After watching Vincenzo with LB7, we watched Birth of a Beauty. I recommend that if you are into face slapping back-stabbers. I gave LB7 a choice of Are you Human? Or W- Two Worlds. Now, I've already seen these two series and was eager to see again with my little kdrama newbie. He chose Are You Human?.
What I didn't expect was for LB7 to be so eager for the next episode that he would rush me out the bathroom, through dinner, and at bedtime for an episode (He didn't get that bedtime episode,'cause school exists). I told him that he acts like I owe him 50 million bucks and now when whenever he comes looking for me he yells" I'm here for my 50 Million bucks! Pay Up!" He just won't stop.
LS2 somehow managed to worm her way into k drama night. So, I find myself beneath a pile of bodies explaining what I know about Korean Culture as we watch. It's fun. I just want to breathe and feel my feet.
I discovered John after watching U-Know dance to one of his songs (Vices) for Studio Choom (Check them out by the way!😁👍). I then got my mom hooked (of course, you knew that would happen). I can listen to him on repeat for hours (actually did this one night).
Chicago-native John Splithoff 's music is a confident blend of Soul and Pop. Smooth vocals and groovy beats are something you can look forward to when you listen to his music. Honestly, I feel like you could stick his stuff in a wedding playlist. It's got that vibe to it. Some songs even feel like you could use it for the first dance. Below are my favorites:
Hope you enjoyed his music and look at his stuff some more. I gonna just chill over here while listening to him. As always, feel free to leave me a message below.
Yesterday was a rough day. First off, My family and I did some deep cleaning and I scrubbed the walls. While doing that, my knee decided that it hated me. It swelled up and sent burning pain up and down my leg each time I bent it. As if that wasn't bad enough, I had an old closet door fall on my back. Pain just tried to friend me!
So I am just sore today. In other news, I discovered Six: The Musical. For those who don't know what that is, it's a musical about Henry VIII's six wives. It is very good. It's now on my list of musicals I want to see live.
Featuring heavily on my Villain/ Anti-Hero Playlist is Neoni. The Nashville based sister duo start in the 2010s. Caitlin and Sid named themselves Neoni as it is a Scots Gaelic word for "Zero". When they formed they had “zero idea and zero fans and zero songs.” I don't think that applies anymore.
Their blend of alternative pop and electronic music is not only dance-able, it's a total vibe. Sometimes, I find myself chilling to the music as I work around the house. I gave my mom their music so she could tell me her thoughts but she has yet to get back to me on that.
Below are a few of my favorites. Trust me, it was hard choosing.
Told you I had trouble choosing. They have too many good songs. I can't pick two or three. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. As always, fee free to leave a message below.
The title says it all, folks. Friday before last, our whole system went blinky. We are halfway back. Hopefully, our wifi will be back by next week. I just wanted to say I'm sorry and it was hard for me not to post.
Yesterday was Migraine Day. You know those days. It's when you hide in some dark corner of your home like some vampire and hiss at light and loud noises. Yes, that was me.
Because my migraine hit out of nowhere yesterday everything was out of whack and dinner was 1700 nobility style in timing. But today, I was as fresh as a daisy and got a dinner done early and knock a ton of stuff of my to-do list. I did have trouble pick a topic for today's post as I was not in the right headspace (pun intended) to do much planning until late.
Okay, not all their music is about breaking up but they do excel in this area. I found VOILÀ on a chilly night as I was browsing on YouTube. I was looking for new music to add to my Villain playlist when I heard a sample of their work in a recommendation video. Curious, I checked the song out. Didn't make it to the Villain Playlist but made it into my Non-existent Breakup playlist which will soon exist.
VOILÀ is an LA-based pop/rock duo. Gus Ross (originally from London) and Luke Eisner (originally from Wisconsin) met at the Thornton School of Music in California as freshmen and have been making music together since then.
I have included a few of my favorites below. Enjoy!
Hope you liked that. As always, feel free to leave a message below.
The title of this post pretty much explained everything you need to know. A few months ago, I made an off line playlist that is villain inspired. I have mentioned before that I am struggling to create a Villain who is 3 dimensional. I abhor flat, cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all characters. I want a Villain that you hate, but maybe love just a little because you get them.
Like, you understand why they became the way they are even though you would never have chosen their path. They're full of rage, pain, and determination. They take no prisoners and believe that ruthlessness is mercy. Torture is slow, painful, and more often than not, psychological. There are rare moments of vulnerability when you see a glimpse of who they were before they turned. It's those moments that are what make you empathize with them. They weren't born bad. Disappointment, mistreatment, neglect, and abandonment had a role in it. If no-one held a knife to their neck first, would they have retaliated by stabbing first? They just play the role everyone forced upon them. They never chose it. But, since everyone only sees them as a villain, they might as well be the absolute best (worst?) Villain anyone has ever seen.
That is what I am trying to pour into a character. It's hard. If all you know is the mindset of a hero, how do you fully click into the mindset of your villain? Enter my playlist! Below are a few songs that I chose.
I hope that you enjoyed this sample of my playlist. As always, feel free to leave me a message below.
I'm telling the truth when I say I have no idea how many books I have. I know it's in the thousands though. Some may think what I'm about to say is funny but I have no idea what to read.
There! I said it. I currently have so many options that I can't make up my mind what to start on. I know the flavor (aka genre) I want. I just can't settle on a author whose work I want to read. I have too many choices.
