Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

I was inspired to do this playlist when nearly every morning this week I've heard some great mellow hit that seemed to make me float on into the office. Now I'll admit that's hard to sustain that floatiness all day, but it is a pretty good way to start. And if you don't know these artists or the songs that's, of course, your cue to dig a little deeper. Do think really think the best music in the world is on the radio? Tsk, tsk, tsk. (Click on song titles for links. Some are funnier than others.) Friday Mellow Picks Dry the Rain (The Beta Band) You and Your Heart (Jack Johnson) What Light (Wilco) Scar (Missy Higgins) Here's Where the Story Ends (The Sundays) Nightswimming (R.E.M.) 59th Street Bridge Song (Simon & Garfunkel) Like the Weather (10,000 Maniacs) Night on the Sun (Modest Mouse) So Nice So Smart (Kimya Dawson) Now float on, my friends........and Happy Weekend! (I have to add as a side note, that as I wrote

(Another throwback from 2010 when I was calling "The Droid" by his earlier moniker "Little Boy" on this blog.) Little Boy and I had our Back to School talk this evening while we waited for his dad to pick him up. It went a little something like this...... Mommy: You know tomorrow is the first day of school. I want you to try your very best this year. Little Boy (in sing-song voice): Very best this year! Mommy: I want you to listen to your teachers. Little Boy (more giggly sing-song): Teachers! Mommy: I want you to follow instructions. Little Boy: Kitty stretching! Mommy: I want you to be nice to your friends. Little Boy: Meow! Mommy: I want us to have a good school year. Little Boy (more singing, this time Elmo-tune style): School, school, school.......school, school, school......school, school, school, sch-ooooo-ooool!!! Mommy: And remember....Daddy will take you to school...... Little Boy: Daddy take to school. Mommy: And Mommy will

Little Boy is starting 3rd grade this week, and it's a series of "news" and "firsts" for us both. Today was the first time he has ever gone to visit his school room with his dad and not me. Wednesday will be the first time he has ever been taken to his first day of school by his dad and not me. I'm trying so hard to let Little Boy grow up while letting Little Boy's dad take the lead in some areas where I always held the reigns. But it's tough on mommy. Even getting this pic from his dad today was tough for me. My baby looks too grown.....too big.....too peaceful while sitting there waiting patiently with his bag of donated classroom supplies. Where is my baby that I dropped off at preschool just a few years ago? Who is this big 8 year-old 3rd grader? I am going to attend orientation this evening and do my own parts in getting Little Boy ready for school. I had the fun of pediatric and opthamologist appointments this summer and school shopping,

"There was a distance between you and I A misunderstanding once, but now We look it in the eye." Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane, 1991 (see more on this on my skirt! blog today)

Me and my girls at work have lately been all into thinking about going to shows, talking about shows coming around town, and reminiscing about all the shows we've been to. And now I'm especially excited that E-Roc and I are going to see The Pixies in C-Town next month. We deliberated over it for a while but finally decided it was worth the price to see such a great band that may never come through town again. A few times, E-Roc and I have tried to list all the shows we've seen over the years both together and separate. It gets expansive, but it's fun to remember. Here I go with mine..... Metallica Queensryche w/Suicidal Tendencies Milli Vanilli w/Young M.C. (I'm not proud of this.) Elton John Duran Duran w/Terrence Trent D'Arby Def Leppard Journey Boston Clay Walker Rhett Akins Montgomery Gentry Kiss Tina Turner w/Joe Cocker Dave Matthews Band (numerous times) Indigo Girls (numerous times) Dinosaur Jr w/Mike Watt & The Missing Men Band of Horses The Police J

I get so sick of the music that is piped through our speakers at work. Not all of it is bad.....I think it's just the repetition that makes us hate it. But I realize every day that small nuggets of wisdom can be found from questionable songs and artists, thus beginning my first installment of a series I shall call: Great Moment in Crappy Music This series will feature small bits of lyric that I will admit to liking, even if the song or artist may cause me some embarrassment. Here's today's feature: "And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window on a cold dark winter's night." (I Can't Fight This Feeling, REO Speedwagon) And admit it......you've hummed along to that one too! Now go spread your own love!

I am past the time in my life when postpartum will affect me, but I couldn't help but be touched when I read this piece on Skirt! about how women are helped and not helped after childbirth. I remember how alone I felt after I gave birth to Little Boy. I was a SAHM with no plans of returning to work. I was at home every day by myself with Little Baby Boy from about 7 am until 5:15 pm. I was tired. I was lonely. And I was trying to learn this baby. It was hard. I have only really been able to admit that in the last few years. Why is it so hard to admit? What is it about our culture that seems to allow emotions to be shown in about two ways: either over-the-top hysterical outbursts or controlled I-never-get-upset tight lippedness. What's that all about? Anyhow. I just really appreciated what the author said here about what new moms really need and about how alienating our cultural structure has become. I know I felt that alienation at two of the biggest and hardest chang

I have been trying so hard this week not to let all things, big and small, get to me. But it has been a real struggle. I am trying to wait with patience to hear about this job I really want , and I don't think I would be so impatient if not for the timing. School starts in a few weeks, and I want both Little Boy and myself settled into a new routine if there's gonna be a new routine. But all I can do is wait. In entertainment news, I am interested in seeing Easy A starring the red-headed girl from Superbad . Something tells me that this whole wearing of the Scarlett A is just calling to me..... And speaking of this, I will be proud of myself when I don't like stuff from the past hurt me anymore. Like the fact that Little Boy's grandpa can't bear to be in the same room with me when I make the occasional pick-up of Little Boy from his Nana's. Everyone has moved on......Little Boy's dad is getting remarried for Christ's sake. I guess I will forever

Today's Headlines: The President turns 49 today. I just can't wait to see if he looks like he's aged 15 years in one term. It happens to every President.....or at least it seems. All of the illegal immigration crap is now rousing grumpy old Republicans and Tea Partiers to want to change the Constitution. That's right..... being born in the U.S.A. may not mean so much anymore if these old crapbags have their way. August 26th will mark the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women a Constitutional right to vote in the entire country, not just state by state. I would be both thrilled and shocked if any women under the age of 25 today could name a famous Suffragist or define the term. Just one. And if you majored in Women's Studies you're immediately disqualified from this contest! Oh! And if you are not watching Shaq Vs you are soooo missing out! And on a personal note, I am still being held hostage by my possible new job. I am hoping to hear

I have another definition on Urban Dictionary! This one, hipstercrite , really needs to be attributed to E-Roc as he was the brains behind it. But like any true creative team, it was a collaborative effort!