Etta James had a birthday on Tuesday and I’ve been listening to her album At Last a lot lately–especially this track, “A Sunday Kind of Love.”
It makes even laundry days a little more soulful.
Category: tunes
Did Judy Garland Ever Sing A Happy Christmas Song?
As you know, she sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in Meet Me in St. Louis, which was such a sad song it featured a small child crying during the performance. But just this week I was watching In The Good Old Summertime and there she was singing another wistful little Christmas song:
Poor Judy. You kind of want her to belt out “Joy to the World” next. (Did she?)
Counting My Blessings
I’ve been joking lately about “First World Problems,” such as not being able to find a suitable new and fancy house, or being irritated with aspects of my specialized office job, or not liking any of the coughfivecough winter coats I have, and you know what? Those are not even problems. It just took Irving Berlin and Bing to remind me.
“Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” from White Christmas:
I Rarely Feel Lonely
I’m pretty happy being a cat lady with Toby, but I heard this song on KRCL Sunday and it made me feel a little wistful. Because who doesn’t want someone to bring them booze to ease their suffering from an incurable illness?
…wait, is that just me? Um, I like the singer’s voice and he’s very in tune. That’s what I meant to say. Yeah.
Did You Know?
Did you know that Ray and Charles Eames designed speaker cabinets back in the day? Which were then marketed with kitten pictures? (Click for big)
Hello, gorgeous.
Yes, I’d take an Eames three-way.
When I think of my imaginary house, I think of getting adult electronics like a stereo and a TV with two functioning speakers (imagine!). Except I would want all my equipment to look like this. Then I would listen to Ethiopian jazz and bebop on vinyl, like this: 
You can see more vintage hi-fi goodness here.
How Come I Didn’t Know This?
While watching my new imaginary boyfriend* Christopher Eccleston in an episode of Dr. Who set during the Blitz, there was some Glenn Miller playing. Which led me to Wikipedia to learn that Glenn Miller is officially listed as missing in action (presumed dead) because his plane disappeared over the Channel in 1944 while on tour with his Army Air Force Band.
And I thought I liked Miller for “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Dying while on tour to rally the troops in the war effort is another matter entirely.
*I’m sorry, Dimitri, I’m really enjoying your baritone and your t-shirts, but there’s such a thing as too much music. I’ll call you.
Because A Clip From "Grey Gardens" Would Be Too Depressing
Speaking of patching roofs, here’s a song that I would always hear on the oldies station my dad listened to when I was a little kid (although I think this version was the one playing in 1985). I love the images chosen to accompany the song here.
(As for house hunting, there was one likely one. But how do you know that it’s “The One”? A few people have asked if I want to start dating again–I think house hunting is similar enough that I don’t need to.)
Mad Men Music Monday
How great was the first episode of Mad Men season 4 last night? I loved seeing Peggy like that and the ending was fantastic, with Don and his whiskey and this song:
Yay for Three-Day Weekends!
I really enjoyed that extra day off I took this weekend. Friday I ended up going to Antelope Island to see the lake (still stinky) and then stopping at a u-pick farm with my parents for some strawberries.
I think u-pick farms are the way to go: All the fun of a farm with none of the upkeep! It was nice to be out in the strawberry fields in the sun–until someone got “Strawberry Fields Forever” in my head. So now it can be in yours:
This video is kind of what Monday mornings look like to me anyway. More coffee!
No Expectations
I felt a little lonely last night (which is pretty rare these days, fortunately) and then I remembered that the only person that I can expect to make me happy is myself. So I did that by working on a skirt and looking for houses for Toby and me online.
Here’s the Rolling Stones song of the same name, from Beggars Banquet: