After School Unwind Session: "Making a list, checking it twice...three times...four times..."

Between school going all virtual, the upcoming holidays, and other things we will just put under the category of "Life," my anxieties were at high-level, code red today.

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

This was me this morning. I felt like I had a cold, I have all of the symptoms of a UTI (who DIDN'T see that coming?!), Google Meets were glitching up a storm, and no amount of music from our "Classroom Playlist" was helping me. I mean, look at the way the elf on the shelf was looking at me!

Poor little guy looks scared for his life and wants OUT! Maybe he will feel bad for me and tell Santa that I deserve lots of spa and liquor store gift cards if I am lucky!

Where is the RESET button?!

If life only had a reset button, things would be so much easier. I would have pressed that button this morning and started the day over. However, no such button exists. 

But, could one exist?

If you ask anyone who I work with, they will tell you I'm OCD. I don't throw terms around like that very easily. I have many of the signs of OCD. I just always try to be in control of it, such as making sure I say aloud to myself as I'm locking my front door, "Melissa, you are locking the door. There is no need to get back out of the car AGAIN to check to make sure you locked it." Another trait is that I have a TON of lists. I LOVE lists. I will always find an excuse to create a list! So maybe my "reset button" has to be a list.

Melissa's Daily Tasks To Complete In Order To
"Reset" And "Recharge" Everyday

 1. Start the day with yoga

 2. Morning cup of coffee

 3. Protein shake with added digestion support and fiber

 4. Drink 64 ounces of water

 5. Take multiple pee breaks

 6. Take computer breaks

 7. Eat lunch AND dinner...no more skipping meals!

 8. Blog/write while listening to music

 9. Read

10. Meditate

11. Wash

12. Rinse

13. Sleep

14. Repeat

Side note: I had to do some editing in my list a few times because it had to have an even number of tasks, and of course I couldn't finish with 13 items. Seriously...it's 2020 and I'm NOT taking any chances!

I wonder if I commit myself to completing this task list daily, it would work as a "reset" button every morning and every night? I won't know unless I test it out.

Even though most of the day is gone already and I barely checked ANYTHING off of the list so far, I will do my best to end the day strong. Last night I did try out one of the meditation videos to help with grinding my teeth at night. To be honest, it didn't do much of anything for me. I'm expecting more to come out of it. So, I will give a different video a try this evening. I'm not giving up until I figure out a way to enhance my mental wellness on a subconscious level.

To all of my fellow list-lovers out there, try making a list of tasks that could help your own mental well-being. Maybe this can be our own version of a reset button, with a sound start and end of each day, loaded with important tasks our brain and body needs in the middle. There is no perfect list.

I'll say that again louder for the people in the back: THERE IS NO PERFECT LIST! (I had to say it again louder for myself too, because I need to hear it.)

Just like writing, our body's needs and requirements constantly have to be proofread, revised, and edited. However, there will not be a final draft. 

I am a work in progress, and so are you.

In the meantime, I'm going to listen to the advise given by the Eagles, and "take it easy."

Now Spinning: Eagles - Their Greatest Hits

After School Unwind Session: "They Call Me The Seeker"

Opening Up

I'm going to be open and honest with all of you:
I'm usually more concerned and worried about others than myself. I worry about my students. But I have to understand that I'm doing everything that I can to make virtual learning non-stressful for them. I need to tell myself "The Kids Are Alright." 

But what about me? Am I alright?

I've been having to go to the dentist lately because my TMJ is acting up pretty severely. It turns out I'm grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw really bad at night. I've been on a soft food diet for over 2 weeks. Luckily, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, as well as wine, are "soft foods." Now I'm getting a night guard made to wear when I go to bed to prevent the grinding. The dentist said it is probably stress-driven and made a remark that maybe during summer break I won't need it anymore. Funny, and yet not funny at the same time.

I've been practicing so many mindfulness and mindset techniques to help with stress and anxiety that I face during the day. But how do I take control of it when I'm asleep?