I know say this makes me sound weird because it's really not a big deal to most people. But if you are a book lover, the sheer agony of a book overload is not to be discounted. There is an ugly moment when you realize you will never be able to read them all in your lifetime. It hurts.
Then there's the fact that while a book overload lasts, my brain feels like fragmented mush (if that makes any sense). I am trying my best to make coherent sense but I am human and makes will occur. I still have other stuff I must struggle through.
As always, feel free to leave a message below. If you also suffer from occasional Book Overload, tell me about it.
The past couple of days I been working on listening my way through Victorine E Lieske's audio books. I downloaded a whole bunch of them a few days ago.
LS1 wanted new audio books so I went and got them for her. In return, I got some myself. I've been listening my way through them as I work around the house. It's been a nice change of pace.
I was watching random videos on YouTube today when I found an incredible cover of Against the Current's "Legends Never Die". It's a cover by a Korean band on a game show. I don't know what happened since it aired two years ago and I don't really watch game shows. All I know is that you just got to see it. I'll include the original below as well.
The original version of the song is epic to begin with but they took it to a whole new level of incredible. It got me thinking of another cover that I found spectacular. Loveless' cover of " Running up that Hill" was also very good. I'm not including that song here as I believe I had it in a different post.
I don't always like covers. Sometimes I feel like they lack that special something that the original song had. But I will admit there are times when the cover can be just as good, if not better than, the original version.
Disclaimer: I told you all that random things pop into my mind from time to time. So, no judgement folks.
The other night, right as I was about to fall asleep, I was mentally running over a piece I had wanted to write when I got confused. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out if I needed a comma, period, or semicolon. (I went with a period, curious cats.) I realized that I rarely, if ever, use semicolons in my writing.
And in my half awake state, I summed up my relationship with semicolons like this: Semicolon is that one friend you know you need to hang out with more but don't. Thing is, you're way more comfortable with Period and Comma. Whenever you and Semicolon meet, you spend twenty minutes trying to figure out what to say and if you should say it. You never have to guess with Period and Comma. I mean, Semicolon is a good friend and when you manage to say the right thing, you feel so cool. Only thing is, you really would rather live without the anxiety Semicolon seems to tote around. So, you contact Semicolon less and less. Then, one night as you try to sleep, you realize you haven't spoken in over a year. You feel bad. So, you go to look up your ol' friend, Semicolon. And there Semicolon is. Still waiting patiently for you to just say something. Anything.
You feel the guilt there, don't you? Lb2 is ashamed of me right now. He is on speaking terms with Semicolon. But, I honestly can't think of how to smoothly slip a semicolon in my writing.
According to Wikipedia, The semicolon or semi-colon]; is a symbol commonly used as orthographicpunctuation. In the English language, a semicolon is most commonly used to link (in a single sentence) two independent clauses that are closely related in thought, such as when restating the preceding idea with a different expression. When a semicolon joins two or more ideas in one sentence, those ideas are then given equal rank.Semicolons can also be used in place of commas to separate items in a list, particularly when the elements of the list themselves have embedded commas.
And, The semicolon is one of the least understood of the standard marks, and so it is not as frequently used by many English speakers.
I just wanted to get that of my chest. I know that I'm not the only one out there with a sketchy relationship with semicolons. Sometimes, a little self reflection is what a writer needs. Here is mine. Try not to hate me too much, Grammar Police.
Last week, I was chilling in my room, looking for new books to get when my mom came to my room. We started talking books and I found a book series she'd been wanting to finish. LS2 was in the room as well and turned on the radio. My mom and I were bopping along, enjoying all the songs we'd heard many times before when a song came on that we had never heard before.
I instantly looked it up and discovered The Band Camino. Their sound is a blend of indie rock/electro-pop/pop-rock. It's funky and fun. I get the urge to spin and dance. It sounds like all my teenage music dreams realized. If I had ever joined a garage band as a teenager, this is what I wanted to sound like.
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, The Band Camino is currently based in Nashville. It is comprised of three members: Jeffery Jordan, Spencer Stewart and Garrison Burgess.
In their description on their YouTube page, they call themselves "Your Mom's Favorite Band". In my case, yeah. That is now true. Eric Nam will now have company in her playlist. I don't mind. Below are some of my ultimate faves at the moment.
Hope you enjoy! As always, feel free to leave a message below.
My love of music was developed by both my parents. My mom and dad's taste blends and diverges like a crazily winding river. Thanks to that my taste in music is varied. One minute I could be listening to jazz, then rock, and then K-pop all in the same playlist. So, giving music recommendations to people is a little hit or miss with me.
I recently gave my mom Eric Nam's last two albums. I never expected it to be such a big hit with her. She has cooked, cleaned and even worked out with his music playing in the background. I honestly feel like she is trying to make it her soundtrack for the rest of the year. I'm not complaining. I am a fan of Mr.Nam's. I enjoy all his music. But, a little variation would be nice.
If a miracle ever drops my way and Eric Nam were to read this post, Thank you for the music that somehow became the soundtrack for the end of summer in my house. We didn't know we needed it until we got it. Thank you for giving me music that my mother and I can dissect together. It's been a while since we did that.
I am currently working my way through Feels Good to Die, My Lovely Liar, and Vincenzo. Yes, I know it may seem like a lot but I got it. In fact, I am almost done with one of the series.
