Music

How to be a modernized boy band
LG recently expressed his utter amazement at seeing that The New Kids On The Block are making a comeback with saying, “Alice they are a bunch of 40 year old guys dancing around. It was a little weird seeing them on every TV at Wal-Mart at the same time.”


I am not sure which is more eerie: the thought of LG watching a bunch of guys dancing at Wal-Mart or the fact that the 60 year old Wal-Mart greeter could point out and name every member of the band, even in their “twenty years later” disguise?


Either way, I am going to try and refrain from purchasing the CD…and that is said in all facetiousness.


Recently, another boy band was in town. They are a very updated version. (In fact, they are so modernized that I thought they were all dressed like they were “gay” just to find out that they were really wearing the clothes of cool skater type kids….go figure… I am old!) I had never heard of this band before; their name is Varsity Fan Club. And they are living proof that the boy band is back in all its glory. We got to watch them in person. The girls were mesmerized. Really, I was mesmerized too…in between all the photos that is. They were cute and sounded good and boy they could dance….and those are the precise reason that I know they are a boy band.


Here are some photos of them with my version of how to be a modernized boy band:
You have to have a Napoleon Dynamite look a like.
And one boy who dresses normal.

(You know the mom’s in the audience have got to have
something to remember the good old boys by.)
Wear some rad UT orange shades.

And don’t forget your hat or your friendship bracelet.

Have some pit hair.


Do the running man in sloooowww motion.

Flash some peace along while simultaneously sticking out your tongue.

Get an old school Thompson Twins T-shirt.

Kink your neck.

Wear your coolest Michael Jackson gloves of all time.

Sing into your shades instead of your mike.


Hydrate to make up for all that sweating.

Play hide and seek with your younger audience.

They love Danny The Dinosaur.

And, if nothing else works to woo the audience, bow your heads in prayer.
But, remember the cute boy doesn’t have to because he wears the stripes.


Show your audience that it is indeed possible

to dance and stretch in skinny jeans.

If your prayers didn’t work the first time, reach heavenward.

And, don’t forget your scarf.

No matter how winded you are at the end,
please don’t throw up on the audience.

Nick Pitera

Cheryl sent me a YouTube video of this Nick Pitera singing.

In the video she sent to me, I was trying to figure out if he was lip syncing because his voice was unbelievably HIGH and good!

Then I found this recording where he showcases his a little more than mediocre man voice and his amazing woman voice. If you don’t want to watch the whole thing, fast forward to about 50 seconds into it and listen to his man for about 10 seconds and then he will go into the female part.

It’s just crazy. My girls and their friend Emma have been freaking out all morning.

This gives me a little understanding into my husband’s voice. I’ve always teased him that he is stuck in primary because he can sing the melody of any song almost perfectly when he sings it in a high soprano, but he has never really mastered singing in the lower register. Maybe I should just start letting him sing the woman part and I can sing the man one. My voice is getting lower every day!

My vote is in for Nick Pitera to record for the next Disney princess? What do you think?

Be Still My Soul, with some soul

This post is for Phyllis. She is my friend at church who thinks that Mormons have no soul. (She’s right)

I could listen to this all day. And, my soul is still.

For those of you who are Mormon and won’t be able to shake the camera that was snuck in the chapel (only in Utah), just as I was unable to shake the guitar in our chapel on Sunday (only in TN), close your eyes and just listen. And, I promise you’ll be worshiping right alongside me and Phyllis in no time.

And thank you Annie, for the link.

A Southern Sky
Here was my view on the way home last Saturday evening.
This pic was taken through my windshield, so sorry for the quality.
I tried to stick my head out the window, but because we were going down the
interstate it didn’t quite work. (Don’t worry Faye, for once, I wasn’t driving.)

When I see the sun descending through the clouds like this,
I can’t help but feel the love of my Father in Heaven.
It is as if the clouds parted just so that I would take notice.

I love the lyrics from the song “Anyone Up There Who Love Me?” by an LDS artist named Michael McClean. Listen if you must.
A mother declares, while climbing the stairs, “Anyone up there who loves me?”
Her kids are outside, so no one replies, unexpectedly tears well up inside.

The last time he called, he said to them all, “Anyone up there who loves me?”
“I hate it down here, this time of the year, but I promise I’ll be home soon.”

That was a lovers promise, Heaven could not allow,
but he’s found a way to be with her somehow.

She sits on the stair, and whispers a prayer, “Anyone up there who loves me?”

Then soft like the wind, His love rushes in, gently answering I love you.

Everyone loves Rita

I have never claimed to be the most organized blogger, but today I realized that I made a big blogging no no.

I just posted about winning my MaryKay stuff from Michelle.

But, I totally spaced this cool stuff that Rita brought over because I won her 80’s music raffle. It has been sitting on my piano, and until I got on a cleaning kick during the past few days, I had forgotten about it. (I bet you have all been wondering where I have been: getting reaquainted with the joy of a clean house and car, and I have to give the credit for that to Cynthia)

Yeah, you heard it right, I guessed ONE 80’s song title before the millions of others of Rita’s readers. And by some miracle, I won the raffle. Thanks to Nicholas for drawing my name.

And the song I knew?…here’s a good blast to the past: King for a Day by the Thompson Twins. C’mon, you know you want to sing it….A king for just one day…I would give it all away!

I told you that we were on a winning streak. Anyhow, I love the stationary stuff Rita. A woman can never have enough cards, post its, or journals. Thank you Rita! If everyone doesn’t love you already, they should. And my favorite thing in the gift bag: a silver bookmark with Rita’s favorite quote:

It is never too later to be what you might have been. ~ George Eliot

I met Rita when Abigail and Ryan were in the same kindergarten class. Ryan and Abigail have been friends for three years. Wow, time does fly. I am so glad to have Rita as my friend. Not only is she a great blogger, but she is a wonderful mother and a mean bowler. Everyone loves Rita! And, as promised I will not post a picture of her butt from when we went bowling last week. And I am not saying that it doesn’t look good, not that I was checking her out. he he I am just obliging Rita’s request. Here is the best picture I got of you Rita….so typical of what you do best: mothering.

And in honor of the winning occasion: