Janis Joplin

Jellybean (and by extension of Jellybean, Peanut too) loves Janis Joplin music. She cannot get enough of Janis. I even downloaded more Janis so she could listen. In hindsight, perhaps "Mercedes Benz" was not the best choice, but it's too late now.

If a song comes on, Jellybean will stop what she's doing and walk near the stereo -- not as old-fashioned as it sounds, the iPod runs the show -- so she can hear the words and belt it out. Of course, she never does a command performance, especially for the camera, but I tried once and got this:




I haven't had the heart to tell her yet that Janis Joplin is no longer alive. I think she would be very sad.

What's on your playlist?

Just recently, I got inspired to create a new music mix for the kids and I to listen to. I hadn't made a new one for a while, so I had fun brainstorming different songs that L and I already had in iTunes.

Don't get me wrong -- I love some of the kids' music that's out there right now. Dan Zanes and Barenaked Ladies are probably the ones I can listen to the most without having annoying earworms at all hours of the day. As I've talked about before, some is better than others, but sometimes I just want to hear something a bit more mature.

I made a couple CDs two years ago or so that included Jimmy Buffett, the Beatles and Bob Marley, plus a selection of showtunes. Those are fun, and they're still in regular rotation. (Side note: If we're out somewhere and hear any of the aforementioned playing, one of the kids will invariably say quite loudly, "This is MY music!" Always garners an amusing response from surrounding adults.) With this CD, I was striving for musical variety -- styles, decades, etc.

So here's the latest playlist. You would probably be surprised to know which songs are their favorites.

Dancing Queen, ABBA
Walk Like an Egyptian, The Bangles
If I Had $1,000,000, Barenaked Ladies
Stand by Me, Ben E. King
Let's Go Crazy, Prince
The Tide Is High, Blondie
Take the Money and Run, Steve Miller Band
Wide Open Spaces, Dixie Chicks
La Bamba, Los Lobos
Iko Iko, The Dixie Cups
Grease, Frankie Valli
Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis
I'm Yours, Jason Mraz
Mother Nature's Son, Sheryl Crow (from "I Am Sam")
Livin' la Vida Loca, Ricky Martin
Hey There Delilah, Plain White T's
Blackbird, Sarah McLachlan (from "I Am Sam")
Supersition, Stevie Wonder
Soak Up the Sun, Sheryl Crow
But Anyway, Blues Traveler
Everyday Is a Winding, Road Sheryl Crow

Help me start my next playlist: What songs do your kids like?

Loud entertainment

If you don't like someone, you should make sure and buy their kids obnoxiously loud toys, right? At least that's what I used to think was the message with those gifts. But this year, I'm changing my tune (so to speak). The Christmas items I thought would be the most irritating because they play music have actually proven quite the opposite. I am no longer cursing those well-intentioned relatives from previous Christmases.

The musical spinning snowman, dancing mouse and blaring musical cards actually enthrall my children so much that I can get things done around the house. By myself. Without anyone tugging on my pant leg. Or even being in the same room. And the best part is that the noise is the equivalent of GPS: I know exactly where they are in the house.

So, hit those Christmas decoration sales and stock up on a couple noisy decorations for next year. You'll thank yourself come December 2009.

What will I do when we have to put away our Christmas decorations? Back to never getting anything done...

Festive fun

I was ready to kick the holiday stuff into gear for the kids, and then we got snow, and I'm feeling even more that way.

I thought I'd share a couple fun holiday things we've discovered this year with hopes that maybe you'll share some of yours (I show you mine, you show me yours).

Books:
Brave Santa, by Nancy Poydar. A fun twist on kids being afraid to sit on Santa's lap (potentially an issue for Jellybean this year, hopefully eclipsed with this book).

A Christmas Party, poem by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey with Cyndy Szekeres. This is an oldie I found at the library. A really cute story about forest animals celebrating Christmas.

Holidays on Ice, by David Sedaris. NOT a children's book, definitely not. A grown-up book that will have you laughing like a kid, though.

Music:
Brian Setzer Boogie Woogie Christmas. This is the "Stray Cat Strut" guy and his big band sound. The songs are energetic takes on some of the carols -- replete with a decent Elvis imitation on "Blue Christmas." It has kept our toes tapping.

My new career

I am pleased to announce that I am realizing my lifelong dream: to perform regularly for an audience. Yes, it's true! My performances consist of singing and dancing, and so far my reviews have been very good.

My repertoire is very large at this point -- some day I hope to narrow it down so it's not so taxing on my brain, body and voice. But for now, I will have to incorporate lots of variety to keep it interesting and a bit less predictable.

My most requested song today was "Row, row, row your boat." That was from Peanut. Oh, did I mention she's in my audience? And so is Jellybean. Well, actually they ARE my audience.

You didn't think I actually had a big paying gig going with hoardes of people showing up. Not yet anyway.