Jukebox: Vacation edition

I’m a mess.

Work has been really killing me, and some personal stuff has been difficult to deal with. So luckily starting tomorrow morning, I am on vacation for 10 days. It can’t get there fast enough. I am mentally exhausted (love my job, but it kicks my brain’s ass sometimes), emotionally exhausted (don’t ask) and physically exhausted (thank you, insomnia!). I am in desperate need of repose.

SO, I’m so happy to say that I have 10 days planned that involve:

- Lots of my very best friends, who I will be so so so happy to see (I really must be a mess, because I am tearing up right now. Maybe it’s the mental and emotional exhaustion, but right now the thought of seeing these friends to me is like a little lost 4-year-old finally seeing his mom. I’m not even kidding. Ok, full on sobbing now. Sorry. Moving on…);

- Going to cool places that I love (Chicago, Boston, Maine) and places I’ve never been (Martha’s Vineyard);

- Karaoke (It’s been a looooong time since I’ve done that);

- Stevie Wonder live in the park! Seriously, how cool is that?

- The Pride Parade. I don’t know what I’m wearing to it yet, but it will be fierce! (*Snap*)

- The BEACH! Ooh, and then another BEACH! Seriously, heaven to me is sand near water. It’s the most relaxing place imaginable. Even if there are a billion other people around - love it! Washington DC is the farthest I’ve ever lived from the sea in my life (I count Michigan’s Great Lakes as “the sea” too. “The sea” = “can’t see land on the other side.”) and I’m about dying right now. SERENITY NOW!

- A tour of Fenway Park! Oooh, and then going to a bar to watch my baseball team play their arch rivals who wear pin stripes (I do not mention the teams by name on this blog anymore, because whenever I did in the past - my team lost. I am convinced I jinxed them and I take full responsibility. Sorry guys!)

- Did I mention my friends? And drinking? I really need the former. Probably not the latter, but I’m having it anyway.

So here is the vacation jukebox. It is long, but trust - this is a greatly abbreviated version of the playlist that actually exists on my iPod (for example, the iPod playlist has every Stevie song I own. And every Cher song I own for that matter. Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves, y’all!) Plus I won’t be blogging at all next week, so this will have to tide you over:

Vacation, Go-Gos. “Vacation, all I ever wanted! Vacation, had to get away!”

Flashdance…What A Feeling, Irene Cara. This song may be heard at a karaoke bar in Chicago tomorrow night. Just sayin’.

Gloria, Laura Branigan. Or this one.

Killing Me Softly With His Song, The Fugees. Or this one. Alex is ready to back me up. “One time! Two times!”

Seven Days In Sunny June, Jamiroquai. “Drinking wine and killing time sitting in the summer sun.”

Saturday In The Park, Chicago. Get it? Because I’ll be in the park. On Saturday. In Chicago. And it’s almost the 4th of July. Get it?

I Was Made To Love Her, Stevie Wonder. Love this song. I feel like it’s sort of the neglected stepsister of Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I love that song too, but this one’s so much cooler. I defy you to listen to it without dancing. Go ahead. Try it. Told you!

All I Do, Stevie Wonder. So fun to sing.

Do I Do, Stevie Wonder. I’m sure he won’t perform this song. But I just love singing “Yes, I got some candy kisses for your lips. Yes I got some honeysuckle chocolate chip and kisses full of love for you.”

Knocks Me Off My Feet, Stevie Wonder. I don’t wanna booooooooooore yooouu with it. Oh, but I love it, I love it, I love this song.

Master Blaster (Jammin’), Stevie Wonder. This is one of the songs I play when I’m having a rough time and need to cheer myself up, so I’m gonna lose it when Stevie performs this. I’ll totally be in the middle of the making of the master blaster - jammin’!

If I Could Turn Back Time, Cher. For the Pride Parade. To be sung in the style of Jack from Will & Grace.

Macho Man, Village People. I told you - any reason and this song’s in the rotation.

Situation, Yaz. I realized in making my Pride-related playlist selections that pretty much all I have to do is include all the electronica I listened to as a kid and teenager. Lots of Depeche Mode and Erasure. But I luuuuvs me some Yaz. Alison Moyet is a musical gift to the world.

