You Wanna a Little Zing in your Zang Zang

This is now J-Man's favorite song.

Mr. T likes to dance to it too.

No. No. No.

I haven't blogged in about two weeks but ya'll, this ain't right.

Nuggets of Bloggin' Inspiration

I've been super busy. Plus, like Angelle, I sometimes "have nothing interesting to say".

It's funny, because sometimes I will get little nuggets of inspiration and write it down. But then I actually have to sit down and find the time and the mood to actually write something. And that can be darn difficult, considering that my most recent call to Dell (don't ask) resulted in Jackson coloring on the back of our couch (thank goodness to Crayola for washable crayons) and touching his own poop (we're hoping this is a sign that potty-training will get better. I did accomplish the art of getting him to pee three times this morning in the potty for a sticker reward).

Anyway, to my nuggets of inspiration:

1. "Minimum Wage" - a They Might Be Giants tune from Flood. I don't remember what I was originally thinking about when I wrote this down. The song is hilarious, because it starts out with a man singing "Minimum Wage!" and a whip-snap, then gears into some Muzak. I wonder if my friend Lynn has heard it, and if so, does it remind her of her days at Bi-Lo, because it's total grocery store Muzak. My first job was at the mall, at a little jewelry store called Afterthoughts (later bought up by Claire's). I worked there for a month, and in that time had 3 different managers. I left due to hours (I was hired in to work 15 hours a week and they cut me down to 3, but manager 3 was "disappointed" when I left to work at Sears for better pay and way more hours. Whatever.). The preteens were the worst part of the job - I think preteen girls may be, in fact, of the devil - they would come through (our store had two entrances, basically serving as a shortcut to the food court) and check things out, knock the hats off the wall, and not buy a dang thing. I don't know how those kinds of stores make money. I was hired as prom season was closing, so there was a good cash flow during that time and then...crickets. It would be a Friday night and I would maybe sell a $3 pair of earrings. The other bad part of the job - I had to pierce ears; it was required. Who thinks it is a good idea to have a 16-year-old girl piercing ears? Not me. I pierced one pair of ears - there's a poor gal out there who's probably just graduating college this year, and likely still curses the day she went to Afterthoughts to get her ears pierced. They were slightly crooked.

2. The Dove ads. I love the Dove beauty ads. I know this got a lot of press about a year or two ago, so I am jumping on that wagon late, but who cares. The most recent one I saw was a magazine ad. It was one of the aging gracefully ads, but the ad showed a woman - nude but covered) - and you can see her, rolls and all. And God bless her, but she looks radiant in the ad. I love it. Having had body issues specifically for the past 8 years or so (OK, well who doesn't have body issues, even if they seem perfect, right?), and finally coming to terms with the fact that I am likely never going to be that size 6-8 I was in early college, and that's OK - I really appreciate those ads. I had a lot more to blog about it earlier - like going into how I gained the weight (I was not a good vegetarian - I ate a lot more Pasta-Roni than vegetables & tofu, like a good vegetarian should. I am not a vegetarian anymore but if you are hurray to you, just make sure you eat those veggies).

It's late but I am trying to upload to Snapfish and order before I go to bed. I have 20 credits expiring April 2 and want to use them! We are so backed up on ordering prints. It's embarrassing so I won't admit how far behind we are, but it's bad. That's the downside of going digital. So I am trying out Snapfish - they seem cheap and I have heard good things. This week/weekend I am going to try to take some portraits of Tucker. It's one of the reasons we went for the big camera upgrade. Poor Tucker doesn't even have any photos on our walls - I need to buy some frames! I can't wait until we get a Walmart in this town.

Aperture Experiments

I've been experimenting more with aperture since buying the new camera (LOVE IT) and took these a couple of weeks ago. My mom wants to sell my brother's trumpet, and left it with me to take it to our local middle school band director to see if he can sell it. I took the opportunity to play around. I love slightly abstract shots like this and love music and instruments. And it is a beautiful trumpet.

