Happy Memorial Day Musings.....hmmm..."Happy" doesn't seem right though, does it?

MENU OF THE DAY:

on iTunes: Ray LaMontagne "You are the Best Thing"

Just finished reading: "Beautiful Boy" ...ANYONE struggling with children who are doing drugs, or who you think might be headed that way should read this book. I read it in 24 hours. Really well done.

Last movie watched: "Reservation Road" - i THOUGHT i had rented the Leonardo di caprio movie "Revolutionary Road". BUT in the end this movie was really good. Great acting by Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly, and Mark Ruffalo.

Idol Stuff: Adam Lambert did not win American Idol as i wanted and expected, (along with the millions of other folks). But i'm fine with that because now he doesn't have to do the cheese. The Idol finale was one of the best Idol shows ever. Santana, Rod Stewart, Kiss, Cyndie Lauper, Queen , Black Eyed Peas, and Jason Mraz were on. Adam is indeed my favorite of any Idol ever on the seasons. Kris Allen, who won, was indeed very good, but not in the same caliper. I liked them both though. So i was not whining over Adam not winning.

(If someone knows how to link video here without the link, let me know. Here is Adam Lambert singing Sam Cooke's "A change is gonna come" - it is so freaking awesome. I rewound it immediately before the judges even spoke. There is one over the top shrieky moment, but otherwise i think it's brilliant.)

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_a_change_is_gonna_come

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1. I was thinking that i would just come here and ask three questions: AND because it's Memorial Day i would start with .... Who are three people you are missing?

2. What are your last three favorite songs that come to mind. Not exactly your favorite in the world, but just 'current'.

3. Last three books that you read that you would recommend. (Again, not necessarily your favorite, but just books you might think others would like.)

4. Three movies you would recommend.

5. Can you list three surprises?

6. Three things you have accomplished lately.

7. Three things you would rather be doing.

8. Three favorite famous people.

9. Three famous people you cannot stand.

10. Finally three things you like about yourself.

I've got nothing to say.

.....i told you!

But i just poured some J. Lohr chardonnay. So i might be back!

I got nothing to say, really, but i'm saying it anyway.

MENU OF THE DAY

Listening to: one of the most amazing songs ever written: "Hello In There" by John Prine song, only this is performed by Jeffrey Foucault (and he does an amazing job with it. ) I'm not a crying woman, but this song makes me almost always tear up.

Reading: Getting Ready to Start "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett about African American women living in Mississippi in 1962.

Netflix Rental: "Seven Pounds". Haven't watched it yet.

Idol Talk: Adam Lambert is my very favorite Idol contestant of all of the years i have been watching. Not only is he amazing in that he can do all genres and make me like stuff (Like Zeppelin) that i normally wouldn't like but you can just tell, he's a genuinely caring and nice and wonderful guy.

Again, i have no idea what i am getting ready to say so this will be a mishmash. But it will be NUMBERED!

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1. i just hit repeat on the song "Hello In There". I think i am adding this song to my Top Ten favorite all time songs. In this version by Foucault, there is a subtle background harmony that almost sounds like Emmylou Harris. It probably isn't. But it's so nice anyway.

2. If i was the type of person who used the word 'lovely'. I would say the harmony was lovely.

3. But i am not that type of person. I just know it would sound false coming from me. I don't even know why.

4. I work for teacher unions. We held a meeting today with the new teachers in one of our districts being RIFFED - (meaning that they are out of a job). At the end of the meeting listening to their questions and hearing some of their stories I just felt strongly that probably all (with the exception of maybe 1) in the group were teachers NO DISTRICT would want to lose. I was impressed with their earnestness, their almost graceful resignation and that they didn't blame the union, the district administration, or whatever.

5. It made me feel like i wish we could do more as a union and at the same time it also lifted me up that there are some folks out there wanting to teacher your kids who are total quality.

6. And here's something i think everyone should know: I don't know of another profession doing so well with less resources than teaching. I cannot say this enough. All we hear in the media about is how terrible schools are. But that is not true. There are some amazing things going on in schools even where the funding is lacking. I will never listen to anyone talk down public schools and teachers unless i KNOW FOR SURE that they have been out in a school volunteering, tutoring, active in their child's education and voting. For example, business folks or politicians who speak about the need for reforming in a huge way, but haven't set one toe in a school in the past 5 or 10 years, have no credence with me. NONE.

