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.
