7 Song Halloween Playlist LISTMANIA

Boo! 


Happy Halloween Gouhls and Boys! 

Today we are gonna keep it short and sweet with another Halloween music post that you can bump at all of your parties today and for the rest of the Halloween season! 

Herc has definitely pulled out all the stops for this playlist MANIA!  He's unstoppable.


Herc's Halloween Playlist MANIA
 
HALLOWEEN PLAYLIST MANIA


7 Songs with the word “DEVIL” in the title“Devil Inside” - INXS
“Sympathy For The Devil” - The Rolling Stones
“The Devil Went Down To Georgia” - Charlie Daniels Band
“Running With The Devil” - Van Halen
“Shout At The Devil” - Motley Crue
“Devil Woman” - Cliff Richard
“(You’re The) Devil In Disguise” - Elvis Presley


7 Novelty Songs from the 50s and 60s“Monster Mash - Bobby “Boris” Pickett
“Purple People Eater” - Sheb Wooley
“Haunted House” - Jumpin’ Gene Simmons
“Transfusion” - Nervous Norvus
“Frankenstein of ‘59” - Buchanan & Goodman
“They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” - Napoleon XIV
“Witch Doctor” - David Seville


7 Songs about the Female of the Species“Evil Woman” - Electric Light Orchestra
“Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen” - Santana
“Maneater” - Hall & Oates
“A Girl Like You” - Edwyn Collins
“Season of The Witch” - Donovan
“Little Miss Dangerous” - Ted Nugent
“Spooky” - Atlanta Rhythm Section


7 “KILLER” Songs“Riders On The Storm” - The Doors
“Psycho Killer” - Talking Heads
“Night Prowler” - AC/DC
“Red Right Hand” - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
“Killer Queen” - Queen
“Killer In The Home” - Adam & the Ants
“Murder By Numbers” - The Police


7 80s Songs“A Nightmare On My Street” - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince [1988]
“Haunted House Of Rock” - Whodini [1983]
“Thriller” - Michael Jackson [1982]
“Ghostbusters” - Ray Parker, Jr. [1984]
“Cry Little Sister” - Gerard McMann [1987]
“Weird Science” - Oingo Boingo [1985]
“Somebody’s Watching Me” - Rockwell [1984]


7 Cover Songs“Abracadabra” - Sugar Ray
“I’m Your Boogie Man” - White Zombie
“Summer Breeze” - Type O Negative
“Last Kiss” - Pearl Jam
“Tainted Love” - Marilyn Manson
“Thriller” - Ian Brown
“Ain’t It Fun” - Guns N Roses


7 Sinister Sounding Songs“Gimme Shelter” - The Rolling Stones
“(Don’t) Fear The Reaper” - Blue Oyster Cult
“How Soon Is Now?” - The Smiths
“Mama” - Genesis
“Lullaby” - The Cure
“White Rabbit” - Jefferson Airplane
“Love Bites” - Judas Priest

Seven Halloween Treats For Your Next Fiesta

I have always wanted to throw a party for Halloween. 

I might someday, but I already have the ideas for the food and treats!

Pinterest - heard of it?  They've helped me out a lot.  Also Pinterest is the reason for the lack of my productivity.

Seven Halloween Treats

• Mystery Box(of eyeballs) - All I will do is peel a bowl full of grapes and get them nice and cold.  Then I will paint a box black with a cut out in the top of it and add a creative sign.  Something about stick your hand in here, eyes were seen here, blah blah.  And now I've ruined my surprise for everyone.
• Brain Cupcakes - I will bake vanilla cupcakes and fill with something red.  Jam or cherry filling or something like that.  Then I will make a putrid beige colored icing and pipe it to look like brains.  Then you crack it it open and the blood comes out.
• Spider Webs - Take some pretzel rods and arrange them in an asterisk shape like this: *.  Connect the pretzels with concentric lines of white chocolate and a bit of a blob in the center.  Then fashion a mini spider out of a brown M&M and some chocolate jimmies. Repeat for all guests.  
• Candy Corn Sugar Cookies - Make your favorite roll-able sugar cookie dough recipe.  Divide dough in three and color some orange, yellow and leave some white.  Layer the colors in a pan, chill. cut the stacked dough into strips and then cut them into triangles.  The will be reversed but adorable!  Food color is magic.
• Ear Wax - Take an old box of q-tips.  Empty and set aside.  Then take some lollipop sticks and put a mini marshmallow on each end.  Dip each marshmallow in some butterscotch or caramel sauce to resemble ear wax.  GROSS but also perfect and delicious.
• Eyeball Truffles - White chocolate truffles in a traditional round shape.  Pipe on them in colors to make the irises and then red lines for a bloodshot look.  I literally just thought this up.  GOLD STAR.
• Witch Hats - Take one of those fudge shoppe cookies that the bottom half is dipped in chocolate.  Flip it to chocolate side up.  Then put a naked kiss on top.  Using a festive colored icing, pipe a ribbon decor where the hat meets the brim. 

Are my treats too cute-sy?  I guess I should wait till I have kids to throw that party...

Seven Rad Group/Family Costumes

Hey!

Still digging Halloween week?  Me too.

I like to watch other people dress up in costumes and pull off elaborate things and themes and stuff. 

I love when creative people blow my mind.  Today I am posting a list of themes I have seen, but no photos to go with, because I'm too lazy to find and resize them.

True dat.

Seven Rad Group/Family Costumes

• The Jetsons - Parents, kids and a dog.  SO ADORABLE.  The ones I saw had made their costumes by hand.  Hopefully youngsters know who The Jetsons are...
• The Simpsons - Yellow body paint and lots of plastic facial pieces.  Crazy rubbery wigs and hat things and great clothing.  Another cartoon family costume theme done well.
• BLT - The sandwich - mom and dad were bread, three kids(bacon, lettuce, tomato).  I saw this online and they looked like store bought costumes but its hard to say. 
• The Flinstones - Fred, Wilma, Pebbles so cute!  Quite a commitment for the mom and dad too, thats a lot of orange hair and a lot of body hair...
• Legos - A big red and blue brick for mom and dad and then a smaller yellow brick for baby!  AMAZING!
• Pac Man and family - Mr and Mrs Pac-Man and the four ghosts.  Somebody with four kids must do this!
• S'mores - Mom and dad as graham crackers, kids as marshmallows and chocolate bar.  I have a thing for the food combos like this, too cool. 

Have you seen or done something cooler?  TELL ME! 

Seven Scary Movies

I'm gonna propose a toast...

ah-hem!  This toast is for all of you out there that can watch scary movies, you have my condolences!


That being said:  I do not like scary movies.

Nope.

Not at all.  I can't even bring myself to watch the classics.  No not even with the lights on in the middle of the day.  Not even when someone is around to protect me.  Not even with my hands over my eyes.  Not even with a finger on the mute button.  Not even if you paid me.

I just can't do it. 

Sorry.


Seven Scary Movies
(that I've never seen but think are pretty scary)

• Final Desination.  The first one of this series was a movie I tried to watch.  I got about halfway into it and left the room in tears.  When that truck of logs/poles/whatever launches one into the driver of the car behind it - I think of that every.single.time. I see a truck of logs/poles.  Then the CRT computer monitor exploded and slit that person's throat....DONE!  That's all I saw of that movie and it was enough. 
• Scream.  My dad had this movie's audio in our minivan once and hearing it surround me - with no picture - was scary.  The voices and whatever they were talking about really creeped me out.  I don't know why I'm such a whimp...even that mask to me is just like....why?
• Psycho.  This has a lot of classic scenes from what I understand.  This was directed by Hitchcock, right?  The shower scene?  I think I have seen scene snippets so I didn't seem too clueless. 
• The Exorcist.  I went to Catholic school for many years.  I can't even think about this movie's plot without giving myself the heebjeebs.
• The Silence of the Lambs.  The two parts of this movie that stick out to someone who has never seen it: that creepy ass mask, and then the famous line "put the lotion in the basket"
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  Now that is a scary mask.  Do they really cut people up with a chainsaw?  I know how a chainsaw works and that sounds terrible and unnecessary.  No way, Jose.
• Halloween.  There is something from this movie that I like: that theme song.  Otherwise I'm not interested.

