Random Tid Bits

1. In late 2017 and early 2018 I had so many things happen all at once. I had nose surgery, started on weekly allergy shots (3 at a time), an Ibuprofen desensitization, got glasses (good vision, but have a astigmatism in one eye. My eyes fight in how they see), and a cyst removed from my forehead.

The cyst wasn't cancerous. I didn't think it would be. I tried many thing to get rid of it before I had the surgery, and nothing worked because it was behind a muscle. The doctor literally had to move the muscle to remove the cyst. It hurt way worse than I thought it would. My head throbbed for a good 3 days.

I got charged from the lab to test if it was cancerous, or not. I think it was a Pilar Cyst. A hard round ball of a cyst. I never got charged from the Plastic Surgeon. My younger sister said, "You should really call them. Your bill will be sent to collections. BUT I know my address was right because I did get a bill from the lab. I never called the Surgeon's office. Who calls to ask for a bill? Well I have done that once with utilities because I knew they'd never let me off the hook. If it's gone to collections I still don't know about it. We've been approved for things, so our credit must me good.

2. Now I have yet another freaking cyst. They pop up like a pimple. One day I woke up, and poof there's a giant thing coming out of my head. This time it's on the back of my head, close to my neck.

It's a genetic thing. My Grandpa, my Mom, my sister and a cousin all get them. My Mom just lets them go. I'm relentless about getting rid of them.

I contently am putting Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother on a q-tip to raise it to the surface. After much burning pain, it will come out. I want the dang thing gone!

3. My work went from not wanting me to recycle because it takes too much time, to wanting me to recycle everything.

A few years ago I had to state my case, for recycling. Boss Man said it would take way too much company time, and that I had to use my own time to do it. I was highly annoyed.

Now he's not paying for a dumpster service over the summer, so he's all about me recycling everything.

Last week I walked into not one, but five big trash bags full of shredded paper, piled on top of the green boxes I got for the school. There's no way I'm going to take five big trash bags in my little Civic home to recycle. Here everything has to fit in the recycle box to recycle it. My coworker agreed with me to help me toss them into the unused dumpster. It was chained up because the repurpose store next door uses it, if theirs is full. We squeezed them in. Boss Man's probably wondering why I didn't take them. He won't ask though. He'll just stew over it.

This week I walk into this...a common site.

I've been watching a lot of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I swear I could say some awkward things about this situation, but I'm biting my tongue. It's kind of like someone that won't change the paper roll ever! If you open a box, you should take care of that box: Tape and all. Under it was a styrofoam plate. Styrofoam isn't even recyclable here.

4. I got offered to teach a few classes at Iowa Western College. I work here full time. As much as I'd love to take them, I just think I'd need to move into a full time position somewhere. Not just a class, or two. I asked my boss about it, to see if it would be a conflict of interest. He thinks it would be, but loved that I brought it up to him.

I actually like my job better than ever before. There's two people that made my life pretty miserable before. They are gone. We have a new head Recruiting Rep, and I love her. The other guy gave me the creeps. 

5. All the sudden Mica's like, "I don't really want to play my trumpet anymore." Some of me is like, Well he gave it a shot. The Mom part of me is like, "We paid for it, you are playing it! What do you get into? Your choices in school are Art/Chorus, Band, or Strings. You chose Band. You need to put more into it!"

I know kids change their minds. In this case: Would you push him to practice? Would you pay for outside lessons? His teacher is just too passive. Mica needs a push to get better. Would you see if he could change to Art/Chorus in school? He doesn't seem to like Art either though. He was good at Art when he was little. I think Mica sees himself as not good enough at things, and gives up. He compares himself to others. Having a family full of artists, it's not good to compare. What would you say to him? He's really only interested in brainy things like Quiz Bowl, reading and getting good grades. He's not even interested in building up friendships. He's happy and content with a book in his hands. 

WW: Trumpet {Linky}

Mica told us last week, "I want to play the baritone in band. We need the instrument by Friday." The band form had no date on it whatsoever. I was kind of annoyed because he could have given strings a try last year. We have plenty of those instruments. Travis' boss gave him like 5 string instruments. Mica never told us about that. I got on him to be more informative, and to try new things. When I looked at the prices on renting an instrument I was like, "Whoa we need to make a choice here: Band or Martial Arts. I can't afford both!" Mica said, "You did tell me to try new things." So he had me there.

