Things That Are Making Me Feel Good

[wheelspinner]

I'm stealing this idea from another community. Just a thread where we can post the good things going on, and get away from all the negativity out there.

[wheelspinner]

I'll start.

I was blown away last night by a band I'd never even heard of - Rodrigo y Gabriela. Two Mexican guitarists who deliver a jaw-dropping sound based on just two acoustic guitars and some amps. These guys must be checked out!

[Georgina]

My Christmas gift to myself: cordless headphones for my tv and music system. I told a friend that I'd bought some cordless headphones for myself while I watched tv and she said, "Why? So you don't disturb Bean?" Which was funny. But. The only reason she'd considered owning a pair would be so that your noise-making machine wouldn't bother someone else you're sharing space with. What these are actually amazing for is hearing dialogue.

I have a terrific home-theatre noise system I bought when I bought my new place and new tv. Particularly when I watch movies, though, no matter how loud I turn up the volume, background sounds and/or music overtake the dialogue. I can never hear what's going on between characters. Movies at home long became an exercise in frustration. I'd stopped watching them.

And then I bought these things! Hah! Did you know that Kenny on South Park actually says whole words? I've been on a movie-watching spree over the holidays. Some good, some bad, but who cares? I can hear what's going on. And! Flip on the music system instead, slap on the earphones and look for new things to clean with the vacuum because I'm enjoying the music. (Ya, ya to you iPod people, I'm catching up there too. Don't worry.)

All without bothering the cat or anyone else. I suppose that's a plus. I don't live with anyone but I have neighbours. They're deaf but no matter. I bought good quality headphones, and I'm tickled with the whole new listening experience.

[Peltigera]

Making me feel good at the moment is the Historical Thesaurus of the English Language - contains "nearly all the words in the English language" according to the Oxford University Press with the dates the word was first used. Fascinating! A bit expensive at £250 recommended retail price. I must be doing something right.

[patchoulli]

Thanks, Wheel, for starting this. I'm having such a hard time recently with the grieving thing but making myself think of things that make me feel good is a great excercise.
I have been listening to lots of all-over-the-place music (I am an absolute guitar freak so am always on the look-out for good guitar licks. I also like just silly little songs that I haven't heard for years) and I am able to lose myself in playing around with oil painting. Amazing how strings of whole minutes can go by without any thoughts other than what is right in front of your eyes. Good stuff.

[wheelspinner]

Jan 6, 2010 14:26:28 GMT -5 patchoulli said:

I have been listening to lots of all-over-the-place music (I am an absolute guitar freak so am always on the look-out for good guitar licks.

This ought to be right down your street. Remember, every sound you hear is made by the two guitarists no other musician is involved.

[patchoulli]

Oh my goodness! Those two can pick!! I don't know how anyone's fingers can move so fast. And it is amazing how they sound like there are more than just the two of them. Thanks for sharing them Wheel'.
Georgina - I finally got to listen to some Blue Rodeo. They are really good. Like we discussed, neither of us is that much in to country but they don't sound purely country. Actually, I hear a really strong Neil Young influence with BR's stuff, do you? The harmonica and the slight "garage band" sound with a big shot of Crazy Horse . Young is one of my favorites although I'd have to say I wouldn't put him up there with the guitar gods. Maybe in the second tier of gods. (although stuff like Cortez the Killer does shine his light)
But his lyrics have always spoken strongly to me and his activism.

[MacBeth]

[patchoulli]

That was cool, Beth! And just as I suspected - summer doesn't last nearly as long as winter.

[patchoulli]

Well now I can add another thing that made me feel good - Beth's Funny Animal videos. Highly recommended.

[Georgina]

Yes, Beth's cute animal videos are a feel-good thing.

I'm glad you're enjoying Blue Rodeo, Patchoulli. They aren't actually country, no. Rock/ blues/country stuff, mix, really good. I read one review on their newest album that said albums like this one remind you of why musicians go into a studio to record music. It's clean, it's fresh, it's original, it's real. Of their new album, which I keep listening to end-to-end, I can't seem to get enough of One More Night despite the disturbing lyrics. They're just good.

[wheelspinner]

What made me feel good this weekend was seeing my niece, the miracle baby.

She's an IVF child, and was born a bit over a year ago, after 16 years of trying. So my BIL and his wife are doting parents indeed. We saw her for this first time in a year, and she is majorly cute. One of those kids who knows how to smile for the cameras, and is all grins and gurgles.

As G would say "Awwww. Baby."

[wheelspinner]

[Georgina]

Woo! A miracle baby and your son's movie release! Yes, I can certainly see why those things are making you happy.

[MacBeth]

That is an abundance of blessings for your family.....nothing better.

[wheelspinner]

Jan 25, 2010 18:26:23 GMT -5 Georgina said:

Woo! A miracle baby and your son's movie release! Yes, I can certainly see why those things are making you happy.

Cail was particularly chuffed with the "Iconic Aussie Film" sticker - the first film Madman have released with that label. (There will be plenty more, of course).

[MacBeth]

[wheelspinner]

I'm one of those people who loves to trawl through second-hand shops looking for bargains.

Today I found a top-end Italian suit made by Cantarelli. Solid navy blue, in my size, and relatively new. The jacket pockets were still sewn shut. In Australia, this suit would sell for $3k-$5k retail; I got it for $7.50.

[Brian]

Jan 7, 2010 16:37:43 GMT -5 patchoulli said:

Oh my goodness! Those two can pick!! I don't know how anyone's fingers can move so fast. And it is amazing how they sound like there are more than just the two of them. Thanks for sharing them Wheel'.
Georgina - I finally got to listen to some Blue Rodeo. They are really good. Like we discussed, neither of us is that much in to country but they don't sound purely country. Actually, I hear a really strong Neil Young influence with BR's stuff, do you? The harmonica and the slight "garage band" sound with a big shot of Crazy Horse . Young is one of my favorites although I'd have to say I wouldn't put him up there with the guitar gods. Maybe in the second tier of gods. (although stuff like Cortez the Killer does shine his light)
But his lyrics have always spoken strongly to me and his activism.

Wow! Did someone mention Blue Rodeo? )

I used to hear them regularly on a couple of Canadian radio stations we get here in Pennsylvania (I'm able to pick up 8-12 Canadian stations where I live; Canadian radio is great! )

Anyhow, I liked what I heard of Blue Rodeo enough that I bought one of their disks in the early to mid '90s.

They're kind of a neat group, not country but not rock, either. I found them hard to categorize.

Here was/is my favorite Blue Rodeo song. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfpN3n8lR0

[Georgina]

Hah! That's their "theme song" Brian. All of their fans know all of the words and they are obliged to play it every time they perform.

Here's my current favourite song of theirs off of their new double CD. It's called One Light Left In Heaven. It's an acoustic version with Jim Cuddy singing solo. It's great and so's the CD version.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wnfJ-MxESA

[Brian]

Thanks for that link, Georgina. And I didn't know that the song I mentioned is actually Blue Rodeo's theme song. Sheesh..

[Georgina]

I meant that jokingly, about the theme song. It just seems to be the most popular song with their fans. It's the song that it seems everyone knows all of the words to and any time you go to see Blue Rodeo perform, all they have to do is play the music and the whole crowd erupts singing. I'm not kidding. I have to get up to speed on memorising the lyrics. I'm late coming to this game.

[Georgina]

Actually, come to think of it "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" is more of their anthem than theme song. No matter the word I use, you're in good company in loving that song. Just about all Blue Rodeo fans do.

[wheelspinner]

Yesterday my brother and I rode in the Melbourne Summer Cycle event. This is a fund-raiser for MS research. They close the roads and cyclists get to do a 40km loop through the city, over the West Gate Bridge (with a classic view of the city skyline), along the foreshore and round throught the zoo and parklands back to the start.

It was a cracking day for a ride and about 6000+ riders took part.

Best of all, the two of us raised more than $1,100 for MS research. So far the event has raised more than $520k, not at all bad.

Some of you may know that my sister died of MS in Feb 2003, so this is a big day for us. We were rapt that people were so generous.

[Georgina]

Sorry to hear about your sister, WS. I had no idea.

It sounds like a great event to participate in and fantastic that you had so much support!

[Brian]

Feb 15, 2010 4:23:14 GMT -5 Georgina said:

Actually, come to think of it "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" is more of their anthem than theme song. No matter the word I use, you're in good company in loving that song. Just about all Blue Rodeo fans do.

Georgina, do you like Bruce Springsteen at all?

[Georgina]

Peripherally, yes. I've never bought one of his albums, but I've enjoyed anything that's had radio play. He's someone I know of and enjoy his stuff if I hear it, but I've not gone out of my way to, say, listen to an album end-to-end.

Why do you ask, Brian?

[Brian]

Feb 26, 2010 23:49:13 GMT -5 Georgina said:

Peripherally, yes. I've never bought one of his albums, but I've enjoyed anything that's had radio play. He's someone I know of and enjoy his stuff if I hear it, but I've not gone out of my way to, say, listen to an album end-to-end.

Why do you ask, Brian?

I'm just wondering. I was recently listening to some tunes by the 1980s group John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. They're the ones who did all the music for the Eddie and the Cruisers film. Anyhow, I've always thought that some of Cafferty's music sounded similar to some of Springsteen's. So that's why I asked you if you liked Springsteen. I was then going to ask you if you like any John Cafferty stuff.

[wheelspinner]

My weird and wonderful St Patrick's Day.

I celebrated by going to see a Swedish film (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) then went to a Polish restaurant and ate Eastern European food washed down with chilli vodka.

Not a Guinness, green beer or spud in sight. I feel like a traitor to my heritage.