Feels Good to Die is a workplace Rom-com involving time loops. I like the way they actually do progress only to time loop each time our female lead's boss dies. You can almost feel her frustration.
My Lovely Liar is about a woman who is a living lie detector and a man falsely accused of murder. The drama, the comedy, the cutesty romance, the mystery......... Cause you know, murder. Also the music here is so incredible. Hwang Min-hyun (formerly of Nu'Est) is our male lead and let me tell you, his jazz piano scenes are sublime. I want a recording.
And last but most definitely not least, Vincenzo. He is a Korean - Italian consigliere who is just trying to get his 15 tons of gold back from its hiding spot. When a corrupt company illegally purchases the building where his money is stashed, he finds himself with no other choice but to take them on using mafia tactics. It's a crime drama with a hefty dose of dark comedy. Not my usual type of show, but I'm liking it. I actually think my dad would love this show. So I will probably recommend it soon to him.
As always, feel free to tell me what you think below. Any one out there got a k drama suggestion for me?
Our new landlord recently decided to approve a new deck and fence for us. The old deck was deteriorating and was a concern. I always said a little prayer before stepping on it. The fence had been damaged by years worth of storms and broken tree branches. We had a few gaps and the whole thing was doing a Leaning Tower of Piza impression.
Workers have already ripped the deck and fence down. Tomorrow, building should start. Honestly, I was a little emotional seeing the old deck go. I spent what felt like a whole summer drying clothes on it when our dryer went on strike.
Oh, funny thing about that! Our dryer chose now to go on strike again. Like, you couldn't wait until we got the new deck built? You had to stop working now!?!!?! It's a headache and a half.
So while we wait for the new deck, we got to keep the Littles from gravitating to the back door as it is currently a Two to Three foot drop. And as much as I love my normally bright younger siblings, they do some dumb stuff in the name of fun. I don't even want to imagine what ideas they might come up with.
Loveless is an alternative Rock Duo from LA formed in 2020. Multi-instrumentalist Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail and vocalist Julian Comeau are who make up this incredible duo. They have collaborated with Citizen Soldier on their song "Worst in Me". I featured it in a post a little while ago. I stumbled upon them when I got stuck in a Elly Duhé 'Middle of the Night' cover wormhole. It is safe to say they pulled me out of one wormhole and into another.
Their sound is a mix of Emo/Punk/Pop/Rock. I know that it sounds like that won't work but trust me, it does. Dylan makes me wish I was talented when it came to instruments and Julian is on my list of #VocalGoals. The way he manages to sound gritty and smooth is a skill I want to figure out. *sigh*
Below are a few of my favorites from them.
I hope you all enjoy that. You know, even as I'm writing this post, I'm listening to Loveless. Feel free to leave your thoughts below.
I am currently going through a bit of a "Villain" phase fiction wise. For some reason, I am finding myself drawn towards characters that are most often vilified and hated. Probably because I enjoy seeing all the nuances that went into such a complex creation. That was most likely why I immediately got Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer.
I am only halfway through it. The blurb said it was like 'Once Upon a Time' meets the 'The Office'. This was not an exaggeration. I was cracking up like a loon as I cooked dinner while listening. Blurb below:
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie. But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out. Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay. After all, a good job is hard to find.
Yeah, if you're looking for some serious chuckle material, look no further. Feel free to tell me you're thoughts about Assistant to the Villain below.
P.S. I finished it! It is definitely worth the listen (or read, if you prefer). Let it be noted that this tale ends in a cliffhanger. Part two come out fall of 2024. Yes, I was bummed out. You would be too. I want to know what will happen next.
There is such a thing as a YouTube wormhole. Once you enter, it may be hours or days before you come back to the real world. I am prone to this pitfall.
Studio Choom is one of my wormholes. The moment I watch the latest choreo, I suddenly find myself watching past videos and from there looking at all the latest choreography from other dancers.
Another wormhole of mine is villain music. You know those playlists that some people make that are full of wonderful songs that seem to perfectly fit your character's backstory. Well this I one weakness of mine. I can spend hours looking into songs that fit the feel.I'm looking for.
Of any of you have wormholes that suck you in, tell me about it below. Or just say hi. Up to you.
It has come to my notice that 128 GB may be to little to hold every movie my dad wants. He needs an upgrade. And yes, I will be paying for it. Having his data scattered causes loads of mental stress. I'm paranoid that I might somehow lose his stuff and how would I explain it?
I am also sorry I forgot to post on time this week. It was another busy week and I forgot until now. I will try to be on time next week. As always, fell free to leave a message below.
As some may know, Eric Nam is on my playlist. So when I heard that he had a new album coming out, I was beyond excited. I was ecstatic. Getting to hear more of Eric Nam's voice is wonderful. Sidenote: My autocorrect hates his last name. It kept changing it to Ham or Man.
So far, he has released to two music videos for songs that will be on the album. Please check put below.
Does it pass the vibe check? I think so. Also, sorry for the late post. Life got in the way. As always, feel free to leave a comment below.
Last one first, I got connected to the WiFi again! It was a painful two weeks without it. I don't think I'll ever make a dent in my email situation. There is too many in there to begin with.
And now First things last, Against the Current. Against The Current (often abbreviated as ATC) is an American rock band from Poughkeepsie, New York, formed in 2011. The band currently consists of lead vocalist Chrissy Costanza, guitarist Dan Gow, and drummer Will Ferri. They are a unique blend of rock, pop, alternative rock, and synth-rock.