I looked at pawn shops, but they really only had old trumpets that looked dinged up.

Someone on facebook said they had a trumpet they wanted to sell. I said, "Sold!" It turned out that her Dad sold it without her knowing.

We gave up on the baritone at this point. Mica's like, "I want a trumpet."

I checked out Amazon, and boom they had new trumpets for about the same price as the old ones in pawn shops. They could get it to us in 2 days, we read ratings, and it came with a case, gloves, and a few other things.

Mica: Is this how I blow my trumpet?

Travis: Ya but you have to blow with your cheeks in.

It turns out that after all this Mica didn't need his instrument for a few weeks. He's super excited to have it. He watched the DVD that came with his music book, and now blows with his cheeks in. 

Mica has big plans! He wants to learn to play Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer. He said, "Dad can be Peter Gabriel, and you can be a background singer Mom." I said, "Why don't you start with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as your goal?"

Isaak on the other hand is living in a box. He's living in a cardboard box.

Did you play an instrument when you were a kid, or do you still play an instrument now?

Random Tid Bits

1. We're into the 2nd week of school where I work. So far I feel like I have a pretty good group of 1st year students. They seem super driven.
   
   Overall the group puts a lot of stress on themselves. They have to take a survey in the beginning of the year to gage their stress level. Many of them tested high for that. I hope they do well. I have noticed that some add more into their projects, which makes them work harder, not smarter. I have them transfer their image to copy a painting (it's a value study). Many insist on drawing it freehand. This class is Color and Design Theory. It's goal is to learn about values right now. They have a separate Drawing class. Freehand drawing takes a lot longer to draw + it's less accurate. Some put on their survey that they were most stressed out about not having money to eat. That's both sad and scary. 


2. Since Mica's birthday is at the beginning of school he takes treats the first Friday of school. Last year the school decided that they weren't going to have food treats. I spotted at Target's dollar section a lot of positive items. I loved it because so much is negative in the news. Kids need to be motivated, inspired, leaders, and so on. They had pencils, giant paper clips, and bookmarks with this same theme on them:
   
   
   


3. Mica's newest thing is that he all the sudden wants to be in band. We looked at pawn shops, on Craig's List, and in music stores online. It seemed crazy to spend $45 a month to rent, or $1000 something for a new instrument. Thankfully one of my student's that graduated last year wants to sell her trumpet. It's only been used by her, and it's cheaper than the pawn shop, includes a case, and a cloth to clean it with. I told her I'd give her more money if I got it by Sunday night. 


4. I have 3 students in my class of 24 that are registered as girls, but look like boys. I've told myself to not refer to the students as any gender, but I catch myself saying, "He" or "She" on accident. 


5. We're having the end of the summer birthdays this weekend at my house. Another busy weekend in the works. What are you doing this weekend? Any big plans?

Out of the Box Saturday

It's all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. I'll cover something sing | songy one week, and artsy | fartsy the next.

This week I'm covering the band Foals. They are an indie English rock band.


They have 6 members to their band: Yannis Philippakis, Jack Bevan, Edwin Congreave, Walter Gervers, Andrew Mears, and Jimmy Smith. Andrew Mears, originally formed the band Foals. Yannis Philippakis is the lead singer.

Yannis Philippakis was Born to a Greek father and a South African-born Ukrainian-Jewish. Philippakis left Greece with his mother when he was five years old. His father taught him traditional folk songs and dances. He was raised in the Greek Orthodox religion. He had quite a mix of influences.

Source

Balloons

I have heard this next song, which was the song that got to look up the rest of their tunes.

Cassius

They play great live to!

Mountain At My Gates

Check out Foals' website.
Check out Foals' facebook page.
Check out Foals' twitter page.
Check out Foals' YouTube Channel.

Out of the Box Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is now Out of the Box Saturday. It's all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. I'll cover something sing | songy one week, and artsy | fartsy the next.

