Since the Crest Whitening Strips call for 30 minutes to work and I'm the asshole who put them on at 1am, how's about I do a little blog since I'm a week late on fulfilling my promise to blog more from last weekend.
So, here goes...random weekend ramblings:
Friendly's isn't as much fun when you're trying to eat right: I think I had my first meal at Friendly's in years that didn't include some form of ice cream topped with peanut butter sauce and man, that makes me sad.
Visitors from NYC love places like Target/Walmart: This weekend it was Walmart. And as much as I said to myself since their last PR disaster that showed their true colors that I wouldn't go there, I reluctantly went and well, ended up spending more money than I really should've (But Rocky IV and Spaceballs were 2 for $10!! And I got a "Rehash Your Trash" shirt for Earth Day!). Damn you, Target for not having any 24 stores!
Old Country Buffet is not as much fun when you're trying to eat right: Like my Friendly's outing OCB just doesn't have the same magic when you're spending the majority of your time with the fruits and veggies.
Early Sunday Morning Workouts: And by early, I mean 9am. Yeah, so because I had somewhere to be (oh, that's coming next), I had to visit the gym this morning earlier than I'm truly functioning on most work days. I think I got kinda overzealous and ended up not even being able to get the workout in that I wanted because I got so out of breath with one of the exercises that I had to take a 5 minute break and catch my breath. Haven't ever felt that way before but now I know I gotta pace myself better.
Wedding Expos are interesting: Visited an Expo this morning with an engaged friend and I've found that locally, there are some odd, odd brides. The kind that makes a single girl go, "Um, yeah, I guess there's hope for me yet!" The Male Stripper scene in the Philadelphia area are kinda rough looking but apparently some women dig skeevy overgrown Carmine Gotti wannabes. Who knew that boudoir photo books were gifts brides can give to their husbands on their wedding nights...funny, I thought he was getting the real thing and not pictures that night.
Priceline actually does work: Got a hotel for the upcoming Memphis trip (oh yeah, I'm gonna Twitter on that bitch Matt Morris style, baby!)
Being on call is both good and bad: As I am about to wind down from my long day of working out and then Bridal Expoing, I get a call from the job. I get paid overtime but dammit, I want to sleep. Blah, I hope this is an easy one.
And now, the whitening strips are done doing their whitening and I must say goodbye. Yay for another week bringing me closer to vacation!
We totally do. And I intend to at least try to do something to pull my weight here soon...just not now cause I don't have much to say and should probably be in bed. But for sure, at some point this weekend, I will blog at least once. I promise!
I don't even know where to start with this one but I just saw something on a message board that compelled me to blog and all that came to me was the title.
I guess let me start with posing a question to our many, many thousands of readers that are all going to leap at answering through comments. Anyways, have you ever been so into something or someone that you really kinda lose your way? You stop thinking rationally and tend to not see things as you might if you were on the outside? I'm not talking your normal, "Hey I gotta defend that cause I really like it" type of response...I'm talking someone is in some sort of downward spiral and you can totally not see it cause you're just so into them type stuff.
I can't say I've ever been there...ever. Or at least, I totally and completely hope that I have never been there. I was (and I'm sure deep down still am) the biggest teeny bopper there was growing up. I'm talking, I was in love with Menudo (yeah, I said it) for like 2 years and then went onto a run of being into New Kids on the Block (did you hear those mofos are coming back?! Teehee! See, still a teenie!) that lasted far longer than it really should have. I was into them well into the whole "Face the Music" days when quite a bit of the other fans had fallen off. Then, in adult life, I went on to be a fan of Nsync...which lead to some of the most fun times in my life thus far and meeting some of the greatest people on the planet.
All that said, even though I was a fan of some of the most trivial and no so much the greatest talented artists around I still had my wits about me. Though, don't get it twisted, Nsync was an exception to that there statement (and no, I'm not talking JUST Justin). Strip down the pyro and shiny things and choreographies and there was substance there. Delusional? You make the call (around 3:30 it gets real interesting).
