Hot Space

I've recently rediscovered Queen's Hot Space and I just can't seem to get enough of it. I put the album on my iPod and had a listen in late June - I've had it in regular rotation ever since. I don't know what it is about the sound of this album - is it the drum machine? I have a great fondness for the drum machine. What I think it is, is the marriage of funk, new wave, and classic Queen rock that puts this album easily in my top 5...though I don't really know what the other 4 are at the moment. I see 4 more posts in my future....

This album came out in May 1982 when I was only 4 (how cute!), and my guess is that it wasn't long after the album's release that I first heard songs like Body Language, and Under Pressure. I wonder what my 4-year-old mind made of Body Language? I have trouble-enough with it now, 26 years later! Especially those sounds Freddie makes....ewww! Luckily I was born with a sense of humor that stopped me from thinking about it too literally and getting completely grossed out. ANYWAY...listening to it now, I realise that a lot of what I love about music can be found in this one album. Groovy basslines, and tight, electronic drum beats. Meaningful lyrics (Under Pressure, Action This Day, Life is Real(Song for Lennon), Body Language{ha!}:), and beautiful melodies. Classic Queen rock (Put Out the Fire), harmonies only Freddie could master (c. 1982 anyway...I've heard his present-day reincarnation), and a latin love-ballad(Las Palabras De Amor) that I can't get enough of.

I can't even name a favourite song from this album, they are all that good. And what pains me the most is that not one of the songs from this album made it into the Top 40 of 1982(or '81 or '83...I checked)! It doesn't surprise me , and not to be snooty or judgemental, but the general population can't always be counted on for choosing great music over less-great music. Case in point, I once witnessed George Michael's Freedom clear a dance floor in a gay bar!? What was that about? Was that not a bit of a gay anthem in its time? Cleared the floor - the dancing was only revived when the DJ started spinning JT...and it was chaos out there when the Boot-Scootin' Boogie started playing. So let me rephrase; what pains me the most is that songs like Physical by Olivia N-J and Harden My Heart by Quarterflash made it to the Top 40 of '82, while not one of the 11 perfect Pop/Rock songs from Hot Space did. The injustice of it!

Maybe next time I vist a gay bar I should request Body Language? Perhaps not.

My Little Hypochondriac

It's been my pleasure to work with Heather (domo arigato over to the left)for the last 4.5 years. She has humoured me to no end with her constant phobias and frights, all of which I find so endearing. Such a trusting friend is she, that she has actually shared with me some photos from her youth when she was just a knobbly-kneed, bespectacled, little lad…I mean lass! Oh how we joke! Thunderstorms are particularly fun because Heather once slept on the floor for fear that she would be stricken by a thunderbolt atop her box spring. Today her right shin is numb to the touch - it may or may not be related to the Benelyn cream she applied to it yesterday to soothe some insect bites, possibly mosquito, possibly spider.

For some time I have been urging Heather to start a blog called “The Daily Hypochondriac” where she could post her musings about such dangers as rat-poo-dust on canned food items in warehouses, but she worries that the admission of her hypochondriac tendencies would make her feel like a freak. I think it would help her to feel more “normal” to hear from other people with greater irrational fear than she possesses. Looks like someone beat her to it...oh well!?

Hypochondriacs are funny, lets admit it! Think Bill Murray in What About Bob?! Death therapy! Classic! Are you a hypochondriac? Do you have any irrational fears? You can test yourself with this quiz!

Res-Q Me

I've spent the last 2 days crawling around in a concrete basement installing a laminate floor, and it's really taken a toll on my knees! They've been brilliant red and so sore since the project started Saturday morning. My sister suggested that I try some Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment on them - and it's worked like a charm! I used it last night and this morning, and though my knees are still sore, most of the redness is gone! I also scraped one of my knees with a piece of the flooring, so I'm using the ointment to help that heal as well.

Being as fluorescent-white as I am, bruises are disgustingly visible on me - particularly on my legs. So, while I was applying the ointment on my knees, I put a little on a couple of purpley bruises on my upper legs, and even those have faded significantly! Sweet deal! It also works well to lessen the itch of bug bites, even nasty deerfly ones. I think it was my buddy Lainey who first suggested that I try this product, so thanks to you E-Girl! Actually, I think she suggested it for zits? That's the next place this stuff is going, fo shizzle. Try it for yourself!

