Music Monday at the Beach: The Ting Tings with "That's Not My Name"

Here's a catchy tune you may not have heard unless you're the mother of a Radio Disney fan... but I find myself comparing the Ting Tings to some of my 80s favorites... they've got the beat that gets you headed to the beach on a sunny summer day like the GoGos or Katrina and the Waves... check it out and let me know what you think.



Four letter word just to get me along
It's a difficulty and I'm biting on my tongue and I
I keep stalling, keeping me together
People around gotta find something to say now

Holding back, everyday the same
Don't wanna be a loner
Listen to me, oh no
I never say anything at all
But with nothing to consider
They forget my name ame, ame, ame

They call me hell
They call me Stacey
They call me her
They call me Jane
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

They call me quiet girl
But I'm a riot
Mary Joleisa
Always the same
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

I miss the catch if they through me the ball
I'm the last kid standing up against the wall
Keep up, falling, these heels they keep me boring
Getting glammed up and sitting on the fence now

So alone all the time at night
Lock myself away
Listen to me, I'm not
Although I'm dressed up, out and all with
Everything considered
They forget my name (ame, ame, ame)

They call me hell
They call me Stacey
They call me her
They call me Jane
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

They call me quiet girl
But I'm a riot
Mary Joleisa
Always the same
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name
That's not my name

Are you calling me darling?
Are you calling me bird?
Are you calling me darling?
Are you calling me bird?

Music Monday Tribute to a Baby Boy I Used to Know: Wonderland by John Mayer

Awww, you know it doesn't take much to put Roxy into one of those weepy, motherly moods and (Your Body Is A) Wonderland just came on the radio here at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ and put me into flashback mode. Where to start? A few years back, a good friend and her family came to visit us here at the beach, and her then high school age son and I were trading MP3s for our iPods. The thing is, I was practically there at her son's birth in the late '80s. We learned to ski together in the Berkshires, when he was 3 and I was 25. And here he was, 16 or 17 years old, telling me the reason he likes "Wonderland" is the lyric, "I'll never let your head hit the bed, without my hand behind it." Now, another mother might say, eew, too much information, but I just thought it was sweet the way he was growing up (sooo fast!).




We got the afternoon,
You got this room for two,
One thing I've left to do,
Discover
me,
Discovering you.

One mile to every inch of,
Your skin like porcelain,
One pair of candy lips and,
Your bubblegum tongue.

Cause if you want love,
We'll make it,
Swim in a deep sea,
Of blankets,
Take all your big plans,
And break 'em,
This is bound to be a while.

Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands),
Your body is a wonderland.

Something 'bout the way the hair falls in your face,
I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase,
You tell me where to go and,
Though I might leave to find it,
I'll never let your head hit the bed,
Without my hand behind it.

You want love,
We'll make it,
Swim in a deep sea,
Of blankets,
Take all your big plans,
And break 'em,
This is bound to be a while.

Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands),
Your body is a wonderland.

Damn baby,
You frustrate me,
I know you're mine, all mine, all mine
But you look so good it hurts sometimes.

Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands),
Your body is a wonderland,
Your body is a wonderland.

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Hurry! Art in the Park in Bay Head, NJ, is TODAY: Saturday, June 13th from 10am to 4pm

Every year, Rex, London, Maddie and I like to stroll through Centennial Park, on Bridge Avenue in Bay Head, New Jersey, enjoying the Jersey Shore artists on display at Art in the Park.

This year, our favorites included:

• Popo Flanagan from Naples, Florida -- acrylics
• Andrew Huntley-Robertson from Summit, New Jersey --oils
• Ann Hayes from Seaside Park, New Jersey -- watercolors
• Mary Jo Austin from Lavallette, New Jersey -- oils, acrylics
• Al Barker from Bordentown, New Jersey -- oils, watercolors
• William Bunting from Iselin, New Jersey -- oils

London and Maddie's Music Monday at the Bay Head Blog: Hot N Cold by Katy Perry

As a chaperone for London's second grade fossil hunting class trip to Poricy Park Conservancy in Middletown, NJ, last week I had the chance to discuss kids and dirty words with London's teacher and another mom. We decided that by second grade they all know all of them, and some of the boys even rank them in order of offensiveness. London and Maddie have learned not to repeat them, even when singing one of their favorite Katy Perry songs ("unless you grow up to be a dog breeder, you can find another word to use"):

