Stormy Weather

This morning, the beautiful and talented Jean Gralley posted an old poster of the Lena Horne and Bill Robinson movie Stormy Weather, which I loved when I first saw it as a little girl. So in honor of Jean, Lena and Hurricane Sandy, here's my Stormy Weather playlist that I'll have plenty of time to listen to as work's been cancelled today with a possible closure tomorrow as well.

"Stormy Weather" by Lena Horne
"Lightning Crashes" by Live
"It Blew a Living Gale" by David Baumgarten
"Rainy Day Women" by Bob Dylan
"A Little Fall of Rain" by Les Miserables Cast
"Downpour" by Brandi Carlile
"Come Rain Or Come Shine" by Billie Holiday
"Butterflies & Hurricanes" by Muse
"Drops of Rain" by Carbon Leaf
"Don't Rain On My Parade" by Glee Cast
"Ill Wind" by Billie Holiday
"She Gathers Rain" by Collective Soul
"Blow the Man Down" by Stan Hugill
"Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan
"Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind" by Spring Awakenings Cast
"Us Amazonians" by Kirsty MacColl (from Tropical Brainstorm)
"Darkshines" by Muse
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Ella Fitzgerald

Stay safe, stay dry and stay inside!

Boys of Summer Playlist

It's been a long time since I've posted a new playlist, but I couldn't resist when I started thinking of how great it would be to have all my baseball songs in one place. Now I listen to it practically every day on my way home from work to put me in the mood for the Nationals or White Sox game (both if the timing works out) I'll be listening to. In honor of the Boys of Summer, here's a list of my favorite baseball songs:

"The Boys of Summer" by The Ataris
"The Ballad of Russell Perry" by Vigilantes of Love
"What a Game" by Ragtime Cast
"Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel
"Piazza, New York Catcher" by Belle & Sebastian
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" by Chuck Berry
"Cubs In Five" by The Mountain Goats
"Sure Shot" by Beastie Boys
"Heart" by The McGuire Sisters
"Catfish" by Bob Dylan
"Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball?" by Natalie Cole
"T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game)" by You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown Cast
"A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" by Steve Goodman
"Whatever Lola Wants" by Sarah Vaughan
"Tessie" by Dropkick Murphys
"Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen

If you need more songs about baseball, check out the soundtrack to Ken Burns' documentary Baseball, which is an amazing collection of a century's worth of the sounds of baseball. It also includes seven different versions of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."

Top Ten Holiday Albums

So I'm a little obsessed with holiday music. Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit like a good tune. While some of these music selections are really traditional, many of them put a modern twist on the classics as well as introduce new tunes that are quickly becoming holiday classics to me. Feel free to leave your favorite albums (or even songs) in comments!

The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs by Various Artists

Let It Snow Baby... Let It Reindeer by Relient K

Christmas Child by Carbon Leaf

A Santa Cause: It's A Punk Rock Christmas by Various Artists

Maybe This Christmas by Various Artists

Gift Wrapped - 20 Songs That Keep On Giving! by Various Artists

It's Christmas Time by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra

Rejoice and Be Merry by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Featuring The King Singers

A Very Special Christmas Live From Washington, D.C. by Various Artists

Boogie Woogie Christmas by The Brian Setzer Orchestra

And what would my lists be without bonus recommendations. Because the first bonus is a soundtrack that only features one original recording, I didn't think it deserves the same recognition as the other albums. The second bonus some people argue isn't really a holiday CD at all, but isn't Halloween really the beginning of the holiday season?

Elf: Music From The Motion Picture by Various Artists

The Nightmare Before Christmas Special Edition by Danny Elfman, Featuring Various Artists

Sea Chanteys for the Landlubber

A few years ago my brother introduced me to sea chanteys (or shanties, but I prefer the French spelling because it's a better reflection of the word origin), and ever since I've been trying to convert all my friends. But let's face it, they're not an easy sale, especially if you aren't interested in maritime history and don't appreciate shaky old-man voices or drunken Irishman.

