Archives for July 2009

Several of y’all emailed or commented over the weekend to let me know that I was obviously Deeply Confused about the release date of TLC’s “Waterfalls” because it was in 1995, not 1998, and you know this because YOU HAVE SOME DISTINCT “WATERFALLS” MEMORIES, OH YES YOU DO.

Y’all are totally right. I was totally wrong. It was 1995. It would appear that when I was writing Friday’s post I confused the release date of “Waterfalls” with the release date of “No Scrubs.” I’m not exactly sure why I did that, but my best guess is that it had something to do with a complete absence of fact checking and/or research on my part.

Plus, this is just what happens when you’re on the back side of 30. You rely too much on your memory and start mixing up song release dates because of sheer pop culture overload. The next thing you know I’m going to be calling Janeane Garafolo “Arlene Galapagos” (true story) and somebody’s going to have to order me one of these.

Anyway.

We had a wonderful, laid-back 4th at our house despite the fact that my left ear is so completely stopped up that you could light a stick of dynamite two feet away from me and I would not even flinch. Come to think of it, that was pretty much my exact reaction during Saturday night’s fireworks extravaganza: “Oh, look at the pretty, sparkly explosions! Do they make any noise at all? I don’t hear even the slightest bit of noise! WHAT DID YOU SAY? I’M SORRY, BUT I CAN’T HEAR A THING!”

I tried to get an appointment with my ENT on Friday, but they’d taken the day off for the 4th, so hopefully today will be the day when somebody will drain my dadgum ears and tell me once again that I have unusually small ear canals. Because as you can imagine, when I take Alex to the pool every single day, the first thought that crosses my mind when I take off my swimsuit cover-up is Oh, these other mamas may be “fit” and “toned” and “thin” and “in shape,” but wait! I have unusually small ear canals! I’VE NEVER FELT BETTER ABOUT MYSELF!

Needless to say, it’s a heady confidence that has settled way down deep in my soul.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to call the doctor again. And fold a small mountain of laundry. And go swimming with a child who possesses an an uncanny ability to unintentionally kick and/or splash water straight into my ears no matter where I am on the pool premises. And then continue to say “WHAT? MY EAR IS STOPPED UP!” anytime anyone asks me anything for the rest of my life and forever and for always or at least until the ENT can fix me.

Thank you and amen.

Every single day this week has been essentially the same: tumble out of bed, stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition and yawn and stretch and try to come to life. Or at least that would have been the case if my name happened to be Doralee and I was struggling with how to handle my manipulative, chauvinistic boss.

Nonetheless, the week has definitely been a little on the repetitive side, as evidenced by the fact that yesterday I ended my post with “Happy Wednesday” WHEN IT WAS IN FACT THURSDAY, OH SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME I’VE LOST ALL TRACK OF TIME. And while this week really has been an absolutely delightful time for our little family and we’ve enjoyed all manner of summer fun (the second week of Wimbledon always makes for some happy hearts around here), I’m pretty much worn slap out as I sit here and stare Friday in the face.

At least I think it’s Friday.

Of course, my weariness may have something to do with the fact that I haven’t fallen asleep before 2 any night this week. I’ve tried to sleep, but at some point I’ve given up and gotten out of bed and turned on the computer and watched old Michael Jackson videos on YouTube.

(Now that I think about it, aside from the fact that I now watch YouTube instead of MTV, my late nights have basically been like the summer of ’88 all over again.)

(Except that I no longer have bangs that have been teased into the shape of a large carnation, and I’m no longer hoping beyond all hope that Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd will realize that they’re deeply in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together.)

(I may have mentioned before that as a teenager I was mildly obsessed with “Moonlighting.” I continue to stand by that choice.)

Anyway, Big Mama and I were emailing back and forth last night, THE NIGHT THAT WAS THURSDAY, and I mentioned to her that we should have recorded a podcast since I’m struggling with quite the case of bloggy block and I don’t have anything to write about and besides that, all the words in all the languages are conspiring against me so that I can’t make sentences. And because Melanie is a selfless friend, she said, Hey, you know you could always post a 4th of July playlist like I’m doing tomorrow.

And I was all, OKAY.

And she was all, PERFECT.

And I was all, DO THE SONGS HAVE TO BE PATRIOTIC? BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW THAT MANY PATRIOTIC SONGS.

And she was all, WHATEVS.

Except that Melanie has never in her whole life said “Whatevs.” I mean, Mel and I like to stay up to date on the pop culture and all, but we try to respect age-appropriate slang-usage limits. And “whatevs” is way beyond our limits. In fact, for women in second half of their 30s, “whatevs” is currently out in the middle of the Atlantic. WHERE WE CAN’T REACH IT.

By the way, it makes me laugh that I asked Melanie so many questions about posting the playlist. AS IF SHE HAD MADE UP SOME RULES.

So. My list. At this point, you must be absolutely beside yourself with ambivalence.

Nonetheless, here are some songs – old and new – that just scream summer to me, even if they have nothing at all to do with summer, but I’m sure at some point I’ve listened to them in the summertime, so hey, THEY TOTALLY QUALIFY.

1) “Hard To Handle” – Black Crowes – This song stops me in my tracks every single time I hear it. It reminds me of being in college and hanging out with my friend Daphne and riding around Starkville, Mississippi with absolutely no destination in mind. Perfection.

2) “Sweet Southern Comfort” – Buddy Jewell – This song will forever make me think of the summer after Alex was born, a glorious time when I was still hormonal enough to bawl my eyes out when Buddy Jewell sang “Sleepy sweet home Alabama / Roll Tide, Roll.” And I’m not even a Crimson Tide fan. But Tuscaloosa’s just about 45 minutes down the road, and that was enough.

3) “A Lot Like Me” – Dave Barnes – Don’t even listen to it if you’re not willing to sing along. And loudly.

4) “Waterfalls” – TLC – “Don’t go chasin’ waterfalls. Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.” Summer of 1998, anyone?

5) “The Wanderer” – Marc Broussard – A glorious summer love song. And sort of mysterious. And oh-so-delicious.

6) “Life Light Up” – Christy Nockels – Apparently my plans for summer ’09 include listening to this song at least three times a day. The chorus makes me want to stand up and jump. But since I normally listen to this song while I’m driving, I resist the urge. You’re welcome.

7) “Your Smiling Face” – James Taylor – Pure sunshine in musical form.

8) “Till You’re Gone” – Gabe Dixon Band – David’s best friend Todd and I have nearly identical taste in music, and when I heard the version of this song that’s on GDB’s “Disappear” EP, I sent Todd an email that basically looked like this: “OH MY WORD AT THE BANGY PIANO AND CLAPPING YOU MUST DOWNLOAD IMMEDIATELY.” And he did. This is but one reason why I love him.

9) “Brandy” – Looking Glass – It’s solid 70s gold, y’all.

10) “Summer Breeze” – Jason Mraz – I’m a sucker for a good cover of classic song, and this totally fits the bill. Plus, I adore Jason Mraz’s kicky quirkiness.

11) “Wild At Heart” – Gloriana – Makes me want to jump on a boat and speed across the water but stop the boat in the middle of the lake when it gets to the part of the song where all the music drops out so that I can lead a small group of people in a unified over-the-head clap-along. Which is all COMPLETELY realistic.

12) “The Star Spangled Banner” – Jennifer Hudson – The older I get, the harder it is for me to sing and / or listen to the National Anthem without my bottom lip getting all quivery. And I think Jennifer Hudson’s version is absolutely gorgeous.

I know. It’s sort of an eclectic list, isn’t it? Feel free to chime in with your own suggestions for the world’s summertime song canon.

Happy 4th, everybody!