This is Us

I finished this last night and then forgot to post it. This was very fun. I've seen it on several blogs.

iPod fun...
In honor of my 2-year old, now dinosaurish 60 gig, pre-video, fat iPod, I offer my answers to this game. Even though the new iPods are extremely cool, I will keep my old man.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn't make sense. NO CHEATING!

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
The Moose Hunter (from an album of Norwegian Fiddle Music by Annebjorg Lien) Well, getting all my work done today felt a little like hunting moose. Plus, I did laugh that I was typing really esoteric knitting things like, "Charts are a visual representation of the front of a knitted fabric," so it fits that one of my more esoteric musical selections would come up. Norwegian Fiddle... Charts...who knew?

WHAT'S YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE
Bullet the Blue Sky (From the Joshua Tree by U2) This is a bit bleak, but the intensity of this song does resonate somewhere deep inside me.

WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY THINK OF YOU?
Star of the County Down (by Alisa Jones Wall from Appalachian Picking Society) Interestingly, this is an instrumental performed on the hammered dulcimer but it is actually the original folk tune that the hymn "If You Could Hie to Kolob" came from, which is one of my favorite hymns. I think it fits because my family would say that I am sometimes a little too deep and ponderous in my thoughts and expectations of life. This hymn has a very serious, deep message.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Walking Contradiction (from International Superhits by Green Day) I would say this one does not fit at all, at least I hope not. "Do as I say, not as I do" is pretty much the total opposite of how I try to live my life.

WHAT DO STRANGERS THINK OF YOU?
Jimmy Mo Mhile Stor (From The Essential Chieftains by The Chieftains)These guys are the premier exporters of real, expertly performed Celtic music. This one has a beautiful, sad, soaring melody, and like most Celtic songs, is hopelessly romantic and sad-Jimmy leaves and never comes back. He's the most wonderful boy in the world but then he's gone-most Celtic music is something like that. I have been told that I have a sadness around my edges, so maybe this fits just right.

WHAT DO YOUR EXES THINK OF YOU?
Beautiful to Him (from The Greatest Gift: EFY 2006 by Rachel Thibodeau) This is actually pretty good because the "Him" in this title refers to being beautiful for the Lord and not for the world. I only really have one ex and we split up because he was not a member of the church and never would be. It was hard, but worth it.

HOW IS YOUR LOVE LIFE?
The Sharing Song (From the Curious George soundtrack by Jack Johnson) I love this one! All about sharing and friendship-"Its always more fun to share with everyone." Perfect!

HOW WILL YOUR LOVE LIFE BE IN THE FUTURE?
Ave Maria (from Celtic Woman) Okay, this is deep again, but it works-we're going for eternity here.

WILL YOU GET MARRIED?
O My Father (From Michael Dowdle 50 Favorite Hymns)Not making any strong connections here, but I guess once again-all about eternity, so that's good.

WILL YOU HAVE KIDS?
Blues (from Black Codes from the Underground by Wynton Marsalis)This is good, strong, traditional jazz. Jazz requires skill, improvisation and the ability to play off the riffs of your bandmates. So, this fits for parenting.

ARE YOU GOOD AT SCHOOL?
Somebody Like You (by Keith Urban) I was the typical smart but lazy kid. There is a line in this song about forgiving myself for the mistakes I made. I could go with that to look at my school experience.

WILL YOU BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE?
Priva Resuello (from El Diablo Suelto-Guitar Music of Venezuela by John Williams)This is the great classical guitarist, not the composer of Star Wars and Harry Potter. The album title means aproximately The Devil is Loose. The song is some kind of traditional dance. I like to think I dance through life, so I'll take it. The music is rich, complex and joyful. I would feel successful if I were described that way.

WHAT SONG SHOULD THEY PLAY ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?
Rodeo: Hoe Down (from Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copeland, performed by the Altanta Symphony)I love this one! Long before it became the "Beef, it's what's for dinner" music, I loved this suite of uniquely American classical music. This would definitely make me happy on my birthday.

WHAT SONG SHOULD THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Invisible Sun (from Ghost in the Machine by The Police)This is eerie and weird, and it hopes for something better. I wouldn't want it at my funeral, though.

THE SOUNDTRACK OF YOUR LIFE:
My Flag, My Flag (from the Children's Songbook) Not a great fit, but I am grateful to live to be in this country. My life would certainly be different without the things the flag represents.

YOU AND YOUR BEST FRIEND ARE....?
Let's Dance (from the Shall We Dance soundtrack by Mya) I could never say I have one best friend. I have had the friends I've needed at every moment of my life and I have loved every single partnership, so this one works okay, even though I don't like this version.

HAPPY TIMES:
Wild Mountain Thyme (from Celtic Crossroads by Keltic Electric)Yes, Yes, Yes! I love being outside, and this song just takes me out somewhere where "the trees are sweetly bloomin'" and I'm with my friends and family...perfect.

SAD TIMES:
Wonderful World (from The Man and His Music by Sam Cooke)This is the "Don't know much about history..." version and it is definitely a cheerful, totally optimistic, half-full kind of song. So maybe it would be just the thing for Sad Times. A favorite since I was a child.

EVERY DAY:
The Wardrobe (from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Harry Gregson Williams)I do love to think that there's magic every where and that it's closer than we think, so I like this one. Such a beautiful soundtrack.

FOR TOMORROW:
I Wiggle (from the Children's Songbook)Well, my kids will definitely be wiggling in church, so this is appropriate.

FOR YOU:
I'll Try (from the Greatest Hits Collection by Alan Jackson) The story of my life...

WHAT DOES NEXT YEAR HAVE IN STORE FOR ME?
New York's Not My Home (from Greatest Hits by Jim Croce)That is a relief-I like to visit there, but I would not want to live there.

WHAT DO I SAY WHEN LIFE GETS TOO HARD?
The Olive Tree (From EFY 200o Forward With Faith by Felicia Sorensen)Christ as the source of peace...this definitely works.

WHAT SONG WILL I DANCE TO AT MY WEDDING?
Sonatina Trianera (from Carmen Suite by Bizet performed by Los Romeros)Classic Flamenco. In my dreams. It is incredibly romantic and passionate though. We did not have dancing at our wedding because someone (I won't say who) doesn't like to dance.

WHAT DO YOU WANT AS A CAREER?
Operator (from Greatest Hits by Jim Croce)Well, my grandma worked for 40 years as a Mountain Bell Operator in Salt Lake, so maybe its in my blood.

YOUR FAVORITE SAYING?
Home (from Inside the Thunder by Dougie MacClean) Really it's "Bless your heart" but this is definitely a close second: "You have found a home/in the center of the circle/ You have found a home/where the harmonies can shine." Its a bit long for a favorite saying, but I'll try working it into regular conversations. It will go right along with that too deep, too serious thing I have going.

THE SONG THAT YOU'LL PUT AS YOUR SUBJECT?
This is Us (from All the Roadrunning by Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris)I love this song-"You and me and our memories...this is us." It is about a couple that have been together long enough to be completely comfortable with each other looking at photos of all their life experiences together. Perfect.


Wow. Pretty interesting to do that shuffle thing. It does give insight into a person. Feel free to follow along. I love my music. It is huge part of my life, so it was fun to look at life through the lens of the songs I choose to listen to.