The type of person I'm talking about is the one who thinks they personally know someone based on interviews they've seen or footage they've watched of behind the scenes or articles they've read. These are the people who, a years ago, when Britney was showing her girl parts to all the world and shaving her head, still thought she was "Just letting loose and needed to get out! She's starting anew!" and wasn't on her way to some sort of meltdown that signs had been showing for a long time. Those people who think that an artist can do no wrong or are somehow super-human.
Now, I don't know about you, but there is actually something sort of appealing in knowing that someone I am digging IS actually human. I don't get shocked when I hear that the singer-songwriter I'm into is a Manwhore. Hell, if he's single and has no kids or anything pinning him down and as long as he's being safe, more power to him. I don't lose my mind cause I hear a singer I like is mean to someone...it happens. That's not to say that there aren't little nuggets of info that I sometimes get on someone that makes me go "Hmmm" but I can't say I'm completely shocked.
Maybe something's come with age or hell, even the Internet/Gossip Columns enjoying showing all the normalcies of people, but I can't say that there's currently anyone that I am completely delusional about. A friend and I were discussing some celebrities we're digging and she said there's this one that she doesn't think she ever really wants to meet for fear it'll tarnish the image she has for him in her head. And that got me thinking...is there anyone I'd be like that over now? And I can't really think of anyone...maybe I've heard enough crap about the ones that I am into that it really doesn't make a difference, and I can't figure out if that's good or bad. Maybe having a little bit of that delusional fan in us is what we need as some escapism and if that's true, why are people on an endless feeding frenzy to find the things that are wrong or flaws in celebrities and others?
We've been pretty bad about blogging lately and I still don't even have much of anything to say right now and I log on and BOOM! Maggie beat me to it!
So, here's what I got. Gavin Degraw's new video. I don't really know how I feel about it. I'm kinda indifferent just cause it's pretty obvious that for most of the "story" part of the video that it's not actually Gavin. That and I saw them shooting it on ET or something and it was green screen on his one little scene with her. To his credit, though, he was really sick at the time. He canceled the show that was the next day and then another that was like 2 days after that. And if you know anything about musicians, you know they don't like canceling shows without a pretty big reason. Man, I'm sounding like a Gavin stalker right about now what with all the details of knowing when he got sick and stuff. *Sigh*, really, I'm not. Trust me.
I don't think I will ever be able to hear Mary J' "Just Fine" without always being reminded of this little ditty. I swear, months later, all I see in my head when this song comes on is this:
...I'm gonna follow Maggie's lead here and get on the bandwagon of a playlist. First, know this about me....I cannot make a small playlist. It's like impossible. Back in the good ole days of burning CDs of songs? I had such a hard time coming up with cutting down the songs I wanted on a CD that I would usually end up burning more than one. And in the even better days of making mixtapes? Yeah, I was the girl that always used both sides A and B. All I can say is, thank goodness for the iPod cause whew, the playlist possibilities are endless!
That said, I've been reflecting a lot lately on good old R&B music. It was the first music my ears heard and the same music I love to this day (yeah, I'll certainly have something to say to Maggie's forthcoming Pop music post cause I'm a sucker for that, for sure). There's this priceless picture of me and my dad when I was like 1 year old and we're sitting on the floor listening to records and he's got those big ass 70s headphones on my little baby ears. Man, I gotta find that picture! I digress, anyways, the kids nowadays seem to be lacking any real knowledge of what good R&B used to be and that saddens me. So with that said, here's a little taste of some great classic R&B songs that I think everyone should know (the originals and not the samples or remakes or American Idol-ed Up or whatever).
DISCLAIMER: Again, my hatred of lists begs me to let you know that this is by no means my definitive list of the most amazing R&B songs ever. I will undoubtedly, as soon I get done posting this, come up with more.
1. The Manhattans, "Shining Star" - A complete sentimental favorite. One of my dad's most favorite songs. I remember when he had the 45 of this and played it over and over and over.
2. Betty Wright, "Clean Up Woman" - My sister and I used to have to hear this every single Saturday morning we were actually cleaning. We had no idea what it was really about cause all we ever heard was the clean up woman line.
