I got the dentist blues....

Regular readers of this blog and fans of "Maggie" as well as my real life friends all know that I am scared to death of the dentist. As in irrational fear of the dentist. There aren't enough words to encompass the dental fears. Intellectually, I have complete control of it-- emotionally I'm a total basket case.

Back in 2009-2010 I had to have a root canal. I was living with Daddy-O then and that experience should open the gates of heaven wide open to him when the time comes. The poor guy went above the parental duties and took me to all my appointments AND also dealt with me before and after each of them. Our friend Curly helped us through with ride alongs and moral support, too. These 2 people love me unconditionally (only God knows why!) and took it all in stride, never once making me feel like an idiot, a fool, silly, a loser, ridiculous. Neither of them got mad at me or told me to "suck it up" or "get it together" or to "stop acting like a baby." They may not have understood the irrational-Maggie-needs-therapy-to-deal-with-the-dentist fear i have but they understood me and, in the words of Vonnegut... so it goes.

Well, I've moved and life is different and I had to have another dental procedure. (Yes, I intellectually I understand if I went to the dentist for regular check-ups/cleanings then I wouldn't have to have surgery every few years. Dental fear outranks irrationality). This started about 8 weeks ago.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD toothache. Shit.

Find a new dentist here in the Capital. I have no insurance so I had to find someone who would take payments, new patients, and who could deal with my hysteria. And well, holy cow, believe it or now, I found such a guy.

I made my first appointment. Mac took me- we knew it was going to be a consult and Mac had the day off so there was no reason for TheGuy to take the day off. It was a get to know the dentist/patient and talk and take a look in my mouth. That appointment went fine. I hyperventilated on the way there, Mac talked me down and I only cried a little in the waiting room. The dentist who specializes in people like me said I would have to have either a root canal ($3000) or have it extracted ($900). Okay, an extraction. We made an appointment for 10 days.

I was feeling pretty okay because the dentist said he would give me a pill the night before to help me sleep, a pill to relax me the morning off and he would give me and IV and knock me out. I wouldn't feel a thing. Okay, I could do this. I was fine. I was going to be out like a light.

TheGuy and I took the day off to take me. Apparently things didn't go according to plan... I took the drugs like I was supposed to but I'm a pretty hard stick so they couldn't give me the IV. I was pretty loopy and I was told- because I remember none of this- that when I saw the needle he was going to give me  a shot in the arm as a different approach I cried and begged to now stick me. Okay, the dentist reasons that he would send me to a dental surgeon who could do a better job.

Remember I'm basically unconscious. I don't remember any of the following. They wheel-chaired me to the car, TheGuy drove across town, picking up Mac from work and dropping him at home since he got done early, took me to the surgeon, had me fill out paperwork and took me to an exam room. The surgeon there said he couldn't do the extraction because of all the drugs I already had AND because he wanted payment up front. TheGuy and I left and he took me home and put me to bed. I woke up at 5PM feeling like a truck has driven over me, then back up and did it again, and I still had the freakin' tooth.  I remember none of that paragraph.

TheGuy was pissed and said i was a baby and should suck it up and I was being ridiculous. I guess I was apparently lippy to him about his ex-wife. I do NOT remember. I have no idea. He was completely pissed and douchebag to me over nothing I remember- I don't even remember now.

So, I still have this infected impacted tooth and I have to get rid of it.

I call my dentist back on Monday. His entire staff was so nice and they said how bad they felt because I was so upset. They were so kind. The doc had a plan. He said he had a friend who is a phlebotomist and she would come in and give me the IV if I wanted to try again. I can't believe they were willing to try again, all things considered. We also agreed no silly pills. I was going to take one Valium before, then I was going to listen to music with noise canceling headphones (I made a dentist play list) and have some nitrous. He would give me an IV if necessary.

Now, who was going to take me? I checked to see how much a cab would be and it was close to $60 from the office to my apartment. Over my dead body was asking TheGuy (it's very telling about him. You know in marriage vows the whole "in sickness and in health" part? He obviously isn't very "sickness". good thing I'm not married to him. This is very serious food for thought, in my opinion.). I sorts of hinted to Daddy-O but didn't come right out and ask. It would've been a lot to ask of him though and I wanted to see if I could come up with my own plan. My Boss said he could pick me up and trust me, I was ready to go that route before I was ready to ask TheGuy... but alas, it turned out that Mac had the day off and he VOLUNTEERED to take me.

So my 21 year old kid who is mostly messed up in his own right, said he would drive me. And he did. My appoint was at 7:30 am and he was up on time and ready to go. He was making silly jokes. He was nice. He got me there and held my hand until I was out like a light. He didn't make fun of my dentist play list I created.  The IV was necessary but Mac was there through it all. He drove me home, picked up my extra prescription, got me in the house and to bed and he stayed with me all day long to make sure I was okay. He made me soup and Jell-O.

I feel icky physically today but I'll live. I got through it. And this time, I'm going to work really hard to go to the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and check up. My new dentist said he'll give me free nitrous for a cleaning if I need it until I get relaxed to have one without. He said it's his goal to turn me into a dental pro. He's a good person. Mac is a good person. I think yesterday he earned some "heaven points."*

So, now I'm just taking it easy today.

Nursing the hole in my head,
Maggie

*An aside---- a while ago my friend Lori and I were talking about crap we did and wished there was a reward system when we had to deal with stupid people or do stuff we didn't want but felt we "had" to do. We figured it was a way to earn "heaven points." We don't have a tight number system more just a catch phrase like... Lori: "I have to chaperon a field trip because the math teacher got the flu and couldn't go at the last minute." Me: "You just earned a ton of heaven points." Her: "no shit."

