Listening Lately

A few songs on heavy rotation around here.

Dream of me, baby
In a land far across the seas
The darkness has faded
Dappled light is falling through the leaves

I flat out love this song. She’s sitting there alone, but she’s hopeful. It’s had zero airplay over here as far as I know and I only learned of Kristina Train this week.

Now that I think about it a little, I like this live from the studio recording better, but I’m including this video for the following reasons:

  1. Sunset in the southwest.
  2. Pickup truck.
  3. That waitress dancing in front of the jukebox. She reminds me of Audrey from Twin Peaks.
  4. It’s in a gas station/diner.
  5. The diner has the words “Last Chance” emblazoned on the front.
  6. The fact that she’s sitting there, waiting.
  7. The James Dean/Ben Covington hybrid that walks in.

You are welcome.

This is delicious and I can’t stop listening to it.  And there also this beautiful version she did with the Dutch Metropole Orchestra.

Also by Rumer, this oldie. Do you know how I feel about this song? I love it. Every rendition I’ve ever heard. And this video is sweet and reminds me of a story I wrote.

This song was featured on Nashville a while back and I think the original is precious. It’s just such a sweet, heartfelt little song.

Now, I probably found this about 6 months ago, but I never shared it other than on Facebook (or if I did, I’ve forgotten and who cares anyway because it’s beautiful). This one will knock you over. You might want to sit down. And maybe be ready to cry because seriously, I don’t think I can listen to this without tearing up. She does an awesome job with this classic.

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Seinfeld, Two.

I had more plans to plug on through the “songs from musicals” series, but after this week I just didn’t feel like it. It’ll return over the weekend or at the beginning of next week.

downtown

A week ago, Friday night, we headed to the Civic Center Music Hall to see Jerry Seinfeld. He was fantastic! Now that I’m an adult I tend to go into things with much lower expectations. I think it’s some kind of defense mechanism against being disappointed.

I bought the tickets as a surprise back when I got one of my first paychecks from the new writing gig and I was a little concerned about how the situation was going to turn out. See, the tickets had been on sale a week already and I had to wait until I had enough money in my account to buy them, and by the time I did there were like 8 seats left in the entire place.

EIGHT.

All of the really cheap ones were gone (and honestly, Civic Center? There were only like 2 rows of the cheap seats) so I was already going to have to pay $20 more per ticket. There were only 2 open seats that were anywhere near each other and they had two filled seats between them. It had to be a couple, or two singles who purchased seats next to each other. Surely they would let us sit together.

I bought them. Of course, a few days later when the show was sold out they scheduled a second show after the first because of the popularity, but I’m an old lady and I can’t even remember the last time I went to something that started after 8pm, much less 9:30, so that wasn’t an option.

ariel scarf me

The day of the show arrived and I donned my new Ariel scarf, ready to sit for an hour or so and laugh, determined to enjoy myself.

But if I’m honest with you? I was a little worried for weeks beforehand. I mean, the two people between us would be kind and let us sit together, right? They had every right not to. All kinds of thoughts ran through my head.

What if they aren’t together and just want to sit in the seats that they bought?

What if they’re like Sheldon Cooper and have determined the acoustic sweet spot and that’s where they’re sitting no matter what?

What if they’re just jerks?

What if…come on, it IS a Seinfeld show and this is exactly the sort of situation I could see Jerry and Elaine finding themselves in.

We arrived, took the stairs (and HELLO that is a workout in 3.5 inch heels), and found our seats. We waited and waited and waited. I’d told Kevin he was in charge of this negotiation because me and even the idea of confrontation don’t get along. (Unless you are Mathis Bros Furniture, then all bets are off). It was almost time for the show to start and still, no G8 and G9 (we were G7 and G10). I started to get comfy. Maybe they decided not to show.

And then I saw them. Creeping down the aisle, trying not to slosh their beers around. The lights were already dimming when they made it to our row and I think they would have taken their seats and not known any better since they were the only two empty ones. They sat and Kevin leaned over to the man and asked if it would be okay if we just kept G9 and G10. Honestly, I’m not even sure that the guy heard because the applause was starting for the first act.

