Month: March 2013

Throwback 60’s Playlist

Lauren9 Comments

I once took a Victorian Literature class and on the first day we went around the room and said what time period we would live in if we could go back (or forward) in time. There were a lot of people who said the Victorian era (suck ups) and others who said medieval times (knight in shining armor syndrome), but me, I said the 60’s.

And not just because I love hitch hiking and tripping on shrooms (NOT!), but because I feel it would be so cool to experience the time period my parents grew up in. And for the great music, of course.

(Way Back) Throwback 60’s Playlist

For when you’re not playing the new Justin Timberlake CD on repeat.  Just me?

1. “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield

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Just love.  What a perfect expression of countercultural angst and that laid-back hippie vibe.  From the lyrics to the message to the style of the music, everything about this song just screams 60’s to me.  Fact: If this song comes on in the middle of a heated vinyasa yoga flow, the class becomes a million times better.  Fun Fact #2: I always thought this song was about Vietnam, but it’s actually about the curfew battle that happened between young clubgoers (hello Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson!) and the surrounding businesses in L.A during the 60’s.  Who knew?!

2. “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane

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It broke my heart a couple weeks ago when, driving in our mini van in Arizona, this song came on the radio and Joey’s cousin exclaimed “this song is about Alice in Wonderland!” and I had to say “this song is about drugs!”  Such is the wisdom you receive when you have two parents that grew up in the 60’s and this is your family road-trip sing-a-long song of choice.

3. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum

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Okay, call me weird (because this song is weird) but I have always loved this one.  It’s one of those songs that you make up the words to when you sing along and then you look up the lyrics and hey, those actually are the right words!  No?  Just me who does that?  Anyways, slightly chilling, really beautiful and totally thought-provoking.  As in my one thought is “what is this song talking about?!”  Also, um, creepiest album cover ever?

4. “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass

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Because every playlist needs a little R&B.  And because I dig the simplicity of this 60’s classic.  I just wish I could remember that it’s by Fontella Bass and not Aretha or Diana.

5. “Where Did Our Love Go?” by the Supremes

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And while we’re on the subject of Diana.  Short Story: the other day “Tainted Love” was on in the car and I announced that the part where the song transitions into a cover of “Where Did Our Love Go?” is my favorite part and Joey was so confused because he thought that was an original part of the song.  I about had a heart attack because “who doesn’t know the original is by the Supremes?!”  Luckily, me playing the original and singing along quickly jogged his memory.

6. “Sittin On the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

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Have you listened to this song recently?  Like really listened to it?  I’ll admit that I hadn’t and when I did all I could think was “how beautifully soulful!”  Okay, that whistling part still really annoys me, but the rest of the song is perfect.

7. “(I Love You) More Today Than Yesterday” by Spiral Staircase

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I had second thoughts about including this one, but while going through my list and listening to each song again (I take this seriously, people) there was no way I could skip it.  There’s nothing like an upbeat love song with a fun chorus you can belt out into your honey’s ear while he’s trying to focus on the road and drive you both home.  Amiright?

8. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin

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Is it even possible to be a woman and not love Aretha Franklin?  Answer: no.  I basically consider this song to be the original independent woman anthem.

9. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye

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Dear lord, I love this song.  I love it in a way that makes me unable to not get super into singing along any time I hear it.  That opening music?  Marvin’s flawless voice?  Those parts where you have to embrace your own beautiful falsetto?  How is it even possible to not love this song?

10. “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations

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Because there is not a single person on this Earth with ears who does not love this song.  Every time it ends I say “nooooo, it was just getting extra good!”  Sidenote: WHAT is this album cover?

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If you could live in any time period, what would it be?

What’s your favorite “oldie” song?

Do you have a favorite musical era?

Solo Weekend Things

Lauren2 Comments

Extended title for this post would be:

Solo, Snowed In, Watched Every Episode of Girls in 3 Nights, Haven’t Seen Another Human Being All Weekend Things.  And that last part is only a slight exaggeration.

