Nice to meet you

God bless you Johnny Flynn.

I'd like to know where you have been,

and I wish I knew you sooner.

I really just think you should listen to all of his songs as soon as possible.

Musical Roots

My love affair with music started young. In my formative years in London, Dad says that I loved to jam to "Top of the Pops". I loved musical soundtracks (particularly Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera). When we lived in DC, my favorite station was Radio AAHS (for the longest time I thought it was Radio Oz. I was wrong). The songs on that station made me very environmentally and socially aware. Especially this song (didn't people realize this would terrify kids?) and this song, and of course, this song.  No wonder I turned out the way I did. OH MY GOSH AND DON'T FORGET THIS ONE. I also got this cd for one of my birthdays: 

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's "I am the Cute One"

Homegirls were stylin', even back then. This is one of my favorite tracks. Though I'm afraid it takes a whole different tone since this was pre-Monika Lewinsky scandel. Oh dear.

Finally, I got my hands on an awesome cassette. Yeah, that's right. CASSETTE TAPE. One that would lead me to "grown-up" songs and bands. 

Oh yeah!

This tape was AWESOME. Absolutely every song was a winner. They helped me seem cool when I moved to a new state (Utah) and a new school. (I actually forgot that, but I was in the same class as George, and he told me that on my birthday, I told everyone that they were my favorite band. Cool points). I remember trying to explain the depth and complexity of the lyrics from "All That She Wants" to my best friend Genny. I love love loved them. 

Admit it.

You love them too.

That's why I really loved this video I found (could do without the last 30 seconds though):

I like the Flamenco vibe of "Cruel Summer," perfect. Oh memories.

A Poem for Thursday: "Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" - William Butler Yeats

Aedh Wishes for the Clothes of Heaven
William Butler Yeats

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

This recording is from when I was part of BYU's Women's Chorus

Eloquence

Most of the time, I'm not so good with words. I stress about saying the right things at the right time. I feel pressure about meeting new people and being able to carry on a conversation. Leading me to choose to stay home instead of face the challenge. It's an issue. So much so, that I regularly read articles like this. 

I wish I had a personal screenwriter. Someone who could load me up with quips and conversation starters every morning. I think I would pick Aaron Sorkin.

I just watched the first episode of The Newsroom yesterday. Check out the trailer (mind you, there are some eff words):

So great! Plus it name-dropped Don Quixote about fifty times, so it HAS to be good. I'm little late to the Aaron Sorkin fanclub. I only recently figure out who he was after watching Social Network a year or so ago. Needless to say, I'm looking for dvds of The West Wing to borrow. I have some catching up to do.

I guess if he's not available, I could have the screen writer from Gilmore Girls help me out. Remember how I was in love with Jess? HAHA

OH.

And the screen writer from True Grit.


I think the trick is to never use contractions.

Words are such tricky things.

A Poem for Thursday: "To My Heart, Bidding It Have No Fear" - William Butler Yeats

To My Heart, Bidding It Have No Fear
William Butler Yeats

Be you still, be you still, trembling heart;
Remember the wisdom out of the old days:
Him who trembles before the flame and the flood,
And the winds that blow through the starry ways,
Let the starry winds and the flame and the flood
Cover over and hide, for he has no part
With the proud, majestical multitude.

Here's one for the fearless hearts.

OH. Hi Summer.

Today was the first day of summaaaaaaaaaa

Watch this video on VideoSurf or see more Will Smith Videos or Dj Jazzy Jeff Videos

Will Smith can do now wrong. He was on top of the world then* and he's still on top of the world now.

I don't know what the last couple months have been like for all ya'll. But for me, summer hasn't started yet. I've only been swimming ONCE. Unacceptable.

We're going to change that this weekend. Heading to my beloved AZ.
Stop by if you happen to be there too.
You'll know where to find me.

*This song came out in 1991, over 2 decades ago. Yeah.

A Poem for Thursday: The Lake of Innisfree

And now onto Yeats.


The Lake of Innisfree
William Butler Yeats


I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of linnet's wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

********

Where is your Innisfree? I have a few.

W&OD Trail, Virginia

Cathedral Wash, Arizona

Ica, Peru

Kathmandu, Nepal