Post #698: Christmas - Part II - Elvis Presley - "Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" - Elvis' Christmas Album

Merry Christmas everyone!!  Today, I'm bringing you gifts in the form of two (2) posts... hope you enjoy... Part II:  

I was up bright and early this morning, and I was more than ready to embark on day two (2) of my solo Christmas celebrations (see Part I for an explanation).

I threw on the Elvis Presley Christmas-themed shirt that my sweet mother gifted me way back in October, and I started my morning off with a peppermint mocha flavored cafe au lait.

Of course, with my Elvis shirt on, I felt absolutely compelled to listen to Christmas carols sung by Elvis, and I also remembered that I needed to finish the Graceland portion of my trip scrapbook... so I did just that... and I now have one more project of mine completed... yay!!

Today, I really wanted to go all out on a Christmas dinner, but I wasn't too keen on a traditional turkey/ham/mashed potato kind of menu... so the best thing about a solo Christmas celebration is that you're pretty much in charge!! ;-)  Therefore, behold my Christmas dinner of Caeser salad, crab legs, creamed corn, and a baked potato... all washed down with more sparkling grape juice:

And don't you dare for one minute think that I scrimped on desserts... oh no no no --- check out this plate full of chocolate eclairs and baklava:

You don't have to believe me one bit, but I do have to add that this was one of the most amazing Christmases that I've had in years.  So much of our lives can be chalked up to what we make of them... I truly believe that.  I also believe that the secret to life that everyone is so desperately trying to discover is simply becoming your own best friend and learning to love yourself like no other... it has absolutely changed my life!!

Merry Christmas everyone... I hope that however you chose to celebrate brought you as much joy as mine did!  Tomorrow, it's back to fruits and veggies and broth... I must have gained ten (10) pounds in two (2) days... sheesh!!! :-)

Until next time...

XOXOXO
Anastasia

I don't need a lot of presents

To make my christmas bright

I just need my baby's arms

Wound around me tight

Oh oh Santa hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

The christmas tree is ready

The candles all aglow

But with my baby far away

What good is mistletoe

Oh oh Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

Please make these reindeer hurry

Well their time is drawing near

It sure won't seem like christmas

Until my baby's here

Fill my sock with candy

And a bright and shiny toy

You want to make me happy and fill my heart with joy

Then Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

Please make these reindeer hurry

Well their time is drawing near

It sure won't seem like christmas

Until my baby's here

Fill my sock with candy

And a bright and shiny toy

You want to make me happy and fill my heart with joy

Then Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

Then Santa, hear my plea

Santa bring my baby back to me

Post #697: Christmas - Part I - The Shangri-Las - "Out in the Streets" - England Is Mine Soundtrack

Merry Christmas everyone!!  Today, I'm bringing you gifts in the form of two (2) posts... hope you enjoy... Part I:  

So of course, most people have an idea of how a holiday should be celebrated, and more often than not, it includes being surrounded by family and loved ones and lots of food and festivities and gifts and what not... and I must agree that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that method of celebration!!

However, for others, that's not always possible.  Take for instance... my family.  Through no fault of my own, we are often forced to celebrate holidays on the wonkiest of days... like Saturday, December 16th, this year.  I won't get into my family dynamics... because it won't make anything different or better... but it definitely poses a challenge when the "actual" holiday rolls around.

This year, I made a decision to celebrate the way that felt right to me.  My therapist (haha, I know what you must be thinking) loved the idea because she reminded me that the holidays should be spent with those who loved and supported us most throughout the year... and this year, that just so happened to be me, myself, and I!!

So I started off my Christmas Eve with a film called England Is Mine.  It's a Morrissey biopic.  It never made it to theaters in Texas, other than a viewing at SXSW.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but it actually was really enjoyable... and oh my, the soundtrack was phenomenal!!  Even if Morrissey hated the film, I would hope that he at least appreciated the tracks that were selected to represent his tastes.

So one of the influences that Morrissey has mentioned time and time again is The Shangri-Las.  I absolutely adore The Shangri-Las!!  At one point in the film, they have the actor who portrays Morrissey (Jack Lowden) sing "Give Him A Great Big Kiss", and my mouth dropped to the ground as the backing band played the tune in a way that sounded like none other than The Smiths song, "Rusholme Ruffians"... it was a magical moment for me!!  (YouTube clips are below the lyrics for you to view and compare.)

