SoCS on Sunday- What defines “pretty”

I’m not sure I realized how much  I was struggling until my dear friend, Linda, posted a comment on my Song Lyric Sunday Theme post last night.  I will be forever grateful to Linda and this amazing community I have found for the constant support and outpouring of love.

I’ve always struggled with fitting into the “pretty” lot.  It wasn’t until later in my life that I ditched the whole idea and decided to go in a different direction.  It’s still an ideal that haunts me, though.  I’m not sure why I think of “pretty” as an ideal in which to fit, rather than defining it in my own way, which is, I think much more accurate.

Pretty is different things to different people, so I don’t understand why there is such a “standard” idea of it posted everywhere for everyone to see.  It bothers me on so many levels.  I think the only way to combat it, though, is to rise up against it and create our own idea of “pretty”.

When my sister was suffering from breast cancer, she had to face the awful decision of how many breasts to remove in order to stop the cancer’s progress.  I remember her crying on the phone and telling me she just wanted to feel like a woman.  She decided to only remove one of them, in order to keep feeling in the other.  I just remember how awful it was to realize that we define ourselves as women in such strange ways…

Our hair… our boobs… our uterus, perhaps?…

I’ve been faced with the realization that my womanly parts are only causing me pain.  I’m not sad to know they are soon to be gone, but it’s odd to realize that the thing that helped me create children will soon be gone.  Does that make me less pretty?

Was I less pretty when I decided to shave my head to support my sister in her fight against breast cancer?

Are men less pretty when they have a beer belly rather than a six pack?

NO!!  I resent the idea of being defined by our looks or our abilities… am I less of a woman because I don’t have certain parts that normally define women?

Lets stop judging ourselves and others and just realize that we are all BEINGS living out our lives.. trying to find acceptance and love.  I love you all for your acceptance and your love.  I don’t believe I would be writing today if it wasn’t for your love and support, so thank you!

I know the last few months have been scarce, but I plan to return in full force after the new year.

I love you all and wish you all a happy holiday season of love, beauty and peace!

---

This post is part of Stream of Consciousness Saturday hosted by Linda G. Hill.  I’m a day late, but yesterday’s prompt was “pretty.”

Advertisement

Song Lyric Sunday – One Last Time from Hamilton

The only thing I could think of when presented with the theme for this week was a song from my current musical obsession, Hamilton.  I’ve always been rather meh about history, but when I first heard Hamilton, I remember wondering how historically accurate it actually is.

I do know that Lin-Manuel Miranda read Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow and that became his inspiration for the musical.  I also did some more rather scant research and found that Alexander Hamilton finalized George Washington’s final address to the public when he decided to step down as President.

The thing that I love about how they did it in the musical, was that Hamilton sings the words first, and then Washington comes in and sings with him.  I thought it was profound that the writer sang the words first, but the full impact comes from the President, himself when he comes in to sing the words with Hamilton.

I’ve found myself wanting to know more about Hamilton and history in general; which, I’m sure, will come as a surprise to my sister, who is an actual historian.  Perhaps it is all about the actual story for me; whereas, for my sister, it is history in general.  Whatever it is, I am in love with this musical and will be forever highlight it on my blog.

I do hope you enjoy!

One Last Time from Hamilton
Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lyrics found at Googly Play Music

Mister President, you asked to see me

I know you’re busy

What do you need, sir

Sir
I wanna give you a word of warning

Sir, I don’t know what you heard
But whatever it is, Jefferson started it

Thomas Jefferson resigned this morning

You’re kidding

I need a favor

Whatever you say, sir, Jefferson will pay for this behavior

Shh, talk less

I’ll use the press
I’ll write under a pseudonym, you’ll see what I can do to him

I need you to draft an address

Yes, he resigned, you can finally speak your mind

No, he’s stepping down so he can run for President

Ha, good luck defeating you, sir

I’m stepping down, I’m not running for President

I’m sorry, what

One last time
Relax, have a drink with me
One last time
Let’s take a break tonight
And then we’ll teach them how to say goodbye
To say goodbye
You and I

No, sir, why

I wanna talk about neutrality

Sir, with Britain and France on the verge of war, is this the best time

I want to warn against partisan fighting

But

Pick up a pen, start writing
I wanna talk about what I have learned
The hard won wisdom I have earned

As far as the people are concerned
You have to serve, you could continue to serve

