Tradition!

Carrie and I have this thing that we do now where we make a crazy trek through hell and high-water to see Beyonce. We've done it twice now and though it's crazy, it is also awesome.

Ivy Park Subway Selfie

20,000 feet in the air

All hail Queen Bey!

Motivation

Some teachers from my school got together and did a remake of Beyonce's Formation video and it is EVERYTHING!  The idea was to motivate the kids to work hard and do well on their EOGs (End of Grade tests).

I'm feeling pretty motivated by this, how 'bout you?

Too Old for This Sh*t?

College theatre buddy, Joe Pug, played at Cat's Cradle last night in Carrboro. We usually try to go and see him when he's in town (we saw him twice in Oregon!), even if it is a Wednesday night.  However, being a near 34 year old working woman, I've decided that shows on a school night, especially a rainy one, are a "no go" from here on out. 

Unless, it's Beyonce.

Or unless I forget that I said this, buy tickets to a show and then remember after the fact that we are in fact too old for this.

Horsefeathers guy playing a violin and a saw!

Joe Pug doing his thing

OK, Beyonce, just stop it right now because I just can't even...

I'm I've watched Lemonade 5 times now and I just...

I mean, I...

I...

I love it. I love it all so much. 

I'm speechless.

So there.

Here's a few of my favorite parts

Boom!

Hiding in the Tall Grass

Busting up Errythang in her Yellow Dress

In the Tub

Girl Power

Not Sorry with Serena Williams

Pigtails for Days and Dancing on a Bus

"I'm Just Too Much For You"

Redemption

Heart Eyes Emoji

Ah, Bey...

I'm Coming For You, Bey

The Charlotte Observer headline read "Beyonce turns storm-interrupted show into something beautiful".
I'm sure she did, Charlotte Observer, I'm sure she did. #lemonade #slay

If you don't know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Beyonce, then you don't truly know me. It was all I could do to not say "F-it" to our newly established budget and purchase a last minute ticket to the show in Raleigh last night. Instead, I will have to wait until June 7th, when I got to New York and see her with my trinity sisters, which will be well worth the wait. Carrie, Bekah, and I will be in Formation for damn sure,

Good Things Do Happen in April

Picking up trash on the American Tobacco Trail with the Girls on the Run Team last week

Fish Fry Friday at school with REAL soul food

Stand Up Paddle Boarding with my man

New Beyonce

A Loyal Pittbull Turns 8

RIP One of the Greats

Another great artist passed today. Sadly, our world is a little less soulful than it was this morning. I really loved Prince. He was funky and badass. A legend.

Just like Bowie, he had a lot of different iterations. This is my favorite Prince (above) relaxed and au natural.
Which is your favorite Prince?

A Reel Musical Treat

Jason and I cover Mason Jennings' Memphis Tennessee on ukulele

Ukulele Goddess

Jason and I are learning to play the ukulele. I find it much easier than playing the guitar, which I briefly started playing when I was 9 and then again at age 20. Both times resulted in my quitting because my fingers were too small. The ukulele is way more manageable. Additionally, it is cute and slightly hip, which supplies the "cool factor".

Learning how to do something new with a loved one is very gratifying. We play. We sing. We drink beer.  It's a great indoor activity for the rainy, Oregon winer ahead.

Beyonce and Jay Z On the Run Tour

Live, it was what Carrie and I referred to as "the Beyonce-pocolypse". A confoctation of a cluster-f*ck involving thousands of people, planes, trains, cabs, 40$ tank tops, and several near death experiences.  As a tiny ant packed into the top level of a 60,000 seat stadium, and all I got to see was this:

What? I don't know. Exactly.

So, you can understand why I would be more than excited that the full concert is airing on HBO tomorrow night. Seriously, ya'll. I can not wait to see:

This!

This too

And this

And definitely this!

Next time, save your money on concert tickets and use it to pay for your HBO subscription with DVR. Lesson learned.

She. She is Mariah.