Another Shangri-Las tune that made it into the film is "Out in the Streets"... one of my favorites!!  

So after the film, I made myself a Caesar salad, a DiGiorno pepperoni pizza (oh my graciousness, I forgot how delicious those things are --- seriously gonna be my new Christmas Eve tradition!!), and some sparkling grape juice (because I don't drink)... and it was amazing!!!  I followed up a few hours later with a dessert of the yummy gingerbread cookie pictured below (which I purchased... I'm not taking credit for that, haha!) and a cup of eggnog!!

Over the course of the evening, one of my close friends texted to tell me how stressed out she was over holiday preparations and yet another sent a text that advised that all of the holiday travel left her with "the worst head cold ever"... While snuggling close to the fire with my little dog, Pixie, I texted back to both: "What a shame!!!" (along with my sympathies and Christmas pleasantries, of course...)

I still had some funds leftover on an iTunes card; so I also purchased That Thing You Do! because I have loved that film forever, and you can't beat a $4.99 price tag... heck, I'll throw in that song for you today too!  

And I must say that my Christmas Eve topped my expectations, and I had an amazing day of both relaxation and celebration!!

I'll be back later this evening with Part II...

Until next time...

XOXOXO

Anastasia

He don't

hang around

with the gang no more

He don't do the wild things

that he did before

He used to act bad

Used to, but he quit it

It make me so sad

Cause I know that he did it

for me

(Yes he did now)

And I can see

(It's still in the streets)

His heart, out in the street

He don't

comb his hair

like he did before

He don't wear those dirty old

black boots no more

But he's not the same

Somethin about his kissin

That tells me he's changed

I know that something's missing

inside

Somethin's died

(It's still in the streets)

His heart, out in the street

He grew up on the sidewalk

Streetlight shinin above

He grew up with no-one to love

He grew up on the sidewalk

He grew up running free

He grew up and then he met me

He don't

hang around

with the gang no more

Gee, he doesn't smile like

he did before

I wish I didn't care

I wish I'd never met him

They're waitin downstairs

I know I've got to set him

free

He's gotta be

(Out in the street)

His heart is out in the street

He don't hang around with the gang no more

(Out in the street)

He don't hang around with the gang no more

(Out in the street)

He don't hang around with the gang no more

(Out in the street)

Post #696: The Brian Setzer Orchestra/Stray Cats - "Gene & Eddie" - Christmas Rocks! Tour

Oh, Brian Setzer, even after all these years, you still know how to rock a Gretsch guitar like no other!!  Thank you for dusting off "Gene & Eddie" from your Stray Cats catalogue... what an absolute treat!!!  And thanks for always helping to put me in the Christmas spirit... you'll forever be the coolest kat around!! <3

Until next time...

XOXOXO

Anastasia

Well be bop a lula she's my baby

Well be bop a lula summertime blues

Well it's something else man and you can't lose

I'm gonna race with the devil and maybe I'll win

And I'm gonna dance with skinny Jim

Well hang on tight you better get ready

We're gonna rock with Gene and Eddie

Halleluja I love her so

Bee I bickey bop bo bo go

Cut across shorty you can't fail

She got a red blue jeans and a pony tail

Well hang on tight man you better get ready

'Cause we're gonna rock with Gene and Eddie

Well come on everybody let's get together tonight

Say mama can I go out tonight

Well I sure miss you and the twenty flight rock

Get your dungarees on let's a blue jean bop

Well hang on tight you better get ready

'Cause we're gonna rock with Gene and Eddie

Well hang on tight boys you better get ready

We're gonna rock with Gene and Eddie

Well hang on tight you better get ready

We're gonna rock with Gene and Eddie

Post #695: Jose Gonzalez - "Step Out" - The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

A friend recently suggested that I check out the film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.  It was an enjoyable little film with lots of memorable quotes and poignant messages such as the ones below:

It was a great reminder that life is often truly lived outside of our comfort zones.  Too often I find myself falling into safe and predictable routines.  Granted I don't necessarily think I  need to travel to Greenland or Iceland or climb a mountain or anything of that nature; however, I could definitely benefit from shaking things up in my life from time to time. 