This week I'm covering 2Cellos (Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser). 
 
I have to admit I've heard their songs, but never watched them play. You have to watch them play!

2Cellos take known songs, but add a major twist to them by playing them in only cellos. They go through bows like crazy. Sir Elton John asked them to go on tour with him. They've played in the US, Japan, Australia and Europe. Every show is sold out. 

The two have played together since childhood. Sulic graduated from Royal Academy of Music in London, and Hauser from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. They've both won multiple awards. They've been on Ellen, and Jay Leno. They are truly amazing.

Source

This was on an HBO documentary about Kurt Cobain, Smells Like Teen Spirit 

Michael Jackson, They Don't Care About Us 

Michael Jackson, Smooth Criminal

Check out 2Cellos' Website.
Like 2Cellos on Facebook.
Subscribe to them on YouTube.
Follow 2Cellos on Twitter.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

Rudely Interrupted is one of Australia's most celebrated bands. They are an independent rock group with 5 of the 6 members living with disabilities.  

Source

They turn their disabilities into abilities!

Close My Eyes

I Am Alive

This is an interview that tells you all about the band. Wow they are amazing!

Like Rudely Interrupted on Facebook.
Follow Rudely Interrupted on Twitter.
Follow Rudely Interrupted on YouTube.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

I was looking up a band, got bored with it, and found another one. This band is called Shakey Graves.  

Source

They do not have an about section on their website. They are from Austin, Texas.

A question they had: Why doesn't your album have the raspy, distorted sound like when you played at the good music club? Is that how you usually sound live or was that just for that venue/recording? If not are you going to re-record with that sound?

Answer: That album was the birth of all of those songs, and thats how the recordings are supposed to sound. It turns out over time, as I played the songs more they became louder and raspier, but no Ill never re record that, although live stuff will surely be released over time. Whats done is done my friend, over and onward!

You can see more of their question/answers on their blog.

Listen to one song, or the whole thing. I really like the 2nd song!

Check out Shakey Graves' website. 
Like Shakey Graves' on Facebook.
Follow Shakey Graves' on Twitter.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

This week Daddy brought a new artist to the table. He started playing some music on his phone, while we were eating. I had never heard of what he was playing before.

The band is called Nero. It's a British electronic music trio composed of members Daniel Stephens, Joe Ray and vocalist Alana Watson.

Source

I don't usually listen to electronic music. To me some of the music gets repetitive, but I do like this band. Alana Watson's voice is pretty cool!

Their song Welcome Reality was rated number one on the British charts in 2012.

Promises

Guilt

Check out Nero's website.
Like Nero on Facebook.
Follow Nero on Twitter.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

Someone posted a very sweet video on Facebook. I was intrigued the whole way though it. The band is called OK Go. The band name comes from their art teacher saying, "OK... Go!" while they were drawing.

Source

American alternative rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois in 1998, but now residing in Los Angeles, California. The band members are: Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka, and Andy Ross.

Frontman Damian Kulash said, “This record feels like it’s the musical manifestation of that — like we can speak in a clearer voice when we are playing in a bigger sandbox. Just as the band’s whole project became clearer to us as we learned to find more homes for our creativity — we triangulated it from more directions. And, I think the music itself has gotten more focused for similar reasons. We went in with fewer preconceptions of who we are or what our sound is, and came out with a record that sounds much more uniquely our own because of it.”

The Writing's on the Wall

Skyscrapers

Invincible

Check out OK Go's website.
Like OK Go on Facebook.
Follow OK Go on Twitter.
Listen to OK Go on YouTube.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

One band that I've heard my students talk about Naked and Famous. They are a band from Auckland, New Zealand. I had no clue what kind of music they played, so I decided to look them up. They have 5 members in the band. They formed in 2008 when Thom Powers and Alisa Xayalith recorded EPs with engineer Aaron Short, a fellow student at Auckland’s MAINZ music college.

Source

They play alternative rock. To me it has an 80s vibe. Styles come and go. The 80s seems to be back.

One Temporary Escape - Warning 1 bad word!

