Friday Flotsam

Frrrrrrrrrrrr i d a i y a y a h a h.

I have a confession to make.

And it’s rather shocking, given my . . . everything.

And I’m going to tell you now to get it out there and over with. I think we’ll all feel better after this.

Here goes . . .

I don’t like bird watching.

I don’t. I do not care about watching birds fly around. I want to care.

Actually I don’t. I don’t feel it’s necessary to my personal wellness or human growth to care about watching birds. Thing is, I like birds! That’s what’s weird. I like drawings of birds, photos of birds. Heck, I’ll put a bird on it. But I will not WATCH THEM AS A HOBBY. Do you see this stack of books I have to get through?

I know so many people find bird watching “so relaxing” and “super interesting” and I’m like, nope. And if one even flies at my head we are done.

Aaron and Nat LOVE to bird watch. They’ve got BOOKS, you guys. Books on Kansas birds. Books on American birds. Books on birds all over the world and I’m like, “YEAH BUT JEN AND SIMON WERE TOGETHER BEHIND MARIANNE’S BACK, SOOOO.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. We’ve got a robin who’s made a little nest on our front porch (like up on top of the post thingy) and I do watch that. I watch her fly away from me and yell at my face every time I walk out to water the plants or sweep. And sure, I’ll watch her feed her throaty bebe heads once they hatch. I’ll watch that. I’m not dead inside. But don’t ask me to watch a Cooper’s hawk swarming around a yellow finch or that cow bird with his eye on that Clark’s nutcracker – you lost me. I’m out.

Please don’t tell me I’m alone in this.

Speaking of, what is Tik Tok?

And I’m honestly not trying to be ironic, or a grandma, or an ironic grandma. I REALLY DO NOT KNOW.

This is what I don’t get. It’s only for dancing? Is it like Vine all those years ago? Does Tik pick the dance for you and you Tok it out? All I ever see are dancers. So much dancing. But like, only robotic dancing. Families lined up in a row with stoic faces making awkward, stiff moves with their arms and legs.

Can you do anything else in Tik Tok besides dancing? Like bird watching?

I don’t get it.

Should I get an account?

I should get an account.

I’ll dance.

(I won’t dance.)

Speaking of, you know what I like to do when I’m alone in my car?

I should rephrase – you know what I like to do the two times over the last seven weeks that I was alone in my car? I practice voices. Like, character voices. The three I’m working on now are Lois from Family Guy, Kitty from That ’70s Show and Diane from Cheers.

Wait, did you x out?

This is the fun part (to me and literally only me), I like to go back and forth between Lois and Kitty’s voices, because they’re similar. Both nasaly, both higher in pitch with a northern accent. But Kitty’s a bit more paranoid and frazzled, compared to Lois’s confidence and borderline disgust.

You’re like, I have no idea what she’s talking about right now.

And theeeen to really make it fun (to me and literally only me) is to plunge mid-sentence to Diane Chamber’s deeper, pretentious, scholarly tone and see if I land it perfectly.

This is what seven weeks of self isolation can do to a person, you guys.

Speaking of, let’s talk FAVORITE MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS.

You’re like, finally something I give an ish about.

I’m working on my May mixtape that will post next Tuesday, and I’m coming up dry. I’m thinking (not soundtracks actually. I’ve done that already) maybe some instrumental chill lo-fi something or other. Background music that keeps you sane but lets you drift. And then maybe for June another round of ’90s songs? I’ve done that, too, but I feel like another round might be in order? You tell me.

BUT – that got me thinking about movie soundtracks and how they govern my soul. What’s your absolute favorite movie soundtrack? I’ll go first: Amélie. I could listen to that soundtrack thrice a day for the rest of time and would never tire of it. Never ever ever.

Followed by Dirty Dancing, obviously.

And guys, musicals don’t count. They’re BUILT around songs already. I’m talking about movies that don’t necessarily revolve around music, but the music is transportive. Like Garden State or Rushmore or Top Gun. (sorry, Lacy)

Tell me your faves! (not favs) I need something to listen to today while I’m not bird watching and ignoring Tik Tok.

Weekend plans?

BAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA.

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28 Responses to Friday Flotsam

