This post is brought to you by the Letter P!

Because P is for Pickles.

A couple of months ago, I decided to try my hand at making my own pickles. No real canning involved, just a easy refrigerator dill pickle.

They are just the way I like them ... really really sour. In fact, I've made them a second time since then!

P is also for Pittsburgh Pirates.

In July (yeah I know I'm behind) Keith and I went to the Pirates Stitch N Pitch event.

P is also for PBS, which carries Antiques Roadshow.

I managed to score a tshirt at the Liberty Mutual Booth on the way out of the event!

Earlier this year, I learned that Antiques Roadshow was coming to Pittsburgh so I entered the drawing for tickets. To my surprise we got tickets! They don't allow you to take any pictures on the appraisal floor but it was really neat to see all of the "behind the scenes" workings of the show.

Will we be on TV? Probably not, unless we're in the background of some shot. Nothing we took with us will make us rich, but on the plus side we didn't over pay for any of out items either!

Day Thirty - A Song You Liked Last Year

I actually discovered this song (or more accurately this video) about two years ago. Yes the song is a nice song and I enjoy it .... but the video!!! Well if you know me you'll understand :D

Enjoy!!!!!

Day Twenty-Nine - A Song From Your Childhood

If I had to pick a song from my childhood I would say this is the QUINTESSENTIAL song from that era. For some reason I was OBSESSED with this song and would sing it constantly.

Why this song? No idea. It came out when I was 5 and I probably didn't fixate on it until a year or so later (when I was 6 or 7). I think at some point I probably had the 45 for it (and may still for all I know!).

My obsession with song was so rampant that my cousin actually posted on my facebook wall earlier this month that she heard this in the grocery store and IMMEDIATELY thought of me.

So I would say that 36 years later this is the song from my childhood!

Day Twenty-Eight - A Song That Makes You Feel Guilty

OK I am seriously stretching the whole "guilty" thing here. Because, honestly, I can't think of a song that actually inspires guilt. But this is a great workout song and I really haven't been working out lately. Why? No real good reason but if I did I could certainly listen to this song more often!!!

Day Twenty-Seven - A Song You Wish You Could Play

Well Blogger ate my post the first time I tried this, so here is hoping the second time is a charm!

As I mentioned yesterday, I don't play an instrument and never have. That being said there is ONE instrument I've always had a not-so-secret desire to learn how to play.

The Bagpipes.

I blame the Welsh in me for that one. And yes, the Welsh do pipe. In fact, the video today is of Welsh bagpipes. Originally I was going to go with something modern and Scottish but as I said Blogger ate that one and I'm too lazy to be arsed to go and find it again.

Day Twenty-Six - A Song by a Group You Should Know

Not really. Today's official topic is "A Song You Can Play on an Instrument." That would be NONE. I've never played an instrument or had any sort of lessons. And somehow I think that the organ my dad bought me when I was a kid, where you played the songs based on the numbers on the keys, counts as playing something.

Although I still know that Silent Night starts 5-6-5-3 (with 5 being middle C). But anyway I digress.

So I thought instead of giving you nothing to listen to, I would pimp the band my friend Emma's husband is a part of, The Woe Betides. They are a just starting out group in England but well worth a listen to (I have their first CD).

Hope you enjoy them!

Day Twenty-Five - A Song That Makes You Laugh

I grew up with this song. My dad had it on tape (I think) but regardless I fondly remember it from when I was growing up. I never expected to find a video of this one though. To me it's kind of obscure and I don't expect other people to know it.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that my husband also had a love of this song. He put it on a mix cd for one of our South Dakota to Ohio roadtrips. I don't think he expected me to know this song and was equally surprised to find out that I knew it too!

I love all of the puns in this song and it never fails to make me laugh.

So remember "she drank like a .... she drank a lot!"

Day Twenty-Four - A Song You Want Played at Your Funeral

First of all I don't even think I want a funeral! And I've certainly never given any thought to the musical accompaniment of the event!

But, I don't have anything else for today (I think I've "tweaked" enough of these challenges that I'll just go with this one). So I started by searching youtube for music by one of my favorite artists, Bette Midler. And that's when I came across this video of her covering the Peggy Lee standard Is That All There Is?

If I were to have a funeral with musical accompaniment this is what I would want them to play!

