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Sunday, August 26, 2018

Awe-Inspiring August - 2018 #SLS Song Lyric Sunday

Helen has given us a tricky one this week, "Plan."

The first thing I usually do to find songs if something doesn't come up for me immediately is to go to my iTunes playlist.  I have at this moment almost 3000 songs in all genres (except hip hop and rap) so I am usually able to find a song or two to use.  Today I typed "plan" and this is what was first on the list:

Tom Petty's "American Dream Plan B"

I'm gonna make my way through this world someday
I don't care what nobody say
American dream, political scheme
I'm gonna find out for myself someday
But I'm half-lit, I can't dance for shit
Bu I see what I want, I go after it
And my girl's alright, treats me nice
Sayin' nothin' but a woman puts out that light

I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it
I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it right
Til I get it right

Oh well, my baby no doubt dreams further out
Makin' moves to get us someway someday
Well my honey don't trip, shoots from the hip
Tell me everything gonna be ok

I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it
I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it right
Til I get it right

Guitar Solo

Well, my mama so sad
Daddy's just mad
‘Cuz I aint gonna have the chance he had
My success is anybody's guess
But like a fool, I'm bettin' on happiness

I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it
I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it right
I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it
I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it right
Til I get it right
Songwriters: THOMAS EARL PETTY
American Dream Plan B lyrics © Adria K Music


"I got a dream I'm gonna fight til I get it right"  love those words.  Since MY dream is to create a happy life, I'm going to keep fighting til I get it right!

We were fortunate enough to see Tom Petty twice before he passed away.  I still can't get over that fact and I am not sure why but I was particularly affected by his death.  I can't remember ever actually crying about a celebrity passing but I did when he left us.






And the video:





Ever get particularly affected when a celebrity died?  Have a Plan B for your dream?  Love to hear about it!  Make sure to visit the other Song Lyric Sunday participants.  There's some good stuff out there! 

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Awe-Inspiring August - 2018 Song Lyric Sunday

The prompt for this week in Song Lyric Sunday from Helen is "Fear."  I am going to adapt this slightly and instead of the lyric being fear, I'm choosing the band Tears for Fears.  The song:

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
Even while we sleep 
We will find You acting on your best behavior
Turn your back on mother nature
Everybody wants to rule the world
It's my own desire
It's my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help me make the most Of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world
There's a room where the light won't find you
Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down
When they do, I'll be right behind you
So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world
I can't stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the world
Say that you'll never, never, never, need it
One headline, why believe it?
Everybody wants to rule the world
All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

Songwriters: Chris Hughes / Ian Stanley / Roland Orzabal
Everybody Wants to Rule the World lyrics © BMG Rights Management


And the video


"Welcome to your life.  There's no turning back."  "Help me make the most of Freedom and of Pleasure."  Love these lines.  Thanks Helen.  Happy Sunday. 







Awe-Inspiring August 2018 - Children's Readathon - Week 2

For this week's Children's Readathon I was introduced to two new books and got to re-read an old one that I haven't read in a really long time.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is a cute, short book about a bus driver who has to leave the bus and informs the reader not to let the pigeon drive the bus.  He never says why, but the pigeon does his best to try and convince us it would be a good thing.  My favorite part was when the pigeon used the familiar, "I'll be your best friend" line to cajole us.  I have said that many times to my kids and my family.  This book reminded me of a Sesame Street book called "There's a monster at the end of this book" where Grover implores us not to turn the pages of the book as there is a monster at the end.  Apparently there is a series of "Pigeon" books.  If I had little ones I'd be sure to search them out.





Next I read Number The Stars.  This is a very touching story about the German occupation of Denmark.  I guess I didn't realize how many countries Germany actually tried to overtake.  This book tells the story of two girls, one Jewish and one not, who are best friends.  When it is dangerous for the Jews to be in the neighborhood, the Danish family does their best to get the Jewish family to a safer spot.  Cloaked in mystery from the girls so that they will not be able to reveal the secrets, an evacuation is planned.  The Danish girl is smart enough to realize that the Star of David necklace that her friend wears could be trouble and she pulls it off her neck just before the German soldiers come in the room.  I found this to be a good story for children, explaining the dangers of the time but not so graphic as to scare them.   





