And I know what you think, what you think about me

Remember the Housemartins?

I am your slice of life.

I'm listening to a tape. It's one of my favorite mix tapes of all time made by one of my favorite people of all time: the beautiful Diana (thanks for) Sharyn.

Maybe she's just looking for someone to dance with.

Today I put some batteries in a pair of Walkie Talkies that I bought for Aaron a few weeks ago. He was so excited. He went around the house for hours, even when no one would respond, asking, "Can you read?" into his Walkie Talkie. I think he meant, "Do you read me?" but I like his variation better.

If you want me, you can find me left of centre wondering about you.

Elliot has had a few things on his mind lately. And I mean just a few things. I know because he talks about these things over and over. One of the things he thinks about is whether our extended family will go on a trip this summer to Mexico or Utah. I told him that we might go somewhere, and it might be to one of those places. Man, Elliot is really pulling for Utah. For one thing, Grandpa lives there and Elliot really loves Grandpa. For another, there might still be snow in the mountains, and he likes the big vacation rental house we might stay at. Plus, he's a little unsure about the language barriers that he would encounter if we went to Mexico. Elliot doesn't speak Spanish.

Oh baby, please give a little respect to me.

Remember Erasure?

I've been thinking good, good things about you.

Another thing that Elliot spends a lot of time thinking about is especially brought to his remembrance when we go to Costco. A few weeks ago I bought Jose Ole frozen taquitos and there was a sweepstakes on the box that I entered online just for fun. There is only one prize and it is an entire room makeover to make one lucky person the "Coolest Mom on the Block," including a flat-screen tv, La-Z-Boy chairs, X-Box, DVR, yada yada yada, and also a freezer and free groceries for a year. It was the free groceries for a year that caught my fancy. Elliot overheard me telling Steve that I was going to win this contest and we were going to get 52 gift certificates for $300 each to the grocery store of my choice, and of course I would choose Costco so I could get lots of other stuff besides food, because who could really spend that much on food every week anyway? It was a fun little fantasy to have during the phone conversation, but Elliot really began to think we were going to win. Now he has exactly one million and thirty-two questions about the contest, that he especially asks when we walk the aisles of Costco. When we win, can we buy the playground? Well, if we win, can we buy the playground? Why did you even enter if you don't think we're going to win? Do you have to buy food with the money? And lots more. I had to practically ban him from ever speaking of the matter again for sanity's sake.

Now you see me, now you don't. Don't ask me where I'm at, 'cause I'm a million miles away.

I think it's silly when people comment anonymously. I mean, come on. Stand up and be counted already. Secretly, though, (I'm about to contradict myself) I kind of like it. It's a coy game and it makes me think I have a secret admirer. My latest secret admirer is a fan of the NBA. I am too, didja know?

There's nothing you and I won't do. I'll stop the world and melt with you.

Diana, I will mail you a prize if you remember the name of the tape I am listening to.

All I want to do is just sit here and write it all down and rest for a while.

Anyone else, I will mail you a prize if you can identify five of these songs from the lyrics, without looking them up. I don't think that's too hard because exactly five of the nine have the title of the song in the lyric. All you have to do is tell me who sings it. Plus I already divulged two of the bands. If you had spectacular taste in music in the early 90s, you would know many of these. If you listened to Fight, I can't help you.

Comments

Neil and Diana said…
Lovely blossom: I think I called it "Mix." Is it the one with splices, or is it more along the lines of Eternal Quest for Orange Juice? Never mind, I think that was pre-Housemartins.
amyegodfrey said…
I have no idea who the Housemartins are, and the lyrics mean nothing to me, but I certainly enjoyed your stories about the boys!
Anonymous said…
Eliza was my mix tape queen. Must run in the family.
wendysue said…
Ok, I'll give it a go. . .the #3 (if you want me, you can find me. . is from the pretty in pink soundtrack, and called Left of center, not sure of the artist?... except I think it's "you can find me, left of center off of the strip?". Don't ask me why, but I can still sing the whole song. ("They always ask me, what are you looking at, I always tell them, nothin' much, not much, I think they know that I'm looking at them, I think they think I must be out of touch, but I'm only on the outskirts. . .")

#4 is erasure, was the song called respect? I'm singing that one in my head. . .give a little respect toooooo meeeeeeeeeeeee.

#7 I'll stop the world. . .still love that song, and now some new group did a remix so my kids love it too. I think it was in Shrek 2

Darn, only 3. Still, fun memories. I wonder if I have my 80/90's Maxell mix tape around here somewhere.
Emily said…
Wendysue, you're the champ thus far . . .
Thanks for commenting!
lys said…
2) Michael Penn "No Myth"

3) Erasure "Respect"

5) I think Green Day has a song called "Disappearing Boy" that has these lyrics, but I think that I must be wrong because all the other songs seem to be 80's songs.

6) Modern English "I Melt With You"

The rest I have absolutely NO IDEA. No clue. But, I am now curious so I think that I will "google" them.

I thought I was pretty music-savvy until I read this blog. I realize now that I know nothing. Housemartins?
Courtney said…
I think everyone already guessed the ones I knew. I must be old because I remember the housemartins. It is going to be a sad day for Elliott when you don't win the cool mom sweepstakes. you never know - maybe you'll be the the 1 in 1.32 million people who wins.
Emily said…
Alyssa, I'm very impressed that you knew Michael Penn and old school Green Day.
Anonymous said…
Housemartins or Beautiful South?
Emily said…
36D, so what? D, so what? Is that all that you got?
Emily said…
Diana, the tape is called See You There. I'm still going to mail you a prize.

We're Not Deep * Housemartins
Slice of Life * Bauhaus
No Myth * Michael Penn
Left of Centre * Suzanne Vega
A Little Respect * Erasure
Good Good Things * Descendants
Disappearing Boy * Green Day
I Melt With You * Modern English
The Emperor's New Clothes * Sinead O'Connor

Alyssa, I just might mail you a prize, too.
Becky said…
Emily you had (have) very good/fun taste in music. Say, did you ever go to any Saturday night dances? I bet you like dancing, too! And Elliot is so darn cute that I need him to come hang out at our house. Please bring him over soon.
lys said…
Oh, Emily, I must earn my prize. Alas, I only got 4 answers (below the requisite 5). I will try again in your next contest-- if I win, then you can send me a prize.
pepper said…
Shall I comment just to let you know I am here? I read the entire post, but I bet you can guess how much I understood. It took me half way through the post to figure out you were quoting song lyrics... poor poor pepper.

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