They are super jammable. I have been known to listen to them on repeat. Their sound reminds me of my angsty teen years a little, just more mature. If that makes any sense. Check them out below.
Good, right? They are currently on tour so I am waiting for them to release a new album. As always, feel free to leave a message below.
A couple of weeks ago, I discovered Citizen Soldier by chance. Thank you, Youtube and your recommendation algorithm. One of the reasons I like this group so much is because their lyrics really touch me. Once upon a time, I felt very similar. The way they are so openly vulnerable yet strong is just beyond words.
They make me want to either singalong or dance to their work. This their background according to their site: Citizen Soldier was born in 2016 when frontman Jake Segura penned the lyrics to “Let It Burn” from a psychiatric hospital. Now practicing as a clinical therapist, he implements intensely emotional lyrical themes on mental health into their music. The band presents an accessible message that combats stigmatization and provides a group therapy dynamic. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Segura is joined by guitarists Matt Duffney and Kooper Hanosky, bassist/keyboardist Wonitta, and drummer Kyle Persell.
Here is a sampling of their music :
Here are some of my favorites. I personally think Jake and Julian from loveless should do another song together. their voices meld so well together. As always, feel free to leave a message below.
Honestly, I had such a hard time getting online today that it never crossed my mind that I forgot to prepare a post. I was going to talk about a DJ I found but I really don't have the time today. This post is just a brief hello to you all. I'm sorry. I will try harder next week.
We had a bit of an issue crop up during some updates, so the wifi is down today. Personally, I have no idea when it will be back up so I just wanted to let you all know that I might be late posting if it isn't resolved soon.
In other news, I made an offline version of a web novel before all this happened. I"m glad I did. I started working on a second one but had to halt due to life. My second one is going to need a lot of editing that may seem tedious but is actually quite fun, at least to me.
I have a nasty headache today. I'm not sure what it's from but all I want to do is either sleep or take medication. I'm leaning towards sleep right now as I hate pills. I'm sorry I can't write more today.
Last night, I was bored so I started an episode of the K-Drama, Are you Human, too?. I was truly intending to watch only one episode. Some how one turned into six and I am half way through episode 7. It is so addictive. Synopsis below courtesy of Wikipedia:
Oh Laura, a renowned scientist, was forced to part with her young son, Nam Shin. To cope with her loss, over the years, she builds various AI robots modelled after him, naming them Nam Shin I, II and III. Decades later, after surviving an attempt on his life, Nam Shin slips into a coma. To protect his position as the heir to a chaebol, Laura sends Nam Shin III to take his place and fulfil his duties.
Kang So-bong was a member of Nam Shin's security detail until she was dismissed in disgrace. She becomes Nam Shin III's bodyguard, determined to get to the bottom of his strange comments and behaviour. However, she gets more than what she'd bargained for when she starts falling for him - and has to keep him safe from the very people who'd tried to murder Nam Shin.
If you want a show with drama, comedy, suspense, and romance, I recommend Are you Human, too?. As always, feel free to leave a message below.
So I just found out that Ren from Nu'Est just released his first solo mini-album. On top of that, his former band mate, Aaron Kwak released a single. I was so ecstatic, I wanted to share the news with someone. Only to realize that none of my family members get me liking K-Pop the way I do.
I just find it easier to fit a song to a mood with K-Pop these days. Sorry, not sorry American artists... I just vibe with K-Pop better. Maybe next year, okay?
I am so happy that all the former members of Nu'Est are doing well and producing music as they are all so gifted. I want to share their music with you all as I'm sure you will appreciate it. I will share music from all five of the former members.
They're good, huh? I'm happy they can branch out and showcase their own stuff without worrying they're stealing all the spotlight. And, no I don't have a favorite. They are my favorites. I really can't pick or choose with them.
I have made space! How I did it, I will spare you the details. But space has been made on my SD cards and now I am on the process of filling that space with things I'd been wanting to get for a while.
This post is going to be even shorter than last week because I still have a lot to do. As always, feel free to leave a message below.
My sisters wanted me to convert a few mp4 videos into mp3s for them. Result is I've been up all night. They so owe for this. I am exhausted and I got a headache. Plus I still have stuff to do today........ I wanna sleep.
I love epic songs. You know that part of a movie where it's super intense? It would be absolutely boring without a epic soundtrack. Eternal Eclipse makes that type of epic music. And that is why we are here.
I hope you all get to enjoy this beautiful epic music. As always, feel free to leave a message below.
I called it! I knew she would win the moment I heard Sweden was sending her. There was clearly only one choice. Finland taking second place surprised me. But I guess aggressive Cha cha cha is popular?
In other news, a couple weeks ago I hung a bed foam on our laundry line. It was a very windy day and it almost flew away. Thankfully, I used my body to catch it. Downside of that was it wrapped around my body and I couldn't see or move. I ended up hurting my wrist wrestling my way out. Wind and bed foam are a bad mix. I'm not doing that again.
My wrist still hurts. I tried to grab a glass bowl today and I thought my wrist might snap. I think I'm going to try resting it some more.
So I missed the live stream of the first Semifinals. I totally forgot about the five hour time difference between here and Liverpool. I saw some of the individual performances on YouTube. Loreen was perfect as usual. She also made it to the Finals. We are going to pray she wins. Because I know that free will exist and people may choose to stupidly choose someone else as winner.