Finally, an old classic, Winnie-the-Pooh.  I love the drawings and the interpretive spelling.  There have been some good quotes coming out of this book but I found one that I really like.  It is toward the end of the book and Pooh and Piglet are walking home.  Piglet asks Pooh:  "When you wake up in the morning, Pooh, what's the first thing you say to yourself?"  Pooh answers, "What's for breakfast?  What do you say, Piglet?"  "I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?"  Pooh nods and says, "It's the same thing." 

One of the things that I have been trying to do every morning is say, "Something wonderful is going to happen today, I can't wait to see what it is."  When I start my day that way, even something simple like having a good breakfast CAN be special.  It reminds me to look for the wonderful in simple things that I might otherwise miss. 

 

Have you read these books?  Any Pooh quotes that are your favorite?  Look for something wonderful every day?  Love to hear about it.

Next week it is "Charlotte's Web" which I've read and another one I haven't, "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe."  You can still join in on the Children's Readathon hosted by Jay Cudney if you want, there are two weeks left!



Saturday, August 18, 2018

Awe-Inspiring August - 2018 #SoCS Stream of Consciousness Saturday

Our friend Linda has given us the prompt of "ic" or "ical" to use in our Stream of Consciousness Saturday.    These are really fun word endings in my opinion.  Also, they are pretty easy for me since, you know, magic and magical. 

Last night we experienced a bit of magic as we went to the Mountain Winery again, this time to see The Fab Four, the Beatles tribute band.  Coincidentally, the Winery is celebrating 60 years of Magic, or so the sign says.


We have been happy to share in this magic for about the last 10 years and last night was no exception.  



Magically transporting us back to the 60's, we've seen this tribute band a few times now and they do not disappoint.  





They start the show off with a great Ed Sullivan impersonator who during his opening monologue proclaims that people have confused him with Richard Nixon.  The joke last night included the line "compared to Trump and Hillary, I don't look so bad."



And then we were taken back to the time the Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show.  




Right from the start the band said that we were free to take pictures, use flash, whatever.  I love that freedom.   





After an intermission for a costume change it was time for the Magical Mystery Tour and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  








The guys joked that they liked playing at the Winery because the more wine we drank, the more they looked like the Beatles.  They were not wrong. 


One more brief costume change and we were nearing the end of the band's relationship with Imagine, Let It Be and Hey Jude.





These artists have done their research quite well and there are a lot of the mannerisms of the real Fab Four that are apparent, like Paul's head tilts.  




For about two hours we were back in time and the whole crowd was singing along with these ever so familiar songs that bring back so many memories for each of us.


Captured "John Lennon's" "Imagine" on video.  We were told to take our our cellphones and light up the night, which we happily obliged (although if we were strictly back in the 60's it would have been cigarette lighters, but cellphones are much more convenient and there is less a chance to burn your fingers, right?)




Had to get a shot of the half moon too.  The moon always makes things seem a bit more magical.  



Hope you enjoyed the show (or as "John" said, "I hope we passed the audition.")  Have you had any magical experiences lately?  Do share!


Sunday, August 12, 2018

Awe-Inspiring August - 2018 Song Lyric Sunday

Today's prompt from Helen is "drive."

The first thing that I thought of was the Beatles and "Baby You Can Drive My Car" but I wanted to look for something a little different.  Then I remembered Bon Jovi's song from his latest album, "This House Is Not For Sale."  The song was a bonus track on certain CDs so maybe not everyone has heard it yet.

It's called "I Will Drive You Home."

