I don't even want to know how many days it's been since I've blogged. I've been insane with planning and sorting and lying to my mother. But more on that in a little bit.
Since I last blogged, I've been trying to sort out tax stuff, host Corwin's birthday party this past weekend (think: Nerf, Airsoft, a gaming LAN, a crap-ton of pizza and pop and six teenage boys) do preliminary planning for Killian's graduation party, write a book, keep up with my editing and get ready for the RT convention. But the thing that's been drawing most of my time and energy has been a surprise birthday party for my mom's 65th birthday.
Her actual birthday is on Saint Patrick's Day. Cait and I went out to eat and listen to music with her on Saturday and it was SO hard not to let something slip. Cait and I had to refrain from making eye contact with each other the whole time or we knew it was going to be all over.
My mom is the kind of person who does everything for everyone else and rarely takes time for herself, so we thought it would be a great idea to throw her a surprise party. I'm just going to say right now, I had no idea how stressful surprise parties are - particularly when you talk to someone as often as I talk to my mom. So it's been constant lying, evasion and speech monitoring. However - it was totally worth it!
We gathered about 70 or 80 of her friends, family and colleagues and surprised the hell out of her. She was stunned. There were the usual things - an amazing cake made by my super awesome SIL, food (that Cait and I refer to as Catholic Funeral Luncheon Style) hugs and gifts. There was also something else really special.
Some of the long time readers of this blog might remember me telling you about the concept of Wildly Inappropriate Lullabies. It's the nickname we gave the bedtime songs mom used to sing to us. For instance, it wasn't uncommon to hear songs like Let it Be, Brandy, Sundown, Bobby McGee, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Blowin' in the Wind, Turn, Turn, Turn along with Puff the Magic Dragon and Molly Malone.
Well, as we grew up and had kids of our own, we sang/sing our own Wildly Inappropriate Lullabies to our kids. After the amazing Tommy of Songs for Strangers wrote Existentialism in the Backseat - that awesome Riding in Cars with Boys song, we realized that mom needed her own song. So I contacted the guys at Songs for Strangers and this is what the freaking spectacular Jason cam up with. It's called Wildly Inappropriate Lullabies and when we played it at the party there were tears, laughter and more tears. Everyone loved it and no one could believe that Jason had written the perfect song for someone he'd never met. She said it's one of the best gifts she's ever been given.
I have to share it with you guys because it's beyond awesome. And if you're looking for the perfect gift for someone, I highly recommend these guys. They're fantastic.
And here are the lyrics :)
*Wildly Inappropriate Lullabies*
some of my fondest memories of youth
revolve around the times
you put us to bed,
filling our little heads
with fairy tales
but you were kind of a hippie and so
along with the nursery rhymes
you sang us songs of rebellion
and we set our sails
to the sounds of...
wildly inappropriate lullabies
you’re a psychology professor
but you’re the absent-minded kind
like when you filled the washer up
and used maple syrup,
instead of soap
you love nature and gardening,
knitting and pottery
you're "the best mother" defined
so what type of gift
could repay you for all my strength and hope?
one of your very own...
wildly inappropriate lullabies
you've endured so much
yet remained such
a symbol of unconditional love and support
so we’ll carry the torch
and pass on to our children
the family tradition
of playing...
wildly inappropriate lullabies
Showing posts with label Songs for Strangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Songs for Strangers. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Riding in Cars with Boys - Part Eighteen
So last Saturday, Killian, Justin Not-Kevin and I went to the symphony. I know you're probably tilting your head to the side and squinting like I did when they first said they wanted to go. But then I found out that the symphony was playing The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and it all made a perfect kind of sense.
It was, of course, awesome, because I love those movies just as much as they do. And the crowd was...diverse. There were the usual season ticket holders in furs and ridiculously expensive jewelry. There were the jeans and hoodie crowd (we fell into that group) and there were those who showed up in full Middle Earth regalia. While we waited for the show to begin, the guys played "Spot the Girls from the Island." There were, unsurprisingly, quite a few there.
As the film was ending and the orchestra was playing the closing number, Not-Kevin and Killian were wiping their eyes.
Me: You've seen this a million times. Are you crying?
Not-Kevin: Frodo left with the elves, yo. Merry, Pippen and Sam are never going to see him again.
Killian: Whatever. They're manly tears.
Justin: You didn't cry?
Me: Well, yeah. But I cry at everything.
Killian: True story.
He'd be right. In fact, I got a bit teary on the way there when I played a new song for them - one written especially for them.
Yep. There's now a Riding in Cars with Boys song.
Let me explain. a few months ago, Jen Armintrout had this adorable guy write her a little promo ditty. It cracked me up and stuck with me for days. Well, when I head that he had a new venture called Songs for Strangers, I jumped on it. I'd been wanting to do something special for the guys since graduation is coming up and I'm going to miss them like crazy. I'll still see them - but it won't be the same as driving them around every day.
So anyway, let me tell you about Tommy. He's freaking awesome - a great guy with a great sense of humor, not to mention incredibly insightful and a consummate musician. He read all of the Riding in Cars with Boys post to get a feel for his subject matter and listened to the songs I'd included as a jumping off point for sound. In about a week, he came up with a rough draft, sent it to me for my input and shortly after that - bam! I had a song. An AWESOME song!
Now, I'd fully intended to save the song until closer to graduation.
But I suck at waiting.
I ruin a lot of Christmas and birthday presents this way.
So on the way to the symphony, I handed them each a lyric sheet and popped the CD into the stereo. They were absolutely floored. I wish you could have seen the looks on their faces. They went from flabbergasted awe to laughing to singing along.
Justin: I don't even...
Killian: How did you...?
Not-Kevin: This is amazing. Seriously.
All three boys: Cancer bats!!!!
