Question of the Day

**Note I am currently without my laptop so I am writing this on my iPad. It’s not ideal, and really weird to type on, not to mention the formatting is not user friendly.**

It may come as not surprise but I have a weak spot for journals. It’s quite dangerous for me to go into that section at Barnes and Noble because guaranteed I will find some pretty little book with a dragon or fairy on it begging for me to buy it, take it home and deface it’s pages with my chicken scratch. Then there are the journaling books that offer inspiration or suggestions on what to write. Last spring I came upon on of those entities One Question a Day. The journal poses one question per day for a year. When you finish the year, you repeat the process, same questions, for 5 years. I suppose its to see how your answers change over time. The answers are to be short and sweet. Some questions are silly and others a bit more serious. I thought it might be kind of interesting to choose 10 questions randomly and answer them here.

What colors do you wear most often?

Being that blue is my favorite color I tend to lean towards blue clothing. Shocker. I also tend to pick up a lot of green as well.

What is your biggest fear?

I have a couple phobias but generally I can work my way around those, except pigs. They give me the creeps. As for my biggest fear is something awful happening to my daughter. An accident where she gets hurt or even worse, someone harming her. Everything else I can conquer, even nasty pigs, but harm befalling my daughter scares me.

When was the last time you cried?

Yesterday. I was driving home listening to music on shuffle and Blue October’s For My Brother, from their live album Argue With a Tree came on. Like every other time I’ve listened to the song I was wiping away the tears. I think it’s one of the most achingly beautiful songs I have ever heard. I wish I could find words to explain this song, but everything I come up with is woefully inadequate. I’ll include the YouTube link. Please give it a listen to the end and you’ll understand.

https://youtu.be/RC0tIrHjTIM

What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

There is probably lots of advice I could give my younger self. Mostly, I think I’d want to tell myself back then, to stop being afraid of what others think and take some chances. I wonder if I could just take the attitude, knowledge and experience that 48 year old me has and put it in 23 year old me what that would have been like.

What is one item on your bucket list?

There are still many things I want to see which require some travel. But experience wise? This is tough for me. I really can’t say I want to do anything daring like, sky-dive or drive a race car. I just have no desire for that kind of stuff. I might have to put some thought into this later.

What issue do you tend to rant about?

The general stupidity of humans. This can be anything from politics or terrible drivers.

What is your usual breakfast?

Hot tea, green or black varieties are my preference. Scrambled eggs and fruit, or out meal if I’m feeling not very energetic. I’m not a morning person but I do need my breakfast to be a decent human being.

Who are you surprised is still your friend?

I have many good friends and I’m blessed to have several “best” friends that have been with me for decades. I’m very lucky and I’m also quite surprised that we are still friends. No, its not that I think I’m some unlikable person but I’ve moved around a lot and its quite hard to maintain relationships long distance. There have been times, before social media and texting, where I haven’t heard from one of my friends for a very long time. Writing is hard. Phoning for a phone-a-phobic like me, and some of my best friends, is downright scary. I have discovered this weekend and the last few weeks of visiting with old friends that you pick that relationship right back up where it left off.

What is the oldest thing in your home?

I think it would be the portraits of my 3x Great-Grandparents Caroline and Heinrich Biebeshimer. They came to the United States from Germany, settled in New York for sometime before moving to Iowa. Heinrich was brewer and grocer. He also was a musician. As the story goes, he bought a wooden flute soon after getting off the boat. I don’t know too much about Caroline other than the basic biographical facts. As for the portraits, I’m not sure on the exact date, but I can deduce that they probably were painted in New York around the 1860s.

What part of your body do you like to show off?

I was tempted to pick another random question because this one is just so…bleh. Currently, nothing. Except maybe my fingernails. I recently started growing them out and they are kind of pretty. Other than that I’m really kind of self conscious about my looks. When I was younger I still had confidence issues regarding my body (who doesn’t?), but I was told I had nice lips and I felt kind of good wearing a crop top.

Life is Short. Time is Fast.

It had been a peaceful evening in the household; the daughter was getting ready for bed and I was starting to pack for my trip tomorrow when the doorbell started ringing frantically. It was the neighbor kid. I won’t go into details but something was amiss at her house and I raced over there to take care of what I could. An hour later things were as sorted as they could be and my daughter and I headed home. Needless to say, the adrenaline is pumping and I couldn’t sleep if I tried. I’d try painting or reading to calm my nerves, but the light isn’t good in this house at night and the current trashy romance novel I’m reading, I fear isn’t a HEA (Happily Ever After) and well, that’s just not going to work. So here I am.