7. Ok, i am off my high horse about schools now.

8. I just hit repeat on Foucault's version of "Hello in There" for a third time. (God, i love that song. )

9. I have to go to a funeral of my first husband's father soon. He died yesterday morning at home. (My ex husband's parents still live next door to my parents, all these years later.) I liked him. He is the one who taught me how to dance. In the old fashioned way with the jitterbug. He and his wife (who i also loved) were fun to watch on the dance floor of The Elks club. I learned how to follow lead and never look at my feet and to follow the rhythm of the music.

10. Going to funerals from people from your past is a very weird thing. I've been to a couple with both ex-husbands since i've been married to them and it's been strange. I find myself in a banal/small talk conversation with them and walk away from them wondering: Why did i ever marry those guys in the first place? And i wonder if they feel the same thing.

11. Only i cannot imagine that they do. In MY fantasy they are always saying to themselves: "Wow, she looks so fabulous why did i ever screw things up so that she got away!"...

12, Okay y'all know the drill. What is on your mind, even if you think you have nothing to say, just wing it. I swear when i do these, i have no idea what i'm starting to write. There is something rather cathartic about it.

Family

Menu of the Day:

What I'm listening to: Van Morrison slays me. I've had him on all weekend. "Keep it Simple", "Down the Road". Not one mediocre song in the bunch.




What I'm reading: I'm reading a family novel right now. It is so authentic. The title is "Sleepwalking in Daylight". If you have ever not been crazy about your marriage or your kids at some time in your life, you might recognize yourself. This same author wrote "Emma and Me".



Recent iTunes purchase: John Hiatt's "Same old Man" i LOVE this cd. and it's been out a year. I also bought Bob Dylan's new one but i got it from Barnes and Noble. Love it too. but it took me about three times before i got it. (That's normal for me.)



Drinking: Costco's Kirkland brand shiraz. Who would have thought Costco wine would be good!



Netflixing: I just watched Ashley Judd's "Come Early Morning". Liked it alot. Also added "Tell No One" because my brother Troy recommended it. It's a French film starring Kristin Scott Thomas. I read the Harlan Coben book awhile ago. Can't believe it's a foreign film.



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1. The picture above was taken last night at my other brother Scott's 51st birthday party. It's of course, Scott's daughter Kylee and my husband Brian. (My two favorite people in the world.)





2. I was trying to buy a Mother's Day card the other day, as i do every year, and i got stuck....again. the Mother's Day cards are so gushy that if i buy one it would be a lie. My mother was never a supporter or mentor to me, nor did she teach me anything but the stuff about myself i do not like. (such as being overly opinionated without backup, stating my case far more often than i should, and saying what's on my mind...which is not always good.) But i did find a card that talked about the original seatbelt. And it's a cartoon of a mom's arm thrown across the body of her child who is in the passenger seat of the car she is driving.





3. Having said that, i still love my mom. If i was not her daughter, i would see her more as the Louisiana yaya character that she really is. That her narcissism would be more endearing, that her pronouncing words wrong would be funny and not embarrassing, that her manipulation is more a Scarlett O'Hara southern strength and not just.....manipulation.





4. Here's another family photo from last night. This is my beautiful niece Ashley (on the right) who lives in San Diego. (she is Kylee's older sister and when i married Brian she was my Maid of Honor.) She and my mom are showing off their tacky rings that cost $5 from Target. (Ashley has the ability to wear the cheapest clothes and make them look totally fabulous. )



5. I was going to post a photo of my dad but he is looking old and skinny (and i'm having trouble with blogger to add it here so i quit trying). In my profile i mention him. HE is the one who has taught me the most . He is retired military sargeant. He is meticulous, opinionated, hates crowds, and though he doesn't show it often, he fiercely loves his family.



6. I am most like my dad.




7. Okay, so instead, here is a photo of probably my 3rd and 4th favorite people in my family. My sister in law, Kylee's mom, Marie (on the left) married to Scott. And Troy, the youngest kid in the family. Them being 3rd and 4th favorite is not to say i love anyone less in my family, but i do connect more with Marie (who runs with me every Sunday since 1992). I'm so glad Scott married her. And Troy and I connect through books, movies, and music and like me, he talks about real life stuff. (When Brian and I got married he was the brother who married us and he really made our wedding special.) Ashley is too far away to connect with on a regular basis (and she's not an emailer or blogger) - we'd be closer if she lived here. I like my brother Scott too alot, but he and I don't do that much together on our own. (We have somewhat similar personalities in that we are opinionated and like to be right, (though i don't like to party like he does) but we have few similar interests.)

If i ever needed help, i would call Marie. She's everyone's go-to person, organized and decisive and always seems to know what to do and is willing to help.