PS- In the above post I also mentioned that I created a dentist play list. I did. I wanted great music to listen to while this was happening in case I didn't need the IV. Okay, I needed the IV but I had to be ready. I was in a complete conundrum about what to play. First, I didn't want it to be something quiet/soothing/calm because that is all soft music and I was afraid it wouldn't be loud enough to cover the scary dentist tools and tooth pulling sounds. I didn't want head banging stuff that would cause my blood pressure to raise which would then force the nurse to kick my drugs lower and then I might wake up and hear dental scary stuff. So I had to found a blend of happy music that was also pop/rock/loud. Below is a list of music I used as my dentist play list (and my dentist LAUGHED) when he looked at the titles... Google and enjoy yourself:

1. Stacy's Mom- Bowling for Soup
2. Almost- Bowling for Soup
3. Like a Virgin- Madonna
4. Hit Me with Your Best Shot- Pat Benatar
5. Don't Stop Believin'- Journey
6. Material Girl- Madonna
7. Vogue- Madonna
8. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
9. Give 'em Hell- American Rejects
10.  Drive By- Train
11. Toucha Toucha Toucha- Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack
12. Note Ready to make Nice- Dixie Chicks
13. Tiny Dancer- Elton John
14. I Kissed a Girl- Katy Perry
15. Hate Myself for Lovin' You- Joan Jett
16. Hot and Cold- Katy Perry
17. American Woman- Lenny Kravitz
18. Whiskey Girl- Toby Keith
19. Since You've Been Gone- Kelly Clarkson
20. You May be Right- Billy Joel
21. The Way you Make Me Feel- Michael Jackson and Brittany Spears
22. Rockstar- Nickelback
23. Hey Soul Sister- train
24. Eye of the Tiger-Survivor
25. We Will Rock You- Queen
26. Little Red Corvette- Prince
27. Mamma Mia- Mamma Mia soundtrack- performed by Abba
28. Stuck in the Middle With You- Steeler's Wheel

Think Kit day 16: discovery

Think Kit topic today:  What did you discover this year? Was it accidental or on purpose? What did you learn?

Life line topic: What band (new or old) did you discover this year? How'd you discover them? What one song piqued your interest?

I'm sitting here trying to think of something I discovered that I haven't already written about yet. I couldn't come up with anything so I thought I'd use a life line. Before I went to look at my choices, I thought to myself, I will write the first one on the list that I haven't done yet. And low and behold, it too was about discovery but specifically MUSIC discovery! Guess it's fated that I write something about discovery.

This year has been a weird music year for me. I was blessed to see lots of concerts- more this year than I have in my lifetime! So I've been all over in my music listening. I like to listen to CDs of a band I'm going see for a few weeks. So in April I was jamming to lots of Will Hoge. May- July had me listening to the entire Maroon 5 discography, and completely falling in love with Adam Levine's talent (like every other woman in the world), then I was back on a Will Hog kick for a few weeks since I saw him again, and then I was in heavy into Michael Buble!

I also listened to some of my regular favs, those artists we all have in our music rotation who are the "go to" musicians for us.

And this year I've treated myself to XM radio. Oh wow!!! I mean, OH WOW! I've really listened to a huge variety of music because of all those choices! Girl groups of the 50s and a Sinatra station! A little country! the 80s! Hair bands!

My friends have "been into" music more this year so it always seems to be in the background and it's usually a Pandora station of some sort. I've heard a lot of Mumford and Sons this way, and Phillip Phillips, some Rob Thomas/ Matchbox 20, and artists who are similar to Nora Jones. My son has played so much Mac Mill and earl Sweatshirt around me I can actually name a few songs and recognize them when I hear them- OMG!

I also have discovered IndyInTune radio, online, which plays all music from Indianapolis area artists. Though I don't have a favorite yet, I like the mixture of music there.

I've even got my own Spotifiy account now!

So this has been a year of rediscovering music for me, listening to something different, trying new stuff, buying more cd's and seeing concerts.Good year for tunes for me!

Maggie

My concert wants

I really wanted this to be the year of the concert. I have a few people I would almost kill to see:

• Michael Buble'
• Mumford and Sons
• Matchbox 20
• Maroon 5
• Jason Mraz
• John Mayer

I'm really into these guys right now. I'd love to see them all live. However, my concert viewing is not getting off to an auspicious start. I was told I was going to be given a ticket to see matchbox 20 as a Valentine's Day gift. They were playing a small, extremely awesome venue just 45 minutes from my house. That didn't happen because the purchaser in question waited to long and the tickets were sold out. I tried winning on the radio and such to no avail.

I need to start checking concert tours and see who is going to be near me, if anyone. And start saving money. Tickets are sooooo expensive.

I'd also love to see Billy Joel if he were to head this way on a concert tour ever again, with or without Elton John but I think I would have to sell my body to science and get an advancement on that to pay for a ticket to see those guys.

Mac and I make a tradition to see Green Day but that probably won't happen because Mac and I were both completely disappointed with the 3 albums: Uno, Dos, Tre', that were released last. I also know Bon Jovi is on tour and I've seen them 3 times in concert but that might be enough for me. I can't decide if I want to see them as old rockers.

But it's just March so anything can happen this year and I might just get an earful of good music!

Who would you like to see in concert?

Maggie

Album review- Train

I love Train and plan to see them in concert in August! I just bought their new album called California 37 and from the first track, I'm in love!

I've been a Train fan for years and years, actually, and saw them in concert back in March 2006. They've had several popular songs on the radio over the years: "Meet Virginia", "Drops of Jupiter", "Calling All Angels", "Hey Soul Sister", "Marry Me", "When I look to the Sky", and "Cab" just to name a few.

California 37 is great, easy listening, with some fun tracks, sad songs and is easy to sing along with. I like the lyrics, the sound, the composition so it's a win- win for me.

Many people probably heard then recent hit "Drive By" on the radio and it's a catchy tune- hence the HUGE radio play. But other tracks are that good, or better. I love the duet with Ashley Monroe, called "Bruises" with some country sound. The campy "50 ways to say good bye" makes me laugh, and I just love all the other songs, too. "You can finally meet my mom" just touches my heart and the song "Mermaid" has the name Johnny Depp in the lyrics- so it's can't be a bad, song, right?

So, I recommend this album for people who like the adult contemporary sound. Don't hold that genre against them!

