I'm Turning Into A Hippie (more music recommendations)

A long time ago, Heather and I were driving around in her car listening to someone I had never heard of-Simon & Garfunkel. They were everything I didn't like-they were too mellow, too 70's, too hippie for me. But, slowly, Heather's persistence paid off. She introduced me to such classics as, The Sounds of Silence, Kathy's Song and Mrs. Robinson. I started to realize that I like those songs-and not just like them. In fact, I LOVE them. Their soft clear voices, beautiful lyrics and general positivity really resonate with me. I have expanded my love of hippie music to John Denver, Elton John, CCR, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, The Carpenters & Peter, Paul and Mary. So, color me hippie, I guess. Enrich your life, bring back memories (for some of you who are mature enough to remember) and have a listen at these classics:

The Wedding Song, Peter Paul and Mary (I know, he kind of looks like a terrorist in this video, just go with it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKdUpgI-8Kk

Never Going Back Again, Fleetwood Mac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzqik8wUqbY

Kathy's Song, Simon & Garfunkel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q60YKfPKdjQ

Country Roads, John Denver (really pretty video too)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k49paH8plfY

Songs Called Gravity

So, I have a couple song recommendations for anyone who cares to read this. They are both called Gravity. One by John Mayer (yes, I know he's turned out to be a creep in real life, but I can't help but love his music-it really speaks to my soul) and the other by Sara Bareilles. Two totally different topics, but are respectively A-MAZING. Have a listen:

Gravity, John Mayer

I can be having a horrible day- one of those days where you can literally feel your blood pressure rising, and all I gotta do is put this ditty on and I MELT. ps, I know this is a stupid video, but the only link I could find to the studio version of the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VBex8zbDRs

Gravity, Sara Bareilles

I think the words to this are so beautiful and haunting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mULa8WxTa4&feature=fvst

Obsessions-I have many

Ok, do you ever see or hear about something, think it's cool or fascinating or even just hard to look away from, like a car wreck, and start obsessing over it? A little ashamedly, I admit that I do. Here are some of my latest obsessions:

1. Fire Pits:

The last few months, I have really been on a mission to clean up my yard and make some nice changes which will allow me to actually use that space instead of letting my dogs have the run of it. The major addition I would like to add is a Fire Pit. It sounds so nice to have a seating area surrounding a cozy fire pit where we can roast hot-dogs or marshmellows and talk and have fun. I have spent hours researching what kind of fire pit I would like, what shape, material, cost, location, time to build and the list goes on. I have watched DIY You Tube videos on how to build them myself, found out how to mix mortar, I have contacted stone salesman a-plenty here in vegas. And for all of my hours of research, guess what I still don't have in my backyard...

2. Heidi Montag:

Ok, I really am embarrassed about this one. But, it seriously is like a car wreck for me. In case you are out of the loop, Heidi Montag is only famous because she was (maybe still is??) on an MTV reality show called the Hills about a group of extremely superficial Cali girls starting their adult lives/careers. She was a very naturally thin, 23 yr old beautiful blonde originally from Colorado (don't ask me how I know that) who recently underwent 10, count them TEN plastic surgeries in one day. I've included before and after pictures for your reference. It's something I seriously have a hard time passing by if I see her in a magazine or a recent interview with her. I just don't know why she did that!

before

and after

3. Shipping Container Homes:

Have you ever heard of 'em? Well, a few years ago, I saw a blurb about them on some HGTV show about unusual homes. A few months ago, I saw an article on MSN about them and it reignited my interest in them. Here is a link to a video about them. They are easily assembled, cheap and sturdy. Just think they are plain cool. Would love to live in one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65C9OLvmjpI&feature=player_embedded

4. Birth Videos:

I know this is another weird one. I went through a phase the last few weeks where I seriously watched probably 20 birth videos. I think it all sprang from watching Jim and Pam's (from the Office, come on people, get with it) birth episode. I suddenly had the realization that I'm an adult woman and this is something that I really hope to go through some day and that I had never actually seen one...probably still weird. But, I have been throuroughly traumatized.

(I will spare sending you the links that I watched)

So, what are your quirky/embarrassing obsessions?