Now Spinning: 
The Who - Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy

"I'm looking for me
You're looking for you
We're looking in at each other
And we don't know what to do"
lyrics from "The Seeker"
Songwriter: Peter Townshend 

I thought this album was perfect to spin tonight for a few reasons. One being that there are so many amazing "The Who" hits compiled here. This is one that I can listen to straight through from beginning to end without skipping a track. If you recall, a couple evenings ago I played music and I focused on the instruments and melody. But tonight I'm focusing on lyrics. 

"The Seeker" really resonates with me this evening. It is crazy how music and lyrics work. I can listen to a song and it can mean one thing to me. But then you can go ahead and listen to the same song and you take it to mean something completely different. Only the songwriters know the TRUE meaning of each song they create. However, does that make our own different interpretations wrong? If we asked them, I don't think they would think so. That's the beautiful thing about art. Paintings are art that reaches our souls through our eyes. Music is art that reaches our souls through our ears.

I'm interpreting this song this evening as seeking things that are out of our reach. Things that no one else can help us find. This evening I'm seeking answers that only I can find for myself. I obviously need to figure out on a subconscious level what needs to be done to stop grinding my teeth at night. I need to figure out how to keep my energy shield up while I'm asleep...how to keep it up subconsciously. I'm seeking restful nights of sound sleep in bed where I'm not waking up at 3:30am daily with a clenched jaw.

I looked up some meditation videos on YouTube specifically for grinding teeth and found a few that are long enough that I should fall asleep before it ending. This is what I think I need. Maybe this will help me get some clarity subconsciously. 

Have you tried any meditation videos before for sleep? If so, please share your experiences in the comments as well as links if they are available! 

I will keep you posted on my bedtime meditations. So stick around on my blogging journey! We can all work together to achieve ultimate mental wellness.

After School Unwind Session: "Thoughts arrive like butterflies"

This evening I wasn't quite sure which vinyl I was going to go with for my Unwind Session. Usually depending on what I'm feeling, I will know EXACTLY what to play. I find it in my collection (arranged alphabetically by artist), place it on the turn table, then hear that welcoming sound of needle against vinyl. This evening though, I wasn't sure what I was in the mood to listen to. I guess that makes sense because my brain just feels a little frazzled today. I feel like I'm an internet browser with 100 tabs open! It's one of my quirks. Or really, it's one of my flaws. My brain doesn't slow down. I think too much and usually I'm thinking of too many things all at once. Just this weekend when I was spending time with my family, my mother says to me "Did you hear ANYTHING I just told you?" and my response was "Huh? Oh, you were talking to me?" I really don't know how she has put up with me for 39 years!

Gotta Slow Down the Beat

So, I needed just relax first and clear my mind. One thing I like to do to slow down my thoughts is to close my eyes, focus on 5-5-5 breathing, and meditate, thinking of all of the things that I am grateful for at that moment. It grounds me and takes my mind off of the unimportant things clogging up my brain. It closes all of those browser tabs. After doing that for a little bit, I was finally able to choose a record to play.

Now Spinning: Pearl Jam - MTV Unplugged

Key Tracks: 

• "Black" - the lyrics and the melody are beyond beautiful and yet completely heart-wrenching. I cry every time I hear this song.
• "Porch" - solid closing song to their live set

Ok, so who is old enough to remember MTV when they actually played music? Ahhh, those were the days. And one of the best things they ever did were their Unplugged sessions. They had some great artists on there, such as Eric Clapton, Nirvana, and Bob Dylan. This NEEDS to come back, in some way, shape or form. Who knows, maybe it is back but I'm unaware of it because I don't watch enough TV! 

What I love about this album is how stripped down it is. It's still Pearl Jam, but a bare boned Pearl Jam in its purest form. Their ballads are even more moving (I usually prefer their ballads over their stronger and heavier songs). Even playing only acoustically, songs such as "State of Love and Trust," "Even Flow," and "Porch" still deliver a rush of adrenaline to your soul. I love how different every one of their songs sound from each other. The set list from this live show includes a variety of songs with different tempos and beats, and yet it just flows so fluidly.