I think it's obvious here that I am going for a "view while playing the instrument" shot. It would have been way cooler with a blue sky background, a la marching band, but that was lacking at 11pm or so at night. So you got "trumpet a la as much light as I could muster in our bedroom without waking the boys". I did this shot where the entire instrument remains in focus, but due to the ceiling background versus a real sky, this is the better shot:

This second shot has its faults - technically I should have focused on the first key (and meant to do so) but I am still learning on the D-SLR, folks. I got some good critique on it as a subject on a online website I sometimes participate in. A lot of people thought this was a radio dial when just viewing the thumbprint:

Everything I Know about Science I Learned from They Might Be Giants

A and I flipped on the Science Channel for a show about the sun:

A: Where does the sun get its energy?

Me: Well, hydrogen combines with helium (at temperatures of millions of degrees).

I need to get some They Might Be Giants for Jackson. Aside from Flood, which I already own.

Azucar!

I recently brought my CD player/radio from work back home, since I never listen to it while at the office, and would rather use it in my kitchen. We've been enjoying it at mealtimes.

So, you're looking for the hippest in kiddo tunes? Look no further.

Jackson gives a thumbs-up to:

• Fisher Price Little People Favorite Animal Songs - it's our "On the Road selection. He demands "my music" once we enter the car. Favorite song: "5 Little Monkeys". It should be noted that this is the only kiddie music he likes.
• Celia Cruz, Mi Vida es Cantar - he picked this one over Toddler Hitz yesterday. Something about keyboards, horns and that salsa beat gets the kiddo going. I had not listened to this CD in a couple of years, and now I am hooked on it again!
• The Beatles 1 - And this will make his Granna PROUD. I am hoping he will start singing along because that will absolutely thrill her.
• Cars Soundtrack - OK, so we don't really own the CD. We downloaded some of the songs on our mp3 for driving but that's about it. You see, Jackson has watched the movie so much that he sings along with the songs, particularly Sheryl Crow's "Real Gone", James Taylors' "Our Town", and Brad Paisley's (say it ain't so) "Find Yourself". As far as soundtracks go - and I'm not a big fan of soundtracks - this one is better than most.

Jackson's Thumbs Down:

• Toddler Hitz - I cannot find this one online to link it, but after testing this out the other day, he has requested "not the yellow CD" over the past few days every time I open the case. HATES it. We bought it as Best Buy a couple of years ago, and he wasn't thrilled with it then either. And it is bad. The worst it gets in kiddie-music bad.
• Veggie Tales: On the Road with Bob and Larry - Jackson went through a brief phrase - about two months - of liking the Veggie Tales. They were kinda cute, and had morals (unlike Tom & Jerry which he had been hooked on before), and kinda always included an adult component too (for example, one story was based on Don Quixote, and the "Gated Community" song in the Sheerluck Holmes). During that phase Jackson racked up books and DVDs from excited grandparents (and us). Then he dropped it like a bad habit, and we learned not to go all-out on anything but cars. 'Cuz the child will always love cars.

He's a Charmer, Ain't He?

Tucker at 2 months....

PHOTO DELETED

Watch him work that grin! He is a big smiler - loves being talked and sung to, and loves sitting up.

After a rough day today (translation: Jack went two days in a row without taking a nap, and was extra crabby and independent as a result, meaning loads of fun for me), I decided I need to pay some more attention to myself. This probably sounds very selfish, but I have neglected hobbies that I think I should take more time for. For example, I bought Adobe Elements from Amazon back in May to further my photography (not that I'm any sort of professional) and have yet to open the box. That is just sad.

So I am uploading the software tonight, just after posting this blog. I owe it to myself. I think I'll be less stressed as a result, therefore making me a better mom to the boys, and a better wife to A.

I'm also getting back into piano. I played for several years, and in addition to that played keyboard, flute, and mallets all during high school. I then quit cold turkey upon entering college. I am really missing it these days, so A and I have decided to purchase this nice piece of equipment:

The beauty is that, not only will I enjoy playing this thing - making memories with the boys of playing music for them and with them - but also, I want both boys to at least try to learn playing the piano, something you just can't do with a keyboard, which is what I have now. I tried this out at Sam Ash the other day and it sounds awesome; plus it's smaller than a real piano and easier to maintain (no tuning; should we ever decide to move one day we would not have to hire movers just for one piece). So I'm selling my old keyboard; a Concertmate 900, for $50. Any takers?