Young Blood

Serenade

Check out Naked and Famous' Website.
Like Naked and Famous on Facebook.
Follow Naked and Famous on Twitter.
Subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

You probably thought I forgot about this post this week. I remembered, I just haven't had much time with school ending. 

Part of my exam for my Design and Layout class was to create a band flyer. There were many rules. They could talk to each other, just not the teachers. The other part was a written exam. My students did a pretty good job. I took note of the bands I've never heard of before, and have listened to a few.

One flyer that stood out was for a band called Twenty One Pilots. They are an American music duo f(Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun) rom Columbus, Ohio. They started their band in 2009.

They made 2 self-released albums in 2009 and 2011. Then they were signed by Fueled by Ramen in 2012.

They have a mix of piano, sometimes electronic keyboard, synthesizer, drums, vocals and more. Tyler writes poetry-based lyrics. They add rapping to their music to fit the lyrics into the song. I don't usually like rap. Their process is however very interesting.

Source

My favorite song I heard was the following one. Again I'm just not into rap, so this song doesn't have that vibe at all.

House of Gold

Guns for Hands 

Check out Twenty One Pilots' website.
Like Twenty One Pilots on Twitter.
Follow Twenty One Pilots on Facebook.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

This week I'm putting up something that you may know. The group is called Pomplamoose. I've heard of their songs, but I wanted to show case their videos as something different.

Source

They are an American musical due, which features Californian multi-instrumentalists, real life couple Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte. They started the summer of 2008, and sold 100,000 songs online in 2009. I think that's a pretty big first year jump! They are known for mixing rock music sounds with electronic and jazz.

Happy Get Lucky

Like a Million

Check out Pomplamoose's website.
Like their Facebook page.
Follow them on Twitter.
Follow them on Instagram.

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PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different to post. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

This week I'm featuring a Danish group. We have a family friends that are Danish. They are so delightful. In Denmark they have a strong appreciate to anything related to the arts. The band's name is Efterklang. The band consists of three childhood friends. They were joined by three other people that saw them in concert. Often times other members of orchestras join them as well.

They released their fourth album in 2012 called Piramida.

Source

 Warning to anyone watching with kids, there is a touch of nudity in this video. It's not vulgar, but it's still there.

Modern Drift

Hallow Mountain

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada.

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada.

Apples

Check out Efterklang's Website.
Connect with Efterklang on Facebook.
Follow Efterklang on Twitter.
Check out Efterklang's YouTube Channel.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday is all about me discovering something that is different to post. I don't want to post things that you and I have more than likely heard before. I want to find something different. It could be from another country, someone singing from the streets of NY, and more.

This week I found a new band that is French. I like listening to bands from other cultures. The band is La rue Kétanou. Have you heard of them?

They mix elements of reggae, and a bohemian style of life. Their work is theatrical. They sing songs that have poetry and humor. The band includes 3 people from Paris.

Their name translates as ‘The street which belongs to us’.

The first album of La Rue Kétanou, En attendant les caravanes (Waiting for the caravans) was finally produced in 2001. After some time doing tours throughout France, the group completed a second album Y’a des cigales dans la fourmilière (Cicadas in the ant-hill) in 2002. In 2004, they released a live album Ouvert à double tour.

Source

Many of their videos are disabled. I have to go with the ones that are not.

Les Mots

Les Hommes Que J'aime

Altitude La Rue Kétanou

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada.

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada.

16 year old David Thibault of Quebec, Canada.

Check out La rue Kétanou's Website.

Connect with La rue Kétanou on Facebook.

Like La rue Kétanou on Twitter.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

I discovered a band called City and Colour this week. I just love the Brittish way of spelling color, as colour. How about you? Do you like it spelled color, or colour?

Source

Anyway City and Colour has a nice sound. Their music is so peaceful sounding. I like everything about it, except for the fact that in the song Comin' Home they sing, "I've been to Lincoln, Nebraska and hell it ain't worth shit." I happen to love where I'm from. They could have added those lyrics just because it's all that would fit. Counting Crows has a song called Omaha, but they had never been here before writing it.