Sorry Dad.

Seven Candy Bars

Hey Everyone!

Are you excited?  I'm getting excited.  

The one day of the year where you can eat as much candy as you can get your hands on is fast approaching and Herc is back to give you a piece of his mind on the subject of candy bars. 

I haven't enjoyed several of these treats and sincerely feel like I'm missing out.  *sad face*

7 Candy Bars

Herc has a bit of a sweet tooth - more than 30 of them actually. On a health kick now, it’s been a few months since he’s tasted any candy bar but if he could, these would be the ones he’s seek out. No tricks, just these treats please.

SnickersHerc’s go-to candy bar whenever given a choice, he likes them in all sizes, flavors and states of refrigeration.

Mr. Goodbar
In junior high, Herc let it be known that the way to his heart was through his stomach via these yellow wrapped wonders. More than a few times he opened his locker to find bar after bar after bar waiting for him - they fit perfectly in the slotted vents of the locker.

 PaydayIt’s sweet, it’s salty, it’s delicious.

MunchBasically, a thin rectangle piece of peanut brittle. Mmm, peanut brittle. Only it has more peanuts. And only six ingredients. Check it.

Baby RuthHands down, the messiest candy bar Herc’s ever had the pleasure to consume. Pieces of chocolate and peanut halves rain down around him every time.

Gone but not forgotten category:

AvalancheIn 2007, for a few months, the makers of Payday bars had the bright idea to cover the Payday in milk chocolate. Genius. Then they stopped. Nooooooooooo!

Marathon BarThis bad boy was Herc’s favorite candy bar back in the day. It was 8” and there was a ruler on the wrapper so you knew it was true. For those of you who never had the pleasure, it was braided caramel covered in chocolate. They stopped making them in 1981. The interwebs tell of a similar bar still manufactured by Cadbury in the United Kingdom called the Curly Wurly. Herc’s Kingdom for a Curly Wurly!

Seven Favorite Baby Costumes

The title reveals my favorite part of Halloween - baby costumes!

So adorable it makes me wanna cry.  TOO MUCH CUTE! 

Photos are coming...thanks to the sites for letting me borrow them!

Seven Favorite Baby Costumes

 

Seven Halloween Costumes

Truth Time!

I have been a lot of things for Halloween in my life.  As I'm sure you have...but I feel like mine were particularly amazing. 

Truth be told though, I'm not crazy about Halloween. I like it - in a simple way.  I'm much more of a Christmas kind of girl.  Watch out for December - really. 

Let's talk about my favorite costumes from my life.

Seven Halloween Costumes

• The Riddler(from Batman) - I have a strange love for superheros and comic books.  Thanks to my dad, I'm sure.  I was in a green one piececostume with question marks all over it and had a gold glittery bowler hat on.  And a mask too I think.  So cool.  Just like Jim Carey.
  
• Nerd - This was a costume when I was in middle school.  Rainbow suspenders, pocket protector, pants pulled way up and masking tape on the bridge of my glasses. 
• Cyclops(X-Men) - See The Riddler!  Cyclops was always my favorite mutant.  I never cared for Wolverine like everyone else.  I had to always pick my favorite - and nobody else could have the same favorite as mine. 
• Catwoman(Batman) - ANOTHER comic book character?  How awesome!  I don't know why I was catwoman.  I don't like cats.  I never liked her.  I'd rather be batman.  My brother once had an awesome batman costume that looked like he was walking around in the batmobile.  Awesome.  I was(and still am) so very jealous. 
•  Nerd - I was this last year again, but I bought all my wardrobe at Goodwill and plan to re-wear it in the future.  Its a great go-to costume for me because it comes so easy to me.  I have a knack for being a nerd.  Go Figure. 
• Athlete - Best costume ever pulled from my normal attire and stuff I owned.  KM made me dress up when we were living in Vegas.  Insert track suit + high ponytail and VOILA! Instant costume.  
• Next Year's Costume - OMG you guys, I'm gonna have an amazing costume next year.  I'm ready for it.  I need to buy lots of eyeliner.  That's why its next years costume. 

Tell me about your costumes!  Were you ever anything embarassing?  Come back and I'll tell you a favorite costume category of mine...

Seven Underplayed Songs For Halloween Times

Hey Everyone!

Theme week comin' your way!  Herc is here to kick us off with a Halloween playlist.  He's got a knack for themed and appropriate music.  ENJOY!


7 Underplayed Songs For Your Halloween Playlist
(part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists)

The Halloween Playlist is a little more elusive, the pool of songs a little more shallow, than almost any other seasonal or situational playlist. Do you go all atmospheric musically? Do you go Goth? Do you go the familiar horror movie music? Do you go the “scare the children” route? Do you get all high concept? Do you use songs only about the Devil? Herc’s done it all and he’s been everywhere, man, and now he’s gonna share a few lesser known tracks from throughout all time with you.

Spoti-BOO!

“In the Shadows” - The Rasmus [2003]
A rousing, bass heavy anthem that rocks hard, this track from 2003 will kick your party up a notch or three. The lyrics (“I’ve been watching/I’ve been waiting”) paint a darker picture, abstract enough to hint at vampirism (They say/That I must learn to kill before I can feel safe”). There are three different videos for this song by the Finnish band so check them out next time your surfing the Web.

“Lil Red Riding Hood” - Sam The Sham & the Pharaohs [1966]The band that brought us “Wooly Bully” was no one-hit wonder - they followed up that massive hit with this 1966 gem which also made it all the way to #2 on the charts. It’s been featured in more than a few TV shows and movies and has been covered by several artists including those crazy nut rockers from Texas, Bowling for Soup.

“Heartbreak Hotel” - The Jacksons [1980]
Essentially a Michael Jackson solo effort, his brothers are credited with “percussion” while Tito lays down the tasty guitar solo. It predates the paranoid pathos that later blossomed full blown in songs like “Billie Jean” and “In The Closet” and features a creaky rhythm making it sound like a haunted house. Without explanation, the song’s official title was amended to “This Place Hotel” sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s when the CD version of the 1980 album was released.

“Cat People (Puttin’ Out Fire)” - David Bowie [1982]
The original version of this song was written for and featured in 1982 movie Cat People. It is longer and more atmospheric, with a simmering slowness and features one of Bowie’s most haunted vocal performances. (It was used with surprising effect in 2009’s Inglourious Basterds as well.) Due to contractual conflicts, Bowie was unable to use the same recording for his 1983 album Let’s Dance so he re-recorded it with producer Nile Rodgers laying back on guitar, Tony Thompson pounding the drums and Carmine Rojas anchoring the bottom with his bass as a faster, sturdier rocker. The icing on this musical cake is then relatively unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan bringing the wicked solos - his debut solo album wouldn’t be released until a few months later.

“Strong As I Am” - The Prime Movers [1985]
Sounding eerily like a young U2 lyrically and musically, The Prime Movers released this song on their self-titled EP. Director Michael Mann, hot off his hitch on Miami Vice, heard it, loved it and snagged it for the soundtrack of his 1986 film Manhunter. He even personally financed the video for the song. The lead singer left shortly after but the band regrouped without him as Dread Zeppelin and released several reggae infused Led Zeppelin hybrids with Elvis-sounding vocals. Just like U2.

“Wicked Game” - Stone Sour [2006]
A live, acoustic cover of Chris Isaak’s impossibly high-voiced 1989 love lament by the lead singer of the bands Slipknot and Stone Sour, Corey Taylor. His reading adds a little more masculinity to the song while retaining the sadness and heartbreak.

“Used To Love Her” - Guns N Roses [1988]
Axl and the boys snuck this darkly funny acoustic yet metallic ballad out on the stop-gap EP, GNR Lies. It catches you off-guard lyrically and makes a delightful addition to any spooky set. Who knew those bad, bad boys had such a good, good sense of humor?

Spoti-BOO!

Seven Favorite Breakfasts

I need to tell you something.  You may know, but nobody knows just how extensive this problem is...

I'm in love.


There.  I said it. Can't take it back, its out there now! 

I'm in love with breakfast.  It has been going on for my entire life and I'm finally coming to a point where it is less embarassing, where I am embracing this part of my life. 

