Well today, we have another This Day in Music post. So let’s take a look at some things that have happened in the music world on October 9th!

In 1961- Ray Charles hit Number 1 on the US Singles Chart with Hit The Road Jack, starting a two week run!

In 1964- The Beach Boys recorded Dance Dance Dance. Glen Campbell plays the guitar intro.

1971- Aww, Maggie May by Rod Stewart was Number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

1973- Elvis and Priscilla Presley get divorced. Seems like she made out ok financially.

And whose birthday is it??

John Lennon, Born 1940

John Entwistle, The Who, Born 1944

Jackson Browne, Born 1948

That’s not all that happened, but there are some highlights for you!

For today’s blog challenge post, I am going to share with you the books that I am currently reading, whether for a review or just for personal enjoyment. So here we go!

Courageous by Dina Sleiman

Valiant Hearts: Where Adventure and Romance Meet

Inspired by the vision of the Young Lady Sapphira, Rosalind of Ipsworth joins a group of men, women, and children as a defender of the cross, seeking to free captives from prisons near Tripoli. She gladly gives herself to the cause, as she’s haunted by a tragic mistake and no longer deserves such joys as marriage and family might bring.

Sir Randel Penigree was reared to serve in the church, but dreams of protecting the innocent as a knight. Joining a crusade to escape humiliation at home, he finds himself drawn to Rosalind as they partner to train and protect a group of young adolescents. When they face political machinations, danger, and an unknown enemy bent on their destruction, they are forced to reconsider their priorities and the very nature of the God they serve.

A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon by Greg Prato

One of the most tragic stories of the 1990’s rock world was that of singer Shannon Hoon, and his band, Blind Melon. Despite scoring one of the decade’s most enduring singles and videos, “No Rain,”and a quadruple platinum hit with their 1992 self-titled debut album (in addition to touring alongside rock’s biggest names), Hoon could not overcome a dangerous drug addiction. Only two records into a promising career, Hoon was dead from an overdose at the age of 28. ‘A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other’ is the first book to tell the group’s story—culled from over 50 exclusive interviews (including the surviving band members and those closest to the band) and featuring many never-before-seen photos. “I am honored that Greg has painstakingly accounted for what the hell happened during those crazy times. He has summed up all the chaos, jubilation, and paranoia that is Blind Melon.” -Brad Smith, Blind Melon bassist

Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin

Austin Returns with a Multi-Generational Historical Novel

Geesje de Jonge crossed the ocean at age seventeen with her parents and a small group of immigrants from the Netherlands to settle in the Michigan wilderness. Fifty years later, in 1897, she’s asked to write a memoir of her early experiences as the town celebrates its anniversary. Reluctant at first, she soon uncovers memories and emotions hidden all these years, including the story of her one true love.

At the nearby Hotel Ottawa Resort on the shore of Lake Michigan, twenty-three-year-old Anna Nicholson is trying to ease the pain of a broken engagement to a wealthy Chicago banker. But her time of introspection is disturbed after a violent storm aboard a steamship stirs up memories of a childhood nightmare. As more memories and dreams surface, Anna begins to question who she is and whether she wants to return to her wealthy life in Chicago. When she befriends a young seminary student who is working at the hotel for the summer, she finds herself asking him all the questions that have been troubling her.

Neither Geesje nor Anna, who are different in every possible way, can foresee the life-altering surprises awaiting them before the summer ends.

Maze Runner by James Dashner

Today, I am just going to share with you some of the things in the world of music that happened on October 7th.

Not an exhaustive list. Just a few things. So let’s see-

1967- Cass Elliot of The Mamas and The Papas got to spend a night in jail in London. She was accused of stealing from a hotel.

1976- John Lennon was awarded his Green Card.

1989- Paula Abdul hit No. 1 with Forever Your Girl.

And Happy Birthday to:

John “Cougar” Mellencamp, born in 1951

Tico Torres, drummer from Bon Jovi, born in 1953

Well, my hidden talent… it might not be THAT hidden, but it really hasn’t been that useful to me in recent years.

I can tap dance. Yes, sir I can.

I started tap and ballet when I was 3. Here are a couple of old school pics:

I actually got some new tap shoes recently, because I have a project I am going to work on that will utilize this “hidden talent.” Hopefully I will get going on it soon. Here is a picture of one of my first tap shoes, next to my new ones:

Blog Challenge Day 5 is all about my favorite childhood books.

The first one I can remember is Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? by Shel Silverstein. And guess what? I still have this book. I liked it so much that I scribbled in it. Maybe I thought I was adding to the story.

And then a favorite of many children my age- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Poor Alexander. Rough day.