My mind today was all over the place and chaotic. Between the breathing exercise, creating a mental gratitude list, and listening to this album, I'm starting to finally slow my brain down for the evening. 

What do you do when your brain feels like it's on overload? Feel free to share your techniques in the comments. I hope that maybe some techniques I used this evening and shared with you will help you in a time of need! If all else fails, reach out to someone. No matter what you trick yourself into believing, you are never alone in how you are feeling. You should always reach to someone...there is always someone there for you. Even if it's me, a random newbie blogger.

🎵"Hold on to the thread

the currents will shift

glide me towards you..."🎵

-Eddie Vedder

After School Unwind Session: "Well, I've been thinking too much"

Today was not my finest. We are all allowed those kinds of days. But, just like I tell my students, we have to pay attention to how we react to things. Only WE can control how we react. Many things were setting different emotions off for me. But, I kept myself in check. I reminded myself that it's all about my mindset and I tried to keep my energy shield up, blocking out negative energy and only letting in the positive.

Now Spinning: 

Gary Clark Jr. - Live/North America 2016

Key lyric:
"This music is my healing
This music is my healing
Lord knows I need some healing
'Cause when this world upsets me
This music sets me free, yeah"
Gary Clark Jr. - "The Healing"

That lyric is absolutely perfect for me in this moment. And listening to this live album is exactly what I needed. As I listen to this album, it brings me back to the few times that I was able to see him live in concert. 

The first time I saw Gary Clark Jr. live, I was in awe. I heard some of his stuff before just from streaming music. This boy can play! He is bringing the blues back! It's been a long time since we have had some really good blues/blues rock. Think about it...has there been anyone in the last few decades that could really move you like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, or Robert Johnson? Robert Johnson passed before my time. Muddy Waters left this world when I was only 2 years old. But I was blessed enough to have had the chance to see B.B. King live. I went alone to this concert because it was last minute and I really didn't know of anyone who would be interesting in seeing him, Al Green, and Little Richard. (yes, it was as amazing as that lineup sounds!) 

Getting to see Gary Clark Jr. live was great because I could FINALLY see some good, live blues/rock of modern times. It was a phenomenal show. So, when the opportunity came around again to see him, I knew I had to go back for some more! I got a friend of mine to join me and really pumped him up on what to expect, how his mind will be blown away and how he will get all "the feels." I just couldn't wait to share this live experience with someone who never saw him live before!

Well, sadly, this show wasn't as good as the first for me. Honestly, it was a bit of a letdown. So much so that we left a little early just to beat the crowd and the traffic. I NEVER leave concerts early! It's not that it was a BAD show. It was just...meh. He was playing a lot of his brand new songs. Most of the songs all sounded the same to me. And I don't think the sound in the venue was the greatest that night as well.

I'm a concert junkie. So with as many concerts as I go to, there will of course be some let downs. 

The Takeaway
After listening, unwinding, and reflecting this evening, I have to realize that we all will have an off-day. We can't hold this high standards and high expectations and assume that each day will go smoothly. We will just let ourselves down. I'm not saying that we should have expectations and standards to live by each day and try to accomplish. However, we shouldn't be so hard on ourselves when things fail...or when we fail. We need to reflect and learn from it. We have to keep moving forward. 

We are the rock stars of our own shows. Only we can control how we live it, how we learn from it, and how we grow each and everyday. 

Even when we feel like the crowd is booing us, the show must go on.

After School Unwind Session: "It's time to ramble on"

Have you ever listened to music, whether it be an artist, an album, or a specific song and thought, "I'm at peace. I am home"? For me, there is one band that always does that to me. I could probably say that it is my favorite band of all time. And that band would be Led Zeppelin. Favorite album? Oh please! That is like asking a parent who their favorite child is! There are certain songs on all of their albums that I rate higher than others. But there is no way for me to even attempt to decide which album or song is my favorite. But I can easily admit that their ballads are always ranked higher up there on my list.

