Music Monday: I'm Back!

 Wow, a lot of things have happened since I last posted. I am done with my active cancer treatments and reconstruction surgeries. I managed to survive Satan's Spanx (don't ask). I've been to three shows to sell and sign books. And since January, the world has blown up over and over again.

I chose Ordinary World for today because of this line: "Where is the life that I recognise? Gone away." In a lot of ways, personal and professional, this line resonates. But in terms of my writing, I'm closing in on publishing a novella (I know! I had no idea I could write a short book either!) that covers Taeben's back story or, as the kids say nowadays, his villain origin story. I have a reader who felt that he was a bit two dimensional and basically a few clicks away from tying Gin to the train tracks and twisting his moustache. So I started exploring how he got to be who he was in the trilogy and Darkness, and this novella became my last ever NaNoWriMo. 

Ah, yet another thing that has changed. I'm pretty mad about that whole thing but that is a topic for another day. Anyway, Taeben's origin story deals with a lot of frustration over plans that were never realized or not realized in the way he wanted...and so this song seems perfect. "But I won't cry for yesterday, there's an ordinary world somehow I have to find..."

(Lyrics in the video.)

Music Monday: Of Throwbacks and Tiktoks

So here's the point when I become a grumpy old lady.

 

Okay, fine! I've been all of those things for awhile. But after swooping back into the clock app, I have noticed a lot of youngin's (theatre kids, but still) claiming clout because they can sing along with every word of various Hamilton songs. Granted, some of those are challenging (see: Lafayette in act one), but then the inevitable generational war kicked in and older creators pointed out that they knew the words to "La Vie Boheme" from Rent.

 

Ahhhh here we go, this is my jam. But wait. "You may have grown up with Hamilton but I grew up with RENT!"

Grew up with? GREW UP WITH?

LISTEN. I saw the original cast at the Nederlander as a Grown Ass Adult, thank you very much. 

I don't know if that is defensive or just sad. Anyway, enjoy...can you sing all the words like the TikTok kids who...GREW UP WITH IT? Oh my days...

(This one has lyrics included in case you need them...)

Music Monday: Back Where Gin Belongs

So when I can't sleep, I often have my Alexa read my own novels to me. I know how that sounds, and I'm not saying that my books are so boring that they put me to sleep. I'm saying that they are familiar and that is soothing to me...like the fact that I watch The Big Bang Theory over and over. Lately I listen to them in order...and wish that I was at the point where I can offer professional HUMAN-read audio books. 

Anyway, this song is, for reasons I can't fully explain, The Nature Walker Trilogy. This is a video with lyrics on the screen, so no need to put them below. Enjoy.

Music Monday: Abracadabra

They say that when we need Mother Monster, she returns in full force. This song is no exception. For lovers of old school Gaga, enjoy. (captions on video)

Music Monday: Tell me ma (and not that I won't be home for tea)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've posted Rattlin Bog before, and with that one, right now, all I can think of is my sweet Bryn wagging her tail in time to that song, so it is on hold for a bit. Enjoy this one, which every time my Simon hears it he says he used to hear it in the club back in Keighley. 

Bet he can't river dance, though. Enjoy! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

,

Music Monday: SOMETHING DIFFERENT ++, THIS.

Okay, I know. Carrie Underwood is problematic because of choices she or her representation made about performing at the current president's inauguration festivities. However, I maintain I fell in love with this song not for her, but after I saw this translation. I mean, the lyrics speak to me of Gin leaving Taeben, but also of Tairn at the end of Red, dealing with Eh'soi and the labyrinth, don't get me wrong. But Rosa Lee is amazing at what she does and this song is no different. I'm a fan and I hope you will be too, even if you don't sign. Enjoy.

A special Music Monday

Bryn at CRF, photo courtesy of
Lisa Margolis.

Our Bryndled Beastie, CGC    

"Bryn"

2013-06-16 - 2025-02-21

She started working at the Carolina Renaissance Festival the Sunday after Anne and I picked her up. "How old is she?" patrons would ask. I would say 5 months. "Oh, how long have you had her?" I would look at my arm like I was wearing a watch and say, "About 36 hours."

She was the queen of the Georgia Renaissance Festival, stealing sandwiches from under patron's noses and barking like crazy during the joust.

She even put up with me when we dressed up as Vikings at the Enchanted Chalice Faire.

She loved her brother from another mother, Bo, as much as her real brother Barley. But she was also madly in love with Barley's roommate, Charley, according to her Aunt Tamara.

