Reminding myself that something good is happening today. After my really terrible 4 pm meeting, Christopher is taking me to see one of my long-standing, all-time favorite 80s bands, Def Leppard. Those of you who knew me at 13 and 14 know of my deep obsession with the boys from Sheffield.
I should show my long standing fan status by posting something from High and Dry, however, I need to pump up my mood a little, and Hysteria's big arena anthems are always good for that. I will be rocking out with my cowboy hat, tank top, and jeans. Rock fingers flying!
Those of you who know what I'm dealing with this week can understand today's choice. Hit the local online newspaper for more information. More later; I'm still processing, and I'm beyond furious.
Tonight is night three of the super fantastic geeky Lord of the Rings three-week viewing of what will be the blu-ray extended versions of the films. This is the song from the closing credits, which makes me cry every time I hear it. Sailing into the west on the grey ships is probably the most beautiful metaphor for death I've ever known.
Guns Bitches and Bling Were Not Part of The Four Elements
I'm not feeling this graduate program. So much work, and so much of it I feel like I'm doing in my day to day work life already. It seems pointless to me right now, and I don't know how to get into a good place about it. Maybe I'm putting some unreasonable standards on myself and my level of engagement, and not keeping my eye on the prize, which is licensure. Even though I'm more than qualified to perform my job, the state needs me to have the piece of paper. So, pursue the paper I must, therefore, read all these articles I must.
Tonight's song is all about frustration regarding things that people think are ok, or think one should be doing. Matches my mood.
Thou Shalt Always Kill - Dan LeSac vs. Scroobious Pip
Congratulations to Ben and his friends on winning the Norwood Little League American League Championship! We watched him play twice this weekend, and his team was really good, and really fun to watch. He gets to ride on a float in the Norwood 4th of July Parade now, too. So we'll both be there :)
Hooky day with Christopher today. Really late wake-up. Long walk on Wollaston Beach in the mist. It reminded me of Ireland. Lunch in Marina Bay. Tour of his old neighborhood. Ben's Little League playoff game tonight. Maybe drinks later with my sister. It's all good.
We were listening to this song in the car last night, and he said he'd been listening to it all week, and thinking of us. So, it's today's song, because it's just perfect.
My love will not let you down...
My Love Will Not Let You Down - Bruce Springsteen (live)
Christopher and I went to a wine dinner at Legal Seafood Monday night, and it was absolutely lovely. Wines from Alsace, perfect seafood pairings, lovely company. Only slightly weird, as in, as I was listening to a conversation and twirling a strand of my hair, the gentleman next to me picked it up and began to twirl it as well. And then I got a phone number from the young married woman sitting across from us; she wants to grab a glass of wine with me at the Met Bar. Oh, and she and her husband want to double with Christopher and I, but REALLY, she wants to have a drink with me. Too funny...
Lots of joy in life these days. Even weird joy. It's all good.
Dad's favorite Bruce song, serving a dual purpose today. One, for Happy Fathers' Day, and two, to memorialize the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, who passed yesterday. The sound of music is so much smaller this morning.
I know, the obvious choice. It still hasn't quite sunk in yet, but it's glorious, just glorious. A playoff run that was everything you could hope it to be--aggressive, exciting, high level, and full of joy.
Congratulations, boys. We've waited a long time for this. Welcome back to Boston, Lord Stanley. We've missed you.
Imagine the banner, floating around the loge on the hands of thousands of screaming fans. Pick your own legend for banner captain tonight. It's do or die.
I am so hyped up, I can't concentrate. I'm really glad I'm watching from home tonight.
Dual purpose post today. First, best wishes and prayers to the Big Man, who has suffered a serious stroke. The E Street Band would not be the same without his sound.
Second, tomorrow. Game 7. One game away from hockey's promised land. Go Bruins.
