Thank U

On a slightly less serious note, but still just as profound as my previous blog, here are some more college "Thank U"'s:

Neti Pot

Thank U, Matt, for talking to me about gross neti pot and other sinus cleaning things.  And for being my first kiss.  Yep, I publicly admitted it.

Thank U, Spencer, for reminding me how fun (and insanely weird and confusing) it is to be young.

Thank U, LeAnn, for being my big sister.

LeAnn Rimes

Thank U, Rachel, for being my gluten-free rock.

Thank U, Kelly, for brightening my Noodle-filled dinners.

Thank U, Kelsey, for encouraging me to ride the shuttle...YOUR shuttle.  Also, for the many blonde moments you give my life.

THE Judy McLane & The Brandon Suisse
at the stage door of Mamma Mia!

Thank U, Brandon, for being my own personal theatre encyclopedia.

Thank U, Judy, for bringing me theatre that makes me feel.

Thank U, Rachael, for being somebody I know on the radio and for sometimes telling me the news when I wake up.

"You Lost!"
I see this a lot with him...

Thank U, Jesse, for always playing every "With Friends" game with me...even though you always win.  I hope I at least give you a good challenge every now and then!

Thank U, Dylan, for incessantly torturing me with your charming good looks and personality.  You nerd!

Imogen Heap

Thank U, Imogen, for numbing the pain, lessening the anxiety, and inspiring awe.

Thank U, Max, for being a crazy funny bisexual hipster...whatever that is...

Thank U, Brendan, for being okay with me accidentally stalking you in the Union for a couple of weeks before I even knew you.

Thank U, Melissa, for marrying a straight man.  ;-)  Oh, and for every single thing you taught me.

Thank U, Davey Wavey and Haley Star, for adding some much-needed humor (and abdominal muscles) to my life.

Thank U, Sam, for singing.  Please don't stop. I heart you.

"Angel" by Vinyl Tapestries (aka, Sam)

Thank U, Medium, FlashForward, Glee, Desperate Housewives, Fringe, The Amazing Race, The Middle, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, The Office, The Sing Off, New Girl, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Happy Endings and Seinfeld, for making my life seem so boring, yet so much LESS dramatic than I tend to think it is.

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Thank U, Tron: Legacy, Sucker Punch, Midnight in Paris, The Help, Inception, Shutter Island, Slumdog Millionaire, Killers, and Zombieland, for the escape and stimulation.

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Thank U, sexuality.
Thank U, rapture.
Thank U, music.
Thank U, UTemps.
Thank U, PTC.
Thank U, "ah-ha!" moments.
Thank U, mono.
Thank U, Westminster, CO.
Thank U, Apple.
Thank U, iPhone.
Thank U, Cymbalta.
Thank U, Disneyland.
Thank U, Proposition 8.
Thank U, Packer.
Thank U, Cupid.
Thank U, pride.
Thank U, gluten.

Thank U.

Simple Pleasures

Stepping on gooey tar on a hot summer day.

Newly painted street lines (especially on a newly surfaced street).

Freezing cold tap water in the dead of winter.

Slipping into a bed with fresh, clean linen just after a shower.

Staring at your favorite piece of art when no one understands why you love it so much.

Staying up too late reading a textbook that's just too good to put down.

Daiquiri Ice.

Pants that fit.

Blogging.

Orange chocolate.

Mint chocolate.

Raspberry chocolate.

Chips and salsa.

The complete and utter silence during a heavy winter snowstorm.

Listening to the same amazing song over and over and over again.

Staying up way too late watching TV on my MacBook in bed.

Lunch at University Hospital.

Computers that work.

Friday nights.

Secondhand smoke-induced Europe flashbacks. 

Juicy nose-clearing sneezes.

Laughgasms - aka, Laughing Attacks.

She Spies and D.D. Cummings.

ThinkGeek.

Gay cinema.

Cuddling with my boyfriend.

Marilyn Monroe.

World.