I am going to visit my best friend from High School tomorrow. We’ve not been able to see each other for many, many years we’ve been very fortunate to have able to maintain our friendship. We’re planning on going to see Night Ranger. I used to be a freakin’ huge Night Ranger fangirl back in the day and while my enthusiasm has wained a bit for them over the years they will always be a sentimental favorite of mine. Earlier in the day on my friend’s blog she wrote about the concert and her thoughts surrounding music and the event. Of course this in turn prompted my own thoughts.

Some time ago I saw a meme on Facebook that stuck with me, that said “Life is too short, buy the shoes, go to the concert, eat the cake”. Something along that vein anyway. I used to go to shows all the time in my 20’s into my 30’s. I got to see a lot of great bands, experience some pretty epic music. I made friends, had adventures and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Even if I didn’t particularly like a band it was fun being with my people dancing freely or moshing in the pit.

Then I got married, had my daughter and thought I had to make more “grown up” choices. This was by no means my daughter’s or anyone else’s doing, just some silly notion I told myself. Don’t get me wrong I love being a mom and nothing is more important than this, I forgot all about the balance of things.

But then…2 years ago I woke up to the news that my musical idol, Chris Cornell had unexpectedly died. He and Soundgarden had performed near me not 2 days before, and again, I talked myself out of going. The regret still runs deep. This coupled with the recent illnesses and deaths kind of was like an eye opener. Regret is something I don’t want dragging me down anymore. There are a lot of things besides missed concerts and fancy shoes not purchased that I regret.

So when my friend tossed the idea out me driving over for the concert and for a visit, without hesitation I agreed. No more am I going to let things slide, let life happen and wallow in the regrets of things I didn’t do or say.

Tell your people you love them, that you appreciate them.

Buy the fancy shoes, if that’s your thing.

Have your cake and eat it too, frosting and all.

Buy the damn concert tickets.

Go. Do it.

Influential Album Challenge Day 10 – Caroline’s Spine Monsoon

February 14, 1998. First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. The day my Caroline’s Spine adventure began.

It was the day I first saw the only band that I would consider sharing the number one spot with Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger on my, oh so important influential album challenge. Caroline’s Spine is not only a big influence music-wise, but it also a personal connection that, really I wouldn’t care to separate from the music. As I mentioned, it was a nearly 10 year epic journey “following” a band, meeting and making some life-long friends and an all around good time.

On that February day, my friends Cathy, Russ and I had decided to go and see a Sebastian Bach concert at the famous First Avenue in Minneapolis. Caroline’s Spine was the opening band. Generally speaking I am rarely moved by opening act, but this band was different right out of the gate. From the first song, which I would find out later was called Jumpship, I was completely blown away. My friend Cathy and I looked at each other halfway through their set in amazement. After the show we went over to the merch table intent on buying their CD. Unfortunately, they were sold out.

I drove down to Mankato the next day in search of their CD Monsoon. Once purchased it was on permeant rotation in my CD player. I was not alone in my new found obsession, as my friend Cathy had it just as bad. I told her that once summer came around and if they had a show anywhere within 8 hours driving distance, we’d go. Our next show was in Lincoln, NE (or was it Sioux Falls, SD? It’s all such a blur!) followed by the New London Music Fest somewhere deep into Wisconsin. Not too long after this we started seeing familiar faces at the shows and making new friends. I met one of my greatest and dearest friends, Seven, at a show in Cedar Rapids, IA. She and I had some of the best road trips ever. Every show it seemed that our little family added a new face or two. Through the years many of us have stayed close, even if we do not get together like we used too. Every time I hear Rainbow Connection I think them.

When I first saw Spine they were touring in support of their CD Monsoon. Basically, Monsoon is comprised of the “best songs” from the bands four previous indie releases (Caroline’s Spine, …So Good Afternoon, Ignore the Ants and Huge). They were remastered or re-recorded. These songs were the backbone of any Spine show, but to really get Spine, I almost think you had to see them live.

But back to the album. There is a strong lyrical storytelling aspect to Monsoon, especially on the band’s most recognizable song, Sullivan. It is a retelling of five brothers from Waterloo, IA stationed on the same ship in the South Pacific during WWII. The music is somewhere between alternative and hard rock, a post-grunge sound if you like (which is a thing). Upbeat and in-your-face with some of the catchiest guitar riffs around.

I’ve always thought it a shame that Spine didn’t get the recognition they so rightly deserved. Do yourself a favor. Go over to YouTube and search for Sullivan. Or any of their live shows. You won’t be disappointed.

Influential Album Challenge Day 9 – Soundgarden Badmotorfinger

I consider Badmotorfinger and the album I will name for day 10 to be a tie for #1 on my list. I’m not going to even try and pick which one means more to me.

I know I selected Chris Cornell’s retrospective CD for Day 8 yesterday, but for me Badmotorfinger is, and has been one of my favorite CDs for nearly 30 years now and for that reason alone it deserves it own damn spot on my list. In fact I think it is the quintessential Soundgarden album. Yesterday was about Chris Cornell and his legacy, today, is Soundgarden. There were three other guys in the band, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepard, each masters of their craft. Take anyone one of them away and you’d not have the Soundgarden we think of.