She fell in love with Kathleen E. Lazenby  and  Robin Willoughby's Duke, so she laid on top of him to keep an eye on him. He wasn't a fan...

She got to pretend to be a Beezer at Auntie Shannon and Uncle Justin's house, but that didn't last long. They had far more energy.

Her first best friend was Anne and Damian's Boston, Millie. I bet when she got to the Bridge, Millie grabbed onto Bryn's underside (true story) and they went for a run.

She was a fairy dog ​​who far outlived her usual lifespan, beating pneumonia when she was 9. And I hope she found our Daisy Mei Mei, who she loved more than anyone, Ciaragh, the epitome of enemies becoming best friends, my dad who probably laughed that deep laugh and clapped his hands, and Miss Heather, who helped me discover a wider world of Bryn's family, including her big sister, the Other Kiera as we called her here and her other Auntie Stacie.

Brynka Boo, being your Mama has been the honor of my life, as they say. Don't rush, but don't wait too long before sending us another breeze block noggin to love, eh?

Go maire tú chomh fada agus is mian leat, agus gan aon ní a bheith uait mar a mhaireann tú. Is breá liom tú, mo chailín lúide.  Go raibh maith agat as a bheith linn. 

The Rattlin Bog, as performed by the Craic - Bryn and I listened to this on the way to Faire and she'd wag her tail IN TIME to the music, no matter how fast it got. My rattlin (splendid) Irish Fae Girl...
Rattling Bog - The Craic
Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real Bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Well in the bog there was a hole,A rare hole and a rattlin' hole,And the hole in the bog,And the bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real Bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Well in that hole there was a tree,A rare tree and a rattlin' tree,And the tree in the hole,And the hole in the bog,And the bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real Bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.on that tree there was a branch,A rare branch and a rattlin' branch,And the branch on the tree,And the tree in the hole,And the hole in the bog,And the bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.on that branch there was a limb,A rare limb and a rattlin' limb,And the limb on the branch,And the branch on the tree,And the tree in the hole,And the hole in the bog,And the bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Well on that limb there was a nest,A rare nest and a rattlin' nest,And the nest on the limb,And the limb on the branch,And the branch on the tree,And the tree in the hole,And the hole in the bog,And the bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Now in that nest there was a bird,A rare bird and a rattlin' bird,And the bird in the nest,And the nest on the limb,And the limb on the branch,And the branch on the tree,And the tree in the hole,And the hole in the bog,down in the valley-o.Ho, ho, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.In that bird there was an egg,A rare egg and a rattlin' egg,And the egg on the bird,And the bird in the nest,And the nest on the limb,And the limb on the branch,And the branch on the tree,And the tree in the bog,And the hole in the bog,And the bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.In that egg there was a bird,A rare bird and a rattlin' bird,And the bird on the egg,And the egg on the bird,And the bird in the nest,And the nest on the limb,And the limb on the branch,And the branch on the tree,And the tree in the bog,And the hole in the bog,And the bog down in the valley-o.Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.Real bog, the rattlin' bog,The bog down in the valley-o.

Music Monday: Another Day In Paradise

Let me first acknowledge that my big brother Tony (Tony Daniels, Return to Sender: From the Files of Pyramid Investigations), and turned me on to this show on Hulu, Paradise. I'm not regretting watching it for one second. It isn't really my normal tv fare - usually if there isn't a creature or ghost running around somewhere I lose interest fast. But this one...and that twist...holy moly. ANYWAY, I'm going to stop talking about the show because I cannot keep spoilers out of my mouth (or keyboard in this case). Just watch it if you have Hulu. The music... y'all. This is just one example from the first episode, but... soooo good. Again. Spoilers. Hush, Nancy. The lyrics are in the captions on the video.

Music Monday: One Month Later

So, we got back from our trip to the UK and one day later I had another surgery in the long line of procedures that will eventually render me cancer free and back to whatever normal looks like now. I just took the rest of December off for healing time and while I'm not exactly done with that, I'm ready to get back to normal.

