Put Your Records On

"Girl put your records on/ Sing me your favorite song." - "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae

As you may have noticed, I have been absent from my blog for a couple of weeks. I have had a lot going on and not only haven't blogged, but haven't done any writing either. I must get back on track now! So tomorrow there will be a fun Tuesday's Top Ten, and today I will write about something I absolutely love - records.

I have an iPod and an iPad which are great, but I am not from the mp3 generation. I am from the generation of records and cassette tapes, even an occassional 8 track thrown in when I was little. Part of that is because I grew up in the 80s, and part of it is because I have always been a fan of anything retro. Even though CDs started to come out when I was a toddler, I have always loved vinyl more. There is a richness to the sound of a record spinning on a stereo that cannot be achieved with tapes, CDs, or mp3s. Yeah, the sound might be crisper or louder or clearer with modern technology, but I think some of the honesty and depth is lost compared to the sound of music on vinyl.

Once I started to really collect vinyl, my mom gave me all of her old records (yea me!) and I bought some at yard sales when I was lucky enough to find them. Now I shop online and at my local independent record store that I recently discovered, just in time for Record Store Day which was great for me but not for my bank account! What is especially exciting, is that there are bands and artists out there who are still putting their albums out on vinyl, like The Gaslight Anthem, The Horrible Crowes, Bruce Springsteen, and many more. So my collection continues to grow. And when I buy records, I play them. Even limited editions that some people won't open, let alone listen to. But I figure that if I'm spending my very hard earned money on something, I am going to enjoy it. So when my turntable started malfuncitoning recently, I knew I had to buy another one. And because I love it so much, I will share a couple of pictures of the record player with you, featuring some of my favorite records and a few that are new to my collection.

What do you think? I love the vintage look and the sound is unbelievable. When I lowered the needle for the first time, all was right with the world as the first notes floated out through the speakers. Sometimes I think rock and roll really can save the world. Maybe the hippies were right about that. Peace, love, and rock and roll everybody!

The Age of Aquarius

"When the moon is in the seventh house/ And Jupiter aligns with Mars/ Then peace will guide the planets/ And love will steer the stars." - "Aquarius" by The Fifth Dimension

For my 200th post, I thought I would share a funny conversation I heard in the car on Tuesday when I was driving the kids home from school. Just for a little background information, the seven-year-old tends to get very fixated (a nicer way of saying utterly and completely obsessed) on things, and she has always been fascinated with astronomy - planets, the moon, stars, etc. She was doing some research at school that day and somehow discovered zodiac signs. I don't buy into astrology at all and neither do her parents, so I didn't really know what to say about this topic. So I decided to just sit back and let the kids direct this conversation just to see where it would go. It went to a very different place than I could have ever imagined...

Seven-Year-Old: Guess what? I researched zodiac signs today and I discovered that I am a Scorpio, which means scorpian. Did you know that you are a Libra and the symbol for that sign is scales?

Shannon: Yes, I did know that.

Seven: Too bad you weren't born a couple of weeks later. Then we would have the same sign and it would be totally awesome.

Shannon: That would be really fun if we had the same birthday. What made you think to look up zodiac signs at school?

*My question is ignored completely*

Five-Year-Old: Do September birthdays have a special name too? What am I?

Seven: You are a Virgo.

Five: *Scrunches face up and stares at her sister suspiciously* Virgo? What is that supposed to mean?

Seven: It means virgin.

Five: What does virgin mean?

*Shannon keeps her mouth shut and prays that she won't have to figure out an answer for this one.*

Seven: It means that you are like Mary, Jesus's mommy.

Five: But I don't want to have a baby in a barn by stinky cow poop!

Seven: Well, Jesus was born a long time ago when there weren't many hotels, but now there are tons so you can have your babies in a hotel.

Five: But what if I don't want to have babies in a hotel?

Seven: You have to. You're a virgin.

Yes, boys and girls, that is just a sampling of what I hear every day working as a nanny. After that last statement, I quickly steered the conversation toward a song on the radio (No, it wasn't "Like a Virgin") and no mention of the zodiac or virgins was heard again during the 20 minute car ride home - thank God! I just don't get paid enough to teach the kids about the birds and the bees.

