Rest in Peace, John Barry

Yesterday the world has lost a great composer. John Barry has put out some of my most favorite music ever. There's something special about his melodies that touches me like no other music can; I even played him at my wedding. I wonder if anyone else noticed what I was playing? I was sad to read this morning that he passed away.

Here are a few of the songs that I love the most:

Out of Africa



Dances With Wolves



Somewhere in Time



A View to Kill

Philly Pictures of the Week

I love the look of admiration she has here. Don't you love the cake?

I have recently discovered a new favorite beer; it's called Yards Tavern Ale. It is based off Thomas Jefferson's (yes, the president lol) original recipe and it's YUMMO. It has a pretty high alcohol content, too, so you really only need one....wink wink.

I took this picture riding on the subway (a very scary and smelly place, btw) with The Hubs on the way to an Eagles game a few months ago, with lots of Philly-ish looking men along for the same ride. I think I was the only chick on the train and, at the game, the man-to-woman ratio was about 10-to-one. What? Ladies don't like Eagles games? It was kind of strange. There was one woman who was screaming (cheering?) her lungs out a few rows up from us, but she sounded like an 80-year old, very angry person who smoked too many cigarettes. The Hubs even whispered in my ear "imagine if that was your mom's voice..." Um, yikes. Funny though that the first thing The Hubs and I think of when we hear a loud, obnoxious female voice is our mothers. Is that supposed to mean something? Hymmmmm.

I took this at Reading Terminal Market while I was walking the aisles with my mom. I doubt you'd ever seen a sign like this in the West. Hehe. She and I even bumped into a very obvious scammer trying to say he was from out of town and needed train money. Part of his quip was "no one's nice here!" You got that right, buddy! Now buzz off and go scam someone else -- I may not look like I'm from Philly, but I can tell someone to fuck off with the best of them. I think I look pretty tough doing it, too, because no one's tried to start a fight with me yet. Yuk yuk yuk! (That's not an invitation, btw, lol)

My First Ice Storm Experience

I just finished shoveling my driveway for what feels like the 100th time this season. Seriously....I feel like I shovel, and then it snows again. And then I shovel again. And then it snows again.

Damn you, Winter!

My driveway is no easy shoveling task, either. Take a look -- and this is only half of it (but I refuse to shovel the other half, my other car can just stay stuck).

But winter threw me a curve ball this morning...this newest storm wasn't snow. It was ice. An ICE storm. This is my first experience with an ice storm.

Me no likey.

So I trekked out -- not to shovel snow, but ice. Oh goodie. Look at this crap!

ME NO LIKEY!

But, in order to not to let myself get too pissed off, since I'm guessing the weather wouldn't be able to hear my bitching anyway, I started humming this song to myself and tried to appreciate the storm for what it left; because truly, the ice sparkling off the trees was amazingly beautiful. But it would have been even better if I hadn't had to shovel the shit.

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Oh, and here's the best part: I don't even have a pair of snow boots, so I had to wear my cute, waterproofed, leather boots from Clark's. Don't they look smokin over my sweat pants? So hot. I can only imagine what the neighbors think of me.

No, that's not snow, boys and girls. That's all ICE.

But you know what? I don't care if I had to shovel ice. Because when I came back in, I was greeted by my sweet, baby girl...who is no longer a baby. *sniff* Today is her 5th birthday and we have some celebrating to do...

Music I'm Embarrassed to Love

Since I'm taking a semi-break from The Housewife Diaries (yea, I just decided this but not to fear, I'll return soon), I thought I'd give you some more music that I'm embarrassed to love!

This week's theme? Sappy ballads!

Aww, come on -- everyone loves a sweet love song. Especially one sung by a man with a mullet! Yesssssss.

This first song I absolutely adore. The Hubs says this song is "for pussies." You know my answer to that?

Me: "I would totally make out with you to this song..."

The Hubs: "Um, I mean I LIKE this song. This song is awesome. This is my favorite song..."

Me: "Uh huh. I thought so."

This is one of those songs that I crank up and sing at the top of my lungs and remember the days of couple skating at the roller rink....

I'll Be Over You by Toto, circa 1986

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(and remember Michael McDonald has a teensy cameo in the song!)

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Hard Habit to Break by Chicago, 1984

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Ok, this one I'm REALLY embarrassed to love...but I do. I know all the words and it's another one I will turn way up and sing along to (but only if no one's around and the car's windows are rolled up). This is another one that The Hubs would say "turn this crap off." I totally disagree with him -- I think Richard Marx is a brilliant song writer. Just sayin!

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Now and Forever by Richard Marx, 1994

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And to finish off the night, I'd like to add another "man with a mullet" tune. But one of my favorite artists I'm embarrassed to love.

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Meet Me Halfway by Kenny Loggins, 1987