Day Twenty-Three - A Song You Want Played at Your Wedding

Ever since I heard this version of this song, I fell in love with it. And yes I am willing to admit it was from the soundtrack of the TV show thirtysomething. When we were planning our wedding last year, there was no doubt in my mind that I did not want "traditional" music (our ceremomy wasn't traditional so why should my music be?) and this was my leading contender for the song that I wanted to hear when I walked down the aisle.

I'm gonna love you, like nobody's loved you
Come rain or come shine
High as a mountain, deep as a river
Come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me
It was just one of those things
But don't you ever bet me
'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me
You're gonna love me, like nobody's loved me
Come rain or come shine
We'll be happy together, unhappy together
Now won't that be just fine
The days may be cloudy or sunny
We're in or out of the money
But I'm with you always
I'm with you rain or shine

Day Twenty-Two - A Song You Listen to When You're Sad

This is another song that I put on the mix cd I made my husband when we started dating. It's not a song that should make one sad but instead gives hope that you are not alone in the bad times.

I've been lucky enough to hear Donny perform this song live and never fail to find it a very powerful and moving song.

Day Twenty-One - A Song You Listen to When You're Happy

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG!!!! As soon as I hear it it makes me want to start dancing around the room. For a very very long time this was even my ringtone for my phone. Almost any Sugarland song will do for me when I'm in a good mood but this one really is a particular favourite!

Day Twenty - A Song You Listen to When You're Angry

When I am totally pissed off I want to listen to a song that will get me out of that mood, not one that will keep me mad and pissed off. For me, I need a song that will make me want to MOVE.

As soon as I hear this song, my toes start tapping and before long I am bopping along with it. It's hard to stay angry with this one!

Day Nineten - A Song From Your Favorite Album

Well this is one of my favorite albums, and I haven't used an Elvis Costello song yet.

This is from the album Painted From Memory, and the only other version of this song (in my opinion) that comes close to the power of this one is Bette Midler's.

Day Eighteen - A Song You Wish You Heard on the Radio

I was going to use Paul Revere and the Raiders singing Cherokee Nation for today, in fact I even had the post ready to go when this song popped into my head. I can't think of the last time I heard this song ANYWHERE let alone saw the movie.

I remember watching the movie (with Robby Benson) when I was 8 or 9 (it came out in 1976 -- thank you IMDB!). Oh and here is a bit of trivia from the movie for you. It was directed by Max Baer Jr., aka Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies.

Day Seventeen - a Song you Often Hear on the Radio

We listen to a strange radio station at work. They play a variety of music from the Beatles to Billy Joel, but they play THE SAME SONGS EVERY DAY!!!! Seriously, the only station I've ever listened to with a tighter playlist than this one is one of the country stations in Sioux Falls.

But anyway, in this case I find that tight playlist to be a good thing. Because I like this song!!! Again it's one of those songs that I have no idea why I like it, but I do and I always have.

So if you find yourself passing the time away at a port on the western bay, look for Brandy - she's a fine girl!

Day Sixteen - A Song You Used to Love But Now You Hate

OK Love might be too strong of a word, but this was the first song that came to mind when I saw the topic for today.

When the song first came out, it wasn't too bad. Nothing great but nothing that would make me run screaming from the room or want to throw the radio across the room. Why does it now make me want to impale the radio with sharp objects (hey it's either that our poke out my ear drums!)? Being PLAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON THE FREAKIN RADIO!!! (Yes I'm looking at you WGAR in Cleveland!)

I don't understand why modern radio must take a song that is not horribly offensive and play it so much you never ever want to hear it again. Actually I do understand why, they are only willing to pay for a play list that contains a set number of songs and therefore you hear the same songs ad infinitum. So you're left with stuff like this and believe me forcing myself to look this one up was downright painful for me.

So my apologies on this one.

Day Fifteen - A Song That Describes You

I can't believe that choosing today's song gave me the angst and problems that it did.

I surveyed people (including my husband who oh so lovingly suggested Randy Newman's Short People (he was just teasing!)), and was about to go with a semi ironic choice of Adam Ant's Goody Two Shoes. I had the post written and scheduled to be published (come now, you don't REALLY think I'm up posting these at 5:30 in the morning do you????) when I clicked on a file of music I made for my husband when we started dating.

I was looking for another song in the file and clicked on this one, only to realize that I included this song in the mix because it DESCRIBED ME TO A TEE!!! I even insisted that we play this as part of our pre-ceremony music.

Well now that I have that cleared up, this is the song that best describes me!

Day Fourteen - A Song No One Would Expect You to Love

Yes it IS a Three Stooges inspired song! I know, I know .... not necessarily something anyone would expect me to like (but hey isn't that the point of this post?)