Breakfast is the meal that is often consumed first on a daily basis, but if it were up to me, it would not be confined to the first meal.  Many restaurants and food establishments allow breakfast to spread its wings and be enjoyed anytime any day and this is wonderful news.

May I please tell you about my deep running love?

Thank you. 

Seven Favorite Breakfasts

1. French Toast - This egg mixture soaked, griddle crisped delicacy is far and away my most favorite breakfast ever.  I could eat an entire loaf of bread as French Toast - and I wouldn't even feel guilty.  Any way it is prepared, any way it is served, and any shape it is in are all delicious to me.  I love it so hard, you will probably never understand so it may not be worth your time to even try.  French toast sticks are another gift from the Griddle Gods, this variety takes a dip in the fryer before taking another dip in syrup before I dip it into my mouth.  So good...mmmmm.
2. Pancakes - Griddled goodness rules this seven, I'll tell you that much.  Pancakes are amazing!  They can be so many different varieties and flavors but guess what?  I prefer mine plain.  Fluffy buttermilk pancakes, fresh butter, and real maple syrup is my personal nirvana and can pretty much fix all of my problems.  Good day, pancakes make it better.  Bad day, pancakes make it better.  Nervous, pancakes calm me down.  Sick, pancakes make it better.  Get it?
3. Sugary Cereal/Pop Tarts - I am basically a 12 year old child.  I love anything covered in sugar.  I was practically raised on pop tarts and their generic cousins.  My dad toasts the unfrosted flavors and rubs them with a special stick of butter.  Yes.  I like the frosted kind too but only 4 flavors: cherry, strawberry, brown sugar cinnamon and the double chocolate one when I'm in a pinch.  Cereal wise, you have already been informed of that love here.
4. Oatmeal - Its becoming a trendy breakfast again, with its whole grain properties and all that.  Combined with all of the delicious condiments that you are supposed to mix into it, it can't be that bad for you, right?  I love mine in every form, really.  Even oatmeal cookies count as breakfast in my book.
5. Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Links, Bacon, Hashbrowns, and Toast - Pretty much your typical breakfast.  Okay, maybe extra meat than normal breakfasts.  Just do it right, serve me some grape jelly and maple syrup(for my sausage of course) and we are good to go!
6. Sausage, Egg and Cheese McMuffins - Mickey D's knows whats up.  Delicious combination.  However, my grandfather created a homemade version that is EVEN BETTER.  Fresh eggs, delicious sausage, buttery english muffins and tasty cheese.  Thanks Grandpa you ruined me for life!
7.  Waffles - The sheer surface area that is crisped up on this treat is nothing short of a miracle.  How does that happen?  Its amazing.  Then we need to factor in butter in every square and maple syrup too and we have hit an overload of deliciousness.  Can you even handle it?  I know I can't.

Do you share my fondness for the beautiful meal known as breakfast?  If you do not have the same fondness as me, please zip your lip and move on to the next blog entry please. 

Seven Things That Gross Me Out

Howdy there!

You know how some people have things that really gross them out? 

Well, I am no exception to that.

This is going to be a really short post because I'm pretty sure that writing details will gross me out so bad that I wouldn't be able to finish. 

With that stellar intro, I present you my 7.

Seven Things That Gross Me Out

• Spiderwebs.
• Vomit.
• Millipedes.
• Snakes.
• Mice.
• Anatomy of An Egg.
• Organs Served As Food.

Share yours if you want...

Seven Cartoons That Rock

Hey party people!

How are you all doing?

I'm trippin', yo.

Down memory lane, reminiscing of cartoons.  They played a big role in my childhood and later on as well.  I know that is nothing special, but maybe my faves are different than your faves? 

Maybe your faves are better than mine?  Let's find out, tell me your faves.  First let's see mine!

Seven Best Cartoons EVER  

• Rugrats. I know I've mentioned my love of this cartoon before.  I've made no secret of how these toddlers are my favorites ever.  You can reference that here.  Herc taught me that the music was done by that dude from Devo.  Phil & Lil, Tommy, Chuckie, and all the rest, you ain't nothing but the best!
• Rocko's Modern Life.  Do you remember the theme song?  "Rocko's modern lifeee *low voice* Rocko's modern life"  All about a Austrailian wallaby.  What?  How did that ever happen?  Honestly someone had to have been on drugs to conceptualize this fantastic cartoon.  So good.  Where can I get a shirt like his?  I want one.  See how cool:

• Biker Mice From Mars.  I have such great memories of this show because this was a cartoon me and my brothers watched together.  We had toys and called eachother by the names of the characters.  Now, about the cartoon.  It was rodents from outer space that rode motorcycles.  Yeeeaaahhhhh more drugs?
• The Simpsons.  This long running(20 years!) cartoon has its moments for me, both good and bad.  I certainly have to be in the right mood to watch this show but since it has been around almost as long as me I can't hate too hard on it...
• Lilo & Stitch.  Hawaii.  Adorable alien.  Elvis.  Yes, yes, and hell YEAH!  I have mad love for this movie.  It came out when I was in my teens which is what makes it so weird but its just so good.  I think its one of those movies that has a universal appeal.  All children of mine will know this movie, and they may even have it as a custom designed bedroom design.  Maybe I will even re-do my bedroom in this way...
• Futurama.  My biggest reason for enjoying this show is Nibbler.  He is cute.  And evil.  But really cute.  Fry drives me bonkers but I like the red dude....
• The Lion King.  As evidenced here, I am a big fan of this movie.  Easily my favorite Disney movie from my childhood.  Do I need to say more?

Seven Excellent Concerts

Do you like music?

Do you like concerts?

I do.  I've been to a few concerts in my day. 

Not as many as I wish, thanks to the ridiculous prices of tickets these days.  I do splurge every once in a while and am always scouring the web for bargains or deals.  What's up with 50$ tickets?

Also at the most recent concerts I have been to, 75% of people had their phone out.  25% were texting, and the rest were taking videos and photos.  You can't just enjoy a concert in the moment? You have to watch it through your camera screen or maybe miss a special look because you were texting.  Its distracting for me to see so many people with their glowing phones out. 

Despite that, I have seen some really great concerts and look forward to seeing more.  Here is a quick look at 7 of them.

Seven Excellent Concerts I've Attended

• Kiss.  Fire, Rock, Fire, and more Rock.  This is what this concert meant to me.  My family and I all went to this together in Tucson.  An excellent concert all around and the pyrotechnics were amazing!  I remember when one of them flew above the audience on some sort of rig and thought that was the coolest thing ever, until I saw Gene Simmons blow fire.  Then they did "Beth" and I saw hundreds of people holding their lighters up.  Real life.  It was fantastic!
• Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and those other guys.  This was my first concert I ever attended solo.  Oct 2005, Mesa Amphitheater.  It was an awesome show.  I went for Fall Out Boy and learned of panic and was an instant fan.  To attend alone, it was quite a step for me as the lone wolf I like to be.  Also Fall Out Boy was a really great live act!  I also met the Panic! guys behind the venue at their bus cause I was wandering around lost looking for where I parked my car.
• Dwight Yokham.  A favorite of my dad's, my family and I came to see this show a long while back at one of the amphitheaters here in Phoenix.  I am familiar with his music and acting but this concert experience was definitely an eye opener to me.  People were drinking beer *gasp* and smoking *YIKES* and making out all over the place.  The music and performance was really great, but not what I took away from this concert. 
• Motion City Soundtrack, Ok Go, and those other guys.  This was during my college year.  I treated myself and my three friends to this show and we had a really good time.  It was at the Marquee Theater in Tempe and remains my only general admission standing room only style concert.  It was four bands, but I only remember two of them.  We went to see Motion City and discovered OK Go at this time.  I love concerts where I discover new favorites. 
• John Mayer and Maroon 5.  Saw this when I was in high school with Agent Z herself.  Was really unfamiliar with Maroon 5 at the time and really enjoyed this unknown band and have been a fan ever since.  Then Mr. Mayer came on, and this was around the time Heavier Things came out when he was that cool sexy singer songwriter with that song about my body being a wonderland.  It was a wonderful show, and remains one of my favorite concert shirts ever. 
• The Band Perry.  Just this week I saw this cute country family band at the AZ State Fair.  Two brothers and their sister sure know how to put on a show.  The brothers should really consider wearing pants that are less tight though, in this girl's opinion.  The sister is also really pretty and can play guitar and sing live!  A win.  Get into this band, it will be worth your time. 
• MC Hammer.  Now, I do not remember this concert at all.  I am told I went with my parents and that I was a big MC Hammer fan when I was young.  I do remember my favorite pajama shirt of many years, and that was my concert shirt from this show.  I wonder if my parents still have that in a box someplace...

