Feel Good 5 Friday … Sounds

React and respond.

Almost the same, but not quite as I was recently reminded of their differences. One is more intense and sometimes associated with a negative connotation, as in, we gave him the food and he had an allergic reaction to it. Respond on the other hand tends to swing on the positive end of the spectrum, as in, she is responding well to physical therapy and we see improvements in her range of motion.

React and respond.

I hadn’t really thought about them for awhile, until I replayed that podcast and until I’d seen a preview for a recent film The Ultimate Playlist of Noise. I haven’t seen the movie, but the preview revealed an interesting concept. A boy on the verge of losing his hearing permanently, decides to go on a massive road trip to record all his favorite sounds before it’s too late, so that he can then watch others respond to his playlist. Maybe some people would react. But I imagine most would respond. I’ll have to take a look and see how it pans out.

I was debating watching it. It’s got a Dawson’s Creek WB kind of vibe to it and I wasn’t ever a fan of that, so I’m not jumping to watch it. I bet if it had Kyle Chandler or John Cusack in it I’d definitely watch it. But we’ll see. I’m thinking about it. The story is what’s peaking my interest most. The Ultimate Playlist of Noise.

I can’t imagine how many songs I’d include. My love of funk, disco, 70s, and 80s is endless.

I find that concept fascinating. I figure one of the first sounds would probably be my kids cracking up. That laughter is contagious and spurs chuckles and smiles. The beach and the sound of the waves is something I’d probably add to the playlist as well, it brings me such peace that I listen to it before going to bed sometimes, or if I’m working on a project. Those would be the first two. Instantly, but I’d have to stop and think about the rest. Maybe the crowd going wild at a game cheering on the ultimate score, or maybe the crowd at a concert singing along with their favorite artist. Or maybe the sound of light rain in the morning. I’d have to think about it. All kinds of possibilities.

Reactions and responses. Apparently they’ve become very popular. I was looking up videos to post here about my Friday 5 and wouldn’t you know it, they had guys reacting and responding to songs, with hundreds and thousands of views. People watching, people listening to a song for the first time. All kinds of reaction and response videos to songs I’ve heard my whole life, to songs I’ve had on my playlist. To the videos. It was trip. Funny if you’re feeling down. Someone else’s mood and laughter is contagious if it’s genuine.

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I stopped and watched one or two and it was definitely funny to see the laughter and expressions. Witnessing something for the first time is a moment to capture. Can’t get firsts back. Once they’re gone, they’re gone so it’s best to remember. And maybe that’s why that movie was made, to make that very point. The first and the last, they’re always worth it. Responses and reactions.

So this week I put some love, soul, and funk on the list. Hope if it’s your first time you enjoy it, and if it takes you back, way back, to when you had a Pee Chee folder or Trapper Keeper in you locker, well then all right. Sending you good vibes and good responses.

Buen Camino.

Terence Trent D’Arby — Wishing Well

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The Emotions — Best of My Love

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Los Angeles Azules — 17 Anos

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Rick Astley — Never Gonna Give You Up

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Lenny Williams — Because I Love You

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Feel Good 5 Friday Plus 2, on a Saturday Night …

Excelsior in effect and I’m enjoying the extra effort I’m putting into the Silver Linings Playbook vibe as the little obstacles mount an offensive and here I am still standing pushing through and conquering, making the tiny victories part of my gratitude list at the end of the day.

High five moments are especially important to help keep me motivated, it’s so easy to look them over when you’re busy. I like to high-five myself with little chocolate treats every now and then. But this week I was able to go to the beach.

I know.

During a pandemic.

I know.

I found a little spot to escape the city and felt the peace of the waves. Being that we got there early, the place was practically empty and it felt like it was my own private escape, free of people hoarding up the view in front of me, or up in my personal space with their tents and party of 20. It was a nice solitude, with only a few walkers in the distance.

One of the few times when we weren’t able to boogie board as the wind reminded us that hoodies were a requirement, and dipping your toes and ankles was the only acceptable splashing allowed that day. Building a rock garden, fierce frisbee catching, jumping off sand dunes to catch that classic mid-air flight photo, and running along the shoreline made for a good day … a Lovely Day … the kind that my main man Bill Withers likes to sing about and I was able to breathe in and keep with me.

