I'm not in Nacogdoches anymore... I'd have you guess where I am, but anyone that is friends with me on Facebook knows I'm in Canada :)

And in other news, I realized I have an eidetic memory. The end. Enjoy your spring break!

Okay so that new years resolution junk? I've failed. Ha! Specifically, I've already failed with the "I will roll with the punches" one or whatever I said. Well.... I failed. This week SERIOUSLY tried my patience and all that goes with it. It ended up making me quite disgruntled with the program and the week. By the end, thankful I had reached the laughing point. It all started this week with my washer stopping with a full basin of water and my sheets in that water. From there, it just kind of went down. BUT I had an amazing week as far as bonding with friends. I'm back on track, but I felt like I needed to own up to my fail.

And now, enjoy one of the things that made me start laughing quite a bit.

I introduce you to: Auto-Tune the News.

This year, you get 3 favorite pictures. A favorite picture of me, a picture of a favorite moment, and my favorite family picture.




But the surprise is the playlist above. It is filled with 35 of my favorite songs of 2009. Take a listen. This playlist has run pretty consistently since January 21st. Let me see if I can give you a bit of an explaination as to why I like some of these songs. Play it straight through, put it on mix, whatever you choose to do, kick back and have a listen.

1. Popular: At Mardi Gras one year I got a copy of this CD from Brianne and fell. in. love. I shared it with my cousin Megan and we regularly sing this song to each other and it NEVER gets old to us. Mom even sings it with us. This is just one of those songs that can instantly make me smile. (Hence the reason it's also Megan's ring tone :))

2. Would You Go With Me: Heh. This is one of those just all around fun songs, right? That's about all I'll say about this one but it also still makes me smile every time I hear it.

3. Comptine d'un autre ete: This isn't just a song of 2009 seeing as I've listened to it for several years now pretty steadily. But I think this past year was the year that I blurted out that "When I find me a guy that can play me this song, I'll marry him." Ha! I don't reckon that's entirely true but I do love the way Yann Tiersen writes.

4. Summer 78: Again, it's a Yann Tiersen love of mine. This was actually the song that played at the opening of the slideshow I made for Mom and Dad's 30th anniversary. Hm, I wonder if there's a way to put that online? I digress.

5. Sweet Goodbyes: "I know how you feel right now losing dreams you've come to care about. I know what you need right now. You need to come on home so I can hold you tight, get you through the night. I'll get you through the night." Krezip is a Dutch band that I've really come to adore. I love, love, love that line.

6. Percussion Gun: This song is one of those songs that came to me by an iTunes sampler I think and I love it. It definitely has one of the highest play counts in iTunes (along with Wicked) and I am addicted to the percussion in the song. Hence, Percussion Gun :)

7. Haven't Met You Yet: "I know some day it'll all work out. You'll make me work so we can work to work it out and I promise you kid that I'll give so much more than I get. Mmm, I just haven't met you yet!" This song is the epitome of a chick flick wrapped up in 4 minutes and tied with a sultry voice. Tell me, does it get much better? Oh, it does! "I might have to wait, I'll never give up. I guess it's half timing and the other half's luck. Where ever you are, whenever it's right you'll come out of nowhere and into my life. And I know that we can be so amazing. And baby, your love is gonna change me. And now I can see every possibility." That's hope y'all. And I can't get enough of this song.

8. Fairytale: I love, love this sultry song. Power to the women. Figuratively, of course. Oh, it's SO much fun to belt this one out in the car. And the lyrics make me laugh too. "Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom man made up a story said that I should believe him. Go and tell your white knight that he's handsome in hindsight, but I don't want the next best thing."

9. Strong: This song isn't exactly the one that I love but I do love this artist. Kevin Hammond is one of those that sound like Jason Mraz to me, but much cleaner. When I looked on playlist for his other songs, this is the only one that came up. And I really do like it :) "You say give me what I want but you never grew the faith of a mustard seed it's all you need but it's nothing without love you've got to grow the roots within be strong enough withstand the tests of time it's what you've got you've got to let Him shine. When you're living life and you're living out your dreams just step outside and say a prayer for me. There's a part of me that's a part of you the time you waste is the time you choose when you're living right, when you're living wrong just call it out you'll be made strong." (The other songs aren't religious, just so you know)

10. Corner: It's rare that I find female singers that I really like but this one I do. Well, this one song at least. "When your world trembles and quakes and your footing suddenly shifts and shakes, take my hand we'll hide in the corner, hide in the corner. Take my hand we'll hide till it's over, till it's all over."