Mags

Other Train songs:

Get in Tune

I've been downloading music for the last few years and I've decided to stop. I realize that's anti-technology sounding but I don't care.

My CD burner on my computer burns a CD just fine. I can play it on my computer or on the house CD players. The one place I cannot play a burned CD is in my car. I've no idea what's wrong but if I burn a CD on my laptop it will NOT play in my car. If Mac burns a CD for me on his desktop, about 50% of the time it works. That's so frustrating.

My ipod has died; the headphone jack doesn't work. I play it from my docking station but that's all. It also won't play using an adaptor through my car.

It's obvious I have several issues happening here. I mostly listen to music in my car and I have no way to listen unless it's the radio or a purchased CD. So, I decided to heck with it and I'm buying CDs from now on. How old school am I?

And to make myself even older, I went to Half Price Books and to a 'record' store and got a TON of new to me but used CDs! I'm totally jammin'! it feels awesome to have some new tunes.

I'm going to share titles here; don't judge. I'm 40 years old and I can listen to what I want, no matter how nerdy it makes me sound:

• California 37 and Save Me San Fransisco Golden Gate Edition by Train


• Great Hits- James Taylor


• Doo-Wops and Hooligans- Bruno Mars


• We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things and LOVE is a 4-Letter Word- Jason Mraz


• Living Hard and Get Off On the Pain- Gary Allan


• Sweeter- Gavin DeGraw


• 21- Adele


• 1.22.03 Acoustic Live- Maroon 5


• Teenage Dream- Katy Perry

It's been years since I bought CDs and I'm so glad I could find these all dirt cheap!

I be jammin',

Mags

Glee-k

I had a total crap day at work yesterday. I've said it all the time: the teachers are worse than the kids, most days. That pisses me off. Yesterday I had 2 teacher complain to me about a music project I'm working on, and 1 more whom I really care about and respect growled at me in one breath and ask me for a favor in the other. It was "library day" so ALL students on campus visited the library, which meant I had to 'interact' with 11 teachers. I try to AVOID teachers. ITSam and I had disagreement in the morning before schools tarted. Mac and I had a pissing contest. I started my period. I misbalanced my check book and just found the error and I was told Mac was missing a loan form. Yesterday was NOT my favorite day. I was so mad and just had to say to hell with everything because people suck, suck, suck- I give up. I was so pissed.

Also, I had promised Mac that I would take him to see a movie of his choice last night and make homemade pizza. So we went to see GLEE, the 3-D Concert Movie. I like Glee! I love the tv show and I have all the soundtracks. You could say I'm a bit of a Glee-k. Now, that being said, it wouldn't have crossed my mind to actually go see the movie. It just isn't my thing. And I wouldn't have normally paid the price of a 3-D ticket, in the evening, to see it. But I told Mac we could see his pick and that's what it was. (He's a Glee-k himself. He's the one who got me hooked on it!) Great-- after that day, seeing singing and dancing people acting like teens was NOT what I wanted to do. But it's Memory Week so no way could I say no!

I'm rolling my eyes as the previews start. I'm rolling my eyes as the movie starts. I can't believe I'm sitting there watching it in 3-D. Ugh, ugh, ugh! There was concert footage and all the fans that were interviewed and screaming and... ugh!

Then the singing started.

There was no Glee cast story line. There were some silly snippets of the cast doing "behind the scenes" stuff but there was a story of sorts. There were 3 young people who are HUGE Glee fans who talked about the show and how it's influenced their lives. There's a young boy who's in HS now but was outed as gay when he was in the 8th grade; he talked about how Glee helped him. There's a young girl who's a small person and how the show helped her see it's okay for her to be different and led her to be a 'Cheer-io' at her own school, only not a snob. And there's a young woman who suffers from Aspergers and how Glee helped her. These three stories were told interview style, back and forth between them in their homes and schools, and then intermingled with their stories were songs and dance routines of the Glee cast, from their concert tour this summer.

And it was good. It was totally feel good.

By the end of the movie, I was smiling and happy and even crying. I was singing along and seat dancing. It was just awesome. I loved it and it was inspiring and just flat out POSITIVE and FEEL GOOD! I was so touched by the stories of those three youngster and I just loved the music and energy of the cast.

Another part that touched me was the footage of the audience at the concert. They hadn't heard the stories- they were just regular, old concert goers. We've all seen either a concert music video (if not a full out concert on tv or in a movie) and we always see concert goers having fun. And there was the same audience/ concert footage of everyone singing along and screaming and having fun. And the audience was full of blacks and whites, men and women, boys and girls, old people and young people, gay and straight- all at the same concert, all singing the same songs. That was about the most amazing thing I'd seen, 3 year olds all the way to grannies singing "Don't Stop Believing.".

I'm a firm believer that there's nothing wrong with a happy ending, a feel good moment. And I have to remember to not stop believing, no matter what.

Maggie

Gone country

There are so many parts to this story... I feel like I have to explain myself before I can explain myself.... clear as mud, eh?

In May I bought 2 tickets to see Gary Allan, a country music singer, who is ITSam's very favorite singer. I wanted to surprise him and was so excited to score these tickets. I kept my mouth shut and told no one about the tickets because one I told the secret I would tell him.

Then and I had a huge fight at the beginning of June, and I figured I'd offer to sell him the tickets. Then we slowly made up so it was a non-issue.

Then he broke up with me in July, about 2 weeks before the concert.

I'm not a fan of country music, over all. A very little of it goes a long way, in my opinion, so I wouldn't have just gone alone or with friends. And at the time of the break up, it wasn't really near the forefront of my mind.

A week after the break up I remembered the tickets. The same day I remembered the tickets, I had to have a serious conversation with ITSam about furniture and phones.

One conversation led to another, then to another, then to another. We certainly were NOT back together but lots of apologies were issued from him. That didn't fix it at all, but it was a start. We talked lots and I finally decided I would just take him to the concert.

I didn't know what to do and we were talking and I didn't want to lose the $80 bucks. I figured, if nothing else, that he would feel really guilty over everything, the way he treated me, etc., if I took him to a concert. It was a weird choice, I know, and it was spur of the moment, but I decided it. So be it.

