Day 13.

I am thankful for music.  It has the power to soothe, to enlighten, to uplift.

I am thankful for all the music (many different types) in our home, for Merrill’s addiction to it.  He always finds the best bands!  Music really means something to us…

I am thankful to be able to put a particular song on, and feel of his love for me.

I am thankful that our family has been sealed to each other.  I am thankful for the binding power of the Priesthood.

I am also thankful for awesome babysitters.  Great kids who we can leave our kiddos with, know that when we return home, all will be well, and our babies will be happy, and well cared for.

“Music is the soundtrack to our lives.”

Dick Clark has it right..

I have been in a mood since we moved, after we went through our MANY CDs, packing up all of our stuff.  There were CDs and even tapes (yikes!) that I had completely forgotten about.  Most of this music was from certain points in my life and brings memories and feelings rushing back.

Isn’t it amazing how music can evoke so much emotion?

As we packed, we reminisced, we also divided things into different piles: trash, sell (some that I opted to keep that Merrill was all too quick to toss into the sell pile), keep, and what were Merrill’s favorites that would be on display in his room.  We still have not gotten around to un-packing ALL of it, Merrill’s stuff is up..

Our music is distinct to different times in our lives.  Some reminds us of childhood, vacations, junior high, high school, hard times, good times, being new in love, getting ready for our wedding day, newlyweds, and each of the girls as a baby and small children.  Merrill is a pro at attaching memories to music for me.  There are a few albums that, when I hear them, remind me immediately of specific events, because that was what he orchestrated for me to hear, to define it that way for me.

What good music.

What good memories!

My  re-discovered treasures are still down there, somewhere.

A friend sent me to a new music site, where I have been listening to some of this music that I am too busy (or is it lazy?) to go and dig for.

Wow.

The memories that come flying at me..

Right now, I am entirely into Stone Temple Pilots.  Loving it, feeling like I am back in high school.  “Tiny Music” reminds me all too much of the time I spent with my older brother, Ken, after his mission.

Those are good memories.

I am thankful for the many more memories to come as I re-discover my music.

Date night..

I invited my little self to a concert with Merrill this weekend.
Now, I don’t want you going off thinking of some big concert in an arena or other typical venue..  this concert was at our favorite spot, Kilby Court.
It is a garage to be quite honest, but so much better than just an ordinary garage.
It is a very intimate setting to see some of our favorite (but lesser-known) bands.

Friday Appleseed Cast came into town.  We have seen them before, but I have never seen them at Kilby.
Awesome.
That’s all I can say.
Drunkee-McGee next to us being all sorts of crazy didn’t even ruin the night.  When you are this close to the main event, how could that bug me?

We stood front row for the whole show (which consisted of parts one and two of one of their projects) and I managed to get some good shots with my camera phone.  I was a bit nervous taking the Nikon, because of people like Drunkee-McGee, that and I am still learning about the settings, wouldn’t want that flash to go off at a not so good moment!  I told Merrill that it would be fine, only to find out that the smaller camera had a dead battery.  Whoops. 
Camera in the phone would have to do..
(Psst!  Don’t tell Merrill, but I do regret not taking it.  Next time..)
He didn’t have enough time to gather the things he wanted to either..  LPs and such to be autographed.
Next time..
After the show, we went and chatted-up the artists.
This is Merrill’s hobby, independent music.  He knows everything (seriously) about all of his favorite artists and even details about the labels they are on.  He was quite excited to talk to the opening band in particular.
Two band members of the Appleseed Cast were here before Thanksgiving, playing with Old Caines, and they were invited to stay at the hotel for the night.  They remembered Merrill,  but didn’t get to stay at the hotel this time (their next show was in the opposite direction) otherwise we would have gotten stuff signed.  He was bummed about that..
It was such a fun night!  I am thankful that Merrill let me tag-along, and I am thankful that Drunkee-McGee didn’t spill his ill-disguised booze on me. ;)
(Thanks too Mom and Dad for watching the girls!!)

Homesick..

Have you ever felt homesick for something?
I am feeling that way lately..
While I am surely living in the "now", trying to not look too much into the future, but planning for it, and not dwelling in the past, I still get homesick for different times in my life.
Sometimes it's the newness of our relationship. While I still get butterflies anticipating Merrill's arrival home from work everyday, I still miss the excitement, the newness.
I will get homesick for each one of the girls at a different age, while I love them wholly and completely where they are now, loving everything they do and say.. I miss the firsts.
Right now, I am homesick for pregnant life..
It's amazing what can spur such feelings.
It ebbs and flows, but the other night it came on like a flash flood.
I was up, with the "pre-monthly fun stuff", my personal woe of insomnia, and I heard Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4" on a TV show.. gush! The memories flooded in. It's a song I heard so many times in the end of my pregnancy with Peyton, being up in the middle of the night with contractions, watching late night TV info-mercials.. Time Life music specials..
Wow.
Music has always had a power, a presence in my life, but it has hit me hard on this one.
I love it all.
I miss it all.

Music...

So I stole this idea from an interview in SPIN magazine.. they keep sending us free, or like they call them "trial issues", to con us into subscribing.. you know, they are the issues that the cover pic was cropped funny.. all the mistakes.. etc.
Our family is totally about music... it helps that that is Merrill's addiction/obsession. He introduces us to new, underground indie bands.. I am proud to say that we were into many bands before they were really known... Merrill has me under a vow of strict secrecy when it comes to good, new music. Sometimes he won't tell me a band's name...
I had to add a few questions that I thought would be fun, and omit one about smoking pot, since it simply doesn't apply to me.. hope you want to play along!
So here goes..
What band are you embarrassed to admit that you used to like?
Milli Vanilli- can you say fraud? I remember being mad that they would do such a thing, so I took my tape, pulled out the tape part, hooked it to a link on the fence and roller-skated away, letting it unravel behind me... "Ooo, oo, ooohhooo.. I love you.." NOT!!
Name the last song you downloaded illegally.
I have NEVER downloaded a song, period. I have Merrill do it all! He'd do better in the clink than I would anyway..
Who comes after Radiohead on you iPod? (If you don't have any Radiohead, who is your second "R" artist.. but face it, everyone has Radiohead..)
It is actually a Zen, that I love to death... and that artist would be:
Rage Against the Machine
What's yor favorite film soundtrack?
Hmmm... that's a hard one... I guess I would have to say.. Cruel Intentions. It's dark, and sometimes, a lot of times, that fits my mood perfectly. Plus the base in it is amazing... I miss the speaker box in the Civic...
What song was playing during your first slow dance?
While I cannot accurately remember the exact song, I am sure I can say it was Boyz II Men.. 90's... it had to be them or Vanessa Williams, or Mariah Carey...
Do you ever pretend to like a band more than you really do?
Yes.. Coldplay.. they are alright. I like a few songs.. but I won't buy a CD.. even though I have.. once.
What would people be surprised to find in your collection of music?
A lot of classic rock. Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zepplin, STYX, Bob Seger, Harry Chapin... and my Carpenters, Air Supply, and Bread.. all next to my country, rock, hip-hop, R&B... and a few pop bands (blush). I think I am very well-rounded musically.
Do you and your mate have a song?
Yup.. many. One of which is Tears For Fears, Head Over Heels.