My watching experience was hindered by the fact that my headphones are half dead. Only the right one is working. The left one will think about working if circumstances are favorable. Honestly, when did it develop such an attitude? All I wanted to do was watch the performances and then a movie. But, nooooooo. I had to have my volume on high to hear anything out the still working one.
Despite all that, I did manage to watch Tyler Perry's Good Deeds. It was a nice film. I liked it. Really all I can say about it. I don't watch Tyler Perry stuff much. I got family members who have a collection of the plays and movies who will talk about all the differences between the two. I only do that when they turn a book in to a movie.
Spring has come and I realized that I totally forgot to post pictures of it's beauty! Below are some random photos I took while walking and from flowers that we picked. I know I should take more but it looks odd holding up a tablet instead of a camera. No judgement, folk. I'm no professional here.
Aside from spring allergies, it is one of my favorite seasons. I love watching plants spring to life around me. Seeing that change happening day by day is incredible!
Now, here are the two songs I currently got on replay. One is a K-Pop song, so don't say you got no warning. Hope you enjoy!
Elley Duhé and Teddy Swims' "FACE MYSELF" is beautifully moving. I find myself coming back to it again and again. There is something soothing about the way their voices blend together. I hope the do another duet soon.
NCT DOJAEJUNG's song "Perfume" feels like a throwback to my childhood. That early 90's R&B vibe hits hard. Also this song has stunning vocals. This is the title track of their debut mini-album. Check them out sometime.
Yes everyone, it is that time again. This year, we are in Liverpool, England as Ukraine was unable to host due to security issues. Thanks, Russia <insert sarcasm>. So, that is who is hosting this year.
I'll be honest. I've been procrastinating with this post. Kind of like, if I drag my feet maybe we won't get there yet. Doesn't work with the doctor, not gonna work here. I feel like this year has just started and we shouldn't be a quarter of the way through yet. But, the fact that the Semifinals are on May 9th and 11th with the Final on May 13th, means that time has passed way faster than I anticipated. Below is the Official Compilation Video.
So with out further ado, here are the contestants and my thoughts below.
1.Albina & Familja Kelmendi - Duje - Albania - The live National performance sounded epically mystical and creepy in the beginning. By the middle of the song the whole feel of it has changed into something I would probably dance to in one of my sleep deprived moments.
2.Alessandra - Queen Of Kings - Norway - Hello, Viking Girl Power Bop. I didn't know I needed you.
3.Alika - Bridges - Estonia - Her Vocals! Life goals. I want to be able to hit those notes too.
4.Andrew Lambrou - Break A Broken Heart - Cyprus - The live performance is gonna be incredible. I hope he got dancers for this. Can't wait for all the choreos to come out for this song.
5.Blanca Paloma - Eaea - Spain - Flamaneco meets Trance. Never thought it would go so well. But it does. If I could dance, I would.
6.Blanka - Solo - Poland - This has a Beachy Summer ready feel. Hope she works through that nervousness in time for Semi Finals. Her live performance was a little shaky.
7.Brunette - Future Lover - Armenia - One of my favorite songs this year. Brunette has such a gorgeous voice. I can see this going to Finals.
8.Diljá - Power - Iceland - Beautiful! I blasted this song as I bopped along. Strong vocals that hold you captive. Repeat!
9.Gustaph - Because Of You - Belgium - Runway Ready. There is so much attitude in this song.
10.Iru - Echo - Georgia - As epic as a League of Legends song. A-game brought.
11.Joker Out - Carpe Diem - Slovenia - Party song if there ever was one. But what do you expect that's name translates into "Seize the Day".
12.Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha - Finland - I never knew that you could aggressively Cha-Cha. That is until this song. It's catch if a little scary.
13.La Zarra - Évidemment - France - A total Vibe. The confidence, the skill, the hair...... La Zarra is on my list of new faves.
14.Let 3 - Mama ŠČ! - Croatia - Prepare yourself for a trip. It's not Eurovision if we don't get a few songs that have our jaws dropped and head tilted. Can't wait for this Semi Finals......
15.Lord Of The Lost - Blood & Glitter - Germany - It's like they were influenced by Lordi. I got "Hard Rock Hallelujah" vibes from this song. If you like hard rock, here's your entry.
16.Loreen - Tattoo - Sweden - The Queen is here! I have no other pick beyond her. She's my Number One 37 times. Everyone is just an opening and closing act. It's Loreen! I live to her music. I know I will never get vocally close to her yet I will belt out her music all day if life didn't interfere. Loreen for the win!!!!!!!!!!!!
17.Luke Black - Samo Mi Se Spava - Serbia - This should be in a soundtrack for a Blockbuster Sci-fi movie. It has what it takes.
18.Mae Muller - I Wrote A Song - United Kingdom - If I ever experience a breakup, this will be blasted as I get over him. I'm keeping this song. Thanks, UK!
19.Marco Mengoni - Due Vite - Italy - Get your cell phone flashlight app open and pull out some tissues. You're going to need it. It's okay. No judgement.
20.Mia Nicolai & Dion Cooper - Burning Daylight - Netherlands - The way their voices blend... Chef's kiss! I hope they go far.
21.Mimicat - Ai Coração - Portugal - I got to be honest. This is my least favorite song. It's just not my cup of tea.
22.Monika Linkytė - Stay - Lithuania - Another vocal goal for me. I got this song on repeat as well. So pretty. I could see this in a movie as well.
23.Noa Kirel - Unicorn - Israel - The Energy! Such a summer-ready jam.
