Soundtrack Friday

There's something about summer, isn't there? June 21st heralded in the beginning of summer and so far I've seen rain, rain and more rain. It's time for the sunshine! 


Today, in an attempt to get the sun to shine, I bring you Weezer and their single Island in the Sun. Because I enjoy the obscure, the video in today's Soundtrack Friday post is the little played Mexican wedding version. Enjoy!

Provocative Thought Wednesday

I wasted time, and now doth Time waste me; For now hath Time made me his numb'ring clock; my thoughts are minutes." ~ William Shakespeare, playwright

 I believe this quotation to be about procrastination. We all do things to waste time. Some of these things are good things but they take us aware from our most important tasks. Last night I thought I was wasting time. I could have been updating the cheque book or working through the budget so we can determine how to pay for the installation of our new wood floor. I could have been cleaning or making lists for our trip to Canada next week. I could even have been researching appliances for the new kitchen.

Instead I was sitting on the couch with my husband and my dog watching TV. I can't remember what we watched. I do remember the discussions my husband and I had. They were discussions we should have had a while ago and didn't for whatever reason. So, while I could have been doing all these other productive and necessary things, they would have been time wasters. Why? Because I would have been doing instead of being with my husband and sometimes being is more important than doing.

• Where are you wasting time?
• What's the most important thing to be working on? 
• Are you putting doing ahead of being? 

Soundtrack Friday

I finally watched the season finale of Glee. It's been sitting on my DVR for a few weeks because I didn't want to admit the show was over until fall. I'm glad I waited. I would have bawled even worse than I did last night if I had seen the show when it aired. And discussed it with friends who had seen it themselves.

Sure, the show is campy and sometimes tries too hard to make the plot fit the music. But it's fun and I can so relate to some of the kids who were not in with the in crowd.

In the finale, the kids of the New Directions show choir sing a tribute to their mentor and teacher, Will Schuester. That's when I completely lost it. The song they chose is from the 1967 breakout movie "To Sir With Love" and if you haven't seen that movie, stop reading this blog, log onto Netflix and rent it! The song is a moving tribute to a man who worked hard and tirelessly to help his students grow and succeed. The road was rough and strewn with obstacles, but at the end he brought people together. This is what Will Schuester did for the kids of New Directions. Before they begin to sing, each member of the show choir tell Will what they were before glee club. I almost lost it when Phin shared his part of the speech. And again as Will tears up. A third time when the love-to-hate Sue Sylvester walks in the shadows of the auditorium and even she has a tear in her eye. Yes, it was a weepfest.

Today I bring you Glee and To Sir with Love. I also bring you the original song from the movie. Both are worth your time.

G1 @ Yahoo! Video

Provocative Thought Wednesday - Necessarily Simple

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”   ~Hans Hoffmann, artist

I’ve been thinking a lot about simplicity this week. I think a lot of us tend to make things more complex then they need to be. Or we focus our attention on the things that aren’t necessary. Did I really need to spend 2 hours last night making my home budget spreadsheet “pretty” or would my time have been better spent  something  that has a more immediate deadline, like researching wood flooring options since we’re planning to have the floor installed next month?

We all have choices in our day between what is necessary and what is unnecessary. There are two questions I ask myself to help keep me on track. I hope they work for you. Your answers may be surprising. 

• What can you stop doing right now?
• What’s non-negotiable? 

Soundtrack Friday

It's my friend April's birthday today. Which makes today's Soundtrack Friday very easy indeed. One of April's favorite groups is Matchbox 20. I happen to really enjoy this group as well, though I will admit to not being quite as obsessed as April. For example, I haven't purchased the usb wrist bands from concerts that allow you to listen to the concernts...yet.

While I'm fairly certain April has told me her favorite MB20 songs, I have failed completely as a friend as I do not remember them. However, because today is all about April, and because she is a dear friend, here are several MB20 videos for your enjoyment.

