A New Sweet Summer Mix on 8tracks

I've compiled another 8tracks playlist. I can't help it...I love all of these songs. It pours out of me like rain. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Friday. <3 L

Father's Day: Sweet Memories of Early Mornings, Cockoo Clocks, and Patsy Cline

It's 5am on Father's Day morning, too early for even the dogs to come downstairs and ask for breakfast. I can hear Gibbs, Marley's bodyguard, and who can't so much as let another dog sniff Marley without getting so worked up that he jumps, barks, and whines in place, snoring at the top of the landing.

I can hear the clock ticking in the living room. Such a peaceful sound. It reminds me of my grandparent's house when I was little in Waynesboro, VA. They had antique cockoo clocks that I was fascinated with, happily ticking away, that I would listen to in the room 'off limits' to a little girl under the age of six...but when no one was awake, I could slip into the formal living room that had a smell so sweet and clean, and filled with beautiful collectibles from Germany, it could only be my Nan and Pop's house.
 
I'm now thankful for waking up so early this morning, as I never would have had this memory otherwise. I haven't thought of that living room in years, or of that old Waynesboro house on Gum Street that I loved so much as a kid. My sister and I were certain there were secret passageways in that old house. I believe there were, actually, little rooms and closets that were built between the rooms connecting them together. Since we watched the show Webster when we were little, we really wanted a secret passageway to hide in if bad guys got into our house. It's funny what types of conversations you have with your sister when you are all of five years old.

On this Father's Day morning, my husband and I are lucky to have his parents sleeping in our guest room, a decision to drive down they made at the last minute two days ago. I'm glad they came. There are few things that can make my husband so happy as seeing his parents, and that's his one regret of living so far away from DC, and honestly mine, too. It's hard to be so far away from people you love, no matter how much you love living somewhere. Thankfully, my mom has plans to come down in August. I miss her, too, which is why we talk for several hours on the phone each week, even if I have nothing to say and just want to listen to her tell me what she happens to be working on that week. Hearing someone's voice that you love is not overrated.

So today, in honor of Father's Day, with sweet memories of German cockoo clocks, wind-up delicate music boxes, and quiet mornings when I would sit and wait patiently for my family to wake up, I would like to share a list of what I learned from my father. As my lovely friend Janeen said, many of the best parts of me came from him. I think that's true.

1. Champagne can be enjoyed any time of day, for an occasion or for no reason whatsoever
2. It’s never too late to transform one’s life or to mend relationships with family
3. Family and good friends are what is most important in life
4. No matter how much you may hurt, physically or mentally, NEVER throw away your optimism that things will improve
5. Stop eating when you are full, you don’t have to clean your plate
6. It's okay for kids under 5 to sleep on church pews through the service, while getting their back scratched by their dad
7. Don’t settle
8. Never complain, never explain
9. Tough times never last...tough people do
10. Surround yourself with people that will impact your life for the better, not for the worse. Your life is up to YOU.

My dad and I shared a love of music. He knew every artist, every song from early 1930's big band to 1980. His favorite artist of all time was Patsy Cline. I dedicate this song to him. Happy Father's Day everyone.

 

When It's Time to Get Dreamy: The Playlist

If you know me pretty well, you may know that I am totally obsessed with music. All kinds. All genres. I can dance in my living room to just about anything. I like inde music, 80's hair metal, grunge, old school rap, slow jams, pop, country, bluegrass, even Kenny G. Yes, I said it. I like Kenny G. ...WHAT.

So it should come as no surprise that I am badly in need of a dance party. Three plus straight hours of handpicked songs that I can rock out to with cold drink in hand (fond memories of my wedding come to mind...). Sadly, I don't know where I can do this and I live in a townhouse where I would keep the kids next door awake...or at the very least irritated. I'm at a loss. This is one reason I want to get married again. To the same person I'm married to now, SILLY.

Since I don't work in an office, I listen to music on Pandora ALL DAY LONG...generally to my Happy playlist. It's perfected greatness. Yes, you may think I'm just biased but it's taken me years to get it juuuuust right. It's not easy deselecting songs Pandora tries to slip in. And so, over the course of the past month, I have, with my just slightly ADD self, pulled together this dreamy playlist. It's not a dance party. One thing at a time. These are all songs that I literally had to stop what I was doing and take note of the song. I hope you enjoy this playlist as much as I do.

Dance party playlist (and other handpicked playlists on 8tracks) will come...at some point.