Now Spinning: Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin II"

Key Tracks:

• "What Is And What Should Never Be" - I just...I have no words
• "Thank You" - simple math: beautiful lyrics + immaculate melody = song perfection
• "Heartbreaker" - great guitar solo

As I mentioned in a previous blog, my childhood memories are filled with music playing in the house constantly. I remember Led Zeppelin being played quite often. I'm lucky enough to have been raised by parents who had impeccable taste in music and always played it for my brother and I at home and in the car throughout our lives. In fact, it boggles my mind when people drive with no music playing. When I get into someone's car and there is no music, I probably have an extremely confused look on my face. Any "Office" fans out there? (side note: I'm a HUGE office fan) Well, imagine me doing the "Jim face" to a camera man who is not there. Yep.

Born In The Wrong Decade

I've always said that I was born in the wrong decade. Although I listen to a large variety of music, I tend to lean towards music from the 60s and 70s. Good ol' classic rock. If I could travel back in time, I would send myself to Woodstock in a heartbeat. The best music was made in that time period. To me, it's not like they wrote songs to try to have the next hit. They wrote songs to tell stories. These stories seemed so authentic. That's why I love the music from that time so much. Music brought people together during a time when love and hope was needed. Where is that now?

All we can do now is continue listening to the music from the 60s and 70s because I don't think it could ever be recreated. So many things influenced it. Take Jimi Hendrix's "Star Spangled Banner." Growing up, I didn't know the TRUE meaning of the way he performed it. He used his guitar to create the sound effects of the war: the bombs, the helicopters, the guns. When I finally learned that? 🤯 People stood there watching that performance of his in awe at Woodstock. He didn't need lyrics. He only needed his guitar and the message was clear to all. 

I don't expect the same type of music to make an appearance in my lifetime. There was something very special that these artists had then that can't be recreated. So all we can do is be grateful that we have these recordings to play over and over again and relive it whenever we are feeling nostalgic.

🎵"And if you say to me tomorrow

Oh what fun it all would be

Then what's to stop us pretty baby

But what is and what should never be"🎵

-Jimmy Page and Robert Plant

After School Unwind Session: "Time to Pretend"

I'm so excited tonight! Every Thursday I get excited because I usually have a Zoom virtual concert. Friends and I pay a small fee for a ticket that supports musicians during this pandemic. My dear friend Vito Rinaldo started this beautiful thing called "The Tree of Forgiveness" Productions. The money from ticket sales go to the bands/artists who perform. They also share their virtual tip jars for us to show our love. Its always a wonderful time to see friends virtually once a week AND get to experience some live music, even though it's through a virtual setting.

Tonight is a different level of excitement. There are three...THREE...different live shows tonight. My Thursdays are always devoted to Vito and the crew, but now I have a decision to make! I know, I really shouldn't complain. But here are my options:

• JP Soars and Rockin' Jake ("Tree of Forgiveness" show with a paid ticket)
• The Revivalists (free ticket)
• Dave Matthews and Carter Beauford (free with my Warehouse membership)

After much careful thought and consideration, I decided to go with watching The Revivalists show. I can watch Dave and Carter as well as JP Soars and Rockin' Jake on another day since it will be viewable still. (Sorry Vito! You guys get me on a weekly basis, so I'll see you next time!)

Before every concert, the venues always play "house music" before the band takes the stage. So now, it's time to pretend that I'm really there and play my own house music.

Now Spinning: MGMT - Time to Pretend

I'm actually spinning my 2015 Record Store Day Glow In The Dark Limited Release version of this album (2,000 copies made). I was first excited to see that they had a RSD release that year. But GLOW IN THE DARK?! Purely amazing!

Key Tracks:

• Time to Pretend
• Love Always Remains
• Kids

Can't Put Me In A Box

I know this is a random choice for house music. And to be quite honest, just a random album for me to be listening to. And yet, I own 3 different vinyl albums of theirs (this one isn't even my favorite). I normally don't listen to electronic, synth-pop. But this band had me hooked the first time I heard them. Not only did they hook me, but they reeled me in to going to a live concert. It was different in a cool way. I felt like I was at a college rave. And looking around, I felt pretty old (I think I was the oldest one there)! But it's great to try new things. It's all about the experience. Would I go again? In a heartbeat!