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Joey has been at “work conference” in Vegas (that just so happened to coincide with March Madness — how odd!), so I was flying solo all weekend.  I still can’t decide if I really loved having so much alone time — and I mean really alone because it snowed all weekend and I left my apartment…hmmm… about twice the entire time — or if I was just crazy from lack of human interaction.

I took up watching Girls on Wednesday night thinking that would hold me over till Sunday.  Saturday morning I finished the second season, so that plan didn’t really work out.  I know the end of season two got weird –really weird — but I really loved the show.  Having watched it all in one giant chunk, I don’t even think I could put all my thoughts on it into words.  Or into one post, so I’ll just say that I already want to make Joey watch it.  Partly so I can re-watch it…

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I celebrated Friday by picking up the new JT CD at Target.  And maybe left with an armful of stuff I swear I had not planned on buying.  Can I just ask why they need to make it so difficult to open a CD?  It’s only a $10 item!!!  Clearly I was frustrated, but not as frustrated as when, after 10 minutes of struggling with the CD wrapping, my arm caught the top of our olive oil cruet and dumped the whole thing on the floor.  Sadly this was not the first time I have spilled olive oil all over my kitchen floor.  I proceeded to ignore the spill and watch and episode of Girls before calling my sister to complain.  She suggested I pour cornmeal over the spill before wiping it up and it worked!  For future reference…

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I woke up to this scene on Saturday.  I was less than happy to be pulling out my winter coat again.  I had really hoped we were done with this whole winter and snow thing, but this is Colorado and there is a chance of snow all the way into May.  I often give Joey a hard time for wanting to “do nothing” on the weekend.  I don’t know how to “do nothing.”  And I especially don’t know how to “do nothing” when I have plans to do something.  But this weekend I had absolutely no plans to do anything and dare I say it was kind of nice.

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I didn’t have an agenda, or a to-do list, or anything in mind that I “needed” to accomplish.  I didn’t feel guilty for sitting on the couch and watching TV.  Way too much TV.  And I didn’t put any pressure on myself to “be productive.”  And you know what happened?  I was kind of productive anyways.  I mean, I made honey beer bread!  That’s all the productivity a person needs, right?

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I found this recipe earlier this week and when I decided I wasn’t into cleaning off my car or finding out if the roads were bad or not on Saturday, I pulled up the recipe and was delighted to find I had all the ingredients on hand (oh the beauty of being a homebrewer — beer is always on hand!).  I didn’t have a loaf pan so I went with the pie dish but who really cares what the shape of their bread is anyways.  This turned out fabulously!  I ate a buttery slice hot and fresh from the oven and thought I was going to die of happiness.  Seriously one of the best pieces of bread I’ve ever eaten.  Gah!  I also fed it to my sister (along with some cheesy chicken and rice soup) last night and she concurred that it was phenomenal.

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On Sunday I trounced around in the snow with this little girl.  My parents took a trip to Santa Fe so I’m helping out with their dogs.  I stopped by their place yesterday after my usual afternoon yoga class (which was so sweaty and amazing) and took both dogs out.  Huni proceeded to hop into the snow and then stand there totally confused and probably really cold.  It was adorable.

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I also made life revelation #549784541: the answer to all things is caffeine.  For all sleep-deprived, motivation-seeking, must-get-through-the-workday, or just because times, caffeine is the answer.  I also happen to be super sensitive to caffeine, therefore one measly cup of Earl Gray totally has me buzzing and feeling like my brain is minutes from slipping into either brilliance or insanity (same thing, right?) for the rest of the day.  So fun!

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And what’s caffeine without a side of chocolate chip pancakes anyways?

I think I’ve rambled on long enough, Happy Monday!

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Are you still getting snow where you live?

Can you go to Target without buying at least a handful of stuff you don’t need?

When was the last time you spent a good chunk of time by yourself?