The girls I babysit for adore Max and Ruby...and now I've sort of gotten hooked on the Nick Jr. series, too. I especially like Max, who strikes me as a very independent and "in his own world" kind of guy. His older sister, Ruby, is pretty bossy and very rigid in her ways; it's no wonder Max is always wandering off chasing butterflies or lightning bugs while Ruby is so busy getting everything together, she can't keep track of her mischievous brother, who's having a blast.

Babysitting is not just something to do for money (which so many people seem to need in an economy where many of us are taking on second jobs or supplemental income through paid focus groups or odd jobs), it's a wonderful opportunity for anyone who loves kids and missed out (either by accident or on purpose) on having kids of his or her own. While I definitely need the extra dollars, I think I'd still babysit even for free...especially with the family I regularly watch now:)

Black Tie White Noise was the beginning of David Bowie's return from the wilderness of post-Let's Dance, the first indication that he was regaining his creative spark.--all music website

I always know I'm really really going to like a song when I hear it and feel like I'm going to pass out. More than spotting someone I think is cute or dreaming about a favorite meal, I hear that special track from a favorite album or a song that is new to me and I almost feel (sometimes actually do) as if I have to grab hold of something to steady me.

That's how I felt the first time I heard "The Wedding," the first track off of Black Tie White Noise. Though I've already blogged about this album, I can't say enough good things about it since I've still been playing the entire thing on my iPod weeks after I bought it...

Other times a song I haven't heard in years will come on the Internet radio stations I listen to and wham!! I'm back in my teens...recently I heard an old Go West song and I got chills....even though when it comes to 80s duos I much prefer these guys:

The only Wham album I was ever truly truly passionate about was Music from the Edge of Heaven; at the time I first bought the cassette version I though "Battlestations" was the coolest song ever!:):

I try to stick to music, books and movies, but (as I have before) am taking a detour....saw this article and while no one (on other side of the issue) will be breaking out champagne and wine glasses to celebrate, it's a bit more unexpected and open-minded than I would have imagined the Mormon Church to be. They are by no means advocating that acting on same sex attraction is acceptable to their Church, but at least (in my mind, it seems) anyone who is gay and Mormon and already vulnerable to self-hating thought may be a bit relieved that their thoughts alone aren't necessarily going to land them in Hell.

It's one thing to tell someone gay that their actions are "sinful," but another to tell them their thoughts and feelings (things they can't help as much as they can their actions) is heartbreaking when they are already facing a (more times than not) homophobic society, especially in their church or small town where anti-gay sentiment is usually stronger.

I do think "attraction" is not the best word choice. "Attraction" implies physical feelings or sex, when being gay is about so much more. The romantic and emotional aspects (caring for someone else of the same gender, enjoying their company and talking with them) are so complex and complicated. I think it makes it easier for people who hate gay people to think it's tied in to nothing more than simple sex acts...which is far from the truth as anything can be....

...in an 80s kind of mood...

I found this cool website the other day, which includes an extensive list of 80s music compilations on cd...last night I downloaded "Sidewalk Talk" by Jellybean, an oft neglected (when it comes to being featured on 80s collections) dance song featuring Madonna.




It's funny...I didn't much care for the 80s when I was actually living through them, but now I occasionally find days or nights when I want to play my old records or listen to Internet radio stations where I'll hear songs I've long forgotten about...

 

This past Saturday I went to NYC with my niece and her best friend and we had a blast!! The time passed way too quickly and, already, I want to go back. We focused on 5th Avenue and Times Square (where we have a very scary incident with a possibly coked-up Cookie Monster), but there is so much more to cover.

Next time I'm hoping to spend more than a day...and I'll be using the above books; they are just great for trying to figure out where to eat (Morton's is definitely out of my price range!), shop (Tiffany's is strictly window only for me) or even stay overnight or for a few days (I once stayed at this wonderful hotel called The Doral Inn, way back in 1996 when I could afford it.)