Sometimes, You Just Gotta CRANK IT

I was in the car driving home yesterday and found myself startled by the sheer volume of commercials coming from my radio. How did it happen? It's that sneaky habit I have that when a certain song comes on that I love, I reach for the dial, turn it a little, reach again, turn a little more...loud enough? Nope. Reach again, turn a little more. All the way up? Good.

There are only a few certain songs that will somehow magically nearly cause me hearing loss without even realizing it. I just instantaneously reach for that volume knob and BAM! We're rockin.

(Note: If you watch only one of these videos, it HAS to be Tesla's "Love Song.")

"Here I Go Again" - Whitesnake

When I was really, really little, my dad used to play in a band (lead guitar!). I'm not sure if his band played this song, or if it's just tied to my memories from that time, but I remember hearing it a lot when I was between 4 and 6 or somewhere thereabouts. Main point being, IT ROCKS. If you don't turn this shit up when you hear it, I'm not sure we can be friends.

"Don't Look Back" - Boston

My mom always tells me about how much she loved Boston growing up. I can't pinpoint the exact moment I first heard Boston or decided I loved them, but it's been awhile. Because I still have a tape deck and no CD player in my car, this song ended up on a mixtape I made for myself, and I would rewind it basically every morning just so I could crank this song as I was on the last bend before driving to high school junior and senior year. If this song doesn't set the tone for a damn good day, I don't know what does.

"Love Song" - Tesla

This song came to me freshman year of high school, and after first hearing it, my thoughts went something like, "Where have you BEEN all my life?" It has literally EVERYTHING I could ever want in a song - mellow guitar intro, outrageously good lyrics, awesome electric guitar solos, and everything good about the 80s. Bonus(!!!): Big hair and the skin tight pants in the video.

"On the Dark Side" - John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band

This another song that came circa the time when my dad was playing in a band. I don't think they played this song, but I remember hearing it all the time. It wasn't until ages later when I was driving around one night and listening to Jack FM that this song came on. I almost had to pull the car over. I was just floored by the memories it brought back, how strange it was that I had lost this song for so long, and how much I still love it.

"Bad Company" - Bad Company

When I want to feel like a badass (which is most of the time), this song goes on and the volume dial goes up. Way, way up.

"Mr. Jones" - Counting Crows

In first and second grade, I listened to this shit NONSTOP when it was on the radio. It was probably an unhealthy amount. My dad gave me August and Everything After one Christmas, and it took me awhile to finally really listen to it, but I did, and the rest is history. When the whole burning CDs craze was happening, this song was burned into one of my most listened-to CDs, followed by "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry. Literally every single time after I hear Mr. Jones, I expect "Save Tonight" to come on next. Kinda weird, actually.

"Alive" - Pearl Jam

Unfortunately with this song, and with Mr. Jones, they're some of the only songs they play by Counting Crows and Pearl Jam on the radio anymore. So, I try and count my blessings and TURN THIS SHIT UP.

A Long...February?

There's some sort of discontent and restlessness in the air.

For me, I can feel it. A whole lot of it. It's hard to unwind from the day, it's hard to sleep at night, and it's even harder to go back to sleep after the numerous times I wake up mid-slumber.

"A Long December" is far and away one of the most important songs that has played throughout my life, and this December, I thought, "A Long December." This January, I thought, "A Long January." This February, I'm thinking, "A Long February."

It's becoming increasingly difficult to deal with people. I've pulled patience out of my darkest depths where I didn't know I had an ounce of patience residing. But I can't seem to find anymore. On more than one occasion, I've very nearly lost it. And it sure wouldn't be pretty.

I'll blame it on the weather, I'll blame it on my lack of sleep. Whatever it is, it's still happening.

I'm upset by people who can't see more than one side to the story, who purposely say absolutely heinous and ridiculous things...for what? Some sick joy they get out of saying stupid things? Regardless of your viewpoints, if you consider yourself an educated and mature adult, there are no reasons to say some of the things you say.

I work with some of the most beautiful, inspiring, difficult, wonderful kids day in and day out, and they make me want to be a better person. They shower me with love when I probably don't deserve it, they test my patience, they struggle, they grow. And when people want to insult the families of some of the children I work with, that gets to me.

But tomorrow, when I  go to work, I'll get to see those smiling and rambunctious faces again, and we'll work harder on learning more and more.

That, I think, is a gift in itself.

The New, the Bad, and the Polished

The New

This week, I tried a tamale for the very first time and, naturally, made a big fool of myself doing it. I had no prior knowledge of the makeup of this exotic food, and I tried to eat the corn husk wrapper. I found out quickly that front teeth just aren't going to cut it (quite literally). So I asked my co-worker who had given it to me if you eat it like a burrito. She said, "You have to take the wrapper off," and I proceeded to tell her how I was "confunding" because I just couldn't figure out why I couldn't bite into it. We both got a good laugh at my expense.

(Image courtesy Life123.com. Disclaimer: I have no idea if it's a good recipe, this was just the picture that looked most like what I attempted to eat)

The Bad
Watching Missouri try and play basketball on the road is just painful. I'm not quite sure why I subject myself to it.

The Polished
There's a bit of a discrepancy between the hubs and I as to when my nail polish addiction started. I say it was sometime during senior year of college (maybe September 2011?), but he says it was much later. No matter the deets, it's full-blown now. I've scoured countless nail polish blogs, typed in all kinds of search terms on Google and Pinterest, figured out what the hell "lemming" means in the polish world, bought a "dupe" of a well-known lemming, and decided that I'm more of an Essie girl than O.P.I. (In case you're wondering, Essie is a lot easier to find in these parts, and I like the thinner brush. There are still O.P.I. polishes that I love, though.) It's been pretty time consuming, but it's not ALL that expensive, and it's fun to search out new colors that make me squeal a little on the inside when I finally get ahold of the bottle and get that shade on my nails. Here are a couple of my favorites at the moment:

Essie Mint Candy Apple (Credit: Haus of Polish)

CM Midnight Imposter (Credit: Goose's Glitter)

In Other News
I spent all day translating, and things went so much better this time around. Feel like I got to build some good relationships and learn a lot more about the children and parents that I'm helping. It made for an exhausting but really good day.

Also, using the Oxford comma still makes me happy every now and again (see post title).