April - I hope you enjoy your day! And I apologize the videos aren't completely clear. It was hard to find ones I could actually post. :)

Real World

Matchbox Twenty lyrics

Matchbox Twenty - Real World Video - Matchbox Twenty Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

How Far We've Come

D12 How Come lyrics

'How Far We've Come' Video - D12 How Come Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

Provocative Thought Wednesday - That's Funny

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" ( I have found it), but "That's funny...         ~Isaac Asimov 

I spend a lot of time trying to find the best way to do something - the best way to develop or improve a process at work. The best way to communicate something. The best way to write that scene. The best way to organize my books. The best way to spend time bonding with my husband.

Sometimes the best way crashes down on my like the roar of a symphony. Here I am, it says to me in flashing lights and neon arrows. Most of the time it's while I'm fumbling around with an idea or when I'm doing something mundane like the dishes that an idea strikes me like the quiet autumn breeze - a subtle barely there tickle of a whisper. It's something different. Odd. Funny. And focusing on that little tickle moves to a much better direction.

What feels a little odd to you?
What does that tell you?

Books Read in May

May was a productive reading month, both in quantity and in the number of books I read that I truly enjoyed.

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts - Book 3 of Nora's Bride Quartet was nice. No huge external conflict, some interesting internal growth and a wonderful story of friendship. Sometimes that's what a girl needs to fill her reading hours.

Lois Lane Tells All by Karen Hawkins - A fun contemporary read that builds on Karen's Glory, North Carolina series. Quirky, funny, with strong characters and some interesting twists and turns and a satisfying happily ever after

Demonkeepers by Jessica Andersen -- This is book 4 in Jessica's 2010 Doomsday series. I really enjoyed Lucius and Jade's story and the twisty turns the plot is taking as the Nightkeepers race to save the world. I think to date, this is Jessica's best book.

The Secret of Everything by Barbara O'Neal -- I really enjoyed this story of second chances. Less a love story and more the journey of forgiveness and self-discovery, this book combined secrets, sins and the family in a unique way that left me not wanting to say good-bye. A definite must if you enjoy the journey a soul takes to find healing and purpose.

If Angels Burn by Lynn Viehl -- The first book of Lynn's Darkyn series. It was my first time rereading it, and that's mostly because I finally broke down and bought a copy. The series is great and I had enough questions in reading her Kyndred books I had to purchase her first series. If you haven't read this series, do. It's not your typical vampire tale. Not at all. In reading these books I can almost believe immortals exist due to a twist of fate and genetics.


Dreamveil by Lynn Viehl -- Book 2 of the Kyndred series, this book takes us deeper into the world of the Darkyn from the point of view of those souls who have been altered in some way to make them "different" and potential candidates for turning into the Darkyn. I really enjoyed the love story in this book along with the special appearance of Michael and Alex from the Darkyn series.

Instant Tempation by Jill Shalvis -- The last book, and for me the best book in Jill's Wilder Brothers trilogy. I loved the characters, the setting, the integrated mystery and the resolution of the series. That said, Jill, can we please have more of the Wilders? I don't care if they are all married and happy now. I want to see the boys in this next phase of life. Pretty please? I'll send you cookies!

Something About You by Julie James -- This was a fun read with some great characters and a plot that is both outrageous and believable. Julie is on a role and I can't wait to read what she comes up with next.

Provacative Thought Wednesday - Why Worry?

I have a friend who is struggling with a few things right now - things within and things outside her locus of control.  I love my friend and I want to jump in and help her manage those things she can. I want to wrap my arms around her and help her to move through the things she can't. Since I am her friend, what I want to do is irrelevant. It's about her.

I remember a quotation I read in my Get Unstuck book about worry and I emailed it to my friend.

I'm not going to worry about the things I can't control, because if I can't control them there's no point in worrying about them; and I'm not going to worry about the things I can control, because if I can control them there's no point in worrying about them.   ~Mickey Rivers

Think about a situation in your life that challenges you and ask yourself the following questions:

1. What can you control about the situation? 
2. What can't you control about it? 
3. How do you think you will move forward?