3. Earth, Wind, & Fire, "September" - EWF had one of the first concert specials I ever remember seeing on TV. My sister, friends and I would all re-enact it because we saw it so many times, complete with "costumes" of bathrobes. One of my all time favorite EWF songs.
4. Kool & The Gang, "Get Down On It" - I love the groove of this song, plus when I was little I had a crush on JT Taylor. Man, they had so many good songs...check out "Jungle Boogie" and "Ladies Night", too. I need not tell you about that one that is played at every single celebratory event in existence.
5. Aretha Franklin, "Ain't No Way" - Cause everyone needs Aretha Franklin music in their life. And that means songs other than "Respect". I love her vocals on this one.
6. McFadden & Whitehead, "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" - Originators in establishing some of the best R&B around helping establish the great "Sounds of Philadelphia" that still ring true and leave impressions all over to that city even today. I LOVE the lyrics to this, too.
7. Sam Cooke, "A Change is Gonna Come" - Talk about legendary. Though his life was cut short, this man had such an impact on so many people. His voice is so smooth. This song's been redone lots of times, but none are as amazing as it's original. And yes, I adore Gavin's version so that's saying a lot. :)
8. Gladys Knight & The Pips, "If I Were Your Woman" - I don't think some people (read: kids today) give Gladys the credit she should have for her vocals cause this woman can blow...even now.
9. Donny Hathaway, "A Song For You" - Speaking of being able to blow? Yeah, that's Donny. And leaving an impact long after they're gone? Donny, again. Another classic American Idol covered song but none come close to this. This version here? A live one that's amazing.
10. Al Green, "Let's Stay Together" - Oh, Al. Need I say anything? This is a great spontaneous sing along song, too. I know I've been in a bar before and this comes on and people just gotta love one another and sing along.
11. Teddy Pendergrass, "Turn Off The Lights" - Gotta have some Teddy in your life, too. This man's voice is so commanding. And well, there's something to be said for his directness in this one.
12. Minnie Riperton, "Memory Lane" - Cause Minnie should be known for more than her high pitched notes in "Loving You" and being Maya Rudolph's mom.
13. Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On" - Another classic song that has lyrics that still reign as true today as they did when it was written delivered perfectly by Marvin.
14. Otis Redding, "Try A Little Tenderness" - This is such a fun song...Otis opening singing his behind off with just a piano/organ with some horns before it really kicks in. And who can forget Ducky's version of this in "Pretty in Pink"?!
15. Millie Jackson, "If Loving You is Wrong" - Just a great, great song. Strong and sultry.
16. The O'Jays, "I Love Music"- Cause well, I do. And my mom loved the O'Jays and would play stuff like this out. Another Saturday morning cleaning session favorite.
17. Jackson 5, "Who's Lovin You" - Cause listening to little Michael Jackson wail like this never ever gets old.
18. The Commodores, "Lady (You Bring Me Up)" - This is just a fun song for me. I was planning on using "Brickhouse" but I heard this today and remembered how much I love it, especially the "la la la" breakdown.
19. The Sylistics, "You Are Everything" - Before there was Robin Thicke or Justin Timberlake or hell, Jordan Knight, there was The Stylistics with the distinguishing falsetto vocals. This is such a beautiful song...melodically, lyrically, vocally. Love it.
10. Stevie Wonder, "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" - I don't know what it is about this song that echos with me but it's by far one of my favoritest Stevie songs. A nice little nugget hidden in his infinite list of hits.
For a long time I had a Tmobile Sidekick and although a pretty handy device when the SK3 wasn't falling apart, it made for very boring times by way of the ringtones. Tmobile held a monopoly on it and if you wanted custom ringtones, you had to buy them from them. Yeah...no. Now that I've got my handy dandy snazzy Tmobile Dash, I have the ability to create ringtones or download them and all that fun stuff, which was such a novel idea to me for a while.