I was raised on the Stooges (this is what happens when you are raised only by your dad!) and married a man who also loves them. We frequently watch Stooges episodes when we find them on TV (and I bought him a box set of DVDs for Christmas a couple of years ago) and they never fail to amuse me.

We even played this song at our wedding reception, and if I didn't think someone might divorce me (no NOT REALLY) I would post the pictures of us dancing to it. But since I'm not going to, just use your imagination!

Day Thirteen - A Song that is a Guilty Pleasure

I love this song! Yes it is cheesy and screams the 70s but what can I say? Actually my hubby and I had a conversation one day that the lyrics aren't really all that dated. Yoga's hugely popular again and who doesn't want someone with at least half a brain?

Anyway, as far as I can tell there isn't an official music video for this song, which means I looked at A LOT of videos that people made up to go with it. Some of them were kind of funny (especially the one that didn't understand the line about in dunes on the cape) and some were just BAD.

I finally settled on this one because how can this post not be enhanced with the addition of the Solid Gold Dancers?

So if you like pina coladas, sit back and enjoy this song!

Day Twelve - A Song from a Band You Hate

Well as much as I am trying to not duplicate artists (well except for Bruce but hey it's BRUCE!!!) I have to go with Genesis for this one. Once again this is because of my loathing of Phil Collins. Honestly, as much as I thought about this there really wasn't another group I could think of that I hate so I had to duplicate.

I will admit that I'm not really familiar with this song (I don't think it gets much airplay) but when I went to youtube to find a video this was too freaky and weird not to share it.

Please don't try to send me your therapy bills for any nightmares it may cause you (I am warning you the Phil Collins puppet is FREAKY!!!!).

Day Eleven - A Song From Your Favorite Band

Well, I started this with my favorite song of all time which is by a band, so no Beatles music for you today. Instead you get the Cowboy Junkies, a group I've loved for twenty years.

This is not one of their best known songs, but I love this version of Thunder Road. It is so dramatically different than the Springsteen version that it is sometimes hard to imagine it's the same song.

Day Ten - A Song That Puts You to Sleep

I am taking a different twist on this one. I can't think of any song that bores me to the point that I would fall asleep, which is how I interpreted the theme for today. So my twist on it is I am picking a song that relaxes me, which would then ALLOW me fall asleep.

I am going to assume that most of you don't know this group. Except for using two of their songs in Liberty Mutual commercials, most people have never heard of Hem. I certainly had never heard of them until my friend Heather introduced me to their music on a trip to Rhinebeck one year. Now they are one of my favourite groups.

Please give this a listen and maybe you too will have a new favourite!

Day Nine - A Song You Can Dance To

Maybe we should re title this one "A Song You USED to Dance To."

I have really fond memories of dancing to this in high school. I especially remember it at a Key Club Mixer (I think it was at Rocky River but that part is fuzzy) in either late 1984 or early 1985.

Yep this is one that takes me back!

Day Eight - A Song You Know All the Words To

Well this may not (oh hell probably isn't) a song that ANYONE would think I would pick for anything. I mean I am not really known for my great love of religious musical theatre after all.

But I do know all the words to this song, and have since I was in the sixth grade. Which, trust me, is a freakin long time!!!

How and why do I know all the words to this? Julie Glovich and I were selected to sing this as a duet for our spring concert that year. I guess all of the practicing we did must have paid off, because I still remember the words to this day!

Day Seven - A Song That Reminds You of a Specific Event

There were actually a few songs I was debating about for today's song (no really I was!) But in the end I had to go with this one. The first time I ever heard the song, Keith was already in South Dakota and I was still in Ohio. He heard this on E Street Radio and sent me an email with a link to the video. I still have that email.

When it came time to plan the wedding, there really wasn't any choice as to what we would dance to as our first song. This was it, hands down. Now I can no longer hear it without thinking of my wonderful husband, how much I love him and our wonderful wedding.

This wasn't the version we danced to, but as I said it was the first version of the song we heard and therefore very special to us.

Day Six - A Song That Reminds You of Somewhere

For some reason this one stumped me for a while. Then as I looked down at my shirt (Michael Stanley Athletic Department) I sufferd a D'OH!! moment and knew what song I had to pick for today.

I'm not sure you're ALLOWED to be from Cleveland and not love the Michael Stanley Band. And if there is one song that reminds me of a place it's this one. How could a song entitled My Town from a Cleveland legend NOT remind me of the place I called home for almost 42 years?

