Got Up This Morning

I bought a new black skirt this week. I put it on this morning and by the time I got downstairs, discovered that it is actually a magnet for cat hair. Perhaps I can give up the vacuum cleaner and just wave the skirt through each room. This is not the first time this has happened. I wish there was a way to determine beforehand whether or not material will do that.

I looked at the line-up this morning for the annual Stanfest or the Stan Rogers Folk festival held each July in Canso, Nova Scotia. I went to the festival faithfully for several years from the first one but haven't been there since 2003 because of work responsibility. I miss it so much and after seeing the line-up I ache to return.

You know how sometimes a song gets stuck in your head. I sat here last night listening to some music before I went to bed. This song, Got Up This Morning by Sage France and Jolie Holland was on the playlist I clicked on. When I woke in the night, my brain was singing it and when I got out of bed this morning there it was again. Playing it again will have it stuck there for the rest of the day or allow me to let it go. We'll see.

A playlist I've been working on this week is called Smokin' Tunes. It is 5 hours, 58 minutes, 57 seconds - pretty close to 6 hours. Now to pare it down to 80 minutes for a fabulous cd.... Any excuse to play Brandi Carlile, here's Wasted from those 6 hours and Hypnotized by Ani DeFranco, someone else it brings me pleasure to play.

Out With The Old? No Way!

My sister-in-law is my new hero. She drove me to the hospital and back in a snowstorm after I dislocated my shoulder again this morning. She is much more brave than I will ever be. I have driven through storms in emergencies and know how stressful it is. She got a migraine headache soon after we arrived at the hospital but through modern medication was able to stop it before it took hold. I have to think of something special to do for her. Any ideas or suggestions?

It is going to be a very long road to recovery for this shoulder. The doctor explained just how unstable it is. It popped out very easily when I was drying myself after a bath. I've been a bit off balance since the injury and when the other arm is busy with something, my whole body, not just the shoulder, is unstable.

It's New Years Eve. My crazy son is going to drive through the storm to go to a party. I strongly object to this but he is an adult and has made his decision. The visibility and roads are going to get much worse as wind is forecast.

To hear a bunch of New Years Eve songs go to The Late Greats. The Duke has a post highlighting many different songs but with the name New Year's Eve. I am going to reprise some favorites for me this past year. The songs are not even necessarily from this year, they were just favorites of mine this year. Feist's, 1,2,3,4 was from this year and I thought it was a great song. It has been heard widely and has even been in a commercial so, I'm not alone in liking this song. Here are some that I really dug but not in any particular order. My Singing Soul by Soel, To The Fallen by Ruthie Foster, Long Ride Home by Patty Griffin, Walk Around the Lake by Lost In The Trees, The Story by Brandi Carlile, and Got Up This Morning by Sage France and Jolie Holland. This is just a few. One more you say? OK here is Colin Hay with I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over Losing You. It wins for longest title too.

Endorphins Are My Friend

I've probably been starting each Monday with something like, "What a day I had today" or something to that effect. I repeat that sentiment today. Our hike was amazing. The leaves are just emerging as well as all those pollen-filled tree flowers such as the one pictured above. The landscape is absolutely stunning right now. I probably said the same thing last year but I think it's prettier at this time of year than in the fall.

We walked for two hours and ten minutes today in very steep terrain. The roads were wet from the weekend of rain. I took one of my friends dogs today and handed her off for a few minutes if I wanted to take a photo. The endorphins were pumping and I'm already sorry I'll miss it next week when we're at my son's convocation. Hmmmm....maybe Sunday.

I'm making a cd for my other son. I brought them some on my recent visit and he's requested more. I like that as I love making them. I made five for different people last week and am working on three now. I'm making a copy of this one for myself too. I like it. One song from the list that I had stuck in my head all day is Enjoy Yourself by Todd Snider. Two more on the cd are Bye Bye Frankie by Scott E. Moore and Got Up This Morning by Sage France and Jolie Holland. Hey Hon, you get a sneak preview. All can be found on Page Two.

Coincidence Number Eighteen: A writer's plum pudding
In 1805, French writer Émile Deschamps was treated to some plum pudding by the stranger Monsieur de Fortgibu. Ten years later, he encountered plum pudding on the menu of a Paris restaurant, and wanted to order some, but the waiter told him the last dish had already been served to another customer, who turned out to be de Fortgibu. Many years later in 1832 Émile Deschamps was at a diner, and was once again offered plum pudding. He recalled the earlier incident and told his friends that only de Fortgibu was missing to make the setting complete — and in the same instant the now senile de Fortgibu entered the room.