"Mixed Tunes"

Yesterday I was looking for something to listen to in my car. I usually listen to books on cd, I'm a geek, I know, but had none and remembered that there is a cd storage area in the front of my minivan, just below the radio. I had totally forgotten it was there. Imagine my surprise when I open it to find all my long lost Bruce, REO and Journey cds, not to mention a Dixie Chicks and Fleetwood Mac with the plastic still on it! I wondered where those cds went off to!

I also found a bunch of casette tapes. They were all kids music (Raffi, Disney tunes, a mix David made for my niece Kaleigh and copied for me) with the exception of one black, well worn TDK. It is labeled "Mixed Tunes" in my hand writing. There was no case, so I had no idea what music would be on it. I was so excited, I couldn't wait to fire it up.

Ok, I was mostly psyched with the tunes, with the exception of a few Chicago songs. What could I have been thinking when I added those?

It was so great listening as I didn't know what song would come next, or in some cases, more weird that I knew exactly what song would come next right down to the "sssshwhwhwoss" sound that came after a minute or so into "Good Lovin" when someone (most likely me) mistakenly recorded over the finished tape before I knew to punch out those little squares in the top!

It was so fun listening to that music! Kenny Chesney (yup, I like country too) wrote a song called "I go back" about how one song can so instantly and so clearly take you back to a time and a place or to a person in your past. It's amazing how that works! This tape took me back in general to 1985, but specific songs really brought images of people and places!

At the risk of humiliating myself to everyone I know and love, here is the actual song list:

Side A
Twist and Shout - the Beatles
Coast to Coast - the Stompers (YES, the are on iTunes!)
New Years Day - U2
Street of Dreams - Rainbow (my prom theme in 1984)
Big Country - Big Country
Bad Moon Rising - CCR
In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
Shout - Tears for Fears
Pink Cadillac - Bruce
Boys of Summer - Don Henley
Run to you - Bryan Adams
Do it again - the Kinks

Side B
Teacher Teacher - .38 Special
Love Calling - David Bowie
Let's go crazy - Prince
Dancing in the dark - Bruce (the dance version! "I check my look in the mirror - mirror, mirror!" and "You say you gotta stay hungry - oh oh oh!" and don't forget the xylophone! Oh man, guess we can thank Julianne for this one?)
Good Lovin - Rascals
When you close your eyes - Night Ranger
You the inspiration - Chicago (What is this doing here?)
Missing You - Tom Waite
Hard Habit to break - Chicago (again What is this doing here?)
Downbound Train - Bruce
The Beautiful Ones - Prince (didn't even know this was a song, who actually made this tape?)

So there you have it. Hope I have not diminished your thoughts of me by this honesty but maybe, just maybe, I took you back to some time or place or some person in your past. If you want a copy of this tape, just let me know. I'm sure I can borrow Danny's box again to copy it tape to tape!

Spring Hibernation

I know that most folks think that hibernation starts in the fall and that spring brings awakening! Well, not in our house. I just put our spring sports schedule on one page and don't expect to see any friends, make it to my neighborhood happy hour, have a family dinner or clear off my desk until late June! Jack is playing baseball. That's Monday, Wednesday some Fridays and some Saturdays folks. He's playing in the Majors for the Astros. He has been pitching, catching (his first love) and playing infield. His batting average is above 500! AJ (formerly known as Aidan, but now renamed AJ since third grade) is in the Farm League (just below Majors) and playing for the A's. That is on Tuesdays, Thursdays, some Fridays and some Saturdays. He is catching, pitching, playing infield and outfield. Guess he is all over the place, but again, pitching and catching are his faves. He is also playing club soccer which is on Mondays, Fridays, Sundays and some Saturdays. Mother's Day dinner will be spent in Vergennes watching a 6pm game! Emma is also playing club soccer and that is 2pm on Saturdays.

Did I mention I'm co-chairing the Little League Snack Bar? Gum, pizza, gatorade, soft pretzels and candy anyone? I am in there every Wednesday night for over 4 hours, some Fridays and some Saturdays. Can you say over committed?

Thankfully, we all love to be at the ball fields and the weather has been pretty nice. It was very chilly last week, but has warmed up this week.

Everyone here is doing well, Thank You God as my friend Mary Fitz would say. Healthy and happy and dirty!

Here's to lots of hits, throw downs, steals, goals, assists and no injuries!