God at Work

Wow. I was starting to brush my teeth and thinking about the post I had just written. I came back to my computer because I wanted to add how heaven-sent and supportive so many friends, family and others have been of my mom and our family. That was too important not to mention. As I was about to post a second time I was amazed to see that my inital post had already been commented on by a wonderful "passer-by." Thank you Jeanette. I tried to find a way to reply to you, but couldn't. But if you come back and read again, thank you so very much. What a blessing you are.

Update

If there is still anyone out there that still bothers to check this, I apologize for the dearth of posts. I found out in late March that my mom has cancer, and things just got intensely horrific for a while (I lost seven pounds in one week if that helps to illustrate.) I was also moving to a new house and closing on the old one right at the time we were all trying to deal with my mom's diagnosis, so I was in kind of a black hole/fog of non-communication that I am slowly digging myself out of. In any case, being in the new place (which is actually my parent's old place) is incredibly wonderful.

I am not being melodramatic when I quote this (if you notice the book that it's from, it's been on my mind lately, but this is very inspiring):

But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. - Job 5:8-9

One Year Old

Oh my gosh, I have had this blog for exactly one year! Happy Anniversary!

Marge Piercy

I had forgotten how good Marge Piercy was - read some of her stuff and did reports on her in English 101 class - 10 YEARS AGO - good grief, impossible. I am now reading Small Changes. She is very Crazy Salad 70s feminist - I love it!

Hang the DJ

I don't like to mix post themes, even if I am writing them in the same block of time. So, after getting the KFC/Sweet Home Alabama question out of the way (maybe Neil Young has the answer, since Canada and chickens from the US are somewhat acquainted), on to the next thought.

Why are 80s request hours on the radio so incredibly devoid of any good music? If you don't know me at all, I do want to say immediately that I am not a music snob in the least. Truly. I can't explain the difference between goth and industrial. I really don't know why vinyl is better than CD. Whatever.

However, when it's the Friday Eighties Free for All on my local radio station, the next time some bozo who just wants to hear himself on the radio asks the DJ to play Heart of Rock and Roll, or maybe the Tarzan song (as my friend Abby spot-on named it), I want to rip the radio out of of my car and chuck it straight at the billboard advertising the radio station. Why request Heart of Rock and Roll or the Tarzan song when you hear it every day at 12:35pm as you're eating your pudding snack and furtively updating your MySpace profile at work?

Guys, there was some absolutely incredible music from the 80s that was by no means esoteric and does not take someone wearing a tight ironic t-shirt and an emo haircut to name. Bands like the The Smiths, New Order and The Cure were bona-fide stars and had commerical success on both sides of the Atlantic (still do). All I wish for is a little more variety and a little less monopoly from the likes of Huey Lewis, John Cougar Mellencamp and Kenny Loggins. Those guys are great, don't get me wrong (The Pretenders, another excellent choice!) but let's branch out a little!

If your heart has been moved by reading this and you repent of your boring music request ways, I say BE HEALED! Below is a (very small) suggested list of alternative artists and songs, just in case you get up one 80s Friday and feel like mixing it up a little. By no means are these "out there" songs. And, as I said before, I am no snob when it comes to music, I welcome debate, suggestions, and comments. Save the music!

1. The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
2. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
3. Regret - New Order
4. Love My Way - The Psychedlic Furs
5. Just Like Heaven - The Cure
6. Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys
7. Ana Ng - They Might Be Giants
8. Wrapped around Your Finger - The Police
9. Mary, Mary - Run DMC

And, just in case you feel like sticking it to the man on the air in a passive-agressive fashion...

10. Panic - The Smiths

Thank you. It feels good to get that off my chest.

Also, just found a great link to Rolling Stone magazine's article on a compliation called Left of the Dial - tracks of 80s underground music. Looks likes lots of new stuff there for me too! http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/blackflag/articles/story/6297750/janes_rem_on_80s_box

Stupid

Ha ha - I just made it! ONE January post!

This is a really stupid observation, but it keeps popping up in my thoughts. Why do they play Sweet Home Alabama on the Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial?

Elightenment in the comments area is welcome.