11. The Cure for Pain: Jon Foreman was the lead for Switchfoot before he went off and started his solo career. He is another one that has a voice that can make me swoon. It reminds me a bit of Snow Patrol but not all of his songs sound the same. "And heaven knows, heaven knows I tried to find a cure for the pain Oh my Lord, to suffer like You do It would be a lie to run away." I was shocked that iTunes made this one of their sample songs but I really do enjoy it.

12. Say Hey (I love you): two words: Mardi. Gras. It's one of those dancing songs for sure :)

13. She is Love: There is just something about this song that is addicting. It starts out with a bit of a hip-hop junk beat but then it blossoms. It also doesn't hurt that the guy can sing. "And When that world slows down, dear and when those stars burn out, here Oh she'll be there, yes she'll be there." I like that line too.

14. I'd Rather Be With You: Joshua Radin. Another iTunes sample song that I have just adored. "I need to be bold, need to jump in the cold water, need to grow older with a girl like you."

15. Brand New Day: Same artist as before, new song :) "It's a brand new day the sun is shining. It's a brand new day. For the first time in such a long, long time I know I'll be okay."

16. Fireflies: There are NO meaningful lyrics in this song that strikes me to my core. NONE. It doesn't stop me from singing this song at the top of my lungs though!

17. The Chain: I said earlier that I am not usually thrilled with female singers but I do love me some Ingrid Michaelson. This song is just a fun one to mellow me out and sing along with. "So glide away on soapy heels and promise not to promise anymore. And if you come around again then I will take, then I will take, then I will take the chain from off the door."

18. You and I: "Let's get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France. Let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance. Let's get rich and build a house on a mountain making everyone look like ants from way up there, you and I, you and I." Any takers? ;)

19. Tijdmachine: Okay, so what if I'm addicted to Dutch rap? It cracks me up! I don't know if they're saying bad words or not so I pretend that it's all clean. This particular one is about the guy saying that if he had a time machine he'd turn back time and undo what he did. The music video is QUITE amusing :)

20. Her Morning Elegance: This song was popular for a while because of the music video but I shortly learned that I loved listening to it even if I couldn't watch it. I have really started to like all of Oren Lavie's music, and this song is no exception.

21. Overkill: Colin Hay reminds me SO much of Sting. This song I heard the first time on an episode of scrubs and I just love hearing Colin Hay sing.

22. Caught up in a Dream: "I'm caught up in a dream I'm gonna wish for it all. No one's gonna tell me how, no way 'cause it's my dream now." That's RIGHT I will!

23. Defying Gravity: I love this for the same reasons that I loved Popular, so just refer back to that :)

24. Gravity: At the beginning of this year, I loved this song so, SO much. I don't love it as much as I did then but then again, I have a lot of situational songs :) Perhaps I should have reversed Gravity and Defying Gravity?

25. When Your Body Breaks: I think it was Meagan Selgas that inadvertently introduced me to Max Vernon and I just adore the way he sings. So the next 3 songs are brought to you by Max Vernon, via Meagan Selgas. "You've got better things to do than standing there with baited breath, watching the world pass by in front of you wondering if you'll get what's left Oh you deserve better than that and you're gonna have it. Your body's breaking -- you're left with just your mind; you're gonna be fine, but it'll take time.... it'll take time...."

26. Pastels: Again Max, you've got a few lines that just make me smile! "But I'll be with you, you know.. you need to make those mistakes but don't make them on your own 'cause I'll be with you, you know. and when you fall down just hit the ground running and I'll be running with you running with you running with you..."

27. Hypochondriac Blues: This song SERIOUSLY cracks me up! When I need a good, funny song, this is often where I turn. "And this headache means I’ve probably got a tumor in my head And this mark on my back is practically blood red It could be cancer of the spine but my doctor says I’m fine Say what you want, I can’t help the feeling that I’m dying I’ve got the sanity of Rosemary Kennedy before lobotomy" Bahahahahha!