"I Will Drive You Home"

Here comes the next big thing
There's a new gun in town
There'll be a faster one
Before the sun goes down
They've come to kick the tires
They'd like to take a spin
See how it takes the turns
See if it breaks or bends

But I will drive you home
I want you to know that
I will drive you home

Hell, it ain't nothing new
Everything new gets old
Maybe some glitter's gone
But we're still good as gold
When some driver comes
And tries to jump the start
Thinks he can steal your love
Hot wire your heart

But I (I) will drive (drive) you home (home)
I want you to know that
I (I) will drive (drive) you home (home)

Let 'em rev their engines
Let 'em spin their wheels
All they've got is shine
They're just chrome and steel

But I (I) will drive (drive) you home (home)

Here comes that faster fast
Here comes that higher high
As we walk on past
They just step aside

I (I) will drive (drive) you home (home)
I want you to know that
I (I) will drive (drive) you home (home)

Let 'em rev their engines
Let 'em spin their wheels
All they got is shine
They're just chrome and steel
When they raise the flag
And the smoke has cleared
When the rest are gone
I'll be standing here

I (I) will drive (drive) you home (home)
I want you to know that
I (I) will drive (drive) you home (home)

Let 'em rev their engines
Let 'em spin their wheels
All they got is shine
They're just chrome and steel
When they raise the flag
And the smoke has cleared
When the rest are gone
I'll be standing here

Let 'em rev their engines
Let 'em spin their wheels
All they got is shine
They're just chrome and steel
When they raise the flag
And the smoke has cleared
When the rest are gone
I'll be standing here

Writer(s): Billy Falcon, Jon Bon Jovi, Luke Laird


We saw Bon Jovi in March last year when they played at San Jose's SAP Center on their "This House Is Not For Sale" tour.  The opening was so cool.


I have a crush on Jon...his blue eyes!




My husband thinks they are a chick band but he comes with me anyway and I'm pretty sure he has a good time too. 



Here is the song:



I was going to add some video from the concert we saw but I realize that I need to do some editing first and I don't have time now so we'll have to save that for a future post. 

What do you think?  Are you a Bon Jovi fan?  Thanks again to Helen for such an interesting prompt and go visit some of the other good sounds from today's selections.



Saturday, August 11, 2018

Awe-Inspiring August - 2018 - Children's Readathon - Picture Books

My blogging friend, Jay Cudney, is hosting another readathon and this time it is children's books.  I have not read children's books since my kids were little, thinking that since I'm an adult they no longer have a relevance for me.  Wrong.  It has been so long that I can see new things in them that I didn't notice before.

The three books for this week were: 

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak, "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown and "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss.

Let me get "Where the Wild Things Are" over first.  I am not a fan.  I don't like Max and I don't like animals.  There.  I said it.  I don't think I actually read this book to my kids and if I did it was only once.  I know I did see the movie but I don't know how I sat through it all.  I think my husband wanted to see it.  I had to go to a special section in the library to get it because it is a Caldecott Medal winner for "most distinguished American picture book for children."  Still not impressed. 

The other two books I really love though.  "Goodnight Moon" was a true favorite.  It was a really great one to use for reading before bedtime to settle the kids down.  Each page is filled with wonderful words and pictures and you can use it to help teach them names of colors and objects. 


Image result for goodnight moon      Image result for goodnight moon


"In the great green room there was a telephone, and a red balloon and a picture of..."  I would have the kids point to the different items and ask them what other things they could think of that were green, etc.  Definitely a fun one to read. 

"Oh The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss is another one that is great but not just for little kids.  I didn't realize until just recently what a perfect gift this is for giving to graduates of all ages.


Image result for oh the places you'll go  Image result for oh the places you'll go

It explains that there are endless possibilities and choices you can make and that things will not always be sunshine and flowers but that you have the tools to work through the bad times.  Our daughter recently graduated from college and we gave this book to her as a gift, with each of her siblings, my husband and I writing her a special note on the pages inside.  I also added some pictures of her at various stages of her life throughout the book as well.  She was touched. 

Thanks to Jay for hosting this readathon.  I'm looking forward to some of the other books that were chosen.  We'll be doing this the whole month of August so if you want to bring back some good memories (or make some new ones), feel free to join along!