Our Forecheckers, who art enshrined in rinks immortal, hallowed be thy blades. I beseech thee, and your patron saints, Shore, Clapper, Hitchman, and those patron saints still with us, Orr, Schmidt, Espo, Neely, O'Reilly, Bucyk, Bourque and all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages, bestow upon your faithful believers and practitioners a victory in this contest. Give us this day many rubber biscuits in nets opposing, and forgive us our trespasses, as we inflict taunting and scorn upon those who trespass against us. And lead us not into an off-season of golf, but deliver us to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.
Well, I did go back to my old school today, and it was lovely. Norwood is building a brand new high school, which will be complete and open for the 2011-2012 school year. So the town got together and came up with "The Last Hurrah", a day-long celebration of the school on the hill. There are memorabilia displays, and booster groups selling gear, and people coming from everywhere to say goodbye. Tonight, there will be a ticketed 21+, multi-year reunion in the gym, with DJs and Bud Light. I find that amazingly funny; the champagne of Norwood finally LEGALLY allowed in NHS, as opposed to being snuck in via backpack like the days of old.
And this new found embracing of my inner townie has been a long time coming for me. When I graduated in 1989, I never believed I would feel nostalgic for those days, or that building. But time has a funny and amazing way of erasing some of the pain, at least its sharp edges, so that we can take a deep breath, and smile, and hug the people we never would have 20-odd years ago. Plus, being an elected town official has certainly thrust some mandatory rah-rah-Norwood into my life, but I'm at a point in my life where I can embrace this all, rather than reject and scorn.
Christopher is coming with me tonight, and I'm excited for him to see the school, and meet some people, and he's excited to share Norwood with me, to learn where I came from and what made me. It really is a celebration today. So, for all you Norwood High School alum, near and far, give us a cheer for Norwood High.
I've lost the source of this quote. It's not mine, but it could have been...
We all can create a soundtrack to our lives, right? You can pull music files from your mind that put you right back to that time, at least I can. It’s just so cool when I find myself falling deep into a tune that might not have any impact on me otherwise. There’s so many tunes that do this to me. They make me insane, save my sanity, make me laugh, help me cope, bring me down, chill me out, make me wanna feel, make me wanna try, make me wanna blow the stars from the sky and just keeps going on. Music is the most influential thing we’ll ever have. I always have it with me, you never know when a song is gonna become part of the soundtrack.
They form a line, One at a time, Ready to play, (I can't see them anyway) No time to lose, We've got to move, Steady the helm. (I am losing sight again)...
Of course, if I'm going to a Deep Purple concert tonight, I simply MUST quote that line. Christopher won tickets, so we're headed into Boston for the second night in a row. Dinner at Intermission Tavern, then some classic rock. Free tickets, who's complaining, right? :)
So, usually, second period, the Black and Gold take the ice to this song. I will be watching, and screaming, and dancing, and whooping it up from my seat in section 12.
As I said Saturday night, NOTHING IS OVER!!!!!! GO BLACK AND GOLD!!!!
I don't know who this Heather chick is, but I've been running around like a lunatic since June started. Lots and lots of good stuff for sure, as my sister Colleen illuminates here, but wow. A moment to reflect please...
My first semester of class ended last Thursday, and I was looking forward to having Thursday "back", as it were. But, I was as busy tonight as if I had been to class. An extra yoga session, then a quick dinner, and a run to Target. Laundry, packing my bag for the class I'm teaching, other little household things... just as busy. I haven't seen Christopher since Monday night, and where that isn't necessarily unusual, this week has been busy, and marred by crazy storms, so it seems further away than it is. So, short distance dedication tonight.
Seems the only appropriate song for today. These storms ran right through my father's town, but he's fine. Lots of damage.
This weather is really unusual for this area of the country; the ocean air tends to knock down storms and keep them from spinning enough to form tornadoes. Western MA may get a few a YEAR, never mind four confirmed touchdowns in one afternoon, with two more storms lined up behind those.
"So I walk like I'm on a mission, 'cuz that's the way I groove. I've got more and more to do, I've got less and less to prove. It took me too long to realize that I don't take good pictures 'cuz I have the kind of beauty that moves..." Ani D.
