Be Careful What You Wish For

Good news! It is my weekend!

Because of the nature of my job, I have Wednesdays and Thursdays off from work, as opposed to Saturdays and Sundays. While I miss Sunday brunches and pedicures followed by laying on my couch or grabbing cocktails at my Favorite Bar in preparation for the beginning of a traditional work week... having a mid-week weekend is actually very cool. I can go to the gym in the middle of the day and know it won't be crowded. Or even better, I can hit the spa. And running errands and making doctor or dentist appointments is much easier. It has the potential to be a little lonely because most people are at work, but I have several friends who either are not working right now or have weird work schedules, too. So I can always find people to play with me during my "weekend."

So I am already in my pajamas, and I'm very happy about that fact.

Plus, I need some relaxation time, as I've been a little stressed out lately. Did you ever wish really hard for something and then when you got it wonder what on earth you could have been thinking? I'll just leave it at that.

It Seems Not To Be the Summer of Love Anymore

Since I was mugged three weeks ago, I admit I have become a little paranoid. But being knocked down by two guys in broad daylight so they can steal your purse and jacket leaves a girl a little nervous. I don't want to give the cretins who did that to me too much publicity, and my friends have already had to hear me whine about it. But frankly, I wish it had happened during my "time of the month" so my cute little purse they stole would have been filled with tampons. That would have shown the little morons.

Okay, that was a little class-less. Forgive me.

Anyway, I bring this up because as I left work tonight there were some police officers standing at the front door of the building and security seemed concerned. And as I started to walk home another police car sped toward my place of employment with its lights on and siren going. About four months ago two people who work in my building were robbed at gunpoint in the parking garage. I hope nothing like that happened this time.

I walked home with 9-1-1 dialed and ready on my cell phone. Just in case. Things like this cast an ugly shadow over our fine city by the Bay.

Music That's Making Me Happy Today, vol. 1

"Hitsville U.K" by the Clash
Is this the best song by the Clash? Who knows, and frankly, who could take on the daunting task of picking the "best" song by that band? I wouldn't even want to try. But this gem from Sandinista! should have a place in everyone's iPod. I just put it in mine, and it has given my jogging soundtrack a serious boost.

"Daydream Believer" by the Monkees
Written by John Stewart, this pure pop confection could give you an auditory toothache, but it would be the best kind. Mike Nesmith may have been the Monkee with the most actual musical talent, but Davy Jones was the cutest one (and when you're a little girl watching afternoon "Monkees" re-runs... cute goes a long way). And Jones handles the vocals on this tune with his own brand of teen-idol panache. I challenge you to be in a bad mood after listening to this number a few times. I also challenge you to convince me you don't already know the words... at least to the chorus.
This song is featured in some tv commercial right now, but I still won't get sick of it.
I also have to give honorable mentions to these other tracks by the Pre-Fab Four: "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "She Hangs Out" (again with Davy on lead vocals) and "The Porpoise Song."

Watch this space for more volumes of Music That's Making Me Happy. You may agree, disagree... or even give the spotlighted melodies a listen some time.