No, one last time
The people will hear from me
One last time
And if we get this right
We’re gonna teach ‘em how to say
Goodbye
You and I

Mister President, they will say you’re weak

No, they will see we’re strong

Your position is so unique

So I’ll use it to move them along

Why do you have to say goodbye

If I say goodbye, the nation learns to move on
It outlives me when I’m gone
Like the scripture says
Everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
They’ll be safe in the nation we’ve made
I wanna sit under my own vine and fig tree
A moment alone in the shade
At home in this nation we’ve made
One last time

One last time

Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration
I am unconscious of intentional error
I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects
Not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors
I shall also carry with me

The hope
That my country will
View them with indulgence
And that
After forty five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal
The faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion
As I myself must soon be to the mansions of rest
I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat
In which I promise myself to realize the sweet enjoyment of partaking
In the midst of my fellow citizens, the benign influence of good laws
Under a free government, the ever-favorite object of my heart
And the happy reward, as I trust
Of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers

One last time

George Washington’s going home

Teach ’em how to say goodbye

George Washington’s going home

You and I

George Washington’s going home

Going home

George Washington’s going home

History has its eyes on you

George Washington’s going home

We’re gonna teach ’em how to say goodbye (teach ’em how to say goodbye)

Teach ’em how

To say goodbye

To say goodbye (say goodbye)

Say goodbye (say goodbye)

One last time

---

The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week is “to post a song that helped teach you something new (something you weren’t aware of before you heard it)”.  It is open to anyone who wants to share music, so please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 11/27/16

I’m sorry guys… I know it’s late.  I’m not sure why I’ve lost all motivation for creativity lately.  Perhaps it’s the constant waiting… maybe it’s the pain I’ve been in… there are so many excuses, but I’m fully aware that’s all they are.  I don’t really have any excuses, but I’m here and I do have a theme, thanks to one of my amazing followers.

I’m always amazed at how music can open our eyes to events that are happening that we didn’t know about.  Music has such a way of speaking when words are gone.

So, thanks to Kerry of herheadache, our theme for Song Lyric Sunday is to post a song that helped teach you something new (something you weren’t aware of before you heard it).  I hope I captured what Kerry wanted with her suggestion, but I think it’s a good one and am forever grateful that I have followers willing to help me out.  

As always, you can go your own way and post a song that has nothing to do with the prompt.  We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

Also, if you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at redesp75@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

Song Lyric Sunday – Thank you by Dido

I realize I’m probably cheating, but most of the time when I post a theme, I have a song in mind already.  However, this week was completely different.  I knew I wanted to do the grateful theme, but I honestly had no idea of a song.

So, I took to Google and was reminded of this song.  I fell in love with Dido years ago, I just haven’t listened to her music in a while.  When I first heard this song, I could only dream of someone who treated me this way; someone I could be grateful to spend a day with…  I’m happy to say that this song could be my anthem on most days now.

I was the girl who probably should have given up on love; and to be honest, I almost did.  I could never have imagined myself where I am today… happy, in love and so grateful to wake up next to someone who makes me feel so loved.  Thanks for being in my life, baby.  I’m so grateful to have you!

Thank You by Dido
Written by Dido
Lyrics found at AZ Lyrics

My tea’s gone cold, I’m wondering why I got out of bed at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can’t see at all
And even if I could it’d all be grey, but your picture on my wall
it reminds me that it’s not so bad
it’s not so bad

I drank too much last night, got bills to pay
my head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there’ll be hell today
I’m late for work again
and even if I’m there, they’ll all imply that I might not last the
day
and then you call me and it’s not so bad
it’s not so bad and

I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life

Push the door, I’m home at last and I’m soaking through and
through
then you handed me a towel and all I see is you
and even if my house falls down now, I wouldn’t have a clue
because you’re near me and

I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you is having the best day of my life

---

The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week is “gratitude”.  It is open to anyone who wants to share music, so please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 11/20/16

Another week has come and gone and I’m still struggling to get back into this blogging thing.  I’m thinking it won’t fully happen this year… considering we won’t be closing on the house until the second week in December, and the very next week I have surgery.  I’m not sure I’ve shared that bit of news, but it’s nothing too terrible.  Just something that has needed to happen for a while, but is, admittedly, coming at a not so great time.

Even crazier, we are planning to get married the first week of January… did we maybe stack too many things all together?  Probably… But when you’re on a roll, might as well get everything done, as long as you can survive it all.