There are few musical artists whom I can say that I would buy their new album without hesitation. No listen, no research, just a blind buy. There's maybe 10-20 bands/musical artists for which this is the case. Mariah Carey is not one of them.

I have loved Mariah Carey since I first heard "Vision of Love" in my living room while cleaning with my mom in 1990. Even at the age of 8, I knew soul when I heard it. Since bursting into the scene in 1990, Mariah produced several amazing albums. Thirteen albums, I belive, with unforgettable, chart-topping classics such as "Fantasy", Dreamlover", "Honey", and "All I Want for Christmas is You". 

But somewhere around the end of the millinium, it seemed as though Mariah lost her way. Her voice reduced to a raspy whisper, her ego palpable in her songs, and her soul seemingly traded in for shallowness.  Around this time, I also was learning about indie rock. Listening to bands like Built to Spill and Modest Mouse, I left Mariah in the dust claiming she had "sold out". Maybe she did. Maybe she was dealing with the hardship of becoming an aging diva. It must be tough when your main pop diva rival is Beyoncé. I might get a little desperate myself, if I had to compete with that.

What I am here to tell you today is that she's back. This week she released her 13th album Me. I am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse. Don't ask me what an "elusive chanteuse" is, because I don't know. But what I do know is that this album is bumpin'. She's got guest appearances from Nas, Mary j. Blige,  Miguel, Wale, and what would any Mariah album be with a guest spot from Jermain Dupree.  She's 15/15 good songs! That's pretty amazing. These songs take me back to her soul from the 90s, while still managing to have a modern and R&B forward flavor. 

This new album is a must listen for all, especially if you're a recovering jaded Mariah fan. She will most likely croon her way back into your heart, maybe even onto your list of "artists whose albums I would buy with out hesitation". 

Shhhh...Don't Tell

Apparently, the boy band is back.  And, don't tell a soul, but I am loving this little ditty.



It's horribly great and reminds me of being 8 and in love with the original boy band below:

The Radio?!

So, since moving to Durham and now residing 5 minutes from school, I no longer have the Privilege of the Commute.  The Privilege of the Commute is this: 20 minutes of uninterrupted me time with the jams, coffee, podcasts, or just silence if you so desire.  Now, I've started listening to the radio. 

I know, GASP! 

And, I've got news for you, the radio is every bit as annoying as I remember it to be.  Laugh-rambling douchey DJs, horrible music, and ads ads ads.  Every now and then you'll find a little gem of a song right as you pull into work.  You'll sit in the car and close your eyes, and for a moment, you won't be in the parking lot of an elementary school.  No, you'll be somewhere else entirely.  Somewhere totally awesome.
Today it was Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride. 

Indeed, Steppenwolf, indeed.

Shoulda been a song writer

I'm a naturally born song writer, people!


My talents lie within a very specific genre: spontaneous jingle commentary.  Meaning, I write songs on the spot about what is happening right now.

Currently on my hit list:

1)  Everybody, Everybody
2) Ima do my jobby job
3) Put it up
4) Time to go

But let's not forget the old classics:

1) I am talkin' to all of ya'll
2) I don't wanna go
3) Vegan chocolate chip cookies
4) Shut the f**k up!

I can smell my next Grammy...which will actually be my first Grammy.

I want my MTV!

Remember how awesome MTV used to be? I remember getting home after school and pumping The Grind while eating saltine crackers.



Or staying up late at sleepovers to watch The Real World (the awesome ones) and planning how you were going to live in gorgeous loft apartments with all of your friends.


Or watching Beavis and Butthead when your parents weren't looking.



Or learning the ropes of 90's hip hop from Yo! MTV Raps.


Or laughing your knickers off at the inappropriate sketches of The State.


Or how about just watching music videos? I mean, wasn't that the point of MTV?


So, here's my question: Has MTV fallen drastically in its programming quality since the 90s or did I just grow up? Will the adolescents of today look back with fond nostalgia at Teen Mom and Jersey Shore?

Probably.

Top 5 Worst Christmas Songs Ever

Awkward...
Boooorrrring....
Annoying...

Seriously...