But chanteys have an amazing history. They were the pop-music of their time, a period that lasted about 400 years. (Can you imagine anyone on the Billboard Top 100 staying there for hundreds of years? I get sick of most of them after a few days.) Like modern pop music, chanteys were designed to be simple and stick in your head, but that was because most seamen were illiterate. Chanteys gave a rhythm to the backbreaking work of the seamen and perhaps reminded them of the comforts of home as well as the adventures awaiting them in foreign ports. You can even hear echoes of chanteys in both American slave songs and Application music, although it might be more accurate to say you hear echoes of African tribal music in sea chanteys as it's difficult to say which came first and which influenced the other.

But that's enough history. On to a new playlist of some of my favorite chanteys. While some of these songs are more technically sea ballads or drinking songs, I wanted to give some variety to make the playlist more listenable as well as give it a modern twist.

"The Mallard" by Cliff Haslam
"Blow the Man Down" by Stan Hugill
"Sally Gardens" by the King's Singers
"Whiskey in the Jar" by Wyide Nept
"Cecillia" by Simon & Gerfunkel
"Haul Away Joe" by Wyide Nept
"The Boxer" by Carbon Leaf
"Clear Away the Track" by Stan Hugill
"The Old German Clockwinder" by Cliff Haslam
"South Australia" by Liam Clancy
"Bully in the Alley" by Morrigan
"Blood Red Rose" by Liam Clancy
"Homeward Boud" by Stuart M. Frank
"Santy Ano" by Liam Clancy
"Scarborough Fair" by Simon & Garfunkel
"Mary Mac" by Carbon Leaf
"Bring 'Em Down" by Clark Branson
"John Kanakanaka" by Wyde Nepy
"What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor" by the King's Singers
"I Wish They'd Do It Now" by Cliff Haslam

If you want to read more about sea chanteys from the last real sea chanteyman in the world (he died in 1992), Shanties from the Seven Seas by Stan Hugill is a must-read. Or if you're truly adventurous, you can participate in a chantey singalong at the Griswold Inn in Essex, CT, every Monday night starting at 8 p.m.

Ring out wild bells

I took some pretty horrible pictures of the bell choir with my new phone. I really wish I had known how to adjust the white balance before I tried taking pictures. Luckily, we sounded a lot better than my poor photography skills made us look.

We played for more than a thousand people Friday night. Yes, that many people love the hand bells, especially little kids. It's not really Christmas until you've heard a bell choir.

 Our accompanist is totally amazing. I wish I could play the piano like him.

Check out that ringing action. That form, that determination, that skill.

Halloween Horrors: The Playlist

It's no secret that I like songs of the strange. The more off-beat, the better. And there's no time like Halloween to compile a ghoulish list of tunes. These songs can really put you in the spirit of the season. And as always, I welcome any additional suggestions.

The Party Mix: Approved for all ages and great for dancing.
"Toccata In D Minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach
"Zombie Zoo" by Tom Petty
"I Put a Spell On You" by Creedence Clearwater
"The Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley
"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels
"The Mummy" by The Naturals
"Beetlejuice" by Danny Elfman
"Witchcraft" by Wolfmother
"Witch Doctor" by Sha Na Na
"Time Warp" by Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast
"Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker, Jr.
"Monster Mash" by Boris Pickett
"The Boogie Monster" by Gnarls Barkley
"Love Potion No. 9" by The Clovers
"This Is Halloween" by Marilyn Manson
"Costume" by The Mollies
"Trick or Treat" by Fastway
"Witchcraft" by Frank Sinatra
"Superstition" by Stevie Wonder
"Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson

The Unexpected: For an older audience or not as fun for dancing.
"Enter Sandman" by Matalica
"Already Dead" by Beck
"Dragula" by Rob Zombie
"Dead!" by My Chemical Romance
"Voodoo" by Godsmack
"Candyman" by Christina Aguilera
"Iron Man" by Black Sabbath
"Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo
"Spill the Blood" by Slayer
"Soul Meets Body" by Death Cab for Cutie
"Snake Devil" by Scary Kids Scaring Kids
"Bodies" by Drowning Pool
"DOA" by Foo Fighters
"Wolf Like Me" by TV on the Radio
"The Hand That Feeds" by Nine Inch Nails
"Feed My Frankenstein" by Alice Cooper
"Doctor Blind" by Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
"Die, Die My Darling" by The Misfits
"The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber
"Devil Inside" by INXS
"Love Me Dead" by Ludo

Write what you (don't) know

One of the best things about writing is that you get to research some facinating topics you never expected to learn about.