And just in time too.

The field trip was needed as the magic of the ocean waves meeting sandy shore cast a meditative state on my being and helped establish one of those Jar of Awesome moments, the kind I write down on a post-it-note and bottle up for remembering. Those feel-good vibes, was missing them being cooped up, but nature has its way. I enjoyed my field trip reward, followed up with some fish tacos take-out. Beach therapy. It’s my jam.

One day I might have to try camping out there … I’ll put that on the list of future events to come.

Feeling good driving back home along the coast and the tunes on the radio were filled with love, I imagine because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and they be throwing out the romance vibe. Kids rolling their eyes as I belted out the tunes in my epic car karaoke performance with no James Corden or Late Late Show by my side. Just me and the memories. I thought of the moments back in the day, the kind that made it to my yearbook pages with hearts and the T.C.C.I.C. appearing at the end by signatures. Young love and crushes from the past flashed by and it made me smile. Putting in an extra two tunes this week, because there was so much love on the airwaves. Ha!

Buen Camino my friends!

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The Bee Gees — Too Much Heaven

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Thompson Twins — If You Were Here

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The Deele — Two Occasions

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Atlantic Starr — Always

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Phil Collins — Groovy Kind of Love

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Juan Gabriel — Querida

Gregory Abbott — Shake You Down

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Feel Good 5 Friday …

You have a list.

It could have just one name on it. But that name counts. It’s still a list, maybe the beginnings of one, or maybe it’s THE ONE.

Everyone writing down the places to visit or adventures to take when all this is over, when masks are no longer needed and we can walk around freely … that national park you swore you’d rent the RV for, the restaurant with the steak you never tried but always wanted, the rollercoaster you always wanted to conquer but never tried, the two tickets to see the game where you’d buy that $15 beer and not even care that it’s $15 because you got the foam finger too. You have these plans to see the little nooks and crannies of your city, you wanted to discover them, but always said you’d get around to it.

“I’m on top of that, Rose!”

Covid made you put it on a list … people have plans to recapture the simple and adventurous moments. The people moments when all this is behind us.

Me too.

I added a name to my list last week.

You see I had heard of the place but never made it out there. It’s a place best to be had with friends, with your Laverne & Shirley’s. But I was able to get a sneak peek of the possibilities just recently when I attended a virtual fundraiser.

A Bingo Fundraiser.

Have you been involved in Bingo?

Dude.

It’s intense. I mean the competitive side in you comes out and you’re hoping they call B8 because it’s what you need, but it doesn’t happen. They call G43 and you hear the Lucille yell Bingo!!!

And at that moment right there, you don’t know Lucile, never met her, but you sooooooo hope she’s wrong. She’s not, though.

So you clap and move on in hopes for your lucky numbers next time.

That was my sneak peek. A Hamburger Mary’s Bingo Fundraiser for the arts and I can’t tell you what a great time I had on Zoom playing Bingo. One of the best Zoom Meetings I’d had.

The Place to be 🙂

I mean I’m no stranger to a bingo like atmosphere, come Christmas and New Year’s Eve, when all the aunts and cousins get together La Loteria is taken and it’s a full fledged battle for the pot! But this was Bingo … saucy Bingo and I enjoyed it. Great to see some buddies online, playing with me as well. I imagine the live and in person version is even better. But the hostess provided the laughs and energy to make a Zoom meeting fantastically fun.

I didn’t have the thrill of yelling BINGO! But I imagine I will one day, hopefully it’ll be with my Laverne & Shirley’s at Hamburger Mary’s, the fun environment, the having a great time vibe, the music and jokes to lift your spirits … The Noodle Salad Moments live and in person. But until then I’ll have the list and the Feel Good 5 Fridays to help me sustain and thrive the months to come.

Buen Camino my friends

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Elton John with Kiki Dee — Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

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Los 8 de Columbia — La Roncona

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Sanford and Son Theme Song

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Vintage Trouble — Strike Your Light

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Tears for Fears — Everybody Wants to Rule the World

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