What are your favorite concert memories?  I bet Herc could write a post of his own on all of his favorite concerts....Tell me your faves and least faves in the comments!

Seven Channel Surfing Adventures

Hello everyone!

You know when you are home alone and watching tv?  Its fun, 'cause like you can watch whatever you want and try new shows out with no guilt.  Not that I care what other people think of my television viewing habits, but you know how it goes.

I have been trying on several new shows, some good and some I wish I had never seen.  Let's discuss.

Seven Channel Surfing Adventures

• American Hoggers(A&E) - I watched this out of pure curiosity.  I will never watch it again.  It is exactly what it sounds like.  A family of hoggers.  Its real redneck, and I try to surpress that side of my genealogy.  Don't waste your time like I did.
• Suburgatory(ABC) - A new show this season and I honestly love it.  A cute concept, funny characters and lovable leads.  Watch it!
• Kardashian Whatever(E!) -I'm sorry.  It has happened and I will do my best to not let it happen again.  Please forgive me. 
• Gayle King Show(OWN) - This never should have been allowed.  Oprah's bff is not so great.  This show needs to stop.  And quick.  Again, sorry I wasted time.
• Whitney(NBC) - An often foul comic writes a self titled sitcom loosely based on her own life?  Sounds like a bad plan.  I watched it anyways.  Guess what, I like it.  She is more dimensional than she seems and she is incredibly awkward which speaks to me.  
• Storage Wars(A&E) - I hate storage units.  I hate the idea(mostly).  They have a few uses that make sense but mostly its a waste of money and space.  This show is about auctions of storage units that are abandoned, forgotten, or not paid for.  Its fascinating what people stick in storage units and then abandon.  A guilty pleasure that I will not apologize for.  
• Oddities(SCI) - A very strange show, odd even, and yet its impossible to turn off.  A bizarre couple run an even more bizarre store full of the most bizarre items ever in the history of the world.  It comes on after my favorite show(How Its Made) sometimes and I just can't turn it off!  Strange and yet not for the faint of heart.  

There you go.  A recent history of my television viewing habits.  Laugh all you want, I own it.  Got any shows of your own that should or shouldn't be seen again?

Seven Reasons I Want To Go To Alaska

Did you know that today is National Alaska Day? 

It marks the first day of the raising of the US Flag at Sitka.  In case you were wondering...

As I told you about with my post on Washington DC, I have been bitten by the travel bug.  I know that post was just a couple days ago, but I have another one about Alaska for you today.

This is my wallet friendly version of pacifying the travel bug and its working for me.  Is it working for you?

Seven Reasons I Wanna Go To Alaska

• Glaciers.  I have seen them on television and in photographs but I really cannot fathom how big they actually are.  That being said, those photos and videos are incredibly beautiful and amazing and I can only imagine how great they are in person.
• Native Culture.  Eskimos, igloos, dog sleds, and so on.  I want to learn more about it and see it and understand it.  Are there real igloos there?  I want to see one.  
• Scenery and Nature.  Its a huge state with not a lot of people in it.  There are acres and acres of untouched nature beauty.  I think its beautiful.  I'm not a crazy hiker or nature enthusiast but there are  some things you must see. Like a Moose.
• Northern Lights.  I just really need to see this.  Something within me really wants to see this.  I can't explain it.  March or September 22nd, I will be there to see them.  
• Lack of Sun.  I know there are parts of Alaska where you have less than 2 hours of sunlight a day.  I find that to be incredibly fascinating and I want to experience that.
• Fishing.  Not a fan of seafood or fishing really.  However, I think it is very important to the culture and I would ride along just to experience some sort of outing.  Wouldn't that be fun?  
• Alaska.  I just want to see it all!  I want to see Alaska and research the best of the best to see and do there.  I want to eat my way through the state too, but I cannot figure out what a signature Alaskan item is?

Have you been to Alaska? Tell me about it. 

I want to go to there. 

Seven Of The Greatest Albums Of All Time

Hey Howdy! 


Another installation of Music Mondays is coming your way.  I can tell you that Herc is the single most music driven person I have ever known.  He has an incredible knowledge of it, an amazing history built around it, and great stories all about it.  This is a wonderful post by Herc, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


7 Of The Greatest Albums Of All Time
(that just happened to be released in 1982!)
[part of ongoing series 7 Greatest Albums]

In 1982, Herc was in his teens, a crucial time for any music lover: bonds are formed, memories are made and allegiances are pledged that will affect the rest of our lives. Herc was one of those kids who walked around with headphones on, listening to cassette tapes he recorded, in his trusty Sony Walkman. Walking down the street, sitting in class or riding the bus, the headphones and Walkman were ever-present. Music was his drug of choice, the one thing that got him through the day, all day, every day. It fueled the fires of his passions, bandaged his bruised ego and helped heal his heart. Over the past 30 years, these albums (like Herc) have withstood musical trends and fashion fads, not too mention the epic and expensive transition from physical media (records, tapes) to digital media (CDs, files). Music is still his drug of choice, though, and these are some of his biggest highs.

all 7 albums in one Spotify playlist
or click on each album title to listen, one at a time

Blackout - Scorpions
unleashed 3/29/1982

The lead single from Blackout was entitled “No One Like You” and in interviews with the band they say it was originally written in their native German and lost its meaning in the English translation. It must have been inconceivably brilliant because the song as it was released is absolutely fantastic from that first drum beat. The album itself begins with a rocking guitar siren on the title track and gets better and better from there. The second track, “Can’t Live Without You”, is a throwback to 70s British Glam Rock with its counted off intro, self-referential lyrics and helium-voiced sing-along chorus. Then comes “No One Like You”, a blast of harmonic high guitars and longing lyrics. There are other songs, most notably the tour memoir valentine “Arizona”, that round out the album but after those first three tracks the rest of the album sounds familiar.

Rio - Duran Duran
unleashed 5/10/1982

From it’s stylish cover illustration to the equally stylish grooves within, Rio hastened the arrival of the New Romantic portion of the New Wave: pretty boys in pretty clothes playing gussied-up disco music for the next generation. A major factor in their popularity was the ability to see the band in music videos filmed in exotic locales, yet another layer of stylishness. Simon, Nick and the three unrelated Taylor boys played dance/pop music and released a series of 12”s and EPs featuring enhanced dance remixes of the songs from Rio making them a feature in clubs as well as the radio and the (M)TV on both sides of the Atlantic. In hindsight after nearly 30 years, some of the music does sound stuck in the Eighties but most of it holds up.

Combat Rock - The Clash
unleashed 5/14/1982

“This is a public service announcement/With GUITARS!” are the first words your hear when you drop the needle/press Play on The Clash’s fifth full-length release. The guys had toured the world, read the newspaper and, after six years together, they were reaching a breaking point both as a group and in their popularity. The songs they recorded for the album that eventually became Combat Rock were musically as diverse as ever, a sonic trademark of the musical alchemists known as The Clash. Two of the band’s biggest hits emerged from the album, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” and “Rock The Casbah.” But the one Herc keeps going back to is “Straight To Hell” which was later sampled in M.I.A.’s global smash “Paper Planes”. By 1983, the band that had recorded Combat Rock was all but extinct, limping along after firing two members. Fortunately for us, we’ll always have this memento.

The Lexicon Of Love - ABC
unleashed 6/25/1982

As rhythmically funky as it orchestrally lush and packed with more heartbreak scenarios than any romance novel, The Lexicon Of Love still manages to sound contemporary almost 30 years after its release. Love, after all, is timeless. and this is love in its purest romantic form. Martin Fry is hardly original in his delivery, drawing on everyone from Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Bryan Ferry before him, but somehow it doesn’t matter because the words he sings and the way he sings them ring true. All of this hopeless romanticism is set against a wall of sound constructed by Trevor Horn (featuring many of the players who would later go on to form Art Of Noise) that melds the burgeoning new wave sound of the time with classic soul and rhythm & blues sounds of the late Sixties and early Seventies. The album flows lyrically and musically towards an all too soon end but that’s okay because you can play it again. And again.