When I first got the phone, I got all crazy with the ringtones making sure all my friends that I talk to on the regular have ringtones that remind me of them, which is great fun. And I even use that "I Don't Wanna Work, I just wanna bang on the drum all day" song. Fun times!
But for my general calls, I just got a new once cause the song's just so cutesy it's hard not to have a little bit of love for it. Damn, it's grown on me!
I'm sitting here perusing Myspace and my sister just uploaded a bunch of pics to her page and it really makes me start to think, "Man, I should get out more." Seems like she's out every weekend with her girls having fun and she's documenting every part of the way of it, while I'm around watching her daughter or hanging with my mom. Now, I know it's all a matter of choice and that no one is telling me I have to stay in or anything of the sort.
A little over a year ago, I was going up to NYC just about at least once a week. And though it was pretty grueling doing that and trying to maintain my day job, in retrospect it was so much. I miss the people I used to see and the places I used to go. The excuse to get dolled up and wear my pretty shoes. But now, those moments are few and far between. Like now, I'm counting the days for March 28th to come cause I'm going to a show over in Philly for an artist that I love and can't wait to see and talk to. After that? Um, err...the Kanye West Concert on May 17th?
I think what it comes down to is that I have some pretty amazing friends, but for the most part they're in a bunch of other states scattered around the country. I can go a couple of weeks without seeing a friend, but I talk to them on the daily in some way shape or form. So, riddle me this...how does a grown ass woman make new friends that are in her area when she works from home and really only goes to the gym? That's a question I've been asking myself. I've kinda befriended some of the girls at the gym but not enough to take it to the point where we're hanging outside of the gym yet.
I was thinking of heading up to NYC tomorrow night, actually, for a show for an artist that my friend works with....just an excuse to get up there again. Man, I miss that city. I go about once a month now and it's just not enough. I knew I loved that place before I ever even went a lot and it's got a hold on me that I'm not gonna ever let go of. Maybe one day, I'll call that place home...never know.
*Sigh* And now, I ramble in different directions. Maybe I should just go to bed. This is what happens when you're completely nocturnal and looking for things to busy you so you stay up.
I'm sitting here at 2am waiting for a DVD to burn that I promised to someone who will go unnamed but just so happens to be my blogmate and got to thinking about something we talked about last night because I got a reminder from good ole radio on these here Internets. I really, really don't get the whole Leona Lewis thing. If you don't know who she is, she won Pop Idol over in the UK and is often labeled "The Next Mariah Carey" and if I were Mariah I'd be mad...first of all because Mariah is still very relevant to the music scene and second of all, this girl is nothing like Mariah. Sad part is, Leona's not by any means talentless, which should be a welcomed change to some of the shitty crap out there nowadays but I guess what I have the biggest problem with is that she's being label the second coming of something and she's just not that amazing.
I'm not generally an anti-establishment kinda girl but one thing you'll catch me fighting is when MTV Jams tells me something is the "Jam of the Week" or VH1 tells me I "Oughta Know" about some song. No, VH1, I don't need to know because you say so. I don't know what it is but I basically resist when I'm being told by some mass media outlet that I need to like something. And sure, it's stubborn and stupid because there's a chance I'm missing out on something good but chances are, if it's that good, I'll eventually come around to it anyway. It took me like 6 months to even listen to James Morrison's CD cause VH1 told me I had to. They also shoved Alicia Keys down my throat initially and I owned her CD for like a year without even taking it out of the wrapper. Hell, I didn't have to cause either my sister was rocking her music every chance she got or she was on the radio. It finally took me seeing her live to understand her appeal and even then I resigned myself to the opinion that she's by far a better live performer than she is a recorded one. And for the record, I still think "Fallen" is insanely elementary and don't understand why it was as big as it was in breaking her.