While working for the PR department of a university, I was writing a lot of press releases about plays and dance team performances and vocal recitals. Through that, I got to know the costume mistress pretty well. I even ended up doing a feature on her because I loved sitting in her room watching her sew. Though the room was quite large to accommodate all of the items she needed to produce costumes, it was probably the coziest spot on campus. All the sewing machines, manikins, clothing racks, fabric bolts made the room so intimate and colorful I could have watched her work for hours.

That was so long ago I had almost forgotten all about the costume mistress. But then I found myself revisiting those long ago chats and wishing I still had my notes from those interviews for my current WIP. Instead I'm having to satisfy myself reading about Colleen Atwood. She is my new hero. She did the costume designs for my favorite album

(The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance)

as well as some of the best movie eye-candy of all time.

(Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd)

I might have a hard time getting an interview with Colleen Atwood, but I'm going to find contact information for that costume mistress who's name I long ago forgot. She's a part of my story now, and I hope I'll be able to give her credit for it some day.

Spring is right around the corner?

It almost feels like spring. Almost. Most of the snow has melted, except in those scattered areas where it was once pilled higher than my head. We're starting to talk about the community garden plot we'll be renting this year. And I bought my first concert ticket.

Music really is a huge part of my summer, and I'm excited that my first concert of the year will be to see a local(ish) band that I have been a big fan of since I moved to D.C. So thanks to Shamrock Fest, I'll get to see Carbon Leaf and a bunch of other bands to kick of the concert season.

We've also started going out again. The snow puts a serious damper on getting together with friends, especially in a town where there are about two cars for every one parking space and almost everyone's main form of transportation is the Metro. But Friday we went to Busboys and Poets where the service was horrible but the food and books were fabulous. And Saturday we went to a Korean karaoke bar where I lost my voice signing Beatles and Amy Winehouse songs.

I'm finally feeling human again now that I can leave the house. Bring it on, Spring! I'm ready for you.

My friend posted this hysterical video of her 20 month-old son rockin' it out to Beyonce. I thought I'd hop on the "Single Ladies" bandwagon and post this for your entertainment.

Christmas Traditions: Strange Music

It's no secret that I enjoy off-beat music, and when it comes to Christmas carols, I enjoy an array of songs. You might even say I have an eclectic taste in holiday music. Mixed into the 12 or so hours of Christmas music on my iPod, I have everything from Fall Out Boy to The King Singers, Brandi Carlile to 98 Degrees.

Here are a couple of my favorite Alternative Christmas songs:

"Winter Wonderland" by Phantom Planet
"Snowfall Music" by Carbon Leaf
"I Won't Be Home for Christmas" by Blink 182
"Oi to the World" by No Doubt
"Christmas Only Comes Once a Year" by MxPx
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by My Chemical Romance
"Yule Shoot Your Eye Out" by Fall Out Boy
"Alone This Holiday" by The Used
"Let Me Sleep" by Pearl Jam
"Ex-Miss" by A New Found Glory

And my new favorite CD is Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer by Relient K. Well, this CD has been out for a couple of years now, but I just discovered it last week and I can't stop listening to it.

What are some of your favorite holiday tunes?

Christmas Traditions: Stories

The other night I was talking to my sister about all the great Christmas movies we used to watch when we were kids, like One Magic Christmas starring Mary Steenburgen. And then my friends over at the PBS Booklights blog mentioned The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket, a short story I read and loved a few years ago. So that got me thinking about some of my favorite holiday stories from years gone by.

You really can't go wrong with a classic, and you can't be any more classic than the poem by Clement Clarke Moore "A Visit from St. Nicholas." It has been re-told everywhich way, from Tim Burton's ghoulish masterpiece to the Cajun version I was interoduced to while living in Louisiana years ago. But it is the version of the poem I had as a child that stands out in my mind more than any other.

When I was really little, we had this pop-up version of The Night before Christmas illustrated by Michael Hague. Because it was the only pop-up book we had, it would get read all year long. We read it so often I had it memorized from the time I was about four, and to this day I can still say the poem verbatim.

As mentioned above, I am a sucker for family Christmas movies. I cried like a baby the first time I saw The Family Stone on a plane trip from Salt Lake to New York, and nothing gets me laughing like While You Were Sleeping. But my very favorite Christmas movie isn't really a Christmas movie at all.

