Recap: A Year in Song

Since today is the last day of the year, I've been doing some reflection on the moments that mattered to me in 2013. Most of these moments found a counterpart representation of them through song. At certain points in the year, various songs stuck with me either because the lyrics were particularly potent to life circumstances, or because the melody crept inside my soul and made it just a little bit brighter. Some of these songs were Top 40 and ridiculously overplayed, while others were older and stalked me. Seriously.

If nothing else, I hope this helps readers expand their musical repertoire, as music can be a wonderful thing to escape into, even if it is just for three minutes. Please feel free to reflect and comment on what songs were the most powerful for you this year.

January - "Take the 'A' Train": Duke Ellington.

When I bought my car last year, it came with three months of free Sirius Satellite Radio. I don't think I ever switched it from the 40's on 4 station, largely due to this song. It was one of the first songs I heard, and I became obsessed with it. That particular station doesn't usually state who the artist of each song was, and since I was still figuring out the controls in my car, not knowing who composed this playful melody drove me nuts. It took me some time to track down the artist, but I remember the exact moment that I did, and I felt triumphant. It's safe to say that this song was on continual replay in my head throughout the month of January.

February/March - "Cups": Anna Kendrick

Though I have yet to watch the movie that made this song famous, I still love this song. When I heard "Cups", I was having a difficult bout with staying put. I yearned to travel (still do), and this song captured that perfectly. (For those who want to hear the song and skip the long intro, fast forward to 1:15).

April - "Moonlight Serenade": Glenn Miller

I wasn't kidding when I said I became obsessed with 40's music. This song is beautiful, and while some may find it boring, it resonated with my soul. Maybe it's my inner band geek taking over, but if you don't like this song, why are we friends?

April - "Trojans": Atlas Genius

 

My New Year's Resolution for 2013 was to take better care of myself, and continue doing the things I love. Some of these hobbies became difficult to do when life circumstances took control, and this song represents when I was able to take back control, participate, and fulfill my resolution. I heard Trojans for the first time while I was skating, and it stuck with me. In the same month, I also tried archery for the first time - a hobby I now LOVE.

May-August - "Come on Eileen": Dexy's Midnight Runners

 

From the time summer began, I had an interest in this song. It's playful, you can hardly understand what the artist is saying, and you can dance to it. By the end of the summer this song slowly stalked me, following me into department stores, work, and even playing on multiple radio stations at the same time during multiple days. I could not escape it, but then again, I didn't really want to. No one could be in a worse spot than "Poor old Johnny Ray", and maybe it was the Universe's way of reminding me that things really aren't that bad - especially when you're in some awesome overalls.

June - "Mountain Sound": Of Monsters and Men

 

Nick and I took a lot of Bear Lake trips this summer, and each time we drove through the mountains on our way to some summer reprieve, I played this song. It will forever remind me of the carefree way that nature has a way of making me feel, especially being surrounded by trees and towering rocks.

July - "Get Lucky": Daft Punk

I enjoy this song for many reasons, and I'm surprised it wasn't more popular. As an Old School DJ, I would have so loved playing this song on Tuesday nights at the Fun Park. It's got that funky beat that makes you want to move your feet, even more so when those feet are in skates. Besides that, who doesn't want to get lucky? This song is a winner.

September - "Counting Stars": One Republic

  

We skip August and move straight into September because August was just too busy to have a song represent it; except perhaps Come On Eileen (over and over again). I will admit, "Counting Stars" is one that is becoming obsessively overplayed by modern media. Do I love it any less? Not yet. The wicked combination of the flute, lyrics, and surprise appearance of (crocodile? Alligator? I can never tell) make this song the top contender for representation of beginning school and ending 2013. This song reflects the dichotomy that each one of us faces when our wants and obligations conflict. It is okay to want, just as long as we maintain balance.

Winter - "Green Light": John Legend,

 

Isn't this just a fun song? I couldn't label it with a month, because it's a song that is currently resonating with me. Usually John Legend sticks with softer soul, but I like this upbeat version; and, of course, it's something you can skate to.

and "No One Knows": Queens of the Stone Age

 

To balance out the fun, here's an edgier version of what is also impacting me this winter.

Honorable Mentions - "Dog Days Are Over": Florence and the Machine;

 

 

This qualifies as an honorable mention because it doesn't pertain to this year, it pertains to 2010-2011, but it was too good not to share. This song makes me happy, dancey, and smiley; and I will never forget listening to the song while flying into DC for the first time. It encourages the adventurer within me.