I think this is probably one of the most meaningful gifts I've ever given and I'm eternally grateful to Tommy. So grateful, in fact, that I'm having him write a song for my mom's birthday next month! If you know someone who loves music and you want to do something really special for him/her, check out Songs for Strangers. It's a fantastic experience. And yep, Tommy said I could post here and share it with you guys. :)
This is Existentialism in the Backseat!
Okay - here are the lyrics!
Existentialism in the back seat... you boys are wiser than your years
Seeing you on stage after daily transportation is bringing me to tears
I've learned so much in my time with you and I'm not even the one in school
If you guys have taught me a valuable lesson it's that teenage boys are so
freaking cool
It never fails to amaze me the way you study and analyze
The absurdity of what goes on in the average teenage female mind
It's like if Socrates was born in the 90's and Aristotle's mom drove them around
And sometimes Kierkegaard joins them when their rationale needs to be less sound
And riding in cars with boys has been the best part of my day
Waiting in the parking lot with anticipation of all the amazing things you'll say
The world's not ready for your brilliance, they better get out of your way
I just want you to know I'm proud of you boys, every single day
Like Vladimir and Estragon waiting endlessly in vain
To sail to girl island where babes love nerds it's a magical place
But they don't fall prey to the sirens in uggs and mini skirts
They’re too smart for that and frankly I can't think of anything worse
Making fun of Cancer Bats, Twilight and other teenage status quo?
Who names their band Cancer Bats, something that I'll probably never know
Calling bullshit on each other but you'll always got each other's backs
Friendships are powerful so stay together, this trio is one that needs to last
And riding in cars with boys has been the best part of my day
Waiting in the parking lot with anticipation of all the amazing things you'll say
The world's not ready for your brilliance, they better get out of your way
I just want you to know I'm proud of you boys, every single day
It was, of course, awesome, because I love those movies just as much as they do. And the crowd was...diverse. There were the usual season ticket holders in furs and ridiculously expensive jewelry. There were the jeans and hoodie crowd (we fell into that group) and there were those who showed up in full Middle Earth regalia. While we waited for the show to begin, the guys played "Spot the Girls from the Island." There were, unsurprisingly, quite a few there.
As the film was ending and the orchestra was playing the closing number, Not-Kevin and Killian were wiping their eyes.
Me: You've seen this a million times. Are you crying?
Not-Kevin: Frodo left with the elves, yo. Merry, Pippen and Sam are never going to see him again.
Killian: Whatever. They're manly tears.
Justin: You didn't cry?
Me: Well, yeah. But I cry at everything.
Killian: True story.
He'd be right. In fact, I got a bit teary on the way there when I played a new song for them - one written especially for them.
Yep. There's now a Riding in Cars with Boys song.
Let me explain. a few months ago, Jen Armintrout had this adorable guy write her a little promo ditty. It cracked me up and stuck with me for days. Well, when I head that he had a new venture called Songs for Strangers, I jumped on it. I'd been wanting to do something special for the guys since graduation is coming up and I'm going to miss them like crazy. I'll still see them - but it won't be the same as driving them around every day.
So anyway, let me tell you about Tommy. He's freaking awesome - a great guy with a great sense of humor, not to mention incredibly insightful and a consummate musician. He read all of the Riding in Cars with Boys post to get a feel for his subject matter and listened to the songs I'd included as a jumping off point for sound. In about a week, he came up with a rough draft, sent it to me for my input and shortly after that - bam! I had a song. An AWESOME song!
Now, I'd fully intended to save the song until closer to graduation.
But I suck at waiting.
I ruin a lot of Christmas and birthday presents this way.
So on the way to the symphony, I handed them each a lyric sheet and popped the CD into the stereo. They were absolutely floored. I wish you could have seen the looks on their faces. They went from flabbergasted awe to laughing to singing along.
Justin: I don't even...
Killian: How did you...?
Not-Kevin: This is amazing. Seriously.
All three boys: Cancer bats!!!!
I think this is probably one of the most meaningful gifts I've ever given and I'm eternally grateful to Tommy. So grateful, in fact, that I'm having him write a song for my mom's birthday next month! If you know someone who loves music and you want to do something really special for him/her, check out Songs for Strangers. It's a fantastic experience. And yep, Tommy said I could post here and share it with you guys. :)
This is Existentialism in the Backseat!
Okay - here are the lyrics!
Existentialism in the back seat... you boys are wiser than your years
Seeing you on stage after daily transportation is bringing me to tears
I've learned so much in my time with you and I'm not even the one in school
If you guys have taught me a valuable lesson it's that teenage boys are so
freaking cool
It never fails to amaze me the way you study and analyze
The absurdity of what goes on in the average teenage female mind
It's like if Socrates was born in the 90's and Aristotle's mom drove them around
And sometimes Kierkegaard joins them when their rationale needs to be less sound
And riding in cars with boys has been the best part of my day
Waiting in the parking lot with anticipation of all the amazing things you'll say
The world's not ready for your brilliance, they better get out of your way
I just want you to know I'm proud of you boys, every single day
Like Vladimir and Estragon waiting endlessly in vain
To sail to girl island where babes love nerds it's a magical place
But they don't fall prey to the sirens in uggs and mini skirts
They’re too smart for that and frankly I can't think of anything worse
Making fun of Cancer Bats, Twilight and other teenage status quo?
Who names their band Cancer Bats, something that I'll probably never know
Calling bullshit on each other but you'll always got each other's backs
Friendships are powerful so stay together, this trio is one that needs to last
And riding in cars with boys has been the best part of my day
Waiting in the parking lot with anticipation of all the amazing things you'll say
The world's not ready for your brilliance, they better get out of your way
I just want you to know I'm proud of you boys, every single day
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