I love and also hate it when people ask me "what kind of music do you listen to?" I listen to practically everything. Whatever I listen to at any given moment depends on my mood. There is never a simple answer. One moment I may feel like listening to some classic rock, like Led Zeppelin or Janis Joplin. But later on I might end up putting on MGMT. So, tonight, I felt like changing it up a little. I haven't listened to MGMT in a while, so I felt like tonight would be the perfect night. The memories it brings are incredible. It makes me feel young and alive without a care in the world. 

It's always good to branch out with your interests. You never know...you might come across something that you like that you never imagined enjoying. It also keeps things exciting and interesting! Life becomes boring when things are predictable. 

Liven things up a bit...be unpredictable.

After School Unwind Session: "People are strange..."

On this very chilly day, I need some good, classic music to warm me up. Today I was in the mood to listen to The Doors. I have a few of their albums, so it took some time to decide which one to go with. 

Now Spinning:
The Doors - Weird Scenes Inside The Gold Mine (1972) Record Store Day Limited Edition on
Translucent Amber Vinyl (5,500 numbered copies)

What pushed me to this album today?

• The warm amber color of the vinyl
• Some of my favorite doors songs appear on this 2LP 
• It's been a while since I played this one

Honestly, I couldn't have gone wrong with any Doors album I chose. For me, the key tracks to this album are as follows:

• The Wasp (Texas Radio & The Big Beat) - there's just something about the beat to this song that I can never get enough of
• The End - talk about a goodbye song! Powerful and deep that may have many meanings
• L.A.Woman - this song is like a rollercoaster; I literally have to put the car in cruise control if it comes on because I'll end up speeding, then slowing down, then back to speeding again.
• Riders on the Storm - last song Morrison recorded, which makes it even more eerie

With only 4 men in the band and the use of only 3 instruments (guitar, keyboard, drums), they made it work! They didn't need a ton of instruments to give their music the depth, beauty, and complexity that we hear. It seems more often than not with today's music, bands need and want many members on a variety of instruments. Don't worry, I'm not knocking it! Some of my favorite bands have a long list of musicians and instruments on the stage and their music is amazing! But somehow, these 4 guys made a huge impact with simply a guitar, keyboard, and drums. That should speak volumes about their talent.

So where am I going with all of this? Well, I'm listening and reflecting as I write and a thought came to my mind:

They kept it simple with their instruments and created beautiful music, becoming successful. Can we apply that same concept to our everyday lives?

In today's society, it is so easy to get carried away with things. Need proof? Just look at social media! Everyone posts all of these wonderful things going on in their lives and they try to beef it up as much as they can. Gone are the days of simply taking a picture and praying it comes out nicely and not cutting off someone's head. Now, it is more like a competition to prove that our lives are better than anyone else's. I know, I know...most of us don't actually consciously think that. But think about it: why are people filtering their pictures, cropping them, and using other editing techniques? They want to fluff it up to make it seem as perfect as possible. By the time we are done fluffing it up, it looks almost NOTHING like the original! The same can be said about written posts with no pictures.

WHY do we need to fluff things up?

My opinion...society is making us that way. And that makes me very sad. Why can't we be happy with simple things? Please don't think I'm judging and throwing everyone into one big group. But do me a favor and scroll through your Instagram, SnapChat, Facebook...whatever you have. You will see more "fluffed up" and "bedazzled" posts and pictures than authentic and natural ones. For me it is mentally draining to scroll through anymore. It's either all bragging (which subconsciously makes us feel bad about ourselves) or it's tearing others apart (which just throws negative energy into our lives).

"Whoever controls the media controls the mind." 
- Jim Morrison

Back To The Basics

As a whole, I think we need to be more comfortable with who we are and what we do and be proud of every part of it...flaws and all. That's what makes us human. We need to have the confidence and the courage to be real and raw, like The Doors with their stripped down music (minus the drugs and addictions). That is where the real beauty is...not just with physical appearances, but in everything that we do.