A Nod to Violent Passion

Ok, I watched two movies this weekend which contained "violent passion" between the lovers-Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Wuthering Heights. WOW. I was kind of taken off guard by how passionately these lovers worshipped their mates. (especially Wuthering Heights) I mean, they literally worshipped eachother. And although I was horrified when (**spoiler) Heathcliff dug Cathy's corpse up 20 years later to (presumably) hold her and look at her face, I was also touched by his loyalty and devotion to her. And when (**spoiler) Tess kills Alec to show Angel that she has only ever truly loved him and belonged to him. Here are some great quotes from the books:

"My life looks as if it had been wasted for want of chances! When I see what you know, what you have read, and seen, and thought, I feel what a nothing I am!" - Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urberville, Chapter 19

"I can't bear to let anybody have him but me! Yet it is wrong Tess him, and may kill him when he knows!" - Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urberville, Chapter 28

"O why have you treated me so monstrously, Angel ! I do not deserve it. I have thought it all over carefully, and I can never, never forgive you! You know that I did not intend to wrong you - why have you so wronged me? You are cruel, cruel indeed! I will try to forget you. It is all injustice I have received at your hands!" - Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urberville, Chapter 51

"It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire."- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 9

"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it."- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 9

"Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being."- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 9

"Kiss me again, but don't let me see your eyes! I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer--but yours! How can I?"- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 15

"'And I pray one prayer--I repeat it till my tongue stiffens--Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you--haunt me, then! The murdered DO haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts HAVE wandered on earth. Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad! only DO not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I CANNOT live without my life! I CANNOT live without my soul!'"- Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights, Ch. 16

So, I guess what I'm saying (and I guess I'm mostly talking about W.H. since Angel's love for Tess wasn't always "unwavering"), I like is their unwavering love for eachother. Their zeal for eachother. Their fire. Their loyalty. So, can I please find a little violent passion, minus the crazy obssessivness and actual physical violence??

Beachy Music

Ok, I have found a new love. No, it's not another man. In fact, it's a woman and her name is Colbie Caillat.

I know, I'm catching the Colbie wave a little late, but now that I'm on it, I am loving every minute of listening to her songs. I know this is going to sound corny, but I have seriously been moved by several of her songs to profound realizations about my life that have either caused me to take some action or to think differently about myself/my life. In addition to profoundly moving me, I love listening to her because her songs are really upbeat, positive and relaxing. She has a similar quality to her voice as Jack Johnson and in fact, he is one of her inspirations. So, here are the lyrics to some songs that I really enjoy of hers. ps, make sure to watch the second video-it's hilarious and you'll see just how cute she is.

It Stops Today

Listen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGI9lMfDi4c

No, no, I, I, I, I, I don't want to break when I speak
I don't want to shake while I'm standing
I don't want to crawl into another hole
I don't know what I'm hiding for
No, I, I, I, I, I don't want to fall when I stand
I don't want to have to hold your hand
I just want to be the girl I use to be when I was me and worry free
I know these burnings on my own

[Chorus:]
But I can't keep on running
No I just can't keep on running away from here
I know that the only way to be is to fight my every fear
I'm not going to make it 'til I turn around and face it alone, I know
I can't just keep running, no I just can't keep on running away
So it stop today

So here I am, I'm taking my first step
Thought I was losing balance but I caught myself
I kind of like the challenge, no I don't need help
I'm going to make it past the very start
It's always been my hardest part

But I, I, I, I, I'm going to stay in control
I must admit this crutch is getting old
I am going to throw it out of my hand
I'm finally here, I understand
I know I'll get there on my own

It Stops Today

[Chorus:]
So I can't keep on running
No I just can't keep on running away from here
I know that the only way to be is fighting my every fear
I'm not going to make it 'til I turn around and face it alone, I know
That I can't keep running, no I just can't keep on running away
So it stop today

[Bridge:]
You can hide from all the pain
But it will find you anyway
Yes, I know, now I know

[Chorus:]
That I can't keep on running
No I jus't can't keep on running away from here
I know that the only way to be is fighting my every fear
I'm not going to make it til I turn around and face it alone, I know
That I can't just keep running, no I just can't keep on running away
So it stop today

Fallin' For You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV698lujkic

I don't know but I think I maybeFallin' for you

Dropping so quickly

Maybe I should Keep this to myself

Waiting 'til I Know you better

I am trying Not to tell you

But I want to

I'm scared of what you'll say

So I'm hiding what I'm feeling

But I'm tired of Holding this inside my head

I've been spending all my time Just thinking about ya

I don't know what to do

I think I'm fallin' for you

I've been waiting all my life

And now I found ya I don't know what to do

I think I'm fallin' for you

I'm fallin' for you

As I'm standing here

And you hold my hand

Pull me towards you

And we start to dance

All around us I see nobody

Here in silence It's just you and me

I'm trying Not to tell you

But I want to

I'm scared of what you'll say

So I'm hiding what I'm feeling

But I'm tired of Holding this inside my head

I've been spending all my time

Just thinking about ya

I don't know what to do

I think I'm fallin' for you

I've been waiting all my life And now I found ya

I don't know what to do

I think I'm fallin' for you

I'm fallin' for you

Oh I just can't take it

My heart is racing

The emotions keep spinning out

I've been spending all my time

Just thinking about yaI don't know what to do

I think I'm fallin' for you

I've been waiting all my life

And now I found ya

I don't know what to do

I think I'm fallin' for you

I'm fallin' for you

I can't stop thinking about it

I want you all around me

And now I just can't hide it

I think I'm fallin' for you [x2]

I'm fallin' for you

OoohhhOh no noOooooohhh

Oh I'm fallin' for you

Anyway, hope you enjoy listening to her as much as I do.