The soundtrack to the film wasn't too shabby either.  One of the tunes I really liked was called "Step Out" by Jose Gonzalez. I had never heard this song prior to viewing the film, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Until next time...

XOXOXO

Anastasia

Time to step outside, time to step outside
Time to step out, time to step out
Time to step outside, time to step outside
Time to step outside you

House on fire, leave it all behind you
Dark as night, let the lightning guide you

Step outside, time to step outside, time to step outside
Time to step outside you

House on fire, leave it all behind you

Living life, feeding appetites
Stayed through every hard stop, every go
Being bland
Breathing half the time

House on fire, leave it all behind you
Dark as night, let the lightning guide you

Step outside, time to step outside, time to step outside
Time to step out

Broke tooth Monday
Something's not the same
Blank head, crossed eyes sweep the floor
Feel your presence
In your absence shut the door

House on fire, leave it all behind you
Dark as night, let the lightning guide you

Post #694: The Raveonettes - "Dead Sound" - Lust Lust Lust

Happy Halloween!!

Of course you didn't think I would forgo a Halloween post, did you??  I heard this one on Pandora not too long ago, and it is so reminiscent of the '60s Girl Group sounds that I adore.  Even Wikipedia kind of agrees with me:

"Their music is characterized by close two-part vocal harmonies inspired by The Everly Brothers coupled with hard-edged electric guitar overlaid with liberal doses of noise. Their songs juxtapose the structural and chordal simplicity of 1950s and 1960s rock with intense electric instrumentation, driving beats, and often dark lyrical content (e.g., crime, drugs, murder, suicide, love, lust, and betrayal)..."

I just returned from a little birthday trip down at the Gulf Coast, so I'm hoping to stretch this feeling of relaxation for at least another few days.  It was so empty... hardly a soul for as far as the eye could see... exactly the way I love it...

And I got to enjoy the view below while dining on a birthday meal of crab cakes and key lime pie...

And before I leave you, I recently happened upon a quote that I consider to be so profound yet so true... because there was no one else in the world that I would have rather spent my 40th birthday with than just me...

Until next time...

XOXOXO

Anastasia

I hear the sound of falling love

As I wonder where you are

Hits the ground with a dead sound

Know you ain't got far

You're too stupid and sissy-like

To say that you want out

You make the eyes of a million girls

And think you'll make them shout

Dead sound

Dead sound

I used to take you on every time

That sparkle turned to black

I used to drag you through my streets

When you came crawling back

Your cheap words that you brought on sale

Won't help you through tonight

You make the eyes of a million girls

And think that's what they like

Dead sound

Dead sound

And now you go through a million girls

And try to pick what's right

When nightfall comes and you're still alone

Do you feel it deep inside

It's oh so cold on the other side

Where thoughts can turn you down

You make the eyes of a million girls

But I see no girl around

Dead sound

Dead sound

Post #693: Lord Huron - "The Night We Met" - 13 Reasons Why Soundtrack

Sometimes the Universe so freely gives us the most beautiful gifts if we just slow down enough to appreciate and accept such gifts... like today's lovely lullaby-like tune that came on my mix while I was simultaneously taking in today's lovely view of the lake... hope you enjoy both as much as I did!

Until next time...

XOXOXO
Anastasia

I am not the only traveler

Who has not repaid his debt

I've been searching for a trail to follow again

Take me back to the night we met

And then I can tell myself

What the hell I'm supposed to do

And then I can tell myself

Not to ride along with you

I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you

Take me back to the night we met 

I don't know what I'm supposed to do, haunted by the ghost of you

Oh, take me back to the night we met

When the night was full of terror

And your eyes were filled with tears

When you had not touched me yet

Oh, take me back to the night we met

I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you

Take me back to the night we met

I don't know what I'm supposed to do, haunted by the ghost of you

Take me back to the night we met

Post #692: Neutral Milk Hotel - "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

So this song has been appearing quite frequently on one of my Pandora stations, and it's a catchy little tune that sticks with me throughout most of the day. I was quite curious to figure out who the "Anna" was in the lyrics, so I took a minute to hop on over to Wikipedia and discovered it was the last "Anna" that I would have probably ever guessed:

