A.

So yesterday I posted a link to a review of the latest album by Agnetha Faltskög, the first “A” in ABBA. I listened to the album several times while in my home office yesterday and I absolutely adore it. Comprised of all original material, Agnetha’s voice sounds almost identical to what ABBA fans are familiar with and the quality of the tracks is excellent. It’s a pop album for grown ups and quite frankly, it’s a nice breath of fresh air.

I listened to the album today via Spotify, since I’m working at the office today and it’s the easiest way to listen to stuff. The Spotify version of the album has commentary on each of the tracks in between each of the songs and it’s kind of interesting to hear the backstory on the tracks. One piece of commentary that got my attention was regarding the disco-flavored track, “Dance Your Pain Away”.

One of the writers/producers of the album was in Sweden at a gay club when a patron motioned to him to come over. Intrigued, the producer went over and talked to the “small gay” as he describes him (at least I think that’s what I heard) and the man said, regarding Agnetha’s album, “don’t forget about us.” The producers had been feeling that thus far the album had been missing “something” and that comment from the “small gay” made him realize that there was no “anthem” on the track. The customer went on to say how Agentha was an icon in the gay community and that was important to include something for her gay fans.

Enter “Dance The Pain Away”. It’s a really fun disco themed track. I’ve listened to it several times and I really think I can hear a sample of an ABBA song in the bass line but I can’t put my finger as to which track it is. This particular track, just one gem in a treasure box of an album, feels very familiar. It’s like one step away from being a full-out ABBA track and it’s kind of fun. I hope it makes some inroads into public exposure. I know that if I were still DJing I’d spin it up in the mix to see how the crowds react. I can definitely see it being one of those summer anthem tracks.

It has been a long time since I’ve been excited about an entire album by an artist. It’s good to know that music can still excite me. Thank you for the music, Agnetha.

15 May 2013 by DJ 0

The One In Front of the Windows.

I made an impromptu video. It didn’t go as well as intended since the program stopped before I was done, but I said what the heck and decided to save it anyway.

I don’t know why I introduced myself.

14 May 2013 by Geek 2

Heat.

So today is the 13th of May so naturally we have turned on the heat throughout the house due to the crazy temperature. I skipped the bike ride this morning and opted to go for a walk instead because the sky was providing a mixture of hail and snow. Of course, today is the day after Mother’s Day, when spring is suppose to be in the air, flowers are in bloom and all of that, but Mother Nature, the Mother of Mothers, is cranky or something so here we are.

The responsible adult in me just cringes when the furnace comes on during this time of year.

On Saturday we met with a window replacement salesman and decided to sign on the dotted line to replace all the windows in the house. The windows are original to the house and they’re really good at leaking heat. Wood framed windows have a harder time standing up to the elements. The new windows will be vinyl windows. We are looking forward to our energy costs going down. I’m also looking forward to being able to put a room air conditioner in the bedroom window. The old windows were crank out windows and didn’t give us that luxury.

Not that we would need air conditioning today. I need to go find a sweatshirt.

13 May 2013 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Saturday Dance Party.

My friend Tim in Ohio reminded me of this song this morning. This is one of my favorite Donna Summer tracks and reminds me of my days of living in the Boston area. I used to crank this up on Kiss 108FM. A lot.

Here’s Donna Summer with “Love’s About To Change My Heart”.

11 May 2013 by DJ 0

Concrete.

I’m still at Lock 20.

As I sit here and listen to the sounds of nature and smells the beautiful lilac scents, I have come to realize that this is really energizing me for my lunch hour. I feel very relaxed. Stress has melted away.

Perhaps sitting in a concrete or paved driveway at lunchtime (when I’m working from the office) is not the proper way to calm down and refocus for the afternoon. I think starting next week I need to seek out a better lunch time spot to get away and relax. I shall have to go spot scouting and see what I can find.

The concrete apparently isn’t working for me.

10 May 2013 by Spiritual Stuff. 1

Lock 20.

20130510-122424.jpg

So I’m finally working from home again today. I feel like I’m back on schedule and that’s a really good feeling.

I made myself a healthy lunch and have found my way to nearby Lock 20 on the Barge Canal. This is a park that is maintained by volunteers. It’s a popular spot with the locals and it is usually in really good condition. I’m watching two boats go through the locks as we speak. The first (pictured above) is a dinner cruise boat headed farther east to start the dinner and sightseeing season. The second is a little fishing boat with two guys on it. I don’t know where they’re headed.

I sometimes pay too much attention to the noise in the world and don’t stop and take a moment to realize the nifty things that we have right in our backyard. In a geeky way it’s cool to have a canal lock a mile or two from the house. It’s a good place to relax for lunch hour. Cycling seems to help me bring my awareness to the hear and now back to the forefront of the clutter that is in my brain.

And I smell lilacs as I type this. I can’t find a lilac bush on a quick glance around, but I can definitely smell them. My favorite flower, the scent of lilac reminds me of Grandma City. I’m smiling like a little kid right now, all because I took the time to appreciate the hear and now and then smell the flowers.

Little things make life grand.

10 May 2013 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Three.

Three days in a row at the office this week. How do people handle this five days at work thing? No offense to those that have a cubicle around me, but I’m looking forward to working from home tomorrow.

9 May 2013 by Ponderings and Musings 1

This Is Water.

Today, of all days in my adult existence, I needed to see something that would be a game changer. After a rough start to the day and some intense conversation, I needed some sort of glimmer of, well, something.

And then the universe led me to this.

Please take 10 minutes to watch this if you feel so inclined.

8 May 2013 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Charity.

The community task group team at work is having a fundraiser today. For just $5.00 we could enjoy a picnic lunch of two hot dogs with onions and/or meat sauce, potato salad, chips, a drink and a cookie. I love it. In fact, I rearranged my in-the-office schedule this week so I could participate. I can never resist a good hot dog from the grill and helping out worthy causes is always a good thing. I believe this month’s effort benefits one of the local youth cancer support groups.

One of the things that I like about the company I work for is that efforts like these are absolutely encouraged. We all need to be helping each other when and where we can and even little efforts like these can make a big difference. I always try to support the community team when I can.

Sometimes a little thing can bring a big smile to someone’s face.

8 May 2013 by Ponderings and Musings 0

About J.P.

Just a guy with a husband. We’ve been together 28 years and he still makes me see fireworks on a daily basis. Hiker. Storm Chaser. Private Pilot. Tech Guy. Hackerish.

Weird? Eccentric!

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