Hot Jam Extravaganza!

ALL HOT JAMS ALL THE TIME (this week.)

When I started thinking about what to write this week, my original plan was for Classy Girls by The Lumineers to be the hot jam. But then I heard Jolene by Dolly Parton on The Voice, and I thought maybe that should be the hot jam. Then I heard Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet and You and I by Ingrid Michaelson on my Pandora station and I thought one of those should be the hot jam. Then I reread my running list of topics/hot jams and decided Honey, I Been Thinking About You by Jackie Greene should be the hot jam. So, as you can see, I was in an indecisive pickle (story of my life) and as a result THEY ARE ALL THE HOT JAMS.Because I'm in charge of this and I can do whatever I want.

You've probably heard The Lumineers song Ho Hey, it was all over the place not too long ago (here's an adorable and talented! 8 year old covering it). I really like it, but I like Classy Girls better. The Lumineers sound like someone I would hear a mid-summer Alaska bluegrass festival. Which is basically my favorite place in the world.

 I love a song that tells a story, and I think this is a great one. And also offers some good advice. Classy girls really don't kiss in bars. Keep that in mind, ladies. (And gentlemen. If a girl is willing to kiss you in a bar, she's probably not a classy girl)

Dolly Parton blows my mind. I mean, look at her.

Fact: While looking for this image, Google suggested I search "dolly parton hot"

How does she not fall over, let alone sing like she does? Jolene is heartbreaking and that's what makes it so amazing. And it could only be more country if it mentioned something about a dog running away (or spaceships, toddlers, Model T cars, and jars of beer?)

Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet was released my senior year in high school, and I love it just as much now as I did then. I like that it's classically rock-n-roll and  that the lyrics implies a "Well....are you? (Gonna be my girl)" There might as well be a "Check 'yes, no or maybe'" at the end.

Two things make me love Honey I Been Thinking About You - 1) Harmonica 2) the lines I don't really care about your hot-blooded sister/I'm sure there's a man for to love her and miss her/I didn't mean nothing, I just happened to kiss her

You and I by Ingrid Michaelson might be the cutest song that references buying a home in the south of France. But my favorite lyric has nothing to do with real estate, but rather is a thinly veiled "adult" reference. Maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you/If you know what I mean. If you add "If you know what I mean" to anything, it automatically makes it moderately dirty and thoroughly awesome. Keep that in mind, song writers.

here goes nothing

In order to help keep a positive attitude in the face of substitute teaching (which, let's face it, sucks for everyone involved) I've decided to write about my favorite things each week. I'm hoping that this will help me see the little things in life that keep me sane. These are in no particular order.

So here we go. This weeks favorite thing is...

Obituaries. Okay I realize this is a weird place to start, but obituaries really are one of my favorite things. I've always had pretty neutral feelings about death; it is, after all, one of the few constants in life. I'm nosy. Maybe even super nosy and obituaries provide a look into other people's lives. I consider myself a connoisseur of obituaries and I think these things make for a great obit.

1. Old photos. I love seeing high school photos of 90 year olds. Unless you live to be 100+ you should use your high school year book photo. If you do live to be 100+, use a current photo. That's damn impressive and you should show it off.

2. Odd details. Something like, "Betty loved to garden, collect glass bells, and, in her younger days, race hot rods. At age 18, she won Miss Dairy Princess of Northern Iowa" Do I really need to know that Betty collected glass bells and raced hot rods? Of course not, but it does paint a great picture of Betty.

3. Borders, gray shading, etc. Oh man, if you get some sort of border or detail around your obituary, you really made it. That is the ultimate in obituaries.

My parents live in a small town with a newspaper that regularly features great obituaries. For example, Larry Pearce, on board of directors of the water district. His obituary featured great odd details (his boy scout den mother was Norda Zamboni, wife of Zamboni Inventor Frank Zamboni) AND and gray box. Congrats Larry Pearce, you made it.

One of my other favorite things is hot jams (jamz?). So each week I'm going to feature one. This week it's....Freebird. Cliche, I know, but regardless of the number of drunk people shouting out "FREEBIRD!" at dive bar cover bands, it's one of my favorite hot jams.

For your viewing pleasure...
Skynyrd. Live. In 1977. You know it's going to be awesome. Americana at its finest. Skip to 7:00, if you just want to hear the guitar solo.

Thank you Lynyrd Skynyrd for providing the world with anywhere from 9 to 15 minutes of pure heaven. All I want in my obituary is my high school yearbook photo and the lyrics to Freebird. Oh and a nice border.