Teach Them Well

"I believe the children are our future/ Teach them well and let them lead the way." - "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston

One of the most important traits I have tried to instill in the girls I nanny for is empathy. This has never been a problem for the five year old, but the seven year old is still a little too egocentric for her own good, and I finally made a breakthrough with her a couple of days ago. She was complaining that she was bored, and after hearing her whine for the tenth time or so, I decided that a little life lesson was in order. So I sat down with her and told her exactly what bored is, and it went a little something like this:

"Bored is not having anyone to play with - ever. Bored is not having an adult in your life that devotes their own life to teaching, entertaining, and taking care of you because they love you so much. Bored is not being allowed to go to school. Bored is not being able to play outside and run around with the freedom that children should have. Bored is basically being left to entertain yourself, look after yourself, and survive all on your own. You are not bored. You have everything you could possibly want. You are very loved and you are very lucky."

After my lecture, this normally talkative child stared up at me and was speechless for a moment. Then she started asking questions, but not in her normal smarty-pants kind of way. These questions were thoughtful, careful, and heartfelt. She asked why a child would not be allowed to go school, or play outside, or run around and have fun. She asked why a child wouldn't have a grown up to pay so much attention to them, like how she has both of her parents and me - three people who love her to pieces and will do anything to make sure she has the best life possible. She asked why a child would be alone so much and why a parent would treat them like that. Honestly, I didn't have answers for all of her questions, but I have known children like this, and I think it was time for this extremely privledged child to have a reality check. We talked about the children I have known that lived this kind of life, and she felt so bad for them. She tried to think of solutions to make sure this never happens to another child, the kind of innocent ideas that come from the mind of a child who thinks that telling a caring adult can solve all the problems of the world. Because this is the world she comes from. And now she knows how lucky she is. And you know what? She hasn't said that she is bored since we had that conversation.

Those of us who raise children - the parents, the grandparents, the aunts and uncles, the nannies, the teachers - we don't always know what to do or what to say, but I think I got this one right. To see a child who normally thinks of herself way before she thinks of others, who thinks the worst thing that could ever happen would be if someone called her a name, who's only real worry in life is deciding what to eat for snack or which toy to play with next, suddenly evolve into a person who is so overwhelmed with empathy it brings tears to her eyes, was a very special moment. And we're both better people for having experienced it.

Tuesday's Top Ten - My Favorite Movies

"And I always dreamed of classic cars and movie screens." - "Old White Lincoln" by The Gaslight Anthem

When I was trying to decide what list to write today, it occurred to me that I have never done a list of my favorite non-holiday movies. How could this be? So here it is, my top ten favorite movies. Since I have separate lists of Halloween and Christmas movies, I won't include any of those this time around.

1. "Almost Famous" - This movie has been my favorite since it came out in 2000. It has everything I love in a movie - a fantastic storyline, terrific characters, a great setting, and the best soundtrack ever. The story of young journalist William Miller (the enemy!) travelling around the country with one of his favorite rock bands, Stillwater, and a group of girls known as Band Aids, is as good as it gets in my opinion. My favorite scene is when they are all on the bus (Doris) after Russell's acid trip and everyone starts singing "Tiny Dancer". I can't hear that song without thinking of "Alomst Famous".

2. "Across the Universe" - Told through a wonderful collection of Beatles songs, "Across the Universe" is not just a movie, a musical, or even an artsy film, it is a masterpiece. The songs are interpreted so creatively through excellent acting and the brilliant direction of Julie Taymor. The 1960s have always been my favorite decade for a number of reasons, and this movie does a great job of showing the trials that made the 60s what they were - The Vietnam War, protest rallies, race riots - and how the music reflected the time. The best part is when Max (Joe Anderson) is drafted, and the Uncle Sam "I Want You" poster comes to life, and Max and the other men reporting for physicals sing the Beatles' "I Want You", carrying the Statue of Liberty as they sing the line "she's so heavy". Genius.

