monday … Arms

When I first heard this chick’s song Jar of Hearts on last season’s So You Think You Can Dance, it literally gave me chills.  With lyrics like “you’re gonna catch a cold from the ice inside your soul,” I thought it simple and genius yet haunting and beautiful.

Click here for a watch and listen if you like.  The dance is lovely — I don’t know if either of the dancers won because I don’t really follow the show … it’s one that I just happen to catch every now and then.

I didn’t hear it once when I was over in the UK, so I don’t think it’s been released there yet or maybe it was and didn’t do so well?

Anyway, when I got back to the States earlier this month, I was rather pleased to see that she had another song out over here which is the one I’ve chosen for this week’s Musical Monday post.

Apparently, the song was written to describe that feeling of not knowing whether you’re worthy of someone’s love or not and then realising that … fuck yeah, you really are.  I think it’s a lovely melody and again beautifully written.

It’s called Arms by Christina Perri … and I’m actually dedicating it to my own arms because … well, they’re a little sore after a couple of hours of kayaking out in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.  Being on the water makes me very happy … even if we were chased by a huge thunderstorm and had to wait it out on a barrier island … but that’s another story.

“I can’t decide if I’ll let you save my life or if I’ll drown …” — Christina Perri

Silent Sunday …

Friday Food Fight … pasta salad

 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … I do make a pretty mean salad or two or three.

My yummy pasta salad being one of them.  I happen to make it this week for a beach picnic I was planning with my SIL and her brood … only we got rained out thanks to some lovely tropical depression here in the tropics.  Boo to the weather.  No matter, we still got to have it for lunch and I thought it would make a perfect dish to fling at y’all this week.

It’s light and delicious and bright and colourful and perfect for summer al fresco dining … along with some nice crusty bread and a glass of chilled sparkling something or other.  Thankfully, it always goes down a treat whenever I make it.  It’s a definite favourite amongst family and friends.  Or at least, that’s what they tell me.

I’ve actually been making it so long I don’t need a recipe anymore … it’s all safely stored up here *taps head* I can usually make it in my sleep with no issues whatsoever except I was a bit distracted making it this week and ended up burning my thumb and almost chopping a finger off. *sigh*

Anyway, let me know if you want the recipe and I’ll post it.

Overheard at the dinner table …

Mother: I do find Mexican to be quite low in fat and healthy, don’t you?

Me: Well, it depends if you eat a whole one or not.

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Oldest son: When exactly do you become an adult?

Me: Well, basically it’s when you’re a contributing member of society … you vote, you pay taxes, etc.

Middle son: I thought it was when you become boring.

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Me (struggling to find room in fridge for various salsa and hot sauces, etc.): Mother, you do like your condiments, don’t you?

Mother: Yes, well, we are condom kind of people.

Me (eyes rolling): Ummmm, oh-kay.

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Me: You’re going to stay at the dinner table until you’ve taken one more bite.

Youngest son (said in new squeaky Urkle type voice): But, that’s ridiculous … I’ll be so tired in the morning.

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Me: Ye know, I am the funniest in this house.

Mother: Yeah. Funniest in the head. At least that’s what the doctors told me when you were little.

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Youngest son: Mum, guess what? [Insert oldest son's name] likes *whispers* boobies now.

Me (before realising what he said): That’s good.

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Middle son: So, I’m gifted?

Me: Yes, son … you were a gift from the stork. Found under a cabbage patch with a red bow on.

Middle son: Muuuuuuuuuuuuum

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Middle son: If you drove like a man, you’d get there quicker.

Me (muttered to myself): If you mean straight into a coffin, then yeah.

Middle son: I forgot, you’re not a man.

Me: That’s good of you to notice.

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Me: I am so on the edge of glory.

Mother: Yes, and you have me hanging on the edge of my insanity.

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Oldest son: There’s gonna be a lot of gas coming from me tonight.

Mother: Why’s that?

Oldest son (points to black beans and rice): Fuel for ma butt

Mother: Nice

Me: [Insert oldest son's name]!!!

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Youngest son: Know what happens when you’re a ninja?

Me: What’s that son?

Youngest son: You can do a double jump.

Me: Cool beans.

They say it’s your (40th) birthday …

Happy 40th birthday to my very flexible and fabulous sister-in-law … unfortunately being a Leo, she lacks in the witty department. You can’t have it all though, can ye?