Horrorscope

I've been tickled by my daily horoscope lately and how pertinent it has been. I don't really believe in the powers of Astrology, so I take it all with a grain of salt. And I find that as often as it is pertinent, it is also impertinent...which would be the opposite of pertinent...

Today's is particularly funny because 1) it could apply to anyone in any situation, and 2) it offers a challenge to let the imagination run wild! Hmmm.....

You have so much potential that isn't being tapped into right now, and you need a kick of confidence to get things moving! Sometimes, if you want to create really big changes in your life, you have to start making smaller ones -- to sort of give the universe an example of what you're after. So today, make some tiny alterations. Take a different route to work, wear mismatched socks, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Shake up your day and see what happens.

What is it that I'm signalling to the universe by wearing mismatched socks exactly? That I am, or wish to be bi-polar? I'm all for shaking it up. Let's see...what have I done differently today? I didn't wash my hair. What am I saying here? Universe, I want to conserve water and shampoo. Or, Universe I wish to revolt against the social norms of personal hygiene? Weird. What about the hoopy earrings and blush? What am I saying to the universe through these small changes? Hopefully not that I wish to be Jenny from the Block, or a pirate? Gosh, I better be more careful. The question is, who writes these things? And where do I apply for the job???

To preserve my brother's readership...

On Two Wheels

I admit it. I have a bit of bike envy. My sister recently acquired this beautiful thing. Her name is Betty, and she's pretty fierce! I had the chance to take her for a wee spin a couple of weeks ago, and it was just enough of a taste for me to get my Norco Katmandu c. 1997 off it's meat-hook and back on the trail! I do love Betty, and I hope to one day have something as lovely as her to toot around on, but my Katmandu has done me well over the years. I've only fallen off twice (reported one tumble here), and having 21 gears to choose from is pretty cool too.

I've been out 3 times over the past week and I'm surprised at how quickly my legs have responded - I'm already able to cruise comfortably at a higher gear than I was on my first ride, and the hills are already getting easier. I'm also surprised (amazed) at how quickly the saddle-soreness has faded...thank goodness!

I would totally bike to work if I could - but 120kms per day might be a bit much. Just imagine the shape I'd be in...and the amount of food I could eat?! I'd probably eat all the money I'd save on gas!
I think a sweet ride like this little scooter might offer the best of both worlds? She's got Betty's looks and could get me to work on time while saving money on gas! I'd definitely need a bigger basket though.....

I just realised how much Betty looks like Pee Wee Herman's bike. Tracy's a closet fan! OUTED!

I'm boring me...

I was just scanning through my 2005 posts looking for a particular link, and I realised that my blog used to be a lot more interesting than it is now. Food, food, food, FOOD!!! I'm pretty sure there's more to life than food, and I don't know how or why I let my blog evolove into a mostly-food-related blog? Not that there's anything wrong with that. I love food. Food is very important to me, and many of the blogs I frequent are the blogs of foodies! But I don't do it as well as them, so I'm going to switch it up a little.

So, let's get a little GIRLY and talk about make-up! I don't see myself as much of a girly-girl, never have. But since being on my own over the last several months, I've found that indulging my girlish tendancies can be some of the best kind of therapy! I borrowed a copy of Carmindy's 5 Minute Face from my beautiful friend Heather, and picked up a couple of products she recommends in the book. Two products have completely changed the way my face looks to me - blush and highlighter. I look awake and alive...freaky! If you're dumb about make-up like me, check out Carmindy's site for tips.

Oh, and I've realised that big hoopy earings are pretty awesome too...thanks to another beautiful friend, Kim, for inspiring me to be more fashionable! I bought some big butterfly earrings and a multicoloured bangle in NYC. I've also got enough dresses in my closet for a full work-week, and I bought a scarf (still afraid to wear it though)?! Geez, what's next? I think I might need to organize a slumber party, complete with a teary viewing of The Notebook, baby-dolls, and cotton-candy-pink pedicures to take the next step in my girly-volution! I'm game!