So with all of that being said, I want to really start keeping things simple and real in my personal life and at work. I want to be more true to myself. I don't want to make myself crazy biting off more than I can chew, get attention, and try to live up to these horrible social media standards. I've already taken a giant step back from social media, which is a huge step and the first step in the process. Now I need to just take pride in who I am and focus on the simple things that make me happy, create positivity, and spread love and joy. 

That's it. 

The bare bones. 

The simple and raw me.

I hope that all of you will also appreciate the simple things as well and be proud of yourself for who you are and everything that you have accomplished in your life. You deserve it.

Love yourself...flaws and all.

After School Unwind Session: The Deep Tracks

Have you ever started a hobby or anything to do in your spare time and enjoy it so much that it makes you wonder, "Why did I wait so long to try this out?" That is exactly how I'm feeling with blogging. I always enjoyed writing, but I usually wrote a lot of poetry. Then of course when I slowly stopped writing, I had the old, overused excuse "I'm too busy...life is getting in the way." But I had a couple friends within the last few months mention to me and say "Mel, you should be blogging or vlogging!" I thought, yea, sure...someday maybe I'll give it a try. But only recently did I finally decide to dive in head first. Mentally, I don't think I was quite ready to begin my blogging journey months ago. I believe I had to wait until something hit me hard enough to make me passionate about writing. And obviously now, I'm ready.

Now Spinning: Muddy Waters - I'm Ready

🎵 "I'm ready, ready as anybody can be

Now I'm ready for you, I hope you're ready for me."🎵 

- Muddy Waters

Man, do I love listening to the blues. It puts me in a special kind of mood. I can't even begin to try to think of the word to describe this mood. Creative? Deep? When I listen to Muddy, I FEEL it. It's in my chest, then goes through my veins. I have to close my eyes and either sway or rock forward and back to the beat. This might sound insane, but I would LOVE to have a scan of my brain and body to see what happens when different types of music is played and compare them to each other as well as when no music is being played for me. I'm sure chemicals are being released from the brain...I would just love to know more about the physical affects of music on the body. So, if there are any doctors or music therapists out there who would be interested in this case study...I'm your girl!

Passion

Ok, so as I'm listening and writing, I'm thinking about having passions and how they drive us. I believe you need to be passionate about something in order to do it right. I'm noticing every day after work I have the desire to blog. It's never forced and I will never try to force it. But, does that mean that as long as we are passionate about something, we will always succeed? Well, I'm not so sure...

As you already know from reading my blogs, I'm extremely passionate about music. One of the things that I've always wanted to do was learn to play an instrument. Preferably guitar and piano. And yet here I am, 39 years old, and I haven't learned either. So why is that? If I'm so passionate, why haven't I learned yet?

To me, there is much more involved than just passion. You need the drive, the dedication, and the discipline. I can easily say that I'm passionate to learn music and I have the drive to learn it. However, I never dedicated any time faithfully to learn it or disciplined myself enough to stay on a routine to teach myself.

Did you see what I did just there?

I actually dug down deep and got real with myself. I mean, why lie to myself? It won't get me anywhere. I did a little self-evaluation to figure out what my problem is. So maybe that is the first step that we all need to take with not just figuring out why we never picked up a hobby that sparked interest within us, but with EVERYTHING that we do.

WHY?!

Three letters. One syllable. For such a small word, it truly is huge! Since wondering why I  haven't learned to play an instrument yet, I'm now asking myself more questions, diving in even deeper...

• Why do I love music so much?
• Why do I even want to learn?
• Why am I not dedicating time to learn?

Wow. That got pretty deep pretty fast. You see what blues music does to me?!

So now that we dug a little bit into our passions together, did I spark anything in you? Are you asking yourself some questions about your own passions? This "Unwind Session" was just the tip of the iceberg for me. So the important thing for all of us now is to do SOMETHING with everything we gained from looking deeply within ourselves. For me, who knows what that "something" will look like. Maybe I should look into actual guitar lessons from someone since I do not have the self-discipline to do it on my own. All I know is that if you don't attempt to explore your passions, you will never know what you are missing out on.