28. Amsterdam: This song, for obvious Amsterdam-ish reasons. Oh, and I seriously can't get enough of Coldplay.

29. Going Wrong: Yeah, another Dutch favorite. That trip did wonders for my cultural diversity :) The first time I heard this song by Chris Jones, it was remixed by DJ Shah and Armin van Buuren, a super popular "trance" style artist. I loved that version but then one day I saw it acoustic with Chris Jones and Eller van Buuren, Armin's younger brother. WOAH. You can ask Emily I listened to that song for probably about 3 weeks straight. This version is a happy medium of the two. I do encourage you to go check out the other version on youtube.com though :) "And I can't see today, and I can't see tomorrow you're burning out my head and in my brain it's going wrong. And I will live today and I will live tomorrow no matter what is said or done, even if it's going wrong."

30. Taylor the Latte Boy: I. Love. Starbucks. And even though my friends make fun of me, it loves me too ;) Friends, hush.

31. Madeline: This is probably one of my favorite Mardi Gras songs just because it's so fun to hear. I'm just sayin!

32. The Call: I adore Regina Spektor. I have now for about 3 or 4 years. This song was at the end of Prince Caspian and I ignored it. I think I was just trying to get out of the theater or something. I came across this song over the past year or so and I listened to it a TON. I want this song to pretty much speak for itself.

33. Let it Be: I am a sucker for old songs sung in a new way. Moulin Rouge, Across the Universe... I love them. These are 3 of my favorite songs from that movie. This one just gives me goosebumps every time.

34. I want to hold your hand: People may say it was sung by a girl to a girl but I disagree. My blog, my decision.

35. I've just seen a face: So at this point in the movie, he's singing about Lucy and he turns and gives her this coy little smile that just makes me swoon. American boys, don't try it. I don't know why exactly, but y'all just can't pull off coy ;)

So friends, that's it. 35 of my favorite songs from 2009. I didn't include any religious songs because you'd NEVER leave the blog at that point. If you love any of the songs, let me know. If you hate any, I suppose you can let me know that too. If you've got some that I should listen to that might go on the list for 2010, tell me those too! Hopefully I've been able to introduce you to a song or artist or two. So, only 1 month and 6 days late, goodbye 2009. Hello 2010!

(Oh, and thank you so much for your kind notes in the post below. I keep reminding myself that during last semester at this time, I was so busy that I didn't have time to eat many meals. At least I'm eating! Which, by the way, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the healthy choice fresh mixers and Marie Calendar's version of the same thing. It's the meal where you add the water, cook the pasta, strain it through the lid, add the sauce, and youv'e got a pretty healthy, pretty stinking good meal. I keep those in my locker so on the freakishly long days, that's my meal. Give them a try desk sitters! Or at least pass the coupons along to me! The thing that finally gave me the best attitude adjustment? 99 cent Icee day on campus. I got 2. Turned blue and couldn't stop shaking, but I was smiling. I can't wait for next Wednesday... I think I'd do just about anything for an icee. Doh! I've just told you my secret!)

I'm still planning on giving you your surprise but right now I have to focus on school. Your surprise is a goal of this weekend though.

I have officially been in school for 2 weeks now and I'm exhausted. I got in late Sunday night. I woke up early Monday morning for therapy and ended up staying on campus about 12 hours, minus the 30 minutes when I went home in the middle of the day because I needed a "get your attitude right" nap. Tuesday I stayed on campus 7 hours. I slept 3 hours last night because of a project and therapy plans. Today, I spent 13 hours on campus. Friends, I'm tired. And as soon as I finish this project (or at least do quite a bit more) I can go to bed.

I have a friend that was so stressed last semester that he got in the car and drove. Next thing he knew, he was in Seattle. You may find that crazy but I completely understand it. Mom and Dad keep begging me not to end up in Mexico. (Oh, but it'd be so warm there. Such a pity that dad has my passport.)


Please, tell me how you are doing. Make me feel like I'm a real person again.

The other day I realized that I did a post last year of my favorite pictures of 2008. I need to do that again for my favorite pictures of 2009 as well as make another surprise for you. Give it time darlings... give it time :)

I have 3 clients next year. HUGE difference from my 7 from last semester.


Okay I need to get back to your surprise pleo world :)