As I grew older, I got into the Baby-sitters Club Series. And Sweet Valley High as well.

And then in my time working in a preschool, my favorite books to read with the kids were the Pete the Cat books. Here is my favorite:

Blog Challenge! Today’s post are songs that make me happy. Just personal opinions of course, but these are the ones that I turn up instantly when I hear them. Some of them might seem like strange choices, but oh well. It’s my list, not yours! And yes, I did listen to each of these all the way through when I was writing this post.

Guns N’ Roses- Sweet Child O’ Mine

ABBA- Take a Chance On Me

Motley Crue- Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

The Darkness- I believe In A Thing Called Love

Simon and Garfunkel- Cecilia

The Beatles- In My Life

Civil Wars- Forget Me Not

Mika- Grace Kelly

Michael Franti- Say Hey ( I Love You)

Queen- You’re My Best Friend

Journey- Don’t Stop Believin’

Did you actually check them all out?? Huh? Did ya?

So, here are some things that really annoy me. Of course, now that you all know, I run the risk that you will do one of these just to annoy me. Just hope that I don’t know something that annoys you!

NUMBER ONE

People that say they “seen” something, when they actually “saw” it. GRRR!

NUMBER TWO

People that spell my name wrong, when replying to an email that clearly has my name spelled correctly. Do you think that perhaps I made a mistake in spelling my own name?

NUMBER THREE

Walking without a purpose. You know, like, when you are in the grocery store and people just stop walking in the middle of an aisle, or just walk really slowly, as if they have no clue why thy are there. And block the aisle so people like you, who recall the reason they came to the store, can’t get through. Move, just move.

NUMBER FOUR

I hate the sound of other people clipping their nails. I know it is a necessary thing, and it doesn’t annoy me to hear myself doing it. I don’t know why, but it irks me. Especially when you are in a quiet classroom.

AND NUMBER FIVE

The phrase, “I know, right?” I have no logical explanation, but I can’t stand it. Do you know? If you know, why do you need someone else to agree with you?

Alright, folks! Day 2 of the blog challenge and I am going to share with you my Top 5 Favorite Movies! Obviously, this is just personal opinion. And when I think of favorite movies, I usually thinking of ones that I grew up with and could watch over and over again. So, in no particular order….

LABYRINTH

“You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind me of the babe!”

Oh, how I love this movie. And I just wanted to wear that dress that Sarah wears in the masquerade ball scene. Here is that scene and song:

NEWSIES

“Carryin’ the banner!” I think that when I was in 6th grade, I watched this movie every single day when I got home from school. And if you ever watch it with me, I will be annoyingly singing along and quoting lines. Sorry. I mean, come on, young Christian Bale trying to do a New York accent, plus several of the dancers are from a show I used to love on Nickelodeon called Roundhouse. And Michael Goorjian, who I still have a crush on.  I also danced to Seize The Day in one of my dance recitals:

ALMOST FAMOUS

Of course.  You know, now I am a music journalist. I liked this movie before that, but recently I watched it with my boyfriend and he said, “That’s you. That’s why you like this so much, isn’t it? Because that’s you.” There are so many great quotes in this one, but of course my favorite scene is the Tiny Dancer scene. You’re welcome.

STAND BY ME
Oh such a young pup I was. Wil Wheaton, Jerry O’Connell, Corey Feldman and River Phoenix. And Kiefer Sutherland of course. I don’t know if I even knew what this was really about when I first watched it. ” I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve.” This is pretty true. I eventually stopped being close to my best friend when I was twelve, but we did everything together. We were completely uncool and we didn’t care, because…. we didn’t.

AMADEUS

Last but not least, this was probably my first favorite movie. And I was three years old when it came out. What three or four year old can even sit through Amadeus? It’s not a short movie. But I loved it. What can I say, I was a weird kid. I used to conduct in front of the bathroom mirror and run around yelling for “Wolfy!” Mozart is still my fave. Don’t hate.

Well, last month I did a Photo-A-Day Challenge on my Instagram/Facebook. This month I am going to try to post at least one blog post a day for the entire month!

So for Day 1, the topic is my goals for October. Hmm…. Let’s see.

1. First off, I want to complete this challenge of posting once a day for the month!
2. I would like to participate in more craft shows, so if I don’t DO one in the month of October, I would like to at least have one scheduled for the future.
3. I have other side businesses that I do. I would like to grow those and get them up and going.
4. I have an idea for a nonprofit that I would like to start. I would like to be in the beginning stages of that.
5. I have some personal organizational things that I would like to get under control.

Well, that’s probably not it, but that’s enough. Hopefully I will remember to check back in at the end of the month to see how I did!

#blogchallenge