Lessons in life, love and vinyl: Mary doesn't always want to be a Superwoman...

Lessons in life, love and vinyl: Mary doesn't always want to be a Superwoman...: Typing is cool for some...nothing wrong with being able to sit down and pound out your feelings on a QWERTY keyboard, ergonomically designed...

Mary doesn't always want to be a Superwoman...

Typing is cool for some...nothing wrong with being able to sit down and pound out your feelings on a QWERTY keyboard, ergonomically designed for your comfort. But for me, apparently, I need to feel the burn my underused thumb and wrist brings when I get into "my writes". I need to symbolically feel the pain physically that I may have caused someone mentally or emotionally. And what better place to be than on the floor, in front of the speaker? Better than a chair at a desk, right?

Headphones? Hell no...stereo set to "Analog" (more about that later)..Stevie letting my neighbors know that Mary wants to be a Superwoman..

Which brings me to this..

Why do we...men..find it so easy to let our women be "Superwomen"? Or is it just me? I'm a Sagittarius to my soul, and it's in our nature to kinda live by the seat of our pants, but how much of that is Astrologically my nature...and how much of that is learned? As men, we are selfish by nature, so naturally, if the lane is clear for us to concentrate on our wants and needs...and our wants and needs only, we put ourselves in such a position...

...it's like...

.....if you walked onto a bar...an open bar situation..with all the Glenlivet (12 and 18), and you drank like a Linden Ave (or Graham St) Wino, giving you the worst hangover ever, who are you going to blame? You gonna be mad at the bar for not cutting you off? Or at yourself for not being responsible?
There has to be a limit to our selfishness.If you're not a bachelor, and live your life to only take, you have to understand the consequences. If you're looking for your wife/old lady to be the only "giver" in the "give and take" of relationships, the well will run dry of all the gives. Don't wait until it's all dry to try and return a few "give" drops. And that's what I've been guilty of.

I read Eckhart Tolle religiously, and his main bag is for to always be aware.

Aware.

Awareness can mean many things to many people, depending on your circumstance, but when it comes to relationships, I think it means to always understand how what you do (or don't do) affects everyone around you. Understand how much or presence, your guidance, your leadership...or lack thereof, can and will affect your family. In ways that may or may not be so evident. If they come to you for these things...or your wife is telling you that you need to do better, and you keep coming up short...coming up with excuses as to why you can't be what they need you to be, please don't be surprised or upset when they begin to look elsewhere for these things.

And men...understand that when your position as  "The Boss" is threatened by "The Queen"...understand this..Mary doesn't always want to be a superwoman..she doesn't always want to boss the bull around...but sometimes the bull gives her no choice.


-I always say that "Innervision" is hands down my favorite Stevie album, but Laawd..."Music of my Mind" is running a close second. Between the sweetness of "I Love Having You Around" to the soul of  "Seems So Long", the immeasurable "Umph" of "Girl Blue" and the frenetic, gospel-tinged funk of  "Keep On Running", Stevie created a quiet masterpiece that takes you all over the feelings-meter. "Songs in the Key..." gets all the well deserved props, but this piece of wax..."Music of my Mind", deserves a closer listen by all that discount it.

4/5 shelltoes

This kind of car doesn't pass you everyday

Prince is one of those artists that you basically either love or hate.

Now, the level of love varies, but the level of hate is about the same. Prince haters basically spit on the ground he walks on. He can't dance as good as Micheal Jackson..can't sing as good as Luther..doesn't make hits like R. Kelly..blah, blah, blah.

But for those of us that love him..it's..it's really kind of a litmus test. A secret handshake almost. You ever watch "Curb Your Enthusiasm" when Larry is trying to figure out if someone is bullshitting him or not, and he gives him that "look"? That's what telling someone that you're a Prince fan is like.

As I struggle with the words to really convey what I've been feeling the past few days, two songs keep running around in my head. One you've probably never heard before (unless you were level 5 Prince fan and above), and one you may have (level 3).

But before I post the lyrics to these two songs and let you converse and cry among yourselves, this was the first lyric that popped into my head after I got the dreadful news:

"and if I never see you again, it's alright/for I am guilty of no sin/they can have you, I'll have your love in the end"-And God Created Woman.

..in the song he's singing about never seeing his woman again, but I think of my feelings for him when I think of this song. The afterlife can have you now Prince. I dont want you to go, but we have the love you left us...your undying legacy of artistry..in the end. Rest easy P, you were my sanctuary when I had no where else to run. You helped me celebrate when things were awesome, helped me cope when things weren't so good, and helped me talk through my tears when things were really screwed up.



GOODBYE

Last night when I left you fast asleep 
I should have contemplated suicide 
For the smile upon your face that's well worth keeping 
By morning - smears for every tear you cry 
I could manage a week or to without those kisses 
It'd be hard, but something tells me I could try 

[Chorus:] 
For that matter, whatever to make you reconsider 
Is there truth when you make love to a lie? 
Excuse me, but is this really goodbye? 