I just wish there were more Cleveland shots in the video.

Day Five - A Song that Reminds You of Someone

Yeah, I could have gone with something obvious that would remind me of my husband but I didn't! This song IMMEDIATELY makes me think of my friend Amy. I'm guessing that we've been friends for at least 10 years now, but she's the kind of friend where you can't even remember when you weren't friends. I'm not sure how this became "our song" but it is, to the point that we once called each other when making our way home from another friend's wedding to let the other know the song was on the radio. It was played at each of our weddings and every time I hear it I think of Amy!

Day Four - A Song That Makes You Sad

First of all, I adore this song. When it comes on E Street Radio, I become the person "sharing" their music with everyone else on the road. Full blast all the way.

That being said, this song makes me incredibly sad. To think that we now live in a country where this song had to be written.

"Lena gets her son ready for school
She says "on these streets, Charles
You've got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you
Promise me you'll always be polite,
that you'll never ever run away
Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret
It ain't no secret
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
Your American skin"

This isn't the America I grew up in. That is a statement made all too frequently in our house by my husband and I. I just wish I knew where that America went and how we can get it back.

Now turn up your speakers and rock out (even if the song does make you sad for what we have lost).

Day Three - A song that makes you happy

This song makes me insanely happy! It is one of those songs that can immediately transport me back to a particular place and time in my life.

Yeah, I spent one or two Friday and Saturday nights (and perhaps the occasional Thursday night!) on the dance floor at Attractions in Oxford Ohio dancing to this song.

20 years later it still brings a smile to my face.

Least Favorite Song

30 Day Song Challenge

So this was a relatively easy one for me. Actually the hardest part was narrowing it down to just ONE song from this particular artist.

I have managed to narrow it down to Sussudio by Phil Collins. I have a deep and abiding hatred of Phil Collins music, why I have no idea but if a Phil song comes on the radio the channel is immediately changed. Except at work where I am forced to be subjected to daily Phil songs thanks to the narrow play list of the radio station we listen to (but that is another rant). Believe me, there was a great deal of rejoicing here when Phil formally announced his retirement a few months ago.

So for today I give you Sussudio (and my apologies for subjecting you to this).

30 Day Song Challenge

Most people do the 30 day song challenge on facebook (which is where I got this from) but I figure that blogging more is not a bad thing so I'll try doing this here. The first day's challenge is an easy one -- your favorite song. The hardest part for me was finding a decent video of the song.

The 900 Pound Gorilla in the Room

Well tomorrow's the day. The day we find out if the 900 pound gorilla is actually a gorilla or if it's an orangutan or perhaps not even a primate.

Right now we are pretty sure it's a gorilla and we're going to need to learn how to live with this behemoth.

Tomorrow will tell.

Random Thoughts

Just some random thoughts .....

• Recently I head a commercial for mini-coopers on the radio touting the fact that the car has "go cart handling." Really??? This is a feature that grownups look for in a vehicle? I'm sorry, you're already trying to sell me a clown car (oh wait that's a Smart Car) shouldn't it come with REAL car handling???

• Do you think that Peter Scolari is pissed off that Tom Hanks starred in the same show when they were starting out (Bosom Buddies) and is now an Oscar winning actor, while Scolari is hawking erectile dysfunction treatments on the radio? I really wish I could find a link to one of the actual commercials (I suspect they may be out there but I am probably too lazy to search hard enough) but just use your imagination.

• When recently reading Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs I came across this little nugget:

"You claim to be smart. Know all about DNA. I'm sure you watch CSI and Law and Order. Maybe Bones, but that one may be over your head."

Ummm self important much Ms. Reichs? Yes you are a producer of the TV show Bones, which is loosely (very very loosely I might add) based on  your novels featuring some semblance of Temperance Brennan  but really???? Having characters refer to a show featuring the same character they are interacting with? Is this some whacked out sense of reality or do we really think that highly of ourselves?

• Ever really listened to those ads for medications to treat depression? You know the ones where they list 9 gazillion side effects? Why is one of the side effects usually that it can cause an increased risk of suicidal thoughts? If you are taking medication for depression, don't you want and increased risk of happy and perky thoughts? Seems like a really bad side effect for that type of drug and something the manufacturers might want to work on someday.

Yep those are just a few of the random thoughts that have been living in my head. Aren't you glad I shared them with you?