Friend Or Foe - Adam Ant
unleashed 10/14/1982

On the morning of May 16, 1981, Herc watched Adam & the Ants perform (lipsync) “Antmusic” and “Dog Eat Dog” on American Bandstand. After lunch, he rode his bike up to the Base Exchange (BX) and bought their album Kings Of The Wild Frontier. Six months later, Adam & his Ants issued Prince Charming, which was more of the same music but the make-up and costumes had changed, from a Pirate/American Indian mash-up to a Pirate/Dandy Highwayman mash-up. Within 12 months, Adam had jettisoned all but one Ant and released this, his debut solo album. This time out, he wore minimal make-up and dressed like a Pirate/Cowboy hybrid. The music was just as dense and as rhythmic as the previous two outings, proving he had chosen to retain the right Ant and, on the first day of 1983, Adam returned to American Bandstand performing what would become his biggest hit, the hyperkinetic “Goody Two Shoes”.

1999 - Prince
unleashed 10/27/1982

One night in November 1982, while ironing a couple of shirts to wear to school the following week (snicker, snicker), Herc was listening to “The New Music Test Department” on a local radio station as he usually did on Sunday evenings. It was a chance for the deejay to break from the “rock” format and play new releases in all genres from punk to funk. On that particular night, he first heard “Little Red Corvette” and a lifelong obsession began with the music of the artist who will always be known as Prince. A sprawling and ambitious double album, 1999 featured tight funk jams and longer, looser workouts with drum machines and layered synths paving the way for what would become known in the Eighties and early Nineties as the “Minneapolis sound”. The music was the soundtrack to parties, the background for make-out sessions and inspiration for at least one American Government term paper. Within two years, Prince would be the biggest recording artist in the world, rivaled only by Madonna and Michael Jackson. But his ascent is easily traced back to this, his launching pad and proving grounds.

Thriller - Michael Jackson
unleashed 11/30/1982

Herc ain’t gonna lie, he probably slept on this record until Christmas 1982, when he finally picked up a copy for himself after listening to his father’s copy far too often. “Billie Jean” was an awesome song and his live performance of it on the Motown 25 show, where he revealed his new Moonwalk, lit the fuse on this firecracker which went on to become the biggest selling album of all time even before MJ’s untimely death. All but two songs were released individually and became Top Ten singles and when the mini-movie for the title track was released, millions would stop whatever they were doing and just watch. The performances are breathtaking but it is the polished production by Quincy Jones that does it for Herc. Even after all the tabloid tales, this is still a great listen.

>>>Bonus 1982 Spotify Playlist<<<
For the record (get it?), Herc also played the groove out of these vinyl albums from 1982 and has since owned compact disc versions. Tracks from these albums (as well as the albums above) are the bedrock of Herc’s Digital Music Archive.


Asia - Asia***Picture This - Huey Lewis & the News***8th Wonder - The Sugarhill Gang***Just Another Day In Paradise - Bertie Higgins***Mountain Music - Alabama***The Golden Age Of Wireless - Thomas Dolby***Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet - Rick Springfield***All Four One - The Motels***Toto IV - Toto***American Fool - John Cougar***Diver Down - Van Halen***A Flock Of Seagulls - A Flock Of Seagulls***Hot Space - Queen***Built For Speed - The Stray Cats***Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor***Eye In The Sky - Alan Parsons Project***Night And Day - Joe Jackson***Emotions in Motion - Billy Squier***Billy Idol - Billy Idol***The Party’s Over - Talk Talk***Screaming For Vengeance - Judas Priest***Upstairs At Eric’s - Yaz***What Time Is It? - The Time***Fast Times At Ridgemont High soundtrack***New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) - Simple Minds***H2O - Hall & Oates***Kissing To Be Clever - Culture Club***The Nightfly - Donald Fagen***Shabooh Shoobah - INXS***Spring Session M - Missing Persons***Hello, I Must Be Going - Phil Collins***Long After Dark - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers***Computer Games - George Clinton***Oh No, It’s Devo! - Devo***Gap Band IV - GAP Band***The Distance - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band***Business As Usual - Men At Work***Dare - Human League***Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing - Soft Cell***The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five***

Seven Flavors Of Kool-Aid

I love Kool-Aid.

I really do.  I always have and even in my mid twenties, there is still a pitcher in my refrigerator.

It has many uses these days.  Coloring your hair, coloring yarn, scenting and flavoring homemade lip balm and other crafty things.  Also you can drink it.  

I miss the commercials and the pitcher mascot.  Do you remember him?  Let me jog your memory:

image found here

 Seven Kool-Aid Flavors:

1. Cherry - Far and above the greatest flavor ever.  Bright red and delicious its hard to not drink the entire pitcher.  This flavor is always in my house.  I am religious about it. 
2. Black Cherry - A great flavor as well, more refined.  The grown up twist on the regular cherry. 
3. Tropical Punch - I honestly don't know what flavors make this up, and I won't look it up because I don't want to discover banana ingredients.  It was a salmony shade of red and deliciously refreshing.  This flavor was always at my grandma's house in my memories.
4. Grape - I love grape flavored things.  Some people really hate them, but I love them.  Grape soda, grape candy, grape cough syrup, and of course grape kool-aid.
5. Pink Lemonade - I thought this was how you made lemonade forever.  Until I learned that you actually can make lemonade from lemons, those sour fruits that grew in our backyard.  My mind was blown and things were never the same.
6. Lemon Lime  - I am a fan of this flavor combo.  I like that it combines them both, I like that its crisp and refreshing and I really like that it doesn't stain my clothes like cherry or grape.  Much lighter and easier to deal with.  Yes, I am a slob, get over it. 
7. Orange - Almost as good as those Hi-C juice boxes but not quite there.  Extra sweet to me and a definitely delicious flavor. 

Please excuse me as I need to go whip up a gallon of the secret family recipe kool-aid since I just drank all of mine...  Wanna know the secret? Sorry Dad, I'm giving it away: 1 packet cherry, 1 packet black cherry, 2c sugar, water, mix.  Chill, add ice and serve. 

Seven Reasons I Wanna Go To Washington D.C.

Guess what?  I am currently in a big fight.

With the travel bug.  I'm losing.  I just wanna GO!  I've never felt it so bad before.  So I am gonna channel it into this blog. 

Last year I went to the greater DC area for the first time.  I flew into DCA and saw some of the big landmarks from the sky.  That's it.  I never saw anything.  It was a learning trip for work and I was lacking free time.  It is kind of a shame.  But I had a really great time.  I just really want to go back.

Seven Reasons I Wanna Go To Washington DC

• The White House.  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  The house where Mr. Obama and his family lives.  Its where the President lives.  Also, its an incredibly fascinating building with a rich history and tons of amazing trivia.  I have wanted to go here since I saw Graceland, I am now fascinated with public houses. 
• Lincoln Memorial.  I just really want to see the giant statue of Lincoln sitting.  That's all.  Plus its on the penny. 
• The Smithsonian.  Julia Child's kitchen lives here now!  I have to see that.  Also, every other radical piece of American/World history that resides here. Bonus: National Archives too please, all the amazing documents!  Just like in National Treasure.
• Mount Vernon.  Washington's house.  George and Martha's home.  Their estate.  I wanna go!  Why? Couldn't tell you.  But it must happen.
• Library Of Congress.  The biggest library in the world.  I.Must.Go. 
• Washington Monument.  Thank goodness the earthquake didn't destroy this very tall obelisk.  I haven't seen it yet! 
• People Watching.  I just want to ride the train all over, and watch people.  Then I want to sit in a park and watch all the people going by.  So many different types of people.  Also, there is a lot of really good food to be had in this city.  I must go. 

I gotta go!  Have you been to DC?  Tell me about it in the comments.  

Seven Reasons I Love/Hate The DVR

Heya!

Do you have a DVR? 

I know a crazy family that had 4 at one time.  That family happens to be mine.  Hey mom and dad!