"Banana Boat": Harry Belafonte; 

 

This song is an honorable mention because it is a recent obsession, but I can tell I'm already becoming weary of it. Who can forget the famous Beetlejuice scene with this song? A fun nugget to brighten your day.

and, finally, "Better Now": Collective Soul

"Better Now" is another honorable mention because it belongs in the 2008-2009 year category. Independence is what this song signifies for me, as I first started listening to it when I moved away from home. Even now, I listen to this song on my insecure days to help me feel a little more kick-ass. If I'm walking somewhere with headphones on, and stepping to this beat with a somewhat powerful gait, you can assume I'm listening to this.

California Dreaming and Sin City - December 15th-22nd.

Essentially I'm writing this post for two reasons:
1. I'm out of school and now have tons of time to write (yay!),
2. I want to remember everything about this trip in vivid detail, and share it with the people who care.

This past week, Nick and I visited my dad and stepmom in Palm Springs, California. We made the 10 hour drive in a decent amount of time, taking a lesser known road through the Mojave Desert where you can drive like 110mph. True story. This route also goes through Route 66, so that was cool.
Palm Springs is an entirely different mindset, and yes, it deserves its own name. The majority of people live in Country Clubs, and money is viewed as a plaything. Countless numbers of Ferraris, Lamborgini's, BMW's, and golf carts are seen driving the streets daily, usually with people in their seventies at the wheel. I can't explain how foreign these things were to Nick, and somewhat to me; including the weather. The lowest temperature it got to be during the day was, I think, 65 degrees Fahrenheit. I was able to wear shorts, which was sooo nice.

On Monday, we rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. Basically you go straight up a mountain, roughly from an elevation of 2,000 feet to 8,000 feet in, like, 10 minutes, with the floor moving around you so you can see all the sides in a giant plexiglass dome.. There actually was snow at the top! It was scarce, maybe half inch spots every so often, but I did heard a local say, "Look at how much snow there is!"
That night, Nick and I ventured to downtown Palm Springs, and were able to walk around and have some dinner. Oh, and there's a giant statue of Marilyn Monroe on the Main Street of Palm Springs. I guess they're a little obsessed?

Tuesday we drove down to the Queen Mary. We took a haunted ghost tour and learned about the creepy stories of people who died on the boat, and who had seen spirits on the boat. The one story that stuck with me was of a crew member who was playing chicken with the water-lock doors as they were closing during a fog emergency. He didn't make it. I was able to snap a lot of pictures, and hope to put them on Facebook soon. Later on, we explored downtown Long Beach, and stayed on the boat for the night.

The next morning, we woke up and drove to Knott's Berry (Merry) Farm. If anyone feels like visiting Knotts, I would suggest doing it on a Wednesday in December. We were literally the first in line to almost every ride, and were able ride everything within our first two hours of being there. After that, we had to take a break, because as you can imagine, we were pretty motion sick. Walking through the park helped, and we were able to ride some more before a storm came in and it started to get pretty chilly. We had dinner in Downtown Disney, since it's just a hop, skip, and a jump from Knotts, and headed back to Palm Springs once we were finished. It was a wonderful day, and we were sad to see it go. At that point I remember it hitting us that there was only one week left until Christmas, which seemed preposterous because there wasn't snow and it wasn't cold. The things you associate...

Thursday was a whirlwind of activity. We woke up early to do a morning hike, and were even able to bring Bear, my dad's Shih tzu, with us. Seriously, Bear is the cutest and most cuddly dog ever. After that, we went to an ATV park and rode around the mountain side for about an hour. It was so much fun! I totally felt like a badass when I was able to catch air. To wind down from all of this, we went to dinner at the Yard House, which had the world's largest selection of draft beer - one of which was actually from Salt Lake - and watched We're the Millers when we got back.

