Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

Excited does not begin to describe how I am feeling about The Pixies show tonight at Ovens Auditorium! I can't remember the last time I was this super-psyched about a show....maybe NINJA in 2009? The Police in 2007? I don't know...but it's a big deal! I'm always excited to catch a band as an adult that I was just a little too young for the first time around. Doolittle came out when I was 14, and I didn't really make my way to The Pixies until I was in my 20's so this comeback is perfect timing for me! (Of course, admission of all that does shoot down my whole pretending to be 27 identity, but I'll just leave that alone for tonight.....) Anyhow. I realize there are plenty of peeps out there who aren't familiar, but what is this very blog always telling you? Dig deeper, my friends! Without The Pixies you just need to remember we may not have ever had the "loud quiet loud" phenomenon and without that we may not have ever had Nirvana and wit...

It seems like a lot of the great songs written for sons are from fathers to sons, but us moms can certainly appreciate them. These are some of the best songs out there that remind me of my boy. I would encourage you to make your own list and listen to them together. Your son will grow up loving them like mine has. And I will note, that many of them may not at first seem like songs written to or for our sons, but when you give them a listen with that in mind......you will clearly hear the sentiment..... Beautiful Boy by John Lennon Loves Me Like a Rock by Paul Simon The Best Day by George Strait Moon River by Andy Williams Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) by The Beach Boys Our House by CSNY Blanket for a Sail by Harry Nilsson Broken by Jack Johnson Into the Mystic by Van Morrison Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell I Wish I Could Be Like You by Asylum Street Spankers In My Life by The Beatles

Read my Facebook/MySpace rant over here today.

Since I kinda feel like it's my job to get my readers in on the ground floor of good music, here's my latest infatuation: The Carolina Chocolate Drops ! Look at this video first , and you won't be able to stop there! I feel kind of embarrassed that I had to learn about them from Dan Zanes on Kids' radio when they've basically sprouted right here in my home state. But hey! It don't matta how you get there.....just get there, my peeps! My other infatuation lately? The Red Tent by Anita Diamont. Since this book came out in 2001 I am obviously waaay behind on it's miraculousness as well, but I'm soooo glad I found it now. If you think you won't like it because it's rooted in Biblical passages (like me) get off your provincial lily pad and read it anyway! Seriously, one of the best books I've read in a while, and I have actually been amazed at how it has captured me. In other news, I am recovering from an icky illness that seems to have on...

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!