Music. Soul therapy.

Music and writing are my therapy. They've both been there for me at my worst times and best times. I have neglected blogging, just because I find it hard to sit down long enough these days. But currently I have 1,300 songs on my iPod and the list is growing. I lost my iPod a few weeks ago and seriously felt like I lost a piece of me. Fortunately, I found it. Right in the place I put it so I wouldn't LOSE IT! (That's my mommy brain for you!) 

Anyway, these are some lyrics that are still a favorite. 

My Valentine

What's not to adore?! (I know. I'm a little partial....)

Good ol' Hayes

Ummmm.... I seriously love this guy. Seriously. Love. This guy. Right here. 

Once again, I'm light years behind. But this album makes me HAPPY. His songs and his music and his style are just plain fun. My favorite song is "Another Like You". 

Awesome. 

First world problems.......

Soooooo.... Here's a story for you...... I bought one of these portable phone chargers from Groupon to have on the 17 hour bus ride for our upcoming D.C. field trip in March. I used it a couple of times to make sure it worked okay and I tried to use it again yesterday. To no avail. It suddenly wouldn't charge my phone. So I told Chad he needed to look at it and see what was wrong. This is the convo that followed: 

Chad: "Did you charge it up?"

Me: "Um, what do you mean, 'charge it up'?"

C: "As in, CHARGE it up. Plug it into the wall with the cord it came with."

M: "Ummmm. I guess I didn't realize it came with a cord???If so, I didn't know what it was for???"

C: "Mandy. How did you think it would keep enough power to charge your phone?"

M: "well, I thought it had a certain number of hours on the device and once it quit working, you just threw the whole thing away and got a new one."

C: shock.... Disbelief.......shaking his head in his hands........

Yes. This really happened.... 

My Musician

Super proud of this kid, once again. He performed at an event called "The Hymn Festival" where the piano players are judged on everything from finger position to posture to the way they perform their memorized piece. This kid made a perfect score! 40 out of 40! 

Who loves Knight Rider? This gal......

Life has been incredibly weird. And crazy. And while I feel like I'm living in some sort of maniacal episode of "The Twilight Zone", this is all I got for ya right now. Because I don't have enough energy to fill you in on the rest. Nor enough hours in my day. 

But we've been watching these reruns on Netflix with the kids. Brings back some great memories of growing up in the 80's. Back when David Hasslehoff had a little Elvis swagger and class in him, and when K.I.T.T. always saved the day! Go, KITT, go!!!! 

Vows.... Resolutions...??? Let's just call the whole thing off.

New Year's Resolutions:

I don't make 'em. 

I don't keep 'em. 

I don't make 'em. (Yes, I said that twice)

However.... I do VOW to be more content in life. To quit feeling sorry for myself when the kid's toys are overflowing and the kitchen is a mess and I think I DESERVE a bigger house. Because, honestly, no one DESERVES a bigger house. Or a house at all, really. And I've got a house and material things that people pray for. God has blessed me well more than I ever deserve. 

I vow to try my best to keep my compulsive spending in check. (You people who market to suckers in the checkout line and with clearance items.... You're welcome. Hope you are enjoying your Mercedes). Unfortunately I'm the girl that will buy 500 of one particular thing because it is on sale for 75, 80, or 90% off. And I have no idea what I'll do with one of them, let alone multiples. The ironic thing? I hate clutter and piles of junk (like the mail that stacks up on the kitchen counter), yet I'll buy CRAP just because it's on clearance. 

I vow to smile more. I don't mean to walk around with what is called "resting bitch face" (yes, there's a name for it and sorry I said an ugly word!). But it irks me to have people accuse me of being unhappy or mad all the time (complete strangers, at that) because I don't walk around catching bugs in my teeth. I will try to be more aware of that. 

Sigh. So there you have it. I don't make any promises. To myself or anyone else. But I will try a little harder to be mindful of my habits. 

And in the end, if nothing changes, well, it's just me being ME. 

Besides, let's face it, by February, 75% of Americans will be putting their fat pants back on and fumbling with the remote, instead of the treadmill. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!