Which leads me to this week, somehow.  I know it may seem cheesy, but the whole idea of celebrating Thanksgiving is to give thanks.  I love eating as much as the next person, but I really love the idea of spending your life being grateful for what you have.  I’m also of the opinion that it is a spiritual path worth following.

So, our theme for Song Lyric Sunday is to post a song about gratitude.

As always, you can go your own way and post a song that has nothing to do with the prompt.  We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

Also, if you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at redesp75@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

Song Lyric Sunday – Gravity by John Mayer

The very first time I heard John Mayer was his live performance of this song at the 2007 Grammy awards.  I’m not sure I’ve listened to this version of it since then, but I just did and am reminded why I fell in love with John Mayer that night.

Not only is he a fantastic guitar player, his vocal choices and the way he wends his way through a melody is masterful.  I’m absolutely in love with it.

When I was thinking about what to post for this open theme this week, I was reminded of this song.  Sometimes, you feel the weight of the world dragging you down, and all you want to do is fly high in the light and the love that you know is out there.  That’s what this song means to me.  It may be rough right now, and the future is uncertain, but I have always believed that love is the answer.  I hope we all remember that compassion, empathy and love are stronger forces than anger and hate.

I hope you are carried away by this song and that it helps bring you peace, if only for the few minutes while it is playing.

Gravity by John Mayer
Written by John Mayer and Mike Perry
Lyrics found at AZ Lyrics

Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down

Oh I’ll never know what makes this man
With all the love that his heart can stand
Dream of ways to throw it all away

Oh, gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down

Oh twice as much ain’t twice as good
And can’t sustain like one half could
It’s wanting more
That’s gonna send me to my knees

Oh gravity, stay the hell away from me
Oh gravity has taken better men than me (how can that be?)

Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
C’mon keep me where the light is
C’mon keep me where the light is
C’mon keep me where keep me where the light is (oh, oh)

---

The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week was to express yourself through music – letting the music speak for us and through us.  It is open to anyone who wants to share music, so please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 11/13/16

Hello everyone!  Happy Saturday!

I have to admit that I’m still reeling from the events of this week.  It’s so much, that I haven’t been able to write, even though I’ve sat down to do it several times.  I am also stumped on a theme for this week.  Everything that I felt was fitting has already been a theme in the not so distant past and I’m not sure that any of them truly fit anyway.

The one post that I read this week that is standing out to me today was about art – how art has allowed us to speak out and that we must continue to create, especially now.  I’m left feeling that this week needs to be an open expression of whatever you might be feeling.

So, our Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week is not really a theme at all.  Just express yourself through music… let’s let music speak for us and through us this week.

We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

Also, if you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at redesp75@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

Song Lyric Sunday – What a Shame by Shinedown

I’ve been through a lot in my life and there are things I’m not proud of, but I would hate to think anyone would judge me based on those things.  I try to always remember that when dealing with people.  I don’t know what they’ve been through, so who am I to judge someone else’s decisions?  That’s not to say that I think harming people is okay, because it’s not; but I do think we should all be more accepting of each other.

It bothers me that we make snap judgments of people based on their skin color, whether or not they have tattoos, the way they talk, the way they dress, how big they are… you name it, and there’s probably a judgment based on it.

This song brought me to tears the first time I heard it, because it is a shame and we should just stop doing it.  I also love this band so much!  I’m so happy my daughter introduced me to them and that I rediscovered them this year.  I hope you like the song as much as I do.

What a Shame by Shinedown
Written by Brent Smith (Shinedown lead vocalist)
Lyrics found at AZ Lyrics

Two packs of cigarettes a day
The strongest whiskey
Kentucky can make
That’s a recipe to put a vagabond
On his hands and knees
I watched it all up close,
I knew him more than most
I saw a side of him he never showed
Full of sympathy for a world that
Wouldn’t let him be

That’s the man he was,
Have you heard enough?

What a shame, what a shame,
To judge a life that you can’t change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won’t you give this man his wings?
What a shame to have to beg you to
See we’re not all the same
What a shame

There’s a hard life for every silver spoon
There’s a touch of grey for every shade
Of blue
That’s the way that I see life
If there was nothing wrong,
Then there’d be nothing right
And for this working man they say could
Barely stand
There’s gotta be a better place to land
Some kind of remedy for a world that
Wouldn’t let him be

That’s the man he was,
Have you heard enough?

