Pssst! Ri again. So, it’s Christmas night. OMG, I am exhausted. My kid is three – that ALONE should be enough explanation, but add in the fact that my Mother in Law arrived from Texas today, I cooked both a Turkey AND a Standing Rib Roast (complete with Yorkshire Pudding) simultaneously for dinner and I have slept a total of six hours total in two nights and…well.

I’ve got no posts in me right now.

Thank cheeses that Melisa from Suburban Scrawl loves me – she’s filling in today with a VERY timely Holiday post. I heart her.  And,  um…the Thank You Note is in the mail.  ;)

Take it away, “One S”!

Now that the holidays are over, you’ve got a bunch of new goodies to play with and your recycling bin is overflowing with crumpled-up wrapping paper. What to do now? Be thankful, of course!

Today, December 26, is National Thank You Note Day. In this day and age when it’s easy to shoot off a quick e-mail or text message, it’s more important than ever to slow down and really let people know that you appreciate the time and effort they took when providing a service for or giving a gift to you. As you write your thank you notes today (by hand, please: NOT on the computer!), listen to this handy-dandy playlist for inspiration.

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Psst. It’s me, Ri.
I’m not the one writing this post.
Well…yes – OBVIOUSLY I’m writing THIS part, (smart ass!)

…but the rest is brought to you by the always charming, ever-awesome Melisa With One S from Suburban Scrawl ~ Enjoy!

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Friday, December 4

National Dice Day? You Bet!

Today, as you have no doubt already surmised from the title of this post, is National Dice Day. I like goofy holidays like this one and enjoy imagining how they came about.

Picture it: Dogs playing poker. The St. Bernard says…

Wait a minute. Forget that thought, on the grounds that dogs don’t talk.

On second thought, they don’t play poker either. Let’s start again.

Picture it: Dogs playing poker.

The St. Bernard says, “Hey, this is really fun, playing cards with you guys. I wish we could do this everyday.”

The cigar-smoking bulldog responds, “Yeah! Or it should be a holiday! How about National Card Playing Day?”

The German Shepherd, on his third beer, says, “Cards are fun, but you know what is really fun? Dice. National Dice Day: I love the sound of that. How about December 4th?”

Whether this highly imaginative version of how National Dice Day came about is true or not (she typed, with a little chuckle), doesn’t really matter, does it? What’s truly important is this:

What the heck kind of music would I listen to on National Dice Day?

Las Vegas-themed songs, of course! Grab this playlist along with your favorite Elvis impersonator, and have fun with it!

A Little Less Conversation (Elvis Presley): You have to start any Las Vegas playlist with Elvis Presley, for sure. This song is one of my favorites, and it’s also on the “Ocean’s Eleven” soundtrack, which gave it a rebirth of sorts a few years ago.

Waking Up in Vegas (Katy Perry): The perfect expansion on the motto “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. This ditty, sung by the girl who kissed a girl (and liked it), is the story of a blackout the night before and all the questions that come with it in the morning. My favorite line? “Get up and shake the glitter off your clothes now.” Awesome.

Pretty Vegas (INXS): The lyrics of this song were actually conceptualized by JD Fortune, the guy on the reality show “Rock Star: INXS” in 2005, when he was trying to become the replacement for the late, great Michael Hutchence. JD was not popular with the rest of the cast; it probably had something to do with the fact that, from the very beginning of the show, he proclaimed that he was the only true INXS fan and thus the only one who deserved to win. One night, during what was supposed to be a team writing challenge, JD went out on his own and penned the chorus of this song. It later turned out well for him; the band was impressed. JD was eventually picked as Hutchence’s replacement, and “Pretty Vegas” became their first single released with JD on lead vocals.

Viva Las Vegas (Elvis Presley): Come on, need I say anything about this one? I thought not.

Danke Schoen (Wayne Newton): Wayne Newton IS “Mr. Las Vegas”. He is currently celebrating FIFTY YEARS on the Vegas strip. I was going to list the tv shows and movies in which he’s guest-starred as himself, performing in Vegas (like “Roseanne” or “Vegas Vacation”), but I went to his website to look them up and the list was just far too long. That says something in itself, don’t you think? This is one of my favorite Wayne Newton songs, and it has NOTHING to do with the fact that it is lip-synched by Matthew Broderick in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. (okay, maybe a little.)