Come to My Window, Melissa Ethridge. Love Melissa! Again, any excuse to play her.

We Are Family, Sister Sledge. Why are the Pride songs the most fun?

Weekend in New England, Barry Manilow. Because I’m spending a weekend in New England. Get it? Oh, and it’s Barry. “When willll our eyes meeeeeeet? When can I touch yoooooooou?” Classic.

You’re So Vain, Carly Simon. My favorite Martha’s Vineyard resident. Love this song. And I bet think you think this song is about Warren Beatty. Don’t you? Don’t you?

Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond. For Fenway Park.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Beach Boys. No beach vacay is complete without a heavy dose of Beach Boys on the soundtrack.

Don’t Worry Baby, Beach Boys. Ditto.

Light blogging this week

This week - the next couple of weeks, actually - will be pretty light with the blogging. For starters, work has me really burned out, and it’s only going to get worse as the week goes on.

Also, my boyfriend’s good friend passed away unexpectedly yesterday, which was shocking and very, very sad. Services are later this week. Needless to say, I’m hardly feeling up to quipping about whatever the heck is on sale this week at H&M, or whatever dumb celebs are doing or saying.

Then next week I’m off on vacation. I’ll post before I leave - probably to put up a vacay jukebox.

Adele, you are my new favorite

So last night the BF and I caught the Adele show here in DC. And it was awesome! In addition to being really, really ridiculously talented, the girl is just adorable.

You forget when you are listening to her larger-than-life singing voice that she is a 20-year-old kid. But then, between songs, she reminds you by talking with her youthful exuberance about her excitement about opening for her idol Etta James this summer at the Montreux Jazz Festival, or recounting how she got so drunk in New York City that she kept falling on the sidewalk, jokingly singing “Chasing Pavements” as she did it. She’s like your little British kid sister, sweet and endearing even when mischievous.

But her voice was really amazing. It’s been a long time since a performance gave me goosebumps. Hers did.

Here is a cover of Etta James’ “Fool That I Am” that she did earlier in her tour in Portland. She performed it here in DC last night too. I don’t know how long she is touring the States, but if you get a chance to see her, go!

We have a winner!

My search for the fifth member of my list is over. Meet the hawtness that is Gavin Rossdale, who won handily by taking the clever approach of making a video featuring himself in various stages of undress. And wet. We is good. Lawd Hammercy. Sorry Gwen. You still my girl. It’s nothing personal.

Jukebox: The sad edition

I was already feeling rather melancholy this week, and today’s news about Tim Russert only made it worse. I had been feeling down over a personal issue that I’m dealing with - or more accurately - not dealing with. I will not go into detail - suffice it to say I’ve been a little sad and it’s been a tough week, and this week’s rotation reflects that:

I May Know The Word, Natalie Merchant. This particular lyric is hitting close to home: “I may know the word, but not say it / This may be the time, but I might waste it / This may be the hour / Something move me, someone prove me wrong / Before night comes with indifference.”

One, Cowboy Junkies. I love the original U2 version, and I’ve talked about the brilliance of the U2/Mary J collaboration, but this cover is so beautifully simple.

Magic’s In The Makeup, No Doubt. “My makeup’s all off - Who am I?”

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, Al Green. I saw the SATC movie again. This song, played during the scene with Miranda and Steve on the Brooklyn Bridge, once again brought me to tears. I always loved this song, and now I love it more.

Melt My Heart to Stone, Adele. The Adele show is next week. That cheers me up.

Right As Rain, Adele. “Who wants to be right as rain? It’s better when something is wrong.” Ha! Sounds like my life. Fun track. An upbeat tune to keep me from throwing myself in front of a bus.

No Easy Way Down, Dusty Springfield. I was perusing CDs in a resale music store this week, an came across “Dusty in Memphis.” She. Was. So. Awesome. This is easily one of the greatest albums ever recorded.

 Ain’t No Way, Aretha Franklin. Ok yeah, I know, I’m just being a masochist now. I know I should not play this when I’m sad. But then, how can you not?