"Time Is All Around" by Regina Spektor

This is one of my favorite Regina Spektor songs.  The remarkable visuals in the chorus are by far my favorite part.  Lyrics provided below.

"Time Is All Around" - Regina Spektor

You step on all my parts
And then you walk right out the door
And I know that your love ain't never
Coming back no more

Time is all around
Except inside my clock
Everybody's waiting for their lover to unlock

Leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die
When they're about to fall from trees
When they're about to dry up

Time is all around
Time is all around

I hallucinate a cat between my feet
I'm stepping lightly so as not to hurt it
Everybody wants
To say that you have changed
Of course you've changed, you've changed, you've changed
Your mind's been rearrange

But leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die
When they're about to fall from trees
When they're about to dry up

Leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die
When they're about to fall from trees
When they're about to dry up

Why am I supposed to love if I don't want to love?
Why am I supposed to, I'm so tired
Why am I supposed to love if I don't want to?
I don't want
I don't want to
I don't want

Leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die
When they're about to fall from trees
When they're about to dry up

Leaves become most beautiful when they're about to die
When they're about to fall from trees
When they're about to dry up

"This Time" by Céline Dion

Are you or is someone you know being abused?

Are you or is someone you know abusing others?

Remember, abusers are not just men and the abused are not just women.

This ends now.  If you need emergency help, call 911.  If you need other assistance or advice, call The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or 1.800.787.3224 (TTY).  Anonymous & Confidential Help 24/7

www.thehotline.org

---

"This Time" by Céline Dion had an effect on me the moment I first heard it.  I hope it does the same for you.

Here, Céline talks about her feelings toward this emotional song during her recording sessions.  Below is the full song followed by the lyrics.

---

"This Time" - Céline Dion

One more hour burns
So scared of his return
That I can't sleep tonight
In this hospital light

What you call a tragedy
Is just another day to me
For my heart beats with fear
As his footsteps draw near

The life I meant to lead
Won't slip away from me

'Cuz this time's the last time
I know that my eyes have seen too much
This nightmare is not fair
And I've had enough
(And I've had enough)

You break me, and as I bleed
You just say you're sorry
You call this love?
But this time your lies
Are not enough
This time...

There's nothing left of this
Your wispered words and empty threats
Rip away the seams of what I thought this would be
The last thread has come undone
To reveal what I've become
Another victim of a poison love

I've been afraid for years
But that won't keep me here

'Cuz this time's the last time
I know that my eyes have seen too much
This nightmare is not fair
And I've had enough
(And I've had enough)

You break me
To just say you're sorry
You call this love?
But this time your lies
Are not enough
This time...

And what remains a mystery
You cannot have the best of me
So I'm taking back
All you took from me

'Cuz this time's the last time
I know that my eyes have seen too much
This nightmare is not fair
And I've had enough
(And I've had enough)

You break me
To just say you're sorry
You call this love?
But this time your lies
Are not enough
This time...

---

• Emergency: Call 911

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or 1.800.787.3224 (TTY) for Anonymous & Confidential Help 24/7.

www.thehotline.org

"Three Cheers for Five Years [Acoustic]" by Mayday Parade

I call this my first punk song...even thought it's the acoustic version of a punk song making it not really punk...and even though Mayday Parade's punkness is sometimes debatable.  Anyway, that said, "Three Cheers for Five Years" is on Punk Goes Acoustic 2, and, not being a punk fan before this, I consider it punk.  :-)

I think this song is simply breathtaking with its incredible harmonies.  I hope you've got some spare time on your hands because it's rather lengthy, but it's worth it.  If you're interested in listening to the original version, here is a LINK.  In the meantime, here is the acoustic version with lyrics provided below.