The Gambler (Kenny Rogers): I had to go there. Because you’ve got to know when to hold ‘em AND when to fold ‘em.

Leaving Las Vegas (Sheryl Crow): This haunting song off Crow’s “Tuesday Night Music Club” is supposedly a loose interpretation of her life (when she left the Midwest for L.A.), but there was a dispute with a friend of one of her Tuesday Night Music Club members, because it was apparently about his life. I guess it could be a little like astrology: easy to read some of yourself into it if you want to. Whatev. It’s a great song.

Queen of Las Vegas (The B-52’s): For such a peppy song, this is actually about a mother who is dying and giving her child some final words of encouragement. As it is with many of the songs by the B-52’s, it’s a little weird. But I like weird. (Try “Party Out of Bounds” as an alternate!)

When You’re Smiling (Dean Martin): The member of the Rat Pack most known for his mad drinking skillz, Dean Martin’s voice is silky, and soothingly old school. The song was originally performed by Louis Armstrong, but I enjoy this version as well.

Poker Face (Lady Gaga): If any of you out there read my blog, Suburban Scrawl, you’ll know that the addition of this song to the playlist was a no-brainer as I am currently in the throes of Lady Gaga adoration. (I even dressed my dog up as Lady Gaga for Halloween. Check it out here.) I can’t say enough about how much her music makes me happy, so I won’t even try. I do want to point out some “fun” lyrics in this song though; they make me smile. She says, “I won’t tell you that I love you, kiss or hug you, cause I’m bluffin’ with my muffin. I’m not lying I’m just stunning with my love-glue-gunning.” Where else will you get lyrics like that? (Answer? Nowhere.)

Rods and Cones (Blue Man Group): Ahh yes, the cobalt kings of performance art. There’s nothing like Blue Man Group, especially from the front row while wearing a poncho. (My husband and I have seen them in Chicago five or six times. Big fans.) What do you get when you attend a Blue Man show? I can’t tell you specifically; that’s part of the fun, the surprise of it. What I can say is that you will get comedy that seems dumb yet is very, very smart. You will get silliness. And DRUMS. You will get percussion like you’ve never heard before. It’s mind-blowing. I love the power in this song.

SNL Star Wars (Bill Murray): I couldn’t do a Vegas playlist in honor of National Dice Day without searching playlist.com for this (and squealing upon my discovery). In the 1970’s, one of Bill Murray’s most popular recurring characters was Nick the Lounge Singer. There’s a Nick everywhere you look in Vegas, and if this clip teaches us nothing else, it’s that you can make ANYTHING sound a little Vegas-sleazy with a little bit of effort.

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Awwww, yeah.

We can SO say “we knew him when…and he shuffled for us!”

Congrats to SILVERSUN PICKUPS (and of course our buddy, drummer Chris Guanlao!) for their Grammy Nomination earlier tonight for Best New Artists!! Hot friggin’ DAMN, y’all!

Per the LA Times Blog of a couple hours ago:

Biggest surprise: Silver Lake’s Silversun Pickups earned a best new artist nod for their sophomore effort, “Swoon.” Released on local indie Dangerbird Records, the album was a breakthrough for the act, having debuted in the top 10.

MSM buddy  Ash TOTALLY called this one…so I’m just going to re-post her comments and Chris’s Shuffle of TOTAL Win from October 8, 2009 again for your enjoyment. I’ll just be sitting here…grinning.
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Yep – this post is being hijacked by my buddy Ash of Behind the Lens and 3 Hearts Media…and Shuffle Monger Extrodinaire! Seriously – I’m having cards made up. That is her official title. Remember the Jonathan Tyler shuffle? Yep – that was Ash.

Swing by and show her sites some love, y’all, and follow her on Twitter. You just NEVER KNOW what she’ll come up with next…

Take it away, Ash! xoxo

Ri

Let’s chat for a minute about Silversun Pickups….

Ri and I are seeing them in Norfolk on Sunday. She promises a review. I am bad at those, and would definitely be bad at this one, since I essentially lose every single one of my senses over this band.

So we’re Tag Teaming. I’ll let her enjoy the stereotypical ‘afterglow cigarette’, she’ll let me have the ‘foreplay’…

Silversun Pickups, or SSPU, is a four piece band out of Los Angeles. If you don’t know them now, you will. And you should. Ri will give you all the down and dirty details later, but for a teaser…I’ll just say that their music is like a heartbeat for me. And speaking of beat…I have a bit of a “talent crush” on their drummer.