After School Unwind Session: "I Do What I Want When I'm Wanting To"

My favorite thing to do on Friday evenings is spin some vinyls from my record collection. It usually takes me a while to browse through and pick something out that I'm in the mood to listen to. Today, I knew exactly what I wanted to hear.

Now Spinning: Billie Eilish - Live at Third Man Records

My. God...

Eighteen. Years. Old. (Well, 17 when she performed this)

She was, I believe 14 or 15 when she recorded her first album. WHAAAAAT?!

Some people love her. Some people also just don't get what the hype is about her. Me? Well, I'm one of those who just got sucked in the very moment I first heard her sing.

Her vocals are just so different. So...raw. This girl has some serious lyrical talent. I mean, her and her brother recorded her first album in her bedroom. Imagine what this girl will do as she matures even more with her music and continues to have the resources to produce more and more! (honestly though, I'm kinda scared for that. I don't want her to start sounding "overly produced." Keep it raw, girl!)

When I first heard her sing, I immediately thought "where was she when I was in high school?" It just fits with my musical tastes then and my teenage mood swings. But at least she is gracing me with her beautiful lyrics now. I can now sit with a glass of wine, kick up my feet, reflect on my life, and get into a trance from her hypnotic songs. 

Key Tracks:

• "Ocean Eyes" - Emotional...you have been warned. So beautifully and perfectly written. Important thing to keep in mind, she was only 14 when she wrote this song.
  
• "Bad Guy" - This is one that just feels so dirty, sexy, raw, and powerful.
• "COPYCAT" - Love her humor and it just oozes sarcasm.

Why did I choose to listen to this album this evening? Well, first of all, why not? But really, this live album makes me feel like I'm in a small, intimate venue. I'm not in my house anymore. I'm in Nashville with my friends, enjoying live, acoustic music, drinks, food...there is no pandemic. I am in my happy place. I am free.

🎵 "Too shy to say, but I hope you stay..." 🎵 - Billie Eilish

After School Unwind Session: "It's the music that we choose..."

Time to unwind after a productive day of teaching, google meets, parent teacher conferences, and recording math video lessons for the virtual students. Normally I would play very calm and relaxing music so I could unwind easily. However, today I need to dance it out a bit.

Now Spinning: Gorillaz - G-Sides (August 2020 Record Store Day release)

What I love about this album is the fact that there are songs that I can dance like no one is watching, such as track one, "19-2000," immediately chillax during track two "Dracula," then groove to the funky style on track four, "The Sounder."

Throughout my life, I was always on the hunt for new music to listen to. During my middle school years, you would find me sitting on my bedroom floor with the radio on and a blank cassette tape ready to record my favorite songs, then cursing the radio DJ for cutting the song short or talking during the ending (I mean COME ON! REALLY?!). I worked my high school years to buy CDs and save for a car. College years were dedicated to searching Napster and Limewire for anything and everything that I could find (ultimately resulting in multiple computer viruses...SORRY MOM!). Making my own mixed tapes and CDs is what I did when I wasn't in class or working.

Mind you, I have an extremely diverse vinyl collection. Many of my records lean towards classic rock. From birth to the day I moved out of my parents' house, there was always music (usually vinyls) playing in the house. Rock, Motown, and R&B classics from the 60s and 70s were always spun from the record, to the speakers, to my eardrums, then into my soul. 

So, it was inevitable that I became a "music junkie." As you can see, music in general has been embedded in me since birth. Literally, since my mother attended concerts while pregnant with me.

With all that being said, you have been warned. 😁  This "After School Unwind Session" is the first of many more and diverse sessions to come. Consider this your free ticket to virtual concerts of my vinyl collection. I will probably go from one style to the next each day. My mood sways me to whatever album I put on. I look forward to sharing with you every evening what I listen to, why I listen to it, and what feelings it brings out. So take your seat, refrain from dancing in the aisles, relax, and enjoy the show. 

"Headphones on. World off."