(no subject)

A week or so ago, robcelt sent out a list of his top six favorite songs, at least at the moment, and tagged me to list my top six. I won't tag anyone myself, but here are my top ten, and I have to say, "Let There Be Love" by Oasis is totally topping my personal charts right now. If you haven't heard it, check it out on their CD, Don't Believe the Truth . Good stuff!

By the way--of course, I can't just pick six songs. I have to have ten. Some are "current faves," and some have been stuck in my head since the end of time.

1. The Cars "Leave or Stay" (original demo version)
The Cars have long been a favorite, but this is a gem I picked up recently. It has a spare, Modern Lovers kind of sound, and once you hear it, you can't get the guitar riff out of your head. And I like the line, "I stood there drinking milk," for some reason.
2. Pink Floyd "The Last Great Gig in the Sky"
A perennial favorite. How can you not love this song, even if, as my friend Joyce has long pointed out, it sounds as though the woman is having an orgasm in the song? Me, I tend to look heavenward when I hear it.
3. Belle and Sebastian "A Woman's Realm"
Anything from "Fold Your Hands, Child" scores high with me, but this one is probably the best of this best album. Infectious opening leads into a sparse, poetic image that culminates into a rare duet from this group.
4. Oasis "Let There Be Love"
The Beatles influence is definitely present, but there's also a touch of David Bowie during the bridge. And you gotta love the opening line, "Who kicked a hole in the sky so the heavens would cry over me?"
5. Oklahoma "Out of Your Dreams"
I had to include something from the current show. This one's been playing through my head for weeks.
6. The Mikado "The Sun Whose Rays"
When I die, I want this song to be playing as I breathe my last. Simply put, there has never been a lovelier marriage of words to music ever composed.
7. Elton John "We All Fall in Love Sometime/Curtains"
Some things will always remain a part of me. I played "Captain Fantastic" for YEARS, mourning the absense of my first love, Steven, from my life. I literally wore through the first cassette I had of that album. The song still has the ability to conjure in me an overwhelming feeling of love lost and adolescent angst, even though any feelings I once had for Steven have long faded.
8. Elton John "Your Song"
If I had to include "Curtains" for Steven, "Your Song" is right up here for Josie, but for all good reasons, not bad. How could I ever do a top ten list without it?
9. Ella Fitzgerald "Mack the Knife" (Live from Berlin)
Without a doubt, the best improvisational rescue ever recorded on vinyl.
10. Brian Wilson "'Til I Die"
Composed at the height of his insanity, this song is a cry for help, which wasn't answered for over a decade. But what a beautiful way to send up a white flag. Of course, the always subtle Mike Love said, when he first heard it, "What a fucking depressing song."

Of course, this has all got me wondering: what's my song with Corb? That one I've got the rest of my life to figure out, I guess. :)

(no subject)

With the play over, I have clearly indicated that I want to make writing a big priority. Well, that's all well and good, but in order to do that, I first of all have to make one small confession...

Right now, I'm suffering from a huge case of writer's block.

I've noticed it at work. Frankly, in the past month or so, I haven't truly written much of anything. Oh, I've REwritten things...many things. I've also edited other people's material. But when it comes to putting together something original...

Zip. Zilch. Nada. I feel as dried up as the space between Laura Bush's thighs. Or, even worse, the space between her husband's ears.

I hate it. I distract myself with stupid things. I tell myself that the feeling of ennui will end, once the play's over. Well, okay, the play's over, so when am I going to start feeling a rush of inspiration?

I'd better get it soon. I've got huge deadlines in the upcoming month, and if I ever want to hope to have any excellent adventures this summer, I'd better get that cleared out of the way.

Oddly enough, my boss hasn't picked up on any of this. In fact, I'm scheduled for my next raise in October.

One of the things I need to do is get a jolt of energy, somehow. I probably should take vitamins. In fact, I think I'll take a few, right now...

(Pause.)

Eh. Still not feeling jolted.

I was actually going to start a new exercise regime tonight. Brought home one of those exercise balls and everything (a gift, ironically enough, for taking on a few writing assingments a short while back). However, Corb decided to blow it up and then thought it would be funny to give the cat a ride on top of it.

Five minutes later, he was busily ordering me a replacement ball online, in atonement. I was in my room, grumpy as all get out.

Bust my ball. Hmph. It actually took us a half an hour to get over that one. (I do love my guy so...in the past 14 months, I can name the big fights we've had one one finger. We've had vocal fights, don't get me wrong...but I've never been able to stay angry at him for longer than thirty minutes. Which is something of a record, for me. Usually, I can stay angry a looooong time.)

To try and feed the refueling process, I'll be working out of the homestead, tomorrow. Oh, and the termite inspector's coming to see the house, because we were accepted for refinancing! This is a cool thing, and is going to make life actually almost affordable.

My mantra this month is to simplify. Refinancing will help. Today I cut down the number of bank accounts I have from four to three (don't ask, there isn't much in any of them). This play has made me way too serious, and with the whole thing out of the way, I want to focus on living freer and easier.

...oh...and WRITING freer and easier, too...I don't want my creative bubble to burst, like Thumbkin sitting atop my exercise ball...