"And I was walking around wondering, would everything make more sense to me if I knew the history of the world, or would I just lose my mind? I came to the conclusion I'd probably just lose my mind. Next day I walked into a bookstore, and there was The Diary of Anne Frank. I'd never given it any thought before. Then I spent two days reading it and completely flipped out... spent about three days crying... it stuck with me for a long, long time... A lot of the songs on this record are about Anne Frank... While I was reading the book, she was completely alive to me. I pretty much knew what was going to happen. But that's the thing: you love people because you know their story. You have sympathy for people even when they do stupid things because you know where they're coming from, you understand where they're at in their head. So here I am as deep as you can go in someone's head, in some ways deeper than you can go with someone you know in the flesh. And then at the end, she gets disposed of like a piece of trash. I would go to bed every night and have dreams about having a time machine, having the ability to move through time and space freely, and save Anne Frank. Do you think that's embarrassing?"

I know I've mentioned this a time or two already in other posts, but I taught junior high literature for nine (9) years before becoming a paralegal.  One of the pieces that I taught to my 7th graders was The Diary of Anne Frank.  It was so interesting to me to see how much the students connected with Anne, even the boys, and how heartbreaking it was for them to learn of her ultimate fate.

Sometimes my heart tells me that I should return to teaching.  It was such hard work with such crummy pay, but the rewards came in the form of watching their young minds and views grow and develop as a result of being introduced to pivotal figures like Anne.  I know I've hit a rough patch in my current career, so I'm most likely allowing my mind to create these fantastically positive memories of teaching that falsely outweigh all of the negatives.  However, I am also not going to discount the idea that the Universe might be gently nudging me back in that direction.  I will keep an open mind and heart.

Before I leave you today, I just want to share with you the one of the most moving quotes from sweet, little Anne... one that makes me admire her strength and character like no other:

I found a video on YouTube that has today's song over a backdrop of photos of Anne and her family... hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!

Until next time...

XOXOXO

Anastasia

What a beautiful face

I have found in this place

That is circling all round the sun

What a beautiful dream

That could flash on the screen

In a blink of an eye and be gone from me

Soft and sweet

Let me hold it close and keep it here with me

And one day we will die

And our ashes will fly from the aeroplane over the sea

But for now we are young

Let us lay in the sun

And count every beautiful thing we can see

Love to be

In the arms of all I'm keeping here with me

What a curious life

We have found here tonight

There is music that sounds from the street

There are lights in the clouds

Anna's ghost all around

Hear her voice as it's rolling and ringing through me

Soft and sweet

How the notes all bend and reach above the trees

Oh how I remember you

How I would push my fingers through

Your mouth to make those muscles move

That made your voice so smooth and sweet

But now we keep where we don't know

All secrets sleep in winter clothes

With one you loved so long ago

Now he don't even know his name

What a beautiful face

I have found in this place

That is circling all round the sun

And when we meet on a cloud

I'll be laughing out loud

I'll be laughing with everyone I see

Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all

Post #691: U2 - "Beautiful Day" - All That You Can't Leave Behind

So as most people mourn the ending of summer as we move past this Labor Day Weekend, I do just the opposite.  Believe it or not, summer is a time when I hibernate and hide away.  I'm sure it has to do with the suffocating Texas heat, as well as my fair skin (which used to blister from sunburns when I was a kid --- ouch!!!)  Regardless, this time of year is when my spirit and my soul awaken.  I begin to feel a crispness in the air, and I become alive again.   

I always start my new planners in the month of September... see here's a picture in the event you don't believe me... nothing but September there thus far...

I also love to redecorate to symbolically give myself a fresh, new start.  This weekend, I started with my living room.  If you've been following this blog, you may recall that I've had a Moulin Rouge/French-theme in my living room since I thought for the longest time that I would mark my 40th year on this planet by travelling to Paris.  Of course, my plans changed, and I was ready for some new decor; so I now have what I refer to as my "den of zen"...

Here's a fun fact for you: I randomly picked out those 7 pillows, but they just so happen to be the colors of the 7 chakras... kind of cool!!!