Today's Music Monday is one that I've heard a lot over my winter break and one that means a lot in relation to the writing project I'm working on now with my writing partner, Tony Daniel. Any time I need to connect with the character I'm responsible for, I just put this song on and there's Lark, sashaying out of the dark corners of my mind with a wineglass in her hand. She has what she considers a guilty pleasure as far as music is concerned - she likes heavy metal like Ozzy and others of that ilk. So here's some Ozzy that makes her (and me) very happy. Enjoy. (lyrics available in video)

Music Monday: Song of a Local Hero

This won't mean much to some, but while we were abroad, we got to tour the Cathedral on the Hill, the home stadium for Newcastle United. There is a point when they come into the stadium where Mark Knopfler's (of Dire Straits fame) Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero plays. During the tour, the guide let us walk through that tunnel and played sounds of the crowd with that song in the background and I will admit to getting teary. So here's the full thing as we two not so local heroes spend today in a succession of planes, on our way home. Enjoy.

Sjonni's Friends - Coming Home (Iceland) Live 2011 Eurovision Song Contest

We are off to the UK today, for the first time in almost ten years. If I had to sum up my two years there in music it would probably include a lot of Eurovision songs. Right after I arrived in 2009, I lost two of my three greyhounds in rapid succession and was just ridden with guilt and depression. Simon suggested to me that I watch Eurovision after my Jeany died because he thought it would cheer me up. It did so much more than that and I am a lifelong fan now. This one is from 2011, the last Eurovision I saw in real time before moving back to the US, but I think it speaks to the journey today: I'm coming home - wheels up in about 8 hours! Enjoy. (Captions are on the video.)

Music Monday: I Hate It Here

My friends used to play a game where

We would pick a decade

We wished we could live in instead of this

I'd say the 1830s, but without all the racists and getting married off for

the highest bid"

Is this where we are headed? I certainly hope not.

Music Monday: Election Time

I don't know about all of you but I am so anxious about tomorrow's election. I don't know if I will feel better on Wednesday (or whenever this thing is resolved), but for now I'm just encouraging people to get out and vote...for compassion, for equality, for women's rights and LGBTQIA rights...etc. etc. etc. I will sleep...when I'm dead. (No lyrics because the video is closed captioned.)

Music Monday: What's holding you back?

 I heard this song the other day after a long hiatus. I have loads of curated playlists and this one is on a list called "Bus" that used to be the one I added things to and took things from for my commute on the bus to the DayJob. However, 2019 came and I lost my office so I wasn't down there 8:30 to 4:30 every day. Then 2020 came and I wasn't there at all...until 2022. Then there was cancer so I wasn't down there until a few months ago. Point being..."Bus" fell by the wayside because I wasn't riding.

I just threw the playlist on the other day and this song came on - and I thought as I listened about how everything that I see holding me back really isn't because the only thing that can hold me back is ME. So listen to this (a perfect quick step song, which I think is where I originally heard it) and remember. There's nothing holding you back but you. Get out of your way.

Music Monday: Hijacked by a Hurricane

Well, that was a fun end to September. On the 27th, Hurricane Helene blew northward from the Gulf and hit the edge of Georgia, the Upstate of SC (where I live), and eastern TN before ultimately destroying a large part of Western NC. The past 2.5 weeks have been filled with calls to insurance companies, cleaning out our now moldy (I wish I was kidding) basement, and navigating around downed trees the size of my Honda Fit that are still being a nuisance and keeping people from having the power and internet they need. If you look up Hot Mess in the dictionary, it will show Helene with sneaky Milton not far behind as he ravaged Florida.

So I'm finally back to Music Monday and I'm sure I've posted this one before...but when I heard it days after the hurricane, sitting in my car to charge my devices and try to work since we had no power nor internet...it broke me a little, but in the best way. Thanks, Mr. Buffett. Bubbles Up. If you need help with this lyric, just look at the folks in WNC. "If a hurricane doesn’t leave you dead/It will make you strong/Don’t try to explain it just nod your head/Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On"

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move Onby Jimmy BuffettI bought a cheap watch from a crazy manFloating down canalIt doesn’t use numbers or moving handsIt always just says nowNow you may be thinking that I was hadBut this watch is never wrongAnd If I have trouble the warranty saidBreathe In, Breathe Out, Move On
And it rained, It was nothing really newAnd it blew, we’ve seen all that beforeAnd it poured, the Earth began to strainPontchartrain leaking through the door, tides at war
If a hurricane doesn’t leave you deadIt will make you strongDon’t try to explain it just nod your headBreathe In, Breathe Out, Move On
And it rained, It was nothing really newAnd it blew, seen all that beforeAnd it poured, the Earth began to strainPontchartrain buried the 9th Ward to the 2nd floor
According to my watch the time is nowPast is dead and goneDon’t try to shake it just nod your headBreathe In, Breathe Out, Move On
Don’t try to shake it just bow your headBreathe In, Breathe Out, Move On