What a shame, what a shame,
To judge a life that you can’t change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won’t you give this man his wings?
What a shame to have to beg you to
See we’re not all the same
What a shame

God forgive the hands that laid you down
They never knew how much a broken heart can break the sound and change the season
Now the leaves are falling faster,
Happily ever after
You gave me hope through your endeavors
And now you will live forever

What a shame, what a shame,
To judge a life that you can’t change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won’t you give this man his wings?
What a shame to have to beg you to
See we’re not all the same
What a shame, what a shame
‘Cause we’re not all the same
What a shame, what a shame
‘Cause we’re not all the same

---

The Song Lyric Sunday theme for this week was to share a song that deals with judgment or the opposite-getting rid of judgment and being more accepting of everyone.  It is open to anyone who wants to share music, so please feel free to click the link, read the rules and post one of your own.

Song Lyric Sunday Theme for 11/6/16

I’m actually really excited for the theme this week.  I’ve been thinking about it since Tuesday… or was it Monday?  I can’t remember.  I was sick for the last part of the week and all the days have sort of melded together.

(I’m going to fully admit that I wrote this post last week but decided to post a different theme that fit Halloween.  But hey, I was able to write two posts in one day and Schedule this one, so I’m not sorry about it!)

I really dislike judgmental people, but the hardest part to acknowledge is that I have judgments of my own.  I find myself doing it all the time throughout the day, and that’s a really hard thing to admit to myself and to you guys.  But we all do it, even if it’s only in small ways.

Note: Along with the theme for this week, I’d like to challenge you to recognize the many ways in which you judge people and try to stop yourself from doing it.  I think the closer we get to accepting people, the better off our society will be.

Our theme for Song Lyric Sunday is to post a song that deals with judgment or the opposite-getting rid of judgment and being more accepting of everyone.  

As always, you can go your own way and post a song that has nothing to do with the prompt.  We’re all here sharing our love of music and lyrics, and most of all, having a great time!

Also, if you would like to suggest a theme, I am open to suggestions.   Please either pop it in the comments or send me an email at redesp75@yahoo.com.

Here are the “rules”:

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due and it’s honestly just a simple Google search
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and provide a link to where you found the lyrics
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song
• Ping back to this post or my own Song Lyric Sunday post
• Read at least one other person’s blog so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process

Feel free to use the Song Lyric Sunday badge by copying it into your post or add it to your site to show you are participating.

SoCS – A Novel Idea

As many of you know, we’ve been in the process of selling our townhouse and buying a house that is bigger and fits our needs better.  I honestly came to dislike so many things about the process, but the biggest one was showing our townhouse.  It is so weird to think that strangers are walking through your house.  It also became difficult to figure out where to go sometimes.  You can’t always go to a restaurant and eat, but there just aren’t that many places to hang out for an hour or two.

One night, it was just me and my youngest son and I had the novel idea to go to the library.  It was quiet and I was able to get in some good reading time.  I also made the amazing discovery that my son loves to read.  (I already knew it, but it was startlingly clear once it became an actual “thing”)

We’ve been to the library many times since to hand in books and check out new ones.  For the most part, Andru was checking out Manga, but on our last trip to the library, he realized that the series he was reading didn’t have any new books.  He walked over there for a few minutes, but then he was back with me.  I was so surprised when he said he wanted to check out a “real” book.

So, I asked him what kind of books he wanted to read and we discovered that we have the same taste in books.  I found a book I thought he’d like and then we talked about books all the way home.  At one point he turned to me and said, “Mom, I had no idea you had so many books.”

I was shocked.  “Don’t you remember my book case at the house when I lived there?”

“Well, yeah, but I didn’t realize they were yours.”  (I don’t think those were his exact words, but pretty close.)

I told him I was the girl who always had a book in her hand when I was his age.  I walked home from school reading a book; I sat at my locker and read books before school and in between classes; I lost sleep reading books.

He admitted he did the same things and we laughed and shared a pretty special moment in the car.  It’s always fun to realize you share something in common with your kids.  Adelle and Jaxon love music and we share that love with each other.  Andru likes music too, but not in the same way as the other two, so it was fun to realize I can now share my books and my love of books with my son.

---

Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G. Hill. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “novel.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!” Feel free to click the link and join us in our stream of consciousness writing.