The Masque Kiss
The closer I get to 30, the more vain I get about my skin. In my reckless youth, I slept with my makeup on, rarely moisturized and committed the worst sin of all by never wearing sunscreen. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Now that I am older and wiser, I am attempting to reverse the aging process by religiously exfoliating, cleansing, toning and moisturizing. I also do a lot of face masques. You know the kind; they're usually a visual gag on TV.
Anyway, I try to do at least one per day. If Tyler happens to see me in one of these masques, usually in the morning, he will be momentarily taken aback, but then he will kiss me. It's the sweetest little kiss, with his lips pursed tightly so he doesn't get any gross goop on his face. I appreciate it every time. It shows me that he still finds me attractive even though I have a green or blue or white face. (This type of kiss will also occur if I happen to have a glob of acne medication on, which is more appreciated.) It's good to know that he thinks I'm beautiful no matter what.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Monday, July 18, 2016
30 Day Song Challenge REDUX -- Day 30
Day 30 -- A Song That Describes You
"Miss Independent" -- Kelly Clarkson, Thankful (2003)
Kelly Clarkson's second ever single describes a woman who doesn't believe in love and wants to live her life independently, free of inevitable heartbreak. But she falls in love despite her misgivings and it changes her for the better.
"Miss Independent". A song that describes me.
Before I met Tyler, I intended to live my life alone with a guarded heart and ever present apprehension towards anyone who may have wanted to "court" me. (Please refer to the line "if you want to use that line, you better not start".) I was content to be single the rest of my life, because it was less stressful and less disappointing than trying to find someone who maybe didn't even exist.
Kelly Clarkson's second ever single describes a woman who doesn't believe in love and wants to live her life independently, free of inevitable heartbreak. But she falls in love despite her misgivings and it changes her for the better.
"Miss Independent". A song that describes me.
Before I met Tyler, I intended to live my life alone with a guarded heart and ever present apprehension towards anyone who may have wanted to "court" me. (Please refer to the line "if you want to use that line, you better not start".) I was content to be single the rest of my life, because it was less stressful and less disappointing than trying to find someone who maybe didn't even exist.
I wasn't exactly looking for love when I met Tyler. I was just happy to have a new, more respectable and higher paying job. It was a wonderfully pleasant surprise--the pleasant surprise of a lifetime--when he and I happened to connect. Despite personal uncertainties and the work stuff, there was something about Tyler which compelled me to go forward with him. Obviously, that "something" was that he was The One. (Please refer to the lines "so, by changing her misconceptions/She went in a new direction/And found inside she felt a connection/She fell in love".)
Really, you should just refer to all the lyrics, but to make things short, here's the chorus:
What is the feelin' takin' over?
Thinkin' no one could open my door
Surprise, It's time
To feel what's real
Thinkin' no one could open my door
Surprise, It's time
To feel what's real
What happened to Miss Independent?
No more the need to be defensive
Goodbye, old you
When love is true
No more the need to be defensive
Goodbye, old you
When love is true
"Miss Independent". A song that describes me to a T.
Saturday, July 16, 2016
30 Day Song Challege REDUX -- Day 29
Day 29 -- Your Favorite Song By Your Favorite Artist
Before one can pick what his or her favorite song by their favorite artist is, one needs to pick his or her favorite artist. It's a difficult feat, especially when one is not exactly sure who one's favorite artist even is. My go-to answer for "favorite artist" from age 13 to 27 was The Carpenters, a brother-sister duo famous for their early 70s soft rock and Karen Carpenter's velvety, melancholic voice. I connected with their music during my awkward adolescent years. But it wasn't just the music. After watching and rewatching the 1989 made-for-TV movie The Karen Carpenter Story and reading her biographies, I connected with the woman despite her dying five years before I was born. Something about her longing for a romantic life that she never had and self-destructing in the process spoke to me.
But much like how Megan Fox removed her tattoo of Marilyn Monroe, citing she didn't want to "attract negative energy" by having a tragic, mentally ill figure on her body, I have decided that the Carpenters can no longer be my favorite artist for similar reasons. Oh, I still like their music. It is like nothing else out there. And if one of their songs comes on the radio (a rarity), do I sing along? Yes, but not without mentally checking myself. The emotional connection, the negative emotional connection, I had to the that music is now severed. Once Tyler came into my life, he made me see...well, a lot of things, but among them is how I surrounded myself with negative objects, ideas, etc. Now that am I no longer mired in the bullshit, I can stand back and see how much it stinks.
