Friday Five - Comfort Media

Today's Friday Five invites us to share about favorite forms of media that bring comfort and peace. This was a more difficult exercise than I expected it to be because I go through phases in my "comfort media." And since this is supposed to be the "Friday Five" rather than the "Friday Fifty" I decided to go with things that currently bring me comfort and peace.

Books by Jan Karon - I believe I started reading these books early in my college career and I absolutely fell in love with the setting, the characters, and her writing style. I was absolutely heartbroken when the first series, The Mitford Years, ended. But I do love my occasional return trips to Mitford. And I am especially thrilled that there is now a new series (and now a brand new book!) Everything she writes seems to become an "old favorite" even after I read it the first time! The picture today is of the newest book that I am going to see about acquiring this weekend!

Music by Chris Rice - I have not kept up with much of his stuff after about 2005, but I adore what I have and would love to get more. My favorites have always been "Smell the Color Nine" and "The Living Room Sessions - Hymns" but hearing his voice is just amazingly soothing to me. If anyone out there is searching for Christmas gift ideas for me, I'd love to have "The Living Room Sessions - Christmas" eventually!

The Wemmicks books by Max Lucado - I don't care that these are "children's books", it is wonderful to be reminded in such a tangible way that, "You are special!" I currently have two of these sitting on my desk at the hospital and I have found myself reading them about every other day. Good stuff!

Casino - Ok, I know this doesn't seem like a typical "warm fuzzy" movie, but it is for me. Mostly because when I am watching it, I am curled up on the couch with my husband! Now that I've seen it several times, I don't have to use my brain a whole lot when I watch it and it lets me re-charge!

The Golden Girls - Whether it's a re-run on tv or my DVDs (I have the entire series!) I love to get a giggle at Dorothy, Sophia, Rose, and Blanche! I can probably quote most episodes but I love that they still make me laugh! This is also a special something I like to share with Jeff because he had never seen them until we first started dating but it didn't take long before he was hooked, too. Now we usually watch at least one re-run somewhere before we go to bed!

What kinds of things give you comfort and peace? Share away, I'm always looking for more!

My Playlist, Part 1

I love music. I have loved music for all of my memory. But I am not a trendy person. I've never been really "into" what was popular. I've barely been aware of what is popular, and I am usually at least a year or two behind trends. I had never heard of Justin Bieber until this summer. But I still maintain that I love music. I have been criticized for having the iPod of "a six year old", which I think is a bit of an exaggeration. And even if it isn't, I'm ok with that. Because it's what I have and what I like.

Would I like to have more music? Absolutely! Is there lots of stuff out there that I like and would love to have? You bet! But there are other things I would rather do with my money. I can't remember the last time I bought a physical CD, but it was probably about 4 years ago when I got the soundtrack to Mamma Mia after I saw the show in Atlanta.

I like music that lets me sing along. I like stuff that is generally peppy and fun. Most of the time when I am listening to music it is when I am in the car. My favorite playlist, titled "Fun Mix" now has about 114 songs on it. They are in alphabetical order by song title. There are show tunes, children's music, songs ranging from the 1940s - 2000s. There are some songs that are soft and fluffy and sickeningly sweet, and there are some that are hard and aggressive and It's an odd, eclectic mix. But I love it. It suits me.

One thing I have noticed about my music (mostly thanks to my wonderful friends and colleagues) is how profoundly spiritual and inspiring even "secular" music can be. And how much I think I value things that are truly inspiring, even more than I ever have. I think this is the biggest reason my music isn't particularly trendy and I don't give a rip! Music is so intimate. It reflects so much of my life and my memories and so many emotions that it is a hard thing to share and an even harder thing to leave to the control and opinions of others.

What is on your playlist right now? How often do you buy new music? Do you have anything particularly special you would be willing to share with me? I promise to give more details about what is speaking to me in the coming weeks.

Rare Bog

Everyone needs a good camp song now and then. This one happens to be one of my favorites. This is an abbreviated version because if I typed out the whole thing it would go on for days and I think you're a smart bunch, you can figure it out. If you don't know the tune or the motions, let me teach it to you the next time we're together.

(Chorus)

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og.

And in that bog (echo)

There was a tree (echo)

A rare tree (echo)

A rattlin tree (echo)

Tree's in the bog, bog's down in the valley-og

(Chorus)

From here, you keep building up

And on that tree (echo)

There was a limb (echo)

and so on and so forth until you get the whole thing built up

Camp's in the world

World's on the feather

Feather's on the bird

Bird's on the egg

Egg's in the nest

Nest's on the twig

Twig's on the branch

Branch's on the limb

Limb's on the tree

Tree's in the bog

Bog's down in the valley-og

EVERYBODY NOW!

(Chorus)

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og

Rare bog, rattlin bog, way down in the valley-og.

The Frog Song

In elementary school, my music teacher taught us this very cute little song about a frog who wanted to be an alligator. I loved it. And everyone I knew loved it. But I haven't thought about it in at least five years. I really can't remember when the last time I thought about it was, much less heard it or sang it.

And yesterday morning, I woke up and my first thought was "Why can't I be an alligator?" which is the first part of the chorus. And I've been singing/humming it ever since! 

I put it on my facebook status this morning and it's amazing the comments I've gotten! It has been so much fun to remember this withe everyone. And you can't help but smile when you hear it.

So you need to go listen to The Frog Song. It will make your day, I promise!