"It’s different"

I had white-blond hair as a child.  My sister and parents are all brunettes, but some random combination of genes led me to blond.  Or else I’m not my father’s child – which is unlikely due to many, many other similarities.

As I grew older, my hair got darker.  It’s settled in a light brown hue.  I highlight it on occasion, but for the most part I don’t stray too far from my natural color.

On occasion though, I get a wild hair (see what I did there?).  I was auburn for a while in grad school.  I had a purple streak for a couple of months (hidden under the rest of my hair – just there for me to know about). 

And this fall, I decided to go with dark brown. 

My mother hadn’t seen my hair until the recent Thanksgiving holiday.  She hates it.  Absolutely.  Hates.  It.

How do I know that, you ask?  This conversation.

My mom:  “Oh.   You changed your hair.  It’s … different.”

Me:  “Yes, mom, change usually does make things different.”

My mom:  “It’s so dark!”

Me:  “Yes, it is.”

My mom:  “I’m just not used to it.”

  … the next morning…

My mom:  “Your hair is so dark.  It’s different.  And you cut it.”

Me:  “Yep.”

My mom:  “When did you do this?”

Me:  “Around Labor Day.”

My mom:  “Oh.  Well, it’s different.”

Me:  “Yes, it is.”

“It’s different” is female-code for “I hate it” – except when it’s not.  Sometimes it means “I’m not used to it yet.”  But not when it’s used repetitively.  Then it definitely means “I hate it,” seasoned lightly with “Why did you change it?  It was so pretty before.”

Laffy Taffy

In and of itself, Laffy Taffy is not my favorite candy.  I mean, it’s okay and all, but there are other things I prefer.

However, I absolutely adore Laffy Taffy jokes.  They are utterly ridiculous, and I love them anyway.

Today’s joke is brought to you by Connie from Washington:  “In what month do people talk the least?”

Already I know that this was not written by a child because the preposition in at the beginning of the sentence.  What kid talks that way?  None I know. 

Are you ready for the answer yet?  Is the suspense killing you?

“February – because it’s the shortest month in the year!”   Really? 

I love that this crazy, messy world of ours has a medium – candy – in which something not remotely funny qualifies as a “good” candidate for publishing. 

It’s absurd, and that’s why I laugh.  Oh laffy taffy, never change your ways.

Acceptance

I’m feeling introspective.  In the last few weeks, life has taught me a lesson about acceptance. 

Newton’s third law applies to physics (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction).  But it does not have to apply to all areas of your life. 

Before reacting, it’s a good idea to consider whether or not the issue deserves your limited time and energy.  Sometimes accepting and letting go is the right thing to do.  Sometimes it’s not.  But only you get to decide what you are willing to spend your time and energy on.

If you are swimming in the ocean, it is easier to float with the waves than to fight against them.  

Importance of Lyrics

With songs, do you pay more attention to music or to lyrics?  Or both? 

I’m a “both” kind of person.  I can handle inane lyrics in songs with a good dance beat, but I think highly of smart lyricists.  And I’m surprised at how many people just do not pay attention to what a song says.  I guess that’s part of the whole what-you-say-is-less-important-than-how-you-say-it thing.  I’ve never understood that.

For example, would it surprise you to know that the song “More Human that Human” by White Zombie references the film Blade Runner about 11ty billion times?

A more recent example is Foster the People’s “Pumped up Kicks” is about a troubled kid contemplating homicide?  (Side note 1:  the album it’s on, Torches, is great.)

The song “Sleeping Satellite” by Tasmin Archer is about … you guessed it, the moon.

The best song I’ve ever heard about the JFK assassination (okay, the ONLY song I’ve ever heard about it) is “Jackie Will Save Me” by Shiny Toy Guns.  (Side note 2:  the album it’s on, We Are Pilots, is great.)

My favorite extremely-dark-you’re-nothing-to-me song is “Slow Drag” by Fastball.  I tell myself it was cathartic for the writer, and he didn’t really kill someone.  (Side note 3: blah blah blah great album.)

On a happier note, the sexiest song I can think of is “Shake It Down” by Sam Phillips.  (Side note 4: … great album.)  It’s very minimalist.  Streamlined.  And all about the suggestive tone to the lyrics.  Love it!

So what song lyrics do you find meaningful?