Why'd I ever let you in this morning? 
Why'd I let you come inside my door? 
I should have known without that smile adorning 
Your face - a kiss was not what you came for 
That's when your hand reached out to touch me gently 
At least that's how it happened in my mind 

[Chorus] 

Can't begin to understand how I think about you (Everything) 
Everything I want to do, I cannot do without you 
However wrong you want - I'll be 
Just please (please) don't leave (Don't leave) 
If it means this life without you, baby 
I swear I'll spend it on my knees 
Excuse me, but is this really goodbye? 

Last night when I left you I was so sure 
We'd be together forever and for days 
And now my shade of blue couldn't get no bluer 
I don't even know what I did to make you go away 
I could possibly stage a front and play the cool one (Cool one) 
Heart in my hand tryin' to hold back every cry 

But who would applaud me when it's you, my one and only 
Who ever gave me a good reason not to die 
Excuse me, but is this really­ (Goodbye) 
Excuse me, but is this really­ (Goodbye) 
Excuse me, but is this really goodbye? 
(Goodbye) 
Goodbye, goodbye 
(Goodbye) 
Goodbye (Goodbye)

MOONBEAM LEVELS

Yesterday I tried 2 write a novel but I didn't know where 2 begin
So I laid down in the grass tryin' 2 feel the world turn
Boy loses girl in a rain storm, nuclear World War III
All that's left is pain and sorrow, as far as he's concerned

CHORUS:
He says please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die

Maybe he's lookin' 4 a different world
Maybe he's lookin' 4 a brand new high
Maybe he would like a nice condo overlookin' the rings of Saturn
Maybe he wants affection instead of a plastic life
Maybe he doesn't know what he wants at all

CHORUS

A newborn child knows nothing of destruction
Nothing of love and hate
What happens in between is a mystery
Because we don't give a damn about his fate

He said he'll never keep diaries 2 learn from his mistakes
Instead he'll just repeat all the good things that he's done
Fight 4 perfect love until it's perfect love he makes
When he's happy then his battle will be won (It's never 2 late)

Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
(Send your.. send 2 me)
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
(Send your levels 2 me)
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
(Sending me your.. send 2 me)
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die (Better place 2 die)

Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me (Oh yeah!)
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me {x2}
He don't, he don't, he don't really wanna die
He don't wanna, he don't wanna, he don't wanna die {x2}
He don't really wanna die

Discover Musicians' Most Amazing Secrets

geralt

I met my wife in a record store...no lie. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was leaving the mall (had just bought some shot glasses...a Pittsburgh Steelers one and a New England Patriots one in preparation for the AFC Championship game the next day..oh! this was 2002) and stopped in to the record store to see what cds I didn't know I needed. I'm looking through the hip-hop section, and...wait...who's that in the used R&B section? I can't see her face, but her hair is GORGEOUS! So, I do what every respectable southern gentleman would do...I stalked her from across the store.

She was in the "P" section, and there was another gentleman standing between me and her. I watched their interaction (there was none), then, when he went to the other side of the rack, he didnt say anything to her...didnt touch her...nothing. Awesome. As she started to leave the "P" and go to the "Q" section, I made my move. Picking up the criminally slept on "Emancipation" triple CD from Prince...I commented.."You know, it's a durn shame that this 3 CD set is only six bucks.." "Yeah, thats crazy, isn't it?" she replied.

I was in.

We talked some more about Stone Temple Pilots...Angie Stone...Sade...Sly and the Family Stone (yeah, we were in front of the "S" section), and 14 years later, here we are. Music has always been a HUGE part of our relationship, almost as much as forgiveness, trust, honesty (and the lack thereof), new beginnings, old habits...you get where I'm going.

This is a blog about life, love and music. Always in that order...and always connected. I can point to every major moment in our years together and tell you a song that could've been the soundtrack to it. Our first real date? Alicia Keys and Glen Lewis concert. Our first out of town trip? Prince, One Night Alone concert in Atlanta. Getting to know her (our) two sons was done over Ludacris, Maroon 5 and
Metallica songs, and trying to see what they saw in 50 Cent and Maroon 5. Before my (now) 18 year old daughter could form complete sentences, she was singing Brittney Spears "Crazy" to me, and my oldest daughter? Some of my favorite memories of her "baby girl" days are of her trying to sing Mary J. songs in my El Camino. The 12 year old...while your kid is impressing you cause they know the hook to "Billie Jean", mine can tell you why Bobby likes soooul foood. (Answer: because it makes him haaaaappppy). There is rarely a time when there is no music being played in our house. And, on those rare occasions, we're looking for something else to play.

This is a blog about love, life and music. Always in that order...and always connected. I can (and i will) point out the times where the love of music almost cost me my family, and how my love of music is helping me get my family back. The love of music pushed everything that was important to me away, and hopefully, is helping me to pull them closer.

This is a blog about music, love and life. Always in that order...and always connected. I can point out how music will forever be my favorite form of therapy. I feed my soul the type of vibes that I want to put out. I will speak about my latest experiences with music..from djing, to discovery, to "crate digging" sessions. I chose the title "Music and Whine" for two reasons. 1-It represents an awesome moment in our relationship and 2-that's what I do best...play music and whine.

Thanks for reading...I'll be back shortly..