You change your mind like a girl changes clothes
Yeah, you PMS like a bitch, I would know
And you always think, always speak cryptically
I should know that you're no good for me

'Cause you're hot and you're cold
You're yes and you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

You're wrong when it's right
You're black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We hug, we make up

You, you don't really wanna stay, no
But you, you don't really wanna go, oh

'Cause you're hot and you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

We used to be just like twins, so in sync
The same energy now's a dead battery
Used to laugh 'bout nothing, now you're plain boring
I should know that you're not gonna change

'Cause you're hot and you're cold
You're yes and you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

You're wrong when it's right
You're black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We hug, we make up

You, you don't really wanna stay, no
But you, you don't really wanna go, oh

You're hot and you're cold
You're yes and you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

Someone call the doctor
Got a case of a love disorder
Stuck on a roller coaster
Can't get off this ride

You change your mind like a girl changes clothes

'Cause you're hot and you're cold
You're yes and you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

You're wrong when it's right
You're black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We hug, we make up

You, you don't really wanna stay, no
But you, you don't really wanna go, oh

You're hot and you're cold
You're yes and you're no
You're in and you're out
You're up and you're down

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Music Monday Tribute to Bay Head NJ Beach Rentals: Stay-cation by the Go-Gos

Welcome Music Monday visitors... Rex, London, Maddie and I are enjoying another perfect weekend at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, and the theme of this week's Music Monday is "Stay-cation"... renting Roxy's beach house at the Jersey Shore instead of traveling far away for your summer fun. I've taken some liberties with the lyrics of my favorite tune by the Go-Gos:

It's June and the kids are out of school
Back here at home there's nothin' to do
Don't go far away
You'll wish you'd stayed
Head down to Bay Head for a beach house to stay in

A week at the beach and in the sun
Nights at the boardwalk lots of fun
I know I'm not wrong
And it won't be long
Before you're on the porch painting a sea shell

A week in Bay Head
You won't forget
Two weeks in Bay Head and you'll
Make plans to do it all over again

CHORUS
Stay-cation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away
Stay-cation
Bring the family along

A week in Bay Head
You won't forget
Two weeks in Bay Head and you'll
Make plans to do it all over again

CHORUS

For all the wonderfu times our family shares at the Jersey Shore, we feel like our beach house is going to waste when we don't get the chance to use it due to our work schedule or London and Maddie's activities in the Roxiticus Valley. We were glad to be able to rent it for two weeks in late July and early August when we'll be busy up north (and west) with Roxy's 25th high school reunion (that will certainly inspire a Music Monday post all its own!) and a visit from Aunt Veg and Uncle Quiet. If you're interested in renting Roxy's beach house in Bay Head, NJ this summer, please call or visit Diane Cornell at Van Sciver Realtors, 431 Main Avenue, Bay Head, NJ, phone (732) 898-0038 and be sure to tell her Roxy sent you.



Can't seem to get my mind off of you
Back here at home there's nothin' to do
Now that I'm away
I wish I'd stayed
Tomorrow's a day of mine that you won't be in

When you looked at me I should've run
But I thought it was just for fun
I see I was wrong
And I'm not so strong
I should've known all along that time would tell

A week without you
Thought I'd forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven't gotten over you yet

CHORUS
Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away
Vacation
Meant to be spent alone

A week without you
Thought I'd forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven't gotten over you yet

CHORUS

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Music Monday: Muskrat Jack to the Rescue!

This week's Music Monday pick at the Bay Head Blog is a tribute to Muskrat Jack, who came to the rescue last week while Rex, London, Maddie and I were up north in the Roxiticus Valley, and a couple of adventuresome raccoons decided to pay a visit to our Bay Head beach house via our chimney.

If you've got critter problems in the Point Pleasant - Bay Head area, give Muskrat Jack a call and tell him Roxy sent you: (732) 295-1618.

And now, enjoy the video from Captain & Tennille...



If you'd like to sing along with Roxy and Muskrat Jack, here you go...