3. "The Help" - Like "Across the Universe", this movie also takes place during the 60s, but in the Deep South as opposed to Liverpool, Detroit, and New York City. I have written about my love for this book before, and the movie is just as good. The acting by Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Octavia Spencer is outstanding, and I absolutely love the storyline which revolves around black maids and the women they work for. It's so honest, so heartbreaking, and so touching that I could watch this one every day and never get tired of it. And in addition to the drama that makes up most of the movie are a few hilarious parts, including my favorite "Two Slice Hilly" scene. If you have read the book or watched the movie, I'm sure you are laughing right now, and if you haven't, then you are missing out!

4. "Footloose" - I haven't seen the remake yet, but the original version has been one of my favorites since I was a little kid. There is so much great 80s music in this movie that reminds me of my childhood, and I have always loved how Ren (Kevin Bacon) brought life, dancing, and rock and roll back to the depressing little town that seemed to have forgotten the meaning of the word fun. Whenever I hear John Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good" I think of the scene where Ren, Ariel (Lori Singer), Willard (Chris Penn), and Rusty (Sarah Jessica Parker) go over the state line to the bar, but my favorite part is when Ren teaches Willard how to dance. Classic!

5. "The Trouble With Angels" - When I was a kid, I used to watch the old Hayley Mills movies as often as possible, and this is still one of my favorites. She plays Mary Clancy, a mischievous teenager who is sent to a boarding school run by some very interesting nuns. She meets another girl on the bus, Rachel Devery (June Harding), and together they get into all sorts of trouble over the next fews years. It's such a fun movie and has so many terrific scenes, but the best is when Mary and Rachel make a plaster cast of Marvel-Ann's (Barbara Hunter) face. Hilarious!

6. "Juno" - "Juno" is so quirky, so different, and so perfect, that it has become one of my all time favorites. Ellen Page is great in the role of the pregnant teenager, and I love Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman as Vanessa and Mark Loring, the prospective adoptive parents. "Juno" sends out such a positive message about adoption, and the ending couldn't be better. This movie doesn't sugarcoat any of the emotions or rough patches, but it's definitely not a downer either. I have two favorite parts in "Juno". The first is when Juno's dad finds out that Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) is the father of the baby and he says, "I'm gonna punch that Bleeker kid in the weiner next time I see him." I almost died laughing the first time I heard that line. My other favorite part is when Juno writes the note to Vanessa and we find out what it says at the end. It makes me get choked up every time.

7. "Baby Boom" - Diane Keaton is one of my favorite actresses, and this is my favorite of her movies. She stars as J.C. Wiatt, a high-powered Manhattan businesswoman who inherits a baby from her deceased cousin who she hasn't seen since childhood. The learning process that J.C. goes through, with diapers, feeding, nannies, etc. is very funny, because she doesn't have a clue what to do. Since I have been taking care of kids since I was a kid, I always found this so hilarious. Eventually J.C. and baby Elizabeth say adios to New York and move to the beautiful countryside of Vermont and buy a huge old farmhouse complete with apple orchards, but that brings on a whole new set of problems. This movie is just so fantastic, and it never gets old, even though it was made 25 years ago. One of my favorite parts is when J.C. passes out and wakes up in the doctor's office, only to find out that she's being treated by a veterinarian.

8. "Now and Then" - My mom, my sister, and I saw this movie in the theater five times because it was so good. "Now and Then" centers around four 12-year-old girls in the summer of 1970, and how they all reunite 25 years later when one of them is having a baby. The performaces by Christina Ricci and Gaby Hoffman in particular are very heartfelt and the characters are so real, that I think most girls would be able to see themselves and their friends represented on the screen. It's so hard to pick just one favorite scene, so I'll go with the funniest, when the four girls spot the Wormers - four brothers from their neighborhood that love to torment them - skinny dipping and they steal their clothes and run off. There are lines from "Now and Then" that my family still quotes on a regular basis to this day because the movie is that good.