So much attention has been given to Chris Cornell about his contribution to music, his voice, his lyrics, that it often overshadowed the rest of the band. You know I love me some Chris Cornell, but it is true. For instance, did you know that Room a Thousand Years Wide was written by Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil? And that my favorite song off the CD, Slaves and Bulldozers was a collaboration between bassist and human bean stalk, Ben Shepard and Cornell? (Makes sense, since the bass in this song is f-n’ badass).

I am not a musician and really have a very small grasp of anything technical about music. Apparently, Badmotorfinger is full of unusual time signatures and tunings. I’ve always liked to listen to things that are off the beaten path so to speak. I like the unusual, the odd thing put in place where it shouldn’t be. I like the weird. Music isn’t any different. (For instance, take Johnny Flynn’s type of folk music that features trumpet). It could be one reason I was drawn to Soundgarden in the first place.

The lyrics on this album differ a bit from their previous releases. They are full of imagery. Nothing is quite spelled out and it seems to let the listener discover for themselves just what it might all be about. No typical lyrics from that era of hair metal; no songs about motorcycles, girls and getting trashed. Thinking music you can rock out too.

Lyrics I love:

I’m burning diesel burning dinosaur bones

Its raining ice picks on your steel shore

I’m looking California but feeling Minnesota

The grass is always greener where the dogs are shedding (shitting)

Virgin eyes and dirty looks

I share a cigarette with negativity, Sitting here like wet ashes, With X’s in my eyes and drawing flies. Bathed in perspiration drowned my enemies. Used my inspiration for a guillotine

Badmotorfinger fully deserves to be #1 on my list, simply for the superb musicality from the entire band, the lyrics full of colorful imagery and sheer greatness that was Soundgarden.

Influential Album Challenge Day 7 – Mad Verb Sincerely Your Obedient Servant

This is one of those albums that is really hard to separate the music from my life, but I’ll try. Maybe. Probably shouldn’t should I?

Mad Verb came into my life at the annual Taste of Madison in 2001, which was kind of tradition for my friends and I to go make a weekend out of it. It seemed like everyone knew all about them and I was the last to know. It was their first time playing up in these parts and I hadn’t been down to Tulsa like the rest of the gang. So there was a lot of hype and my expectations were set high. I was not disappointed. They were an amazing live band! Sincerely Your Obedient Servant was their first CD.

Mad Verb seemed to be only around for a short while before going on and pursuing different projects. They only released two CDs during that time and very little about them can be found on the internet. Just one little radio clip with their song Cream Puff. This was the song that usually closed their set, a high energy, good-time song that makes for a great mosh pit.

Their song Take Me Places is perhaps one of songs that mean the most to me. It is a slower tempo song about a new relationship. Yes, a cliche subject, but there are certain lines in the song that I repeat to myself when I’m dealing with difficult things.

The past gives us courage. The future lets us know, that today we hold the balance

There’s not much more to life than living blissfully.

And really, that right there is my truth. Don’t worry so much about the past or the future, as none of its really completely within my control. Do what makes me happy, my bliss, and really, that’s what’s going to get me through each day. Perhaps that wasn’t what they meant when they wrote the song, but it what I got out of it.

Mad Verb and this CD hold a lot of wonderful memories for me. I listen to this CD frequently still, all these years later. I listen, and I smile.

Influential Album Challenge Day 3 – Led Zeppelin III

Honestly, I could have chosen any one of Led Zeppelin’s albums. They are that good. I selected III because it contains some some great straightforward hard rock tunes (Immigrant Song) that Zeppelin is well known for as well as more acoustic folk-type songs (Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and Tangerine). I think this albums shows how versatile they could be.

I was an infant/young child during most of the time Led Zeppelin was making music. In fact, this album was released a few months before I was born. As a result I was not aware of the band until I developed an interest in hard rock/heavy metal music as a teenager. From my many hours reading Metal Edge and Hit Parader I gathered that pretty much every band was influenced by Led Zeppelin to some extent.

By the time I bought my first Led Zeppelin album, which I’m pretty sure was IV (you know, the one with Stairway to Heaven on it), I had heard many of their songs in the art room.In short order I had all of their albums on cassette tape and listening to them just as frequently as I did any other favorite band of mine. I loved their references to Tolkien and I didn’t think there was a soul alive that could deny that Jimmy Page was a true guitar god. John Bonham and John Paul Jones pounded out a solid, heavy beat.

For me at least, I feel that Led Zeppelin just might have been the greatest rock band to have ever graced this planet. Their music has been around for half a century and it’s yet to sound tired or dated.