Muskrat, Muskrat, candle light
Doin' the town and doin' it right in the evenin'
It's pretty pleasin'
Muskrat Suzie, Muskrat Sam
Do the jitterbug at a Muskrat Land
And they shimmy, Sam is so skinny

And they whirl and they twirl and they tango
Singin' and jinglin' a jangle
Float like the heavens above
Looks like Muskrat Love

Nibblin' on bacon
Chewin' on cheese
Sam says to Suzie
Honey, would you please be my Mrs
Suzie says, yes, with her kisses
Now, he's ticklin' her fancy
Rubbin' her toes
Muzzle to muzzle
Now anything goes as they wriggle
Sue starts to giggle

And they whirled and they twirled and they tango
Singin' and jinglin' a jangle
Floatin' like the heavens above
Looks like muskrat love

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Bay Head 5K

London, Maddie, Rex and I have sure missed the beach... we didn't make it down to Bay Head for the last two weekends... one was rainy and the other was Mother's Day weekend and we had plans up north. But here we are, we grabbed the girls a bit early from school on Friday and headed down to enjoy the sunshine and 100 clams from Crab Shack in Brick, NJ.

This morning, we all woke up early, in time to watch the Bay Head 5K race. We had so much fun cheering on the runners that London and Maddie are thinking about running next year, or maybe in the Shark 5K in October.

TV at the Beach This Summer?

After a couple of weekends up north in the Roxiticus Valley, Rex, London, Maddie and I made it down to the our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, early on Friday afternoon for the weekend. This morning we were all up bright and early, in time to see the Bay Head 5K race along the beach on East Avenue and right up to the finish line on Lake Avenue. We've been cleaning up the porch, setting up the girls' sea shell stand, doing a sun dance and getting ready for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. I had to turn on our seasonal phone service for a conference call yesterday afternoon, which got me to thinking about whether we would sign up for any sort of television service here at the beach. We didn't miss it one bit last summer, but right now, as part of a campaign to reward their cable TV customers in new and exciting ways, Charter Cable is giving away $$$$ "ten grand on demand" as well as four (4) huge 52 inch HDTV sets.

During the month of May 2009, all I have to do is visit the Win 10 Grand Contest Page every week, answer the questions about Charter On Demand all 4 weeks for 4 chances to win, and I could take home a sweet $10,000 prize. In addition, Charter is giving away a 52” Sony Bravia HDTV every week, so we'll have four chances to win and upgrade from our old small beach house TV with the rabbit ears on top. Charter On Demand has a huge library of more than 6,000 movies and shows, and has added more free content and new releases for it’s subscribers. Check out Charter’s Twitter Feed for all the latest information. And stay tuned at Roxy's Bay Head Blog to find out whether London and Maddie will have their beloved Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana here at the beach this summer, or whether we'll leave them for a rainy day up north.

Second Annual Shout Out to Point Beach Painting

It's time for another shout out to our beach house painter: Steve of Point Beach Painting!

After Rex and the girls and I spent the past couple of weekends up north in the Roxiticus Valley, New Jersey, we grabbed the girls out of school early and returned to our beach house in Bay Head, NJ this afternoon. While we were away, Steve of Point Beach Painting had been busy freshening up the blue and white paint on the porch of our Bay Head NJ Beach House. He also did some touch up work in the dining room and one bedroom where an older paint job had started to peel... the salt air down here really gives the paint a beating, inside and out. Steve's family has been in the painting business forever, his prices are fair, and he's done nice work for us two years running.

If you live in the Bay Head - Pt. Pleasant Beach area and your beach house needs a refreshing paint job, call Steve at Point Beach Painting: (732) 779-4551.

Music Monday: Miley Cyrus Sings "The Climb"

I know some of my blogosphere buddies (like Jason Buckley, for example) justifiably mock me for my Disney weakness. Yes, our family attended the new Miley Cyrus movie a couple weeks back, and both Rex and I were teary-eyed throughout. So go ahead and mock me, but do so at your own risk, as next week's Music Monday just might be "Sixteen Minutes" from High School Musical 3.

So this week's Music Monday at the Bay Head Blog is The Climb by Miley Cyrus:



I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

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Renewing My Domain Names

I know I've mentioned over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives how busy Rex and I have been at work at our "real jobs" lately, but after the big 9am Monday staff meeting tomorrow (as I told my good blogosphere buddy, Mariuca, I have to get up so early to catch a 6:30 am train from Bernardsville to New York City that I should probably stay up all night long, but I'm afraid I'd doze off while the partners were looking for my undivided attention), I plan to spend the rest of the week until Friday trying to catch up on other important stuff that has been slipping between the cracks. Like my domain renewals. Roxy's Best Of almost ran out in April, but I caught it just in time. Domain renewal time is also a good time to look into my webhosting options. When I first started blogging and moved some of my content to my own web sites, I stayed with our company's business site host and they didn't know a thing about WordPress or other blogging tools. Now that those sites are up for renewal, it's time to check out Web Hosting Geeks to see which web hosts they recommend for multiple domain hosting and blog hosting expertise. If you're thinking about leaving Google's Blogger (otherwise known as Blogspot) or other free hosting service and are looking for a new web hosting service, be sure to do your online web hosting research before signing up with a host.