 Medication, Garbage. Does a half bottle of wine qualify as medication? Sometimes - like now - I think so.

I Am . . . I Said, Neil Diamond. One of my favorite Diamond tracks, about trying to work through someone alone.

Shocking sadness

I had the awesome experience of meeting Tim Russert once, in 2001 when my graduate journalism class spent a week in Washington DC. During that trip, we got to watch a taping of “Meet the Press,” and after the show Russert came over to chat with us.

Having watched his show faithfully for years, I was full of questions for Russert, prompting him to ask me: “You want my job, don’t you?”

Even after the meeting, I watched the show for lessons on how to be a good journalist - thorough, and persistent, and tough, but always civil and fair and true to the craft. He really was one of my journalistic heroes, and today I am very, very shocked and sad.

Mark Wahlberg is my favorite person today

Oh this is great!

Remember my disappointment in the New Kids reunion? And how I said I wished Donnie Wahlberg had followed the wisdom of his brother Mark after establishing a respectable acting career?

Well, when Mark was asked if he would ever consider a Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch reunion, the same way his brother is (tragically) reviving NKOTB, Mark’s reaction was: “Not a f***ing chance.” Ha! Thank you!

Take note, Donnie. This should have been your answer when Danny or Joey or Jordan or whoever called you with the “Old Kids on the Block” idea:

“They asked me if I would partake and I had to decline,” Mark told MTV, referring to the Funky Bunch reunion that he will not be joining. “Part of me would love to run around and act like a freaking a-hole again but I can’t do that. I’ve got two kids. I saw something on VH1 or something about me in the 90s and I thought, oh my God, how am I going to explain this to my kids? I have a few years to think about how to finesse it but I do think about it on a daily basis.”

Outstanding. See it for yourself here. Are you listening, D?

(Oh, but Mark? Feel free to revisit your career as a CK model. Any time. No problem with that. At all. None. )

Guide to “girl talk”

The other night, I was at dinner with a group of people, and a friend of mine complimented my ability to “talk girl.” (She has just overheard me discussing the Sex and the City film with another friend of mine, complete with an analysis of why we found it so much easier to forgive Steve than to forgive Big, given that Steve’s transgression was ostensibly worse.) Anyway, my friend who was not fluent in girl talk said she wanted me to teach her, since networking is a big part of her job, and she thinks the skill could benefit her.

Since then, I’ve been thinking of what, exactly, “girl talk” is, and whether there is a right way to do it. I’m not sure what the answer is, and I couldn’t begin to write a comprehensive guide, and clearly what qualifies as good “girl talk” is a matter of opinion and will vary from person to person. But here are a few highlights, according to me:

Conversational agility is a must. Do not think that the only thing involved in girl talk is fashion, men and gossip. We do talk about those things, but we also engage in every single other topic of conversation, from politics to current events to shop talk (meaning work, not shopping). The key to proficient girl talk is the ability to jump from one topic of conversation to another - however unrelated - quickly and seamlessly. You must be able to go from talking about the hideous economy, to those horrendous Balenciaga boots that are popping up everywhere, to the adequacy of the U.S. response to the genocide in Darfur, to the wacky women on The Real Housewives of NYC. All in under three minutes, while covering each topic sufficiently.

When you become more advanced in the art of talking girl, you will also develop a skill I have mastered with my friends: the ability to talk in a group, all at the same time, and understand each other perfectly. This ability absolutely astounds men and non-girl talkers, but once you learn how, it is a great time saver. If you need an example of this, watch any episode of The View.

The art of giving and receiving compliments. Hands down, the best way to strike up a “girl talk” convo with a stranger or a friend is to compliment her on something. A simple “Those shoes are great!” or “I love your jacket” and you are on your way to a girly chat.

Now there are some pitfalls to be wary of. For example, don’t say: “Where did you get those shoes?” - particularly if it is to someone you work with or see all the time. The last thing she wants is for you go got out and buy your own pair, leaving you to look like the Bobbsey Twins each time you pass in the hall. Also, don’t say “I have those exact same pants!” A girl likes to feel like she has a unique and personal style, not one shared with everyone else. (If you are talking to a close girlfriend, you may be able to get away with this. Know your audience.)