  1. Nancy May 1, 2020 at 8:57 am #
    I know you love The Sound of Music and so do I but I guess it doesn't count since it revolves around music. I wouldn't call it a musical, though. Would you? I don't know, maybe it is. There was a movie called Holes way back when my son was a pre-teen and I think there are some pretty good songs on it. And Oh Brother, Where Art Thou has some great tunes as well. And there's Almost Famous. Last one is a movie I watched on Netflix some years ago called Jackie & Ryan and it's got some really good tunes, especially "Southbound", which I immediately downloaded after seeing the film. That's all I got. Happy Friday!
  2. Lacy May 1, 2020 at 9:31 am #
    Wait - what? You like the Top Gun soundtrack? Is Playing with the Boys your favorite track? My favorites include Pride and Prejudice, Crouching Tiger, Braveheart, The Theory of Everything, Singles (SO 90s!), Pulp Fiction, Great Gatsby (score and soundtrack), and Stranger Things, particularly Season 1. I'm more of a cinematic score than a proper soundtrack kind of gal. I have a whole Spotify playlist dedicated to film scores. Great for working, reading, and sunbathing with my SPF 6. Save your lecture. Seriously, Top Gun?!
  3. Laura May 1, 2020 at 9:32 am #
    Do Netflix series count? the soundtrack to Ozark is my all-time fave; Radiohead style. And the movie Into the Wild!
  4. Tiffany May 1, 2020 at 9:53 am #
    Big Little Lies #1 is by far my favorite. Life changing. The second season's is becoming a favorite too. Love Actually, Pretty in Pink, O Brother Where Art Thou, Stand by Me, Singles, Saturday Night Fever-great ones too. And don’t laugh but the first three Twilight movies' soundtracks are good too.
  5. Renae May 1, 2020 at 10:32 am #
    Soundtracks are my jam...my favorite, most-listened-to Pandora station is called "The Holiday (Film Score) Radio. So not technically a soundtrack...I guess. Things like Rudy, Forrest Gump, Castaway...The Holiday. So if I had to pick a true soundtrack, I guess it would probably be 10 Things I Hate About You. I also adore the Tangled soundtrack, and When Harry Met Sally of course.
  6. Dee @ The Kitchen Snob May 1, 2020 at 10:56 am #
    Yes you should absolutely get Tik Tok! I caved and joined but I haven't posted anything because I'm chicken. But you could do your voices! Plenty of non dancing Tik Toks. You can literally do anything you want. So for starters you just watch the "for you" feed and it learns what you like. You can also follow hashtags or people. Any Tik Tok that anybody makes, you can use their sound bites to make your own by lip syncing to them. Now with people in quarantine there are many 30, 40, 50 year olds doing it. You can talk, do a tutorial, or you could film birds! ;-)
  7. Jessica May 1, 2020 at 11:00 am #
    Garden State soundtrack. ✨? Always amazing. Especially good on long drives.
  8. Joanna Kauffmann May 1, 2020 at 11:02 am #
    Romeo + Juliet soundtrack! Leo + Claire + Paul Rudd is enough to make it one of my favorite movies of all time but the soundtrack pushes it over the top. A must-watch/must-listen.
  9. Erin Abbott May 1, 2020 at 11:04 am #
    My old school favorites are Dirty Dancing. Stand By Me. American Graffiti. Gas Food Lodging. I find that I Shazam so often when watching movies and shows. To be a music supervisor For movies and shows would be my dream job.
  10. Angelique May 1, 2020 at 11:36 am #
    My two top movie soundtracks are Oh Brother Where Art Thou? and Garden State. I love them both equally and for different reasons. So funny, I was just thinking about them this morning.
  11. Shannon May 1, 2020 at 11:36 am #
    Valley Girl Purple Rain Beaches Somethings Got to Give
  12. Jill May 1, 2020 at 1:05 pm #
    “Out of Africa” soundtrack ....sooooo dreamy!
  13. Susan May 1, 2020 at 1:17 pm #
    Favorite movie soundtrack: 50 First Dates My husband (who is NOT crafty or handy at all----think opposite of your Aaron) built me some bluebird boxes and there is a nesting pair in one of the boxes and I can't stop watching the activity through my binos !! But I still luv ya. :)
  14. Beth May 1, 2020 at 2:56 pm #
    The soundtrack from the movie Dan In Real Life!! Such a good movie, don’t even get me started on that ....but the soundtrack is quirky and so amazing. And if you haven’t watched the movie...you should. ASAP. That’s all. ?
  15. Susan May 1, 2020 at 3:03 pm #
    I love a good movie soundtrack! Some of my favorites include Footloose, Reality Bites, Swingers, Pulp Fiction, and Stealing Beauty.
  16. Natalie Dunlap May 1, 2020 at 3:14 pm #
    You’ve Got Mail soundtrack. THE best. Perfect for cocktail hour on the patio.
  17. Robin May 1, 2020 at 3:53 pm #
    The Bodyguard, Forrest Gump, The Crow (I think is the name)
  18. Mary May 1, 2020 at 4:48 pm #
    I love the soundtrack to The Big Chill, mostly because it brings back great memories of watching the movie with my college friends. Love Actually, Valentine’s Day and Out of Africa also top my list. I’m going to have to listen to the others that everyone mentioned.
  19. Gretchen May 1, 2020 at 10:11 pm #
    The Theory of Everything soundtrack is GORGEOUS! I was crushed when the composer, Johann Johansson, passed away two years ago because I had just discovered this score (and, as a harpist, I loved how much my instrument was featured!). Dan in Real Life has a quirky, sweet menagerie of music. I’m also a sucker for any period drama soundtracks—I love the new and old Emma movie music!
  20. Grace May 1, 2020 at 11:45 pm #
    October Sky and original score by Mark Isham ((LOVE it!!))
  21. Christina Hampel May 2, 2020 at 12:46 am #
    The Lost Boys soundtrack is great!! And to relax, the Soundtrack for my favorite video game called Skyrim is amazing.
  22. Lori H May 2, 2020 at 6:00 am #
    We love listening to the Ally McBeal soundtrack with Vonda Shepard (Shepherd?) And yes, I am in my 50's , why do you ask? haha
  23. Miranda May 2, 2020 at 9:39 am #
    First of all I loved reading these comments. Now I need to listen to Dan in Real life soundtrack (such a great movie) and Romeo & Juliet!!! That was a huge one for me!! I won The Big Chill soundtrack at post prom and listened the heck out of it as well. I also love Now and Then soundtrack (and the movie... female version of The Sandlot) and Dumb & Dumber soundtrack. Haha.
  24. Janelle May 2, 2020 at 9:58 pm #
    Top two favorite movie soundtracks: Juno and Darjeeling limited!
  25. Katie Murry May 3, 2020 at 8:07 am #
    I enjoy that you said fave (not fav) the most out of all these words. It’s like people writing vaca. It’s VACAY. I can’t even read vaca. Can’t look at it. 10 Things I hate about You & Romeo & Juliet, Leo style.
  26. CINDY May 6, 2020 at 8:59 am #
    Sons of Anarchy soundtrack(s)!!
    • Marissa May 12, 2020 at 5:57 pm #
      The Big Chill soundtrack is definitely at the top of my list, but also The Virgin Suicides, totally dreamy and heartbreaking.
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