were you...

...told by interlibrary loan that your order of 30 books and articles had to be ordered from a different library? One that charges for ILL? And it will now cost you $174.00 to access resources that could make your class that much better?

Me too.

Good thing I got a grant.

Too bad none of it has actually materialized.

But I only spent one afternoon crying. Only one. Because, you see, I expect all good things in life to be free.

I need to get over that.

On to happier thoughts....

finally posting something that I should not forget.

Today's post is a multi-media experience. Click play on this clip. And then read.



Early January, Clin's Music Dance Theatre (MDT) class performed an evening of songs, dances, and group numbers that they had been working on throughout the semester.

Each year one number is a choreographed for a small group by a Kori Wakamatzu (former dance teacher) - usually modern or jazz. It's often audition only for the dancers. Difficult, and beautiful. Inspirational on the verge of a tear of two. I wish I had a video. But alas. I've been trying to simplify for anxiety sake and photos/video are not so much on my important list.

This year, the song was Run Away with Me - from the Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown. Which you are listening to right now. Or you should be. And if you are not, scroll up. Click play. Then return to the story.

At one point, a boy lifts a girl up over his head in some crazy, unexplainable feat.

Millie loudly proclaimed:

Mom, when I'm older can I be a girl so a boy can hold me like that?

Me:

No.

a fan...

of this:



the ending. right? Nice.

and it reminds me of my brother Bryan. and his wife Melissa.

because i think they would like it.

making the food.

A normal evening prepping the dinner. Singing along to this:




And, as usual, the kids scream for me to stop singing.

Me: But I want to be the monkey.

Millie: You can't be the monkey. You don't have the costume.

So true.

and checking it twice...

Kate Nash Made of Bricks - thank you Pandora for introducing us.

and before i forget, let's add this to the list.

but maybe not every song. because i wouldn't want to have to hide my happy music from sensitive ears...clin.

so let's just try these:

*Foundations - um, okay. i'll have to hide this one. but i'll keep it to myself. (for a clean version video, go here.)
Mouthwash
Birds
*We Get On
Mariella
Pumpkin Song
*Skeleton Song
Nicest Thing
*Merry Happy - and this is my favorite. i really like it when she sings, eating cheese on toast.

Go here to listen. I've * my favs.

loving this.

Maybe, just maybe, if football was more like this I would enjoy it.



Thank you Glee.

beyond excited

for when i can save my pennies and jam.

Best idea ever. And I hope they make lots of money from it.

Because I think it will be worth the price.

programming...

so you have probably seen this. and we all know the song. but i love it. and slow poke me just made the regina spektor connection.

but i would like to suggest that this is one major example why mtv should be playing videos.

and yes. i do watch mtv. sometimes. i mean, 16 and pregnant? come on. who could miss that?

listening...

This song puts me in a good place.

Thanks be.

sobbing nostalgic: friends.

Come on! Be my Elton, Gladys, or Stevie and sing along. You know you want to. And feel free to cry a little.

I'll be back with a real post soon. I promise. Thanks for sharing in the memories. That's what friends are for!

sobbing nostalgic: eclipse.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit. But as a freshman in college, I took a Jazz Dance class. And for our final we had to choreograph a song.

This is the song that I chose.

And I choregraphed it in my tiny dorm room. Where no one could see. And I cried. Puddles.

My dance involved turning. A lot. And I felt good. Inspired.

Almost enough to actually dance my emotion in front of the entire class.

But my dignity overcame the emotion and I quietly hid in the back, hoping time would run out. Which it did. And I only had to submit the written version of the dance.

And I am fortunate that it is lost. Forever.

*P.S. this video rocks!

sobbing nostalgic: rhapsody.

Sixth grade. My sisters gave me the sheet music for this. I had never heard it before. I thought it was kind of strange. But for the sake of sisterly approval, I took it to my piano lesson and asked my instructor to help me learn it.

I grew to LOVE this song. The more I played, the more the tears came. Especially the opening...before I see a little silhouette of a man.

My sisters must have laughed a lot, hearing a little sixth grader sing:

Mama, just killed a man.

Okay, not so funny now. In a post-Columbine world. But back in my innocence, I never payed attention to the actual words. Only my tears.

And now I just really want this song on Guitar Hero. You agree, right? Guitar Hero with all Queen songs....awesome.

sobbing nostalgic: eyes.

This is one that Clin's students did not know. How can Debbie Gibson be forgotten so easily? Her songs don't stand the test of time? They do. In my heart.

sobbing nostalgic: waiting.

Everyone knew this puppy on the piano. It was almost like Heart & Soul. And while I loved watching the tears fall while I listened, I grew tired of turning over my piano to listen to others play.

sobbing nostalgic: love.

This one's not a shocker. You cried too. I know it. And I'm still crying.

4th grade talent show. I lipsynched to this. And I took my glasses off for the performance.



When asked why I performed without glasses, my response?

Without glasses I can't see people and won't get nervous.

The real reason?

I wanted to look pretty.

sobbing nostalgic: yesterday.

I memorized every word. And would write them down during moments of extra sentimentality. Usually in class. Thinking about a boy.

sobbing nostalgic: sorry.

This is a good one. Sobbing to this one while playing it on the piano. Nothing more cathartic.

And on a couple of occasions, when I was truly mean to friends, I recorded my version on casette. Left it in a tape player on their doorstep. Rang the doorbell and ran. Did it work? I'm still talking to one of the 2 recipients. So 50%. Not bad.

sobbing nostalgic: air.

My favorite moment to hear this song? When getting ready for a dance. or a date. on the radio. looking in the mirror. perfection.

sobbing nostalgic.

Clin is working on Back To The 80's...The Totally Awesome Musical!

We keep talking about our favorite songs from the era. Many of which his students have never heard. And those students are excited for their parents to see the musical because their parents are children of the 80's. What? Can the children of the 80's already be the parents of teens?

Of course they can. But it doesn't seem that long ago.

So in my current state...

(what state is that, you ask? Oh the state of PMS. Never been there? You should visit because you are totally missing out.)

...I keep remembering and hearing songs that used to make me cry. (Ok. They still make me cry. Whatever.) And there were 2 favorite places for sobbing to songs:

1. In front of the mirror


2. In the living room of my parents' house, looking out the window into the park that bordered our backyard. And it had to be dark, and often raining, in order to see my reflection.

So I thought that the rest of this week could be dedicated to songs, rocking songs, that inspired tears and sobs.

Enjoy!

photo via ♥ Jaye

in love.

1997 - sophomore year at college. hours spent on my bed listening to the Willie Nelson version. crying. thinking of clin.

singing this song is synonymous to having me at hello.