Day: November 29, 2021

Music: Monday Songs

I love to make music mixes with themes. Right now, I’m putting together a list of songs about Monday.

Some titles are easy (for a woman of my generation):

  • Manic Monday (The Bangles)
  • Monday, Monday (The Mamas & the Papas)
  • Rainy Days & Mondays (The Carpenters)
  • Monday Morning (Fleetwood Mac)
  • Come Monday (Jimmy Buffet)

Others I had to dig for:

  • I Don’t Like Mondays (Tori Amos–yes, I know it’s a Boomtown Rats song, but I prefer the Tori Amos cover)
  • It Sure is Monday (Mark Chestnutt)
  • Stormy Monday (Allman Brothers or Cream, both versions are great)
  • I Don’t Have to Be Me’Til Monday (Steve Azar)
  • Monday Morning (Melanie Fiona)
  • Monday Morning (Death Cab for Cutie)
  • Long Monday (John Prine)
  • Blue Monday (the Flunk Version)
  • Memphis Monday Morning (Bobby Blue Bland)
  • Except for Monday (Lorrie Morgan)  (borderline made it)
  • It’s Got to be Monday (Doug & the Slugs)
  • Monday Morning Quarterback (Frank Sinatra)
  • Monday Mourning (Bolder Damn)

Songs I found that won’t make my mix:

  • New Moon on Monday (Duran Duran)
  • Monday (Wilco)
  • Monday Morning Church (Alan Jackson)
  • Can’t Get Blue Monday Out of My Head (Kylie Minogue)

Got a Monday song I’m missing?

A Book Review: The Sun Down Motel

 

Image credit: tieury / 123RF Stock Photo

I did a search looking for haunted house books because I was in the mood for some ghosties. The Sun Down Motel popped up right away. I was intrigued because I also have a thing for old motels, abandoned motor courts, and the like.  Also, the book is set in upstate New York,  the area in which I live. I also happened to live in upstate NY in 1982, which is the year the protagonist’s aunt vanished.

I wasn’t expecting another The Shining (the only book I’ve ever read that scared the daylights out of me in broad daylight),  but based on the hype I expected a lot more than was delivered.

First of all, the book switched back and forth between 1982 and “the present”, muddling the story. The characters were interchangeable. Only the names changed. I kept having to stop and figure out in whose point of view/which year I was reading. The only distinct and memorable character was the motel itself. Needless to say, the motel was the only character even approaching likability.

I was also highly offended by the constant litany that 1982 was a different time and young women didn’t need to be as careful as “in the present.” I was a young single woman in 1982 in upstate New York. The time wasn’t that different. At least, not enough to use it as a justification for carelessness.

The story is billed as a mystery.  Nope. Suspenseful. What? I put the book down for days at a time because I simply didn’t care about the story.

My take? Don’t bother.

 

Office Update: Oct 2020

My office redo is coming along–not as nicely as I would have liked, mostly due to the fact an airline is holding my money hostage–I had to cancel a trip due to the pandemic and Delta Airlines won’t give me back my money. Thieves.

But I digress.

This book case is now behind the door.

I moved the printer into the office from the hall.

Did some more rearranging of books.

 

And brought in the white board I hope to hang at some point. I have used it several times.

 

I spent a lot of time here this summer, including a four-day virtual conference. It’s much more comfortable now than it was a year ago. More user friendly.

MJ Monday-Motivation: My Garden

I like the idea of gardening more than I like the task. Two years ago, my transformed back yard was a haven. Last year, I waited too long, and the person who was actually doing all the work vanished on me. It was still a nice place to be, but not as beautiful as it was that first year.

This year, I got out there early and did some spring maintenance. I also bought new decor.

A new wind chime

And a spinner.

Hopefully, I can find a happy medium for this year.

MJ’s Musings: Tour of My Office

A friend asked me to do a tour of my office. She thought I’d have a lot of colorful, Boho-type décor. Sorry. The walls are dingy gray and in need of a paint job. And we’re also in the process of  rearranging some things upstairs, so I’m hoping to make some changes.

In the meantime, here is most of the space as it stands today:

My dry erase calendar (the monthly version) fell off the wall. My hats came down and need to be rehung. That’s my Erin Condren planner, which I love. The shelves below this contain music CDs.

 

 

 

I have an L-shaped el-cheapo desk. The chimney in my  house runs up the center. It creates some interesting nooks. I was able to find a “corner” shelving unit where I keep reference books.

Yes, those are glow-in-the-dark stars on my desk. I am obsessed with the sky.

My actual work space, with my laptop, more reference books, etc. Another bookcase next to the desk.  Wall space is at a premium.

 

 

 

Above my desk, I have some of my book covers framed and hung. I also have Boho-type décor hanging over me: a dream catcher, a wishing well wind chime (for refilling the well), a sea glass mobile a friend made for me when she saw me posting pictures of them on Facebook, and a chakra crystal charm.

I also have a salt lamp and to the left, several wine bottles: two different styles labels of Werewolf wine, The Novelist wine, and a Ravage wine bottle light.

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The bureau top contains my RWA Chapter mementos (Book in a Week, our annual Rose Ceremony, etc.). The bureau drawers contain office supplies. Below the bookcase, I have several pretty storage boxes of stationary, Tarot/Divination decks, candles, and other things. I hope to move these once we get one of my husband’s book cases out of my office.

There are three book cases behind me. Two are my husbands. Mine is the one in the middle. I have a dry-erase 12-month planning calendar hung over the book case. Except I can’t reach it.  Hopefully, the book case on the right (with the baseballs) will be moving to another room.

And that’s it. Almost. There are windows opposite the door. I have crystals hanging in them. My clothes closet is at the far end, and opposite that is the door to the attic.

Nothing fancy, as you can see. But it’s mostly functional.