Anyways, my own house has had a DVR since I moved back to AZ from Vegas and I have a love/hate relationship with it.  It extends to TV as a whole too, sometimes. 

Am I the only one?  Does this ridiculous takeover by the cable companies and machines freak anyone else out? Just me? Cool.

We have a DVR and ever since the fall shows have returned KM and I are having trouble keeping up!  There are shows on our DVR still from SEPTEMBER.  This is crazy.  We are slaves to the machine.  Let me explain.

Seven Facets Of My Love/Hate Relationship With My DVR

• Social Life Speedbumps.  My massive social schedule is interrupted on a daily basis by my DVR screaming my name.  Its like "Devyn, I have shows for youuuuuuu and I'm recording more today!".
• Backwards. Isn't that backwards though?  Shouldn't my DVR be freeing up my social time, not stepping into it?  It should be letting me live my life because I don't need to be tethered to my TV to watch my programs.  
• Entitlement. The DVR has created a sense of entitlement in those of us that have one.  I am entitled to watch all of my shows, and how dare the president interrupt my sitcoms?  I can watch all the shows, not just one per time slot.  I MUST watch all the shows.  I don't have to pick just one, that's absurd.  I can't believe that stupid dancing show ran late into my medical drama tonight. 
• Tethered To The Machine.  I can admit it.  My DVR runs my life.  When I take a weekend trip to Tucson, I make sure I take out the trash, pack my clothes and clear some space on the dang DVR.  Oh yeah and water the plants and make sure to turn the AC up.  But the DVR is definitely in the top 3 things I worry about when I leave my house overnight.  What the heck is up with that?!(I love it.)
• Addiction To Shows.  It used to be I would catch a show when I had the time.  I would be kind of funny on the story lines and character happenings.  I would try to catch up but mostly I would just be content with watching an hour of funny time.  Now I watch everything and get angry if I missed anything, especially if it was the machine's fault. 
• Couch Time.  I spend all my time on the couch/my recliner.  Watch TV all the time.  Not live though, never ever live.  Watching commercials?  Are you kidding me?  That is for the people without DVRs.  Sorry marketing companies, I don't care for your 30 second sales pitches.
• My Wallet Hates Me.  See, I get the DIY network.  I watch tons of the shows on this network.  Then I want to go and do it myself(get it?) and then my wallet suffers.  I see Mr. Muenster rip up a bathroom and install a killer shower with body jets and I want to run out to Home Depot right away.  

Do you love your DVR?  Or do you hate it?  I can't decide if I love it or hate it more.  Discuss in the comments please, my valued readers.  

Spotify Almost Two Months Later

Dudes.  Herc wrote this post a while back and I neglected it.  Now, its almost a month after he intended for you to see it, and my lazy behind is just now putting it out for you. 

Its a really clever post, and more spotify playlists, get on it!


SPOTIFY - (almost) TWO MONTHS LATER

“Why?” - Bronski Beat

Isn’t Spotify great? Wait, are you listening to Spotify yet? Why not? Herc has never listened to so much music in his life as he has since Spotify finally came to the United States (& his beloved iPod Touch) and he has listened to a lot of music. A. LOT.

“Change” - John Waite

A work in progress, Spotify continues to evolve - no fewer than half a dozen software updates in the last two weeks alone. New features, new functions and new music...

"Gimme More" - Britney Spears

Since our last Spotify chat on August 31st, almost one million tracks have been added to Spotify’s library. (Let me do the math...carry the one...exactly 955,033 tracks.) More music than any human could possibly listen to in their lifetime but don’t let that stop you from trying.

“The Waiting” - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

It was never a Golden Ticket kind of phenomenon but when Spotify came to these shores, an invitation was required to partake in the musical goodness. You signed up and waited. Maybe you haven’t tried Spotify because you never got an invitation. Invitations are no longer required to get Spotify because...

“Power” - Kanye West

...Spotify is now fully integrated with Facebook, for better or for worse. If you haven’t signed up for a Spotify account yet it now requires you to sign in with your Facebook account. No Facebook account, no Spotify account for new users. There were some over-sharing issues initially but those have now been resolved.

“Radio, Radio” - Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Spotify finally has unleashed their Radio function Stateside - it’s on the left panel main menu just under What’s New. Sadly, they have removed some of Herc’s favorite channels (Disco, Funk, New Wave and Techno) and replaced them with three flavors of metal (Black, Death and Heavy). Play around with the Spotify Radio function by selecting more than one button at a time and see what pops up. While it lacks the fine-tuning capabilities of Slacker, Spotify Radio lets you skip as many songs as you want until you find one you want to hear.

“Let’s Go Crazy” - Prince & the Revolution

Remember when you had to ration your Spotify listening time because, as a Free User, there were monthly caps imposed by Spotify? Well those days are gone - you get unlimited listening for the first six months now before you have to start rationing. Go crazy, get nuts.

Seven: Gumby Edition

Art Clokey created a masterpiece known as Gumby.  Behold:

 

Aren't they awesome?

Today would have been Art Clokey's 90th Birthday.  Sadly he passed away in 2010 on Elvis Presley's birthday. 

See that connection?  I was MEANT to love Gumby.

My dad really enjoyed Gumby.  He passed that love onto my brothers and I.  My youngest brother loved him the best. We used to watch the episodes on VHS over and over again, together.  It was so awesome.  I remember it with such fondness, my brothers will probably tell me I'm crazy. 


Seven Gumby Characters

• Gumby.  The finest stop motion animation clay character around.  The slanty headed green dude is the star of the show.  His voice is crazy, his feet are big and he is awesome!  Nicest guy around and always looking for an adventure.
• Pokey.  Gumby's faithful sidekick.  This red horsey is probably the only horse I have ever liked.  He is a bit of a skeptic but appreciates Gumby's adventures I think.  Silly horse.
• Goo.  The blue blob of goo with hair and a bow on her head.  She is like a mermaid on land.  She is very cool calm and collected and always looking out for her friends Prickle, Gumby, and Pokey.  She was never my favorite though, sorry Goo!
• Prickle.  The little yellow dinosaur guy!  I love when he acts like a detective and puts that hat on and smokes a pipe.  So cute!  His voice is awesome and so perfect for the character.  Him and goo roll together, maybe they were in love?  One can hope...
• The Blockheads.  The evil dudes, twin blockheads.  K and J? G and L?  Something like that...they are bright red which is obviously an evil color.  They are always trying to mess with Gumby and his pals.  Good thing good always wins. 
• Minga.  She's the pink one with green hair!  She is actually Gumby's little sister.  I don't really have much to say about her.  She was kinda just there for me. 
• Gumba and Gumbo.  These are Gumby(and Minga's) parents.  They are red.  Why? Who knows.  Also they have amazing names!  Their voices were also top notch.

Now, go watch Gumby, I'm off to go watch the best episodes!!!

Seven Reasons I Love Home Depot

I bought my house.

I love to do the maintenance around said house.

I love tools and fixing things.  I have contemplated breaking things just to have to fix them.

There are three places to shop for the supplies I need in my book.  Big blue, Home Depot or the little red. 

I like the little red, its convenient and specialized.  I prefer the big box feel.  Better prices and selection I think.  Or maybe I'm just one of the masses who supports American consumerism.