I Hereby Declare....

That this is the last year that will have a February 6. From now on February only has 27 days (28 in a Leap Year). It's too long anyway so who cares if I get rid of a day.

St. Brigid's Day

Today is St. Brigid's Day and therefore it is also the day for Blogge's Silent Poetry Reading. I've missed the past couple of years and for all I know I may be the only one doing this today.

Regardless of that, I leave you today with (yet again) another poem by Margaret Atwood. Maybe next time I'll venture forth and find a different poet to share with you but then again why mess with a good thing?

Spelling

My daughter plays on the floor
with plastic letters,
red, blue & hard yellow,
learning how to spell,
spelling,
how to make spells.

I wonder how many women
denied themselves daughters,
closed themselves in rooms,
drew the curtains
so they could mainline words.

A child is not a poem,
a poem is not a child.
there is no either/or.
However.

I return to the story
of the woman caught in the war
& in labour, her thighs tied
together by the enemy
so she could not give birth.

Ancestress: the burning witch,
her mouth covered by leather
to strangle words.

A word after a word
after a word is power.

At the point where language falls away
from the hot bones, at the point
where the rock breaks open and darkness
flows out of it like blood, at
the melting point of granite
when the bones know
they are hollow & the word
splits & doubles & speaks
the truth & the body
itself becomes a mouth.

This is a metaphor.

How do you learn to spell?
Blood, sky & the sun,
your own name first,
your first naming, your first name,
your first word.

Farewell

Apparently the powers that be over at MSNBC have decided that we no longer need Keith Olbermann on our televisions each evening.



I disagree with this. I am not much of a political tv show viewer (well not since Tim Russert left this earth) but my husband is what I would call a bit of a political junkie. And through him I was introduced to *Countdown with Keith Olbermann.*



Since we have been together, I have found myself spending many an hour with Mr. Olbermann, being entertained and often times enlightened.



I am very sad that MSNBC has decided for whatever cockamamie reason he is no longer welcome in my living room each evening. I'm sorry, but the man that can give us such thought provoking commentary as this, about the World Trade Center "mosque" in August of 2010 will always be welcome in my living room.



I leave you now with that special commentary. It is 12 minutes long but well worth it.





Good night and good luck to you as well Keith Olbermann.

So What Have We Learned?

About me blogging all the time ... not much why do you ask?

Actually it's been about 6 weeks since we moved here to the Burgh and I would have to say that I have learned a few things in that time.

1. Want to get from Point A to Point B? Great!!!! Now to get there you must go through point Z to point L and then point Q first. Oh and point L is under construction and will be for the rest of your life.
2. How do you feel about hills? Hills, we have hills. Lots and lots of hills. I don't think there is any flat land in the state of Pennsylvania. Hell I'm not even sure if my living room floor is flat!
3. Speed Limit - Oh you mean suggestion of MINIMUM speed. Seriously, doing about 15 miles per hour above the posted speed limit in the high speed lane is no guarantee that you will not be the slowest driver in the lane. Do not be surprised if you have a douchecanoe on your bumper flashing his lights at you to get you to move out of his way.
4. Rivers - Three of those. Although the Monongahela seems to be hiding from me. Haven't managed to find that one yet!
5. Tunnels and Bridges - got those too! Lots of those! And sometimes you have to do sudden lane changes on the bridge in order to get in the proper lane to get into the right tunnel. This goes along with numbers 2 and 4, by the way.
6. SNOWMAGEDDEN!!!!! Seriously, two inches of snow and the town freaks out. This is the one time when number 3 is not in effect. Last time we had more than 3 inches of snow it took me 2 hours to get to where I needed to pick up Keith and then almost another hour to get home.
7. Only two colours matter in this town.... Black and Gold. I have never seen so many people wearing Steelers stuff in my life! We went to the mall on Saturday and I told Keith we could field a team just from the kids wearing Steelers gear in the play area. Never saw anything like it in my life. Seriously.
8. Want a beer or drink with dinner? Don't plan on picking up a six pack of your favorite or a bottle of wine at your local grocery store. Beer is sold in beer stores - by the case. Wine is sold in separate wine and spirit stores. So when you select a beer, hope you like it cause you'll be drinking it for a while.
9. Yinz. So I hope yinz have learned a thing or two about Pittsburgh after this. Yes Pittsburgh does have it's own language. And no I'm not kidding.

I don't know why spellcheck doesn't understand Steelers or yinz. Must not be from Pittsburgh.