Christopher Guanlao is one BAMF percussionist. He has this one abnormally highly placed cymbal – it’s like 3 feet above his head…well, the boy works that drum kit like it’s his own show. I have a ring, I kid you not, that is completely flat on the bottom from drumming on my steering wheel along with Well Thought Out Twinkles. (Yeah, thanks for that, Chris…I liked that ring!)

When, at my most recent adventure to see SSPU in Johnson City, TN, Chris agreed to shuffle his iPod for Music Savvy Mom, I am not sure even the scariest of clowns (I am terrified of clowns) could have taken the stupid smile off of my face.

And then I saw the playlist itself! I hope you guys enjoy it.

Thanks Chris. We will see you Sunday!!

Yeah, THANKS CHRIS! Will they let me smuggle in some Homemade Italian Cookies for you? ‘Cause, Dude. This shuffle rocks. ~Ri

1. Portishead – Glory Box – Roseland NYC Live
2. Neil Young – Old Man – Harvest
3. The Black Keys – Psychotic Girl – Attack & Release
4. Macy Gray – I Try – On How Life Is
5. Cat Power – Wille – The Greatest
6. Spoon – Fitted Shirt – Girls Can Tell
7. The Cure – 10:15 Saturday Night – Staring at the Sea
8. Frank Sinatra – Someone to Watch Over Me – Classic Sinatra
9. Velocity Girl – Lisa Librarian – Copacetic
10. The Smiths – William it was Really Nothing – Louder Than Bombs

Buy the music you love. Support the artists…and Chris.

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Not Your Average Single Momma.

Nope.  No, she’s most certainly not. She’s not your average ANYTHING – this lil’ ball of spitfire and expletives is one in a friggin’ million.  At turns, she’s hard as nails and I truly believe WOULD “cut a bitch”…then just as sweet, empathetic and thoughtful as they come. (Although it’s likely she’ll want to cut ME for letting you in on the sweet part.) And the REALLY fun thing is that when you land on her blog…you never know what you’re gonna get.

(Wait.  That would make her like a box of chocolates then, wouldn’t it…?)

Ah, whatever – this is a blogger who uses her life experiences to empower others.  She shares the raw, the scary, the emotional and ends every post with victory.  She’s committed to spreading that feeling to those who feel powerless.  She fights against Domestic Violence. She shoots from the hip, tells it like it is and takes little to no excrement about it, yo.  She revels in her inner bitch. She’s a crusading, soul-baring blogging Dirty Harry.

(Seriously, how can you not LOVE a chick like this?)

But, don’t take my word for it…check out her take on “What Makes Her Not Your Average Single Momma” and then read “Dear 16 Year Old Me“. Uh-huh.  See?  Told you.  Can’t help but love her like a Vegas Lounge Lizard loves a good toupee, am I right?

Oooh, and added bonus:  She brings RAP, which has been a sorely lacking genre around these here parts.  Check it, then swing by and show her some love!

Alright so heres the deal….its my turn to shuffle….I’m not gonna lie. My shuffles depend entirely on my mood (and how much xanax is in me) Todays mood: pretty damn good! I feel like dancing…I feel like a naughty girls weekend is WAAAY over due…I miss my besties and the chaos we could create. Did you know, I’m currently still banned from 2 bars in Iowa? Yeah…I am. Stupid friggin’ Iowa and their lack of a sense of humor! Lighten the fu*k up–lets dance!
#assslap

“NYASM’s Back-in-the-day Assshaking Good Tunes Playlist”

*Inner Circle: “Sweat”
I la, la, la, love this song:)

*Real McCoy: ‘Runaway”
I remember dancing my ass off to this song Sunday after Sunday at the “teen dances”

*INJO: “Love you down”
I loved playing this song ridiculously loud in the car—mostly cause i cant sing

*K7: “come baby come”
I can still here TP say to me “Hey, turn on that baby come song’ and I remember looking at her like “WTF did you just say about baby come?!” *Come* is a funny word when you’re 15 ok…shut it.