There are two options in the big box department.  Big blue and Home Depot.  I have several personal experiences that justify why I favor Home Depot over its blue rival.  But I also have these reasons:

image from here

Seven Reasons I Love Home Depot

• The Floor.  Its cement.  Polished and buffed cement.  Nothing special.  BUT its always clean.  Cleaner than the grocery store most of the time.  You can totally slide along it.  That is quite a leg workout too.  Yep, I love the floor at home depot.  I'm a nerd and also really weird sometimes.
• Orange.  Orange is so much better than Blue.  Cross my heart and hope to die.  I also just prefer orange as a color.  I really like comparing stores by using their colors rather than their names.  Incognito.  Cool.  Top Secret.
• The Aprons.  Aprons are so much better than vests.  And why are their vests red and not blue?  The aprons are orange and match.  I appreciate that.  Now let's get real.
• The People.  People at Home Depot are approximately 96.7% nicer that those employed by Lowe's.  I have conducted the research myself.  I have never once been taken seriously at L, have actually been laughed at by L employees.  I am familiar with more than a couple of the employees at Home Depot. 
• The Services.  Home Depot offers incredible services.  They have pull in the market since they are so large, and just know how to rock a good deal.  Installations, kitchen designs and everything else they offer.  They really do offer it all too, can't wait to experience more of them. 
• The Advice.  I can go to HD and ask the dude in the plumbing department why water is spewing out of my toilet's hook up.  He will laugh, ask if I have some photos, and then show me what I need to buy and how I need to hook it up.  They actually have a toilet set up that they can show how to work on its plumbing.  He shows me and makes sure I have all the tools I need so I don't need to come back.  He's awesome.  His name is Ed.  At L once, I asked the man in lumber if they had a redwood gate that was 30-36 inches wide.  He said "Honey, you don't need a gate, you need a clue".  I went to the back of his department, got my gate, paid for it and left.
• Its the place where everybody know's my name. I can walk into my Home Depot and be recognized and called by name.  At least two but up to five people know me and I recognize almost all of them.  This has made me a lifelong customer.  Customer service goes a very long way in Devyn's book.  Sold.

You like Lowe's more than Home Depot?  Go away.  Or just don't tell me.  

Seven One Hit Wonders Of The 80s

Hello Monday!

You remember what Monday means, right?  It means we are all about to be graced with Herc's presence. 

Today he is gonna talk about the 80s which, as we all know, is the best decade EVER! 

So many awesome things hailed from there, the most important is ME!

Go Herc!!!

7 One Hit Wonders of the 80s
[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

Herc has a problem with certain terms: “chick flick”, “military intelligence” and “one hit wonder” are among his biggest peeves. By definition, a one hit wonder should be an artist’s one and only hit. This calls into question the definition of a hit - do we measure sales or airplay or both? Do we rely on the charts and, if we do, which chart? So many questions, so little time and space. Here are seven songs that show up whenever one hit wonder lists are compiled. Herc likes these songs and hopes you do as well.

ONE HIT WONDERS

“Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go” - Soft Cell [1981]

As originally released, “Tainted Love” was the radio single, a remake of a classic Northern Soul track. For the dance clubs, “Tainted Love” was coupled with the Supremes signature song, to form a seamless, damn near ten minute medley. Upon initial hearings, it’s hard to fathom that all that music is made by just one man and a couple of synths. Today, you can recreate the song on your iPad with Garage Band/

“Take On Me” - a-ha [1985]

The video for this song was groundbreaking for it’s time and has been lovingly recreated and parodied on Family Guy. The boys in a-ha recently performed a worldwide farewell tour celebrating more than a quarter century together and almost two dozen hits outside of America’s borders.

“Come On Eileen” - Dexy’s Midnight Runners [1982]

This one stands out from a lot of its contemporaries because of it’s gypsy, folksy instrumentation and pubbish sing-a-long vocals as opposed to smooth, polished vocals backed by synth drums, keytars and other electronic noisemakers. The sheer joy of the escalating vocal makes this a beloved standard in the Hercmobile. Also seek out the cool cover version - with female lead vocals - by Save Ferris.

“The Safety Dance” - Men Without Hats [1982]

Back in the day, this was Herc’s jam. He’d dance and sing across the floor while sweeping or mopping at his very first job. It’s where he met the future Mrs. Herc who wore the brown polyester uniform like no other. Most recently featured in an episode of Glee from earlier this year in which the wheelchair bound Artie gets up offa that thing and dances his butt off. But before you bow down and worship the music as miracle, you should know ***SPOILER ALERT*** that it was a daydream. Equally catchy is the band’s 1987 release “Pop Goes The World”.= which sounds like it is played on a toy piano.

“Turning Japanese” -The Vapors [1980]

Did you know that this song is about self-pleasure? Yup. Featuring an Oriental musical motif and an otherwise fast-rocking backing track, “Turning Japanese” is the tale of a man’s obsession with pictures of his lovely lady. He misses her so much that he learns to “love” himself. Repeatedly. Catchy, no?

“Mickey” - Toni Basil [1982]

Cheerleader rock returned to the charts some 20 years after Beach Boy Brian Wilson invented it with his classic “Be True To Your School”. But “Mickey” was different. The song’s lyrics had nothing to do with school spirit but the stop start beat and music video made it abundantly clear that cheerleaders were AWESOME. Singer Toni Basil was a choreographer first and foremost and after here brief singing career she went back to it but not before recording “Mickey” en Espanol.

“Funkytown” - Lipps, Inc. [1980]

This was Disco’s last breath if you will. Another two person outfit making all that joyful noise, this one was available as shortened yet still catchy radio single or a full length disco dancer featuring wonderfully manipulated voices decades before Auto-Tune. In 1986, Psuedo Echo covered ”Funkytown” in a guitar heavy, New Wave rocking sheen and scored their only U.S. hit thus making “Funkytown” that rarest of all birds, a one hit wonder for two artists.


ONE HIT WONDERS


Did Herc forget anything?  Is that the greatest 7 song playlist ever?  I vote YES. 

Seven Shopping Havens

Who doesn't enjoy shopping? 

I do.  I probably enjoy it more than most and I surely enjoy more than my wallet does. 

Oh well, life is short, cliche cliche cliche.

I don't do the 5th Avenue luxury shopping thing though.  I don't like designer things, I don't care to dress any nicer than my uniform of t-shirts and jeans.  I don't carry nice purses.  I can't wear jewelery at work and don't much care for it.  I'm low maintenance. 

I do like sales.  I actually love a bargain.  I love when that box on my reciept says:

Total Spent:  $50.00

Total Saved: $150.00

...or something amazing like that.  My dad always tells my mom not to even bother coming home unless she saves more than she spends.  She takes it very seriously and its awesome. 

I love the rush.  Who doesn't like a bit of adrenaline? 

Here are some of my favorite places to shop.

Seven Shopping Havens

• 99¢ Only Stores - I fell in love with this store when I lived in Las Vegas.  I was making lucrative amounts of money, but I loved to spend it at the dollar store.  I have never enjoyed ANY dollar store as much as this one.  Everything is only 99¢ or like 2/99¢ or 3/99¢.  Its easy to know how much you're spending and is really fun to just see how far $10 will take ya.  (hint: ITS REALLY FAR)
• Home Depot - Do I really need to explain this orange heaven?  Have I not explained my massive love enough to you?  Guess not.  Look forward to that post tomorrow then, I guess. 
• Target - My first love.  My first job.  A dream come true, really.  Allow me to explain the ways I used to and still love this place:
  
  • I look amazing in red.  That said, I hate khaki.  
  • I am an excellent ambassador for Target.  Both when they employed me and since then.
  • I still shop there, years after employment.  I know a lot of people who avoid places they used to work as something was ruined for them
  • Normal folks(non target employees) don't know how to read the clearance tags and tell if they are really getting a deal.  Most have caught on as to where to find the clearance shelves though, which is awesome. 
  • Smells the same no matter where you are.  I've been to a target almost everywhere I've traveled and its always a great way to feel like I was back home.  Is that weird?
  • They have the best Black Friday sales, I have been every year for 4 or more.  It is always my first stop and the one I look forward to the most.  
  • You can get everything you need there.  EVERYTHING.  Food, rugs, clothes, drugs, furniture, candy, cat litter, paint rollers, lightbulbs, alcohol, toothbrushes and so on.
• Home Goods - A cousin store to Marshall's.  I've never been to a stand alone Marshall's...I don't think.  I don't even know how I met this store.  I do know that I love it.  I go sporadically to catch the new waves of their stock.  I have so many incredible finds from there.  Stuff I never knew I was looking for but totally needed!  I don't know how to explain my love of this store with mere words.
• Goodwill/Thrift Stores - I like Goodwill.  It has always been my favorite.  I venture into the others but the snob in me really appreciates a certain level of cleanliness and standards.  I find incredible things here and enjoy looking for them even more. 
• IKEA - Haven't I explained this before?  I love this Swedish Yellow & Blue Kingdom.  I think their furniture is great and affordable and allows you to change your style with your lifestyle.  They have bomb-a$$ cinnamon rolls that are ¢heap!!!  Hot dogs too, and mac and cheese and of course those Swedish meatballs.  I'd guess that 80# of my furniture hails from this Mecca.
• Bookmans - A Tucson original with outposts here in Phoenix, this is the best place to go book hunting.  You will never pay full price, mostly about 50% and books are in good condition and there is absolutely something for EVERYONE there.  They have expanded past books into media and other vintage and antique items.  Please, refrain from telling me if you have never been.  I don't even want to know.  You may find more, here.  They also support a lot of great causes and are anti-censorship.  I'm down.