So who is my favorite artist? I guess I'll fall back on The Beatles who I have liked since birth thanks to my dad. I don't really need to go into why I like The Beatles, right? I mean, come on! But as for a song...man, there are so many...[quickly checks iTunes]
"She's Leaving Home" -- The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
This is a bizarre choice, really. I typically like the Beatles' earlier, poppier stuff more. (Think "I Wanna Hold Your Hand".) "She's Leaving Home" is from their later more psychedelic era. And if John Lennon and Paul McCartney didn't have such recognizable voices, you might not even guess it's The Beatles. "She's Leaving Home" is the finest example of baroque pop, a late 60s trend which utilizes classical music stylings, harps and the like. Lush and romantic, this song tells the story of a young girl who leaves her well-providing but unloving parents' home for a life with her man. It was inspired by several news stories about otherwise normal, happy, respectable girls running away with the spirit of the 60s. An underrated Beatles song from their highest rated album and my favorite thanks to its sonic uniqueness and beauty.
Before one can pick what his or her favorite song by their favorite artist is, one needs to pick his or her favorite artist. It's a difficult feat, especially when one is not exactly sure who one's favorite artist even is. My go-to answer for "favorite artist" from age 13 to 27 was The Carpenters, a brother-sister duo famous for their early 70s soft rock and Karen Carpenter's velvety, melancholic voice. I connected with their music during my awkward adolescent years. But it wasn't just the music. After watching and rewatching the 1989 made-for-TV movie The Karen Carpenter Story and reading her biographies, I connected with the woman despite her dying five years before I was born. Something about her longing for a romantic life that she never had and self-destructing in the process spoke to me.
But much like how Megan Fox removed her tattoo of Marilyn Monroe, citing she didn't want to "attract negative energy" by having a tragic, mentally ill figure on her body, I have decided that the Carpenters can no longer be my favorite artist for similar reasons. Oh, I still like their music. It is like nothing else out there. And if one of their songs comes on the radio (a rarity), do I sing along? Yes, but not without mentally checking myself. The emotional connection, the negative emotional connection, I had to the that music is now severed. Once Tyler came into my life, he made me see...well, a lot of things, but among them is how I surrounded myself with negative objects, ideas, etc. Now that am I no longer mired in the bullshit, I can stand back and see how much it stinks.
So who is my favorite artist? I guess I'll fall back on The Beatles who I have liked since birth thanks to my dad. I don't really need to go into why I like The Beatles, right? I mean, come on! But as for a song...man, there are so many...[quickly checks iTunes]
"She's Leaving Home" -- The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
This is a bizarre choice, really. I typically like the Beatles' earlier, poppier stuff more. (Think "I Wanna Hold Your Hand".) "She's Leaving Home" is from their later more psychedelic era. And if John Lennon and Paul McCartney didn't have such recognizable voices, you might not even guess it's The Beatles. "She's Leaving Home" is the finest example of baroque pop, a late 60s trend which utilizes classical music stylings, harps and the like. Lush and romantic, this song tells the story of a young girl who leaves her well-providing but unloving parents' home for a life with her man. It was inspired by several news stories about otherwise normal, happy, respectable girls running away with the spirit of the 60s. An underrated Beatles song from their highest rated album and my favorite thanks to its sonic uniqueness and beauty.
Saturday, July 9, 2016
30 Day Song Challenge REDUX -- Day 28
Day 28 -- Your Favorite Song This Time Last Year
"Do You Wanna Touch Me" -- Joan Jett, Bad Reputation (1980)
To be perfectly honest, I don't remember what my "favorite song" (really meaning my "most listened to song at the moment") was last year. Frankly, I had better things to do, like developing my relationship with Tyler, than track what I was listening to. However, I'm pretty sure this was around the time I was choreographing/building up the nerve to do a striptease for Tyler, because, you know, I thought he might enjoy watching me dance around provocatively in the buff. The song I chose was the naughty-but-not-too-naughty rock n' roll classic "Do You Wanna Touch Me".