Headed to the Beach This Weekend

Welcome back, loyal Bay Head Blog readers! It's been a long, cold winter, but temperatures are headed into the low 70s today in the Roxiticus Valley and down at the Jersey Shore. Rex, London, Maddie and I are packing up the SUV to head down to Bay Head, NJ this afternoon to open up our beach house for the season.

We'll have to wait and see what the Internet situation is down at the beach before I can promise current posts this weekend, but the Bay Head Blog will be up and running for the summer before too long.

Thanks for reading!

Roxy

Music Monday: Woman, Woman by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

It's Gary Puckett and the Union Gap theme week for Roxy's Music Monday posts, and here at the Bay Head Blog, we're featuring a live version of "Woman, Woman."



Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind
Something's wrong between us
That your laughter cannot hide
And you're afraid to let your eyes meet mine
And lately when I love you, I know you're not satisfied
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind
I've seen the way men look at you
When they think I don't see
And it hurts to have them think that you're that kind
But it's knowing that you're looking back
That's really killing me
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind
A woman wears a certain look
When she is on the move
And a man can always tell what's on her mind
I hate to have to say it
But that look's all over you
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind
Oh woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind?

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Metal Music Monday: Give Her Inches (8 to 14) and Feed Her Well -- Scorpions Rock You Like A Hurricane

I'm in a Metal Music Monday mood, both here on the Bay Head Blog and over on Roxiticus Best Blogs, where Bon Jovi rocks us with "In and Out of Love." As Rex and I reviewed the winter storm watch forecast to deliver 8 to 14 inches of snow to the Roxiticus Valley and the rest of New Jersey, the Scorpions lyric "give her inches and feed her well" kept running through my head. Even though London and Maddie mock me for being stuck in the eighties (I was gonna shake my A** on the hood of WhiteSnake's car!) every time they see "80s on 8" on our Sirius Satellite Radio in the Acadia, I can't help it, I'm going to share this awesome video of the Scorpions performing Rock You Like A Hurricane from the 2000 Moment of Glory DVD.




It's early morning
The sun comes out
Last night was shaking
And pretty loud
My cat is purring
And scratches my skin
So what is wrong
With another sin
The bitch is hungry
She needs to tell
So give her inches
And feed her well
More days to come
New places to go
I've got to leave
It's time for a show

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane

My body is burning
It starts to shout
Desire is coming
It breaks out loud
Lust is in cages
Till storm breaks loose
Just have to make it
With someone I choose
The night is calling
I have to go
The wolf is hungry
He runs to show
He's licking his lips
He's ready to win
On the hunt tonight
For love at first sting

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane

Special thanks to Jackie (Simply Shinade), who is First Commenter here at the Bay Head Blog today!

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Music Monday: Sea of Love (Performed by Tom Waits)

Valentine's Day is on its way, and LadyJava kicked off Music Monday with a love, love, love theme. I like that idea, and here at the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey, I'd like to stick with LJ's love theme and contribute "Sea of Love." This version is by Tom Waits... it's the one that played eerily in the 1989 Al Pacino murder mystery movie by the same name.



Do you remember when we met
That's the day I knew you were my pet
I want to tell you how much I love you

Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you how much I love you

Come with me, to the sea

Do you remember when we met
That's the day I knew you were my pet
I want to tell you how much I love you

GUITAR SOLO

Come with me, to the sea

Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you how much I love you

Come with me, to the sea

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Remember the Good Old Days... Ah, To Be A Student Again

When I was growing up, my parents and teachers used to tell me that my days as a student were the best years of my life. I didn't believe them at the time, and all these years later, I'd have to say that the past fifteen years of investment banking and seven years of parenting have been and continue to be the best years of my life. Given the stream of emails that Rex and I have received from our alma maters letting us know about the increasing number of college students who need financial aid, I'm concerned that there's never been a tougher time to be a student.



