Need the random

I've been working on a post, off and on, since yesterday afternoon. It's about doing things alone. I'm having a bit of trouble with it today. It's the whole "can't concentrate on a single topic" thing again. Too many random thoughts and many, many external distractions pop up all too often for me. I feel like this is getting worse as time goes by. I've especially been plagued with the A.D.D. over the past few months. I hate taking meds, but I'm already throwing them back, so I wonder if some kind of Concerta-type med would help me? Ick. I hate to even suggest that I take more pills.

I'm gonna try to get some of this random out, so I can make room for focus.

When it comes to my kids, there are two things that make me proudest, and I feel that they are a direct result of my influence. (1) they are polite children. they say please, thank you, and are usually superwell-behaved in public. (2) they all like to read! this just makes my heart happy, since I've loved reading books for... my whole life. Cam is pretty much addicted to books. He reads at a superhigh level and can't get enough. Luke can't truly read yet, though he recognizes some letters and understands the sounds they make. But he loves to sit and look at books (even those with very few pics) for long periods. And he adores being read to. Same with Claire. She digs hearing stories, but will "read" on her own. She usually reads out loud, and is very expressive.

There are three tshirts I want from Old Navy right now. Will you buy them for me?

My friend Julie from Boulder, Boulder (yes, that's right) made me a cd and she named it "Melzer's Rockin' Rollerskates Mixed Tape." I feel compelled to review it (in my typical vague review style) for you now:

1. First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes: I already had this tune, but it was Julie who introduced me to it. It's lovely and beautiful and it makes me want to cry and blubber and it makes my heart all fluttery and bloated and stuff. Happy little number.

2. Road To Joy - Bright Eyes: I like how raw the vocals are. And I like the snare drum rolls.

3. Mountain of a Heart - Chamberlain: I feel like I've heard this before. Vocals are reminiscent of Eels. Like, I think. But need to absorb it more. Springsteen-ish Jam Rock is what I'll call it.

4. Bad Man Coming - Crooked Fingers, and
5. Angelina - Crooked Fingers: I really wanted to like this band, of course, based on their name. Not diggin' either of these songs so far, though.

6. I Disappear - The Faint: LIKEY. LIKEY. LIKEY. I think that is good house-cleaning music.

7. Great Expectations - The Gaslight Anthem: Yep, dig it!

8. Play Your Part - Girl Talk, and
9. In Step - Girl Talk: Fun, entertaining, but will definitely not be able to play these in the car. I'm all for colorful vocabularies, but this might get the kidlets in trouble. ;)

10. Sequestered in Memphis - The Hold Steady: Wait? This sounds eerily just like Chamberlain! Seriously.

11. 7 To Think - Judge Nothing: meh. hm.

12. Alphabutt - Kimya Dawson: supremely entertaining. Because bodily excretions and expulsions rock! Another one that needs to be banned in the vanned.

13. Long & Lazy River - Nellie McKay: What a calm, sweet voice. Makes me smile.

14. Last Dance - The Raveonettes: Jules knows I dig this duo. This song doesn't disappoint me. I like very mucho!

15. Totally - Screeching Weasel: Kickass. My kids are going to rock out to this one.

16. Open Heart Surgery - Sense Field: I like this at first, but toward the middle I start to get bored. Maybe I just like the singer's voice?

17. The Comeback - Shout Out Louds: DIG IT MOST!!!! Pretty sure it's my fav on the Rockin' Rollerskates Mixed Tape.

18. A Good Idea - Sugar: Not a fan.

19. Relief Next To Me - Teagan and Sara: I like.

20. Horchata - Vampire Weekend: Julie didn't know this, but I already have this one! Obvs, I like it. :)

21. Giving Up The Gun - Vampire Weekend: I like this tune better than Horchata, so WIN! I think, my second fav on the mixed tape.

22. Left & Leaving - The Weakerthans: I've heard tons o good things about The Weakerthans, and now I see why. Very nice. It's like....a cross between Death Cab & The Shins. That's a good thing!

23. Paper Moon - Whiskeytown: Have to admit, I was hesitant about this one (Genre: Country). But I love it! It's beautiful! The biggest surprise of the tape. And, I have to say, the perfect song to end the album with, Juliepotpie.

Thanks so much for the music!!! Such a bright spot for me, and I really enjoy getting to know new stuff. :)

I had to wash my hair today with body wash. I'm pug-sitting at Jill's and thought I still had shampoo there, but turns out that it's conditioner. My hair looks fabulous as a result. It actually looks dry for once. The frizz is to die for.

Today has been about as unproductive as a day can be. I need to get out of the house. The kids and I are off to give the pug a bathroom break. And we're going to checkout a bizarro "park?" "garden?" "display?" near Jill's place. I've been curious about it for months. Don't know what to expect, but hopefully I'll get some pics. And hopefully it's not too muddy, cause all I have are flip flops. (not a great planner)

Adios!