Anyway, all that being said, I saw Gary Allan in concert a few weeks ago. (I also surprised Sam with the tickets and made him ride in the car 90 minutes, wearing a pink sleep mask the entire time, so he wouldn't see where we were going. People looked at us strangely as we were hauling down the highway at this strange bald guy wearing a pink sleep mask... some, tiny revenges are awesome!)

It was a great concert!!! He gives a good show. I was pretty impressed because he seems to be just a regular guy with a guitar, just singing his heart out. I really liked his show- no frills, no pyrotechnics, etc. Just a guy, singing. It was great.

And even though he's really country (and twangy) and he looks hot in his jeans, and doesn't wear a cowboy hat but would be sexy if he did, I still really liked the concert. (And it was a great chance for me to wear my pink cowboy boots here in the Midwest!)

Since then, I've been listening to his music quite a bit. This is really, REALLY out of the norm for me since I haven't listened to country music since I got back here from the Wild West. None of my car radio stations are pre-set to country and I think I might have about 50 country songs on my personal iTunes account--- that would be 50 out of the 1672 on my account. But I'm really digging Gary Allan!

Great songs by him are "Watchin' Airplanes", "Songs about Rain", "Best I've Ever Had", "No Regrets", "Her Man", "Right Where I need to Be", "We Fly By Night ", and Bourbon Borderline." "We Fly By Night" is my favorite of them all!

I strongly urge you to check out his music, his sound.

And it did make ITSam feel pretty crappy about how he treated me, that I had planned all this for him...

And it made me miss country music just a little bit.

Back in her boots,
Mags

Follow the train of thought

Mac asked if I wanted to listen to music and I said yes as long as he played something I wanted to hear.

The following is my own little meme, I guess. As he played songs, here's what I thought I of as he clicked around because the child can't seem to just play a single damn song all the way through! So as he played here was my first thought as they came up

• "Novocaine" (the Broadway version): I want to see American Idiot on Broadway.
• "Zanzabar" (Billy Joel): Wonder if he's still touring and if I could afford those tickets.
• "Beck's Boogie" (Yard Birds): wonder what happen to the Brian Setzer wannabe band that used to play at a cool bar in N. Civilization and left to try and become famous
• "Prelude/ Angry Young Man" (Bill Joel): I want to see him in concert again and I wonder if his Broadway show will tour and he was so awesome in concert when I saw him years ago and I wonder if I should start piano lessons again
• "Girl" (Beatles): Do I know this song? I think Steven Tyler is so hot when he breathes in the Armageddon movie song
• "Blackbird" (Beatles): that's a pretty song
• "Wouldn't it be nice" (Beach Boys): Am I too fat to learn to surf?
• "It's all been done" (Barenaked Ladies): I don't care if he was a coke head or a Canadian, the lead singer is pretty cute and did they get back together after he got out of re-hab? Should I Google that?
• "Bust- a- move" (Young MC)- I hated high school and what the hell is happening in music?
• "That Thing You do" (Wonders)- I LOVE that movie! I wish I owned it. Stupid video store doesn't have it, those bastards.
• "Meet Virginia" (Train): love is so not like that and no man accepts a woman for who she is
• "American Girl" (Tom Petty): I couldn't think because Mac was making fun of it and I couldn't think for all the laughing
• "BBQ Stain" (Tim McGraw): I need to go Photographer's recipe for bbq sauce that's a good Weight Watchers one with low points

And that's the music inspired thoughts on this Thirsty Thursday!

Mags

The last song

Last night was Mac's last choir concert of his high school career. It's also supposed to be the most fun concert of the year because it's full of special acts featuring seniors, and the most talented kids in the choir, but mostly a focus on the seniors. In the past, these have been amazing and so much fun!

And I am sorry to say it was the worst concert I'd ever been to, in all the years I've been going to these; it was not good. I was soooo bummed, especially since it was Mac's last performance.

The music was good- at least the concept was. It was "through the years" and sort of an evolution of music from the '50s to now.

But it was obvious to the audience that the kids were just not into it. There were few special acts and most of those weren't very good. It was just a very lackluster performance on the kids part.

Usually the kids are smiling and laughing and you can just feel the air pop from their energy. There was none of that. Many of the kids weren't even smiling. There was no energy to the dancing. They seemed depressed. Kids were lagging behind on their dance moves.

It was just sad.

I asked Mac about it, being nice and doing the mom thing rather than ask "what the hell was wrong with all of you at the concert?" He said the kids were just burned out and the choir director tried to "cram" rather than start practicing months ago like usual, she tried to do it in a few weeks. There are about 170 kids in the choir and they did excerpts from about 100 songs. It was not something to cram.

Mac said that the kids were tired, didn't want to do it, and there had been lots of fighting and "drama". And rather than the director stopping it, she sort of fanned the drama flames, which is sad. Lots of the kids also said that since the director's children had graduated and were no longer in choir she didn't care about making a good spring concert. Whether that's true or not, it seemed to be the perception of many of the students in choir and as we know, perception is everything.

Mac and the director had much angst between them this year for various reasons, both faults of BOTH people, not all just Mac. And the director had several personal things happen that would strain her abilities, I'm sure but it was just sad that it seemed.... depressing rather than a show case for all the talent in that choir.

I did go ahead and buy a copy of the DVD and will be posting, via youtube, two clips of Mac's solos. I'll keep you updated when that goes up. (Even he didn't have his normal performance face on!)

As for "Mac High School Milestones" all we have left if graduation and the open house. Then we're off to college! Oh thank God!

Mac's mom,
Maggie

25. Buy a CD by an artist I've never heard before and listen to the entire thing

The Fame by Lady Gaga

To be honest, y' all probably think I'm crazy but I didn't really ever know who Lady Gaga was until Princess introduced us. I think I heard of her in passing but I didn't know anything about her, and I would've been guessing that she was a singer (I was thinking actress at first but I wasn't sure). Then one day, I was in the car with Princess for 6 hours and she brought this CD along. Then she fell asleep and I was afraid to turn it off, that the sudden silence would wake her and the other 4 girls who were all also asleep. Trust me, you take 5 teens girls on a six hour road trip and they fall asleep, you don't want to do ANYTHING to disrupt their sleep.