*Kriss kross: “Jump”
Im not sure why wearing your clothes backwards would ever be a good idea….who cares. I like to say “wiggity wiggity wack”

*Ini kamoze: “Hot Stepper”
INSTANT attitude adjuster-singing “im a lyrical gangsta” can brighten any day

*Vanilla Ice: “ice ice baby”
Oh knock it off. Dont act like your not bobbin your head too

*Sir MiX Alot: “baby got back”
Say it with me now….”Oh My GAWD Becky-look at her butt”

*Wreckx N Effect: “Rump Shaker”
All I wanna do isa zoom zoom zoom anda boom boom

*Naughty by Nature: “OPP”
I dont even know what the hell OPP is and i dont really care…..TRECH-nuff said

*Snoop dogg & Tupac: “Gangsta Party”
Aint nuthin buta gansta partay—mmmhmmm—I must say, I prefer gangsta rap to newer rap about chains hanging low. Quite frankly whats hanging low…sounds like a personal problem

*Dre: “keep the heads ringin”
THIS song was playing when a fabulous girlfight broke out at the bar….which may or may not have something to do with Iowa….just sayin

With that said—Im outta here~Catch ya on the flip side…

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“Anissa Mayhew had a stroke last night.”

For much of the Mom Blogging world, reading that sentence was like a punch in the gut. Anissa is a 35 year old wife and mom of three from the Atlanta area, and this is her second stroke in four years. Her daughter, Peyton, is a Cancer Survivor…one year and counting. She is a beloved blogger at Free Anissa, the ringleader at Aiming Low, a must follow on Twitter and brings laughter to many, many more sites, organizations and hearts. Anissa is an advocate, a support, a friend and a wonder.

I’ve met her once in person, and “talked” to her a handful of times. I’ve had Anissa’s Guest DJ Shuffle for two months, just waiting for her to add song notes. This morning when I awoke, I thought of the shuffle; about posting it today, to spread the word and most importantly – to ask people to pray.  But then I hesitated. I’m not a good friend of hers; I didn’t want to be perceived as “intruding.”

This Blogosphere is a funny ol’ place. We open ourselves up to strangers. We show our vulnerabilities, our faults, our strength and our passions. We share, without really ever knowing with whom, or how a little piece of us has touched another. Anissa has evidently gotten under my skin, because I can’t shake this worry. I can’t stop her smiling face from passing through my thoughts, and I won’t stop praying.

I emailed Mishi at Secret Agent Mama, and offered her the shuffle to post; I’d just wait for another from Anissa when she recovered.   Mishi told me to post it, along with things that I said in my email. So, I am.

The only time I actually met Anissa was at Type-A Mom Conference…and for literally all of ten minutes. Before that, we’d served together in the “Bloggess Army” Shatner Campaign – that was the first time she’d crossed my radar. (Remember – I’m only five months into the Mom Blogging – I was oblivious before I started MSM in July.) I knew she was hysterically funny and down to earth.

I checked out Free Anissa and found out about Peyton, so I knew she was strong and loving. When I approached her at Type-A, she greeted me like an old friend; made me feel important by acknowledging that “of COURSE she knew who I was” (even though I imagine she was wracking her brain ). She immediately pulled out her iPhone to give me the shuffle I was asking for, laughing the whole time as the songs came up.

She’s clearly a “Power Blogger”, and was sitting front and center in a table full of them…and she was kind, welcoming and all around wonderful to me.

I haven’t had much communication with her since Type A, beyond the occasional tweets now and then commenting on each other’s snark, and a few emails about her shuffle. She wanted to add song notes, but she’d been sick, then Peyton had a medical scare. There was no way I was going to bother her so I just shelved it, knowing we’d get back to it sometime.

Well, sometime is now. Crank up this playlist and sing at the top of your lungs. Dance around your living room. Smile and be joyful. If you pray, then pray while you dance, pray while you sing, pray while you go about the rest of your day. Because Anissa would pray for you, and because Anissa spreads joy, and because Anissa laughs and sings. She’s a doer, and a fighter, and needs all the positivity that all of us can share – even those of us who appreciate her from the fringes.

To do more, please go to Aiming Low. The team there will be updating as they can, and have information on other ways to help the Mayhew family.

I’ve also set up an Interactive Playlist for Anissa HERE. I figure she’ll be needing some good tunes while she recuperates. Feel free to pop in and drop her a song or two, and a comment if you want. Because music soothes, music heals…and music can convey things words sometimes just can’t.

xoxo

Ri

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