(Oh, sure, I usually talk about my woo-woo stuff, but this eponymous blog is a good place to talk about anything I like. So there.)
Ah, music. It hath charms, no? I love almost all of it, except jazz and rap--and I even like some forms of jazz and some hip-hop. I'm pretty inclusive, BUT I have recently noticed my newly-developed distaste for certain bands.
At first, I thought maybe I was just getting old and didn't like that "young whipper-snapper" music. But it's not the modern stuff that I don't like. It's music from my childhood and youth that is starting to gross me out and gag me with a spoon. (Graduated high school in 1981. Sorry.)
Here, in no particular order, are the bands and artists that have begun to turn me off, along with their offenses:
**The Who: I actually stopped liking The Who a long time ago, and I still don't like them. I think I mostly only liked them because they were cool and because I went to their concert at the AstroHall or the AstroDome or the AstroSomething in 1982. Disliking this band might be an indication that I am getting old, but I don't care. I'm tired of the the screaming and the long guitar solos.
**The Doors: Oy vey, if I have to listen to that interminable organ solo in "Light My Fire" one more time... Great for stoners, maybe, but not for me. I will still listen to "Touch Me" at least, but I won't light their fire. Or let them light mine.
**Fleetwood Mac: Now, this one surprises me, because I used to love Fleetwood Mac. But I never liked Stevie Nicks, either personally or vocally, and now I find her husky near-ruined voice almost unbearable. Again, there are exceptions: Earlier Fleetwood Mac songs have a better chance of being liked, plus there are one or two Stevie Nicks songs that I might slightly enjoy. "Edge of 17" comes to mind.
**Cyndi Lauper: Talk about a surprise. Cyndi was definitely cool in her heydey, and maybe her recent demi-comeback is still cool, but when I hear her old songs on the radio, I am just turned off. This one I chalk up to a definite "heat of the moment" issue--I liked it in the heat of the moment, but the moment has long since passed.
**Elton John: Okay, maybe I still love Elton, but if I do, it's becoming more and more of a secret to me. Unlike Stevie Nicks, he still seems like a person I would like if I knew him, but I think I'm just plain tired of his music. Plus most of his best songs ("Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", to wit) don't get played on the radio. So I will give him a B- and consider listening again someday.
I am excited to think about the bands I will add to this list as they start to disgust me. Stay tuned!
Until next time,
Susan K. Morrow
512-257-2737
www.SusanKMorrow.com
Susan@SusanKMorrow.com
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Good Teacher
Mrs. Jett was one of my favorite teachers in high school. She taught both French and Spanish, and I took both, so I got to have her as my teacher for two years. As a linguaphile, I admired her linguistic skills, of course, but Mrs. Jett was more than a language teacher.
Mrs. Jett was divorced, probably in her 30s at the time (and I admit it was a while ago!), may or may not have had children. She had a pretty poor fashion sense--which I always forgive in a teacher, because teachers are so woefully underpaid--but I didn't care, because she was one of the most caring people I've ever met.
I realize that the above paragraph sums up all I knew about Mrs. Jett. So why was she so memorable to me?
She listened. She didn't judge. She smiled. She helped. She was kind. And she liked me too. I felt that I could trust and confide in her. Not that I was a degenerate or particularly needy or troubled as a teen. But knowing which teachers are on your side, regardless of your situation, is a comfort during the emotional idiocy that is high school.
I also learned a lot in Spanish I and French I. I enjoy recalling the time that I answered a French question in Spanish. Mrs. Jett's eyes grew wide. "En francais, s'il vous plais!" she admonished me. It was actually good news for me, because I was learning French by translating it into Spanish, instead of English. And that meant that I had already learned to think in Spanish, and that's how you learn a language.
Now that I am a teacher--an Intuitive Life Teacher, if not a schoolteacher--I like to think that I am similar to Mrs. Jett. Trustworthy and trusting, knowledgeable in more than one area, kind, understanding, and always a friend and confidante.
The classroom door is open. What would you like to know?
Until next time,
Susan K. Morrow
www.SusanKMorrow.com
512-257-2737
Susan@SusanKMorrow.com
Mrs. Jett was divorced, probably in her 30s at the time (and I admit it was a while ago!), may or may not have had children. She had a pretty poor fashion sense--which I always forgive in a teacher, because teachers are so woefully underpaid--but I didn't care, because she was one of the most caring people I've ever met.
I realize that the above paragraph sums up all I knew about Mrs. Jett. So why was she so memorable to me?
She listened. She didn't judge. She smiled. She helped. She was kind. And she liked me too. I felt that I could trust and confide in her. Not that I was a degenerate or particularly needy or troubled as a teen. But knowing which teachers are on your side, regardless of your situation, is a comfort during the emotional idiocy that is high school.
I also learned a lot in Spanish I and French I. I enjoy recalling the time that I answered a French question in Spanish. Mrs. Jett's eyes grew wide. "En francais, s'il vous plais!" she admonished me. It was actually good news for me, because I was learning French by translating it into Spanish, instead of English. And that meant that I had already learned to think in Spanish, and that's how you learn a language.
Now that I am a teacher--an Intuitive Life Teacher, if not a schoolteacher--I like to think that I am similar to Mrs. Jett. Trustworthy and trusting, knowledgeable in more than one area, kind, understanding, and always a friend and confidante.
The classroom door is open. What would you like to know?
Until next time,
Susan K. Morrow
www.SusanKMorrow.com
512-257-2737
Susan@SusanKMorrow.com
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Taking Care of the Caregiver
If you are a woman, a mom, I know this will hit you where you live. And if you are a man, you will probably dig it too. It's about taking care of others, yourself, and the world!
In recent weeks, it seems I have done nothing but take care of other people. Several family members have needed my assistance or presence during and regarding medical and health issues, plus as you know, my daughters have both moved and the younger one has made a huge adjustment in starting college. It seems like all I have done is drive and drive and drive on my way to take care of others.
Like you, I'm sure, I don't mind doing this. On the contrary, I love taking care of my loved ones and I appreciate that I am able to help when needed. BUT--and you know this BUT--I knew I was going to get sick from all this, sooner or later.
I did try to take care of myself, paying attention to my needs, getting enough rest, giving myself a pedicure, and so forth. It just wasn't quite enough. Last week, I came down with a really nasty stomach virus. Dehydrated and exhausted, I asked my daughters to take me to the ER. They stayed with me for the whole long afternoon, while I received IV fluids and returned to myself.
It cost my college girl a day of classes. It cost my older girl an afternoon of work (and pay). They sacrificed without complaint, and I received their loving care without guilt.
Here's the message for you and me both: Ask for help when needed, and accept help when offered. You were not built to take care of the world and get nothing in return. Try it--no guilt, just care between people who love. You'll be GLAD YOU DID! ;o)
Until next time,
TAKE CARE,
Susan K. Morrow
www.SusanKMorrow.com
susan@susankmorrow.com
512-257-2737
In recent weeks, it seems I have done nothing but take care of other people. Several family members have needed my assistance or presence during and regarding medical and health issues, plus as you know, my daughters have both moved and the younger one has made a huge adjustment in starting college. It seems like all I have done is drive and drive and drive on my way to take care of others.
Like you, I'm sure, I don't mind doing this. On the contrary, I love taking care of my loved ones and I appreciate that I am able to help when needed. BUT--and you know this BUT--I knew I was going to get sick from all this, sooner or later.
I did try to take care of myself, paying attention to my needs, getting enough rest, giving myself a pedicure, and so forth. It just wasn't quite enough. Last week, I came down with a really nasty stomach virus. Dehydrated and exhausted, I asked my daughters to take me to the ER. They stayed with me for the whole long afternoon, while I received IV fluids and returned to myself.
It cost my college girl a day of classes. It cost my older girl an afternoon of work (and pay). They sacrificed without complaint, and I received their loving care without guilt.
Here's the message for you and me both: Ask for help when needed, and accept help when offered. You were not built to take care of the world and get nothing in return. Try it--no guilt, just care between people who love. You'll be GLAD YOU DID! ;o)
Until next time,
TAKE CARE,
Susan K. Morrow
www.SusanKMorrow.com
susan@susankmorrow.com
512-257-2737
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