9. "Bandits" - Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton play Joe and Terry respectively, an interesting pair of bank robbers who escape from prison together and end up getting involved with Kate (Cate Blanchett), an unhappy and unstable housewife who just left her husband, only to be mistaken for a hostage. Joe is the tough but charming guy, and Terry is the neurotic, smart, but somehow loveable part of the duo, and they are just perfect. Well, Cate thinks so anyway. If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. It has something for everyone - comedy, action, drama, and a little bit of a love story too. Plus it has a great soundtrack as well. One of my favorite parts is when Joe convinces Terry that he has a brain tumor, and poor neurotic Terry starts developing imaginary symptoms, like having the right side of his body go numb. You have to watch the movie to understand how hilarious this scene is.

10. "How to Beat the High Cost of Living" - I got this movie for Christmas several years ago, and it instantly became one of my favorites. I have always been a big fan of the 80s sitcom "Kate and Allie", so I was really excited when I saw that "How to Beat the High Cost of Living" starred both Susan Saint James and Jane Curtain! They, along with Jessica Lange, play three friends dealing with different financial hardships in 1980, and come up with a plan to steal the cash out of a giant money ball that is part of a contest at their local mall. It's a really fun movie, and with the current state of the economy, it might give people a few ideas on how they can beat the high cost of living. Just kidding, just kidding! This entire movie is so great, I can't even pick a favorite scene. One of the best conversations though, is between Elaine (Jane Curtain) and her friend, Patty (Susan Tolsky): Elaine - "I want you to get this lousy bank to lend me some money, or at least extend my MasterCharge limit. Oh, Patty, You've got to help me! I'm broke, flat busted broke. The house and car payments are due on Monday, I need money." Patty - "You know how banks operate. They only lend money to people who don't need it." So very true.

Idiot Wind is Blowing Strong

"Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your mouth/ Blowing down the backroads headin’ south/ Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your teeth/
You’re an idiot, babe/ It’s a wonder that you still know how to breathe." - "Idiot Wind" by Bob Dylan

I am outraged! Seriously, I have seen two things in the past few days that make me want to scream, call social services, and punch idiot parents in their stupid faces. What has gotten me so irate? Allow me to explain.

On Friday, I spent a couple of hours at the park with the girls. This is a nice park in one of the more upscale areas of my town. It's not the kind of place where one would expect to see graffiti on the bathroom walls, cigarette butts on the sidewalks, or evidence of teenage liasons left behind that almost certainly would provoke children to ask some very uncomfortable questions. And most of the people who visit this park fit right in with its wholesome feel. Most people. Then there is the family I saw last week. It was a young couple, late teens maybe, and their little boy who looked like he was about three years old. This sweet child that was running around happily, blissfully unaware that he is the offspring of morons, was wearing a t-shirt that had "Future Pimp" scrawled right across the front. Really? Seriously? Why would a parent do that?!

And please don't think that I feel the bad judgement shown by these parents has anything to do with their age. I think that even though most teenagers/young adults are not ready to be parents, there are always exceptions. That's one reason why I wanted to write the Willow Ryan series, with the main character being a teenage mother having and raising a baby on her own. There are some teenagers out there who are mature, responsible, and selfless enough to successfully raise children, and I find them incredibly inspiring. But these people at the playground, they are just idiots. It doesn't matter if you're 15, 30, or 45, dressing your child in a shirt that proclaims to the world that they will grow up to be a man who sells women for sex is a crime. Or at least it should be. And I am appalled that this shirt even exists.

Then today I saw something else that made smoke and fire shoot out of my ears and nostils like some crazed cartoon character. I had just dropped the kids off at school and was driving through a nice part of downtown Norfolk, VA, when I saw a woman walking with a little girl who was probably about four or five. The woman was dressed in a business suit, she was holding the child's hand, and everything seemed so normal they almost didn't even register in my brain. Until I stopped at a red light and looked at the child. On the back of her shirt was the word "Bootylicious", with an arrow pointing down toward her rear end. I was hoping that maybe I was losing my mind, I had forgotten how to read, or maybe I was going blind and didn't see the words clearly, but no, I was right upon taking a second look.

HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?! Who does these things to their children? Part of a parent's job is to protect their kids, and dressing them in clothes that call negative attention to them, sexualize them, and disrepect them and those of us around them who have an ounce of class and decency, does the exact opposite. Why do things like this even happen? Apparently the idiot wind is blowing really strong in my part of the world.