"Three Cheers for Five Years" - Mayday Parade

I swear that you don't have to go, I thought we could wait for the fireworks
I thought we could wait for the snow
To wash over Georgia and kill the hurt
I thought I could live in your arms and spend every moment I had with you
Stay up all night with the stars
Confess all the faith that I had in you (I had in you)

Too late, I'm sure, and lonely 

'Cause it's another night, another dream wasted on you
So just be here now, against me
You know the words, so sing along for me baby

For Heaven's sake, I know you're sorry, but you wont stop crying
This anniversary may never be the same
Inside I hope you know I'm dying, with my heart beside me, 

In shattered pieces that, may never be replaced
And if I died right now, you'd never be the same

I thought with a month of apart
Together would find us an opening 

Moonlight would provide the spark
And that I would stumble across your key
Or break down the door to your heart
Forever could see us, not you and me
And you'd help me out of the dark
And I give my heart as an offering (as an offering)

Too late, I'm sure, and lonely
It's just another night, another dream wasted on you
So just be here now, against me
You know the words, so sing along for me baby

For Heaven's sake, I know you're sorry, but you wont stop crying
This anniversary may never be the same
Inside I hope you know I'm dying, with my heart beside me, 

In shattered pieces that, may never be replaced
And if I died right now, you'd never be the same...

And I... Will always... Remember you as you are right now to me
And I... Will always... Remember you now, remember you now...
Oh...

So sleep alone tonight
With no one here just by your side
Sleep alone tonight

And how does he feel? And how does he kiss?
And how does he taste while he's on your lips?

How does he feel?  How does he kiss?

(And sleep alone tonight

With no one here just by your side
Sleep alone tonight)

And I can't forget you
I know that you want me to want you, I want to
But I can't forget you

So when this is over, don't blow your composure, baby
I can't forget you

(And sleep alone tonight

With no one here just by your side
Sleep alone tonight)

(And sleep alone tonight

With no one here just by your side
Sleep alone tonight) 
I know you want me to want you, I want to
But I can't forget you
So when this is over don't blow your composure, baby
I can't forget you
I know you want me to want you, I want to.

What do you do?

What do you do when the ones who love you don't love you any more?
What do you do when you don't feel safe in your own "home"?
What do you do when hypocrisy is the head of your household?
What do you do when fear and dread won't let you sleep?
What do you do when you hear hatred bang on your bedroom door?
What do you do when you bruise easily?
What do you do when you're freezing?
What do you do when you're already hurting?
What do you do when you can't leave?
What do you do when your pillow can't absorb any more tears?

What do you do when you want to do nothing at all?
What do you do when hate everything you're doing?
What do you do when you don't even want to listen to your favorite music?
What do you do when your legs bounce like Thumper's do?
What do you do when your homework reads like a foreign language?
What do you do when you're numb?
What do you do when you're bouncing off the walls?
What do you do when you want to bury yourself in a hole?
What do you do when you want to fall asleep and not wake up until it's better?
What do you do when it feels like your world is falling apart, only the world hasn't even noticed a crack?

I don't know what to do.

"Dance Anthem of the 80s" - Regina Spektor

This is my favorite music video ever! Regina is the best!  This is also, by far, the best song about prostitution.

"Dance Anthem of the 80s" - Regina Spektor

You-ou-ou-ou-ou a-a-a-a-a-are
So-o-o-o-o sw-ee-ee-ee-ee-eet
Da-a-a-a-an-ci-i-i-ing to that
Be-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-eat

There's a meat market down the street
The boys and the girls watch each other eat

You are so sweet, so sweet
Dancing and moving to that beat, that beat

There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
The boys and the girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other

Sleeeeeleeeleeeeep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Sleeeeeleeeleeeeep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep

You are so sweet.
(Once more)
You are so sweet
(Solo)

[Regina's Piano Solo]

I went walking through this city
Like a drunk, but not
With my slip showing a little
Like a drunk, but not
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop
And I am one of your people
But the cars don't stop

It's been a long time since before I've been touched
Now I'm getting touched all the time
And it's only a matter of whom
And it's only a matter of when

An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other sleep
An addiction to hands and feet
There's a meat market down the street
The boys and girls watch each other eat
When they really just wanna watch each other

Sleeeeeleeeleeeeep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Sleeeeeleeeleeeeep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep
They want to watch, to watch each other
Sleep, sleep, sleep