24.Pasha Parfeni - Soarele şi Luna - Moldova - Bop that head! Go, go, go.
25.Piqued Jacks - Like An Animal - San Marino - It's San Marino. They're always down for a party!
26.Reiley - Breaking My Heart - Denmark - The 80s are back! This such a fun song. I hope it gets to Finals.
27.Remo Forrer - Watergun - Switzerland - Beautiful. Epic. Tear-worthy. See you in the Finals!
28.Sudden Lights - Aijā - Latvia - What is happening here? All I'm getting is vibes. The good kind!
29.Teya & Salena - Who The Hell Is Edgar? - Austria - The best fun I've had in a while. I want to see them perform live.
30.The Busker - Dance (Our Own Party) - Malta - We got a Sax!!!! A Sax! The Busker said we don't bring the party, WE are the party.
31.Theodor Andrei - D.G.T. (Off And On) - Romania - Remember that flirty Rock singer who played in that dive bar? I think he made it. That is Theodor's sound.
32.TuralTuranX - Tell Me More - Azerbaijan - Sounds like my childhood. Strangely comforting.
33.TVORCHI - Heart Of Steel - Ukraine - Before Loreen was announced as Sweden's contestant, They were my pick for Number one. That attitude and A-GAME was delivered. So much swag. If everyone loses their collective minds and fails to crown the Queen Loreen, I wouldn't mind if they won.
34.Vesna - My Sister's Crown - Czechia - Gorgeous! I wonder how the live performance will go.....
35.Victor Vernicos - What They Say - Greece - Our youngest contestant this year proves that age means nothing when it comes to talent. This is a Summer Road Trip song if there ever was one.
36.Voyager - Promise - Australia - Why, Australia, why? You always give your absolute best. They were neck in neck with TVORCHI for Number one. With Loreen here, I can't root for you. But I was going to. Promise!
37.Wild Youth - We Are One - Ireland - Why does this sound like something PBS plays during their commercials? It so inspiring.
So, that's it. To all my readers who can vote, have fun! To everyone else, it sucks doesn't it? We had last year though. Sadly, we will not be seeing American Song Contest 2023. NBC will not be doing that again. If you all are sobbing, know that I am as well. Just on the inside as I don't want people to see me ugly cry.
I like podcasts. One I'm currently enjoying is Dark History with Bailey Sarian. I like the way she approaches history as juicy gossip that we can enjoy without falling sleep. Most historians talk in a dry, sleep-inducing way. There are some people who can talk history without going comatose. Bailey is one of them!
I have learned about so many little interesting bits of history I knew nothing about. I don't recommend having your little ones around while listening without headphones. Some language may causally leak out.
Some of her Videos below.
I hope you all enjoy these videos. As always, feel free to leave a message below.
This is a quick post as I'm about to go grocery shopping with my Mom. It has been awhile since I went to the actual store as we have been doing almost all our grocery shopping of late online. I got to say that, while it is convenient, it's also a pain in the neck.
Personally, I prefer to shop in person. That way I can pick and choose any substitutions. Some of the things that get sent as substitutes are nothing that we would buy if we went shopping ourselves.
That being said, I am also excited to leave the house for a little. I do occasionally feel the need the see outside. Though, I have been known to stay indoors for months simply because I didn't want to go outside. That was in my teen years. If I had wanted fresh air, I would open a window. Yes, I know that was weird. And probably unhealthy. I don't do that anymore so don't judge me.
The post this week pretty much says it all. I have written about Spencer's work before here so I won't be going on and on about how much I enjoy this man's voice. We've been over it already. You don't want to hear about how he can bring the fan girl out in me. So, you won't.
Instead, I will put the video below so you can enjoy. If you pick up on the High School Musical 2 reference, more power to you. One of my cousins used to belong to the fans of HSM. Actually, she still might be a fan. I haven't seen her in a bit. But I think she would appreciate this video.
I am currently having a little too much fun scaring LS2. All I have to say is "Little Girl" and she acts like she inadvertently landed in a horror flick. Her eyes go buggy, face turns pale and she looks one scream away from fainting. I don't even know how or why she came to scared of such a harmless phrase. She doesn't even know either.
I can't seem to help myself sometimes. Her face is just too funny and her reactions are priceless. She is not the only one though! The other day, I managed to jump scare LB3. I laughed til I was teary eyed. His eyes got so wide I thought they might pop out his head.
Today has been one of those days when it seems like I've washed the same bowl five times. I get that being part of a large family means more dishes. After all, we need to cook more food to accommodate them all. But, do we need to have this many?
Honestly, I get bowls with a smear of peanut butter or a drop of jelly. Sometimes only crumbs are inside. Endless butter knives leave me stressed. How do we even have so many butter knives? We have enough for everyone to get at least two. Why do they all end up in the sink at the same time? Spoons, forks, plates, bowls, knives......all an endless merry-go-round. Don't even get me started on cups........
If you all understand my plight, feel free to leave me a message below.
We finally got a new Crock Pot! Our old pot had some how broke in half. So these past few years we have been Crock Pot-less. Cooking beans on the stove is a hassle and trial. I consistently burnt my beans. It was a rare and miraculous event when the beans didn't have burnt black bits all in it.
Today, I put some beans on in the Crock Pot for the first time in a long time. I almost forgot how easy it was to set up. I am beyond joyful that I don't have to worry so much about my beans and can focus on other things, like laundry.
