Sing-a-long Saturday:) My Son Sings to His Bride and Some Awesome Karaoke Singers at Delaney’s

“Sing like nobody’s listening and dance like nobody’s watching, because most likely they’re not. They’re on their cell phone.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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“Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.”

~Lou Rawls

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Today is my eldest son’s birthday. I texted him with a “Happy birthday” this morning. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. Where does the time go? Now, he’s married with two children of his own. I like to think that he takes after his mother, well, I know he does. He has a kind and generous heart, loves people, and has many friends. He loves music and loves to sing. And, he’s directionally impaired and gets lost a lot like me. (I’m sorry about that part.)

After we talked and did FaceTime with the family, I was looking at old videos of their wedding. Their anniversary was two days ago. The video portion was blurry, but I wanted to share a couple of songs of my son singing to his bride four years ago. He has a great voice and plays a mean guitar. He didn’t get that from me or the other side. That’s a gift from God.

Happy birthday Mijo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r8c6cKIVrg

Then another song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wap_KwActO8

With all these songs in my heart, I thought I’d share some songs from some really awesome singers at Karaoke night last Thursday at Delaney’s Irish Pub in McKinney. Such a fun night with friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4jIgdSO364

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRNRgWaUHP4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-_HHG2uvPk

Sing like nobody’s listening and dance like nobody’s watching, because most likely they’re not.

Happy Saturday my friends.

Theme Song Thursday:) At Last

“Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.”

― Edward Bulwer Lytton

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I always look forward to Thursday night. It’s karaoke night at Delaney’s Irish Pub. We had a small group of regulars tonight because quite a few people were traveling this week. But, we also had some new folks join us. One lady, in particular, said that she was just visiting with friends and never sang karaoke before. Oh my goodness, Johnnie has an amazing voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikXCaIGwxvg

Our fearless leader and DJ tonight, Justin, sang a few songs. One of our favorites is “A Boy Named Sue.” It’s a tough one to sing, but he does a great job. I didn’t get a chance to record it. Maybe next time.

I sang a duet with Miss Loretta, “Unforgettable.” We hadn’t practiced it, so I was pretty bad. She has a lovely voice. Then later, I sang “Walk on By.” That was pretty high for me so I squealed and squeaked a little here and there. I always say, “I sing loud and proud and off key, but I love to sing.” (Thank goodness for friends who applaud and don’t boo.) I don’t plan on quitting my day job and going on the road. Wait…I don’t have a day job. Lucky thing,

Still with a song in my heart and on my mind, I came home and was singing a few more songs with YouTube. I liked this one.

Yep, not gonna quit my day job quite yet,..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoB1I5QBD-c

Theme Song Thursday:) Karaoke With Friends

“A friend will go with you to the VFW Hall on  karaoke night. A good friend will go up and sing with you, and share in the embarrassment.”

“If you can’t sing silly songs with friends, you might as well pack up and go home.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Another fun night at the McKinney VFW Hall for karaoke night. Sherri and Michael Murphy joined me this evening. We had a blast. We are like family. Remember, they came over Tuesday for Black Russians. Now, karaoke Thursday. The family that drinks together, sings together, or something like that.

The regular crowd was there when we arrived.

 When it was one of my turns to go up and sing, Sherri and I sang a duet to, “My Guy.” You notice that we are such big drinkers by all the Coca Cola cans strewn about.

That was so fun! I like singing with Sherri. She helps keep me on key. (Close enough) I tend to wander.

Sherri sang like a lovely little song bird. 

Friends don’t let friends sing off key alone. Thanks for a fun night Sherri and Michael.

Theme Song Thursday:) Every Song Tells a Story

Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.
~Emory Austin
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When I am the happiest, I sing loud. When I am the saddest, I sing even louder. There is always a song in my heart.

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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I had to laugh. The other day I received an email with a link from a dear friend who moved clear across the country a few years ago. She said her husband heard a song while driving into work one morning and had to look it up on YouTube. He said, “I heard this song and thought of Toni.” He wondered if I had heard it. I hadn’t. 

The funny part is, now I can laugh about it, even though it was so true. It asks a lot of questions, and I have a lot of answers. A couple of years ago, I was still crying. Not any more. I dodged a bullet. Every song tells a story, and this one tells my story so well. But, you know what? Nothing ever stopped me from singing. Take a listen and read the words. I answered some questions (after some of the lyrics.)