Dallas Green, the voice behind the music believes that songwriting should be organic, natural process and sincere moments captured in the studio. The music is not manipulated.

They have hit the music charts in the U.K. and Canada, but not yet in the U.S.

Harder Than Stone

I love the middle of the next song all the way to the end.    The Girl

Like City and Colour on Facebook.
Follow City and Colour on Twitter, and Dallas Green on Twitter.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

Have you every heard of Balmorhea? I've never heard of them. This week I needed to listen to someone/something that was calming. This year all of my handouts for my classes are being changed from one program to another. I also have a new book, which requires me to read. Balmorhea is just what I needed.

Their name is pronounced Bal-more-ay. It is a six-piece instrumental group from Austin, TX.  Founded by Rob Lowe and Michael Muller in 2006, the band has produced five full-length albums, including Stranger, which was released in October 2012.

Balmorhea’s first works reflected American Southwest: the folklore of Texas settlers, the emotive proclamations of the mountainous setting, and intimate studies on solitude, nature, and night. They added more members to their band. Their focus is a collection of ideas, textures, and sounds into one landscape.

The New Yorker called them “an exemplary experiment in restraint”.

It isn't get up and dance kind of music. It's the type of music I listen to when I want to get other mental things done.

Source

Playing Live

Remembrance - I promise it doesn't stay slow all the way through.

Check out Balmorhea's website.
Follow their blog.
Check out their Facebook page.
Follow them on Twitter.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

This week I'm covering a group named Freelance Whales. They are an American indie rock band from New York. The band connected on Craigslist and friends of friends. They all pretty much started alone, playing on Subway platforms. The leader of the band is Judah Dadone. There is singing in the band of course and banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, synthesizer, glockenspiel (which are like bells), mandolin, drums, harmonica and bass.

They had a song featured on Grey's Anatomy called Starring.  Their song Broken Horse was on One Tree Hill.

Enzymes 

Here's a live song. It's pretty cool to see all the different instruments they use.

Ghosting 

This song is about birth and death.

Generator 

Follow Freelance Whales on their website.
Connect with them on FB. 
Connect with them on Twitter.
Check out their blog.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

This week I'm covering a group named Radical Face. They have another group called Electric President that has a slightly different style. Ben Cooper is the common links between the bands. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida; not too far from where I went to grad school in Savannah, Georgia. The name Radical Face was chosen after seeing it on a flyer. Later he found out the flyer was for Radical Face-Lift. He took the word "Lift" off and had the band name.

The first song is about two brothers. One always cleans up and covers up for the other one. The video was made for just under $50.

Always Gold

Welcome Home

Then this song was created by their other band called Electric President. Why do people have two bands or artist names? Because they have different styles. This song was made to help raise money for the 2011 earthquakes in Japan.

The City and the Machines

Check out the Radical Face Store.
Follow Radical Face on Facebook.
Follow Radical Face on Twitter.
Follow Electric President on Facebook.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. It may or may not include words. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

We have a station here that plays newish music. I was listening to it yesterday. One song came on that I liked. I'm not sure if it's a well known song or not. I have never heard of it. The bands name is Of Monsters and Men.

I just love bands that play a variety of instruments. I also love different sounding voices. This band has both!

Of Monsters and Men are a band of day dreamers who craft, folk, pop songs.

Nanna, who began as the acoustic act Songbird, recruited extra hands to bolster her sound for a solo show. She liked how her vocals commingled with Raggi’s, so they started writing songs together and in 2010 morphed into Of Monsters and Men.  Some occasions, they cut out animal masks for the audience to wear, making them makeshift monster-men/women. “Iceland can be a very isolated country and that translates to the music," Nanna says, adding,"We get stuck in our little world".

King and Lionheart

Mountain Sound

Little Talks - They disabled their video for embedding, but it's so cool! Check it out here.

If you like them, they are playing in the US. You can find their tour dates here.

Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. 

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. It may or may not include words. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

This is a pretty interesting video.

It's a nostalgic video. It fit my mood from my Grandmother passing yesterday.

The band is called Seabear. They are from Iceland. Every band I've looked up that is from Iceland has a very story like quality. The song is called I Sing I Swim.