Therapeutic Jam Session

Snuggling these dudes is also a good stress reliever. 

So, work has been a little stressful the past couple of weeks. I have a lot of it, but not a lot of time. Yes, I realize everyone else in the world has this same problem. Whatever, give me some sympathy, people.

Anyway, I was feeling like a total failure today because I had to tell my boss that I needed help. "I am struggling," I whined. "Two giant reports both due next week and 1 protocol due ASAP." I was on the verge of a melt down.

My boss gave me a little pep talk, as she often does because she is just that sweet, and I turned to my friends who were there to help me write! Thank goodness for those girls!

I felt like a turd for dragging them down. But what can you do? Sometimes, you just need help.

Finally the workday was over, and I hopped in the car to head home. To my great surprise (although, it shouldn't have been a surprise because I had been listening to the CD on the morning commute; I guess when you only listen to an actual CD once a year, it's always surprising), Nirvana was blasting from my radio. Ah, yes, definitely turned the volume up for some angry grunge music. Yes, Kurt, I do feel stupid and contagious.

Now I know Nirvana is heralded as one of the greatest rock bands of all time, but I just don't really dig them that much. Don't beat me up dudes, but once you've heard one Nirvana song, haven't you heard them all? Am I going to burn in rock-n-roll hell for writing this? Will I be stuck in the eternal flames of damnation alongside the likes of Brian who SAT DOWN FOR THE ENTIRE BOB DYLAN show. Will I forever have to hear Doug ask, "Is this Aerosmith?" when it is clearly THE ROLLING STONES. Christ! What a punishment.

Anyway, moving onto my point (I had one I think): music is such good therapy. I don't know jack about notes or how to play an instrument and I sure as heck can't sing, but boy, play me a little Johnny Cash or some Heart and my mood is on the mend. Johnny's low humming and Nancy Wilson's killer guitar riffs take me to a happier place.

Perhaps the song that cheered me up the most this evening on my way home was "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" by Tupac featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg. Yes, that's right. As I was cruising down the interstate in my Subaru Outback, I was bumping to some gangsta rap and singing along. Loudly. Fellow drivers probably thought I was having some sort of seizure in my car.

What makes me laugh even more than me rapping is the debate I had (with myself) about who I would be in this duet. "I think I'd be Snoop Dogg. I'm more laid back. And Kristen would definitely be my 2Pac. She is scrappy after all." Tupac was probably rolling in his grave.

Picture us rollin.

Just for kicks and giggles, the song that followed was The Godfather of Shock Rock's (Alice Cooper, I'm going to pretend that I didn't have to tell you that) classic Feed My Frankenstein. One could say I have an eclectic taste in music.

What Do You Think About When You Hear That Song?

"Bob Dylan has sexy lips." said Eller

Music is fun. It makes you laugh (She Acts Like We Never Met--Bob Dylan). It makes you cry (He Stopped Loving Her Today--George Jones). It makes you angry (You Oughtta Know--Alanis). It makes you lovey-dovey (All Night Thing--Temple of the Dog). Some songs even make you want to get liquored up (Honky Tonk Women--The Rolling Stones)!

Today I was jamming to some tunage at work, and each time a song came on, I had a memory associated with it. So, I decided I'd jot them down quickly to share later. With my playlist on shuffle, these were the following 10 songs (and associated memories) that popped up after I decided to play this little game:

The Zephyr Song - Red Hot Chili Peppers: Walking around UK's beautiful campus, in the snow, jamming away to the Chili Peppers via my Walkman. Yes, those were the days before iPods (or at least before I could afford an iPod).

Let's Stay Together - Al Green: I will forever and always associate this song with my dear friend Brian.

After Hours - We Are Scientists: A trip to NYC with my best bud, Jenna. And a night we spent hanging around the city with her boy from Ohio.

The Gambler - Fun: Being pregnant and my obsession with this song over the summer. I am also reminded of how I thought that no one had heard of Fun because I never had, but then I discovered they sang that song, "We Are Young," which everyone and their brother knew. To quote Sally Brown, "What a fool I was!"

All My Exes Live in Texas - George Straight: My friend Nate and how he always sung to me, "Allison in Galveston, somehow lost her sanity."

Little Red Corvette - Prince: My Aunt Gladys and how she blasted Purple Rain when she took a shower.

Gotten Good at Goodbye - George Strait: Watching the Top 20 Countdown with my Mommaw and cousin Jonathan on CMT. (Jonathan, remember Streets of Bakersfield--that was our jam!)

Ain't Nuthin but a G Thang - Dr. Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg: I always think about this song's music video, and how I wish that Snoop Dogg was my friend.

Country Roads, Take Me Home - John Denver: Dwarf! And I now associate this song with my babies because this is what I sing to them when I rock them to sleep.

Beast of Burden - The Rolling Stones: A summer vacation at Myrtle Beach with my friend, Shantell.

Thanks for taking a listen to my playlist (I may be one of a handful of folks who have The Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Denver, Snoop Dogg, and George Strait on the same playlist) and strolling down memory lane with me.

Groove Shark

So, Doug Bear told me about this new (well, it's new to me, I don't know exactly how new it is to the rest of the world) music playlist downloader dohickey: www.grooveshark.com. It is outstanding. You basically search whatever song you want to listen to, the song pops up, you add it to your playlist, and voila, you're jamming all day long! And it's free! I've been be jamming for the past 2 days. My playlist is quite eclectic: Snoop Dogg to Johnny Cash to Led Zep to Dwight Yoakam to Jon Bon Jovi. So, if you see my bopping around in my cube, it may be the excellent tunage, or it may be that I am just going crazy trying to publish a clinical study report. Either way, probably entertaining for you.

You heard that the world is ending on Saturday, right? Are you ready to go? I sure ain't! Now, let me tell you, if the world ends before I get my new washer and dryer, I am going to be furious. Also, I need to stick around to watch my children grow up and see how their lives pan out. Mr.

Niles is going to be president! He'll have to keep his little bro, Flash Gordon, on a tight chain, though. Flashy is wild. The President doesn't have time to mess with unruly little brothers. Remember Al Gore's son who drove his Prius at 120 mph whilst smoking pot (quite an achievement, eh)? That's what kind of mischief I see Flash Gordon getting into, and there distinguished big brother Mr. Prez will be having to cover up for him or smooth talk around the situation. Maybe Flashy will mature as he gets older. He is a wild one just yet. But see, that's why the world must not end on Saturday. I have to stick around and see my little lads blossom into young men!