Friday morning we went to breakfast with one of my dad's good friends/coworker that I know well. We all went to London together five years ago, and gave each other so much crap during that trip. I think he was expecting me to be quip-ready again during breakfast, but quite frankly, I was just too tired. When we got back, I was able to have a great discussion with my stepmom, and later played some tennis with my dad. That game is much more technical than I thought it was, and my dad was quite attentive to the technique.
Nick and I drove down to Las Vegas that afternoon and stayed in the Monte Carlo. This was our first time to Vegas in nearly a decade, and the first time since we both turned 21. We gambled (and lost), and walked up and down the Strip where we bought frozen drinks that came from something that looked like an ICEE machine, but had alcohol in it. Some vendors were much more liberal with the alcohol than others. We basically did the same thing Saturday, except I was able to do a little shopping, and we saw a Vegas show that night. Guess which show? If you guessed the Blue Man Group, you are so right. IT WAS AMAZING! One of the best shows I've ever seen. Smart, funny, musical, and vibrant, all wrapped in a fantastic package. The only thing that I didn't get to do that I wanted to was go dancing. I love dancing, but sometimes your body knows best. We drove back up Sunday, and now it feels like Christmas again.

Such a great trip, all with wonderful memories. Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas!

Hills

While I was attending Utah State, I climbed this huge hill called Old Main before class every day. It's not too long of a walk, but it is steep, and quite the workout. It was a mini-victory for me each time I climbed the hill, especially if I could do it without getting winded (which, mind you, was rare). Old Main became a great metaphor for accomplishing each year: passing classes, staying sane, trying to live healthier; and walking up it allowed me to meditate on my way to school. I am a person who needs to feel like I'm progressing, and Old Main helped me feel that way. I had a direction, a sense of purpose, and each year became a little easier and clearer.

This is why I loved finding out that when I get off the bus for school, I have small hill to climb. For some reason, hills make me happy. I couldn't help but smile my first time climbing it to class, and the people passing by thought I was probably a little punchy or something. Although this hill is much smaller than Old Main, it's still a great metaphor for the climbing I will have to do in the next three years before I reach my goal.

Today we did a hike up Rattlesnake Gulch. It was the first time in the longest time that I felt connected to nature - which is something I love. Passing through overhung branches of aged trees, witnessing the slowly changing leaves, hearing the scattered remains of the mountain underneath my feet, and feeling the wind tickle my skin and dance through my hair was absolutely magical. Throughout the last few weeks I have been able to open myself to more than I thought was possible. It's crazy how we think we know ourselves until we really look in the mirror, and the reflection is not what we thought it would be. I am attempting to let go of my fear: fear of the unknown, fear of loss, fear of uncomfortable discovery; and accept and love what I am becoming. I am currently undergoing serious construction and remodeling of myself, and hopefully what will reflect back to me at the end of it all is something I can relate to, connect with, and love.

Until next time.

Some Life Changes

I have been debating for quite some time now whether to begin a blog. For the longest time I've wanted to create one, but felt like there was nothing worthy to talk about or discuss; and I wouldn't want to discuss myself because narcissism bugs me. I need some sort of creative outlet, though, and pen and paper just weren't cutting it anymore. So, welcome to my blog: it will consist of various ramblings, inconsistent postings, and meaningful interactions I encounter. It will change, just as I will change, and I'm most excited to see where it leads to. Stick around, if you feel like it.

For this post, I'd like to discuss the various changes that have, and are, taking place in my life currently. Friday (August 16th), was my last day as a Program Lead at the Work Activity Center. If I weren't starting school on Wednesday, I wouldn't have left. I loved my job, and the people I worked with will have a special place in my heart forever. For those of you who don't know, I worked with individuals with disabilities, and it was the best job I've ever had to this point. Although I dealt with various stresses and countless toileting and behavioral problems, I wouldn't trade the compassion I learned, and the patience I now have, for anything in the world. Which is why this Monday in particular is so strange for me - I am not at work, not interacting with the people who I have come to love and care about, and life goes on.

In the last month, the lease was up at the apartment my boyfriend, Nick, and I were living in. Instead of renewing the lease and having rent increase (again), we started looking for a new place to live with no avail by the time the month was up. We moved back in with my mom until we could find a place that could fit our budget and location preference. That day was today. We signed a lease to our new place, and it's a screaming deal. I'm so excited to move in on Friday, and to completely start a new chapter in my life; because, as I mentioned before, I'm also starting grad school, too. I'm going through a complete lifestyle shift and I'm all sorts of emotions about it (like scared, excited, sad, and oh, so ready).

The majority of my posts will be interaction related, as I feel our relationships with others are the important things in life that end up shaping who we are; however, for this first post I just wanted to touch base my myself in all that is changing around and within me. I seriously could not do all that I am doing without the support of Nick, my parents, friends, and family that help encourage me in progressing in my life. Thanks, everyone.