When someone compliments you, the best thing to do is to give a genuine: “Oh, thank you!” If you are becoming more advanced in your girl talk abilities, you can throw in a counter compliment, or volunteer a shopping-related detail in your response. “Thanks! I was just about compliment you on that beautiful necklace!” or “Thanks! I just love DSW. You get the best deals there!”

Never, ever brand drop in response to a compliment. Saying “They’re Prada” is never acceptable unless you work in the Condé Nast building.

Shopping! A cornerstone topic of girl talk is shopping. Now, not all shopping talk is alike. A common misconception is that “girl talk” speakers are obsessed with talking about labels - Prada this, and Manolo that, Miu Miu the other - but that is not always true. I, for example, own none of those labels, so I have absolutely nothing to say about them.

A much better way of approaching a conversation on shopping is to focus on an almost universally accepted theme: discounts. There is nothing better than the joy of procuring a cute item from a store on sale. “Do you like sample sales? There’s a big event coming up this weekend,” or “I just got a great email coupon from [insert-store-name-here], I can forward it to you! There had some really cute stuff up to 75 percent off!”

Boys/relationships. This topic is both universal in girl talk, and potentially disastrous. The most important thing to remember is this: when a girlfriend is talking to you about problems she is having with her significant other, always, always be supportive, but never, ever diss the S.O. “I’m sorry, is there anything I can do?” or “Relationships are so hard sometimes. Lord knows I’ve been through the same thing” or “I think you could use a drink/trip to the spa/nice lunch - let’s go!” are all good responses.

Never, ever say: “Well, I always thought that guy was a jackass, and now you see that I was right!” Chances are, the girl will keep the guy and lose you as a friend - or at the very least, dinner parties with the couple will be tense from that point on.

ENOUGH!

I am tired, hot and exasperated.

Tired because my day started out very early in a very jarring fashion - with a fire alarm at the hotel.

So there were, my boyfriend and I, trying to get dressed, get our dog leashed and walk down a whole buncha flights of stairs just a few hours after we went to bed last night. Our poor pooch didn’t know what the heck was going on - he was little freaked out at the stairs to nowhere at first (this is a dog that refused to go up or down stairs in our house for weeks when we first got him) but he eventually made it down and into the hot, humid morning air with us.

I had hoped to sleep in a little on our last morning in the hotel, and though that didn’t happen, I was still excited to go home. We’d gotten the call from the utility company that the lights were back on in our house! We packed up, checked out of the hotel, and headed to our house to drop off our bags and our puppy, and then go catch an afternoon baseball game at Nationals Park.

We walked into the house. The electricity was on, but the temperature inside the place was 87, according to the thermostat.

I went and checked the controls. The AC was indeed on. Air was blowing through the blowers. Unfortunately it was not cool air. The temperature outside hovered at around 92. A five degree differential was simply not going to do.

We called a repairman, who came out and checked the system, and proclaimed it to be working perfectly. He said that because the house sat powerless for three days in scorching heat, the bricks and walls were really hot and it would take more than 24 hours to cool it down. The house will be cool by Monday, he said.

To me, that sounds like total crap - I’ve been in hot houses, like when my family went out of town for a week and turned the AC off while we were gone. It was hot. And when we got home, we turned the AC on and guess what happened? It got cool!

He said the real cooling would occur in the nighttime hours. It is now almost midnight, and it is still 78 degrees in the living room, and the bedrooms upstairs are at least 10 degrees hotter. This after days of living like a refugee and not being able to sleep in my own bed since Tuesday night. I’m home, but I’m hot. And I’m exasperated because I just want this friggin’ nightmare to end!

If it is any warmer than 70 in this joint when I wake up in the morning, the air conditioning company is getting an early morning wake-up call from me. This @*% is bananas.

Oh, and it’s supposed to be near 100 degrees tomorrow. Awesome!

Jukebox: All hail the Prince!