So, like many of my life situations that I expect to end with the crashing of cymbals and all kinds of calamity…everything was fine.

jerry

That’s what Jerry looked like from where we sat. Since I’ve been watching him on TV almost every day for the past 10 years, and frequently converse with the people I see on my TV, I had to fight the urge to respond to some of the things he would say. Now, I was a loooong way away so a) he would not have heard me and b) I would have just seemed like the crazy lady shouting things from the audience. But it’s another thing that, well, maybe it doesn’t prove this, but I think it sorta reinforces this thought that I’ve had for a while — I don’t think I get star struck. Like…at all. I mean, who gets the urge to shout at someone in a crowded room like they know them, when they don’t know them?

Not getting star struck may have something to do with my issue with not wanting to annoy them in public, but I’m thinking that shouting from the audience is pretty counterintuitive on that point.

And maybe it’s not that I don’t get star struck, it’s just that I’ve got worked out in my head that they are way more likely to become my friend in real life if I just act normal around them. Right? That’s what I thought.

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#PrayForOklahoma — How You Can Help

Further updates on how you can help will be posted on my Facebook page.

Damage video

I want to thank everyone that checked on me and my family yesterday. We are fine. People in Oklahoma need your help. I’m putting some information together for anyone who would like to help those who lost homes and loved ones yesterday. Many of them lost all that they have. I’ll be updating this as I get more information.

To donate $10 via text:

  • Text STORM to 80888 for Salvation Army
  • Text REDCROSS to 90999 for Red Cross (Please be aware that funds donated to the Red Cross in this way go to national relief efforts and are not guaranteed to help Oklahomans. Seek out a local chapter of the Red Cross to help Oklahomans.)
  • Text FOOD to 32333 for Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

There is a comprehensive list of places you can donate over at NewsOK.com.

disaster relief bgco

Donations to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief are currently being routed to Oklahoma and the needs here.

Give bloodOklahoma Blood Institute currently has an adequate supply, but there is always a need for blood. If you can, especially if you have O- or other Rh- blood types, please make an appointment to give blood or stop by one of the many blood drives going on around local casinos this week.

Norman residents — LOCAL will be taking food to volunteers and will accept and deliver your donations. I’m thinking water bottles and such, but I would call the restaurant before you bring anything by – (405) 928-5600 — 2262 West Main Street, Norman, OK.

The Pet Food Pantry of Oklahoma is in need of donations:

Items needed at the Animal Resource Center – 7949 S I-35 Service Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73149:

  • Gallons of Water
  • Paper Towels
  • Toilet Paper
  • People Snacks – Bread, Peanut Butter, Crackers, Cereal Bars – anything non-perishable and easy.
  • Blankets/Sheets/Pillows

These items are for those coming in with injured or animals that are in need – we have plenty of supplies for animals, with vet care on site but need supplies for owners that would like to stay with their animals – again please email Tami at info@petfoodpantryokc.org for more details

Dropoff/donation information from KFOR

Current needs:

 

 

 

 

For those who suffered loss yesterday - FEMA has a website and phone lines for those who sustained losses: DisasterAssistance.gov and 1-800-621-FEMA(3362).

Tornado document and photo recoveryFacebook group

Pray.

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My Favorite Songs From Musicals — Part 4

I’m back. Let’s skip the excuses and get to the music.

53. All That Jazz — Chicago
Another one that’s just fun to sing. I’m probably in the minority here, but I don’t care for the show all that much. Just a few select songs. The version I picked to share is from Glee (FYI, I haven’t been a fan of this show since the first season) just because I think it’s fun.

Continue reading

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Sunday Morning Coffee

YAWN. We didn’t get in until super late last night from a fabulous wedding (my cousin got married! photos later), had to drive through a raging thunder storm with some scary greenish/bluish glow in the air (looked like hail), an enormous lowering that thankfully did nothing more than sit there and glare at us while I prayed that it would stay in the sky, and a bag full of York Pieces got me through the whole thing.

SPRING IN OKLAHOMA, you are not good for my nerves. I don’t care that I’ve lived here forever. White knuckling a steering wheel in the middle of the night, going 20 miles per hour on the interstate while the car is pounded with heavy rain is NOT my idea of a good time. (Luckily, I did not have to drive.)

Looks like we have another interesting afternoon ahead of us. I was supposed to do a family photo shoot today, but I’m already thinking that will be rescheduled.

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