When in doubt, blog about music...

Cynical Dad blogged recently about his Top 100 albums of all time (to see his list, start here).

I used to be pretty big on music. In fact, listening to music, thinking about it, and talking about it used to take up a good portion of my time before I worked full-time and later, had kids (at which point my "coolness" factor on music officially became null and void - but I'm still not popping in any flippin' Celine Dion). My renaissance was in the '90s, when a young high schooler or college student can devote her time to these things. It was beneficial - A and I first bonded over music when we met almost nine years ago.

So, in the spirit of Cynical Dad and in honor of my music-snob past, I present my top albums, in no particular order:

• Altered Beast, Matthew Sweet - Sweet at his moody, poppy best. "Devil with the Green Eyes" "The Ugly Truth" and its sister, "Ugly Truth Rock" and "Knowing People" make this an album worth having.
• Sha Sha, Ben Kweller - Kweller's first album, to my knowledge. The rock songs have energy, the slow songs are honest with a neat Texas vibe. Kid puts on a great live show too. "Family Tree", "In Other Words", and "Lizzy" stand out on this one.
• Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds Five - Love their other albums, but the first was their best. "Best Imitation of Myself" is my favorite song, namely for the line "Do you think I should take a class to lose my Southern accent?".
• Blacklisted, Neko Case - She has the most haunting voice out there. Art school meets alt country.
• Weezer's Blue Album - I think this song is on a lot of top-album lists, so I won't explain further.
• whitechocolatespaceegg, Liz Phair - OK, most would pick Exile to Guyville. Cynical Dad chose Whip-Smart as his #52. So why do I choose this album, her third. I don't know that I truly know, but something about this album hit at the right time for me. Right as I was graduating college, getting a job, planning a wedding - something about a settled-down Liz Phair hit a note with me.
• Songs for the Deaf, Queens of the Stone Age - want a new version of metal? Something you can just rock out and bang your head to on your way to...wherever?
• Sublimal Plastic Motives, Self - I can't explain why. The guy - assuming he still tours - is AWFUL live. But I've always loved this album.
• Unchained, Johnny Cash - The man in black covers Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage". And records some other great ones - the wedding-worthy "Memories are Made of This"; Folsom-worthy "I Never Picked Cotton" - just pick this one up if you don't have it.
• Youth and Young Manhood, Kings of Leon - something a little newer to put on the last. It's good, but too early in the morning for me to explain why.
• And which Foo Fighters album to select? Trying to choose between The Colour and the Shape, There is Nothing Left to Lose, and their most recent, In Your Honor, was so difficult. To be honest, I only listen to the rockin' disc one of In Your Honor. I'll give the edge to The Colour and the Shape. Again, it's too early in the morning for me to explain why but trust me on this one.

There you have it. It's now 6am and Tucker's threatening to wake up. I'm sure Jack won't be far behind.

If this kid doesn't turn out playing music some day...

I'll be surprised.

Jack found A's mandolin that I bought for him in a market in Mexico (Guadalajara, maybe?) several years ago for about US$30. He thinks it's the coolest, probably because he sees his Daddy playing guitar and wants to be like him. In addition to the two guitars of A's, we also have drums, which he loves (what kid wouldn't?), and my old keyboard, which he loves too (he quickly figured out the 'demo' button when he was about 1 year old - lil' smartypants). We can have my parents' piano whenever we want - we just lack the space for it right now. Then there's the violin A got as a Christmas gift several years ago that neither of us can play, and the flute (I was a band gal) that I plan to sell because I don't know how to play it anymore, nor do I care to take the time and effort to learn it again. Then there's our iRiver loaded with well over 1,000 songs, and his genetic predisposition for loving music from both A and I - if this kid doesn't turn out loving music, there's nothing more that can be done.

Photo Friday: Golden

A and I have been married almost four years. I don't do yellow gold really - that's white gold, folks. I used flash on this - took some photos without the flash, but actually liked the effect here - it sparkles, just like gold and a diamond should:
Oh, and that's one of my piano books in the background - it was originally my mom's, so this piano book has seen a lot of use! It's my favorite piano book though, so I plan on Jack and Deuce to get some use out of it too - I'd love for 3 (or more) generations of our family to use this book.