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Joey and Rory
Cheater, cheater where’d you meet her

Down at Ernie’s Bar? (No, Debbie, the waitress at Craig Ranch Country Club.)

Did she smile your way, twirl her hair and say how cute your dimples are? (No, how big your bank account is.)

Did she use that line “Your place or mine?” while you danced with her real slow? (No, let’s do it in your car in the parking lot)

Tell me cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Liar, liar did you buy her whiskey all night long? (Yes, so she could say, I’m so drunk.)

Did you hide your ring in the pocket of your jeans or did you just keep it on? ( No, he never wore a ring.But, he’d always call and say, “I’m stopping for a couple drinks with the guys.Love you!” )

When the deed was done and you had your fun did you think I wouldn’t know? (Yes, you thought I’d never find out, but she made sure I did.)

Tell me cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Now I’m not one to judge someone that I ain’t never met (No, we met many times and she even waited on me. She knew who I was.)

But to lay your hands on a married man is bout as low as a gal can get (Yes, pretty low.)

Hey I wish her well as she rots in hell and you can tell her I said so 

Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Loser, loser hope you love her cuz your stuck with her now (Yes, he said he didn’t love her, they were just friends, but he’s stuck with her now, and she’s draining him dry, literally.)

Take your sorry butt, load up all your stuff, and get the hell out of my house (Yes, exactly what I said.)

But I just wish you’d tell me this one thing before you go

Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Now I’m not one to judge someone that I ain’t never met

But to lay your hands on a married man is bout as low as a gal can get

Hey I wish her well as she rots in hell and you can tell her I said so (Yes, it will be pretty hot where they’re going.)

Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that no good, white trash ho?
Yeah I just wish you’d tell me this one thing before you go

Cheater, cheater where’d you meet that low down, up town, slept with every guy around, pressed on eyelash, no good, white trash ho? (Yes, she’s been with every guy around, single and married. But, he’s stuck with her now.) 

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KARMA: AH and the HO

I’m still singing!!! (And a little venting.)

   
  

Tuesday: Timeless Tunes and More Pizza

When we die, we will turn into songs, and we will hear each other and remember each other.Rob Sheffield

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This morning, I joined Mom and her lady friends down in the coffee room. They meet every morning at 10. Mom brought a cd to play and we all sat around and sang the old songs. I had 

  
Time after time. 

After nearly an hour sing-a-long, my best friend Debbie came to visit, bringing donuts and presents for Mom. Then she and I went to lunch and shopping. 

What did I want for lunch? YES! More pizza. This time deep dish. I could eatChicago  pizza everyday. Wait a minute! I think I have since I arrived. 

  
Gotta love Lou ‘s!!!    Lou Malnati’s Pizza and salad with creamy garlic dressing. Heaven! 

Singing, shopping and pizza. A perfect day.  

 

Tuesday Tunes and “Till I’m Home Again and Feeling Right”

Verse sweetens toil, however rude the sound;
She feels no biting pang the while she sings,
Nor as she turns the giddy wheel around,
Revolves the sad vicissitudes of things.
~William Gifford

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Another dreary day. How many misty, yucky days in a row can we have? Well, that didn’t dampen my resolve.(Little play on words. Get it? Dampen my resolve! Ha!) my neighbor Diane and I went to Zumba and danced, shook and wiggled for an hour. I love Zumba! Then, I came home, put on my wooly hat, flipped up my hood and went for a walk.

Sometimes on a sad gloomy day, I have to crank up the tunes on the radio and just sing along. I don’t sing well, but when you belt out a tune and dance in the kitchen, it’s hard to stay as gloomy as the day. Here’s an old tune from an old gal…

http://youtu.be/5cV9aZREpUI



Next time, if there is a next time, and there usually is a next time, I’ll sing a happier song.

Saturday: Singing and Shadows

“Fancies are like shadows…you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
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It’s Second Saturday on the Square. I’m sitting with Miss Kathy and the gang, singing and sharing good times.

The scorching summer sun has set and left only simmering shadows in the night.

Then comes the darkness, where the shadows dance.