When I sit down to watch Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis, I know it's Christmas. Because I have missed a few Christmases with my family, the song Esther sings to her little sister Tootie about Christmas being more about who you have loved than where you are has a special meaning to me.

One of my best memories from high school is the Christmas play I was in. It was a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol in which Scrooge was a self-centered rock star bent on driving himself to an early, lonely grave complete with the dreadlock-sporting ghost of Bob Marley and a tofu turkey for the hippy Cratchits. I really wish I could remember the name of the play, but it was too long ago and I can't find it in my old journals either. Oh well.

I didn't have a big part, but I did have this really dramatic fainting scene at the beginning when the kid who was supposed to catch me wasn't paying attention and I hit my head on the stage. I don't blame him, really. I tend to fall and hit my head a lot--I've even knocked myself out a couple of times. But getting back to the topic at hand...

I LOVE Christmas music. Seriously, I have about 12 hours worth of Christmas music on my iPod. Everything from the King Singers to Fall Out Boy. And all of that music tells a different story of Christmas, whether it's a depressing story of love lost and loneliness, or a song totally focused of the miracle of a baby born in a stable.

To me, one of the most beautiful hymns of the season is It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. That song encompasses everything meaningful about the season. It speaks of tradition and peace, past and present, hope and fulfillment. The imagery is also so moving: "Still thru the cloven skies they come / With peaceful wings unfurled."

There is something so distinct about the stories written about Christmas. This is the time of year when everyone suspends their disbelief for just a moment and believes that magic and miracles and goodness really do exist in the world. We stretch our imagination and make ourselves a little vulnerable to feeling the spirit of Christmas, no matter if we believe in Christ or not.

And new stories of Christmas are still being created every year. Snowmen at Night by Mark and Caralyn Buehner is the perfect example of this.

What are some of your favorite Christmas stories? Are they books or songs or maybe even memories? Maybe it's a story a parent read to you or something you discovered one Christmas when you were far from home. But in this season of glad tides, I hope you are able to find joy and happiness in all your Christmas stories.

And boy are my arms tired

No, I haven't done any flying. But along with colored lights and mistletoe, the holiday season also means music. Yesterday my Christmas bell choir had our first performance in Old Town Alexandria, and today we had a two-hour rehearsal for our big performances next week. I also lead the congregational music and the music for the women's meeting at church today. Between hefting those bass bells and waving my arms in the air all weekend, my shoulders and elbows and arms ache. I really need to work out more.

I'll try to post some pictures of the Bells at Mt. Vernon, but for now, enjoy this Christmas music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I was at the concert where this was recorded a few years ago, and while a YouTube recording can't compare to the live performance, it's still beautiful. Plus, my friend Carrie was one of the dancers, my old clarinet teacher played in the orchestra and I know a couple people in the choir. Not being there for the Christmas concert this year makes me kind of miss living out west.

Twelve Days of Thanksgiving: Day 7

This shout-out goes to every music player I have ever owned.

Music has been an outlet for me since I can first remember. It has helped my express feelings I didn't understand enough to put into words myself, overcome bad times and remember the good. I have sung along, danced along and played along--all fairly poorly--but music has been there for every important event in my life.

So from my dad's old record play to the 8-track in the Ford to my first walkman, CD player and iPod, you have filled my life with music.

Can't Stop This Music

Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I freaking loved this book. Any book that can make Jane's Addiction and Shakespeare come together to create a beautiful story has my full support. And it didn't hurt that the writing style has a rawness and openness about it that nearly broke my heart and kept me laughing all at once.

Sammy Bojar is going to be the next big thing--or will be after the current next big thing gets out of his way. All he has to do is figure out how to keep his indie/punk/emo band together, turn his best friend into his girlfriend and watch his grandfather slip into dementia. Luckily band front-man Joe seems to be keeping it together, Jen5 knows just how to deal with a new emo-rocker boyfriend and Gramps still has plenty of musical lessons to teach. Sammy's candle might just have a chance to burn long and bright before it is put out.

And that's just scratching the surface. This book proves that fame and music and life isn't always pretty nor as satisfying and Hollywood would have you believe. It's messy and complicated and heartbreaking, yet it's also full of tomorrows and potential.