One savings opportunity for students today is the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) -- an internationally recognized and accepted student ID card that comes with thousands of discounts at top retail stores and websites. The $22 card gets students discounts like cheap flights at STA Travel and 11% off JetBlue (or take the train and save 15% off Amtrak), 50% off at Park 'n Fly, an eleven (11) percent discount at Macy's or 10% off at Target.com, and access to a special $13 menu at Hard Rock Cafe. Students can use the ISIC at home or abroad, online or in brick and mortar stores. Unfortunately, I don't qualify for any of the three versions of the discount card -- the ISIC for currently enrolled students, the IYTC for any youth 26 years old and younger, or the ITIC for any current teacher or professor. However, my daughters London and Maddie are both students, so maybe they'll let their mom tag along with them for a change... unfortunately, just today I made the mistake of teaching them how to call me "abuelita" -- old lady in Spanish!

Music Monday: Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett

Got the cold winter blues? Nothing like a dose of Jimmy Buffett to get you smiling... go ahead and sing along with Jimmy on this week's Music Monday pick for the Bay Head Blog: "Come Monday."



Headin' up to San Francisco
For the Labor Day week-end show
I've got my hush-puppies on
I guess I never was meant for glitter rock and roll
And honey I didn't know
That I'd be missin' you so

Chorus:
Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

Yes, it's been quite a summer
Rent-a-cars and west-bound trains
And now you're off on vacation
Somethin' you tried to explain
And darlin', since I love you so
That's the reason I just let you go

Chorus:
Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

I can't help it honey
You're that much a part of me now
Remember that night in Montana
When we said there'd be no room for doubt

I hope you're enjoyin' the scenery
I know that it's pretty up there
We can go hikin' on Tuesday
With you I'd walk anywhere
California has worn me quite thin
I just can't wait to see you again

Chorus:
Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

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Music Monday: Heat Wave

For those of you who haven't been hit by the past week's incredible cold of winter, please count yourself lucky, send us some sunshine and just enjoy the music. For anyone who's seen their local temperature go below zero degrees Fahrenheit, maybe this Heat Wave video will warm us all up.... an oldie but goodie from Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.



Whenever I'm with him
Something inside
Starts to burning
And I'm filled with desire,
Could it be the devil in me?
Or is this the way love's
supposed to be?

(Chorus)

It's like a heat wave
It's burning in my heart
I can't keep from burning
It's tearing me apart

Whenever he calls my name
So softly and plain
Right then, right there, I feel that burning flame
Has high blood pressure
got a hold on me?
Is this the way love's supposed to be?

(Chorus)

Sax Solo.................

Sometimes I stare in space
Tears all over my face,
I can't explain it, don't understand it,
I ain't never felt like this before
Now this funny feeling has me amazed
Don't know what to do, my head's in a haze,
It's like a heat wave.

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
Ha ohhh yeah

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
ohhh yeah

I feel it, burning, right here in my heart,
Don't you know it's like a heat wave

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
ohhh

Don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Burning right here in my heart.

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Maddie Misses Her Beach House

Tonight I caught up on the phone with one of our beach house neighbors down in Bay Head, New Jersey. Right now, it's hard to think about sun, surf and sand, cruising along Ocean Avenue in a souped up honda shadow 750. The people over at Weather dot com say the wind chill here in the Roxiticus Valley makes it feel like 3 below zero Fahrenheit... brrr! Anyway, despite the snow, ice and wintry weather, our beach house seems fine.

Not much is going on at the beach in January. Sadly, Artisan's Galleria on Mount Street closed at the end of the year. Rumor has it the owner is thinking about converting the retail space to an apartment to be rented this summer instead of trying to find someone who wants to open a new store in the current economy.

Particularly if we get away someplace warm during the winter months, my daughter Maddie starts to miss her beach house and asks when we'll be going to Bay Head. Even though we close our beach house for the season after the annual Halloween parade, we may make a trip down to Bay Head this winter. Rex's son, Trader, just moved into a new place in Connecticut. He has a huge open wall in the living room and is hoping I could take a photo of the Bay Head surf and have one of those places blow it up life size so even in the dead of winter in the Northeast it would always feel like Surfs Up!

Music Monday: Collide by Howie Day

Up north and west in the Roxiticus Valley, we're snowed in and lovin' it. Getting out in the Winter Wonderland to do some sledding and trying to build a snowman, playing Scrabble in front of a roaring fire, and catching up on some work while rating the "Unrated" list from my iPod classic. We're down to 5,209 unrated songs, having just given "Collide" by Howie Day five stars and deciding it would be the Bay Head Blog pick for today's Music Monday. Apparently, the song was featured in the movie of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, which I've been meaning to rent or buy. I loved the book... just another one of Roxy's shameful page turners!