Run for your life

So, I have to brag a little here. (If you have already heard about this, please exercise patience-I know, I know, you've probably heard about it MORE than once too) Anyway, I have started jogging. Now, if you know me well at all, you will know that exercise has not been a part of my daily regimine for......well, ever-ok? there you made me say it. I have NEVER exercised regularly. But, about a month ago, I tried, just for the heck of it to jog around my block (which is just over .5 miles) Guess what, I could NOT jog the whole way around w/out stopping. And when I got back to the house, I nearly vommited. And really did vommit after a subsequent run. Well, this started me thinking about the health of my heart and lungs who would start to burn merely at the thought of running-I would wheez, caugh, sputter, gag, shake and feel light headed after .5 miles. So, I said to myself, "self, this is RIDICULOUS. You are a young, active, healthy 25 year old woman. You are at your prime-and THIS is all you can do? Man UP!" So, I am starting out small (1-1.5 miles/night). I know it's not much. My goal is to build up to where I can run at least 5 miles w/out stopping. But for now, I am pleased as punch with my steady progress in the ease of being able to run that one mile. I imagine the fat around my heart melting away as I jog. I have been very dilligent to run it EVERY night. And now, it's becoming a little ritual for me. An emotional release, where I can either talk to myself, sing, think or NOT think. I love it. I am feeling more balanced and confident in myself. I can do hard things. I just keep telling myself that. What do you guys do that you are proud of in your life that makes you feel like you can do hard things?

Tradition!

I've been thinking a lot about traditions lately and how important they are in building and keeping family/friend ties close. I think that there is something really neat about having a tradition that you do with your friends/family. It can be anything from going somewhere to eat regularly to playing games on Tuesday nights to gathering together to watch General Conference. Just anything to make you feel like you are a part of something special. I want to start making a special effort to recognize the traditions that I have and start a few new ones this season. Here are some of my favorite traditions both w/ my family and friends from over the years:

1. One semester of college, I made a new group of friends from a late night English class that we all had together. We were sort of an unlikely group of people, but somehow we bonded. And we started going to a restaurant called Coco's after class to have breakfast for dinner. It was a short-lived tradition, but really fun.

2. As a little girl, one of my FAVORITE traditions was getting to stay home from school to decorate the house for Christmas with mom. One day after Thanksgiving, mom would sneakily ask me if I wanted to stay home from school to help her decorate the house. Now, this was a VERY unusual occasion for her b/c normally if I stayed home from school-no matter how sick I was-I had to clean, just to be sure that I wasn't staying home to have fun. So, this one day a year when she let me off the hook, became such a fun day. We'd get out the Christmas boxes full of decorations, iron ribbons to hang on the tree, polish ornaments, hang stockings and listen to Christmas music to our hearts content. I just remember feeling like a little elf getting to assist my mom in the wondrous transformation that occurred when she turned our house into a winter wonderland. This is definately a tradition that I will keep up with my daughters.

3. Christmas Hike. Our family has the tradition of going on a hike on Christmas day after all the presents are opened. I never thought about how unusual this tradition is until Morgan pointed out that most places are way too cold/covered in snow on Christmas to go on a hike. So, that is a plus of being in Vegas for Christmas!

4. Emerald Salad. For as long as I can remember, a dish called Emerald Salad has been served ONLY at Thanksgiving time in my family. Now, I won't divulge the secret-passed-down through the generations-recipe for this dish, but sufficed to say, it is yummy. I look forward to having this each year and have actually inherited the Emerald Salad making duty in our family. (To all those who attended the JPM Thanksgiving, sorry it didn't set up-something went very wrong and it ended up soupy)

5. Monday Night Baseball. My senior year of high school, my friends and I had a tradition to play baseball in the fields near Sam Boyd Stadium every monday night after fhe. They boys were really good and serious about the game, but the girls were mostly there to socialize and have fun. The tradition almost always included a trip to Jack in the Box for a milkshake afterwards.

What are some of your traditions?