Today Prince turned 50. FIFTY!! Isn’t that absolutely insane? Oh, and he looks exactly the same. So in celebration of a half century of purple majesty, here’s this week’s Prince-themed Jukebox. And since picking just 10 Prince songs is like eating just one Lay’s potato chip, it’s an extended edition (there are 70 Prince tracks on my iPod, so I did good by narrowing the list down to 27):

Private Joy. Possibly my favorite Prince song of all time (but how can you pick just one?) It’s absolutely impossible for me to listen to this song without dancing.

I Wanna Be Your Lover. Another great track off the same album. Most of my favorite Prince tracks are from early in his career. This was back when Prince was being subtle and creative with his nastiness. “I wanna be the only one who makes you come…running!” Ha!

Darling Nikki. Yeah, by Purple Rain all the subtlety was gone. I wasn’t allowed to listen to this album when I was a kid - my mom forbade me. So my sister loaned it to me on the sneak and I listened to it with my headphones on at night after I went to bed. Such brilliance.

Automatic. 1999 is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. If the only songs you know are the title track and “Little Red Corvette,” stop and go download the whole album right now, because you’re missing the best parts. It’s $7.99 on iTunes. Bargain brilliance. This track is like nothing I’ve even heard before or since.

Lady Cab Driver. See previous comment. One of the greatest funk tracks ever recorded.

D.M.S.R. Ditto. One of the greatest dance tracks ever recorded.

Take Me With U. This song is so awesome, Apollonia couldn’t even wreck it with her non-singing self. A few years back my boyfriend and I saw Prince perform at Madison Square Garden in New York. I knew with all of the hits he had, the chances of me seeing this track live was slim and none. But he busted it out and I was sooo awesome! My favorite part of the show.

Sign O’ The Times. If this was the only song Prince ever recorded, I would still think he was brilliant.

Slow Love. The best booty-getting song of all time - and it is not nasty or explicit at all (go figure!). It’s actually quite romantic and sweet.

When Doves Cry. One of my favorite lyrics ever written: “Animals strike curious poses; they feel the heat, the heat between me and you.” Who could write that but Prince?

Kiss. No Prince playlist is complete without this.

Free. Did you download 1999 yet? What are you waiting for? This is my favorite track.

I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man. I love the happy, poppy beat of this one.

The Beautiful Ones. Ok, maybe this one’s my favorite. The same sister who snuck me the album took me to see Purple Rain. People in the movie theatre were standing and cheering by the end of this song. “Do you want him?! . . . Or do you want me?! . . . Cuz I want you!!” So amazing.

Erotic City (feat. Sheila E.) Awesome funky little naughty song.

Anotherloverholenyohead. I saw Under the Cherry Moon in the movie theatre. Twice. Loved, loved, loved it! Jerome Benton as ‘Tricky’ was theatrical brilliance, in my opinion. But of course, the best thing about the film was its soundtrack, and this one’s a gem.

Thieves in the Temple. Ok, I was not a fan of Graffiti Bridge, but the film did give us this track, so it wasn’t all bad.

It’s Gonna Be Lonely. Prince’s second album is one of my favorites. And this track is awesome old-school style soul. Love it.

Little Red Corvette. Ok, maybe this is my favorite song. I’ll have more than one favorite. Because it’s Saturday night, I guess that makes it alright.

Alphabet Street. I love this song because it sounds so different from his other tracks. Perfect for walking down the street on a summer day.

Dirty Mind. I know he’s all religious nowadays, and no loner sings the naughtier tunes. This one isn’t even that naughty. But I’ll always love the dirty tracks.

Gett Off. Like this one. That he won’t perform this one makes me sad.

Arms of Orion. (feat. Sheena Easton) I bought the soundtrack to Batman for this song. I like Partyman too - if only because it reminded me of the little dance Jack Nicholson did as the Joker. But this song is really, really lovely.

Controversy. Brilliant take on life in the spotlight.

7. Gosh, I almost forgot about this one. So good.

Purple Rain. This is the song I replayed the most those nights of sneakily listening to the forbidden album. Everything about it seemed then - and still seems now - so amazing: the music, lyrics, guitar solo, vocals. It still gives me goose bumps.

Raspberry Beret. Who can pull off a suit in a blue-sky-and-clouds print - with heels! - and not have his sexuality questioned? Only Prince, ladies and gentlemen. Only Prince.