Now that I've likely offended a bunch of people with that Alicia thing, I'm gonna take it a step further. More overrated things I don't get? The Beatles...don't get me wrong, I am in some ways a fan cause I can appreciate what they did and their impact on pop culture and all but I don't get the whole idea that they're the most fabulous songwriters that ever existed, like some people claim. I get the John Lennon "Imagine" stuff...totally get that. But the "Life Goes On" lyrical genius? I don't get. It's not horrible and I understand it's cute package of a message of love and hope and all, but I don't get the mastery that is considered The Beatles. Maybe I just don't know enough about their entire catalog and if someone feels the need to hip me to it, I'd be willing to take the lesson. Add Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd to that list, too. I realize that saying that could get me shot in certain circles but I gotta say it. Again, someone school me and I'll change my opinion but as it stands, I don't get it.
Anyways, who saw Madonna get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by all this pretty? And the bigger question is, exactly at what point did I switch from hating the earth that this boy walked on to thinking he was just so very attractive? I don't think I'll ever know.
So, just a little backstory on why this blog is called what it is. I don't know how it popped in my head to even start it. I had some random thoughts going on that just seemed to be like blogging thoughts a couple of nights ago, random and odd, but true and I brought it up to Maggie...and from there it went. The title came from us just not knowing at all what to call it. I mentioned how we both like music/musicians and Maggie says "What else can we say other than I'm addicted and you're obsessive" and it was just funny and great and we ran with it.
Fast forward to tonight where I have some sort of "AH HA!" moment in that I figure out maybe Maggie's right about that obsessive thing in me. No doubt she would be (jokingly or not) cause she does know me well, but anyways....
In December, I was at a concert and this girl in the crowd had on the hottest shoes I've seen in a long time. I'm newly a shoe girl for some reason. It's really funny considering the shoes I often fall in love with are insane heels and I rarely go out to places that I'd have a need to wear them to. Doesn't matter...I still love them, I still buy them. The friend I was with at the concert mentions that she thinks they're Steve Maddens. When I got home, I checked and sure enough she was right. Found them and their name and places to buy them online...here they are, FYI:
Here we are, three months after I first see these shoes and I still don't own them. But you know what? There isn't a week that goes by that my cheap ass doesn't go looking for them somewhere online to see if they are on clearance or sale. And it's getting worse now cause I know they're likely on their way off to shoe heaven cause all the new styles for Spring/Summer are on their way in. But I still want to get them for cheaper than I'm finding. I suck cause I totally know I'm going to be checking almost on the daily for these suckers. And when will I wear them? Well, that's just irrelevant now, isn't it?
Nikki here! I guess I am the obsessive to Maggie's addicted. And it's my turn to share a little about me via the infamous list of questions from James Lipton. Fun times! 1. What is your favorite word? Bitchassness. Thanks Diddy...this word deserves to be in the dictionary.
2. What is your least favorite word? Preggers. Seriously...is it that hard to just say the word pregnant. It's the same amount of characters for goodness sake! Sheesh.
3. What turns you on? Sanging ass singing dudes. That's right, I said "Sanging" cause there's no other way to put it. I'm talking wailing, I can feel your emotion kinda stuff. Thanks, Mr. Degraw for reminding me of this. Whew.
4. What turns you off? Negative people. For some reason they have a way of making me want to punch them in the throat, thus turning me into exactly what they are and really, I'm a peaceful girl.
5. What's your favorite curse word? I agree with Maggie here, Fuck. I used to reserve it for times when I was really mad but when I learned the versatility of the word and how it's not only a verb but a noun and an adverb and basically everything, how can you not have fun with such a word. Man, I've got the mouth of a sailor.
6. What sound or noise do you love? The ocean...and my niece's laugh is a close second, but she's getting too grown and it's not as cute as it used to be.
7. What sound or noise do you hate? This one's a three way tie -- nails on a chalkboard, people grinding their teeth, and Styrofoam when rubbed together. *Shiver*
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? This is kinda a loaded question cause I guess I already am attempting it. Got a little business on the side in Artist/Tour Management, so yeah, that. Does the question mean something other than what you already do?! Cause if it does, I got nothing.
9. What profession would you not like to attempt? Fast food/Waitress....thank goodness I never had to do it. I don't think I have the patience. 10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Gosh, I suck at creativity on this one. I'd really just be okay with a "You done good. Come on in!"