The only thing left that I have to acquire is this really awesome floor/meditation pillow that I saw when I was out and about.  Then I will spend the rest of this beautiful day relaxing and reflecting on my goals for the upcoming year of my life... so, ummmm, Happy New Year, I guess!!!

Hope you enjoy U2's "Beautiful Day" as a form of celebration!!!

Until next time...

XOXOXO

Anastasia

The heart is a bloom, shoots up through stony ground

But there's no room, no space to rent in this town

You're out of luck and the reason that you had to care,

The traffic is stuck and you're not moving anywhere.

You thought you'd found a friend to take you out of this place

Someone you could lend a hand in return for grace

It's a beautiful day, the sky falls

And you feel like it's a beautiful day

It's a beautiful day

Don't let it get away

You're on the road but you've got no destination

You're in the mud, in the maze of her imagination

You love this town even if it doesn't ring true

You've been all over and it's been all over you

It's a beautiful day

Don't let it get away

It's a beautiful day

Don't let it get away

Touch me, take me to that other place

Teach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue

See China right in front of you

See the canyons broken by cloud

See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out

See the bedouin fires at night

See the oil fields at first light

See the bird with a leaf in her mouth

After the flood all the colours came out

It was a beautiful day

A beautiful day

Don't let it get away

Touch me, take me to that other place

Reach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don't have you don't need it now

What you don't know you can feel it somehow

What you don't have you don't need it now

You don't need it now, you don't need it now

Beautiful day

Post #690: Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - Dirty Dancing Soundtrack

So I just returned from the trip of a lifetime where I visited Mountain Lake Lodge (a/k/a Kellerman's) where Dirty Dancing was filmed.  This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of Dirty Dancing, and I have loved that movie since I was a little girl.  Even cooler is that I got to stay in Room 232, which is the same room that Patrick Swayze stayed in during the filming --- Google it if you don't believe me!!!  

Along the way, I stopped in Nashville and visited the Patsy Cline Museum and the Grand Ole Opry.  On the way back, I visited Elvis at Graceland for the 40th anniversary of his passing.  If you have any interest in checking out my travel adventures, you can do so here: https://stuffstacysees.blogspot.com/

I'll post some of my pictures from Kellerman's for you...

(Google Maps took me in from the back entrance; so this was not the first view I saw, but this is the first view in the film.)

(This is the porch area where I enjoyed my breakfast and where Dr. Houseman announced to the family that they would be leaving early.)

(Proof that I was in Room 232 and a view from inside Room 232... I also happened to be there on August 18th, which is Patrick Swayze's birthday.)

(A stone monument to commemorate Patrick Swayze's legacy.)

For even more fun photos of Kellerman's, visit my other blog at the link above.  In the meantime, enjoy the final scene from Dirty Dancing... It still makes the ten-year-old girl inside of me giddy with happiness to this very day!!!  ❤❤❤

Until next time...

XOXOXO

Anastasia

Now I've had the time of my life

No I never felt like this before

Yes I swear it's the truth

and I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

and I owe it all to you

I've been waiting for so long

Now I've finally found someone

To stand by me

We saw the writing on the wall

As we felt this magical fantasy

Now with passion in our eyes

There's no way we could disguise it secretly

So we take each other's hand

'Cause we seem to understand the urgency

Just remember

You're the one thing

I can't get enough of

So I'll tell you something

This could be love because

I've had the time of my life

No I never felt this way before

Yes I swear it's the truth

and I owe it all to you

With my body and soul

I want you more than you'll ever know

So we'll just let it go

Don't be afraid to lose control

Yes I know what's on your mind

When you say:

"Stay with me tonight."

Just remember

You're the one thing

I can't get enough of

So I'll tell you something

This could be love because

'Cause I had the time of my life

No I've never felt this way before

Yes I swear it's the truth

and I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

and I've searched through every open door

Till I found the truth

and I owe it all to you

Now I've had the time of my life

No I never felt this way before

Yes I swear it's the truth

and I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

No I've never felt this way before

Yes I swear it's the truth

and I owe it all to you

'Cause I had the time of my life

and I've searched through every open door

Till I've found the truth

and I owe it all to you