Seriously, I don't know why it took us this long to replace our Crock Pot. Were we being lazy or or were we just distracted by the whirlwind we call life? Why?!?!! Burnt beans are a travesty. Yes, they have a smokey taste but it's not the good kind. Those black bits don't taste better over time. It messes with your mind to constantly burn something. You start to question whether you can actually cook, you know.
As you may be able to tell, this is a touchy subject for me. Anyway, feel free to leave a message below.
I don't know why I'm the one listening to LS1's meltdown. I was just sitting here minding my own business, listening to music, when she came to unload all her troubles onto me. She didn't even give me a chance to pause my music before her rant began.
On top of that, LB2 decided that was the moment to talk to me as well. Plus all the littles were being loud as they played. So, the end result was that I could barely hear myself think.
She's complaining of a headache and I feel like I'm about to get one too. Now, she wants something but is toeing around the fact. I would rather she be politely upfront about it. I hate feeling like all her tears were just part of an elaborate act to get something from me.
When I was little, I used to love the thrill of jumping down a flight of steps. For some reason I got a kick out of that brief freefall sensation. I normally was a very careful, if not clumsy, child. So, common sense should've kicked in. I don't understand it myself.
Flash forward a few years, I twist my knee somehow while jumping. Didn't say anything because I knew I should have been doing that but I didn't listen. Dealt with the pain in silence. Even went on nightly runs with my Dad. Twisted it again on uneven pavement. This time I said something about the pain.
Now it's the present day. I occasionally have knee issues. Why, you ask? Did you not read above? This is my cautionary tale, folks. Don't be silly and think that your body is indestructible. It's not. The crazy things you did as a child/teen will haunt your body later. I currently have my knee elevated and in a brace because it swelled up. I also have the urge to slap some sense into younger me.
This week I watched two k-dramas that kept me on the edge of my seat. I Even got my mom interested in one of them. So without further ado, let me feel you about them.
W - Two Worlds is a about a young Cardiologist who accidentally get pulled into her father's webtoon by the main character. She finds herself saving his life, thereby making herself a part of the plot. As the story progresses, she gets pulled in more and more. As the main character struggles to the the murderer responsible for his family's death, he realizes that the doctor just might have all the answers. Only thing is the answers just might shatter his world. Also, we got a serial killer who honestly freaked me out. He is now on my list of scary fictional characters.
Crazy Love is about a Genius Mathematician who is also the CEO of an educational program and his Secretary. Mr. CEO is, how to put this in nice words....... an epic jerk face bully who honestly makes you want to hate him. I mean, they went there. So much so, that our main plot is about who wants to either kill or otherwise destroy him. The Secretary, on the other hand, is told that she has only a few months to live due to an inoperable brain tumor. She blames her boss for the tumor as she's been stressed out since day one from working with him. When her boss becomes a victim in a hit and run accident after her totally epic resignation, he wakes up with amnesia. She sees a chance to get revenge and claims to be his fiance. Only thing is........he's pretending to have amnesia in order to catch the true culprits.
So there it is. I hope you get to see one of these series soon! As always, feel free to leave a message below.
Yeah, patience isn't my forte. There are several things I want to come out now. I know that there is this thing called post-production and it can take a while for them to finish. I just want them to finish now.
I want to see season three of Bridgerton. I want to see ....... uh, I just blanked out on the other stuff. But, you know what I mean. Is it too much to ask for teasers?
Thankfully, Jody Hedlund's Colorado Cowboys series finished this week. Now I can read the whole series. I read the first book thinking it was a standalone back in 2021. I found out at the end that it was book one of a series. A five-book series. Yeah, I was beyond frustrated. So I did what I don't do all that well. I waited. Now, I don't need to wait anymore.
I guess I'll wait for Bridgerton while reading the series. After all, it should be out in a few months, right? They're not going to make us wait until 2024, right?
When we think of the Victorian time period, we think of a time of Decorum, Propriety, and Morals. It was the age of polite society. One didn't live the way we do now. Things we take for granted now were considered scandalous then. They were to be kept secret. No one was to know. No one except that Era's novelists.
Someone once told me that they didn't read anything that wasn't written in the 21st century. They found old books boring. I beg to differ. Below are a few of my favorite novels and their authors that are by no means boring. In fact, they quite the opposite.
Charles Dickens, whose own life reads like a novel, is a world famous novelist whose work is noted for highlighting the social injustice of his day. His work should also be known for it's juicy secrets.
In 'Great Expectations', the mystery of the identity of Pip's benefactor is one of the main drives of this tale. When the identity of the man who attacked Pip's sister is revealed, prepare for a shock. And don't get me started on the big reveal of Estella's parents.
'Bleak House' has blackmail, a murder mystery, a secret marriage, and a woman trying desperately to conceal the truth about her illegitimate child, with fatal consequences. In short, it's drama city here. I adored the 2000s BBC adaptation of this classic.
'Little Dorrit' involves a secret will, a Ponzi scheme, and a long lost inheritance. There is another woman who tries to hide the stain of illegitamacy from a child, her husband's child. The 2007 BBC adaptation was worth the watch. Please avoid the 1970s version. We are trying to forget that it exists.