I gotta know where you love to shop!  Tell me all of your secrets!!!  Hit the comments right away!

Seven Yard Sale Observations

Remember my bucket list that I've discussed before?  Its really long and not actually written out.

I should add that to my bucket list: "write out bucket list" and then do it.

Anyways on it was something like "host a garage sale, at least once".

True story:  I have never shopped at a yard sale.  Yet I decided to host one, with KM's and my mom's help, of course!  These are my partners in crime. 

Here is what I figured out:

Seven Yard Sale Observations From A First-Timer

1. Prices should be set high, and haggled down.   This was the hardest part of the whole event for me.  I had no idea what was the going rate for ugly southwestern pottery!  So we guessed and argued and then guessed some more.  Things I thought were over priced by myself, I sold!  Things I thought were under priced by the sticker got haggled down to way less.  You just never know, I guess.
2. People will buy anything.  A little cosmetic case full of girls headbands.  Again, I knew who's head they were on and what diseases she doesn't have...but people just trust away!  Best $2 that lady ever spent on her kid.  Also, used candles?  Really?  So weird.
3. Excellent signs make all the difference.  KM made them, she is very proud of them and we still have them for the next time, should we do it again.  We drove around to make sure they worked and they were easily the best signs EVER.  Legible, clear, concise.  Also: pink.
4. People will buy anything.  A bath mat.  The thing you put in your tub and stand on while you bathe.  The thing you don't dare think about what is living in and growing on.  Granted, it had never been used and we knew where it came from...BUT the lady who bought it didn't know. 
5. You need to learn Spanish if hosting a yard sale in southern AZ.  How mush?  Lower? Es bueno?  Que talle?  WHAT?  Try telling a young Latina woman that yes that tv works, no I don't have the remote, yes its color and its 10$.  That was a fun conversation.  My spanglish is laughable but I think it gets the point across.  I was very proud.  So was my mother, I think. 
6. People will buy anything.  A leather jacket with mystery "stuff" all over it.  It was very dirty, I have no idea how you clean leather, so I figured...let's try to sell it!  (A family member donated it.)  It sold.  For a whole $1.  I couldn't believe it - I almost let the lady just have it since I was in such shock. 
7. Fridays are very big yard sale days!  We made 4/5ths of our money on Friday.  We were spoiled.  We expected so much on Saturday since Friday was so great, but we were let down.  Still, we are thrilled to have made 5/5ths. It was approximately 5.5 times what I was expecting to make.

Next, I gotta cross  "shop at a yard sale" off my list.  I gotta get brave.  I like thrift store shopping, but yard sale shopping just feels...different.

Are you a yard sailor?  (see what I did there?)

PS: Totally forgot that my 100th post is coming up...and this was it!  So much for doing something special to celebrate?!  yay me!

Seven Favorite Rugrats Characters

When I was younger, loved to watch the Rugrats. 

Do you remember them?  You gotta at least remember the theme song, right?  Herc talked about it in his wildly popular Devo post.  Check it out, we'll wait. 

Anyways this show about the shennanigans these toddlers would get into was just so entertaining to me.  It actually still is.  Sometimes you can find re-runs on late at night on Nickelodeon.  I like to DVR them and watch them over and over again.  Then KM deletes is.

Seven Favorite Characters From Rugrats (not just the kids)

• Chuckie Finster - He was always my favorite.  His awesome voice and his sweet outfit were always in style.  I love how cautious he always is, such a cutie.  He was always the perfect sidekick to Tommy. 
• Tommy Pickles - Easily the leader of the pack of rats(see what I did there?).  He is fearless and awesome.  He also rocked that light blue shirt like a boss.  Also his last name is Pickles.
• Phil DeVille - The total dude of the show.  He keeps bugs in his diaper and other gross things.  He is Lil's twin brother and they are both always down for whatever adventure Tommy had in mind.  He also has a totally cool voice for a kid. 
• Lil DeVille - Lil is Phil's sister.  She is kinda cooky and totally silly.  She is incredible and was my number two favorite.  The only Rugrats merchandise I own is a magnet of Lil and she lives on my fridge.
• Dil Pickles - Tommy's little brother has the best name on the entire show.  Dil Pickles.  He doesn't do much but he still manages to be an awesome character.  Tommy looks out for him like a champ and is such a good big brother.  I guess Dil is a lucky guy!
• Angelica Pickles - She is Tommy and Dil's cousin.  She is the rival and bad girl on the show.  She is a scheming devil and I kinda loved it.  She loved the kids at the end of the day, but also terrorized them like there was no tomorrow. 
• Stu Pickles - This is Tommy and Dil's dad.  Angelica's uncle.  He's an inventor and completely bonkers.  But, he loves his wife and family and everything he does is for them.  He's a wonderful dad and really anchors the show. 

Did anyone enjoy the Rugrats as much as I did?  Is my obsession unhealthy?  Oh well.

Seven Dwarfs

If you know me in the real life, you know how much I love little people.  I am so incredibly fascinated by them and their life sytles. 

Its not a gross thing, its not a mean spirited thing.  Its just a simple curiosity.  In a full grown woman. 

I watched that TV show with the Roloff family on TLC.  Two little people had three regular children and one dwarf, so crazy!  How do you take your mom and dad seriously if you tower over them at 6 years old?!

I also love smart cars.  Is this related?

Anywho, today since I'm feeling lazy(sorry) I decided to prioritize my list of the seven dwarfs from the Disney version of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.  Maybe you have a different list?

This is the blog entry that will win me many prizes and awards.  Accolades will abound!

Not really.

At all.

Seven Dwarfs

1. Dopey
2. Bashful
3. Happy
4. Sleepy
5. Sneezy
6. Doc
7. Grumpy

Seven Awesome Patents

Steve Jobs passed away today. He has certainly left his mark on the world in many ways.  He was too young to leave this earth but just imagine how futuristic the afterlife is going to be by the time the rest of us get there!!!  Exciting.  Things have to be much more affordable up there too, right?

I am not going to turn this blog into an obituary for the man, there are enough all over the interwebs.  I waned to make everyone aware of this really cool piece put together by the New York Times. This Story shows you all of the patents that have Steven P. Jobs on them.  There are 317 of them.  Three hundred and seventeen different patents.  They span the spectrum from desktop computers, laptop computers, media devices(ipods and apple tv), telephones, all the way to the packaging that all of Apple's most innovative products have arrived in and then back to keyboards, mice, displays, operating systems, and even clear glass staircases. 

Its amazing for me to read about what this man was a part of in his too-short lifetime.  317 patents in his 56 year life.  What would happen if he hadn't gotten sick and lived to be 85.  Almost 30 more years, I bet he'd have 1000 patents to his name. 

Its a really strange way to remember somebody's life, in the patents they are credited to.  That's just how I roll here at 7w/D. 

Seven Awesome Patents That List Mr. Jobs As One Of The Inventors

1. The iPad.  Yep.
2. Every iPod ever.  Nobody ever enjoyed themselves like they enjoy themselves with an iPod in their pocket and headphones in their ears.  At least I never did.  
3. The glass staircases at the Apple stores.  He has several patents for these and its just amazing to me.
4. The iMacs from back in the day that everyone in my generation lusted after.  The ones that were kinda clear and had a bright color accent.  I wanted teal or orange.  
5. The awesome plastic packages that iPhones and iPods come in these days.  So. Freaking. Cool.
6. The power adapters that we all have at our homes.  The white square ones where the power prongs fold out and the cord detaches.  Neat.
7. The iTunes interface.  Sleek, sophisticated, cool, sexy.  Yes I said it.

A bit of a simple entry, not unlike apples home page devoted to Mr. Jobs today with this photo(borrowed from apple.com):