Skovron doesn't belittle adolescent feelings of love and fear and compassion, nor does he skirt over issues like sex or make a big deal out of things like homosexuality and drinking. The story focuses on the music and stays true to character development. The teens in this novel are down to earth and struggle with the same issues of insecurity and hope that all real-life teens deal with every day.

While the story arc is a little rough and the adult characters are a little cliche, this is an amazing debut novel. I am honored to have it stand next to my other YA music books like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Heavy Metal and You and Notes from the Midnight Driver. I look forward to seeing what other stories Skovron has in store for us.

Life seems to always get away from me

I was planning on posting about so many fun things that I did and amazing people I spent time with while I was out West, like...

Stopping by the new Wasatch Music Coaching Academy studio to visit an old friend. (Michael Jackson passed away while I was there, which was sad as his music had touched a lot of people involved in the school, myself included.)

Seeing "Hello, Dolly" performed at the Hale Center Theatre. I had never seen a musical performed on a circular stage before, so that was kind of cool. For a relatively small metropolitan area, Salt Lake City is chalked full talent.

Catching up with old friends with growing families. I've seen Angie in so many stages in her life--college student, engaged, newly married, pregnant, first time mom, pregnant again--and it's been kind of hard to be away from her for so long. Emma is growing up so fast, but I was happy to see she has inherited her mommy's passion for reading.

Reuniting the Sisterhood. While I did a lot in my time out West, I had really made the trip to see Sarah get married. It was a small wedding (less than 20 people in attendance), but I wouldn't have missed it for all the world. Sarah was beautiful and her new husband is almost as wonderful as she is, but let's face it, no one is good enough for my Sisters. I don't think I have ever met or will probably ever meet such a fabulous group of women who mean so much to me. Besides my blood-sister and mom, there are no women I love more in all the world.

Making a surprise visit to see Tammy's family. While I was living so far from my own family, Tammy's family became my segregate family. We were lucky enough that all five of her siblings and every single one of her nieces and nephews were in town when we dropped by. I love them like they're my own.

Okay, enough sappiness and pictures for one night. I still want to post about the 4th of July in the Nation's Capitol, including a guest appearance by my very own mom, but that will have to wait until tomorrow or the next day. Plus there are more roommate adventures in DC to share and a real, live writing update. Yes, that's right, I'm actually going to talk about writing on my writing blog. Don't die of a heart attack, y'all.

Living the good week

A lot of people post a Friday Five, and I realized I have never done that before. This was a really good week, so I could probably post a Friday Fifteen or even Fifty, but that would be a really long post. And it's getting late, and I'm getting up early.

1. Music, music, music. I downloaded Melinda Doolittle's new CD Coming Back to You, which has some pretty good tunes.

2. I also finally downloaded a modern Cajun CD that was featured on NPR a few months ago--Cow Island Hop by Feufollet. Their female vocalist has an incredible voice that make me dream of being back on the bayou.

3. I went to a concert for a local high school that had a bunch of student's release a CD. Goading the Pen's son played an acoustic set as well as performed with his band Only on Fridays. These kids write and produce all of their own music, and it will make you wish you were that cool in high school. You can download their CD, Salmagundi: A Collection of Things, on iTunes.

4. I got an ARC of Bennett Madison's The Blonde of the Joke in the mail. (Thanks Bennett!) I haven't had a lot of time to read, so I'm only 75 pages into it, but I can't get it out of my head. The main character fascinates me, and I can't wait to find out how everything comes together.

5. My new bathing suit came in the mail. Yes, I was brave a bought a bathing suit online. And it fits perfectly. And doesn't look half bad on me. And didn't cost me a fortune. I haven't gotten a new suit for almost five years, so I'm excited to take this one out for a test swim. Now it just has to stop raining and get warm again.

What a great week. In the past seven days, I got to see my little brother, heard some great music, got a fabulous un-birthday present book in the mail and got summer clothes. Plus, the Sox are first in their division, and tomorrow a bunch of us are going to the open house on Embassy Row. Summer is just around the corner, and life couldn't be better.

Oh yes, number six. I finally got up my nerve to start sending my manuscript off to agents. Okay, so I've only sent it to one thus far, but it still feels good to be moving forward with the process.