In 'Our Mutual Friend', a man switchs identities with another in order to test his fianceé. When his double is murdered ( oh yeah, bring on the murder mystery), he is declared dead. Continuing on under an assumed name, he manages to get a job working for the couple who gained his inheritance and get close to his former (?) fianceé. But he can't stay hidden forever. In a subplot, we also have a teacher obsessed with the sister of one of his pupils. The sister, though, is in love with a man far above her in station.
Had Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell lived longer she might've been more widely renounded as Dickens' female counterpart. Every single novel of hers is riddled with secrets. Perhaps being a Pastor's wife gave her writing a certain edge when it to secrets. Fun Side note: She was actually pretty well acquainted with Mr.Dickens . She even published a few pieces in his magazine and he visited with her family often. She was also Charlotte Brontë's BFF who wrote Ms. Brontë's biography when she died.
In 'North and South', Margaret is forced to conceal from her father (for a time) the knowledge that her mother is dying (of what I suspect is cancer). Her greatest challenge may be, by far, hiding her brother from the authorities. If found in the country, her brother faces the hangman's noose for being a part of the mutiny against a tyrannical captain. And hiding that fact from the police almost costs her the love of her life. I read this novel at least once a year as it is a favorite of mine.
'Wives and Daughters' is Mrs. Gaskell's last novel, only chapters away from being done. Molly, the doctor's daughter, is the girl everyone seems to love telling their secrets to. She finds herself helping her stepsister Cynthia get out of an unwanted secret engagement to the misunderstood Mr. Preston. When the local squire's son dies ( yes folks, she knew he was dying), she's the one who has to tell the squire about his French daughter-in-law and grandson.
"Ruth" is a far more gritty story where the title character, lacking guidance, finds herself pregnant, abandoned and taken in by two kind siblings. With their help, she poses as their widowed cousin and gets a job as a governess. As time passes, she becomes moreand more aware that the truth must be told. When the truth does come out, the response is not at all what she hoped for.
"Sylvia's Lover" is a tale of love and deceit. Sylvia's cousin tells her that her fiance died at sea (so not true) and marries his heartbroken little cousin. A year or so later, her lover returns and is more than a little put out to find her married to someone else. Sylvia, seeing her husband's deception, kicks him out and tells him to never come back. Later, Sylvia's husband saves her lover's life during a sea battle. Soon the Lover's wife of several years appears to thank Sylvia for her husband's bravery, shocking a very upset Sylvia.
This is part one of a much longer piece I wrote a while ago. Hopefully I will get around to putting part 2 up some time this year. As always, feel free to leave a comment below.
A couple weeks ago, I was looking for music that sounded like it could be part of a villain's soundtrack. (I need inspiration, folks! My villains feel 2D!) After hours of endless jams, I stumbled upon The Tech Thieves. Yes, their name sounds like they're a cyber gang but all they steal is your attention.
Quick background: The Tech Thieves are a Canadian duo who are on the radar of Big Time artists like Martin Garrix and The Chainsmokers. Their genre is Dance/Electronic. There is very little about them online so this will have to do, OK?
If I had to use one word to describe their sound, it would be Atmospheric. Their music sets the scene, the mood, and sometimes even the dialogue. I feel like you could use the music in a movie or tv show perfectly. Also, let me just put it out there that I want someone to put together some choreography for some of these songs. It would be so beautiful.
Below are a few of my favorites from them.
Feel free to have a jam session while listening to them. If I've made you a fan or you already were one, feel free to leave a message below.
I'm going to be honest. Math gives me anxiety. I am currently helping one of the sibs with their math. While I know the answers, I feel worried that I might not remember properly how certain methods work. I only get this way with math.
It's something of a bummer, really. I feel like I can find a footing in almost any subject except math. I try my best to avoid advanced mathematics because I get so nervous I begin to think I might vomit and my mind goes blank.
There are so many cool things out there that one can do if you are comfortable with math. Since I'm not, I sometimes feel a bit depressed out it. But that is life, right?
If anyone else has the same issue, feel free to leave a message below.
Well, as you might have guessed by the title, the sibs and I caught a cold. I hate feeling sick. I feel like it's a betrayal of my body. I mean, immune system, you had one job!
So, we have been doing things at a slower pace these past few days. Thankfully, we seem to be almost out the woods and back to our regular selves. Yay!
Before I go, here's a quick book recommendation. If you like hockey and are looking for a sweet and faith filled read, check out Carolyn Miller's Original Six series. I am midway through book three. Each book can be read as a standalone but they are interconnected.
If you've read them before and enjoyed it, feel free to leave a message below. Or just simply say hi.
A couple of days ago, in the wee hours of the morning, the tornado sirens started blaring. Now I had just started to feel sleepy (insomnia wasn't too bad that night) and I had my headphones on while playing some classical music. My mom came to my room and was like "Don't you hear the sirens?!?"
Long story short, we dragged the all the half awake children to the basement where they proceeded to complain about their disturbed sleep. Lb2 turned our radio to a local station to get an update and while we waited for the NWS to break in (which it never did), I started dancing in the basement to stay awake. You see our basement floods sometimes and I had no intention of laying on the floor and falling asleep. Thing is I gave all the good dozing spots to my sibs so only the floor was left.
Found out I don't dance half bad when I'm sleep deprived. LB2 said it's probably because I'm too tired to be self-conscious. I guess that's good to know. Not sure how that will be a help to me though.....
Anyway, we are all fine. It was a brief scare and now I don't feel comfortable listening to music at night. I mean, what if it happens again? If you understand this new paranoia I've unlocked, feel free to leave a message below.