You can guess the lyrical content by the title, can't you? The lyrics are risqué and along with the raunchy guitars, it's perfect for taking your clothes off and dancing for your man. So I listened to "Do You Wanna Touch Me" at least 20 times in preparation. It turns out, yes, Tyler did enjoy watching me dance around provocatively in the buff and I enjoyed him watching me. So much so that I did another dance. And another has been in the works for a few months now... It's coming! I promise!
;-)
"Do You Wanna Touch Me" -- Joan Jett, Bad Reputation (1980)
To be perfectly honest, I don't remember what my "favorite song" (really meaning my "most listened to song at the moment") was last year. Frankly, I had better things to do, like developing my relationship with Tyler, than track what I was listening to. However, I'm pretty sure this was around the time I was choreographing/building up the nerve to do a striptease for Tyler, because, you know, I thought he might enjoy watching me dance around provocatively in the buff. The song I chose was the naughty-but-not-too-naughty rock n' roll classic "Do You Wanna Touch Me".
You can guess the lyrical content by the title, can't you? The lyrics are risqué and along with the raunchy guitars, it's perfect for taking your clothes off and dancing for your man. So I listened to "Do You Wanna Touch Me" at least 20 times in preparation. It turns out, yes, Tyler did enjoy watching me dance around provocatively in the buff and I enjoyed him watching me. So much so that I did another dance. And another has been in the works for a few months now... It's coming! I promise!
;-)
Friday, July 1, 2016
30 Day Song Challenge REDUX -- Day 27
Day 27 -- A Song You Discovered After Everyone Else
"It's Gonna Be Me" -- NSYNC, No Strings Attached (2000)
I used to be quite contrary towards popular music. "If it's not at least twenty-five years old, it's not worth my time" was my mantra. As a child, I felt superior because I listened to music the great folks at VH1 deemed "the best" (aka The Beatles), while my peers listened to disposable pop that had no lasting legacy (aka boy bands).
I guess I was a proto-hipster. Oh, the shame!
By the time all the boy bands had broken up and ventured into solo work, I decided that it was safe enough to give that era of pop a deeper listen. Also, no one could accuse me of being mainstream by then. And lo and behold, that is some really catchy music! One of my favorites of this era is NSYNC's only number one hit "It's Gonna Be Me".
The song is about a guy trying to convince a jaded girl that when she is ready to love again, he is going to be the one for her. This sounds like a nice enough premise, but Justin Timberlake's performance is so insistent and smug that it's off-putting. He's a little too Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, if you know what I mean. But no one ever listened to this music for the lyrics. It was all about production and vocal harmony (and meticulous choreography, pleather pants, and frosted tips in the music videos). More often than not, it's the melody that draws me to a song. That is the case with "It's Gonna Be Me".
It's ironic. I avoided boy bands because I didn't want to be like everyone else and now I lament the fact that I can't fully participate in 90s nostalgia with everyone else. Oh well. C'est la vie.
"It's Gonna Be Me" -- NSYNC, No Strings Attached (2000)
I used to be quite contrary towards popular music. "If it's not at least twenty-five years old, it's not worth my time" was my mantra. As a child, I felt superior because I listened to music the great folks at VH1 deemed "the best" (aka The Beatles), while my peers listened to disposable pop that had no lasting legacy (aka boy bands).
I guess I was a proto-hipster. Oh, the shame!
By the time all the boy bands had broken up and ventured into solo work, I decided that it was safe enough to give that era of pop a deeper listen. Also, no one could accuse me of being mainstream by then. And lo and behold, that is some really catchy music! One of my favorites of this era is NSYNC's only number one hit "It's Gonna Be Me".
The song is about a guy trying to convince a jaded girl that when she is ready to love again, he is going to be the one for her. This sounds like a nice enough premise, but Justin Timberlake's performance is so insistent and smug that it's off-putting. He's a little too Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, if you know what I mean. But no one ever listened to this music for the lyrics. It was all about production and vocal harmony (and meticulous choreography, pleather pants, and frosted tips in the music videos). More often than not, it's the melody that draws me to a song. That is the case with "It's Gonna Be Me".
It's ironic. I avoided boy bands because I didn't want to be like everyone else and now I lament the fact that I can't fully participate in 90s nostalgia with everyone else. Oh well. C'est la vie.
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