*ducking*

Welcome to the club … I’m really glad you enjoyed your pedi pressie yesterday.

Musical Monday … Where We Gonna Go From Here

I big puffy heart Mat Kearney. 

And, his music. 

So, as you can imagine I was thrilled to learn he was gonna be releasing a new album and kicking off a concert tour in Florida next month.   

I quickly googled the tour information to find his only stop in the Sunshine state is Jacksonville.  Jacksonville?  On September 14th?  Jacksonville?  Wot’s up with Tampa?  Or Orlando?  Yeah, that’s not really gonna work for me, but oh well.

Anyway, I’ve picked one of my favourite, mellow, gorgeous, lovely songs by the lush Mr. Kearney for this week’s Musical Monday post. 

It’s called Where We Gonna Go From Here … which, after you hear it, really does beg the question … where are we gonna go from here?  With my life?  With the sad state of our world?  These senseless acts of violence?  Elected idiots.  And, tortured celebs who seem to have everything only to fuck it up?  It all makes me very, very sad.

*sigh*

The song is beautiful though so enjoy and then tell me where we gonna go from here?

Silent Sunday …

Friday Food Fight … it’s peanut butter & banana time

 

I’m not a huge fan of breakfast.  In fact, I could quite happily go until lunch time without it all.

I know, I know … I’ve heard it all before.

It’s the most important meal of the day … it’s the meal you should never skip … ya da ya da ya da.  Bite me. 

I guess I just don’t wake up with a huge appetite for food.  When I am in the mood, it’s usually a yogurt with fruit or maybe a bacon butty or this particular favourite of mine … peanut butter and banana on whole wheat toast …

So, how about you?  What’s your breakfast of choice?

The Gallery … Vintage

When I heard that this week’s prompt for the Gallery was vintage, I knew exactly what I was going to blog about.

My Pinky.

That is, my beloved, stuffed, teddy dog otherwise known as Pinky …

He’s so vintage, isn’t he?

My Pinky.

The poor guy has been around almost as long as I have … which might kinda make me vintage too.  Feck’s sake.

When my little sister was born … and I was rudely dethroned as the only princess in the house … I got to pick out anything I wanted from the local toy store.  And, that ragged looking teddy is what I chose.  I know.  What was four-year-old me thinking?

For some reason, even though Pinky was pink … obviously … and originally modeled a lovely floral jumpsuit, I’ve always referred to him as a he. 

And then, named him Pinky. 

My Pinky. 

Jeez.

It’s hard to believe that he’s survived the years as well as he has because he’s certainly been around the block and then some.  I have grand memories of him being tortured by my brothers. Or maybe it was me being tortured.  Anyway, I would walk in from playing with my friends only to find him dangling from the balcony or light fixture, my brothers sniggering away somewhere.  I’d run in rescuing him yelling “my Pinky” and then kick my brothers’ asses for their persecution of pink stuffed toys. 

Honestly. 

Big brothers … who’d have ‘em?  The big meanies. 

Sadly, he’s also been tortured and humped by various family pets over the years.  *shudders at the thought*

Poor Pinky.

On the upside, he’s also been fortunate to have traveled the world with me.   And, best of all he’s survived being loved and hugged to death by me.  It shows too, doesn’t it?  Bless my Pinky.

Got water?

Last week when it was hotter than hell … who am I kidding, it is still hotter than hell, but I’m not really complaining yet on account of being cold for the past ten months …. but I digress, where was I?

Last week, my sister-in-law and I … complete with an army of children … headed to the sprayground at Highlander Park in Dunedin for an afternoon of wet summer fun. 

Because ye know, when it gets as hot and humid as it does here there really is no better way for the kids (and grown-ups) to cool off than by playing in water.

At a sprayground. 

Which if you hadn’t guessed, is kinda like a playground only with water features instead of the usual swings or slide.

The kids had a great time, running through the water like crazy while generally baking in the sun.  My little one spent almost the entire time just going up and down the slide over and over and over.  I was all dude, why don’t you go play with some of the other things, but he kept going back to the slide.

And, completely tired himself out as he napped like a baby on the way home.

We managed to finish the day by stuffing ourselves on nachos, other assorted nibbles and about a half dozen glasses of root beer.  It’s such a hard life, y’all.

And, well done to those who figured out that Sunday’s photo was … a waterdunkingthingymabob from the sprayground.

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