Theme Song Thursday: “Hello”

“for every goodbye, God also provides a hello”
― Donna Gable Hatch
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I was packing up some dishes this afternoon, when I realized I didn’t have any music playing. I’m suppose to be dancing in the kitchen everyday, right? So, I turned on my ipad and played a little Sinatra, Carole King, and Michael Bublé. While I was scrolling, I ran across a few songs that my son Joe had recorded during his college days. Or, maybe it was earlier, not sure, but I listened to dozens of his songs. It was great just to hear his voice singing just for me. My boys are so far away, and I miss them so much.

Then, I smiled when I heard, “Hello.” I used to have that as his ring tone on my old phone, but I couldn’t figure out how to get it back on my new phone. (iphone challenged) The song made me think about my sons, my family and the things that make me smile. Joe is getting married next year to his lovely fiancé, Lindsay and I can’t wait. I’m so excited.

So, as I pack up my old life and start the next chapter of my old story, a new story will unfold, with new exciting chapters of hope and promise. Not just for them, but for me too.

“Hello, my friend, hello.” I hope all your chapters and stories have a happy ending.

Theme Song Thursday: Show Tunes

I love show tunes! I’m always belting out a song, whether I’m sad, happy, or indifferent. It just doesn’t matter. I have that affliction where someone says something that even remotely sounds like a sentence or a few words from a song, I burst out singing. It’s a gift…it’s a curse. So, to my amazement, when I was perusing my Facebook page…( I couldn’t think of an easier word than perusing…)
pe·ruse\pə-ˈrüz\
transitive verb
1 a : to examine or consider with attention and in detail : study
b : to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner
2 : read; especially : to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner
Other forms: pe·rused; pe·rus·ing

My cousin Jan had posted an article about how studies found that singing show tunes helps prevent the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Wow! That’s great news. I should be sharp as a tack for a very long time. It also said that being bilingual is helpful. Now, I’ll have to sing show tunes in Spanish. “Memories…like the corners of my mind…misty watercolor memories… Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David, a las muchachas bonitas…” Everybody sing…
http://nydn.us/18o0wcJCOPY

So’ I’ll let Neil Patrick Harris sum it up for me.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VXcjX3WZBzk&desktop_uri=%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DVXcjX3WZBzk

Theme Song Thursday: Something’s Coming

There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.
William Shakespeare

The self-fulfilling prophecy is a statement that alters actions and therefore comes true. For example, a person stating “I’m probably going to have a lousy day,” might alter his actions so that such a prediction is fulfilled by his actions. This may be an unconscious gesture. A person who might espouse a self-fulfilling prophecy in a positive way “I’m going to have a great day,” might act in ways that will actually make this prediction true.
http://www.wisegeek.org

I’ve been listening to my “West Side Story” CD in the car. Of course, I always sing along while I’m driving. One song in particular has resonated strongly with me. I like to think I am an extremely positive person, but when I’m belting out the words to this song, something takes control of my brain, making me believe that something great is going to happen. I wake up every morning and say to myself, “What a wonderful day! I can’t wait to see what happens!” A self-fulfilling prophecy? Perhaps! Try it…you’ll like it!

SOMETHING’S COMING from West Side Story
Could be
Who knows?
There’s something due any day
I will know right away
Soon as it shows
It may come cannonballin’ down through the sky
Gleam in its eye
Bright as a rose!
Who knows?
It’s only just out of reach
Down the block, on a beach
Under a tree
I got a feeling there’s a miracle due
Gonna come true
Coming to me
Could it be?
Yes it could
Something’s coming
Something good
If I can wait
Something’s coming I don’t know what it is
But it is
Gonna be great!
With a click
With a shock
Phone’ll jingle
Door’ll knock
Open the latch!
Something’s coming, don’t know when
But it’s soon
Catch the moon
One handed catch
Around the corner
Or whistling down the river
Come on – deliver
To me
Will it be? Yes it will
Maybe just by holding still
It’ll be there!
Come on, something, come on in
Don’t be shy
Meet a guy
Pull up a chair
The air is hummin’
And something great is coming
Who knows
It’s only just
Out of reach
Down the block, on a beach
Maybe tonight
Maybe tonight…

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/somethings-coming-lyrics-westside-story.html ]