So, I let this just play over and over again. It played through about 3 times total, and I was pretty impressed and pleased with this CD.

It is sure something I would never have picked up myself but after listening to it, I did go buy a copy a few weeks later and it still held appeal for me, so much so that I downloaded a song called "Boys Boys Boys" as my default ringtone, for fun, because it's a zippy little tune!

This album is certainly a dance club mix. It's highly synthesized-pop and electric-pop, with songs that have quirky little chorus, that hook in the listener. It's similar to lots of club music that came out of the 80s and heavily influenced by glam-rock. The album was released in 2008 (I really can't believe I never have heard of her or any of this music until a few months ago!!) to popular, positive reviews and critical acclaim. There have been four songs of the 12 on the album that have released as singles here in the US, which reached Top Ten spots on Billboard: "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "Love Game" and "Paparazzi." The album itself reached the top 10 (topping out at #4) and hit the #1 spot for Dance/ Electronic albums. It's also the number 1 best selling digital album of all times, and its gone platinum four times. (Thank you Billboard for this info!)



The overall theme for all the songs is fame. Lady Gaga is a lover of attention and is certainly a fame seeker so all these songs focus on that as the theme.

I think the four singles are awesome. They are sure great tunes to head bop and dance to. I can see why they are huge club songs. The content, along with fame, are also heavily focused on sex, drinking, and money (I'm not super thrilled about this since most of Gaga's fans are young girls!). "Love Game" is all about sex and money, and "Just Dance" is about being drunk at a party. "Poker Face" is all about sexual innuendo, and "Paparazzi" is about a stalker following her biggest fan.



Songs other than "the hits" that I really like are "Paper Gangsta", "Boys Boys Boys", and "Summerboy." These little ditties biggest appeal to me are the easy to sing along lyrics and the beat. Sometimes her lyrics are raging and powerful and other times they're drivel but overall, just about every song on this album is something to sing along to. That, my friends, is usually what is "make or break" about an album for me. The songs "Money Honey", "Beautiful Dirty Rich" and "Eh, Eh" are also good songs but not my favorites and I find myself passing through those when they pop up. "Boys Boys Boys" is my favorite song of all!



So like everyone else in the world, I've now heard of Lady Gaga and she's found a secure spot in my CD player rotation for awhile. I find I pop her on and dance around when no one is watching. I also can't wait until I can roll down the windows and crank up the radio and go so a summer drive, with lady Gaga blaring away! While the content may not be your cup of tea, she's addicting and her catchy riffs are worth listening to over and over again. Makes me wish I was young enough to go clubbing!

Maggie

Random Random Random

I want to learn how to play the violin and the guitar and the piano. Sounds like I want to be my own band...

The Glee Soundtracks are my current favorite musical conglomeration ever.

I love my new cell phone/ hand held computer- the HTC, but the battery life sucks, sucks, sucks.

I'm going to make jello-o cake this weekend. My biggest challenge will be deciding on cherry or orange.

ITSam has his son this weekend and I don't have to work so I'm going to hang out and do nothing. Oh yeah, I couldn't do anything if I wanted since I don't HAVE A CAR.

ITSam had to explain condoms to his 11 year old son. I'm glad I wasn't around when they had discussion. I'm the parent who gave Mac all his sex talks. Once in my life for that was enough. Though, at lunch the other day, Princess actually asked me how lesbians had sex. Ugh!

Speaking of Princess, her bio-mom is coming to visit her this weekend. Gee, that's nice.

I took one knitting class. Is that enough to cross something off the 40 for 40?

Because of the asshat mechanics, I had to miss zumba this week. So much for being on an exercise roll.

I hate March.

Maggie the grump

Deja vu

I started my school year filling in for an English teacher who was on maternity leave.

I was asked yesterday to sub for her today. And tomorrow. And Monday. (I'll explain in a later post about why she's not here at the moment. I have to think about how to word that post so no one around can accidentally stumble on it and find me. That would be bad.)

She had a different sub for the last five days. In that last five days that sub has written more than 40 demerits, has kicked kids out of the classroom, had 2 separate altercations with two different kids, and has cut their daily behavior points excessively. I'm actually being sent in to get things back under control.

Oh. My. God. I'm not a terminator; quite the opposite, actually. They want me because I am NOT a terminator. I'm... rainbows and bunnies--- with a twist of perky.

My administration decided it would be in the best interest of the students and the school to close the library for an indefinite period of time so I could come to the rescue in this class.

I'm flattered. I think.

Seriously, there's the possibility that I could just finish the rest of the year, back in that classroom.

Bust as for today... Today I subbed. The classroom teacher sent NO lesson plans so I winged it (or is it "wang it"?). I won't bore you with the details but suffice it to say I had a good day.

Number of demerits I wrote today= 0
Number of students I kicked out of class=0
Number of points I cut=o
Number of student altercations= 0
The looks on the faces of the fellow teachers who thought I, too, would fail= priceless

Let's hope I can have a repeat performance tomorrow.

Maggie

Song of the moment for me:

Thursday's thoughts (aka random stuff in my head)

One of the things on my 40 before 40 list is take ballroom dancing lessons. We called to arrange the first lesson and the instructor's name is... Sam. It's fate. I also get a new pair of high heels for this adventure. I'm nervous. I hope I don't barf on Sam the Dance Man. Nor on ITSam...

I chaperoned a field trip today. It was on a bus with all boys. I must be long on patience and have a higher tolerance for their stupid boy antics than I care to admit. Other teachers don't feel that same way. Tomorrow when we meet to do the behavior report, I am going piss off the other faculty members because I don't think the kids should be in trouble for doing "kid" stuff.

I have my first foster parent class tomorrow night and I'm really excited. And nervous. And scared.

Many folks have recommended CDs and I've been listening. Mumford and Son, Lady Gaga and Cherry Poppin' Daddies. I'm diggin' it all.

I saw a play today, as part of the field trip, and it was THREE and a HALF hours long. My butt really hurts. And I'm a gold medalist in sitting and this was even too much for me. But the play was freakin' awesome.

Does anyone else have "Angry Birds" as an app? Everyone I know said I should get it, and ITSam is playing it as I type and is having a hoot. I don't get it....

My big plans for Sunday are to read all the blogs on my favorite lists because I've been slacking. I'm really sorry for not reading you guys. I still love you even though I'm lame.

I cannot believe I no school Monday. I have an entire day off. I am NOT going to work any job at all. Mac has school and ITSam has to work. I might try and bribe Daddy-O to leave so I can use the house for the day.

Speaking of apps, I would take recommendations of apps that are MUST HAVES. I don't have nearly enough apps. I'm lacking in the app department. And speaking of apps, I need to promise myself to learn one a day because I don't know much about the ones I do have. UGH!

Today was a spring teaser as far as the weather goes because it was 61 degrees outside. that's right. You read it right. 61 flippin' degrees. I was one happy lady! I love the smell of wet, warm earth.

Can anyone else tell I'm really struggling to find blog topics lately? I've been waiting on an answer to my "big news" before I say anything. Because it might be sad, pathetic NO news. Ideas are welcome as far as blog ideas go.

random queen,
Maggie

Favorite lyrics

I love the following lyrics. They either make me laugh or cry or give me the good kind of chills.

1. "Will ya hose me down with holy water, if I get to hot? Will you take me places I've never known?"- Meatloaf, "I'd do anything for love"
2. "I'm a bitch, I'm a tease, I'm a goddess on my knees." - Meredith Brooks, "Bitch"
3. "And in the midst of sailing ships we sink our lips into the ones we love, that have to say goodbye."- Train, "When I Look to the Sky"
4. "She is frequently kind, and she’s suddenly cruel, she can do as she pleases, she’s nobody’s fool, but she can’t be convicted, she’s earned her degree"- Billy Joel, "She's Always a Woman"
5. "To my heart he carries the key, Won’t you tell him please to put on some speed, Follow my lead, oh, how I need, Someone to watch over me."- Gershwin, Someone to watch over me

There is so much more to music than just the music. I love music and the performance part. I love in the song "I Don't wanna miss a thing" when Steven Tyler breathes on the lyric "I could stay lost in this moment forever", right on the word forever. It is so sexy.

Broadway show-tune lyrics get a category all their own. I love them separately but they compare differently because of the word choices. Broadway tunes string together stuff that could never make the mainstream but show tunes make me HAPPY!

One time a former Sam and I were split up. He went to drown his sorrows at our favorite bar. Well, the bartender called me at 2:23am and asked if I could please do something. (Yes, it is sad to know that the bartender at that Sam's favorite bar had my number since I had been called to get him so often). I asked what he had done now and she said he had played "Lady is a tramp" 13 times in a row on the jukebox. I dragged my tired ass out of bed, drove across town and picked him up. I didn't deserve it but I love the story. Every time he and I had split, he listened to a lot of Sinatra. That was his thing for me. (I was the only woman who drove him to Sinatra- that, my friends, is a damn compliment!)

There is a song called "Crash and Burn" by Sheryl Crowe. Every time I hear this song played, I cry. I sob. But I like it.

I am sure I will come up with more lyrics but right off the top of my head these are always reverberating around as my all time favorite lyrics. Do my lyric choices reflect my personality or some subliminal subconscious? Regardless, I just love music. What are your favorite lyrics?

Tune me up!

One of the things on my 40 before 40 list is to listen to a CD of a band/ musician/ music group/ singer I've never heard before.

This is hard. It sounds dumb to say this is hard but it is. ITSam and I went to a really cool used record store, which also carries CDs, and found one and I don't like it. It's not even something I can remotely find interesting enough to listen to the whole thing. As a matter of act I had to text Sam while typing this post to even ask the name of the band: The Black Keys.

So, I'm appealing to all of you for help. Prizes will be given. I need some musical suggestions.

What I do NOT like:

• country (however, bluegrass is okay... like Allison Kraus)
• scream-o
• rap
• music that has rap or talking anywhere in it (Mac will play me some "Great band, mom" and I ask if it's rap. He says no and then half way through the song, it's totally rap. Yuck.)
• hip-hop
• emo/ Goth/ industrial
• disco
• most classic rock... uh, yeah I suck... (I do love all things Beatles)

I do like:

• pop
• Elton John, Barry Manilow, Rob Thomas, Matchbox 20, Billy Joel
• 1980's
• some rock
• Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Dean Martin
• 50s & 60s music
• Glenn Miller, big band, swing, jazz, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday

I obviously like so many other types and styles of music but I can't say too many more without adding some sort of clarification. I like "most" hairbands. For example, I love Bon Jovi but am not a huge G&R fan. I LOVE Green Day but don't care much for the rest of the Punk scene. I like about 4 John Mayer songs but don't care for the rest of his sound. I can say the same for Pogue Mahone, Flogging Molly, Red Hott Chili Peppers, Bruno Mars, Jason Mraz, Pearl Jam, Katy Perry, and the Black Eyed Peas. All of these, I love SOME of their stuff, but not all.

If you could make suggestions of bands/ songs/ stylings of anything that could be compared to what I do like, I'm open to suggestions. The name of a group plus a recommended album would be especially sweet.

I'll even give a prize to the blogger whose suggestion of band & album I buy and listen to all the way through!

This is a tough challenge, I know, since I listen to a wide and eclectic group of music. It has to be a band or group I've never heard. I'm thinking of amending it to to a singer or group that maybe I heard 1 song on the radio and should get the whole album?

Please help me with your musical stylin' sounds recommendations!

musically yours,

Mags

Life's Soundtrack

Do you ever think about your life with a soundtrack? What if music would play in the background of our lives?