Mini parking spaces and summer concerts

Part 1: Mini parking spaces

I am a city driver. Growing up in the Chicagoland area has made me kind of an aggressive driver who knows how to get in and out of tight spaces. So when a few friends from Utah came to visit this past week, they got to see my city driving skills in a whole new light. They experienced Beltway traffic and the parking lot that is I-66. They white-knuckled it as I merged using 10-foot ramps and whipped around city streets. But the thing that made one friend truly horrified was the parking. And Tammy, being Tammy, took pictures of some of my parking jobs.

Tammy was just about ready to have a heart-attach when she saw me back into these teeny-tiny spaces, and the one of the left wasn't even all that bad as I only had a raised walkway on one side. She also couldn't believe I was willing to attempt parking between two concert posts like the one on the right. (Don't ask what Misheal and I are doing in this picture, because I have no idea, but it was hysterical at the time.) And that doesn't even touch all the parallel parking I had to do. I guess in a city where real-estate is such a hot commodity, you don't waste it on parking garages, a truism a country-bread girl from Idaho fond intriguing.

Part 2: Summer concerts

There is noting that says summer so much as music. I got my tickets to the NIN and Jane's Addiction tour, and I'm still hoping to find a group who wants to see Crue Fest 2 so I don't have to spend a fortune on tickets but can get the group rate. (I have to admit, I'm not so much a fan of Motley Crue as I am obsessed with Theory of a Deadman.)

Least you think I'm a total heathen and my mother didn't raise me to enjoy polite society, I'm also seeing Ragtime for the second time, and I'm hoping to catch a play at the newly remodeled Ford's Theatre. Then there's also Screen on the Green to look forward to, where the city puts up a jumbotron in front of the Capitol and people come to watch old movies on Monday nights. And of course my mom and sister are coming for the 4th of July concert as well.

I'm so excited for all the activities what will be going on this summer! I just hope I don't put myself into the poorhouse trying to do them all.

Georgia Grind

I was tagged in this meme a few months ago but never did it. It seems to be going around again and my brain is too fried to come up with anything else to post, so here is my life in iTunes.

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
Help! by the Beatles—this is already going better than I expected…

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF
When I kicked Harry Potter in the Face by Draco and the Malfoys

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Tom Sawyer by Rush—I guess I go for the bad boys.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Let the Good Times Roll by Shirley and Lee—my iTunes thinks I’m having a better day than I thought I was.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Happy Birthday by Eddy Howard—I do like birthdays.

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
La Petite Poule Blanche/Fais Do Do by Michael “Beausoleil” Doucet—translation: Little White Hen/Traditional Cajun Dance Party. Basically it’s a song about a mother signing her child to sleep so she can go and dance. Er…I don’t have any kids, and I don’t really dance.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Disappear by INXS—this is just getting kind of sad.

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Paquet D’epingles by Michael “Beausoleil” Doucet—(I swear, I really don’t have that many French songs on my computer) translation: Pocket Full of Pins. I suppose my parents really do want me to find happiness, even if it is with a poor boy who only has pins in his pockets.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
December by Collective Soul—this makes perfect sense when you look at my purpose in life. My birthday is Dec. 4 after all.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Rhinocerous by The Smashing Pumpkins—I guess I’m just not a very nice person.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Thank God It’s Christmas by Queen—see motto and my thoughts.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Vespa! Rospo Maledetto! by Giacomo Puccini—I don’t know Italian, but I do know this song is from Madame Butterfly. I guess I’m waiting to come out of my cocoon.

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Three Welsh Bird Songs: Mae Hiraeth Yn Y Mor by Charlotte Church—I wouldn’t mind having Charlotte Church sing at my funeral; it’s too bad I won’t be around to enjoy it.

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Jingle Bells by Diana Krall—I’m sensing a theme here.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Partita No. 1 in B minor by Bach—have you ever listened to Bach? You’d be scared, too.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr.—too bad this and the last song weren’t switched. That would have been cool.

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Life of My Own by Three Doors Down—yes, but who ever really has their life all to themselves?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by Sense Field—this is getting ridiculous.

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Georgia Grind by Louis Armstrong and the Hot Fives—good song. I can shake it east, I can shake it west, but way down south I can shake it best!

Maybe next time I play this meme I’ll have to use my iPod instead of my entire music library. Then I won’t get all these Christmas songs and French songs I only listen to while I’m writing and classical songs I downloaded when I was playing in orchestra.