The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to ryhme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Music Monday: Drift Away

I was thinking about the old Dobie Gray song, "Drift Away" for Music Monday, but when I searched YouTube for a video I happened to discover this cover by Uncle Kracker. Gimme the beat, boys...



Day after day I'm more confused
Yet I look for the light
Through the pourin' rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
And I'm feeling the strain
Ain't it a shame

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]

Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
I don't understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
Now I'm counting on you
To carry me through

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]

And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feeling blue
The guitar's coming through to soothe me

Thanks for the joy that you're given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Your rythm and rhyme and harmony
You've helped me along
Makin' me strong

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]
Na, na, now won't ya
Won't ya take, oh ha ..take me

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Winter: Hibernate or Celebrate?

Every year, our family closes our beach house in Bay Head after the annual Halloween parade at the end of October, and our favorite summer time activities -- riding the waves, painting seashells, eating clams on our porch -- now seem so far away. As we approach the New Year 2009 and two or three months of cold winter weather, I think about hibernating indoors, playing family board games like Scrabble and Monopoly and staying warm by the fire. London and Maddie, on the other hand, are all in favor of celebrating winter with outdoor activities like sledding and building snowmen.

Branson, Missouri seems to be one of those places where people celebrate winter instead of hiding indoors. If you think you'd enjoy scenic views of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, an ice sculpture competition, the excitement and whimsy of the holidays will come together for you with a family vacation in Branson, Missouri. This season, celebrate winter in the entertainment capital of the Mid West and choose from exclusive holiday packages with themes like the It's A Wonderful Life Package or the New Year's Eve Package at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Spa treatments and family style dinners are just the tip of the iceberg (forgive the winter pun) of what these two hotels have to offer. During the day, you'll capture the spirit of the winter holidays with light displays, parades and shows, with the old time charm of Branson surrounding you. Night time brings the luxury and elegance of either the Hilton Promenade or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.



If you love the nightlife, the hotels are conveniently located in and around the new Branson Landing retail and entertainment district situated on Lake Taneycomo. If you're more interested in cultural activities for the whole family, tt looks like there are two First Night celebrations going on nearby -- one in Springfield and one in Fayetteville -- where everyone can enjoy family-oriented activities on New Year's Eve. Instead of hibernating this year, why not celebrate winter in a town like Branson, Missouri? Brought to you by Hilton – the first name in hospitality.

Music Monday: Happy New Year with Guy Lombardo's Auld Lang Syne

When I was a kid, my parents would let me stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve to watch Guy Lombardo and the ball drop in Times Square on TV. Please join me in a bit of nostalgia with a video of Guy Lombardo's instrumental performance "Auld Lang Syne." I've also included the English translation of the traditional Scottish lyrics.



Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and days o' auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup
And surely I’ll buy mine
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend
And give us a hand o’ thine
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Grant a Holiday Wish for Our Heroes at Home

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight..."

Those are the words from one of the most well-known Christmas carols, with lyrics by Ralph Blane and music composed by Hugh Martin. We've heard the words, and hope they come true this holiday season. Rex, London, Maddie and I offer this wish for a merry little Christmas to you and your family and to all of our heroes at home on Christmas Eve. While our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, there's still time to grant a wish for a military service family or veteran during this holiday season. Sears established the Sears Heroes at Home registry to make it easy for those of us who are fortunate to be safe at home with our families at Christmas to contribute online and provide financial support for the families of military service members who won't be home for Christmas and have made requests for our help. If you visit the site, you'll find stories that will tug at your heart: one soldier writes that his wife is the real hero, taking care of his family at home, another writes about missing his baby boy's first Christmas... you'll also see that the wishes these families have made are not extravagant, simple things like kids' shoes, clothing and coats are at the top of the list. The donations made at this site are not tax-deductible, but they will be distributed among the registered families as Sears gift cards to show our heroes at home, the families of American soldiers, how much we appreciate the sacrifices they make all year long and their efforts to keep our families safe and free.

From the four of us to all of you... Have yourself a merry little Christmas... now!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring us figgy pudding
Now bring us figgy pudding
And a cup of good cheer!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!