I remember when I was taking a film class back in college and we watched a bunch of films that were studio releases without music or sound. Halloween wasn't nearly as scary, neither was Jaws when there was no music; it was so weird. Then we examined Hitchcock and he often didn't use music to give his movies the scary hype but just relied on his expert film making prowess to scare the crappola out of the audience, and it worked!

Watching movies or a television show with just the right music enhances the production for me. I love it when there's an 80's flashback and the perfect Ah-ha or Springsteen song is the necessary background tune. But the reverse is often true for me as well. If the music sucks, it can trash a viewing experience for me completely. Same college course where we watched movies without sound taught me how to watch a movie for more than just the movie itself. Even though I'm not consciously analyzing the soundtrack, shadows, editing, cinematography, etc. I actually am. And when I know I'm doing it ("Gee, I love the way the rolling picturesque landscape was captured on film- way to go cinematographer!") while sitting in the theater, then I'm having a really bad movie experience- I analyze the crap out of a movie if I don't like it.

I love the orchestra music in Dances with Wolves and in Titanic. (But when Celine Dion starts singing that "My Heart will go On" thing it just annoys me!) The music in The Wedding Singer is perfect. In an old TV show that got canceled mid season back when I was in high school- show was called TV 101- there was a scene in one episode where a girl decided to lose her virginity in the back of a car and the U2 song "With or without you" played. I don't remember anything else about that episode but that- the music defined it for me. And think of Jaws, Halloween, Gone with the Wind, The Young and the Restless, Dr. Zhivago, M*A*S*H... all have memorable scores.

I think my life is very Hitchcockian (maybe my life is really more Capraesque but Frank used music and it doesn't fit my metaphor) but without all the killing and bloodshed (though as person who works daily with high school students I think about bloodshed: sometimes that of my students, sometimes my own!). My life is good enough as it is without needing a soundtrack to psych it up and make it more suspenseful.

Then there's the other side of me that thinks in terms of my life soundtrack; you know, what music should be playing at certain times in my life. I think music has such a powerful influence and can set a mood, modulate a tone of a conversation, build a moment, crush a moment, cause undue reminiscing, empower emotions, open flood gates, propel rage or cause giggles, snorts, smiles, belly laughs.

When the wanderlust attacks me I think a perfect song is Reba's "Is there life out there?"When I was getting dressed and trying on 4 outfits so I would be dressed to kill a little "Man Hunt" could be heard. Lately I'm so happy with life, I'm practically walking on cloud nine so I can hear "Walking On Sunshine".

I think it would be cool if you're just living life and you could hear music in your mind (with a volume control of course or I would be so distracted by the tunes I would lose the moment- you know, being ADD and all I get easily off track... oh, where was I?) that fit the mood. And warn you of stuff- I might've avoided getting a speeding ticket once if the theme from Smoky and the Bandit would've played on my internal Life soundtrack and I would've been wary and watchful for the coppers. I might not have gotten in involved with SD all those years ago if Denis Leary's "Asshole" would've played in my brain's little personal itunes.

What would your soundtrack play and when?
Maggie

Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs.

I haven't given up on the 30 days of truth... yet. And since today is the day after Christmas and a Sunday I figure readership will already be low so I'd write a semi- uninteresting post that no one will read anyway on a day when few people will read.

This is a playlist, of sorts, to me. In reality it's a list of my ring tones and who I've assigned certain songs, and why. I had to change this up a little or it would've been sort of schmaltzy list or a sad one if I went with just regular old tunes, so here's something a little more fun.

1. "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett is assigned to my friend sam/P because she lives in Florida and she, like me, likes to occasionally have an adult libation.

2. "Your Song" by Elton John to ITSam because it's a song he sang to me once, (He has a lovely voice) and it's one of his favorites.

3. "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin to Mac because it's a loud song and I want to hear it when it rings, I have no other ring tone even remotely close to that sound, and because Led Zeppelin is one of his all time favorite music groups on earth.

4. "Soul Sister" by Train to XRay Girl because she's my soul sister and because I like the song (and Train is a favorite of mine).

5. "We are family" by Sister Sledge is assigned to DNice and Gulo because they're part of my (even long distance) family of girlfriends.

6. "Piano Man" by Billy Joel is assigned to Daddy-O because he plays the piano and he and I are both HUGE Billy fans. HUGE!

7. "Glitter in the Air" by Pink is assigned to my friend Lilith because I love this song and it's one of my favorites so I assigned it to one of my favorite people I love and who's a favorite!

8. "Love You Till The End" by the Pogues is a ring tone I gave to a Sam who lives in Ireland. He's a friend. He doesn't call often but it's there, just in case. He's a person i care about a great deal. The Pogues are an Irish band that I like to it's a good choice all the way around.

9. "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz is assigned to Curly, much for the same reasons as I picked a song for Lilith. I love this song and it's one of my favorites so I assigned it to one of my favorite people I love and who's a favorite!

10. "Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen is assigned to my school and plays whenever they call me. It's my own little "heeheehee" moment.

11. "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield is my default ringtone because one time Mac said it was the most annoying song he had ever heard and I wanted to mess with him.

Day 13- music

Day 13 is supposed to be about music that has gotten me through really tough times. Interesting because...

I don't feel like music has gotten me through tough times; I feel like my friends and family do that. When things go wrong in life I tend to either verbally spit it out to friends and family members, and my blog family, (Uhhhh- did that sound totally cheesy?) or I keep to myself and stew, fret and sleep.

Music, however, can sooth a mood. It certainly doesn't "get me through" but it can help offer relaxation. Or sometimes I get totally crazy and play "music that makes me feel better" or "music to think by."

Music that will relax me:

• Classical with "Cannon in D" being my favorite piece but I listen to others, including Vivaldi, "Nocturne in G Minor", " Etude in C Minor, Op10, No. 12", "Piano Concerto #12", "Rhapsody in Blue", "Fur Elise", "Moonlight Sonata", "Butterfly Etude", "Minute Waltz", etc...
  
• Opera. This is a new passion but I'm quickly becoming a fan. I'm a fan of Italian operas especially and I love "La boheme"!
  
• Barry Manilow, Babs (that's Barbara Streisand for those not in the know) and big band/ swing music.
• Michael Buble
  

I think the list of music that relaxes me makes me sound like a huge dork.

Music that helps me think:

• I can't seem to name one artist. it's music that can play and I don't think about it. Maybe music I turn on and don't really "listen" too? It's the kind of music that can make background noise but won't distract me. And sometimes that varies, depending on the mood. Sometimes it's just anything on the radio. Other times it's my ipod. I can say that MOST of the time, but not all, but most, the Beatles fall right here. I can't explain it-sorry.
  

Finally, music that makes me feel better... well, disclaimer here. This is music that I consider my standby stuff. It's the stuff I go back to again and again, songs where I know all the words, songs that give me good memories... usually these are songs rather than artists but there are few groups/ people who are my go-to..

• Billy Joel
• Bon Jovi
• Michael Buble
• Train
• Lenny Kravitz
• Avril Lavigne's "Let Go" album
• Madonna (Like A Prayer or before, not the newer, weirder stuff. I like my Madonna in the 80s, early 90s, and slutty, without the stupid British accent, all "Like a Virgin"-esque)
  
• Green Day
  
• Jewel
• "Purple Rain" by Prince. The song, not the whole album. (I think there's a whole post in this song alone... *ahem*)
  
• 80s music
• John Mellencamp (not his new crap, but the era of Lonesome Jubilee or older)
• Anything I can sing along with, in a loud bawdy voice
• Show tunes and soundtracks (Footloose, Mamma Mia, Chicago, Walk the Line)
  

Music that gets me through... with a little help from my friends. Hey, isn't that a song?

Mags

Random tids and bits on a Monday afternoon

I had three dates this weekend. Yup, I know they're dates since you all said so. And so did he. He called to see if I wanted to get a Starbucks coffee last night. Uh, YEAH! And the reason for the "mini dates"? He has an 11 year old son and this is one of the weeks of the summer when he comes to to stay so he doesn't want to take off for an evening and leave his boy with a sitter or with g'rents. So we've had short, dates. But he's asked me to dinner next Monday. Okay, so... dates. Me. Dates. Okay, weird.

And speaking of weird. Next weekend I'm assisting a photographer to shoot a wedding. At a rock quarry. In the middle of no where. But that's not the whole strange part. In talking to the aforementioned Sam with whom I've had three mini dates, I come to find out it's his niece who's getting married whose pictures I'm taking. Irony...

I want this jacket. It's awesome. Wonder if Curley and I could make it?

The third summer session at Alcatraz started today. I was in the home ec. room the last two sessions because they had tables and I didn't want desks, but I got moved because this session someone is teaching a cooking class. I'm in the science room. Why do science rooms always smell gross????

I really want to have a Mad Hatter tea party but I have no one to tea party with. When the Divine Ms K is old enough, we are totally going to do it. I can't convince my friends and Mac that this would be fun. They think I'm nuts. And I am. Maybe I'm slightly mad.

Did you know you're supposed to buy a new scrubbie (loofah thingy) about every 3 months? It's a good place for bacteria to grow. And for misquotes to lay eggs. I was thinking I needed to get one over the weekend, and I forget to pick it up. I had a reminder this morning to do it- I had a big, black beetle in mine this morning. I freaked out! And when I killed the beetle, he "crunched" inside the pink loofah and had guts everywhere. Guess I'm getting a new one. Today.

On Saturday I shopped at Wal-Mart and discovered today that I was missing a bunch of stuff. Looking at the receipt it was the last 4 things on the list. I called Wally World and they had a RECORD of what I forgot and when I was there. I couldn't believe it. They said all I have to do is come out and get my stuff, come to the service desk and it will be taken care of. How cool of them! How stupid of me!

Over the weekend someone broke into my car. Well, I should say, got in my car unbeknownst to me and without my permission. It wasn't locked, so I guess it wasn't technically a break-in. AND, other than throw stuff all over the car, they took nothing but a half a bottle of generic Tylenol. Mac said we're too poor to even be robbed. He said my CDs apparently suck so much they didn't want to take 'em. XRayGirl said she couldn't believe they didn't break my Michael Buble CD on principle. (Um, she's not a fan........)

And finally.............. I heard this song on the movie From Paris with Love (crappy movie, good music). Anyway, what's the genre? French jazz? It sounds like the sort of music in WWII movies as Paris is being liberated. I want more music like this, but I have no idea how to find music with this style. Got any ideas? [and please please PLEASE pardon the video. I didn't want to have video at all, but I wanted this rendition of the song and it's all I could find, for gods sake........ feh!]

Well, that's all for today!

Mags

An axe to grind?

I want to learn to play the guitar. I do. Does it sound really silly? I mean, I don't want to learn so I can play in a band and go on tour or anything. I just want to learn to play so I can just... play. To entertain myself more than anymore else.

My problem is that I have part of my personality that just can't seem to "learn" something like a normal person. I feel like I need lessons and instructions. When I don't know how to do something, I want to "learn" it right and then not make mistakes. I know there are people everywhere, who pick up a guitar and play around with it and can then suddenly be self taught and can pluck out stuff that most can recognize. When I've tried to do that, I just make noise that doesn't sound like any sort of music at all.

I love the video of "Weary Kind" I linked here. Not only do I like the song and the lyrics and think Bingham is cute, I like that it's all guitar and I want to learn how to play that song. Yes, I realize he's(probably, I don't know for sure, just guessing) been playing since he could walk and I don't expect to get that good, but just enough that I could play it and know it was "Weary Kind". And that's just one example; there are a ton of songs that I've wanted to learn to play on the guitar.

I don't know if I should just take some lessons, or get myself a used guitar and a book and try to figure out the basics or what...

This might he a totally stupid idea. I can't even play "Guitar Hero!" maybe it's one of those things I should just leave as a dream.

Certainly not the next Slowhand,
Maggie

On another note...